- New Sentra will have a sportier appearance
- Nissan says the sedan will go on sale here later this year
- A new Chinese market model likely previews the finished product
New teaser images released by Nissan preview the automaker’s freshly redesigned Sentra ahead of the compact sedan’s U.S. launch later this year. While the photo and video from Nissan don’t provide a detailed image of the upcoming Sentra, they reveal several sporty touches and give car shoppers a taste of the compact sedan’s newly sculpted exterior.
The image released by Nissan reveals LED rear taillights, sporty alloy wheels and several sharp new lines. An accompanying video gives away even more details. Highlights from the video include a newly restyled front end bearing the grille, aggressive headlights with LED running lamps, sporty fog lights and a new trunk featuring a large rear spoiler.
According to Nissan, the upcoming Sentra is part of a new product blitz to have 75 percent of its U.S. lineup fully redesigned within 15 months. Other new Nissan models coming soon include a redesigned Altima sedan, revealed just weeks ago at the New York Auto Show, and a new Pathfinder SUV, which is expected to arrive in dealers this fall.
Interestingly, while U.S. car shoppers saw just teaser images of the upcoming Sentra, the Chinese market got an in-depth look at what is likely the finished product. Nissan chose this week’s Beijing Auto Show to reveal an all-new version of its Sylphy sedan, which is expected to mirror the upcoming U.S.-market Sentra. While the automaker won’t confirm if the Sylphy – which features a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and standard continuously variable automatic transmission – is just a renamed Sentra, a comparison of the sedan’s press photos and Nissan’s Sentra teasers reveals a close similarity. Which is good news, since the Sylphy’s interior is a major improvement over the cabin of today’s Sentra. Highlights including a center-mounted touchscreen infotainment system, a futuristic steering wheel and dark wood trim throughout.
Nissan says the 2013 Sentra will begin arriving at dealerships later this year. And while the automaker has yet to announce pricing for the redesigned sedan, we wouldn’t expect it to stray too far from today’s base price of around $16,800 including destination.
What it means to you: The next Sentra will feature aggressive new styling designed to help make its mark in the competitive compact sedan segment.
