New Jersey Auto Dealers

The 2010 Altima Coupe 3.5 SR is a family coupe worth traveling in.

A step up from the 2.5 S trim, the 3.5 SR has a 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine. The lower 2.5-liter has a 16-valve 4-cylinder. The 3.5 kicks in with 270 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 258 pound feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. It also comes with the Continuously Variable Valve Time Control System, a variable induction system, the Nissan Direct Ignition System with iridium-tipped spark plugs and electronic drive-by-wire throttle.

The drivetrain is front engine, front wheel drive with a 6-speed close-ratio manual transmission with dual-mass flywheel. As an option, the Xtronic CVT with manual mode is available.

The suspension and steering come with all the same standard features as the 2.5 S trim with one add-on: A sport-tuned suspension that includes retuned front struts and thicker front and rear stabilizer bars (24.2 mm and 18.3 mm, respectively).

The wheels are 18″ X 8.0″ 5-split-spoke aluminum alloy. Tires are P235/45VR18 all season.

The Altima Coupe 3.5 SR also comes with some standard styling features that the lower trim model doesn’t have, including:

• Automatic on/off headlights
• Fog lights, which are optional on the 2.5 S
• Folding outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators
• Heated outside mirrors with timer
• Power sliding glass moonroof with one-touch open/close and tilt

Those are the exterior features. On the interior, the 3.5 SR coupe outclasses its 2.5 brother with these stylish features:

• Passenger-side front-window one-touch auto-up/down auto-reverse
• Remote front windows
• Key-operated front windows
• Dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors with sunvisor extenders
• 8-way power adjustable drivers seat
• Driver’s adjustable lumbar support
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Wood-tone trim (blond interior only)

You can learn all about the interior and exterior features for the 2010 Altima Coupe 3.5 SR on the Nissan website.

There are other ways the Altima 3.5 SR outclasses its little brother. The audio system is pretty standard but you also get the illuminated steering-wheel mounted audio controls. For safety, the two vehicles are identical but a short recap of some of the best features includes Tire Pressure Monitoring System, traction control, Vehicle Dynamic Control, LATCH and the world famous Nissan seat belt system.

The 2010 Altima Coupe 3.5 SR offers 18 mpg fuel efficiency in the city and 27 on the highway. If you opt for the Xtronic system then you’ll get 20 and 27, respectively. It’s as comfortable to drive as it is pretty to look at.

The 2010 Nissan Maxima is available in two trims. You can order the S trim or the SV. Honestly, there’s little difference except that the SV is a bit more advanced. The engine and most of the other mechanical specs are identical. It’s the technological advancements that make the SV trim a better vehicle.

For starters, you get 19 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. The engine is a 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine with 290 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 261-lb. feet of torque at 4,400 rpm.

The drivetrain for both vehicles is the same: Front engine FWD and XTronic Continuously Variable Transmission with DS and manual mode. The difference is with the 2010 Nissan Maxima SV you have paddle shifters as an option on a sport package. These are the types of subtle differences you see across the baord.

The SV offers a sport-tuned suspension and trunk chassis reinforcement as options. The S trim doesn’t.

The SV trim does come with fog lights as a standard feature whereas the S trim does not. Also standard on the SV trim are dual power outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators.

Another standard feature with the 2010 Nissan Maxima SV is a digital compass, although the compass is nixed when your vehicle is equipped with the Nissan Navigation System. It’s still a step up from the S trim.

Seating upgrades on the SV trim include leather-appointed seats, 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support and driver’s seat thigh support extension. These are standard features on the SV.

The 2010 Maxima SV trim also includes several audio upgrades that are not a part of the S trim package. These include:

• Digital Bose audio with AM/FM/in-dash 6-CD changer
• Nine speakers
• XM Satellite Radio
• Radio Data System
• Speed sensitive volume control

The nine speaker system includes two 6″ X 9″ woofers on the front doors and two 6″ X 9″ neodymium woofers in the rear. In addition, the rear doors are equipped with 6.5″ wide-range neodymium speakers. To top it off, you’ll be really impressed with the three 3.5″ Twiddler neodymium front speakers. It’s a great system all around.

