Indholdsfortegnelse for October 1997 i MotorTrend

Things are changing at Volkswagen. Since taking command of Europe’s largest automaker in January 1993, Chairman Ferdinand Piech has begun a campaign to move the brand upmarket while maintaining its longstanding commitment to value and to place new emphasis on improving build quality. The first product to embody this philosophy fully is the Passat. A sales smash on the Continent since its launch there last fall, VW’s senior sedan goes on sale here in October. We recently previewed several Euro-spec models in Germany. The fifth-generation Passat shares the same basic platform and powertrain lineup as the much-acclaimed Audi A4/A6 models. Structurally, its new unibody is lighter yet possesses 10 percent more overall strength and 35 percent more torsional rigidity. Slightly larger—inside and out—than the car it replaces, sleeker new sheetmetal…

www.motortrend.com Back to School As students return to school, we are reminded of the importance of a good education. After all, there’s no simpler way to make every car you drive go faster than to improve your driving skills by studying at a specially designed facility with skilled instructors. Schools at race-tracks across the country offer the most enjoyable education money can buy, enabling students to flog race-prepped cars around a track with professional instruction. No theme park can compare to the exhilaration of spending a full day pushing a Roush-prepared SVT Cobra or Dodge-powered Formula car to its limits, and beyond. So in the spirit of education, we’ve assembled a driving school guide as this month’s Online Editorial to help in the process of course selection. Study breaks can…

Promising to be the first Toyota minivan truly able to compete head-on with the Big Three, the all-new Sienna offers traditional styling, standard V-6 power, seven-passenger seating, a lavish assortment of standard and optional equipment, and, most important, an attractive sub-$20,000 base price. Toyota has taken a mainstream approach to the 1.2-million-unit minivan segment with this versatile people/cargo hauler, marking a significant departure from its Previa predecessor. You’ll recall that the well-built and strikingly unique Previa was equipped with a supercharged four-cylinder engine, rear-drive, space-age appearance, roomy interior, and an unfortunately intimidating sticker price, which let it grab only 51,000 sales in its best year—less than a tenth the number of the class-leader Chrysler minivans. Faced with such an expensive-to-produce vehicle and the desire to gain a stronger market presence,…

It generally doesn’t happen like this. By the time an aging model has run its course and is ready for a thorough redesign, it’s usually dropping down the sales charts like an out-of-fashion rock band. Isuzu’s Rodeo is one of the exceptions. Despite sporting a body and chassis that are seven years old, demand for the ’97 model has not only remained brisk, but this past May it posted its highest ever single-month sales figure. In fact, Rodeos have been selling off dealer’s lots with such gusto that company executives have been privately concerned that dealers might run out of ’97 models before the targeted launch of the all-new ’98. That’s the type of problem every automaker would like to have. Nevertheless, it’s time for a redesign. Despite engine and…

Chevy’s ’99 Race Truck GM’s all-new full-size pickups are set to arrive in ’99, which means the Chevrolets that run in NASCAR’s burgeoning Craftsman Truck Series will change too. NASCAR fans clearly are members of the truck-buying target market, so Chevy should use the race series to promote both the new pickups and the new Silverado name. Of course, NASCAR trucks have little to do with their road-bound inspiration beyond a similarity in sheetmetal (a race truck’s chassis is essentially a Busch Grand National race car’s). But as a force in a brutal market, race trucks can be effective. And as indicated by Duane Kuchar’s illustration based on spy photography of production prototypes, the race truck should look dang good —John Pearley Huffman TESTDRIVE: LAPPING LAS VEGAS The 4.0-liter V-8…

