2002 Nissan Skyline 3.5L V6 6MT RWD (272 HP)

Vehicle Overview

While Nissan introduced the Infiniti G35 in the U.S., in Japan, the same car was sold under the Nissan Skyline nameplate, although it was nowhere near the mighty GT-R.

Nissan created the FM platform to create more vehicles on top of it, from sporty coupes to crossovers. The Skyline was one of them, and it was similar in many aspects to the Infiniti G35 Coupe. Both shared their underpinnings with the Nissan 350Z. But the Skyline aimed higher, at least on the Japanese market.

When Nissan designed the Skyline/Infinity G35, it was a clear departure from the old Infiniti G20 lineup. The sporty coupe featured vertical headlights swept back on the fenders and flanking a curved hood. Its main grille sported four horizontal slats that supported the carmaker’s badge in the middle. In addition, the lower bumper had a pair of air intakes to make the car look angrier and complement the cooling area. The car’s profile revealed an arched greenhouse with a sloped-down rear windscreen and a short deck. Finally, the rear fascia was adorned with boomerang-shaped taillights, similar to those installed on the G35.

Inside, the automaker installed a pair of high-bolstered seats at the front and a bench for two in the back. In addition, the curved dashboard revealed a minimalist design, with a center stack that hosted the sound system and the HVAC controls. The instrument cluster was filled with two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer, with LCDs at their bottoms for the onboard computer. In addition, two gauges showed the coolant temperature and the fuel level.

Under the hood, Nissan installed a choice of three engines ranging from 2.5- to 3.5-liter paired with either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. However, unlike the GT-R, the Skyline coupe was only RWD.