While US automakers scale back their presence at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Nissan Motor Co. was determined to make a splash, unveiling three new vehicles Wednesday. Nissan debuted the 2009 model of the 370Z - the first redesign of the roadster since its reintroduction in 2003. Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager of Nissan North America's Nissan division, said the vehicle is lighter with a shorter wheelbase than its predecessor. It's 3.7-liter V-6 engine produces 332 horsepower, 26 more than the last model. There's a new seven-speed automatic transmission, and what Nissan says is the world's first synchronized downshift rev matching system for the six-speed manual gearbox. The new 370Z is scheduled to go on sale in North America in January with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $29,990. The No. 3 Japanese automaker also unveiled its 2009 Cube, which goes on sale in the US this spring. The name describes the vehicle's boxy, low-riding design, which fits the recent wave embraced by Toyota Motor Corp.'s Scion vehicles and Honda Motor Co.'s Element. The five-passenger Cube's styling features an asymmetrical body, wide doors, a wraparound rear window, and a refrigerator-style rear door. The standard 122-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine is paired with either an Xtronic continuously variable transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox. Nissan says it expects the CVT model to get more than 30 mpg (13 kpl) on the highway. Pricing information wasn't released. Nissan also spotlighted its 2009 Versa sedan, which it is touting as the lowest-priced new car in the North American market. The automaker is starting the Versa with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $9,990. The show opens to the public Friday after two days of media previews. Meanwhile, Lexus unveiled new versions of its best-selling RX-series crossovers at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday, including an RX 450h hybrid with new features that improve fuel-efficiency. “We think hybrid is the way to go, and over time hybrids will become mainstream products,” said Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager of Lexus. The Lexus RX 450h gets a beefed-up 295 horsepower engine, 27 more than its predecessor. The engine also features an exhaust-heat recovery system designed to reduce warm-up time and an exhaust-gas recirculation system, both of which are designed to boost fuel economy. The RX 350 will be powered by a 275 horsepower engine. Both models feature souped-up cockpits, including a heads-up display that shows speed and other readouts on the windshield, along with a computer mouse-like controller on the center console that allows the driver to navigate the vehicle's onboard systems. The RX 350 will go on sale in February, while the 450h will go on sale in the spring. Lexus did not announce pricing. Lexus, Toyota Motor Corp.'s luxury brand, said it will also unveil a “dedicated” hybrid - a standalone model like the Toyota Prius - called the HS 250h at the Detroit auto show in January. The RX line is Lexus' best-seller, with more than 68,000 sold in the U.S. through October of this year _ or 31 percent of the nameplate's sales. But Lexus hasn't been immune to the broader sales slump. Volkswagen of America Inc. debuted its Touareg V-6 TDI clean diesel sport utility vehicle Wednesday at the Los Angeles Auto Show as part of a showcase of its diesel-powered technology. The diesel Touareg meets emission requirements in all 50 states and averages 25 mpg (11 kpl) on the highway. It includes a 3-liter, turbocharged six-cylinder engine that can produce 221 horsepower and 407 pound-feet of torque. American Honda Motor Co. said it plans to introduce its Ecological Drive Assist System, a new interactive fuel-economy enhancement technology, on the new Honda Insight this spring. Honda said the new gasoline-electric hybrid model's design and styling will be similar to that of the Insight Concept that which made its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday.