You can learn more about the standard features and available packages for both trims on the Nissan website.

Overall, the 2010 Nissan Maxima SV is a great road vehicle and one of the top sedans in its class. To be fair, however, the package upgrades are what make the vehicle and give it a special edge.

The 2010 Nissan Frontier XE King Cab isn’t quite the package of power the LE trim it’s still a classic ride. It sports a 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with 152 horsepower and 171 square pound per feet of torque. Compared to other vehicles of a similar class, that’s not bad. Other features stack up 1-for-1 with the rest of the King Cab family.

• Emissions control
• Variable intake system
• CVTCS on intake
• Nissan-trademarked Direct Ignition System
• Platinum-tipped spark plugs
• Electronic drive-by-wire throttle

All of these features are standard across the board with every trim level.

The 2010 Nissan Frontier XE trim features a 5-speed manual transmission, but the 5-speed automatic is available as an option.

While higher trim models feature the 2- or 4-wheel Active Brake Limited Slip, the XE does come with the 4-wheel ABS and and Electronic Brake Force Distribution. The suspension is independent double-wishbone on the front with a stabilizer bar and on the rear, overslung multi-leaf with solid axle.

The 2010 Nissan Frontier XE King Cab’s all season tires are 15″ X 7″ 6-spoke steel wheels and you do get a full-size spare, not the doughnut.

The seating is both comfortable and convenient for passengers as well as storage. The front passenger seat folds flat and the two rear seats flip up to make room for carrying luggage or other cargo.

For safety, the 2010 Nissan Frontier XE King Cab has all the same features as the entire King Cab family except for one. Safety-conscious drivers will appreciate that.

While the 4X4 King Cab is not an option with the XE trim, the 4X2 does get decent gas mileage. With manual transmission you’ll see 19 in the city and 23 on the highway. The automatic transmission XE gets 17 and 22, respectively.

If you’re looking for a basic get around pickup without a lot of bells and whistles as a fair price then the 2010 Nissan Frontier XE King Cab is a good choice. It’s practical, affordable and not bad to look at.

The 2010 Nissan Versa 1.8 S comes in a sleek-styled hatchback or the more city-oriented sedan. Take your pick. Either way you get a fabulous ride.

The drivetrain consists of a front wheel drive 6-speed manual transmission, however, you do have the option of having a 4-speed automatic transmission installed instead. The 6-speed manual and FWD coupled with an independent strut suspension and stabilizer bar on the front makes for a smooth ride. In the rear you get torsion beam suspension and integrated stabilizer bar. Perfect combination.

To add to the comfort, the ripple-control shock absorbers and vehicle speed sensitive electric power steering give you better control and handling.

The manual transmission delivers 24 mpg for city driving and 31 on the highway. If you opt for the automatic drive then the numbers are 26 and 32.

The hatchback comes with 60/40 split fold-down rear seat backs, which you don’t get with the sedan, but either way it’s a comfortable interior with suede/tricot cloth seat trim and 4-way manual seats for both the driver and the front passenger. The driver also has a tilt steering column and all the passengers have cup holders.

Both vehicles have a 13.2 gallon gas tank, but if you want added cargo space then the 2010 Nissan Versa 1.8 S hatchback is your car. The sedan has 13.8 cubic feet of space, but the hatchback has 17.8 cubic feet with the rear seats up and a whopping 50.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats down. It’s a great family travel vehicle as it looks good driving down the road and makes for a comfortable ride all around. If you plan to do a lot of vacationing then go for the automatic transmission with that extra gas mileage on the highway.

For security, both vehicles come with the Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System. And both engines come with the Nissan Direct Ignition System.

The safety features for both the 2010 Nissan Versa 1.8 S hatchback and sedan version are right in line with contemporary auto manufacturing as well. You get Vehicle Dynamic Control and traction control. You also get a LATCH system for children and rear child safety door locks. Then there’s the Tire Pressure Monitoring System and the energy absorbing steering column.

Both front seats come with side impact air bags. There’s also a roof-mounted curtain side impact air bag for both front seaters and rear seat outboard occupant head protection. There’s also the standard Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant-classification sensors. These safety features come on both the sedan and the hatchback.

