Needless to say fans of the Nissan Sentra have been less than enthusiastic about the styling of the next-generation model due out later this year. Maybe these latest spy photos of the 2008 Nissan Sentra SE-R will cheer them up a little. Even with the taped up front and rear ends it's clear the SE-R will get typical high-performance mods like a deeper front air dam, rear deck spoiler and extended sills. Bigger wheels and tires add some muscle to its stance, and just in case you're still in doubt about the authenticity of this prototype we added a close up of one of the heavy-duty brake calipers and its "SE-R" lettering.
Sadly, as much as I loved my '91 SE-R, Nissan has botched every remake since '94 and this looks like it might be nearly as ugly as the "who-the-hell-penned-THAT?" Dodge Caliber-aztek. blech.
Now, if it comes out even 1/2 as sexy as the Maxima or Altima...God bless Carl.
Recently, I saw a white 2007 Sentra mule with taped-over logo and nameplates cruising Pico Blvd. from Santa Monica into West Los Angeles, and it looked nice from the rear and side, like a baby Acura, with nice sculpting on the bumper. Only the front end, with the corporate Nissan nose, looked sub-standard.
If the usual magic is applied to the Sentra to create the next SE-R, then it will be very nice indeed.
Yes, it does look a lot better without camo. But it's still ungainly in proportions. In fact, my first thought (like ahightower) was "looks like an overweight Saturn Ion." The interior is much better than the Ion though- with that nasty center guage pod. :-P
I currently have a 02 specv, and the 2.5 altima engine is fun, but they now need to compete with the likes of the new Gti and civic si. I doubt they'll be able to put up the mazdaspeed 3 type numbers, but I would think 200hp would be a good mark. Hopefully they can achieve that without any forced induction.
I agree Unkosan, by that time the Civic Si sedan ( I already have a deposit on mine) will be out and it looks like that car will be the main competition for the SE-R. Im sure Nissan can coax 200hp out of the 2.5 with no problems and it should have a nice torque curve, but will it be better than the K20?
I know that at first the 2007 sentra looks weird, BUT, I think it will be a cool car to have. I own a 2003 nissan sentra ser spec V and the car is awesome. some of the lines on the 2007 i did not like but i love sentras and i know the civic is a cool looking car but as a sentra owner i hope it is a big competition for the civic, after all we have not seen the 2007 sentra at a dealer yet
ok I have seen the new sentra and it looks good, trust me on this one, and i was told by a nissan employee that the SER SPEC V will have 210 horsepower under the hood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's good news, serspecv1. I'd like to remind everybody that seem to be concerned with horsepower, etc. for comparison, that it's about more than the 'numbers'. Curb weight is a major factor in performance. The 2006 SE-Rs/SpecVs weighed approx. 2750 lbs. Those who thought that 175 hp was less than competitive to other makes in its class were short sighted. Take the Subaru WRX, for instance. It's technically not a competitor in the class of the Sentra SE-R due to price, demographic, etc. But the average WRX owner will always think the SE-R/SpecV is an easy dust-off. Maybe if it's the 350 hp WRX Sti (?), but not the 250 hp WRX. It weighs upwards of 3350 lbs! That's abotu 500 lbs MORE than the Sentra. 175 hp in the 2750 lb. Sentra SE-R/SpecV will move it along very fast! A WRX with 250 hp will have to WORK to remove the Sentra's doors! And if the SE-R/SpecV in question has Nismo modifications, all bets are OFF!
Finally, I spoke to a SpecV owner recently out here in SoCal, and he said he routinely kicks ass on Mustang 5.0s! I hope the 2008 SE-R hp numbers are correct and that the weight hasn't gone up much. There are a few BMW 3 series owners out here I'd like to piss off. They just seem to love to "cut off" Sentras.
Nissan cars have been able to deliver quite fairly during the past. Now this Nissan SE-R seems set to give Nissan a good sales record. Having an engine similar to that of the Altima sedan with 175 horsepower is good enough for me.
This is gonna be one hot lookin car for sure!
yes, if by 'hot' you mean 'crappy'.
sorry, but the grotesque front overhang and monstrous A-pillar categorically preclude this vehicle from being anything other than a big fat joke.
Sadly, as much as I loved my '91 SE-R, Nissan has botched every remake since '94 and this looks like it might be nearly as ugly as the "who-the-hell-penned-THAT?" Dodge Caliber-aztek. blech.
