For the car known as the Nissan Maxima in Australia, see Nissan Teana
The Nissan Maxima is a full-size car manufactured by Nissan, marketed as the "four-door sports car". The Maxima debuted in 1976 as an upscale version of the Bluebird and was spun into its own line in 1980, having been made continuously since then. Most pre-2004 Maximas were built in Oppama, Japan, until the current North American Maximas started being assembled in Smyrna, Tennessee.
The Maxima models are also known as Nissan Cefiro or Nissan Laurel in various markets.
1976–1980
The Maxima model line began with the Nissan Bluebird Maxima, which was available in the US as Datsun 810 from February 1977. It was powered by two versions of the SOHC L-series I6 engine, a 2.0 L displacement for the Japanese market and a 2.4 L (as found in the Datsun 240Z) for the US market. The Bluebird Maxima used a carburetor for the base model and fuel injection for the sporty version. The 2.0 L engine was good for 122 PS JIS (90 kW), while the bigger American engine could reach 125 hp SAE (93 kW). The sporty version channeled power through a five speed manual transmission. These cars were rear-wheel drive and had a semi-trailing arm rear suspension. The station wagon variant had the rear live axle for load carrying reasons.
The 2-door coupe version was introduced in 1979 along with an exterior refresh, and was available in the Maxima lineup in the Datsun 810 only. The new Datsun 280ZX shared the 810's chassis, though the 810 did not get that car's larger 2.8 L engine.
1981–1984
The first car to wear the Maxima name was introduced in 1981. It was essentially a Japanese-market Bluebird 910 with a 3.9 in (99 mm) longer nose. The car was offered as the 810 Deluxe or 810 Maxima that first year, and all 810s became Maximas for 1982. In 1984, the last year of the first generation Maxima, American Datsuns began carrying the "Nissan" badge as well (only 1984 Nissans have both "Nissan" and "Datsun" on the back of the car). Toyota responded to the introduction of the Maxima with the Japanese market Toyota Mark II and named the car the Toyota Cressida.
Powered by the same 2.4 L I6 engine as the previous Datsun 810 and Datsun 240Z, the car was still rear-wheel drive. It was also available with the LD28 OHC 2.8L I6 Diesel engine (available in the US from mid-1981 through 1983) with either 5 speed manual or automatic transmission.
Some of the power steering pumps were sourced from General Motors' Saginaw Gear division, while others were sources from Atsugi. This was the second Nissan to use US-sourced parts besides the Borg-Warner T-5 transmission used in the 82-89 Nissan ZX Turbos.
1985–1988
In the fall of 1984, the first front-wheel drive Maxima (based on the Bluebird U11) was introduced. This Maxima was available with a 154 hp (119 kW) 3.0 L VG30E V6 engine and a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. This engine was shared in the naturally aspirated 300ZX and was the first V6 engine to be mass produced from Japan. The second generation was assigned the compact status. 1988 was the last year for the station wagon, which had been offered since the Datsun 810 days. In late 1986, the 1987 Maxima was introduced with a freshened exterior and interior. Automatic shoulder belts were now found on both the 1987 sedan and wagons built after February 1987. Luxury amenities were offered on both the "base" GL, later renamed GXE and SE trim levels. Such features for the GL/GXE included digital touch entry system on the driver and passenger side door panel, power windows, locks, antenna, power seats, remote trunk release, voice warning system, optional leather seating, an optional Electronics Pkg(a sedan exclusive, it included a digital instruments and a trip computer) and an optional power sunroof (sunroof was standard on Maxima wagons). 15" alloy wheels are standard for the Maxima. An exclusive option for 1988 was the Sonar Suspension System -which was part of the Electronics Pkg- replacing the trip computer that was previously offered. This feature used sonar waves to monitor the road conditions ahead and adjusted the shocks accordingly for the most controlled ride. 1988 was also the year that the previously standard digital touch system offered on the GXE sedan became part of the Electronics Pkg option as well. The SE (and some GXE) offered dual power seats, a five-speed manual transmission, 3-way shock adjust suspension, front and rear windshield defroster and a factory-installed security system. The SE also has a small rear spoiler, 4-wheel disc brakes, black side rear view mirrors and body molding (GXE got body color side rear view mirrors and matching body molding. Again, the Maxima's prime competitor was the similar-specification Toyota Cressida, which remained rear wheel drive. Maxima provided a combination of luxury and sporty features while the Cressida was generally seen as being more luxurious.
1989–1994
The Maxima was redesigned in 1989 as the J30 (not to be confused with the unrelated Infiniti J30) model. Bigger dimensions made it the second Japanese sedan sold in the USA to qualify as a "mid-size" (after the Mazda 929); it was also the first Japanese car to exceed Japan's 67 in (1701.8 mm) width restriction, making it fairly comfortable for three passengers. Surprisingly, weight actually decreased slightly from the former generation. Nissan called the new Maxima a 4-Door Sports Car and even gave it a "4DSC" window decal showing this. Some say this Maxima helped start the rebirth of sporty curves in the family sedan; it was considered by some to be quite striking in its day. It now featured a 160 hp (119 kW) 3.0 L V6, with a 190 hp (142 kW) VE30DE engine standard on the SE model starting in 1992. The VG30E was a unit that had been used in the previous Maxima, as well as the first generation Nissan 300ZX. An interesting feature was the digital touch entry system on the GXE (in conjunction with the new Luxury Package)offered a feature that permitted the windows to be lowered and the moon roof opened without the key in the ignition. In the United States, the VG30E engine, which featured a variable intake manifold on both automatic and manual transmission models, was used on all 1989-1994 GXE models and 1989-1991 SE models.
The VE30DE engine, which was purpose-built for, and exclusively offered on the 1992-1994 Maxima SE, featured variable intake manifold (5-speed model only) and with variable timing cams, plus a limited-slip differential, became standard on the SE models in 1992. The SE models can be further distinguished from the GXE by their white-faced gauges, twisted spoke turbine wheels (.5 inch wider than GXE wheels), body colored grilles, twin-tip mufflers, factory smoked tail lights, black trim instead of chrome, firmer sport suspensions, and optional 5-speed manual transmissions, which weren't offered on any of the GXE models. The automatic transmission on all GXEs (RE4F02A) was an innovative compact unit from Jatco, which featured 'sport' and 'comfort' modes that shifted at different points. The 1992-1994 SE received an optional automatic transmission (RE4F04V) that had stronger internals but kept the 'sport' and 'comfort' modes. The SE also had a rear spoiler and black side mirrors whereas the GXE has body color side mirrors.
During this year, the Maxima was first introduced to the European market, replacing the Laurel. For European markets, the model range was: 3.0, 3.0 S, and 3.0 SE.
All European and Australian variants had automatic transmissions and the VG30E Engine only. Versions sold in Japan had manual transmission as an option in addition to the automatic transmission that was standard in Europe, North America and Australia. Maximas sold in New Zealand had manual versions as well.
The Maxima SE was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1990.
This generation Maxima WAS fitted with an independent rear suspension.
However, another Bluebird Maxima continued on as a Nissan Bluebird U12 and solely as a station wagon with the VG20ET engine during this period until the introduction of the Nissan Bluebird U13, and the Avenir replaced the Bluebird wagon altogether.
1995–1999
The car was redesigned again in 1995 as the A32 . A new VQ30DE 190 hp (141 kW), 205 lb·ft (278 N·m) tq 3.0 L V6 was the only engine option for the North American market. The VQ30DE's smooth, powerful acceleration and long-term durability helped it earn a first spot on the Ward's 10 Best Engine List, and the VQ has now been recognized consecutively for every year since its introduction (as of 2008, 14
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