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Unlike the Infiniti G35, the new Infiniti G37's lines are more contemporary than classic. Everything flows from the front fenders, rounded so much they stand out.

Infiniti calls the new look seductive, although we think the word better applies to the sleek G35. The G37 second-generation daughter looks bulkier around the shoulders and hips. Still, it achieves a very aerodynamic 0.30 Coefficient of Drag.

On paper, the shape sounds good. The front wheel cutouts are larger, leaving less metal for the fenders and making them appear to rise even more. The headlights with integrated foglamps are smaller and sexier, an evolutionary improvement over the G35. But the grille has been slightly arched at the top at bottom, and filler has been between the horizontal bars at their edges, so it appears blockier.

The change to the hood and shoulders is easier to see. Infiniti calls the aluminum hood (pinned with two latches) a wave hood, although the sea looks pretty flat between the bulging shoreline of the fenders. The new hood is smaller than before, moving the fender seams inboard, which allows the fenders to rise to a ridge with character lines.

The front fascia below the grille has been changed on the base Coupe and Sport 6MT, with the Journey keeping the G35 fascia that's slightly sleeker, having two long openings with black screen, coming toward each other. The Sport fascia has three openings, although two are filled and just for looks, while the width of the bumper between the openings and grille is thicker.

New character lines on the side of the car angle upward, visually lifting the butt of the G37 a bit, and making the rear bumper look narrower. Other than that, the tail is unchanged, including the taillights and twin chrome exhaust tips. The standard small spoiler on the lip of the trunk is awful, if only because it comes only in chrome (popular with many). But for the sake of highway beauty, spend $550 for the body-colored one, which is bigger but not too big, and its size gives the G37 more stability at speed.

From the side or 3/4 view, you can see a hint of the family resemblance to the Nissan 350Z (soon to be the 370Z with the new 3.7-liter engine). We also see a roofline resemblance to the Ford Mustang, although it takes some squinting.

Finally, the wheels. Infiniti does good wheels. The standard 18s are split five-spokes, in polished titanium, and the beautiful 10-spoke 19-inch wheels fully complement the car's good looks.

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The redesigned interior, leather with some vinyl mostly on the dash and doors, comes in three handsome shades: wheat, graphite, and stone. The instrument panel is Infiniti's double wave design, trimmed in standard spun aluminum, so understated it seems almost stark (inspired by elegant, handmade Japanese Washi paper), or optional African rosewood. The rosewood is unique and classy, while the aluminum is sporty. The signature analog clock is present, of course. The materials, fit and finish are high quality.

The three-spoke steering wheel contains audio and cruise controls, and is wrapped in hand-stitched perforated leather. The instrument panel uses electroluminescent lighting, its needles glowing red on a white-and-violet background. An information gauge gives readouts for useful stuff like immediate or average fuel mileage (16.9 for us), average speed, elapsed time, running distance, distance to empty, outside air temperature, odometer, and warning displays.

The perforated leather seats are comfortable, with the 8-way driver's seat having air lumbar support. Both front seats slide with the touch of a button, to allow passengers into the rear seat. The Sport Package, standard on the 6MT, adds 14-way sport-styled seats with thigh extensions and power adjustable torso and thigh bolsters for the driver, sporty steering-wheel stitching, and aluminum pedals.

The paddle shifters on the steering wheel are magnesium, and you can actually reach them with your fingers when your hands are at the 10 and 2 o'clock position on the steering wheel. With many other cars it's not possible. You pull back on each one: right side upshifts, left side downshifts.

Door pockets are small, half-taken by armrests, although each includes a hollow for a water bottle. Plus, there are two big cupholders behind the shift lever. Further back, under the driver's elbow, the size of the compartment in the center console is reasonable, and there's a glovebox.

A cool center stack falls around a small screen that displays data or navigation information, with the $2,200 navigation package. It's easy to understand, and its functions controlled with a four-way dial that indicates current traffic conditions, including construction ahead, with routes showing in green, yellow or red, colors based on congestion. It's all done through XM Satellite radio.

Infiniti has done the radio right. While many German, British, and some Japanese cars are ridiculously overcomplicating sound system controls, Infiniti sees that simple is good (because it's efficient), and also intelligent. The G37 shows off its sound system with SOUND capabilities, not button-pushing and menu-interpreting that's only tail-chasing.

The optional G37 music box sound system uses a 9.3 gigabyte hard drive to record about 90 CDs in superfast time (it's legal, because it's not burning). So you never have to carry CDs in your car. The directory can access your CDs by artist or type of music.

There's a vent in each A pillar to keep the side windows clear, and lots of rear glass gives good visibility and makes up for a lack of head space back there. There's not much knee room in the rear seats; that legroom stat of 29.8 inches is the lowest we've seen in a long time. The driveshaft hump runs high between the two rear seats, and supports an unimaginative console with cupholders and a vinyl tray. There's a wide crack between the seatback and seat bottom that might be uncomfortable over the miles.

That crack exists because the seatbacks fold forward to extend the trunk space, which is fairly shallow, with only 7.4 cubic feet. Overall, the rear seat sends heavy reminders that this is a coupe, not a sedan. You might even think of it as a four-seat Nissan 350Z.