Unveiled at today's Detroit Auto Show, the new Sport Sedan Concept applies many of the same design elements we've seen on Nissan's previous show cars to a more conventional four-door shape. But far from a design exercise, the decidedly uncreatively named Sport Sedan Concept previews "a future production sports sedan," which has every indication of being the next Maxima.
Its dimensions reveal the concept to be bigger than the current Maxima in every direction but height, with that visual impression further entrenched by a floating roof design that combines with a high waistline to give a coupe-like profile. There are also sharp creases in the bodywork that visually break up the space between the rear set of 21-inch alloys and the tapered greenhouse. The shape is further punctuated by the V-shaped grille and distinctly Nissan boomerang-shaped lights that lend a face to this distinctly Japanese design that was penned in California and honed back in Japan. The sharp and simple cabin is characterized by a high-contrast palette with quilted leather and metallic trim.
It all looks rather sporty, though some enthusiasts may be disappointed to learn that while Nissan's trusty 3.5-liter V6 has been retuned to deliver over 300 horsepower, that power is still delivered to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission, just like the current Maxima. Color us unsurprised – the Maxima is America's best-selling non-luxury V6 sedan at retail, it has fat profit margins, and much of its development costs can be shared with the Altima. In other words, nobody should be shocked that Nissan isn't putting its next Maxima through a radical rethink.