Replace the concept car goodies such as hidden door handles, glass-paneled roof, and pint-size cameras that serve as exterior mirrors, and what you see in this photo is the 2007 Infiniti G35 Coupe. This isn’t the actual production car. Rather, it’s the Infiniti Coupe Concept that debuted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, a thinly veiled version of what you’ll be able to buy in showrooms next year.

Arguably, the Infiniti G35 Coupe saved Nissan’s luxury division from oblivion when it arrived for the 2003 model year. With dramatic styling and true four-passenger capacity riding on a stretched 350Z platform, the G35 Coupe was the first true competitor to the vaunted BMW 3 Series Coupe to ever come out of Japan. Not only that, it established an aggressive new look for the brand, drew both luxury and enthusiast buyers to Infiniti showrooms, and became the up-and-coming young executive’s ride of choice – if the parking lots of office complexes in the country’s major cities are any indication.

The new Infiniti G Coupe should continue this trend, aimed right at the heart of the luxury performance market. The Coupe Concept’s lines are not dramatically different from the current Infiniti design vocabulary, incorporating elements of the M sedan and existing G Coupe. Even the nine-spoke, 20-inch wheels and large-diameter chrome tipped dual exhaust outlets are evolutions of the current car.

Inside, the Infiniti Coupe Concept takes the tailored cabin themes of the existing G35 Coupe and cleans them up to create an artfully simplistic yet upscale driving environment, anchored by the traditional analog clock in the center of the dash. The driver gets a thick steering wheel equipped with paddle shifters, flat at the bottom and with thumb rests at the nine- and three-o’clock positions. Textured aluminum trim accents resemble Japanese “Washi” paper for a sense of warmth and tradition, and the large five-gauge instrument cluster is illuminated with violet light for a coolly luxurious effect. The deeply bucketed front seats feature integrated stereo speakers like the Infiniti M sedan, and the driver’s feet are treated aluminum alloy pedals.

So, what’s under the hood? Infiniti didn’t divulge specifics, but you can certainly expect a return of the 3.5-liter VQ-Series V6 engine making at least 300 horsepower, and possibly even the 335-horse 4.5-liter V8 from the M45 in the top model. And, since the Infiniti Coupe Concept is riding on an evolution of the vaunted FM-platform, expect a balanced blend of performance-tuned handling and luxurious ride quality, thanks in part to 20-inch Bridgestone Potenza performance tires and giant four-wheel-disc brakes.

With the Infiniti Coupe Concept, the company hopes to illustrate how the next-generation G35 will blend “aggressive, seductive, and precise” design with its emerging reputation for crafting world-class luxury performance automobiles. Given this gorgeous new Infiniti Coupe Concept, we think the company can expect overwhelming success with the 2007 Infiniti G35 Coupe.

Photos by Ron Perry