Do Large Sedans Have Big Future?

In an age when crossover SUVs and fuel-sipping small cars are all the rage, some may wonder why automakers still pursue large, relatively gas-thirsty sedans. No slowdown is in sight: Ford reportedly will debut a redesigned Taurus early next year, and Nissan took the wraps off its seventh-generation Maxima at last week’s New York auto show.

That’s in spite of the fact that the market for such cars is stalling: J.D. Power reports that large-car sales dropped 21% over the past two months. Automakers are committed to sticking it out because they say the cars represent flagships for their brands, and they’re confident the road ahead won’t be quite so rough.

Maxima's Face Leaves Some Qs

We've been scratching our heads at the Maxima's new front-end styling. The more we look at it head-on, the more we see a resemblance to a certain flagship from Nissan's luxury division. Maxima, meet Q45, the full-size Infiniti sedan that was axed from the automaker's lineup in 2006. In its swan song year, the luxury sedan cost some $58,000, a figure that put it up against the Lexus LS and Audi A8.

The resemblance is more than passing, so we asked Nissan design VP Bruce Campbell if the late Q had provided any inspiration. He chuckled — apparently we weren't the first to ask him that.

"In short, no," Campbell said. "But, you know, that's thinking of it in retrospect. There was no picture up there on the board, [with us] thinking 'Oh, that was a nice car.'"

The Maxima's head designer, in fact, might have been "too young" to remember the Q's glory years, Campbell said. That's a shame, because it would seem fitting that Nissan's latest flagship would follow in the footsteps of Infiniti's former top dog. Or maybe not — given the Q's demise, the Maxima might just as well do without its ill-fated legacy.

Video: 2009 Nissan Maxima

We knew when we saw the first images of the new Nissan Maxima that it would be one of the most-talked-about debuts in New York. The big-mouthed sedan has won over nearly all of us, including Kelsey Mays, who delivers an up-close look at the Maxima live from the show floor.

More on the 2009 Nissan Maxima

Up Close: 2009 Nissan Maxima

Nissan calls its latest Maxima a four-door sports car, a description that once graced previous generations of the car. I’ll have to wait until I drive one to see if that’s true, but after poking around in the all-new car at the auto show today I can say it wouldn’t be such a bad thing if Nissan simply called the car a full-blown luxury sedan. Cabin quality is palpably better than in the latest Altima — not a quality-lightweight itself — and the leather seats would feel at home in any Infiniti product. Both the front and rear seats have considerable side bolsters to hold you in during turns, but their cushioning is forgiving enough that I didn’t feel squeezed. (That also postpones my diet — woot!)

The dash combines the Altima’s wraparound panels with the center controls and navigation system from Infiniti’s G and M sedans. Cabin storage is abundant, with a decent-sized center console and a huge glove compartment. One complaint: Like in the Rogue, the compartment’s cover opens right onto passengers’ shins. The dashboard materials are low-gloss and soft to the touch.

I wish I were as jazzed about the exterior as I am about the interior. The rear is the one high point — it looks much better in person than the pictures show, and I can see bits of the Altima coupe and Mercedes S-Class. Up front, though, the grille seems too low and wide, and the lower air dam looks a bit busy. Oh, and don’t get me started on those headlights.

Our gallery of live and manufacturer photos is below.

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2008 New York Auto Show: 2009 Nissan Maxima

2008 New York Auto Show: 2009 Nissan Maxima

• Competes with: Toyota Avalon, Buick Lucerne, Chrysler 300
• Looks like: One really miffed Altima
• Drivetrain: 290-hp (est.), 3.5-liter V-6 with CVT automatic
• Hits dealerships: Early summer 2008

The Nissan Maxima, a car whose future was once precarious, is evidently alive and well. Nissan will unveil the seventh-generation Maxima at this week’s New York auto show, and it says its aim in redesigning this car was nothing less than to create the best-performing front-wheel-drive sedan in the world. There are tall orders, but this one seems like a veritable Everest.

To work, then: The car’s width has been increased, but its wheelbase has been shortened, which should bode well for handling. The brakes are larger, and Nissan has uprated its venerable 3.5-liter V-6 to 290 hp, up from 255 hp last year. A continuously variable automatic transmission continues to be standard — in the outgoing Maxima, it proved surprisingly responsive — and has manual and Sport modes. Paddle shifters are optional.

We can’t say we’re crazy about the car’s styling. It’s something of an angrier Altima in front and (here comes the hate mail) a larger Toyota Yaris sedan in back. Like with the earlier Maxima, though, we figure the shape will grow on us. There’s plenty of eye candy inside, where the dashboard borrows themes from the Altima sedan and various Infiniti models. The navigation system uses the setup from the Infiniti M35/M45 and G35 sedans rather than the Altima’s simpler system, and that’s a good thing. Loaded Maximas (Maximae?) boast everything from a backup camera and heated steering wheel to a panoramic moonroof with power-retracting sunshades. That should put the car on par with full-size sedans like the Toyota Avalon and Buick Lucerne, if not entry-level luxury cars like the Lexus ES.

The ’09 Maxima hits dealerships in just a few months. We have the first shots from the auto show floor below and will be updating the gallery throughout the day.

2009 Nissan Maxima Ready for New York

Nissan will unveil its seventh-generation Maxima sedan at the New York auto show next week. Today the company provided us with some teaser images that really don’t reveal much — if any — of the car’s overall design. We’re not allowed to reveal anything more, but let’s just say this could be one of the most-discussed vehicles of the entire show when the full monty is dropped.

Nissan Planning Clean Diesel Maxima

As car companies scramble for the next big thing in alternative energy, Nissan is falling back on diesel to help it become green. Clean diesel engines just now coming to market from Mercedes-Benz and others now meet the strictest U.S. emissions rules. Nissan says its new engine will be ready for use in a Maxima by 2010.

In that amount of time, we’d guess the Maxima may be an entirely different model than the one roaming the highways today. The model has not been nearly as successful since it was redesigned in 2004 and is in need of a new direction, diesel engine or not.

Source: Nissan

Nissan Recalls 80,000 Muranos, Maximas

Nissan has recalled 70,000 Murano SUVs and 10,000 Maxima sedans built between 2004 and 2006 due to a defective ignition key. Only models with — don’t laugh — Nissan’s “intelligent” keys are affected. These vehicles sometimes won’t start properly, or will start just by moving the steering wheel before the ignition is turned on. That probably surprised a Murano owner or two on their way to work. No injuries have been reported and there’s no word on how Nissan will fix the problem. Owners should check with their local dealer to schedule service.   

[Nissan Begins Recalling SUVs Because of Ignition Key Defect, The Detroit News]