Indholdsfortegnelse for August 2002 i MotorTrend

Pretty soon, you're talking trade-in Irv Gordon and David Witte must laugh at those “100,000-Mile Club” bumper stickers on aging Subarus. Retired science teacher Gordon's ’66 Volvo P1800 turned two million miles while on Broadway in New York City this year, in time for the city’s auto show and Volvo's 75th anniversary celebration. Witte’s ‘94 Honda Accord has an odometer reading of 687,723, but that’s because the original speedometer conked out after 390K. Each clutch lasted nearly half a million. Fuel pumps, too, though Witte is bummed the second one went shortly before he sold the car to Hendricks Honda in Woodbridge, Virginia, after 1,081,370 miles. The first alternator went 430K, the car used five radiators, and it had a ball joint break at about 600K. The only engine repairs…

Saab doesn’t launch new models often. So when one does roll out of Trollhattan, it's news; and there are several newsy angles to the upcoming 93. It shares a front-drive chassis platform with several other of its GM-branded cousins, including the just-launched Opel Vectra, and future products from both Chevrolet and Pontiac. It’s also the first new car to hit the market since GM purchased full ownership of Sweden’s other car company a few years back. Worried about the 93 becoming an Opelevrolac clone? Don’t: Saab’s designers, engineers, and product planners were involved right from the beginning. So, expect ed marque traits like an all-turbocharged engine lineup, and the ignition switch mounted in its proper place on the center console, are all in place. The current three-door, five-door, and…

There are at least a couple great, big-V-8-motored, full-size sedans in Mercedes-Benz’ history, specifically the 300SEL 6.3 of the late ’60s and the simply named, simply fast 6.9 of a decade later. This AMG-ified S-Class is based on the same theme, but takes its execution to a wholly higher level. The S55 AMG shares its basic appearance with the already snarky S-Class sedan in Sport Package form. But instead of standard 4.3 or 5.0L V-8s, think 354-hp hand built 5.4L AMG power. And don’t forget its 391 Ib-ft of torque at just 3000 revs. The rest of the package can handle the punch: Active Body Control suspension, special 18-in. alloy wheels, fabulously supportive Nappa leather-trimmed sport seats, whiteface gauges, and just about every normal S-Class option as standard. This…

Everything about the new Saleen S7 must be placed in context. Which is easy since the car has no direct competitors and its $395,000 pricetag ensures it’ll be sold to wealthy collectors, entertainers, and pro athletes for whom cost is no object. That frees us from those pesky judgments about value for money. If you have the means to add an S7 to your fleet, you could probably afford several; and if its Le Mans-comes-to-Main Street formula appeals to you, it won’t matter what anyone else says. So you, and we, will invent the standards for judging this car as we go along. Certainly, the Saleen team invented its own standards for the S7. From the start, the mandate was to create a road-capable automobile that imparted a powerful sense…

In Europe, where fuel prices cause American tourists to gasp and clutch their chests, coaxing the most from the least is the norm. Oil-burners are accepted in the Old World, to the point where premium manufacturers such as BMW put dieseis in their top-shelf models. Volkswagen brings a high-efficiency Jetta model into the U.S., powered by a 1.9L/90-hp four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. Like most diesels, its forte is torque, cranking out 155 Ib-ft at only 1900 rpm. This grunt allows the Jetta to step smartly off the line on a par with the two hybrids in this test, while delivering 42.3 mpg on the same loop the same day as the gas/electric hybrids. While it doesn’t exude clouds of blue-tinted smoke as did diesels of yesteryear, the $20,685 TDI Jetta…

James Bond is a busy guy behind the wheel. What with baddies chasing him all over creation, rocket launchers to aim, and an exquisite dollybird in the copilot seat to chat up, he just can’t mess about with old-fashioned shift levers and declutching. With Aston Martin’s equally exquisite Vanquish as his new ride, he doesn’t have to. The Big V employs much the same Magneti-Marelli electrohydraulically managed shifting system as do Ferrari and Maserati. In this application, however, it controls a Tremec T-56 six-speed manual gearbox, similar to that in a Viper. A pad-‘dle on the right side of the steering column controls upshifts, the one on the left actuates downshifts. As with the Italians, these attractive, leather-trimmed aluminum paddles are fixed to the column and don’t turn with the…

