2020 Nissan SentraNadine Filion / Los Angeles What is it?Nissans eighth-generation Sentra could become dare we say, after the somnolent designs of the past the sexiest almost-coupe-style compact sedan on the market. For this, we can thank the sharp design cues lifted from its big sister and indeed very sexy the Nissan Maxima. Starting with the floating roof, the muscular body sides and the signature V-motion front grille, the 2020 Nissan Sentra is truly alluring.Although assembled alongside the Kicks in Nissans Aguascalientes plant in Mexico, the next Sentra is built on a completely new platform. The new architecture should bring major driving dynamic improvements with its stance widened and lowered by five centimetres compared with the current car, and even more important, a new rear independent suspension replaces the archaic torsion-beam system of the past.Other improvements include a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine not the exact one from Nissan Qashqai, but close, says the company thats good for 149 horsepower. But dont be fooled by Nissans claim of 20 per cent more performance versus the current Sentra; the latter was among the least powerful of its segment, so the new model will only be on par with the competition.Check out all of our latest auto show coverage hereWhy does it matter?The outgoing Sentra is not showing on most consumers radars, perhaps because its been with us since 2013, albeit with a minor 2016 refresh. The result has been that, for each Sentra sold in Canada this year (January to September), Hyundai has sold five Elantras, Toyota six Corollas, and Honda as many as eight Civics. The Sentra has not been a rip-roaring success. Even in Quebec, where compact sedans still account for one in every five new vehicles sold, the Nissan Sentra is simmering in mid-pack with a not-so-glamorous three per cent share of the segment.But to its credit, and contrary to some other manufacturers, Nissan is not abandoning cars. Certainly, the latest Sentra could well profit from the demise of the Ford Focus and Chevrolet’s Cruze.Nonetheless, theres a lot of pressure on the new Sentra. For 2020, Nissan is discontinuing both the Micra and Versa Note, leaving the Sentra will have to pick up the slack. On the other hand, the Sentra returns to its 1982 roots and will be the cheapest car in Nissans lineup.When is it coming?The 2020 Nissan Sentra will hit Canadian showrooms late February next year, with three trim levels: S, SV and SR. A CVT will be available across the board, but the base version will still offer a six-speed manual transmission something the U.S. wont get. Prices will be unveiled closer to the on-sale date, but expect something not too far removed from the current price tag. Should you buy it?Not if youre looking for AWD or a five-door version. Sadly, unlike the Mazda3 or even the Altima, the new Sentra doesnt add the AWD. Theres also no hatchback.That said, the Sentra has been known as very comfortable and spacious for a compact sedan, a rare compact that truly excels on the open road. And this latest generation definitely has looks going for it, not to mention Nissans Safety Shield 360, newfound power, and not to mention the Zero Gravity front seats that have proved so popular in other Nissan products.In other words, this new Sentra should break Nissan out of the compact car doldrums its been in for
Origin: Nissan Sentra 2020: Nissan isn’t giving up on (compact) sedans
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Back to school isn’t always a drag
A real crowd pleaser! A firetruck car hauler at the Osoyoos show last weekend.Cam Hutchins This weekend on the B.C. car show calendar is one of my favourites of the year. Friday night it’s back to my old alma mater for the Centennial High School Show Shine, and Saturday it’s out to Mission Raceway Park for the Langley Loafers Old Time Drags. My fellow classmates and I are celebrating our 40th grad anniversary in September, and since lots of us are car nuts we’ll be bringing our cars to the parking lot of Centennial’s new school to help support the future grads. A lot of our teachers from back in the day were also into cars and I remember one memorable teacher, Geoff McElgunn, who taught my brother Jeff, myself and my nephew Andy, mechanics. We had an enormous amount of school shop space back in the day and we worked on all kinds of cars – it was great. Andy went into mechanics