For more information on specs and individual options, check out the Nissan website.

The price is just as attractive as the vehicle itself. MSRP is just over $13,000. When you’re in the market for a good family car, try the 2010 Nissan Versa 1.8 S.

The 2010 Nissan 370Z Touring is the sports car of sports cars. It features a nice convertible body type with a 6-speed manual transmission and gets 18 miles to the gallon in the city, 25 mpg on the highway.

The 2009 model, the first after replacing the Nissan 350Z, featured a 7-speed automatic transmission and 2-door body style.

Both year models showcase the GAS V6 3.7 liter engine so you get power, comfortability and speed all rolled into one package. It also comes in a variety of colors from Pearl White to several shades of Metallic and even Monterrey Blue, just to name a few.

The Nissan 370Z Touring is available in several variations with options for automatic or manual transmission as well as Roadster or Coupe. Some of the features available include:

• Dual chrome-tipped exhaust tailpipes
• Double wishbone front suspension
• Micro-finished crankshaft & camshaft
• 18″ 5-spoke aluminum wheels
• Fender-mounted Z emblems & side markers
• 8-way manually adjustable driver seat
• Automatic climate control

Pricing starts at just over $34,000, which is a bargain price as sports cars go. With options like carpeted floor mats, 4-piece splash guards and illuminated kick plates, the price can up a little bit further. But the safety features are quite nice – anti-lock brakes, side impact airbags, energy absorbing steering column and even vehicle dynamic control.

The 2010 Nissan 370Z Touring is a huge improvement over the 350Z coupe it replaced. The 2010 model is only slightly better than the 2009 model, but there are some noted differences. Even a slight improvement is still an improvement. But as sports cars go, Nissan has built a solid set of wheels with excellent torque and nice horsepower.

If you have been waiting for a Nissan Leaf with a lower price, you may find what you are looking for when the 2011 models arrive at dealer lots.

Nissan is planning to lease the 2011 Leaf electric cars to consumers in the United States at a price that is sure to give the Honda Accord and the Toyota Prius a run for their hybrid money. According to a recent report in Automotive News, the new Leaf may debut on Nissan dealer lots at prices starting between $39,000 and $44,000. However, officials with Nissan denied these prices were accurate so it’s anybody’s guess right now. There are also rumors that consumers in the United States will be allowed to lease both the lithium-ion battery and the car, which would be a different program than the current one in Japan in which consumers can only lease the battery and buy the car.

“If we include the battery and the vehicle in a lease and take account of the incentives, we want the monthly lease to be comparable with that of the Honda Accord or Toyota Prius,” said a source interviewed by Automotive News. These prices could work out to be between $330 and $420 each month for 48 months. These figures and information will be more accurate, however, once we get closer to the date of the actual launch. The source also said that there could be a $7500 government incentive for leasing or buying the Leaf, but it is unclear as to how that will work into the price.

Is anybody else sick of all the snow we are getting? In the past week, New Jersey and the East Coast have received more snow than they ever cared about seeing. People are digging out their Nissan cars simply so they can get to the store and get some milk and food.

But now officials are worried about what is going to happen with the snow predicted for the upcoming week. Salt supplies have depleted to the point to where workers may not be able to get much of the snow melted for daily commutes and necessary trips. County officials are hoping a fresh delivery of salt will be able to get where it needs to be before the next foot of snow is dropped on us. Unfortunately, Mid-Atlantic Salt, the major supplier of snow-melting salt, said this winter has depleted their supply to the point that they do not know if they can keep up with the demand.

With the predicted snowfall coming this week, it appears that this will be one of the snowiest winters on record for much of Atlantic City and other parts of the East Coast.

What are you doing to cope in your Nissan cars with the massive amounts of snow that we have received in the past week? Many people are still without power and the new snow is going to cripple the area even further. Have you been staying home from work or making other lifestyle adjustments to cope with the snow? What about people who have delivery-related jobs – what are they doing to deal with this “snowmageddon” as our president referred to it? Let us know what you are doing to cope and may be you will be helping someone else get out of a bad and snowy situation.

Have you been putting off applying for a car loan because the banks have tightened their requirements? Do you think your credit is not good enough to get approved for that new Nissan that you have been wanting? If so, put those thoughts aside because getting an auto loan has just gotten a little bit easier.

