Japan's deep-pocket marques in overdrive - MANUFACTURERS ROUNDUP
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Japan's deep-pocket marques in overdrive - MANUFACTURERS ROUNDUP
By Kathy Jackson and Mark Rechtin
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
October 29, 2004
The next four years will further separate the haves from the have-nots among Japanese automakers.
Those with deep pockets will continue to add models at a rapid pace, especially sport wagons and other trucks. Those without enough resources will struggle to survive in North America.
Isuzu is down to two models. Mitsubishi is operating in crisis mode, struggling to stay afloat. A $4.1 billion bailout was negotiated in May, a portion of which will help pay for the development of two vehicles that will be assembled next year at Mitsubishi's plant in Normal, Ill.
At the other end of the spectrum, Toyota plans a product blitz across most of its vehicle range, including a redesign of the Camry, the No. 1-selling car in the United States. Lexus is looking at a $100,000 model to rival the Mercedes-Benz S class.
Honda and Nissan are targeting a new segment in the United States: minicars. Honda also will dip its toe into the booming pickup segment for the first time. While Honda's entry will be midsized, Toyota's next Tundra is bigger, aimed directly at the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado.
Here is a look at the product plans of Japanese automakers for the United States for the 2005-08 model years. They are compiled from automaker and industry sources.
ACURA
RSX: A redesign is slated for the 2006 or the 2007 model year. The company may add the 215-hp performance Type R model before then.
TSX: A freshening is planned for the 2007 model year.
TL: A freshening is slated for the 2007 model year.
RL: The redesigned luxury sedan goes on sale this fall.
Though the Acura line will not offer a V-8, the RL will boast the most powerful engine of any Acura on the market – a new 3.5-liter V-6 that generates 300 hp. All-wheel drive is standard.
The awd technology distributes torque between the front and rear wheels and between the left and right rear wheels. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard; a stick is not offered.
NSX: No major changes are expected in the coming years. Redesigning the two-passenger sports car is not a high priority.
CUV: The 2007 sport wagon will draw styling cues from the RD-X, a sporty, aggressive-looking concept. The CUV will be developed on the Honda Civic platform. The concept was shown at the 2002 Detroit auto show.
MDX: A freshening is due for the 2006 model year. A redesign is scheduled for the 2008 model year, possibly fitted with a 3.8-liter V-6.
HONDA
Fit: Executives at American Honda say the automaker will offer a car that is smaller than the Civic, likely as a 2006 model. The minicar is expected to be a version of the five-door Honda Jazz that is sold in Europe. The U.S. version will be called the Fit.
Supplier sources say it likely will be powered by a 1.3-liter inline four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It will be priced at about $12,000.
Civic: The car is due to be redesigned for the 2006 model year.
Accord: A hybrid version will be introduced in the fall. It will mate a V-6 with cylinder deactivation technology to the automaker's integrated electric motor-transaxle unit.
The hybrid Accord will deliver slightly more horsepower than the 240-hp Accord, but it will have about the same fuel economy as the four-cylinder Civic.
The Accord will be freshened for the 2006 model year and redesigned for the 2008 model year.
S2000: No major changes are planned.
Element: A redesign is expected for the 2008 model year.
CR-V: Added horsepower is expected for the 2005 model year; a redesign is slated for the 2008 model year.
Pilot: A freshening is planned for the 2006 model year. A redesign is expected for the 2008 model year; it could include a new 3.8-liter V-6 engine.
Pickup: Honda's first pickup goes into production in the spring as a 2006 model, but Honda is not going the full-sized truck route.
The midsized truck is geared for personal use.
Key features include a 3.8-liter V-6 engine mated with an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system. The unibody truck features a five-passenger cabin and a 5-foot cargo bed with exterior bed speakers.
Latitude: Honda is debating which vehicle to add: a minivan smaller than the Odyssey or a sport wagon similar to the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe.
Either way, the five-passenger vehicle tentatively has been named the Latitude and will be based on the next-generation Civic platform.
It might be offered with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 3.0-liter V-6 engine. It could arrive for the 2007 or the 2008 model year.
Odyssey: The redesigned 2005 Odyssey minivan went on sale in September. It is bigger than its predecessor and equipped with a 3.5-liter V-6 that makes about 250 hp, up from the current 240 hp.
The vehicle uses Honda's variable cylinder management technology that allows for the deactivation of three of the engine's six cylinders to deliver improved fuel economy. A hybrid model might be added.
INFINITI
G35: The sedan and coupe receive a freshening and slight boost in horsepower for the 2005 model year.
I35: Debate rages as to whether the last front-wheel-drive Infiniti model will be killed.
M45: The car will be restyled for the 2006 model year. It will be bigger and roomier than its predecessor, and it will be offered with 4.5-liter V-8 and 3.5-liter V-6 engines.
Q45: Infiniti's flagship model was freshened for the 2005 model year. It has new front and rear fascias, restyled hood and grille, new headlight design, restyled trunk deck lid, integrated fog lamps and LED tail lights.
The Q45 may be redesigned for the 2008 model year.
GT-R: The Nissan Skyline GT-R muscle car is coming to the United States, possibly as early as the 2008 model year. What isn't certain is whether it will be sold under the Nissan or Infiniti brand.
Most sources believe the redesigned supercoupe will be an Infiniti. This year, Nissan trademarked the name Infiniti GT-R. There are no specifics on the car. Speculation on the engine is that it will be a turbocharged V-6 with as much as 400 hp.
FX35, FX45: The two sport wagons are due for a freshening for the 2006 model year.
QX56: Sources say there will be some interior changes for the 2006 model.
ISUZU
Rodeo: It has been dropped; 2004 was the last model year.
Axiom: It was dropped at the end of the 2004 model year.
Ascender: No major changes are scheduled, but sources say there could be a diesel model.
Trooper: A seven-seat SUV is due for the 2007 model year. The redesigned Trooper will be developed on the Isuzu pickup platform and assembled in Thailand.
LEXUS
IS 300: Executives say the redesigned 2006 IS 300 will be a true contender against the BMW 3 series.
