Hiroshi Tamura gives us closer look at 2009 Nissan Maxima
by Merritt Johnson on May 21st 2008 at 2:28PM 
When Nissan chose to begin development on the next Maxima, it originally set out to go the safe route of catering towards mass appeal, an effective plan frequently proven successful by Toyota. However, when Nissan brought on former R34 Skyline GT-R product planner, Hiroshi Tamura, to the Maxima team, he gave the company an ultimatum. He believed the company should set the Maxima apart from others in its class by offering an affordable sports sedan with unique styling. The idea meant stepping out of a comfort zone, aiming for core customers left out by other manufacturers' sedans and attempting to create a design that would stand out in a crowd. The final result was unveiled at the 2008 New York Auto Show. Tamura's influence can be seen in the wide fender flares, steering wheel paddle shifters and front grill. As Autoblog comments also suggested, its design evoked great debate on aesthetic acceptance.
The crowd reaction was all fine and dandy with Hiroshi Tamura. His pride and joy, the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R, was not a visual pleasure for everyone when it was released. It garnered many a harsh criticism, but that did not hold back its popularity. After all, Tamura is an automotive enthusiast through and through. He holds function over fashion. As a product planner he has strived to put a piece of that passion into all of his projects. While the 2009 Nissan Maxima might not win a beauty contest, it was never meant to – it was meant to perform. Check out the gallery below to see Hiroshi Tamura give us an introduction to Nissan's new sedan. Also take a peak at previous Maxima galleries after the jump.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Emil 2:36PM (5/21/2008)
Oh my God, that thing is so ugly.
Reply
Flashpoint 2:44PM (5/21/2008)
Once 100's of em are on the road, they'll look even uglier.
What's sad, is they took the worst design elements from the Infinity M35 and used them here.
inteller 2:49PM (5/21/2008)
The FAILboat has arrived at port.
Torrent 2:52PM (5/21/2008)
In a weird way, I sorta like it. I just think it's too late to make a real comeback-even if this Maxima is what people were looking for. They have already chosen the CamCord.
meshies 2:55PM (5/21/2008)
the ass looks good, but the front is just UGH
zmf001 3:00PM (5/21/2008)
Thats what I thought too ...
Jerk Face 6:51PM (5/21/2008)
Seeing those headlights just made me puke my pants.
IK47 2:32AM (5/22/2008)
really?!?
I think it looks wicked
this thing is going to smash the competition
pmalik 11:55AM (5/22/2008)
^^^^ I'm with stupid ^^^^
Korova 5:19AM (5/23/2008)
Its uuugly! Now its as ugly as the camry and accord. I guess the target demographic does not care about looks, just functionality.
But DAMN, its like they want anyone with any aesthetic sense to have to get an Infiniti. (Although M45 is pretty butt too)
Disgruntled Goat 2:41PM (5/21/2008)
Agreed. First Honda designers lose their mind and now Nissan. The GT-R can get away with looking like dog bollocks because it's fast as hell. The Maxima has no such excuse.
Reply
tekdemon 2:57AM (5/22/2008)
Precisely! The R34 looked chunky and unrefined, ugly from a normal car perspective, but since it was a beast in terms of performance you could easily forgive the looks or even look at it in terms of just how brutal and in your face it's design was.
The Maxima however really doesn't really have the goods to get away with looking like this...so unless they're planning on putting 400HP under the hood or something...
Ron 3:57PM (5/21/2008)
Being a huge Maxima fan since the early 90's I have to say this is one of the most ugliest sedans I've ever seen..
It's basically the Aztec of the sedan segment.
Reply
zamafir 2:41PM (5/21/2008)
the new accord looks weird... and by weird i mean horrid.
Reply
Chris 3:08PM (5/21/2008)
Yes, because this post is about the Accord.
Pat 2:41PM (5/21/2008)
That's an interesting front side marker light ... Makes Ford's Squircles look rather "square"
Reply
Cole Mitguard 2:43PM (5/21/2008)
It just looks like its... confused about what car it is. The rear looks like a civic, the front looks like a Sonata (wow, didn't think that I would accuse a major brand of that one), and the side looks like a Camry. And the interior is standard Nissan boredom. It will sell though, as its different from the other sedans it competes with, especially with that engine.
Reply
nastinupe 2:43PM (5/21/2008)
I remember when the Maxima was the 4-Door sports car. What happened to that. Oh oh, I know, Nissan got an exorcist to take the soul of the Maxima out of the Maxima and when it was extracted, it looked around and jumped into the cockpit of the G35 Sedan was drove away.
Reply
inteller 2:53PM (5/21/2008)
what are you smoking? Looking back at all generations of the Maxima...all the way back to Datsun....I don't see any of them having a sporty soul. The 95-99 MAYBE. but really, it is just a big car now that nobody asked for.
almost Dr. G.. 2:57PM (5/21/2008)
inteller,
the maximas used to have 4DSC on the rear window
4 door sports car..
take care..