After years of drifting deeper into crossover territory, Infiniti has signalled that a new sport sedan is indeed on the way. Recent reporting indicates the car is expected to arrive sometime in 2027 as a successor to the discontinued Q50, and, more importantly, Infiniti has confirmed that the rear-drive model will offer both a manual and an automatic transmission. That alone makes this thing instantly more interesting than most modern luxury sedans, especially in a market that has become increasingly allergic to enthusiast appeal. For a brand that once built its reputation on cars like the G35 and G37, this feels like an overdue course correction. Infiniti finally seems ready to remember what made people careThe timing here is deliberate. Infiniti no longer sells the Q50, and its lineup has leaned heavily toward SUVs and crossovers for years. The brand has also been openly previewing its future design language through vehicles like the Vision Qe concept, a sleek electric sedan that shows where Infiniti wants its styling to go next. But while the Vision Qe points toward Infiniti's broader aesthetic future, the new performance sedan appears to be something else entirely: a return to a more emotional, enthusiast-facing idea of Infiniti. MotorTrend reported that the car is meant to "channel G35 vibes." The G35 remains one of the most beloved cars Infiniti ever built, while the later Q50, despite rare examples of genuine speed in Red Sport and Eau Rouge Concept form, never quite earned the same affection.If Infiniti wants this car to work, it cannot just be a rebodied Nissan with a nice quilted interior and a heritage-colored paint option. It has to feel authentic, like the company is trying to build a car people will talk about, argue about, modify, and, years later, hoon like absolute buffoons. A manual transmission could certainly go a long way towards restoring the brand's enthusiast identity. Need New Tires? Save Up To 30% at Tire RackFind the perfect tires for your exact vehicle and driving style. Click here to shop all top-tier brands, including Michelin, Bridgestone, and more, directly at Tire Rack. What the new Infiniti performance sedan could look likeIf Infiniti really does want its next performance sedan to recapture some of the old G35 magic, this general design direction could make a lot of sense. This render does not go chasing retro clichés or try too hard to cosplay as an old Skyline. Instead, it imagines a modern Infiniti sport sedan with the right proportions and just enough menace, with styling cues inspired by the recently unveiled QX65, such as its bamboo-inspired grille. The nose is low and assertive, the hood is long, and the cabin is pushed rearward, immediately suggesting rear-wheel-drive underpinnings.The front end here is especially dramatic. Infiniti's updated grille is exaggerated in a way that feels dramatic yet cohesive with the rest of the brand's lineup. The ultra-slim upper lighting elements give the car a more contemporary, almost concept-like expression, while the vertically stacked lower lamps and side intakes help ground it in the current Infiniti design language. It looks expensive, sharp, and slightly angry, which is probably exactly what a new enthusiast-focused Infiniti sedan should be. From the side, the render keeps things clean and disciplined. A lot of modern sedans try too hard to look fast by piling on unnecessary creases, fake vents, or awkward coupe-like rooflines. This render avoids most of that. The shoulder line is smooth, the roofline flows naturally into the rear, and the surfacing along the doors gives the body some muscularity without turning the whole thing into origami. The black roof also adds a bit of contrast and helps visually lower the car, which gives it a more premium, sport-luxury presence. Final thoughts: Expect turbo power, rear-drive roots, and a sharper identityThe strongest reporting so far suggests this sedan will likely draw from Nissan's existing performance hardware. Car and Driver reported that the revived sedan is expected to use the Nissan Z's twin-turbo V6 and rear-wheel-drive underpinnings, with power potentially climbing beyond 400 horsepower. Other reports have similarly tied the upcoming Infiniti to the same general formula: a front-engine, rear-drive sport sedan with a manual option and a more serious performance focus than the Q50 ever truly delivered.The original G35 was not beloved because it had brilliant materials or benchmark technology. It was beloved because it gave buyers a genuinely compelling rear-drive luxury-performance experience without the sterile flavour of some rivals, and usually for far less money and with superior durability. If Infiniti can rediscover that balance, this upcoming sedan could become something much more meaningful than a niche halo car. It could become the car that proves to buyers that Infiniti still has soul.