http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...004/1528/STATIC
http://www.nissannews.com/nissan/news/pric...130085311.shtml

"NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 30, 2007) – Nissan today announced a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $24,400 for the 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid, Nissan’s first entry in the hybrid electric vehicle market.

The new hybrid sedan is on sale now at Nissan retailers in the eight states that have adopted California emissions regulations – California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. The Altima Hybrid has been certified by the Internal Revenue Service as meeting the requirements for the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit, thereby qualifying for a tax credit of $2,350..."

Autoweek says it's $25,015 but maybe it's higher because of destination charge?

That sucks they aren't going to sell it in the other 42 states. Nissan had a great oppotunity to look "green" and provide dealerships with a hot product, but they decided to shun all the states w/o Cali emissions. It is not my fault that state legislators have backwards thinking. I also heard that the Alti Hybrid was going to have LiIon batteries, but I guess they got too many miles per gallon to make anyone buy the non-hybrid Alti. Shame.

Hmmph, sez it gets 42-36mpg . . . so under ideal conditions, & using the low mpg number (I believe) the way CA does, it still gets 9mpg short of being issued solo HOV stickers. Similary noteworthy, they had to buy the rights to toyota technology.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Feb 2 2007, 05:17 AM) [snapback]384312[/snapback]</div>

Does anyone know specs of the hybrid system? I tried to find them and could not. How big is the battery? How many HP is the electric motor?

Looking for Nissan’s QR25 I see "[The QE25] is a 16-valve 2.5-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and 180 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm." Tuning may be a bit different on the hybrid, but this is the base engine. You do the math...

There are a couple of pics on evworld.com showing under the hood and the dash/display.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rangerdavid @ Feb 2 2007, 12:58 AM) [snapback]384680[/snapback]</div>

What year and model was it? What was its curb weight and EPA rating?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hampdenwireless @ Feb 2 2007, 08:58 PM) [snapback]384765[/snapback]</div>

See http://www.nissanusa.com/altima/specificat..._AltimaHEV.html.

There are some more pictures at http://www.nissanusa.com/altimaHEV/ and http://www.nissannews.com/multimedia/nissa...ma_hybrid.shtml.

Give Renault-Nissan some props for jumping into the Hybrid market. It's never been Nissan's bag to work on effeciency, so at least this is a step.

The Altima just ranked as the best Midsize vehicle by Consumers Report, better then the Accord or Camry so this is certainly a car that deserves some attention.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sl7vk @ Feb 7 2007, 12:02 AM) [snapback]386516[/snapback]</div>

Don't give Nissan any props just yet...the VP of Nissan says that they're only producing the Altima hybrid to meet California's emissions requirements and to sell as fleet vehicles in the states that follow those standards.

Nissan also doesn't sound like it's behind the hybrid push at all - check out this article or any of the many others online: www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061208/BUSINESS01/612080393/1014

Heres the HyAltima's Spec's.

Isn't Nissan licensing the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive for this car? Perhaps that's why they're only offering it in a few states, i.e., only doing it to meet compliance requirements?

I read it operates the same as the Prius, EV on start-ups and city traffic driving and gas kicks in just like the Prius....

I looked into the availiblity, I was going to see If one can be ordered.. Im sure it can...

$24.400 is cheaper than $27.813.99 for the Camry for sure..

However the warranty is very vauge....... Whats the Hybrid drive system warranty?

At the present time the Camry seem to be the best choice in the mid-sized market & the Prius in the compact market!

Not to mention, $26k would put your car payment under $500 a month.!

The Camry's 27,813 + tx tag title and destination chgs put the car at 31.500 anyways thats a $550 - 595 a month payment for those who are watching their pennies......

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Feb 26 2007, 08:14 PM) [snapback]396949[/snapback]</div>

I believe it's HSD, but I read (recall something about the Nissan exec complaining about losing money of the Altima cause they were paying Toyota a cut on the HSD but I have completely forgotten the source) that a while ago and of course welcome correction.

A thread on this topic on priusonline
http://www.priusonline.com/viewtopic.php?p...9b20b074d972d3f

And:
http://www.toyota.com/about/environment/te...Innovations.pdf
Efforts are well underway to develop a Nissan Altima hybrid, a car that will combine a Nissan engine with HSD components supplied by Toyota

*EDIT: from wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Altima#Hybrid
Nissan entered an agreement with rival Toyota to use some of its hybrid technology in the new Altima for the 2007 model year. The Altima Hybrid Electric is Nissan's first hybrid car. The company has asserted that subsequent hybrid models will be based on hybrid technology developed in-house. Up to 40,000 per year will be built at Nissan's Smyrna plant. Sales of the hybrid model are limited to California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont for the 2007 model year, with other states possible in subsequent years.

The Hybrid Altima features a 2.5 L QR25DE engine, CVT and electric motor/generator.

So the Altima Hybrid will likely get similar mileage to the Camry Hybrid, and it will be cheaper, better handling, and have more horsepower (and a better power to weight ratio). It also has some features unavailable on the Camry, like a rear view camera and turn signal lights housed in the side mirrors.

As far as the mileage goes, it's significantly better than most cars out there, and it's supposed to do 0-60 in the 7 second range- also significantly better than most cars out there. And unlike the Prius, the hybrid technology in the Camry (and likely the Altima) seems to be consistently getting the advertised mileage figures.

I just don't like the interior styling. It's quality is supposed to be high, but it's styling looks cheap.

Nevertheless, the Altima Hybrid seems like the IT car to have, as far as green cars go.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(neemer5 @ Feb 26 2007, 11:25 PM) [snapback]397065[/snapback]</div>

I am wondering what the trunk looks like, as the Altima has a spacious trunk and lots of cabin room.
I wish they would advertise what the warranty coverage is on the HyAltima. What I posted seems vague.. B)
Another added plus it the size of the gas tank, and the performance factor. I have a friend that has a 04 Altima w/the 2.5 I4 she gets 26mpg on the hwy and 19 in the cty depending on driving habbits..
So 42 mpg sounds great for cty & 38 on the hwy also sounds good for a mid-sized sedan!