09's exterior design Insperation
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 231
From: Hfx, N.S.
09's exterior design Insperation
I can not believe some of the inspiration for the exterior design of the maxima is based on my all time favorite plane. The SR -71 blackbird. That is one bad a$#@$ plane. Even today standards (designed inth 60's) it still looks mean 
.
I thought the look (especially around the hood )took styling ques from the infinity line. Who knew.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../1210/BUSINESS
. I thought the look (especially around the hood )took styling ques from the infinity line. Who knew.
Aerial inspiration
For a new Maxima that would not look quite so much like the better-selling Altima, Doug Wilson, design manager of Nissan North America, looked to the skies.
The new Maxima -- particularly its hood and front fenders -- drew inspiration from Lockheed Martin's SR-71 Blackbird spy plane.
First introduced in 1982, the Maxima evolved out of the Datsun 810 of the 1970s. But the Maxima lost its way and became too much like the Altima. The 2009 redesign was intended to return the Maxima to its historical roots.
"Our customers were having a hard time telling one from the other," Wilson said Tuesday night during a presentation at the Detroit section of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
His San Diego-based team's design won out over Japanese concepts that were well-received but not as close to the product plan.
Much of the engineering for the vehicle -- including the exterior, interior cockpit and safety features -- was done at Nissan's technical center in Farmington Hills.
Billed as a four-door sports car, the 2009 Maxima has a 3.5-liter, V6 engine with 290 horsepower and is built at Nissan's assembly plant in Smyrna, Tenn.
For a new Maxima that would not look quite so much like the better-selling Altima, Doug Wilson, design manager of Nissan North America, looked to the skies.
The new Maxima -- particularly its hood and front fenders -- drew inspiration from Lockheed Martin's SR-71 Blackbird spy plane.
First introduced in 1982, the Maxima evolved out of the Datsun 810 of the 1970s. But the Maxima lost its way and became too much like the Altima. The 2009 redesign was intended to return the Maxima to its historical roots.
"Our customers were having a hard time telling one from the other," Wilson said Tuesday night during a presentation at the Detroit section of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
His San Diego-based team's design won out over Japanese concepts that were well-received but not as close to the product plan.
Much of the engineering for the vehicle -- including the exterior, interior cockpit and safety features -- was done at Nissan's technical center in Farmington Hills.
Billed as a four-door sports car, the 2009 Maxima has a 3.5-liter, V6 engine with 290 horsepower and is built at Nissan's assembly plant in Smyrna, Tenn.
It looks like a 350Z? Uhh...no.
As far as the plane, I can actually see the inspiration, particularly in the hood which has a raised hump with recessed curves that extend to the side of the hump and bulge again at the fenders (much like the shape of the plane).
As far as the plane, I can actually see the inspiration, particularly in the hood which has a raised hump with recessed curves that extend to the side of the hump and bulge again at the fenders (much like the shape of the plane).
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,143
From: a meadow south of Atlanta
The Blackbird! An absolutely awesome plane! The Lockheed 'Skunk Works' (Kelly Johnson's project) designed and built this plane in less than a year. It was our response to the downing of a U2 over Russia (anyone remember Gary Francis Powers?). It was tested at an obscure military reservation in the California desert.
I was programming the weapons package for the Air Force's SAGE Air Defense System in the early 1960s (worked for System Development Corp in Santa Monica), and was sent to Eglin AFB in Florida to witness the Blackbird's first trip to Eastern U.S.
It arrived over the airfield, very black against the bright sky, spewing a white fuel trail, because the tank cap did not close after inflight refueling over Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. The plane touched down amid a shower of sparks (the pilot locked the brakes), and I was certain the fuel vapors would ignite. But the fire trucks were right there, and nothing bad happened.
Inspired by the Blackbird? I may have to buy TWO '09 Maximas!
