thought about this when I read of the impending move from a 3.5 to the 3.7 in the Infiniti Products (EX35 for example will be an EX37 next year)
Will Nissan be moving our Maxima to the same? I wonder how 300+ HP will be with front wheel drive if thats the case?

Don't think it will happen. The Max resides quite nicely as Nissan's "flagship" car. It still has 20hp more than the V6 Altima, plus they don't want to get it too close to the G37 power wise. The CVT/FWD also limits increasing the power much more than where it's at now.

No telling what Nissan is going to do with the next generation Maxima. They've been very hush-hush about it. Normally you'll find leaked info or spy pictures, but I haven't come across anything yet.

300+ HP in a fwd sedan is kinda useless IMO. If they did use the 3.7 they would probably have to de-tune it.

Just reading were Chevy's new Impala will have a 3.6l 303hp v6 in its fwd platform. Point?

Marketing. And people will buy it and brag to their friends.

I want a zero gravity seat and so does lightonthehill.

Exactly...and the Max will still smoke it, both in style and power.

Just saying 315hp isn't such a stretch.

I don't expect to see any spy photos for at least 16 or 17 more months. We usually don't see them until the release is four to six months away, and the 8th gen Maxima should be arriving spring or early summer of 2014 as the 2015 model.

I would not be surprised if we began hearing rumors on technical aspects of the 8th gen as early as a year from now, especially if Nissan has any major technical changes up its sleeve.

Some thoughts: I don't think anyone believes the 8th gen Maxima will have any tranny other than the ever-improving CVT. I don't see the Maxima as being the type of car that warrants a hybrid. I would not be shocked at a smaller engine with a supercharger, but the 3.5 has such a good rep I think Nissan would be hesitant to change to a smaller supercharged engine. If one of the newer quiet, smokeless diesels from their Renault partnership were an option, I would be interested. But engine options are unlikely in what is now an upscale low-volume car such as the Maxima.

As usual, I suspect the styling of the 8th gen will be avant garde - ahead of its time, draw much criticism from some here, and from many owners of other makes, then will turn out to be a very popular and appealing style that will look better as the years go by. That seems to be the standard reaction to new gen Maximas the last decade or so.

But I ramble.

This is true, the 5th, 6th and 7th gens all pushed it with some daring/ different styling elements here and there.....its a love hate relationship thing. I still love the sporty front end look of the 97-99 SE 15 yrs later.

The 3.5 is still in the Murano, Quest, V6 Altima and Infiniti JX what do all these vehicles have in common, the 3.5 is transversely mounted

Exactly, Infiniti moving from the 3.5 to the 3.7 is only on vehicles with engines mounted in a longitudinal manor. The 3.5 that Infiniti is phasing out is related to the transversely mounted 3.5, but it's not the same engine.

I doubt Nissan will create a transverse mounted version of the 3.7. If I were to guess, Nissan might implement direct injection or down size and use forced induction.

Honestly, what will happen will not be known till some info is leaked and/or Nissan officially makes a statement.

Nissan is partnering with Daimler(Mercedes-Benz) to build 4cyl engines in Benzs and future Infinitis, who knows what that alliance will spawn later on.

I think you meant longitudinal, otherwise im confused

I can't wait to see the new G, its suppose to be very german inspired

kinda reminds me of a baby infiniti M than a a35 max.

They can't go much more with the Maxima HP. The most I would think is 300-305 HP. Don't think it will happen. Just the AWD won't happen. I wish though.

And still get smoked by a Max....

I agree to everything you stated Light except with the advent of 7th gen styling. To me and every one that stops me and tells me they love the shape and style the this car. I was about ready to pull the plug on the 6.5 but I was glad I didn't as this car has a certain style Nissan just got right. It seems to have a style relationship to the Z cars, and to me blows the socks off the G37 in looks. You may be right in the fact we don't know how the 8th gen will turn out. I'm in no rush as I still find myself mesmerized by this cars styling.
I think the Nissan broke new ground with this car. Lets just hope they don't drop the ball with the 8th Gen.

why? Why is 300+HP useless in a FWD sedan???

I coulda swore the end of the VQ was near??? Wasn't Nissan+MB making a new V6?

