2009 Nissan Altima Coupe
Though based off the dynamic Nissan Altima Sedan, the sporty, 2-door Altima Coupe delivers a totally unique driving experience. The Altima Coupe fills a desire among target customers for a more personal expression of style, individuality and fashionable appearance. Its unique exterior design is intended to stand out in a crowd of sedan-based two-door models with magnetic, perfectly proportioned styling with a shorter wheelbase, shorter overall length and lower height than the Altima Sedan. The smaller size and lighter overall weight also contribute to the Altima Coupe’s sportier driving feel – another desired attribute of the typically younger, more performance-oriented coupe buyers.
“Like the popular Altima Sedan, the Coupe offers style, performance, quality and passion with a personality that is all its own,” said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. “The Altima Coupe is more than just two less doors, it offers its own unique interpretation of Nissan’s exhilarating driving pleasure. The Coupe’s aggressive design, driver-oriented cockpit and unique styling give it an extensive amount of separation from the Sedan.”
An all-new design for 2008, the Altima Coupe adds revised 18-inch alloy wheels on V6-equipped models with larger 235/45R18 tires for the 2009 model year. Automatic door locks are also added to all models and the front grille receives a high-gloss paint treatment (previously medium gloss).
The 2009 Altima Coupe is available with a choice of the award-winning VQ-series 3.5-liter V6 or powerful 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engines, each offered with either a 6-speed manual transmission or Nissan’s advanced Xtronic CVT™ (Continuously Variable Transmission).
Also offered for 2009 is a long list of user-friendly technology features – including standard Nissan Intelligent KeyÔ, available Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, an advanced touch-screen navigation system with XM NavTraffic® with real-time traffic information (XM® subscription required, sold separately) and RearView Monitor.
Design That Ignites Emotion, Passion and Enthusiasm
The most noticeable separation from the Altima Sedan is the Altima Coupe’s bold exterior styling. Dimensionally, the Altima Coupe rides on a 105.3-inch wheelbase, a full 4.0 inches shorter than the Sedan. Overall length is 182.5 inches – 7.1 inches less than the Sedan. The Coupe also has a lower profile – at 55.3 inches it is 2.5 inches lower than the Sedan. In terms of major body panels, the two cars share only a common hood, with all other panels, grille, headlights and rear combination lights unique to the Altima Coupe. Two chrome exhaust tips with unique rear taillights form a distinctive rear presence.
“Altima Coupe is sleek and sporty, featuring an aggressive stance and a bold shoulder that adds dimension to the body side,” said Castignetti. “It’s a car that looks much more expensive than it is, both the exterior and interior, and feels like it, too.”
The 2009 Altima Coupe 2.5 S model is available with 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels on the 2.5S model with P215/60R16 all-season tires, while new 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with Michelin P235/45R18 tires are standard on the 3.5 SE.
An Advanced “D” Platform
Under the Altima Coupe’s sophisticated exterior design, this latest addition to the Altima family shares the platform, powertrain and user-friendly features and innovations of the fourth-generation Altima Sedan.
Altima Coupe utilizes Nissan’s advanced “D” platform. First used on the 2007 Altima family, this new platform was developed with the objective of making Altima one of the best performing large front-wheel drive vehicles available globally.
A number of items help to virtually eliminate torque steer on the Altima Coupe, including suspension geometry, an engine placement that is lower in the subframe and equal-length half-shafts that have equal angles and are more parallel to the ground (than the previous platform design).
The Coupe’s rear multi-link independent suspension design separates the rear shocks and springs for reduced friction and the shocks are in line with the center of the rear wheels, providing better damping and less harshness. Front and rear stabilizer bars are standard. The Altima suspension has been specially tuned for use with the Altima Coupe.
