2013 Nissan Altima longs to be America’s sweetheart sedan

Nissan wanted to wait until tomorrow to reveal its 2013 Altima sedan at the 2012 New York Auto Show, but an Internet leak means the news is out today -- and in a show full of luxury cars and concepts, the new Altima stands as Nissan's bid to build the best-selling car in America. On screen it's competitive, but the real proof will come from the road.

The first redesign of the Altima since 2007 follows a boom in midsize sedans which have turned them into some of the toughest comers on dealers' lots. Within 12 months, there have been new versions of the Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Camry and Chevy Malibu, a freshened Hyundai Sonata, and coming shortly will be new editions of the Ford Fusion and Honda Accord. All have been riding the resurgence of car sales to new heights, even as the rules for success have hardened into a rigid formula: Four doors, big trunk, small engine, impressive fuel economy. And as with any pack of competitors scrumming for an advantage, little details make all the difference.