2010 - Consumer Reports recently named the 2010 Nissan Altima to its annual Top Pick car list.  Over 280 models completed rigorous road tests and safety and reliability analysis before the final 10 Best were determined. This year the Nissan Altima bested the Honda Accord as the Top Pick in the Family Sedan category.  It is the first time since 1998 that a Honda model was not selected.  The Altima was praised for its roomy cabin, quiet ride, performance and best-in-class fuel economy.  The vehicle also boosts a five-star safety rating.The car recently received the 2009 Consumer Digest "Best Buy" Award and was named the highest ranked midsize car in initial quality by J.D. Power & Associates.Potential customers can test drive the critics' favorite, the Nissan Altima, at Nemith Nissan located in Latham, NY.  

2010 Nissan Altima Sedan Press Kit: Overview

2010 Nissan Altima Offers New Exterior Styling, Refined Interior and Enhanced Technology/Entertainment Features

  --Nissan's Top-Selling, Award Winning Mid-Size Sedan Continues to Provide Outstanding Quality, Distinctive Style, Spirited Performance and Exceptional Value --

In the 17 years since the Nissan Altima made its debut in the heart of the Nissan sedan lineup, the vehicle has grown substantially in size, power, technology and, with more than 3.1 million units produced to date, in popularity and sales. The Altima lineup has also expanded to include Altima Coupe and Altima Hybrid models. Once positioned as "the cure for the common sedan," Altima today still holds a unique place in the mid-size sedan segment, leading in the most recent (2009) J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS) and offering levels of performance and style that reinforce the concept that "quality doesn't have to be boring."

Now, for 2010, Altima takes another leap forward with a major revision to its fourth-generation design with new exterior styling, refined interior treatments and enhanced technology and entertainment features -- including an advanced available Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System with 9.3GB Music Box hard drive for digital music storage and playback and standard 6.5-inch color touch-screen display.

"As Nissan's best-selling global nameplate, Altima continues to attract new buyers looking for its unexpected combination of performance, quality, style, dependability, value and fuel economy," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. "Altima is the practical choice for people who want more than a practical car. With the major enhancements and fresh new styling for 2010, there are more reasons than ever to choose Altima."

The 2010 Altima Sedan is available in three well-equipped models designed to appeal to a broad range of buyer needs and budgets: the 2.5 CVT and 2.5 S CVT with standard 175-horsepower 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder, and the 3.5 SR CVT with a 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. The 3.5 SR replaces the previous 3.5 SE model.

Altima is built on Nissan's advanced "D" platform, with Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) now standard on all models. The 2010 Nissan Altima also offers a range of comfort and convenience features, including available Nissan Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System with audio streaming and RearView Monitor.

New Exterior Styling Adds Fresh Appeal
Though Altima was completely redesigned for the 2007 model year, Altima receives a significant number of refinements for 2010 -- including a restyled hood, grille, front bumper and rear license plate finisher, and new 16-inch and 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheel designs. These changes add a greater visual volume to the front end, especially the hood, and provide greater differentiation between the Altima Sedan and Altima Coupe.

"Our goal is to never let Altima get stale, or boring, which means constantly investing in keeping its look fresh and appeal high," said Castignetti. "We're also dedicated to keeping Altima's quality at the top of its segment, following Altima's top ranking in the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS)."

The refreshed exterior styling embraces Altima's distinctive, iconic, sporty design. It offers a "dynamic simplicity" with an aggressive stance, distinctive Nissan "T-shaped" grille, powerful front fenders, strong wedge character line, forward A-pillars and Nissan-family roofline, Altima-style taillights and dual exhaust finishers on all models. High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights are optionally available with the Sport Package (3.5 SR).

The 109.3-inch wheelbase and short front and rear overhangs (with an overall length of 190.7 inches) enhances Altima's agile maneuverability and contribute to its sporty, aggressive appearance. Altima's chassis layout also offers roomy front and rear interior headroom and legroom, plus ample cargo storage with 15.3 cubic feet of trunk space. Altima is available with 16-inch (optional on 2.5 S) or 17-inch (standard on 3.5 SR) aluminum-alloy wheels or 16-inch steel wheels with covers (2.5, 2.5 S). Eight exterior colors are offered: Tuscan Sun, Navy Blue, Sonoran Sand, Dark Slate, Super Black, Radiant Silver, Ocean Gray and Winter Frost.