Exhilarating Performance
Eye-opening power is supplied from a choice of two engines and two transmissions. The 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 is the “next generation” version of the 13-time Ward’s “10 Best Engines” award-winning VQ-series V6. For use in the Altima Coupe, it is rated at 270 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and offers strong acceleration and refined sound quality. The V6 features reduced friction, improved cylinder head cooling and twin knock sensors.
Also available with the Coupe is a 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve QR25 inline 4-cylinder, producing 175 horsepower (170 hp CAL) and 180 lb-ft of torque (175 lb-ft CAL). This engine has been refined from the previous version, with a larger, equal-length intake manifold, increased compression ratio and reduced friction characteristics. It features a silent chain drive and a balancer system (with balancer changed to a center-mounted location for better NVH) that effectively negates vibrations without taking up much space – combining ideal packaging and smoothness.
Both engines feature continuously variable valve timing, modular engine design, microfinished crank journals and cam lobes, molybdenum coated lightweight pistons and electronically controlled throttles.
Both the 3.5-liter V6 and 2.5-liter 4-cylinder models are available with Nissan’s advanced Xtronic CVT™ (Continuously Variable Transmission) or 6-speed manual transmissions.
The V6 CVT features a “Sport” mode controller with a high-speed central processing unit and Adaptive Shift Controller with adaptive logic for faster shifting in both normal and manual modes. The adaptive logic feature delivers the best shift pattern based on the driving environment and driver’s perceived intentions.
“The driving performance of the Altima Coupe is biased toward sporty feel, especially when equipped with our award-winning V6,” said Castignetti. “Handling is also a strong point of the Coupe, as is the responsiveness feeling provided by the Xtronic CVT transmission.”
Also contributing to the Altima Coupe’s sporty performance feel are a standard twin-orifice vehicle-speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering system and 4-wheel disc brakes with standard 4-wheel, 4-channel, 4-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD).
A Sporty, Comfortable Interior
Inside, the Altima Coupe is exciting and accommodating with progressive, driver-oriented styling. Though sharing much of the design and features with the Altima Sedan, the Coupe includes unique sport-style front seats with more side support, in-board release lever and front kangaroo pouches. All Altima Coupes also utilize a parking brake hand lever (versus foot release for Altima Sedans with CVT). The Coupe also includes a 60/40 split and flat fold-down rear seat.
Like the Altima Sedan, the Altima Coupe’s instrument panel features a Fine Vision gauge display for enhanced readability and the L-shaped flow of the instrument panel to the center console adds to the driver-oriented cockpit feel. The center console includes a double front cup holder, among the many convenient cup and bottle areas and storage compartments.
The list of passenger amenities includes standard Nissan Intelligent KeyÔ with Push Button Ignition and available Bose®-developed audio system with nine speakers, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately), RearView Monitor and dual-zone automatic temperature control.
The 2009 Altima Coupe also comes equipped with a number of standard safety features, including Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant classification sensors, front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags and roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection.
Other standard equipment includes front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, front seat Active Head Restraints, the LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren), Zone Body construction with front and rear crumple zones and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
Four Well-Equipped Models
The 2009 Altima Coupe is available in four well-equipped models: 2.5 S 6MT, 2.5 S CVT, 3.5 SE 6MT, 3.5 SE CVT.
Available equipment packages include the Convenience Package ((2.5 S) with 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, 8-way power driver’s seat with manual lumbar adjustment, auto on/off headlights, leather-wrapped steering wheel, wood grain trim finishers for Blonde interior and more; and the 2.5 S Premium Package(2.5 S) withthe contents of the Convenience Package plus leather-appointed seats, heated front seats, Bose® 9-speaker audio system, dual-zone automatic temperature control, HomeLink® Universal Transceiver, power sliding glass moonroof, premium interior finishers (wood grain for Blonde, metallic for Charcoal), Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System and more.
The optional 3.5 SE Premium Package adds to the well-equipped 3.5 SE model with leather-appointed seats, High Intensity Discharge (HID) Xenon headlights, heated front seats; Bose® 9-speaker audio system, HomeLink® Universal Transceiver, premium interior finishers (wood for Blonde, metallic for Charcoal); Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System and more.
