TRUE to Nissan’s boast of Maxima being its first premium four-door sports car, the 2010 version fulfills the dream of those looking for the sophistication of a sedan and the thrill of a sports car. In fact, the Maxima is something of a Nissan stalwart, having been on the automotive scene for almost 30 years. Since the name’s first introduction in 1981, the car has become a focal point of Nissan’s range, providing a mid-size sedan with a sporty edge. And now the seventh generation of Maxima is here as Nissan’s flagship sedan.
“The 2010 Maxima has two sides to its character — a rational side with sedan practicality and luxury but also the soul of a sports car — so we call it the first premium 4-door sports car from Alhamrani United Co, Nissan’s exclusive Saudi dealer,” says its GM for Marketing Usman Hayat. “The all-new 2010 Maxima is reclaiming its rich high-performance sedan heritage with an infusion of emotional design, driving excitement and advanced technology — creating an aggressive, stimulating sports sedan like no other on the road today.”
Along with Nissan Maxima’s new level of performance comes a high level of passive and active safety equipment in addition to Zone Body construction, realizing Nissan’s Safety Shield concept.
The all-new 2010 Maxima has been designed as a commanding four-door sports car, unique in both appearance and driving feel. High targets were established for it development including the goal of creating the No. 1 front engine, front-wheel drive car in the world along with the goals of class-leading acceleration, braking, handling, craftsmanship and cockpit design.
The breakthrough exterior design of the new Maxima imparts a feeling of liquid motion, which combines an aggressive stance and powerful fender design. Standard 19-inch alloy wheels with low-profile performance tires accent the Maxima’s dynamic new stance.
The new Maxima’s interior design team has developed an interior concept of Super Cockpit — imparting the feeling of a sports car, with controls ergonomically close, yet with ample roominess and comfort for both driver and passengers. There are plenty of luxury features available including navigation system with a rearview monitor, Bose premium audio system, ‘Intelligent Key’ with push button ignition and leather power seats with both cooling and heating functions.
The Maxima comes equipped with a standard 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve award-wining VQ-series V6 engine, rated at 290 horsepower and a punchy 35.7 kg-m of torque making this Nissan’s most powerful sedan ever. The new Maxima’s standard intelligent Xtronic CVT transmission is tuned specifically for the car’s sporty driving character. It includes a manual shift mode, new DS mode (drive sport) and available F1-style paddle shifters. The 2010 Maxima comes equipped with standard Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). In the United States Nissan Maxima has achieved the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highest possible 5 star safety rating for front and side impact crash safety. The Maxima can trace its roots back to the mid 70s as the Datsun Bluebird Maxima, known as the Datsun 810 in the United States. But soon Nissan developed a car that, after a year as the 810 Maxima, began sporting the Maxima name on its own. Upon its release in 1981, it became the first high-volume, six-cylinder Japanese sedan.
Sporting a 2.4-liter engine with around 125bhp, it put its power on the road through the rear wheels and, in 1984, started to sport the Nissan badge rather than the Datsun name. In 1985, Nissan decided it was time that the Maxima had a makeover and launched the car’s second generation with front wheel drive and for the first time an SE grade. This gave it a more luxurious aura above the base GL/GXE models with features like electric power seats in the front and a car security system. In 1990,the third generation of Maxima arrived, bringing with it new standards for performance in the mid-size sedan segment. It was this version of the Maxima that first introduced the concept of a four-door sports car.
A new platform arrived in 1995 on the fourth generation Maxima, which boasted a new rear multilink beam suspension system and a 190bhp V6 engine, as well as an increased wheelbase for more interior space. It was this model that really struck a chord in the Middle East, and sales soared across the GCC.
By 2000, the fifth generation of Maxima was on the scene. This sported increased power from a 222bhp V6 engine and sportier, more aggressive styling that put it a cut above the competing models.
The outgoing Maxima is the sixth generation launched in 2004. Power was boosted again to 255bhp and in 2007 Nissan gave the car its new Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). The sporty design and performance remained, but once again Nissan trod a fine balance between driving enjoyment and luxury, a trait that the Maxima was by now renowned for.
The 2009 Maxima, with the all-new seventh generation, combined a practical sedan and a sports car. This car defined Nissan’s sedans and sat atop the smaller Altima as well as the Sunny and Tiida, and it joined the 370Z and the GT-R as shining examples of what Nissan can achieve. The 2010 Maxima, boasting 290bhp has the highest horsepower and torque figures in its class and equipment levels that raise it high above the outgoing model. That power goes through the latest Xtronic CVT, which comes with a Drive Sport mode with electronic logic control that makes sure the right gear is selected at the right time. The new design ensures that the gears are changed very quickly going into bends and held while exiting the corner to keep the car stable. Adaptive ‘Shift Control’ ensures that the shift patterns are adjusted to match the driver’s demands, whatever the situation.
The Maxima’s handling was honed at the Nürburgring motor sports track in Germany alongside big-name sports cars. It boasts lightweight aluminum components in the suspension and revised geometry with a new shock absorber design. The engine has been mounted lower to bring the center of gravity down but the noise, vibration and harshness levels have been improved dramatically.
The styling has a wow factor that clearly distinguishes the Maxima from its rivals. Witness the large, wraparound L-shaped headlights and a high trunk/boot lid as well as the LED tail lights and standard 19-inch wheels. The car also has a shorter wheelbase and wider track than the previous generation, which gives it a sportier stance. Its stunning performance does not come at the expense of safety. The Maxima boasts disc brakes all around with Electronic Brake force Distribution and Brake Assist to ensure that all the available braking power is used in the event of an emergency, distributed evenly around the car to ensure that it remains stable during an unexpected stop. In crash testing, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the maximum five stars for front and side impact testing, while other standard safety features include a dual airbag system in the front and more airbags at the side and at head level. Vehicle Dynamic Control keeps the car under control in the event of a skid while traction control minimizes unintended wheel spin. A tire pressure warning system alerts the driver to a flat.
But while it is desirable and technologically advanced, the new Maxima will not break the bank, being priced competitively against its rivals.
