2002 Nissan Sentra and SE-R - Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde

Nissan has definitely had its share of the limelight this year. As if the return of the legendary Z wasn't enough, it's also flipped the mid-size sedan category on its head with the introduction of the sensational Altima sedan. Even the award winning Maxima received performance tweaks and a mild makeover for the 2002 season. What about the entry-level Sentra? Most of its news lies under the skin.

Does the name 'SE-R' mean anything to you? To import enthusiasts these three letters translate into performance. The 1991 - 1994 SE-R still has legions of dedicated fans. Nissan feels it won't be hard to coax these zealots - along with an enthusiastic following of new believers - into a 2002 SE-R.

What's so good about the new car? For starters, its 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine's output is up from the original cars 140 to a substantial 165-hp, while torque improves from 132 to 175 lb-ft respectively. Not enough? That's OK, because Nissan has created something over the top for the truly devoted. A Spec-V variation puts out an impressive 175 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. What's more, the top Sentra replaces the standard 5-speed transmission with a slick 6-speed - an automatic is only available with the standard SE-R.