With its distinctive blend of luxury and performance, the 2005 Maxima maintains its six-generation legacy as one of the true premium 4-door sports cars in the market. Combining sporty lines and a muscular stance, the Maxima is a stylish performance machine, incorporating cutting-edge design features and first class amenities to produce incomparable value.

Enhancements for the 2005 model year include the addition of standard Nissan Advanced Air Bag System, passenger seat belt warning chime, an additional 12-volt power outlet, black-tone brake calipers, new titanium-tinted interior trim, chrome interior door handles and satellite radio availability on Bose® audio-equipped vehicles. An advanced Traction Control System (TCS) becomes standard beginning with November 2004 production.

“Maxima offers a blend of performance, style and value that simply is not equaled anywhere else, ” said Mark McNabb, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. “The 2005 Maxima does not deviate from the formula that Maxima drivers have come to expect – sleek lines, roomy interior and spectacular performance.”

Sports Car Design Elements
Maxima’s powerful design begins with its chiseled, muscular shape with pronounced character lines.

Its arched design creates an expansive image, while the broad beltline creates a strong and integrated impression from front to rear. The distinctive C-pillar design, with subtle extensions beyond the rear backlight, forms a distinctive coupe-like silhouette, maintaining a strong Maxima character. The high rear deck provides easy accessibility to the ample trunk that is essential to a sedan.

The front fascia is sharp and cleanly sculpted and features a distinctive Nissan signature grille with a unique, rounded-rectangle shape pattern accentuated by a dark chrome finish, along with a deeply sculpted combination headlight cluster with optional xenon bulbs (standard on 3.5 SL). The pronounced rear fascia is elegant and leaves a strong impression, accented with the unique design of the body panel that surrounds the rear taillights.

The combination of large wheels with boldly sculpted fender openings and double dual exhaust mufflers with chromed tips give Maxima a very powerful and dominating stance that evokes a feeling of high performance.

Large 18-inch, 6-spoke alloy wheels come standard on the 3.5 SE, while 17-inch wheels are standard on the 3.5 SL. The 2005 Maxima is available in a choice of eight exterior colors, including Majestic Blue, Red Opulence and Spirited Bronze.

Comfortable Interior Complimented with Skyview®
The expressive exterior design continues into the interior. Standard on all models is a segment-first Skyview glass-paneled roof, which creates an open environment for front and rear passengers while maintaining a solid roof structure. The Skyview is a single elongated rectangular-shaped glass panel that stretches from the front of the roof to the back.

It comes equipped with sliding sunshades to block out the sunlight when desired. The long openings in the arched roofline increase the perceptual interior volume, which leaves a unique and memorable impression while maintaining the structural integrity of the roof.

Maxima’s gauge system with three independent, hoodless meters that are extremely sporty in appearance, incorporates a simple and mechanical form, combined with metallic material, it suggests an enthusiastic driving experience and enhances the sense of luxuriousness from its precise craftsmanship.

Special focus and attention to detail were put into the design of Maxima's driver ergonomics. The steering wheel, meter cluster and the gearshift knob are designed so the driver can be closely attuned to the car. Maxima also features a custom-designed instrument panel, center stack and console, designed to give it a clean, high-quality display. The center display integrates displays for HVAC, audio system and trip computer into one central location.

Maxima’s front seats are designed with sharp, crisp lines and forms to give them a sporty look that matches the rest of the interior. The seats' silhouette is very linear in character while the front edge is squared to make them look strong and sporty. The cross-sections of the cushions and seat backs are offer optimum comfort and support. The driver’s seat is 8-way power and the passenger’s seat is 4-way power (standard on 3.5 SL and optional on SE) with height-adjustable head restraints. Optional to the 3.5 SE and 3.5 SL is a driver seat memory system that adjusts the seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors at the touch of a button.

An optional Elite Package 4-seat layout gives the interior a distinctive sports car-like design, further separating Maxima from its competitors. With the Elite Package, the traditional bench style rear seat is replaced with two independent bucket seats. The design of the rear seats resembles the front seats and the 4-seat layout further strengthens both the sporty and luxury aspects of Maxima’s interior.

Distinctive Burnt Orange with Black interior color combination is available with the Elite Package, in addition to the standard Maxima Café Latte, Frost and Black interior colors.

