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Nissan sends Infiniti EX to Japan as Skyline Crossover

 
2 1,904 views Apr 16, 2009

nissan skyline crossover 001

nissan skyline crossover 002

nissan skyline crossover 002

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Re-badging has stereotypically been the domain of U.S. carmakers, especially when crossing national borders, but Nissan/Infiniti are engaging in a bit of their own shell game with the Infiniti EX. Sending the vehicle to Japan as the Skyline Crossover, the car receives almost nothing in the way of updates or modifications save a Nissan badge.

Packaging the vehicle as a Skyline Crossover is almost a slap in the face to fans that had hoped for an Infiniti version of the GT-R, rumors concerning which were recently laid to rest. It does make sense, however, given that the G37, with which the EX shares much of its styling and underpinnings, is called the Skyline in Japan.

When the re-branded EX rolls into Japanese dealerships on April 18, it will be sporting the same 3.7L VQ37HR engine found in other-market Nissan and Infiniti vehicles including the G37, 370Z and especially the European-market EX37, which is its virtual doppelganger. It will also get the standard 7-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability.

Expect emissions to be tweaked to suit Japanese requirements, and exhaust noise may be reduced slightly, but otherwise the vehicle should remain the same. Pricing for the Skyline Crossover hasn't yet been announced, but for those with Japanese language skills, the company has launched a mini-site dedicated to the re-badge.
Nissan Skyline Crossover

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Comments (2)

  1. ma_Mike avatar Mike Posted: 4/16/2009 1:07pm PDT

    "Domain of U.S. carmakers"? What about the inventors of badge engineering, the Brits? Remember the Spridget(Austin-Healey Sprite MkII/MG Midget)? Or the Austin7/Mini Cooper/Morris Minor/Riley Elf? Up until the late '60s, American cars were heavily differentiated between brands, even having completely different engines, And back in the fifties, cars were completely redesigned every year.
     
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  2. ma_Nelson avatar Nelson Posted: 4/16/2009 2:37pm PDT

    "Domain of U.S. carmakers"? What about the inventors of badge engineering, the Brits? Remember the Spridget(Austin-Healey Sprite MkII/MG Midget)? Or the Austin7/Mini Cooper/Morris Minor/Riley Elf? Up until the late '60s, American cars were heavily differentiated between brands, even having completely different engines, And back in the fifties, cars were completely redesigned every year.

    Mike: way to take the long view! I applaud your historical vision of the industry.

    The story was written with the last decade or two in mind, but you are certainly right - it's a common practice in the industry, and often follows financial difficulty/necessity.
     
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