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Tougher and more Refined
 
Recently, Nissan cobbled together a sampling of its 2008 four-wheel-drive (4WD) brutes for the press to look over and tire kick. Showing no reticence, Nissan boldly chose a mix of on-and-off road stints to allow the attendant journalists plenty of terrain diversity in assessing the three examples of V8-powered 4WD Nissans.
 

2008 Nissan Titan gets the extra-long treatment.
 
Titan
For 2008, the skookum Titan pickup acquires a revised instrument panel and new, higher-grade interior materials and finishes. Under-the-hood installations remain the same for '08 however larger rear disc brakes and a re-calibrated suspension setup nets an increased payload capacity.
 
Augmenting the Titan lineup for 2008 is the PRO-4X King Cab model, which is oriented toward off-road sport. The vehicle sports a body-coloured grille and body-coloured accent trim along with black, protective wheel arches. An electronic, locking rear differential strengthens the truck's off-road-ability.
 
Not being one to go small, I grabbed the biggest of the Titans - a long wheelbase, long box, Crew Cab - for a run through the off-road portion of the test route. At 2,210 mm (87") in length, this unit's bed is the longest in the crew cab segment but you wouldn't know it behind the wheel.
 
The 6,204 mm (244.3") overall length of the big rig was easily maneuvered through the constrictive run among the trees and dirt that had been mapped out. The Titan's off-road course was the more challenging of the two courses through the bush. Of particular interest was the ability of the hulking rig to tackle an extremely steep, heavily rutted hill-climb mid-point in the loop.
 
With great trepidation, I aimed the Titan's hood for the sky and laid into the 317 horsepower of the 5.6 litre, 32-valve DOHC V8 burbling beneath the hood. With no hesitation and little bucking, the Titan scratched and clawed its way to the top, without excessive jarring or bottoming-out. Throughout, the Titan proved to be a solid, gutsy, highly refined 4WD big-boy truck.
 
Armada
The Armada is Nissan's full-size SUV, equipped with third row seating. It of course is V8-powered, using the same drivetrain as the Titan. In addition to its splendid level of passenger comfort and top-of-the-line refinement, the Armada is also an accomplished workhorse. Its maximum towing capacity of 4,082 kg (9,000 lbs) secures it first place among those in the full-size SUV segment.
 

2008 Nissan Armada gets more interior attention than exterior.
For 2008, the Armada is graced with a power-operated rear hatch and a power articulating 60/40-split third row seat. Leather upholstery is supplied as standard fare as is a new, Bose premium audio system along with a rearview camera, Bluetooth and rear seat DVD entertainment.
 
Although the vehicle is unchanged outwardly, a keen eye will detect interior modifications rendering a new instrument panel and upgraded material for improved "touch and feel." The enhanced cabin surroundings nicely complement the Armada's plush ride and near silent operation. Notwithstanding its tenacity on rugged terrain, this vehicle is a wonderful highway cruiser where its bulk is less noticeable. Due to its size, maneuvering the Armada through narrow apertures in the forest can be tricky. The last contender among the three Nissans reviewed here mitigates this uneasiness with its mid-range sizing.
 

V8 power is the big news for the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder.
 
Pathfinder
The big news for Nissan's highly popular Pathfinder for 2008 is the availability of V8 power. A re-tuned version of the same 5.6 litre, DOHC V8 breathing life into the Titan and Armada was under the hood of the test units at Nissan's cross-country event. The new engine, which produces 310 horsepower and 388 pounds-feet of torque, transforms one of the market's most desirable mid-size SUVs into a remarkably athletic example with impressive get-up and go.
 
The new engine is very civilized in its operation unless pushed to the max at which point it communicates fairly gruffly while quickly reaching redline. Along with a new engine, 2008 finds the Pathfinder showing-off new rear-end sheet metal. This latest treatment emphasizes the Pathfinder's rugged side while its redesigned instrument panel and interior improvements highlight its luxuriousness.
 
Next to its abundant torque, most notable about the vehicle's performance is the outstanding nimbleness it exhibits on and off the road. After winding its larger siblings through the circuitous off-road route, the Pathfinder felt like a sports car thanks to its smaller dimensions and quick, responsive steering combined with plenty of juice on demand. Of the three 4WD Nissan products driven on this particularly hot day in May, the V8-powered Pathfinder would be my choice for everything except the need to haul seven adults.
 
The V8 under the Pathfinder's hood ups the vehicle's towing capacity as well, giving it an impressive rating of 3,175 kg (7,000 lbs). Unfortunately to secure the brawny V8, buyers must be prepared to move up to the top-of-the-line, Pathfinder LE. Once there, the only option is a navigation system.
 

The Pathfinder's interior is refined with better ergonomics and quality plastics.
Off-road-ability has been considerably improved for Nissan's big three.
 
Nissan 4WD Summarized
All of the vehicles sampled in the Titan, Armada and Pathfinder fleet included electronically activated low-range gearing, adding to their off-road credibility. Failing to add to their eco-credibility is the absence of hybrid power and other power alternatives more eco-friendly than large, regularly fueled V8s.
 