A Refined Interior with Focus on Entertainment
The 2010 Altima continues to emphasize refined workmanship and the use of soft materials, such as padded armrests, and stylish chrome accents -- with new fabrics and finishers for all interior colors, along with a revised Blonde interior color (both cloth and leather-appointed). The seam stitching has been revised on cloth seats and the automatic transmission lever has a new finisher design. Gauge illumination has also been changed to white illumination.

Altima's instrument panel features a Fine Vision gauge display for precise readability and the L-shaped flow of the instrument panel to the center console adds to a driver-oriented cockpit feel. The center console includes a triple front cupholder design, among the many convenient cup and bottle areas (up to nine total, including 20-ounce bottle holders in the door panels) and storage compartments, many of which are covered. The volume of the glove compartment is also substantial, measuring an accommodating 0.46 cubic feet.

Three interior colors are available -- Charcoal, Blonde and Frost. The interior is offered in both high quality soft-touch suede-like fabric and with optional leather-appointed seating.

Along with the exhilaration provided by the driver-oriented cockpit and high levels of Altima performance, the "entertainment factor" of Altima's interior has been upgraded for 2010 with a new available Premium Audio Package that includes a Bose® AM/FM audio system with nine speakers, 4.3-inch color display, USB port with iPod® connectivity, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback, XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately) and RearView Monitor.

Also offered is a next-generation Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System with 6.5-inch VGA color display (replaces the 4.3-inch display), 9.3GB Music Box for music storage and playback, advanced map data including speed limit advisories, Zagat restaurant guide, XM NavTraffic® and XM NavWeather® (XM® subscription required, sold separately), Bluetooth® Streaming Audio, DVD player and an RCA input for auxiliary audio/video connectivity.

"Technology and connectivity are important to Altima buyers, so we've added the latest in 08IT features to our navigation system -- so you can check traffic, weather, restaurants or just sit back and enjoy premium audio selections from the hard drive or your mobile player," added Castignetti.

Other available convenience features include an 8-way power driver's seat, automatic on/off headlights, leather-wrapped steering wheel, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, power sliding glass moonroof, XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately), HomeLink® Universal Transceiver, heated front driver and passenger seats, dual-zone automatic temperature control and rear-passenger air conditioning vents.

A Choice of Two Efficient Powerplants
Altima's exhilarating driving pleasure comes from a tuned combination of strong acceleration, responsive handling and dynamic sound -- provided by advanced engine designs and the proven Nissan front-wheel drive "D" platform.

Altima's independent front suspension with advanced geometry and shock absorbers with rebound springs provides responsive handling and a comfortable ride. The subframe-mounted front suspension makes extensive use of lightweight aluminum parts, while an X-type upper cowl structure helps establish front body rigidity for suspension mounting. Altima also features a low engine-mounting position with a six-point pendulum-type mounting system and the half-shafts are set at equal angles and nearly parallel to the ground -- virtually eliminating torque steer.

The rear multi-link independent suspension design separates the rear shock absorbers and springs for minimized friction and the shocks are in line with the center of the rear wheels, providing excellent damping and almost no harshness. Front and rear stabilizer bars are standard. Altima 3.5 SR offers larger diameter stabilizer bars and unique spring rates and strut damping, as well as 17-inch wheels and tires.

Two powerplants are once again available in 2010. The 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 is rated at 270 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and offers strong acceleration and a tuned, resonant sound quality. The V6 features minimized friction, superior cylinder head cooling and twin knock sensors.

Also available is a 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder producing 175 horsepower (170 hp CAL) and 180 lb-ft of torque (175 lb-ft CAL). It features a silent chain drive and a balancer system (with balancer changed to a center-mounted location for excellent 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. Altima's standard dual exhaust system is designed to reduce exhaust backpressure by 35% on the 4-cylinder and 50% with the V6 (over the previous generations). Both systems utilize large tube diameters and include dual chrome-tipped exhaust finishers.

