All-New 2009 Nissan Maxima

Nissan just unveiled the 2009 Nissan Maxima at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. This seventh-generation performance sedan features new exterior and interior designs, along with enhanced performance from a revised 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. The 2009 Maxima goes on sale at Nissan dealers beginning in early summer 2008.

Designed as a four-door sports car, the 2009 Nissan Maxima’s exterior combines an aggressive stance and powerful fender design - not unlike many exotic sports cars on the market today. Maxima's new stance comes, in part, from a slight reduction in wheelbase and overall length, along with a wider front and rear track.

The new Maxima's interior design team developed an interior concept of "Super Cockpit" – for the feeling of sports car with controls close, yet with plenty of room for both driver and passengers. The interior includes a special driver's sport seat, available leather-appointed seating, offset shifter lever that is closer to the driver, "Daylight Illumination" gauges and a range of available technology, including a premium audio system, RearView Monitor and Nissan Hard Drive Navigation system with XM NavTraffic real-time traffic information (active XM subscription required, sold separately), Voice Recognition and 9.3GB Music Box Hard Drive.

The 2009 Maxima offers a more powerful engine, quicker acceleration and a performance-oriented tuned exhaust note. The new Maxima features a standard 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve VQ-series V6 engine, enhanced to take driving performance to new levels. The revised engine is now rated at 290 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque (estimated), increases of 35 horsepower and 9 lb-ft of torque over the 2008 Maxima engine. All 2009 Maximas come with a revised standard Xtronic CVT with manual mode, tuned specifically for Maxima's sporty driving character, and available paddle shifters. A new "Ds mode" (drive sport) is added to the CVT for 2009. www.nissanusa.com