JD Power and Associates has identified the 2009 Nissan Altima as the “Highest Ranked Midsize Car in Initial Quality”.  The Initial Quality Study is designed to be a predictor of long-term durability and measures owner-reported problems that occur during the first 90 days of ownership. Responses from 80,930 new-vehicle owners were collected from February to May 2009 and spanned 245 models.  The 2009 Nissan Altima received the lowest number of problems per 100 vehicles among midsize cars. The JD Power study also gave the Altima the highest possible rating in Fuel Economy Range and high scores for seating capacity and horsepower.

The Altima has been rolling off the Nissan assembly line since 1993 and is proof that practice makes perfect.  Small wonder that Altima is Nissan’s best selling model and this is sure to continue with more standard equipment and color options than ever before. With four Altima coupe models to choose from and a selection of five sedan models, there appears to be something for everyone. Standard features across all Altima models include, power windows, locks and mirrors,  Intelligent Key, 60/40 split/fold rear seat, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, 16-inch wheels, and speed-sensitive variable intermittent windshield wipers.

Nissan offers a selection of optional packages for the 2009 Altima as well.  The technology package includes a navigation system with a 6.5-inch color monitor, backup camera and monitor, XM NavTraffic with active traffic information.  The convenience package includes alloy wheels, power driver’s seat auto on/off headlamps and steering wheel audio controls.  The premium package includes a Bose audio system, satellite radio, auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather seats, dual zone auto climate control and Bluetooth hands free phone system.

Beyond the proven durability and bounty of extra features, the 2009 Altima has also been proven to be one of the safest vehicles on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted crash tests on the 2009 Altima Hybrid Sedan and Altima Coupe.  The Hybrid received the agency’s highest rating of 5 stars for both frontal and side-impact testing. The Coupe received 4 stars in the frontal testing and 5 stars in the side-impact testing. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also conducted crash tests on the 2007-2009 Altima and awarded it the Institute’s highest score in frontal offset crash testing.

All and all the Nissan Altima is one great car for the money, durable, adaptable and safe.

We know a friend who owns a Nissan Murano equipped with a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) and before his purchase he was always a little concerned about the reliability of such a transmission. Several other vehicle manufacturers have made use of the CVT transmission in many of their models including most of the new hybrid vehicles you see on the road today. To make all of the customers of Nissans equipped with CVT transmissions, Nissan has decided to double the powertrain warranty coverage on the CVT transmission. That means anyone that owns a Nissan equipped with CVT transmission gets a new extended powertrain warranty for the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) to 10 years/120,000 miles (whichever occurs first) for CVT transmission repairs, replacement, and related towing on all 2003-2010 model year Nissan vehicles.

The current powertrain warranty covering other components in CVT equipped Nissans remains at the original 5 years/60,000 miles. The owners who had to dish out money for CVT related repairs or replacements will receive a reimbursement.

CVT Program Details

[source: Nissan]

Dear Nissan Owner:

On behalf of everyone at Nissan, we would like to thank you for choosing to drive a Nissan. One of the many technologically-advanced features of your vehicle is the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), an innovative transmission that offers smooth, seamless shifting, while tailoring the vehicle’s output to your driving style.

While Nissan is proud to offer this technology on many of our models, a small percentage of owners of early models equipped with CVTs have expressed concerns about the cost of repair of their transmissions after the warranty expires. We take these comments about the cost of vehicle ownership seriously. We strive to provide an exceptional ownership experience and are implementing a thorough Customer Satisfaction Program to address this topic.

First, to provide you with additional assurance regarding your overall cost of ownership we have doubled the warranty period for the Continuously Variable Transmission in your Nissan. The existing powertrain warranty coverage of 5 years/60,000 miles will be extended at no cost to you, for CVT repairs, replacements or related towing, to 10 years/120,000 miles, whichever comes first.

