2013 Altima

[nissangirl74]

So, I had the opportunity to sit in a 2013 Altima the other day. I think sales for this thing are going to go bananas. The dealership had 9 pre-orders the first day they debuted it. It is much more attractive in person than in pictures. SOOOOOO comfortable and the interior is just gorgeous. I can't wait to drive one. If Nissan offered this thing in a hybrid, it would be a on the short list, way up at the top.

[Jesda]

I was reading Motor Trend's review on the can yesterday [PICTURE IT! PICTURE IT!] and they were pretty positive about the changes and improvements.

The 2012 Camry was adequately improved while the Malibu has taken a step backwards with its shorter wheelbase and bulbous styling. Unless Honda pulls a rabbit out of its hat, the Altima is likely to be a #1 seller. The Fusion seems like its strongest competitor.

[nissangirl74]

I have a list of the 2013's I want to drive:
Altima
Passat
Camry
Accord
Sonata
Optima
Fusion
Malibu

I agree with you that the Fusion will be a strong competitor as well as the Optima. The accord will also sell well, just because some people are creatures of habit.

[Jesda]

I forgot about the Passat. Sales are WAY up for that model thanks to a significant price drop.

[nissangirl74]

I have to admit, based on appearance alone, I really do like the Optima and the Fusion. One of the main appeals is the fact that they are both offered as hybrids.

[RicerX]

The Altima is coming as a hybrid without a doubt. The previous Altima Hybrid was based on Toyota's HSD platform if I'm not mistaken, and the delayed hybrid availability is due to Nissan's in house R&D for the next-gen.

[Eikon]

I want to see and drive the new Altima as well. Sounds like Nissan has done a great job. 38mpg on the highway is sure impressive. I want to know if the "Anti-gravity Seats" are as good as advertised.

I saw the Fusion in person at the Detroit Auto Show in Jan. They did an excellent job with the design.. it's beautiful! We'll have to see if the rest of the pacakge is any good.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I forgot about the Passat. Sales are WAY up for that model thanks to a significant price drop.

More than a price drop. The car might as well have a new name. It's not even the same segment/class as it used to be before the price drop. It used to be a semi-luxury sedan with a V8 option. Now you can't even get a V6 in most trims and it's more spartan inside than a Jetta that's been picked clean at a junkyard. It's like Nissan selling base model Altimas with the Maxima nameplate and claiming Maxima sales have increased.

New Passat is nice looking, though. Nicer looking than previous models...probably because it actually has STYLING going on rather than just empty soulless sheet metal.

[nissangirl74]

The anti-Gravity seats are pretty badass. I'd like to rent each one of them for a weekend and try them out. That'd be an expensive article, I know, but you get so much more feedback that way. The local Toyota dealership allows you to rent from their lot so I will definitely do it with the Camry. Not that I'm excited about driving a Camry, but yeah.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

The seats are indeed amazeballs. On par with Q45 seats of yore.

The interior is much more refined, and much quieter. As of right now, they aren't planning on offering a hybrid that I know of. I think they'll have a tough time eeking out enough more fuel economy in order to justify the higher initial investment for the hybrid hardware. Nissan will probably sit back and see how their competitor's hybrids sell first. The last gen Altima hybrid didn't sell well at all...and the new Altima gets better fuel economy than the previous hybrid did, for less money.

[nissangirl74]

The seats are indeed amazeballs. On par with Q45 seats of yore.

The interior is much more refined, and much quieter. As of right now, they aren't planning on offering a hybrid that I know of. I think they'll have a tough time eeking out enough more fuel economy in order to justify the higher initial investment for the hybrid hardware. Nissan will probably sit back and see how their competitor's hybrids sell first. The last gen Altima hybrid didn't sell well at all...and the new Altima gets better fuel economy than the previous hybrid did, for less money.

Makes sense. As long as they maintained that mpg over time and the CVT held up, I think it would make a fantastic road trip car and they hybrid badge wouldn't be an issue.

[Razi]

Lets add some pictures. :P
The guy that took the pictures for Nissan is Linhbergh Nguyen, editor and photographer for Speedhunters.
Interior looks awesome. Refreshing sight in the world of plastic interiors.

[asoomal]

It really looks like as if they just replaced the Maxima badge with an Altima badge and did a few things here and there...

[Jesda]

I think its pretty sharp in white. I think they'll refine the grille for a mid-cycle refresh.

[nissangirl74]

The car I saw had this same interior. It is gorgeous but it wouldn't suit me. I'm a dirt magnet. You could dress me completely in white, put me in a white room with nothing in it , come back in ten minutes and I'd be blacker than the Ace of Spades. Charcoal interior, yes please.

[Jesda]

^^^That was my mom's reason for picking the black interior on her QX. If the kids were grown, she'd have gone with wheat.

I had a Seville with a cream/beige interior. Even the steering wheel was cream colored. It was filthy when I got it and having it detailed was quite a chore. But holy heck, it was so pretty when it was clean.

I like the way Infiniti did "shamu" black and white contrasts in the Q45.

[mmkeller]

Might as well stick a fork in the Maxima, done, dead, and roasted in the shell.

[RicerX]

Have to agree dude - the Maxima needs a serious breath of fresh air (perhaps REALLY exploring the whole "four door sports car" theme) or they should hang it up. The Altima has successfully squatted on its turf.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

so I actually read in a magazine that Nissan IS planning on making a hybrid version... I'll believe it when I see it, but I'm guessing if they did, they'd make the batteries alongside t he Leaf's in Smyrna, and it would be a Smyrna only vehicle (like the last hybrid was).

[mmkeller]

Have to agree dude - the Maxima needs a serious breath of fresh air (perhaps REALLY exploring the whole "four door sports car" theme) or they should hang it up. The Altima has successfully squatted on its turf.

It's a shame but the last Maxima change did nothing for me. I had an 04 and loved it. I feel the new flagship is the Altima.

[Eikon]

Nissan doesn't care about the Maxima anymore. They will make up 2x the sales in gains on the Altima for what they lose in Maxima sales.

They apparently have two main goals at the moment.. 1.) Make Altima the #1 selling car in US (which they might now accomplish). 2.) Lead the "charge" on electric only vehicles. Ghosn bet the bank on that deal.

I think they'll bring out a new Max based on the new G platform.. That's due next summer. I'm betting they'll make the Maxima a rear drive since the Altima has the front drive sedan segment sewn up for the Nissan world. That would at least bring the sport back to the 4DSC

[RicerX]

I kinda hope they don't do that with the Maxima - I don't want to trade my speed3 in so soon

[nissangirl74]

....a 6MT... would at least bring the sport back to the 4DSC

FTFY