Nissan Reveals New Maxima

Justin Berkowitz
by Justin Berkowitz

Today's intentional leak is brought to you by: Nissan. The 2009 Maxima is shown in the full flesh after we saw teaser photos a few days ago, and it looks pretty good. I find the headlights weird, but apparently this is to be some kind of new Nissan family headlight cluster; it's headed for the next gen 370Z sports car as well. Otherwise, the new Maxima is a decent-looking sedan that visually distinguishes itself from the Altima. Whether there is enough market space for the Altima, Maxima, and Infiniti G35 remains to be seen. Some point to Toyota's Avalon and say it shows Nissan can also sell a Japanese Buick. I think Nissan's intended sporty image is tough to reconcile with building a luxo-barge. It will be very interesting to watch how Mr. Ghosn's boys market the Maxima.

Pictures of the new Maxima at Pixamo (with the teaser shots, too)

Justin Berkowitz
Justin Berkowitz

Immensely bored law student. I've also got 3 dogs.

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  • Bjcpdx Bjcpdx on Mar 18, 2008

    It does look pretty good except for the headlights. Their shape is intriguing, but in anything other than a head-on view that's not what you see first. You see that pointy part of the fender and that ruins everything. They blew it.

  • Wibblywobbly Wibblywobbly on Mar 18, 2008

    I like the front, I can deal with the rear, but the huge overhangs kill it for me. Why can't they make something the size of the 3rd gen with the 3.5L and 6 speed in it. I'll live with the FWD.

  • Kjc117 Kjc117 on Mar 18, 2008

    That thing is ugly. Who designed this? A ten year old? There is no balance in the design. The vertical front grill doesn't even flow with the rest of the car and WTF with the head light shape!!!

  • Landcrusher Landcrusher on Mar 19, 2008

    370z? Uh oh. I suppose the 370 might be okay. How many refreshes before the new Z loses it soul?

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