CONFIRMED:
350Z: No major changes for 2009. Nissan will show the next-generation Z coupe at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Rumor has it that the new Z will get the 3.7 liter V6 from the and will be called the 370Z.
ALTIMA: Sedans get more standard equipment, including air conditioning and speed-sensitive automatic door locks for the base model, while the top-selling 2.5 S comes exclusively with a continuously-variable automatic transmission. The Altima Coupe, introduced in 2008, gets only minor upgrades. Unfortunately, electronic stability control still isn't available on four-cylinder Altimas.
ARMADA: Nissan's king-size SUV sails into 2009 with minor changes in equipment levels and option packages.
CUBE: Nissan has announced that the next generation of their super-boxy home-market Cube will be sold in the United States. No firm timeline has been set, but we expect to see the Cube some time in 2009 as a 2010 model.
GT-R: Americans been waiting patiently for Nissan to import its legendary Skyline GT-R for years. Our prayers will be answered in 2009, although the US version of the car will drop the "Skyline" moniker and go by the name GT-R. This all-wheel-drive sports car features a twin-turbo 3.8 liter V6 putting out 480 hp and 430 lb-of of torque, a twin-clutch transmission, and enough on-board computers to launch the Space Shuttle. Prices will start right around $70,000.
FRONTIER: The Frontier pickup gets a new front-end design and a new Pro-4X off-road model.
MAXIMA: The all-new version of Nissan's flagship sports sedan will be smaller and trimmer for 2009, with a 3.5 liter V6 feeding 290 horsepower to the front wheels through a continuously-variable automatic transmission.
MURANO: The second-generation Murano follows closely in the footsteps of the first-generation Murano. It keeps the same sleek shape, though front- and rear-end styling are quite different. An improved V6 engine drives either the front or all four wheels via a continuously-variable automatic transmission.
PATHFINDER: Front seat-mounted side (torso) airbags and speed-sensitive automatic door locks are now standard on all Pathfinders. LE models get standard Bluetooth phone connectivity, and some of the option packages have been shuffled around a bit.
QUEST: New speed-sensitive power door locks and a new color, Tuscan Sun.
ROGUE: Introduced as a new model in 2008, Nissan's sensibly-sized SUV gets only minor changes for 2009.
SENTRA: Minor changes, including a revised trunk lid, speed-sensing door locks, and some new paint colors.
TITAN: Nissan's full-size pickup gets automatic speed-sensing door locks. A new option package, consisting of chrome billet grille, chrome step rails and chrome wheels, will be sold as the Heavy Metal package in every state but Texas -- where it will be available as the Texas Titan package.
VERSA: No changes are planned right away, but Nissan is planning some mid-year upgrades: Automatic door locks for S and SL models and four new paint colors.
XTERRA: The XTerra gets a front-end facelift, improved seats, and standard two-row side curtain airbags. Standard and optional equipment levels have been shuffled to provide more differentiation between X, S, Off-Road and SE models.
