2011 Nissan Altima Coupe Press Kit: Overview
09/10/2010
Nissan
For 2011, the sporty, 2-door Nissan Altima Coupe once again offers a high-value, high-quality, high style coupe for Altima customers seeking a more personal expression of individuality and fashionable appearance. Last year, the Altima Coupe received a long list of changes, including a more aggressive front end exterior appearance with new grille and projector beam headlights, standard Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), refined option package content, revised interior fabrics and finishers, and a new red leather-appointed interior color. For 2011, enhancements are limited to two new exterior colors: Metallic Slate and Brilliant Silver.
The 2011 Altima Coupe is available in 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine-equipped 2.5 S and 3.5-liter V6 engine-equipped 3.5 SR trim levels, each offered with a choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or Nissan's advanced Xtronic CVT(TM) (Continuously Variable Transmission).
The Altima Coupe's 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 Coupe's sportier driving feel - a desired attribute of the typically younger, more performance-oriented coupe buyers.
"The Coupe adds a distinctive style to the Altima lineup, which also includes the Altima Sedan and Altima Hybrid. Unlike some other brands, which treat coupe models like minor line extension, the Altima Coupe stands out as a star on its own," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. "It's a great performer and a great value."
A Distinctive Design, Inside and Out
Dimensionally, the Altima Coupe rides on a 105.3-inch wheelbase, a full 4.0 inches shorter than the Altima Sedan. Overall length is 180.9 inches - nearly 10 inches less than the Sedan. The Coupe also has a lower profile - at 55.9 inches it is 2.1 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.
For 2011, Altima Coupe retains its signature hood, grille and front bumper, along with projector beam headlights and standard 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. Altima 3.5 SR models offer standard 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with Michelin P235/45R18 tires.
As in previous years, the 2011 Altima Coupe's accommodating, driver-oriented interior includes unique sport-style front seats with more side support (versus Altima Sedan), in-board release lever and front seat storage pockets and a 60/40 split and flat fold-down rear seat. The Altima Coupe also offers a variety of interior fabrics and finishers, including, for example, a red leather-appointed interior color selection or a Blond interior color.
Altima Coupe's instrument panel features a Fine Vision gauge display with white illumination 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. All Altima Coupes also utilize a parking brake hand lever (versus foot release for Altima Sedans).
Also available are an array of exciting entertainment and technology features. The premium audio system includes a 4.3-inch color display, USB port with iPod(R) connectivity, Bluetooth(R) Hands-free Phone System, MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback and XM(R) Satellite Radio (XM(R) subscription required, sold separately). A RearView Monitor is also offered with the Premium Audio Package.
Another advanced technology is the available Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System with 6.5-inch VGA color display, USB port with iPod(R) connectivity, Hands-free Phone System, Bluetooth(R) streaming audio, 9.3GB Music Box(R) for music storage and playback, advanced map data including speed limit advisories, Zagat(R) Survey restaurant guide, XM NavTraffic(R) and XM NavWeather(TM) Real-Time Traffic Information (XM(R) subscription required, sold separately) and an RCA input for auxiliary audio/video connectivity.
The 2011 Altima Coupe 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), Traction Control System (TCS) and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
Exhilarating Performance
Under Altima Coupe's sophisticated exterior design is Nissan's advanced "D" platform, 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.
Ample power is supplied from a choice of two engines and two transmissions. The 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 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 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. The 3.5-liter V6 and 2.5-liter 4-cylinder models are each available with Nissan's advanced Xtronic CVT(TM) (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 actions.
Also contributing to 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).
Four Well-Equipped Models
The 2011 Altima Coupe is available in four well-equipped models: 2.5 S 6MT, 2.5 S CVT, 3.5 SR 6MT and 3.5 SR CVT.
In addition to the many standard features of the 2.5 S models, the Coupe 3.5 SR CVT adds the 270-hp 3.5-liter V6, 8-way power driver's seat, 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with P235/45R18 all-season radial tires, power glass moonroof with sliding sunshade, leather-wrapped steering wheel and steering wheels audio controls, fog lights, auto on/off headlights, heated sideview mirrors with integrated turn signals, dual illuminated vanity mirrors with illumination and extensions, unique exhaust tailpipe finisher, driver's seat manual lumbar support and wood-tone finishers (Blond interior).
To that long list of equipment, the Coupe 3.5 SR 6MT also includes leather-appointed seats, leather-wrapped gearshift knob, heated driver and front passenger seats, Bose(R) AM/FM audio system with 7 speakers, 4.3-inch color display, RearView Monitor, Bluetooth(R) Hands-free Phone System, USB Port with iPod(R) Connectivity, XM(R) Satellite Radio (XM(R) subscription required, sold separately), MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback compatibility, Radio Data System (RDS), speed-sensitive auto volume, auto-dimming rearview mirror, HomeLink(R) Universal Transceiver, compass, mood lighting, metallic texture finishers, Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control and High Intensity Discharge (HID) Xenon headlights.
Available equipment packages include the 2.5 Convenience Package (2.5 S) with 8-way power driver's seat with manual lumbar adjustment, auto on/off headlights, leather-wrapped steering wheel, wood grain trim finishers for Blond interior and more; and the 2.5 S Premium Package (2.5 S) with Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control, power sliding glass moonroof, Bose(R) AM/FM audio system with 7 speakers, 4.3-inch color display, RearView Monitor, Bluetooth(R) Hands-free Phone System, USB Port with iPod(R) Connectivity, XM(R) Satellite Radio (XM(R) subscription required, sold separately), MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback compatibility and more.
The Leather Package (2.5 S CVT, 3.5 SR CVT, standard on 3.5 SR 6MT) includes leather-appointed seats, heated front seats, leather-wrapped gear shift knob, High Intensity Discharge (HID) Xenon headlights, auto-dimming rearview mirror, HomeLink(R) Universal Transceiver and more.
The optional 3.5 SR Premium Package (3.5 SR CVT, standard on 3.5 SR 6MT) adds Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control, Bose(R) AM/FM audio system with 7 speakers, 4.3-inch color display, RearView Monitor, Bluetooth(R) Hands-free Phone System, USB Port with iPod(R) Connectivity, XM(R) Satellite Radio (XM(R) subscription required, sold separately), MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback compatibility and more. Finally, the Technology Package adds the upgrade Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System, 9.3GB Music Box(R) Hard Drive, DVD player and more.
The 2011 Altima Coupe is assembled at the Nissan North America - Smyrna and Decherd, Tennessee Manufacturing.