In the crowded U.S. automotive market, nowhere is competition more fierce than the mid-size sedan segment, where nameplates like the dominant Toyota Camry and Honda Accord square off against a score of import and domestic competitors.

It's another matter entirely when we're talking mid-size coupes. Sure, you've got some options, like Toyota 's Solara, but there's nowhere near the range of choice you find in the four-door market. Why? Well, the folks who make their money prognosticating the automotive market will tell you it's because there's too little demand.

But what if they've got things upside down? What if the problem is the lack of exciting offerings? That's what Nissan is betting, as it brings to market its first-ever Altima Coupe.

"The market is shrinking because??¦the coupes out there are not very interesting or very good," contends Nissan's U.S. product manager, John Curl.

So, is the Japanese maker's sporty two-door, designed in Japan , and produced in the U.S. , what buyers are looking for?

While we're not completely convinced by Nissan's argument, we were clearly impressed with the attributes of the 2008 Altima Coupe, after spending a day roaming along the northern reaches of the mighty Mississippi River . The two-door version of Nissan's mainstay mid-size sedan could, indeed, pump some new life into the coupe market.

Source: [url=http://www.thecarconnection.com/Vehicle_Reviews/Sedans_Coupes_and_Hatchbacks/2008_Nissan_Altima_Coupe.S180.A12396.html]TheCarConnection.com[/url]