With Nissan heading into the 2009 model year, a number of new advancements are set for their latest fleet of vehicles. There are a host of model changes and upgrades set for the 2009 models, with everything from the Maxima to the GT-R getting some new snazzy features for consumers to drool over.

Case in point, the 2009 Nissan Altima. The Altima gets a new six-speed manual transmission, which gets some refinements that will be long overdue for many Altima drivers. And the base Altima finally offers some of the basics that other models have received for years, such as air conditioning and power mirrors as standard equipment.

The 2009 Nissan GT-R is turning heads as one of the fastest cars on the road. The base model features all of the navigation systems you could want in a speedy sportscar and locks in driver-configurable dials and switches for the tech geek in all of us.

Finally, the 2009 Nissan Maxima rocks a shorter wheelbase, a wider track, and less curb weight by contrast to last year's model. That's good news for better handling, making the car more athletic and sleeker than other models. The 2009 Maxima is a stellar upgrade from last year's model, but the best way to discover the difference is to slip behind the wheel and drive one.