Hopefully we have another early 80s Mercedes-Benz diesel on our hands... those things last forever.

The M9R is the code (for now) for a family of diesel engines that include the 2.0l and the 3.0l. The Maxima is getting a 3.0l similar to the one in the Laguna (although the specs are going to be different) and not the 4-cyl from the X-Trail. The new Maxima/Laguna 3.0l engine is based on the original 2.0l M9R in use in vehicles like the X-Trail. This does not mean plans have changed for the US Maxima diesel powerplant. The 3.0l was specifically designed for worldwide use in the Maxima and its global variants.

If you comment in a thread please read all of the linked articles please.

update on auto and manual '09 Maxima Diesel

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/18/c...nd-em-maybe-e/

Info add on to maximadave post

"Motive is currently attending a drive event for the all-new Maxima (gas engine, of course) and our trip started with a elevator run-in with one of the Maxima's U.S. engineers. According to him, the Maxima diesel should come only in automatic form, although a manual option might still be in consideration. What a funny turn of events. And sorry to all the enthusiasts who might have put money down on a Maxima diesel this week. But don't worry, we're sure it'll still be fun. Stay tuned for our first drive story with the 290-hp gas-powered version coming next week."

http://www.motivemag.com/pub/news/De...tic-only.shtml

These rumors. Next week some auto blog site will say the max will have an sr version with the GTR powertrain.

Oh, well. As exciting as the manual diesel sounded (certainly had my attention), there is no question that the auto tranny diesel will sell far more cars.

I say that because 90% of American drivers are mentally concentrating on their never-ending cellphone calls (either hands-on or hands-off), and/or have XM or Sirius Radio or stereo going, and/or are chatting with other passengers in the car, and/or are juggling a hamburger in one hand and fries in the other. Most of those folks would not be making proper use of a manual under any circumstances. Add to that a growing percentage (maybe 80%?) of Americans these days do not even know how to drive a manual. Add to that the sad fact traffic is now in gridlock in ever-growing parts of the country. A manual is an excercise in futility in never-ending 10 MPH stop-and-go traffic.

There may still be the chance Nissan would consider a manual option with the diesel, if not in 2010, maybe as part of the 2011 half-generation redo. And at least the auto tranny diesel will bring in some of that contingent that is still not ready for the current rendition of tranny of the future (the CVT, of course).

diesel is smelly

plus more expensive, since I don't use premium fuel, it make even less sense.

I see someone here has not driven the newer diesels. The smelly, smoky, rattling of diesels in upscale passenger cars is a thing of the past. Also, diesel engines get better gas mileage, which makes up for diesel fuel costing as much as premium gas.