While there was no sign of Ghosn, Nissan announced that sales are up, up, up! And while the SE-R and SE-R Spec V will only account for 15% of Sentra sales, they are no doubt the hotness Nissan desperately needs to fight Honda. The Spec-V’s close-range, short throw shifter is even mounted in the dash Aoyama style. It also sports a g-meter gauge, which while fanciful, is exactly what the car needs. Hotter in our eyes was the Altima Coupe and its gun pockets!! If there is anything we love half as much as Caminos and Starions, it is an OEM spot to stow your Glock. Nisssan is pulling an Audi with this two-door, as it features a nicer interior than exterior. And we like the exterior.
Our mate at Carscoop calls it a poor man’s Infiniti G35, and despite the front-wheel-drive that’s probably as accurate a comparison as can be made. Rather than a sawed-off Altima sedan, the new Altima Coupe – coming in mid-2007 as a 2008 model – has its own dimensions. Its wheelbase is four inches shorter than the sedan’s, suspension geometry has been altered, and the engine’s placed lower in the subframe. According to the press release, Nissan’s virtually eliminated torque steer by employing equal-length half-shafts with equal angles, which closer to parallel with the ground. (Mech engineers, feel free to chime in here.) And that’s important, because under the hood will be next generation of Nissan’s torquey 3.5 liter V6, producing 270 hp – though the 175 hp, 2.5-liter four will likely be standard. More details after the jump. – Mike Spinelli
2008 Nissan Altima coupe unveiled
Nissan today unveiled the 2008 Altima coupe at the Los Angeles auto show. The car will go on sale as a 2008 model in summer 2007. “Rather than just eliminating two doors from the Altima Sedan, we gave the Altima Coupe its own style, its own dimensions and its own interpretation of Nissan’s exhilarating driving pleasure,” said Bill Bosley, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division.
Though the new coupe shares much with the latest edition of the Altima Sedan, which went on sale in early November 2006. Dimensionally, the Altima Coupe rides on a 105.3-inch wheelbase, a full 4 inches shorter than the Sedan. Overall length is 182.5 inches – 7.1 inches less than the Sedan. The Coupe also has a lower profile – at 55.3 inches it is 2.5 inches shorter than the Sedan. In terms of major body panels, the two cars share only a common hood, with all other panels and lights unique to the coupe.
The new Altima Coupe is offered with a choice of two engines and two transmissions. The 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 is the “next generation” version of the VQ-series V6 offering 270 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Also available with the new Altima Coupe is a 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve QR25 inline 4-cylinder, producing 175 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. Customers can chose between a CVT transmission and a 6-speed manual. Gallery after the jump…
http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/11/29/2008-nissan-altima-coupe-unveiled
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