Nissan's advanced Xtronic CVT, which is designed to create a true synergy between engine and transmission with smooth, responsive, fluid-feeling performance and efficient operation, is standard on all models. The CVT has been tailored specifically for use with the Altima.

The V6 CVT features a "Sport" mode controller with a high-speed central processing unit and Adaptive Shift Controller with adaptive logic for fast shifting in both normal and manual modes. The adaptive logic feature delivers the best shift pattern based on the driving environment and driver's actions. It utilizes 700 programmed algorithms to adjust to differing conditions, such as uphill or downhill driving, as well as adapting to three styles of driving -- economy, normal and sporty.

Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS) is now standard on all Altima models.

Altima's standard twin-orifice vehicle-speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering system provides light steering effort at low speeds and a secure feeling at high speeds, along with a balanced, "on center" feel.

Braking for the 2010 Altima is provided by standard 4-wheel disc brakes with 4-wheel, 4-channel, 4-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), which optimizes brake force depending on load condition (passengers and cargo). A variable ratio pivot brake pedal provides a rigid feel at freeway speeds and less sensitive, more controllable operation in city driving.

The 2010 Altima Sedan comes equipped with a number of standard safety features, including the 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).

Models and Manufacturing
The 2010 Nissan Altima is available in three well-equipped models: 2.5 CVT, 2.5 S CVT and 3.5 SR CVT.

The 2.5 CVT includes standard 175-hp 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine, Xtronic CVT, 4-wheel power-assisted disc brakes (vented front), independent suspension, 16-inch wheels and tires, velour seat trim, push button ignition, power windows and door locks, a long list of standard safety features and much more.

The Altima 2.5 S CVT adds features such as Nissan Intelligent Key; AM/FM/AUX input 6-speaker audio system, driver and front-passenger seatback map pockets, driver's footrest finisher, power windows with driver side one-touch auto up/down and more.

The Altima 3.5 SR CVT model starts with the 270-hp 3.5-liter V6 and then adds 8-way power driver's seat, 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, P215/55R17 all-season radial tires, leather-wrapped steering wheel, steering wheel audio controls, auto on/off headlights, manual folding heated sideview mirrors with integrated turn signals, dual illuminated vanity mirrors with extensions, one-touch auto up/down front windows and wood-tone finishers (Blonde interior).

A number of option packages are also offered, allowing buyers to fine-tune the Altima to their precise needs -- including a Convenience Package, Convenience Plus Package and Premium Audio Package, for the 2.5 S CVT. The Technology Package, offered with the 2.5 S and 3.5 SR, includes the Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System with 6.5-inch color monitor and the 9.3GB Music Box hard drive.

The 3.5 SR Premium Package includes leather-appointed seats, leather-wrapped gearshift knob, power driver lumbar support, heated front seats, Bose® AM/FM audio system with 9 speakers, 4.3-inch color display, RearView Monitor, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, USB port with iPod® connectivity, XM® Satellite Radio, MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback compatibility, Radio Data System (RDS), speed-sensitive auto volume, auto-dimming rearview mirror, HomeLink® Universal Transceiver, compass, mood lighting, rear-passenger air conditioning vents and metallic-texture finishers (charcoal interior).

The Sport Package (3.5 SR) offers Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control, power sliding tinted glass moonroof with tilt, sliding sunshade and one-touch open/close with auto-reverse feature, High Intensity Discharge (HID) xenon headlights, rear spoiler with integrated CHMSL and fog lights.

Altima is assembled at the Nissan North America Smyrna and Decherd, Tennessee and Canton, Mississippi Manufacturing plants

2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid Press Kit: Overview

2010 Altima Hybrid - The First Hybrid that Drives Like a Nissan, Refreshed with Exterior and Interior Enhancements

Since introduction, the Altima Hybrid has stood out from other hybrids in its class with its balance of fuel efficiency and drivability. Now, for the 2010 model year, the Altima Hybrid adds a revised exterior, refined interior and upgraded audio and navigation system offerings.

