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Lyndon Conrad Bell | 3/19/2008 | Nissan
In a move that some see as brilliantly strategic and others label as foot-dragging, rather than developing its first hybrid from scratch Nissan has entered the hybrid marketplace by licensing the technology from Toyota.
It's rare that one can have a car that's fun to drive and easier on the environment too, but Nissan has accomplished just that with the Altima Hybrid. Built in the United States and relying primarily on Nissan's 2.5-liter inline four cylinder engine that generates 158-horsepower at 5200 rpm and 162 foot-pounds of torque at 2800, the Altima supplements that gasoline engine with a 40-horsepower electric motor that is capable of 199 foot-pounds of torque. Power is transferred to the front wheels via a Continuously Variable Transmission.
Settle behind the wheel and there's nothing really to tell you that you're in a hybrid vehicle--until you press the start button and nothing seems to happen. Then you notice the "ready" light in the tachometer, which lets you know the powertrain is activated and you can begin driving. Under certain conditions this could be purely on electric power, as the Altima Hybrid is a "full hybrid". That means it is capable of operation purely with its electric motor, its gasoline engine, or a combination of the two.
Pull gently away from a traffic signal with small throttle inputs and the Altima Hybrid will run on electricity alone until you get up to 40 miles per hour. At that point, the gasoline engine kicks in. Alternatively, you can use the gasoline engine to get the Nissan Hybrid up to 40 miles per hour, lift off the throttle slightly and the gasoline engine will shut off and you can use the electric motor to maintain your speed--as long as the battery charge lasts.
Driven conservatively, the 3,482-pound Nissan Altima Hybrid will return 35 miles per gallon in the city and 33 on the highway, using regular unleaded fuel. Given its 20-gallon tank, that 's good for a potential cruising range of more than 600 miles.
Happily, Nissan equips the Altima Hybrid much like the standard Altima models. A long list of available features includes standard four-wheel disc brakes and a keyless entry and start feature that Nissan calls Intelligent Key with Push Start Ignition. Options include an available Bluetooth hands-free phone system, a rear view video camera, and an advanced touch-screen navigation system with real time traffic reporting.
That's the good news, the bad news is the Altima Hybrid can only be purchased in eight states; California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Still, with its remarkable blend of sportiness, frugality and luxury features, the Altima Hybrid is a very strong contender in the mid-sized sedan category.
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