Nissan Altima

[!!!TED!!!]

A few pictures from the Barrie autoshow in Ontario. Taken by polish_kris.

According to the note on the windshield, this is the only 07 Altima in Canada.

[Croc]

It's bringing sexy back!!!

So much better than the last Altima!

[VenSeattle]

Don't know why... but if I wasn't paying attention, I doubt I'd notice the 2007 Altima was an all-new model. Nissan should have gone further.

[regfootball]

Don't know why... but if I wasn't paying attention, I doubt I'd notice the 2007 Altima was an all-new model. Nissan should have gone further.

194425[/snapback]

they say its new but it sure doesn't look it. Bet it still shares a lot of parts you can and cannot see with the Maxima and pre 07 altima. those door cuts look familiar.

i am sooooo TIRED OF the nissan headlights and tailights. overdone.

yet, 260hp, cvt or 6 speed, nice driver's interior, decetn space, keyless start, mp3.

spells winner to me. give them the crown right now.

[razoredge]

It appears to have gotten rid of that Mr Roboto look of the last one, more curves and flowing. The center stack and steering wheel suck, like most do these days. So does the pickup truck facia. I will forever, hate Chrysler for this and the former "cab forward" trend. Is everything going to have this same exact sculpting to the hood/grill layout until we are so sick of it that all cars that ever had it will be hated into eternity ? The whole thing has already become a very tiring formula. Droop to the lower edge of the grill, folds running the lenght of the hood tapering inward to the grill then protruding slightly forward of the headlights. Really nice until every car made by every manufacturer uses it. Now I believe Id scream if the Velite was released as the prototype was seen. What modern car used this first ? Volvo ? Like 5 years ago ?

[I hope GMRULES again]

It s getting harder to tell the Altima and Maxima apart.

[Flybrian]

There's something wrong with the grille. Probably that piece just on the bottom of the Nissan badge. Nicer steering wheel, but the rear end sucks with that caved in big-ass Maxima treatment.

OMG THREE AIR VENTS ON TEH CENTER CONSOLE LETS ALL MAK FUN OF IT LEK WE ID TEH GRAND AM!!!!11111

[razoredge]

OMG THREE AIR VENTS ON TEH CENTER CONSOLE LETS ALL MAK FUN OF IT LEK WE ID TEH GRAND AM!!!!11111

194458[/snapback]

Yea, whats is that ? The new Pontiac G8 interior ? Look at all the buttons, that would take like three weeks with the owners manual and special ed to figure out how to operate.................... Will they send us away for classes ?

[Variance]

Kind of puts me in mind of a four-door 350Z in exterior design. Interior design is pretty nice, too; it could put some of those from "premium" brands to shame.

[ocnblu]

I cannot hate Nissan like I can Toyota. Nice car.

[pow]

OMG THREE AIR VENTS ON TEH CENTER CONSOLE LETS ALL MAK FUN OF IT LEK WE ID TEH GRAND AM!!!!11111

194458[/snapback]

Agreed... the interior looks cheap 'n cheesy.

Apart from the specs and features, I'm not that impressed.

Edited September 18, 2006 by empowah

[Northstar]

The CD changer is located in a terrible spot. I don't think it looks different enough from the old one, and I also think the grill looks unfinished with the chrome only on the top and bottom but for some reason not on the side of the grill as well.

[Cory Wolfe]

they say its new but it sure doesn't look it.  Bet it still shares a lot of parts you can and cannot see with the Maxima and pre 07 altima.  those door cuts look familiar.

i am sooooo TIRED OF the nissan headlights and tailights.  overdone.

194432[/snapback]

Please tell me you're kidding. Any person with any eyesight what so ever could see how its simply an all new styled vehicle than the previous one. Point out one shared part. I dare you.

Although, I will agree that the headlights and taillights are overdone, unlike most Nissans.

OMG THREE AIR VENTS ON TEH CENTER CONSOLE LETS ALL MAK FUN OF IT LEK WE ID TEH GRAND AM!!!!11111

194458[/snapback]

Heh... Actually, I'm not much of a fan of them. Be it that they're stuck there on a hard edged center stack or that the side vents are rectangular and just dont seem to fit in with the general design. As far as the steering wheel, though, I much prefer Nissan's three spokes. This four spoke is ugly.

