Nissan Altima Coupe (Update: Confirmed)

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It’s very difficult to surprise most car enthusiasts these days, but I was genuinely taken aback by this spyshot, if only because the thought of an Altima coupe had never even occurred to me.

I have to say though: if they make it, and the final production vehicle looks like that, then WOW! That looks gorgeous, and why shouldn’t it, since it plagiarizes the 350Z and G35? :D
 
That is a stunning looking coupe(I almost said sedan!). But if it handles anything like my '04 Altima, then no thanks. I'd take a mediocre-looking coupe that's fun to drive over a car like this any day.
 
For me it simply looks like a new G35/Skyline Coupé... facelift so to say...
 
My Japanese is a bit rusty (read: nonexistent), so I had trouble navigating Nissan's JDM website (http://www.nissan.co.jp/CATALOG/). Even still, I couldn't find any 2007 Skyline Coupe. Since we just had a G35/Skyline sedan refresher, couldn't this simply be the JDM G35 Coupe?

I'm sure something as radical as an Altima Coupe would have been leaked in sketches or renderings long before a physical model was built.
 
They won't produce it because I'm so sure it's just a G35 coupe with Nissan badges for a different market.
 
2-oct23-alt.jpg


...That certainly looks like an Altima Coupe to me...

My guess is that Nissan North America figured out that Honda had control of a niche (sp?) with the Accord Coupe, and now with Pontiac in the game, why not throw in your hand? If Nissan still has the balls they need to be the kick-ass company they used to be, they would only sell it with the high-power engines, strap it down on the SE-R suspension only, and make it a performance coupe.

...That way both the brand and the model maintains its sporting reputation, and doesn't look like a joke anymore...
 
YSSMAN
My guess is that Nissan North America figured out that Honda had control of a niche (sp?) with the Accord Coupe, and now with Pontiac in the game, why not throw in your hand?
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Because that is a segment that never ever gets good sales figures.
 
I really like the way it looks, but I fail to see the point. :indiff:

Autoblog's idea would solve that problem --
Autoblog.com
Even better -- make it rear-wheel drive and it'll be the spiritual successor to the 240SX.
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-- but there's a very, very low chance of that happening.
 
Looks fantastic. And moreover if Nissan actually produces the Altima coupe with the SE-R trim it would just flat out rock. My approval: 92%.
 
a6m5
Isn't Teana supposed to be the closest to our Altima?
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According to Wikipedia:

"In addition to North America, the Altima is available in the Middle East. In other markets, Nissan sells a related midsize sedan called the Nissan Teana built on the same FF-L platform."

"The Japanese Nissan Teana is similar [to the Altima], but is not identical and slots between the Altima and Maxima in size."
 
Toronado
Because that is a segment that never ever gets good sales figures.
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And it hasn't, not since the Prelude was dumped...due to low sales, I'm sure. Isn't the RSX also on its way out for the same reason?


German Muscle
http://www.nissan.co.jp/EN/lineup.html
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Thanks. Well, it's clearly not the 350GT Coupe (unless the photo is of some upcoming update), but it doesn't resemble anything else on the JDM lineup except the 350GT/G35 Coupe.

http://www.nissan.co.jp/EN/LINEUP/lineup_32.html

It still would have to be a lot of work to convert the Altima to fit that roofline, and I don't think Nissan would go that far into pre-production without hyping this car up from day one. Especially since we've established that this segment (front-drive coupes) are dead in Europe & the US. I still think it's a JDM 350GT facelift.

I'm not opposed to this idea, nor of a 240SX/ZX revival, but it won't sell because of the lack of demand, or because at that price level (US$17,700 to US$29,500) there's so much long-established competition the Altima Coupe would drown outside of the JDM, which means that making a case for producing the car -- and an expensive conversion like this -- is iffy at best. Nissan is doing quite well on the path that they're heading. I think if they get that hatch delivered (new Sentra? sub-Sentra? just rebody the Megane & Clio already), they can really start to make headway in the USDM.
 
harrytuttle
And it hasn't, not since the Prelude was dumped...due to low sales, I'm sure. Isn't the RSX also on its way out for the same reason?
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Well, yes and no. It currently fits in the same size class as the Prelude, but the main reason the car is being ousted is because of the competition the Civic Si gives it in-house for less.
 
Whoa whoa whoa!

Who says FWD coupes are dead in the US?

- The Accord Coupe sells fairly well, particularly with the V6 and the 6-speed manual
- The G6 Coupe has been selling outrageously well, GM actually having to alter production figures
- The Cobalt Coupe also had a call for increased production not too long ago.
- ...And we can't forget about the Monte Carlo...

