All-New Nissan Skyline to Launch This Winter, Development Cycle Cut to 26 Months

Nissan plans to officially unveil the all-new generation of the Skyline this winter. Since the "Skyline" nameplate was first introduced in 1957, the model line is approaching its 70th anniversary. Historically, the Skyline has been offered in various body styles—including sedans, coupes, pickups, and crossovers—but the current thirteenth-generation model has been streamlined into a four-door sedan with a conventional trunk, a layout that will carry over to the next generation. The new Skyline marks Nissan’s first vehicle developed under a significantly accelerated timeline, with a development cycle of just 26 months—nearly half the approximately 55 months required for the current V37 generation launched in 2014. According to Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa, this improved efficiency stems largely from the expanded use of AI technologies and digital tools across design, testing, and manufacturing phases. In the North American market, the vehicle will not be sold under the Nissan brand but instead as an Infiniti model, likely named the Q50. It is expected to feature a rear-wheel-drive layout and offer a manual transmission option. Powertrain details suggest it will be equipped with Nissan Z’s twin-turbocharged V6 engine (VR30DDTT), with the manual-transmission Nismo variant producing 420 horsepower and 520 N·m of torque. All-wheel drive and automatic transmission options will also be available, though the continuously variable transmission (CVT) is likely to be phased out. Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan’s Senior Vice President for Global Design, described the exterior design as “inspired by the past” without being purely retro, characterizing its overall aesthetic as “aggressive yet modern.” The car’s proportions draw reference from the original Skyline while looking firmly toward the future. Notably, the new Skyline is not the successor to the GT-R R35. Nissan has confirmed that a direct replacement for the GT-R is under development and will continue to use an internal combustion engine.