DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: Nissan teases new Maxima

Nissan has revealed a teaser image of a concept that will preview its next-generation Maxima sedan at the Detroit motor show on January 18.

The replacement for the Japanese brand’s flagship luxury sedan was partially revealed in a brief teaser video at the Nissan 360 event in the US in August.

That vehicle looks identical to the concept now revealed here and officially described as a ‘sport sedan’ concept that “offers an advanced look at a future production sports sedan”.

Nissan has previously stated the current Maxima will be replaced in 2015, but says it has no plans to sell its successor in Australia, where the all-new Altima mid-sizer will remain Nissan’s largest passenger sedan.

The existing J32-series Maxima was released locally in 2009 and attracted less than 1000 sales last year, making it much less popular than large-car rivals like the Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon and Toyota Aurion, but more than the Skoda Superb and Peugeot 508.

Nissan says the as-yet-unnamed concept "previews a new energetic design direction that amplifies Nissan's legendary approach of applying sports car principles to a sedan."

The Maxima’s replacement is again expected to form the basis of Nissan’s next Murano.

Nissan will also use the Detroit show to exhibit the compact rear-wheel drive IDx sport coupe concepts that debuted at the Tokyo show in November, and could also reveal a show version of its next-generation Z sports car.

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