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2008 Nissan Sentra Designed For Active Lifestyles with Style, Roominess, Efficiency and Innovation

The 2008 Nissan Sentra, which follows the 2007 debut of an all-new generation Sentra design, offers style, space, quality, performance and interior flexibility for active lifestyles. For 2008, Sentra adds a number of significant enhancements, including additional standard equipment and package content changes for various models.

The 2008 Sentra is built on Nissan's 'C' platform and offers a standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed manual transmission or fuel-efficient Nissan Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) and responsive handling. Inside Sentra's spacious cabin are thoughtful and useful features, including a 60/40 split double-fold rear seat, available hidden trunk storage compartment and available integrated overhead compact disc holder. The 2008 Sentra is also available with a range of unexpected amenities ranging from the luxury of leather-appointed seating to the convenience of Nissan's Intelligent Key keyless entry system.

entra's good fuel economy, high levels of durability, safety, quality and reliability along with its affordable price and low cost of ownership ' have made Sentra a key player in the compact sedan category,' said Bill Bosley, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. 'It offers all the expected attributes of the previous generations of Sentra ' along with a completely unexpected level of style, roominess, responsiveness and versatility.'

A Stylish, Highly Space-Efficient Package
Built on Nissan's new 'C' platform, the sixth-generation Sentra has a 5.9-inch longer wheelbase than the previous generation design. It is 2.3 inches longer in overall length, 3.2 inches wider and sits 4.0 inches taller for easier ingress and egress and enhanced head room.

Sentra's dramatic exterior addresses one of the major 'unmet needs' of compact sedan buyers ' style and emotion. In keeping with Nissan's distinctive design language, Sentra features a sporty front end with Nissan signature headlights and grille. The profile includes a long wheelbase, short front and rear overhangs, crisp character lines and large door openings, while in the rear the high deck accentuates the roomy cabin and cargo area.

Inside, the interior continues the sporty, functional theme of the exterior, with the use of high quality materials, large gauges and a spacious, flexible center console. Designed to accommodate full-size adults in comfort, Sentra's passenger volume of 97.7 cubic feet is 9.2 cubic feet larger than the previous generation Sentra.

Along with the roomy, social space of the interior, Sentra supports active lifestyles with flexible and functional storage including innovative, compartmentalized storage areas.

The trunk, with 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, is designed to accommodate long, bulky and 'unexpected' items through the use of an oversized pass-through opening. Combined with the 60/40 split double-fold rear seat (the cushion folds forward, allowing the seat back to fold flat), Sentra offers exceptional cargo flexibility for carrying snowboards, hockey sticks and even bikes. One of Sentra's true innovations is the available patented Divide-N-Hide 'trunk divider, which allows the trunk to be used for short term and long term/hidden storage.

A removable divider wall, which can be positioned flat on the trunk floor when not in use, can be raised into a vertical position, creating two separate compartments. The durable polymeric material divider (carpeted on one side to match the rest of the trunk and waterproof on the other side for easy cleaning) also includes hooks mounted on the outer surface to help secure items such as grocery bags.

Other storage solutions include an integrated, removable overhead compact disc holder above the driver's sun visor which can hold up to eight CDs, net storage pockets on the upper backs of the front seats for rear seat passengers cell phones and mp3 player (2.0 SL), a rear seat armrest with cupholders that can accommodate a 20-ounce bottle and 32-ounce drink cup, extra instrument panel storage next to the driver's door, and a large, lighted, locking glove compartment that can fit a 8x11-inch writing tablet or a large-sized map book. The center console offers multiple storage options, including an adjustable cup holder design and cell phone space.

Along with ample roominess, Sentra is offered a wide array of premium equipment, including leather-appointed seating, Intelligent Key keyless entry system, Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System and premium Rockford Fosgate-powered audio system with 6-disc autochanger, 8-channel amplifier and 8 speakers.

'Sentra has broken free of the pack of like-sized and like-styled compacts with exception style, available features and innovative utility,' said Bosley. 'A typical entry-level buyer has only one vehicle, so we designed Sentra to serve as a 24-hour mobile knapsack, a home base for people who are anything but homebodies.'

Performance For Passionate Drivers
Under the dramatically styled 2008 Sentra body is a powerful 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine designed to combine responsive acceleration with good fuel economy and efficient operation. It is mated to a standard Xtronic CVT or 6-speed manual (Sentra 2.0 S only).

'The other element missing in most compact sedans is a sense of driving excitement,' said Bosley. 'We think we've exceeded expectations on both counts ' whether for everyday commuting or weekend road trips 'with this dynamic Sentra platform and powertrain.'

The advanced 2.0-liter Nissan MR20DE aluminum block engine is designed to offer an exceptional balance of responsive acceleration, excellent low and mid-range torque and increased thermal efficiency. The engine is rated at 140 horsepower and 147 lb-ft of torque. Up to 90 percent of the torque is achieved by 2,400 rpm providing comfortable driving and excellent fuel consumption in real world driving when mated to the Xtronic CVT. Fuel economy is rated at 25/33 miles per gallon City/Highway with the CVT and 24/31 miles per gallon with the 6-speed manual transmission (Sentra 2.0 S only).

The 2008 Sentra also offers responsive handling. The front suspension is an independent strut design with coil springs and stabilizer bar. The rear features a torsion beam with integral stabilizer bar, with the rear shock absorbers mounted below the trunk floor for improved trunk roominess. Sentra's ride comfort has been enhanced through use of special 'ripple control' shock absorbers, an insulated front cradle-type subframe with pendulum engine mount system, roller-type front strut bearings and large, tuned rear beam isolators.

Standard safety features for the new Sentra include Zone Body Construction, Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual stage front air bags and occupant classification system for the front passenger seat, and front seat Active Head Restraints. Front seat side air bags and side curtain air bags (for front and rear outboard seat protection) are also standard.

Three Well-Equipped Models
The 2008 Sentra is offered in three well-equipped models, starting with the Sentra 2.0 with 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and Xtronic CVT transmission. Standard features include electric power-assisted steering, 15-inch wheels and tires, suede cloth interior, oversized locking glove compartment, power windows and door locks, rear folding seat system4-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with auxiliary input and much more.

Sentra 2.0 S, which is offered with a choice of Xtronic CVT or 6-speed manual transmission, adds 16-inch wheels and tires, 6-speaker AM/FM/CD RDS audio system, Vehicle Security System, in-dash vehicle information display monitor, cruise control, Remote Keyless Entry, driving lights and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD).

Sentra 2.0 SL adds leather-appointed seats, 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, Intelligent Key, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, XM Satellite Radio ( required monthly subscription sold separately) and integrated overhead CD storage.

Available options and packages include Convenience Package, Alloy Wheels, Audio Package with 340-watt 8-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system, XM Satellite Radio, Divide-N-Hide Trunk System and Moonroof Package.