6 speed yes, CVT is where potential problems could happen.

I don't think Light was referring to it as not attractive, but has feature that causes some to say humm. Ex. 5th gen has those Crescent Moon tail lights that was shocking to some at the time, 6th Gen had the tooth grille that drew controversy, 7th gen has the boomerang headlights that some like others don't.

Couldn't agree with you more. I owned a 92 SE and still own our 03. After the 92, I was in no hurry to buy another Max and I said the exact thing about my 03. The styling on the 7th gen is finnally going back to the roots of the original Maxima IMO. The 94-99 were just ugly and the 04-08 were to big and fat imo.

Torque steer my friend.

It was 95-99...hehe, 94 was still the 3rd gen

Really....those of you that are modded..... should be at that point to the crank .

Hm, how right. I loved the 5th gen, but got dissuaded by its tail lights. Imo, it looked so common, and so unbefitting of a Max.

A person that has engine mods are more likely to know how to control the torque steer and/or have the proper tire setup to put the power to the ground. Also, trying to put all that power to the front wheels while the weight is being transferred to the opposite side of the car will only result in wheel spin. Also, a bigger engine, in most cases, means more weight. This car doesn't need any more weight over the front end. Car companies have to cater to the masses in order to make money. They don't care about the minority of people that want a high performance sedan.

You guys are going to love the remod versa..

Why does everyone assume a CVT cannot handle higher power? There is absolutley no evidence to support such a statement. Just google it...

CVT's were banned in F1 due to concerns of the richest teams flat out dominating with the technology.

CVT's have been used in heavy industry, combine harvesters, military tanks and other vehicles...

Just saying all these people that blindly state the tranny cannot handle more power is silly.

When I included the 7th gen in my broad statement, I was thinking back to summer and fall of 2008 and winter of 2009, when 2009 Maximas were not selling, and remarks here on this board were very mixed, with some folks panning the styling fairly harshly. I think it was around spring 2010 that it seemed most everyone here had moved over to the 'like' category on the 7th gen Maxima styling.

The new Impala is Chevrolet's reintroduction into the police cruiser category. The old Impala was acceptable but it wasn't selling comparable to the Fords and Dodges. That's the only reason you see these numbers. Trying to get into that market.

This statement is somewhat incorrect... the impala will most likely be integrated with government use but GM already made it clear that they have selected 2 vehicles for law enforcement and its the Caprice/Tahoe PPV due to ford phasing out the crown vic.

OK. You are correct. It is not a "reintroduction." It has been and remains a law enforcement package for GM.

http://www.gmfleet.com/police/#

I've noticed this with a lot of cars on different forums. I wonder if it's a psychological thing with not wanting to accept that your new car is now not so new so people tend to bash it.

Good, I thought I understood your comment correctly....and for some reason I was just floored by the 7th gens styling from the first time I saw one. From just seeing it a brochure to actually at the dealer or on the street. And from that point I knew I would be owning one at some time. I have had my 2010 for over two years and still find myself staring at it's unique styling....which has out there for almost 5 years now.

You and I saw the 7th gen Maxima styling as very appealing from the very beginning, and I must admit I was somewhat disappointed that early on, some of my friends (and several posters here) saw it as 'over the top', and some did not like it at all.

Somewhat strangely, my '09 did not draw a lot of attention (and almost no comments) the first year I owned it. But I have gotten many nice remarks from folks I did not even know in recent years. I even caught two folks standing and admiring it when I came out of the post office a few weeks ago. I know they were admiring it, because they told me so.

So this styling was an instant 'yes' for some folks, but only gradually came to be appreciated by others.

I'm convinced you are getting close to the truth. I think it is both that aspect, plus several of the harshest comments when the 7th gen came out were from owners of other make cars.

I thought the 2 working together was a give and take, Nissan is suppose to get some 4cylinder diesel engines for Europe, I don't know what Nissan is gonna provide MB but lets hope the VQ does not go away or get replaced by a MB V6, the E350 has has a slew of engine issues and replacement

No, Nissan/Renault agreed that they would build 4cycl engines for the upcoming C-Class in the Tennessee plant. In contrast Nissan will use the platform of the A-class to bring out a new Infiniti