Will the Nissan Skyline morph into an electrical crossover?

Gird your loins, Nissan followers. The present, Thirteenth-generation Skyline has practically reached the top of its life cycle, and an unverified rumor claims its successor will land in 2025 as an electrical crossover. The identical report suggests the mannequin may be part of the Infiniti vary in america.

With out citing sources, Japanese journal Finest Automobile wrote that Nissan initially deliberate to interchange the Skyline (which is bought because the Infiniti Q50 in america) with one other sedan. Growth work began, however the undertaking veered towards crossover territory and the sedan physique type has reportedly been axed. As a substitute, the next-generation Skyline will share a few of its underpinnings with the Ariya (pictured).

Energy will allegedly come from an evolution of the e-4ORCE drivetrain provided within the Ariya. It is going to include at the least two electrical motors for through-the-road all-wheel-drive, and it may ship over 450 horsepower. That is greater than the Ariya presently affords, and it falls according to the Skyline nameplate’s sporty positioning. Particulars akin to driving vary, battery dimension, and charging occasions have not been revealed.

Fortunately, nothing suggests the choice to crossover-ize the Skyline will have an effect on the GT-R. Whereas the nameplate first appeared on an evolution of the third-generation Skyline launched in 1968, it has been marketed as a standalone mannequin for the reason that current-generation automobile landed for 2009.

We’re taking this report with a grain of salt; Finest Automobile admits it has obtained “combined data” concerning the Skyline’s successor, and Nissan hasn’t commented on what the longer term holds for the nameplate. We’re not discounting the chance {that a} Skyline-branded crossover will likely be bought alongside a Skyline-branded sedan (Toyota is taking the same path with the Century). If the report is correct, we’ll study extra quickly.

In a method, we have been right here earlier than. Unveiled in 2015, the Gripz idea seemingly previewed a Z-inspired crossover with a futuristic-looking design that borrowed a handful of styling cues from the 240Z. It ruffled quite a lot of feathers and was not authorised for manufacturing.

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