Is an Infinity G35 a Pony car?

As you can tell from my user name I own a Red Mustang with a V-6. So I hope the Mustang and Camero gys don't completely bite my head off.

After the demise of the of the Camaro F-body many journalists and automotive enthusiasts started claiming that the Mustang is the "last" muscle/pony car. While I think that statement has merrit I think that the Infinity G35 coupe is acualy a pony car, even though many may right it off as just an import.

Lets face it, the infinity has a pronounced front end, long hood, a short flat deck, heavy rake on the windshield, and a sloping c pillar that joins the body abruptly. It's a 2 door coupe with 2+2 seating, is light weight, and comes with a 280hp V6. I went to the infinity web page and found that the Sport Coupe Leather 6MT (Premium package, 6spd Manual Trans) model costs just $32k. I jumped over to vortechsuperchargers.com and found that by just bolting on a centerfugial supercharger you can be running a light weight, great handling 2+2 coupe with 412hp and 355 ft/lbs of torque.

If that doesn't sound like a pony car I don't know what does.

And for those of you who think you need to have racing heritage to be a true muscle car I'll refer you to the car that spawned the G35, the Nissan Skyline.

So my question is, do you think it is a pony car?

Fast car, yes.Pony car, I don't know. As far as the Skyline is concerned,how many do you see here?? You're talking about the, I think it's rated at 1025-1035 horses. I'm not real sure on that one so don't quote me. As far as American technology goes. Don't underestimate their ability to put out an exteremely fast/insanely fast contender.

When someone says "pony car" they are talking about a car that has heritage, and pertains to cars from a certain area and its progression. Mustang, Camaro, old school muscle. It was a thing of the 60's and 70's. At least that's my take on it.

I'm with HiFlow on this one... there really is no true muscle cars any more. So what use to be pony cars have been referred to as muscle cars for last 15 years or so. And not having a V-8 is really hurting the G35 from being a possible muscle car. Also it's heritage is a borrowed from the Z and the Z's heritage is def not muscle nor pony car.

Technically, the G35 can be considered a ponycar, because it's predecessor (Skyline) was a performance oriented car from the early times.

1969-72 Skyline GT-R

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Pit/3823/pgc10.gif

1998cc 160hp double over head cam 6cyl. S20 engine

Not bad for a car that came out in 1969...

Skyline is not American made, therefor cannot be classified as a pony car. The term pony car goes hand in hand with good old fashioned Detroit Muscle.

Pony cars don't have 4 doors!!!!!!!!

G35's have 4 doors? i thought those were basically the same thing as the 350Z's

The common Skyline is a 2-door.

The G35 also has a coupe, as does the new R35 Skyline...

Skyline is not American made, therefor cannot be classified as a pony car. The term pony car goes hand in hand with good old fashioned Detroit Muscle.

Clarification:
The term pony car goes hand in hand with Ford models; Pinto, Maverick, & Mustang.... :iceslolan

I never recall the term "pony car" ever being used with anything from Chevy or Mopar. If it has, then that's news to me.

If a car is deemed a pony car because of certain characteristics regarding design and capability, then it really doesn't matter where it originates from. In Japan, that role is covered by the Skyline and the Supra.

Have a good weekend, Guys...

The weather is getting better and better... :evillol:

"1998cc 160hp double over head cam 6cyl. S20 engine

Not bad for a car that came out in 1969..."

How about the Ford 427 SOHC, aka the "Cammer"? I believe it came out in 1967, and put out 658hp with dual 4bbl carbs, I think around 50hp less with single. And you could buy one over the counter from a ford dealership! Now THATs muscle! My uncle put one in his 1967 Mustang Fastback drag car.
I believe a pony car is a lightweight American car, originating in the '60s, with at least an option for a v8. Hell, the original 60s mustangs had at least 6 v8s you could choose from! 289, 302, 390, 410, 427, 428, 429... and if you include all the engines from that era(say 1965-1973) you could also get the 351c, maybe even the 352FE engine. Not sure on the last one... Not to mention there were different versions of each, ie 2bbl, 4bbl, HO, Cobra jet, Boss... the list goes on and on.

"1998cc 160hp double over head cam 6cyl. S20 engine

Not bad for a car that came out in 1969..."

