Nissan has just revealed the first images of a slew of new models coming over the next few years, but the one truly caught us by surprise was the teaser for the next-gen Skyline.
Set to debut in native Japan in one or two years’ time, it appears that the fourteenth-gen model would still be a rear-wheel drive performance sedan instead of the previously-rumoured new crossover.
Design Hints from Past Skyline Models
From the limited yet detailed teaser images, it seems like the next-gen Skyline will gain some design touches inspired by its predecessors, with the most notable element being the trademark quad round taillights that it used to share with its sportier GT-R variants.
One of the images also unveiled the rear quarter panel part of the new car, where it gets a high shoulder line that sweeps downwards, flared-out wheel arches, and Skyline lettering on the rear fender.
The next image, on the other hand, showcases the front nose of the new Skyline, where the upcoming model marks a return of the interlocking S emblem with a slim front grille à la the R30 Skyline, which is then flanked by a pair of sharp LED headlights with dual vertical DRLs.
Standalone Model from Infiniti, GT-R Version to be Included?
While not many details were shared regarding the new Skyline, especially about its powertrain setup, Japanese automotive portal Best Car Web suggests that it will likely be based on the outgoing V37-gen model, possibly featuring the same 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 VR30DDTT engine currently used on both the 400R and Nismo versions.
Nevertheless, Nissan did say that it will be a standalone model and not a direct rebadge version of the Infiniti equivalent like the previous three generations, and the presence of GT-R-inspired design bits such as the quad round taillights hints that a possible GT-R version might also be included in the programme.
News of the next-gen R36 GT-R had long been circulated and rumoured ever since the production of the outgoing R35 model was stopped in August last year, with the model previously mooted to be a high-performance all-electric coupe powered by a solid-state battery.
But given the company’s recent financial turmoil and the lack of demand for electric sportscars, Nissan might have just scrapped this original plan and stuck with a combustion power plant for the new GT-R—something that enthusiasts would deeply appreciate, we’d reckon.
All in all, the next-gen Skyline will be part of Nissan’s new product strategy that will segment models into Heartbeat, Core, and Growth classifications, with the car being deemed a Heartbeat model, as it embodies “Nissan’s identity, emotional value, and innovation.”
