We're not sure if Nissan was planning to reveal its next-gen Altima sedan ahead of the car's world premiere at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday, April 4, but either way, a first batch of pictures along with preliminary specs and prices were unloaded online today. The new Altima sports a sleeker and crispier design than its predecessor, evidently inspired from the larger Maxima. The mid-size sedan's interior is also new, but appears to be less exciting than the exterior in terms of styling.
"The safe thing to do would be to follow other automakers' paths, conservatively evolving the Altima so as not to upset the existing owner base. But that would not be in keeping with Nissan's 'Innovation for All' philosophy," commented Brian Carolin, Vice President of Nissan N.A.
"We took our most successful model and changed nearly everything – the look, the feel, the driving experience and, of course, the technology down to even the headlights and windshield wipers."
The fifth generation Altima keeps the same wheelbase as the outgoing Altima, but features a wider front and rear track (+1.4 inches).
It will reach U.S. dealerships this summer with a choice of two engines, a tweaked version of the 2.5-liter QR25 four-cylinder unit producing 182hp (+7hp) and a peak torque of 180 lb-ft, and 3.5-liter V6 VQ35DE, which remains rated at 270 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.
A redesigned Xtronic CVT with new control logic and expanded gear ratio coverage transfers power to the front wheels on both models.
Nissan says that targeted fuel economy for the Altima 2.5L/CVT is 27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined, and for the 3.5L V6/CVT Altima, 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined.
Later on, the Japanese automaker will add a hybrid model to the range, which combines a new 2.5-liter supercharged gasoline engine with a compact-size CVT package incorporating a single electric motor and two clutches with energy being stored in a lithium-ion battery.
Prices for the 2013 Nissan Altima sedan start at $21,500 for the base 4-cylinder model rising to $30,080 for the top V6 variant.
Photo Credits: Nissan via VWVortex
2013 Nissan Altima Sedan Prices:
Altima Sedan 2.5 CVT $21,500 USD
Altima Sedan 2.5 S CVT $22,500 USD
Altima Sedan 2.5 SV CVT $24,100 USD
Altima Sedan 2.5 SL CVT $28,050 USD
Altima Sedan 3.5 S CVT $25,360 USD
Altima Sedan 3.5 SV CVT $27,780 USD
Altima Sedan 3.5 SL CVT $30,080 USD
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A V12 engine is a rare sight indeed in the automotive world and if we had to pick one maker closely associated with it, then it would have to be Ferrari. 
Even the very first model to bear the prancing horse logo, the 1947 125 S, was powered by a 1.5-liter V12 designed by Gioacchino Colombo and it would set the specs for Ferrari’s V12s until the end of the 1980s, long after its creator had left Maranello.
The thing is, even though Ferrari had stayed loyal to the V12 layout in its Formula 1 cars for more than five decades, in 1996, the F310 driven by new signing Michael Schumacher was powered by a V10 –simply because it was a better. Moreover, subsequent rule changes meant that today a V8 is mandatory.
During the launch of the F12berlinetta, it was mentioned that the 730HP engine nesting behind the coupe's sculpted nose was “the first in a new generation of V12s”.
The next car in line is the Enzo replacement. However, traditions don’t necessarily last forever. Are V12-engined Ferraris going to be a thing of the past because of tightening fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions?
Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa said that the F1-developed kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) will ensure that the company will keep the V12 in its engine line-up for years to come.
“We will roll out new technology that is there first and foremost to introduce a green factor to our cars and ensure that we can keep our product where it is in terms of CO2”, Felisa told British publication Autocar.
Having experimented with other layouts as well, Ferrari decided to go the hybrid way. It gave us a sneak preview of what it has in store for its future V12s at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show with the 599-based HY-KERS concept.
The hybrid system comprises a compact and light electric motor coupled to the dual-clutch gearbox and a battery pack encased in the underbody. It cuts CO2 emissions by 35 percent while, at the same time, adding another 100HP to the car’s total output, verifying Felisa’s claim that “our hybrid system won’t be just about creating power, but saving energy too”.
Felisa commented, “This technology is expensive today, but it has been designed to fit all our future architecture”. So, will all future Ferraris be hybrids? “If we go ahead, it will be fitted as standard. It’s not the sort of thing you offer as an option," explained Felisa.
Finally, Ferrari’s CEO did not dismiss the notion of offering six-cylinder engines on future models: “Why not six cylinders? It’s far away in the future, perhaps, but it is clear that perceptions have altered. Even in the US, where until a few years ago eight cylinders was the minimum, it is clear attitudes have changed”.
For those of you that baulk at the idea of a Ferrari with less than eight cylinders, we’ll just say that the company’s first mid-engined road car, the 1966 206 Dino, was powered by a V6. So maybe it won’t be merely downsizing, but a return to the company’s roots, as well.
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It's been close to two years since the Volkswagen Group took a 90.1 per cent stake in Italdesign Giugiaro and exactly one year after the Italian company celebrated the marriage with the VW-branded Tex Coupe and Go! MPV concepts at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The design house will return to Switzerland for this year's edition of the auto salon with a single concept model named the Brivido, which may not feature VW's logos on its hood, but its underpinnings and hybrid powertrain are sourced from within the German group.
"2012 will be an important year for us and for the Group, and with this car we want to continue to allow people to dream and to imagine the future," said Giorgetto Giugiaro. "This is an exercise to show a vehicle that delivers awesome sports car performance in an eco-friendly manner, to show great technological content, and above all to have superb comfort," he added.
The Brivido is a fully working concept model designed, engineered and manufactured in the Italdesign Giugiaro plant at Moncalieri.
It sports a hybrid powertrain comprising a 3.0-liter engine and presumably an electric motor (the company didn't elaborate) producing 360-horses, which allow the gullwing-door coupe to reach 100km/h (62mph) in 5.8 seconds and attain a top speed of 275km/h (171mph).
On the outside, the Brivido is defined by the use of aluminium, carbon fibre, and glass materials.
Inside, the four-seater prototype gets an impressive looking dashboard with interactive electronics and displays that were developed by Italdesign in cooperation with the Volkswagen Group Electronics Research Lab (ERL) in California.
Both the driver and passenger get their own instrument panels. On the driver's side, there are two LCD screens that display images from the side and rear cameras while the passenger side houses an integrated iPad system.
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We're not sure if Nissan was planning to reveal its next-gen Altima sedan ahead of the car's world premiere at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday, April 4, but either way, a first batch of pictures along with preliminary specs and prices were unloaded online today. The new Altima sports a sleeker and crispier design than its predecessor, evidently inspired from the larger Maxima. The mid-size sedan's interior is also new, but appears to be less exciting than the exterior in terms of styling. 
