Is Infiniti giving its flagship SUV the Godzilla treatment?
Nissan’s luxury division, Infiniti, has been known for its performance-oriented models that combine luxurious design with compelling powertrains and spirited driving character. However, the latest generation of its flagship SUV, the QX80, got its first-ever Sport grade for the 2026 model year, along with a track-focused concept that was showcased during Monterey Car Week. As this year’s SEMA show approaches, Infiniti is preparing to show another exciting build of the QX80, this time possibly wielding the power of the Nissan GT-R.
Now discontinued, the Nissan GT-R was the culmination of one of the automotive industry’s most storied legends, the legacy of Skyline GT-R models known as “Godzilla,” and revered for their innovative all-wheel drive and powerful six-cylinder engines. Despite not being sold in the United States, the reputation of the Skyline GT-R was still respected by American car enthusiasts, with its iconic appearances in 2Fast2Furious and countless racing video games.
Teased as an Infiniti QX80 “R-spec” build to be revealed at SEMA, with a style of badging incredibly reminiscent of the GT-R, the build could possibly be a QX80 with the powertrain of the GT-R, which in its most recent form was a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 565 horsepower, and 600 horsepower in the NISMO variant. In its teaser announcement, Infiniti says that its return to SEMA will be “a bold blend of muscle and elegance,” and that “the legend lives under the hood,” strongly suggesting a connection to the GT-R lineage.
It wouldn’t be the first time that the GT-R’s engine has landed in an SUV, with Nissan’s past compact SUV, the Juke, getting the engine in the form of the wild, few-off Juke-R. It also would sit alongside an existing performance SUV in the Nissan lineup, the Nissan Armada NISMO, which has a smaller 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 that delivers 460 horsepower. Whatever the case, an Infiniti QX80 build that has the discontinued GT-R’s beating heart under the hood would be an incredibly enticing prospect for enthusiasts, and if that’s what’s coming to SEMA this year, the anticipation is building.
Image Source: Infiniti
