Nissan shows vital life signs

We won't have to wait much longer to see if the Nissan Revival Plan has any chance of reviving the automaker's moribund car lines.

Not launched yet, but just around the corner in calendar '01 are an all-new Altima that Nissan insiders swear will wear genuine sport-sedan credentials, and the promise of several hot entries for both Nissan and the upmarket Infiniti division.

But staying with the '01 theme, Nissan offers a Maxima Anniversary Edition (its 20th) with the smoking 227-hp version of its perennial award-winning 3L VQ DOHC V-6 normally reserved for the Infiniti I30.

We're predicting a solid hit for Nissan's restyled '01 Frontier compact pickup. There's a cool industrial-chic look to the new truck, as well as the availability of a 210-hp, Eaton-supercharged version of its optional 3.3L SOHC V-6.

The Infiniti division meanwhile claims "no excuses" when the all-new '02 Q45 flagship hits the street next year. There a mongo 4.5L DOHC V-8 that promises a class-leading 340 horses, and a new platform that promises Euro-challenging handling.

Meanwhile, we're told that Nissan's cooking up a bunch of competition-pummeling new engines.

We predict better times for your Nissan franchise. Hang on for this last round of stodgy stuff and you'll be rewarded with great returns. With the dandy new styling, the Frontier's set to take off; that and the Xterra should hold the fort until the wilder stuff like the new Z car and others bring the bang-for-the-buck (and customers) back to Nissan. As for Infiniti, the upcoming Q45 had better be absolutely world-class, or it's uphill.