So why is it, you ask?

For every generation of Skyline, the sedans never sold too much. There are other Nissans like Laurel:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/img/members/laurel1.jpg
http://www.automotiveforums.com/img/members/laurel2.jpg

That cover that part of the market very well. Laurel is very close to the Skyline sedans in performance and comfort, actually it has more luxury and if you want a sporty sedan in Japan, the Laurel would be a better choice, considering it is in the same price range.

That is why Nissan wanted to completely get rid of the Skyline sedans, it is not worth it for them, they don't sell enough.
But Ghosn demanded that the XVL be named Skyline for marketing purposes. Instead of having to start out fresh with a completely new Model, why not use the Skyline's fame to your advantage? That is why the next Skyline sedan is the XVL.

It is a different story with the Skyline coupes and the GT-R however.
These are the bad guys that the public loves. In Japan, all Skyline coupes sell VERY well, GT-S, GT-T, GT-V, and any other ones they have added and of course the GT-R.

So basically the sedan and coupe versions of the Skyline are being separated for good. When the coupes come out in 6 months to 1 year [thats the normal period we have to wait after the debut of the sedan version of Skyline, which is tomorrow in Japan.] we will see the new monsters. They WILL have round tail lights and the other Skyline features they have always had. And I hope they will have the RB series engine, maybe RB30DETT for the GT-R :rolleyes: But no one knows yet. Maybe it will be a V8... I just hope not.

Well, basically the XVL platform will become the new "whore" so to speak of the Nissan line. it will be the featured platform, and will utilize the flagships of Nissan and Infiniti. Expect the next Maxima to built off the platform as well. To me, the announcement of the Skyline as the XVL came to no surprise whatsoever simply b/c Nissan was designing it as its premier RWD sedan chassis, IE the next Skyline.

I'm pretty sure Laurel, Cedric, and Gloria are also RWD, and they have a 4wd option.

They are, the Cedric is basically the Maxima (I believe, not 110% sure), and the Gloria is outdated as well as the Laurel. I think Goshn (however its spelled) wants a newer product for the Skyline, b/c that really is the flagship.

Cefiro is the Maxima.
Gloria and Laurel are NOT outdated, at least i dont think they are.
The Nissan flagship is NOT Skyline :D
Nissan President [the 2nd gen Q] is, followed by Nissan Cima [the new Q]
and Ghosn is how its spelled:p

Not in many peoples eyes. The skyline has upheld tradition at Nissan, and is traditionally the most talked about car, and their most expensive over there, so therefore its a flagship.

By far, the President is the most expensive. Cima comes next.
Skylines are in the $25-35k range mostly. The GT-R is around $50k, it's around the same as Cima and is still by far less than the President. :)

I think the whole "Flagship" concpet may depend on the eye of the beholder.:alien2:

From one point of view I agree that the Skyline IS the flagship, most talked about, loved, wanted, etc. BUT that is the Skyline GT-R or the coupes of the Skyline and by NO means is the sedan version of the Skyline able to be the flagship.

With all the different versions of the Skyline it does make a difference;)

What I wonder tho is what does the future hold for the President, Cima, and Gloria?! even the Silvia! Nissan has a huge stable of cars not sold outside of Japan. With Nissan going through this big change (more models means more money spent) are they going to discontinue a few of those lines? or will they try to add more to the Infinity line?!

It is painful to wait and see :cry: We are all like a bunch of expecting fathers sitting on are arses waiting to see if our kid comes out looking like a future Hall of famer :frog: or the mailman.:eek2:

I think that nissan is going to brink over some of the japan only cars to the us, I also think that they will discontinue some of thier similar models.

also as was said before the xvl is the high end rwd platform so it is no surprize that the skyline series will use it.

The President is the luxury flagship, and the GT-R is the performance flagship.

Oh yeah, the Cefiro is the Maxima, not the Cedric. BTW, the Laurel looks pretty similar to the 2nd gen Q, doesn't it?.

Yep, GT-R IS the performance flagship, but notice we've been talking about Skylines, not Skyline GT-R.