Nissan turns to Toyota to build a true "hybrid"

Nissan's sluggish release of a hybrid-powered vehicle, in the form of the 2007 Altima, will give a completely different meaning to the word "hybrid." Using a setup nearly identical to the Prius, Nissan has licensed Toyota technology and will purchase some components directly from one of its closest competitors to build these efficient Altimas.

The heartbeat of the "hybrid" drivetrain will still use Nissan's 2.5 liter inline-four, the QR25DE, which has been used in the Altima since 2002. Paired with an electric motor, the crossbreed powerplant will have an estimated cumulative 200 horsepower on tap, but be able to switch over to electricity when cruising at rural speeds to conserve fuel. Unlike its Toyota counterpart, the hybrid Altimas will use a true continuously variable transmission, or CVT, a system that has already proved itself in the Murano since 2003.

According to a recent road test by Motor Trend, the pre-production hybrid Altima "has plenty of zip," a phrase not often associated with a vehicle capable of 40 miles per gallon and beyond. Motor Trend estimates a 15 to 20 percent increase in the cost of the Altima for the hybrid version, which should hit dealerships this fall.