I posted that yesterday in a new thread.

 

Crash test video PUUULEEASSEE

 

reminds me of the Mazda 6

 

I like the rear end better than the front end, overall design is fresh, but I don't like the grill and boomerang headlights. The stands of the car is awful, mainly because it is front wheel drive so the overhang is too long.

 

I frequently ride in my daughter's 2015 Mazda 6, which she loves. There may be a styling cue that has some similarity, but the Mazda 6 and the 8th gen Maxima have nothing really in common. They are aimed at totally different audiences and totally different price ranges. The Maxima has well over 100 more HP than the most powerful Mazda 6 engine, a far more refined and attractive interior, and there are options and features on the Maxima that are not available at any price on the Mazda 6. 'Everyman's car' vs near-luxury.

I watched around seven test drives of the 8th gen Maxima and three test drives of the 2015 Mazda 6 online earlier this morning, and I did not really see any similarity between these two vehicles, except very briefly from one side view. Both are good vehicles that serve their purposes, which could not be much further apart.

 

The overhang looks greater than it actually is, depending on the viewing angle. The side begins to curve inward within one inch of the front wheel well lip, with a rounded front. The overhang in the center of the front is the same as most Maximas through the years, but the front corners are actually less-forward than previous Maximas.

The grill offers a great opportunity for mods. Some are going to paint the chrome bar black, while others are going to paint it to match the body color. For me, the new Camry grille, and the new high-level Lexus grilles are truly ugly, while this Maxima grill looks fine as it is on white and silver colored Maximas, and can be repainted on darker colors. I kinda like it.

Like you, I'm not wild about boomerrang headlights, but these sort of fit the styling of this car.

 

The 8th gen and Mazda are nothing alike, sedans in general will share styling cues just because they are both 4 doors, but that is where it stops.

 

The new Mazda 6 had a much better overall, visual design. Every exterior perspective on the car is a clean execution of design intent. However, it seems unfinished. Trim on that car is lacking. There's something *flat* about it, something dull.

On the other hand, the Maxima is over-designed (visually), with far too many elements integrated into the lines of the car than it can pull off successfully for a vehicle in that segment. It's like someone took the Mazda and pimped it.

Maxima interior is superior, no contest.

Maxima performance is superior, no contest.

 

If anyone is in the Denver area, there's a new Maxima at the Denver Auto Show.

 

Was told by Nissan friend they're supposedly getting at least one next month!

 

Went to NYIAS today and grabbed some pics. The front definitely looks a lot better in person, but the Nissan burger on the front looks freaking MASSIVE. It almost seems like they are trying to mimic Mercedes with that.

 

My dealer has three dealerships in three different towns. One is getting an 8th gen later this month, and the other two get theirs in early May. Seems the distribution is connected to how many Nissans each dealer has been selling.

 

02pearlmax - Thanks for the nice photos. Much appreciated.

Yes, the Nissan emblem in the grille is large. I am already weiging whether to leave it as is, paint it black, paint it to match the body color, etc. I have even thought of overlaying the word 'NISSAN' with the word 'MAXIMA' (would have to buy letters exactly the right size and put a base over the word NISSAN on which to lay the letters). That might give pause to those confused and tortured souls who assume every Nissan is an Altima.

 

Burger delete.
Custom grille fabrication.
Body color on that fugly chrome tooth.
Paint or wrap the rear diffuser area black.
Rear trunk de-badge on the lettering (keep the little burger).

 

Good list.

Because of the tooth, an aftermarket grill for this car would probably be a decent seller.

The chrome tooth does not look as bad on the silver Maxima (because it is almost the same color), and not too bad on the white. But it sure stands out on the dark colored cars. Some folks will like this, but folks more into the looks of their cars probably won't. Painting it black tends to make this already fairly large grille seem even larger, so your suggestion of painting it body color is probably the best option.

Painting or wrapping the rear diffuser black would slim down the appearance of this car from the rear. With this large rear bumper, that would be an improvement.

The letters used to spell 'PLATINUM' are smaller than the letters used to spell 'MAXIMA', and that bothers me a tad. I'm not sure whether to shave one of those words or both.

 

That Lexus inspired front grille design should have been re-thought. Or just toned down to make it understated.

 

I suspect that these are training vehicles and will not be for sale.

 

Totally agree, the trend started with Audi now Lexus makes it the ugliest front grill of all, whenever I see one, it always remind me how much it looks like Alien's mouth.

Nissan is also following the trend, too bold, you either hate it or love it.

