Light On The Hill - Thank you for the nice write up. I've always been at amazed at Nissan/Infiniti market share in the Atlanta area. While I've never visited the ATL area, I see many interesting and sensibly priced Nissan/Infiniti products for sale on Craig's list. At some point, I hope to make a trip over to ATL to pick up a nice used Nissan or Infiniti product.

My first Datsun by Nissan was a (nearly new) 1979 280ZX. That car was by all accounts, the perfect car. I literally drove that Z car into the dirt. Many years later I bought a 91 Q45 from a friend. Next comes the three 4th gens. Once you get Nissan in your blood, it can stick with you for a while -- especially when you have excellent dealer support.

Well I can say the 2015, 2016 or even the 2020 won't look like this-


but more like this being this is the 2016 model with camouflage on-



It's rumored the 2015 will have an even 300 horse, cvt will live on because it's not going anywhere, and while the overall style looks changed to some degree I think the only real exterior change is the v grille and what looks to be a higher base height at wheels but lower roof or total height. Hard to tell.
A lot of whiners here, afraid of change. It's life. Manual is dead, cvt is the future. In a few years there will be major upgrades to cvts both from factory and aftermarket

You are clueless of what the cvt can handle for power, as am I. Much like being an agnostic I don't pretend to know something I don't. In a few years after cvt mods for power you will be right on the cvt bandwagon with the rest of us believers, or non-believers.

these look almost 100% identical

I think a more aggressive look will appeal to younger buyers.

Infiniti offers some great RWD platforms. If you've got to have RWD, Infiniti has something for you.

As for FWD, I see it as an extension of Nissan's new global platform.

I wonder how much the new Maxima platform will have in common with the new (read global platform) Infiniti Q30?

This could really be an exciting time for U.S. Nissan/Infiniti dealers.

Q30 US production will kick off in Decherd, TN in early 2016.

--------------------------- Can you see Mt. Fuji in the picture below?



Article:

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/infin...photo-3096249/

How about them test mules?

::

While we're waiting for the 8th gen I wish the 7th gen had updates for 2014-2015 If I had it my way a revised front and rear end 10 more horsepower.

The 2014s did get smoked tail lights lol

And were gonna get that 10hp in the new maxima....not too exciting really

Hardly clueless, due you know how long CVT's have been around and in the Max.....Its no spring chicken and not in the Max either. Its a known fact that they cannot handle boost of power like a traditional auto, DCT or manual, its just the nature of the beast. Go read though the 7th gen forums and 6th gens and you will see its limitations. I don't bandwagon on mechanical things because John and Jane like it, I like whats right and what fits me, good thing we have options!

I agree with MONTE 01&97 SE while these CVT's are known for sounding like racoons having a rap battle in a porta potty they are quite smooth.

Has anyone seen this video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkEPme_RaVs

Then we may have a new Altima that shares the new look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKHJBZpkzMw

I saw that first video last January, shortly after Nissan introduced that car (the Nissan sports sedan concept) at the Detroit Auto Show. I don't think anyone ever posted it here, probably because so many photos of that car were already posted here. Some of the photos from the interior of the concept looked different than those we saw here last winter. Or maybe I am forgetting what I saw on those interior shots.

I had never seen that Lannai footage before. I think you may be right that it could become an Altima at some point. Or a Rogue or Murano or some other Nissan product.

Thanks for sharing.

UPDATE: Some of the pics in the article below are new. A little less wrap for the test mule. The transmission information is encouraging. Ah ha! 7-speed like the z-car. Somebody must have taken a trip to Tennessee.

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/201...ek-inside.html



.

baha I knew it... Their CVT couldn't handle the power of the engine so they had to opt to auto

If a something like a JATCO JR710E lands in that car, think of what the performance AT builders will bring to market.

GTM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc5kpZXQJ28

Level 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_ptJ3i04WI

I like what I am starting to see Nissan! The aggressive lines look like they might still be there and the 7AT instead of the CVT is pulling me back in to the Maxima!

Are those kind of mods a good idea on a FWD 300 hp+ car? Nissan's probably going to load it with computers, traction control tools or somehow dumb down the car to deal with the torque steer, i.e. make it a manageable DD.

On another note. The Q30 coming out is basically a modified G37 with some tweaks isn't it?

What the heck is Nissan doing? Are they going to further UP the Maxima price or jack up the Q prices?