This extension is effective immediately and requires no action on your part. The remainder of your powertrain warranty coverage for components other than the transmission remains unchanged, at 5 years/60,000 miles, and your basic warranty coverage also remains unchanged. All other warranty terms, limitations and conditions otherwise apply. This extended transmission warranty is also fully transferable to future owners of your vehicle.

Second, Nissan will reimburse customers who have previously paid to repair or replace their CVT, if the repairs would have been covered within the new extended warranty period. Even if you no longer own your Nissan we will reimburse you for past CVT repairs that would have been covered under this extension of the warranty.

Further, in the unlikely event that your vehicle’s transmission should need repair beyond the extended warranty period we are working to decrease the cost of repair and have already reduced the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of a replacement CVT. In addition, we continuously strive to enhance our products, and have made ongoing improvements to our CVTs over the years.

Nissan is taking these actions to demonstrate our confidence in the CVT technology and to show our commitment to stand behind our products.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

If you have previously paid for repairs to your CVT within the time and mileage limits of this new extended warranty, we ask that you download the Reimbursement Claim Form and follow the instructions on the site. If you have additional questions, please contact the Nissan CVT Customer Assistance Center at 888-388-0318. Please be aware that the deadline for submitting the Reimbursement Claim Form is July 31, 2010.

The extended warranty coverage for CVT repair or replacement is effective immediately.

If you seek coverage for a repair under this extended warranty you will need to bring your vehicle to an authorized Nissan dealer. The factory-trained technical staff at the Nissan dealer will have the diagnostic tools and knowledge to provide you with the appropriate service and submit your warranty claim. If you have additional questions regarding this program, contact the Nissan CVT Customer Assistance Center at 888-388-0318 for assistance.

At Nissan we and our dealers work daily to deliver an outstanding ownership experience that will earn your confidence and trust. We are committed to doing the right thing for our customers and look forward to a long relationship that you find satisfying and rewarding. Thank you for choosing Nissan.

Sincerely,

Kevin Martin
Vice President Total Customer Satisfaction

Nissan’s newest Altima has moved onto the big league with its latest design, becoming one of Nissan’s work-horse vehicles with a long consistent history.

At a reasonable distance, it is hard to differentiate the new Nissan Altima from its “big sister”, the Nissan Maxima. Although they share many components, the Altima is still in a different class that could ultimately save you money while providing some of the same styling that makes the Nissan family such a remarkable brand.

The newest styling was introduced in 2006 and seems almost as innovative and refreshing as it did back in 1999. Moving in the right direction, Nissan has pumped the new Altima with several modernized gadgets that were commonly found years ago only on luxury cars.  A few of the things included now consist of the new key-less push-button ignition, Bluetooth, MP3 player, side airbags and the list goes on.

The Altima is sold in several trim levels including the base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder 2.5S test vehicle, hybrid and the upgraded V6 in 3.5 SE and 3.5 SL trims. Our test vehicle’s 2.5-liter engine was matted to the infamous CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) transmission that can be found in many other Nissan vehicles such as the Sentra, Maxima and Murano. The CTV is proven technology that offers a new level of fuel efficiency when compared to conventional automatic transmissions. The Altima 2.5S provides surprising power delivery from its 4-cylinder engine producing 175hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. With this type of setup you could keep up with many V6 cars on the highway while managing an average of 26 MPG. Basically, you can have your cake and eat it too.

Nissan’s interior has come a long way. Once criticized for the massive amount of cheap plastics, Nissan has upped the ante in the new Altima. The new Altima provides a somewhat decent interior with comfy seats, and the dash looks very appealing. Our 2.5S test vehicle had standard cloth seats which were surprisingly supportive when taking sharp turns. The rear 60/40 split fold-down seats provide ample room for three adults. It was not as noticeable to see where the hard plastics end and the lower padded portion began. Chrome accents are found throughout the interior adding a rich aesthetic to the over-all appeal of the new Altima. Such accents attempt to give you that luxury car feel.

The Nissan Altima was always noted for having more of a “sporty” feel than its competitors. Even when matched with the Toyota Camry 4-cyl, the Altima is able to hold its own and wear the Nissan badge proudly even if the sales come in third behind the Camry and Honda Accord.

