Infiniti is developing a manual sports sedan with 'high horsepower.'
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It would be an understatement to claim that Infiniti has mishandled its reputation and dashed the hopes of enthusiasts at various times throughout its history. However, the automaker may be on the verge of redeeming itself and fulfilling its promises to fans. A genuine sports car is on the horizon, and it sounds promising.
During the 2026 New York Auto Show on Wednesday, Tiago Castro, Senior Vice President of U.S. Marketing and Sales for Nissan and Infiniti, informed The Drive that the upcoming Infiniti sport sedan will boast “high horsepower” and come equipped with a manual transmission.
Castro stated, “Infiniti is dedicated to that vehicle,” referring specifically to the sports sedan, and confirmed that it will indeed be a sedan.
There is little doubt that the revival of the Infiniti sport sedan will draw from the latest Nissan Z, featuring the same manual transmission.
While he wasn’t ready to disclose specific horsepower figures, Castro, who first experienced an Infiniti G35 with a manual transmission, described the sedan as “exciting” as he leaned forward enthusiastically.
Castro is aware that the demand for the manual transmission, or potentially the sports sedan overall, may be low, but he considers it significant. He mentioned, “We need to reconnect with the brand's roots. We thrived when we engaged with our customer base, and they desire a Q50S performance car, whether it has a manual or automatic transmission. That’s invigorating. I don’t anticipate high sales volume, but it’s more of a niche offering, yet it presents an opportunity.”
There was a time when the world anticipated a Formula 1-inspired Infiniti Q60 Black S, essentially a performance-enhanced hybrid Nissan Z featuring a twin-turbo V6 and Renault F1 hybrid technology. It never materialized.
We also shouldn’t overlook the GT-R-powered Q50 Eau Rouge, which had the potential to compete with the BMW M3 but ultimately didn't make it to production.
Enthusiasts may remember how the Q60 Coupe and Q50 sedan were left to fade away, only to be discontinued so Infiniti could focus on producing more crossovers.
What sets this situation apart? For now, both the new head of Nissan, which oversees Infiniti, and the head of Nissan and Infiniti in the U.S. are car enthusiasts. There are true automotive aficionados in leadership positions.
Have a tip about upcoming products? Reach out to us at tips@thedrive.com.
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Infiniti is developing a manual sports sedan with 'high horsepower.'
"The head of Infiniti stated, 'Infiniti is dedicated to that vehicle,' referring to the sports sedan."