Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury arm that has struggled to keep pace with rivals in recent years, is mapping a bold return to its enthusiast roots. The company has confirmed plans to launch a new rear-wheel-drive sport sedan in 2027, one that could even feature a manual transmission.
At a recent Automotive Press Association event in Detroit, Tiago Castro, vice president of Infiniti Americas, outlined a product revival strategy that leans on performance, emotion, and design, not volume.
A Nod to the G35 Era
For enthusiasts who still reminisce about the spirited G35 and G37 sedans, this is the news they’ve been waiting for. The upcoming sport sedan will aim to recapture that energy, a car designed for pure driving enjoyment rather than spreadsheet bragging rights.
“It’s not just about 0-to-60 times,” Castro said. “It’s about building a car you actually want to drive.”
The sedan will ride on a rear-wheel-drive platform and may share its underpinnings with the Nissan Z, which itself borrows bones from the old FM platform once used by Infiniti’s earlier performance models. Expect an automatic option too, but the possibility of a manual hints at Infiniti’s desire to reconnect with true enthusiasts.
While it will carry Infiniti’s modern alphanumeric naming strategy, the new model will be built as a spiritual successor to the G-series rather than a direct revival.
One New Infiniti Every Year
The 2027 sedan is just one piece of a larger puzzle. Starting in 2026, Infiniti plans to introduce a new model every year. First up is the QX65, a two-row midsize SUV inspired by the FX crossover of the 2000s. The QX65 will be built in Smyrna, Tennessee, and positioned as a more emotional alternative to the three-row QX60.
In 2028, Infiniti will launch a compact hybrid SUV based on Nissan’s upcoming Rogue platform, using the brand’s e-Power technology. Unlike traditional hybrids, e-Power uses a gasoline engine solely as a generator to charge the battery, allowing for smoother, quieter propulsion. The model will come with standard all-wheel drive and is expected to be Infiniti’s highest-volume vehicle.
By 2029, Infiniti’s 40th anniversary, the brand hopes to sell around 100,000 vehicles annually in North America.
Power and Personality at the Top
Infiniti’s flagship QX80 SUV isn’t being left out of the excitement. The company is considering performance and off-road variants, previewed by the QX80 Track Spec and Terrain Spec concepts shown earlier this year. The Track Spec, with its twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 pushing over 650 horsepower, has been the crowd favorite among dealers.
While plans for an electric Infiniti have been delayed amid slowing EV demand, Castro says the brand will continue evaluating the right time to re-enter that space. For now, combustion and hybrid powertrains will drive the next wave.
Betting on Emotion, Not Volume
Castro joined Infiniti earlier this year after two decades with Nissan and says he took the role only after confirming the brand’s future was secure. His goal is to rebuild trust and excitement around Infiniti one car at a time.
“Infiniti doesn’t have to be a brand for everybody,” he said. “If customers fall in love with it again, the numbers will take care of themselves.”
With a focused lineup, renewed passion for performance, and a clear design identity, Infiniti’s comeback plan sounds less like a corporate pitch and more like a promise to enthusiasts who never stopped hoping.