The enhancements for the new model year, most of which are shared with the non-hybrid 2010 Altima Sedan, includes a revised front end appearance, new 16-inch wheel design, revised option package content, refined interior fabric and finishers and one new exterior color. Also offered is a new premium audio system that includes a 4.3-inch color display, USB port with iPod® connectivity, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback, XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately), and RearView Monitor; and a next-generation Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System with 6.5-inch VGA color display and 9.3GB Music Box for music storage and playback.

The 2010 Altima Hybrid continues to offer the efficiency and fuel economy of a hybrid drivetrain with the performance and excitement typical of any Altima, combining true driving pleasure, distinctive and sporty design and a quality-crafted interior with excellent fuel mileage. It has been certified to meet California emissions requirements and is sold in states that have adopted California emissions regulations: California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The Altima Hybrid is part of Nissan's ongoing efforts in the area of environmental protection and vehicle efficiency. The company's aim is to provide the right technology to the right market at the right time and right value to the customer.

In addition to Altima Hybrid, Nissan offers a wide application of its advanced Xtronic CVT? (Continuously Variable Transmission) in its 2010 passenger cars and crossovers and Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) technology in the 2010 Titan pickup and Armada SUV. The all-new Nissan Leaf, a pure electric vehicle, is slated for launch in late 2010 in the U.S., Japan and Europe - ushering in a new era of mobility.

Altima Power Plus Hybrid Technology
The Altima Hybrid powertrain mates a refined version of Nissan's QR25 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and standard electronically controlled CVT with an advanced electric drive motor/generator that increases fuel economy while maintaining low tailpipe emissions. Altima Hybrid is rated as an Advanced Technology - Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) and emits almost no evaporative emissions.

The advanced energy drive system shares duties between the gasoline-powered 4-cylinder and the emissions-free electric motor - allowing Altima Hybrid to run solely on electric power if appropriate, especially during stop-and-go driving. If extra performance is needed, the gasoline engine starts instantly and smoothly adds power as required.

Altima Hybrid is estimated to have a hybrid system net power rating of 198 horsepower (148 kW). EPA fuel economy is estimated at 35 mpg City and 33 mpg Highway. Combined with Altima's standard 20-gallon fuel tank, the Altima Hybrid has a projected driving range of over 600 miles between fill-ups.

The Altima Hybrid utilizes regenerative braking technology to recharge the hybrid system's batteries, meaning Altima Hybrid doesn't have to "plug in" to maintain a sufficient store of electric energy.

In order to recharge the battery, a generator places resistance on the driveshaft during braking. Altima Hybrid's Regenerative Brake System calculates braking force generated by brake pedal operation and controls the regenerative brake force to convert kinetic energy into electric energy, optimizing energy regeneration. The system converts the vehicle's kinetic energy to usable electric energy that is stored in the system's 244.8V Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery for eventual use by the electric motor.

Nissan's proven QR25 4-cylinder engine features continuously variable valve timing, modular engine design, microfinished crank journals and cam lobes, molybdenum-coated lightweight pistons and electronically controlled throttle.

Helping provide smooth acceleration and maximize powertrain efficiency is Altima Hybrid's hybrid system-specific eCVT, which works in conjunction with the Hybrid Vehicle-Electric Control Unit (HV-ECU) to determine which power source or combination of power sources will turn the wheels.

Altima Hybrid's electric motor produces high torque at low rpm, allowing it to utilize its Electric Vehicle (EV) mode to power the car from a standing idle and through initial acceleration without the assistance of the gasoline engine. While this stage of acceleration is a typical gasoline-only powered vehicle's least fuel-efficient stage, Altima Hybrid offers much of its fuel-efficiency benefits here.

Altima Hybrid's all-electric mode, called Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, powers the vehicle in this initial acceleration phase. After the electric motor provides initial acceleration, the gasoline engine quietly starts and assumes the load of powering the vehicle. The gasoline engine works independently through cruising speeds until the vehicle reaches speeds at which fuel efficiency declines. When loads require, the electric motor restarts again and aids the gasoline engine in powering the Altima Hybrid. This allows the gasoline engine to remain in its ideal rpm range while the axle torque simultaneously increases due to extra power contributed by the electric motor.

