The 8th generation Maxima...prototypes, news, updates, rumors and more
10-17-2014, 12:42 PM
#641
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 369
Thought you guys might be interested in this! 
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/17/2...ima-spy-shots/
http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...spied-testing/
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/17/2...ima-spy-shots/
http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...spied-testing/
Last edited by NissanFreak2000; 10-17-2014 at 02:50 PM.
10-17-2014, 01:05 PM
#642
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: NM
Posts: 2,145
Thought you guys might be interested in this!
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/17/2...ima-spy-shots/
http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...spied-testing/
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/17/2...ima-spy-shots/
http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...spied-testing/
10-17-2014, 01:50 PM
#644
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Manhattan Beach, Ca / Dallas, Tx
Posts: 3,751
Looking that way...the side profile of that does not look like that thing they showed earlier this year, that was way more swoopy looking then this thing. Looking very Q50/Sonata ish in the rear, dunno if that is a good thing.
Last edited by MONTE 01&97 SE; 10-17-2014 at 01:56 PM.
10-17-2014, 01:51 PM
#645
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: Snakeden Branch, VA
Posts: 1,441
^ Nice find indeed, finally with the spy shots...took forever
I'm not sure I like it, either. Eh, it looks way big and bloated. The shape looked way better on the concept, but even then kind of big...
We'll be awaiting some of that camo coming off soon...
I'm not sure I like it, either. Eh, it looks way big and bloated. The shape looked way better on the concept, but even then kind of big...
We'll be awaiting some of that camo coming off soon...
10-17-2014, 03:09 PM
#648
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,129
I checked the links before I read your post, good thing because I was going to say the same. It's a bloated altima, what the hell are u doing nissan. Sports car my a$$, looks like my 7th gen just upped it's value
10-17-2014, 04:06 PM
#649
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 671
I'm dissapointed because you guys are dissapointed I hate to be complaining but that design is all wrong its the wrong vision the wrong execution its not a Maxima its another dissapointment. It's another Altima guys i'm officially done with Nissan.
Last edited by Chris Alexander; 10-17-2014 at 04:54 PM.
10-18-2014, 08:54 AM
#653
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6
I actually work for Nissan North America and last month they revealed the 2016 Nissan Maxima at a regional meeting I attended. First off let me just say it is definitely worth the wait! At first glance, it looks like a GTR and the 2013 Altima had a love child. It has the rear end of the current Altima (more so the tail lights but more exaggerated) and larger exhaust pipes that are engraved into the bumper. It has the front end of the GT-R mixed in with the Nissan Friend-Me concept car (that's the best explanation). On the back pillars there are cuts that make the pillars look disconnected near the back of the window (hard to explain until you actually see it). It looks really edgy and definitely different styling direction from any competitors in that segment. It will be offered with an AWD option and be 300+ HP. Also, there will be different engine noise options that you can choose from. Its currently slated for a Spring 2015 wholesale release.
Now that information wasn't provided, but given our history of launching vehicles I would say Detroit Auto Show sometime in January. Wouldn't be LA Auto Show because it doesn't receive as much coverage as Detroit. With the Maxima they are trying to shock the consumer along with the new Murano as well as far as the design is concerned. My first position with the company was in distribution and logistics (production forecasting, dealer allocations, etc) and trust me the wholesale release dates constantly are fluctuating due to supplier contraints or development issues at the plants so it very well could be pushed off to a summer 2015 release as Model Year 2016.
It will have the general C-Pillar styling of the current Altima, but it is more distinguishable on the front end because it looks nothing like an Altima. It looks like a GT-R and the Friend-Me concept mixed together from the front end. The back does pull from the Altima because of the tail lights, but the Maxima's are more exaggerated because of how they swoop up the side of the car and their angular sharpness. Also, the exhaust pipes are significantly larger than the Altima (about the diameter of the current generation) and they are engraved into the lower bumber.
Yes, 2016 is the model year. CVT will be the standard and only transmission option. Nissan is heavily invested into CVT technology so it won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
I thought the same exact thing to myself because the general Nissan redesign time frame is usually 5-6 years. You do have to take into account that the Nissan Armada and the Nissan Titan are still in their first generation which is running almost a decade strong (9 years) although there were several issues as to why it wasn't redesigned on the normal cycle.
With the 7th generation getting long in the tooth the options and visual cues are going to get a little more diversified with next coming model years left in the generation. In model year 2014 you will see the return of some old options such as the Limited Edition package and there will be more standard equipment such as HID headlights across the SV trim.
I thought the same exact thing to myself because the general Nissan redesign time frame is usually 5-6 years. You do have to take into account that the Nissan Armada and the Nissan Titan are still in their first generation which is running almost a decade strong (9 years) although there were several issues as to why it wasn't redesigned on the normal cycle.
With the 7th generation getting long in the tooth the options and visual cues are going to get a little more diversified with next coming model years left in the generation. In model year 2014 you will see the return of some old options such as the Limited Edition package and there will be more standard equipment such as HID headlights across the SV trim.
The Ellure concept is a good example of what the new Maxima will look like (especially the tail lights). The Altima pulled heavily from this concept as well. With the Maxima its really the front end that will truly set it apart from the Altima visually. I'm not privy to what technologies will be implemented into the new generation, but I am going to take a wild guess and say lane departure warning system, around view monitor, and larger navigation screen (at least 8 inches from what I could tell).
All I am doing is describing what I saw. I didn't have to sign a waiver stating I would never speak of what they showed us. It's not like I posted a picture or anything. You have to use your imagination at best to envision what it looks like before its officially revealed.
It is quite clear that you don't work in the automotive industry because if you did you would know that companies show unfinished products to their employees quite often that are strongly based off of what will eventually make it to production. I never said that the car was complete. Why would it be complete if there is clearly two years left to launch the vehicle? There is still research and development taking place. Being shown the car this early only served the purpose to let the corporate employees as well as the dealer executives get a clear vision of where the company is heading design wise. Let me just give you one little crumb...Model year 14 will run extremely long until the new model is released. I will actually be waiting on the day when it does launch to imagine the dumb look on your face!
It's funny to me how you guys are so quick to criticize when you guys clearly DO NOT WORK IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY!!! Why would I take a picture of the car when my managers and national executives are in the room? I can speak freely about what I saw as much as I want, but actually taking a picture and posting it is blatantly crossing the line and you should know that just as well as I do!
I never claimed to have all sorts of Nissan knowledge. Please correct yourself. The company has over 250,000 employees globally so that should tell you that not every employee is going to have the same insight. I only posted to this thread because I do have knowledge of the next generation Maxima....DUH...but hey like I said before time will definitely tell so in the meantime keep your eyes open and don't drop the soap!
EXACTLY, YOU ARE WRONG. Please do yourself a huge favor and look up the 2008 Nissan Murano and please tell me what you find??? Probably nothing because the last MY of the first generation was 2007 and the first MY of the second generation was 2009. (FYI the production of MY07 ran for more than 12 months).
I also work in the automotive industry and I'm bound to strict nondisclosure clauses regarding intellectual property and unpublicised product. Breaking such agreements can subject us to termination, financial penalties for damages, prosecution, or if even severe enough, imprisonment. While you may have not specifically signed anything, I doubt you wanted to be escorted out from that venue for taking unwelcome (if not illegal) photography.
I usually don't say anything anymore about our own future models to outsiders, as certain aspects on a development can change and make me look foolish later on. This does not include design work, unless it's more than 2 years ahead of launch. Nothing like that will change after the "freeze", unless it's the likes of items less concrete (model equipment or power train details).
Thankfully, from what I've observed, most of the members here are a very classy and respectable bunch. Amerikaner83 and Holder ought to be ashamed of their horrible conduct, towards someone that was trying to provide insight to them and other longtime Maxima owners on future Nissan product of great importance. Apply some sense here. With Japanese corporations, such information is very challenging to come by, as among all of us they are the most secretive about future offerings.
Nissan froze the final design for the A36 Maxima during 2012, following the A35 facelift in the autumn of 2011 (2012 model year) , so that perfectly explains why you would've already seen a fibreglass 1:1 design representation or an early running prototype in May/June 2013.
While significantly trimmed down from 17-20 years ago, Nissan finalises vehicle production body designs at 10-24 months ahead of initial production commencement. For Infiniti, it is 24-30 months on average. Vehicle trim selection, colouring, and detailing can continue until the second stage of prototyping. Through the 4th generation, most Nissan Maximas were in final styling guise 30-36 months ahead of production start. This was reduced during the latter part of 1990s to a simpler 18-24 format and even further under NRP from 1999-2001.
Lightonthehill probably has perfectly explained this to a tee, on numerous occasions. This concerns many things, such as factory tooling, vehicle testing, and supplier agreements. Design work on 2017 model year Nissan redesigns is concluding at moment and for MY2016 facelifts. Styling of most 2016 model year Nissan redesigns was finalised from last year through Q1 2014, save for delayed developments like the A36. This also applies to the Infiniti range for MY2017, but with longer lead times (24-30 mos).
There is also a difference between concept development and production development. The former is prior to design selection or design freeze, while the latter is after such critical design stages, mostly concerning packaging and testing of the future vehicle in various forms.
Hand-done construction of a running, production design identical prototype from design freeze/finalisation of production styling, takes roughly 6-12 more months. On rare occasions it can be done in as quickly as 4 months. Prior to that (prototypes), one will see what are called "test mules", which are usually the new platform or internals inside the body of the vehicle intended to be replaced.
It is also up to Nissan of course, whether or not any prototypes can or will be seen by the public during testing rounds. Mostly real world testing allows for this to occur, but Japanese automakers are mostly not fond of competitors studying their developments significantly ahead of launch. As you can see, Nissan is ready for that level of publicity with A36 Maxima preparation. In regards to their next Titan and Armada, not so much.
10-18-2014, 09:23 AM
#654
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Delaware
Posts: 369
Personally, I have no reason to doubt any of the posters here. But calling out someone without concrete proof is just out of bounds.
Thanks to all who have provided their information and insights on the 8th gen. I'm excited about its launch and can't wait to see the next new Nissan flagship.
I've always liked the Maxima and the 7th gen is my first one. I hate that Nissan made the Altima and Sentra to look like Maxima offspring and really hope that the Maxima stands out so much that it won't even look like a Nissan. But, if they hit a homerun with this one, I'll have to be even more patient to wait until 2017-2018 to get one. I don't like being part of a mass beta-test group. Undoubtedly there will be some things that need to be worked out initially and when they do, I'll be the proud owner of an 8th gen Maxima!
Thanks to all who have provided their information and insights on the 8th gen. I'm excited about its launch and can't wait to see the next new Nissan flagship.
I've always liked the Maxima and the 7th gen is my first one. I hate that Nissan made the Altima and Sentra to look like Maxima offspring and really hope that the Maxima stands out so much that it won't even look like a Nissan. But, if they hit a homerun with this one, I'll have to be even more patient to wait until 2017-2018 to get one. I don't like being part of a mass beta-test group. Undoubtedly there will be some things that need to be worked out initially and when they do, I'll be the proud owner of an 8th gen Maxima!
10-18-2014, 11:39 AM
#655
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6
'Sells better?' You are clearly way behind with the last ten years of Maxima evolution. Here is a very abbreviated review:
Ghosn made it crystal clear back in 2002 that the Maxima would no longer be the 'affordable 4DSC' it had been for two decades. He said the Maxima was being moved upscale to near-luxury, and the manual version of the Altima would be the new 'affordable 4DSC.'
So the 6th generation Maxima was exactly what Goshen had promised - roomier, more expensive, less sporty and more luxurious.
But long-time Maxima fans had missed the message Ghosn gave us in 2002, and complained loudly that the Maxima had lost its way. So Ghosn re-thought the situation, and promised to take the Maxima back nearer its performance roots, but said it would stay upscale and be Nissan's 'flagship.'
He also said the Maxima would be more of a prestige car than the Altima, with production goals of around 70K for the Maxima and 250K for Altima, which would be Nissan's 'everyman's' car. And Ghosn did exactly what he said he would do with the 7th gen Maxima.
And that is why we see parking lots filled with Altimas, most of which are the 2.5 version used simply to get from point A to point B, but see far fewer Maximas, whose drivers are looking for something far more than a car that looks like every other car.
Altima and Maxima. Those who bother to go through all the specifications and options know these are two totally different vehicles aimed at two totally different target groups.
Drop the Maxima for the Altima? Makes absolutely ZERO sense from every possible viewpoint.
Ghosn made it crystal clear back in 2002 that the Maxima would no longer be the 'affordable 4DSC' it had been for two decades. He said the Maxima was being moved upscale to near-luxury, and the manual version of the Altima would be the new 'affordable 4DSC.'
So the 6th generation Maxima was exactly what Goshen had promised - roomier, more expensive, less sporty and more luxurious.
