Tag Archives: altima

Department of Self Interest: American Millennials Love Sedans

Posted on 23 May 2019 by Ken Zino

According to a survey, respondents who don’t currently own a sedan,would consider buying one (78%), and younger respondents reported an even higher like for the body style. Nissan recently unveiled its latest sedan, the all-new Versa, which is new inside and with technology not generally seen in the sub-compact class. It’s a large investment in what is a fading segment. Continue reading →

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2014 Toyota Corolla Ups Ante in Compact Car Game

Posted on 11 September 2013 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor coming off two straight months knocking Ford Motor out of its traditional Number Two sales position in the U.S. market is introducing an all-new Corolla model. Not only will this present formidable competition for the Ford Focus, but it will also challenge Honda Civic, Nissan Altima, Mazda3 as well as the rest of compact cars in this high volume segment. Continue reading →

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Revised 2014 Chevrolet Malibu Coming after 2013 Flop

Posted on 31 May 2013 by Ken Zino

The badly outclassed Malibu raises once again the critical question whether General Motors is reformed after a $49.5 billion taxpayer funded bailout or has simply resumed its old losing ways that saw market share erode from almost 60% in 1960 to 18% today. Continue reading →

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Mazda Atenza on Sale in Japan, Comes to U.S. Next Year as Mazda6

Posted on 21 November 2012 by Ken Zino

The Mazda6 is due in the U.S. next year where the family car market is much larger and much more competitive. Year-to-date Mazda sold 31,000 of the older 6 sedan in a segment dominated by the newly revised Toyota Camry, Honda Accord models, both of which are now selling almost 30,000 units a month and the Nissan Altima at 26,000 a month. Two Japanese variations of the new Mazda6 present additional sales opportunities for the U.S. subsidiary. Continue reading →

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Ford Fusion Hybrid Sedan Said to Top EPA Fuel Economy Ratings

Posted on 18 September 2012 by Ken Zino

Many brands now have a claim of some sort to use in fuel economy marketing, which likely means all of them will advertise fuel efficiency this fall, making the issue so confusing that it might no longer be effective for selling cars. Buyers will assume that fuel economy is a given in the entire class of vehicles and forgo the nuances. A similar situation has occurred in the marketing of auto safety during the past decade, with it increasingly difficult for companies to draw a competitive advantage in a continually improving field of what is now demonstrably the safest fleet of new vehicles ever sold in the U.S. Continue reading →

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Reality Versus Concept as Production Accord Photos Released

Posted on 9 August 2012 by Ken Zino

The ninth generation Accord, a perennial top seller in the family car category faces unprecedented competition from the Toyota Camry – the best selling car in the U.S. and all new last year – a revised Nissan Altima, and the Hyundai Sonata, as well as the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu, among others. The category is important for its size – almost 20% of the cars sold in the U.S., and as a result, its bragging rights. Continue reading →

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Family Car Wars Revived as Nissan Ships New 2013 Altima

Posted on 8 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Nissan has started shipping the new 2013 Altima, its best selling mid-size car and longstanding contender in the family car wars. The all-new 2013 Altima, which has been produced at Nissan’s Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in Tennessee since the first generation rolled off the line in 1992 is now also produced at Canton, Mississippi because of the high volumes involved. Altima will take on the reigning champion – Toyota Camry revised this year, and the upcoming new Honda Accord in a battle royal. Continue reading →

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U.S. Built Volkswagen Passat Priced from $20,765 to $33,720

Posted on 26 May 2011 by Ken Zino

Passat normally would face fierce competition from the entrenched Japanese Big Three – Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Honda Accord – but its not clear if production disruptions at those makers will continue into the late summer when it will appear in dealer showrooms. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen Opens New Passat Plant in Tennessee

Posted on 24 May 2011 by Ken Zino

VW’s ambitious plans promise that one million new generation U.S. built Passat models will be sold during next seven years after cars arrive in dealerships late this summer. The plant also appears to be a logical choice for building a new Audi model. Since 1987, more than 700,000 Passat sedans have been sold in the U.S. The Japanese Big Three sell that many of their similarly sized family cars – Camry, Altima, and Accord – each year. Continue reading →

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VW Passat Debuts at NAIAS. Will be Built in Tennessee

Posted on 10 January 2011 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen has taken the wraps off its NMS – new mid-size sedan – and surprise it’s a Passat. True, it’s the largest Passat since its 1987 debut in a segment long dominated by the Japanese Big Three – Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Nissan Altima.

VW has been promising that this Passat is finally right for the American market, and it will mark the return of VW to more than a small player since the day when it dominated U.S. imports with the Beetle. Continue reading →

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