i've also been wondering this... with the premier car in the nissan/infinit line-up being the nissan gt-r, the nissan to infiniti jump is not that far. i think nissan's better quality for a more affordable price is starting to intrude on it's own infiniti line-up of lesser quality luxury at a more affordable price.

 

The only thing that infiniti doesn't have, that Acura and Lexus sell a lot of, is a FWD car. Infiniti is missing that whole market. People like my mom, who loves her 2003 I35. She will be in the market soon. Now she'll have to look elsewhere, because infiniti got rid of their FWD cars.

 

We just got our first 09 Maxima today...and Damn! Its a bad son of a...Honestly I wasnt too sure about the front design when the pics were released either...I saw it in person and its BADDD in a really good way. We have got a SV with the sport package so 19" wheels, paddle shifters, sport suspension. Its sick very nice...if youre you've been interested in one you MUST see it in person...especially black on black.

 

post pics -

 

+1.

 

No problem. But like I said its better its better in person. In the morning.

 

cell phone pic..i know, sorry guys!

 

wow... it looks better than i thought it would... first time seeing it in black.

(hides the ugly, me thinks)

 

It totally changed my opinion. If I didnt have my G coupe, (and had kids) I definetley be interested in one...I'd drop it about an inch and be done.

 

Looks great! I've had 2 maximas in the last 8 years. Great car for the money. I don't know if it is just the pic angle, but doesn't the front remind you of the Q45?

 

Looks like the black does hide the terrible lines on the Maxima. Anyone who owns a high (more than 200)hp front wheel drive car without a LSD and says they don't feel torque steer is a liar. They have simply become used to it. Personally, I like rwd, but awd is very forgiving for whoever (wife) gets behind the wheel.

 

I was thinking the same thing, thats the first thing I though of when I saw it.

 

To answer your Question LiquidGx based on the In-Dealership Launch Training Handbook they've "virtually eliminated torque steer" by utilizing a "6-point engine mounting system" that allows the engine to sit lower than ever. Appreciate your feedback, but I've driven it hard and the feel is superior to any other front drive car I've driven. Dont forget I'm a g35c owner myself and I prefer rwd. Also I also thought there was similarities to the Q as well, but its not quite as evident when seeing the car as a whole.

 

i saw a silver one over the weekend by the College Park Nissan dealership if anyone in Maryland wants to check it out. the pics definitely dont do this car justice. it looks A LOT tighter in person. If i didnt get my g coupe this year, i wouldn't mind rocking the new max.

 

I must admit that I'm very much a fan of the A36's design. A large improvement over the previous car with it's bloated look. The "buck tooth grille" on the earlier '04-'06 cars didn't help either. At least they got rid of that thing with the '07 update.

However, as much as I love the new car's look, I have to say that I'm very disappointed with Nissan's decision to go with a standard CVT. This car is begging for a 6 speed manual. I understand that Nissan is foregoing conventional torque converter autos on all of its FWD cars, so the lack of a proper automatic transmission is no surprise. However from all the reviews I've read, the transmission is the car's biggest weak point. On a vehicle that's supposed to be a true "driver's car" the CVT is a real let down. Especially when you can get one on an Altima Coupe AND an Altima Sedan.

Give us a Maxima SE-R with a proper 6 speed stick please. We won't mind if you have to discontinue the Altima Sedan 3.5SE 6M/T to make room for a 6M/T Maxima. I'm sure most of the folks who buy stick shift Altimas buy Coupes anyway.