What’s new, highlights, and safety info for the 2009 Infiniti G37.

Introduction

The Infiniti G37 sedan and coupe may sit at the bottom of Infiniti’s lineup, but they are the most entertaining of all the company’s models. Serious horsepower, refined manners, and excellent handling make the G37 sedan and coupe strong players in their segments. Larger than their German competition from Mercedes-Benz and BMW, the Infinitis also offer more standard horsepower than the Europeans. The rear-drive chassis, closely related to Nissan’s 370Z sports car, offers responsive and entertaining handling that will impress even the most die-hard sports-car enthusiast. For those who suffer through harsh winters, the G37x (both coupe and sedan) adds all-wheel drive.

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Red is the color of choice for Audi’s new wallpaper gallery of the just released, top-of-the-line R8 V10 5.2 FSI. Set to go on sale during the second quarter of 2009, the most powerful version of Audi’s mid-engined supercar is equipped with a Lamborghini Gallardo derived, 5.2-liter V10 engine that pumps out 525HP and 530 Nm (390.91 lb-ft) of torque. In case you missed our detailed article on the R8 V10, click here for all the initial information or else follow the jump and enjoy the high-res image gallery.

Audi today edges closer to Lamborghini territory with the new V10-powered R8. It’s enough to turn the R8 from a V8 sports car/911 rival/posh-TT into a genuine supercar – thanks to a 5.2-litre V10 with a stout 518bhp. It’s the Gallardo rival Audi said it would never build.

How fast is the R8 V10? Plenty quick enough, thank you very much. We’re talking 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds and 196mph. It’s comfortably the most extreme roadgoing vehicle ever to emerge from Audi’s sports division Quattro GmbH – but also the most expensive. Before we start cooing over the numbers, be warned that the R8 V10 costs a whopping £22k more than the regular, £77k V8-powered R8 model.

But it looks like a regular R8! How can I spot the expensive new V10?

With a magnifying glass! There are now two, not four, bars on the front and rear air vents either side of the registration plates and the V10 is shod with new 10-spoke, Y-design alloy wheels and wide 295/30 boots at the rear. And if you miss those rims, you’ll need to spot the spoiler lip in high-gloss black and the chromed finish to the vanes on the trademark Audi grille. All 108 LEDs in the headlamps are standard-fit on the top-spec R8.

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Volkswagen used today’s Bologna motor show to unveil its Mk2 Golf Plus, the third Golf model (after the three- and five-door hatchbacks) to get Wolfsburg’s latest looks.

Only the nose on the new VW Golf Plus looks new! What’s changed?

That new nose is indeed the obvious change. The headlamps, now with daytime running lights, receive a little nip on the inner edges and the two-bar grille is now in high-gloss black.

The bodywork tweaks also see the rubbing strips disappear from the revised front bumper, while the rear is tidied up by new bodywork and LED rear lights.

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You’ve already seen the teaser photos of the Mazda 3 saloon, then the full story on the 3 sedan and of course the first pictures of the Euro-spec Mazda 3 hatchback. Time, then for the full official details and engineering story of Mazda’s Focus rival.

Talk about rinsing out the launch of a new car…

Yes, welcome to the PR stage-managed launch process typical in 2008. Today Mazda goes public at the Bologna show with its new 3, so at last we see the full engine details and more info on the company’s biggest-selling car.

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