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Infiniti has updated its sporty G35, boosting power and updating the styling, while sharpening its focus as a performance sedan.

The G35 with six-speed stickshift now packs a healthy 298 horsepower from its 3.5-liter V-6, while the automatic model puts out 280 horsepower. The six-speed test car proved to be a hard charger with sharp handling.

One thing about this car bugged me: A bright red warning light, dead center between the gauges, would start flashing madly whenever the engine got above 3,000 rpm.

Now, for a car with sporting goals, such a harsh warning at this modest engine speed seemed absurd. I couldn’t figure out how to stymie this feature, so I took the direct approach: a piece of black electrical tape stuck over the light. Problem solved.

As it turns out, the light can be adjusted to whatever engine speed you want, an Infiniti spokesman told me. So it could be set near the engine redline of 7,000 rpm to alert you when it’s time to shift up. Now, that makes sense. Live and learn.

Other than the warning-light issue, I found G35 to be a decent compromise between performance and luxury. The stiff sport suspension can be a bit too harsh and buffeting, but I suppose that’s the tradeoff for the quick handling response.

The rakish-looking sedan was fun to drive and loaded with features, with the interior feeling richer than the hard-plastic surfaces in the first-year G35 that I drove in 2002.

Infiniti would like to gain a reputation as a builder of luxury-performance cars akin to BMW. But even if G35 comes close in performance, it has a way to go in refinement.

PERFORMANCE: The same sparkling V-6 found in Nissan 350Z is under the hood of the G35, with nearly 300 horsepower pulling the relatively small sedan. Acceleration is of the crescendo variety, building power with speed.

The manual shifter is precise enough, but I had trouble getting this car to shift smoothly. There was an unpleasant combination of vague clutch action and engine rpm that dropped too slowly between shifts.

Fuel mileage was OK for a performance car, though premium is required for maximum power.

DRIVABILITY: As well as the engine, G35 shares with 350Z the basic chassis architecture, with the same stiff platform and well-engineered suspension.

Cornering is race-car quick, the steering responding eagerly and the firm suspension providing a poised attitude through handling maneuvers. But there is a downside to the athletic ability: The ride can get too harsh over rough surfaces. The steering also feels twitchy rather than smooth and progressive.

G35 comes standard with a complete package of electronic gear for safety and handling, including braking enhancements, engine-speed sensitive steering, Vehicle Dynamic Control, traction control, and a full set of safety air bags.

All-wheel drive is available, though only with automatic and the 280-horse engine.

STYLING: The attractively aerodynamic body gets a mild update, including a new grille, bumper and lights. A restyled aluminum hood helps lighten the load.

INTERIOR: The materials feel rich and high-quality, and the new gauge cluster is clearer and cleaner. Luxury options include such things as a navigation system and premium package.

BOTTOM LINE: The base G35 offers luxury and performance for $31,000. A major contender among sport sedans, it could use some smoothing of its rough edges.

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door sedan, rear-wheel drive.

Engine: 3.5 liter V-6, 298 horsepower at 6,400 rpm, 260 pound-feet torque at 4,800 rpm.

Transmission: Six-speed manual.

Wheelbase: 122.2 inches.

Overall length: 186.5 inches.

Curb weight: 3,472 pounds.

EPA rating: 19 city, 26 highway.

Highs: Sporty handling, strong engine and distinctive styling.

Lows: Ride harshness, twitchy steering and that weird rpm light.

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door sedan, rear-wheel drive.

Engine: 3.5 liter V-6, 298 horsepower at 6,400 rpm, 260 pound-feet torque at 4,800 rpm.

Transmission: Six-speed manual.

Wheelbase: 122.2 inches.

Overall length: 186.5 inches.

Curb weight: 3,472 pounds.

EPA rating: 19 city, 26 highway.

Highs: Sporty handling, strong engine and distinctive styling.

Lows: Ride harshness, twitchy steering and that weird rpm light.