May1
When Nissan first launched the Maxima, it touted the car as a sport alternative to the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. It even marketed the car as a “Four-Door Sports Car” (”4DSC” for short). Today, the Maxima seems to have lost its way.
Rather than a bold alternative to its rivals, the Maxima is merely Nissan’s equal to the Camry or Accord. However, that is all about to change with the 2009 model, according to Automobile magazine.
The next-generation model will go back to the drawing board, and is likely to emerge as a Mercedes CLS-style four-door-coupe. To prevent any damage it might do to sales of the G35 sedan, Nissan will likely keep the vehicle front-wheel-drive, the report said.
On Nissan source told the magazine the new Maxima is unlike anything the Japanese automaker has ever done before. A concept is expected to arrive next winter during the auto show circuit.
I’m so sick of this “four door coupe” bull****. It’s a four door sedan or it’s a coupe. They’re mutually exclusive types of cars. The CLS does not look like a coupe to me. I can see the rear doors… (Don’t get me wrong, it’s a gorgeous car nonetheless.)
I don’t know why Nissan would want to copy anyone. They have a great design team. That being said, what about the Altima? If the Maxima is Nissan’s answer to the Accord and Camry, what does the Altima compete against? I thought it was more in the territory of the Avalon.
I echo SR’s thoughts exactly and couldn’t have said it much better myself. Regardless, I’m interested in seeing how Nissan handles this.
@ HoosierHero
I personally think Nissan’s design team is getting worse, not that they’ve ever been that great, IMO. The current Maxima already has sort of a 4-door coupe thing going on so I guess this is more an evolution of a design than it is a copy (although they probably decided to go ahead with another iteration of it for the next one because of the relative popularity of the MB car).
Also, I was under the impression that the Altima now competes with the Accord and Camry since both the Altima and Maxima have been moving up in size. In terms of size, I’d think the only Japanese competitor for the Maxima that isn’t a luxury marque is the Toyota Avalon.
The Maxima doesn’t seem to have a clear definition of what it’s trying to be. The Altima is the Camry and Accord competitor, but the Maxima has grown fat over the years. I can’t understand why anyone would purcahse one nowadays, a G35 is a true sport sedan, and the Altima is the sensible family sedan.
I’m glad Nissan is adressing this issue of the Maxima losing it’s way, it doesn’t seem to have a clear purpose anymore.
I had a ‘97 with a manual, a fantastic car to drive. You can’t even get the “4 Door Sports Car” with a manual anymore, only a CVT.
I can’t wait to see the 2009 Maxima! Not.
It’s redundant model nowadays. The boxy, late 80’s Maxima was bad ass at the time, when it wasn’t in the shop.
I rest my case. Asian cars, especially the upper end, are generally German car wannabees with German car prices……so whats the point? I am sure it will be a nice car and all, but it will never be Benz, never have the originality of a Benz or have the style of a Benz. I have alyways considered Asian makers nothing but copy cats without an original thought……..well, with Subaru and Mazda excepted.
They have to try SOMETHING new. The great Nissan of yesterday is nothing like the Nissan today which dumps ****ty CVTs on all its customers and turned the Sentra into a boremobile.
I don’t really understand the whole 4 door coupe thing, IMHO the CLS isn’t a good looking car, the middle is too long for the proportions, because of the extra doors. The back end looks sort of droopy too. I’d rather just have a CLK. Well, I’d reall rather have an E46 3 series or 2 door G35 if we’re really getting down to it, but whatevs.
Maxima lost it’s way ?
Nissan has lost it’s way !!!
Nissan lost it’s chance in the 90’s to become a rival to Toyota and Honda.
Shoppers look at Nissans the same way they look at Mazda’s, Subaru’s, and Mitsubishi’s. 2nd class cars.
The CLS is a gorgeous car.
the only 4 door coupe that looks like a coupe is the mazda RX8 that is if you can call that 4 door?
@Mugen Power
Oooops! That was what I was trying to say (about the Altima competing with Accord and Camry and Maxima against Avalon)
MB CLS styling = gorgeous
Any current Nissan styling = bad
Future Nissan styling = who knows… but it can’t be worse.
