Nissan will celebrate a milestone in the life of its flagship model with a special "20th Anniversary Edition" of the Nissan Maxima for 2001. The 20th Anniversary Edition Maxima has added horsepower, upgraded equipment and extra features.
Power has been increased by five horsepower - up to 227 from 222 - with the use of a larger centre exhaust pipe and muffler which increases exhaust flow and horsepower. It also has perforated leather seats, bright-finished 17-inch alloy wheels, bronze-tinted headlight lenses, a large engine cover with Nissan logo and a 20th Anniversary Edition badge on the trunk lid.
To maintain its benchmark status, the 2001 Maxima offers added safety and convenience features, such as active front headrests and steering-wheel mounted audio controls. It retains its lead as the most powerful in its class. It also has the most front head room, front leg room, interior space and trunk capacity in its class.
In addition, an illuminated emergency interior trunk release (available as of September 2000) and an ISO-FIX child seat anchor bar have been added to all Maxima models.
"Maxima appeals to experienced and confident car buyers who know and love cars," says Ian Forsyth, Nissan Canada's marketing director. "Accordingly, they are willing to pay a little extra for a vehicle that offers a more complete upscale experience. We call it 'justifiable indulgence'."
The 2001 Maxima continues to be offered in three models - the well-equipped GXE, the luxury GLE and the sporty SE which becomes the Anniversary Edition.
GXE and GLE are powered by Nissan's highly acclaimed 3.0-litre DOHC 24-valve V6 engine. It was completely re-engineered last year to yield a class-leading 222-horsepower. Ward's Auto World has named it one of the "10 Best Engines" every year since 1995. After last year's modifications, Wards went a step further, saying it is quite "simply ... the best V6 engine available in America."
Maximas are offered with a choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. The manual is standard on GXE and SE. The automatic is optional on GXE and SE and standard equipment on the GLE. Introduced in model year 2000, the fifth-generation Maxima's distinctively sleek exterior and handsome, roomy interior were created at Nissan Design International Inc. in La Jolla, California.
Comfort and convenience items include large, user-friendly audio buttons, auto on/off headlights and one-touch open/close controls for windows and power sunroofs. A keyless, remote entry system is standard on all models.
The low-fatigue front seats provide a rigid seat structure and excellent vibration absorption. The rear-seats are a 60/40 split fold-down design with anti-theft locks and a fold-down armrest.
Maxima's exceptional performance is complemented by standard 4-wheel disc brakes with 4-channel/4-sensor Anti-lock Brakes. Traction Control is standard on all Maximas with automatic transmission.
A theft-resistant immobilizer key system and fixed child seat tether anchors on the rear parcel shelf are standard on all Maximas. Other safety features include side-impact guard beams, dual "second generation" front air bags, 3-point front seatbelts with seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters and front-seat supplemental side-impact air bags on Maximas with leather-appointed seats.
Nissan's innovative rear Multi-Link Beam suspension allows Maxima to offer precise handling and cornering with outstanding stability.