The LF-C concept seen at the New York auto show last April displays the design cues. A sedan, coupe and convertible will be offered.
Awd will be available with a choice of two six-cylinder engines, including the new 245-hp 3.0-liter. Toyota executives say the next IS powerplant will be a V-6, not a redesign of the aging inline-six.
ES 330: A redesign comes for the 2007 model year. While the IS 300 replacement will be about the driving experience, the ES 330 will be about jamming as much luxury into an entry-luxury vehicle as possible. The engine displacement could grow to 3.5 liters.
GS 330, GS 430: The redesigned car will debut as a 2005 or 2006 model. The wheelbase grows 2 inches.
The GS 430 will be powered by a choice of a 4.3-liter V-8, likely a massaged version of the current edition, and the new 245-hp, 3.0-liter V-6. A six-speed automatic is standard. The V-6 will offer optional awd.
LS 430: A redesign is slated for the 2006 model year.
Lexus boss Denny Clements says the new version "will be 1989 all over again," referring to the splash Lexus made at its debut with its innovations.
Designwise, expect the LS 430 to carry even more of the LF-S concept cues than the redesign of the GS 430. The concept was shown at the Tokyo motor show.
SC 430: No significant changes are expected.
Flagship vehicle: Lexus might enter the $100,000 price club with a vehicle that likely would be powered by a V-10 or V-12. Hybrid power is a possibility as well.
While designers are drawing concepts, no decision has been made as to whether the vehicle will be a sedan, coupe or sports car.
Although some execs want a V-12 version, a V-8 engine mated to a hybrid powertrain is more likely. It could arrive for the 2008 model year.
RX 330: A hybrid model called the RX 400h will go on sale this December. It will be built in Kyushu, Japan. A redesign comes in March 2008, likely as a 2009 model.
VX 430: Lexus will add a sport wagon that will be positioned above the RX 330. A 2007 model year arrival is expected.
Styling cues will evolve from the LF-X concept displayed at the 2003 Tokyo motor show.
GX 470: No significant changes are expected.
LX 470: A global redesign of the Land Cruiser platform is slated for March 2005. But the LX 470 might not migrate to the new platform. The redesign for the United States might be delayed until the 2008 model year, when the LX 470 could become a bells-and-whistles version of the Sequoia.
MAZDA
Mazda3: No major changes are planned.
Mazda6: No major changes are planned. A sport wagon and a five-door hatchback joined the lineup this summer.
In Europe, Mazda has shown a high-performance sedan that might come to the United States as a MazdaSpeed model. MazdaSpeed is the automaker's performance brand.
MX-5 Miata: Forget the Ibuki show car from the Tokyo show in October. The redesigned 2006 rear-wheel-drive Miata will keep most of its svelte shape but borrow a few styling cues from the RX-8's front-end design.
But that is all it will get from the RX-8. The Miata will retain its piston engine.
RX-8: A convertible and two-door coupe are planned midway through the four-door car's cycle – in spring 2006 as 2007 models.
MX-Flexa: Based on the MX-Flexa minivan concept at the 2004 Geneva motor show, this could be Mazda's answer to the Toyota Matrix.
It has the go-ahead for Europe and Japan, but the United States is still considering it. If it comes here, it would be for the 2007 model year and be based on the Mazda3 platform.
MPV: A redesign is planned for the 2007 model year, developed on the Mazda6 platform. That platform also will spawn the next generation Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans.
B series: The aged pickup that Ford shares with Mazda soldiers on. Because the Ranger won't be redesigned until 2009 or later, expect no changes on the Mazda side either.
Tribute: The sport wagon was re-engineered for the 2005 model year. A redesign is planned for the 2008 model year, developed on the Mazda6 platform. The Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner will share the platform.
Premium sport wagon: Expect this to arrive as a 2007 model, derived from a stretched version of the Mazda6 platform. It will be equipped with a 3.5-liter Ford-based V-6. It will have the highest price point of the Mazda lineup, starting at about $27,000.
The vehicle will be much larger than the Tribute – more like a Honda Pilot – and likely will have a third row of seats.
MITSUBISHI
Lancer: Plans call for it to be redesigned for the 2008 model year.
The car will be lighter and will be powered by the new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that was developed by the joint venture of Mitsubishi Motors, Hyundai and the Chrysler group.
A source says the Lancer will not get the new engine until about six months later because of cash constraints at the company.
Eclipse: A redesign is coming for the 2006 model year. Company executives say the production vehicle's styling is close to that of the concept Mitsubishi unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January.
A convertible is planned for the 2007 model year.
Galant: The interior will be redesigned for the 2007 model year.
The Galant was due to get the new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine in 2007, but sources say that plan has been scrapped because of cutbacks.
Diamante: It will be killed after the 2004 model year.
Outlander: A redesign is planned for the 2007 model year, developed on the new Lancer platform.
The model will be slightly bigger and sportier, and it will be tuned for tighter European-style handling. It will be equipped with a new 3.0-liter V-6, replacing the 2.4-liter inline four.
Endeavor: The sport wagon will be freshened for the 2007 model year. Horsepower will be increased.
Montero Sport: It will be dropped after the 2004 model year.
Montero: The seven-seat SUV was due for a redesign for the 2007 model year. But sources say the vehicle will be scrapped after 2006 in the United States because the company cannot afford the cost of meeting government safety and emissions standards.
Raider: Mitsubishi dealers will get the Dodge Dakota-based pickup for the 2006 model year.
Most of the specifications will be the same for the two trucks, but sources say the Raider is sportier. A concept was shown at the Detroit auto show in January.
The Raider will be equipped with a 210-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 and a 230-hp, 4.7-liter V-8. Mitsubishi will not get the Hemi V-8.
NISSAN
Cube, Platina, Tiida: Nissan is looking for a way to add a small, youthful minicar to rival Toyota's Scion line. The car would be positioned below the Sentra and possibly debut in the 2005 model year, or in 2006 or 2007 model year.
