Rumor Mill: Skyline to US legit

[Sniffs]

MT has currently held a rumor with photos that any Nissan enthusiast will appreciate

the update to the current Skyline, r35 (NOT the g35 type currently being used), may just be coming to the US Under it's own name!!. they're not sure wether to poke it under Nissan or Infiniti's label, but either way, it appears Skyline may show up in the US just in time for it's big 5-0 ( i believe I read at the Nissan Japan website that the Skyline name is tecnically "class of 57") anybody care to substantiate?

 

[Joey D]

Everything I've read said it will be here in the states, but my guess is that it will be ungodly expensive and won't sell well. I mean it has 500ish horsepower or something in it and I'm guessing close to 100 grand on the price tag. For that people with buy a Z06 or and SRT-10.

 

[Pupik]

I'm assuming:

- The price will have to be in the 60-80K area; after all, the NSX had a lot of hype and sales at first, but never sold well after a few years. Not many changes to it kind of hurt it, although that doesn't seem to be an issue with the GT-R's many variants. Any more than that, and it might hurt sales, as the competition isn't sleeping...

- No more than 1000-2000 will be available in the US during the first year, to offset over-production fears. Yes, there's tens of thousands of 12-to-25-year-old males that would buy it, but it's fair to say few of them would be in a position to actually buy the car. If the market demand is strong enough, production will increase.

- It will be badged as an Infiniti; although branding it as a Nissan would increase name recoginition. Tough call; it should be an Nissan, but past theory holds that some people might not fork over 75K for a Datsun. Infiniti has surpassed Lexus and Acura as the more of a "performance luxury" brand in the US, so we'll see in a few years what the call would be. I have to hand it to Nissan for selling the 350Z and G35 in separate franchises, and yet, does well selling each one.

 

[Joey D]

- The price will have to be in the 60-80K area; after all, the NSX had a lot of hype and sales at first, but never sold well after a few years. Not many changes to it kind of hurt it, although that doesn't seem to be an issue with the GT-R's many variants. Any more than that, and it might hurt sales, as the competition isn't sleeping...

They need to make it under 60K to be competitive because like I said, most Americans would rather own a Vetter or a Viper then the high end Infiniti.

Infiniti has surpassed Lexus and Acura as the more of a "performance luxury" brand in the US

I highly doubt that, I think more people consider Lexus the higher performance Japanese brand. Not counting the Germans.

 

[toyomatt84]

Well, a Viper could cost you well over what those Skyline figures are, so that leaves just the 'Vette with a comparible HP/TQ setting as the new Skyline. As for me, I think it just needs a more "Youthful" approach in the ad campaign, and it might do all right.

 

[Joey D]

Well for that price, and I guess when I think of Infiniti I think luxery, I would rather have BMW M3, 6 series or something. Or better yet an AMG'ed Benz. They seem like a better buy for something that is a luxery car.

 

[eliseracer]

I think more people consider Lexus the higher performance Japanese brand. Not counting the Germans.

Most people I know consider Lexus to make crap cars. With the exception of the IS, I really can't consider any of their cars to be good or good-looking.

 

[Ev0]

Lexus is the last of the three premium Japanese brands that I would consider to be the performance brand. The only car they make that has performance credentials is the new IS; and that's mostly due to its excellent 300hp V6.

But Blazin' is right about the Vette. If the new Skyline is going to have any chance of success in the US, they need to price it at or under the Corvette. The Vette is an outstanding car in stock form, and it is also very tunable. Also, it is easily one of the best automotive bargains of all time.

 

[Famine]

MT has currently held a rumor with photos that any Nissan enthusiast will appreciate

the update to the current Skyline, r35 (NOT the g35 type currently being used), may just be coming to the US Under it's own name!!. they're not sure wether to poke it under Nissan or Infiniti's label, but either way, it appears Skyline may show up in the US just in time for it's big 5-0 ( i believe I read at the Nissan Japan website that the Skyline name is tecnically "class of 57") anybody care to substantiate?

Are we talking about the Skyline or the GT-R, which are separate entities?

 

[Jay]

If we are talking about the next Skyline (V36) which will come out around the same time as the '07 GTR then it will be a Infiniti G35 replacement. The GTR is a whole different story.

But Blazin' is right about the Vette. If the new Skyline is going to have any chance of success in the US, they need to price it at or under the Corvette. The Vette is an outstanding car in stock form, and it is also very tunable. Also, it is easily one of the best automotive bargains of all time.

It seems you are refering to the new GTR if not then the next Skyline is not in the Corvettes class, if your refering to the GTR then with all the technology put in to the next GTR (E-4WD, electric assisted turbos etc) it Will NOT under cut the Corvettes price. GM managed to stick with the basics with the Corvette and make a fast car cheap.

 

[YSSMAN]

This has been confirmed by a lot of sources allready. Nissan announced that the GTR will be headed EVERYWHERE in 2007, which does include Europe and the US along with the mainland of Japan.

