Indholdsfortegnelse for September 1997 i MotorTrend

FIRST DRIVE: ’98 Chevrolet Prizm When it comes to copping top honors in the subtle understatement sweepstakes, few if any vehicles will challenge the ’98 Chevrolet Prizm. Built in Fremont, California, alongside its engineering and assembly-plant cousin, the Toyota Corolla, the new Prizm swaps its Geo logo for a higher-profile Chevy Bow Tie badge. However, that factor notwithstanding, the plain-vanilla sheetmetal on this well-crafted compact sedan may well qualify it as next year’s ultimate stealth transport module. Don’t be misled by the Prizm’s conservative suit of clothes. We recently spent a week with a top-line LSi prototype and came away extremely impressed with the exceptional quality to be found throughout the new package. The first surprise was that the Prizm is a little wolf in sheep’s clothing. With an all-new…

Remember to check out all the action this month on Motor Trend Television. Twice each weekend on TNN (The Nashville Network), well be serving up the fastest-paced half-hour in all of television, loaded with road tests, compares, special features, new-product news, and lots more. Consult your local TV listings for show times in your area. August 2-3: • First Test—’98 Corvette Convertible August 9-10: • Snakes alive—We flog the Hennessey Venom 550 Viper GTS • First Test: Panoz AlV Roadster • A salute to those fabulous Woodies August 16-17: • A Shelby Spectacular—Carroll Shelby interview plus hot lapping the Cobra continuation car and new CSX 4000 • First Test: Infiniti QX4 • American Muscle: ’69 Ford Torino King Cobra August 23-24: • Battle of the Best-Selling Domestic SUVs—At the limit…

Every time Motor Trend investigates the accelerate/stop performance of vintage supercars, a few angry letters shortly follow, usually plinked out on tired manual typewriters. In our recent “High-Speed Gamble” story (May ’97), we set these guys off once again with a hint of skepticism on our part regarding the Cobra 427 S/C’s legendary 13.8-second trip from a standing start to 100 mph and back to a full stop (0-100-0 mph). Our skepticism over that feat was seen as nothing short of sacrilege. Call us heathens, but we can’t help but wonder how the nasty Cobra would stack up against the best modern iron under comparable test conditions. With the late-breaking introduction of the new 450-horsepower Dodge Viper RT/10, we have the perfect chance to contrast old against new, and to…

In the rest of the world, the distinction between a sports car and a truck is clear, but in the United States we’re not so quick to accept such a simple demarcation. We like a truck that does what the sports car does, in addition to doing what a truck should do. Hence the Tek-Style VR: a supercharged ’97 Ford F-150 that looks like the midpoint of a computer morph between truck and sports car. Tek-Style is a brand name of the Design Automotive Group’s (Dept. MT, 1410 W. Fullerton Ave., Addison. IL 60101; 708/628-6300) tonneau cover business and, driven by the rabid pen of designer Dave Tucker, it has received several design awards for aftermarket vehicles. The body parts on the VR (for “Valley Racer”—like, totally) are prototypes for…

Cars like Kenny Brown’s lightning-quick Cobra C-4S grossly distort a driver’s speed perspective. Spend a day with this pavement warper and quick street cars like Z28 Camaros, BMW M3s, and even Corvettes are relegated to traffic-clogger status. Any vehicle with fewer than 350 horses is categorized as an unworthy road pig. Slowing down to 100 mph after a tire-cooking speed run feels so pokey by comparison that you fantasize you could step out, tie loose shoelaces, and get back in. You’re totally speed freaked. That’s because the C-4S comfortably operates at positively stratospheric performance levels relative to typical Mustang-based street cars. But as such, it’s both supremely comfortable and at times decidedly uncomfortable as a daily driver. So, did we like having this fired-up Mustang in our corral? The C-4S…

