Spied: 2013 Nissan Altima.

[TigerinColorado]

Maxeema still gonna be jelly.

[Zombiestatus]

[GTRaavv]

People love saving money. Nissan offers some some great incentives and does a ton of advertising. Local dealers even compete by staying open on Sunday when Honda/Toyota/Chevy/Ford/Etc are closed. I think Nissan is really chasing the budget minded consumer that even Hyundai/Kia is trying to abandon.

I would agree with that assessment. But they also haven't let their average transaction price fall as a result. It's like a two-tier strategy.

[VDub2625]

Nissan advertising :shudder: I considered making a thread about it because it's so bad. "Do... It... NOW." And pushing the website so hard.

[CP1]

I think the Camry and this new Altima interiors look good.

Much better than the alien spaceship designs in some Ford's and Hyundai's.

One is overly bland and boring and the other is overly designed; both are bleh.

How can the Fusion be the "reigning" king of the midsizers when in its current generation it isn't considered king? I think the Fusion will be the looker of the class, but that doesn't necessarily translate to sales (look at the Optima). Nissan has done a very good job building up the Altima brand over the years even when the.

If you haven't noticed, Optima sales have gone up as supply has increased due to US production; the Optima is now the best selling Kia model in the US.

I would agree with that assessment. But they also haven't let their average transaction price fall as a result. It's like a two-tier strategy.

ATP hasn't fallen b/c people/businesses are buying trucks/SUVs or cars w/ more tech.

Nissan is discounting b/c most of their lineup is old. I would suspect that the discounts would get cut once the new models (other than the Versa) start arriving.

[GTRaavv]

If you haven't noticed, Optima sales have gone up as supply has increased due to US production; the Optima is now the best selling Kia model in the US.

I've noticed. It also isn't in the Top 5. Point?

[gonzo08452]

I've noticed. It also isn't in the Top 5. Point?

Don't ask. This thread will be hijacked and at the end of the day, you will be told Kia/Hyundai does it best

[CP1]

I've noticed. It also isn't in the Top 5. Point?

Uhm, there's a little something called production capacity.

For instance, Toyota has 14 plants in NA while Hyundai/Kia have 2.

Honda built 84,678 Civics at its NA plants during the 1st 2 months of the year; that's more than a quarter of Hyundai's total annual capacity.

[GTRaavv]

Uhm, there's a little something called production capacity.

For instance, Toyota has 14 plants in NA while Hyundai/Kia have 2.

Honda built 84,678 Civics at its NA plants during the 1st 2 months of the year; that's more than a quarter of Hyundai's total annual capacity.

The Optima hasn't sold near the Sonata's level. Is Kia's capacity that much lower than Hyundai's? Serious question.

[Swallow Doretti]

The Optima hasn't sold near the Sonata's level. Is Kia's capacity that much lower than Hyundai's? Serious question.

The Alabama plant builds two vehicles, the Sonata and Elantra, and has a total capacity of 330,000 vehicles when running 24/7 (which it has been).

The Georgia plant builds three vehicles, the Optima, Santa Fe and Sorento, and has a total capacity of about 300,000 vehicles at a 24/7 pace. There's flexibility is how that's split between the three, but basically it boils down to 120,000 Optimas a year, 120,000 Sorentos, and 60,000 Santa Fes.

[BrianC]

The Alabama plant builds two vehicles, the Sonata and Elantra, and has a total capacity of 330,000 vehicles when running 24/7 (which it has been).

The Georgia plant builds three vehicles, the Optima, Santa Fe and Sorento, and has a total capacity of about 300,000 vehicles at a 24/7 pace. There's flexibility is how that's split between the three, but basically it boils down to 120,000 Optimas a year, 120,000 Sorentos, and 60,000 Santa Fes.

Not to take this thread too far off path, but Kia may have some production issues in the near term:

http://www.firehouse.com/news/106585...or-fire-damage

The title is a bit misleading, as it is one of Kia's suppliers that was impacted.

March 18--The Georgia state fire marshal is investigating a fire that caused major damage to Daehan Solutions in West Point early Saturday. The fire already has affected Kia production. Kia announced Saturday the plant would be closed Monday and Tuesday.

[arkitekto]

Hey guys, what's goin--

...oh it's become one of THOSE threads.

[vdub10golf]

Hey guys, what's goin--

...oh it's become one of THOSE threads.

this.

[BLK9GEN]

I love how every other thread turns into a Hyundai/Kia pissing match. Thanks to SD for providing information without resorting to the usual attacks and whining. Lets all try to be grown ups and emulate this behavior.

So, when is this thing going to leak already? It feels like Nissan has been teasing us forever.

[GTRaavv]

The Georgia plant builds three vehicles, the Optima, Santa Fe and Sorento, and has a total capacity of about 300,000 vehicles at a 24/7 pace. There's flexibility is how that's split between the three, but basically it boils down to 120,000 Optimas a year, 120,000 Sorentos, and 60,000 Santa Fes.