Anywho... Love the exterior design and the interior is starting to grow on me.

[Intrepidation]

Please tell me you're kidding. Any person with any eyesight what so ever could see how its simply an all new styled vehicle than the previous one. Point out one shared part. I dare you.

Although, I will agree that the headlights and taillights are overdone, unlike most Nissans.

Heh... Actually, I'm not much of a fan of them. Be it that they're stuck there on a hard edged center stack or that the side vents are rectangular and just dont seem to fit in with the general design. As far as the steering wheel, though, I much prefer Nissan's three spokes. This four spoke is ugly.

Anywho... Love the exterior design and the interior is starting to grow on me.

194680[/snapback]

Wow BV, we agree on something. The car may loook similar, but unless your're blind, you can see it's completely different. I for one much perfer this design to the previous Altima, especially the back, which looks much nicer and less fat looking and full of empty space. The interior I like a lot, and I don't think it looks cheap either. The only thing is that I think I actually prefer it without the Nav, design-wise anyway. I do happen to like the 4-spoke wheel, I think it is a very interesting design, without being overdone.

The exterior is great, A+, the interior looks very nice too, A, and the features (powerful V6 and available manual): sweet. A+. Great Job nissan...now go fix that ugly Armada.

[bobo]

It's a nice evolution of the current car. Interior is pure Nissan. If the materials are good, this will be a nice ride. The steering wheel should have been a 3-spoker. The optional push-button start is not something you'd expect in this class.

[regfootball]

Agreed... the interior looks cheap 'n cheesy.

Apart from the specs and features, I'm not that impressed.

194550[/snapback]

its better than the camry.

[regfootball]

The CD changer is located in a terrible spot. I don't think it looks different enough from the old one, and I also think the grill looks unfinished with the chrome only on the top and bottom but for some reason not on the side of the grill as well.

194560[/snapback]

get an ipod it won't matter then

[regfootball]

Please tell me you're kidding. Any person with any eyesight what so ever could see how its simply an all new styled vehicle than the previous one. Point out one shared part. I dare you.

194680[/snapback]

first off, in case you're living under a rock, the max and alt are built in the same plant, that alone implies platform and parts sharing.

we already know the 06 altima and max shared a bunch of parts but not so many exterior pieces.

now look here

since the photos are not the exact same direction, but i've seen many other photos.

my comparison here is how the cadillac BLS uses the saab 9-3 doors but has a bit of a black part on the C pillar to distinguish the BLS greenhouse from the Saab. I think we have this going on here. If you look at the fender to a pillar transition its about the same. the mirrors look about the same. Look at where the door handles are. The side door glass is likely shared parts I bet. The metal door frame around the window is the same I bet but the arc of the roof line is different. This is the BLS analogy. The rear part of the roof on the maxima is thicker and has the buttresses. On the Altima there is some black filler behind the window sill on the C pillar that is not on the maxima. I bet the lower door structure of the alt and max are the same.....the altima has a different door skin with the falling character line. But looks again, the arc/flares around the wheels are almost identical and look at the door cutlines are over the rear wheel. loosk the same. The front clips are slightly different and the hoods and front fenders are sculpted uniquely, but i bet the crash structure is the same. the rear of the alt has the most differences from the max, and is pretty much all unique, but again, the rear decklids while unique are similar enough to suggest innards being shared. Those headlight cluster outlines look too damn closes also.

Ghosn would never spend the money for these cars to be so different yet look so close.

Don't buy for a minute that the Altima's platform is "all new"....my guess is its revised a fair amount, but still has a fair amount of commonality with the current max. nissan wants to build these cars in the same plant, with flexible production based on demand. and if they can, share parts without people knowing.

Edited September 18, 2006 by regfootball

[regfootball]

It s getting harder to tell the Altima and Maxima apart.

194457[/snapback]

for reasons mentioned in my post above.

and even if there's not one part shared, which i guess is very likely then I guess i would ask why did they bother to make them look so close.

