I was just looking at the 2012 6MT sedan specs and I have to say I'm growing disappointed with Infiniti's seemingly incessant bloat. Their engineers need to seriously think about putting the car on a diet. Some stats on 6MT sedans:

2007 = 3532 lbs.
2008 = 3532 lbs. ( 0 gain )
2009 = 3615 lbs. (+83, but gained a vq37)
2010 = 3640 lbs. (+25 more, now up to 108 total gain)
2011 = 3701 lbs. (+61 more, now up to 169 total gain)
2012 = 3709 lbs. (+8 more, now up to 177 total gain)

Did you know that the Journey has only gone up 120 lbs. over the same term?
Or that the X has only gone up 118 lbs.?

And how 'bout this . . . the 2012 6MT weighs 5 lbs. MORE than the 07/08 G35X awd models!! ( Seriously??! WTH )

Keep in mind, this is all occurred while the engine torque has only increased a whopping ONE ft/lb, from 268 (HR) to 269 (VHR). I noticed that front/rear weight bias has slipped as well. You really don't need to be a physics major to see where this is headed. How much quicker and more agile would a new 6MT be WITHOUT that extra 177 lb. lard-A$$ that's sitting in your passenger seat and refusing to get out?

Thoughts/comments

 

You need to come to terms with the fact that speed is not the only aspect of Infiniti performance. Compared to its German rivals, it's a featherweight. More weight basically translates to a smoother ride and a safer vehicle due to increased mass. I for one, respect the fact that my G weighs more than my American V8 sitting next to it.

 

Most of the weight was the brakes

 

Exactly! im glad you pointed this out. These cars arent getting any prettier because of this. My brother calls my car a fat piese of $hit lol. I'll always love my 07 compared to the new BOATS theyre making. I dont see why its neccesary to get bigger and heavier than they already are with no major gains!

 

Not sure which car youre referring to as 'featherweight' but comparing to a known competitor the '11 335i its 3600-3650lbs which is about the same as the G's and is an acceptable weight(3650lbs) for luxury sports sedan with all the amenities and features they offer imo after all tracking the car is not the main feature when they make these cars.

But ill agree with VQ that now infiniti is losing the plot by entering the 3700+ range...

 

More safety features, luxuries, accessories; all of those added features/selling points increase the weight of the car. That is why a base model usually weighs less compared to one that is fully loaded.

 

I'm just stating that weight is not necessarily a bad thing. Sure, if you care about your 0-60 this may be an area of concern but are you willing to give up the luxury toys your loaded G offers to save on weight?

P.S. This reminded me of what sometimes happens when a little weight shaving gets out of hand. Here's what remained of a Sentra when Sport Compact wrote an article on shaving weight vs gaining speed.

 

well, there is always ways to take out the fat.

 

Well, actually, performance IS a major part of what the 6MT is supposed to be all about. It's their sportiest sedan. They don't make many, it's geared toward the enthusiast, and you pretty much have to go out of your way to get one (what is it, like 5% of G's are 6MT?), so it should be paying attention to performance. Also, like kool said, the 3 series is lighter and that's the G's main competition.

Further, I have to disagree that increased mass automatically equates to smoothness, and I definitely disagree that it equates to greater safety. Proper engineering accomplishes that; many smaller cars can be smoother and safer than a heavier counterpart. It's just easier to accomplish with added weight.

I wondered so too, but if that were so, then it would have all happened in '09 when they went to the vq37 since the BBKs came out that year too. Nope, they got another 94 lbs heavier AFTER the change up.

I have to say that I do like the newer styling though, I just hate the bloat. And I agree, if they're gonna add weight, it should be compensated with some torque gains to carry it.

It's a slippery slope being less than 150 lighter than the 2012 M37. I hope they get their act together whenever they come out with the next major model revamp. Since dropping the lackluster Q model, I wonder sometimes if Infiniti isn't trying to stretch their models to compete with their competitors multiple model classes. Like having the G compete with the 3 AND 5 series and the M compete with the 5 AND 7 series. (Needless to say, they'd have a ways to go there and hopefully they wouldn't)

Ok, that surely makes sense, but how did they go from 3889 lbs. for the old M35 in '07 DOWN to 3858 for an M37 in 2012 ? Superior car, yet less weight. Just plain superior engineering if you ask me; showing it CAN be done. I'd sure take a 2012 M37 over the '07 M35 all day long.

 

Do you really want to take the fat out?

 

I think you're taking a rather polar extreme here. I do not find my '07 6MT lacking in luxury. I'm not looking to strip the car for the sake of 0-60 times. I think with a bit of care, Infiniti can maintain both. Besides, less weight improves many behaviors in the performance of the car, not just straight line acceleration.

 

Well yeah, but I believe we can have out cake and eat it too. Look at what they've done with the M37.

 

carbon Fiber can take a lot of weight off the car.

 

I just think it would be a shame for a 6MT to end up being like the G25, no options whatsoever. Isn't that a Porsche syndrome where to make the current model faster they remove options and replace things such as door handles with pull straps? That's not much of engineering.
I do agree that lighter cars of today are much safer than heavier cars of yesterday, but I am still not convinced that weight is the enemy of sports sedans. Just look at an AMG S class. I bet that puppy tips the scales at over 5k easy. It's still fast, although it may not be as nimble as, say the G. There has to be a reason they're making them so heavy.
Another common misconception is that sub compacts like the Smart car are fairly safe because of all the safety engineering that went into its design (and it was a great amount of safety engineering too). The fact still remains that in an accident, even though the car acts like it was intended (like an egg shell) to protect its occupants, the forces on the human body easily exceed those felt in a vehicle with proper crumple zones. Unfortunately, our internal organs still follow the laws of physics.

 

Very true!

I meant it would be a shame if the 6MT stopped offering options that add weight in the future in favor of keeping the car lighter thus focusing on performance.