Hot Sedans Hit the Market

04/12/96

NEWS RELEASE


HOT SEDANS HIT THE MARKET

April 3, 1996 (New York) -- Sedans, the staple vehicle of the
automotive marketplace, are capturing public excitement as they rarely
have before. With the rush of truly great sedans hitting the market in
recent years, the image of these vehicles as simple utilitarian
transport has vanished. And never have the offerings in this segment
been as stylish, technologically advanced and exciting as they are
this year.

At the New York International Automobile Show, April 6-14, at the
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, visitors will have an opportunity
to see the newest sedans from every manufacturer.

Ford and Mercury

Ford wanted a completely fresh look for the 1996 Taurus and Mercury
Sable. Both have strong elliptical design themes with a low hood and
reduced cowl and fender height. Two 1996 Taurus sedan and wagon models
are available -- the GL and LX. The Sable also sports two models in
sedan and wagon --the GS and LS. What separates the models are the
powerplants. The Taurus GL and Sable GS get a 3.0-liter, V6 that turns
out 145-horsepower. The Taurus LX and Sable LS are loaded with the
new, high performance 3.0-liter, 24 valve, DOHC 200-horsepower Duratec
V6. Both are paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.

Ford's Contour and Mercury's Mystique are front-wheel-drive,
five-passenger, mid-sized sedans introduced last year. This year, both
get a bit more back seat leg room thanks to scooped seat backs on the
front seats.  Contours are available in three trim levels, standard
GL, luxury LX and sport SE trim levels. The Mystique has two trim
levels -- GS and LS. The standard engine the Zetec 2.0-liter,
16-valve, dual overhead cam, 125-horsepower in-line four cylinder
paired with either a five-speed manual or four speed automatic
transmission. The optional powerplant is a 2.5-liter, 24-valve, dual
overhead cam, 170-horsepower V6.

Ford's full-size Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis were updated
last year and are relatively unchanged for 1996.

Plymouth, Dodge and Chrysler

Plymouth is forging ahead in 1996 to build its place in the hearts and
minds of the public with its new mid-size sedan -- the Plymouth
Breeze. The front-wheel drive Breeze shares its platform with the
Dodge Stratus and Chrysler Cirrus, and one model is available. It's
powered by a 2.0-liter, single overhead cam, 16-valve, 132-horsepower
in-line four cylinder engine, coupled with a five-speed manual
transmission. A four-speed automatic gearbox is available as an
option. Standard Breeze features include dual air bags, air
conditioning, 14-inch wheels, AM/FM stereo radio with four speakers
and tilt steering column.

Featuring Chrysler's cab forward design treatment, the Chrysler Cirrus
and Dodge Stratus are new generation sedans. This year, the Cirrus
gets the same 2.4-liter, 150-horsepower four cylinder engine that's
found on the Stratus, or an optional 2.5-liter V6 that delivers 164
horsepower. Both are matched to an advanced four-speed automatic
transmission.

The Chrysler Concorde, Dodge Intrepid and Eagle Vision are Chrysler
Corp.'s mid-sized entries. They also feature the cab forward
treatment. Two engines are available, a 3.3-liter, 161-horsepower V6
and a 3.5-liter, 214-horsepower V6. Both are paired with a four-speed
automatic transmission. In New York, a transitional low emission
(TLEV) engine is also available.

Subaru

For 1996, Subaru's Legacy sedan and wagon gets two new models -- the
Outback Wagon and the 2.5 GT sedan or wagon. A new 2.5-liter,
155-horsepower, four-cylinder engine powers the GT models. The new
engine joins the standard 2.2-liter, 135-horsepower four-cylinder
engine that moves the rest of the Legacy line.

Buick

Buick offers three models to satisfy family needs. The LeSabre
combines room for six in a full-size car package with standard
205-horsepower V6 energy. The mid-sized Regal sedan and the Century,
also boast V6 power.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet's recently redesigned Lumina has a number of standard
features including dual air bags, air conditioning, power door
locks. Two models are available: the Lumina sedan and Lumina LS. The
standard sedan is powered by a 3.1-liter, 160-horsepower V6, while the
LS receives a 3.4-liter, 210 horsepower V6 engine. Both are matched
with a four-speed automatic transmission.

For lovers of large cars, Chevrolet's V8 powered Caprice certainly has
the room for the entire family plus all the luggage.