How do you fix what isn’t broken? The obvious answer: carefully. For more than a decade, the Ford Ranger has been the hottest-selling compact pickup. Its attributes have been anvil-like toughness, crisp industrial design, and penny-wise affordability. For ’98, Ford built on those strengths and sent the Ranger out for some of the same finishing-school polish the new full-size F-150 received. The course requirements: Maintain the Ranger’s iron gauntlet toughness while offering something more like silk-glove treatment for passengers. The program to accomplish this started under the hood with upgrades to the 2.5-, 3.0-, and 4.0-liter engines. Then the standard cab was stretched 3 inches, the sheetmetal freshened, the frame stiffened, and the outdated front suspension scrapped. To sample just some of the changes, we coerced Ford out of an…

Inside the owner’s manual of every vehicle is its personal prescription for a long and happy life; it’s called the recommended maintenance schedule and is “must” reading for all car owners. This outlines a series of preventative-maintenance steps aimed at keeping the vehicle in good operating condition. It consists of regular replacement, inspection, or lubrication of a car’s critical or high-wear systems, and is designed to help the mechanic spot any sign of wear, damage, or other deterioration before it becomes a big problem—or worse, a roadside emergency. Followed faithfully, this schedule will help maximize a vehicle’s service life; if ignored, small problems that could have been caught early can develop into big ones and cost you a lot more time, money, and hassle. In addition, all automakers require routine…

There are only four buttons on the Hypertech’s Power Programmer: “Y” for yes, “N” for no, and arrows pointing up and down. But it uses those four buttons to control a dizzying array of options. By modifying the flash memory in a truck’s powertrain control computer, Hypertech claims to compensate for changes in final-drive axle ratio and tire size (including the reduction of speedometer error), adjust the speed limiter up to the speed rating of high-performance tires, modify automatic transmission shift quality and shift points, in addition to producing better performance by slightly modifying engine timing and fuel delivery. That’s a lot for one hand-held $395 computer to do. The Power Programmer plugs into the service diagnostic port of an OBD-II-equipped vehicle. In the case of the two-wheel-drive 5.7-liter Vortec…

From 16-year-old neophyte drivers to NASCAR champions, the Bob Bondurant School of High-Performance Driving attracts them all to Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona. And for the last several years, the students have spent a good chunk of their track time in specially prepped, pumpkin-colored Ford Mustang GTs. But those GTs are no match for the Roush-tuned, 4.6-liter/305-horsepower DOHC 32-valve V-8 SVT Cobras being phased in to replace them. The SVT cars are more refined and predictable than the old GTs, and by starting with a better car, Roush keeps overall costs lower than preparing the less-powerful GTs for arduous track duty. Roush’s preparation addresses the cooling needs of cars flogged at the usually sweltering training facilities. Heavy-duty cooling components from the Crown Victoria police package are used along with a…

Exclusivity, Thats the name of the game at the stratospheric level of the luxury sport/utility segment. If you’re spending upward of $60K on a 4x4, you want to be well separated from the masses of Ford Explorers, Jeep Grand Cherokees, and Toyota 4Runners. In the realm of SUVs, this outlay will net you a field of one: the Range Rover 4.6 HSE. Introduced two years ago, this model takes the “standard” Range Rover 4.0 SE and ups the ante with a larger, more-powerful 4.6-liter/225-horsepower aluminum V-8 and a sportier, more high way-oriented wheel and tire combination consisting of low-profile 255/55HR18 Pirelli Scorpions mounted on 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels. As exclusive as the 4.6 HSE is in its original British Racing Green demeanor, Land Rover (the British manufacturer of the Range…

A year after the new 3 Series sedan debuts in Geneva next spring, BMW will roll out this slick coupe variant for the ’99 season. This computer-enhanced image shows that, while it maintains a strong family resemblance with the upcoming four-door, designer Chris Bangle managed to impart a bit more flair to the new coupe’s lines. Most prominent changes from the current iteration include a shorter front overhang and a more rakish profile. Inside, both coupe and sedan models have been treated to upgraded appointments that impart a 5 Series flavor to their respective passenger compartments. Engine choices for the U.S. market will include both the 2.3-liter and 2.8-liter DOHC inline sixes. Several months after the coupe introduction, expect the next generation of M3 to arrive. It will carry a…