The Nissan Altima remains to be a safe vehicle, or just as safe as any of its competitors. Although one gripe that I have about the new Altima 2.5S is that it’s missing ESC (Electronic Stability Control) as a standard feature. In past years Nissan has missed out on making some safety features standard. The out-going Altima did not even have standard ABS. This time it is ESC that is missing from the standard list while ABS, driver and passenger side mounted airbags, roof-mounted curtain airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system are all standard now. Even the Korean rivals such as Hyundai and Kia have implemented ESC as a standard feature.

With my one major gripe aside, I truly enjoyed driving the new 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5S. It is a reliable, economical, and relatively inexpensive form of transportation that you can comfortably make long distance trips in without too many worries.

Specifications

Price: MSRP $21,540 / As Tested $25,800
Type: Midsize Sedan
Where Built: United States
EPA Class: Midsize Cars

Dimensions

Exterior
Length: 189.8 in.
Width: 70.7 in.
Height: 57.9 in.
Wheel Base: 109.3 in.
Curb Weight: 3192 lbs.
Gross Weight: 4279 lbs.
Interior
Front Head Room: 40.6 in.
Front Hip Room: 56.8 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 55.7 in.
Rear Head Room: 36.8 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 55.5 in.
Rear Hip Room: 52.5 in.
Front Leg Room: 44.1 in.
Rear Leg Room: 35.8 in.
Luggage Capacity: 15.3 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5

Performance Data

Base Number of Cylinders: 4
Base Engine Size: 2.5 liters
Base Engine Type: Inline 4
Horsepower: 175 hp
Max Horsepower: 5600 rpm
Torque: 180 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 3900 rpm
Drive Type: FWD
Turning Circle: 36.1 ft.
0-60mph: 7.5 seconds

Fuel Data

Fuel Tank Capacity: 20 gal.
EPA Mileage Estimates: (City/Highway/Combined)
Automatic: 23 mpg / 31 mpg / 26 mpg
Range in Miles:
Automatic: 460 mi. / 620 mi. / 520 mi.

The Tuner Perspective: Reviewed- 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 S
-by Darryl Dowe, President Drivensport Performance

Supposedly “Z” inspired, the 2009 Altima is Nissan’s latest foray into the mid-sized sedan market. Offered in either the QR25DE  2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder or the venerable VQ35DE  3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6, the Altima boasts 175 hp and 270 hp respectively. A hybrid system based on the QR25DE powerplant is offered as well with a reported net power of 198 hp. The Front engine, front-wheel drive (FF) layout is standard fare for this category of fuel-sipping econo-box and the 6-speed manual or Continuously Variable Transmission round out the drivetrain options. 11.7″ Front vented disc/11.5″ rear disc brakes are standard, as well as independent front and rear suspension. Wheel and Tire options consist of 16″ x 7.0″ Steel /aluminum-alloy wheels or 17″ x 7.5″ aluminum-alloy wheels with P215/60/55TR16/17 All-season tires. Curb Weight ranges between 3,145 and 3,470 lbs in it’s heaviest  incarnation.

Stock, Mild or Wild?

In stock trim, the Altima neither seeks to exceed or excel, impress or offend but finds itself squarely seated in the realm of the average and the mediocre; average in this case is not necessarily bad (the Altima gets between 19-23 mpg city and 26-33 mpg hwy), in fact for most consumers the Altima is just what Dr. Pangloss ordered ” the best of all possible worlds”

MILD UPGRADES

Altima owners are not left totally out in the cold when it comes to performance mods. Basic bolt-ons abound as aestetics and performance go hand in hand.  Intakes, exhausts and body kits are already available for the newest addition to the Nissan stable of economy cars and some mods even claim to improve performance:

Takeda Short Ram Intake for the 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5L,  (Fits both Coupe and Sedan) boasts a +9HP / +11TQ increase over stock; a supposedly simple, quickly installed, bolt-on horsepower affair

