We’ve been eagerly awaiting the next iteration of Nissan’s Maxima sedan for some time now—but not for the reasons that one might think. With the Max’s kid brother, the Altima continuing to swell in dimensions and capabilities at a lower entry price, we’ve been thinking for some time now that the current car’s raison d’être has eroded.

For 2009, Nissan is heralding the return of the Maxima as a 4-Door Sports Car, a catchphrase that it had largely abandoned in recent years. To that end, the Max receives a reworked 3.5-liter VQ V-6, rated at 290 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque (increases of 35 and 9, respectively). Despite the 4DSC tagline, enthusiasts will have to slake themselves on Nissan’s Xtronic CVT—no manual will be made available, although buyers can spec the car with paddle shifters, as well as put the transmission in “Ds Mode” for crisper shifts.

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