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2028 Infiniti Q50. Is Nissan betting on the wrong future?

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Infiniti has been teasing the idea of a next-generation Q50 sedan for months, and new details continue to emerge. The company reportedly showed a preview of the car during a dealer meeting last August. More recently, a closed-door presentation in Japan revealed what is believed to be its Nissan counterpart, the next Skyline.

Early information suggests the upcoming Skyline/Q50 could adopt a sleek fastback profile and incorporate a few retro-inspired styling elements. Some observers say the design may borrow cues from the current Nissan Z, blending classic sports-sedan proportions with modern styling touches.

Under the hood, the rumored powertrain is also familiar. The new Infiniti sedan could use the twin-turbocharged V6 engine from the Nissan Z and might even be offered with a 6-speed manual transmission. For driving enthusiasts, that combination sounds appealing. However, in today’s luxury market, it could also be considered a bold, but risky, strategy.

Rear-wheel-drive sport sedans with manual gearboxes have become a niche segment in the United States. Most luxury buyers now gravitate toward SUVs, crossovers, and electrified vehicles. Infiniti reportedly still expects around 10% of buyers to choose the manual version.

From a design and engineering standpoint, the new model may not be a completely clean-sheet vehicle. Much like the latest Nissan Z compared to the previous generation, the upcoming Q50 is expected to retain similar proportions to the current car. This would suggest a significant evolution rather than a fully new platform, which could help control development costs.

Still, the bigger question is whether this type of product aligns with where the luxury market is heading. Performance sedans with traditional gasoline engines are becoming increasingly rare as manufacturers accelerate their transition toward hybrid and fully electric models.

Some reports even suggest Infiniti may have canceled a nearly production-ready electric luxury sedan project to prioritize this new model. If accurate, that decision could indicate a shift in strategy. One that leans more on the brand’s performance heritage rather than jumping fully into electrification.

A car like this will almost certainly attract praise from automotive journalists who appreciate traditional sports sedans. But whether that enthusiasm translates into actual sales is far less certain.

Infiniti built much of its reputation in the early 2000s by challenging German competitors like the BMW 3 Series with cars such as the G35. At the time, the formula of a rear-wheel-drive sport sedan with strong performance worked well.

The market, however, has changed dramatically since then. Luxury buyers today prioritize technology, electrification, and versatility. Areas where SUVs and EVs dominate.

If the rumored Skyline/Q50 arrives with a turbocharged V6 and a manual transmission, it may appeal strongly to a passionate niche of enthusiasts. At least, it’s not another SUV with a huge grille…

Conversation 5 comments

  1. Interesting idea, but I hope it looks better than the sedan in the illustration.

  2. It makes total sense. Infiniti has had almost nothing for a long time. Nissan is still cash strapped, even if recovering. All their new’ish models are all based on prior platforms: Leaf (on Ariya), Sentra, Frontier, Murano. What they have left to make a new vehicle out of is the Z. Stretch it, reskin it, and put it out there.

  3. I think they know it will not be a sales hit. This is purely for improving their reputation. People crap on Infiniti at every chance they get… but who is going to complain about a twin-turbo V6 sedan with a manual in today’s market? It’s a reputation and loyalty play. This will simply get people talking about Infiniti in a more positive light while also pulling some loyal-faithfuls back into the brand, like myself. I’ve literally struggled with the idea of what I’d replace my G37 manual with. I concluded that I was just going to keep it as a second car for as long as I could. If they deliver, I’m about 98.5% that this new Q50 will be my next car.

  4. Would love an Infiniti EV. Since it looks like the BMW i3 is going to be in the Neue Krap, I definitely won’t want that mess.

  5. This is a public relations and marketing move as much as anything else. The guy who said it’s to get people speaking about Infiniti in a positive light is correct—no one would complain about this car coming out.

    Here’s where they will maybe miss the mark: they should make it smaller, lighter, crappier and cheaper. We want less. If it’s not huge it won’t cost as much. Everything is so big. People still like the ancient Lexus IS because it’s one of the only actual SMALL cars, though it doesn’t benefit from reduced weight or efficiency.

    It needs to be sophisticated and refined looking for the average person on the street who doesn’t know anything about cars.

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