The 2012 Infiniti G37 IPL starts at $50,695 including an $895 destination charge. Equipped with an optional trunk mat, first-aid kit and cargo net (a $200 package), my test car topped out at $50,895. BMW's M3 starts at $62,295 and the Lexus IS-F at $62,175. The IPL may seem like a bargain, but the base G37 with the 330-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 starts at just $38,695. If you want a manual transmission, you need to jump up to the $45,095 G37 Sport coupe, which also nets you a Bose stereo, limited-slip differential, a navigation system with voice recognition, driver's seat/mirrors/steering-wheel position memory, a backup camera with sonar system and a moonroof. It's still a bargain compared with the IPL.

The G37 is one of those cars whose styling had aged well … until the IPL team got ahold of it. Infiniti IPL-ified it with gaudy and aggressive body cladding, transforming it into a cartoon version of itself. Sure, the unique front and rear bumpers, side sills, rear spoiler and wheels add visual drama, but they look overblown to me.