Although Nissan's chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, has said the small, boxy Cube will be exported to North America, executives and suppliers in the United States and Japan say there is no decision that it will be sold here. They say the Cube minicar might be too small and underpowered for this country.
The Cube is nearly 2 feet shorter than the Sentra, the smallest car Nissan sells here.
Instead of the Cube, Nissan and supplier sources say the company may ship the compact Platina to this country. The timetable isn't nailed down. Sources say it could debut in the 2005, 2006 or 2007 model years.
The car is assembled at Nissan's plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Launched in April 2002, the Platina is based on alliance partner Renault's Clio.
Nissan sources say the company also is looking at exporting the Tiida to the United States instead of the Cube or the Platina.
The Tiida is a compact sedan that will go on sale in Japan this fall. The same 2005-2006-2007 timetable for North America is under consideration.
Sentra: The redesigned Sentra, based on the Renault Megane II platform, is due for the 2006 model year. Company and supplier sources say it may be delayed until the 2007 model year. They say the exterior is too bland, and the vehicle has not fared well with U.S. focus groups.
Altima: The Altima was freshened for the 2005 model year. A redesign is due for the 2007 model year, at which time a hybrid will be offered.
The hybrid will be a combination of a Nissan four-cylinder engine and hybrid components supplied by Toyota.
Maxima: The sporty sedan is due for a freshening for the 2006 model year.
350Z: The interior will be upgraded for the 2006 model year.
Actic: The Actic is a sport wagon concept Nissan introduced at this year's Detroit auto show.
The five-door vehicle was meant to be a hint of smaller, entry-level sport wagons planned for Nissan and Infiniti. It was due for either the 2006 or 2007 model year, but sources say it may be delayed or killed.
Murano: Interior upgrades are expected for the 2006 model year.
Quest: No major changes are expected, but Nissan plans to offer a lower-priced vehicle in the mid-$20,000 range for the 2005 model year.
Xterra: The SUV is redesigned for the 2005 model year, based on a modified version of Nissan's F-Alpha truck platform.
While that platform was created for the full-sized Nissan Titan pickup and Armada SUV, the Xterra's dimensions position it between a compact and full-sized SUV.
Pathfinder: The redesigned 2005 Pathfinder also is based on the F-Alpha platform. The Pathfinder and Xterra share Nissan's new 250-hp, 4.0-liter V-6.
The Pathfinder features independent double-wishbone front and rear suspensions. With the addition of a standard third-row seat, there is room for seven passengers.
X-Trail: A fuel-cell-powered version of the front-wheel-drive, entry-level SUV may be introduced in the 2007 model year. The X-Trail is currently sold in Canada.
Frontier: The redesigned 2005 pickup is bigger and more powerful than its predecessor. Based on the F-Alpha platform, it is available in both King Cab and Crew Cab configurations. Sales begin late this year.
Armada: Nissan's full-sized SUV is due for interior upgrades for the 2006 model year.
Titan: Nissan is studying whether to add diesel and medium-and heavy-duty versions.
SCION
xA: Expect a shortened cycle lasting four years. That means the end of the xA could come in the 2007 calendar year. A replacement along with a new name will debut for the 2008 model year.
xB: No major changes are planned, but it might get a power boost.
A car this unusual likely will be dropped rather than redesigned after its model cycle. Scion realizes it needs to come up with a bold shape by the time the Nissan Cube, Platina or Tiida arrives. The replacement will debut for the 2008 model year.
tC: Scion launched its coupe nationwide in June.
Matrix Rally: The current-generation Matrix may evolve into the Matrix Rally for Scion.
SUBARU
Forester: The SUV receives a freshening for the 2006 model year.
Impreza: A freshening is planned for the 2006 model year.
Outback, Legacy: The Legacy sedan and Outback sport wagon were redesigned for the 2005 model year.
Baja: The current-generation pickup will continue at least through the 2009 model year. No major changes are planned.
Sport wagon: A seven-passenger vehicle based on a new platform debuts in the spring as a 2006 model.
The sport wagon will introduce Subaru's design theme. It will have a European flavor and some elements that appeared on the 2004 Detroit show cars, the B9Sc roadster and the R1e city car.
The sport wagon was benchmarked against the BMW X5 for performance, the Acura MD-X for interior styling and the Lexus RX 330 for exterior design.
It will be priced higher than the Outback. Production is planned at the assembly plant in Lafayette, Ind.
SUZUKI
Aerio: Both the interior and exterior receive a freshening for the 2005 model year. The car will be redesigned for the 2008 model year.
Compact car: A small car about the size of the Aerio will be added for the 2007 model year. The car will be sporty and aimed at youth, possibly with a high-performance engine.
Forenza: A wagon will be added this fall.
Reno: This addition to the Suzuki line is a five-door hatchback, the only one in the Suzuki family. The 2005 model goes on sale this month.
Verona: No major changes are expected.
Vitara, Grand Vitara: The Vitara will be dropped after the 2004 model year.
The Grand Vitara will be redesigned for the 2006 model year. It will be slightly bigger than the current model. A more powerful 2.7-liter V-6 engine will replace the 2.5-liter V-6.
XL-7: The XL-7 will be redesigned for the 2007 model year. A larger, mid-sized vehicle is planned.
TOYOTA
Echo: The small car will continue through 2005 until a new model arrives for the 2006 model year.
Corolla: A hopped-up XRS edition just hit dealerships, with a 170-hp engine from the Celica.
A freshening is planned for the 2006 model year and a redesign for the 2008 model year. The redesigned car will be slightly larger on the inside and will keep the high H-point.
The A-pillar and C-pillar get more rake so the car looks more like a fastback.
A hybrid option will come with the redesign, though probably not at launch.
Celica: The launch of the Scion tC made this car unnecessary. It goes away after a shortened 2005 model year.
Prius: No changes are expected.
Camry: A redesign comes for the 2007 model year in typical Toyota fashion: bigger, wider, faster, cheaper.
A hybrid version might arrive before the redesign since the current Camry platform already will spawn hybrid offshoots in the Highlander and Sienna.