A digital display on the speedometer indicates when the Altima Hybrid is running solely on electric power. The Altima Hybrid's available hard drive navigation system also features a real-time display showing how the hybrid system directs the flow of energy.

Serving as the foundation for Altima Hybrid is Nissan's advanced "D" platform. The platform includes a subframe-mounted front suspension, shock absorbers with rebound springs and equal-length half-shafts that are nearly parallel to the ground - virtually eliminating traditional front-wheel drive torque steer.

Revised Exterior and Interior
The distinctive, signature Altima exterior styling features revised hood, grille, front bumper and rear license plate finisher designs, along with a new 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheel design. Another changes for 2010 is the addition of the power sliding moonroof in the optional Premium Package.

Altima's exterior again offers an aggressive stance, a strong wedge character line, signature Altima-style taillights and Hybrid badging. One new exterior color is available - Ocean Gray - along with Mystic Jade, Radiant Silver, Dark Slate, Super Black, Winter Frost and Navy Blue.

Inside, Altima Hybrid's revised interior fabrics and finishers and revised Blonde interior color are joined by a new white illumination gauge appearance and a new automatic transmission finisher design. The new available Bose® Premium Audio System includes 9 speakers, a 4.3-inch color display, USB port with iPod® connectivity, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback, XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately), and RearView Monitor.

The new, next-generation Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System features a 6.5-inch VGA color display, USB port with iPod® connectivity, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System with audio streaming, 9.3GB Music Box for music storage and playback, advanced map data including speed limit advisories, Zagat® restaurant guide, XM® NavTraffic and XM NavWeather® (XM® subscription required, sold separately) and an RCA input for auxiliary audio/video connectivity.

As in previous years, the roomy yet sporty interior space offers innovative amenities, including Fine Vision gauge display instrument panel and comfortable, highly bolstered seats with available 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats. Leather-appointed seating is also offered, along with standard Nissan Intelligent Key? with Push Button Ignition and Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control.

The 2010 Altima Hybrid also comes equipped with a number of standard safety features, including the 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, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

One Well-Equipped Model
The 2010 Altima Hybrid is offered in one model, the Altima Hybrid, with the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and hybrid electric components, eCVT transmission, 4-wheel power-assisted disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), electric power rack-and-pinion steering, 4-wheel independent suspension and 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. Comfort and convenience features include standard Nissan Intelligent Key? with Push Button Ignition and a Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control that includes an Altima Hybrid-specific electrically powered A/C that continues to provide cooling when the gasoline engine is stopped.

Three option packages are offered for 2010, including the Convenience Package, with 8-way power driver's seat, automatic on/off headlights, dual sun visors w/ illuminated vanity mirrors & extenders, leather-wrapped steering wheel, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, power window w/ one-touch auto up/down & auto reverse, key fob-operated front windows up/down, front passenger key cylinder-operated front windows up/down, sideview mirrors with integrated turn signals, manual folding sideview mirrors, wood trim finishers for Blonde interior, and rear spoiler w/integrated center high-mounted stoplight.

The Premium Package features leather-appointed seats, heated driver and front-passenger seats, driver's power lumbar support, leather-wrapped gearshift knob, power sliding tinted glass moonroof with tilt, sliding sunshade and one-touch operation with auto reverse feature, Bose® AM/FM audio system with 9 speakers, 4.3-inch color display, RearView Monitor, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, USB port with iPod® connectivity, XM® Satellite Radio, MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback capability, Radio Data System (RDS), speed-sensitive auto volume, heated sideview mirrors, auto-dimming rearview mirror, HomeLink® Universal Transceiver, compass, mood lighting, rear A/C ventilation and metallic-texture finishers (Charcoal interior).

Finally, the Technology Package adds Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System with 6.5-inch VGA color monitor, 9.3GB Music Box hard drive for digital music storage and playback, hybrid energy flow and energy/fuel history display, XM NavTraffic® and XM NavWeather®, DVD player, Bluetooth® Streaming Audio, steering wheel navigation system controls and VTR jack.

The 2010 Altima is assembled at Nissan North America - Smyrna Manufacturing.