But long-time Maxima fans had missed the message Ghosn gave us in 2002, and complained loudly that the Maxima had lost its way. So Ghosn re-thought the situation, and promised to take the Maxima back nearer its performance roots, but said it would stay upscale and be Nissan's 'flagship.'
He also said the Maxima would be more of a prestige car than the Altima, with production goals of around 70K for the Maxima and 250K for Altima, which would be Nissan's 'everyman's' car. And Ghosn did exactly what he said he would do with the 7th gen Maxima.
And that is why we see parking lots filled with Altimas, most of which are the 2.5 version used simply to get from point A to point B, but see far fewer Maximas, whose drivers are looking for something far more than a car that looks like every other car.
Altima and Maxima. Those who bother to go through all the specifications and options know these are two totally different vehicles aimed at two totally different target groups.
Drop the Maxima for the Altima? Makes absolutely ZERO sense from every possible viewpoint.
VIP MAXIMA - Yes, the new Murano does indeed reflect stylistic traits shown in the photo of the prototype Nissan 4DSC released last August.
I am still convincd that the failures that have occured with the new CVT in the new Altima are the reason the 8th gen Maxima is not already arriving at dealer lots. The new Altima CVT was to have also been used as the 8th gen Maxima CVT. It is clearly superior to the CVT in the 7th gen Maxima, but, unfortunately, has proven to be unreliable.
And that is just as well. It would have been a huge mistake for Nissan to release the 8th gen Maxima with a tranny known to have serious problems.
My doubt at this point is whether the CVT problems will be resolved in time to have the 8th gen released as the '15 model year. Unless a fix is definite within the next two months, I see the 8th gen Maxima being released either around the end of the year or early next year as the '16 model year. That would mean the 7th gen survived SEVEN model years, breaking the old Maxima record of six (3rd gen - '89-'94)
I say a July fix would be too late because Nissan does not release a new generation of the Maxima until there are at least several thousand assembled and sitting on the back lot, so that each Nissan dealer will have a several available at intro. There are lots of Nissan dealers, including 28 within a hour and a half driving time of my home.
Having owned nothing but Maximas since Oct 1984, I am as anxious as the next person to own an 8th generation Maxima, but I want it to be as reliable as my Maximas from the 2nd thru 7th generations have been.
I am still convincd that the failures that have occured with the new CVT in the new Altima are the reason the 8th gen Maxima is not already arriving at dealer lots. The new Altima CVT was to have also been used as the 8th gen Maxima CVT. It is clearly superior to the CVT in the 7th gen Maxima, but, unfortunately, has proven to be unreliable.
And that is just as well. It would have been a huge mistake for Nissan to release the 8th gen Maxima with a tranny known to have serious problems.
My doubt at this point is whether the CVT problems will be resolved in time to have the 8th gen released as the '15 model year. Unless a fix is definite within the next two months, I see the 8th gen Maxima being released either around the end of the year or early next year as the '16 model year. That would mean the 7th gen survived SEVEN model years, breaking the old Maxima record of six (3rd gen - '89-'94)
I say a July fix would be too late because Nissan does not release a new generation of the Maxima until there are at least several thousand assembled and sitting on the back lot, so that each Nissan dealer will have a several available at intro. There are lots of Nissan dealers, including 28 within a hour and a half driving time of my home.
Having owned nothing but Maximas since Oct 1984, I am as anxious as the next person to own an 8th generation Maxima, but I want it to be as reliable as my Maximas from the 2nd thru 7th generations have been.
Yes, there are posters in most threads on maxima.org and Altima boards who would like a manual tranny. Maybe the Altima manual is possible. But Nissan produced manual Maximas for EIGHT YEARS after they began losing money on the manuals, and even TWO years after dealers stopped accepting manuals without very heavy discounts.
Just based on the 1998 to 2006 manual Maximas that simply occupied space on dealer lots until the dealers gritted their teeth and literally gave them away, Nissan would be insane to offer a manual tranny option on the Maxima again, EXCEPT as part of an upscale NISMO package priced somewhere between $45K and $50K. And that may be what we will see.
Just based on the 1998 to 2006 manual Maximas that simply occupied space on dealer lots until the dealers gritted their teeth and literally gave them away, Nissan would be insane to offer a manual tranny option on the Maxima again, EXCEPT as part of an upscale NISMO package priced somewhere between $45K and $50K. And that may be what we will see.
Wont be long now. If the 8th gen 2015 Maxima is arriving this fall, as Nissan promised, then comouflaged early versions are already on the roads undergoing testing. Previous generations had early testing done around the Los Angeles area, Phoenix area, and, with gens 6 and 7, also around the Smyrna area. At least those are the locations from which we received the earliest spy photos.
I would suspect Nissan would not like to release a new generation Maxima later than the middle of October, as that is tending to get too near the end of the year, and anything released around the end of the year or later would be labeled as a 2016 by most manufacturers.
I am expecting spy photos within the next six weeks, and they could arrive any day. I also expect the 6th gen to have strong resemblance to the concept shown in Detroit.
I know Nissan always runs the assembly line full tilt for several months months before releasing a new generation, so as to have a selection available for each dealer at release time. That would mean test versions of the 8th gen have been coming down the assembly line (interleaved with other Nissan products) in Smyrna for probably a few months now, with plans set to go full tilt in producing 8th gen Maximas no later than July.
When running full tilt, there should be at least a hundred Maximas coming off the line each day to be stored on the back lot until shortly before the official release date, at which time Nissan will begin shipping them to all Nissan dealers. Higher performing dealers usually get a good selection, while poorer performing dealers get less of a selection early on.
So the questions we have are when will Nissan set the release date, and what date will that be? If Nissan has a major early advertising blitz for this 8th gen, and I strongly suspect they will, then we could know quite a bit within the next six weeks. I suspect the release date will be announced in June, and that it will fall between August 20 and September 20, but I learned long ago that, when it comes to releases of new Maxima generations, Nissan loves to trick the guessers.
But the excitement is fast approaching.
I would suspect Nissan would not like to release a new generation Maxima later than the middle of October, as that is tending to get too near the end of the year, and anything released around the end of the year or later would be labeled as a 2016 by most manufacturers.
I am expecting spy photos within the next six weeks, and they could arrive any day. I also expect the 6th gen to have strong resemblance to the concept shown in Detroit.
I know Nissan always runs the assembly line full tilt for several months months before releasing a new generation, so as to have a selection available for each dealer at release time. That would mean test versions of the 8th gen have been coming down the assembly line (interleaved with other Nissan products) in Smyrna for probably a few months now, with plans set to go full tilt in producing 8th gen Maximas no later than July.
When running full tilt, there should be at least a hundred Maximas coming off the line each day to be stored on the back lot until shortly before the official release date, at which time Nissan will begin shipping them to all Nissan dealers. Higher performing dealers usually get a good selection, while poorer performing dealers get less of a selection early on.
So the questions we have are when will Nissan set the release date, and what date will that be? If Nissan has a major early advertising blitz for this 8th gen, and I strongly suspect they will, then we could know quite a bit within the next six weeks. I suspect the release date will be announced in June, and that it will fall between August 20 and September 20, but I learned long ago that, when it comes to releases of new Maxima generations, Nissan loves to trick the guessers.
But the excitement is fast approaching.
Like it or not, Propa Teknique & 95VQ30 are correct on all counts.
Nissan has already told us the 8th gen Maxima will be over 300 HP, CVT and FWD. And that is exactly what we should expect for any Nissan 4 door family passenger car. Those wanting anything different need to look to Infiniti or other brands.
CVTs are not what we grew up with, but are definitely becoming the tranny of choice when fuel efficiency and economy of build are a consideration. Those willing to play with them, understand why they are growing in use, and face their quirks with an open mind will find, as I did, that they can be fun to drive. They can take much more driver input than an automatic tranny, and can use a more sensitive and thoughtful touch of the pedal than the manuals I drove for so many years.
We have only ourselves to blame for losing the manual version of the Maxima; Nissan built Maximas with manuals from 1981 through 2006, and from around 1998 on, they lost money on Maximas with manual trannies. The end became inevitable around 2004, when dealers refused to accept manual Maximas from Nissan.
The idea that all sports cars should have a manual tranny option is a misconception. Some of the fastest and highest performance cars are not available with a manual tranny.
By 2006, less than one customer in twenty looking at Maximas had any interest in a manual tranny. At this point, Nissan would be very foolish to put a manual into any Maxima other than a NISMO edition costing at least $45K.
The Maxima is a relatively heavy car, not a pocket rocket. It is too luxurious to be a race car. I will be very surprised if the 8th gen HP is over 310. I expect around 305. In this age of quickly increasing government fuel efficiency requirements, power is no longer near the top of the list of 'needs' for any family passenger sedan, even a 'sporty' one. But, should Nissan also offer a NISMO Maxima version, then it would obviously have more power.
As government fleet fuel efficiency requirements rise ever upward, we are going to be seeing many more forms of power other than the internal combustion engine. It will be interesting to see what the first variation of the Maxima's power plant might turn out to be. Diesel? Supercharging? Hybrid? Regenerative electric? A change at some point will be inevitable, and will arrive with the 9th generation Maxima if not before..
Nissan has already told us the 8th gen Maxima will be over 300 HP, CVT and FWD. And that is exactly what we should expect for any Nissan 4 door family passenger car. Those wanting anything different need to look to Infiniti or other brands.
CVTs are not what we grew up with, but are definitely becoming the tranny of choice when fuel efficiency and economy of build are a consideration. Those willing to play with them, understand why they are growing in use, and face their quirks with an open mind will find, as I did, that they can be fun to drive. They can take much more driver input than an automatic tranny, and can use a more sensitive and thoughtful touch of the pedal than the manuals I drove for so many years.
We have only ourselves to blame for losing the manual version of the Maxima; Nissan built Maximas with manuals from 1981 through 2006, and from around 1998 on, they lost money on Maximas with manual trannies. The end became inevitable around 2004, when dealers refused to accept manual Maximas from Nissan.
The idea that all sports cars should have a manual tranny option is a misconception. Some of the fastest and highest performance cars are not available with a manual tranny.
By 2006, less than one customer in twenty looking at Maximas had any interest in a manual tranny. At this point, Nissan would be very foolish to put a manual into any Maxima other than a NISMO edition costing at least $45K.
The Maxima is a relatively heavy car, not a pocket rocket. It is too luxurious to be a race car. I will be very surprised if the 8th gen HP is over 310. I expect around 305. In this age of quickly increasing government fuel efficiency requirements, power is no longer near the top of the list of 'needs' for any family passenger sedan, even a 'sporty' one. But, should Nissan also offer a NISMO Maxima version, then it would obviously have more power.
As government fleet fuel efficiency requirements rise ever upward, we are going to be seeing many more forms of power other than the internal combustion engine. It will be interesting to see what the first variation of the Maxima's power plant might turn out to be. Diesel? Supercharging? Hybrid? Regenerative electric? A change at some point will be inevitable, and will arrive with the 9th generation Maxima if not before..
Propa Tecknique and jontyrees seeing this clearly. Only way we get a manual Maxima will be if a very special NISMO version of the 8th gen is offered. If that happened, it would probably have a special spoiler, front aerodynamics, special interior and exterior markings, slightly more HP, etc, and would probably be priced around $45K. I think it would sell.
Nissan told us the 8th gen would arrive this year as the 2015 Maxima. The only question in my mind is whether it will arrive in the normal August-September window, or be a little later in the year. I'm sure Nissan would not have said this unless they had fixed the problems with the new CVT being tested in the new Altima and new Pathfinder.
My guess - the 2015 8th gen arrives this September.
If the release were to slip past Thanksgiving, this poses a problem for Nissan. New generations are often announced in the December, January, February window, but very seldom released at that time, as that poses a model year question. A little late for a 2015 release, but a little early for a 2016 release. If we don't have the 8th gen on sale by Thanksgiving, then it will probably be released next spring as a 2016, and we will have a 'short' model year for the 7th gen 2015.
But then Nissan is very careful to swat every single fly that dares land on their conference room walls, so info is very tight.
Nissan told us the 8th gen would arrive this year as the 2015 Maxima. The only question in my mind is whether it will arrive in the normal August-September window, or be a little later in the year. I'm sure Nissan would not have said this unless they had fixed the problems with the new CVT being tested in the new Altima and new Pathfinder.
My guess - the 2015 8th gen arrives this September.
If the release were to slip past Thanksgiving, this poses a problem for Nissan. New generations are often announced in the December, January, February window, but very seldom released at that time, as that poses a model year question. A little late for a 2015 release, but a little early for a 2016 release. If we don't have the 8th gen on sale by Thanksgiving, then it will probably be released next spring as a 2016, and we will have a 'short' model year for the 7th gen 2015.
But then Nissan is very careful to swat every single fly that dares land on their conference room walls, so info is very tight.
