There was an article on the Altima in Automotive news that had some info on the 2002 Maxima also.

Maxima to get boost:
"So what happens to the Maxima which for a while will be smaller and less powerful and come with a cheaper rear suspension than the new Altima?
It will get a horsepower boost to 260 this fall, Jed Connelly said(NA Nissan Senior VP). Kevin Lum, Nissan North America production planning manager, said the next Maxima due in January 2003, will be differentiated not so much by size but by upgraded interior finishings and suspension components."
The article also mentions that the Altima and Maxima will share the same platfrom, which means the Maxima will lose its unpopular torsion-beam rear suspension.

 

Where did u read this exactly?

 

I read it out of Automotive News. It is a weekly magazine published by crain. They also have a website. It is www.automotivenews.com ,which might have the whole article.