Nissan's first hybrid debuts

Nissan's long-awaited first hybrid vehicle, the 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid, took its North American bow this week at the Orange County Auto Show in Anaheim, California in advance of its launch in early 2007.

The automaker had taken a dim view of hybrids until recently, but like many jealous automakers, has watched Toyota's hybrid successes and wanted in on the party. The hybrid Altima was a compromise of sorts for Nissan because it uses parts sourced from Toyota, an avowed Japanese rival. Nissan is clearly not thrilled about using Toyota technology, but felt it needed to get a hybrid vehicle to market quickly and Nissan realized it needed Toyota's expertise to make it happen.

The good news for Nissan is that the car is a next-generation Altima that mates the automaker's 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission to an electric motor and generator system.

The Altima Hybrid is rated at a net power of 198 horsepower (the 2.5-liter four is rated at 170 hp) and fuel economy for the vehicle is estimated at 41 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, according to Nissan. Emissions are low enough to classify it as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle.

Initially, the Altima Hybrid (which will be produced at Nissan's Smyrna, Tennessee facility) will be available in eight states including California, the hottest hybrid market in the U.S., and seven other northeastern states that are among the strongest in hybrid vehicle penetration. Nissan has said it would expand sales to other states if sales take off.

As for future alternative powertrain plans, Nissan reportedly is developing its own hybrid system, but has said repeatedly that it will explore all high-mileage options, including diesel, fuel cells and alternative fuel options including E85 for the U.S. market.