NEW YORK --- XM Satellite Radio announced that the new 2009 Maxima will offer XM NavTraffic as a standard, factory-installed feature when equipped with Nissan's Hard Drive Navigation system.

Every Nissan with the premium audio package is factory-equipped with XM Satellite Radio. XM NavTraffic, powered by NAVTEQ Traffic, is a real-time traffic service that offers coast-to-coast updates every minute, ensuring that the driver has the latest and most detailed information at his or her fingertips.

XM NavTraffic, available in 80 major North American markets, feeds data on traffic jams, congestion, accidents and road construction directly to a vehicle's GPS navigation system via XM's satellite pipeline. XM NavTraffic follows the driver's route, and alerts the driver to these incidents through the navigation screen, allowing him or her to route around a jam before getting caught in traffic.

Where available, XM NavTraffic provides real-time traffic information by using red, yellow and green color codes to indicate high, medium and low congestion levels. Drivers can also set the red routes to flash on the screen to alert the driver to high-congestion areas. 

"Maxima owners will be able to benefit from the power of real-time traffic data mapped to their exact location and destination, allowing them to navigate traffic on their terms," said Joe Verbrugge, senior vice president of automotive partnerships and international operations for XM Satellite Radio. "With XM NavTraffic, Maxima drivers will get to where they need to go faster and with less hassle." 

XM Radio, featuring more than 170 channels of entertainment, is available on these Nissan models: 350Z Coupe, Altima, Altima Coupe, Altima Hybrid, Armada, Frontier, Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Quest, Rogue, Sentra, Titan, Versa and Xterra. The service will soon be available on the 2009 Nissan GT-R. 

XM NavTraffic is available on Nissan Murano, Armada, Altima, Altima Coupe, Altima Hybrid and Pathfinder, as part of packages equipped with a navigation system. NavTraffic will soon be available on the 2009 GT-R. All XM NavTraffic-equipped models come with a three-month complimentary subscription.