MagnaFlow Cat-Back Performance Exhaust System. 2.5L, 2.25 inch. System, 4inch. Dual Polished Stainless Tips, Dual Rear Exit, Bolt on installation, no welding required, increase in horsepower & torque. Dual-exit Stainless Steel Axle-back System for the 2008-2009 Altima 2.5L I4 featuring 2.25″ tubing and 4″ double-wall polished stainless tips. Magnaflow’s Nissan Altima exhaust system features fast-flowing, mandrel-bent, stainless steel tubing, a Wide-Open, straight-through, stainless steel Magnaflow Performance muffler and a snappy-looking polished stainless steel tip.

GENUINE NISSAN ACCESSORIES

Want to make a statement without voiding your factory  warranty?  Try these Nissan blessed, NISMO genuine parts to add a little flair and style to your 2.5L Altima!

Rear Spoiler- Make your Altima extra sporty with an aeroydynamic Rear Spoiler. Custom designed to help enhance rear down-force,  Prepainted in factory-matched colors

Fog Lights- They look great but, more important, they increase your visibility in foggy conditions. White lens adds wide-angle view, increasing visibility, Lens design creates low, wide projection for foggy conditions, Integrate into front bumper for a factory-installed look

Nismo Cat Back Exhaust System- 7.5 HP and 5.2 lb-ft increase at the front wheels, Complete mandrel bent cat-back exhaust system, 303 stainless steel construction,  Weight: 54 lbs (24.5kg), Precise bolt-on installation,  4.0″ (101.6mm) double-walled tips with laser-etched NISMO logo, Provides a more aggressive, sporty sound and is 50-state emissions legal,  Covered by Nissan’s 12 Month/12,000 Mile Parts and Accessories Warranty, (US Customers Only), Available for the 2009 Nissan Altima

READY TO WALK ON THE WILD SIDE?

Given enough time, money and effort, any car can be modifed and fitted with a plethora of custom parts and accessories, a truly unique one-off  car.  Turbochargers, Nitrous, Alcohol injection and engine management upgrades are some of the most common ways to boost performance and add style and flavor to your ride.

Jet Chips ECU Upgrade Kit – QR25DE- the ECU will be programmed according to the information you provide for optimized performance and mileage to match your specific modifications; Jet’s exclusive Dynamic Spectrum Tuning provides optimal performance across the entire power band and not just at full throttle; The programming includes extensive modification to air/fuel ratios, ignition advance and boost pressures for turbo applications

Ultimately,  the 2009 Altima Nissan 2.5L S is a great econonmy car, with no delusions of grandure when it comes to its appeal as a readily modified tuner platform.  A very basic car at an affordable price, look to the 3.5L V6 or the Altima Coupe for more options when it comes to support from the tuning community.

2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid Test Drive – “A Better Alternative”

After seven days behind the wheel of the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid I enjoyed the ride and handling even more than when I tested the gasoline version of the Altima Sedan.
Combining true driving pleasure, its unique and sporty design, and a driver-oriented interior with excellent 35mpg/city and 33mpg/highway fuel mileage, the 2009 Nissan Altima hybrid is like no other hybrid that I have tested so far.

Even though fuel prices has dropped in recent months, they are on the rise again, and more consumers are focusing their purchases on high mileage, fuel efficient hybrid models to save money and help save the environment.

First introduced in model year 2007, Nissan engineers had the requirement to make it a Nissan-style hybrid, not just a fuel efficient car. This is a key reason why when compared to the competition from Toyota, Chevy and Honda, several automotive magazines have called the Altima Hybrid ‘the best’ among the hybrids tested.

The Altima hybrid powertrain mates a refined version of Nissan’s QR25 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine and standard electronically controlled CVT (continuously variable transmission) with an advanced electric drive motor/generator that increases fuel economy while maintaining low tailpipe emissions. Altima hybrid is rated as an Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle and emits almost no evaporative emissions.