After many years of wrestling with the issue of rollover crashes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it will develop a rollover rating system for cars and light trucks. The rollover stability ratings will be part of NHTSA’s consumer information program, and will likely use the same five-star rating system currently used with the safety agency’s 35-mph crash tests and side-impact tests. Although automakers grumble that a rating system is, in effect, a de facto safety standard, NHTSA stressed that this is not a rollover standard. The agency rejected pursuing a rollover standard in 1994, saying it would require extensive vehicle design changes at unacceptably high cost. However, a rating system for rollover susceptibility has become necessary because of the rapid growth of light trucks, which now make…

By the end of the year, Toyota will be selling an all-new, mass-produced hybrid electric (HEV) vehicle in the Japan home market. Its unique drivetrain combines both gasoline and electric motive power to independently, or jointly (as needed), propel the car. This innovation doubles fuel economy, quickly accomplishing the much-touted midterm goal of the U.S. Big Three’s Partnership for a New Generation Vehicle development program. It’s significant that Toyota’s hybrid—like the HEVs in development in other automakers’ camps—eliminates the need for battery recharging and a requisite public charging infrastructure. Along with cost, this is one of the greatest shortcomings of the current EV commercialization effort. A recent track session behind the wheel of a prototype Toyota HEV at the automaker’s Arizona proving ground was enlightening. From a stop, the car…

When the Berlin Wall fell, the German Ministry of Defense couldn’t have predicted that its own countrymen would soon build an autobahn-assault vehicle that would obliterate speed limits around the world. With the introduction of the all-wheel-drive ’96 Porsche 911 Turbo, the world’s sports car hierarchy was shuffled as a consumer-friendly interpretation of the exotic 959 race car became available to the masses for under $100,000. Upon its arrival (MT, June ’95), we declared the twin-turbo 911 “the most brutally accelerating, best-handling, best-braking Porsche ever sold in the USA.” Prepare to meet the cars that strike fear in the 3.6-liter heart of the now dethroned Teutonic king. As word of the next-generation 911 begins to leak from under locked doors in Stuttgart, Porsche has graced the planet with the most…

RENNTech’s SL740 exaggeration of Mercedes’ SL600 V-12 roadster is everything except dramatic. Where others loudly slug themselves to 12-second elapsed times in the quarter mile, this droptop does it as if it were silently steaming a crisp pleat into wool trousers. This is the perfect car for anyone who wants to get to 100 mph and back to a dead stop in only 15 seconds without ever breaking a sweat, breathing hard, or even increasing the driver’s pulse. This a fast car for which your cardiologist could write a prescription. And a heart transplant may be one of the few more expensive things in life. This is the engine for those who found the 7.0-liter V-12 RENN-Tech (Dept. MT, 1369 North Killian Dr., Lake Park, FL 33403; 561/845-7888) offered in…

It’s always tough to follow up a successful debut, particularly one as auspicious as that of the Nissan Altima. Since replacing the Stanza over four years ago, this compact front-drive sedan has racked up total U.S. sales of almost 700,000 units. Along the way, it’s also earned near-unanimous acclaim from automotive pundits and regularly turned up at or near the top of various independent market research surveys. In lieu of that track record, it, was no small feat to upgrade the second-generation car significantly while maintaining the basic goodness of the original. Our first encounter with some preproduction examples left no doubt that this latest iteration is a sure bet to carry on in the tire tracks of its predecessor. Middle child in a “three sedan” lineup bookended by the…