When we last reported on our Camry SE, it was fresh off the transporter, with just 270 miles on the odo. Since then, staffers have traveled from L.A. to Florida and back, with a lot of driving in between. About a year’s worth of miles (12,314) are now behind us, and we’re looking to double that before our One-Year Test ends. To date, the Camry has been relatively trouble free, requiring only the tightening of a rattly exhaust heat shield, a couple of oil changes, and a tire rotation (totaling $76.30). Our gang likes the roomy interior, supportive seats, and JBL stereo that satisfies our audiophile ears. While on its Florida tour of duty, Online Editorial Director Bartlett noted, “It would be hard to find a more pleasant commuter than…

AT FIRST GLANCE, THE FORMULA FOR SELLING A SUCCESSFUL sport/utility vehicle looks rather easy. Start with a sturdy platform, cover with a four-door two-box wagon body, slip a 180-240-hp engine under the hood, equip the interior with plenty of sedan cues, and then show it being used in aspirational settings. Offer 4WD for those who want to head for the hills, or at least make it look like they could. But, as the saying goes, if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. Based on the unit-body Nissan Pathfinder, Infiniti released the QX4 into consumers’ hands as a ’97 model, and for ’01, Nissan’s premium brand gave this midsize SUV its first major redesign. A number of issues in previous versions were addressed to good effect with the ’01…

It was Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Corvette’s spiritual father and first chief engineer, who made the new-for-’63 Sting Ray race-ready out of the showroom. This limited-edition performance package was named after its factory ordering designation: “Z06.” The ZO6 model returned for ’01—and also proved a performance terror straight out of the box. With its 5.7L LS6 V-8 (packing 385 hp and 385 Ib-ft of torque) and six-speed transaxle, melting the 295/35ZR18 Goodyear Eagle F1 SC rear tires into the asphalt is easy. GM wisely includes its three-mode (active, competitive, and off) second-generation Active Handling system on the Z06, working in conjunction with the FE4 suspension (larger front anti-roll bar, stiffer rear leaf springs, and revised camber settings). This makes the Z remarkably tossable and highly capable on the track, without inducing…

GET ONE YEAR FOR ONLY $10 Subscribe to Truck Trend. It’s the only magazine dedicated to every new pickup and SUV on the road today. From new trucks to specialty performance vehicles and everything in between - it’s all in here. On and off the road you get real-world payload ratings, trailer-tow comparisons and cargo capacity specs. Plus we review wheels and tires, bedliners, tow equipment and much, much more. To subscribe, simply fill out the attached card and mail it back. Or send payment, along with your name and address to: Truck Trend, PO Box 53525, Boulder CO, 80322-3525. VISIT US ON THE WEB AT WWW.TRUCKTREND.COM Canadian orders add $13.00 per year (including GST), all other foreign orders add $15.00 per year (for surface mail postage); all payments must…

Midsize Matters | bought your May ’02 issue at the airport and was very impressed. The “Mainstream Midsizers” report was the most comprehensive and useful comparison test I’ve seen in many years of reading automotive publications. The thoroughness, clear graphics, use of sidebars, and attention to practical detail were top notch. | also enjoyed the comparison of the three mini-sport-wagons (and wished it were as complete as the midsizers report). While we can lust for Jaguar XJRs, Mazda RX-8s, or top-tier luxo-sedans, most of us have to live in the real world limited by income, driving environment, and family needs. This issue was a good balance. | think I’ll be subscribing. Steven E. Daskal—Springfield, Va. Having reviewed the “Midsize Matters” comparison, | have to say the Camry won only by…