Altima hybrid’s drive system creates a synergy between its electric motor and its gasoline engine, offering both efficiency and excitement in the same attractive package. It is fun to drive and looks great, just like the gasoline version.

The advanced energy drive system shares duties between the gasoline-powered 4-cylinder and the emissions-free electric motor-allowing the Altima hybrid to run solely on electric power, especially during stop-and-go driving, and up to 35mph with light throttle on flat roads, or when driving down hill. When extra power is needed, the gasoline engine starts instantly and smoothly adds power as required.

Altima hybrid is estimated to have a hybrid system net power rating of 198hp, but I think it is more like 220hp at peak throttle. With its 20 gallon fuel tank, the Altima hybrid can drive up to 700 miles between fill-ups.

The Altima hybrid uses regenerative braking technology to recharge the hybrid system’s batteries and also when coasting with you foot off the throttle, so you don’t have to plug in the batteries to maintain a sufficient store of electric energy.

In order to recharge the battery, a generator places resistance on the driveshaft during braking. Altima hybrid’s Regenerative Brake System calculates braking force generated by brake pedal operation and controls the regenerative brake force to convert kinetic energy into electric energy, optimizing energy regeneration. The system converts the vehicle’s kinetic energy to usable electric energy that is stored in the system’s 244.8V Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery, stored behind the trunk wall, for eventual use by the electric motor.

The Altima hybrid utilizes the proven technology and components from Toyota Motor Corporation that are mated t Nissan’s refined 2.5 liter engine.

Helping to provide smooth acceleration and maximize powertrain efficiency is Altima hybrid’s hybrid system-specific eCVT, which works in conjunction with the Hybrid Vehicle-Electric Control Unit (HV-ECU) to determine which power source or combination of power sources will turn the wheels. Nissan’s CVT is one of the quietest and smoothest units that I have ever tested, gasoline model or hybrid model, and really makes the Nissan Altima hybrid one of the best to drive.

Altima hybrid’s electric motor produces high torque at low rpm’s, allowing it to utilize its Electric Vehicle (EV) mode to power the car from a standing idle, after sufficient warm-up, and through initial acceleration without the assistance of the gasoline engine. While this stage of acceleration is a typical gasoline-only powered vehicle’s least fuel-efficient stage, Altima hybrid offers much of its fuel-efficiency benefits here.

Altima’s hybrid’s all-electric mode, call Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, powers the vehicle in this initial acceleration phase. After the electric motor provides initial acceleration, the gasoline engine quietly starts and assumes the load of powering the vehicle. The gasoline engine works independently through cruising speeds until the vehicle reaches speeds at which fuel efficiency declines. When loads require, the electric motor restarts and aids the gasoline engine in powering the car. This allows the gasoline engine to remain in its ideal rpm range while the axle torque simultaneously increases due to extra power contributed by the electric motor. It almost feels that you have a turbocharger under the hood with little lag for the power boost.

A digital display on the speedometer indicates when the Altima hybrid is running solely on electric power. The car’s optional DVD navigation system also features a ‘real-time’ display showing how the hybrid system directs the flow of energy.

The car is remarkably smooth, most will never know of the transitions between electric and gasoline power sources. What I felt was highly responsive acceleration and a seamless delivery of power under most driving conditions.

A smooth, quiet ride with excellent responsiveness is assured because the foundation of all Nissan Altima’s is Nissan’s advanced ‘D’ platform. The platform includes a subframe-mounted front suspension, shocks absorbers with rebound springs and equal-length half-shafts that are nearly parallel to the ground-virtually eliminating the dreaded front-wheel-drive torque steer.

Altima’s exterior styling features an aggressive stance, strong wedge character line and signature Altima-style taillamps with dual exhaust tips down below.

Inside, Altima utilizes refined workmanship, high-quality materials and a long list of standard equipment. The Altima hybrid shares exterior and interior designs with the regular Altima sedan-with the exception of unique Hybrid badging on the fenders and rear trunk-lid cover.