Motor Trend and Car and Driver had both said that the rumored V8 powerplant in US models is a no-go, and will definatley use the same (more than likely) VQ twin-turbo V6 powerplant that should make somewhere north of 400bhp, most likely in the neighborhood of 450bhp.

Prices are still up in the air, but I would put money on the $70K mark, which puts it between the C6 Z06 and SRT-10 Coupe.

As far as it being sold as an Infiniti or a Nissan, its going to be neiter. One magazine (I think it was Car and Driver, or Motor Trend, or both) said that the car will be badged only as a GTR, not a Nissan or and Infiniti... But Nissan had not decided as to where the car will be available, although one could easily figure out that only select dealers will have the car available for purchase. IMO, I'm rooting for Nissan to carry the car, despite the fact it is based so heavily on the G35 version of the FM platform than that of the 350Z version.

My two cents: The GTR wont find much competition from the Z06 or SRT10 that they seem to think they are going for, but more from the Porsche 911 or Cayman and the upcoming Audi R9.

 

[niky]

I thought the US Infiniti branch had won the political struggle to sell the GTR. Oh well, we'll only know for sure by mid-next year.

And that's right, the Vette and Viper appeal to an entirely different market demographic, despite the fact that their performance at this point is close to where Nissan is aiming with the GT-R. Quite simply: older guys like Vettes and Vipers, while younger guys want the GTR... hence the possibility that production volumes are going to be low in the US, for now. That's why the Vette sells... its target demographic can actually afford expensive sports cars... unfortunately, as that demographic gets older, the younger people that Chevy isn't drawing in may not support the Vette in the future... which is sad.

 

[YSSMAN]

I completely dissagree with the idea that older folks like the Vette and the Viper better...

I'm 19, and I wouldnt be caught dead in a GTR. The Vette (to me) is better looking, is faster, probably cheaper, and probably fits me better on the inside.

Of all the Japanese sports cars ever made the more recent Skyline GTRs are among my least favorites... Although the classic ones are more my style, the R32+ Skylines arent it.

The Pontiac GTO is even more appealing than the Skyline GTR, and that is saying a lot...

 

[neanderthal]

you obviously arent the norm then are you.

 

[Wolfe]

I'm also confused as to whether this thread is talking about the GT-R, or the next Skyline...

Also, the people that would buy the GT-R are the people that would buy an NSX, 911 or M5. Just because the 'Vette is a crazy deal doesn't mean everyone will buy it...not everyone bases their decision solely on value and numbers...

Also, Infiniti is by far the top Japanese performance luxury brand. Acuras aren't really strong enough, and Lexii are too luxurious, too disconnected from the driving experience.

 

[niky]

you obviously arent the norm then are you.

... but, @YSSMAN, you and me both would buy the Corvette if we had the chance and the money, but a lot of kids nowadays are more "wowed" by the Fast and the Furious set... Japanese machines and the like. The age demographic of the Vette is definitely on the high side, as a lot of Vette' owners are 50 and over.

BMWs, however, target a yuppie demographic... and when these people get older, they can graduate up to the expensive toys.

Mazdas and Nissans... they appeal to kids now... who will one day grow into yuppies and want GTRs, Zs or an RX.

There hasn't been a step-up car for the Vette' for a long time... the Camaro was one, but then again, look where that went. Hopefully, with GM's new lineup, they can attract more younger buyers (you guys don't count, if you're on GTPLANET, you're definitely a car freak who can appreciate Vette's... most others... can't.) who will then be tempted to opt up to a Vette.

It's not a problem for the Vette now... not just yet, but it MAY be in the future.

The GTR will sell. I'm betting exclusivity and prestige will play a big part in sales.

 

[Joey D]

Actually more kids would want the Vette in America because of its past. Everyone knows what a Vette is. And the GT-R was made popular in America by the Gran Turismo series...AutoWeek did an article about it. So I mean really all the people that want them are kids that will never afford them or companies that want to show off parts. The GT-R will be just like the NSX, cool car that doesn't sell.

 

[McLaren'sAngel]

Hiya! Meow! (='.'=)

Blazin, you bring up good points in this thread. It does scare me a bit about how the GTR's sales can be poor like the NSX. Its price is like "high class" level that most of today's import lovers will probably never reach.

Ugh, it dissapoint me so much to see tons of gansta-wannabe guys say they are going to own a GTR when they don't even care about school....

 

[niky]

That could happen.

But the GTR will have one thing the NSX sorely lacked: power.

But still, that could happen.

 

[Ev0]

The NSX had plenty of power for when it came out. Unfortunately, it did not get the power it needed in its later years to keep up with the competition.

 

[JCE]

The Viper is the biggest waste of money ever. You can easily get the same performance for less--AND look better for doing it. In performance I'm not talking 0-62kph but overall total speed+handling. Hell for the same money as an SRT-10 I could get a base 911 which would be light years more fun to drive. Between the Vette, Viper, or Skyline I'd have to choose the Skyline. But, as much of a Nissan freak as I am I'd rather have an '06 Audi RS4.

