Why The Hell Is Nissan So Excited To Show The World This Redesigned Model?

Forgive us for not being so excited about the refreshed Nissan Altima. The Japanese automaker is certainly stoked about its new mid-size sedan, and it has every right to be. Altima sales have grown every year for the past five years, with a more than 60 percent increase since 2009. Of course the mid-size sedan market is a competitive one, which means that automakers can't afford to sleep on success. After all, there's a new Civic on the waythat looks prettydamn good… So, what's new?

The "energetic flow" design languageseen on the redesignedMaxima is back. The front features a lowered and beefed up fascia equipped with a "V motion" grille and a new bumper. The hood, fenders and headlights are also new. The back has also been redesigned, with new taillights and a trunk-lid spoiler for the SR trim. Nearly all Altimas (starting with the 2.5 S) come standard with a 5.0-inch touchscreen infotainment center. Standard on all trims are Nissan's Zero Gravity front seats, which are super ergonomic but don't actually float. Two engines are on offer: a 2.5-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder and a 3.5-liter DOHC V6. The four-cylinder gets an astounding 39 mpg highway and the V6 is rated at 270 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque.