Avid viewers and readers of Drivin' Ivan will know that I'm already a fan of Infinitis, especially the G convertible. I've tested the 6 speed manual sport version and the standard version as well. Here is the IPL version. Infiniti Performance Line. What will I think of this all new sporty convertible? Let's find out!
It's a bit of a sleeper on the outside. Besides the IPL emblem, you'd be hard pressed to tell that it's anything but a garden variety Infiniti G convertible. It does have a blacked out, smokey look to it, and those in the know will be able to see that this G convertible is something special.
Power comes from an IPL tuned 3.7 liter dual overhead cam V6 engine which makes 343 horsepower and 273 lb. ft. of torque. It's even more powerful than the last G sport convertible I tested. Zero to 60 takes 5.4 seconds on to a quarter mile time of 13.9 seconds.
Fuel economy is rated at 25 mpg on the highway and 17 in the city. You can expect 20 mpg overall.
The IPL starts at $60,600 and it has everything you need as standard equipment. With destination you are out the dealer door at $61,495.
The list of performance features is impressive. Of course you get more horsepower and torque running through a 7 speed automatic with downshift rev matching and magnesium paddles, IPL sport tuned steering, suspension & exhaust, 19" wheels, and larger 4 piston brakes up front and 2 piston in the rear.
But comfort and luxury are important too. It all starts with driving position, and the the Infiniti's seats feel great. The driver's seat is 8 way adjustable, plus it has lumbar support. They adjust to pretty much any body size and shape too. As a bonus the whole steering column moves when you adjust it. This makes sure that the gauges are always easily seen.
Best of all, you can pop the top down with the touch of a button, and you'll never have to replace a soft top! Having a hard retractable convertible top gives you the best of all worlds. It's like driving a hardtop in inclimate weather, and having a true convertible to let the sun shine in. With Infiniti's great dual zone climate control system, you can keep the top down year round too!
Technology is also a high priority in the IPL G Convertible. You get a hard drive navigation system with NavTraffic and NavWeather, plus the Zagat restaurant guide. There's a backup camera, rear sonar, Bose sound system, blue tooth, Sirius XM, USB, Xenon headlights, Home Link and Voice Recognition.
Of course you can feel safe behind the wheel of the IPL G too. You get pop up roll bars, vehicle dynamic and traction control, advanced airbags with front, side, and side curtain airbags. Of course you also get ABS brakes and Tire Pressure Monitoring.
Out on the back roads, you can appreciate the IPL's extra performance. While regular Infiniti G's are certainly not slouches, the IPL is very quick and responsive. Power comes on very smoothly in the IPL G and it is a joy to drive, especially with the top down!
There is competition out there from the likes of the Audi TT spyder and the BMW 335 is convertible, but I think the Infiniti has enough of its own personality to stand out a bit. The art deco styling combined with Infiniti's own brand of luxury and comfort really make the interior a great place to be in the IPL G.
While IPL may not be AMG or Motorsports, it does give another dimension to Infiniti's great lineup of cars. While AMG's and BMW M cars tend to be pretty common place in big cities, the IPL badge on your Infiniti will certainly make you stand out. It is certainly a viable alternative to Audi's, Bimmers and Mercedes, and I think it is a great looking car with lots of personality too. I'm Drivin' Ivan Katz
Here is Drivin' Ivan's Complete Infiniti G IPL Convertible Video Review
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