Standard equipment includes comfortable and supportive front buckets seats, front console with sliding armrest and dual-level storage, push button start/stop, dual-zone electronic climate control, power windows/door locks, AM-FM/CD audio system with 6-speakers and an auxiliary input jack, cruise-control, variable-speed intermittent wipers, tilt/telescope steering column, dual map lamps, grab handles above each passenger door, dual 12-volt power outlets, three cupholders in center console, rear center armrest with dual cupholders, dual visor vanity mirrors, map pockets behind each front seat, and thick-cut pile carpeting. Options include a rear spoiler, 8-way power driver’s seat, automatic on/off headlamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls/cruise-control buttons, wood-tone trim, leather seats/shift knob, front heated seats, Bose AM-FM-CD changer with 9-speakers, MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback capability Radio Data System, speed sensitive volume control, XM satellite radio, heated/power remote, manual folding side mirrors, Homelink Universal transceiver, Bluetooth hands free phone system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear AC vents, power moonroof, Nissan Navigation System with TV parking assist, and floor mats.

Standard safety systems include front and side airbags, roof-mounted curtain airbags,
3-point safety belts for all five seating positions including front pretensioners/load limiters, vehicle dynamic control, traction control, child safety locks on rear doors,
front/rear crush zones, steel beams in each door, LATCH system for child seats, tire pressure monitoring system, vehicle security system and emergency inside trunk release.
When you are thinking about purchasing a hybrid sedan you must check out the Altima hybrid. When you drive one you’ll notice that you haven’t sacrificed any power, performance or interior comfort while enjoying a smooth comfortable ride, just like in an Altima gasoline sedan. Prices start at just $26,650.00.

COPYRIGHT: 2009:HARVEY SCHWARTZ

SPECIFICATIONS

Price: MSRP $26,650
Type: Midsize Sedan
Where Built: United States
EPA Class: Midsize Cars

Dimensions

Exterior
Length: 189.8 in.
Width: 70.7 in.
Height: 57.9 in.
Wheel Base: 109.3 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.6 in.
Curb Weight: 3471 lbs.
Gross Weight: 4537 lbs.
Interior
Front Head Room: 40.6 in.
Front Hip Room: 56.8 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 55.7 in.
Rear Head Room: 36.8 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 55.5 in.
Rear Hip Room: 52.5 in.
Front Leg Room: 44.1 in.
Rear Leg Room: 35.8 in.
Luggage Capacity: 10.1 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5

Performance Data

Base Number of Cylinders: 4
Base Engine Size: 2.5 liters
Base Engine Type: Inline 4
Horsepower: 198 hp
Max Horsepower: 5200 rpm
Torque: 162 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 2800 rpm
Maximum Towing Capacity: 1000 lbs.
Drive Type: FWD
Turning Circle: 36.1 ft.
0-60mph: 7 seconds

Fuel Data

Fuel Tank Capacity: 20 gal.
EPA Mileage Estimates: (City/Highway/Combined)
Automatic: 35 mpg / 33 mpg / 34 mpg
Range in Miles:
Automatic: 700 mi. / 660 mi. / 680 mi.

MORE PERFORMANCE AND SOPHISTICATION

The all-new 2009 Altima Coupe is another fun-to-drive, Nissan mid-size coupe that comes with more power, performance, comfort, convenience and safety features.

The styling is smooth and sexy, the power is upped to 270hp, you have a choice of a 6-speed manual or CVT, front-wheel-drive transmission, a refined, sport-tuned, fully independent suspension, powerful 4-wheel disc brakes, while sitting in a sporty designed and roomy, contemporary interior, with all of your favorite creature comforts.

Based on last year’s much heralded Altima sedan, and after serious market research,
the all-new coupe fills a desire among target customers for a more personal expression of style, individuality and fashionable appearance.

The Altima coupe’s unique exterior styling is intended to stand out in a crowd of sedan-based two-door coupes with its magnetic, perfectly proportioned styling with a shorter wheelbase, shorter overall length and its lower ride height than the sedan.