Edited September 18, 2006 by regfootball

[Intrepidation]

Family resemblance? Sure. Shared exterior/interior parts I think not. I can see obvious differences, and you should be able to, that is unless you've been living under a rock and your eyes are too sensative too light

The door handles are not shared, they have a different shape, they also have a different placement.

Also, until you have structural diagrams to prove otherwise, I doubt innards are the same.

There's nothing wrong with a family resmblance, it's just that most other car companies have yet to get all their cars to share a common theme, they keep changing it or can't come up witha decent one. Only Dodge has really had a consistant, long-term theme (crosshair grill).

Good Game, Try again.

Edited September 18, 2006 by Dodgefan

[Cory Wolfe]

first off, in case you're living under a rock, the max and alt are built in the same plant, that alone implies platform and parts sharing.

we already know the 06 altima and max shared a bunch of parts but not so many exterior pieces.

my comparison here is how the cadillac BLS uses the saab 9-3 doors but has a bit of a black part on the C pillar to distinguish the BLS greenhouse from the Saab.  I think we have this going on here.  If you look at the fender to a pillar transition its about the same.  the mirrors look about the same.  Look at where the door handles are.  The side door glass is likely shared parts I bet.  The metal door frame around the window is the same I bet but the arc of the roof line is different.  This is the BLS analogy.  The rear part of the roof on the maxima is thicker and has the buttresses.  On the Altima there is some black filler behind the window sill on the C pillar that is not on the maxima.  I bet the lower door structure of the alt and max are the same.....the altima has a different door skin with the falling character line.  But looks again, the arc/flares around the wheels are almost identical and look at the door cutlines are over the rear wheel.  loosk the same.  The front clips are slightly different and sculpted uniquely, but i bet the crash structure is the same.  the rear of the alt has the most differences from the max, and is pretty much all unique, but again, the rear decklids while unique are similar enough to suggest innards being shared.  Those headlight cluster outlines look too damn closes also.

Ghosn would never spend the money for these cars to be so different yet look so close. 

Don't buy for a minute that the Altima's platform is "all new"....my guess is its revised a fair amount, but still has a fair amount of commonality with the current max.  nissan wants to build these cars in the same plant, with flexible production based on demand.  and if they can, share parts without people knowing.

194730[/snapback]

I said with the previous Altima, smart one.

Secondly, as far as the Altima and Maxima... The doors are different, the headlights are different, the panels are different. If you even begin to suggest they are the same, I will begin to suggest that you're not entirely too smart or don't have much for eyesight. The differences are there and pretty notable. Even for the inner structures. Then you must consider different measurements between the Altima and Maxima. I'm not denying some parts are shared, but to suggest it's even remotely similar to the BLS/9-3 twins strategy is absolutely ridiculous. Have you ever heard of shared design cues between vehicles in one brand? These look more different than what BMWs used to... and those certainly werent alike the BLS/9-3 twins.

Sometimes Reg, you really make me wonder about you...

[regfootball]

i bet you the windshields are the same. front and rear door glass is probably the same too

Edited September 18, 2006 by regfootball

[Cory Wolfe]

I bet not. Especially the door glass since its so obviously different.

[Dsuupr]

Don't know why... but if I wasn't paying attention, I doubt I'd notice the 2007 Altima was an all-new model. Nissan should have gone further.

194425[/snapback]

I agree. It looks too much like the last, including the interior which wasn't liked in the first place.

[Intrepidation]

i bet you the windshields are the same.  front and rear door glass is probably the same too

194742[/snapback]

Reg...are you farsighted? Does your monitor suck that hard? Or are you just fixated on trying to make the cars the same? The front and rear glass...none of the glass is the same. The shapes an angles are different, and I'm willing to be the dimensions are too. Must I draw it out for you?

C'mon reg, give it up..or are ou a glutton for punishment?

Edited September 18, 2006 by Dodgefan

[regfootball]

Reg...are you farsighted? Does your monitor suck that hard? Or are you just fixated on trying to make the cars the same? The front and rear glass...none of the glass is the same. The shapes an angles are different, and I'm willing to be the dimensions are too. Must I draw it out for you?

C'mon reg, give it up..or are ou a glutton for punishment?

