2018 Nissan Altima teased ahead of New York motor show
Swoopier sedan is on the way
Nissan has provided a first look at the upcoming Altima sedan, set to debut at the New York motor show later this month.
Details about the new Altima are predictably tricky to nail down. Nissan has only provided one shadowy sketch of its latest Camry competitor, but it looks like a much racier design than the last – slightly dumpy – Altima.
The nose is home to the brand's V-Motion grille and slimline headlights, while the window-line appears to be more coupe-like than you'd get in a traditional sedan. Potentially bad for headroom, but good for looks.
Based on those two elements, we'd suggest the VMotion 2.0 Concept (above) is a good guide for how the production Altima will look.
Beyond that, we're playing the waiting game. We'd expect to see a range of four- and six-cylinder engines hooked up to a CVT transmission, along with optional all-wheel drive.
Of course, there's no guarantee the car will actually be coming to Australia. Nissan is currently an SUV-heavy company, although its Asia and Oceania marketing and sales vice president, Vincent Wijnen, has admitted more variety is necessary.
“It sounds strange but we phased out some models for a number of reasons so we knew we’d get a dip. We did consciously say we had to focus much clearer on a product strategy that’s sustainable for the future as well," he told CarAdvice earlier this year.
“SUVs is one core part of it but that will not be enough to get the growth that Mr Ghosn expects. So we will be adding product to our range including electrification and our aspiration definitely more than we have today.”
We'll keep you updated on the new Altima – and keep you in the loop regarding the likelihood of a local launch.