Here's a company-by-company rundown of Asian automakers' product plans:
Acura
Honda's luxury division is near a crucial new-product phase that should define its future.
The first U.S.-built Acura debuts in the fall of 1995, slotted between the Integra and Vigor.
A new Honda Inspire will debut in Japan early next spring. It will arrive in the United States as the new Vigor a few months later. It is not yet clear whether it will keep its inline five-cylinder engine or carry a V-6. A coupe derivative will land in the 1997 model year and replace the Legend coupe.
The Legend sedan successor is scheduled for Japan in October 1995. It will probably come to the United States early in 1996. It is expected to be larger and compete further upmarket, but won't have a V-8 and will still be pitched below the Lexus LS*400.
An all-new Integra isn't due until 1997. A open-top NSX will go on sale in Japan next January and in the United States later.
Honda
The big news is the Odyssey minivan, to unveiled in Japan in October and go on sale in the United States in early January.
Industry gossip has saddled the vehicle with low expectations. It is reportedly small, bland and - at least at first - without a V-6. All of which leaves the door open for pleasant surprises.
Honda shies away from calling it a minivan; it's an 'FUV' for 'family-utility vehicle.' Indeed, it is sleek for a monospace people-carrier, longer and lower than Toyota's Previa. Power comes from Honda's 16-valve, 2.2-liter four-cylinder, without Honda's VTEC technology. The seven-seater will be built only at the Sayama plant in Japan. U.S. production is possible if the vehicle proves popular.
The next Civic arrives precisely on a four-year schedule in October 1995 and will have much in common with the current model. The new Prelude is expected later in the 1996 model year or as a 1997.
In Japan, Honda recently ended production of its 13-year-old City because of soft sales. The 1.3-liter 'supermini,' which was once one of Honda's most popular models, won't be replaced directly. But the segment could eventually be filled by a new concept on the drawing boards.
Unlike the City, this entry-level model could be sold in the United States. It would be produced at several locations around the world, possibly in America. But Honda says manufacturing innovations are needed to make the car feasible.
Honda has ruled out building a full-sized sport-utility comparable to the Mitsubishi Montero. But Honda plans a 1.8-liter sport-utility based on the Civic in 1995. A prototype has been shown to recent visitors at the Tochigi research and development center. Its U.S. destiny isn't clear.
Honda has a four-year deal with Isuzu to sell the Passport, a version of Isuzu's Rodeo. That program could be extended, or Honda could decide to enter the segment on its own.
The first Accord with a V-6 goes on sale this fall. A four-year cycle would bring the next Accord in the 1998 model year.
Hyundai
Hyundai will bring its new Accent to the United States next January as a replacement for the Excel. The Accent, now on sale in South Korea, is powered by the company's new Alpha engine.
The next Elantra, code-named J-2, is scheduled for the second half of 1995 as a 1996 model.
A minivan is in the pipeline for the 1997 model year. It will be offered with front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive and long- and short-body styles. Hyundai will probably go ahead with a sport-utility at Hyundai Motor America's request.
It would not arrive before the HCD-2 coupe, which will be ready in 1997 and will be based on the Elantra platform. The new coupe will replace the Scoupe, which will be dropped this fall.
The next Sonata is due in 1999.
Infiniti
The new Nissan Maxima's A32 platform will serve as the basis for a front-wheel-drive Infiniti sedan scheduled for next May. The new Infiniti will fill a slot between the G20 and the J30. It will compete against the Lexus ES 300 and Acura Vigor.
Nissan's Cedric/Gloria platform will get a complete overhaul in Japan for the fall of 1995. The U.S. version, the Q45, will likely arrive in the United States later in spring 1996. The flagship will be powered by a 4.1-liter V-8 instead of the current 4.5-liter V-8.
The G20 is expected to remain unchanged through 1997. There is no sign it will continue after that. The J30 replacement will likely arrive as an early 1998 model.
Nissan has apparently decided not to bring out a stand-alone Infiniti coupe to compete with the Lexus SC 400. A sport-utility remains a possibility, though.
Isuzu
Beginning in January 1996, General Motors will build Isuzu's TF-series compact pickup. It will be based on the Chevrolet S10 and badged the T-150.
The XU-1 concept that starred at last year's Tokyo show could signal a change in direction for Isuzu. The gullwinged doors may not survive, but Isuzu's U.S. chief has hinted strongly that the vehicle will become a reality.
