Spy Photos: 2013 Nissan Altima Caught With Less Camo

lostboyz--I don't think the CVT is holding it back. If I recall correctly, it's #5 or 6 on the sales list.

Regarding the redesign, I'm hesitant to see the Versa's front end migrating to the Altima. It used to be fairly aggressive. Now it seems it's stylistically getting soft.

lostboyz:

Nissan's CVT has been a great success when mated to the VQ35/37. That's why you see it in the Murano first, then onto the Altima and Maxima, etc.

Here in NY I'd say it's still #3 - behind the Camry and Accord.

But a RED Altima - now that's radical (perhaps it's a SE-R)

Nissan has definitely got the best CVT in the business, that doesn't change the fact it's a CVT. It is the only thing keeping me from considering one.

The cvt is a joke.. no offense, but Muranos and other Nissan's with the CVT have had a ton of issues if you actually follow boards etc.

I agree the CVt is fine for driving but ive heard of trannies going out at 60,000 miles on these things on a maxima. So its fairly unreliable

Cant wait to see the new coupe

@sniperruff: You're right, I don't remember ever seeing a red Altima. Why is that? There are plenty of red Camrys.

Nissan has doubled the warranty on the CVT to ten years and 120,000 miles. Plus, if you paid to fix one before the warranty was doubled you can get a refund from Nissan.

The CVT is what makes Nissans the best city cars.
Instant acceleration in heavy urban traffic.
You anti-CVT people are ignorant and don't know what you're missing.

@rjr162: If you looked online, you'll find plenty of failures for traditional single clutch transmissions, double clutch transmissions, automatics.

I think the fact that Nissan threw in the 10 year warranty for CVT says a lot re actual reliability vs. perceived reliability.

They must get rid of the CVT, they may work in the city, but everywhere else they're terrible. They're noisy, slow, unresponsive, not very fuel efficient in reality, and irritating.

My last car was an 05 Altima SE-R in red with the 5 speed auto.

Ive had many cars and that one was by far my favorite. If they came out with a new SE-R I'd definitely consider it but I don't like the current Altima. I also wish the current Altima was as big as the last. My SE-R was a poor mans M5 in my opinion.

I bought my Altima with 80k miles and sold it with 120k. I did have to rebuild the transmission which apparently is common in Nissans with the V6 and automatic and I also towed a 1,000 pound jetski with it across the country several times. Other than that though it was a great car!

I don`t why it didn`t get posted earlier with all the links, but altimadude, check this out:

-Altima was the best selling sedan in March 2011 in the US.
-Altima was the 3rd best selling sedan in October 2011.
-Altima has a +15% year to date so far.

sniperruff, the current Altima Sedan and Maxima are available in Tuscan Sun (NAD).

Ah, thank you cr_driver.

AND, the Altima is actually outselling the Accord YTD as of right now, but its pretty close and could turn around if the Accord gains traction again.

I'm more worried about the styling. The new Versa is the most boring car I've seen this year.

Too bad Nissan seems anti-manual, as you can't seem to get one with a decent level of options on the Altima. The Altima took over from the Maxima the position of "four door sports car" only to have Nissan lose that part of its focus entirely. I can get a more reliable, yet boring car from Honda or Toyota - Nissan could only entice me by offering good (but not great) reliability with a larger dose of fun-to-drive.

Nissan was, however, a leader in the ugly-as-sin styling that pervades Japanese vehicles nowadays. My family went from buying Nissans to leaving them behind for most of the reasons I listed - hopefully they can attract us back with decent styling, better reliability and build quality, and a good mix of options that don't preclude either luxury or performance for the sake of the other (IOW, I want an SE model that has a stick, HIDs, sunroof and leather, preferably w/o having to buy a nav system too.).

subytrojan: That's more burgundy... the one in the spy picture looks almost like this SE-R's color:

http://www.nissanforums.com/member-rides/124126-06-code-red-se-r-dropped.html

ed124c: perhaps a bright red mid-size sedan would be rebellious. I actually don't think there are many bright red mid-size's. I guess sharper colors are reserved for the SE's (Camry comes to mind)

umiami350z: The last gen's SE-R's are indeed rare and cool, but then I see the almost $30k price tag a massive ripoff over a $25k SE.

Spyshot from the rear reminds me so much of the Toyota Vios.

I hope Nissan's "Interior Design" Division would do something interesting for once. Nissans have always had the typically boring Japanese economy sedan look both inside and out but they seem to be going on the "radical" side (Juke anyone?) and their interiors (particularly on the Infinitis) are drop dead gorgeous.

If they do then they have themselves a worth competitor to the Sonata/Optima.

billt9 says:

You anti-CVT people are ignorant and don't know what you're missing.

____

Some of like a direct-shift feel and optimal performance. Both of which are non-existant with a CVT.

@acbayard:

I was wondering that about how a CVT did in city traffic. One reason I won't give up my manual tranny is because the ability to inch in and out of NYC traffic. Something that really can't be done with an automatic or even a DSG.

Are you able to have more control with a CVT?

Toyota's new Camry struck back quite masterfully at the Hyundai Sonata, but it would take a lot for the Altima to do the same thing. More value, better powertrains, and better build quality. It won't require a huge revision (as these photos are showing), but Nissan has traditionally been a bit lacking in the details compared to the best automakers.

I too love CVT's--they're extremely smooth and efficient. Plus Nissans have great style, among the best of the major car makers. I particularly like the Maxima with its CVT. I hope that Nissan doesn't go the way of Ford and ruin the styling of its vehicles.

The altima is boring and classless; it sells as well as it does because nissan is GIVING them away. Ive seen people with FICOs in the 500s get approved with zero money down. Im sure when youre desperate for a new car and learn that NMAC is approving anyone with a pulse, its easy to settle for an altima, and easy for nissan to keep them moving off lots.

Looks like a reskin of the current Nissan Teana.
http://paultan.org/photo/cache/nissan-teana-studio-images/j32_202_770.jpg
http://paultan.org/2010/11/23/nissan-teana-launched-2-0-2-53-5-v6-from-rm138k/

I owned a black 2008 Altima 2.5SL, loved it, only traded it in because our family was "growing". If you like a manual, cool, no problem but don't knock it because it's not a manual because that means you don't care for automatics anyway. Does the engine drone a bit when revved high? Yes, I will admit but how often are you up in the 5-6k RPM's anyway?? City driving and highway driving always had good pick up and this was a 4 cylinder!!! Never had a thing wrong with it either!!! The prior generation did have an issue with 4 cylinder engines but that was corrected with this '07-present version. I'll wait to see how the new one looks with no camo.

@frank908 - You are able to have control over it since it's got 6 simulated gears, I've used it a few times, enjoyed it but was fine just putting the thing in Drive and hitting the gas! Is the 4 cylinder blazing fast?? Hell no but it sure is quick and powerful enough for most drivers and the gas mileage isn't bad either. Hopefully they'll be able to squeak out a few more MPG's as well......