The current Nissan Altima was the second-best-selling car in the entire country in March, enjoying a 27.1 percent increase in sales and delivering an all-time monthly record of 41,050 units to satisfied customers. According to Portland Nissan, that record may not last too long, since Nissan has just introduced the new 2013 Altima at the New York Auto Show.
The redesigned Altima wears a premium exterior that stakes out a new, upscale position among today’s humdrum mid-size sedans, and it offers interior amenities, performance, fuel efficiency and smart technologies to match. Highlights of the next-generation Altima include:
- Sleek sheet metal that enables both a wide, aggressive stance and a coefficient of drag of below .30
- Standard infotainment and connectivity features like Bluetooth-enabled hands-free calling and music streaming; the comprehensive NissanConnect system also is available
- Safety measures such as blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning and moving-object detection systems
- A notably upscale cabin, with uniquely designed front seats that were specifically developed to reduce uncomfortable pressure points, as well as an available nine-speaker BOSE sound system
- Significantly improved ride and handling, courtesy of a new suspension that delivers standard front and rear stabilizer bars and Nissan’s Active Understeer Control
But perhaps the biggest news is in the powertrain department. Alexandria Nissan said Nissan engineers reduced friction in the Altima’s cutting-edge continuously variable transmission (CVT) by 40 percent as compared to the 2012 model, and, as a result of that change and more, the 2013 Altima with its standard 2.5-liter I4 engine is projected to achieve both best-in-class acceleration and best-in-class fuel economy of 38 mpg. That tops even the new Chevy Malibu Eco.
According to Hickory NC Nissan Dealer, An optional 3.5-liter 24-valve V6, with 270 hp, 258 lb.-ft. of torque and paddle shifters for manual gear control, also remains available for those with a need for speed.
“With a starting price of $21,500, this new-generation design continues the exceptional combination of value and innovation that made Altima the second best-selling car in the U.S. in 2011,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America, Inc. “With its evocative styling, sophisticated interior, rewarding driving experience, smartphone connectivity and available class-exclusive technologies, we expect an even stronger consumer response to the new Altima when it goes on sale this summer.”
