The Ultima Coupe was one of very few new production debuts at LA, with most brands waiting for Detroit to unveil new metal. But for a niche product from an import brand, this LA debut makes a lot of sense as the Nissan would likely have been more overlooked by journalists and visitors at the larger show in the north.

The Ultima Coupe will appeal to a relatively conservative sector of the market and as such is not a radical design. But it does have an overall balance and quality of execution that impresses and some strong design features such as: a trunk lid that distinctively drops into the rear bumper, lights that cleverly extent from the truck surface and cap the rear corner of the car, a high quality full depth IP moulding, and a rear window graphic that extends into the upper trunk surface.

But despite some clever design elements, the Ulitma coupe is hobbled by inheriting the sedan's long wheelbase and having overly small wheels. This and a few other details (notably the large leading edge bonnet shut gap) compromise what is otherwise an appealing new design