According to Automobile Mag. the 2009 Nissan Maxima will be "unlike anything we've ever done" as Nissan insiders said. A concept version will be unveiled next winter as part of Nissan's fiftieth anniversary celebration (which will also include the production GT-R and a new Z-car.)

It should be an aggressive, Mercedes-Benz CLS-style car sharing some cues with Nissan's other halo vehicles. The new Maxima will use the same VQ engine family found throughout the Nissan/Infiniti range, but to prevent the car from cannibalizing G35 sales, it will most likely remain front-wheel drive. A diesel model is also planned, and it could end up being the high-performance range-topper.