Toyota in Japan might offer four-and six-cylinder hybrids, but the United States likely will get only the six-cylinder hybrid.
Camry Solara: The coupe was redesigned for the 2004 model year. A redesigned 2005 convertible just reached dealerships.
Avalon: A redesign of the big sedan for the 2005 model year will have more modern styling.
The company wants to make the Avalon sportier, but that came too late in the development cycle to affect the upcoming model. It might be 2010 before Toyota makes a true competitor to the Nissan Maxima.
MR2 Spyder: Slow sales have killed this model after the 2005 model year.
Supra: There is a debate within Toyota whether the company should produce a high-performance sports car or offer a sporty hybrid model.
Matrix: A redesign is slated for the 2008 model year. Toyota might market a vehicle that looks like the Japan-market Corolla Fielder, a tall wagon.
Sienna: A hybrid is expected in the 2006 calendar year.
RAV4: A redesign comes for the 2006 model year. U.S. executives want a V-6 model, but Toyota in Europe has the clout and prefers one engine, a four-cylinder. The vehicle's size will remain about the same.
FJ Cruiser: The Smurf-blue FJ Cruiser concept truck is the inspiration for the styling of the production SUV.
The 2007 FJ Cruiser, if the name is kept, will have four doors and be based on a shrunken version of the new Tacoma platform. It likely will be positioned against the Nissan Xterra.
Highlander: A redesign comes for the 2006 model year. The wheelbase will be stretched for better third-row access.
4Runner: No changes are planned.
Sequoia: The full-sized SUV will be restyled for the 2007 model year and may get the bigger 5.4-liter V-8.
Land Cruiser: On paper, the SUV is too pricey for the Toyota line, but the nameplate's brand equity is too strong to kill it in the U.S. lineup.
Given the typical seven-year truck cycle, the global redesign should come next spring, as a 2006 model.
Hi-Lux: With the Tacoma moving up in size, Toyota is leaving vacant the price-sensitive, entry-level pickup market. Although Toyota will bring the Hi-Lux, now sold in Japan, to Mexico, the United States will not get it, not even as an entry truck for Scion.
Tacoma: Toyota's redesigned 2005 Tacoma gets bigger and is nearly the size of the redesigned 2005 Dodge Dakota.Two wheelbases are offered: 110 and 127 inches. The cabin is 4 inches wider. Two engines will be available: a 164-hp, 2.7-liter four-cylinder and a 245-hp, 4.0-liter V-6.
Tundra: The redesigned 2007 Tundra will be a true full-sized pickup, likely with a 5.4-liter V-8 engine. It will be assembled in Indiana and Texas.
If the FTX concept is any guide, the next Tundra could be 19 feet long, nearly 7 feet wide, and 6 112-feet tall, with a 150-inch wheelbase.
Don't expect a three-quarter-ton version before the redesign.When the heavy-duty version comes (likely for the 2008 model year), it likely will have a Hino diesel engine as an option.
Source
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
October 29, 2004
The next four years will further separate the haves from the have-nots among Japanese automakers.
Those with deep pockets will continue to add models at a rapid pace, especially sport wagons and other trucks. Those without enough resources will struggle to survive in North America.
Isuzu is down to two models. Mitsubishi is operating in crisis mode, struggling to stay afloat. A $4.1 billion bailout was negotiated in May, a portion of which will help pay for the development of two vehicles that will be assembled next year at Mitsubishi's plant in Normal, Ill.
At the other end of the spectrum, Toyota plans a product blitz across most of its vehicle range, including a redesign of the Camry, the No. 1-selling car in the United States. Lexus is looking at a $100,000 model to rival the Mercedes-Benz S class.
Honda and Nissan are targeting a new segment in the United States: minicars. Honda also will dip its toe into the booming pickup segment for the first time. While Honda's entry will be midsized, Toyota's next Tundra is bigger, aimed directly at the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado.
Here is a look at the product plans of Japanese automakers for the United States for the 2005-08 model years. They are compiled from automaker and industry sources.
ACURA
RSX: A redesign is slated for the 2006 or the 2007 model year. The company may add the 215-hp performance Type R model before then.
TSX: A freshening is planned for the 2007 model year.
TL: A freshening is slated for the 2007 model year.
RL: The redesigned luxury sedan goes on sale this fall.
Though the Acura line will not offer a V-8, the RL will boast the most powerful engine of any Acura on the market – a new 3.5-liter V-6 that generates 300 hp. All-wheel drive is standard.
The awd technology distributes torque between the front and rear wheels and between the left and right rear wheels. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard; a stick is not offered.
NSX: No major changes are expected in the coming years. Redesigning the two-passenger sports car is not a high priority.
CUV: The 2007 sport wagon will draw styling cues from the RD-X, a sporty, aggressive-looking concept. The CUV will be developed on the Honda Civic platform. The concept was shown at the 2002 Detroit auto show.
MDX: A freshening is due for the 2006 model year. A redesign is scheduled for the 2008 model year, possibly fitted with a 3.8-liter V-6.
HONDA
Fit: Executives at American Honda say the automaker will offer a car that is smaller than the Civic, likely as a 2006 model. The minicar is expected to be a version of the five-door Honda Jazz that is sold in Europe. The U.S. version will be called the Fit.
Supplier sources say it likely will be powered by a 1.3-liter inline four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It will be priced at about $12,000.
Civic: The car is due to be redesigned for the 2006 model year.
Accord: A hybrid version will be introduced in the fall. It will mate a V-6 with cylinder deactivation technology to the automaker's integrated electric motor-transaxle unit.
The hybrid Accord will deliver slightly more horsepower than the 240-hp Accord, but it will have about the same fuel economy as the four-cylinder Civic.
The Accord will be freshened for the 2006 model year and redesigned for the 2008 model year.
S2000: No major changes are planned.
Element: A redesign is expected for the 2008 model year.
CR-V: Added horsepower is expected for the 2005 model year; a redesign is slated for the 2008 model year.
Pilot: A freshening is planned for the 2006 model year. A redesign is expected for the 2008 model year; it could include a new 3.8-liter V-6 engine.
