Topspeed.com: 2016 Nissan Maxima Nismo

The Nissan Maxima’s replacement is finally on track for arrival next fall as a 2015 or early-2016 model, with a shift in focus toward performance to better differentiate Nissan’s flagship sedan from the popular (but bland) Altima sedan.

Exclusive TopSpeed Renderings show a speculative preview of this hot new sports sedan, which looks to shake off the front-drive proportions and goofy grin in favor of a wider, lower and meaner style like the 370Z and GT-R.

Nissan’s sports car lineup has never been this strong, and continued support for the company’s two tiers of performance cars has really helped the brand’s image, despite being diluted from selling millions of basic Sentra’s and Versa econoboxes to pay the bills.

The Maxima was really at a crossroads before this current re-alignment to its 4DSC roots. The next generation was even mooted to go the full EV route, with the cab-forward styling of the 2011 Nissan Ellure concept thought to be previewing both the just-launched Altima and next Maxima.

Another option on the table would adapt the 370Z’s latest chassis for use in a rear-drive sedan, or even a stretched GT-R of our dreams. These two scenarios are far less likely than a continued front-drive layout, but low and dramatic proportions that evolve the boring Nissan look very nicely.

Keeping the existing Maxima layout is a safe bet because it is the only way to continue the current model’s $31,000 to $36,000 price range. Nissan’s ability to sell a volume sedan for more than $40,000 is less than a sure thing, especially with Infiniti’s billion-dollar name changes and new Q50 sedan to replace the G37.

The next Maxima looks sharp, low and aggressive in these previews, which base the roofline and proportions on a brief glimpse of a future design shown to the press at a recent Nissan event.

Even with the most likely scenario of a front-drive, front-engine platform, the styling exercise shows real progress in establishing a global Nissan face. The styling woes and overlap between Nissan and Infiniti designers has created a confused and disjointed line, with too much similarity between a $15,000 Sentra’s grille and those used on the Infiniti Q70. You better believe no one would be buying BMW 750Li sedans for $100,000 if there was a $10,000 rental car that looked just like it.

The Maxima’s trend-setting place in the Nissan range was also blatantly replicated on the firm’s cheapest sedans, leaving the current Maxima without much of the cool factor enjoyed by the 370Z and GT-R.

In the exterior dimension estimates below, the dimensions of the next Maxima are likely to be lower, longer and much wider. Width is the key buying factor for many people who like a big car versus a midsize, so the Maxima will grow in size but also have a steep, rear-drive-style windshield angle and reclined racing seating position.

This is a big change versus the Nissan Ellure concept, which adds more Prius-like features for a deeply raked glasshouse and EV-hinting details.

The roofline is the most drastic drop: from the previous Toyota Echo-like look of the Maxima, the new sedan is expected to chop more than 2 inches from the total height. The long and low graphic is at once both very satisfying and interesting, with a shorter-than-normal front overhang and a deeply sloping roof.

The blacked-out pillars are a key GT-R styling feature that help the car look like the Stig’s helmet with a continuous bar of black-tinted glass. The pillars themselves are also black, offering a floating roof that is anchored by a painted pillar only at the trunk.

Source (with dimensions);
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/nissan/2016-nissan-maxima-nismo-ar160220.html