The Rodeo replacement, code-named UCR145, is planned for about 1996. Isuzu is expected to retain most of the exterior - it has strong visual recognition - and overhaul the interior. Honda may help with the development, since it now rebadges Rodeos as Passports.
The Amigo is expected to be gone within a year. Isuzu is deciding how to replace it. One possible option: an entry-level model built off the VehiCross concept, another star in Tokyo last year.
The Trooper (Bighorn in Japan) is scheduled for a facelift this fall. A V-8 version is probably not too far off. A two-door convertible or open-top version, as seen at the 1994 Los Angeles auto show, is under serious consideration. An outright replacement isn't expected before 1999.
Kia
The small Sportage sport-utility will arrive this fall to fill out the new U.S. franchise.
But the third model in Kia's U.S. lineup, a mid-sized sedan, won't arrive before September 1997. That is when the Korean maker will be ready with a new family of 2.0- and 2.5-liter engines developed with Rover Group.
The front-wheel-drive 'G car' rolls out late this year in Korea to replace the domestic-market Concord. Its current engine, derived from the Mazda 626, is expected to be carried over for Korea until the new engines are ready.
The G car was designed in-house. Kia insiders say it looks much like the new Hyundai Sonata but is slightly rounder. The dimensions are nearly identical to the Sonata. The Concord name will not be carried over.
Plans for serial production of the Sephia convertible shown at last fall's Tokyo auto show have been delayed.
A Kia sports car is possible, but only if a ready-made model can be used. The company has been interested in acquiring rights to the defunct Lotus Elan.
Lexus
The long-awaited LS 400 successor, code-named 250T, will enter production this fall, five years after the original sedan hit American shores. The U.S. launch is set for November or December.
Exterior styling cues will basically be carried over. Dimensions are about the same, but the wheelbase has been extended to provide more space in the back.
In August 1996 a new Camry-based ES 300, designated internally as the 416T, will succeed the current Lexus model sold in Japan as the Toyota Windom.
The GS 300 will be updated this fall. A full-scale makeover won't happen before 1998.
An internal future product summary indicates a coupe based on the Japanese-market Crown will appear in the fall of 1997. It could be the SC 400 successor.
Another possibility: The 435T compact luxury sedan in development at Toyota could conceivably emerge as a bottom-rung Lexus when it arrives in 1997.
The long-suspected Lexus sport-utility remains a prospect.
Mazda
Much of Mazda's future product schedule has been up in the air since Ford Motor Co. took a greater management role last December.
Ford's primary aim: disciplined product planning.
The result may be one cycle plan for both companies and fundamental cooperation in global models.
Foreign distributors have been told to expect future plans to be outlined by September.
Mazda has just replaced the Familia/323 in Japan and will launch the car in the United States this fall. But it will drop the 323 hatchback for the United States and focus on a new four-door Protege sedan.
A lean-burn version of the Familia will be introduced soon in Japan. There has been no word on a U.S. version.
In the United States, Mazda has reduced the number of versions of the 929 to set the car apart from the new Millenia. Still, the cars occupy the same market niche and speculation continues to question the future of the 929.
Mazda will bring out a new MPV minivan, code-named J82Y, for the 1996 model year. It is expected to be front-wheel drive.
Doubts abound about the J30C sport-utility project. It has been identified in a company future product summary as an all-new model, similar to Mitsubishi's Montero. The J30C would either take up a new position in the lineup or replace the Proceed Marvie.
According to one timetable given suppliers, preproduction prototypes begin running this fall and serial production was to start in December. But the project is thought to have been delayed, or maybe canceled outright.
The next compact pickup, again built by Ford, will arrive in 1999.
The RX-7 and MX-5 Miata will get periodic refinements throughout the decade. The Miata's successor could arrive in 1999. The next MX-3 would be expected in about 1996, but it is not clear whether the car will survive Ford's scrutiny.
A narrow-body Cronos/626 bearing the Capella name will be introduced in Japan this fall. If Mazda follows a five-year cycle, the next MX-6/626 would arrive in fall 1996.
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi follows this summer's release of a new Eclipse with a convertible next January.
The replacement for the Diamante flagship won't arrive in the United States until the 1996 model year - at the earliest.
A 3000GT Spyder with a retractable hardtop is due this fall. An all-new 3000GT should be ready for the 1997 model year.
An update for the Montero (Pajero in Japan) can be expected in the summer of 1995. According to an internal future product summary, a revised 'North American specifications' version will be ready next July.