The smaller size and lighter curb weight gives the coupe a sportier driving experience-attributes of the typical younger, more performance-oriented coupe buyer. The coupe’s smaller dimensions, driver-oriented cockpit and its unique styling give it an extensive amount of separation from the sedan. Sharing only a common hood, all other panels, grille, headlights and rear combination lights are unique to the coupe. Up front is rounded and low, sweeping up over the hood to the steeply raked A-pillars. Cat’s eye headlamp clusters are very unique and behind clear lenses. The unique Nissan grille has a tasteful chrome surround. Just below is a wide air-intake with integrated round foglamps. The smooth silhouette features flared fenders, sloping roofline that ends at the end of the trunk, aerodynamic designed sideview mirrors with turn-signal lights, deep side extensions and a rearward angle on the B-pillar to give the car the look of motion when parked. The rear is smooth and follows the sloping roofline. At the rear are large, wraparound taillamps, a very angular trunk lid, two, 3in. wide polished stainless steel exhaust tips and a diffuser below to help better manage the airflow.

Under the sophisticated exterior design, the coupe shares the platform, powertrain and user-friendly features and innovations found in the Altima sedan.

The coupe utilizes Nissan’s all-new, highly acclaimed ‘D’ platform with increased body rigidity and a redesigned fully independent suspension. The new sport-tuned suspension geometry, struts, shock absorbers with rebound springs, the engine placement is now placed lower in the subframe, and equal-length half-shafts that have equal angles and are more parallel to the ground, all help to virtually eliminate torque steer. On hard launch I did feel a little tugging to the right but it was no problem after a second.

The rear multi-link independent suspension design separates the rear shocks and coil springs for reduced friction and the shocks are in line with the center of the rear wheels, providing better damping and less harshness. Front and rear stabilizer bars come standard, and keep body lean to a minimum when cornering at high speed.

Putting more of the power on the ground is the limited slip differential that comes with the optional VDC (vehicle dynamic control). I would recommend it with the larger engine. You can shut it down by pushing a dash-mounted toggle switch.

I liked the way the car’s new sporty handling characteristics showed itself in the mountains where the coupe tracked nicely coming out of steep curves at high speed. The lower center of gravity, and better front-to-rear weight distribution was greatly appreciated.

The new Altima coupe is offered with a choice of two engines and two transmissions.
The 3.5 liter 24-valve DOHC V6 is the ‘next generation’ version of the 12-time Ward’s
’10 Best Engines’ award-winning VQ-series V6. In the coupe it is rated at 270hp and 258lb.ft. of torque. It gives you strong acceleration and refined sound quality. The V6 features reduced friction, improved cylinder head cooling and new twin knock sensors.

Also available is a 2.5 liter DOHC 16-valve QR25 inline 4-cylinder engine producing 175hp and 180lb.ft. of torque. This engine has been refined from the previous version with a larger, equal-length intake manifold, increased compression ratio and reduced friction characteristics. It features a silent chain drive and a balancer system (with balancer changed to a center-mounted position for better NVH) that effectively negates vibrations without taking up much space-combining ideal packaging and smoothness.
Both engines feature continuous variable valve timing (VVT), modular engine design, microfinished crank journal and cam lobes, molybdenum coated lightweight pistons and electronically controlled throttles.

Both engines are available with Nissan’s advanced Xtronic CVT (continuously variable transmission) or a smooth shifting 6-speed manual.

The driving dynamics of the coupe is biased toward a sport feel, especially when equipped with the V6 engine. The fully independent suspension hugs the road and the steering system gives you a well-connected feel behind the wheel. The twin-orifice vehicle-speed-sensitive power rack & pinion steering system makes driving the new Altima coupe more seamless as the wheels quickly react to your inputs.

Quickly and safely slowing the Altima coupe down from speed are powerful 4-wheel disc brakes. Up front are 11.7in. vented discs clamped with dual-piston calipers, while the rear solid rotors measure 11.5in and clamped with single-piston calipers. Your braking control and distance is enhanced with standard ABS and electronic brake force distribution.

