Recently, I had the pleasure of exchanging email with Professor Coates
( http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/hfe/faculty_7.php ).

During one email I asked him about his role in the design of the Maxima.

His reply might be of intrest to the org.

Reply:

Alex,

I did not have a direct hand in designing the Maxima--or any other
Nissan product. I worked behind the scenes as a consulting design
strategist, As part of that job, I would come up with vehicle
concepts and suggestions for their appearance. In the case of the
Maxima (a name which I did coin), they needed to increase vehicle
content, thus justifying a higher price for each car, because
Japanese manufacturers were imposing export limits in the wake of the
Arab Oil Embargo and plummeting sales of less efficient U.S. autos.
If they did not do this, Congress would have imposed limits. So I
suggested loading the largest car they sold in the U.S., then called
the 810 here (Bluebird in Japan), with every available accessory
(auto transmission, power windows, power locks, cast wheels, etc.,
etc.) and call it, accordingly, the Maxima. And so they did.

Del

Professor Coates also writes a column called "Design Matters" in
Sports Car International.

BTW, he's retired so he's not taking on any students in the college.

-----
Alex

 

That is pretty interesting actually. I like how cast wheels was an awesome feature back then.