When the famous Nissan Skyline finally arrived on North American shores in 2002 as the Infiniti G35, replacing the front-drive Nissan Primera-based G20, it gave the Japanese automaker's luxury brand a fresh face and a serious shot in the arm in terms of sales and popularity. It proved so worthy an entry in the U.S. market that it earned our 2003 Motor Trend Car of the Year award for its efforts.

For the second generation, the Infiniti G lineup has received numerous revisions, a bigger, more powerful 3.7L engine, and now, a drop-top version in the form of the 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible. Infiniti's second convertible might as well be its first, since few remember the short-lived M30 produced during the brand's formative years.

Arriving next spring, the hardtop G37 Convertible, which is making its debut at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show, will have several differences from its coupe relative. Infiniti says the design from the A-pillar back is all-new, including structural reinforcements in the chassis, a modified rear suspension, a wider rear track (62.8 in. with 18-in. wheels, 62.6 in. with 19-in. ones versus 61.4 in. for the coupe), and an extra 1.1 in. of overall width. The convertible hardware also adds a good chunk of extra weight, with the drop-top weighing between 4095 and 4110 lb versus the coupe's 3616-3668-lb weight range. The switch from top up and top down won't be lightning fast, either, with Infiniti saying that raising or dropping the top will take about 30 sec.

Other convertible-only modifications include pop-up rollbars, an adaptive climate-control system that adjusts with vehicle speed and top position, and a special type of aluminum interior trim that can be switched out for African rosewood. Convertible-only options include a wind deflector, climate-controlled seats, and a 13-speaker Bose Open Air sound system that features two speakers in both front headrests. Designed specifically for the G37 Convertible, the system uses digital signal processing and a noise-monitoring microphone to adjust sound to compensate for wind and other ambient noise.

There are some changes on the powertrain side as well. The 3.7L V-6 in the convertible has a slightly lower output of 325 hp and 267 lb-ft versus the G Coupe's 330 hp and 270 lb-ft. Like the coupe and sedan, the convertible will receive Infiniti's new seven-speed automatic transmission with available paddle shifters or a close ratio six-speed manual.

The G37 Convertible will be offered in just two trims, base and Sport 6MT. The base version comes with the seven-speed automatic transmission and 18-in. wheels with all-season tires standard as well as countless features including dual side impact and side curtain airbags, keyless ignition with push-button start, active head restraints, and cruise control. The Sport 6MT obviously comes with the six-speed manual transmission plus 19-in. wheels with summer tires, sport-tuned steering, upgraded four-piston front and two-piston rear brakes, sport seats with adjustable bolsters for the driver, and aluminum pedals. All performance upgrades found on the Sport 6MT are available for the base model as part of a sport package, but neither sport version can be had with climate-controlled seats. Also available are Bluetooth, a navigation system with a 9.3 gigabyte hard drive instead of a six-disc CD changer, and intelligent cruise control.

Fuel economy has not been finalized, but mileage should be slightly lower than the coupe due to the extra heft. The automatic-equipped 2009 G37 coupe is rated at 18/26 mpg city/highway and the manual at 17/25 mpg. Pricing has not been announced, either, but the convertible should carry a decent premium over the coupe. For comparison, a BMW 3 Series convertible costs about $8000 more than a comparable coupe.