Nissan shows vital life signs

We won't have to wait much longer to see if the Nissan Revival Plan has any chance of reviving the automaker's moribund car lines.

Not launched yet, but just around the corner in calendar '01 are an all-new Altima that Nissan insiders swear will wear genuine sport-sedan credentials, and the promise of several hot entries for both Nissan and the upmarket Infiniti division.

But staying with the '01 theme, Nissan offers a Maxima Anniversary Edition (its 20th) with the smoking 227-hp version of perennial award-winning 3L VQ DOHC V-6 normally reserved for the Infiniti I30.

We're, predicting a solid hit for Nissan's restyled '01 Frontier compact pickup. There's a cool industrial-chic look to the new truck, as well as the availability of a 210-hp, Eaton-super charged version of its optional 3.3L SOHC V-6.

The Infiniti division meanwhile claims "no excuses" when the all-new '02 Q45 flagship hits the street next year. There a mongo 4.5L DOHC V-8 that promises a class-leading 340 horses, and a new platform that promises Euro-challenging handling.

Meanwhile, we're told that Nissan's cooking up a bunch of competition-pummeling new engines.

COPYRIGHT 2000 PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media Inc. All rights reserved.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group