Nissan has been manufacturing the Maxima for four decades – a long time for any vehicle, but an especially impressive feat, as the model is Nissan’s longest continuously running nameplate in America. To celebrate the sedan’s birthday, Nissan is introducing a 40th Anniversary Edition for the 2021 Maxima. The limited-edition model is based on the mid-level Platinum trim and brings special touches to highlight just how sporty the current sedan is.
On the outside, the 40th Anniversary Edition sports a stylish two-tone exterior paint job with the primary color being Ruby Slate Gray Pearl with a black roof. Black exhaust tips, 19-inch black wheels, red semi-aniline leather upholstery, and red contrast stitching are the other changes. If you look closely at the instrument cluster, you’ll notice the white speedometer and tachometer faces. Those are a touch from previous Maxima models.
The rest of the vehicle is the same, which means the sedan is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 300 horsepower. Front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission are standard.
It’s interesting to see Nissan use the Platinum trim as the base for the 40th Anniversary Edition and not the SR. The latter comes with a sport-tuned suspension and aluminum sport pedals. If Nissan’s looking to highlight just how sporty the Maxima really is, the SR seems like a better starting point. According to Nissan, it believes the Maxima is actually known for its “premium level of luxury with performance and sportiness.” With features like Ascot leather-appointed seats with diamond-quilted inserts, a power rear-window sunshade, an 8-inch touchscreen, and climate-controlled front seats, the automaker may have a point.
The Maxima nameplate came out in 1981 with the Datsun 810. Shortly after, the 810 name was dropped and the vehicle was simply called the Maxima. The sedan used the same engine and gearbox out of the 240Z, which is where the whole sports car with four doors description comes from. 1985 saw the introduction of the second-gen model, which went with a V6 engine and front-wheel drive. When the third-gen Maxima was introduced in 1989, Nissan referred to it as a 4DSC (four-door sports car). More power, a new rear suspension setup, and a larger body were introduced in 1995. The other generations were introduced in short succession after, with the 2000 model gaining a VQ35 V6 engine, the seventh-gen moving to a more aggressive design, and the eighth-gen blurring the lines between luxury and performance.
Nissan’s done a few anniversary editions before. The 370Z and GT-R were available in, a 50th Anniversary Edition for the 2020 model year. So, the decision to come out with a 40th Anniversary Edition for the Maxima really showcases how Nissan feels about the sporty sedan. Pricing for the limited-edition model hasn’t been announced yet. The vehicle will go on sale before the end of the year.
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