In February, it was reported that Nissan scrapped plans for a 240SX/Silvia successor, while also putting the so-called Infiniti GT-R Sedan on hold indefinitely. Following comments made by Nissan executives at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday, it now appears there is little to no hope for a GT-R-based flagship sedan from Infiniti at any point in the foreseeable future.
Brian Carolin, Nissan’s Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, was quoted as saying there is no Infiniti flagship on the horizon. “There’s nothing in the product plan,” Carolin told Edmunds. “It’s just not a priority.” The report also indicates there no hope for a production version of the Infiniti Essence coupe.
A year ago, Infiniti dealers were clamoring for a four-door luxury version of the GT-R. Given today’s economy, “it’s way down on their wish list,” explained Carolin.
As recently as October, it was reported Nissan had approved the GT-R sedan project. Prior to the launch of the GT-R coupe, Infiniti dealers lobbied unsuccessfully to have the car badged as an Infiniti rather than a Nissan in the United States.
The Infiniti had been expected to be powered by a 420 horsepower version of the same 5.0-liter V8 used in the FX50. Power was to be sent to all four-wheels via the GT-R’s AWD system, deliering a zero to 60 mph time of 5 seconds and a top speed of 170 mph. Now it appears the GT-R sedan will quite literally go nowhere.
Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn recently told employees the company must now focus all of its resources on small and medium-sized cars, including an electric Prius rival, expected to arrive in showrooms next year.



04/09, 7:56 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
nooooo i actually liked this!
04/09, 9:51 AM
posted by:
scratchy
Shame on you , idrinorbarsaku. it’s your patriotic duty to not like foreign cars !
04/09, 9:58 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
I liked the idea too, although it wouldn’t cut it against the BMW M3/M5, or the Cadillac CTS-V.
Consider the GT-R is now $80k after its recent price hikes, Infiniti would likely price this car even higher. A $90k car that is weaker and slower than the $60k M3 and CTS-V, and can’t match the M5 at the same price, is a very tough sell. Gotta have AWD? Well, it’s hard to argue picking this over say an Audi RS6.
04/09, 10:17 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
i actually dont think this would be priced higher than the gtr because those option look good on a nissan, but they wouldnt seem so impressive on an infiniti. get what I’m trying to say? anyways, whatever, i would get an rs6 instead of this if i had the money…and i would love the wagon to scare the pants off those old geezers’ crappy station wagons…. >:-)
04/09, 10:20 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
This is the best news I’ve heard in some time. I look to forward to many fruitful years discussing the merits of the latest high mileage sh*tboxes with tiny wheels and colorful foliage displays that have taken the place of low profile rubber and tachometers.
04/09, 10:38 AM
posted by:
05Z88Path
Lol @ johnny…
Sadly, your sarcasm speaks the truth brother.
04/09, 10:42 AM
posted by:
Borat
GT-R in real life on the road did not look inspirational or inspiring. For purist in me Lotus Elise evokes more rush and if you do need somebody behind you – 335 will do the job.
04/09, 10:42 AM
posted by:
orangecones
No surprise here. In fact, I am fairly glad they came to their senses. GT-R needs to remain a NIssan-badged only coupe. No sedans, no wagons, no rag-tops. It is very important for Nissan right now not to pull a GM and invest wisely in mass-market small and medium sized fuel efficient cars.
04/09, 12:26 PM
posted by:
coolguy8157
I think they are right on to do what makes them survive in the market. When the rivals are investing in hybrids and other crap econo boxes….they better do the same whether they like it or not… else they will be history….not happy with the decision but they gotta do what they gotta do to survive…..
04/09, 12:44 PM
posted by:
CiNO
This is the right decision. Only Nissan should deserve GT-R production. Infiniti should take care of making hybrid vehicle, not super car.
04/09, 1:04 PM
posted by:
F00_13
Agreed. As beautiful as it may be, no one wants an Infiniti like this right now. Time to invest in quality, high-mileage vehicles. But they would do well to make them as distinguished and appealing as this vehicle would have been.
04/09, 1:14 PM
posted by:
PerformanceGuy
This is disappointing, but I understand that in this climate it is for the best. They already have one of the best line up of the sport luxury cars, so now they should just focus on getting the new M to production.
04/09, 3:48 PM
posted by:
Hyperion
Infiniti’s business model isn’t really suited to a GT-R variant anyway. The GT-R is an all-out performance car with only so much attention to luxury comforts. Infiniti would have been better off doing a RWD sedan with their 400+ horsepower V8. I don’t think it’s a terrible decision. We still have the GT-R from Nissan.
Now what is a terrible decision in my eyes is the cancellation of the new 240SX project. Given that they were trying to make a fairly gas-economical performance turbo engine in a $25k sports coupe that seats not two but four, I think it is one of the worst decisions they could have made!