Fiat is having a rough time selling cars in a competitive European market, and it’s losing money. So it has issued an Initial Public Offering of shares in Ferrari. If share value were tied to Formula One World Championship success and to exciting product, we'd consider Schumacher's likely fifth title, the new FX street-legal supercar and the Maserati Quattroporte as good “buy” indicators. But we're no Smith Schwab Barney Merrill Lynch Ameritrade, so please: Heed no investment advice on these pages. Note instead all the fast cars and innovative trucks in the news, including the Audi RS4 and more details on the all-new Mustang. Audi Zowie—While Audi has scrubbed plans for an A4 four-door sport coupe, it will build a proper two-door coupe from its new A4 Cabriolet. That A4…

A sport/utility for Felix and Oscar There are clean loads and there are dirty loads—this sport/utility vehicle handles both. Available on the stretched midsize (GMT370) platform, the Envoy XUV in rear or all-wheel drive offers exceptional versatility. The five-seater’s important special features are an electrically powered roof that slides back and forth over the rear cargo area, a hinged midgate with a window that powers up and down, an all-weather cargo area, and a tailgate that drops down or swings open for closer load-floor access. The midgate swings up to seal off the load area, which is rugged enough to be hosed out. XUV buyers can specify either the 275-hp 4200 Vortec inline-six or the 285-hp 5300 Vortec V-8, with a four-speed automatic. Although the vehicle is built on the…

Ford’s 1,8L turbo-powered Focus isn’t sold in the United States. That could change. Oil-burning Foci like this one—borrowed from Ford’s Scientific Research Laboratory in Dearborn, Michigan—have been wowing Europeans for a year. Future California emission laws for particulates and oxides of nitrogen are posing stiff problems for the lab types. They say they have catalysts and other solutions that’ll work, but only if the sulfur content in U.S.-spec diesel fuel is substantially reduced. Let’s hope Ford licks the problems, because this car scoots. Our 75-mph commute, combined with brisk around-town trips, yielded a 38-mpg average—not stellar, but a worthy improvement over a gas-powered Focus. Staying off the go-pedal is tough—yes, a fun-to-drive diesel. It goes 0-60 in 9.9 sec, no big downside compared to the gas unit’s 9.5-sec runs.…

If the charmingly cross-eyed Morgan Aero 8 cuts an almost surreal Dali-esque visual dash—a blend of traditional proportions with contemporary detail—then the notion accurately reflects the inner nature of a remarkable car. This is a new kind of Morgan, combining cutting-edge aluminum chassis technology with innovative suspension design and a 4.4L BMW V-8. The old Plus 8 and Plus 4 remain in production, while the Aero 8 has been conceived to appeal to those who crave the Morgan cachet, but want a more modern—and seriously capable—sports car. Stiff, light, and strong, the computer-modeled chassis uses special bonding techniques (unique to the Aero 8) and is supplied by Alcan. The suspension features a unique cantilever arrangement (for which Morgan has applied for a patent) combined with lower wishbones and expensive…

David Leone, chief engineer for the Cadillac XLR, wants us to clearly understand that his 330-hp luxury/sport roadster is not a Corvette—neither in content nor in purpose. It’s been conceived as a polished, smooth-riding two-seater flagship aimed at Mercedes-Benz’ SL500, Jaguar’s XKR, and Lexus’ SC 430. The design and engineering goal was to create a car that’s cozy curbside on Park Avenue and equally happy making tracks on the Interstate. “It’s a luxury car with performance-car roots,” explains the affable Leone, “and it’s also the first vehicle off the next-generation performance architecture.” But he knows that ignoring the car’s Corvette connection is impossible. When production cranks up next May, the XLR will be built in the same Bowling Green, Kentucky, plant that assembled the 33,655 Corvettes sold last (calendar) year.…

