The sport sedan is making a comeback to Infiniti dealerships next year, and a crucial detail has now been resolved: the vehicle’s name.
On Wednesday in Yokohama, Japan, Chairman of Nissan Americas, Christian Meunier, announced that the new Nissan Skyline will be rebranded as the Infiniti Q50 in the U.S. market upon its release in 2027.
On Monday, Nissan teased the upcoming Skyline with design elements reminiscent of the GT-R, featuring round LED taillights, Skyline branding on the rear fenders, and horizontal headlights flanked by vertical LED daytime running lights.
The choice to name the sport sedan Q50 in the U.S. is not unexpected. Previously, the Skyline in Japan was sold under the Infiniti label in the U.S., having been referred to as the G35, then G37, and finally the Q50. Various performance versions have utilized different badges, such as IPL (Infiniti Performance Line), S, and even Red Sport. It’s unclear which, if any, of these will be reintroduced, though IPL seems quite unlikely.
Tiago Castro, Senior Vice President of U.S. Marketing and Sales for Nissan and Infiniti, indicated earlier to The Drive in April that the sedan will feature “high-horsepower” as well as an option for a manual transmission.
This high horsepower is expected to come from the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine from the Nissan Z, delivering approximately 400 horsepower at a minimum. The 6-speed manual transmission from the Z is also expected to be included.
The Q50 will be the only sedan reappearing in Infiniti’s showrooms. The automaker plans to intensify its focus on SUVs, with four new models, two of which will feature body-on-frame designs, launching over the next five years, beginning with the QX65 expected to debut soon.
One thing is certain: The new Infiniti sedan will be branded as the Q50 in the U.S., while embodying the essence of a Skyline.
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