The last time we saw the 2013 Nissan Altima it was covered in baggy camo and thick tape. Today our spy photographers have nabbed a vehicle without the heavy camo that gives us a much clearer look at the next-gen Altima.
Without the headlight tape you can see that the Altima is getting a version of the Maxima's multi-angle headlights and a slick foglight/driving light combination. The Altima's also adopting a grille more in line with that of the other Nissan cars.
Again, we don't expect big changes in the drivetrain department with 2.5 and 3.5-liter engines and, yep, the CVT.
roar02ram says:
12:34 PM, 12/12/11
The roofline looks flatter (like it got raised in the back), which hopefully hints at more rear-seat room, which a slight shortcoming of the current car. I'm curious to see the final truck treatment, too, because that almost looks like a Continental kit bulge. Not necessarily unattractive, but a little different.
tempesting says:
03:04 PM, 12/12/11
rear : accord sedan
alphabetfuel says:
04:07 PM, 12/12/11
as long as they got rid of those exagerated tail lights with the reflectors that stretched the length of the trunk im good
hotrodw says:
04:12 PM, 12/12/11
I know Nissan and CVT have pretty much become synonymous, and I'm mostly OK with that. But unlike eight or 10 years ago, there is not much of an economy advantage over a conventional auto today. And considering the performance shortcomings of CVT's in general, one has to wonder . . . what exactly is the point?
garrym says:
04:18 PM, 12/12/11
Nothing exciting to see at this stage. Hopefully this won't become Nissan's Camry. The roof profile might be a good thing. Looking at the position of the occupants in the images, headroom and space for rear passengers should be sufficient if not plentiful.
The design of the front headlights looks tasteful along with the tailights. And who needs fog lights? Useless anyway as they are not real "fog lights." There's any easy way for manufacturers to keep costs down. As wasteful as opera windows on cars in the seventies. Not entirely sold on CVT transmissions either.
prpatal says:
07:15 PM, 12/12/11
Looks to be shaping up nicely. I think that they are going to have a hit on their hands.
A shrunken Maxima with different front and rear details wouldn't be a bad thing.
They need to bring back the SE-R though.
Now all they need to do is fix the Sentra, and they will surpass Honda.
blackdynamite1 says:
07:39 PM, 12/12/11
VERY short trunk lid
The opening for the trunk will be tight
BD
lostboyz says:
03:45 AM, 12/13/11
I know exactly where those pictures were taken! Sorry, just got excited. I'll try and get some spy photos of the spy photo takers.
nismo82 says:
06:25 AM, 12/13/11
Appears much too big. Taillights looks to be Maxima esque. Nissan I feel has lost the message with their CVT running throughout the lineup. I believe that of the Japanese automakers, Nissan was more sporty than Honda or Toyota. Now, it seems they have lost that message and why anyone would buy a Nissan family sedan over a Toyota or Honda is beyond me. I love my Nissan's but they are not as reliable as a Toyota or Honda. (IME) Nor do they retain value nearly as well. I also believe it is time for Nissan to update/change the VQ series of engines. In today's market they just have too much NVH compared to other options.
blueprint1 says:
09:06 AM, 12/13/11
Looks like this evolution will make the current Maxima even more irrelevent.
transpower says:
10:16 AM, 12/13/11
I disagree with the negative comments about CVT's. It's been shown, time and time again, that CVT's are much more efficient than regular automatic or manual transmissions. And, of course, they are much more smooth and less complicated than other transmissions. It cracks me up that some automakers are now making 8- and 9- speed automatics.
xjayflyx says:
05:49 PM, 12/13/11
what most of you do not realize is that almost ALL manufacturers use CVTs in most of there cars!! Toyota/Lexus in the Hybrids, Subaru uses them now.. Ford.. Honda is debuting them within the year.. I don't care for them much either but they are not horrible! and I agree that Nissan has lost it edge that is had from the 90s to about 2003 but I hope it shapes up!!
hotrodw says:
07:13 PM, 12/13/11
xjayflyx says:
"what most of you do not realize is that almost ALL manufacturers use CVTs in most of there cars!!"
You should consider your audience before making an erroneous statement like that. Several, not 'almost ALL', manufacturers use CVT's in certain models. And with the exception of Nissan, no manufacturer uses CVT's in Most models. In most cases, the CVT's are used to enhance fuel economy. Problem is, Nissans are only average even with the CVT's. Ask most enthusiasts what they prefer, and good luck finding any that long for a CVT.
======================================================
transpower says:
"I disagree with the negative comments about CVT's. It's been shown, time and time again, that CVT's are much more efficient than regular automatic or manual transmissions."
So how do you explain the Edge getting superior mileage to the Murano? Conventional autos are becoming much more efficient. CVT's are getting better, too, but the limited efficiency gains just aren't worth the compromise in drivability.
lions208487 says:
09:21 AM, 12/14/11
I'll have to see the final product, because the pix only indicate a refresh. Interior and power train changes were needed. At least in regards to their 4 cylinder, which wasn't bad, but not good either. I hope they continue with the 3.5 Liter as an option. The VQ35 is among the most reliable, solid built engines in it's class. I know that the hybrid will be adopted from the M35H to be available as the new Altima Hybrid. No more Hybrid parts out of the Toyota hybrid parts bin.
