2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid

There'll soon be gas/electric hybrid-powered Camrys and Accords, following in the footsteps of their well-timed and oh-so-successful little bros, Prius and Civic. Nissan's midsize Altima competes well with the volume sedan players from Toyota and Honda and will need a hybrid model to stay in the game. The Altima Hybrid is on its way, coming to market some time in 2006 as a 2007 model.

We've driven it in early engineering prototype form and can tell you right now: It has the makings of a worthy product. The goals are near-V-6 levels of performance out of a four-cylinder engine, along with miserly fuel consumption and a Sierra Club-friendly emissions rating. Nissan starts with its own 2.5-liter gas-powered I-4; the assisting electric motor gives it more oomph and also serves as the starter. Rather than spend gazillions to develop its own hybrid drive system, Nissan has licensed the technology and will purchase some of the components from Toyota. Even though these two industrial giants are archrivals, the move makes sense: Nissan comes to market quicker and with a proven system, while Toyota recaptures some of its considerable hybrid-tech investment.

Energy Monitor readout in upcoming Altima Hybrid should resemble the one in Prius, as Nissan is sourcing much of its system from Toyota.

Like the Prius, the Altima will be a "full hybrid," meaning the car can be driven by the electric motor or the gas engine or a combination of both, depending upon load and conditions. It uses a continuously variable transmission plus regenerative braking to help recharge the battery pack. Horsepower and torque output, emissions ratings, and EPA numbers have yet to be finalized.

The Altima we drove was the first hybrid-powered prototype built and has been undergoing development engineering only since the first of the year. Even though final production models are some two years away, we were impressed by how refined the car performed. It has plenty of zip, thanks to the combo of the already-strong 2.5-liter engine, the electric-motor assist, and the CVT, which adjusts to keep revs in the heart of the powerband. The engine was revving somewhat higher than we felt necessary during passing maneuvers, but there was no lack of punch, even with three aboard. It also made an odd clunk or two, but these sorts of issues are usually polished out during final calibrations. As with the Prius, the powertrain is generally quiet, emitting a trolley-carlike whir when coasting.