The diesel Maxima is back!

[280Z Turbo]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070419/AUTO01/704190359/1148/rss25

Nissan to offer U.S. diesel Maxima in 2010

Ken Thomas / Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Nissan Motor Co. CEO Carlos Ghosn said Wednesday the Japanese automaker would introduce a diesel version of the Nissan Maxima in the United States in 2010.

Ghosn, in a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations, said the vehicle would comply with emissions standards in all 50 states and provide improved fuel economy and lower carbon dioxide emissions.

"The launch of the Maxima will mark the start of a broader diesel strategy in the United States," Ghosn said, adding the company was studying diesel vehicles in other markets.

Automakers have been turning to diesels amid projections of increased interest in the vehicles, which are popular in Europe. J.D. Power and Associates has estimated that diesels will grow from 3.6 percent of the U.S. market to about 9 percent by 2013.

Ghosn, who also serves as chief executive of Nissan's French partner, Renault SA, said the automaker was developing alternative vehicles to be "part of the solution" as industries attempt to reduce emissions.

"It is difficult to say which technologies will prove to be the most popular among consumers, and preferences vary from one world market to another. ... When a clear market trend emerges, we will be ready to offer customers what they want," Ghosn said.

The government has implemented tighter emissions standards for diesel engines while requiring new ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel.

The fuel and clean diesel technology work together to cut emissions.

In 2010, diesel engines will be required to emit about 90 percent less nitrogen oxide.

Ghosn, speaking to reporters, declined to provide a new estimate for when the automaker will meet a key sales target. Nissan said earlier this week that it may need to push back its goal of selling 4.2 million vehicles worldwide in the fiscal year ending March 2009.

Nissan, Japan's third-largest automaker, faced weakened performance last year because of a lack of new models in North America and sluggish sales in Japan.

[the Teuton]

Will it be able to run with a CVT and will it be powerful enough for the US market?

[Soup DeVille]

Umm, forgive my profound ignorance, but I don't remember a diesel Maxima being made in the past...

[the Teuton]

Umm, forgive my profound ignorance, but I don't remember a diesel Maxima being made in the past...

I take it you didn't read C&D's last diesel beater competition?

[280Z Turbo]

It was produced from 1981-83 and had the LD28. It was a helluva lot better built that those diesel converted GM V8s you've heard about.

The LD28 motors have "stroker" crankshafts that can be used with gasoline L28's to bump the displacement up to 3.1L.

They also have a better flowing long runner intake manifolds that can be modified for use on gasoline L28s!

[cawimmer430]

Cool. So this and the VW diesels are the only mainstream diesel cars in the US? Damn you guys are missing out. 

[CJ]

And Hyundai is bringing out their 3.0 Litre diesel in 2009 or 2010.

[cawimmer430]

And Hyundai is bringing out their 3.0 Litre diesel in 2009 or 2010.

[Atomic]

i also heard that the next maxi will be available in a v8 with awd optional. true? it's merely a rumor for all i know.

the diesel option had been rumored for a while. now it's a fact, so there's hope!

[Soup DeVille]

It was produced from 1981-83 and had the LD28. It was a helluva lot better built that those diesel converted GM Oldsmobile V8s you've heard about.owned.
The LD28 motors have "stroker" crankshafts that can be used with gasoline L28's to bump the displacement up to 3.1L.

They also have a better flowing long runner intake manifolds that can be modified for use on gasoline L28s!

Thanks for the info, 280.

But saying that it was better than that GM contraption, well...

It would have to try hard not to be.

[Nethead]

Thanks for the info, 280.

But saying that it was better than that GM contraption, well...

It would have to try hard not to be.

Walking was better than those converted gasoline 350s that may have been the straw that broke Oldsmobile's back.  And if you had one of them, you did a lot of walking...

I once met one of the project engineers on the Olds diesels.  He had high hopes...

What were they thinking? 

[S204STi]

The converted diesels work fine in trucks.  They are very simple, and actually pretty reliable.

[Soup DeVille]

The converted diesels work fine in trucks.? They are very simple, and actually pretty reliable.

My old man had a 6.2 litre diesel Suburban.

He carried around a spare starter motor and an extra battery. I learned how to bleed injectors when I was 8 years old.

Yep, fond memories indeed...

[93JC]

The 6.2 isn't related to the Oldsmobile 5.7 at all.

The 6.2 and 6.5 were designed ground-up by Detroit Diesel.

[93JC]

All in all I've got to say I'm pretty confused about where Nissan's strategy is going. I thought the Maxima was supposed to be a '4DSC': sure the old one had a diesel back in the day, but I think it's a pretty big shift from what the product has represented in the last 15 years.

I guess, with a 270hp Altima, this is their answer to the question "Why buy a Maxima when you could get an Altima?"

[Vinsanity]

All in all I've got to say I'm pretty confused about where Nissan's strategy is going. I thought the Maxima was supposed to be a '4DSC': sure the old one had a diesel back in the day, but I think it's a pretty big shift from what the product has represented in the last 15 years.

I guess, with a 270hp Altima, this is their answer to the question "Why buy a Maxima when you could get an Altima?"

the way I see it, the V6 Altima has taken the place of what the Maxima was in the early 90's (4DSC), and the Maxima is now supposed to be a competitor to the Avalon.

[93JC]

... and a diesel makes it a better Avalon competitor?

[Vinsanity]

... and a diesel makes it a better Avalon competitor?

that I don't know. maybe they're hedging their bets since they already have a hybrid Altima

[93JC]

I don't get it.

[Vinsanity]

I don't get it.

I meant that maybe Nissan is experimenting the market with a diesel for buyers who want better fuel economy without the cost and complexity of a hybrid, while at the same time offering a hybrid Altima for treehuggers, etc.

[93JC]

I meant that maybe Nissan is experimenting the market with a diesel for buyers who want better fuel economy without the cost and complexity of a hybrid, while at the same time offering a hybrid Altima for treehuggers, etc.

Oh, I got that.


I don't get why they think this is a good course of action.

[Vinsanity]

Oh, I got that.


I don't get why they think this is a good course of action.

meh. I'd definitely buy one over a hybrid Altima, but I'm not sure about the buying public.

[93JC]

Well, I'd buy a diesel over a hybrid, but I wouldn't necessarily buy a diesel Maxima over anything else. I'd be hard-pressed to make up an excuse to buy a Maxima, period.

[Raghavan]

I"d like a diesel Altima more than a diesel maxima.