The Expo small van (Chariot in Japan) is remodeled in Japan this fall, but apparently won't come to the United States. The U.S. sales arm has already taken the Expo and Expo LRV out of retail fleets.
The next Mirage (Lancer in Japan) should arrive in 1996 and a new Galant in 1998. In November, the Galant gets a V-6.
Two other products have outside chances of making it to the United States. An aggressive-looking new FTO small coupe goes on sale in Japan in November. Also, Mitsubishi is preparing to bring out an all-new model, designated 2A00 and referred to as the 'mini-Pajero.' The two-seater hits the Japanese market this December.
Nissan
The new 1995 Maxima is already on sale. The new Sentra and a sporty-coupe derivative that revives the 200SX name debut early next year.
The scheduled arrival of the next Altima hinges on Japanese product cycles. The Bluebird version is due in Japan in the fall of 1995 - unless Nissan departs from a four-year cycle. The new Altima shouldn't be expected before fall 1996, and a spring 1997 debut may be more likely.
A somewhat tamer-looking 300ZX will arrive in about 1996.
Nissan is scheduled to replace the Terrano sport-utility in Japan in the coming model year. The U.S. version, the Pathfinder, is expected for the 1996 model year. The new version, the first since 1986, gets more horsepower with a new V-6. Its unibody construction will make it less truck like.
The Nissan pickup will be freshened in 1995 and replaced in the 1997 model year. The Quest minivan will get a mid-life spruce-up in the 1996 model year and be replaced about three years later.
Subaru
With a new Legacy and an 18-month-old Impreza, Subaru has its foundation in place.
But there is fine-tuning to come. This fall, a rugged Outback version follows the August debut of the 1995 Legacy sedan. A 'sport-utility' variant comes a year later.
The SVX sports coupe, revised in 1994, has an uncertain future. Still, Fuji officials say they have no plans to drop or replace the 3-year-old car in the near term.
Justy exports to the United States have been discontinued. Its place may be taken by a version of the Nissan March minicar.
The next Impreza should arrive in the 1998 model year. A smaller, lighter and roomier Legacy will come about a year later on an all-new platform.
Suzuki
Suzuki will launch a new Swift (Cultus in Japan) during the 1995 model year and follow a year later with its new, 2.0-liter 'N-car.'
Both the N-car sedan and Cultus are said to have wheels pushed out, wider tracks and longer wheelbases. An N-car coupe is expected in about 1997.
Suzuki launches its new X-90 4wd mini-sport-utility in the summer of 1995. It is expected to be in U.S. showrooms by fall. The 1.6-liter, T-top two-seater sits on the two-door Sidekick chassis. The Samurai will be discontinued after the 1994 model year.
Suzuki is reputed to be planning a wide-body, V-6 version of the Escudo for launch in Japan this fall to compete with Toyota's red-hot new RAV4.
An all-new Sidekick/Escudo will arrive during the 1996 model year. For that year at least, Suzuki's U.S. dealers will sell the old four-door version alongside the new model.
Toyota
The Kentucky-built Avalon coming this fall gives Toyota its long-awaited six-seater sedan and a replacement for the Cressida. It will also mark the start of a surge of new products.
Due in America during the next year are a Celica convertible, the next Tercel, and the RAV4 small sport-utility. And new 2wd and 4wd versions of Toyota's compact pickup will enter production in California next January.
An extended cab version of the T100 will be introduced for the 1995 model year. A new T100 - still without a V-8 - is expected in 1998 or 1999.
The Paseo (Cynos in Japan) will be replaced in Japan early next year and probably arrive as a 1996 model.
Also in the works is a European-flavored, upscale sedan dubbed 435T. Details are sketchy - the all-new car could be a Lexus. It appears to be sprung from the next-generation 416T front-wheel-drive U.S. Camry platform. Plans call for production to begin in May 1997. The Camry itself will arrive in fall 1996. Later that year, a new Camry-based minivan (477T) replaces the Previa, equipped with the Avalon's V-6.
The next Corolla (350T) debuts next May in Japan. It will borrow substantially from the current model in an effort to hold down costs. It should arrive in the United States in summer 1996.
The U.S.-spec 4Runner sport-utility (185T), will be overhauled in January 1996, and the four-door Land Cruiser (404T) gets a full model change in May 1996.
Toyota's MR2 mid-engined two-seater is not scheduled to be replaced at all. Its place could possibly be taken by the 038T, a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive sport sedan in the vein of the BMW 3 series.
