2013 Nissan Altima Debuts, does 38 MPG HWY and priced from $21,500*
Senin, 23 April 2012
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That said, this step forward for the Altima should make it more competitive than ever in one of the most highly shopped segments of North America's automotive marketplace. Nissan has not only been able to shed enough weight to make the Altima the lightest car in its class, it now boasts the best highway fuel economy for any non-hybrid midsize sedan: 38 miles per gallon when paired with the 182-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-four. Combine that with a new rear suspension setup, class-exclusive driving aids such as Active Understeer Control and a slew of new infotainment functionality, and Nissan's midsizer looks to have what it takes to keep running with the segment's best.
The 2013 Altima rides on the same wheelbase as the outgoing model, though this new car is 0.8 inches longer and 1.4 inches wider. It's not much taller, though the C and D pillars have been given more aggressive rakes to give the impression of a much larger sedan. Nissan says it wants the Altima to seem like "a class above" the normal midsize sedan. High-strength steel is found throughout the car's body, as well as an aluminum hood, meaning that despite its larger dimensions and added onboard technology, the 2013 Altima is actually 79 pounds lighter than the 2012 model.
From a design perspective, the 2013 Altima falls right in line with the rest of the revamped Nissan stable. Much of the new sedan's design was previewed by the 2010 Ellure concept, though we think the production model speaks more of Maxima influence than the swoopy showcar. Up front, the pinched – or as Lexus would say, "spindle" – grille is flanked by large headlamp clusters pulled back over the fenders, and while the new fascia is certainly more aggressive than the outgoing car, it should still be sedate enough to appeal to a wide variety of consumers. There are plenty of additional Maxima cues around back, including more angular boomerang taillamps that wrap around the sides of the car and a long, aggressively raked rear backlight that meets a relatively short decklid.
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