First Look: 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe
11/30/2006
Shahed Hussain
The Altima is the hottest selling Nissan sedan, with arguably the raciest styling in its segment. Naturally, Nissan chose it as the basis for the sleek new Altima Coupe, which fills a gaping hole in its lineup. Nissan has not had an affordable coupe since the 1999 240SX, so the 2008 Altima Coupe (on sale September 2007) is a logical addition to its lineup.
Like the new 2007 Altima sedan, the coupe offers a standard 175-bhp 2.5L inline-4, or an optional 270-bhp 3.5L V-6. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual or available Xtronic CVT(TM) automatic. Base Altima Coupes get 16-inch steel or alloy wheels with 215/60R16 tires, while upper models feature 215/55R17 tires on 17-inch alloy wheels. We suspect that younger style-conscious owners will certainly upgrade to 18-inch or larger wheels at the first opportunity.
Nissan shortened the wheelbase 4" to 105.3" vs. the sedan. Overall length is reduced to 182.5" (coupe) vs. 189.8" (sedan). Width remains the same at 70.7", but the coupe measures only 55.3" high vs. 57.9" (sedan). The Altima Coupe shares no common body panels with its sedan counterpart, except for the hood.
For the more sport-oriented buyer, Nissan tuned the suspension for a firmer ride. The new D-Platform (shared with the sedan) has a lower-mounted engine and equal length halfshafts to significantly reduce torque-steer, which should improve overall handling.
Safety features include standard front, side, and side-curtain airbags. Traction control is standard on V-6 models, with optional VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) available. ABS, EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution) and BA (Brake Assist) are included on all models.
Available comfort and convenience options include: Bluetooth(R) Hands-Free Phone, Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, GPS navigation with XM Realtime Traffic updates, and RearView Monitor. An optional Bose(R) 9-speaker audio system should entertain audiophiles.
Nissan did a superb job with the Altima Coupe styling, which echoes the current generation Infiniti G35 Coupe, with elements of the 350Z added to the mix. We expect that this new addition to the Altima lineup will carve out a chunk of the affordable coupe market for Nissan.