Exuberant economists and auto analysts are predicting a record year in 1995 for domestic and import vehicle sales-and the manufacturers are supplying plenty of ammunition to help fuel the anticipated surge in demand.
More than two dozen new or substantially redesigned cars and mini-vans have arrived for ’95. Some, such as the Honda Odyssey, are brand-new entries. Others, such as the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, replace discontinued models. Still others, such as the BMW 740i, have received a major facelift for the new model year.
Here is a listing of the major design changes and new models for 1995 that you can see at the Chicago Auto Show. They’re grouped by price: Less than $13,000, $13,000 to $20,000, $20,000 to $35,000 and more than $35,000. An actual or estimated base price is also listed for each individual model.
Less than $13,000
The all-new Hyundai Accent ($8,079), replaces the entry-level Excel for 1995. The Accent boasts a contemporary exterior skin, with a soft, rounded silhouette. Available as a four-door sedan or a three-door hatchback, the Accent is powered by a 1.5-liter, 12-valve, overhead-cam, 4-cylinder engine that delivers 92 horsepower, plenty of wallop for a car that weighs only 2,100 pounds. The car boasts a splashy cockpit trimmed in cloth upholstery and high-quality plastic. Accent features as standard front and rear consoles, side and rear window defoggers, reclining front bucket seats and a folding rear bench.
The economy segment also boasts the redesigned Geo Metro ($8,085) and Suzuki Swift ($8,699) twins, built in Ingersoll, Ontario, by Cami Automotive, the General Motors/Suzuki joint venture. Metro and Swift are taller, longer and wider with more interior space than their predecessors. Engine options include a 1-liter, 55-h.p., 3-cylinder and a 1.3-liter, 70-h.p. 4. New for 1995 are daytime running lights, which go on automatically when you start the car and turn off when you switch off the key, a nifty safety item that the government is going to require in a year or two.
The redesigned Toyota Tercel ($9,998) comes in two- or four-door versions. Toyota carried over most of the suspension pieces, and the restyling is conservative. The best part of the new model is its engine-a 1.5-liter twin-cam 4-cylinder that makes 93 h.p. and returns better than 30 miles a gallon in everyday driving.
Mazda’s Protege ($11,995) comes as only a four-door sedan in three trim levels: DX, LX and sporty ES. The basic version comes with dual air bags and such features as variable-assist power steering, power brakes, all-season radial tires, dual outside mirrors, intermittent wipers, tinted glass, rear defroster, tilt steering column and dual cupholders. Its 1.5-liter, 92-h.p., overhead-cam 4-cylinder engine returns 31 miles per gallon in the city and 39 m.p.g. on the highway with the standard five-speed manual transmission.
Nissan Sentra (estimated $11,500) is a late arrival for spring and is being offered as a two-door and a four-door. The new model has dual air bags, a multi-link rear suspension and a standard 1.6-liter, 115-h.p., dual overhead cam, 4. Four trim levels are offered. A sporty spinoff, the 200SX, will carry more equipment and a higher price.
Suzuki is introducing its largest passenger car in the U.S.-a Sentra-size subcompact it calls Esteem (estimated $11,500). The front-wheel-drive four-door goes on sale this spring and will be powered by a 1.6-liter, 98-h.p., single-overhead-cam, 4-cylinder engine. A two-door companion is rumored for the 1996 model year.
From the domestics, the big news is the first major redesign of the Chevrolet Cavalier ($10,060) since the compact was introduced in 1982. Its longtime companion, the Pontiac Sunbird, is replaced by a new model, the Sunfire ($11,074).
Both come in coupe and sedan configurations, with choice of a 2.2-liter, 120-h.p., 4-cylinder or a 2.3-liter, 150-h.p., 4. Standard features include a neat system called “battery rundown protection” that cuts power in case you’ve forgotten to turn off the headlights. New sporty editions, the Cavalier Z24 and Sunfire GT, are just reaching dealerships. Convertibles, which along with the Sunfire GT are being introduced at the Chicago Auto Show, won’t go on sale till summer.
You’ll have to peer under the hood or in the cockpit to spot the most significant enhancements on the 1995 Saturns ($9,995). Most noteworthy are a redesign of the instrument panel and the addition of a passenger-side air bag on all coupes, sedans and wagons. Saturn also has added a multi-port fuel-injection system to the base single-overhead-cam, 4-cylinder engine in place of the throttle-body system. The change boosts horsepower 17 percent, to 100 from 85, and helps shave more than a second off the 0- to 60-mile-per-hour acceleration time (to 10.9 seconds from 12.2). Saturn also has spaced out the gears on the manual transmission for better fuel economy, and the automatic transmission gets a wider final drive ratio and a quieter gear-mesh design.