I was programming the weapons package for the Air Force's SAGE Air Defense System in the early 1960s (worked for System Development Corp in Santa Monica), and was sent to Eglin AFB in Florida to witness the Blackbird's first trip to Eastern U.S.
It arrived over the airfield, very black against the bright sky, spewing a white fuel trail, because the tank cap did not close after inflight refueling over Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. The plane touched down amid a shower of sparks (the pilot locked the brakes), and I was certain the fuel vapors would ignite. But the fire trucks were right there, and nothing bad happened.
Inspired by the Blackbird? I may have to buy TWO '09 Maximas!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 951
It does have a 350Z inspired front in my opinion. Obviously not exactly but look t the two pictures on these two signatures above. I'm sure they looked at the Z front end because people love it (I'd have a 350Z if I didn't need the 4 doors).
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,143
From: a meadow south of Atlanta
Bronzie - The nose of the '09 Maxima is not totally Nissan's fault. Nissan understood back in '07 that a major downturn in the economy was afoot, so tried to save money by designing the Maxima body in a shape that could be sold world-wide. That meant it had to pass European muster (actually, laws), and that meant a fairly flat 'pedestrian-friendly' front shape.
But once we get past the flat front, the hood and side sculpting do indeed bring back stylistic cues from that stunningly marvelous Blackbird. I have finally convinced myself I actually like that massive front and grille. With that large broad grille and the the agressively-shaped headlamp assemblies, there is definitely somewhat of a 'get-out-of-my-way' effect.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 51
From: North NJ
The Blackbird! An absolutely awesome plane! The Lockheed 'Skunk Works' (Kelly Johnson's project) designed and built this plane in less than a year. It was our response to the downing of a U2 over Russia (anyone remember Gary Francis Powers?). It was tested at an obscure military reservation in the California desert.
I was programming the weapons package for the Air Force's SAGE Air Defense System in the early 1960s (worked for System Development Corp in Santa Monica), and was sent to Eglin AFB in Florida to witness the Blackbird's first trip to Eastern U.S.
It arrived over the airfield, very black against the bright sky, spewing a white fuel trail, because the tank cap did not close after inflight refueling over Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. The plane touched down amid a shower of sparks (the pilot locked the brakes), and I was certain the fuel vapors would ignite. But the fire trucks were right there, and nothing bad happened.
Inspired by the Blackbird? I may have to buy TWO '09 Maximas!
I was programming the weapons package for the Air Force's SAGE Air Defense System in the early 1960s (worked for System Development Corp in Santa Monica), and was sent to Eglin AFB in Florida to witness the Blackbird's first trip to Eastern U.S.
It arrived over the airfield, very black against the bright sky, spewing a white fuel trail, because the tank cap did not close after inflight refueling over Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. The plane touched down amid a shower of sparks (the pilot locked the brakes), and I was certain the fuel vapors would ignite. But the fire trucks were right there, and nothing bad happened.
Inspired by the Blackbird? I may have to buy TWO '09 Maximas!
"Francis Gary Powers" Go AF!
Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 113
From: South Florida
Remember the original Acura NSX
I can not believe some of the inspiration for the exterior design of the maxima is based on my all time favorite plane. The SR -71 blackbird. That is one bad a$#@$ plane. Even today standards (designed inth 60's) it still looks mean .
I thought the look (especially around the hood )took styling ques from the infinity line. Who knew.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../1210/BUSINESS
. I thought the look (especially around the hood )took styling ques from the infinity line. Who knew.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../1210/BUSINESS
Straight on, the hood reminds me of the old Acura NSX. But people frequently tell me they think mine is a Lexus.
Love my '09
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,013
From: Tampa, FL
if you had a direct, front on view, the "humps" in the hood of the 09 are similar to the "humps" of the engines and fuselage of the SR71.
Folks that don't see it probably never looked for "cloud shapes" with their kids! LOL
Folks that don't see it probably never looked for "cloud shapes" with their kids! LOL
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