Nissan does not sell any practical entry level sportscar for those of us with shallow wallets. The 370Z only seats two and has almost no trunk space, The GT-R seats four and has trunk space but costs $80k+
The Altima coupe is not a 240SX alternative, so I see a huge gap in their lineup for a much more viable market of people who want a small rear wheel drive car they can actually live with day to day.
So screw the GT-R sedan. Where’s the new 240SX? Nissan/Infiniti has had it backwards since February!
04/09, 6:30 PM
posted by:
nestle_s
i rather have the 240sx successor than the GT-R sedan. nissan needs to make better decisions on which cars to produce. if nissan had the 240sx project going, nissan would have the three sports coupe thing they had when it was the 200sx, 240sx and 300zx in the early to mid-late 90s. they shouldnt have produced the altima coupe, waste of money and resources, and continued with the 240sx successor.
04/09, 9:01 PM
posted by:
orangecones
Hyper, I don’t really agree. The Sylvia and Altima would be competing for some (not all) of the same wallets. They would both range $20-30k, offer about same power output, etc etc.
04/10, 12:54 AM
posted by:
BuyUSA
This is a really nice car and all, but right now is the time to buy American and support your countrymen. How can you justify an import sitting in your driveway when your next door neighbor with 3 kids just got laid off from the GM or Chrysler plant?
Buy American. It’s not just a matter of jobs, it’s a matter of national security as well.
Do the right thing.
04/10, 1:04 AM
posted by:
BuyUSA
If you are in the market for a world-class sport sedan like this, get a Cadillac CTS-V instead.
Do the right thing.
04/10, 10:11 AM
posted by:
shane train
BuyUSA, are you like, a more polite version of NMOFGM?
Because you’re saying what he says, but somehow you sound a little more educated and well spoken about it. I don’t really agree, but NMOFGM is really just internet flame bait, more so than you are. I think it’s because you use the term “Buy American”, rather than “Buy GM. Buy American.” Keep it up, let him be a self embarassing advertisement.
I can’t buy an American car, because I don’t have enough money. I would hope it’s not my duty to live outside my means, and just because I own a Toyota now doesn’t mean I’m unamerican. I mean, not everyone can just buy a brand new car to support the country.
04/10, 12:34 PM
posted by:
BuyUSA
No I’m just saying that if anybody is about to buy a new car right now, you should buy an American car. It’s the right thing to do.
04/10, 6:21 PM
posted by:
georgetang
Look at Nissan/Infiniti
Even though they’re canceling the project, but their design are still far superior to Honda/Acura, if Nissan/Infiniti ever launch this GT-R sedan, I’m sure long time Acura TL or RL customer would strongly consider one, cuz, it looks way more aggressive and everything it’s up-to-date.
04/10, 8:47 PM
posted by:
shane train
Well, I think that if someone chooses to buy an American car, then great for them, but one of the things that has gone hand in hand with America is Capitalism, and the essence of capitalism is allowing the consumer to choose from different options offered by different people and companies.
If someone chooses a car because they prefer it, then that’s a distinctly American thing to do, in my opinion. But at the same time, I’m not going to tell someone NOT to buy an American car, and I guess I’d respect them for doing it.
04/11, 3:03 AM
posted by:
BuyUSA
Let me make this clear: I speak for myself alone. It would not be credible for me to sit here and tell you to buy ONLY GM. I truly believe all 3 US automakers make fine products; more now than ever. If you choose to stick with your Toyota for financial reasons, so be it. All I can do at this point is encourage future buyers to make their next choice American. I cannot hold a gun to your head and make you do it; nor is it my intention to do so. Just don’t be surprised if the import sitting in your driveway suffers from major baseball bat damage should the Big 3 go under.
04/11, 11:59 AM
posted by:
shane train
Well, I would hope there would be no baseball bat damage, considering I’d like to keep my car running long enough to be in one of those dorky Toyota commercials with the people talking about the recklessly absurd amount of miles they’ve put on their car. That would be the best for me financially in the long run. A new car purchase would not be good for a college student who’s studying art and working a little lifeguarding on the side, I just can’t pull that off.
I don’t think it’s a wise economic climate to buy ANY car right now, but if it’s unavoidable, I think people can give the domestic makers a chance, yeah. I mean, they should scope all their options, but the quality of American products is up a bit from the past, because they REALLY REALLY need to have it up.
GM and Ford are both increasing their quality by using their resources in Europe, Australia, etc. Chrysler seems to be lagging behind the two of them a bit, so if I were to buy a new American car, my first choice would be Ford, and then GM. I don’t think Chrylser would get tremendous consideration. But then again, I think it would be wiser of most people to buy used in this day and age.