The 2015 Maxima may be a few inches wider, but the engine and tranny and most parts will be the same size as before. The wheels will be 'higher', but the tires will have a lower profile with very short sidewalls. The wheels will probably be fairly light for their size, as unsprung weight is more difficult to manage, ride-wise.
Manufacturers are constantly fiinding ways to cut down weight while giving more interior room. I will be surprised if the new Maxima is over 3725 pounds. That may sound like a lot, but many SUVs out there weigh between 6000 and 8000 pounds. My 7th gen with premium and tech packages is right at 3600 pounds. We need to remember that this is a near-luxury sporty sedan, not the simple '4DSC' of earlier Maxima days.
The 21 inch wheels may only be on the NISMO version. I expect the wheels on the regular 2015 Maxima to be around 19 inches, but 20 inches would not surprise me.
The camo versions have doubtlessly been on the road for some time now, and I expect to see a photo of one posted here any day. Folks in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Nashville should be on the lookout.
Manufacturers are constantly fiinding ways to cut down weight while giving more interior room. I will be surprised if the new Maxima is over 3725 pounds. That may sound like a lot, but many SUVs out there weigh between 6000 and 8000 pounds. My 7th gen with premium and tech packages is right at 3600 pounds. We need to remember that this is a near-luxury sporty sedan, not the simple '4DSC' of earlier Maxima days.
The 21 inch wheels may only be on the NISMO version. I expect the wheels on the regular 2015 Maxima to be around 19 inches, but 20 inches would not surprise me.
The camo versions have doubtlessly been on the road for some time now, and I expect to see a photo of one posted here any day. Folks in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Nashville should be on the lookout.
Granted, this is a fairly 'out there' design. But if we have learned anything about the Maxima over the last thirty years, it is that Nissan stays a little ahead in their Maxima styling, and invariably, the public seems to like each generation's design even more the second and third years after each new generation is released.
I have studied this Nissan 4Door sedan concept from every angle (there are hundreds of photos and lots of film of it on various sites), and find it will be an absolutely perfect fit for my lifestyle. I will be getting it in a conservative white with the premium package (whatever that package will be called on the 8th gen), and will feel very comfortable driving that car anywhere.
Let the fun begin.
I have studied this Nissan 4Door sedan concept from every angle (there are hundreds of photos and lots of film of it on various sites), and find it will be an absolutely perfect fit for my lifestyle. I will be getting it in a conservative white with the premium package (whatever that package will be called on the 8th gen), and will feel very comfortable driving that car anywhere.
Let the fun begin.
All views of the concept sedan taken from above showed a blackened panoramic roof. The base 8th gen may or may not have such a roof, but I'm sure there will be one or more upscale versions with black panoramic roofs.
As to the interior, I think it will be very similar to the interior of the concept car. Of course there will be some changes, because the last time I looked at the steering wheel of the concept car, there were no audio/cruise control buttons. I think we can be assured we will have those on our 8th gen.
It is good that there will be a rear view camera standard on every 8th gen Maxima from base to top of the line. At my creaky old age, I really rely on my rear view camera every day.
As to the interior, I think it will be very similar to the interior of the concept car. Of course there will be some changes, because the last time I looked at the steering wheel of the concept car, there were no audio/cruise control buttons. I think we can be assured we will have those on our 8th gen.
It is good that there will be a rear view camera standard on every 8th gen Maxima from base to top of the line. At my creaky old age, I really rely on my rear view camera every day.
Propa Teknique - Rest assured the screen will be full color. Modern navigation packages require quite a few different colors on their maps to be usable.
The screen won't be smaller than the 7th gen screen. The way it looks in the photo you posted makes it look like the screen is wider, not as high as the 7th gen screens. It may be that this 8th gen screen may rise from, or sink partially into the dash depending on whether the full screen is needed for whatever the user is doing. I think this rise/sink feature will eventually become standard on all car screens.
Glad to see the remote controls on the steering wheel in the photo version you posted.
I am sure the higher versions of the 8th gen will have ventilated seats, good sound system, large monitor and around-view camera. In fact, some of this may even be on more basic versions of the 8th gen. I'm hoping for power outside mirrors, and, with the 8th gen being slightly wider, I'm sure we will get them.
Rear seat heating and heated steering wheel will probably be part of a 'Cold Weather' package on lower and mid-level versions, and standard on high end versions.
Like you, I had been concerned with the slanting roof making an operational panel roof difficult. But the exaggerated rearward slant of the roof is partially an optical illusion created by the 'rising toward the rear' belt line and 'rising toward the rear' bottom edge of the side windows. The car must be viewed exactly 90 degrees from the side to fully detect this illusion. This makes sense, else rear seat passengers would not have headroom. This illusion has been used in the past on Japanese vehicles, especially in the sixties and seventies. It was very pronounced on my 1978 Datsun 200SX, and on most earlier Suzukis.
The screen won't be smaller than the 7th gen screen. The way it looks in the photo you posted makes it look like the screen is wider, not as high as the 7th gen screens. It may be that this 8th gen screen may rise from, or sink partially into the dash depending on whether the full screen is needed for whatever the user is doing. I think this rise/sink feature will eventually become standard on all car screens.
Glad to see the remote controls on the steering wheel in the photo version you posted.
I am sure the higher versions of the 8th gen will have ventilated seats, good sound system, large monitor and around-view camera. In fact, some of this may even be on more basic versions of the 8th gen. I'm hoping for power outside mirrors, and, with the 8th gen being slightly wider, I'm sure we will get them.
Rear seat heating and heated steering wheel will probably be part of a 'Cold Weather' package on lower and mid-level versions, and standard on high end versions.
Like you, I had been concerned with the slanting roof making an operational panel roof difficult. But the exaggerated rearward slant of the roof is partially an optical illusion created by the 'rising toward the rear' belt line and 'rising toward the rear' bottom edge of the side windows. The car must be viewed exactly 90 degrees from the side to fully detect this illusion. This makes sense, else rear seat passengers would not have headroom. This illusion has been used in the past on Japanese vehicles, especially in the sixties and seventies. It was very pronounced on my 1978 Datsun 200SX, and on most earlier Suzukis.
I am sorry you got a lemon and received poor support from Nissan. I understand your unhappiness. Nissan sometimes shoots itself in the foot when it comes to customer support.
But be careful to look before you leap. BMWs have long been known for needing frequent (expensive) repairs. Consumer Reports has shown most BMW models to be worse than average in reliability for decades. By contrast, Consumer Reports has shown the Maxima to usually be above average (never below average) in reliability since the first generation arrived in 1981. CU combinines the annual car repair reports from dozens of thousands of subscribers, so gives a much more meaningful rating than the smaller samples we often see from rating services.
The BMW 5 series with 4 cylinder engines are above average in reliability, and the 535i with RWD has been more reliable than the AWD version. I also suspect BMW might be more amenable to listening to customer complaints.
Yes, Nissan is far from perfect. The newest generation of Altimas and Pathfinders have proven unreliable (bad CVT redesign). The new Titan is not reliable, and older versions of the Quest have been unreliable. Several other Nissan models are only average in reliability. These bad apples combine to bring the overall Nissan reliability rating down to just below average, but still better than the overall BMW rating.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
But be careful to look before you leap. BMWs have long been known for needing frequent (expensive) repairs. Consumer Reports has shown most BMW models to be worse than average in reliability for decades. By contrast, Consumer Reports has shown the Maxima to usually be above average (never below average) in reliability since the first generation arrived in 1981. CU combinines the annual car repair reports from dozens of thousands of subscribers, so gives a much more meaningful rating than the smaller samples we often see from rating services.
The BMW 5 series with 4 cylinder engines are above average in reliability, and the 535i with RWD has been more reliable than the AWD version. I also suspect BMW might be more amenable to listening to customer complaints.
Yes, Nissan is far from perfect. The newest generation of Altimas and Pathfinders have proven unreliable (bad CVT redesign). The new Titan is not reliable, and older versions of the Quest have been unreliable. Several other Nissan models are only average in reliability. These bad apples combine to bring the overall Nissan reliability rating down to just below average, but still better than the overall BMW rating.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
I realize several folks here are having troubles with their Maximas, but I have had virtually no trouble with my 2000, 2004 and 2009 Maximas, and Consumer Reports shows that many folks are having the same good luck I have had with these last three generations.
Yes, Nissan left their 4DSC days when the 6th gen arrived. But Ghosn had said in 2002 that Nissan was taking the Maxima to near-luxury flagship status, and the manual Altima would henceforth be Nissan's affordable 4DSC. But buyers evidently don't read newspapers, and so never got the word.
So the 6th gen brought so many complaints that a little sportiness was put back in with the 7th gen. I carry 37 psi front and 36 psi rear in my 7th gen, and that car will turn on a dime and leave 9 cents change. The turning circle of the 7th gen is FOUR FEET tighter than that of the 6th gen. And zero to 60 in 6 seconds is good for a 3600 pound family sedan that approaches 30 MPG on freeway trips.
If you want reliability, you shouldn't count on it with BMW. The best things BMW has going for it are that the cars look very nice, are fun to drive, and dealers often show sympathy for customers with problems.
By contrast, Lexus has had a rather remarkably good reliability record. Even the least reliable Lexus models are above average in reliability, and many Lexus models are well above average (top score). My friends and relatives who drive Lexus models tell me their dealer is very accomodating whenever questions arise.
I read a book the other day (author was some guy named Moss) which interviewed thousands of folks and measured their happiness. Turns out that the happiest folks tend to drive Japanese vehicles, and the unhappiest tend to drive European vehicles. The happiest folks of all drove various models of the Lexus line.
But every person and every particular vehicle is different, and preferences can range widely. I hope you find a vehicle you really love.
Yes, Nissan left their 4DSC days when the 6th gen arrived. But Ghosn had said in 2002 that Nissan was taking the Maxima to near-luxury flagship status, and the manual Altima would henceforth be Nissan's affordable 4DSC. But buyers evidently don't read newspapers, and so never got the word.
So the 6th gen brought so many complaints that a little sportiness was put back in with the 7th gen. I carry 37 psi front and 36 psi rear in my 7th gen, and that car will turn on a dime and leave 9 cents change. The turning circle of the 7th gen is FOUR FEET tighter than that of the 6th gen. And zero to 60 in 6 seconds is good for a 3600 pound family sedan that approaches 30 MPG on freeway trips.
If you want reliability, you shouldn't count on it with BMW. The best things BMW has going for it are that the cars look very nice, are fun to drive, and dealers often show sympathy for customers with problems.
By contrast, Lexus has had a rather remarkably good reliability record. Even the least reliable Lexus models are above average in reliability, and many Lexus models are well above average (top score). My friends and relatives who drive Lexus models tell me their dealer is very accomodating whenever questions arise.
I read a book the other day (author was some guy named Moss) which interviewed thousands of folks and measured their happiness. Turns out that the happiest folks tend to drive Japanese vehicles, and the unhappiest tend to drive European vehicles. The happiest folks of all drove various models of the Lexus line.
But every person and every particular vehicle is different, and preferences can range widely. I hope you find a vehicle you really love.
Yep. And for those not sure of other gens:
1st gen -- 1981-1984
2nd gen - 1985 -1988
3rd gen - 1989-1994
4th gen - 1995-1999
5th gen - 2000-2003
6th gen - 2004-2008
7th gen - 2009-2014
8th gen - 2015-2019
9th gen - 2020-2026
OK, the 9th gen is just guessing.
Most of those gens (1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th) had a clear 'half-gen' in the middle, where notable changes were made. With the two longest gens (3rd and 7th, six years each), changes were actually spread out over several model years.
Of note - The first gen was the only RWD Maxima ever built. The first 3 model years of the first gen were Datsuns, not Nissans, while the 1984 was a 'Nissan Datsun'. The first gen was also the only Maxima gen to offer a diesel option.
Datsuns were always built by Nissan, and were sold in the U.S. from the late 1960s until 1984. But Datsuns were not common in the U.S. until the original 'Zs' began to appear in the early 1970s.
Of interest to nobody, I actually rode in Datsun taxis in several Japanese cities in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and owned Datsuns before Nissan corporate changed their vehicle name to Nissan in 1984. In the lobby of the Nissan plant at Smyrna, they have a 1960 Datsun pickup on display. Looks just like the thousands running around Japan over 50 years ago.
Memories
1st gen -- 1981-1984
2nd gen - 1985 -1988
3rd gen - 1989-1994
4th gen - 1995-1999
5th gen - 2000-2003
6th gen - 2004-2008
7th gen - 2009-2014
8th gen - 2015-2019
9th gen - 2020-2026
OK, the 9th gen is just guessing.
Most of those gens (1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th) had a clear 'half-gen' in the middle, where notable changes were made. With the two longest gens (3rd and 7th, six years each), changes were actually spread out over several model years.
Of note - The first gen was the only RWD Maxima ever built. The first 3 model years of the first gen were Datsuns, not Nissans, while the 1984 was a 'Nissan Datsun'. The first gen was also the only Maxima gen to offer a diesel option.