Ever since Victor Frankenstein crossed scientific hurdles to give life to his creature in Mary Shelley’s classic novel, Ingolstadt, Germany, has been known as a city on the cutting edge of technology and innovation. The runaway success of the Audi A4 would seem proof enough that extraordinary developments in Ingolstadt continue in the late ’90s. but for ’98 the already exceptional A4 is elevated to the next technological level with the introduction of a five-valve-per-cylinder engine and Tiptronic five-speed automatic transmission. That’s no typo. Audi powertrain engineers addressed the sedan’s adequate-but-unexciting performance by developing a five-valve engine based on last year’s two-valve 2.8-liter/172-horsepower V-6. The new head design carries with it central spark plug positioning, hydraulically adjustable camshafts, and a plastic variable dual-tract intake manifold that weighs 50 percent less…

One of the most noteworthy features of Mercedes-Benz’ innovative new 3.2-liter V-6 engine, used in the ’98 E320. ML320, and CLK320, is what’s called the Flexible Service System (FSS). This smart system does away with rigidly scheduled oil changes, because it calculates the optimum time to change engine oil based on how you drive the car. It’s no secret that a driver who makes a lot of short trips, which don’t allow the engine to become thoroughly warmed up, creates the harshest environment for engine oil. According to Mercedes’ Rudolf Thom, the company found that, under such driving conditions, the amount of fuel and water (from condensation and blow-by gases) in the oil after only about 3700 miles was as high as 10 percent. This affects lubrication, as well as…

Having eagerly awaited the North American-spec version of Audi’s aluminum-bodied sedan, we also wondered if the A8’s audio system would break any new ground of its own. Like other Audis offered for sale in North America, the A8 features an available Bose Music System. The 200-watt, eight-speaker system is standard on the 4.2-liter Quattro model, while a 10-speaker, 120-watt conventional audio package is standard on the front-drive 3.7-liter versions with the Bose Music System offered as an option. Both systems include an in-dash AM/FM/cassette with built-in CD changer controls for an optional six-disc CD changer supplied by Alpine. We’re disappointed to note that the in-dash AM/FM/cassette breaks no new ground; it appears to be the same Audi Delta unit offered on lesser A4 and A6 models. Its layout is conventional…

After gaining popularity in the spin-filled NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the “smokey spinout” has become fashionable among race drivers everywhere. The showy technique was key to Jeff Gordon’s Winston Cup win at Martinsville, while Paul Tracy used it (albeit imperfectly) in his PPG CART World Series victory in Brazil. Still, ARCA Bondo Super Car Series Champion and Fast Track driving school instructor Andy Hillenburg says it’s a dangerous technique that often results in carnage, as Formula One star Michael Schumacher learned when he tried it in Argentina. The “smokey spinout” routine: At the moment the driver senses a spin is inevitable, he stands on the throttle to light up the rear tires like a dragster in the bleach box (or a Motor Trend test driver on a photo shoot). Similar…

Along the West Coast, there are shops that do nothing but lower Acuras and Hondas until their ride height is measured in single-digit microns, the exhaust tips are large enough to accommodate Butterball Young Toms, and the stereo systems pack enough wattage to keep Seattle’s small appliances humming for a decade. That hasn’t gone unnoticed at Honda. So Acura’s smart people whipped up a version of Japan’s infamous Integra Type R fit for U.S. consumption; an Integra coupe freed of some weight and crammed with the power-producing and handling components that inspire adrenal gland arrhythmia in California teenagers. Meanwhile, across headquarter’s atrium, the Honda division let loose the fifth-generation Prelude, which, like the Type R, is powered by a DOHC, four-cylinder engine whose 16 valves are activated by the justly…

’97 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS Named MTs ’97 Car of the Year, the virtuous Chevrolet Malibu claimed the honors over a competitive field of contenders, impressing the staff with its execution, technology, and value. Naturally, we couldn’t let one of our favorite new sedans escape duty in our long-term fleet. Faced with two engine choices—a 150-horsepower inline four and 155-horsepower V-6—we opted for the OHV six-cylinder with its additional 30 pound-feet of torque. Our trim level of choice was the feature-laden, uplevel LS, as it includes the power windows/door locks/mirrors, air conditioning, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, electronic speed control, fog lamps, 15-inch wheels, remote keyless entry system, rear defogger, and cargo net for a palatable $18,190. The standard AM/FM/cassette stereo was upgraded for $200 adding an integrated CD player to the mix.…

