In the late ‘90s, Nissan brought a handful of automotive
journalists into its California headquarters. The company was struggling, and it
seemed as if the executives were looking for a magic solution. Frankly, it felt
as if the company had gone insane.
The car writers were unanimous in saying that Nissan was
making some wonderful, powerful, sweet-handling cars. However, we added, the
American public was hopelessly infatuated with giant sport/utility vehicles and
pickups, and Nissan and its Infiniti brand had arrived too late to that party.
The cynic in me wanted to say, “Check your water coolers. It
appears as if they’re being spiked. And, if the coolers are clean,
perhaps you should put everybody on Prozac or something.”
The bottom line: The company lost its way and second-guessed
itself almost to death.
Fast-forward to the present. At its gleaming new
headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, Nissan showed the media an impressive lineup of
cars. No trucks or SUVs were present for this event.
Today’s bad economy, the threat of rising gas prices, and
looming fuel-economy rules have America’s love affair with big SUVs and pickups
on the rocks. Meanwhile, over the past dozen years, Nissan has labored to once again produce
an impressive lineup of value-packed, economical, roomy, sweet-handling
cars. (Check out my reviews of the 2010 Sentra and 2010 Altima Sedan, and other Nissan models in our 2009 buyer's guide.)
It seems as if the comany’s “Nissanness” has returned at
just the right time. Maybe Tennessee tap water is better for you.
By Mac Demere, autoMedia.com contributing editor