As clouds of high interest rates and a slowing economy darken over the auto industry, Nissan National Dealer Advisory Board Chairman Tim Hill sees a silver lining.
"I am optimistic due to the steady flow of new product we will see over the next few years," said Hill, owner of Hill Nissan in Winter Haven, Fla. "Nearly 70 percent of our volume turns over in the next two years. We are going from having one of the oldest portfolios of vehicles, to the newest."
This year, the Titan full-size pickup and Murano midsize crossover will be freshened, and the Sentra and Versa small cars will be redesigned.
Also on tap is a longer-range full-electric Leaf. The new Leaf, which debuted this month at CES in Las Vegas, is powered by a 62 kilowatt-hour battery pack capable of an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 226 miles, compared with the current-generation Leaf's 150 miles.
The sixth-generation Altima, which went on sale in the fall, is expected to drive sales in the new year. The midsize sedan comes loaded with advanced technologies and segment-busting features such as all-wheel drive and its semi-autonomous ProPilot Assist system as a standard on most trim levels.
"Nissan's goal is to provide as much technology to as many customers as possible," said Hill, 51. "That is why you will see Nissan's technology throughout the model lineup, not only in the upper trims."
Dealers also expect momentum from the new Kicks subcompact crossover, which launched in the fall. Kicks is billed as the gateway to Nissan's popular crossover lineup, anchored by the Rogue.
"Kicks is exceeding my expectations," Hill said. "It delivers great style and a lot of content for an affordable price."