 

[colton19911]

*chokes on taco meat* Skyline coming to the States? Cool!

 

[niky]

That's strange... the argument for the Viper, it's raison d'etre, so to speak, is that it gives supercar performance for less money. The Viper may be a handful on the road, but it is definitely very quick around the track. I'm not going to counter the argument that the Porsche would be more fun to drive, but then, since when was the 911 considered cheap?

Of course, if you take a Viper to the track, you'd have to work on the brakes, cooling system and ancilliaries to take the punishment. My uncle's Viper has had a lot of small niggles since he bought it (acc. belts, overheating, etcetera), and that's merely on cruising or commuting... but he still loves the car.

The RS4 sounds nice, though... but definitely not in the same league as the GTR.

 

[McLaren'sAngel]

Hiya! Meow! (='.'=)

I dont think it is a good idea to put down the Viper like that. Some people still look at it as a big overweighted pig that have no traction compared to cars like the C6 Z06 which I find very sad.

Why does it always everything always have to be "faster is better"? Thats because a car can be made faster with less money compared to something more expensive doesnt mean its better. I still think that some people are still stuck up on being the fastest on the street just to show off themselves and their money. Can't we all enjoy what we like to drive instead of getting something you dont like, but to only buy it to be faster.

 

[ShobThaBob]

I'm sorry, the next GTR will not bear the Skyline moniker. And we already have a skyline, it's the same one sold in Japan...it's called the G35. Most car magazines also tend to agree than in Japan, the GTR will not be matched with the Skyline name.

 

[Joey D]

Just out of pure curiousity, will they have to "dumb" down the GT-R for US emissions standards?

 

[JCE]

That's strange... the argument for the Viper, it's raison d'etre, so to speak, is that it gives supercar performance for less money. The Viper may be a handful on the road, but it is definitely very quick around the track. I'm not going to counter the argument that the Porsche would be more fun to drive, but then, since when was the 911 considered cheap?

Of course, if you take a Viper to the track, you'd have to work on the brakes, cooling system and ancilliaries to take the punishment. My uncle's Viper has had a lot of small niggles since he bought it (acc. belts, overheating, etcetera), and that's merely on cruising or commuting... but he still loves the car.

The RS4 sounds nice, though... but definitely not in the same league as the GTR.

Don't get me wrong, I am not by any means saying the Viper sucks...I'm just saying for the same money or less you can get the same (or better in the Vette's case) performance. I'd buy a Viper before buying a TVR (Sagaris is nice but seems fiddly to me), but I wll say the ZO6 is the better car when pited against the Viper. To be positive, the new SRT-10 Viper is a much better car than the old RT-10/GTS--which I drove a GTS for a week. It was barely large enough in the cabin for me to sit, uncomfortable, and I found the transmission to be rubbish--after driving the new one last year they have improved on everything I mentioned. I just prefer something that's not a DC product...only thing from DC that would ever grace my garage (if I could ever afford it) is any CL/SL/SLK AMG or the engine from a Zonda--and it would be displayed in my livingroom as a centerpiece as a work of art.

Offtopic: these Santa smiles are a great touch.

 

[JCE]

Just out of pure curiousity, will they have to "dumb" down the GT-R for US emissions standards?

Yes, so count on losing anywhere between 15-25bhp for a turbo engine or 10-20 for a NA engine--at least that's what I guess will happen. Infact Nissan should INCREASE the performance before adding the emissions BULL****--then maybe it will balance out.

 

[niky]

👍 no argument on the Vette vs. Viper thing... but there aren't many other cars around their price that give that much performance. Rumors abound of more power for the next generation of Vipers, due to the new Z06.

And my cousin was all for driving the Viper when he went back home. His reaction when he came back here? He'd love to drive it on the track, but it sucks on street liveability. Sort of in agreement with you. And he could never use more than a little throttle anywhere.

The next GTR probably won't lose much due to emissions... a lot of NA japanese cars do, but I doubt it's anything a touch of extra boost won't fix. (look at the EVO and Impreza).

 

[Sniffs]

comes in to a rolling argument*

okay, hold up

according to what I read, it's the actuall Skyline body, an R body, not the one we're getting for the Inf g35
it comes in under GT-R ONLY, there was no announcement wether or not they were gonna give it to nissan or infinity dealerships yet.

i believe I said earlier that Skyline is having it's big 5-0 when it finally gets hauled over here, even if it is only labeled r35...

i can't answer the vette vs Viper argument...i've rarely seen a vette, never a viper (i saw a Prowler first!!), and never had a chance to even SIT in one...not only are the things rare as hen's teeth here in the backwoods of pennsylvania in the middle of amish/dairy country, those that show up at car shows are swarming with "touch and die" signs all OVER them

bXt: i agree with everybody else. the GT-R will be heavily detuned for the US emissions standards, etc. it'll probably have to meet the NEV california emissions standard. (that's not a typo of "new"...knowing california, they either have in the works or have passed a "no emissions" standard by now)