Whats New for Nissan

  • 2009 Nissan Maxima

    2009 Nissan Maxima

    Nissan's all-new Maxima wears more striking sheet metal. The interior has been reworked and now bears a stronger resemblance to Nissan's upscale Infiniti products. By switching to Nissan's D platform, the Maxima gains a couple of inches in width and loses almost four inches in length, which should aid handling. The reduction in length reduces the legroom in the rear seat. Although the powertrain remains the same, the output of the 3.5-liter V6 has increased by about 35-bhp and 10 lb-ft of torque. The Maxima retains its CVT transmission but adds a new Ds mode for sportier shift feel.

  • 2009 Nissan Murano

    2009 Nissan Murano

    At first glance, the all-new Murano appears little different from the current model. Riding on a new platform the Murano is virtually identical to its predecessor in size. Major changes include a more powerful V6, sleeker front-end styling and a much more luxurious interior.

  • 2009 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab

    The 2009 Frontier wears revised front-end styling. A new PRO-4X model joins the lineup.

  • 2009 Nissan Frontier King Cab

    The 2009 Frontier wears revised front-end styling. A new PRO-4X model joins the lineup.

  • 2009 Nissan Xterra

    The Xterra wears revised front-end styling for 2009. Other changes include new wheel designs and changes to the seat fabric designs.

Nissan is a full-line automaker offering cars and trucks in virtually every segment of the market. Primarily known for enthusiast-oriented cars and inexpensive compact sedans and coupes, Nissan has expanded its product lineup in past few years. Recently, Nissan leveraged its expertise in small pickups to enter the full-sized truck and SUV markets, but has met with limited sales success.

In case you haven't seen the cover of a car enthusiast magazine in the last year, the latest Nissan GT-R has finally made it to North America. Long revered by enthusiasts, the 2009 GT-R is the first production model ever offered for sale in the U.S. The front/mid-engine GT-R is a technical tour-de-force from its twin-turbo V-6, to its full-time all-wheel-drive, to its twin-clutch rear transaxle. The styling puts some off, others decry it as an expensive Nissan. Either way, the GT-R has the performance to back up the hype.

The Murano crossover SUV enters its second generation for 2009. At first glance, the all-new Murano appears little different from the current model. Riding on a new platform, the Murano is virtually identical to its predecessor in size. Major changes include a more powerful V-6, sleeker front-end styling and a far more luxurious interior. The Murano deserves credit for creating a new niche of vehicle, as evidenced by the number of competitors entering this market.

Finally, the Nissan Maxima is all-new for 2009. It wears striking new sheet metal that no longer resembles the more common Altima. The Maxima retains its front-wheel-drive layout, but output from its 3.5L V-6 has increased by about 35-bhp. Nissan has resurrected the Maxima's "4DSC" tagline from the early Nineties to remind enthusiasts of its flagship's sporting heritage.

Next up for Nissan is the U.S. launch of the boxy Cube compact.

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