“An automatic in a sports car? BS!” That’s usually the reaction when the notion of Porsche’s Tiptronic transmission comes up. But not everyone’s into the stick-and-clutch game, so Porsche developed Tiptronic more than a decade ago for those who want to go clutchless. Tiptronic is an automatic transaxle offering both sequential and automatic modes, and, over time, Porsche has continued to update it from both a hardware and software standpoint. The current Tiptronic S has five forward gears. A floor-mounted shifter gives you the choice of Drive (fully automatic) or Manual (sequential operation). Once in the sequential mode, up- and downshifts are summoned via thumb-operated buttons on the steering wheel. Manual operation leaves most of the decisions to the driver and makes trans up- and downshifts reasonably quickly. Drive is…

A dense trail of fine dust follows the 0-hp Subaru WRX as it slides through the corner in a four-wheel drift. The crowd of spectators above the corner cheers wildly. A minute later another car screams past, spitting fire out of its exhaust pipe as the driver eases off the gas pedal and touches the brakes to force his turbocharged 400-hp 4WD Hyundai Tiburon into a power slide. If you’ve watched any of the spectacular footage of the World Rally Championship on Speed Channel or if you’ve played a rally game on a Sony PlayStation or a PC, you’ll know that rallying is one of the most exciting forms of motorsport What you probably don’t know is that the scene described isn’t from some exotic rally in Africa or the…

There’s a product for every conceivable automotive situation, from cleaning windows to loosening frozen fasteners. Sure, you can spend hours, and dollars, poring over the hundreds of products at the local auto-parts store seeking just the right bottle of this or can of that to make your life easier and vehicle running or looking better. But if you can use items found around the house, it might save a frantic last-minute trip and keep a few bucks, to boot. Here are some homegrown remedies: • Pour cola on a frozen nut and bolt, let sit a few minutes, tap lightly, and then turn. • For removing stubborn hard-water stains from windows, try white vinegar and a green kitchen-scrubbing pad. Dry with newspapers. • WD-40 makes a great bug and tar…

IN SPITE OF THE PROLIFERATION OF SPORT/UTILITIES, THE sport-sedan segment is hot. It’s the type of vehicle that can make or break a maker’s reputation and bottom line, as well. So in mid-2000, Lexus decided to get into this competitive game with its 01-modelyear IS 300. The car came to market in Japan as the Toyota Altezza and the U.K. as the IS 200, albeit with a smallish, 2.0L motor. Lexus knew the Altezza’s 153-hp inline-six wouldn’t cut it with American buyers who were already fond of BMW’s 193-hp 328i and the 225-hp Acura TL. Wisely, Lexus borrowed the more powerful 2UZ-GE 3.0L 1-6 from the company’s larger and heavier GS 300 sedan. In IS tune, it was good for 215 hp, routed through a five-speed automatic to the rear…

I's taken the latest developments in computerized engine-management systems to make internal-combustion/electric-hybrid power setups even semi-practical for production and everyday use. But the idea is hardly a new one. The pert little coupe featured here looks part Ford Pinto and part Chevrolet Chevette, with a dash of Opel something or other thrown in for good measure. No: It’s actually a General Motors Styling studio mockup of a proposed “experimental special purpose commuter car,” called the XP-883. Its potential claim to fame was that it could “utilize gasoline, electric, or hybrid gasoline-electric power systems,” according to the press release that accompanied this photo. Hmm—not so different from the Honda and Toyota hybrids tested in this very issue. Yet, the XP-883 was first shown at the GM Progress of Power presentation, which…

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Italian-car aficionados who’ve wished for a Jerrari-inspired four-door sedan need wait only until late 2004, when Maserati’s new Quattroporte reaches North America. No, it’s not a Ferrari, but Ferrari owns the marque, and there’s every indication that this Pininfarina-designed sedan will serve nicely as family or couples-night-out-transport for the guy who drives a 575M Maranello to work. The overall size of the Quattroporte, shown here in official early renderings from Maserati, is about that of a Mercedes S-Class. The chassis is new, but is likely to receive a version of the new GT/Spyder’s suspension. The engine, too, is expected to be a V-8 based on the GT/Spyder’s 4.2L/385-hp naturally aspirated DOHC; possibly something in the 4.5-4.6L range, making about 425 hp. A five- or six-speed rear-mounted automatic transaxle will be…