Also available are a Technology Package with Nissan navigation System and RearView Monitor; a Moonroof Package; and fog lights for the 2.5 S (both standard on the 3.5 S).
“Along with the Altima Coupe’s extensive list of available features and amenities, it offers one more thing to discerning coupe buyers – the reassurance of Nissan durability, quality and reliability,” said Castignetti.
The 2009 Altima Coupe is assembled at the Nissan North America – Smyrna and Decherd, Tennessee Manufacturing.
Top 11 Driver Distractions
Driven to Distraction
Driving a car is a complex physical and mental operation. Not only does it require coordination and reflexes, it also requires rapid assessment skills and good judgment. Automakers have spent decades making cars easier and safer to drive, installing everything from rearview mirrors to automatic transmissions to cruise control. Despite that, some drivers insist on creating distractions for themselves behind the wheel, most of which have nothing to do with driving, safe or otherwise.
Distraction Causes Crashes
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute have studied driver behavior, and have categorized some of the causes of accidents in these reports. Their conclusion: "Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes."
Just Drive
We've compiled a list of distracting activities that we've witnessed on the road. While we may have been guilty of engaging in a few of these non-driving-related distractions ourselves over the years, we have sworn off all extraneous activities behind the wheel. Our new motto: "Just drive."
Applying Makeup
Ladies, we know that it's impossible to get ready on time in the morning. But please, don't try to put on your mascara in traffic. Not only are you diverting your attention from the road, you’re also at risk of looking like a sad clown by the time your get to the office.
Shaving
Gentlemen, just because that razor is cordless doesn't mean that you should use it everywhere. While you concentrate on getting your sideburns even, traffic has bunched up behind you and you're driving on the shoulder. Shave at home, or wait until you get to work.
Eating
We’ve all done it on a busy day. A quick trip through the drive-through, and before you know it, you're eating a double cheeseburger with one hand, French fries with the other, balancing a soda with your elbow and steering with your knees. Beyond being a recipe for indigestion, eating behind the wheel is unsafe and distracting.
Reading
'Great Expectations' is a great book. It was a great book when Charles Dickens finished it in 1861. It will still be a great book after you reach your destination. Don't read behind the wheel. If you must be literary while driving, try audio books. Many of the classics are available for loan at your public library.
Talking on the Phone
"Research shows that driving while using a cell phone can pose a serious cognitive distraction and degrade driver performance," according to NHTSA, Using a hands-free device can reduce distraction, but not eliminate it. In other words, hang up and drive.
Texting
The driver in front of you on your morning commute weaves and swerves. You pull alongside, expecting to see an inebriated partier. Instead, a starched and pressed business person pilots the vehicle – while texting with both thumbs on a PDA which rests on the steering wheel. Texting is unsafe at any speed but zero.
Lounging
One of the first things we learn in driver's ed is proper driving position. So why do so many drivers insist on slouching, reclining, leaning against the door or putting their feet out of the window? Not only is visibility compromised, reaction time is delayed and control is also compromised, so much of the crash protection engineered into the car is defeated. Straighten up and drive right, for your own good.
Singing
A little bit of singing is a good thing, even while driving. But we've seen drivers engaging in full-out air guitar rockfests worthy of amphitheater stages, all while driving down a crowded highway. Save the theatrics for Karaoke night, and keep your mind on the road.
Petting the dog, cat, rabbit, bird or lizard
In swanky Beverly Hills, it's not uncommon to see a dog's face peeking out of the driver's window as a car whizzes by on Doheny Drive. The California state legislature even debated a law outlawing pets on drivers' laps. Confine your pet to the back seat or passenger seat. Pets are not immune to crashes, and can even cause them if they are unrestrained in the cabin.
