Nissan’s Latest Sports Sedan Send-Off Proves Yet Again Why They’re Severely Underappreciated

The commemorative JDM-only Skyline 400R Limited paves the way for America’s Infiniti-badged variant to get the overhaul it deserves.

Rear view of a dark blue Nissan Skyline 400R Limited sedan with dual exhausts in a studio setting.

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By Chris Chin

Published October 27, 2025

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Updated October 28, 2025

Japan’s domestic version of the Infiniti Q50 sedan is getting a final send-off, all to make way for a successor. The Yokohama-based automaker just revealed the Skyline 400R Limited sedan, which is a specialized final production tribute to its iconic BMW 3 Series fighter.

In the same breath, Nissan also confirmed the impending arrival of a next-gen model. Translation: We can expect a new Q50 sedan in the near future.

While Infiniti discontinued the Q50 sedan in North America after a nearly 11-year series production run, Nissan kept its JDM variant going.

Until now.

The Nissan Skyline 400R Limited sends the current model into the sunset with a bang

To commemorate the end of the current Skyline sedan, Nissan took its top-spec 400R trim and applied a long list of bespoke upgrades.

The 400R is essentially what America received as the high-performance Q50 Red Sport 400. That means, under the hood sits a detuned version of Nissan’s legendary VR V6, which is basically the GT-R’s signature powerplant.

Blue Nissan Skyline sedan with illuminated rear taillights parked on wet pavement at sunset. — Although a bit long in the tooth, the eleventh-generation Skyline has aged well.

But it’s been reworked for the Q50/JDM Skyline 400R’s application. It still sports two turbochargers and upgraded internals. However, engineers reduced its displacement to 3.0-liters to make it the “VR30DDTT” versus the GT-R’s 3.8-liter “VR38DETT.”

The result is a healthy 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of twist. Mated to a seven-speed automatic, 0-60 mph happens in around 4.5 seconds.

Red Nissan brake caliper mounted on a silver brake disc against a black background. — The 400R Limited benefits from beefier brake calipers and pads for better stopping performance.

The list of 400R Limited-bespoke modifications includes a rear lip spoiler, side-view mirror caps and bumper inserts, all made of carbon fiber. Nissan also added red-painted brake calipers with 400R Limited-only performance pads, stiffer front springs and anti-roll bar, and unique 400R Limited-only 19-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in beefy Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 500 rubber.

Black and gray Nissan car interior with quilted leather seats, touchscreen display, and multifunction steering wheel. — Nissan checked all the boxes for interior options on the 400R Limited.

Engineers even programmed a special stability and traction control mode.

While all of this sounds befitting for a commemorative send-off model, it reminds us how underappreciated the Infiniti Q50 is.

The Infiniti Q50 is basically an Americanized Nissan Skyline sedan

Close-up of a blue car rear with a "400R LIMITED" badge, featuring a red "R" and black and silver lettering. — The 400R Limited is a commemorative version of the top-spec Skyline 400R, which America got as the Q50 Red Sport 400.

Nissan’s JDM models don’t typically get attention here in America. That’s because they’re often models designed and engineered specifically for Japanese buyers. However, in the case of the JDM Skyline sedan, Nissan exported and rebadged it (and the coupe version) as the Infiniti G35/G37/Q50 since its introduction in 2003.

Silver Infiniti sedan parked on dirt with mountains and trees in the background at sunset. — The original G35 sedan took the North American market by storm.

Before the third-generation Infiniti G/Nissan Skyline, Nissan sold American customers a fancier version of its JDM Primera compact sedan. The Primera can be likened to a Japanese-market Nissan Altima.

That model sold in North America as the Infiniti G compact sedan, under the G20 nameplate. However, because it was based on the Japanese version of the Altima, it utilized a humdrum front-wheel-drive platform.

Beige four-door sedan with alloy wheels parked on a foggy road near grass and trees. — The Infiniti G20 was Nissan’s first crack at competing with the BMW 3 Series.

In the late 1990s, Nissan shifted its product lineup around to better cater to the North American and other export markets, under the direction of then-CEO, Carlos Ghosn. This decision is what led Nissan to rework its eleventh-generation Skyline sedan for the American market, giving us the disruptive rear-wheel-drive G35 in 2003.

Silver Infiniti G35 coupe parked outdoors with rocky background, rear and side view. — The Infiniti G35 Coupe was a revolutionary car for the brand.

The Skyline model is also one of Nissan’s most historic, rooting its origins back to the 1950s. It has since lived through thirteen generations and still exists today as one of the automaker’s definitive sports sedans.

Nissan produced both a coupe and sedan version of its Skyline models. But none of them came Stateside until the introduction of the 2003 Infiniti G35.

Blue Nissan Skyline 400R Limited sedan with headlights on against a plain background. — Infiniti sent the Q50 off into the sunset in 2024, but Japan gets one more year with it.

The Infiniti G35 went on to become one of the automaker’s definitive sports sedans. It offered BMW 3 Series performance and luxury at a considerably lower price point.

It was so disruptive, it made headlines at nearly every automotive publication for the amount of value it offered.

Black plaque with raised silver text "LIMITED" and printed text "TUNED BY NMC 000/000" on a glossy black surface. — Numbered plaques help to designate each of the limited 400 production units.

That legacy stuck all the way up to the questionable point when Infiniti rebadged its G35 to the Q50. But the formula of being an Americanized Skyline sedan thankfully remained, and it’s been underappreciated since.

The legacy of the Infiniti G isn’t dead yet

Blue Nissan Skyline sedan with black grille and sporty alloy wheels on a white background. — The current eleventh-generation Skyline has been with us since 2014.

Since the current Q50/spiritual successor of the G is finally ending production after a very long series run, it leaves some big shoes to fill. Infiniti discontinued the model in 2024 to focus more on profit-generating crossover SUVs.

Sadly, it also showcased how sports sedans have fallen out of favor of the general public. The outgoing Q50/Skyline’s age didn’t help its poor sales situation either.

Silver Infiniti sedan parked under a wooden pergola with trees in the background. — The original G35/G37 models are basically Americanized JDM Skylines.

While revealing the 400R Limited, Nissan also confirmed that the model’s successor is in the works. Not too long ago, Infiniti told our friends at AutomotiveNews that a next-gen model is in the works with an anticipated release sometime by the end of the decade.

Black Infiniti coupe with tinted windows and sporty black alloy wheels parked on a winding road. — The 2011 Infiniti G37 IPL Coupe was one of the model’s best variants.

The outgoing Q50/Skyline might’ve been very long in the tooth. But it still was a goodie, despite being an oldie, delivering a lot of performance and car for the money. Such attributes defined the model since it proliferated as the original G35/G37.

In this world dominated by high-riding and boring SUVs, we can’t wait to see what Nissan’s brewing up for its most definitive sports sedan to date.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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