Nissan Almost Axed the Maxima
Nissan is bragging about its 2016 Maxima now, but things could have been a lot different.
According to a recent report from Automotive News, the Maxima was on the chopping block just four years ago before CEO Carlos Ghosn gave a new Maxima project the green light. Current vice president of North American product planning, Pierre Loing, admitted that the Maxima had a good chance of being axed and his first task on the job in 2012 was to convince upper management that the nameplate needed to live on. Originally introduced in 1981, the Maxima is actually Nissan’s longest-selling nameplate in the U.S. due to the Z nameplate being discontinued for several years. Loing argues that the Maxima moniker has better name recognition than the Nissan brand itself.
SEE ALSO: 2016 Nissan Maxima SR Bests BMW, Audi on the Track
The new 2016 Nissan Maxima will go on sale in the U.S. June 2 and along with its sporty styling, the automaker tweaked its powerplant to offer 10 additional horsepower and better fuel economy while the interior gets refined seating. Recently, the company bragged about how the 2016 Nissan Maxima SR bested the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 around the track.
“When I look at this car, I’m proudest of the fact that it’s here at all,” said Takeshi Yamaguchi, who was Nissan North America’s vice president for vehicle engineering and vehicle program management for the 2016 Nissan Maxima. “And on top of that, I’m proud of that fact that we took the Maxima beyond where it was, instead of taking it backward.”
[Source: Automotive News]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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i noticed the new Maxima's profile looks like the Mazda6. but the Mazda6 costs over $10,000 less
I drove this car a week or so ago at the launch event Nissan hosted. Look for the complete review WITH VIDEO on June 3.