DETROIT, MI: With its Maxima solidly revised this fall and a much improved Sentra due sometime next year, Nissan figured it had to do something with the middle car of its three-sedan lineup to keep up buyer interest.
So just years after it was completely done over, Altima will get a rash of significant upgrades of the ride and handling variety. For the 2000 model year, then, expect Altimas that look pretty much (but not quite) the same and drive a bunch better.
Nissan thinks this driving better business is a way to differentiate Altima from the herd of competent-to-fabulous mid-sized, 4-cylinder sedans that are widely available from just about every company in the world.
The fact that previous efforts to push sportiness in this segment have proven to be largely unsuccessful (including Nissan's attempts to sell Altima's predecessor, the Stanza, as being Built For the Human Race) does not seem to faze the Japanese company.
So each one of the XE, GXE, SE and GLE trims have been rehung to make them a little more competent when pushed, as well as quieter. They also get a little more performance from the powertrain.
First up on the Altima designers's wish list was "a sportier driving feel -- without compromising the car's outstanding ride comfort. The multi-faceted solution was found in a combination of increased body stiffness, controlled ride motion, and a firmer, sportier steering feel."
Body stiffness was improved through the use of a new rear tunnel brace and the addition of a front strut tower brace on models with 16-inch wheels and tires. Front and rear stabilizer bar diameters were increased (by 20 per cent) to reduce body roll, and lower profile 205/55R16 tires were added to improve lateral response.
Altima's 4-wheel independent strut/coil spring suspension design got the first-ever use of acceleration-sensitive strut valving by an original equipment manufacturer. This Monroe-designed and built system is meant to deliver greater body control with a reduction in ride harshness, reduced peak roll rates (such as when you do a hard and fast J-turn to go back for a parking spot on the other side of the street), reduced initial vehicle dive pitch rate when braking, and improved vehicle float and stability for ride comfort.
Lower profile tires on aluminum alloy wheels are no offered as standard gear on GLE and SE models and and optional on GXE. Also, SE models get increased spring rates for a firmer ride.
Altima's 2.4-litre, DOHC, 16-valve 4-cylinder engine gets more low-to-mid range torque, various refinements meant to make its operation smoother and quieter, and more horsepower. As well, new dual-tipped platinum plugs that last 160,000 kms have also been added.
Horsepower is now rated at 155 at 5600 rpm (up from 150) and torque has been boosted to 156 pound-feet (from 154) at 4400 rpm.
Acceleration pedal effort has been reduced and both the 5-speed manual and the 4-speed automatic transmissions have been reworked to improve launch.
The 5-speed gets a new final drive ratio (3.823:1, from 3.650:1) and the gear ratios for the first three gears have been modified. As well, the actual gear lever has been shortened and moved forward to deliver a sportier shift feel and keep it out of the way of the cupholder.
On the automatic, a revised shift schedule improves acceleration from slow speeds and the timing control system has been refined to optimize shift quality. The automatic's final drive ratio is now 4.087:1 (it was 3.619:1).
The upshot of the changes on the automatic is a 0 to 100 kmh time that's a second faster than it used to be.
The downside to this improved performance is of course a worsening of Altima's fuel economy levels. It's not a big deal (about a mile or two per US gallon) but it is there.
Many of these engine alterations resulted in less noise, vibration and harshness as well as more power. But Nissan also threw in some other things (such as thicker front door glass, more weather stripping, expandable foam in noise-creating spots, more aerodynamic outside mirrors, and so on) that significantly reduce the amount of unpleasant sounds getting into the cabin. Nissan also talks about a vastly increased ability to have a conversation at higher vehicle speeds.
On the safety front, Altima also gets front seat air bags, which are optional on the lower priced models and standard on the more expensive brands.
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