Nice caption a helicopter and a plane at the back view. Anyway, for the U.S. market, the Maxima is one of Nissan's most historic vehicles. Known originally as the Datsun 810, it officially became Maxima in 1982, which was also the year that the Datsun brand began its metamorphosis into Nissan. Changes were minimal throughout this model's run, so interested shoppers needn't fixate on a particular year. There was a transmission change, however. Maximas from 2007 and 2008 featured a CVT, while earlier models came with either a five-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual and a likely 2002 Nissan Maxima power steering hose. Though earlier Nissan CVTs used on other models were disappointing, the Maxima's CVT worked quite well. You'll also note that the V6 offered by the more recent models in this generation boasts 255 hp, while older models list a higher rating (265). This is the result of a new power rating procedure enacted in 2007. Actual engine performance was unchanged.
