Obsessed with the cult of cars.
Tip your editors:
tips@jalopnik.com
Editor-in-Chief:
Ray Wert | Email | AIM
Senior Editor:
Andrew Stoy | Email
Road Test Editor:
Wes Siler | Email
Associate Editor - Chicago:
Matt Hardigree
Associate Editor - Detroit:
Ben Wojdyla
Associate Editor - Aftermarket & Technology:
Travis Hudson
Editor-at-Large:
Mike Spinelli
Contributors:
Murilee Martin | Email
Mark Arnold
John Krewson | Email
2009 nissan maxima
We've yet to get behind the wheel of the 2009 Nissan Maxima, but our good friends at Popular Mechanics have put the 2009 Maxima through its paces to determine if the car once hailed as the "four door sports car" has returned to its roots. It's hard to argue with the 3.5-Liter VQ which is good for an additional 35 horsepower and 9 lb-ft of twist. On the other hand, we have rarely been impressed with a CVT transmission at the center of any kind of sports car, even one that promises a manual mode that emulates a conventional gearbox. With a sampling of pieces from the Nissan parts bin, including some suspension bits from the Infiniti M45 and a steering wheel said to wind up in some form on the new Nissan 370Z, could this new Maxima chart Nissan's flagship sedan back into sportier waters?
The 2009 Nissan Maxima hasn't exactly been a well kept secret. For instance, we already saw the new Nissan Maxima unofficially prepping itself for its moment in the sun. The big news with the new Maxima, other than it's drastic styling change, is the new "sporty" direction. What does this actually mean? Shorter track and wheel-base than it's rather bloated predecessor. A refined 290-hp VQ V6 and a new Xtroonic CVT with paddle shifting. The new Maxima will arrive this summer with the two trim models: Maxima S and SV.
11:20 AM on Wed Mar 19 2008
By Matt Hardigree
18,100 views,
31 comments
Latest by brandegee: @avanti5010: I like manny trannies because usually the alternative is a 4-spd slushbox that makes decisions yesterday. Obviously the GT-R will have something a little more sporting. But a family sedan with substantial torque steer potential? I think not. Still, a more »
We've already shown you photos of the 2009 Nissan Maxima, in all its funky weirdness. Now we have live shots of the latest version of Nissan's flagship, looking as shapely as it did in the 2009 Maxima spy shots. You would think they'd wait to clean the cars and do their dry runs before Jalopnik shows up. While it's got better proportions than that the outgoing Maxima, dead on the from the front it's definitely... unique. From the side it's an obvious improvement, with a more refined and luxurious look than Maximas past. We haven't gotten under the hood yet, but we expect VQ goodness.
9:01 AM on Wed Mar 19 2008
By Matt Hardigree
7,929 views,
23 comments
Latest by n/a: The nissan looks hideous, the rear looks like they are trying to produce a D-List on European cars. It doesnt work, Japanese cars=a sub par European car. I thought the new camry looks like this but without the horn more »
Looks like despite an embargo officially dropping sometime tonight or tomorrow on the 2009 Nissan Maxima, it looks like the covers have been lifted a bit early. And after the new Maxima teaser shots we showed yesterday that showed us absolutely nothing, we're glad to finally have the official pics thanks to the boys at the site all about Fans of Cars from around the World. They've managed to procure a few shots of the new Maxima and here they are. We'll have a full set of live photos tomorrow at the official New York Auto Show unveil.
8:01 AM on Tue Mar 18 2008
By Ray Wert
85,288 views,
126 comments
Latest by n/a: What The Hell Is Wrong With Nissan!???!!! Geez... The Maxima's (Used To Be) Their "Flagship" Car... WTF!?! Don't waive this "flag" around. -This thing looks like they put a Camry, Infinity, Mercedes, Lexus, & a Hyundai -(All Together In A Blender)...To Create more »
2009 nissan maxima
8:00 AM on Mon Mar 17 2008
By Ray Wert
5,207 views,
21 comments
Latest by Naturally Exasperated?: the only reason i even opened this article, was to point out that......maxima's suck! great cars if you want a 'generic transportation appliance', but not worthy of mention on Jalopnik! more »
new york auto show
8:31 PM on Tue Feb 12 2008
By Ray Wert
67,300 views,
30 comments
Latest by n/a: I have owned four generations of the nissan maxima and loved everyone of them. From the spy phot, I am loving this one and I will love it more once I drive it. Time to trade in my 2006 charger more »
Jalopnik
