With more technology to move upscale Nissan overhauls Altima

NEW YORK -- The Nissan Altima - the nation's No. 2-selling car - are getting a luxury makeover inspiration for the 2013 to attract more U.S. consumers for the family sedan.
Banking U.S. economy that is coming in better times, Nissan Motor Co. plans to launch a richer picture with the Altima redesigned - not price, but with better fuel economy, luxury services and new technologies, including NASA-inspired seating - - when it goes on sale in June.
This is a bet of Nissan, a brand known for cutting edge design, as it strives to build the increased sales of the Altima and improve its market share in the U.S. amid an avalanche of restyled midsize rivals.
"We're not moving the Altima into a new segment," said Brian Carolin, Nissan North America senior vice president for Nissan and Infiniti sales and marketing. "We're refining it to create the perceived image of a much more upscale car."
The 2013 Altima comes at a critical juncture for Nissan.
Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, who introduced the new Altima today at the New York auto show, is pushing the Japanese automaker to grab 10 percent of the U.S. light vehicle market, up from 8.2 percent last year and 9.3 percent so far in 2012.
Nissan said today the 2013 Altima will be priced from $22,280, including $780 destination, when it goes on sale in June. Models with a V-6 engine will be priced from $26,140, including delivery fees.
It goes into production on May 14, and it will be assembled in Canton, Miss., and Smyrna, Tenn., for the United States and 45 overseas markets.
The relatively short period between its public and showroom debuts is designed to maintain market momentum for the Altima and draw interest as competition in the mid-sized market heats up.
The styling for the new Altima has evolved only slightly, with deeper creases along the sides and across the trunk. The headlights and running lamps have been separated in front to echo the look of luxury vehicles. The door handles are now made of chrome, and chrome now encircles the car's grille and side windows.
But the car's content signals Nissan's ambitions to capture a bigger slice of the surging family sedan market.Automobile News