The 2009 Nissan Maxima had the distinction of being only the third vehicle shown today that had been tuned on the Nurburgring. It's the default indicator of a performance car these days and given that "the four-door sports car is back," according to Nissan, we should have expected the reference.
What we didn't expect was Nissan's other announcement. After extolling the virtues of the Maxima's 290-horsepower V6, Al Castignetti, general manager of Nissan North America, went to the green card. He talked about the need for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles that younger buyers could embrace with enthusiasm...
He then announced the imminent arrival of the Nissan Cube, the small, Scion xB-like vehicle that's been on sale in Japan for some time. The next-generation version will debut at the Los Angeles auto show in November and go on sale in 2009. He also said Nissan would have an electric vehicle in commercial use by 2010 and a retail version by 2012. Bet on the Cube; we'll see about the electric car. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
SubyTrojan says:
03:17 PM, 03/19/08
New Maxima = 4DSC? Um. Okay.
Here's what comes to mind.
Cause it's one...two...three strikes and you're out at the old ballgame!
82nis says:
06:58 PM, 03/19/08
i am a nissan fanatic and their designs lately dont have that 'nissan essence'. the only car that has my attention these days is the gt-r. trucks and the versa. if nissan wants this to be the 4dsc it has to make the price cheap without adding on the weight. if this keeps going on i dont see myself owning a nissan product. they arennt as exciting anymore. ill just go head over to hyundai and buy their genesis coupe.
1487 says:
07:51 PM, 03/19/08
this car is ugly. What were they thinking?
mozzz77788 says:
10:15 PM, 03/19/08
looks kinda tight in my opinion, very luxurious. It seems more targeted towards Americans.
mrryte says:
06:05 AM, 03/20/08
"The 2009 Nissan Maxima had the distinction of being only the third vehicle shown today that had been tuned on the Nurburgring"-.....YAWN.....
Typical marketing BS....who the hell cares where it was "tuned"? How many drivers are going to test its limits anyway?
sabastian says:
06:26 AM, 03/20/08
Is it just me, or is the front overhang on that car enormous?
jerrywimer says:
06:40 AM, 03/20/08
Typical front-drive proportions combined with the camera angle for that photo, sabastian.
alpha01 says:
08:47 AM, 03/20/08
Impressive that it's lost almost 4 inches in length. I can't wait to see this car in the flesh. Much less bubbly than the previous generation, though I would have appreciated sharper edges/creases at the rear. Interior looks very sharp. I'd probably rather have this at 32K than the new TSX, for ex.
ateixeira says:
09:57 AM, 03/20/08
I didn't like the outgoing one, so for me this looks better. The headlight is a bit odd, but after we get used to it, it'll be a distinctive character trait.
sarah12 says:
02:46 PM, 03/20/08
I hear some Hyundai sales person talk here.
jerrywimer says:
04:10 AM, 03/21/08
I don't really like the lower edge being pulled back on the headlight, but if they were going to do that, they should've carried the styling cue over to the taillights too. After all, the rest of the taillight mimics the headlights in shape, just need to pull the lower edge forward.
tp660 says:
06:12 PM, 03/21/08
Does anyone notice a slight resemblance to the Toyota Yaris sedan from the back?
lexuslvr says:
01:44 PM, 03/22/08
The car is more edgy like the 1st generation 4 door sports car was. No doubt it will be sporty. Perhaps the cvt will imitate the new 7-speed in the new Infiniti FX50. And why is everyone calling it ugly when it looks much more distinctive than the Accord and the Avalon combined. This car will really change the game.
technetium99 says:
07:23 PM, 03/23/08
This is absolutely the best looking Maxima ever. No coin slot on the roof, no flying buttresses, not nearly as bland as some of the generations. If it only had a real transmission instead of the technologically insipid CVT that appeals to no one, it would be on my shopping list.
82nis says:
03:20 AM, 03/24/08
sara12one i am not a hyundai salesman. two: been a nissan fanatic since the datsun 240z came out in 1970, and get this i was born in circa 1982. three: technetium99it is a better looking maxima but that cvt has to go. four: i work for a nissan dealership and i see these cars everyday and their designs have been uninspiring. five: sara12 re-read what i wrote and make sure you do SLOWLY cause i dont think you got the gist of what i am saying. NISSAN FANATIC, DESIGNS ARE NOT OF NISSAN-ESSENCE...IF THIS KEEPS GOING ON ILL JUST GO TO HYUNDAI AND BUY THEIR GENESIS COUPE
skarie says:
04:37 AM, 03/24/08
It looks like the Maserati Quattroporte..
Four door coupe like very sexy.
zoomzoomn says:
06:32 AM, 03/24/08
While I do like it better than the last gen Maxima overall, those headlamps look way overdone! They just look too busy on an otherwise somewhat bland front end. Tidying up the headlamps and making the grill more aggressive/distinctive would make this a winner!