But is the Optima hybrid accounting for as large of a percentage of Optima sales as the Sonata hybrid is for Sonata sales? The Optima hybrid is not built at KMMG, so that's additional capacity over the 120,000 figure.

[gonzo08452]

Hey guys, what's goin--

...oh it's become one of THOSE threads.

we all know why

[CP1]

The Optima hasn't sold near the Sonata's level. Is Kia's capacity that much lower than Hyundai's? Serious question.

Until US production started in the Fall of 2011, total Optima production was limlted to around 14k a month, w/ the US and Canada getting a little more than half of that - which is why US sales was around 7k/month until supplies started to increase when production started in GA (also the reason why the European launch was delayed twice).

Recently, Optima sales have jumped to over 11k a month, overtaking the Sorento as the best selling Kia model in the US (I think we will see the Optima settle around the 12k monthly, maybe little more or little less depending on how production is allocated).

As for the Optima hybrid, don't think it sells anywhere close to the Sonata hybrid which has been the best-selling hybrid model next to the Prius family (a bit surprising).

So even w/ less production capacity than GM, Ford or any of the Japanese Big 3, combined sales of the Optima and Sonata still was good for 3rd on the mid-size sedan list (probably second taking away fleet sales).

[rlaltiowner05]

The Sonata Hybrid outsales the Camry Hybrid? WOW

[enigmatic enthusiast]

Can we all at least get a good laugh when the 2014 Altima Hybrid with 270hp averages 40+ mpg combined?

[CP1]

The Sonata Hybrid outsales the Camry Hybrid? WOW

It did last year, but I would suspect the new Camry hybrid will surpass it this year, being the most improved of the various Camrys (unless all the Toyota hybrid buyers just rather have the Prius).

[VDub2625]

So even w/ less production capacity than GM, Ford or any of the Japanese Big 3, combined sales of the Optima and Sonata still was good for 3rd on the mid-size sedan list (probably second taking away fleet sales).

Does Kia not sell to fleets?

[GTRaavv]

Until US production started in the Fall of 2011, total Optima production was limlted to around 14k a month, w/ the US and Canada getting a little more than half of that - which is why US sales was around 7k/month until supplies started to increase when production started in GA (also the reason why the European launch was delayed twice).

Recently, Optima sales have jumped to over 11k a month, overtaking the Sorento as the best selling Kia model in the US (I think we will see the Optima settle around the 12k monthly, maybe little more or little less depending on how production is allocated).

As for the Optima hybrid, don't think it sells anywhere close to the Sonata hybrid which has been the best-selling hybrid model next to the Prius family (a bit surprising).

So even w/ less production capacity than GM, Ford or any of the Japanese Big 3, combined sales of the Optima and Sonata still was good for 3rd on the mid-size sedan list (probably second taking away fleet sales).

But it doesn't seem to be ranking in the Top 10 of the shortest days in inventory list like the Sonata and Elantra have been off and on.

[DrewSXR]

[spidy]

[Bones_Jones]

i definitely see Ellure concept's front. not sure if i would like that pinched grille.

[someguy123]

I'm pretty excited.

If only all car makers were like this.....complete overhaul of their products.

Acura/Honda needs something like this.

[DrewSXR]

I hope the Sentra gets a major redo, it really needs to be a hit. The competition is better than ever. It should borrow heavily from the Ellure.

[DrewSXR]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNB48...ature=youtu.be

[Impeccable]

I'm happy the CHICA MOBILE-ROGUE will finally get redone that damn this is like a blob, then again it looked kind of dated the day it came out.

[whitejeep1989]

So, Nissan, Infiniti, and Lexus are all using the same grille design now?

I hope Volvo and BMW never abandon their traditional grille themes. They are the last of the automotive brands whose grille designs still reflect their past/heritage.

[koko12]

check out the 7K rpm redline, that's got to be the highest in class and if it belongs to a VQ engine it's most likely putting out around 300 hp. Pretty interesting. Wonder what the powertrains will be?

Also I really like the simplicity and elegance of this gauge cluster.

[CP1]

But it doesn't seem to be ranking in the Top 10 of the shortest days in inventory list like the Sonata and Elantra have been off and on.

It doesn't have to - as long as its days on the lot is below average (which it is).

For March, Optima sales jumped to over 15k as more supply has hit the lots.

[GTRaavv]

It doesn't have to - as long as its days on the lot is below average (which it is).

For March, Optima sales jumped to over 15k as more supply has hit the lots.

But according to the "numbers" they don't have the capacity to produce 15,000 vehicles a month, so surprising they could sell that much more than they can allegedly produce. Altima also hit 40,000.

[CP1]

^ Uhm, aside from production of the Optima also starting in the US late last year, Kia also expanded capacity at their GA plant.

[gonzo08452]

But according to the "numbers" they don't have the capacity to produce 15,000 vehicles a month, so surprising they could sell that much more than they can allegedly produce. Altima also hit 40,000.

The reason why the Altima sells so well is because theres not enough Sonatas/Optimas to meet demand. Duh!