The Altima is a line of midsize sedans currently being manufactured by the Japanese automaker Nissan, and is arguably a continuation of the "bloodline" that began with the Nissan Bluebird in 1957. It is larger, has more features, and is more expensive than the Nissan Sentra economy car; but is cheaper, less luxuriously appointed, and offers less powerful engines than the Nissan Maxima sports sedan. It competes with the Acura TSX/Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Jetta.
Outside of North America, the Altimas are rebadged Bluebird SSS and use the aluminium SR20DE or 280 hp (209 kW) SR20DET turbocharged engines.
Current version
The current generation Altima, first sold in 2002, has been well received by the press because of its design, power, and style. It was the first mass-market product built on Nissan's larger sedan platform. It is unique to North America and has no equivalent model in Japan, where smaller vehicles tend to be favored by buyers.
It comes with either a QR25DE engine - 2.5 L straight-4 DOHC engine with a power of 175 hp (130 kW) or a more powerful VQ35DE engine (the one used in the Infiniti G35, Nissan Maxima and Nissan 350Z) - 3.5 L V6 DOHC engine with a power of 265 hp (198 kW). 2005 will see the addition of a sporty SE-R model making over 270 hp. Nissan has also entered an agreement with rival Toyota to use some of its hybrid technology to create a 2007 Altima Hybrid model.
The Altima won the North American Car of the Year award for 2002.
History
The Altima was introduced in 1993 as the replacement for the Nissan Stanza. The very first Altima rolled off the assembly line on June 15, 1992 as a 1993 model. Every single Altima has been built in Smyrna, Tennessee.
The Altima has had three design generations: 1993-1997, 1998-2001, and 2002+.
Original Altima: 1993-1997
The original 1993 Altima was a rebadged Japanese-market Nissan Bluebird.
It came with the KA24DE straight-4 DOHC engine capable of developing 150 hp.
Second generation: 1998-2001
The second generation shared the Japanese Bluebird's doors but not front and rear ends.
It came with the same KA24DE straight-4 DOHC engine as the first generation Altima. However, the engine was upgraded to produce 155 hp starting in 1999.