Indholdsfortegnelse for June 1990 i MotorTrend

The other night, I was having dinner with Otto Wachs, a public relations man for Volkswagen AG, the parent company of Volkswagen of America, when the subject of the woes of VW on this side of the Atlantic came up. Wachs had jetted in that day from Wolfsburg to observe VWoA’s short-lead press preview, which he did with the bemusement of a member of a league-leading major-league team visiting the nark of an also-ran minor-league affiliate. Despite the slings and arrows Volkswagen has suffered here, it remains at the top of the heap in Europe, the leader in market share, so Wachs was, at the same time, smug and concerned. The success of the parent company allows him to sleep peacefully at night, but the current trial of its U.S.…

GIUGIARO’S DREAMS COME TRUE The ItalDesign Aztec, Giorgetto Giugiaro’s adventurous show car, will go Into production—complete with its Jaguar D-Type-inspired twin cockpits, two tiny wraparound windshields, see-through door inserts, and spaceshiplike rear side panels. The Aztec was one of three design exercises unveiled at the 1988. Turin Salon to mark the 20th birthday of Giugiaro’s studio-Giugiaro admitted then he would have liked to sell 200 copies of the car, but that his partner, Aldo Mantovani, had rejected the idea as too risky. Now a Turin-based trading company, Compact srl, has negotiated rights to make and market the vehicle (albeit without ItalDesign badges) under license. At an anticipated rate of one per week, the Aztec will be built by Carrozzeria Savio, also of Turin, for one year. It’ll be powered by…

Over the past four decades, Saab-Scania AB has enjoyed considerable market success by turning non-traditional—no, we didn’t say weird-design approaches into salable assets. Despite a dossier that includes some genuinely singular styling exercises, corn-popper 2-stroke engines, and quaint ergonomic details like burying the ignition switch between the front seats, the Cult of Saab has established quite a worldwide following. Things took a major turn toward the conventional in 1986, when the firm introduced the 9000 series, a luxury front-driver based on a platform codeveloped with Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Lancia. Newest member of the corporate lineup, it represents a major break with the past. Although not exactly a mainstream exercise, the 9000 eschews much of the quirkiness found in the aging 900 model line. Still, it does retain one distinctive…

Chevrolet has an uncanny habit of communicating with its customers in alien tongues. The quickest rvette to scorch the earth during the ’60s wore an innocent-sounding L88 sales code. The fastest Camaros hidden behind a ZL-1 label. To run with the big dogs today, one must, utter the password “ZR-1” (while waving a fistful of thousand-dollar bills). It’s the modern equivalent of a 20s speak-easy; Io open the door to. Chevrolet’s storehouse of interesting automobiles, you’ve first got to learn this freaky language. All true Chevy fans have long ago erased “IROC” from their secret code books. That moniker now describes designer Dodge Day-tonas match racing around ovals and road coures as a sideshow during NASCA’fe^fhatbh Cup events. But before you toast the return of the Z28 and permanently kiss…

A full-boat road test of family sedans is a good idea once in a while. We spend lots of our arduous work days in snarly, mega-buck, plastic-fantastic, double-throwdown V-8-engined cars, with 2+2 seating at best and no room for cargo unless it’s strapped outside to a decklid luggage rack. It isn’t an easy Job, but we’re used to it. Inter-rupting this constant parade of automotive Miss Americas with a few automotive Mrs. Americas, with four doors, 5-6 seats, six cylinders, and actual trunks, gets us back into the real world a little bit. We’re grateful for that, too. These family-style cars don’t have snarly, double-throwdown V-8s under their hoods, but they don’t make you bungee those floppy plastic grocery bags to a luggage rack, either. The Dodge Monaco, Mercury Sable,…

Never, emphasize never, let it be said that utilitarian transport need be dull. So you have to drive the kids to school, drop off the BMX bikes for new knobbies, and pick up a half ton of groceries on the way home? No sweat. Just don’t try to do this unnoticed if you’re behind the wheel of Oldsmobile’s Silhouette mini-van. This spacy new vehicle is many things to many people, but one thing it’s not is stylistically low-profile. Rest assured that all eyes will be upon you. GM designers didn’t just go out on a limb with their new APV (all-purpose vehicle)—they climbed to the very reaches of the mini-van family tree, plucked an ethereal body from the heavens, and dropped it smack in the middle of their ’90 lineup.…

FREE NEWSLETTER COPY Are auto-investment newsletters really worth their subscription price? Many knowledgeable investors think so, but here’s a risk-free way to judge for yourself. You can receive a free sample copy of Automotive Investor by calling 212/2892300 or writing M.A. Liebert, Inc., 1651 Third Ave., New York, NY 10128. Normal subscription price is $275 for 12 monthly issues. Motor Trend readers may receive a special introductory one-year subscription for $99.95. SEARCH PATTERNS We’ve all heard the phrase, “collector cars are out there—you just have to find them.” However, this offers little comfort to those who simply cannot locate the right car at the right price. Beyond scouring newspaper and magazine ads, attending auctions, and putting the word out, how can an intrepid collector car buyer go about finding the…

