It seems as though the BMW 3-Series is the car to beat in the executive car class. Infiniti stepped up to the challenge over 25 years ago when they introduced the G-Series lineup of sedans.
HISTORY OF THE G-Series
First Generation (1990-1996)
When the G-Series first debuted in 1990, it was more a compact car than luxury sedan. Referred to as the G20, the front-wheel drive sedan featured a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine. Transmission options were either a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual. The exterior of the G-Series was bland as was the interior. It did offer a lot of equipment for the time, however, including Power windows, power locks, power mirrors, air conditioning, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, alloy wheels, a Bose stereo, a theft-deterrent system and cruise control.
Second Generation (1998-2002)
The second generation G-Series featured a more stylish design, but retained the 4-cylinder, front-wheel drive configuration. Other changes to the G20 included the addition of a multi-link beam rear suspension and an overall increase in size.
Third Generation (2002-2007)
The third generation G-Series is where things start to get interesting. For the first time ever, the G-series became a direct competitor for BMW 3-Series. The new model featured a sexier exterior, rear-wheel drive and a coupe variant. The 4-cylinder engine was dumped in favor of a 3.5L 6-cylinder, and transmission options were either a 5-speed automatic or 6-speed manual.
Fourth Generation (2008-2015)
The current G-Series keeps the rear-wheel drive platform and handsome looks of the previous generation. The array of engine options increases to include a 2.5L 4-cylinder or 3.7L 6-cylinder. Through 2012, the luxury sedan remained virtually unchanged. However in 2013, Infiniti dropped the 2.5L from the lineup. Transmissions options include either a 7-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. Also, for the first time ever, Infiniti offered a convertible model.
If you’re looking for an Asian import that can rule the Autobahn, look no further than Infiniti’s answer to the ever popular BMW 3-Series. It’s potent engine lineup and rear-wheel drive layout make it force to be reckoned with.