Pickup: Honda's first pickup goes into production in the spring as a 2006 model, but Honda is not going the full-sized truck route.
The midsized truck is geared for personal use.
Key features include a 3.8-liter V-6 engine mated with an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system. The unibody truck features a five-passenger cabin and a 5-foot cargo bed with exterior bed speakers.
Latitude: Honda is debating which vehicle to add: a minivan smaller than the Odyssey or a sport wagon similar to the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe.
Either way, the five-passenger vehicle tentatively has been named the Latitude and will be based on the next-generation Civic platform.
It might be offered with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 3.0-liter V-6 engine. It could arrive for the 2007 or the 2008 model year.
Odyssey: The redesigned 2005 Odyssey minivan went on sale in September. It is bigger than its predecessor and equipped with a 3.5-liter V-6 that makes about 250 hp, up from the current 240 hp.
The vehicle uses Honda's variable cylinder management technology that allows for the deactivation of three of the engine's six cylinders to deliver improved fuel economy. A hybrid model might be added.
INFINITI
G35: The sedan and coupe receive a freshening and slight boost in horsepower for the 2005 model year.
I35: Debate rages as to whether the last front-wheel-drive Infiniti model will be killed.
M45: The car will be restyled for the 2006 model year. It will be bigger and roomier than its predecessor, and it will be offered with 4.5-liter V-8 and 3.5-liter V-6 engines.
Q45: Infiniti's flagship model was freshened for the 2005 model year. It has new front and rear fascias, restyled hood and grille, new headlight design, restyled trunk deck lid, integrated fog lamps and LED tail lights.
The Q45 may be redesigned for the 2008 model year.
GT-R: The Nissan Skyline GT-R muscle car is coming to the United States, possibly as early as the 2008 model year. What isn't certain is whether it will be sold under the Nissan or Infiniti brand.
Most sources believe the redesigned supercoupe will be an Infiniti. This year, Nissan trademarked the name Infiniti GT-R. There are no specifics on the car. Speculation on the engine is that it will be a turbocharged V-6 with as much as 400 hp.
FX35, FX45: The two sport wagons are due for a freshening for the 2006 model year.
QX56: Sources say there will be some interior changes for the 2006 model.
ISUZU
Rodeo: It has been dropped; 2004 was the last model year.
Axiom: It was dropped at the end of the 2004 model year.
Ascender: No major changes are scheduled, but sources say there could be a diesel model.
Trooper: A seven-seat SUV is due for the 2007 model year. The redesigned Trooper will be developed on the Isuzu pickup platform and assembled in Thailand.
LEXUS
IS 300: Executives say the redesigned 2006 IS 300 will be a true contender against the BMW 3 series.
The LF-C concept seen at the New York auto show last April displays the design cues. A sedan, coupe and convertible will be offered.
Awd will be available with a choice of two six-cylinder engines, including the new 245-hp 3.0-liter. Toyota executives say the next IS powerplant will be a V-6, not a redesign of the aging inline-six.
ES 330: A redesign comes for the 2007 model year. While the IS 300 replacement will be about the driving experience, the ES 330 will be about jamming as much luxury into an entry-luxury vehicle as possible. The engine displacement could grow to 3.5 liters.
GS 330, GS 430: The redesigned car will debut as a 2005 or 2006 model. The wheelbase grows 2 inches.
The GS 430 will be powered by a choice of a 4.3-liter V-8, likely a massaged version of the current edition, and the new 245-hp, 3.0-liter V-6. A six-speed automatic is standard. The V-6 will offer optional awd.
LS 430: A redesign is slated for the 2006 model year.
Lexus boss Denny Clements says the new version "will be 1989 all over again," referring to the splash Lexus made at its debut with its innovations.
Designwise, expect the LS 430 to carry even more of the LF-S concept cues than the redesign of the GS 430. The concept was shown at the Tokyo motor show.
SC 430: No significant changes are expected.
Flagship vehicle: Lexus might enter the $100,000 price club with a vehicle that likely would be powered by a V-10 or V-12. Hybrid power is a possibility as well.
While designers are drawing concepts, no decision has been made as to whether the vehicle will be a sedan, coupe or sports car.
Although some execs want a V-12 version, a V-8 engine mated to a hybrid powertrain is more likely. It could arrive for the 2008 model year.
RX 330: A hybrid model called the RX 400h will go on sale this December. It will be built in Kyushu, Japan. A redesign comes in March 2008, likely as a 2009 model.
VX 430: Lexus will add a sport wagon that will be positioned above the RX 330. A 2007 model year arrival is expected.
Styling cues will evolve from the LF-X concept displayed at the 2003 Tokyo motor show.
GX 470: No significant changes are expected.
LX 470: A global redesign of the Land Cruiser platform is slated for March 2005. But the LX 470 might not migrate to the new platform. The redesign for the United States might be delayed until the 2008 model year, when the LX 470 could become a bells-and-whistles version of the Sequoia.
MAZDA
Mazda3: No major changes are planned.
Mazda6: No major changes are planned. A sport wagon and a five-door hatchback joined the lineup this summer.
In Europe, Mazda has shown a high-performance sedan that might come to the United States as a MazdaSpeed model. MazdaSpeed is the automaker's performance brand.
MX-5 Miata: Forget the Ibuki show car from the Tokyo show in October. The redesigned 2006 rear-wheel-drive Miata will keep most of its svelte shape but borrow a few styling cues from the RX-8's front-end design.
But that is all it will get from the RX-8. The Miata will retain its piston engine.
RX-8: A convertible and two-door coupe are planned midway through the four-door car's cycle – in spring 2006 as 2007 models.
MX-Flexa: Based on the MX-Flexa minivan concept at the 2004 Geneva motor show, this could be Mazda's answer to the Toyota Matrix.
It has the go-ahead for Europe and Japan, but the United States is still considering it. If it comes here, it would be for the 2007 model year and be based on the Mazda3 platform.
MPV: A redesign is planned for the 2007 model year, developed on the Mazda6 platform. That platform also will spawn the next generation Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans.