Four-barrel carburetors, distributors with points and condenser, engines that required “major” tuneups every 12,000 miles—remember those? In today’s world of computer-controlled engine management and the resultant 100,000-mile tuneup interval, items like carb jets and point-gapping tools have been relegated to most new-car service technicians’ antique cabinets. However, if you drive a ’70s-or-earlier machine without such newfangled equipment, read on to discover a simple and effective way to unleash the hidden horsepower that may have been gradually lost over the years. There is no magic formula here. Just a return to the basics: air, fuel, and spark, administered in the correct amounts, equal maximum efficiency. That’s obvious. But just how much of that factory-fresh zip has your older car or truck lost over the years? Because deterioration in carburetor or ignition…

DODGE COPPERHEAD HEATS ’EM UP I loved your comparo in the July issue between the ’70 Dodge Challenger R/T SE and the Dodge Copperhead. I’m a Mopar fan through and through, but your comparison just reminded me of one very disturbing fact that’s been haunting me: The Challenger was a ponycar! It was Dodge’s answer to the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, and Pontiac Firebird: an affordable (and kind of practical) daily driver in the American tradition with four-passenger capability, a front-mounted V-8, and rear-wheel drive. The Copperhead seems like a neat enough car, but a two seater just isn’t very practical and there’s no way a V-6 can stand up to a 305-horsepower V-8. I hope Dodge realizes what it needs to do when thousands of die-hard Mopar fans like…

The Continental receives massive—and long-overdue—injections of design personality and mechanical polish for the new model year. Last redone in ’95, anonymous sheetmetal, relatively ’low” power levels (260 horses even for ’97), a lack of engineering refinement, a sharp jump in price from the previous V-6 platform, and an excessive amount of mass and electronic gingerbread had relegated Lincoln’s front-drive sedan to second-tier luxury status. While that position has been changing steadily ever since, these latest and most dramatic revisions at last promise to make the Continental a truly competitive player. New complex-reflector headlamps, sleeker plastic fenders, hood, and decklid, a more aerodynamic grille, new forged alloy wheels, more torque at lower engine speeds, and a handsome new instrument panel transform this car’s visual signature and mechanical persona significantly for ’98.…

Be sure to join us each weekend on TNN (The Nashville Network) for Motor Trend Television, the fastest-paced, most-informative automotive show on the air today. Here’s a look at what’s coming up this month. Consult your local TV listings for showtimes in your area. Sept. 6-7: • Battle of the Best-Selling SUVs, Part 2—Flat-out flogging America’s five most popular import sport/utilities Geneva Auto Show • American Classic: The Ford Fairlane Sept. 13-14: • First Test-BMW Z3 2.8 • Coupe comparo—Acura 3.0CL versus Nissan 240SX • ’70 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ retrospective Sept. 20-21: • Fast and furious top-speed shootout with seven red-hot sports machines • A look back at Plymouth’s raucous Road Runner Sept. 27-28: • Long-Term Wrap-Up: Chevrolet Tahoe LT and Ford Expedition • American Classic—Ford’s Fabulous Thunderbird…

The towering three-story sign loomed up from the flat landscape like a religious monument to the god of pink neon, B-movies, and overpriced bonbon chocolates. Make no mistake: We’d stumbled onto the Route 66 Drive-In. Located on the Mother Read just west of Carthage, Missouri, the vintage theater at first seems to stand in stark relief against our fresh-off-the-assembly-line ’98 Corvette convertible, but cock your head, squint a bit, and the two meld to complement each other perfectly. That’s what the devotees call Corvette magic: the ability of any year and color of Corvette to fit in perfectly with virtually any roadside scenario. Rural dragstrip, ancient Moose lodge, abandoned gas station, or derelict greasy spoon, they all look like something out of a Spielberg film when photographed with a Corvette.…

What names come to mind when you think of the elite luxury marques of the world? Mercedes-Benz? BMW? Lexus? Jaguar? Cadillac would dearly love to have its name roll off the tongue with the same ease as these others. The division made a major step in that direction with the current-generation Seville. But while it sported world-class acceleration and high-tech components, such as the much-lauded Northstar V-8, the car never really measured up to the best in terms of dynamic control, suspension refinement, and overall prestige. On the eve of the introduction of its all-new ’98 flagship, though, Cadillac believes it’s ready for prime time on the world luxury stage. In taking full advantage of its clean-sheet redesign, the company has gone over every aspect of the Seville with a…

