America Could Get the Nissan Skyline After All, But You'll Have to Buy It As An Infiniti
The Skyline has become an iconic name for Nissan fans in America, despite the model never being sold here in that form. We've had the Infiniti G35 and G37, as well as the Q50, but never the Skyline, and while the next-generation Skyline that Nissan recently teased is also not destined for the U.S., customers may be able to make it look like they bought a Skyline domestically, and not with aftermarket body kits, either. Speaking on The Drivecast podcast, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for Nissan North America, Ponz Pandikuthira, responded with one word when asked if Nissan might consider offering a JDM Skyline retrofit kit for the next Q50 sedan at U.S. dealerships: "Yes."
How Nissan Could Provide the Skyline Experience in America
The executive explained how the Skyline retrofit program might work by saying that whatever powertrain Nissan brings to North America "will be tunable," indicating that Nissan may be willing to offer factory support for aftermarket upgrades, and that may extend to a Skyline retrofit kit. "If we can offer it through the factory with all our warranties, we will," said Pandikuthira. "And sometimes, if the volumes are too small, it's actually a business better done with a tuner. We partnered with tuners before, so we could officially partner with them. And we would definitely consider that and make sure that the supply chain's in place, sharing the right mapping and ECU data so the tuner is well equipped to get a perfectly functioning car out there. So that's an absolute yes."
It seems that Nissan's current head honchos are true car enthusiasts who understand that modifying is part of what helped the brand become so popular, both here and abroad, as evidenced by what else Pandikuthira said.
Related: Nissan Is Getting Serious About Bringing the Silvia Back
"What you're referring to [a Skyline retrofit kit] is a very interesting proposition, which we could very easily do, and which my planning team and I have really tossed around is, what if you have an Infiniti version because that's the right brand and the right demographic to bring in, but maybe there's some purists out there who'd be like, 'You know what? I'd like this to be like the Skyline that's in Japan or whatever car that's super authentic to the heritage of this. Help me make this.' And we would love to facilitate that."
Pandikuthira conceded that it would be a very small group of buyers who would be interested in such a niche, but noted that "there's culture around it" and that those who do show interest are not the sort of people who would sell a car after a short time just for something new.
What This Means for Skyline Fans in America
Pandikuthira's comments were far less vague than we're accustomed to, which not only indicates that Nissan has already seen a desire for the Skyline badge in the U.S., but also that the company itself is trying its absolute best to be a true enthusiast brand. Nissan's leadership, with "real car guy" Ivan Espinosa at the top, seems to understand that, while affordable but profitable everyday cars are critical, so is being perceived as desirable and fun, and tapping into the brand's heritage is how the culture spreads. With Pandikuthira responding to questions about a Skyline with factory backing in America resoundingly, Nissan no longer sounds like it's trying to keep its head above water. Instead, it's preparing to surf the waves.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 5:15 PM.