Now, if it comes out even 1/2 as sexy as the Maxima or Altima...God bless Carl.
Kind of like a Saturn Ion, but uglier...
thats but ugly!
How can anyone accurately comment on the styling of a vehicle covered head-to-toe in camo?
Probably still have some good performance for a good price though.
We can comment on the styling of this vehicle based upon its overall shape (well thats what i did)!
Camo cannot disguise the bizarre proportions and lines, especially the roofline and c-pillar.
Have you ever seen a car covered in camo that looked good? I haven't.
If you covered an Aston Martin with all the camo showed here it too would look ugly.
Prediction: This new Nissan will look light-years better than it does disguised in camo.
How can we comment on a camo'd car?
It could be the fact that the car debuted seven months ago in Detroit? In cased you missed it:
http://archive.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2006/detroit/highlights/index5.php#car28
Thanks for the link—and yes it looks a lot better there than covered in camo. :)
This car is just to maintain Nissan's "presence" in compact cars.
We all know no one will choose to buy a Sentra over the new Altima, with their prices being so close.
Recently, I saw a white 2007 Sentra mule with taped-over logo and nameplates cruising Pico Blvd. from Santa Monica into West Los Angeles, and it looked nice from the rear and side, like a baby Acura, with nice sculpting on the bumper. Only the front end, with the corporate Nissan nose, looked sub-standard.
If the usual magic is applied to the Sentra to create the next SE-R, then it will be very nice indeed.
Yes, it does look a lot better without camo. But it's still ungainly in proportions. In fact, my first thought (like ahightower) was "looks like an overweight Saturn Ion." The interior is much better than the Ion though- with that nasty center guage pod. :-P
It's the new Minima!
(As opposed to the Maxima)
Seriously, that thing looks like a mini maxima .. :(
Ass. Just ass.
Anyone know what might be powering the car?
I currently have a 02 specv, and the 2.5 altima engine is fun, but they now need to compete with the likes of the new Gti and civic si. I doubt they'll be able to put up the mazdaspeed 3 type numbers, but I would think 200hp would be a good mark. Hopefully they can achieve that without any forced induction.
I agree Unkosan, by that time the Civic Si sedan ( I already have a deposit on mine) will be out and it looks like that car will be the main competition for the SE-R. Im sure Nissan can coax 200hp out of the 2.5 with no problems and it should have a nice torque curve, but will it be better than the K20?
I hate the new body style. Damn you Nissan!!!!! At least you didn't screw up with the GT-R too much.
I know that at first the 2007 sentra looks weird, BUT, I think it will be a cool car to have. I own a 2003 nissan sentra ser spec V and the car is awesome. some of the lines on the 2007 i did not like but i love sentras and i know the civic is a cool looking car but as a sentra owner i hope it is a big competition for the civic, after all we have not seen the 2007 sentra at a dealer yet
ok I have seen the new sentra and it looks good, trust me on this one, and i was told by a nissan employee that the SER SPEC V will have 210 horsepower under the hood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's good news, serspecv1. I'd like to remind everybody that seem to be concerned with horsepower, etc. for comparison, that it's about more than the 'numbers'. Curb weight is a major factor in performance. The 2006 SE-Rs/SpecVs weighed approx. 2750 lbs. Those who thought that 175 hp was less than competitive to other makes in its class were short sighted. Take the Subaru WRX, for instance. It's technically not a competitor in the class of the Sentra SE-R due to price, demographic, etc. But the average WRX owner will always think the SE-R/SpecV is an easy dust-off. Maybe if it's the 350 hp WRX Sti (?), but not the 250 hp WRX. It weighs upwards of 3350 lbs! That's abotu 500 lbs MORE than the Sentra. 175 hp in the 2750 lb. Sentra SE-R/SpecV will move it along very fast! A WRX with 250 hp will have to WORK to remove the Sentra's doors! And if the SE-R/SpecV in question has Nismo modifications, all bets are OFF!
Finally, I spoke to a SpecV owner recently out here in SoCal, and he said he routinely kicks ass on Mustang 5.0s! I hope the 2008 SE-R hp numbers are correct and that the weight hasn't gone up much. There are a few BMW 3 series owners out here I'd like to piss off. They just seem to love to "cut off" Sentras.
Peace.
Nissan cars have been able to deliver quite fairly during the past. Now this Nissan SE-R seems set to give Nissan a good sales record. Having an engine similar to that of the Altima sedan with 175 horsepower is good enough for me.