The styling of the G35 sedan was freshened for 2005 with new headlights, revised tail lamps, new bumpers, and an aluminum hood and trunk lid. In the front valance, air intake ports were enlarged. The changes were subtle, but give the G35 sedan a more substantial look and emphasize its resemblance to the G35 coupe. From the front, it looks sportier, more upscale, more expensive. From the rear, it looks tidier and classier.
Coupe or sedan, the G35 grabs your attention with its stacked, vertically oriented headlamps. Fog lamps are integrated into the complex headlamp cluster, adding to its aggressive appearance. The raised front fenders were inspired by a catamaran, and look great from both outside and inside the car. Those fenders also manage airflow by reducing spillage off the sides of the hood. The short rear deck ends in a crisp crease.
Aerodynamics played a strong role in the design, especially underneath the car. Extensive use of diffusers and deflectors helps the G35 achieve 0 degrees of front lift, reducing drag and wind noise at high speeds and contributing to stability. With the optional rear spoiler, 0 degrees of rear lift is achieved. While front-drive sedans use rear spoilers for decoration, the rear-drive G35 benefits, particularly in a wet, high-speed turn. The G35 sedan has an exceptional coefficient of drag of just 0.27 for reduced wind noise and increased fuel economy.
The G35 coupe shares visual elements with the sedan, as well as its 112-inch wheelbase. Yet the coupe is shorter overall than the sedan (182.2 inches versus 186.5), wider (71.5 inches versus 69.0), and lower (54.8 inches versus 57.7). And while the coupe has a lot in common with Nissan's 350Z, the two differ in several important ways. The G35's wheelbase is 8 inches longer than the Z's, and the G35 is nearly 17 inches longer overall. While the Z is a hatchback, the G35 coupe has a separate trunk. And while the Z has no rear seat, the G35 coupe is a two-plus-two, providing tight accommodations for back-seat passengers.
The G35 sedan and coupe share the same rear-wheel-drive mechanical platform as the Nissan 350Z sports car and the Infiniti FX35 and FX45 crossover luxury/utilities. This platform was specifically designed for mounting a V6 longitudinally behind the front axle in the so-called front-mid-ship position. (Front-wheel-drive sedans typically mount their engines sideways, in front of the front axle.) Moving the engine rearward improves the balance of the car, and is key to the G35's excellent handling. Rear-wheel drive is preferred by performance driving enthusiasts for its purer steering response and its inherent capability to turn the car using the gas pedal.
A long wheelbase (112 inches between front and rear wheels) contributes to the G35's stability, especially at high speeds. A wide track (the distance between the left and right wheels) adds to its stability in corners. Short front and rear overhangs, a hallmark of the widely heralded BMW 3 Series, improve handling by moving more weight rearward.
These design elements help the G35 lead the near-luxury class in interior room and trunk volume. The location of the G35's compact V6 also allows for a low, aggressive hood line, which flows into the sharply angled windshield and contributes to the G35's sporty, powerful silhouette.
From a functional standpoint, we prefer the exterior door handles on the coupe over those on the sedan, which aren't as easy to operate.