B series: The aged pickup that Ford shares with Mazda soldiers on. Because the Ranger won't be redesigned until 2009 or later, expect no changes on the Mazda side either.
Tribute: The sport wagon was re-engineered for the 2005 model year. A redesign is planned for the 2008 model year, developed on the Mazda6 platform. The Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner will share the platform.
Premium sport wagon: Expect this to arrive as a 2007 model, derived from a stretched version of the Mazda6 platform. It will be equipped with a 3.5-liter Ford-based V-6. It will have the highest price point of the Mazda lineup, starting at about $27,000.
The vehicle will be much larger than the Tribute – more like a Honda Pilot – and likely will have a third row of seats.
MITSUBISHI
Lancer: Plans call for it to be redesigned for the 2008 model year.
The car will be lighter and will be powered by the new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that was developed by the joint venture of Mitsubishi Motors, Hyundai and the Chrysler group.
A source says the Lancer will not get the new engine until about six months later because of cash constraints at the company.
Eclipse: A redesign is coming for the 2006 model year. Company executives say the production vehicle's styling is close to that of the concept Mitsubishi unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January.
A convertible is planned for the 2007 model year.
Galant: The interior will be redesigned for the 2007 model year.
The Galant was due to get the new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine in 2007, but sources say that plan has been scrapped because of cutbacks.
Diamante: It will be killed after the 2004 model year.
Outlander: A redesign is planned for the 2007 model year, developed on the new Lancer platform.
The model will be slightly bigger and sportier, and it will be tuned for tighter European-style handling. It will be equipped with a new 3.0-liter V-6, replacing the 2.4-liter inline four.
Endeavor: The sport wagon will be freshened for the 2007 model year. Horsepower will be increased.
Montero Sport: It will be dropped after the 2004 model year.
Montero: The seven-seat SUV was due for a redesign for the 2007 model year. But sources say the vehicle will be scrapped after 2006 in the United States because the company cannot afford the cost of meeting government safety and emissions standards.
Raider: Mitsubishi dealers will get the Dodge Dakota-based pickup for the 2006 model year.
Most of the specifications will be the same for the two trucks, but sources say the Raider is sportier. A concept was shown at the Detroit auto show in January.
The Raider will be equipped with a 210-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 and a 230-hp, 4.7-liter V-8. Mitsubishi will not get the Hemi V-8.
NISSAN
Cube, Platina, Tiida: Nissan is looking for a way to add a small, youthful minicar to rival Toyota's Scion line. The car would be positioned below the Sentra and possibly debut in the 2005 model year, or in 2006 or 2007 model year.
Although Nissan's chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, has said the small, boxy Cube will be exported to North America, executives and suppliers in the United States and Japan say there is no decision that it will be sold here. They say the Cube minicar might be too small and underpowered for this country.
The Cube is nearly 2 feet shorter than the Sentra, the smallest car Nissan sells here.
Instead of the Cube, Nissan and supplier sources say the company may ship the compact Platina to this country. The timetable isn't nailed down. Sources say it could debut in the 2005, 2006 or 2007 model years.
The car is assembled at Nissan's plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Launched in April 2002, the Platina is based on alliance partner Renault's Clio.
Nissan sources say the company also is looking at exporting the Tiida to the United States instead of the Cube or the Platina.
The Tiida is a compact sedan that will go on sale in Japan this fall. The same 2005-2006-2007 timetable for North America is under consideration.
Sentra: The redesigned Sentra, based on the Renault Megane II platform, is due for the 2006 model year. Company and supplier sources say it may be delayed until the 2007 model year. They say the exterior is too bland, and the vehicle has not fared well with U.S. focus groups.
Altima: The Altima was freshened for the 2005 model year. A redesign is due for the 2007 model year, at which time a hybrid will be offered.
The hybrid will be a combination of a Nissan four-cylinder engine and hybrid components supplied by Toyota.
Maxima: The sporty sedan is due for a freshening for the 2006 model year.
350Z: The interior will be upgraded for the 2006 model year.
Actic: The Actic is a sport wagon concept Nissan introduced at this year's Detroit auto show.
The five-door vehicle was meant to be a hint of smaller, entry-level sport wagons planned for Nissan and Infiniti. It was due for either the 2006 or 2007 model year, but sources say it may be delayed or killed.
Murano: Interior upgrades are expected for the 2006 model year.
Quest: No major changes are expected, but Nissan plans to offer a lower-priced vehicle in the mid-$20,000 range for the 2005 model year.
Xterra: The SUV is redesigned for the 2005 model year, based on a modified version of Nissan's F-Alpha truck platform.
While that platform was created for the full-sized Nissan Titan pickup and Armada SUV, the Xterra's dimensions position it between a compact and full-sized SUV.
Pathfinder: The redesigned 2005 Pathfinder also is based on the F-Alpha platform. The Pathfinder and Xterra share Nissan's new 250-hp, 4.0-liter V-6.
The Pathfinder features independent double-wishbone front and rear suspensions. With the addition of a standard third-row seat, there is room for seven passengers.
X-Trail: A fuel-cell-powered version of the front-wheel-drive, entry-level SUV may be introduced in the 2007 model year. The X-Trail is currently sold in Canada.
Frontier: The redesigned 2005 pickup is bigger and more powerful than its predecessor. Based on the F-Alpha platform, it is available in both King Cab and Crew Cab configurations. Sales begin late this year.
Armada: Nissan's full-sized SUV is due for interior upgrades for the 2006 model year.
Titan: Nissan is studying whether to add diesel and medium-and heavy-duty versions.
SCION
xA: Expect a shortened cycle lasting four years. That means the end of the xA could come in the 2007 calendar year. A replacement along with a new name will debut for the 2008 model year.
xB: No major changes are planned, but it might get a power boost.
A car this unusual likely will be dropped rather than redesigned after its model cycle. Scion realizes it needs to come up with a bold shape by the time the Nissan Cube, Platina or Tiida arrives. The replacement will debut for the 2008 model year.
tC: Scion launched its coupe nationwide in June.