The Dodge and Plymouth Neon sedans ($9,995) are joined by new two-door derivatives, with an optional 150-h.p. engine. Hiline and Sport editions are available.
$13,000 to $20,000
Among the all-new family models from Detroit for 1995 are the Ford Contour ($13,310) and Mercury Mystique ($13,855)-two entries in the automaker’s $6 billion global-car program. Contour and Mystique replace the old Tempo/Topaz compacts. They share many underbody components with the European Ford Mondeo, including a choice of two twin-cam engines-a 2-liter, 125-h.p., Zetec 4-cylinder and a 2.5-liter, 170-h.p., Duratec V-6, neither of which will need a spark-plug change for the first 100,000 miles. They can be equipped with one of two new transmissions, a five-speed manual or an electronic four-speed automatic.
The Chrysler Cirrus ($17,435) and Dodge Stratus (estimated $14,500) supplant the LeBaron and Spirit sedans. The Cirrus, powered by a 2.5-liter, 164-h.p., V-6, is the initial entry, with Stratus, with the V-6 or a 2.4-liter, 132-h.p., 4-cylinder, arriving in the spring. Cirrus is well-equipped, with such standard accoutrements as air conditioning, tilt steering column, power windows and door locks and safety features like dual air bags and anti-lock brakes.
This fall, a lower-priced Plymouth entry called the Breeze-a successor to the Acclaim-bows, along with a sporty convertible to replace the best-selling LeBaron ragtop.
The Buick Regal ($18,660) receives a modest facelift, inside and out. Among the exterior alterations are new front and rear fascias, grilles, taillamps and side moldings. Regal’s cockpit has been stripped of much of its chrome-and-wood veneer. The revised instrument panel houses analog gauges, as well as dual air bags. Climate and audio controls are more user-friendly, with dual-zone temperature controls are available for driver and passenger. Most controls and switches are backlit to make them easier to find at night.
In a slightly smaller package, Oldsmobile’s sporty Achieva ($13,500) has a simplified powertrain lineup for ’95, plus some modest steering and suspension tweaks. GM has smoothed out some of the ragged edges in the Quad 4 engine with twin chain-driven balance shafts. The 4-cylinder can be ordered with a five-speed manual or three- and four-speed automatics; the optional V-6 is available only with the four-speed. Suspension tuning has been thoroughly revised on all models to give the Achieva more of an import flavor, and a new variable-assist power steering system with the V-6 enhances road feel at higher speeds.
Chevrolet is pitching the redesigned Lumina sedan ($15,460) and its two-door companion, the Monte Carlo ($16,760). New inside and out, both are well-equip-ped. Air conditioning, power windows and power door locks are standard, as are dual air bags and ABS. Base engine is a 3.1-liter, 160-h.p., V-6, and a peppy 3.4-liter, 210-h.p., V-6 is an option (standard on the Monte Carlo Z34).
Subaru has redesigned its Legacy ($14,346) sedan and wagon. The top-of-the-line LSi AWD comes with a long list of features, including air conditioning, power windows, locks and mirrors, power moonroof, leather interior and an AM-FM stereo with CD player. On the safety side, ABS, traction control and dual air bags are standard.
The mid-size Hyundai Sonata sedan ($13,399) also has been revamped for 1995. At just under $19,000 for the top-of-the-line GLS model-compared with $24,000 for a comparably equipped Accord or Camry-it may be the best Korean car to hit American roads, with a 3-liter, 142-h.p., V-6, four-speed automatic and a lengthy list of standard equipment.
The Dodge Avenger ($13,341) succeeds the Daytona, and its companion, the Chrysler Sebring, replaces the LeBaron coupe. Standard features include dual air bags, ABS, air conditioning and a leather-wrapped, tilt steering wheel. A peppy 2.5-liter, twin-cam, V-6 is available. It produces 155 h.p. while achieving 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 28 m.p.g. on the highway.
The Chrysler coupes share many of their underpinnings with the redesigned Eagle Talon ($14,362) and Mitsubishi Eclipse ($14,359). Base engine in all models is a 2-liter, 4.
The all-wheel-drive and 2-liter, 210-h.p., turbocharged Talon TSi is perhaps the fastest car on the road for less than $20,000. A convertible version of the Eclipse is due this fall.
The 200SX coupe is a new model from Nissan, intended to fill the slot left vacant by the demise of the old NX-series coupes. Based on the Sentra platform, the 200SX offers a 1.6-liter, 115-h.p., 4-cylinder engine or a 2-liter, 140-h.p., 4.
For just less than $20,000 is the new Volkswagen Cabrio ($19,975), with coachwork by Karmann, the famed German specialty builder that did the old Beetle-based Karmann Ghia. Equipped with a 2-liter, 115-h.p., 4, the Cabrio features power steering, all-season radials, power locks and windows, tilt steering, a folding rear seat and a premium AM-FM stereo with cassette.
