Next-Gen Nissan Maxima EV teased during Ambition 2030? [Update]

Update – ProPilot technology section added.

The Nissan Maxima as we know it will no longer remain on sale after the eighth generation, autonews.com reported in August 2020. Instead, the American-focused product will morph into an all-electric sedan in its next generation.

The unconfirmed report said that the Maxima would be replaced by a ZEV (Zero Emissions Vehicle) for the ninth-generation version. While the Nissan IMs electric concept revealed in January 2019 seemed like a realistic preview of where Nissan is headed with the Maxima, the company may have offered the look at the updated design in 2021.

New Nissan sedan teased in a cryptic fashion during corporate announcement

Nissan could have offered a glimpse of the silhouette of the EV sedan during the Ambition 2030 presentation of Nissan on November 29, 2021. At the 22:00 mark of the corporate presentation, Nissan’s COO Ashwani Gupta explained that Nissan’s new design language draws inspiration from the Japanese word ‘shun’ meaning to run fast and effortlessly, and ‘sho,’ meaning to soar with grace and power, where the background screen showed the profile and headlamp signature of a Maxima-like sedan. This part of the video was later edited out (screenshot attached as the display image of the article).

Nissan will invest USD 17 billion over the next five years to achieve its ambitious goal of having a 50% electrification mix in its portfolio by 2030. This will include 23 new electrified models inclusive of 15 new EVs. Also, the proprietary All-Solid-State Batteries (ASSB) from Nissan should be mass-produced by 2028, which would aid this goal massively. The Nissan Ariya prepares to step into the global marketplace in 2022, after which the Maxima EV could queue up for launch. 

Exterior Design

While there are not a lot of hints at how the new Maxima EV would look like, the teaser does give away enough to speculate a bit. The overall proportions seem to be inspired by the IMs concept showcased in the 2019 Detroit Motor Show. However, a significant change in the headlamp is evident. A single arrow-style light is visible in the teaser image compared to a more regular split-headlamp pattern on the IMs concept. The teaser image also highlights the inclination towards the Tesla Model S with a swooping roofline towards the rear. 

Platform & Specifications

Since the launch of the Maxima EV is expected before 2025, it will make use of the CMF-EV platform that underpins the Ariya and Megane E-Tech. Like the Ariya, the Maxima EV could come with an 87 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. In the FWD version, the single electric motor could produce 242 hp, and in the AWD version, the dual-motor setup could output 306 hp. 

The declining sales of this popular sedan with a large internal combustion engine in America in 2021 suggest that the customer preferences are shifting from IC-powered sedans. The Maxima EV stands to remedy that and place Nissan at the perfect space to pivot its iconic products into futuristic EVs.

ProPilot technology

As per the strategic Ambition 2030 vision, Nissan aims to expand the ProPilot technology to over 2.5 million Nissan and Infiniti vehicles by FY2026. The company will develop its autonomous vehicle technologies further with the aim to incorporate LIDAR systems on virtually every new model by FY2030. The Maxima EV should stand to benefit from this.

The Nissan Ariya already comes equipped with the ProPilot 2.0 driver assistance system and ProPILOT Remote Park. The ProPilot 2.0 allows attentive drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel under certain conditions, reducing stress in single-lane driving and also supports the driver during lane changes, overtaking and highway exits.

This is done with data fed by 7 cameras, 5 radar sensors and 12 sonar sensors. The data from the hardware equipment is integrated into the software of the vehicle, and a 3D high definition map is generated. It allows the vehicle to have 360-degree sensing capabilities to securely navigate its way.

The 360-degree sensing also activates functions like Intelligent Around View Monitor, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Rear Automatic Emergency Braking and Remote Park. The last function comes in handy during parking in tight spaces while the driver is standing outside the car, and enables the occupants and the driver to exit the vehicle before it is parked with no space to open the doors.

Nissan Maxima EV Price & Rivals

The Nissan Maxima EV sedan would rival the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and VW Aero B sedan. We expect the Maxima EV to be priced at around $50,000 in the United States. The current-gen Nissan Maxima is made at the Nissan Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant (Tennessee, USA). We expect more info to emerge on Nissan’s next-gen sedan later this year.

Featured Image – Youtube/Nissan