The V6 coupe rides on large 17X8in. alloy wheels wrapped with 215/55R17in. Bridgestone performance tires, while the inline 4-cylinder model rides on 16X7in. alloy wheels and all-season tires.

The design and engineering that went into the all-new coupe is excellent and works well whether you are maneuvering around slow city traffic or at high speed on the freeways.

The coupe’s performance feeling is also enhanced by a driver-centered interior. Though sharing much of the design and features with the sedan, the coupe includes a unique sport-style front bucket seats with more side bolstering to keep you in place during spirited driving times, an in-board release lever and front kangaroo pouches. All Altima coupes also utilize a parking brake hand lever, and the 60/40 split and flat fold-down rear seat.

Like the sedan, the coupe’s instrument panel features a Fine Vision gauge display for enhanced readability and the L-shaped flow of the instrument panel to the center console adds to the driver-oriented cockpit feel. All of the interior materials are soft to the touch with aluminum trim found in strategic locations. The center console includes a double front cup holder, shift gate, storage compartments and a deep and wide storage bin with padded armrest.

Standard features found in my V6 tester included Intelligent Key with push button start/stop ignition, power sliding moonroof, AC with in-cabin microfilter, cruise-control, power windows/door locks, AM-FM-CD audio system with 6-speakers and auxiliary audio input jack, easy rear access passenger seat lever, tilt-telescoping, leather-wrapped steering wheel for the perfect reach and angle for better steering control, power-remote/heated side view mirrors, flat-blade speed-sensitive windshield wipers, front map lights with sunglass storage, grab handles above each door, rear window defroster, two 12-volt power plugs, front seat lower cushion storage pockets, and illuminated dual visor vanity mirrors.

Options include leather trimmed seats, heated driver/front passenger seats, XM satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, Bose Audio system with AM-FM-6-CD player with MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback capability and 9-speakers, HID headlights, dual-zone automatic temperature control, Home-Link universal transceiver, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, leather-wrapped shift lever, illuminated console lighting, and Nissan’s Navigation System.

The new coupe also comes standard with a host of safety features including Zone Body construction with front/rear crumple zones and advanced airbag system including dual-stage front airbags, front seat side-impact airbags, roof-mounted curtain side-impact airbags, 3-point seat belts for all seats, active head restraints, LATCH system for child seats and a tire pressure monitoring system.

Like the Altima sedan, the coupe delivers if you’re looking for style, performance comfort and affordability. Prices for the four-cylinder model starts at just $19,500.00 and $24,970.00 for the V6 model. My nicely loaded test coupe was priced at $28,970.00.

COPYRIGHT:2008:HARVEY SCHWARTZ

SPECIFICTIONS

Price: MSRP – $26,890 Invoice – $24,919
Type: Compact Coupe
Where Built: United States
EPA Class: Subcompact Cars

Dimensions

Exterior
Length: 182.5 in.
Width: 70.7 in.
Height: 55.3 in.
Wheel Base: 105.3 in.
Curb Weight: 3308 lbs.
Gross Weight: 4586 lbs.
Interior
Front Head Room: 37.2 in.
Front Hip Room: 54.2 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 53.9 in.
Rear Head Room: 35.6 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 52.4 in.
Rear Hip Room: 47.6 in.
Front Leg Room: 42.5 in.
Rear Leg Room: 34.4 in.
Luggage Capacity: 7.4 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5

Performance Data

Base Number of Cylinders: 6
Base Engine Size: 3.5 liters
Base Engine Type: V6
Horsepower: 270 hp
Max Horsepower: 6000 rpm
Torque: 258 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 4400 rpm
Drive Type: FWD
Turning Circle: 36.1 ft.
0-60mph: 6.4 seconds

Fuel Data

Fuel Tank Capacity: 20 gal.
EPA Mileage Estimates: (City/Highway)
Automatic: : 19 mpg / 26 mpg
Range in Miles: (City/Highway)
Automatic: 380 mi. / 520 mi.