I work at Nissan as a service inventory specialist(lot boy) and they get all the upcoming info....the new altima in V6 form is going to run a 6.3 0-60 thats with its 5sp automatic. Thats Nissan's estimate so actually it might even be a little quicker. This means the new altima with fwd is actually gonna be able to beat the old 240hp M3 almost all the time because even with RWD it was a 6.1 0-60 that was with the 5spd manual. And most ppl cannot shift as fast as the ppl that actually review the cars. The maxima is gonna go virtually unchanged this upcoming year except for the 3.5 v6 engine being dropped in the bay in place of the 3.0 also the new altima will be bigger than the maxima! The news from Carlos Ghoshn(sp?) is that in upcoming years the maxima will be based on the same platform as the altima only it will have a bigger engine and more "luxorious" interior appointings.

 

The name is spelled Ghosn and is pronounced "goan".

 

what would be the point of the maxima then, if this is the case.

 

Do you know what the new Altima is going to cost? If it's less than tha Maxima then I'll be in line to buy one...

 

The Maxima will become larger, more luxurious, more expensive. It will compete with the Avalon. Drivers who like the present Maxima may gravitate toward the new muscular Altima.

 

This sux...i was looking to get a new maxima for graduation (college) and now the altima is going to be faster...AHHHHH..oh well maybe ill have to consider a s/c into the price!!

 

Nissan did the same thing with the Pathfinder / Xterra. Guess what, it worked. They are selling a lot of both of them. Speed may be a big issue (maybe the main one) with this site, but styling / size / status is what attracts the average joe. Actually, by having this new product, people will go to the showrooms to look. I bet some will walk out with Maximas instead of Altimas. BOTH CARS WILL SELL!

 

From what I heard at the New York Auto Show the new Altima should be priced less than the current Max.