Nissan's CVT is quite flawless, and delivers the same driving experience as a 6 or 7 spd auto. I don't understand why people knock it so much, the Maxima with CVT drives great.
tharealmc says:
09:37 AM, 12/14/11
OK gang about CVTs and Nissan. Nissan decided to invest in this technology because it's smooth, efficient and (supposedly) more reliable (less working parts, less to go wrong is the theory) then traditional automatics. By investing in this type of tranny on a company wide scale it gives them savings verses having to source several different tranny's. So its' a company wide decision to take a large portion of their products and have the same technology behind it. This offers them economies of scale, allows them to concentrate R&D and it offers differentiation in the market.
I really like the CVTs in Nissans, I sold them, drove all of them, I like it. It's great in the city or the highway. And I'm talking specifically about the 09 altima 2.5sl I had (until the missus wrote it off in september - heartbreak!!). Whenever I am driving automatics now I hate it. Waiting for shifts and wondering why the car isn't working with me. I remember we had an 05 Acura TL, my sales manager gave me a chance to take it home one night, I did but was happy to give it up the next day. Auto tranny's man, they just feel so confused now after having a CVT. What they need to do is refine the engines and make their V6 so that it doesn't require premium to get the performance/best economy. OH CVTs are great on hills too, I live in a very hilly area, they're way better then autos.
clammist says:
02:00 AM, 12/18/11
xjayflyx says:
05:49 PM, 12/13/11
"I agree that Nissan has lost it edge that is had from the 90s to about 2003 but I hope it shapes up!"
Nissan lost its edge after 96 and finally gained back its panache in 03 with an overhaul on its fleets design. I think its about time Nissan buckles up and makes some radical changes to their flag ship vehicles. The altima's design as well as the maxima's just looks dated and bloated. The sentra is joke compared to the civic. The C pillar on the new design is too fat for my taste, I dig the new headlights though very Lexusesque.
jscion says:
01:01 PM, 12/19/11
Nissan looks as though they are going to be a bit more conservative with this generation Altima. This version looks like a run of the mill mid-sized to large sedan rather than the athletic looking outgoing model. I'm not liking the Versa looking front grill treatment either. The wheels are pretty cool looking and I'm hoping that the half undone camo is just fooling my eyes into seeing something that's actually better than it seems.
chris308 says:
09:06 AM, 01/19/12
I have to weigh in on this. Drove Altimas for 8 years (an '04 and an '08) and couldn't wait to get rid of the last one. They were leased. Both V6's - one manual and one CVT. The gearbox on the manual was poor, especially when cold and the CVT (unless you hammered the gas) was awful. It shifted up so quickly you could drive around at 1100 rpm all day. Again, lousy. I was told the CVT would get way better mileage than the 5 speed manual... and it didn't. It was worse. It probably is more appropriate to pair the CVT with the 2.5 so that you can work the rpm range more without sacrificing mileage or performance. And the premium fuel requirement is dumb at this point in fuel price history - just not worth the extra money. We use these for transportation, after all, not racing. I feel the quality of both cars was substandard. I had premature corrosion (surface rust) problems with both cars and other mechanical issues that the dealer said he couldn't find. Even a rear door was off alignment (on the '08) and didn't close without a slam. Neither of them hold a candle to our still fabulous '99 Toyota. The cars are also too low for Canadian winters - if you get any serious snowfall (the '08 was lower than the '04, I believe). I did like the cabin room and I did like the way the cars handled. Lack of a driver's seat lumbar support in the '08 3.5SE was very disappointing. And they took away the speed sensitive radio volume feature in the '08 that the '04 had. Interior was pretty blah in both cars. Nissan, in my opinion, really needs to bone up in the quality department. Pay attention to the details and be sure your dealers respond to consumer complaints and problems. I am now driving a 2012 Subaru Outback. The entire feel of the vehicle is both different and better - more solid feeling vehicle (they drive completely differently, given the vehicles they are - my '08 Nissan did handle like a real performance car!) The Subie CVT (paired with the 2.5l engine) is, again in my humble opinion, a much better tranny than the Nissan CVT. And some auto press says so, too. (And remember... all of the above vehicles are built in the USA. It's a level playing field.) CVTs are not amazing. Where you are in the "gear range" is undefined and feels lacklustre, no doubt. Performance (in the Subie) is, therefore, a little underwhelming. (the CVT performance in the '08 Nissan was good when pushed). But the mileage for the CVT over the manual (for Subaru) is higher and that works for me. Ideally they'd offer a 6 or 7 speed manual with a turbo diesel (in the higher trim levels) but I'm not holding my breath! Generally I think Nissan has a great platform with the Altima. That size of vehicle does a number of things well. Just make sure it's well-built, too! Do that and I think you can go toe-to-toe with Honda or Toyota any day.