The reveal of the Nissan Z Proto is easily the most significant event for Nissan this year, but another of its long-running nameplates is reaching a big milestone, too. The Nissan Maxima full-size flagship sedan is turning 40 years old. To celebrate, there's a 2021 Nissan Maxima 40th Anniversary Edition, complete with all the bells and whistles and some unique trimmings.

On the outside, the special edition Maxima gets an exclusive two-tone gray and black paint job. The 19-inch wheels as well as all the trim and badges are finished in black, too. Even the exhaust tips are painted back.

The interior is the real draw, though. The seats are wrapped in a deep red semi-aniline leather with black accents. Matching the seats is red stitching found on the doors and dashboard. The seats have "40th Anniversary" embossed in them. Other trim is finished in dark chrome. But one literal bright spot is found in the gauge cluster. The faces of the speedometer and tachometer dials are a silvery white, referencing some past Maxima models.

Other than these color tweaks, the Maxima 40th Anniversary Edition is your typical high-trim sedan. It uses the second-highest Platinum trim level as its base, but picks up the rear heated seats from the top Platinum Reserve. Under the hood is a 3.5-liter V6 making 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque. It sends power through a CVT to the front wheels only. Pricing hasn't been announced, but we would expect it to come in around $45,000 considering 2020 Maxima pricing and the likely upcharge for the special edition.

The end of an era in Japanese sedans is upon us. We've received official word that Nissan Maxima production will end midway through 2023. When the line goes silent, it will mark the end of a 42-year run for Nissan's flagship four-door.

A Nissan spokesperson offered the following statement to Motor1.com regarding the Maxima's demise:
Maxima is one of the most storied nameplates for Nissan in North America. On Wednesday, August 3, we announced to our employees, suppliers and dealers that the current-generation Maxima will end production in the middle of 2023.

As part of Nissan’s Ambition 2030 plan, the company is prioritizing electric vehicles and advanced technologies, and by 2030, 40 percent of Nissan vehicle sales will be fully electric, with more to be electrified. Additionally, earlier this year Nissan announced two all-new, all-electric models at the Canton assembly plant in Mississippi.

Please stay tuned for future Nissan Maxima news as we empower journeys through exciting vehicles and tech innovation.

The Maxima debuted in 1980 for the 1981 model year, initially under the Datsun brand. Offering six-cylinder power with rear-wheel drive, it was billed as a full-size flagship initially available as either a sedan or a station wagon. The shift to front-wheel drive came with the second-generation model – now wearing Nissan badges – and it would remain that way for the rest of its life. Always considered a sporty sedan, the Maxima arguably reached its enthusiast peak through the 1990s and early 2000s with the fourth and fifth-generation models, offering understated styling with V6 power and a manual transmission.

The current-generation Maxima debuted in 2015, offering 300 horsepower paired only with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Despite impressive straight-line performance, Maxima sales have steadily declined as buyers transition to SUVs and crossovers. This holds true for pretty much every large sedan, but Maxima sales have significantly suffered in recent months. Only 3,753 units have sold through the first half of 2022, a decline of over 62 percent from the previous year.

It's always possible that the Maxima moniker could return for a future EV. Nissan's statement certainly leaves the door open for such a reboot, but for now, we bid another goodbye to an acclaimed, enduring sedan.

If you haven't already poured one out for the Nissan Maxima, now is the time. The seasoned flagship sedan gets a small price increase for 2023, but it will never be more expensive than it is now. That's because it won't exist.

Nissan is killing the Maxima at the end of 2023. The final year of production doesn't offer much in the way of change, with the automaker swapping out old Nissan badges for the new minimalist design. The range-topping Platinum trim is an exception, as it gains semi-aniline leather seats and illuminated kick plates.

All trims get a higher price tag as well, with the base Maxima SV starting at $39,235 and the midrange Maxima SR starting at $44,395. That's a $300 bump for both compared to 2022, but the range-topping 2023 Nissan Maxima Platinum is $1,100 more expensive, starting at $45,345. All prices include a mandatory $1,095 destination fee.Thus far, it's a quiet end to a 42-year run for the enduring sedan. It started life in 1981 as the Datsun Maxima, sending power to the rear wheels through an inline-six engine. Front-wheel drive and a V6 engine arrived for the second generation in 1985, now wearing Nissan badges. That formula endured for the rest of the Maxima's life, with the current model carrying a 300-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 driving the front wheels through a CVT.

"Maxima is one of the most storied nameplates for Nissan in North America," said a Nissan spokesperson in an email to Motor1.com. On Wednesday, August 3, we announced to our employees, suppliers, and dealers that the current-generation Maxima will end production in the middle of 2023. As part of Nissan’s Ambition 2030 plan, the company is prioritizing electric vehicles and advanced technologies, and by 2030, 40 percent of Nissan vehicle sales will be fully electric, with more to be electrified. Additionally, earlier this year Nissan announced two all-new, all-electric models at the Canton assembly plant in Mississippi."

The Maxima is the latest in a long line of sedans recently discontinued as SUVs and crossovers become mainstay family transportation. The Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger will exit the scene in 2023. The Chevrolet Malibu is rumored to be on its way out, as is the Hyundai Sonata. Ford stopped selling sedans in the US years ago, but the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord show no signs of slowing.