Matrix Rally: The current-generation Matrix may evolve into the Matrix Rally for Scion.
SUBARU
Forester: The SUV receives a freshening for the 2006 model year.
Impreza: A freshening is planned for the 2006 model year.
Outback, Legacy: The Legacy sedan and Outback sport wagon were redesigned for the 2005 model year.
Baja: The current-generation pickup will continue at least through the 2009 model year. No major changes are planned.
Sport wagon: A seven-passenger vehicle based on a new platform debuts in the spring as a 2006 model.
The sport wagon will introduce Subaru's design theme. It will have a European flavor and some elements that appeared on the 2004 Detroit show cars, the B9Sc roadster and the R1e city car.
The sport wagon was benchmarked against the BMW X5 for performance, the Acura MD-X for interior styling and the Lexus RX 330 for exterior design.
It will be priced higher than the Outback. Production is planned at the assembly plant in Lafayette, Ind.
SUZUKI
Aerio: Both the interior and exterior receive a freshening for the 2005 model year. The car will be redesigned for the 2008 model year.
Compact car: A small car about the size of the Aerio will be added for the 2007 model year. The car will be sporty and aimed at youth, possibly with a high-performance engine.
Forenza: A wagon will be added this fall.
Reno: This addition to the Suzuki line is a five-door hatchback, the only one in the Suzuki family. The 2005 model goes on sale this month.
Verona: No major changes are expected.
Vitara, Grand Vitara: The Vitara will be dropped after the 2004 model year.
The Grand Vitara will be redesigned for the 2006 model year. It will be slightly bigger than the current model. A more powerful 2.7-liter V-6 engine will replace the 2.5-liter V-6.
XL-7: The XL-7 will be redesigned for the 2007 model year. A larger, mid-sized vehicle is planned.
TOYOTA
Echo: The small car will continue through 2005 until a new model arrives for the 2006 model year.
Corolla: A hopped-up XRS edition just hit dealerships, with a 170-hp engine from the Celica.
A freshening is planned for the 2006 model year and a redesign for the 2008 model year. The redesigned car will be slightly larger on the inside and will keep the high H-point.
The A-pillar and C-pillar get more rake so the car looks more like a fastback.
A hybrid option will come with the redesign, though probably not at launch.
Celica: The launch of the Scion tC made this car unnecessary. It goes away after a shortened 2005 model year.
Prius: No changes are expected.
Camry: A redesign comes for the 2007 model year in typical Toyota fashion: bigger, wider, faster, cheaper.
A hybrid version might arrive before the redesign since the current Camry platform already will spawn hybrid offshoots in the Highlander and Sienna.
Toyota in Japan might offer four-and six-cylinder hybrids, but the United States likely will get only the six-cylinder hybrid.
Camry Solara: The coupe was redesigned for the 2004 model year. A redesigned 2005 convertible just reached dealerships.
Avalon: A redesign of the big sedan for the 2005 model year will have more modern styling.
The company wants to make the Avalon sportier, but that came too late in the development cycle to affect the upcoming model. It might be 2010 before Toyota makes a true competitor to the Nissan Maxima.
MR2 Spyder: Slow sales have killed this model after the 2005 model year.
Supra: There is a debate within Toyota whether the company should produce a high-performance sports car or offer a sporty hybrid model.
Matrix: A redesign is slated for the 2008 model year. Toyota might market a vehicle that looks like the Japan-market Corolla Fielder, a tall wagon.
Sienna: A hybrid is expected in the 2006 calendar year.
RAV4: A redesign comes for the 2006 model year. U.S. executives want a V-6 model, but Toyota in Europe has the clout and prefers one engine, a four-cylinder. The vehicle's size will remain about the same.
FJ Cruiser: The Smurf-blue FJ Cruiser concept truck is the inspiration for the styling of the production SUV.
The 2007 FJ Cruiser, if the name is kept, will have four doors and be based on a shrunken version of the new Tacoma platform. It likely will be positioned against the Nissan Xterra.
Highlander: A redesign comes for the 2006 model year. The wheelbase will be stretched for better third-row access.
4Runner: No changes are planned.
Sequoia: The full-sized SUV will be restyled for the 2007 model year and may get the bigger 5.4-liter V-8.
Land Cruiser: On paper, the SUV is too pricey for the Toyota line, but the nameplate's brand equity is too strong to kill it in the U.S. lineup.
Given the typical seven-year truck cycle, the global redesign should come next spring, as a 2006 model.
Hi-Lux: With the Tacoma moving up in size, Toyota is leaving vacant the price-sensitive, entry-level pickup market. Although Toyota will bring the Hi-Lux, now sold in Japan, to Mexico, the United States will not get it, not even as an entry truck for Scion.
Tacoma: Toyota's redesigned 2005 Tacoma gets bigger and is nearly the size of the redesigned 2005 Dodge Dakota.Two wheelbases are offered: 110 and 127 inches. The cabin is 4 inches wider. Two engines will be available: a 164-hp, 2.7-liter four-cylinder and a 245-hp, 4.0-liter V-6.
Tundra: The redesigned 2007 Tundra will be a true full-sized pickup, likely with a 5.4-liter V-8 engine. It will be assembled in Indiana and Texas.
If the FTX concept is any guide, the next Tundra could be 19 feet long, nearly 7 feet wide, and 6 112-feet tall, with a 150-inch wheelbase.
Don't expect a three-quarter-ton version before the redesign.When the heavy-duty version comes (likely for the 2008 model year), it likely will have a Hino diesel engine as an option.
Source
12-05-04, 12:13 PM
#3
Toyota executives say the next IS powerplant will be a V-6, not a redesign of the aging inline-six.