’91 FORD EXPLORER—SPORT UTILITY REDEFINED The ’91 Ford Explorer sets new benchmarks in style, engineering and quality: It’s a new sport utility vehicle for the Nineties. CUSTOMER DRIVEN When the Explorer was just a bright idea, Ford surveyed sport utility owners to find out what they wanted in this kind of vehicle. Only then did Ford designers go to work, incorporating all they learned into the new Explorer. They gave it the comforts and conveniences of a car—a choice of two or four doors, a smooth ride, ample interior room, even leather trim as an option—and the ruggedness, durability and power of a sport utility vehicle—a tough ladder frame, improved corrosion resistance, independent front suspension and a standard V6 engine. STYLISH The Explorer’s look is fresh, bold and contemporary and…

To Coin a Phrase I loved the April edition of the magazine. It’s about time you talked about Corvettes instead of the inferior 300ZX. You should dedicate one whole magazine to the greatest car of all time! Keith AllenHopewellJunction, N.Y. And just what car would that be, Keith?—Ed. Your Super Vette test was well done, with a good story, great reports on the individual cars, excellent photography, and an awesome double-sided ZR-1 poster. Compared to Car and Driver’s Corvette ZR-1 road test, on a scale of 1 to 10, yours is an 11, and theirs is a -1.I didn’t even bother to look at the April Road & Track because they know about as much about cars as Coins magazine does. Jason DrakeEau Claire, Wis. But they do understand the…

General Motors President Bob Stempel, recently named as the successor to corporation Chairman Roger Smith when he retires, told reporters at the 60th Geneva International Auto Show that planners would decide “in the next two months” whether or not to build the Impact electric car for production. “It’s the first practical electric car with the performance, equipment, and range to compete with conventional automobiles powered by internal combustion engines,” Stempel said. Insiders believe the decision may be to go forward with limited production of the innovative, futuristic battery-powered 2-seater. GM engineers designed the Impact from the ground up as an electric car, the corporation says. The vehicle includes heating and air conditioning, and driver and passenger amenities. More important, it meets all federal safety standards for mass-produced passenger cars. Engineering…

What’s a Capri? Simple: It’s a down-under idea for an American-market car, built in Australia, based partially on a Japanese design, with styling refined from input around the world, andavailable at your nearest Lincoln-Mercury dealer. Did you follow that? Maybe it would’ve been simpler not to ask. This new Capri has nothing to do with the dim recollections you might have about the last little car Mercury marketed under the same name. Mercury’s planners revived the Capri moniker for this new car, but they didn’t resuscitate anything else. Today’s Capri is a totally new car, albeit one with a convoluted history. In 1983, Ford of Europe revealed to the world a Ghia-designed convertible in shows in Europe and Japan. The voluptuous little 2-seater, called the Barchetta, was well received enough…

When a new kid enters school, all the other kids give him a wide berth until they get to know him. He’s an unknown, a mystery. His classmates are reluctant to play with him until they find out for themselves if he’s okay. The Geo family of imported cars is in the same boat. They’re the new kids on the block, and no one will invite them to join the team. That’s a shame, because one of them is a starting player. This is the predicament General Motors faced in the early days before the Geo brand name gathered Chevrolet’s redesigned line of captive imports under a new marque. Chevrolet is the entry-level GM division, so the inexpensive vehicles imported from Suzuki and Isuzu and one built at the NUMMI…

Vintage racing is different in Europe. They race. Professional and amateur drivers alike get into superannuated crocks and/or priceless objets d’art and go out and lean on each other. I mean, you can see Ferrari GTOs at $15 million a pop banging fenders like Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip. Then these guys come in with battle scars of contrasting red paint on their irreplaceable aluminum fenders, have a back-slapping laugh with their rivals, and head for the nearest bierstube. Incredible. The height of this madness is at West Germany’s Nürburgring every year, the first weekend in August. It’s the summer’s biggest and best vintage racing weekend, dwarfing even Steve Earle’s famous Monterey Histories. Would you believe over 600 priceless racing cars, culled from twice as many entries? How about 100,000…

To: Mr. Frank S. Hedge From: Gene Swaim Date: March 18, 1970 Arrangements have been completed for display of the AMX/3 at the Waldorf Astoria on Friday, April 3, in connection with Mr. Chapin’s talk before the New York Sales Executive Club. Following the luncheon, the car will be moved to the Coliseum for spotlight display in Petersen’s “Wonderful World of Wheels” exhibit. Despite the conflict of the Lincoln-Mercury and Chevrolet luncheons, the sales executive group feels it will attract a substantial press attendance for the Waldorf luncheon. They have invited a number of racing personalities, including Mark Donohue, Mario Andretti, etc., and are confident that this all-star lineup will outdraw the competitive functions that day. This company memo, sent by American Motors Director of Public Relations Gene Swaim to…

