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By: Derek Price
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Some things just aren't meant
to be mixed -- like drunks and handguns, pickles and
ice cream, or Madonna and the pope. The same could
be said of sports cars and luxury cruisers.
But, especially around the magical "entry-level luxury"
price of $30,000, carmakers are frantically trying
mix the unmixable by combining luxurious amenities
with sporty performance. It's worked well for
companies like BMW, whose oft-praised 3-series has
set the benchmark in the luxury/performance class
for nearly a decade.
On the other hand, a common problem with this
automotive alchemy comes when a bad formula -- a
little too much sport or a pinch too much luxury --
results in a major identity crisis, meaning a
poor-performing sports car or rough-riding luxury
barge.
When the recipe is perfect, though, the result is
heavenly.
Infiniti's I35 hits that elusive sweet spot with a
satisfying pop, as it seamlessly melds a plush
interior and comfortable highway ride with
white-knuckled enthusiasm for sporty driving. With
the windows up, it's a perfectly civilized luxury
car fitting for any country-club social gathering,
but it feels like a full-blown racecar when the
windows are rolled down and engine screams like a
sweaty wrestler.
That 3.5-liter V6 engine is truly exhilarating,
especially when it nears the 6,000-RPM redline and
sends 255 horsepower to the front wheels with a
terrific exhaust note. It's enough to easily spin
the tires when traction control is disengaged, and
it's a blast for spirited sprints down country
roads.
Steering is likewise perfect, as long as the engine is
revved high enough, because computer wizardry makes
it become more sensitive and tight as the
accelerator pedal goes down. At lower engine speeds,
steering feels fairly loose and sloppy in an attempt
to make it seem luxurious, and torque steer is
clearly noticeable when accelerating through
corners.
Most of the I35's sporty feel comes through its nicely
tuned suspension, one of the best compromises
between comfort and performance we've seen in cars
at any price. While it does suffer from apparent
nose-dive under braking -- obviously the result of
comfort-oriented engineering -- body roll is kept
reasonably in check through even the tightest turns,
making it a joy for weekend drives.
With all this talk of high-performance fun, let's not
forget the luxurious half of I35's recipe.
Inside, fancy wood trim and soft leather seats set off
a cabin that's not quite opulent but far from plain.
Materials and construction are right on par for this
demanding class, and three interior color choices
are particularly pleasant.
It has standard and optional gadgets galore, like a
navigation system, satellite radio (with a choice of
Sirius or XM service), dual-stage front air bags,
rear power sunshade, and power sunroof. In addition
to the seats and mirrors, even the steering wheel
can be heated on some models.
Finally, the cabin is surprisingly silent at highway
speeds despite the sporty suspension, something
helped by ample insulation packed around windows and
built into the caršs frame.
Overall, the I35 lands squarely on target for its price
class -- perhaps scoring better than some
higher-priced models when you add up the interior
doo-dads that come standard. While many cars try to
get the luxury-performance mix perfected, this
Infiniti already has.
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