The Nissan North America, the Japanese brand’s subsidiary, recently announced the price tag that would accompany the 2008 Altima Coupe when it hits showrooms all across the United States. The coupe is the latest addition to Nissan’s popular Altima lineup. The sporty coupe is slated to be released to the United States auto market by the 25th of May this year. The Nissan Altima Coupe brings to the table a sportier version of the Altima sedan as Nissan aims to attract the attention of car buyers who are looking for high performance cars. It comes with a choice between two engines and two transmission choices.
The first engine choice for the Nissan Altima Coupe is the 2.5 S. The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5 S comes equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and it will have a starting price of $20,490. For the same engine with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), Nissan announced that the price tag will start at $20,990.
The second engine choice is the 3.5-liter V6 engine. The Nissan Altima 3.5 SE equipped version with a six-speed manual transmission will start selling at $24,890. While for the same V6 engine equipped with Nissan’s continuously variable transmission, the price will start at $25,390.
While the coupe is scheduled to be released next month, consumers who are interested in buying one can already reserve his or her Altima Coupe. The Nissan North America announced that their dealers across the United States are employing the “Reserve Your Coupe” program. For interested car buyers, Nissan advised them to visit a Nissan dealer to avail of the program.
What makes the coupe a sportier version of the Altima sedan is its smaller dimensions. The cockpit of the Nissan Altima Coupe is designed to be smeller than the Altima sedan. This gives the driver that race car feel. Looking from the outside, the Altima Coupe is shorter than its Sedan sibling. This in turn gives the coupe a sportier and more aggressive look, like a race car prepped for a race.
The wheelbase of the Altima Coupe is a full 4 inches shorter than the Altima sedan. The overall length of the coupe version of the Altima is also 7.1 inches shorter as compared to the sedan. The exterior styling for the coupe gives it a look that is unique in the Altima lineup. What the coupe and the sedan versions of the Altima have in common is the hood. Aside from that, exterior styling cues for the coupe is set apart from the sedan.
When it comes to the construction of the coupe, it shares the same platform with the Nissan Altima Sedan. The “D” platform , as Nissan calls it, has been receiving praises in the auto industry and with sales fir Nissan increasing in the United States market for the past months, it seems that the platform is also being received well by the car buying public. The platform gives the Altima Coupe, or the sedan for that matter, a front wheel drive configuration.
Bill Bosley, the Vice President and the General Manager of the Nissan Division, have this to say about the 2008 Altima Coupe: “The Altima Coupe sets itself apart from the segment by being more than just an Altima Sedan minus two doors. The driving performance of the Altima Coupe is biased toward sporty feel, especially when equipped with our award- winning V6. Handling is also a strong point of the new Coupe, as is the responsive feeling provided by the Xtronic CVT transmission.”