Datsuns were always built by Nissan, and were sold in the U.S. from the late 1960s until 1984. But Datsuns were not common in the U.S. until the original 'Zs' began to appear in the early 1970s.
Of interest to nobody, I actually rode in Datsun taxis in several Japanese cities in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and owned Datsuns before Nissan corporate changed their vehicle name to Nissan in 1984. In the lobby of the Nissan plant at Smyrna, they have a 1960 Datsun pickup on display. Looks just like the thousands running around Japan over 50 years ago.
Memories
I understand that different folks are looking for different things. But I gotta go with Propa Teknique and gizzsdad here.
Having owned every generation but the first (and a gal with a 1st gen was part of my car pool from '82 to '84), I have driven almost a million miles in Maximas, most with heavy commuting in Atlanta traffic, and all were better than average in reliability.
But the Maximas of today have infinitely more features and parts than those more simple ones of bygone days. A double panoramic roof would have been unthinkable thirty years ago. The same with electronic stability control. Even ABS was still under development then.
And yet, even with the vastly increased complexity of today's Maxima over the earlier generations, I am finding more reliability. My all-time favorite Maxima was the 1985 model year. But, as far as performance and reliability, my 5th, 6th and 7th generations have been the best for me.
My '09 is an absolutely perfect car. I have the premium and tech packages - tons of things that could go wrong. And yet every single detail of every single feature is working absolutely perfectly. I am still on the original RS-A tires at 45K, have never had to balance or align, yet the car is very smooth at speeds the mod won't allow posted here. I began driving in the 1940s, and have owned tons of vehicles, but never anything as perfect as this '09 Maxima.
Of course, one vehicle being very good or very bad proves nothing. But Consumer Reports sends out comprehensive vehicle evaluation forms to all subscribers, and compiles data from thousands of Maxima owners, and that large body of Maxima owners tells us that, compared to all other vehicles, the Maxima is absolutely a reliable vehicle.
My '09 also zips from zero to sixty in around six seconds, has a very tight turning radius, and, with 37 psi in the tires, can turn on a dime. There are cars that are quicker off the line, but something I don't see posted very often is the quickness with which this 7th gen CVT driven Maxima can go from 40 MPH to 80 MPH. I have never had a car any better at that specific function, and that is vastly more important to me than zero to sixty.
Considering the styling, features and luxury that are also on this car, and the price I paid, I don't think I could have done any better.
I understand there are those who are more interested in a track car than a sporty family sedan. And I also understand that there are those who are still stuck in the days of manuals. Yes, manuals were a ton of fun when there were 50 million vehicles in this country.
But there are now around 250 million vehicles, and only limited road improvement. A manual is now growingly useless in the gridlock that is spreading around the country. Time passes, and things change. We either change with the times, or are eventually left behind.
I understand there are those unfortunate souls who had troubles with their Maximas, and I sympathize with them. But, unlike some, I have always had dependable service from my Maximas, and my dealer has always been responsive to my every whim. I am probably just lucky having a great dealer, but I think there are probably around a million folks who have been blessed with reliable Maximas.
End of rant.
Having owned every generation but the first (and a gal with a 1st gen was part of my car pool from '82 to '84), I have driven almost a million miles in Maximas, most with heavy commuting in Atlanta traffic, and all were better than average in reliability.
But the Maximas of today have infinitely more features and parts than those more simple ones of bygone days. A double panoramic roof would have been unthinkable thirty years ago. The same with electronic stability control. Even ABS was still under development then.
And yet, even with the vastly increased complexity of today's Maxima over the earlier generations, I am finding more reliability. My all-time favorite Maxima was the 1985 model year. But, as far as performance and reliability, my 5th, 6th and 7th generations have been the best for me.
My '09 is an absolutely perfect car. I have the premium and tech packages - tons of things that could go wrong. And yet every single detail of every single feature is working absolutely perfectly. I am still on the original RS-A tires at 45K, have never had to balance or align, yet the car is very smooth at speeds the mod won't allow posted here. I began driving in the 1940s, and have owned tons of vehicles, but never anything as perfect as this '09 Maxima.
Of course, one vehicle being very good or very bad proves nothing. But Consumer Reports sends out comprehensive vehicle evaluation forms to all subscribers, and compiles data from thousands of Maxima owners, and that large body of Maxima owners tells us that, compared to all other vehicles, the Maxima is absolutely a reliable vehicle.
My '09 also zips from zero to sixty in around six seconds, has a very tight turning radius, and, with 37 psi in the tires, can turn on a dime. There are cars that are quicker off the line, but something I don't see posted very often is the quickness with which this 7th gen CVT driven Maxima can go from 40 MPH to 80 MPH. I have never had a car any better at that specific function, and that is vastly more important to me than zero to sixty.
Considering the styling, features and luxury that are also on this car, and the price I paid, I don't think I could have done any better.
I understand there are those who are more interested in a track car than a sporty family sedan. And I also understand that there are those who are still stuck in the days of manuals. Yes, manuals were a ton of fun when there were 50 million vehicles in this country.
But there are now around 250 million vehicles, and only limited road improvement. A manual is now growingly useless in the gridlock that is spreading around the country. Time passes, and things change. We either change with the times, or are eventually left behind.
I understand there are those unfortunate souls who had troubles with their Maximas, and I sympathize with them. But, unlike some, I have always had dependable service from my Maximas, and my dealer has always been responsive to my every whim. I am probably just lucky having a great dealer, but I think there are probably around a million folks who have been blessed with reliable Maximas.
End of rant.
The 7th gen Maxima is actually selling better, now that the recession is fading. A few years ago, I didn't see very many around where I live. But now, I see them everywhere I go. Folks were mostly into high MPG cars during the dark days.
Ghosn told us back in 2002 that the Maxima would be moving upscale and become Nissan's flagship sedan. It has become exactly that. It will never go back to the role of the original Maxima, which was an affordable sporty 4DSC that was a great buy for the money. Like it or not, that slot is now filled by the Altima 3.5.
The 8th gen Maxima will be slightly more expensive than the 7th gen for the simple reason that the cost of everything Nissan uses to build the car is going up. Those concerned with the Altima taking the Maxima's business have clearly not driven both cars with a totally open mind. The entire looks, feel and ambiance of the Maxima surpasses that of the Altima.
Another reason the 8th gen will cost slightly more is because it will have many of the new safety features that did not exist when the 7th gen was being designed back in 2006.
I suspect we will have a base 8th gen for around $33K and a top of the line version for around $42K. When the NISMO version arrives next year, I suspect it will range from around $45K to around $48K. Those prices may sound a little steep, but we must remember that Nissan gives more discounts than almost any car manufacturer. Once the 'newness' of the 8th gen has passed (will take a few months), then $5K or more discounts can be had by those who are willing to patiently negotiate.
Those feeling the 8th gen Maxima is a 'make or break' thing for Nissan are missing the slotting of the Maxima in Nissan's current lineup. It is not intended to be Nissan's mass-produced money maker. It is intended for those customers who are willing to pay more than they would for a Camry or Accord or Altima in order to have a more luxurious, stylish and generally impressive vehicle.
And I will guarantee the 8th gen Maxima will sell. Not as much to us fans of the Maximas of the 1980s and 1990s, but to a more upscale audience with a little more money available, and who see the newer Maximas as practically a luxury vehicle with advanced styling, but which can be had at a price between $5K and $15K less than most other luxury vehicles, primarily because most dealers of luxury vehicles do not generally give big discounts.
Those who have read and listened and watched carefully this past year already know almost exactly what the 8th gen will look like, and how it will be equipped. It will be the perfect vehicle for me, but I know it will not please some of those still expecting the Maxima to be what it was fifteen to thirty years ago. That is just the way it is.
Ghosn told us back in 2002 that the Maxima would be moving upscale and become Nissan's flagship sedan. It has become exactly that. It will never go back to the role of the original Maxima, which was an affordable sporty 4DSC that was a great buy for the money. Like it or not, that slot is now filled by the Altima 3.5.
The 8th gen Maxima will be slightly more expensive than the 7th gen for the simple reason that the cost of everything Nissan uses to build the car is going up. Those concerned with the Altima taking the Maxima's business have clearly not driven both cars with a totally open mind. The entire looks, feel and ambiance of the Maxima surpasses that of the Altima.
Another reason the 8th gen will cost slightly more is because it will have many of the new safety features that did not exist when the 7th gen was being designed back in 2006.
I suspect we will have a base 8th gen for around $33K and a top of the line version for around $42K. When the NISMO version arrives next year, I suspect it will range from around $45K to around $48K. Those prices may sound a little steep, but we must remember that Nissan gives more discounts than almost any car manufacturer. Once the 'newness' of the 8th gen has passed (will take a few months), then $5K or more discounts can be had by those who are willing to patiently negotiate.
Those feeling the 8th gen Maxima is a 'make or break' thing for Nissan are missing the slotting of the Maxima in Nissan's current lineup. It is not intended to be Nissan's mass-produced money maker. It is intended for those customers who are willing to pay more than they would for a Camry or Accord or Altima in order to have a more luxurious, stylish and generally impressive vehicle.
And I will guarantee the 8th gen Maxima will sell. Not as much to us fans of the Maximas of the 1980s and 1990s, but to a more upscale audience with a little more money available, and who see the newer Maximas as practically a luxury vehicle with advanced styling, but which can be had at a price between $5K and $15K less than most other luxury vehicles, primarily because most dealers of luxury vehicles do not generally give big discounts.
Those who have read and listened and watched carefully this past year already know almost exactly what the 8th gen will look like, and how it will be equipped. It will be the perfect vehicle for me, but I know it will not please some of those still expecting the Maxima to be what it was fifteen to thirty years ago. That is just the way it is.
The I30 was known as the Cefiro in Japan and several other countries, but was also known as the Maxima in several countries.
BUT
Actually, the I30 was simply the 4th generation U.S. Maxima which existed at that time, with front and rear modified and a little chrome added. When the I30 (which I test drove back around 1996) was parked right beside the 4th generation Maxima, the shape of the cabins was clearly the same. The engines were exactly the same also.
But the I30 was not suggestive of the future Maxima, as it was based on the existing 4th gen Maxima which actually arrived a year before the I30. This was to be expected, as the I30 and the 4th gen Maxima were both produced on the same assembly line at the same time at Oppama, Japan.
Nissan did not give their Infiniti line due dilligence until well after the turn of the millenium, and that is one reason Lexus and Acura took such a big early lead over Infiniti in the Japanese luxury brands.
BUT
Actually, the I30 was simply the 4th generation U.S. Maxima which existed at that time, with front and rear modified and a little chrome added. When the I30 (which I test drove back around 1996) was parked right beside the 4th generation Maxima, the shape of the cabins was clearly the same. The engines were exactly the same also.
But the I30 was not suggestive of the future Maxima, as it was based on the existing 4th gen Maxima which actually arrived a year before the I30. This was to be expected, as the I30 and the 4th gen Maxima were both produced on the same assembly line at the same time at Oppama, Japan.
Nissan did not give their Infiniti line due dilligence until well after the turn of the millenium, and that is one reason Lexus and Acura took such a big early lead over Infiniti in the Japanese luxury brands.
I am glad I am not the only one here excited about the 8th gen.
We would already have heard from Nissan had the 8th gen been arriving in August, so we can scratch an August release. If we hear nothing from Nissan by the end of this month, then there will probably be no September release.
I think we will probably be hearing something from Nissan within the next four weeks, with the release date probably set in late September or early October. A release date later than October would not bode well for first model year sales, as the production line would be changing from 2015 models to 2016 models about a year from now, and car sales are usually dismal during the winter months.
We would already have heard from Nissan had the 8th gen been arriving in August, so we can scratch an August release. If we hear nothing from Nissan by the end of this month, then there will probably be no September release.
I think we will probably be hearing something from Nissan within the next four weeks, with the release date probably set in late September or early October. A release date later than October would not bode well for first model year sales, as the production line would be changing from 2015 models to 2016 models about a year from now, and car sales are usually dismal during the winter months.
I agree completely.
When I glimpsed Nissan's Sport Sedan Concept that first appeared on the internet last August, I thought it was a really radically styled vehicle. I was immediately excited.
But eleven months of studying views from all angles of that Sport Sedan Concept leaves me wondering how they will be able to translate that very radical concept to a vehicle that would survive on the decrepid roadways we now have across the country.
The ground clearance must be raised from the concept version. Will the fenders be able to actually slightly circle in (enclose) around the bottom half of the tires like they do in the concept? I don't think so, as the tires must have freedom to move up and down vertically as we fly across dips and bumps. Having a good turning circle (must be under 40 feet) may be tricky with the way those tall tires fill the wheel wells. Those double panel roofs can be very difficult to get right, and the 8th gen roof must be completely redesigned from the 7th gen.
And that list does not include the redesigned CVT, which was having problems in the 3.5 Altima. I am sure the 8th gen Maxima will have most of the latest driving aids such as lane departure warnings, cameras that show everything around the car, distance-sensitive speed control, and probably both front seats individually air conditioned. And those probably only scratch the surface.
This will be Nissan's flagship, and Nissan knows it must be right.
I noticed that the release of the changes for each Nissan 2015 model listed enhancements for each vehicle, even for those not having a new generation arrive. But the Maxima listed NO new enhancements, saying only that the same 2014 Maxima would CONTINUE INTO (NOT THROUGH) the 2015 model year.
THAT TELLS US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW.
The last three times Nissan used similar wording for the Maxima (model years prior to gens 5, 6 and 7), the new generation arrived the FIRST HALF of the following year, labeled as the NEXT YEAR'S model. Unless something changes, the 8th gen will arrive between March and June of 2015 as the 2016 Maxima.
If that is true, Nissan will be showing the 2016 Maxima at this winter's auto shows, and the excitement will be building as Nissan begins advertising the 8th gen leading up to the official release.
I have bought the first model year of Maxima generations #2 through #7, and have always gotten a very reliable vehicle. I will be doing that again next spring. I am very excited about this 8th gen.
When I glimpsed Nissan's Sport Sedan Concept that first appeared on the internet last August, I thought it was a really radically styled vehicle. I was immediately excited.
But eleven months of studying views from all angles of that Sport Sedan Concept leaves me wondering how they will be able to translate that very radical concept to a vehicle that would survive on the decrepid roadways we now have across the country.
The ground clearance must be raised from the concept version. Will the fenders be able to actually slightly circle in (enclose) around the bottom half of the tires like they do in the concept? I don't think so, as the tires must have freedom to move up and down vertically as we fly across dips and bumps. Having a good turning circle (must be under 40 feet) may be tricky with the way those tall tires fill the wheel wells. Those double panel roofs can be very difficult to get right, and the 8th gen roof must be completely redesigned from the 7th gen.
And that list does not include the redesigned CVT, which was having problems in the 3.5 Altima. I am sure the 8th gen Maxima will have most of the latest driving aids such as lane departure warnings, cameras that show everything around the car, distance-sensitive speed control, and probably both front seats individually air conditioned. And those probably only scratch the surface.
This will be Nissan's flagship, and Nissan knows it must be right.
I noticed that the release of the changes for each Nissan 2015 model listed enhancements for each vehicle, even for those not having a new generation arrive. But the Maxima listed NO new enhancements, saying only that the same 2014 Maxima would CONTINUE INTO (NOT THROUGH) the 2015 model year.
THAT TELLS US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW.
The last three times Nissan used similar wording for the Maxima (model years prior to gens 5, 6 and 7), the new generation arrived the FIRST HALF of the following year, labeled as the NEXT YEAR'S model. Unless something changes, the 8th gen will arrive between March and June of 2015 as the 2016 Maxima.
If that is true, Nissan will be showing the 2016 Maxima at this winter's auto shows, and the excitement will be building as Nissan begins advertising the 8th gen leading up to the official release.
I have bought the first model year of Maxima generations #2 through #7, and have always gotten a very reliable vehicle. I will be doing that again next spring. I am very excited about this 8th gen.
Nissan has always been very good at keeping new Maxima generations undercover until THEY decide to reveal things. But this is one generation change where anyone keeping up closely with the Maxima can pretty much know what is coming.
The concept sporty sedan that appeared last August, and was presented at the Detroit Auto Show in December, gives us the general styling, and we know the upscale versions of the 8th gen Maxima will have all the modern electronics and safety features now available on upscale cars.
I will be opting for the premium package (or whatever it may be called on the 8th gen) because I must have a heated steering wheel for my ancient, gnarley hands, love the double-panel roof, rear window screen, leather, deluxe Bose, heated outside mirrors with directional signals and reverse tilt-down, HID headlamps, etc.
My big decision will be color choice. In this middle Georgia climate, the only current exterior colors I would consider are white or silver, and the interior color must also be light.
If the exterior silver is still only available with charcoal interior on the 8th gen, then my exterior color will again be white, and my interior color will again be cafe latte. I don't know why the exterior silver color cannot be had with a gray/silver interior. I have had that combo on several Maximas in the past.
I expect the molds, stamping machines, tools, etc required to build the 8th gen Maxima are either already in place, or nearly so. There is a lead time necessary in order to have early versions of the new generation ready for road testing in California, Phoenix and Nashville (camoflaged, of course), and for display at auto shows.
I expect Nissan will be building maybe a dozen 8th gens a day in January, in order to do a lot of final testing before full production begins, probably in February. Depending on how things go, Nissan might have several thousand 8th gens (necessary in order to have a selection at most dealers) accumulated in storage on the back lot in Smyrna by either April or May, and a release date will then be determined, which will probably be in May or June.
At my age, I worry that I may be gone on to the happy hunting ground before the 8th gen arrives. Of course the wait does not seem long to folks my age, as time really flies when we get very old.
We can be assured that we will begin seeing spy photos later this year. Of course most of those early '8th gen spy' photos will actually be the Australian or Japanese or Chinese or European versions of older generation Maximas. We ALWAYS get lots of those here on the ORG.
The concept sporty sedan that appeared last August, and was presented at the Detroit Auto Show in December, gives us the general styling, and we know the upscale versions of the 8th gen Maxima will have all the modern electronics and safety features now available on upscale cars.
I will be opting for the premium package (or whatever it may be called on the 8th gen) because I must have a heated steering wheel for my ancient, gnarley hands, love the double-panel roof, rear window screen, leather, deluxe Bose, heated outside mirrors with directional signals and reverse tilt-down, HID headlamps, etc.
My big decision will be color choice. In this middle Georgia climate, the only current exterior colors I would consider are white or silver, and the interior color must also be light.
If the exterior silver is still only available with charcoal interior on the 8th gen, then my exterior color will again be white, and my interior color will again be cafe latte. I don't know why the exterior silver color cannot be had with a gray/silver interior. I have had that combo on several Maximas in the past.
I expect the molds, stamping machines, tools, etc required to build the 8th gen Maxima are either already in place, or nearly so. There is a lead time necessary in order to have early versions of the new generation ready for road testing in California, Phoenix and Nashville (camoflaged, of course), and for display at auto shows.
I expect Nissan will be building maybe a dozen 8th gens a day in January, in order to do a lot of final testing before full production begins, probably in February. Depending on how things go, Nissan might have several thousand 8th gens (necessary in order to have a selection at most dealers) accumulated in storage on the back lot in Smyrna by either April or May, and a release date will then be determined, which will probably be in May or June.
At my age, I worry that I may be gone on to the happy hunting ground before the 8th gen arrives. Of course the wait does not seem long to folks my age, as time really flies when we get very old.
We can be assured that we will begin seeing spy photos later this year. Of course most of those early '8th gen spy' photos will actually be the Australian or Japanese or Chinese or European versions of older generation Maximas. We ALWAYS get lots of those here on the ORG.
Not as soon as we might like. Nissan does everything in measured steps.
In either December or January (depending on which auto show Nissan decides to use), the first public presentation of the 8th generation Maxima will take place. It will have a strong similarity to the Nissan sport sedan concept first displayed on the web in August of 2013, then presented at the Detroit Auto Show in December of 2013, but will have noticable differences.
By late January, Nissan will be producing a dozen or so 8th gens each day on their Smyrna assembly line. Many of these will be used to complete the testing that will have begun this fall with camoflaged early versions of 8th gens in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Nashville.
By middle February, unless testing reveals needed fixes that require time to implement, Nissan will ramp up production of 8th gen Maximas to over a hundred per day, and begin building a large stockpile of them on one of their restricted back lots in Smyrna.
But there are a LOT of Nissan dealers. There are 28 Nissan dealers within a ninety minute drive of my home. So a large stockpile of 8th gens will be necessary in order to stock all dealers by official intro time. Heavy Nissan advertising of the 8th gen Maxima will probably begin in early spring. The official release date will surely be between March and July, but I am confident it will be between April and June.
Nissan usually leaves the specs of the current Maxima on their website until the official release date of the new generation. But there will be lots of coverage online by auto e-mags, so we will know a lot about the new Maxima before Nissan posts the full specs online.
That seems like a long way off, but time passes quickly, especially for octogenarians such as me, and we will be test driving the 8th gens in less than a year. In fact, some of us will OWN 8th gen Maximas by this time next year.
In either December or January (depending on which auto show Nissan decides to use), the first public presentation of the 8th generation Maxima will take place. It will have a strong similarity to the Nissan sport sedan concept first displayed on the web in August of 2013, then presented at the Detroit Auto Show in December of 2013, but will have noticable differences.
By late January, Nissan will be producing a dozen or so 8th gens each day on their Smyrna assembly line. Many of these will be used to complete the testing that will have begun this fall with camoflaged early versions of 8th gens in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Nashville.
By middle February, unless testing reveals needed fixes that require time to implement, Nissan will ramp up production of 8th gen Maximas to over a hundred per day, and begin building a large stockpile of them on one of their restricted back lots in Smyrna.
But there are a LOT of Nissan dealers. There are 28 Nissan dealers within a ninety minute drive of my home. So a large stockpile of 8th gens will be necessary in order to stock all dealers by official intro time. Heavy Nissan advertising of the 8th gen Maxima will probably begin in early spring. The official release date will surely be between March and July, but I am confident it will be between April and June.
Nissan usually leaves the specs of the current Maxima on their website until the official release date of the new generation. But there will be lots of coverage online by auto e-mags, so we will know a lot about the new Maxima before Nissan posts the full specs online.
That seems like a long way off, but time passes quickly, especially for octogenarians such as me, and we will be test driving the 8th gens in less than a year. In fact, some of us will OWN 8th gen Maximas by this time next year.
Kia as a whole has overtaken some Nissan models for glitz, and a few Kia models have better reliability than a few Nissan models. But Kia has not passed the 7th gen Maxima for styling or build quality at a Maxima price.
Had the new stronger Nissan CVT, intended to give the Maxima better time off the line and better performance at speeds above posted limits, had not had failures during its intro in the new Altima and Pathfinder, we would already have the 8th gen Maxima. Far better to wait and get it right.
Had the new stronger Nissan CVT, intended to give the Maxima better time off the line and better performance at speeds above posted limits, had not had failures during its intro in the new Altima and Pathfinder, we would already have the 8th gen Maxima. Far better to wait and get it right.
Nissan backed away from their intended 'fall release' last February, when it became clear that the new CVT being tested in the new generation Altimas and Pathfinders was having problems. By April, most here were resigned to seeing the 8th gen Maxima arrive neaxt year as the '2016 Maxima. I think this could happen any time between March and July, with May or June the most popular estimate on maxima.org.
I have tried twice to respond to this post, but each time, maxima.org timed me out and threw away my post. I will try yet again, but limit my post in brevity, and post every other sentence and simply edit in order to complete my response.
The Altima and Maxima are similar in size, but not even in the same ballpark in purpose, intended audience, appointments, etc. The Altima competes in the 'mass produced everyman's' category with the Camry and Accord, among others. The Maxima is clearly more exclusive, more expensive, is a near-luxury vehicle, has more advanced styling, and once the 8th gen is out, few folks here will remember what an Altima looks like.
The Altima MSRP is generally between $22K and $31K, while the Maxima MSRP is generally between $32K and $41K. Those are totally different classes of vehicles. I suspect the 8th gen Maxima will raise that range to around $33K to $43K, getting even further from the Altima window. Totally different target audiences.
Yes, I can see why some would think the Altima might be carrying Nissan's flagship banner while we await the 8th gen Maxima. But that would be only the 4 door sedan flagship banner, because, until the 8th gen Maxima arrives, I would probably consider the Z to be the overall Nissan flagship.
The Altima and Maxima are similar in size, but not even in the same ballpark in purpose, intended audience, appointments, etc. The Altima competes in the 'mass produced everyman's' category with the Camry and Accord, among others. The Maxima is clearly more exclusive, more expensive, is a near-luxury vehicle, has more advanced styling, and once the 8th gen is out, few folks here will remember what an Altima looks like.
The Altima MSRP is generally between $22K and $31K, while the Maxima MSRP is generally between $32K and $41K. Those are totally different classes of vehicles. I suspect the 8th gen Maxima will raise that range to around $33K to $43K, getting even further from the Altima window. Totally different target audiences.
Yes, I can see why some would think the Altima might be carrying Nissan's flagship banner while we await the 8th gen Maxima. But that would be only the 4 door sedan flagship banner, because, until the 8th gen Maxima arrives, I would probably consider the Z to be the overall Nissan flagship.
Fortunately, that is not the case in many places. The delay in releasing the 8th gen Maxima has resulted in dealers letting 7th gen Maximas go for really affordable prices, so I am seeing three times as many 7th gen Maximas on the road as I did just two years ago.
