U Spy The Bold New Nissan Altima In California

Nissan is working on an all-new Altima and CarScoops reader Howard has caught the model undergoing testing in San Francisco, California.

Previewed by the Vmotion 2.0 concept, the redesigned Altima will ditch its generic front fascia for a bold new design. Previous spy photos have shown the grille will closely echo the concept and feature a large trapezoidal opening and an outer V-shape.

While we can’t see the front of the car in these photos, the rear looks fairly conservative aside from the more dynamic roofline. Despite the ho-hum appearance, there will be stylish touches including an upward kick near the C-pillar which mimics the Maxima.

The photos don’t reveal much of the interior but one of the images appears to show a freestanding infotainment system. This would be a bit of a departure for Nissan as the company normally integrates their displays in the center stack.

Little else is known about the car but it is expected to ride on an updated version of its current platform. However, the wheelbase could be stretched to stay competitive with recent entries such as the Honda Accord which also grew in size.

Engine options are a bit of a mystery as some reports have suggested the 2.5-liter four-cylinder and 3.5-liter V6 could carryover with minor improvements. The four-cylinder currently produces 179 hp (133 kW) and 177 lb-ft (239 Nm) of torque, while the V6 develops 270 hp (201 kW) and 251 lb-ft (339 Nm) of torque.

There have also been rumors of a possible turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a hybrid variant but nothing is official as of yet. However, we shouldn’t have to wait to much longer to find out as the redesigned sedan is expected to arrive in time for the 2019 model year.

Thanks to Howard Corelitz for the photos!