Nissan’s all-new family saloon has broken cover on American soil to rival the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
Nissan Altima
Essentially a US version of the Teana mid-size family saloon, the Altima has been redesigned with a sporty face and silhouette and more hi-tech cabin. Power comes from either 2.5-litre petrol engine with direct injection or 2.0-litre four-cylinder with variable compression turbo. The Altima also gains the brand’s latest semi-autonomous driver-assist tech called ProPilot. The all-new Teana is said to be hanging in the balance in Thailand as there will be three products in the 1.3-1.7 million baht price range: today’s X-Trail and the pending pickup-based Terra SUV and all-electric Leaf.
Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak
It’s being tagged as a concept, but the Atlas Tanoak looks virtually ready for the showroom aside whacky details like the chunky tyres. Unlike today’s body-on-frame Amarok, the Atlas Tanoak uses a more modern monocoque floorplan called MQB in VW speak. It’s being previewed with 280hp 3.6-litre V6, eight-speed auto and 4WD. Its main rival in the States would be the Honda Ridgeline, another pickup with car-like underpinnings.
Audi RS5 Sportback
The A5 Sportback has become the next Audi to receive the RS treatment, courtesy of the brand’s new 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 developing 450hp. Coupled with eight-speed torque-converter auto and 4WD, the RS5 goes from 0-100kph in 3.9sec. The Thai Audi agent says official sales of all RS-badged cars would only start after the lesser S models get a decent foothold.
Korea’s second largest brand has redesigned its flagship saloon. Sharing the same rear-drive platform and twin-turbo V6 running gear as in the Stinger fastback, the K900 comes with a host of driver-assist tech and digital screens inside the cabin. A novelty is the ability of the car to warn passengers of oncoming traffic when opening the doors. Right-hand-drive K900s are yet to be considered, but the Stinger is already trying hard to convert luxury car punters with its three million baht price tag.
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