Bold changes for Nissan Altima
 

2013 model has new design and better performance

Doug Guthrie - DETROITNEWS - May 25, 2012

There was great risk in completely redesigning the second most popular midsize car in America, but Nissan's 2013 Altima is improved in almost every way.

Inside and out, Altima looks and performs better than the popular 2012 model. It's lighter, faster and gets better fuel economy.

Nissan claims its base 2.5-liter, four-cylinder model will get a best-in-class 27 mpg city and 38 mpg highway, and still out-accelerate all other midsize sedans. Altima's 3.5-liter V-6 model gets 21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.

The exterior has striking new lines that Nissan officials say project the shape of other soon-to-be reveals. The interior features more room, richer materials and greater technology.

The base Altima sells for $22,270. A fully loaded V-6 model costs up to $31,940. Dealers will see their first new Altima deliveries next week. Altima continues to use a constantly variable transmission to save weight over the more common manual or automatic transmission. The Altima's four-cylinder engine also requires only a gas-saving 1,450 rpm to cruise at 60 miles per hour... [Read More]

Re: Bold changes for Nissan Altima
 

"Nissan's engineers, however, have stuck with the CVT, claiming internal improvements that have achieved a 40-percent reduction in friction."
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I end up with an Altima rental a few times per year. Every time I get in one I end up thinking "nice car". The CVT's a little different... but a small "driving experience penalty" to pay for the fuel economy. ... (perhaps a smaller penalty with the redesigned CVT(?)).

27/38 from a sedan this size with 182 hp on tap ..? ...... get -er - done**!

/ @ $22,270 for the base -- seems like this might dig into the hybrid market.
//**"Get-er-done" ... that's a term they like to use south of Nashville, ... where the Altima plant is.

Re: Bold changes for Nissan Altima
 

Wayne,

Looks like there's a lot of tech in this car.... (sans turbocharging, direct injection, or a hybrid battery -- bonus(IMO)).

Would be nice to read one of your (technically oriented) test drive reviews if you get the chance.

Re: Bold changes for Nissan Altima
 

Hi Carcus:

Here is a preview of the 2013 Nissan Altima:


Wayne

Re: Bold changes for Nissan Altima
 

Nice.

(somehow I missed the 4/5/12 preview)

Re: Bold changes for Nissan Altima
 

this is awesome! I hope the CVT wont be unreliable, if it is, all the gas savings will be wiped out by fixing it.


I think within 2 years, a 40 mpg highway midsize sedan N/A will emerge....

Re: Bold changes for Nissan Altima
 

I've had an Altima as a rental car a couple times.
My engineer coworker couldn't tell that it was a CVT.
Funny thing is, with him being a manual-only driver, he should have understood.

I thought the CVT was smooth and provided a really nice driving experience.
I'd just like to see what ends up happening with reliability.