My little grand-boy Marc is five-years-old and heavily into dragons. He once asked me if I ever had seen a dragon outside an airplane window? “Sure,” I told him. “That’s why Grampa stopped drinking. I used to see dragons, monkeys and sometimes I saw spiders dancing on the ceiling.” I didn’t really drink but I was too committed to change my story.

Last week a 2008 Infiniti G37 Sport was delivered for evaluation. I was doing a walk-around of the vehicle, thinking to myself how sleek-looking it was and how fast it looked sitting still on my driveway. As I stood facing it I started hearing a strange voice that was speaking English, but with a Japanese accent. I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from until I noticed a smile coming from the Infiniti’s signature double-arch grille. The voice asked me if I wanted to go for a ride. I wasn’t totally shocked by a car talking to me because I hear food talking to me all the time.

Opened the door and sunk down in the premium leather, 14-way sport-styled seat with thigh extensions and power adjustable torso and thigh bolster. I didn’t need to take the key out of my pocket because it was equipped with standard Infiniti Intelligent Key with push button ignition. I adjusted the tilt/telescoping steering column, automatic temperature control and set the mirrors to my liking and found myself a good talk radio station to blast out some tunes via a standard 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 playback capability, Radio Data System and center console-mounted auxiliary input. As I started to back down my driveway I checked the RearView Monitor that projected through a 7-inch color display and saw nothing in my blind spot, continued backward and took command.

The 2008 G37 Coupe comes in three well-equipped models; The G37 Coupe, G37 Coupe Journey and G37 Coupe Sport 6MT. The test vehicle was the latter. The powerplant for all three models is the 3.7-liter V-6 with molybdenum coated pistons. It puts out 330 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. It’s also the first-ever application of the new 3.7-liter engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL). The engine is based on the award-winning VQ engine series that was named one of the “Ten Best Engines” by Ward’s Auto World magazine for 13 consecutive years. EPA mileage estimates are 18 mpg in the city for the G37 and Journey and 17 mpg in the city for the Sport 6MT. Highway mileage is 24 mpg, (26 mpg for the Sport 6MT).

The laser-welded dual exhaust system produces an authentic performance sound. The large-diameter chrome exhaust tips on either side of the rear bumper tell those behind you that you’re packing.

The transmission in the test vehicle was a newly-revised close-ratio lightweight six-speed manual transmission. It’s only available in the Sport 6MT. A five-speed electronically-controlled automatic with manual mode, Downshift Rev Matching and quick-shift DS mode and Adaptive Shift Control is the only transmission available on the G37 and the G37 Journey. It is available with genuine magnesium paddle shifters that allow for quicker shifts in sport driving situations. I’d rather have a true manual transmission because that way I get to use the free clutch that Infiniti provides.

Handling and ride performance increases are courtesy of the G37 Coupe’s enhanced Front Mid-ship platform, which has been stiffened 36 percent from the previous generation. Add to this a lower overall height and wider front and rear track width and off you go.

Available is Infiniti’s exclusive 4-Wheel Active Steer system. Its automatically variable front steering ratios and rear suspension geometry adjusts to steering input and vehicle speed via motor-driven controls. Along with that are standard four-wheel vented disc brakes with four-channel, four-sensor Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brake force Distribution and Brake Assist, and in the Sport 6MT’s case, aluminum four-piston calipers in the front and two piston-calipers in the rear with large ventilated rotors – 14.0-inches front and 13.8-inches rear.

Eighteen-inch aluminum alloy wheels are standard on the G37 and the Journey. Optional and/or part of a package on the Journey – and standard on the Sport 6MT are 19-inch x 8.5J-inch front-, and 19.9J-inch-rear aluminum alloy wheels. All-season tires are standard on the G37 and Journey; summer tires are standard on the Sport 6MT and optional/part of a package on the Journey.

The instrument panel is nicely laid out and the knobs on the HVAC were ergonomically and tactically friendly. The glove box was kind of roomy but I would have liked to have seen more storage space in the center console or elsewhere in the dashboard area. There’s a cool analog quartz clock sitting high on the center stack.

Generally, I’m not at all pleased with any vehicle that doesn’t have adjustable shoulder belts. You can almost identify what vehicle someone drives by the calluses on his or her neck. The G37 didn’t have adjustable shoulder belts but for some reason they didn’t pose a problem. Better engineering, I guess.

There’s a passel of standard safety and comfort items and a large selection of packages and options. Customize your vehicle to your heart’s – and your wallet’s content.

MSRP for the G37 Coupe is $34,250; the Journey is $35,000; and the Sport 6MT is $35,550. Destination and handling is $715. You can equip one for more than $40,000 … but you’ll really have to work at it.

As I exited the G37 after a long drive the vehicle asked me, “How did you like me?” I said, “You’re great, Mr. G37.” About this time, little Marc came running from the house and said, “Who are you talking to, Grampa?” I looked into his trusting brown eyes and said, “A dragon, Little Guy.”