If this adage is still true then surely the phenomenal popularity of NASCAR would’ve meant greatly increased sales of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Ford Taurus, Dodge Intrepid, and Pontiac Grand Prix—the cars raced by NASCAR's stars. Sadly, for the manufacturers pumping millions of dollars into the Winston Cup this is not true. Since the early ’90s, when NASCAR wasn't quite as popular as now, half the models raced have disappeared, and the four remaining cars have barely managed to maintain their market share, let alone increase sales. In reality, NASCAR is about the drivers and not the cars, as the race cars no longer bear any relationship to the showroom car, nor to SUVs that have become the vehicle of choice. On the other hand, rallying, which uses street-legal cars,…

Corvette says “fast” in any language. But for the ’03 model year, it’ll also mean “smoother ride.” Even for its 50th-anniversary year, GM hasn’t messed with the C5’s looks or powertrains all that much. The news is a technologically advanced damping system that provides body and wheel control verging on that of a fully active suspension. This technology, developed by GM Research and supplier Delphi Corporation, is called Magnetic Selective Ride Control, or F55. A version of it is already found in the ’02 Cadillac Seville STS, and MSRC will be fitted to the upcoming XLR roadster. A rotary switch on the console allows the driver to select Tour and Sport modes. Corvette engineers told us that the Sport setting (they call it “ground hook”) is strictly…

This September, Buick will finally get the truck it’s always wanted. Built on the same rugged, full-frame GMT360 SUV platform as the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy, the Buick Rainier will take the place of the fading Oldsmobile Bravada as General Motor’s premium midsize sport/utility. That means a standard 275-hp Vortec 4200 inline-six, RWD or AWD drivetrains, and standard rear air suspension. For '04, an optional 5.3L/285-hp V-8 will be offered, the same one that does such fine duty in most Chevy and GMC full-size pickups. At present, the V-8 can be had only in long-wheelbase versions of the TrailBlazer and Envoy, so the Buick will be the only short-wheelbase member of this platform to get the V-8. Up front, there's a tough-looking new Buick-style fascia, bigmouth grille, and…

• BMW 330i • Cadillac CTS • Infiniti G35 You finally got that office with a door. Your foot is firmly planted on the middle rung of the corporate ladder, but you’re reaching ever higher. Which new car will say just the right thing about you and your newfound status, while delivering the kind of driving pleasure you now deserve? Here are three sporting suggestions: BMW’s familiar 3 30i, Cadillac’s new CTS, and Infiniti’s very new G3S. These sedans define the core values of their respective makers and reflect what they want to say about themselves on a fundamental, aspirational level. As a result, they also say something about you, the driver. Note that none of these six-cylinder sedans represents its company’s most powerful, most technology-laden, highest-priced, or even largest…

In the automotive realm, manufacturers are working toward an eco-friendly performance vehicle that sips fuel like a tee-totaler in a speakeasy, yet lays tracks like a Viper. Governmental pressure has forced carmakers to build and sell vehicles that effectively increase fuel mileage across their entire product line. Nontraditional powertrains are but. one of many technologies currently being developed to address future mileage requirements. Toyota and Honda have tackled the challenges, and both carmakers have introduced a car they hope fits the needs of the current and future market. Just how real-world-friendly is each company’s offering? Toyota was the first one in the hybrid pool with the release of its Prius sedan. Introduced first for the Japanese market in ’97 with just 58 hp underhood, the Prius was revised for U.S.…

