Besides the increased displacement, other enhancements made to the engine include a silent timing chain and an electronically controlled throttle.
This bigger engine can be mated with a close-ratio six-speed manual, which Kirrane says has been crafted to "optimize the power band of the new 3.5-litre engine and is geared towards the serious driving enthusiast."
For additional handling performance, a helical limited-slip differential is optional on manual transmission Maximas, but not until December. Kirrane says this mechanical differential is torque-sensitive and provides instantaneous locking for increased traction and performance.
Maxima GXE and GLE models come with a standard four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, which has been strengthened for use with the 3.5-litre V-6. The SE still gets the five-speed manual, with the four-speed automatic optional.
The Multi-Link Beam suspension was refined for 2002 through the use of thicker front and rear stabilizer bars and the relocation of the system's unique lateral link to behind the rear axle. SE models feature special sport tuning for maximum handling prowess.
Brake system upgrades for 2002 include two advanced systems: Electronic Brake force Distribution, which optimizes braking force depending on passenger and cargo load; and Brake Assist, which ensures maximum braking capacity is utilized to aid in hard or panic braking situations.
Whether all this is enough to make you stump up a couple of grand more for a Maxima remains to be seen, but the Nissan folks are betting it will hold enough people's attention while they finish up the sixth-generation Maxima that's due out in a couple of years.
