The new Re:Nissan plan includes cutting 20,000 jobs and closing seven factories over the next few years. But not everything is doom and gloom, as several new models are on the horizon, including compact crossovers for both the Nissan and Infiniti brands. One model that caught our attention is the Skyline. However, it’s probably not the car enthusiasts are hoping for.
Infiniti became an all-SUV brand last year after discontinuing the Q50. That compact sedan still lives on in Japan as the Nissan Skyline. It’s been on the market for over a decade, so it makes sense that Nissan has confirmed development of an all-new generation. This future Skyline will be one of the first vehicles built under a revamped, faster, and more cost-effective development process.
Photo by: Nissan
Nissan aims to reduce parts complexity by a staggering 70 percent and shrink its platform lineup from 13 to just seven by the middle of the next decade. From now on, an all-new model will take just 37 months to develop, down from the previous 52. Derivatives will follow even quicker, with development cycles shortened from 50 to 30 months.
In addition, Nissan plans to cut the average hourly cost of its workforce by 20 percent through more efficient allocation of R&D resources across global teams. Not every model will be engineered in-house: the Renault 5 will be rebadged as Nissan’s new Micra EV, and the smaller Renault Twingo will also wear a Nissan badge. A plug-in hybrid Rogue is in the works as well, based on the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Although a merger with Honda has fallen through, the two companies will continue to collaborate on electrification and “vehicle intelligence.”
While Nissan hasn’t shared details about the new Skyline, the absence of any mention of an Infiniti version suggests the Q50 won’t be coming back. Whether the Skyline will remain a sedan is still unclear, especially as automakers increasingly repurpose iconic names for crossovers and SUVs. There’s even precedent in this case as the Infiniti EX35/EX37/QX50 was previously sold as a Skyline Crossover in Japan.
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Source: Nissan
Over the years, the Skyline has worn many hats. It’s one of the oldest nameplates in the automotive world, dating back to 1957. It has been a coupe, convertible, sedan, wagon, SUV, and even a delivery van, so at this point, its next form is anyone’s guess. While we’re hoping for a sedan, don’t be surprised if Nissan goes in a different direction. In a sea of SUVs, the world could certainly use a fresh new sedan for a change.
The company is taking a “market-specific approach,” prioritizing the United States, Japan, China, Europe, the Middle East, and Mexico. However, it hasn’t confirmed whether the next Skyline will be sold outside Japan.
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