194817[/snapback]

what a rube, that's 45 minutes of your important time you'll never get back. Let's see, surf porn or music / make complex car graphics. Not the choice I would make.

boy, those A pillars, do match up. windshield too. firewall must be the same then. new platform to nissan must simply mean new subframe for the motor and revised front suspension using the same chassis mounting points. They spent the money on the new suspension and half shafts to rid the torque steer. The floorpan and fuel tank is likely the same.

the alt and max share more parts than your young messed up minds can fathom. Ghosn is too cheap to design an all new car. there is a very liberal use of the term 'new platform' here. this is like saying the uplander is on a new platform vs. the venture.

Edited September 18, 2006 by regfootball

[sciguy_0504]

It's good but not great. I agree with those saying it looks like the last-gen and the current Maxima. I am kind of disappointed with the lack of an all-new design but it is a nice comprehensive update. The interior looks good but I hope the materials are there. You can even tell the interior wasn't totally changed from the last-gen. The jello-like taillights are annoying.

[FAPTurbo]

Weird. I just saw the interior and I got a weird VW Passat vibe for a second...

I gotta lay off the poppy seed muffins.

what a rube, that's 45 minutes of your important time you'll never get back. Let's see, surf porn or music / make complex car graphics. Not the choice I would make.

[Cory Wolfe]

Reg is a marijuana addict.

[razoredge]

Now that Ive seen a side shot of the car...........its still one ugly bitch ! Then with the two side by side photos its clearly the same styling.........whether they changed the C pillor or not. Im glad its still ugly, less competiton for GM.

Whats with the disproportional HUGE overhangs......................

[big blue]

It's alright, never been a fan of triple center vents. I think the Accord's interior is still better than the new Altima and Camry for that matter. I guess the same thing I said about the G35 applies to the new Altima too: it just looks a little too similar to last year's model. Still though, it IS an improvement I just don't have any inclination to purchase one of these.

[Snate]

Exterior looks almost identical...guess I never cared much for the car to see "all the little things"

Interior is a big improvement...but still looks pretty cheap.

[bowtie_dude]

Don't like the interior colors, but I love the design. Would have liked to have gotten a better profile shot. I've still not warmed up to the Maxima headlights, but the rest of the car looks great!

[caddycruiser]

Nice car. Not over the top, but not at all drab either. Pretty much a perfect continuation and refresh of what made the current Altima so popular, initially awful interior and all. Essentially, not as drab and squishy as the dime a dozen Camry, not as "Honda" (not sure how to describe it otherwise) as an Accord, but still the sportiest import sedan with a great reliability reputation and more lively looks and driving feel.

Then again, after riding around in a co-worker's '03 (old interior) with quite a few miles, and driven like wild, I came away impressed. I always thought they'd be very flimsy and rattly cars based on my auto show impressions, but it was tight, solid, and quiet, and definately moved well even with the 4-cyl. And hard materials and some goofy gaps or not, it still felt better in person and was more solid than some GM's I'm so used to. This guy loves it, and after driving a new '07 Maxima to see what the CVT is like, he's trading it in a couple months after the new Altimas come out for one.

[Intrepidation]

what a rube, that's 45 minutes of your important time you'll never get back.  Let's see, surf porn or music / make complex car graphics.  Not the choice I would make.

boy, those A pillars, do match up.  windshield too.  firewall must be the same then.  new platform to nissan must simply mean new subframe for the motor and revised front suspension using the same chassis mounting points.  They spent the money on the new suspension and half shafts to rid the torque steer.  The floorpan and fuel tank is likely the same.

the alt and max share more parts than your young messed up minds can fathom.  Ghosn is too cheap to design an all new car.  there is a very liberal use of the term 'new platform' here.  this is like saying the uplander is on a new platform vs. the venture.

194936[/snapback]

45 minutes? How bad do you suck at the computer? It took all of...maybe a minute and a half...25 seconds of that was loading the Photoshop.

Also, if you look closely, they are similar but not the same A-pillars Old Man

If it shares parts it'd be with the previous Altima not the Maxima (engine nonwithstanding).

Edited September 20, 2006 by Dodgefan

[regfootball]

someone call the auto glass store. the current 06 altima and maxima probably share windshields.

