The new Infiniti Q50 Sedan could be offered with a 'JDM Skyline Conversion' as an option through dealerships.

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      Car enthusiasts, your moment has arrived. Fans of automobiles like you are now in prominent positions within Nissan.

      In Yokohama, Japan, Ponz Pandikuthira, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for Nissan North America, provided a straightforward response during an exclusive interview on The Drivecast when asked if Nissan would consider offering a JDM retrofit kit at U.S. Infiniti dealerships for the new Q50: “Yes.”

      You can listen to the full discussion starting from the point when Pandikuthira delivers this exciting news below.

      The emotions you’re experiencing are likely a mix of shock, amazement, and excitement. Savor this moment.

      To recap, just over a week ago, Nissan hinted at a new Skyline sedan for the JDM market. A couple of days later, Christian Meunier, Chairman of Nissan Americas, confirmed our suspicions: the new Skyline will indeed be the new Infiniti Q50 in the U.S., which has been highlighted as a “high-horsepower” sport sedan featuring a manual transmission.

      When asked whether a JDM Skyline retrofit kit might be available in the U.S. with a dealer warranty, Pandikuthira offered more than just the simple “yes.” He took a brief pause before elaborating.

      Pandikuthira continued, “Let me put it this way. Firstly, whatever powertrain we bring to the U.S. will be tunable. You can collaborate with the right tuner. If we can provide it from the factory with all our warranties, we will. Sometimes, if the volume is too low, it’s better to work with a tuner. We’ve previously partnered with tuners, and we could do so again. We would definitely think about this and ensure that the supply chain is ready, sharing the proper mapping and ECU data so that the tuner can produce a perfectly functioning car. So that's an absolute yes. But what you’re suggesting is an intriguing idea, which my planning team and I have discussed extensively: what if we had an Infiniti version because that's the appropriate brand and demographic, but perhaps there are purists who would say, ‘You know what? I’d like this to resemble the Skyline in Japan or any car that's truly authentic to the heritage. Help me achieve that.’ We would certainly like to make that possible. Because those who are passionate about it understand, and they’re not just trading their cars in and out; they want to have this collectible toy in their garage. We’d love to help facilitate that,” Pandikuthira stated.

      The powertrain Pandikuthira mentioned? It will be the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 from the Nissan Z, paired with its 6-speed manual transmission. An automatic option will also be available for those who prefer it. How do we know this? Earlier in the podcast, Pandikuthira confirmed it. “We’ve got a fantastic powertrain with the Z— a three-liter twin-turbo with 400 horsepower. So we thought, what if we use that manual transmission, but also provide the functionality of having a backseat and four doors? That’s how this car concept came to be,” Pandikuthira explained.

      His statement, “And we’d like to make that happen,” should give hope to enthusiasts who were disappointed to learn that the Skyline would be branded as the Q50 and carry the Infiniti badge. Start saving now; the JDM Skyline might finally be available as a new car with a warranty in the U.S.

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