Back in October of last year, Nissan unveiled the Intima
concept at the 2007 Tokyo Motor
Show. The large front-wheel-drive sedan previewed the
styling for the new Teana (above, dark) and more luxurious Teana XV
(above, light) that Nissan and its Chinese joint-venture partner
Dongfeng debuted at the Auto China show in Beijing. The connection
between concept and production vehicle is strong here, with the
windswept front fasica, large greenhouse, and kink at the bottom of
the C-pillar coming over intact. The flush grille, LED headlamps
and suicide doors, however, did not.
The Teana will have a strong link to the western world thanks to
the platform on which it rides, which is also shared with the
Altima, Maxima and Murano. Power is provided by Nissan's
award-winning 3.5L VQ V6 engine, which is mated to a CVT
transmission for the Chinese. It appears that a bevy of 2.0 and
2.5L four-cylinder powerplants will also be available when the car
goes on sale in late Summer.
Make no mistake, the Teana is a large, luxurious front-wheel-drive
sedan, just like the current Maxima here in the U.S. It even
features such niceties as a BOSE 5.1-channel surround sound system
and Nissan's panoramic sunroof in the XV version.
it also bears alot of resemblances to the current Cefiro
230JM and 350JM.
Expect it to reach SG shores around 2009-2012.(Projected
date)