SAY “NO” TO CRACKS Your dashboard has an enemy—the sun. Ultraviolet exposure and the intense heat generated by the greenhouse effect inside the car take their toll: weathering, discoloring, drying out, and eventually cracking the dash. Some models are worse than others, but in general, it’s a good idea to pay a little attention to the part of the car right under your nose. A quality rubber/vinyl protectant is your first line of defense to keep the dash looking new. Windshield shades are also a simple and effective means of protection when used religiously. Further protection is available in the form of easily installed dashboard coverings. A variety of types are offered, including molded plastic units and tailored fabric covers made from either a tight-loop carpet material or velour. Used…

GENEVA ’90: CLASS WILL TELL While it remains relatively modest in size, the Geneva Auto Salon has earned a well-deserved reputation for always managing to bring together an intriguing mix of new production cars and one-off styling exercises. This year was no exception as the first auto exhibition of the European season easily lived up to its advance billing. Here’s a look at the most interesting vehicles showcased. MASERATI SHAMAL Making its formal world debut at Geneva was Maserati’s new flagship, the Shamal. This 2 + 2 coupe is powered by an all-new 3.2-liter twin-turbocharged DOHC V-8. The all-alloy engine, which makes 322 hp at 6000 rpm and 318 lb-ft of torque at 3000 rpm, drives the rear wheels through a 6-speed Getrag transmission. A Koni-designed driver-adjustable suspension system is…

It began as a formal exercise in automotive algebra. The problem to be resolved: whether or not MR2 = MX-5. Testing the equation in volved putting the latest generation of Toyota’s delightful mid-engine econo GT up against Mazda’s incredible Miata in a no-holds-barred shootout for the affordable sports car championship of the world. But it didn’t take long for our trio of evaluators, namely Messrs. Karr, Nagy, and Nerad, to ascertain this confrontation was not destined to go the way of any conventional comparison. In fact, it quickly degenerated into the automotive equivalent of trying to argue empirically whether Michelle Pfeiffer has more sex appeal than Kathleen Turner or Bo Jackson is a better Michael Jordan. After agreeing, that nothing short of major mayhem was going to produce much mind-changing…

The ’91 Buick Park Avenue, which goes on sale this month, takes a giant step forward in solving one of the terrible dilemmas of modern-day American auto makers—who they are and where they’re going. Drawing on a rich heritage of 87 years in the car-building business, Buick has honed its focus “to be the most American of any GM car divi-sion,” according to Buick General Manager Ed Mertz. That means building “premium American motor cars” that are “substantial, distinctive, powerful, and mature.” The Park Avenue and Park Avenue Ultra hit that target like a sidewinder missile. No, you’re not going to get a multivalve engine, active suspension, or traction control in these cars. But you will find ample innovation plus excellent design, engineering, and execution at an expected price (Mertz…

PEUGEOT’S GROUP C SPACESHIP Testing has begun on Peugeot’s new 905, the Group C rocket the Peugeot Talbot Sport group will campaign in the ’91 World Sports Prototype Championship. Designed using the latest computer technology, the 1650-lb 905 features a carbon-fiber tub built by the French aerospace firm Dassault. Power comes from a longitudinally mounted DOHC 40-valve 80° V-10, the compact all-alloy engine being fitted with a Magnetti-Marelli fuel-injection/engine-control package. It drives the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox. The 905 will run on Michelin tires. Veteran French driver Jean-Pierre Jabouille has been selected to do the primary development work, but no other team drivers have been named as yet. The 905 is scheduled to make its debut outing here in America this October, although the location of that…

SUZUKI KATANA 1100 Motorcycle performance is difficult to comprehend for the dyed-in-the-wool car freak. Almost every manufacturer has a model parked in the showroom that’ll manage the quarter mile in the 10-sec bracket, will exceed 160 mph, and is the epitome of civility in city traffic. The amazing acceleration capability of these bikes makes chopped liver of any traffic situation, and after riding one awhile, it’s hard to return to the realities of bumper-to-bumper 4-wheelism. Motorcycle manufacturers also seem to have the ability to produce new models, from concept to showroom, in about a week, at least compared to the auto industry. Our test bike, the new Suzuki Katana 1100, positioned as a Sport Touring model and falling squarely into the mold of a motorcycle that was really good last…

WHY HAS THE ROCKET FIZZLED? In 1887, Ransom Olds, then 23 years old, tested his first automobile. It was a steam-powered vehicle that he drove through the streets of Lansing, Michigan, at 4:30 a.m., so he wouldn’t be embarrassed in front of the townspeople if the experiment failed. His crude, 1500-lb 3-wheeled horseless carriage could only go about four miles an hour. Olds later gave up on the steam engine and, in 1892, developed a stationary gasoline engine. By the summer of 1896, Olds built his first gas-powered automobile. This time he didn’t hide it from the public; he invited everyone in town to its first demonstration. It had a single-cylinder engine, seats for four, one lever for steering with the left hand, and a second lever for starting, stopping,…