Nissan’s flagship 2003 Maxima sedan receives a number of new standard features to enhance the SE model’s already high level of sportiness — features such as a Bose® audio system with in-dash six-disc CD changer, stainless steel sill plates with Maxima logo, titanium-tint colour centre console, titanium-tint accent stitching on steering wheel and shifter, a compass and alloy wheels with bright wheel finish. Other changes for 2003 include making front seat side-impact supplemental airbags standard on the GXE model, and adding two new exterior colours – Chrome Silver and Silverstone. Highlights of the 2003 Maxima performance luxury sedan include:
Body
- Exciting, aggressive styling with fluid forms sweeping front to rear, unique rear-end design
- Auto on/off xenon headlights (ambient light sensitive)
- Chrome-coloured accents on door handles and side window mouldings
- UV reducing solar glass
- Two new exterior colours – Chrome Silver and Silverstone
Engine and Driveline
- 3.5-litre DOHC 24-valve V6 producing 255 horsepower and 246 ft-lbs of torque
- Engine features include electronic throttle, silent timing chain, microfinished camshaft and crankshaft surfaces, molybdenum coated pistons, resin intake collector, digital knock control system, cross flow coolant pattern and variable capacity muffler
- Platinum-tipped spark plugs with 160,000-kilometre maintenance intervals
- Six-speed close ratio manual transmission standard on SE models
- Four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission (std on GXE and GLE, opt. on SE)
- Available Traction Control System (TCS) (GXE and GLE, opt. on SE with A/T Package)
- Available Helical Limited-Slip Differential (SE manual)
Suspension, Steering and Braking
- Rear Multi-Link BeamÔ suspension with stabilizer bar
- Independent strut front suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar
- Four-wheel power-assisted disc brakes, standard 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist
- 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels – seven-spoke on GLE with P215/55R17 tires, six-spoke on SE with P225/50R17 tires
- Standard 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with P215/55R16 tires on GXE
Interior Features
- Five-passenger seating with luxury cloth or leather-appointed seats and 60/40 split fold-down rear bench with lock
- Standard eight-way power driver’s seat, with standard memory seat (on GLE, SE Leather Package) with entry/exit feature (A/T only)
- Seven-speaker 200-watt BoseÒ premium audio system with AM/FM/cassette, in-dash six-disc CD changer, steering wheel audio controls, speed-sensitive auto volume control and RDS radio function (GLE, SE)
Safety and Security
- Standard dual-stage supplemental airbags and front seat side-impact supplemental airbags
- Front seat active head restraints, three-point ALR/ELR seatbelts (driver’s seat ELR only) including rear centre position with front seatbelt adjustable upper anchors with pretensioners and load limiters
- LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren) child seat anchorage system
- Emergency inside trunk release
Models and Manufacturing
- Offered in three well-equipped V6 models: GXE, GLE and SE
- Exterior and interior designed at Nissan Design America (NDA), in La Jolla, Calif.
- Assembled by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. at Oppama, Japan