 

But the Maxima looks WAY better with the black bar across the middle and the chrome V taking up some additional space. The Lexus is all just one large mesh grille and it looks like crap.

 

Since I was only invited to 'look' at them, I'm sure you are correct.

 

Don't forget the new Camry. That grille looks like a giant street-sweeping fly swatter. I am a little relieved that some vehicles have gone overboard with these gaping grilles, because they make the Maxima appear better than it otherwise might look. Painting/covering the Maxima grille bar with body-color might make the Maxima grille even better.

 

I agree!

 

Interestingly enough, I like the look of this from almost every angle, but this one... argh. Something about the rear half. Maybe in person I'll like it better.



Thanks for the pics, 02pearlmax.

 

I agree! The rear overhang looks massive, and makes the car look like it was stretched too much. But I had the same issue with the concept in this area. It will probably be better in person as you said.

 

The rear overhang isn't too bad in person IMO, but I think it looks 10x with the spoiler on (see photos of the black car).

 

Yes, I think the spoiler finishes off the back of the car!

 

I can't find myself to like the new Maxima. The styling of the car doesn't look good imo. Body lines don't flow and are reminiscent of a Mazda 6 and the blacked out c-pillar doesn't work. It's just too busy. Really like the sleek looks of the 7th gen Maxima and the 5th gen.

 

Agreed! The lexus grill needs something to break it up! I am a big fan of the front of the Maxima, best and most aggressive front on the Maxima so far.

 

The more I look at the car, the more I get it.

The design is sharp and very aggressive- a welcome sight, when compared to the more fluid/rounded shapes of late.

 

Yes, that is exactly how I felt when I saw it. The car is very athletic and aggressive looking. It's what made me fall in love with the 8th gen Maxima.

 

I have absolutely loved the styling of my 7th gen Maxima, with the Italian-style low grille, but this 8th gen front is nasty, and I mean in a good way. I may paint/cover the tooth the same color as the body, and may even replace the word 'NISSAN' in the grille logo with chrome letters that spell 'MAXIMA' (to help offset the fact the logo is too large), but, other than that, I feel the front is ready to roll.

Unlike some, I even like the aggressive sculpting on the sides, which is nicely offset by the very clean and simple rear.

I think my very favorable view of the 8th gen is probably somewhat influenced by the fact I am usually a very positive person, but I think we will find this car will sell better than some here expect.

Bring it on!

 

Co-worker of mine sent me this on her way home:



I missed seeing it by a couple days. I took her home a couple days ago, why couldn't it have been today!?!?

She said it looks incredibly sexy on the road and her first thoughts were sporty, sleek and hot. She knew I'd want to see it and I'm glad she sent it to me.

I find it interesting, it's got TN dealer plates...I sorta wonder how it got all the way here to Seattle.

 

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but if you look at the '2016 Nissan Maxima TECH REVIEW – WORLD PREMIERE' video on YouTube at 1:45, you will see a sensor that is integrated with the burger in front, possibly the Predictive Forward Collision Warning and/or the Forward Emergency Braking?

That may pose a challenge to modifying the nose.

 

 

^^ true dat

 

Nissan is based out of TN, hence the plate. That's probably one of the several cars across the country headed to dealers for training.

 

Really nice catch! Tell your friend that her wiper arms are looking sorta old. Once the springs weaken, just replacing the blades does not always give good wiping. Living in the Seattle area (aka 'Rain City'), she might want to check her wiper arms. Replacements are not that expensive. Good thing you pick friends who are adept with a camera/cameraphone.

So nice to see these 8th gens 'trucking' across the country. I'm thinking maybe late June for release to dealers? I hope? July at the latest? Please?

 

Yep. All Maximas have been assembled in Smyrna since they began making the first 6th gens in January of 2003. Smyrna is around 25 miles southeast of Nashville, only around 10 miles from the Nashville city limits. These early production cars are going all around the country, stopping at each Nissan dealer, usually only for a few hours, then on to the next dealer. They wash them every time they show even a hint of dirt. Yes, I would love the job of driving these new cars from dealer to dealer.

 

I'm not on utube. Or twitter. Or instagram. I don't even have a smartphone, or even a phone with any kind of camera. I simply saw the asteroid coming and scurried to the next continent, leaving the dinosaurs to their extinction. I would have found out about the sensor in the grille logo. My insurance agent would have told me about it once he figured out why I smashed into the vehicle in front of me.

Thanks for keeping me from having to call my insurance agent.

 

Big ones are in style right now.

It may become as popular as Kim Kardashian's.

Ha!