Standard Maxima luxury touches include wood tone trim on 3.5 SL and metallic tone accents on 3.5 SE, automatic front dual zone climate control and outside temperature display, rear air conditioning vents, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, auto on/off headlights, driver’s and passenger’s sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors and extenders and a 240-watt 8-speaker AM/FM/cassette/CD with steering wheel audio controls is standard on the 3.5 SE. A 320-watt Bose® audio system with 8 speakers and AM/FM/cassette/6CD in-dash is standard on 3.5 SL and optional on 3.5 SE.

From a safety standpoint, Maxima now comes equipped with the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System, which functions to provide enhanced safety by helping to reduce the risk of air bag-induced injury through the use of advanced dual-stage air bags and a passenger occupant classification sensor.

Maxima features Zone Body construction with front and rear crushable zones and occupant zone, front-seat side-impact supplemental air bags and curtain side-impact supplemental air bags. Also standard are 3-point front seat belts with adjustable upper anchors with pretensioners and load limiters, front-seat active head restraints, an emergency inside trunk release and the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child seat anchors and tether system.

Top-Performing V6 Drives Responsive Acceleration
Maxima’s legendary performance continues in 2005 with the continued use of the award-winning VQ 3.5-liter engine. The DOHC 24-valve V6 produces 265 horsepower and 255 lb-ft torque, and has achieved a ULEV/LEV2 vehicle rating for 2005.

Maxima also utilizes continuous valve timing control, variable induction system, a silent timing chain and electronically controlled throttle. The engine also features a modular engine design, microfinished crank journals and cam lobes, molybdenum coated lightweight pistons, a resin intake collector, digital knock control, six individual coils (one per spark plug) and a cross-flow coolant pattern.

“Maxima’s engine performance has always distinguished it from other sedans,” said McNabb. “This Maxima continues to offer the top-flight performance previous Maxima owners have come to expect.”

All 2005 Maximas come equipped with a standard 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with manual shift mode and gated shifter. Maxima also offers available Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS), which is optional on all A/T models.

For the serious driving enthusiast, a 6-speed close-ratio manual is optional on 3.5 SE models. This transmission optimizes the powerband of the 3.5-liter engine and gives the driver the ultimate sports car feel.

Maxima’s agile and responsive handling comes from a suspension design adapted and improved from the Japanese-market Nissan Skyline supercar. It consists of an innovative rear multi-link independent suspension, which offers outstanding stability by minimizing camber change during cornering.

The rear shocks and springs are separated for reduced friction and the shock is in line with the center of the rear wheels, providing better damping and less harshness.

Maxima 3.5 SE models feature a special performance-tuned suspension for maximum handling prowess, while the 3.5 SL models feature a luxury-tuned suspension providing a supple ride and smooth and secure handling feeling. Braking is provided by standard 4-wheel disc brakes with a 4-channel, 4-sensor, 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). Front rotors are class-leading at 12.60 inches in size. Also standard is Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), which optimizes brake force depending on load condition (passenger and cargo) and Brake Assist (BA), which senses hard or panic pedal application and helps provide maximum braking capacity.

The 3.5 SE model offers large 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and V-rated P245/45R18 tires. 3.5 SL features 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with H-rated P225/55R17 tires.

Models and Options
The 2005 Maxima is available in two models: the sporty 3.5 SE and the luxurious 3.5 SL.

A number of options and packages are available on Maxima, including a Premium Audio Package, with a 320-watt Bose® audio system with 8 speakers and AM/FM/6CD, RDS and speed sensitive volume control; Sensory Package which includes the Premium Audio Package, plus leather-appointed seats, 4-way power passenger seat, heated front seats and mirrors and compass.

Also offered are the Driver Preferred Package (3.5 SE) with Sensory Package contents, plus rear spoiler, memory driver’s seat, power tilt/telescopic steering wheel with memory, auto-dimming outside memory mirrors that can also be folded electronically, xenon headlights, driver seat power lumbar support, power entry/exit seat and heated steering wheel; and Driver Preferred Package (3.5 SL) with Sensory Package contents, plus memory drivers seat, power tilt/telescopic steering wheel with memory, auto-dimming outside memory mirrors that can also be folded electronically, driver seat power lumbar support, power entry/exit seat and heated steering wheel.

The Elite Package (optional on 3.5 SE and 3.5 SL) offers all of the Driver Preferred Package features, plus 2-passenger rear seating, rear center console, auto up/down rear windows, rear power sunshade with front and rear controls, heated rear seats and rear 12V power point.

Available options include DVD Navigation System with 7-inch color LCD display, a Power Glass Sunroof (replaces Skyview), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Traction Control System (TCS) on vehicles not equipped with VDC, full-size spare with alloy wheel and satellite radio capability.