Nissan Skyline Infiniti: Full History, Specs & 2027 USA

From a 1957 Japanese luxury sedan to a 2027 manual-equipped performance car headed for US showrooms — this is the most misunderstood nameplate in automotive history.

Is Infiniti Owned by Nissan?

Yes — and honestly, the number of people who don’t know this is staggering.

Infiniti is 100% owned by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. It is not a separate company, not a joint venture, and not an independent brand. Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury division, created specifically to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Lexus in the premium segment — primarily in North America.

Here’s the simplest way to think about it: Toyota owns Lexus. Honda owns Acura. Nissan owns Infiniti. All three Japanese automakers created luxury sub-brands in the late 1980s and early 1990s to sell upmarket vehicles at higher price points without diluting their mainstream brand image. Same factories. Same engineers. Different badge on the hood.

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Quick Facts: Infiniti & Nissan

• Founded: Infiniti launched in the USA on November 8, 1989
• Headquarters: Yokohama, Japan — same building as Nissan
• Primary Market: North America, Middle East, China, South Korea
• Why Created: To sell premium vehicles without using the Nissan name
• Key Models: G35, G37, Q50, QX60, QX80 — many are rebadged Nissans
• Skyline Connection: Every Skyline sedan since 2002 has had an Infiniti twin in America

So when someone asks “does Nissan make Infiniti?” — yes. Completely. The engineers, platforms, engines, and factories are all Nissan. Only the badge, trim level names, and some exterior styling differ between the two brands.

The Nissan Skyline: A History Most Americans Missed

The Nissan Skyline is one of the longest-running nameplates in automotive history — and most Americans have never heard the full story.

It was first introduced on April 24, 1957 — not by Nissan, but by a company called Prince Motor Company. Prince built the original Skyline as a luxury car for the Japanese market, featuring a modest 1.5-liter engine and a top speed of around 87 mph. By today’s standards, completely unremarkable. But in postwar Japan, it was a big deal.

In 1967, Nissan and Prince Motor Company merged, and the Skyline came along with the deal. For the next four decades, Nissan continued building it as a Japan-only performance and luxury sedan — always rear-wheel drive, always focused on driver engagement, and always deeply embedded in Japanese car culture. It wasn’t exported. It wasn’t marketed abroad. Japan kept it for themselves, and that exclusivity only made the rest of the world want it more.

“The Skyline wasn’t just a car in Japan — it was a cultural institution. An entire generation grew up either racing one, watching one on TV, or saving up to own one.”

American audiences first encountered the Skyline not through dealerships, but through a movie theater. The R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R — driven by Paul Walker’s character Brian O’Conner in 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) — became an icon overnight. Gran Turismo on PlayStation had already done the groundwork years earlier. By the early 2000s, the Skyline had a massive American following — for a car that Americans technically couldn’t buy.

That changed in 2002. Nissan made a landmark decision: the next-generation Skyline (V35) would be the first exported to North America. But there was a catch — it wouldn’t wear the Skyline badge. It would be sold as the Infiniti G35. And that’s where the confusion started — and never really stopped.

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Every Skyline Generation & Its Infiniti Name in the USA

Here is the complete breakdown of every modern Skyline generation and exactly what it was sold as in the United States:

Notice the pattern: every single generation of Skyline since 2002 has had a direct Infiniti counterpart in the United States. Same platform, same engine, same basic bones — just wearing different clothes for different markets.

Why doesn’t Nissan just call it a Skyline in the USA?

Two reasons. First, Infiniti is Nissan’s premium brand in America — calling it a Nissan would undercut that luxury positioning immediately. Second, early attempts to sell the Skyline name in America failed badly — American buyers in the 1960s didn’t connect with it at all. The Infiniti name carries more prestige and recognition in the US today. It’s pure marketing logic, even if it still frustrates JDM fans decades later.

Is the Nissan GT-R the Same as a Skyline?

This is where a lot of people get lost — and it’s not their fault. The naming history is genuinely confusing.

