20 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday July 25, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com 2008 Altima puts a sensuous new face into the mid-size coupe segment Continued from Page 18 way for the CVT. The 3.5-litre returns 11.2/7.3L/100 km city/highway for the manual and 10.5/7.7L/100 km city/highway for the CVT. If you noticed that in city driving the CVT fuel consumption was the same for the manual on the 2.5-litre and less on the V6, you were right. Normally a manual is better on gas in most circumstances, but it's also where Nissan is proving its point about the CVT. At the press launch of the Coupe in Montreal, we were told a "unique selling point" was that buyers of this car like to "drive aggressively" and "want to feel in control." While the Coupe is offered with ABS as standard, traction control is not offered on the 2.5-litre but is standard on the V6. For those who want to "feel in control", having traction control is important. Vehicle Dynamic Control, Nissan's take on stability control, is offered as an option on the V6 but only when bundled with the $4,100 Premium Package that includes full leather, Bose sound system, dual zone climate control and more goodies like Bluetooth connectivity. I'd like to see traction control offered as a stand-alone option on the 2.5-litre and VDC as a stand-alone option on the V6. Now including valet pick-up** 2007 CLEAR THE LOT EVENT! THE 2008 MODELS ARE COMING. DON'T MISS THESE GREAT OFFERS ON THE 2007 MODELS. 2007 C30 $ 279 2.9% A MONTH/ 36 MOS. LEASE RATE 2007 XC70 $ 559 1.15% A MONTH/ 48 MOS. LEASE RATE $0 DOWN. $0 SECURITY. $0 1ST PAYMENT JUST SIGN AND DRIVE 2007 C70 $ 703 4.5% A MONTH/ 48 MOS. LEASE RATE 2007 XC90 $ 600 A MONTH/ 48 MOS. 2.6% LEASE RATE Prices for the base manual 2.5 S are $27,798, $28,998 for the CVT and $31,498 for the CVT with Premium Leather Package. The 3.5 SE comes in three versions of the manual and three of the CVT ranging from $31,398-$38,498 and $32,598-$39,898 respectively. FYI, the CVT costs $1,200 extra and if you want the Navigation Package (only on the V6), that's another $3,000. Shipping adds $1,300. I drove both the V6 manual with all options and the 2.5litre with the CVT from Montreal to Ottawa and back respectively. The 3.5 in red brought stares from the street and outright gawking on the highway. It's also a blast to drive in any gear. With all that torque that starts to come in at just over 2,000 rpm, you can pass or lope along in one gear if you wish. But when you accelerate hard, the engine note of the V6 takes on a deep tone that says power to my ears. The higher the pitch, the more the engine is trying to gulp in enough air and fuel to make torque. With a low note, you know the traction is already there. The manual was also a delight to work, crisp in gear changes and positive at the point where the clutch bites in the flywheel. There is no shudder in the drivetrain and the steering did not have that "light on centre" feel you get with some front drivers. I suspect most people will opt for the 2.5-litre because it looks almost identical to the V6 except for alloy wheels (16inch on the 2.5, 17-inch on the V6) but is less expensive. I have not been a fan of CVTs. When you hit the gas to pass, the engine vaults to peak power rpm (5,600 on the 2.5) as the belts and pulleys bring the car up to speed. On the Altima, much of this has been addressed. The critical problem used to be passing on CVTs, but with 180 lb/ft available on the 2.5, you get by slower cars in about the same time as an automatic. Again, this helps prove the case for a CVT and is another reason why Nissan is betting on it. The Coupe is the tonic that the Altima needed. Already a great looking sedan, the Coupe transforms it from a looker to a standout. I couldn't help thinking that the Coupe looks so much different, it could have been sold as separate car with a new name. And with a price point that should alarm competitors like the Honda Accord, Toyota Solara and Pontiac G6, the 2008 Altima puts a sensuous new face into the mid-size coupe segment. 2007 S60SE $ 539 1% A MONTH/ 48 MOS. 2007 S80 $ LEASE RATE 639 2.9% A MONTH/ 48 MOS. LEASE RATE W. Q.E.W. E. 3RD LINE VOLVO OF OAKVILLE 770 Pacific Road, Oakville (905) 825-8088 www.volvoofoakville.com BRONTE RD. PACIFIC RD. SOUTH SERVICE RD. WYECROFT RD. Limited time offer through Volvo of Oakville and Volvo car Financial Services Canada on approved credit to qualified retail customers only. Offer available on a 2007 New C30/ XC70/ C70/ XC90/ S60SE/ S80 3.2 AWD, $279.16/ $559.00/ $703.66/ $600.31/ $539.59/ $639.71 per month, C30/36month term; 48 month term $0 down for XC70 $4385..96 down for C30; XC90; S60SE, for the S80 we require $6840.08 down payment, the C30 has $0 security, $279.16 first month/ XC70 $0 down, $0 security, $0 1st payment/ C70 requires first payment $703.66 and $0 security/ XC90 requires $600.31 first payment and $0 security/ S60SE $0 first payment and $0 security/ the S80 requires $639.71 first month payment, $0 security deposit, up to $1695.00 freight and PDI and up to $43.21 PPSA, are due at lease inception. Lease APR 2.9% /1%/ 4.5%/ 2.6%/ 1%/ 2.9%. total lease obligation $10,049/ $26,834.00/ $33,775.68/ $28,814.88/ $25,896.96/ $30,706.08, taxes, license, insurance and retailer charges extra. Lease has 80,000 km allowance ($0.16 per km excess). Payment and security deposit may vary by choice of extra equipment. Purchase at end of lease for $13,960.10/ $19,396.00/ $25,295.60/ $21,315.90/ $18,842.40/ $21,276.20 plus taxes. Offers end July 31st 2007, Volvo of Oakville may lease for less. *Some term/conditions apply. *See Volvo of Oakville for full details. Volvo of Oakville is not responsible for errors or omissions in this ad. *See Volvo of Oakville for details on scheduled VIP offer, some limitations and specific criteria apply. Vehicle may not be exactly as shown. Volvo Canada Corp. "Volvo for Life" is a registered trade mark used under license by Volvo Cars Canada Corp. and its affiliates. Visit volvoofoakville.com