AGING???!! the 2JZ was the greatest motor a japanese manufactorer had ever created. tahts a lot to live up to. unless toyota can make and overengineer a new V6 their better off keeping the 2jz.i can hear the death chime playing, its almost time to give the Beautiful 2JZ a funeral
12-05-04, 01:05 PM
#4
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Originally posted by purdrifter
AGING???!! the 2JZ was the greatest motor a japanese manufactorer had ever created. tahts a lot to live up to. unless toyota can make and overengineer a new V6 their better off keeping the 2jz.
i can hear the death chime playing, its almost time to give the Beautiful 2JZ a funeral
AGING???!! the 2JZ was the greatest motor a japanese manufactorer had ever created. tahts a lot to live up to. unless toyota can make and overengineer a new V6 their better off keeping the 2jz.i can hear the death chime playing, its almost time to give the Beautiful 2JZ a funeral
I'm interested in some of the info I read here. Mainly the VX430 is a whole new concept to me. Actually, a sport wagon could have a good place in the family. That, the new ISs anda flagship could seriously round out the line-up very nicely. Like I've been saying for a long time, once Lexus offers more model diversity and new models, it will be a big change for them. I can't wait for the "1989 all over again".
James
12-05-04, 01:06 PM
#5
Originally posted by purdrifter
AGING???!! the 2JZ was the greatest motor a japanese manufactorer had ever created. tahts a lot to live up to. unless toyota can make and overengineer a new V6 their better off keeping the 2jz.
i can hear the death chime playing, its almost time to give the Beautiful 2JZ a funeral
AGING???!! the 2JZ was the greatest motor a japanese manufactorer had ever created. tahts a lot to live up to. unless toyota can make and overengineer a new V6 their better off keeping the 2jz.i can hear the death chime playing, its almost time to give the Beautiful 2JZ a funeral
12-05-04, 01:10 PM
#6
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Originally posted by Stage3
I think that if they do kill off the 2jz in factory cars, toyota will continue to make the engine blocks for sale from the dealership. they HAVE to have noticed the influx of the 2jz's popularity in drag racing and the people doing swaps. they would be losing out on a lot of money to do so. Im just waiting for the day that Toyota does what Ford, Chevy, and Dodge have done... Make high performance Crate Motors. Imagine being able to buy a 2jz built to handle 1000hp from TOYOTA or TRD... yeesh... thats an untapped market.
I think that if they do kill off the 2jz in factory cars, toyota will continue to make the engine blocks for sale from the dealership. they HAVE to have noticed the influx of the 2jz's popularity in drag racing and the people doing swaps. they would be losing out on a lot of money to do so. Im just waiting for the day that Toyota does what Ford, Chevy, and Dodge have done... Make high performance Crate Motors. Imagine being able to buy a 2jz built to handle 1000hp from TOYOTA or TRD... yeesh... thats an untapped market.
James
12-05-04, 02:42 PM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
Yeah......I think getting rid of the in-line was a mistake, too. I love the one I have in my IS300. But plans for the IS may ultimately call for an AWD version.....as the GS is getting it in the spring....and there is no doubt the V6 takes up less fore-aft space under the hood and is easier to adapt to AWD.
As far as Isuzu is concerned...the article is not quite correct. With the dropping of the Axiom and Trooper, Isuzu of America is now down to just one model, not two.......the Ascender........and THAT is not even a true Isuzu product to start with but a rebadged GM / Chevy TrailBlazer. It is essentially a more mundane and decontented TrailBlazer with a slightly lower price and a MUCH better warranty than Chevy /GM's...7 yr / 75,000 mile powertrain. As such, it is somewhat of a bargain (even in spite of the TrailBlazer's unreliability) in the midsize SUV class, but Isuzu's future in the American market is highly uncertain, despite what officials say in public. They will very likely be the next company to fold and leave the American market...we did a thread on this a couple of months ago.
While this will be no real problem, service-wise, with the Ascender....obviously, it can be serviced at any Chevy, GMC, or Buick dealer (even Saab will have a version...the 9-7X) , it does raise some questions if GM will honor Isuzu's 7-year warranty here if the company folds. As Isuzu is currently a GM subsidiary, my guess is yes, it will, but we'll have to see.
As far as Isuzu is concerned...the article is not quite correct. With the dropping of the Axiom and Trooper, Isuzu of America is now down to just one model, not two.......the Ascender........and THAT is not even a true Isuzu product to start with but a rebadged GM / Chevy TrailBlazer. It is essentially a more mundane and decontented TrailBlazer with a slightly lower price and a MUCH better warranty than Chevy /GM's...7 yr / 75,000 mile powertrain. As such, it is somewhat of a bargain (even in spite of the TrailBlazer's unreliability) in the midsize SUV class, but Isuzu's future in the American market is highly uncertain, despite what officials say in public. They will very likely be the next company to fold and leave the American market...we did a thread on this a couple of months ago.
While this will be no real problem, service-wise, with the Ascender....obviously, it can be serviced at any Chevy, GMC, or Buick dealer (even Saab will have a version...the 9-7X) , it does raise some questions if GM will honor Isuzu's 7-year warranty here if the company folds. As Isuzu is currently a GM subsidiary, my guess is yes, it will, but we'll have to see.
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12-05-04, 02:55 PM
#8
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Originally posted by mmarshall
Yeah......I think getting rid of the in-line was a mistake, too. I love the one I have in my IS300. But plans for the IS may ultimately call for an AWD version.....
Yeah......I think getting rid of the in-line was a mistake, too. I love the one I have in my IS300. But plans for the IS may ultimately call for an AWD version.....
Normal IS clusters look like this:
http://www.lextech.org/images/pics/regularIS.JPG
However the IS cluster i was inside tonight looked like this:
http://www.lextech.org/images/pics/4wdIS.JPG
12-05-04, 02:58 PM
#9
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Woooooah OLT. Is that cluster shared with any other model? It's so unique I'm gonna guess no. That's crazy, but what would be the reasoning behind that? Is the brand new model gonna have the sam cluster....not thinking so, but cool find regardless.
James
James
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12-05-04, 11:52 PM
#12
wow, that's very nice post there!!! i didn't read all, mainly just focused on the lexus and the toyota part.
i have to say though, toyota by its own (never combined with othe company) can be this big now, and still growing vigorously, that's incredible!
i have to say though, toyota by its own (never combined with othe company) can be this big now, and still growing vigorously, that's incredible!
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