For decades, the Nissan Skyline GT-R was the top-performance version of the regular Skyline. The iconic R32, R33, and R34 GT-Rs were all “Skyline GT-Rs” — higher-spec variants within the standard Skyline lineup. One car family, multiple trim levels, with the GT-R sitting at the top.

Then in 2007, everything changed. The R35 GT-R launched as its own standalone model, completely separate from the Skyline nameplate. Since then, the two cars have been entirely different vehicles — different platforms, different engines, aimed at different buyers entirely.

Before 2007 — Skyline GT-R:

• A trim level within the Skyline family
• R32, R33, R34 generations
• Inline-6 RB26DETT twin-turbo engine
• Japan-only — never officially sold in USA
• Now eligible for USA import under the 25-year rule
• R34 GT-R auction prices: $100,000–$500,000+

After 2007 — Nissan GT-R (R35):

• Completely separate model from the Skyline
• Officially sold in the USA from day one
• 3.8L twin-turbo V6 VR38DETT engine
• AWD ATTESA E-TS system
• No Infiniti version — sold as Nissan GT-R globally
• Starting price ~$115,000 in its final year (2024)

So to be absolutely clear: the modern Nissan GT-R (R35) is not a Skyline. It shares heritage and DNA, but it is a separate vehicle. The current Skyline is the V37 — sold in the US as the Infiniti Q50 — a luxury sports sedan, not a supercar.

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Is the Infiniti Q50 a Nissan Skyline?

Mechanically? Yes. Completely.

The Infiniti Q50 is the American version of the Nissan Skyline V37. Same platform, same engines, same body structure underneath. The differences are mostly cosmetic — different front and rear styling, different badges, slightly different interior trim options. If you put them on a lift side by side, a mechanic working on one could swap to the other without much trouble.

The Q50 was sold in the US from 2014 through the 2024 model year. Infiniti then discontinued it as part of a broader strategy shift toward SUVs — a decision that angered a lot of loyal customers. Meanwhile in Japan, the exact same car kept selling as the Nissan Skyline. Nissan even released a special edition called the Skyline 400R Limited in late 2025, capped at just 400 units, priced at approximately $45,400.

Nissan Skyline vs Infiniti G35: Same Car, Two Worlds

If you want to understand the Skyline-Infiniti relationship at its most fundamental level, look at the V35 generation (2001–2006). In Japan, it was sold as the Nissan Skyline. In America, the exact same car rolled off the same assembly line and arrived at Infiniti dealerships with a G35 badge on the trunk.

The V35 was a landmark car — and a controversial one. It was the first Skyline ever designed for North American export. But it broke from Skyline tradition in a significant way: it dropped the legendary inline-six engine in favor of a V6, and abandoned turbocharging entirely for a naturally aspirated setup. Purists in Japan were genuinely upset. American buyers didn’t care at all — they loved it.

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Why were they different names?

Nissan had already established Infiniti as its luxury brand in the US by this point. Selling the Skyline under Infiniti meant it could be positioned as premium, priced higher, and marketed to buyers who were cross-shopping BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class — not people shopping regular Nissan sedans. Smart business. Still annoying to JDM fans.

“An Infiniti G35 owner and a Nissan Skyline V35 owner could swap almost every mechanical part on their cars. But one paid $30,000 at an American Infiniti dealership, while the other stood in a Nissan showroom in Tokyo.”

The New 2027 Nissan Skyline — And What It Means for Infiniti

On April 14, 2026, Nissan held its “Vision” event in Japan — a wide-ranging announcement covering the company’s future product direction. And buried in it, almost casually, was something that sent the enthusiast community into overdrive: the first teaser images of an all-new Nissan Skyline.

Two close-up shots. A brief video. That’s all Nissan showed. But it was enough.

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The design direction was immediately clear: this new Skyline looks nothing like its predecessor. It’s angular, muscular, and deliberately retro — drawing heavy inspiration from the R34 and even earlier generations like the C110 and C210 Skylines from the 1970s. Nissan isn’t trying to blend in with the modern luxury sedan crowd. They’re going the opposite direction.