How about the Ford 427 SOHC, aka the "Cammer"? I believe it came out in 1967, and put out 658hp with dual 4bbl carbs, I think around 50hp less with single. And you could buy one over the counter from a ford dealership! Now THATs muscle! My uncle put one in his 1967 Mustang Fastback drag car.
I believe a pony car is a lightweight American car, originating in the '60s, with at least an option for a v8. Hell, the original 60s mustangs had at least 6 v8s you could choose from! 289, 302, 390, 410, 427, 428, 429... and if you include all the engines from that era(say 1965-1973) you could also get the 351c, maybe even the 352FE engine. Not sure on the last one... Not to mention there were different versions of each, ie 2bbl, 4bbl, HO, Cobra jet, Boss... the list goes on and on.

Good point Duplox, but wasn't "The Crammer" an engine to be purchased; as opposed to something that already came in the car? Just wondering....

Clarification:
The term pony car goes hand in hand with Ford models; Pinto, Maverick, & Mustang.... :iceslolan

I never recall the term "pony car" ever being used with anything from Chevy or Mopar. If it has, then that's news to me.

If a car is deemed a pony car because of certain characteristics regarding design and capability, then it really doesn't matter where it originates from. In Japan, that role is covered by the Skyline and the Supra.

Have a good weekend, Guys...

The weather is getting better and better... :evillol:
Pony cars are american.

The F-bodies were pony cars.






Why would this question be brought up anyways?

Yeah, the cammer was only an OTC engine, you couldnt buy it installed... but you could buy mustangs with any number of other 427s installed in them, low/medium/high port, tunnel port, different carb configurations, cams, etc.

Just for fun, a picture of my uncle's '67:
http://www.turboslut.net/greenmachine1.jpg

that's a nice ride. I've always wanted one of those.

Clarification:
The term pony car goes hand in hand with Ford models; Pinto, Maverick, & Mustang.... :iceslolan

I never recall the term "pony car" ever being used with anything from Chevy or Mopar. If it has, then that's news to me.

If a car is deemed a pony car because of certain characteristics regarding design and capability, then it really doesn't matter where it originates from. In Japan, that role is covered by the Skyline and the Supra.

Have a good weekend, Guys...

The weather is getting better and better... :evillol:
From www.Musclecarclub.com (http://www.Musclecarclub.com);
Strict Definition of a Muscle Car:
A muscle car, by the strictest definition, is an intermediate sized, performance oriented model, powered by a large V8 engine, at an affordable price. Most of these models were based on "regular" production vehicles. These vehicles are generally not considered muscle cars, even when equipped with large V8s. If there was a high performance version available, it gets the credit, and not the vehicle that it was based on.

Examples: Buick GS, Chevrolete Chevelle SS, Dodge Charger R/T, Ford Torino/Cobra, Plymouth GTX, Plymouth Road Runner, Oldsmobile 442, Pontiac GTO
Pony Cars and Compact Cars:
In addition to fullsize and intermediate muscle cars, a number of smaller vehicles started appearing on the automotive performance scene. These new "pony cars" and compact cars are generally considered muscle cars only if they have the top of the line performance engines and options.

Examples: Chevrolet Camaro (SS and Z28 models only), Ford Mustang (GTs and Boss only), Plymouth 'Cudas (no Barracudas), AMC Javelin, etc.

G35's have 4 doors? i thought those were basically the same thing as the 350Z's

I was responding to the car in the picture above. It has 4-doors so it was definetly not a Pony car.

no offence High but thats a pos definition. by that you would be saying that shelby mustangs and "normal" mustang, camaros, and barracudas, ect. would just be normal cars.. hardly.. i'd like to see a 'normal' car with PERFECT lines and a very powerful engine. such as the few 428 68 mustangs coupes would be a 'normal' car.

know what i mean?

no offence High but thats a pos definition. by that you would be saying that shelby mustangs and "normal" mustang, camaros, and barracudas, ect. would just be normal cars.. hardly.. i'd like to see a 'normal' car with PERFECT lines and a very powerful engine. such as the few 428 68 mustangs coupes would be a 'normal' car.

know what i mean?
Would you call a Mustang with a straight 6 a muscle car?

Well, when you're talking about the 60's cars, saying it has the 'top of the line' engine is cutting out a WHOLE bunch of still powerful engines. For example, if you were looking at a '67 mustang, I suppose the most powerful engine you could get in it would be a high port 427... but does that mean a 390/410/428 or any of the other 427s were not muscle cars? for that matter, 302s or 289s? Even the 289 is bigger than pretty much any current mustang has. In my opinion, a muscle car is a late 60s/early 70s american car with a V8. The more power you squeeze out of the engine the more muscley it becomes, but even stock they still have that good ol' Detroit Muscle!
The term 'muscle' car is all about the look and sound of a car... if its a 66-73 American car thats got that throaty v8 sound, long hood, and a sporty look, its a muscle car.

Nice Stang, Duplox...my compliments to your uncle...