BMW will turn up the excitement quotient for its U.S. lineup next year with these two spectacular newcomers derived from the Z3 platform. The M Roadster, which debuted at the Geneva Auto Show this spring, and M Coupe—seen here in its first factory-authorized photos—will include all of the performance capabilities of the legendary M3—and then some—when they go on sale here in the spring and summer of 1998, respectively. Although European-spec models will carry the more exotic—and pricey—321-horsepower version of the current 3.2-liter DOHC M3 engine, U.S. cars are destined to get the same 240-horse variant of this superb inline six currently used in our M3 family. In all cases, the engine will drive the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. (Rumor has it that BMW’s sequential six-speed box…

Here’s the first factory-authorized look at a small car that’s destined to be one huge gamble. Called Smart, and boldly going where no city car has gone before, it’s the initial offspring from an unlikely marriage between usually conservative automaker Mercedes-Benz and famously funky watchmaker Swatch. Like a Swatch timepiece, the Smart was designed to be wittily stylish, classless, and affordable. Its body panels, attached to an unusually rigid central passenger cell, are easily changeable for the price of a good European suit. Its rear-mounted 700cc turbocharged three-cylinder powerplant drives through an electronically controlled six-speed sequential gearbox. The Smart is so short, at 2500 mm, that it will turn around in half the space of a conventional small car. And it’s so frugal that its gasoline powerplant will return 70…

MOTOR TREND online www.matortrend.com Electronically unearthing sacred Motor Trend scrolls from past issues couldn’t be easier. Log on to our Website, and with the mouse as the archeological tool of choice, locate the Archive section of the Table of Contents (TOC). A pull-down menu lists stories by category, including familiar column titles such as Car Care, Motorsport, and Performance Trends. Select Road Tests, and the main TOC window features a list of full reviews complete with performance data that can be found online. Highlight the selection, hit “Go!” and the article is reproduced in its entirety with photos, links to the manufacturer, and pricing information. Not sure where to find a story? Let our Search engine be your guide. Use the dynamic mouse-over button in the lower left comer to…

In stock form, the BMW M3 is one of the world’s best performance cars. Available in coupe and sedan body styles, with real back seats and useable trunks, these tangy Bimmers deliver 0-60 mph in the fives, comfy room for four, and starting prices of $39,380. In all, a masterful synergy of laser-sharp performance melded with supple German luxury. Which leaves any sane person with the question: Who in his right mind would want to modify one? Plenty of folks, it appears. But it’s painfully clear that, while anyone can bolt a bunch of go-fast parts on a car and claim miraculous results, the tough part is making it all work—and work reliably. For example, tweaking an engine to monstrous power levels often means you’re driving a hand-grenade-in-waiting; likewise, installing…

Torque is one of those things that 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines are supposed to have only in meager quantities. In lieu of the twist available in larger engines, the tiny four-banger provides extreme fuel economy and, if it’s in a Honda Civic, brilliantly smooth operation along with that company’s expected exceptional quality. Jackson Racing (Dept. MT, 7281 Westminster Ave., Westminster, CA 92683; 714/891-1113), though, has added to the current Civic EX’s tiny four what shouldn’t be there—tire-smoking torque. The trick, of course, is a supercharger. In Jackson Racing’s case, it’s a tiny version of the Eaton Roots-type vaned blower used by GM atop its 3800 V-6 and by Mercedes alongside the 2.3-litcr four in the SLK roadster. Jackson Racing’s $2695 “Sebring” system for the Honda Civic EX’s 1.6-liter SOHC 16-valve VTEC…

