US Nissan Skylines

How come Nissan won't bring the skyline over here to the US?

Firstly, it depends on how you define 'Skyline'. If you mean just the Nissan Skyline....in a sense they are and it's the Infiniti G35. If you mean the Nissan Skyline GT-R, then it's a different story, and it all depends upon who you talk to.

Nissan has said it'd have to do a mirror version of the RB26 in order to do a LHD version, and it would be prohibitively expensive. Now, it's been questioned before as to whether or not that is necessary, seeing as an LHD conversion HAS been done before. However, I don't think Nissan would be comfortable doing retrofits of that type, so I think it would be necessary from a basic marketing standpoint.

Honestly, I think it comes down to money and sales. There would be major costs involved in certifying the Skyline for US sales, and then developing stock, shipping, prepping dealer systems, etc. Contrast this with several factors:

1. How many of the general driving public will pay around 50k for a NISSAN? Remember, this is the American public here. Why do you think Infiniti, Lexus, and Acura exist? Because people won't spend large bills on cars like Toyota, Nissan, or Honda. When you reach that kind of price in the US, I'd guesstimate 80% or more vehicle sales are luxury cars, such as BMW or Mercedes, and sport utility vehicles....two categories of which the Skyline would have very little hope in breaching sales

2. For those people who ARE looking for performance vehicles, the price range of the Skyline puts you in the drivers seat of a decked out Corvette...something with American brand name and styling.

3. Performance vehicles like the Skyline are not exactly designed with concepts such as 'lessening environmental impact' in mind. It's the exact reason why it costs so much for MotoRex to import Skylines...a lot of work has to be done to bring the car up to US emissions standards. It also points to a slight trend in passenger vehicles in the US.....the newer cars coming out are more environmentally friendly as well as financially friendly. The Skyline is not exactly either.

So....where is the market for sales in this country? Now, I'm sure every US Skyline junkie here would line up at the doors to our local Nissan dealers if it happens....but how many people does that represent? IMO not enough to warrant the investment.

HOWEVER.....for some reason I'm betting that if the G35 sells well, that when Nissan re-introduces the GT-R concept in 2k4 (or we hope reintro....I'm not sure if it's official yet), there will be some inroads made into bringing it here.

the newer cars coming out are more environmentally friendly as well as financially friendly. The Skyline is not exactly either.

First, I am talking about the GT-R. Second, how can a 2.6l cause so much pollution? More than the v8 and v10's... Lastly, the skyline can be brought up to 1,000hp..i dont think a corvette can(i am not sure). Thanks for the info :D

Originally posted by TrvlynAlec
First, I am talking about the GT-R. Second, how can a 2.6l cause so much pollution? More than the v8 and v10's...

Could have sworn I'd responded to this post earlier.....well, so goeth the brain I guess...

Like they say, the devil is in the details. It's not that a 2.6l causes 'so much pollution' over say a V8....but that a 2.6l inline 6 performance designed engine will be less environmentally sound (US EPA spec speaking of course) than a V8 designed to comply with US emissions regs.

I don't want to sound like I'm hacking Nissan, or the Skyline. If anything, I completely blame the US government and their inane vehicle import restrictions. IMO the laws are designed not for reasons such as they state, but to simply make it overly difficult to import vehicles as a defense of the US auto sales market.

Lastly, the skyline can be brought up to 1,000hp..i dont think a corvette can(i am not sure). Thanks for the info :D

I've not heard of a corvette that could break 1000hp (I've read of one or two Skylines that supposedly hit 1200), but then you have to ask the seminal question - how many people are specifically looking for 1000hp platforms, and are willing to spend 45k before any modifications on a Nissan......and will those numbers justify the expense of bringing the car to market? The Skyline is a niche vehicle and sadly in this country the niche it fits into is very small....however.....

We have this from ApexJapan and a review of the M-spec:
Because Ghosn has made it quite clear that he wants the GT-R to be a showcase of Nissan’s top-end technology in the US and Europe where it has never been sold (except in small numbers in Oz & UK).
To that end, the GT-R must employ a suspension system that does not jump and bounce around on marginalized surfaces but one that can handle high-speed touring on the Autobahns and Autostradas of Europe.[/b]

Sounds pretty much like Carl has every intention of bringing the new GT-R to the US. Of course, being designed from the ground up automatically, they can more easily account for the various regs the US requires, AND they can begin building up a prospective market based on the G35...

I think Hard Case pretty much summed up why the GTR isn't being sold in the US. It is a matter of sales and profit, if Nissan could for sure make a profit selling it here, I'm sure the proper steps would be taken to get it in showrooms here.

Re, the 1000hp vette issue, I'm sure there are 1 or 2 1000+hp vettes out there. Within reason, given the money one could make any engine put out as many horses as they had the cash to spend on it. But would cost a whole lot less do get an RB26 pushing 1000 horses then the vette engine (LS1? LT1?).

And people wonder why I wake up to the voice of the soup nazi saying
"NO SKYLINE FOR YOU!"

This is the crux of what is killing me....

I financed my first car, and one year from now it will be fully paid off. Originally I was going to wait two years, save up about 20-25k, and then purchase a new BMW 540i loaded. Then I found out that you can actually get the Skyline GT-R in the US....

The dilemma: According to reports, the new GT-R will hit the US in 2004. No one really knows for sure what features it will have, and what it will look like. I've been debating on whether or not to stick with the BMW, purchase an R3x series, or wait for the new GT-R in 2k4. Then I heard the new one is supposed to list at the 70k mark. So if I decide to go for a Skyline, do I shift over and spend the money on a 94 R32 GT-R Vspec (I'm guessing about 40-50), wait it out and choke down the 70k+ for the new GT-R, or figure WTF and start hunting for the R34 GT-R VspecII (is it just me, or are most people wanting to own a Skyline lusting after the R34 but planning on the R32-33)? Damn you Nissan for not making this easier on me!

Course, this still doesn't answer the necessary question......being that test driving a Skyline GT-R is pretty much out, is it even feasible for someone with a bulky 6'3" frame to consider one......

Originally posted by Hard_Case

The dilemma: According to reports, the new GT-R will hit the US in 2004. No one really knows for sure what features it will have, and what it will look like. I've been debating on whether or not to stick with the BMW, purchase an R3x series, or wait for the new GT-R in 2k4. Then I heard the new one is supposed to list at the 70k mark. So if I decide to go for a Skyline, do I shift over and spend the money on a 94 R32 GT-R Vspec (I'm guessing about 40-50), wait it out and choke down the 70k+ for the new GT-R, or figure WTF and start hunting for the R34 GT-R VspecII (is it just me, or are most people wanting to own a Skyline lusting after the R34 but planning on the R32-33)? Damn you Nissan for not making this easier on me!

Course, this still doesn't answer the necessary question......being that test driving a Skyline GT-R is pretty much out, is it even feasible for someone with a bulky 6'3" frame to consider one......

Well here is my take on the situation. If the GTR in 2k4 is going to be a continuence of the basic design of the GTRs they have been making (Looks, powerplant, drivetrain and all) then go for it. But from what I can gather we are going to lose the RB26 and have different torque splitting. Gohsn eluded to the fact the the suspension will be heavely influenced by the current M-spec and M-specNUr suspension, so thats good. Now if it's going to be like a beefier version of the V35, I'd spend your money on an R32/33.

If I had my way I would have an R32 V-spec II if I had my choice out of all GTRs. That or the 400R :D I do like the advanced technology in the R34 but the 32 will always be the classic to me. But in the meen time it looks like it's going to be an R33 GTS-4 and the project will be to turbo it.