Viper, Impala and Altima debut at NY Auto Show
To see photos and more details about these sedans, go to the next page.
Viper, Impala and Altima debut at NY Auto Show
2014 Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet wants you to remember the Impala has a long history, and to remind the assembled reporters at the New York International Auto Show, they brought along gleaming 1965 and 1966 classic models. But the news was about the completely redesigned 2014 Impala.
With this redesign, Chevy is aiming to upscale its large sedan as Ford has done with its Taurus. A wider front grille, long, low profile and LED running lights give the Impala some luxury touches. It's a big improvement over the much blander 2012 version. But when the new Impala goes on sale next year, the price likely will remain in the $25,000 to $30,000 range of the 2012 model, although General Motors hasn't yet announced price details.
Under the hood, the 2014 Impala will offer a 3.6-liter V-6 and a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which the company estimates will be rated at 30 MPG in highway driving. And a four-cylinder mild hybrid, with electric motor boost, will be rated at 35 MPG or more in highway driving, executives say.
On this and some other new models, Chevolet will offer a system called MYLink that will allow voice commands for cell phones, music and navigation -similar to Ford's SYNC system.
And, in a market where competition demands lots of safety features, Impala adds lane departure warning - which alerts drowsy drivers who are drifting into another lane. And forward collision alert will sound an alarm and start to activate the brakes if the system senses an imminent crash with the car ahead.
Viper, Impala and Altima debut at NY Auto Show
2013 Nissan Altima
The new Altima is so important to Nissan that CEO Carlos Ghosn was there to introduce it himself. The new version, Ghosn said, is part of the company's drive to reach a 10% market share in the U.S., vs. 8.2% for 2011.
A handsome if not startling design should keep the Altima selling well in the mid-size sedan category long dominated by Toyota Camry and Honda Accord and where now Ford Fusion also is a strong contender. So far this year, the old version of the Altima has been the second-best seller behind the Camry.
Ghosn announced the 2013 Altima, on sale in July, would start at $21,500. "The 2013 model will keep Nissan relevant in the midsize segment, especially since it is priced so well," says Edmunds.com senior analyst Michelle Krebs.
The Altima will come with a 2.5-liter four cylinder engine that Nissan predicts will be rated for 27 MPG in the city and 38 on the highway and a 3.5-liter V-6 with 22 MPG city, 30 highway ratings.
The cell phone and entertainment system will read incoming text messages aloud and allow you to reply by voice command. As for comfort, the company says its new high-tech seats are based on seating and posture research from NASA.
Viper, Impala and Altima debut at NY Auto Show
Lexus ES 350
Luxury brands like Lexus count especially on their entry-level models to attract younger buyers and, they hope, keep them loyal to the brand in the future. The restyled ES 350 should attract its share of buyers.
The lower, sleeker styling is coupled with an inch longer length, allowing a bigger back seat. Executives hope that will attract more family buyers than in the past.
The 2013 model also will come in a hybrid version, to be known as the ES 300h. The company expects to get a rating of 40 MPG in highway driving - now the marketing target for selling cars in an environment of high gas prices. And the hybrid will let the driver put the car in EV mode, allowing it to travel short distances using its electric motor only.
New safety features include a rearview camera that shows the driver passing traffic when backing out of a parking spot. Also available are systems to warn of drifting out of the proper lane and approaching a collision ahead.