$20,000 to $35,000
Ford’s big rear-wheel-drive sedans, the Crown Victoria ($20,160), Mercury Grand Marquis ($21,270) and Lincoln Town Car ($36,400), have been mildly redesigned for 1995. All share a frame and many underbody pieces. A 4.6-liter, overhead-cam, V-8 remains the base engine in all three, which feature revised cabins and new front- and rear-end styling.
The Toyota Avalon ($22,758) sedan is basically a longer, wider edition of the Camry sedan assembled in Georgetown, Ky. It seats up to six and has a 3-liter, 192-h.p., V-6 and four-speed automatic transmission.
As Nissan’s largest U.S. model, the Maxima ($20,000) is a direct competitor to the Avalon. It has been substantially overhauled inside and out for ’95, and features a 3-liter, twin-cam, V-6. A luxury companion for Nissan’s upscale Infiniti division, the I30, will be spun off the Maxima this spring. Positioned between the G20 and J30 sedans, it is expected to retail for around $32,000.
At Honda’s premium Acura division, a replacement for the mid-range Vigor (estimated $29,500) sedan is being unveiled at the show and is due to reach dealers this spring. The new four-door likely will be powered by a new 3-liter, overhead-cam, V-6 and may get a new name.
From Sweden, the front-wheel-drive Volvo 850 ($24,680) adds a unique option for ’95: Air bags built into the driver- and front-passenger seats that protect occupants in side impacts. The pricier 960 series ($29,900) gets a new nose and other mild refinements.
Saab, now an affiliate of General Motors, has added a convertible ($28,990) to its front-wheel-drive 900 family. Engine choices include normally aspirated and turbocharged 4-cylinders and a new Opel-built V-6.
The sheet metal and cabins have been revised on the Volkswagen Passat ($20,890) sedan and wagon, with a 2.8-liter, 172-h.p., V-6 powering the new GLX. Passat’s stablemate is the new Audi A6 series ($30,600), which replaces the 100-series. The A6 sedan and wagon are powered by a 2.8-liter, overhead-cam, V-6 (it’s a different design than the engine used in the Passat). A high-performance derivative, the S6 ($45,270), features a 227-h.p. turbocharged five-cylinder engine and four-wheel-drive.
Priced at $19,900, $5,000 less than its next cheapest model, the sporty 318ti hatchback is BMW’s newest American entry. Positioned as the Bavarian automaker’s price leader in the U.S., the 318ti three-door shares a 1.8-liter, 138-h.p., 4-cylinder with the regular 318i sedan.
The Accord-based Honda Odyssey ($22,985) mini-van features four doors and accommodates up to seven passengers. The front-wheel-drive Odyssey has a 2.2-liter, 145-h.p., single-overhead-cam, 5-cylinder. Its rear bench seat folds forward and flips into the floor for added cargo space.
More than $35,000
The redesigned BMW 740i ($57,900) and its long-wheelbase companions, the 740iL and 750iL, get revised body panels and new cockpits for ’95. The top-of-the-line 750iL is even more potent this year, its output having been increased to 323 h.p.
At Cadillac, the 4.6-liter, dual overhead cam Northstar engine in the Seville Luxury Sedan ($41,935) has been uprated to 275 horsepower, and the similarly sized unit in the more potent STS ($45,935) climbs to 300 horsepower. Both feature better chassis control and a more rigid body structure.
Ford’s British affiliate Jaguar has introduced its restyled XJ6 ($53,450) and XJ12 sedans. The luxury four-doors boast new body panels and return to the trademark dual round headlamps from the original models. The base XJ and upscale Vanden Plas have a 4-liter, 245-h.p., 6-cylinder and the high-output XJR model is powered by a supercharged version of the 4-liter that makes 322 h.p. At the top of the range, the XJ12 is powered by a 6-liter, 313-h.p., V-12.
A perennial frontrunner in the annual J.D. Power & Associates customer-satisfaction and quality surveys, the Lexus LS400 ($51,200) gets a significant makeover. It is longer, roomier, more powerful and yet more efficient than its predecessor.
The Lincoln Continental ($42,000) has been redesigned from top to bottom for ’95, but keeps its front-wheel-drive configuration. The new Continental, however, gets a larger and more potent 4.6-liter, 260-h.p., twin-cam V-8. Many of the Continental’s chassis components are shared with Taurus and Sable. Shoppers will like the sliding parcel shelf that moves forward to accept cargo, then can be pushed into the recesses of the trunk for more space.
Mercedes-Benz sought the help of German tuner AMG to boost the performance of the its new C36 (estimated $50,000), a limited-edition sedan that shares its underpinnings with the compact C-Series. Modified to produce 280 h.p., the sport sedan lopes from zero- to 60-m.p.h. in less than seven seconds.