Pontiac’s Trans Am is about two things: absolutely pavement-eating performance and flashy styling. For ’98, there’s a new 305-horsepower aluminum V-8 to crank up the wick under the car’s already attention-grabbing look. Frankly, having err bright-red test unit in the driveway for tire daily commute was like being 12 years old and waking to find a rocket-powered backpack under the Christmas tree. Here’s what a track test and a short session on the wing in Pontiac’s fastest factory Firebird brought to light. This Firebird is extremely quick. We’ve heard some loose talk in engine-tuning circles that the end of the old small-block meant GM would have to start fam scratch to find power tricks for the all-new LS1. But we’re here to tell you, we don’t miss last year’s LT1…

• CHEVROLET C1500 • DODGE RAM 1500 LT • FORD F-150 XL Though we happily live in a dreamland of tire-smoking Vipers, outrageous Porsche 911 Turbos, and Ferrari trunks filled with matching leather luggage, we enjoy occasional visits to reality. For this return to the real world, we chose a trio of minimally equipped, V-6-powered, short-cab, two-wheel-drive pickups: the Chevy C1500, Dodge Ram 1500 LT, and Ford F-150 XL, each available with no bills for about $16,000. But at this price, just how good are they? First off, realize that you won’t find a single keyless remote, compact disc player, or power window in this bunch. Keeping true to our premise of testing high-value full-size pickups, about the only indulgences permitted were air conditioning and automatic transmissions. These are such…

Despite the fact that anti-lock brakes are as common as cupholders on today’s cars, most drivers don’t know how to get the maximum benefit from them. This was the finding in tests conducted by Mercedes-Benz, which found that 99 percent of tested drivers either were slow in applying the brakes in an emergency situation or only applied full brake pressure when it was too late. Most of these drivers took an average of 239 feet to stop from 62 mph, about 45 percent longer than necessary. The key to getting the most from ABS is simple: Hit the brake pedal fast and hard, and hold it down until you stop. Don’t try to modulate the brakes, pump the pedal, or avoid causing a skid. ABS is designed to provide maximum…

This column has been following the Tahoe SS saga since its green, two-wheel-drive debut at the 1995 SEMA show in Las Vegas, and the third and latest all-wheel-driven variation on the theme made a cobalt-blue appearance during last month’s featured “Chevy Performance Raid” at Memphis Raceway Park. After two years tantalizing us, a Tahoe SS still makes a load of production sense. And the all-wheel-drive version is an exciting supplement to our lust. Except for its alloy wheels and a few Tahoe SS emblems, this sport truck looks almost showroom stock. However, this healthy hauler has received some significant engineering changes. One of the important tweaks was a 1.125-inch ride-height reduction (relative to that of a stock 4x4 Tahoe), thanks to front torsion bar adjustments and re-arched rear leaf springs.…

Kia will expand its U.S. lineup next spring with the addition of a pert little on/off-roader, the new Sportage Convertible. While packing the same basic drivetrain and running gear as the closed-top four-door, it offers considerably more opportunity in the realm of open-air fun-running. The vehicle we drove is actually the original prototype first displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January. A few details (such as wheels) are likely to change, but most of the package will remain as shown here. Kia plans to market the Convertible in both two-and four-wheel drive. Only one trim grade will be available, and along with a lengthy roster of standard equipment, all of these Korean-built droptops will have unique interior fabrics and exterior colors. Powering the Convertible is Kia’s 2.0-liter DOHC…

To some, the Neon is merely a low-buck commuter, but to others it’s a mini-mini-Viper. During its year in residence at Motor Trend, our long-term Ply-mouth Neon Sport Coupe begged to be flogged and we regularly complied. After a few hundred break-in miles were quickly accumulated, Editor C. Van Tune rushed our Neon Sport Coupe to Willow Springs Raceway for some on-track preparation for the Detroit Grand Prix Neon celebrity race. However, while we were immediately impressed with the performance abilities of this economical front-driver, we were often underwhelmed by its performance as an everyday commuter. Yet the Neon owners we surveyed loved their cute little cars. So go figure. In the realm of Neons, our long-term Sport Coupe was a well-equipped, relatively pricey variant. From its $12,500 base, our…