as a trade and Geoff retired a few years ago but is still active in the show, has a great old Mopar convertible and was instrumental in getting a Cuda race car for the students to drag race at Mission Raceways. Another alumnus who is a total car nut is Mo Davidson, who was inducted into the Greater Vancouver Pioneers of Motorsport for Drag Boat racing in 2016. Mo brought his boat to the show last year. In 1984 at an official Fraser Valley Drag Boat Association sanctioned event, Mo’s “Red Baron” drag boat covered a quarter mile in 5.7 seconds, setting a record that was still intact in 2016 at his induction. Last weekend I got to see a couple of old classmates from Centennial and Montgomery before that. Thursday evening I went to Stones Speed Shop in Chilliwack to photograph the 1934 Ford “Mindrel Coupe” for a showboard for the Cactus Jalopies Show in Osoyoos. Long-time pal Bernard Cote is working at Stones. And I caught up with another buddy, Ray Brenner, up in Osoyoos with his awesome fenderless 1934 Ford with the massive “boots” at the rear. The cars in Osoyoos were astounding, and I finally got to see JF’s Acadian in person. I also got to see an incredible “tribute” to the classic AFX Funny Car Mustangs of the past. This ’66 fastback Mustang has a 15-inch stretched nose and the rear axle was moved forward 10 inches. Powered by a supercharged 302 it has power windows and doors and was owned by Bob and Lynne Wade. Another wild car was a 1957 Chevy that was found in a wreckers in Washington State 35 years ago. Originally Brian Reinholz only wanted the rare power windows and power seat, but for double that price he got the whole car that was virtually complete. It only recently got finished with a Jimmy 6-71 blower from an actually 6-71 two-stroke diesel he found and stripped apart. The patina is awesome and its registration clearly states…”Go ahead and touch it!!” I look forward to seeing you all tonight and remember, because we grew up in Coquitlam, this is a rain or shine event. Bring a kid along and get a photo of them sitting in my old Chevy truck, as it is also a “hands on” experience. SHOWS JUNE 7 What: Ninth Annual Centennial High School Show Shine Where: Centennial School Student parking lot, 570 Poirier St., Coquitlam When: 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission: Free Registration: Starts at 4 p.m. $15 per vehicle Info: Cam at 604-551-3650 or camsfam@shaw.ca JUNE 8 What: Burrard Yacht Club Classic Boat Car Show Where: 10 Gostick Place, North Vancouver When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: Donations to the Disabled Sailing Association Registration: Open to Collector Vehicles Register at burrardyachtclub.com Info: 604-980-0817 or classiccar@burrardyachtclub.com Website: burrardyachtclub.com JUNE 8-9 What: 32nd Annual Cache Creek Graffiti Days Where: Cache Creek Community Park, Cache Creek When: Saturday Poker Run 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday show shine 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday smoke show 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday swap meet from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission: Free Registration: Free and open to all vehicles 1972 or older. Info: 250-457-7661 or bcelliott@coppervalley.bc.ca Website: cachecreekvillage.com JUNE 9 What: Pontiac Car Club Show Shine Where: KMS parking lot, 300 – 19600 Langley Bypass When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: Free Registration: 9 a. to noon $20 and open to Pontiacs, GMC trucks, Oldsmobiles and Buicks Info: 604-468-3695 or tbeale58@telus.net Website: pppcc.com What: 29th Annual Sockeye Run Show Shine, Where: Steveston Community Centre, Richmond When: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: Free Registration: 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. $15 and open to all vehicles Info: 604-271-5858 email, coordinator@sockeyerun.com or webmaster@richmondlions.club Website: sockeyerun.com What: Murray GM Corvette Camaro Show Where: Murray GM Abbotsford, 30355 Automall Dr., Abbotsford When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission: By donation to BC SPCA Info: 604-857-5200 or info@murraygmabbotsford.com Website: murraygmabbotsford.com What: Steve Marshall Ford Open Car Show Where: 3851 Shenton Rd., Nanaimo When: Noon to 4 p.m.
Origin: Back to school isn’t always a drag
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