Nissan Skyline could return to Australia with manual gearbox

The Nissan Skyline could return to the brand's Australian showrooms as an enthusiast-focused Nismo sports model, more than 30 years after the nameplate was last offered here.

Speaking to media including CarExpert in Sydney at an event announcing the first Nismo Performance Centre for Australia, Nissan Australia managing director Steve Milette said the next-generation Skyline could make it here.

“You're not the first to ask,” Mr Milette said when asked whether the Skyline could make a comeback in Australia.

“I feel like there is a bit of a sedan comeback,” he said.

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The Nissan Australia boss spoke about ‘heartbeat’ models – such as the Nissan Z coupe – helping drive the brand locally, beyond core volume sellers including the X-Trail crossover SUV, Patrol off-road SUV, and Navara ute.

The new-generation Skyline was teased in April and is expected to be revealed later this year before going on sale in Japan in 2027.

Previously offered as a volume-selling, rear-wheel drive rival to the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon, the Skyline was last sold in Australian showrooms as a mainstream model in 1991 with the locally built R31 series sedan and wagon.

Just 100 examples of the subsequent R32 Skyline were imported here, all GT-Rs, before the nameplate was withdrawn from Australia.

While the Magna, Falcon and Commodore have all disappeared as Australian buyers shifted from large three-box sedans to SUVs and dual-cab utes, the Skyline has continued overseas.

The 12th and 13th generation Skylines were sold here, but under the Infiniti Q60 and Q50 nameplates, respectively.

If the new 14th-generation Skyline – teased with its iconic ‘hotplate’ circular tail-lights – was to arrive here, it would play a very different role to its family-focused R31 predecessor.

“I think we need to look at all of it. Would it [Skyline] be a high-volume model? Probably not, but does it occupy a heartbeat moment, like I said before, like in terms of our portfolio? Perhaps it's something that we need to explore," said Mr Milette.

While nothing has been officially announced, it could include a run of Nismo Skylines – again, a model not yet confirmed – with the first Nismo Performance Centre Melbourne due to open in the second half of 2026.

Boosting its reputation among enthusiasts, Australians have embraced private imports of two-door Skylines – including GTS, GTS-T and the iconic GT-R – with some of the highest ownership rates globally.

In fact, Nissan told media seven per cent of all R32 Skyline GT-Rs ever produced are now in Australia, along with 20 per cent of all R33 GT-Rs and a massive 36 per cent of all R34 GT-Rs.

The R35 Nissan GT-R, unveiled in 2007 and officially sold in Australia until October 2021, dropped the Skyline name globally.

While Nissan has shown a ‘Skyline’ script logo in teaser material of the new-generation model, along with the model's iconic round tail-lights, the automaker insists the 14th generation won’t be a retro-styled exercise.

Teaser footage has shown an angular front-end with LED daytime running lights, while the rear features an integrated spoiler.

It's also expected to retain its classic rear-wheel-drive layout and use a version of the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine currently offered in the Z sports car. Much as the Z used an updated version of its 370Z predecessor's underpinnings, the new Skyline is expected to do the same.

Given its expected positioning between the Z and next-generation R36 GT-R, it could produce more power than the current Z’s 298kW and 475Nm in Australia, or the Z Nismo’s 309kW and 520Nm outputs.

That could also mean a manual transmission for enthusiasts, with the Z Nismo – originally launched exclusively with a nine-speed automatic – due in Australian showrooms with a six-speed manual later this year.

Nissan has previously confirmed the new-generation sedan, at least in Infiniti Q50 guise in the US, will offer a manual transmission.

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