[razoredge]

They look the same, fugly, end of story. Who care if they share parts or not, the look is the same, which is bad. It amazes me that somehow we are supposed to believe these two photos were takin at same exact distance and to identical scale.

[Robert Hall]

someone call the auto glass store.  the current 06 altima and maxima probably share windshields.

195881[/snapback]

So what if they do? How many GM products share windshields (W-bodies?).

[Northstar]

I doubt hardly any cars share windshields, the Silverado and Sierra probably do, as do some SUVs I'm sure, but I don't think many cars do anymore. I'm pretty sure the Maxima is a good bit wider than the Altima, so if it used the Altima's windshield, then, well, it wouldn't fit. It would be rather difficult to share windshields between vehicles, I think, because that means the distance from where it meets the roof to where it ends has to be almost exactly the same, the width has to be exactly the same, and if there's any difference in the thickness of the A-Pillars, even if they have the same width, that could throw things off.

[regfootball]

So what if they do?  How many GM products share windshields (W-bodies?).

196049[/snapback]

i don't care if they do, but my point is, Nissan says the car is new and has an all new 'platform', i say NO, its not as new and different as they are making it out to be. I'm saying it has a lot more commonality to the old altima and current maxima than they are letting on to. and I don't care, I just think they should admit it. basically i don't like how they are lying.

[Variance]

Reg, what is it going to take to convince you it's a new platform?

Just because they look similar (and not all that similar, at that) doesn't mean anything. The outer body of a car has little to do with the platform.

[Cory Wolfe]

Reg, what is it going to take to convince you it's a new platform?

Just because they look similar (and not all that similar, at that) doesn't mean anything. The outer body of a car has little to do with the platform.

196096[/snapback]

[Guest YellowJacket894]

Now, Reginald, there's no need to be stubborn.

[Flybrian]

Whatever platform it rides, I'll look forward to renting one...

[Drew Dowdell]

there is a very liberal use of the term 'new platform' here.  this is like saying the uplander is on a new platform vs. the venture.

194936[/snapback]

!!!!!

[Drew Dowdell]

Whatever platform it rides, I'll look forward to renting one...

197082[/snapback]

I love your backhanded compliments Fly.

[razoredge]

So they took a new platform and put the same ugly profile on top of it ?

thats OK ?

but

GM cant take an older platfom, upgrade it and put a better looking body on, and get away with it ?

OK

I

get

it

now

[Robert Hall]

i don't care if they do, but my point is, Nissan says the car is new and has an all new 'platform', i say NO, its not as new and different as they are making it out to be.  I'm saying it has a lot more commonality to the old altima and current maxima than they are letting on to.  and I don't care, I just think they should admit it.  basically i don't like how they are lying.

196083[/snapback]

Do you have the facts to back this up, or is this just your usual BS?

Edited September 24, 2006 by moltar

[Flybrian]

For the record, the car does ride on Nissan's 'D Platform,' which is differentiated from the '02 Altima's FF-L by a wheelbase that's 1-inch shorter along with suspension improvements. That's the party line.

However, practically, I have no knowledge that tells me that is any different than something like GM's G-body platform, which was shared by the Riviera, Aurora, and Park Avenue, then as an improved and 1.6" shorter platform for the LeSabre, Aurora, and Bonneville in 2000/01, and then lengthend to 115.5" for the 2006 Lucerne, except that General Motors refers to all cars collectively as G-bodies.

I suspect the same condition exists here, except the 'improvements' warrant a new platform designation.

[Drew Dowdell]

For the record, the car does ride on Nissan's 'D Platform,' which is differentiated from the '02 Altima's FF-L by a wheelbase that's 1-inch shorter along with suspension improvements. That's the party line.

However, practically, I have no knowledge that tells me that is any different than  something like GM's G-body platform, which was shared by the Riviera, Aurora, and Park Avenue, then as an improved and 1.6" shorter platform for the LeSabre, Aurora, and Bonneville in 2000/01, and then lengthend to 115.5" for the 2006 Lucerne, except that General Motors refers to all cars collectively as G-bodies.

I suspect the same condition exists here, except the 'improvements' warrant a new platform designation.

197100[/snapback]

Heck if that's the case, the W-bodies should be broken up into 4-5 different platforms if they used Nissan's method.