Infiniti discontinued the Q50 in North America last year to transition into an all-SUV lineup, but that wasn’t the end of the story. The rear-wheel-drive sedan lives on in Japan as the Nissan Skyline, where it remains on sale. Not only that, but there’s even a new special edition marking the “culmination” of this generation. This 400R Limited likely serves as the last hurrah before the already confirmed next-gen car arrives later this decade.
Capped at just 400 units, the Japan-only Skyline R400 Limited gains slightly wider 19-inch wheels wrapped in Dunlop tires. Nissan also stiffens up the front suspension, fits upgraded brake pads, and a reinforced rear anti-roll bar for sharper handling. Elsewhere, carbon fiber adorns the side mirror caps and rear spoiler.
An individually numbered plaque highlights the car’s exclusivity, while a carbon-fiber center console further distinguishes the R400 Limited from the regular R400. There are no changes under the hood, where the VR30DDTT engine continues to deliver 400 horsepower. Essentially, the R400 is Nissan’s equivalent of the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400, sharing the same twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6.
Sold on a first-come, first-served basis, each unit costs 6,935,500 yen ($45,400), or nearly a $3,000 premium over the regular R400, which remains available in Japan as a step above the four-cylinder GT Type P and SP trims. The most affordable version of the four-model range starts at the equivalent of $35,600.
Photo by: Nissan
The R400 Limited follows the recent announcement of a next-generation Skyline and comes just days after Infiniti confirmed a new rear-wheel-drive sedan. Initially reported by Automotive News in August, the model is now official. Speaking at an Automotive Press Association event, Tiago Castro, vice president of Infiniti Americas, revealed plans for the upcoming RWD sedan. Interestingly, he didn’t rule out the possibility of a manual gearbox.
According to Castro, the new model will launch in 2027 as a spiritual successor to the Q50/Skyline, and it will likely be built outside the United States. While he didn’t discuss performance figures, earlier reports suggested it might use the Nissan Z’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 tuned to as much as 450 horsepower. Once again, the Infiniti-badged sedan is expected to share its underpinnings with the Nissan Skyline sold in Japan.
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Source: Nissan
When Infiniti teased its future lineup a few months ago, a sedan was notably absent from the shadowy previews. Still, Nissan now seems confident it can attract loyalists with a new car in an otherwise SUV-heavy range. The luxury brand certainly needs a spark after years of declining sales, from a peak of 153,415 vehicles in 2017 to just 58,070 last year, a worrying 62 percent drop in seven years.
A new Q50 might not be a massive commercial hit given the market’s shift away from sedans, but it could do wonders for Infiniti’s image and help reignite interest in the ailing brand.
