Nissan Skyline V38 Debuts This December With Fairlady Z Engine
The Nissan Skyline V38 is the 14th generation of Nissan's Skyline nameplate, a rear-wheel-drive sport sedan confirmed for launch in December 2026. It uses the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine family shared with the Nissan Fairlady Z and rides on an updated FM front-midship platform. The V38 represents Nissan's accelerated development programme, using artificial intelligence to compress design and engineering time from 55 months to 26 months. For Malaysian buyers, the Skyline has historically been a parallel-import model, and Nissan Malaysia has not confirmed local availability or pricing as of the source publication date.
Key Facts
Nissan Motor Corporation confirmed the Skyline V38 as a 14th-generation rear-wheel-drive sport sedan. The table below compiles the verified figures and reported specifications from the source material.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | Nissan Skyline V38 (14th generation) |
| Body type | Rear-wheel-drive sport sedan |
| Manufacturer | Nissan Motor Corporation |
| Platform | Updated FM platform (front-midship geometry) |
| Engine | 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo (VR30 family, shared with Fairlady Z) |
| Power output | Over 400 hp (reported, not officially confirmed) |
| Transmission options | 6-speed manual; 9-speed automatic (reported) |
| Launch date | December 2026 (Japan) |
| Assembly plant | Tochigi, Japan (also builds Fairlady Z) |
| Development time | 26 months (V37 required 55 months) |
| Infiniti variant | Expected H2 2027 as 2028 model year, replacing the Q50 |
| Hybrid option | Under evaluation by Nissan |
| Malaysian availability | Not announced by Nissan Malaysia |
| Malaysian pricing (RM) | Not published |
When Will the Nissan Skyline V38 Be Launched?
Nissan confirmed the 14th-generation Skyline V38 will launch in December 2026. CEO Ivan Espinosa verified the schedule in an interview with Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, according to Careta's report dated 21 September 2026. The V38 will be assembled at Nissan's Tochigi plant in Japan, the same facility that produces the Fairlady Z.
According to Careta's report, Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa told Asahi Shimbun that the new Skyline is one of the important products in Nissan's effort to restore the strength of its brand.— Careta, quoting Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa via Asahi Shimbun (translated from Malay)
The Nissan Skyline V38 is officially scheduled for a December 2026 launch, with production at Nissan's Tochigi plant in Japan.
What Engine Is in the Nissan Skyline V38?
The Nissan Skyline V38 is expected to use the 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine from the VR30 family, the same unit fitted to the Nissan Fairlady Z, producing more than 400 hp. Nissan is also evaluating a hybrid version for future use, according to Careta. The engine and transmission details have not been officially announced by Nissan.
Reported transmission choices include a six-speed manual and a nine-speed automatic, matching the Fairlady Z. The engine sits behind the front axle in a front-midship layout, which shifts weight toward the centre of the chassis and improves cornering response and driving stability. The updated FM platform has been in use since the Skyline V35, launched nearly 25 years ago and sold in the United States as the Infiniti G35.
The Skyline V38's 3.0-litre VR30 twin-turbo V6 produces over 400 hp, matching the Nissan Fairlady Z's powertrain.
How Did Nissan Shorten the V38 Development Cycle to 26 Months?
Nissan developed the Skyline V38 in 26 months, less than half the 55 months required for the previous V37 model. The acceleration came from using artificial intelligence across design, engineering, testing and manufacturing, plus operational methods learned from Nissan's collaboration with Dongfeng in China, as reported by autoevolution via Careta.
The Chinese automotive industry now serves as a benchmark for development speed and cost competitiveness, which forced Nissan to review many of its working processes. Reusing and updating the existing FM platform and VR30 engine family further helped Nissan compress the V38's timeline to 26 months.
Using AI across design, engineering, testing and manufacturing, Nissan compressed the Skyline V38's development time to 26 months, compared with 55 months for the V37.
What Design Heritage Does the Nissan Skyline V38 Reference?
The Skyline V38 carries styling elements from earlier Skyline models, including round headlights and body shapes referencing the Hakosuka-era Skyline GT-R. These retro touches coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Prince Skyline, first produced in 1957 with a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre inline-four engine.
The original Prince Skyline launched in 1957, and the V38's classic themes mark that milestone. The V38 will also become the basis for a new Infiniti sedan replacing the Q50, expected in the second half of 2027 as a 2028 model-year vehicle. The Skyline AI-assisted development is part of Nissan's restructuring plan, which aims to standardise key components and form three core vehicle families targeted to contribute 90 percent of global sales.
The Skyline V38's round lamps and Hakosuka-inspired body pay tribute to the 70th anniversary of the Prince Skyline, which debuted in 1957.
Who Is This For in Malaysia?
The Nissan Skyline V38 targets driving enthusiasts in Malaysia who value Japanese domestic market (JDM) heritage, rear-wheel-drive dynamics and the Skyline nameplate. However, Nissan Malaysia has not announced local availability, and no Ringgit Malaysia pricing has been published. Enthusiasts may explore parallel-import routes similar to previous Skyline generations.
Practical Malaysian considerations include annual road tax under JPJ's 3.0-litre bracket and the use of RON 97 fuel for a twin-turbocharged engine; these are general local context points and are not claims found in the source report. For buyers who are not tied to the Skyline badge, Nissan's Fairlady Z offers the same powertrain and transmission family through official channels, although no Malaysian pricing for either model appears in the source material.
No Malaysian launch or RM pricing has been announced for the Nissan Skyline V38, making it a likely parallel-import candidate for Malaysian buyers.
Common Questions
Will the Nissan Skyline V38 be sold in Malaysia?
Nissan Malaysia has not announced local availability or pricing as of 21 September 2026. Historically, Skyline models have entered Malaysia through parallel-import channels, and the V38 is expected to follow a similar pattern if demand among enthusiasts holds.
How much power does the Nissan Skyline V38 produce?
The V38 is expected to produce more than 400 hp from its 3.0-litre VR30 twin-turbo V6, shared with the Fairlady Z. Nissan has not confirmed final power figures; the figure comes from Careta's report. Hybrid and transmission details remain unannounced.
When will the Nissan Skyline V38 launch?
The V38 launches in December 2026, confirmed by Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa to Asahi Shimbun and reported by Careta on 21 September 2026. The Infiniti version, replacing the Q50, is expected in the second half of 2027 as a 2028 model-year vehicle.
Sources and Methodology
This article is based on a single primary source: Careta, "Nissan Skyline V38 Dilancarkan Disember Ini, Guna Enjin Fairlady Z," published 21 September 2026, available at https://careta.my/article/nissan-skyline-v38-dilancarkan-disember-ini-guna-enjin-fairlady-z. The source itself references Asahi Shimbun and autoevolution for specific confirmations and development data.
Source facts were translated from Malay to English (British spelling). No currency conversion was applied, as the source material lists no prices in USD or RM. Malaysian availability, pricing and road-tax statements are contextual framing for local readers and are not present in the source report. This article was last updated on 21 September 2026, based on the source publication date.