Nissan released a whole bunch of news last night about its plans for the future, which included a hybridized Rogue and a new Xterra. Buried in the long list of upcoming models and strategy charts was something that I think most enthusiasts my age will be pretty hyped about: A new Nissan Skyline.
While Nissan has never sold a car with a Skyline badge in America, anyone who grew up in the golden era of Gran Turismo and The Fast & The Furious will undoubtedly be familiar with the badge. For decades, the Skyline nameplate has graced the rear ends of Nissan’s Japan-only midsize coupes and sedans. High-end GT-R versions from the late 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s have become some of the most desirable JDM imports on the planet.
While most people are familiar with R32, R33, and R34 Skylines, Nissan never stopped making them. The car that replaced the R34, the V35, was sold in Japan as a Skyline, but marketed in the United States as the Infiniti G35. In 2006, that car gave way to the V36 Skyline, known here as the Infiniti G37. In 2014, the current V37 Nissan Skyline, known in America as the Q50, was unveiled.
Seeing as how that car is now 12 years old, the Skyline is well overdue for a replacement. So Nissan has published a short teaser video alongside a few images to get its Japanese buyer base excited. And as before, this new Skyline will come to America as an Infiniti-badged sedan. And it should have a manual transmission.
As far as official details are concerned, there isn’t very much to work with. Nissan published two close-up teaser photos of the car—one of the nose, and another of the rear quarter panel—along with a super-short eight-second video showing the shadow-covered Skyline next to what looks to be a third-generation Skyline from the late 1960s.
Aside from confirming the car is on the way, Nissan really didn’t say much about the Skyline in its big press release about the future of the company, adding just one line about the car towards the bottom:
Skyline: A Heartbeat model for Japan, delivering performance, precision and driver-focused character.
On a semi-related note, the company also included one paragraph about its plans for Infiniti (emphasis mine):
In the premium segment, INFINITI will remain important within Nissan’s product strategy. The brand will be revitalized through new and refreshed models, beginning with the all-new 2027 QX65 SUV this spring. This will be followed by four additional models: a new mid-size hybrid SUV, a performance-oriented V6 sedan and two frame-based hybrid SUVs.
While Nissan hasn’t confirmed it, it’s very likely that the new Skyline and this “performance-oriented V6 sedan” are the same car. As I mentioned earlier, Infiniti’s been selling rebadged Skylines for over two decades now, and while the last Q50 died in 2024, Infiniti has said it’s working on a replacement. So it’d make sense that, as before, Infiniti would bring the Skyline to America badged as a Q50 [Update: Looks like my guess was spot-on. Nissan Americas Chairman Christian Meunier confirmed that the Skyline will come to America as the Q50, according to The Drive – Brian].
The V6 part of this isn’t exactly a surprise, given that the last three Skylines and their Infiniti counterparts all used V6 engines. In a later version of the Q50 dubbed the Red Sport 400, you could even get a twin-turbo version, making—you guessed it—400 horsepower. What Nissan doesn’t mention in its release is the availability of a manual transmission.
The idea of a luxury brand like Infiniti introducing a manual car to the market in 2026 might sound unfathomable, but it’s definitely a reality. Automotive News first broke the story last summer, citing dealer sources, before Infiniti execs confirmed the news in December. Meunier told MotorTrend the manual should account for a small fraction of sales, adding that the clout from offering a stick shift will help boost the brand’s prestige in the segment:
Take rate for the manual will likely be only 10 percent or so, Meunier tells MotorTrend, but offering it is important to help restore Infiniti’s reputation as a bold luxury choice. Offering a stick helps burnish that rep. Meunier himself recently bought a Nissan Z because he wanted a manual transmission not only for its engagement but also because of the stick’s increasing rarity. There will be customers who will buy the revived Q50 specifically for the uniqueness a manual option brings, he believes.
This new manual Q50 sounds like it’ll slot cleanly between the Z and the full-kill, hybridized R36 GT-R, which, as The Drive reports, could arrive before the end of the decade. Something tells me that if Nissan doesn’t mess this up, it’s the Q50 that enthusiasts will gravitate towards most out of the three. A rear-drive sedan with 400-plus horsepower and a legit stick shift? Sign me up.
Top graphic image: Nissan
I remember when the new q50 came out they were differentiating it with a drive by wire steering system. I knew they’d lost the plot.
Seems like they are going to the polar opposite with the manual transmission this time. I hope it works for them.
GIVE. US. THE JUKE!!
The new BOF bunch will no doubt help with the Infinity SKYLINE business case. Unless they are lame of course.
But I have faith they’re noticing the BOF crowd sells (Bronco, Wrangler, 4Runner etc) and all current BOF Nissan platforms are old AF.
Not many manual sport cars and sedans offered these days- some still bad ass – thanks Cadillac:-)
Hopefully they do it and it’s engaging and not some neutered I-4 with an electric motor whatever. Make it pure and market it bad ass , lean on Skyline Heritage. LFG Nissan!
Since we’ll probably never get a 2+2 Z again, can’t we have a new Silvia/200SX instead? In both hatchback and notchback form? Something attainable for the commoners?
As a longtime owner of a 240SX, I’d love it. But it would probably sell in tiny numbers.