Infiniti Q50 Returns: Nissan Z Power, Manual Option, Skyline-Style Light

Infiniti is not done writing the Q50 story. At a closed-door dealer meeting in Las Vegas, the brand reportedly previewed a new generation aimed squarely at drivers who still love to row their own gears and hear a twin-turbo sing. According to reporting shared with dealers and echoed by Automotive News, the sedan is targeting the second half of 2027, and it will once again lean on Nissan’s proven 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 from the Z. That sounds familiar, but the twist is meaningful: internal targets suggest as much as 450 horsepower, up from the outgoing car’s 400-horsepower peak.

Power is only part of the hook. Multiple attendees say a manual transmission is on the table along with rear wheel drive, a combination that speaks directly to enthusiasts who want connection first and foremost. One person who saw the preview described the car’s character as visceral and unapologetically fun, the kind of sport sedan that does not try to be all things to all people. That mission fits perfectly with what Infiniti Americas vice president Tiago Castro reportedly told the room: this project is a chance to reconnect with the brand’s roots and surprise people with something unexpected.

Styling notes shown to dealers point to a low-slung body with a sleek, almost fastback-like profile, slender headlights, and circular taillights that nod to Skyline heritage. Picture a clean, athletic stance, a set of muscular rear haunches, and just enough drama to match the promise under the hood. If the production car delivers the look, the power, rear wheel drive, and a manual option, it is hard not to think about the early-2000s glory days when the G35 stole hearts for mixing honest dynamics with everyday usability.

There is also a strategic message baked into the reveal. Infiniti had been expected to follow the retired Q50 with an electric sedan later in the decade. Instead, this internal preview spotlighted gasoline-powered performance and even confirmed that the Xterra nameplate will return as an off-road-minded sport utility vehicle. In other words, Infiniti is reminding fans that passion still matters while it sorts out the broader lineup.

For now, the big questions will hang in the air until official specifications drop. But the recipe sounds right: a charismatic twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, a target of up to 450 horsepower, the possibility of three pedals, and power to the rear. That is the kind of blueprint that gets enthusiasts talking—and dreaming about a comeback.