After our romp through the bush in Nissan's larger 4WD offerings, it was apparent that both refinement and off-road-ability are characteristics Nissan has undertaken to improve upon in their big three. V8-power, luxury and performance, on road and off, summarizes the trio of V8-powered 4WD'ers from Nissan.

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Fun to Drive
 
Minneapolis, Minnesota - Thanks to the highly economical Versa, Nissan is basking in a 73-percent increase in their Canadian sales so far this year. They hope to sustain this trend with the introduction of the 2008 Altima Coupe. Although this sleek competitor to the Honda Accord and Toyota Solara carries the Altima name, when it comes to body panels, only its hood is shared with the sedan; everything else is new.
 

The all-new Altima coupe looks great from all angles.
 
Not just a two-door version of the sedan
Nissan attempted to emphasize the sporty nature of its Altima Coupe with distinctive styling while being true to the Altima's branding and identity. I think they pulled off such a heist. The car looks great from all angles, particularly the rear where its broad shoulders impart a wide, stable stance.
 
Accompanying the new glass and sheetmetal is a completely new platform, which Nissan has tagged the "D" platform. It's shorter than the one underpinning the sedan, and includes new suspension components and calibrations engineered to deliver spirited handling.
 
More power than Honda and Toyota
Putting soul into the new Coupe is a pair of Nissan stablemates that have undergone some further refinement for '08. The base powerplant is a DOHC, 16-valve four-banger displacing 2.5 litres and developing 175 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm and 180 pound-feet of torque @ 3,900 rpm. That exceeds the ratings for the I-4's powering the Solara and the Accord coupes.
 
The same power advantage applies to the optional V6 engine as well. It displaces 3.5 litres and dispenses 270 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque @ 4,400 rpm. Unlike its competitors though, both Altima engines are mated to six-speed manual gearboxes or automatic, Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT). With cautious optimism, I was eager to sample Nissan's CVT, which they espouse to be highly sophisticated.
 

Nissan's powerhouse 3.5L V6 puts out 270 hp; more so than any of its competitors.
On the road
Both Altima Coupes put to the test by yours truly during Nissan's official unveiling were V6 editions- one a CVT version and one sporting a manual stick. Before exploring the workings of either transmission, some cabin observations are in order.
 

New Nissan products have much-improved interior materials; the coupe is no different.
 
The Altima Coupe is beautifully built. Cabin materials are of high quality and desirability given the vehicle's modest price of entry. Layout within the cabin is first rate and dimensions up front are acceptable but not generous. Rear seat comfort and ingress/egress is typical for this segment. The rear seatbacks fold perfectly flat, which significantly enhances the coupe's practicality and stowage capacity.
 
Firing-up an Altima Coupe is accomplished with the push of a button, provided its intelligent key is within proximity. Once under way, the V6 delivers smooth, polished performance that is really quite invigorating on the open road. Acceleration is brisk with either transmission, and passing power is stout to say the least. Engine notes are hushed until pushed at which point a refined growl floods the senses.
 
Rowing through the six manually-shifted gears is pleasant but not up to par with some of the better units out there. On the other hand, the CVT was quite remarkable in its functionality when backing the V6 mill. Due most likely to the engine's operational refinement, the presence of the CVT was undetectable unless maximum acceleration was demanded. In these circumstances, the omission of a shift point gave the CVT away.
 
Yet shift points can be driver-initiated using the auto stick's manual mode, which imparts six distinctive shifts closely mimicking the function of a conventional automatic transmission--I was duly impressed. I was also impressed with the Coupe's athleticism in the corners.
 
Although the opportunity to ring-out the Coupe on a track didn't exist, I found it responded immediately and predictably to steering inputs without engaging in body lean or unsettling theatrics. We were told of the Coupe's extra-rigid chassis utilizing 22-percent ultra high-strength steel. The absence of shudder and shake over potholes and Minnesota's roughest pavement confirmed the vehicle's overall stiffness while imparting tremendous stability and composure.
 

Only the hood of the coupe is shared with the Altima Sedan.
Value
A chief competitor to the Altima Coupe is undoubtedly Honda's Accord Coupe. Although the entry price of Honda's coupe may be slightly less than Nissan's, the Altima has the edge when it comes to overall pricing if similar content levels are compared. Despite a few more bucks here and a few less there, the two vehicles distinguish themselves suitably on the road, with the taut Altima Coupe winning the hearts of the performance-minded while the powerful but genteel Accord Coupe sweeps the rest with its seductive refinement.
 

The Altima coupe, given its price and equipment, represents a good overall value.
 
The nicely-equipped Altima S starts at $27,798 with the 2.5-litre I-4 mated to a six-speed manual mixer. The loaded Altima SE starts at $32,598 with the swift 3.5-litre V6 mated to Nissan's CVT autobox. About the only SE option is a sophisticated navigation system. Standard equipment in all Altima Coupes includes front-seat-mounted airbags and side-curtain airbags. Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Nissan's vehicle stability technology, is available on V6 models.
 
After a day behind the wheel of Nissan's latest creation, I am wondering how unsettled the competition is feeling. Like Nissan's Director of Corporate and Product Planning, Ian Forsyth said, "the Altima Coupe is fun to drive."

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