4.6K
In 2011 Nissan launched the Infiniti Performance Line – its attempt to offer a sport-tuned luxury lineup like Lexus F-Sport, Audi S and Cadillac V-Sport. IPL’s first creation was a G37 coupe with tightened suspension, grin-inducing exhaust, a slight uptick in horsepower and bodywork to die for.
Perhaps due to poor marketing, critics and consumers seemed to have been expecting Infiniti’s answer to 500-horsepower beasts from BMW M and Mercedes AMG, so the poor IPL was a slight letdown everywhere.
However, with clear expectations going in, I found Infiniti’s underdog athletic and sophisticated, like a Nissan 370z NISMO in a tuxedo.