Nissan rolls out new look for old models - 04/05/06 - The Detroit News

Nissan Redoes Entire Car Line for 2007
Sentra, Altima and Maxima Redsigned - Versa Added

If things aren't difficult enough for GM & Ford, here comes Nissan, the most profitable automaker, with an entirely new car line up.

The 2007 Sentra will be new from the ground-up, with a new 2.0 liter engine and new transmissions. With 97 cubic feet of interior room, it has about the same amount of room as the Altima did 10 years ago.

Finally, the Quest minivan will probably look like it does today, but it will get rid of that stupid center instrument panel. That one styling mistake probably cost Nissan 30% of sales.

Since the Sentra has gone compact, the new Versa comes in as an all new subcompact line. It will compete in the B-class with the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Chevrolet Aveo, etc.

The Altima and the Maxima may share some components with the previous generation, but they get a complete restyling plus mechanical updates. A hybrid Altima will eventually make it to market using technology licensed from Toyota.

It looks like both the Altima and the Maxima will be offered with continuously variable transmissions. Nissan's subsidiary, Jatco, is the leader in CVTs, providing the transmission for the Dodge Caliber among others. For several years, the Nissan Murano crossover has featured a CVT, disproving the common wisdom that CVTs can't work with high horsepower and high torque engines.

Nissan rolls out new look for old models - 04/05/06 - The Detroit News