With the next generations of Nissan’s Altima and Sentra sedans due sometime in the next year, it’s no surprise to see the former on the road in what looks to be nearly production form. And although our spies haven’t caught the Sentra yet, Nissan’s head designer Shiro Nakamura tells us that finally the two will share a family style. Nakamura says that he’s liked the sheetmetal on many of Nissan’s recent offerings, but feels that the designs aren’t cohesive enough; they don’t speak a common “design language,” as stylists like to say. That will change, however, with the introduction of the 2013 model-year Altima and Sentra.
Nissan is making substantial changes to the current car for the next Altima, we’ve learned. In addition to a conventional inline-four and Nissan’s ubiquitous V-6, expect an all-new hybrid powertrain. Unlike the last-gen Altima hybrid—which used technology licensed from Toyota—this one has been developed entirely by Nissan.
The next Sentra remains shrouded in a bit more mystery. We expect that it’ll grow somewhat in size to set itself apart from the new Versa, which grew as much in size as it did in lousiness. Four-cylinder engines and CVT transmissions will no doubt make up the Sentra’s powertrain offerings, but beyond that, we’ll have to wait for more information from Nissan.
Just because the Sentra and Altima will share similar familial shapes, though, don’t expect every Nissan to suddenly become homogenized. “These are the core products, and they have to look like Nissans,” Nakamura says. There’s still plenty of room for the risky playfulness of models like the Cube and Juke.
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