MANHATTAN: Nissan used to talk endlessly about its two-vehicle strategy for doing battle with the giants of the mid-size 4-door sedan category — Ford Taurus, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
The Altima would give folks a polite and cute little car that ran on a 4-cylinder engine and didn't use much gasoline or frighten the horses, the theory went, while the Maxima would be bigger and more luxurious and would run on one of the greatest engines ever developed, Nissan's fabulous 3-litre V6.
This strategy was put forward over and over to the point where it sometimes sounded like it made sense, even though evidence suggested that the Altima (particularly the current one) was not up to its end of the bargain.
Evidence given here at the NY auto show clearly suggests that Nissan no longer believes this to be the case, since this September it will market a much more stylish and larger Altima with a jazzed-up inline-4, a powerful V6 and a generally more in-your-face attitude.
Ian Forsyth, the director of marketing at Nissan Canada Inc, describes it "as a soul stirring sedan designed to go head-to-head against the longtime class leaders."
He says this is not a makeover on the current Altima, which has way too much drab particles in its DNA. Starting with a new platform, Forsyth says, "Altima was conceived to be a spirited sedan that feels alive and secure, where car and driver feel like one. By focusing on three key areas — design, performance and roominess, we've created a vehicle that we believe sets a new standard in its class."
According to Forsyth, these changes were in response to direct customer feedback that suggested that "The traditional sedan strengths of practicality, comfort, quality and value are more and more being contradicted by feelings of boredom and numbing performance."
To help Altima avoid those unpleasant feelings, Forsyth say, its new platform features a long wheelbase and wide track "for greater dimensional flexibility and handling stability, a choice of new state-of-the-art inline-4 and V6 engines, and an extremely rigid structure on which to build a tight, quiet and solid feeling vehicle."
Nissan also made a point of raising the seating position by 38 mm, which makes it more comfortable for anyone floating in a sea of SUVs, particularly those folks who are giving up an SUV or minivan and going back to a mid-size sedan.
The accompanying picture tales Altima's more dramatic design tale quite well, but Forsyth likes to say it "looks like it's moving when it's standing still."
Thanks to its overall shape and various other design features, Altima for 2002 looks a lot more upscale. Combine this with the appearance of the V6 in this car, and it makes you wonder about — and salivate over — Nissan's plans for the Maxima. But that's another story.
By far the most exciting part of the new Altima is the 3.5-litre V6, which develops 240 horsepower and 246 pound-feet of torque, since this by far the hottest engine in the midsize sedan category. This much-lauded V6 has been given a new timing chain for smoother and quieter operation, as well as a new dual exhaust system.
Also available on 2002 Altimas is an all-new 2.5-litre DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder that produces 180 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 25 horsepower and 24 pound-feet from the previous generation's 2.4-litre engine.
Forsyth says this engine has continuously variable valve timing, a silent chain drive and a balancer system that "effectively negates vibrations without taking up a lot of space."
Forsyth says Altima's all-new interior is a "contemporary design that's relaxed, modern and comfortable, emphasizing a harmony between driver and machine."
The cabin is designed to be among the best in class, with cabin volume at 2922 L, up 263 L from the previous Altima. All major interior dimensions increase from the previous vehicle, including a 36-mm lift in front headroom, 48 mm in front legroom, 64 mm in rear legroom, and increases of front and rear hip and shoulder room.
Instead of standard interior colour selections, there are distinctive "environments," Forsyth says, that encompass both seat cloth or optional leather colour and interior surface trim finish, including audio faceplate and HVAC controls. The three atmosphere choices feature colours of Charcoal, Blond and Frost.
The instrument panel is "a high tech design with a three-gauge cockpit instrument pod. The gauges feature a fine vision meter illumination system for superior visibility. In the gauge cluster is a multi-function trip computer, which includes an odometer, twin trip meters and a display for outside air temperature, driving time, average speed, fuel consumption and distance to empty."
For the driver, there's a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, height-adjustable center console armrest and gated automatic transmission shifter with a formed shift knob design. The climate control and audio system knobs are grouped in a single unit, supposedly to reduce complexity.
Additional features include a power port inside the center console storage area for a mobile phone, large cup holders that can hold up to a one-litre bottle, a roof-mounted map light and a sunglass holder. Power windows and locks are standard.
The standard audio system is a 6-speaker 100-watt AM/FM/CD with speed-sensitive volume control and steering wheel audio controls. Optional is an 8-speaker Bose system with an AM/FM/in-dash 6-disc CD changer with speed-sensitive volume control and steering wheel audio controls. The 2002 Altima's trunk is 442 litres, which is 51 litres larger than the 2001 model.
In Canada, Altima will be available in three different models — the base 2.5 S, the more upscale 2.5 SL, and the V6-powered 3.5 SE. Options range from a 4-speed automatic transmission to leather-appointed seats, audio systems and dual front-seat side-impact and side curtain supplemental air bags.
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