Nissan Sets February Sales Record Behind Hot-Selling Altima

RAYNHAM, MASS. (03/08/2012)(readMedia)-- Nissan set a new February sales record last month, bolstered by individual record-setting performances by its midsize Altima sedan and Rogue crossover at Nissan dealerships. The second-best-selling car in the United States, the 2012 Nissan Altima is designed as a more aggressively styled alternative to other Japanese midsize offerings from Honda and Toyota.

Americans bought 32,953 Nissan Altima sedans in February, a 58.4-percent increase compared to the same month in 2011. Altima sales comprised more than one-third of Nissan's 97,492 total sales last month, a new February high mark for the brand and a 17.1-percent increase over February 2011.

"More and more Massachusetts drivers in search of a reliable, efficient car are turning to the Nissan Altima, because it delivers a little more edge than either Honda or Toyota," said Jason Ferreira, general sales manager of Raynham, Massachusetts Nissan dealership Mastria Nissan. "The Altima has the great features and powerful-yet-efficient drivetrains desired in a midsize sedan, but it doesn't make buyers settle on lowest-common-denominator styling like the Accord and Camry do."

The 2012 Altima gets additional sportiness from its standard 2.5-liter engine, which produces 175 horsepower and more torque than both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, with 180 pound-feet of twist available at just 3,900 rpm. Coupled with a continuously variable automatic transmission, the standard Altima returns 32 mpg on the highway. Meanwhile, an optional 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 returns 27 mpg on the highway.

While the Altima may be setting new sales records, Nissan isn't leaving well enough alone, with an all-new 2013 Altima model going on sale this summer. The automaker recently revealed a teaser video of the new midsize sedan to build interest leading up to its New York Auto Show debut in April.

The eight-second video is big on tease and small on details, but it does reveal a pair of distinctive raked-back headlights, as well as an hourglass-shaped body as viewed from above. What Nissan has disclosed is that production of the Altima will remain a largely American affair, with final assembly taking place at the automaker's plants in Smyrna, Tennessee and Canton, Mississippi. The Altima's engines will be produced at Nissan's engine plant in Decherd, Tennessee.

"We expect that the next-generation Altima will find a way to feature an even edgier design while continuing to deliver what midsize car buyers demand from their vehicles," Ferreira noted. "The 2013 Altima should be even more efficient, more comfortable and packed with innovative technology that will further differentiate it from competitors."

About Mastria Nissan:

Mastria Nissan has been serving Massachusetts Nissan fans since 2004, focusing on exceptional customer service and a low-pressure sales environment. Their Nissan dealership offers the full line of Nissan sedans, crossovers and pickups, as well as a state-of-the-art Nissan service department staffed with skilled technicians. Plus, Mastria Nissan is the only authorized NV dealer in the area, making them the destination for business owners in Southern Massachusetts who need commercial vehicles. Located at 1305 New State Highway in Raynham, they can reached by phone at 888-820-9028 or found online at www.mastrianissan.com and www.facebook.com/MastriaNissan.