Infiniti G37 IPL Convertible
A fun ride, with a three-piece retractable hardtop that takes only seconds to drop — but means reduced trunk space
The Aspen Pearl exterior paint job might give it a somewhat timid appearance, but the red leather interior with IPL badging offers a hint of something a little more dangerous.
Add in a three-piece retractable hardtop and the 2013 Infiniti G37 IPL convertible can definitely get up to no good — as in having some riotous fun on the road.
That fun is achieved thanks to an amped up 3.7-litre V6 engine that delivers 343 horsepower (versus 325 on the regular G convertible) and 273 foot-pounds of torque.
Fuel efficiency for the IPL convertible is rated at 11.9 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 7.8L/100 km on the highway.
During my time with the IPL, I averaged 13.2L/100 km.
It’s combined with a sevenspeed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and despite a few positive experiences using paddle shifters lately, I found myself leaving the gearbox in D and letting the computer do its thing on the IPL convertible.
The drive is also enhanced by the IPL tuned suspension, which makes the droptop an agile and nimble ride.
You are somewhat limited in terms of colour choice for the IPL convertible, with the afore-mentioned Aspen Pearl seconded only by Malbec Black for paint options. On the inside, it’s either red or stone (an off-white variant) leather.
Whatever you decide, the price remains the same at $67,300. The tester had a $300 extra for three-coat paint and when you add the freight charge of $1,995, the price tag comes to $69,595 before taxes.
In either colour, the IPL lineup looks sharp — and I say that having had previous experience driving the IPL Coupe.
There are a few things that differentiate the IPL convertible from the base version. The most striking is the 19-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels, which stand out against the white exterior with their graphite finish.
There are also IPL aerodynamic body kits and large dual chrome-tipped exhaust pipes that emit a throaty gurgle during acceleration.
And the IPL convertible comes with plenty of standard equipment such as high-intensity bi-xenon headlights, fog lights, climate-controlled front seats (heated and cooled), push-button ignition and a very nice Bose open-air sound system with 13 speakers.
It ensures all four occupants are enveloped in some melodious sounds, even if legroom in back is far from harmonious. It is better than some other recentlytested four-seaters, though.
The rest of the interior left me feeling positive. The front seats are abundantly comfortable and the cabin is nicely laid out.
The centre stack may have lots of buttons, but it is fairly logical and I found myself adapting to the functions quickly.
The stack is topped by a large LCD screen which serves many purposes. As i n every Infiniti model, there’s an analog clock that is the focal point of the centre stack.
And the steering wheel feels good between my fingers, enhanced by the contrast stitching on the leather covering.
Like many convertibles, drop- ping the top — which takes only seconds — is a double-edged sword. Sure, you get to enjoy your hair blowing in the wind, but you are left with almost no usable trunk space.
Even with the roof up, there is only 10.3 cubic feet of space in the trunk, which isn’t a lot to begin with.
With the IPL line building on some already solid vehicles, it’s hard not to enjoy the drive in this more powerful version of the G37 convertible — especially since the hardtop lets you enjoy the best of both driving worlds.