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New York Auto Show: Nissan

According to Nissan, the all-new 2009 Maxima returns to "4-door sports car" roots. The Max will be available in two trim levels, the 3.5 S and 3.5 SV, and features a more-powerful engine than the outgoing 2008 model. The venerable 3.5-liter V6, code-named VQ, gets internal revisions and a higher compression ratio to bump output to 290 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque. A revised version of Nissan's Xtronic CVT transmission will equip both Maxima variants, and wheel-mounted paddle shifters will be available. The Xtronic also gets that Nissan calls a "Ds mode", which is basically sportier shift mappings and throttle blipping. The car will remain front-wheel drive, but Nissan promises that torque steer will be virtually eliminated.

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New York Auto Show: Nissan

According to Nissan, the all-new 2009 Maxima returns to "4-door sports car" roots. The Max will be available in two trim levels, the 3.5 S and 3.5 SV, and features a more-powerful engine than the outgoing 2008 model. The venerable 3.5-liter V6, code-named VQ, gets internal revisions and a higher compression ratio to bump output to 290 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque. A revised version of Nissan's Xtronic CVT transmission will equip both Maxima variants, and wheel-mounted paddle shifters will be available. The Xtronic also gets that Nissan calls a "Ds mode", which is basically sportier shift mappings and throttle blipping. The car will remain front-wheel drive, but Nissan promises that torque steer will be virtually eliminated.