Wait, what? Infiniti Q50 with manual!

[edyvw]

Apparently Nissan is planning to revive Q50 with turbo V6 from Z and manual gearbox!
It seems there is hope!

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a65861602/infiniti-q50-revived-2027-manual/

 

[CharBaby]

We’ll have to wait and see. It sure would be nice as sedans are my favorite segment but are now selling fewer & fewer. Nissan/Infiniti need to build vehicles that that make a profit, meet emissions, fuel economy standards and are reliable so that they can get out of this hole that they’re in.

 

[shortyb]

Would love that, IF they ever build it. And if they do, we will never see it here in the US. We never get the cool ones .

 

[Ws6]

Dude, considering the WRX STi has a CVT and is only available in Japan, I have zero faith in these Japanese companies. They're all just one big joke here stateside, and always have been. If you want fun cars, you have to look at Ford, Germany, and Korea here in the US. Japan has just done a "send off" for the only decent stuff they ever made for sale here. The TLX-S is gone this year, the GTR is gone this/last year, the Supra is dead and Toyota is "making their own engine" for it (That's going to go well...they can't build an engine to save their lives anymore. That's why they contracted BMW to put a B58 under the hood), the RC-F is dead. All these have exited the US market in the last 1-2 years. Japan would rather build RAV4's with leaky roofs, pickups with turbo problems, and other nonsense. The only, ONLY redeeming thing out of Japan right now is the CTR. It still slaps.

 

[dnewton3]

Apparently Nissan is planning to revive Q50 with turbo V6 from Z and manual gearbox!

Yeah, well who's going to revive Nissan ???

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Maybe they should put a manual back in the Frontier ...

 

[edyvw]

Yeah, well who's going to revive Nissan ???

Well, that is good question

 

[SC Maintenance]

Would love that, IF they ever build it. And if they do, we will never see it here in the US. We never get the cool ones .

This is what I was thinking. There trying to sunset Infiniti. They need to sell it as a skyline like its supposed to be.

Nissan Japan seems to have their act together. Nissan USA seems intent on burning themselves to the ground.

 

[AZjeff]

Building the lowest selling model in the lowest selling configuration isn't how to revive a company.

 

[I<3oil]

Building the lowest selling model in the lowest selling configuration isn't how to revive a company.

BRINGING THE EXCITEMENT BACK

WOO

 

[Zee09]

Manual trans groupies are all talk and no purchase.... when no one buys they go away.

 

[edyvw]

Manual trans groupies are all talk and no purchase.... when no one buys they go away.

I think manuals are becoming a marketing niche. Like M models. For a long time (maybe even now), M models lost money. But they served a bigger purpose. They were cool, something special, and a lot of people wanted M, but they could not afford it. Then get something cheaper because you feel like you are having part of the fun.
Generally, the problem with Asian manufacturers when they venture into this category is a lack of good marketing. Cars like this draw attention, free marketing, but they also have to have good strategic marketing.

 

[Zee09]

I think manuals are becoming a marketing niche. Like M models. For a long time (maybe even now), M models lost money. But they served a bigger purpose. They were cool, something special, and a lot of people wanted M, but they could not afford it. Then get something cheaper because you feel like you are having part of the fun.
Generally, the problem with Asian manufacturers when they venture into this category is a lack of good marketing. Cars like this draw attention, free marketing, but they also have to have good strategic marketing.

I have owned many manuals and Hondas were slick as can be..
I don’t want a manual on a F350 though and I'm no longer in the manual market.... age is the reason...

 

[97prizm]

Would love that, IF they ever build it. And if they do, we will never see it here in the US. We never get the cool ones .

Albeit slow manual transmission purchases hit 1.7 percent last year

 

[97prizm]

Remember the North America market BMW M5 E60 with the V10 was offered with a manual transmission. Europe only received the SMG transmission. The VW Golf R was only offered with the dsg in Europe as the manual take rate was 5% versus 48-50% in north America

 

[shortyb]

Manual transmissions are desirable for enthusiasts that want "involvement" with their cars, I get that. However, the general driving public has gotten way lazy and lots don't want ANY involvement with driving their cars. This is primarily why manuals are dying off and the folks left crying their demise make up so little of the current buying market that the manufacturers can't afford to cater to so few. It's a shame really, because I liked driving my manual equipped cars.

Now I kind of split the difference. My recent VWs, especially the performance oriented ones, had/have dual clutch transmissions (DSG), which is essentially a manual with an electronic clutch(es). My "involvement" now comes from choosing which gears to use by flipping the little paddles on the steering wheel vs. rowing the shift lever (and coordinating my feet with the clutch). Still get the same results with a bit less effort. I drive in manual mode almost 100% of the time.

 

[shortyb]

Remember the North America market BMW M5 E60 with the V10 was offered with a manual transmission. Europe only received the SMG transmission. The VW Golf R was only offered with the dsg in Europe as the manual take rate was 5% versus 48-50% in north America

One of the main reasons the take rate was high for the manual vs. the DSG in the US was cost. Up until recently, the DSG option was much more expensive.

 

[Carmudgeon]

Building the lowest selling model in the lowest selling configuration isn't how to revive a company.

I'm all for models like this that appeal to enthusiasts, but the fate of the company will rest on the more mundane stuff.

Nissan had a very strong lineup in the 80s and 90s, with many products with similar appeal, but wasn't making money, and that is what lead to Ghosn originally being brought in to rescue the company, by cutting costs, in the company and the products. Out went the multi-link suspensions and in came the beam axles.

 

[edyvw]

I'm all for models like this that appeal to enthusiasts, but the fate of the company will rest on the more mundane stuff.

Nissan had a very strong lineup in the 80s and 90s, with many products with similar appeal, but wasn't making money, and that is what lead to Ghosn originally being brought in to rescue the company, by cutting costs, in the company and the products. Out went the multi-link suspensions and in came the beam axles.

Absolutely. But models for enthusiasts sell other models too.

 

[Exhaustgases]

The smart move would be to axe the turbo. Manual trans would be good.