The 90s 300ZX still looks good today whereas the 350Z looks like a bloated frog.
Too bad Mercedes didn’t/couldn’t patent the design of a smooth 4-door coupe design. Now, it’s going to have all these copiers until eventually Hyundai gets to do a CLS of its own and screws it up completely. Then again, Citroen C6 came up with pretty much the same idea early on anyway…and that one turned out great.
It only makes sense that the next Maxima would have to evolve, since the Altima and G35 cannibalize it in different directions. The big decision for Nissan is whether to go for a super sporty coupelike shape or to head into the Avalon/Azera/Amanti luxury arena. Based on Maxima’s sporty heritage, it seems the coupelike sedan would be the obvious choice, but with its LONG FWD platform I don’t see any competitors to target (except maybe the VW Passat coupe, which is apparently stillborn).
Currently I feel the Altima is Sportier then the Maxima well at the same time being a better match for Accord and Camry, So I don’t see where maxima fits in. Four Door coupe? Isn’t that just a sedan with a sloping rear roof line? nothing new or exciting there. Nissan needs to infuse the car with some excitement both inside and out and return the Maxima to its former glory, first step should be replacing the CVT with a 6 speed auto and bring back the optional 6 speed stick.
The Nissan Maxima is a misfit. It had a place when the Altima was a smaller car. But now they’re competing in the same market. Except the Maxima costs as much as a G35 so theres no point in getting one.
I agree that the Altima is the accord/camry competitor, and the Maxima is a cheaper alternative to something like an A4, or Passat.
——–>i would love to see this new ‘09 maxima concept…..i think the 2000-’01 models were the best ones….
If Nissan wants a Maxima that makes me think of a Mercedes CLS, they can do it with styling, yes….
But they can also to a lot better by giving the car ATTESSA all wheel drive. I don’t care how nice the design is. A front drive Maxima is not any kind of Mercedes. That’s the same thing as going to a Honda or Acura dealer and thinking to yourself, “Wow, these Hondas are looking better these days. If only they weren’t front wheel drive I’d actually take the company seriously…”
Nissan has an AWD solution for their FF-L architecture. They should implement it at the price point the Maxima is going for.
To add… they need to get over the idea that the sales of the G35 are going to be affected by a Maxima that has a better drivetrain layout. That thinking is completely insipid and it doesn’t help to win over people by crippling what could be a good product.
————>Hyperion, you have a veeeeerrrrry good point……..man you’re clever…
The CLS actually looks like the Australian AU Falcon, trust me take a look at the rear and the side!
I agree with Hyperion. A Maxima with ATTESSA all wheel drive would do wonders for Nissan’s lineup, and put some distance between it and the Altima.
The last real 4 door sports car for Nissan was the 1989 to 1994 Nissan Maxima.
Toyota has an Avalon, why not position the Maxima against that? Leave fighting the European to the Infiniti Brand. Make the Maxima plush, quiet and luxury with a powerful engine and get some of that Lucerne and Avalon sales.
Aussie#1.
thats kind of true…..except the merc is a decent car that is modern and sophistocated and the AU falcon looks f***ing hideous.
I really love how you guys keep posting facts that everybody knows , yes MERCEDES its a gorgeous car and it may be superior in some stuff to NISSAN but not everybody can afford to have a german car parked in the driveway and believe me down here in miami you see a lot of those , for poor bastards like me im in my second MAXIMA and i love the car, handles well and very responsive and for somebody my size its roomy, due to my earlier choices in career its all i can afford and im very happy with it, when im driving my MAX i feel like a king, and for less than 30 grands if i go with that money to a MERCEDES dealer all i can get its an overprice C class wich the only ones that buy it are young girls and people who cant own a real MERCEDES .
I have a 2007 and I love my Maxima. I like the way it handles, I like the pick up speed, and I love the amenities that come with the Maxima. I have seen the 2009 Maximas and I like how they look. I am interested to know what they are going to price them at, and how they handle. If I had to change anything about the Maxima it would be to improve the gas mileage. If they have improved the gas mileage on the 2009’s I would trade mines up in a heartbeat.