Nissan's First Hybrid Debuts With 2007 Altima

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Nissan's first gas-electric vehicle, the 2007 Altima Hybrid, is making its North American debut this week at the Orange County auto show here. It will go on sale in early 2007.

The hybrid version of the redesigned '07 Altima marries some Toyota patents with Nissan hardware, including a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission. The powertrain system has a "net" output (including electric motor) of 198 horsepower. The EPA ratings are 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

The standard gasoline-powered Altima goes on sale in November.

Nissan is late to the party with its hybrid, trailing Toyota and Honda by several years. Carlos Ghosn, who heads both Nissan and Renault, had repeatedly disparaged hybrids' viability as a solution to environmental and fossil-fuel issues.

The company said the '07 Altima Hybrid initially will be sold in states that have adopted California's tough emissions regulations, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as California.

The Altima Hybrid will be assembled in Smyrna, Tennessee.

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