New Japanese sports cars unveiled

DETROIT (Kyodo) Japanese automakers on Tuesday unveiled several new sports cars at an auto show in Detroit, including Nissan Motor Co.'s new version of its Fairlady Z sports coupe that was a big hit in the 1970s and 1980s.

At the annual North American International Auto Show, Nissan unveiled a concept model for a new version of the Z sports coupe, with an engine displacement of 3,500cc and an output of more than 260 horsepower.

The new Z car is scheduled to go on sale in Japan and North America in mid-2002, priced at less than $ 30,000, according to Nissan officials.

Mazda Motor Corp. unveiled the RX-8, the successor to the RX-7 -- the only rotary-engine car in the world.

Mazda plans to start selling the four-seat sports coupe, which has two regular front doors and two smaller rear doors, in 2003.

Honda Motor Co. introduced the Acura RS-X, which it plans to put on the North American market in mid-2002.

The Detroit auto show attracted more than 40 automakers from around the world, with participants focusing on next generation low-pollution vehicles, as well as new models and concepts of sport-utility vehicles that are showing robust sales in the North American market.

The auto show will be open until Jan. 21.

DETROIT (Kyodo) Honda Motor Co. won the North American Truck of the Year award on Monday with its Acura MDX sport utility vehicle, while Toyota Motor Corp. took second place in the Car of the Year division with its Prius hybrid-fuel sedan.

The two firms swept four places in the top-three car and truck awards presented at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Car of the Year award went to DaimlerChrysler's retro-look sedan PT Cruiser, while Honda's hybrid Insight was awarded third place.

Toyota's SUV Sequoia won third place in the truck category.

The awards were given on the basis of choices by 50 auto journalists.