That tells me that, given remotely close pricing, buyers are stretching their budget and opting for the Maxima, even though it is now an old design. While the new Altima is very modern, it is not a ground-breaking design - just sort of like a lot of other cars on the road.
By contrast, the Italianate grille, coke-bottle shaped, low hooded, athletically-haunched and sleekly styled Maxima is still a head-turner around where I live.
Ghosn made it very clear back in 2002 that Nissan does not intend to sell a lot of Maximas. While they hope to sell as many Altimas as possible (at least 250K, hopefully 350K), they intend to keep Maxima production around 70K per year, and have it as their upscale flagship. And they are pretty much doing that.
Many of the most exotic vehicles on earth are smaller than the Altima. Size is not the primary factor when comparing vehicles. The Maxima is a more refined, more stylistic, more reliable and better appointed vehicle than the Altima.
Sales data tells us that only a small percentage of Altima buyers purchase the 3.5 engine, so the reality is that we are comparing a 2.5 liter modestly-priced, volume-produced family sedan with a near-luxury limited-production 3.5 liter well-equipped flagship. Those totally familiar with these two vehicles understand which is the pedestrian 'home-to-office-and-back' transportation and which is the true flagship.
That tells me that, given remotely close pricing, buyers are stretching their budget and opting for the Maxima, even though it is now an old design. While the new Altima is very modern, it is not a ground-breaking design - just sort of like a lot of other cars on the road.
By contrast, the Italianate grille, coke-bottle shaped, low hooded, athletically-haunched and sleekly styled Maxima is still a head-turner around where I live.
Ghosn made it very clear back in 2002 that Nissan does not intend to sell a lot of Maximas. While they hope to sell as many Altimas as possible (at least 250K, hopefully 350K), they intend to keep Maxima production around 70K per year, and have it as their upscale flagship. And they are pretty much doing that.
Many of the most exotic vehicles on earth are smaller than the Altima. Size is not the primary factor when comparing vehicles. The Maxima is a more refined, more stylistic, more reliable and better appointed vehicle than the Altima.
Sales data tells us that only a small percentage of Altima buyers purchase the 3.5 engine, so the reality is that we are comparing a 2.5 liter modestly-priced, volume-produced family sedan with a near-luxury limited-production 3.5 liter well-equipped flagship. Those totally familiar with these two vehicles understand which is the pedestrian 'home-to-office-and-back' transportation and which is the true flagship.
Chris - I think we are somewhat stuck in the past here.
In 2002, Ghosn announced that Nissan was taking the Maxima upscale toward luxury, and the 4DSC entry formerly filled by the Maxima would then be filled by the V6 manual version of the Altima. And with the 6th gen '04 Maxima, Nissan did exactly that. And that is the situation which you are describing. And you are correct that Nissan went astray with the Maxima at that time. The 6th gen was a very nice car, but not exactly a true Maxima as we had always known it.
THEN
Ghosn admitted in 2006 that Nissan had diverted the Maxima too far toward luxury with the 6th gen, and the V6 manual version of the very pedestrian Altima, although a very reliable and competent vehicle, was not the way to satisfy true Maxima fans.
SO
Nissan took the 7th gen Maxima back toward sporty. The 7th gen was clearly a totally different, much more agressive and stylish design and more sporty than the Altima of that time, and was clearly more upscale in appointments and price.
And that made things right, until the Altima was redesigned a year or two ago, and the planned Maxima redesign was delayed when the new Nissan CVT proved to have problems. That delay in release of the 8th gen Maxima has resulted in confusion in the minds of folks who are not aware of the cause of the delay of the 8th gen Maxima. Some are even wondering if Nissan may be dropping the Maxima.
BUT
Quite the opposite is true. Nissan has a dynamite design lined up for the 8th gen Maxima (very similar to the great concept car revealed at the Detroit Auto Show), but is holding off the release until they are sure they have a dependable CVT wiothout the sluggish off-the-line situation we had in the 7th gen Maxima.
Yes, you are correct that the current situation is not the best. But I have already said somewhere here that the release of the 8th gen Maxima next spring will erase all memory of the Altima from the minds of true Maxima fans. I still stand by that statement.
In 2002, Ghosn announced that Nissan was taking the Maxima upscale toward luxury, and the 4DSC entry formerly filled by the Maxima would then be filled by the V6 manual version of the Altima. And with the 6th gen '04 Maxima, Nissan did exactly that. And that is the situation which you are describing. And you are correct that Nissan went astray with the Maxima at that time. The 6th gen was a very nice car, but not exactly a true Maxima as we had always known it.
THEN
Ghosn admitted in 2006 that Nissan had diverted the Maxima too far toward luxury with the 6th gen, and the V6 manual version of the very pedestrian Altima, although a very reliable and competent vehicle, was not the way to satisfy true Maxima fans.
SO
Nissan took the 7th gen Maxima back toward sporty. The 7th gen was clearly a totally different, much more agressive and stylish design and more sporty than the Altima of that time, and was clearly more upscale in appointments and price.
And that made things right, until the Altima was redesigned a year or two ago, and the planned Maxima redesign was delayed when the new Nissan CVT proved to have problems. That delay in release of the 8th gen Maxima has resulted in confusion in the minds of folks who are not aware of the cause of the delay of the 8th gen Maxima. Some are even wondering if Nissan may be dropping the Maxima.
BUT
Quite the opposite is true. Nissan has a dynamite design lined up for the 8th gen Maxima (very similar to the great concept car revealed at the Detroit Auto Show), but is holding off the release until they are sure they have a dependable CVT wiothout the sluggish off-the-line situation we had in the 7th gen Maxima.
Yes, you are correct that the current situation is not the best. But I have already said somewhere here that the release of the 8th gen Maxima next spring will erase all memory of the Altima from the minds of true Maxima fans. I still stand by that statement.
I think the 2016 8th gen Maxima will look quite similar to that photo of Nissan's concept 4DSC, but I think they may not be correct with the 'in showrooms late next year' part. The 8th gen has already been delayed over a year because of the problem with Nissan's new CVT, hence 7th gen has become the longest-running generation in the history of the Maxima.
I think May or June might be a better estimate for arrival at dealer showrooms.
I think May or June might be a better estimate for arrival at dealer showrooms.
I just might have the utmost respect for you. A complete testament to accuracy, cordiality, insightfulness, and immense intelligence. You have done wonderfully on your end for many of your fellow members. I also problems with being logged out while typing, so I copy paste my text to avoid it.You have correctly summed up much of Nissan's development patterns and much of the planning for the 8th generation Maxima. It was scheduled for an autumn 2014 release, but this changed of course. Similar happened with the next Titan. Did you once work for Nissan, if you don't mind me asking? Most people do not know that current A35's final styling was frozen in 2006, but apparently you did. For the 8th generation it was over 22+ months ago.
In fact it goes like this for all of them.
First generation G910 development programme began in 1976, with styling finalised at the end of 1977. In late 1980, the 1981 Datsun 810 was launched.
PU11 (second generation) 1985 Maxima styling was frozen in January 1982, after being defined in 1981 and commencement of development in 1980. In July 1984, production started up for a fall 1984 launch. The PU11 facelift for MY1987 was frozen in 1985 an J30 styling proposal chosen.
For the 1989 J30 (3rd generation), styling was finalised in early 1986 shortly before U11 facelift that year. After 4 years of development since 1984, production began August 1988, with full launch in October 1988.
The A32 (fourth generation) programme that commenced in late 1988, was delayed from a late 1993 launch for MY1994, instead arriving in May 1994 as a 1995 model. Styling of that was defined as early as 1990 and frozen very early, in March 1991 ahead of February 1994 production. The Infiniti I30/Cefiro/QX design was final in late 1991 and model specific by early 1993.
That is partly why the J30 had a 6-year cycle, with a facelift in August/September 1991 for MY1992. By 1995, styling of the A32.5 (facelift) was frozen, with A33 development slowly starting up. Being a moderate redesign, the A33 had a shorter lead time. Styling was reached in Q3 1996 and final in Q2 1997, arriving in May 1999 for MY2000.
The first Maxima launched under Ghosn's NRP, the A34 programme began in 1999, with final styling (under Nakamura-san) at the end of 2000. It was unveiled in December 2002 and began production in January 2003 as a 2004 model. In 2005, the A34.5 (facelift) product package and styling was approved, now omitting a manual transmission and inclusion of a CVT. These changes arrived in 2006, for MY2007.
Parallel to launch of the A34.5 2006, was approval of the A35 final styling and product plan. A35 development began in 2004, with production starting in May 2008 for MY2009.
Prior to NRP, excessive Nissan had too many distinct platforms and excessively high development lead times in the 1990s, that partially led to its bankruptcy in 1999. The MY2002 L31 Altima was actually not designed under Ghosn like a few have suggested here, as its styling was mostly final by early 1999 (before he took over), later beginning production in August 2001 (NOT 2002).
Not to you necessarily (at all), but I advise that model years really should not be taken so literally (as seen in this thread). You are an excellent example of not doing that.
What many should know is, when a model facelift arrives on the market, the successor's design is usually being finalised parallel to that or less than one year after. As for the prototypes, you are right about that. The A36 prototypes have been tested on private grounds for awhile now, with the first set of daylight real world testing, being photographed. Night testing is also at times utilized to avoid photographers.
Aside from that, I must say that Nissan's focus should be to have the best FWD-based, non-luxury brand saloon in the US. I expect them to achieve that goal somewhat. In addition to what you've said previously, I hope the above proves informative enough for a Maxima timeline.
10-18-2014, 01:33 PM
#656
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6
Man I am with you on this. I think the poster above claiming to be from nissan is lying.
I say this because i believe the redesign is coming for 2014. Notice how silent nissan is.... If it was just a mini refresh we would have heard about it by now. But i think the 8th gen is already here. They wont release new altima, then make us wait 3 plus years for new maxima. I call bull.
Its more likely the redesign is for 2014 or 2015 at most. If not nissan is literally shooting themselves in the foot. I am sure im not the only one waiting. Im sure many of us have the money already saved up and just waiting to see. If its 2016. then good bye maxima Hello new q50
I say this because i believe the redesign is coming for 2014. Notice how silent nissan is.... If it was just a mini refresh we would have heard about it by now. But i think the 8th gen is already here. They wont release new altima, then make us wait 3 plus years for new maxima. I call bull.
Its more likely the redesign is for 2014 or 2015 at most. If not nissan is literally shooting themselves in the foot. I am sure im not the only one waiting. Im sure many of us have the money already saved up and just waiting to see. If its 2016. then good bye maxima Hello new q50
It's quite unfortunate that you thought this. How about giving someone the benefit of the doubt and mutual respect? Those of us that risk our jobs to provide you inside information, do not deserve this one iota. Nissan's finest wasn't a liar, but was insultingly and disgracefully treated like one.I call BS on Nissan's Finest. In fact, I feel stupid even replying to his/her comments. If Nissan revealed the all new, completely redesigned Maxima to employees in May 2013, do you guys really think that they would wait two full years to release it? That would be extremely dumb as far as business is concerned...waiting two years to release a finished product, especially in the automotive world where things constantly change. If the Maxima is debuting as a 2016 model, then it is not complete yet, as Nissan's Finest says. If if is complete, then it will debut at a 2014 auto show as a 2015 model.
The new 2015 Infiniti Q70L and QX80 designs were frozen 2 years ago in 2012 and were already highly functioning prototypes by the spring of 2013. Merely mid-cycle facelifts! Those just barely went on sale this October! The 2016 Infiniti Q30, 2016 Q40, 2016 QX30, and 2016 QX50 have all been frozen since 2012-Summer 2013. They all arrive to market over the next 15 months. The 2017 QX70 is a recent approval, as even the next Q60 (CV37) was in design clinics last summer across Europe and the US. you can see, whoever that individual was, he was telling the whole TRUTH and nothing but it.
The A36 Maxima is not on schedule for the 2015 model year and nissan's finest was indubitably correct. How unfortunate that one would accuse another person of lying, based on their own ignorance and then have it tacitly approved by others ganging up on the other party. For som peculiar reasons, owners of premium makes tend to be more aware of lead times for some. I would only hope that knowledge extends to Maxima and GT-R owners.
the man has a point.
To add - information is not secret in this day and age...if such a meeting / conference even existed I'm fairly certain it would have been leaked. Hell, they filmed Saddam's execution, I'm sure someone could have snapped a few pics of a damn car.
When I worked at Boeing, cell phones with cameras were prohibited in certain buildings but half the folks there still had 'em...including the buildings where the wings and rear fuselage for the F-22 Raptor were assembled
IJS, I'm now taking a skeptical eye to what Nissans_finest is saying...and you don't start a new account just to come into this thread and disappear...
