X-Trail hybrid system to give legendary Nissan Skyline name new life – report

The Nissan Skylinealso known as Infiniti Q50reportedly got a replacement.

Japanese outlet Best Car Web reports the next-generation model will use Nissan’s e-Power with the e-4orce powertrain, as seen in the X-Trail.

This pairs a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with a pair of electric motors and a lithium-ion battery.

In the X-Trail, the engine – which does not drive the wheels directly – produces 105kW of power and 250Nm of torque, while the front electric motor produces 150kW and 330Nm and the rear produces 100kW and 195Nm.

When the e-motor reaches its peak at different times, Nissan quotes a system power output of 157kW, but no combined torque figure.

Notably, the three-cylinder engine uses variable compression technology, first introduced by Nissan on the second-generation Infiniti QX50.

This isn’t the first time the Skyline/Q50 has offered an electric powertrain, as it was offered with a 3.5-liter hybrid V6.

Best Car Web reports the Q50/Skyline duo will measure 4900mm long and 1850mm wide on a 2800mm wheelbase, or around 90mm longer and 30mm wider than the current model on a 50mm shorter wheelbase.

It is unclear what platform the model will use, although the outlet reports a Skyline Crossover is also planned but could use a different platform.

The first generation and so far the only Skyline Crossover was just a rebadged version of the Infiniti EX (later renamed the QX50).

This is spun off the rear-wheel drive FM platform that underpins the Infiniti G/Nissan Skyline, Infiniti FX and Nissan 370Z, among others, but is shorter than the G sedan.

The current Q50/Skyline will celebrate its 10th birthday later this year. It was known as the Skyline in Japan and as the Q50 elsewhere, and wore the last nameplate in Australia until the Infiniti brand was withdrawn.

MORE: 25 years of failure: The car brand that didn’t make it in Australia – Infiniti

The Skyline is the last remaining sedan in Nissan’s Japanese lineup following the discontinuation of the Fuga/Cima (aka Infiniti Q70) last year. Nissan does not sell any Chinese or American sedans, such as the Altima/Teana, in its home markets.

The Q50 is also the last remaining passenger car in Infiniti’s global lineup following the discontinuation of the related Q60 coupe, which was not offered in Japan during this generation.

It’s been 12 months since Infiniti teased what appears to be an electric fastback planned to be built in the US from 2025, alongside a similarly shaped model from the Nissan brand.

No further news on this product has been released for either brand.

Nissan has previously said the Infiniti will be “Nissan plus”, although this may not be a return to the old days of transparent re-badging like the Pathfinder-based QX4.

Besides the Q50, it currently only sells SUVs: the front-wheel drive/all-wheel drive QX50 and its SUV coupe QX55; The QX60 is based on the Nissan Pathfinder; and the Nissan Patrol/Arada-based QX80.

Infiniti has retreated from the global stage, and now sells cars only in China, the Middle East and North America.