While Nissan had the first mass-market electric car in the world, the Leaf, it has squandered its lead. Looking to make up for lost time, the Japanese automaker plans to launch two new luxury EVs in 2025 while also reviving the iconic Skyline nameplate.
This is sometime we’ve known for some time, but new information has come out regarding the replacements to the Skyline, the Infiniti Q50, and the QX50.
Initial reports suggested Nissan was just developing a crossover since that’s what most buyers want these days. But Tesla’s success has spurred them to create more diversity. Reports from Japanese media are now pointing towards a 4-door fastback sedan alongside a crossover.
Best Car Web claims these two new models will be made in Canton Mississippi. The factory which is currently being retooled will be ready to assemble American-made Nissan EVs in 2025. One of these models is a replacement for the Infiniti Q50 sedan, which will stay in production until then.
The other is the QX50, although a coupe-SUV might soon replace the Q60 2-door model. Now, both these Infiniti models are directly related to the Skyline. The Q50 continues to be called a Skyline in Japan, while the QX50 is the Skyline Crossover. But don’t get these confused with the GT-R, which is also going electric, but promises to deliver a heck of a lot more power.
The two Infiniti models have been previewed by concepts that are currently on display at the company’s Global Headquarters Gallery in Yokohama. They are called the Qe and the QXe. The concepts that have an “elegant yet muscular” design which resembles “an abstract bird in flight,” don’t have technical details available.
Bigger than a BMW 3 Series rival
However, Best Car claims the sedan is 4,900mm long, 1,900mm wide, 1,400mm high, and has a 2,900mm wheelbase. That’s significantly bigger than the current Q50, which measures close to 4,800mm. It suggests Infiniti is no longer interested in competing with popular German sedans.
The Skyline/Q50 models may deliver around 450 horsepower and use a 91 kWh lithium-ion battery. These specs aren’t far off from those of a new Tesla Model 3, presumably comparable with the upcoming Model Y Juniper as well.
So what could Nissan or Infiniti possibly offer that Tesla doesn’t? Well, driver enjoyment, for starters. The automaker is working with JATCO to produce a 3-in-1 model that integrates the motor, power inverter, and speed reducer. It’s supposed to be compact, reduce the use of rare earth, and be 30% cheaper than the EV motors Nissan currently uses.
Nissan is also looking to make an integrated transmission which would make the motor more efficient and also add enjoyment. It’s going into a pickup truck first, but the Skyline/Q50 might also use it. Best of all, I think, is the price: 7 million yen for the base car, which is less than $50,000. If they can deliver a good, quality EV for that kind of money it will sell, provided of course it can also use Tesla’s NACS charging system.