To add - information is not secret in this day and age...if such a meeting / conference even existed I'm fairly certain it would have been leaked. Hell, they filmed Saddam's execution, I'm sure someone could have snapped a few pics of a damn car.
When I worked at Boeing, cell phones with cameras were prohibited in certain buildings but half the folks there still had 'em...including the buildings where the wings and rear fuselage for the F-22 Raptor were assembled
IJS, I'm now taking a skeptical eye to what Nissans_finest is saying...and you don't start a new account just to come into this thread and disappear...
Why would you agree with that, when it was clearly unwarranted and based on absurd levels of ignorance? Hopefully I'm misreading this.
I know THAT, sillybear. My point was that it could be the style of the new front end of the 8th gen. And you said the new max front end was GTR-and Altima love child...which to me this is...since we all know the front end of the redesigned Alti is just a softer 7th gen max front.
As usual, the tactic of those that can't think beyond their limited scopes of judgement. I can see the lack of credibility is strong with you.
seeing again how it's unconfirmed by any sources...you could easily be pulling it out your ass. The thing is, soemone who posts solely in this forum, solely in THIS THREAD claiming to have all sorts of Nissan knowledge about this new gen maxima doesn't really have credibility, taking things at face value.
It's just fishy.
edit -
And why oh why would Nissan not release a MY15? No other car manufacturer has, to my knowledge at least (I could be wrong) EVER skipped one MY and kept a MY longer than usual. Dodge left us with no Durango for several years, but that's becuase they were in ownership issues.
It's just fishy.
edit -
And why oh why would Nissan not release a MY15? No other car manufacturer has, to my knowledge at least (I could be wrong) EVER skipped one MY and kept a MY longer than usual. Dodge left us with no Durango for several years, but that's becuase they were in ownership issues.
An elongated US model year, ahead of a skip-year replacement has occurred numerous times. Just because things aren't to your knowledge, doesn't mean that they DON'T happen! If that was truly the case, it would probably be a very empty world.
That's true. 
Since you've actually seen this thing...and mentioned that there's no prohibition from talking about it, I see no issues with finding some of the spy pics / other pics that look like the new gen car and letting us know "the headlights are these" "the tails look like this"...etc etc. Since the pics of these other vehicles are on the public domain, you wouldn't get in trouble...
Since you've actually seen this thing...and mentioned that there's no prohibition from talking about it, I see no issues with finding some of the spy pics / other pics that look like the new gen car and letting us know "the headlights are these" "the tails look like this"...etc etc. Since the pics of these other vehicles are on the public domain, you wouldn't get in trouble...
It may silly on my part to be responding to old comments, but the absurdity of what's here is just baffling and pathetic, that I just had to sign up.
So this means that if you're lying, you have to deactivate your account and never post here again. LOL 
Bust seriously, we already have a good idea of what the Maxima is going to look like with the Ellure concept, and that it's supposed to take us unaware, but what about technology? Should we expect Infiniti technology? Maxima's competitors have AWD, Adaptive headlights and cruise control, Front heated and cooled seats, rear heated seats etc. Should we be assured that the Maxima will deliver more premium features than it does now?
Bust seriously, we already have a good idea of what the Maxima is going to look like with the Ellure concept, and that it's supposed to take us unaware, but what about technology? Should we expect Infiniti technology? Maxima's competitors have AWD, Adaptive headlights and cruise control, Front heated and cooled seats, rear heated seats etc. Should we be assured that the Maxima will deliver more premium features than it does now?
The Sport Sedan Concept was for the Maxima.
Well it actually does and quite greatly for doubting the validity of someone that gave you insight on future model, in which own a previous iteration.
10-18-2014, 02:23 PM
#657
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6
I'm not even sure what some of you are complaining about, as it resembles the Sport Sedan Concept quite closely. Certain aspects of sheet metal stamping can allow only so much for mass reproduction, unlike a one-off fibreglass show vehicle. Also, if seeming mundane, it's not as if it will be the only variant or trim level. Let's compare anyway:
Thank you for starting this thread in the first place, as I'm sure many of you feel the A36 is overdue. That's probably even an understatement! To be honest, I have to advise you that taking model years literally is not a good idea. American marketing departments and firms for automotive corporations mainly utilize them to create the illusion, that a vehicle is newer than it really is and also so that leftover inventory isn't "last year's model.
The sixth generation A34 Maxima was unveiled in December 2002 and went into production in January 2003 as a 2004 model. It did not come in 2004, by then the A34.5 facelift was being developed, as well as the 7th generation A35. You wouldn't say a few years from now, that the 8th generation Maxima came out in 2016 would you?
I mistakenly posted my timeline-related response to you, in my response to lightonthehill earlier.
This is pretty much the Maxima sales launch timeline:
Fall 1980: 1981 G910 Datsun 810
Fall 1982: 1983 Maxima 810.5 - facelift
September 1984: 1985 PU11 Nissan Maxima - redesign (FWD)
Fall 1986: 1987 PU11.5 Maxima - facelift
October 1988: 1989 J30 Maxima - redesign
September 1991: 1992 J30.5 Maxima - facelift
May 1994: 1995 A32 Maxima - redesign
October 1996: 1997 A32.5 Maxima - facelift
May 1999: 2000 A33 Maxima - heavy MMC
August 2001: 2002 A33.5 Maxima - refresh
February 2003: 2004 A34 Maxima - redesign
Fall 2006: 2007 A34.5 Maxima - facelift
June 2008: 2009 A35 Maxima -redesign
Fall 2011: 2012 A35.5 Maxima - facelift
Q2 2015: A36 Maxima - redesign
Hope that helps. Anyway, I have wedding to get to in a jiffy.
Time flies I was a senior in high school when the 6th gen came out in 2004. Even though they're known to be the troubled kid on the block but because the 6th gen is such a big car The Altima people know which one is in charge when they see it coming in other words there goes the larger bigger better car. Now its a sad situation with 7th gen Max all the Altima people are getting the notion that they are driving a large and and more in charge car.
The sixth generation A34 Maxima was unveiled in December 2002 and went into production in January 2003 as a 2004 model. It did not come in 2004, by then the A34.5 facelift was being developed, as well as the 7th generation A35. You wouldn't say a few years from now, that the 8th generation Maxima came out in 2016 would you?
I mistakenly posted my timeline-related response to you, in my response to lightonthehill earlier.
This is pretty much the Maxima sales launch timeline:
Fall 1980: 1981 G910 Datsun 810
Fall 1982: 1983 Maxima 810.5 - facelift
September 1984: 1985 PU11 Nissan Maxima - redesign (FWD)
Fall 1986: 1987 PU11.5 Maxima - facelift
October 1988: 1989 J30 Maxima - redesign
September 1991: 1992 J30.5 Maxima - facelift
May 1994: 1995 A32 Maxima - redesign
October 1996: 1997 A32.5 Maxima - facelift
May 1999: 2000 A33 Maxima - heavy MMC
August 2001: 2002 A33.5 Maxima - refresh
February 2003: 2004 A34 Maxima - redesign
Fall 2006: 2007 A34.5 Maxima - facelift
June 2008: 2009 A35 Maxima -redesign
Fall 2011: 2012 A35.5 Maxima - facelift
Q2 2015: A36 Maxima - redesign
Hope that helps. Anyway, I have wedding to get to in a jiffy.
10-18-2014, 02:27 PM
#658
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6
Personally, I have no reason to doubt any of the posters here. But calling out someone without concrete proof is just out of bounds.
Thanks to all who have provided their information and insights on the 8th gen. I'm excited about its launch and can't wait to see the next new Nissan flagship.
I've always liked the Maxima and the 7th gen is my first one. I hate that Nissan made the Altima and Sentra to look like Maxima offspring and really hope that the Maxima stands out so much that it won't even look like a Nissan. But, if they hit a homerun with this one, I'll have to be even more patient to wait until 2017-2018 to get one. I don't like being part of a mass beta-test group. Undoubtedly there will be some things that need to be worked out initially and when they do, I'll be the proud owner of an 8th gen Maxima!
Thanks to all who have provided their information and insights on the 8th gen. I'm excited about its launch and can't wait to see the next new Nissan flagship.
I've always liked the Maxima and the 7th gen is my first one. I hate that Nissan made the Altima and Sentra to look like Maxima offspring and really hope that the Maxima stands out so much that it won't even look like a Nissan. But, if they hit a homerun with this one, I'll have to be even more patient to wait until 2017-2018 to get one. I don't like being part of a mass beta-test group. Undoubtedly there will be some things that need to be worked out initially and when they do, I'll be the proud owner of an 8th gen Maxima!
10-18-2014, 08:27 PM
#659
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 255
?.....
This is pretty much the Maxima sales launch timeline:
Fall 1980: 1981 G910 Datsun 810
Fall 1982: 1983 Maxima 810.5 - facelift
September 1984: 1985 PU11 Nissan Maxima - redesign (FWD)
Fall 1986: 1987 PU11.5 Maxima - facelift
October 1988: 1989 J30 Maxima - redesign
September 1991: 1992 J30.5 Maxima - facelift
May 1994: 1995 A32 Maxima - redesign
October 1996: 1997 A32.5 Maxima - facelift
May 1999: 2000 A33 Maxima - heavy MMC
August 2001: 2002 A33.5 Maxima - refresh
February 2003: 2004 A34 Maxima - redesign
Fall 2006: 2007 A34.5 Maxima - facelift
June 2008: 2009 A35 Maxima -redesign
Fall 2011: 2012 A35.5 Maxima - facelift
Q2 2015: A36 Maxima - redesign
Hope that helps. Anyway, I have wedding to get to in a jiffy.
This is pretty much the Maxima sales launch timeline:
Fall 1980: 1981 G910 Datsun 810
Fall 1982: 1983 Maxima 810.5 - facelift
September 1984: 1985 PU11 Nissan Maxima - redesign (FWD)
Fall 1986: 1987 PU11.5 Maxima - facelift
October 1988: 1989 J30 Maxima - redesign
September 1991: 1992 J30.5 Maxima - facelift
May 1994: 1995 A32 Maxima - redesign
October 1996: 1997 A32.5 Maxima - facelift
May 1999: 2000 A33 Maxima - heavy MMC
August 2001: 2002 A33.5 Maxima - refresh
February 2003: 2004 A34 Maxima - redesign
Fall 2006: 2007 A34.5 Maxima - facelift
June 2008: 2009 A35 Maxima -redesign
Fall 2011: 2012 A35.5 Maxima - facelift
Q2 2015: A36 Maxima - redesign
Hope that helps. Anyway, I have wedding to get to in a jiffy.
10-19-2014, 05:35 AM
#661
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 671
Heck maybe the 8th gen will be better than expected it would be an injustice not to be because as I stated before i'd rather see the guys in this forum popping champagne bottles than be dissapointed by the outcome of this vehicle. The Maxima should be a powerful beautiful and refined driving machine and personally the last time I felt any real connection from this program was 11 years ago when I was a Junior in High School in 2003 from that point on its been on a steady decline.
Last edited by Chris Alexander; 10-19-2014 at 05:41 AM.
10-19-2014, 06:53 AM
#662
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 20
Heck maybe the 8th gen will be better than expected it would be an injustice not to be because as I stated before i'd rather see the guys in this forum popping champagne bottles than be dissapointed by the outcome of this vehicle. The Maxima should be a powerful beautiful and refined driving machine and personally the last time I felt any real connection from this program was 11 years ago when I was a Junior in High School in 2003 from that point on its been on a steady decline.
10-19-2014, 08:19 AM
#663
This looks like an altima and a kia optima had a bastard love child.
Pretty cool if they are offering AWD but for the fact that the car looks so bulky and heavy (to be fair this is the new norm), it really doesnt seem to be shaping up to be anything exciting. No manual option is also an obvious flaw but considering thats also the norm we cant really rag on nissan for that.
Overall it appears to be a step in the right direction - but from the limited info i have seen here it looks like it might be time to stop holding my breath and start the long wait for the 9th gen.
Pretty cool if they are offering AWD but for the fact that the car looks so bulky and heavy (to be fair this is the new norm), it really doesnt seem to be shaping up to be anything exciting. No manual option is also an obvious flaw but considering thats also the norm we cant really rag on nissan for that.
Overall it appears to be a step in the right direction - but from the limited info i have seen here it looks like it might be time to stop holding my breath and start the long wait for the 9th gen.
10-19-2014, 10:41 AM
#664
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 671
jpiarull You know what's funny dude as a 6th gen owner right now i'm probably at the end of my rope where as about a year ago despite the issues I was totally in love with my ride man now I barely drive it anymore it's been sitting in the garage for about a month it cut off on me the other day when I was leaving Wal Mart and since then i've felt different about it Cam sensors or something
the 07/08 they feel like a totally different car something about the feel more refined and smooth oh and way more reliable.