Watching a Movie
In-car entertainment can really make a road trip pass by quickly for the passengers. But we've seen vehicles with LCD screens installed in the dash, in clear view of the driver, blaring video entertainment while the vehicle moves through traffic. Drive-in movies are one thing; a driving movie is something else entirely. Be sure to keep entertainment screens out of the driver’s line of sight.
Accessing the Internet
We haven’t seen this yet, but it’s coming. Chrysler LLC recently announced that it will launch an in-vehicle wireless internet system for its vehicles. According to Chrysler, "'uconnect web' transforms the vehicle into a mobile 'hot spot,' delivering unlimited, reliable and uninterrupted Internet connectivity." The system will be available as a dealer installed accessory for Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles beginning in August, 2008. Uh-oh!
100% Russian bling: Gold plated Porsche 911 turbo
by Shrawan Raja
If you wake up day after day only to find your bank balance replenished by a few million dollars, chances are at some point, you won’t know what to do with it. Take this Porsche 911 owner for example. He couldn’t find ways to get rid of the fast-accumulating green paper and did this to himself.- A 40- pound pure gold covered Porsche 911.
We find the idea annoying but appreciate the work that has gone into it. The carvings and designs on the surface are brilliant and would have taken weeks to complete by an extremely set of talented and skilled individuals. The polished surface looks nice and should have masked the rear-view mirrors entirely, eliminating the need for a reflective glass and related electronics for adjustments, but maybe next time?!
Driving a Porsche 911 on the streets would grab enough attention leave alone a gold-covered one. Is the Sultan of Brunei reading this?
Can you name the eight United States Presidents that were born in Virginia?
See answer under Car Doctor.
Ask the Car Doctor
Battle High Gas Prices: Tips to Boost Your Fuel Economy
How to save on gas without getting rid of your car.
By: Steve Siler and Colin Mathews
Thanks to the recent spike in fuel prices, high-mileage vehicles are among the most researched of all new-car purchases.
When it comes down to it, the most economical vehicle choice for your family is quite possibly the one that’s already sitting in your driveway. Unless you’re leasing a car that is due to be returned in the next couple of months, you might save as much or more money by simply keeping the car you own and driving it more economically.
But how, exactly? We’re not going to recommend any “hypermiling” nonsense, but we do know a few tricks—some you also might know, and others you might not. All, however, enable you to boost your personal fuel economy, squeezing more miles per gallon from whatever you drive, be it a Focus or a Phantom. Although gains from some of the tips below might seem minute, successfully enact all of them, and you’ll be nickel-and-diming Exxon for hundreds of bucks a year.
Tune Up Your Car
Okay, cars don’t really need “tune-ups” in the traditional mechanical sense any more. But if your “check engine” light is on, it could indicate a serious problem—say, a faulty oxygen sensor or worn spark plugs and wires—that, when fixed, could garner fuel-economy gains upwards of 30 percent, according to the EPA and Department of Energy’s shared Web site: www.fueleconomy.com. Be sure to follow your recommended service schedule to keep your car running optimally.
Also, if you’re the change-your-own-oil type, the EPA says to be sure you use the right stuff. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by one to two percent.
Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
The Department of Energy estimates that 5 to 15 percent of light-duty fuel consumption is spent overcoming rolling resistance, i.e., the friction between the road and a car’s tires. Lowering your vehicle’s rolling resistance starts with simply ensuring that your tires have enough air pressure. Underinflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1-psi drop in pressure of all four tires.
A typical tire loses 1 psi per month and another with every 10-degree drop in temperature, so if you haven’t checked your tires in a few months, it’s time. Of course, pumping a few extra pounds of air pressure into the tires is one of the oldest fuel-economy tricks around, but going overboard will cost you some ride comfort and lateral grip, and—if taken to the extreme—could result in highly dangerous blowouts.
Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule.
Click Here to schedule a service appointment at your nearest Mile One Service Center.
The eight United States Presidents that were born in Virginia: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.