What the New Skyline Looks Like: The front end features a prominent Skyline badge on the nose, flanked by slim headlights pushed to the outer edges, with vertical LED elements creating a sharp, aggressive light signature. The body shape brings back blocky, upright proportions that defined golden-era Skylines — a deliberate contrast to the smooth, rounded styling of the outgoing V37. And most importantly, four round LED taillights — a Skyline design tradition since the late 1960s — have returned. That alone tells you everything about the intent here.

Confirmed Technical Details:

Is it really coming to America?

Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa was asked directly whether the Skyline could arrive in the US under an Infiniti badge. His answer — carefully worded — was essentially yes. Infiniti had already separately confirmed it is developing a new performance-oriented, rear-wheel-drive V6 sedan for the US market, targeting a 2027 launch.

Why a manual transmission in 2027?

Because Infiniti needed to do something dramatic. US sales collapsed from 153,000 units in 2017 to just 58,000 in 2024 — a 62% drop. A manual-equipped, rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan in 2027 is a statement. No other premium automaker is doing this. Nissan Americas Chairman Christian Meunier estimated manual take-rate at roughly 10% — but the credibility it buys with enthusiasts is worth far more than 10% of volume.

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Should You Buy a Used Infiniti or Wait for 2027?

Buy a used G35 or G37 now if you want a proven, affordable, rear-wheel-drive sports sedan with a strong community behind it. A clean G35 coupe can be found for $8,000–$15,000. The G37 coupe especially is still considered one of the best driver’s cars at its price range. The VQ engine family is among the most reliable V6s ever built — these cars simply don’t die.

Buy a used Q50 Red Sport 400 if you want modern twin-turbo performance with the same Skyline DNA. 400 hp, a sophisticated suspension, mature interior — around $30,000–$40,000 used. Discontinued in the US in 2024, so supply is only going to tighten. Prices may rise as excitement around the new Skyline announcement builds.

Wait for the 2027 Infiniti sedan if you want the full package — retro styling, potential manual gearbox, up to 450 hp, and the satisfaction of owning the car that brought Infiniti back from the edge. Expect $55,000–$70,000 starting. And yes, first model year risks are real. But if you’ve been waiting for Infiniti to actually matter again, this is the one.

FAQs About Nissan Skyline Infiniti

Q: Is Infiniti the luxury brand of Nissan?

Yes. Launched in the USA in 1989. Same relationship as Lexus to Toyota, or Acura to Honda.

Q: Does Nissan make Infiniti cars?

Entirely. Same engineers, same factories, same engines. Only the badge and styling differ.

Q: Is the Infiniti Q50 a Nissan Skyline?

Mechanically yes — it’s the American version of the Nissan Skyline V37. Same platform, same engines.

Q: Can I legally buy a Nissan Skyline GT-R in the USA?

Yes, under the 25-year import rule. R32s and R33s are fully legal now. R34s are becoming eligible through 2027.

Q: Is Infiniti more reliable than Nissan?

Core reliability is essentially identical — same engines, same drivetrains. The VQ35DE and VR30DDTT are both well-regarded for durability.

Q: Why won’t the new Skyline come to America with the Skyline name?

Because Nissan has never officially sold a “Skyline” in US dealerships. The Infiniti brand has been the channel since 2002 — and that’s not changing.

Q: What is a Nissan “Heartbeat” model?

Nissan’s term for vehicles that define the brand’s emotional identity — the Skyline, Z, and GT-R. Not necessarily the highest sellers, but the cars that make people care about the brand.

The Bottom Line about Nissan Skyline Infiniti

Here’s what it all comes down to: the Nissan Skyline and Infiniti have been the same car with two different names for over two decades. American buyers got the Infiniti badge. Japanese buyers got the Skyline name. Both got the same engine, the same platform, and the same fundamental driving experience.

That’s about to happen again in 2027 — except this time, Infiniti is coming out swinging. A retro-inspired design, rear-wheel drive, a manual gearbox option, and up to 450 horsepower. After years of declining sales and a brand identity crisis, this is Infiniti’s attempt to remind people why they should care.

Whether it works is still an open question. But for the first time in a long time, Infiniti — and the Skyline behind it — is worth watching again.