OREANDA-NEWS. April 03, 2015. 2016 Maxima is the 8th generation of Nissan's iconic 4-Door Sports Car (or 4DSC) – though the term wasn't coined until the 3rd generation 1989 model. The very first model to wear the Maxima name had an "8" in its name – the 1981 Datsun 810 Maxima. Technically, it was the 2nd generation Datsun 810, but the first official Maxima for those keeping score. For the 1982 model year, the 810 badging was removed and Maxima quickly went on to become one of the best known and most popular Datsuns/Nissans for the next three-plus decades. Here we present an infographic showing all Maxima models through the ages.