“The Nissan Altima ranks among the country’s top-selling cars and best-known nameplates,” said Bill Krueger, vice chairman, Nissan Americas. “This generation is not only the most innovative Altima ever, it also becomes the benchmark for quality in the midsize car segment. And there’s no better plant to rise to the challenge than our top-quality manufacturing operations in Smyrna.”

Exemplifying Nissan’s “Innovation for All” strategy, standard equipment on the 2013 Altima will include Bluetooth functionality for hands-free calling and music streaming, particularly comfortable and supportive “zero gravity” front seats, the Advanced Drive-Assist Display (which puts key vehicle information directly in front of the driver), and a thoroughly redesigned 2.5-liter I4 that Nissan expects to help the Altima achieve a best-in-class 38 mpg in highway driving.

“Gas mileage, it’s a big plus for us,” said Ronnie Cope, a Nissan manufacturing technician who has been helping build Altimas for more than 20 years. And as he notes, even though the newest one benefits from an 18.7 percent jump in highway fuel efficiency: “We were able to retain the horsepower that we’ve had.”

The 2013 Nissan Altima is scheduled to reach dealerships in June with an MSRP that starts at $21,500—less than the 2012 models from rivals like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Chevy Malibu.