A proper Nissan Skyline is probably the ultimate fever dream for American enthusiasts. They may conjure up images of R32, R33, and R34 GT-Rs and wish that they could drive them in real life rather than through a Gran Turismo controller. But in truth, those enthusiasts have always been able to enjoy a Skyline-esque experience in the shape of the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400.While the Q50 was never called a Skyline in the US, and this luxury sedan competed with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or BMW 3-Series, there's still a strong connection. When Nissan launched the V37-generation Skyline in Japan in 2014, it released the Infiniti Q50 as a US market counterpart. And as Nissan prepares to launch a new Skyline/Q50 chapter, the Red Sport 400 is becoming increasingly affordable as one of the more overlooked Japanese performance bargains in America. The Skyline That Most Americans Already Have But Never Recognized Cars and BidsNissan announced the all-new Skyline in Japan in late 2013 for the 2014 model year as the next generation of one of its most storied nameplates. It then continued its tradition of offering similar performance for people across the pond, through its Infiniti brand in the US.And while the Q50 would follow the old G35 and G37, which had already carried the Skyline theme under the Infiniti brand, the Q50 was never trying to be any GT-R. Most Skylines were, in any case, practical sedans or coupes that came with rear-drive balance and good six-cylinder power. In that respect, the Q50 matched the theme quite well as a slightly more mature take on Japanese performance.The Q50 Red Sport 400 has a front engine with either rear- or all-wheel drive and is the type of car that can blend real performance with everyday usability. It doesn’t share the legendary VR38DETT engine with the R35 GT-R at all. However, it is a good translation of the Skyline approach and represents a reasonable solution for American enthusiasts, even if it does wear an Infiniti badge. The Red Sport 400 Finally Gave The Q50 The Engine It Deserved Cars and Bids While the Q50 didn't come with the full-fat VR38 engine, it still had something potent in the form of the twin-turbo VR30DDTT V6. This engine produced around 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, replacing the naturally aspirated VQ-era unit with a much broader, modern torque curve.By 2024, Infiniti was still selling the Red Sport 400 with the same 400 hp and 350 lb-ft rating with an MSRP of around $56,900 for the rear-drive model and $58,900 for the all-wheel-drive version. Independent testers suggested that the early Q50 Red Sport 400 could reach 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, with later tests suggesting that a 2024 AWD example took 4.9 seconds to do the same thing. However, 60 mph in under five seconds is still good for a sports sedan like this.Tuners loved the VR30, and it's worth noting that the Red Sport's factory output was already very close to that of the later Nissan Z. While that doesn’t make the Q50 a four-door interpretation of the Z in any respect, it does offer a good value comparison. And it also means that used buyers today can treat the Q50 as a solid luxury sedan with Nissan's modern twin-turbo V6 and plenty of straight-line performance to boot. The Q50 Red Sport 400 Was Never A Perfect Driver's Car Cars and Bids As good as this Red Sport's engine was, the rest of the vehicle may have lagged. CarBuzz reviewed the 2019 Q50 and noted that it lacked true driver engagement even in the Red Sport form. The outlet also looked at the vehicle in 2024 and noted that the chassis was suspect, with things starting to fall apart when the first corner arrived.Much of that criticism centered around steering feel, specifically Infiniti's steer-by-wire system called Direct Adaptive Steering. This was an ambitious attempt by Infiniti to move forward with what it called the world's first production steer-by-wire setup, aimed at improving precision, control, and adaptability. In practice, many reviewers didn't like the approach at all, finding it numb, artificial, or disconnected compared with the alternative.Still, that doesn't make the Red Sport a bad car, and it probably still works as a fast grand touring sports sedan. It's not going to rival an M3 from a purist perspective, but it can still be comfortable, discreet, powerful, and enjoyable for regular drivers. A used Q50 Red Sport 400 should therefore appeal to someone who values everyday usability, a reliable layout, good engine strength, and Japanese performance character. And if they're willing to overlook the steering communication flaws, a used Red Sport 400 could make perfect sense. Depreciation Has Turned The Q50 Red Sport Into A Serious Performance Bargain Nissan Late-model, low-mileage Q50 Red Sport 400s are still hovering around the $40,000 mark in the used market, but there are certainly better bargains available for attentive shoppers. Kelley Blue Book shows the 2018 Q50 Red Sport 400 sedan at just over $20,000 as a fair purchase figure and live listings show examples that run from the late teens to the low $30,000s, depending on mileage, condition, and package.As the CarBuzz Marketplace shows, 2021 RWD examples may well be available for at or around the $30k mark, and for that, you can get a lot of car. You're talking about 400 hp, a twin-turbo V6 rear-drive architecture, usable rear seats, a rear trunk and, perhaps best of all, a direct connection to the modern Skyline sedan line.Still, if you are interested in buying one of these cars, you’ll want to know about your future cost implications. To start with, fuel economy is not spectacular, and you should expect figures of around 22 MPG depending on the drivetrain. You should also set aside some rainy-day money, remembering that you are not buying a simple commuter car but instead purchasing a twin-turbo luxury sedan.Some owners of early cars report turbo-related concerns, belt alignment issues, and cooling problems, so it’s important to have a good look at service histories. On the plus side, parts availability and mechanical support should be okay, and there’s enough community knowledge to help make sense of any purchase if you buy the car carefully in the beginning. The New Skyline Makes The Old Q50 More Interesting Nissan Nissan has announced that it is continuing the Skyline theme with a new “Heartbeat” model for Japan. At the same time, Infiniti intends to produce a performance-oriented V6 sedan, potentially reflecting the Japanese Skyline. This could well come to America in the form of the new Q50, as a twin-turbo V6 that should produce more than 400 hp and come with an optional manual transmission.This new car could continue to validate the lineage and show that Nissan is effectively returning to the same old idea. If the rumors are correct, the parent company could produce a Skyline sedan for Japan and translate the idea into Infiniti form for America. This would then write the next chapter in a story that Nissan has told for years with its G35, G37, and Q50 cars.Any upcoming car should be sharper and more powerful than its predecessor, and if it really does come with a manual transmission, it could turn it into one of the most interesting luxury performance sedans in America. And while Infiniti hasn't announced any pricing, it'll surely be above that of the old Red Sport. However, demand for a new Skyline from curious enthusiasts could snap up any early offerings, and that could leave the existing Red Sport 400 in an interesting position. It's possible that the arrival of a newcomer may make the outgoing Q50 even more relevant.In summary, the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 is never going to satisfy anyone who is really looking for a pure GT-R. After all, it has a controversial steering system, and the chassis may never have fully matched the promise of its engine.But still, those flaws are now built into its current used price, and it remains a 400-hp twin-turbo rear-drive sedan with a proper Skyline connection. And as the next Skyline-related Q50 reignites some enthusiasm for the Skyline story, American enthusiasts can yet find solace in the used market. They may find that a good, used Red Sport 400 is still sitting there in the form of the Skyline that America already had.
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