Honda

New front and rear bumpers and bigger taillights give Honda's Accord a
different look for 1996. Accords can be had in two power flavors --
the standard 2.2-liter, 13-horsepower in-line four and the Accord V6
with a 2.7-liter, 24-valve, multi-point programmed fuel injection
engine that produces 170 horsepower.

Hyundai

Hyundai's top-of-the-line Sonata received a major redesign last year
and is relatively unchanged for 1996. It's powered by either a
2.0-liter, 16-valve, double overhead cam, four-cylinder engine that
develops 137 horsepower or a 3.0-liter V6 that develops 142
horsepower.

Mazda

Mazda's 626 gets a new chrome front grille treatment along with a hood
that is highlighted by a raised center section. Four 626 models are
available: the DX, LX, the more powerful LX-V6 and the top-of-the-line
ES. The 626 LX-V6 features the powerful 160-horsepower V6.

Mitsubishi

For 1996, Mitsubishi has three Galant mid-sized sedan models
available: the S, ES and LS. The Galant line is powered by a standard
in-line 2.4-liter, single overhead cam, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine
that produces 141 horsepower. A Galant LS V6 option boasts a
2.5-liter, single overhead cam, six-cylinder engine that achieves 155
horsepower.

Nissan

The Maxima is Nissan's flagship and it is available in three trim
levels: the fully equipped GXE, the performance oriented SE and the
top-of-the-line GLE. All are powered by a totally redesigned 3.0-liter
DOHC, 190 horsepower V6 mated with either a five-speed manual or a
four-speed automatic transmission.

Nissan's Altima is available in four trim levels -- the luxurious GLE,
the sporty SE, the GXE and the XE. Each is powered by a 150-horsepower
2.4-liter double overhead cam 16-valve engine, paired with a choice of
a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.

Oldsmobile

Last year one of Oldsmobile's mainstays, the Eighty Eight, was offered
in three models one of which was the LSS. For 1996, the division spun
off the LSS into a stand alone entry designed to compete in the tough
sports sedan market. The Eighty Eight continues with two models: the
Eighty Eight and the Eighty Eight LS. For the LS, two powerplants are
available: the standard 3.8-liter, 205-horsepower V6 or an optional
supercharged 3.8-liter, 240-horsepower Series II 3800 V6 engine. Both
are paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.  The standard
Eighty Eight powerplant is the 205 horsepower engine.

There are few changes to the appearance of the Ciera SL sedan and
wagon though for this year under the hood there's a 2.2-liter
four-cylinder engine and the 3100 SFI V6.

The Cutlass Supreme is available in two body styles -- coupe and
sedan, and a single SL trim level. The base powerplant for the Supreme
is a 3.1-liter, 160-horsepower V6 paired with a four-speed automatic
transmission.

Oldsmobile's Ninety Eight Regency Elite has two levels of standard
equipment. The standard engine is the 3800 V6.

Pontiac

After launching numerous improvements last year, Pontiac continues to
refine the Grand Prix sedan and coupe models with such additions as
variable effort power steering and a new floor console.

The Bonneville has a new 3800 Series II SFI V6 engine standard on both
the SE and SSE models. The new engine delivers more horsepower than
last year's engine, even though it's lighter and more compact. The
3800 Series II delivers 205 horsepower compared with 170 horsepower of
the past powerplant.

Toyota

Toyota's Camry continues with four and six cylinder powerplants. Four
cylinder models are powered by a 2.2-liter, 16-valve 125-horsepower
engine, and six-cylinder models are equipped with a 3.0-liter,
188-horsepower engine.

The Avalon, introduced last year as the company's new flagship in the
large car segment, is available in XL and XLS grades. Avalon has a
3.0-liter, four cam, 24-valve, 192-horsepower V6 engine.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen's Jetta series is available in three models for 1996 -- the
GL, a luxury equipped GLS, and a six-cylinder GLX model. This year all
Jettas sport new front styling highlighted by a newly framed,
body-color, three-bar grille. Powering the GL and GLS is a 2.0-liter,
115-horsepower, four-cylinder engine while the GLX gets a 2.8-liter,
VR6 that produces 172 horsepower.

The mid-sized Passat comes in two body styles -- a sedan and a station
wagon, and two models -- the 115-horsepower four-cylinder GLS, and the
fully equipped, 172-horsepower V6 GLX.