JDM-exclusive Skyline Nismo debuts with 414bhp

Nissan's new four-door forbidden fruit is the closest thing to a GTR saloon that we will never get.

In keeping with a decades old Japanese manufacturer tradition of retaining the most exciting and interesting performance machines for their own domestic market (JDM), Nissan has unveiled a high-powered, highly specialised version of the Skyline saloon which is set never to leave the land of the rising sun.

Often there are logical reasons why companies opt not to sell certain variants of their cars to us. For example, the two markets can drastically differ in taste. Where many UK buyers equate material quality, fit, and finish with luxury, the same Japanese customer prioritises technology and gadgets.

Sometimes though, it can be a little more difficult to understand why a manufacturer has deprived us of a certain model. Special editions like the FD2 Honda Civic Type R, Mazda RX7 Spirit R, and Subaru Impreza Type R are just a handful of cases in point. While a currently booming used Japanese import market further evidences that there is demand for JDM thoroughbreds in the UK.

Which camp does the new Skyline Nismo fall into then? Is it a reasonable exclusion, or an unfair omission from British roads? First impressions suggest that it could be the former.

From the outside, the Nismo’s sharp, angular profile might look familiar. And that’s because it is: the Skyline saloon is essentially a rebadged version of the Infiniti Q50 which sold (poorly) in the UK from 2013.

However, although the basic design might be similar, Nissan has thrown a raft of performance goodies at the Nismo to truly elevate the Skyline into an entirely different league.

On the outside, a signature red line underscores the subtle body kit and is broken only by lightweight 19-inch Enkei wheels in each corner. Those tuner-style alloys house upgraded brakes with contrasting red calipers and are shod with wider and stickier Dunlop SP Sport MAXX GT 600 rubber. Although Nissan could have equally chosen high performance tyres like Michelin's Pilot Sport 5 ,Continental's SportContact 7 , or Hankook's Ventus S1 Evo 3 to achieve impressive results.

But the most significant alterations have been made under that distinctive exterior. Nissan’s familiar 3.0-litre twin-charged V6 has been tinkered with by the same Nismo engineers responsible for the GT500 racing class engine. Power has been upped to 414bhp, while torque is also increased at 406lb ft – all of which is sent directly to the rear wheels.

Helping to deploy that added grunt with minimal interruption, is a 7-speed automatic gearbox which can change its attitude towards swapping cogs at the push of a button. Engaging that same Sport + mode will also dial-up the character of the specially tuned suspension — optimised to reduce body roll in the bends.

If you want to covet something even more rarified, 100 out of the 1000 Nismos produced will be ‘Limited’ versions and get some nifty extras as a result. Chiefly: gunmetal wheels and extra branding.

The Nismo starts to make an even more compelling case for itself when you consider that the 7,880 Yen asking price is equivalent to around £50,000. This would put the sporty Skyline in the same company as BMW's M340i: a car which trails the Nissan by over 40bhp. But what the Bimmer lacks in power, it makes up in style: as it blows the 10-year-old Infiniti derived cabin out the water.

If you consider yourself a true JDM enthusiast though, the interior ambiance is probably inconsequential anyway. Afterall, historically, that has always been the price you pay for a machine which is uncompromisingly focused on the driving experience. Will you care about button ergonomics when you’re embarrassing supercars on the track? Probably not.

Would you consider the Skyline Nismo over the extensive crop of German alternatives, or is this souped-up Nissan a special edition which the Japanese are welcome to keep?