Infiniti Is Working on a New Manual Transmission Performance Sedan

Infiniti might be planning to go back to the future with a new Q50 sports sedan, reportedly powered by a six-cylinder engine making at least 400 horsepower. The new Q50 would also have a manual transmission as an option and be rear-wheel drive, making a car designed to get purists excited.

Infiniti exited the sedan market in the U.S. in 2024, when it stopped selling the Q50 here. Infiniti’s American lineup now consists of just four cars: the QX50, a luxury compact crossover; the QX55, which has a more sloped roof than the QX50; the QX60, which is a luxury midsize crossover; and the QX80, which is a luxury full-size crossover.

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The QX50 and QX55 have already been discontinued, with the last models being made later this year, in part to make way for the QX65, which has a more sloped roof than the QX60. Still, that would leave an already-thin Infiniti lineup even thinner, but reinforcements are on the way, including, apparently, a new Q50.

“Infiniti is executing a five-year product strategy that includes at least four all-new models: QX65 sportback SUV, a high-performance sports sedan, midsize e-POWER hybrid crossover, all-electric SUV,” a spokesperson told Car and Driver.

At the Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, last week, Infiniti showed off the third-generation QX80, which was introduced last year, in addition to a QX65 Monograph, a preview of the QX65, which was finished in matte and drew the most attention. Infiniti people there spoke of models to come, and also were anticipating this week’s Infiniti dealer meeting at the Wynn Las Vegas.

It was at the Wynn that the brand hinted at the new Q50. The car is for 2027, according to Automotive News, and will be powered by the twin-turbocharged V-6 in the current Nissan Z. The new Q50 will be built on the same platform as the Nissan Skyline. The new Q50’s styling is also inspired by the Skyline, with circular taillights.

If it makes it into production, the new Q50 will be a needed shot-in-the-arm for Infiniti, which has had a weird decade or so, along with its parent company Nissan, that has also seen falling sales. Nissan remains committed to Infiniti, though, and the U.S. is still Infiniti’s biggest market, followed by China. For Infiniti, the best way out is through.

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