xcel
10-10-2006, 07:26 PM
Nissan raises price of Sentra price by nearly 13 percent. (http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/15724796.htm)
Lucas L. Johnson II - AP - Oct. 10, 2006
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2007_Nissan_Sentra.jpg
2007 Nissan Sentra (EPA 29/36 w/ CVT) offers more amentities with a much higher price tag.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nissan North America announced a price increase Tuesday on a redesigned Sentra that company officials believe will keep the automaker competitive with other imports and U.S. models.
"It's a very important product for us," Nissan spokesman Darryll Harrison said of the new car, which has a more powerful engine, upgraded interior and a base price of $14,750. "We think it's going to do very well for us in the market."
Nissan has significantly boosted the Sentra's interior space and installed an all-new 140-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine.
A year ago, Nissan priced its 1.8 liter, 4-cylinder Sentra model at $13,100.
The new Sentra also will offer a wider array of premium equipment, including leather-appointed seating, keyless entry system and a Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System.
Jesse Toprak, an analyst with Edmunds.com, a research site for car buyers, said Nissan's pricing is timely because "compact cars have been doing quite well" as a result of low gas prices.
However, he said the base price of the Sentra is not that competitive.
"It's not going to stand out as the best entry-level pricing," Toprak said.
Among American cars, he noted the Chevrolet Cobalt and Ford Focus have much cheaper prices at $13,050 and $13,450, respectively. The DX Honda Civic is probably the next most competitive, with a base price of $14,810.
Tropka said Honda and Toyota continue to be the biggest competition for American automakers.
"The combined market share of Honda and Toyota is 27 percent," he said. "Nissan is 6 percent."
Jeff Schuster, an analyst with JD Power and Associates, said he expects the new Sentra to do well, but agrees it's not that competitive.
"I don't think they're going to get a huge boost, because they're in a very competitive segment right now," Schuster said.
Tuesday's pricing announcement comes a few days after talks ended over a potential alliance with General Motors Corp. and Nissan.
After three months of discussion, Nissan and Renault SA of France declined to pay a premium for reaping what GM said would have been a disproportionate share of the benefits, according to a joint statement issued by the companies.
Nissan officials, however, said they're still open to the possibility of talking with another automaker, particularly one that would be a geographic complement to the two automakers.
One of Nissan North America's manufacturing sites is in Canton, Miss., where the Titan pickup truck, the Quest minivan, the Infiniti QX56 sports utility vehicle, the Armada SUV and some Altimas are made.
Lucas L. Johnson II - AP - Oct. 10, 2006
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2007_Nissan_Sentra.jpg
2007 Nissan Sentra (EPA 29/36 w/ CVT) offers more amentities with a much higher price tag.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nissan North America announced a price increase Tuesday on a redesigned Sentra that company officials believe will keep the automaker competitive with other imports and U.S. models.
"It's a very important product for us," Nissan spokesman Darryll Harrison said of the new car, which has a more powerful engine, upgraded interior and a base price of $14,750. "We think it's going to do very well for us in the market."
Nissan has significantly boosted the Sentra's interior space and installed an all-new 140-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine.
A year ago, Nissan priced its 1.8 liter, 4-cylinder Sentra model at $13,100.
The new Sentra also will offer a wider array of premium equipment, including leather-appointed seating, keyless entry system and a Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System.
Jesse Toprak, an analyst with Edmunds.com, a research site for car buyers, said Nissan's pricing is timely because "compact cars have been doing quite well" as a result of low gas prices.
However, he said the base price of the Sentra is not that competitive.
"It's not going to stand out as the best entry-level pricing," Toprak said.
Among American cars, he noted the Chevrolet Cobalt and Ford Focus have much cheaper prices at $13,050 and $13,450, respectively. The DX Honda Civic is probably the next most competitive, with a base price of $14,810.
Tropka said Honda and Toyota continue to be the biggest competition for American automakers.
"The combined market share of Honda and Toyota is 27 percent," he said. "Nissan is 6 percent."
Jeff Schuster, an analyst with JD Power and Associates, said he expects the new Sentra to do well, but agrees it's not that competitive.
"I don't think they're going to get a huge boost, because they're in a very competitive segment right now," Schuster said.
Tuesday's pricing announcement comes a few days after talks ended over a potential alliance with General Motors Corp. and Nissan.
After three months of discussion, Nissan and Renault SA of France declined to pay a premium for reaping what GM said would have been a disproportionate share of the benefits, according to a joint statement issued by the companies.
Nissan officials, however, said they're still open to the possibility of talking with another automaker, particularly one that would be a geographic complement to the two automakers.
One of Nissan North America's manufacturing sites is in Canton, Miss., where the Titan pickup truck, the Quest minivan, the Infiniti QX56 sports utility vehicle, the Armada SUV and some Altimas are made.