Far as the Nissan CEO I don't know if me saying this is gonna sit too well with people but it seems like since he came in things have been going South for this company Slamrod Yeah I think the 8th gen needs more curves it needs to be sleeker that's too much like a fatter Altima from the concepts.
the 07/08 they feel like a totally different car something about the feel more refined and smooth oh and way more reliable.
Far as the Nissan CEO I don't know if me saying this is gonna sit too well with people but it seems like since he came in things have been going South for this company Slamrod Yeah I think the 8th gen needs more curves it needs to be sleeker that's too much like a fatter Altima from the concepts.
10-19-2014, 09:33 PM
#666
Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 129
10-20-2014, 01:23 AM
#667
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: a meadow south of Atlanta
Posts: 8,143
Finally, we have a Maxima expert here on the org. Where have you been hiding out, jlr61? Did you move from California to Nashville when Nissan moved their North America Design team?
A few here are clearly not experienced at seeing through camo. I may have had a slight advantage by having worked as an image interpreter (photo interpreter who works with radar and infrared imagery) in military intelligence in the late 1950s and early 1960s. To equate this car to an Altima is doing exactly what the camo folks meant us to do. THat misconception is bolstered by the writing just underneath the bottom of the doors which tends to visually make itself part of the overall car and adding to the vertical bulk.
jlr61 is absolutely correct when he says this 'camo Altima' is actually a near duplicate of the Nissan Sport Sedan concept vehicle. I see very few differences. The tailpipe arrangement may be different, unless the tailpipes on the camo are fakes. The trunk opening/arrangement is different, and more practical. The wheels on the camo version appear to be 19", instead of the 22" shown on the concept vehicle. But that is good. 19" wheels are for sporty driving, while 22" wheels are for sporty showing. I hope those beautiful five 'V' double-spoke wheels are available on the production Maxima. The floating roof and very sculpted sides are clearly there under the camo.
I am now officially really excited about the 8th generation Maxima. I buy the first model year of every Maxima generation, no matter what. But this time, I will be waiting with my offer ready to send to my dealer's internet manager when the 8th gens begin arriving at dealers. I will even plan a few long road trips just for the exhileration of driving this beauty down the highway with a big smile on my face.
p.s. - In re-reading jlr61's posts, he asked me if I was associated with Nissan. I am not. My dealer might think otherwise, as I seem to always be hanging around his lot, checking out his Maximas and maintaining close friendships with the staff. They treat me like royalty, and I go there for all service, including scheduled maintenance and things like batteries and tires.
I keep up with problems and situations posted here on the org, and sometimes am able to help my service techs with problems they haven't yet seen.
I rode in little Datsun pickups in Japan back in the late 1950s and early 1960s and liked their practicality. I worked with a fellow who drove a Datsun 2000 convertible in the late 1960s, and really liked that car. The early 1970s Zs were ground-breaking in the U.S. I bought a 5 speed manual Datsun 200SX in 1978, and loved that car. My daughter loved it too, and took it away from me in 1984. I had been carpooling with a friend who drove a diesel 1982 Datsun Maxima, and I was really impressed with it. So I bought two 1985 Nissan Maximas (name changeover was in 1984), one for my wife and one for me, in October of 1984. I have owned nothing but Maximas for the last thirty years. They have served me wonderfully well, and I have loved every one of them.
I try to get to Smyrna between intro time and shipment to dealers of each new Maxima generation in order to tour the plant and try to catch a glimpse of the new gen Maxima. That is so exciting. When the new Maxima is appearing at the Atlanta Auto Show, I go at opening time, and spend the whole day just circling and looking at the newest Maxima. What a joyful experience!
A few here are clearly not experienced at seeing through camo. I may have had a slight advantage by having worked as an image interpreter (photo interpreter who works with radar and infrared imagery) in military intelligence in the late 1950s and early 1960s. To equate this car to an Altima is doing exactly what the camo folks meant us to do. THat misconception is bolstered by the writing just underneath the bottom of the doors which tends to visually make itself part of the overall car and adding to the vertical bulk.
jlr61 is absolutely correct when he says this 'camo Altima' is actually a near duplicate of the Nissan Sport Sedan concept vehicle. I see very few differences. The tailpipe arrangement may be different, unless the tailpipes on the camo are fakes. The trunk opening/arrangement is different, and more practical. The wheels on the camo version appear to be 19", instead of the 22" shown on the concept vehicle. But that is good. 19" wheels are for sporty driving, while 22" wheels are for sporty showing. I hope those beautiful five 'V' double-spoke wheels are available on the production Maxima. The floating roof and very sculpted sides are clearly there under the camo.
I am now officially really excited about the 8th generation Maxima. I buy the first model year of every Maxima generation, no matter what. But this time, I will be waiting with my offer ready to send to my dealer's internet manager when the 8th gens begin arriving at dealers. I will even plan a few long road trips just for the exhileration of driving this beauty down the highway with a big smile on my face.
p.s. - In re-reading jlr61's posts, he asked me if I was associated with Nissan. I am not. My dealer might think otherwise, as I seem to always be hanging around his lot, checking out his Maximas and maintaining close friendships with the staff. They treat me like royalty, and I go there for all service, including scheduled maintenance and things like batteries and tires.
I keep up with problems and situations posted here on the org, and sometimes am able to help my service techs with problems they haven't yet seen.
I rode in little Datsun pickups in Japan back in the late 1950s and early 1960s and liked their practicality. I worked with a fellow who drove a Datsun 2000 convertible in the late 1960s, and really liked that car. The early 1970s Zs were ground-breaking in the U.S. I bought a 5 speed manual Datsun 200SX in 1978, and loved that car. My daughter loved it too, and took it away from me in 1984. I had been carpooling with a friend who drove a diesel 1982 Datsun Maxima, and I was really impressed with it. So I bought two 1985 Nissan Maximas (name changeover was in 1984), one for my wife and one for me, in October of 1984. I have owned nothing but Maximas for the last thirty years. They have served me wonderfully well, and I have loved every one of them.
I try to get to Smyrna between intro time and shipment to dealers of each new Maxima generation in order to tour the plant and try to catch a glimpse of the new gen Maxima. That is so exciting. When the new Maxima is appearing at the Atlanta Auto Show, I go at opening time, and spend the whole day just circling and looking at the newest Maxima. What a joyful experience!
Last edited by lightonthehill; 10-20-2014 at 02:47 AM.
10-20-2014, 02:33 AM
#669
What those camos tell me is that Nissan is aiming squarley for the large size rental fleet vehicle market. You know, the Ford Taurus, Chevy Impala types. Hertz rent a car, here we come! Boooooooring. The mystique of the concept vehicle is just lost on me. I am un-enthused.
Nissan, why did you tease us so?
Nissan, why did you tease us so?
10-20-2014, 05:14 AM
#670
The car will look fine, its the ho-hum CVT that holds the car back.
Larger wheels of the concept & body matched grill (in place of that hidious chrome).
voila (now please offer a non CVT version!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Larger wheels of the concept & body matched grill (in place of that hidious chrome).
voila (now please offer a non CVT version!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
10-20-2014, 11:39 AM
#671
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 836
What many of you don't realize is that you have no idea what the final production version will look like. There is a reason that they camouflage the testers - so folks can't see what it actually looks like. there is so much more than tape - including foam and other kinds of padding. Remember - they are also trying to keep their competitors from "seeing" the styling.
I am disappointed that the 8th gen is taking so long, and am not yet committed to buying. But I am committed to waiting to see if it will be my 5th max in a row - or something else.
I am disappointed that the 8th gen is taking so long, and am not yet committed to buying. But I am committed to waiting to see if it will be my 5th max in a row - or something else.
10-20-2014, 12:16 PM
#672
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: a meadow south of Atlanta
Posts: 8,143
So many posts in this thread remind me of those theads that appeared with the intro of the 6th and 7th generations. So many did not like the looks. I suppose this is a matter of taste and preferences.
I drove a 6th generation for five years, and have driven a 7th generation for six years, and not only have enjoyed reliable, trouble-free transportation, but felt I was driving stylish, roomy, comfortable vehicles that offered something extra in the pride of ownership. I know I received many compliments on both.
As for the drive train, I feel Nissan is ahead of the curve. Yes, there are some fine automatic trannies out there, but government fuel requirements are continuing to rise. Once the CVT is perfected mechanically and programmed optimally, it will be the dominant tranny in most vehicles, as no shifting tranny will be quite as effficient. The CVT is already more efficient than most. And it is a smaller, lighter, less-complicated, less expensive tranny than these complex eight and nine speed automatics. It should tell us something that more and more manufacturers are converting to the CVT.
Truth be known, even though I always enjoyed manual trannies, and was happy with automatics, I have enjoyed this CVT tranny far more than I expected. Of course, to drive it optimally, we need to learn to drive all over again. Just pushing the accelerator is not the way a CVT should be driven. I keep one eye on the tach at all times. I supose it is the physicist in me, as well as the adventure of learning to drive in a different way, that allows me to enjoy the efficiency of the CVT.
I drove a 6th generation for five years, and have driven a 7th generation for six years, and not only have enjoyed reliable, trouble-free transportation, but felt I was driving stylish, roomy, comfortable vehicles that offered something extra in the pride of ownership. I know I received many compliments on both.
As for the drive train, I feel Nissan is ahead of the curve. Yes, there are some fine automatic trannies out there, but government fuel requirements are continuing to rise. Once the CVT is perfected mechanically and programmed optimally, it will be the dominant tranny in most vehicles, as no shifting tranny will be quite as effficient. The CVT is already more efficient than most. And it is a smaller, lighter, less-complicated, less expensive tranny than these complex eight and nine speed automatics. It should tell us something that more and more manufacturers are converting to the CVT.
Truth be known, even though I always enjoyed manual trannies, and was happy with automatics, I have enjoyed this CVT tranny far more than I expected. Of course, to drive it optimally, we need to learn to drive all over again. Just pushing the accelerator is not the way a CVT should be driven. I keep one eye on the tach at all times. I supose it is the physicist in me, as well as the adventure of learning to drive in a different way, that allows me to enjoy the efficiency of the CVT.
Last edited by lightonthehill; 10-20-2014 at 12:33 PM.
10-20-2014, 02:32 PM
#674
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Manhattan Beach, Ca / Dallas, Tx
Posts: 3,751
What those camos tell me is that Nissan is aiming squarley for the large size rental fleet vehicle market. You know, the Ford Taurus, Chevy Impala types. Hertz rent a car, here we come! Boooooooring. The mystique of the concept vehicle is just lost on me. I am un-enthused.
Nissan, why did you tease us so?
Nissan, why did you tease us so?
10-20-2014, 04:01 PM
#675
Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 129
10-20-2014, 05:05 PM
#676
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Manhattan Beach, Ca / Dallas, Tx
Posts: 3,751
10-20-2014, 06:06 PM
#677
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: a meadow south of Atlanta
Posts: 8,143
AWD has some advantages, especially in northern climates. But there are more disadvantages to AWD than I would care to take the time to list here. Unless someone specifically asks me do do just that.
10-21-2014, 01:09 AM
#679
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: a meadow south of Atlanta
Posts: 8,143
Yes, an AWD version would:
Make the car more expensive.
Add weight to the car.
Give more areas for problems to happen.
Reduce fuel efficiency.
Require regular checking of the fluid in the front differential.
Require regular changing of the fluid in the front differential.
Require regular checking of the fluid in the transfer case.
Require regular changing of the fluid in the transfer case.
Require regular checking of the electrical connections to the motor in the transfer case.
Require regular repacking of the electrical connections housing on the transfer case with dialectic grease.
Require that all four tires have the same outer diameter, which can be difficult in some cases. Some manufacturers suggest replacing all four tires if one tire fails and the other three have measurable wear on them.
The list goes on, but the reality is that AWD is seldom worth the trouble for those living in the south.
Last edited by lightonthehill; 10-21-2014 at 01:18 AM.
10-21-2014, 04:13 AM
#680
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central AR
Posts: 3,041
Here come the test mules.
I sure hope they stick with the original concept C-pillar design.
Somehow I think people are tired of Howard K. Darren's 1951 Kaiser Manhattan C-Pillar (Exhibit B) and rear door design.
Naturally Rambler had to run Howard's C-Pillar design into the ground during the 1950's.
BMW and others certainly didn't need to copy Howard's Rambler and Kaiser design in later years.
1955 BMW
Now we're starting to make progress and finally break away from a 60+ year old design..
I sure hope they stick with the original concept C-pillar design.
Somehow I think people are tired of Howard K. Darren's 1951 Kaiser Manhattan C-Pillar (Exhibit B) and rear door design.
Naturally Rambler had to run Howard's C-Pillar design into the ground during the 1950's.
BMW and others certainly didn't need to copy Howard's Rambler and Kaiser design in later years.
1955 BMW
Now we're starting to make progress and finally break away from a 60+ year old design..
Last edited by CS_AR; 10-21-2014 at 04:24 AM.