AWD in the G35

[ejgarc]

I read in Car and Driver that around December Infiniti will be offering the G-35 in AWD form with the ATTESSA system. Will this make the R-35 coming to America rumors more of a reality?

[VQuick]

The V35 Skyline in Japan has been available with ATTESSA-ETS for a while now. We're finally getting it in the States.

The GT-R will be coming to the US. Nissan's product planner for the GT-R, Hiroshi Tamura, has said that Carlos Ghosn told him that the next GT-R must be a global car.

Ghosn visited the NISMO Festival in 2001, witnessed the fanatical devotion to the GT-R first hand, and liked what he saw. He believes there's no reason why such a car should not be as popular in America and Europe. But that means the end of the road for the straight six engine layout that has been part of the Skyline mystique since the 1960s.

About the RB, Tamura said "We cannot use the straight six engine, because it's too costly to build a left-hand-drive car with that engine; the air intake is on that side of the car, and we can't change it without doubling costs."

The GT-R concept car revealed at the 2001 Tokyo motor show was, Tamura insists, just that-a concept. The next car will be a new generation GT-R, Tamura insists. "Porsche 993 to 996 was a big step. Ferrari 355 to 360 was a big step. We must make an even bigger leap than that for the next generation GT-R. What we are saying to customers is, be patient, trust us, we will make it for you."

Info is taken from the article "Mr Skyline GT-R" in the Feb. 2003 issue of car.

[scourge2u]

From what I have read, the AWD option will only be available on the sedan, not the coupe. No sense in making competition for the GTR.

[VQuick]

True. An awd G35 Coupe wouldn't have any competition from other makes.