Testing the magic mechanisms of the Aston Martin Vanquish Audi A4 1.8T CVT BMW M3 SMG Chrysler 300M Special Porsche Carrera Cabriolet Tiptronic S Toyota MR2 SMT Transmissions aren't what - Bhiey used to be: They’re really so much more. Two -and three-speed automatics have given way to computer-controlled four-, five-, and now even six-speed units. The old three-on-the-tree is now at least five-on-the-floor, with six-speed manual gearboxes ever more common. Some manual transmissions are equipped with sophisticated shifting mechanisms that can make them operate like automatics. And there are automatics with all manner of buttons and levers intended to offer some of the control and satisfaction associated with driving a stick. Finally, there’s a new breed of transmission, based on a very old concept, that doesn’t have any “gears”…

Leave it to BMW to make something special out of a transmission. Its sequential manual gearbox has been officially named SMG, and it’s a seriously high-tech piece. Like the Magneti-Marelli system employed by Ferrari, Maserati, and Aston-Martin, BMW’s is an electrohydraulically managed six-speed manual. It, too, offers a fully automatic mode and easy-to-flick paddles on the steering column—in this application, they move with the wheel, so they’re never out of reach. But it goes well beyond offering just a Sport mode. In fact, there are six distinct shifting maps. Every such notion needs an exclusive name, so BMW calls it Drivelogic. The driver may select mode A1 (relaxed shifts, low-rpm upshift points, late downshifts) to A5 (fast, high-rpm shifts, and ultra-quick downshifts). We found A1 and A2 just too lazy…

True sequential manual transmissions have been the province of the Rich and Famous: Aston Martin, Maserati, et al. Not any more. Toyota has given the MR2 Spyder an SMT as of this year, and we suspect it'll be a popular option. It’s significant, if for no other reason than that it brings the price-of-entry for this technology down from the automotive stratosphere. For the money, you'd expect it to have fewer features than the high-buck setups, and it does. As with the standard MR2, there are five forward ratios instead of the oft-seen six. And there’s no automatic mode, though Toyota’s SMT system does give you the option of shifting via steering wheel-mounted buttons or through the fore-and-aft movement of its chrome-gated floor shifter. Upshift buttons are on the front…

The Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute are strong sellers in the compact sporv/utility marketplace—and this fact has not been lost on the aftermarket. California Car Cover Company, an outfit best known for its quality car covers and nifty car dusters, has a bunch of good stuff available for these corporate cousins (and a lot of other models, too). Case in point is this CCCC-ized Escape, built for up-and-coming pop vocalist Jaci Velasquez. This project began with removing all the stock body cladding, sanding the panels smooth, and fogging on a layer of retina-scorching yellow paint. A set of WAAG front and rear brush guards were installed for protection and a tough-guy look. More tricks include a set of PIAA driving lights and WAAG tube-style running boards that also got the…

Is the X-Type an important vehicle for Jaguar? You bet. A prime candidate for MTs One-Year Test? Duh. Starting at $35,950, our nearly loaded 3.0L X-Type is bathed in Platinum Metallic paint ($550) and fitted with the Premium Sound Package ($1200), X1 Premium package (power moonroof, 70/30 split rear seat, eight-way power driver seat, adjustable front lumbar pads, electrochromatic rearview mirror, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, reverse park control, Homelink, and a message center, all for $2500), the X2 Sport package (17-in. sport alloys, body-color accents, rear spoiler, sport seats, sport suspension, Dynamic Stability Control, and gray bird’s-eye maple interior pieces at $2000), plus the $600 X3 weather package (front seat heaters and heated headlamp washers). We stuck with the five-speed. At over 4000 miles, there have been no problems, except…

For those who are considering Viagra, may we suggest the following alternative: Chevrolet's Duramax Diesel-powered Silverado HD. With over 500 lb-ft of torque available at only 1800 rpm, many a staffer has been tempted to race Camaros and Mustangs for pink slips. Senior Feature Editor Mead used the HD to pull a 5000-lb boat and trailer from a local lake, noting, "With the water down some 14 feet from normal levels, the launch ramp was a mess of mud and lake weed. Slipping the HD into 4LOW, we used a touch of throttle to ease the trailer out of the muck. At the top of the ramp, we had admirers and requests to pull fellow boaters out." While we're enamored with the diesel's pulling power, we can't get used to…