The government now has a program in which auto loans are guaranteed because they are sold to investors. This means that banks are being less stingy with their money and more consumers are hearing those four glorious words – “You have been approved.” But that’s not even all of the good news! In addition to relaxing their high standards recently, lending institutions are charging consumers less for their loans with lower interest rates. This is good news for the auto industry which has certainly seen better days than in the last few years.

During the third quarter last year, lending institutions increased the number of loans they gave out by more than five percent when compared to the second quarter. Those numbers are reported by Experian Automotive. The month of December was even better for car buyers with average credit. Part of the reason for December being a good month is also because dealers are trying to lessen their inventory in time for the new year, but it was still a silver lining that we can all appreciate.

So get down to your Nissan dealers and apply for that auto loan if you’ve been putting it off. With the relaxed standards, you may just hear those four coveted words – “You have been approved!”

Baby, it’s cold outside, and that means hot chocolate by the fireside, the holiday season with friends and family – and some of the deadliest road conditions of the year. Stay safe this winter by preparing your Nissan with these tips on how to make sure your visibility is at its peak, even though the snow is doing its best to obscure the road.

Many people do only a partial job on clearing snow and ice off their car, trusting that they can manage with only partial visibility until the defroster kicks in and does the rest of the work from the inside. While I know you don’t want to be outside any longer than you have to, bearing the cold for just a few minutes can save your life.

Clear your windshield, making sure to chip every bit of ice off. The ice can make visibility problems worse by creating a cold spot that contrasts with the warm air you’re going to have blowing from the heater. That combination will fog up your windows and make it harder to see.

Don’t neglect your other windows! You use those windows far more than you think to get a full vision of the road around you, and in wintertime you need to have absolutely no blind spots. If someone else loses control of their vehicle along your side, you’re going to want to be able to see them coming.

Make sure your rearview mirrors are clean of ice, too. You’ll need them to see what’s happening behind you, and it’s easy to forget about them until you’re already well on your way down the road.

Brush all the snow off the hood, roof, and trunk of your car. Many people only worry about the windows, but the snow on the rest of your car can actually be much more of a hindrance to your visibility than you think.

As your car warms up, snow and ice that had seemed pretty solid will start to slide off your car. For the stuff on your hood, that means it can fly right up against the windshield – and partially melted snow is likely to stick. You could wind up with no visibility just when you least expect it. If you’re doing 80 on the freeway, that’s not going to turn out well.

As for the roof and the trunk – the snow on the roof can slide down to obscure your rear window, but that’s the least of your worries. The snow along the top and back end of your vehicle can fly off and obscure the windshield of the person driving behind you, which can also cause an accident. If they brake suddenly and skid, they’ll sail right into your car.

So take that extra five minutes and make sure you have full visibility in your Nissan before you head out on the road. You’ll be three steps ahead of everyone else on the road – and that means you’ll be getting home safe and sound, instead of getting sideswiped because you couldn’t see.

And for the best Nissans on the road today, check out our new model specials here. You’ll be driving in style – and in safety.

Awhile back, the engineers at Nissan created a one-of-a-kind paint for the automaker’s vehicles that “heals” itself if it gets scratched. Now, the Japanese company has licensed its “Scratch Shield” paint to a mobile phone company, too.

The mobile phone company – NTT DoCoMo, Inc. – is going to offer the paint as an application for its phones sold in Japan. The paint was designed and created with the help of Advanced Softmaterials and the University of Tokyo in 2005.

“Scratch Shield” helps the paint restore itself from fine scratches. In most cases, it only takes a few hours to “heal” itself, but more extreme cases could take up to a week to restore the natural finish. In addition to restoring itself, the paint is more scratch-resistant than other types of paint used on some models of Nissan vehicles. Since mobile phones are susceptible to being dropped and other abuses, “Scratch Shield” is a natural fit for the product.

This isn’t the first time the Nissan company has licensed its products for non-auto companies. In the past, the automaker has licensed its infrared image sensor and its around-view monitor. Look for more breakthrough technologies from this company that continues to look for ways to improve safety and durability throughout the world.