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Nissan Special Projects
The Altima-te AWD Has Old Man Winter’s Number (video)
As many parts of Canada start to see the first signs of a typically harsh winter, the all-new 2019 Nissan Altima AWD sedan has arrived to showrooms. To convey the message that All-Wheel Drive is now a standard feature on the 2019 Altima, Nissan has modified the sophisticated sedan into an aggressive adversary to Old Man Winter. Named the Altima-te AWD, this extreme iteration of the Altima dons a 30-inch tall DOMINATOR® track system from American Track Truck, installed by Quebec-based MIA Motorsports.
“This is not the Altima of old; for the 2019 model year, we are redefining what this historic nameplate stands for. With the scarcity in the market of all-wheel drive configurations available on sedans, we wanted to make a statement to customers. The average person does not assume a sedan offers AWD,” says Joni Paiva, president of Nissan Canada Inc.
“The Altima-te AWD joins the other, one-off, track-equipped crossover vehicles like the Rogue Warrior and sends a clear message to the market – this Altima has the ability to conquer the harshest weather environments with the added confidence provided by standard Nissan Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, which adapts to road conditions in the blink of an eye,” concludes Paiva.
The Altima-te AWD joins the Warrior family of Nissan crossovers wearing heavy-duty rubber tracks. In connection to the original Rogue Warrior video, issued in line with press day at the 2016 Montreal International Auto Show, three-time Nissan Micra Cup champion Olivier Bédard once again appears in a Nissan video story. This time, Valérie Limoges, a Micra Cup driver who placed fourth in the 2018 championship, stars alongside Bédard.
Like the Rogue Warrior which debuted at the 2016 Montreal International Auto Show (MIAS), the Altima-te AWD was modified entirely by Quebec-based Motorsports in Action (MIA), using the DOMINATOR® track system from American Track Truck.
The tracks measure 1,220 millimetres/48 inches long, 750 millimetres/30 inches tall and 380 millimetres/15 inches wide. The Altima-te AWD required more extreme body and chassis modifications compared to the changes that were made on the Rogue Warrior project vehicle. The most prominent exterior modification to Altima’s exterior is seen in the front and rear fenders that were flared out by 180 millimetres/7 inches on each side, to accommodate the DOMINATOR, track system, expanding the total body width by 360 millimetres/14 inches. This results in a noticeably assertive stance, while maintaining Altima’s sedan design essence and flowing lines.
To modify the fenders, the MIA team applied a complex process involving the design and fabrication of a bespoke wide body kit, and building the fender part using high-density foam and epoxy resin typically used in nautical structures. This process alone amounted to over 150 hours of work. The total project took 250 hours to complete. The extreme fender flares allow a reduction in snow projections, which could impede the driver’s visibility.
Interested in a demonstration of the Altima’s all-wheel drive capability? Click the TEST DRIVE button below and enjoy a complete tour and road test.