Lets hope for the best from Nissan, and maybe we will see it comming down the pipe later down the road!
 
YSSMAN
Whoa whoa whoa!
Who says FWD coupes are dead in the US?
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In fact, I can only think of three (3!) cars that were big enough to be midsize coupes that were successful: Mitsubishi Eclipse Gen. III, the Accord Coupe and the Hyundai Tiburon.
YSSMAN
- The Accord Coupe sells fairly well, particularly with the V6 and the 6-speed manual
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It's the exception to the rule, because it is a legitmately good car and relatively sporty to boot.
YSSMAN
- The G6 Coupe has been selling outrageously well, GM actually having to alter production figures
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It's also cheap as hell. And most of the sales have been coming from incentives. And it is very pretty.
YSSMAN
- The Cobalt Coupe also had a call for increased production not too long ago.
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The Cobalt Coupe is far from a midsized car.
YSSMAN
- ...And we can't forget about the Monte Carlo...
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The Monte Carlo is over 7 years old, and GM only produces it because it costs nothing to make. And it was a bad car when new.
 
Well, you're right about the Monte Carlo. Good thing shes going to RWD (hopefully!)...

But the Monte SS is a pretty appealing model if you have $30K burning a hole in your pocket and you want to go 0-60 in 5.3 seconds in a decent ammount of comfort, it is your ride of choise I suppose.

I don't think the cars are too bad myself, but maybe thats because I've been living with a W-Body of some form over the past 15 years or so be it ours, or a family members. The last W-Body I drove was indeed a Monte Carlo "SS," before they added the supercharger and later threw the V8 in. It wasn't as fun to drive as my Jetta, but it was pretty comfortable for the commute I had to do. Can't say it looked to bad either...
 
You might want to double-check the cars in that list, Toronado...the Nissan 240SX and Infiniti M30 don't fit, unless you'd like to prove how the RWD coupe is also dead. ;)
 
Ah, that makes sense. I was wondering why you'd track down and grab the URL of a 240SX JPEG.
 
Okay, I saw this the other day but refused to reply because it just seems such a bad idea.

Hey guys, let's build two coupes from the same chassis with the same engine, but let's tell everyone that one is a sports car (350) and the other is a......ehh.....sportscar? A two door sedan? Lame. Even if it sells I think it's an annoying idea.

BTW, the Monte Carlo is poop on wheels. It's the reason NASCARs look like colorful used bars of soap.
 
YSSMAN
Whoa whoa whoa!

Who says FWD coupes are dead in the US?

- The Accord Coupe sells fairly well, particularly with the V6 and the 6-speed manual
- The G6 Coupe has been selling outrageously well, GM actually having to alter production figures
- The Cobalt Coupe also had a call for increased production not too long ago.
- ...And we can't forget about the Monte Carlo...

Lets hope for the best from Nissan, and maybe we will see it comming down the pipe later down the road!
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Well let's clarify things then: mid-size front-drive coupes are dead. :D The RSX & Cobalt are really Civic-sized, as Toronado implied. The G6 is selling to people who really wanted a Pontiac, and finally have something that isn't total rubbish. The Monte Carlo sells to those in total denial that it's supposed to be rear-drive. Having seen the mullets driving Monte Carlo's -- in New England -- that's not all they're in denial about.

I'm sure the reason most of the coupe's in Tornado/M5Power's list died because they were utter crap compared to the Accord Coupe (which I have to admit is selling well; is it because it's the only decent 4-seat front-drive coupe?). The stain they made on the industry probably killed the market they tried to expand. The market segment may come back, but with the resurgence of rear-wheel drive (and massive popularity of all-wheel drive), there's not much chance unless it's both cheap and compact.
 
keef
Okay, I saw this the other day but refused to reply because it just seems such a bad idea.

Hey guys, let's build two coupes from the same chassis with the same engine, but let's tell everyone that one is a sports car (350) and the other is a......ehh.....sportscar? A two door sedan? Lame. Even if it sells I think it's an annoying idea.

BTW, the Monte Carlo is poop on wheels. It's the reason NASCARs look like colorful used bars of soap.
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Same engine... not entirely the same chassis or drivetrain orientation.

I think it's a wonderful idea. The Nissan community has been abuzz since the Altima was introduced, simply because the older V6 Altima could compete decently with the 350Z at the stoplight drags (yes, you could get sub-6 second times from the car).

Now, you've got a two door version, hopefully lighter than the sedan, with an uprated V6? Can you say zooooom? :lol:
 
I feel obliged to post against saying the Grand Am was crap. It was actually GM's best selling car at the time it was killed off. I love mine, despite the GT only having an automatic and the problems with PassLock.
 

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