By: Jeffrey Ross
Autotropolis.com 
When market trends change in the automotive world, manufactures must adjust accordingly or risk losing sales and revenues. Such is the case with many manufacturers who chose to stick with the large SUV trend and are now left scrambling. So with the demise of mid-size coupes such as the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the Toyota Camry Solara, it is almost surprising that Nissan will begin selling a coupe version of its Altima starting in May.
Nissan stunned many automotive enthusiasts with Altima Coupe that shared many design cues from other high-end, sporty Nissans. The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe offers styling similar to the G35 coupe with the sportiness of the iconic 350Z for less than the Maxima. The Altima has always been the lowly step-sibling to the larger, sportier Maxima, but the all-new, 270-horsepower Altima Coupe should help pull the Altima from the entry-level status.
Looks alone should be enough to make this a successful car for Nissan but throw in a low price and decent handling and the Altima Coupe could turn out to be quite a hit. It’s clear that Nissan didn’t want the Altima Coupe just to be a two-door version of the sedan, and in fact, the only body panel shared between the Altima Coupe and sedan is the hood. The coupe also benefits from a shorter wheelbase and overall length to increase both handling and performance. A lower ride height should give the coupe a more aggressive stance and should help handling, as well.
The Altima Coupe will also benefit from equal length axle shafts and having the engine sit lower in the cradle which should help to eliminate the dreaded torque steer while improving balance in the corners.
The 2008 Nissan Altima coupe hits showrooms in May with a starting MSRP for the base model of $20,490. The base 2.5 S Altima Coupe features a 175-horsepower, four-cylinder engine, while the upgraded 3.5 SE’s 270-horsepower V6 directs power to the front wheels through the standard six-speed manual transmission and has a starting MSRP of just $24,890. Both models offer an available with Nissan’s Xtronic continually variable transmission (CVT) for increased responsiveness for an additional $500.
With the addition of the Altima Coupe to the Altima sedan and Altima Hybrid, Nissan seems to have the Honda Accord dead in its sights.