Nissan Unveils Hybrid Altima Prototype

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
47
91
http://nissannews.com/nissan/news/products/20040602113014.shtml

SAN FRANCISCO (June 2, 2004) ? Nissan today unveiled a prototype of the 2007 Altima Hybrid, a hybrid vehicle based on the Altima mid-size sedan. The car is scheduled to be launched in 2006 for the US market.

Featuring the unique combination of Nissan\'s four-cylinder gasoline engine and new hybrid system components supplied by Toyota Motor Corporation, the Altima Hybrid is a new generation hybrid vehicle, which achieves the acceleration performance of V6 engines with fuel efficiency higher than compact cars.

Hybrid vehicles available today are mostly equipped with rather small motors focused on environmental performance. However, the Altima Hybrid is a breakthrough model, which provides new feeling of driving pleasure to customers with its dynamic acceleration performance, while minimizing the impact to the environment at the same time.

In September 2002, Nissan and Toyota signed a basic agreement that Nissan will produce 100,000 hybrid vehicles within a five-year period. Toyota will supply the hybrid system components (transaxle, inverter, battery, and control unit), and Nissan will develop the engine and unit adaptation which defines the attractiveness of the product. This prototype model is the first completed by Nissan under the agreement.

The cooperation between Nissan and Toyota is proceeding extremely well, which made it possible to complete the prototype earlier than two years after signing the basic agreement.

Nissan will further refine the vehicle based on this prototype, and will start production of the 2007 Altima Hybrid in 2006.

The major environmental advantages of hybrid vehicles are low CO2 emission and cleaner exhaust gas. Nissan will continue to develop hybrid vehicles not only as means of complying with environmental legislations but as key technology to deliver new value to customers.

In addition, Nissan is developing diesel engine technologies mainly for European market, and continuing the R&D of fuel cell vehicles for the future.

In North America, Nissan\'s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.infiniti.com.
 

BigSmooth

Lifer
Aug 18, 2000
10,484
12
81
If they get it to market and gas prices are still high, I bet they will sell them as fast as they can make them. The market is ripe for more hybrid choices.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Toyota is getting rich off this hybrid stuff.
My thoughts exactly. Toyota has the goods, and other companies are going.. "Oh sh!t, why didn't we think of that?" and are forced to just license the technology from Toyota... lol.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: Maverick
Thats all fine and dandy assuming it actually works!
Hmmmm......

Interesting.

But it's kinda misleading. It does work. The EPA's testing methods are just outdated and flawed for testing hybrids.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,407
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Originally posted by: prontospyder
I wonder if it has the body of the next-gen Altima or the current model?

i can't imagine they'd go through all the trouble of packaging the stuff together just to have to change it after 1 year.
 

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
Originally posted by: prontospyder
I wonder if it has the body of the next-gen Altima or the current model?

No, new model - the current model is already halfway past it's product cycle.