If they up the Maxima price it's going to get even closer to the entry luxury sedans like the BMW 3 & Mercedes C series. I hope the gen 8 has something to deal with this or it'll get its *** whopped.

In Canada
BMW 3 Series MSRP starts at $35,990.00 CAD (AWD or RWD or FWD)
Nissan Maxima MSRP starts at $38,680.00 CAD (FWD only)
Merecedes C series MSRP starts at $43,000.00 CAD (RWD)

On the other hand if they up the Q prices I think it could still hold its ground compared to other luxury sedans but buyers care more about brand image.

The Q30 will share the new Altima/Teana global FWD CVT platform.

The Q40 is built on the Skyline/G37 7-speed RWD platform. Now let's see if the new Maxima will share or introduce a new Q40/Skyline platform.

Remember the Maxima 4th gen hit the market as a 1995 model with the Infiniti I30 arriving as a 1996 model.

Since Nissan is naming cars after Q-Ships again, maybe some of the early 90s product logic will return.

Wow Nissan has really lost it ><.

Isn't there going to be another Q based on the G37 coupe too?

I don't think they have lost it. I think they are positioning for growth.

The Q60 coupe.

They should just axe the Maxima.............

Altima -> Q30 -> Q60

That would be like Chevrolet axing the Impala.

Imapala = fleet car now ......

I think we will know more in a few weeks -- after the 1st of the year.
But rest assured the Maxima will be a new car in 16.

+1. I never see people driving personal ones, they're always decked out in logos and are fleet/ courtesy cars.

7 speed auto? Nooo...

Im not a fan of these new autos with bunch of gears. I drove a new GM with 9 speed auto and its horrible. Car looking for right gear all the time, shifting constantly and weirdly.

Paddle shifters suck. No clutch = no care.

- 9 speed autos are terrible
- The 8 speed autos Lexus uses suck, but much better than 9AT
- 7 speed auto may be much better than the other two but still...it may even use dog clutches and work like a manual, but I worry about the shifting and reliability.

I'm not a fan of even the 6 speed on some of the cars coming out right now. I test drove the Hyundai Sonata, Ford Taurus and MAzda 6 recently and they all tried to get to the highest gear as quickly as possible. I felt the cars shifted excessively during city driving.

If you would like a Nissan 7AT shifting experience, I would go drive a NEW 370Z.

Why would anyone want to drive a Z with automatic.. its one of a few cars left that still comes with manual

I see.. I should have indicated TEST drive to see how bad or good the transmission shifts.

Here's an interesting article about Infiniti G37 sales numbers. I can see why they are renaming it to be the Q40 and keeping the product in the line. It sells..

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...sales-numbers/

It looks like more G cars are being sold than Z cars these days.

http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/01...s-figures.html

Does anyone remember the Nissan Leopard? The one I've seen looked like Z32 under the hood and 4-door body. People are known to install Z32 5MTs in their Leorpard or J30.

So far I like what I'm seeing. Hope the 7AT is true, because it is pretty awesome in the 370Z and that the rumored Nismo version is also an option!

^^ -- Now the NISMO version is starting to make sense IMHO.

Thats what I was thinking, as the CVT could not ever handle the Nismo upgrades, but the 7AT from the 370Z could definitely handle the job, as the 7AT is offered on the Nismo Z. Please don't disappoint us Nissan!

Looking like its going to be a "true" full size car this go around. It appears to be quite a bit larger than that 7th gen next to it.

Why are we all not considering the fact that the car could be in Drive Sport mode, with 6+ gears?

When I search on 2016 Skyline Coupe, this and other similar images appear. I understand the 370Z is long overdue for a restyling. Will the new Maxima be a 4-door version of this new Skyline?

That was the first thought that ran through my head as well when they said they heard it shifting.

even better question is why are we entertaining the fact the the 7 speed from the rwd 370z could even fit correctly into the fwd maxima? lol

It would be a new/different unit designed for FWD usage as the 7spd auto in the Z, Q50 are for RWD applications only.

Here's where I have a problem I finally get pushed to the limit with my 6th gen since I got a P420 code saying I need a new cataylic converter so this weekend I actually went to go try to trade it in and said I'm done with Nissan forever then soon as I utter those words I log in here and you guys are popping bottles about the 8th gen why do they wait til I check out to give it a 7speed Auto.