NEWS Saleen Goes Exploring Why the sudden flurry of Explorer tuners? Simple. When Ford installed the Mustang’s old 5.0-liter V-8 in the world’s most popular SUV, it invited in a herd of shops familiar with the powerplant. Now the King Gorilla of all Mustang tuners, Saleen Performance, has thrown its hat into this increasingly crowded ring. Saleen calls its entry the Saleen Explorer Performance Utility Vehicle, and promises it will feature a number of aerodynamic performance and handling enhancements and be available with either two- or four-wheel drive. The company is still mum on exactly what will be done to these 5.0-liter trucks, but owner Steve Saleen promises that “it will be as exciting as our Mustangs.” IRON CURTAIN SUVS Just when it seemed there couldn’t possibly be another entry…

NEWS A Cadrolet Monte Carlo The essence of hot rodding is inserting a big powerplant where a small one once was. But in the age of front-drive cars, such switches have become rarer. Or at least tougher. Looking at the GM parts bin, the Chevrolet Raceshop’s Mark McPhail and Scott Leon figured Cadillac’s aluminum-block 4.9-liter OHV V-8 would bolt to the front-drive 4T60-E four-speed automatic transaxle used in the current Monte Carlo with room to spare in the Chevy coupe’s engine bay. After all, the torquey Caddy 4.9 was paired with this transmission in ’82-’95 DeVilles, Eldorados, and Sevilles. The front engine mount in the Raceshop’s conversion is a hybrid of the original Chevy and Cadillac pieces, but the two rear Monte Carlo mounts line up with the V-8 perfectly.…

If you’ve ever thought about ordering accessories for your automobile through the maillot were unsure of the results, Motor Trenrfs Auto Info Mart provides you with a unique opportunity to see what’s available from the surplus of mailorder goodies. Choose from a wide variety of companies offering catalogs and literature full of information on the latest in aftermarket accessories. Fill out and mail the coupon on the last page of this special section, then sit back and let the stores come to you! PRO TEAM CORVETTE SALES World’s largest classic Corvette collection! Almost 200 classic Corvettes in one location! Dealers welcomed—Worldwide Transportation—1954 to 1982—Tidal waves of color and high performance! Corvettes wanted! Fines Circle No.2 on coupon for catalog KIMBERLY-CLARK FREE “CAR CARE & COVERS” video features the First Family…

“All new” is a term rather Z-X loosely bandied about in the car business. But in the case of the ’98 Lexus GS, it’s a valid descriptor. Although the middle child in the division’s sedan lineup hasn’t fully lived up to its potential in the past (sales for the first half of ’97 fell to a dismal 180 units), that should change dramatically for ’98 with the arrival of this hugely improved second-generation machine, which for the first time offers a choice of six- or eight-cylinder engines to complement its rakish appearance. Along with more style and more power, the new GS benefits from major suspension upgrades, loads of advanced technology, and enhanced creature comforts. In the words of chief engineer Yasushi Nakagawa: “We set out to make a fast,…

Cars and light trucks are tangling more often on the roads today and, to no one’s surprise, cars are losing. According to an analysis of six different studies on the relationship between vehicle weight and highway fatalities, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that in car-light truck collisions, 80 percent of the fatalities are occupants of the cars. The findings have renewed the debate over whether to shrink light trucks forcefully with tougher fuel economy standards. The problem is that the number of light trucks on the road has increased by more than 50 percent since 1985, and now accounts for more than 40 percent of new-vehicle sales in the United States. Light trucks outweigh cars by an average of 900 pounds, they generally have a more rigid…

Mixing Cars and Alcohol Over the years there have been notable attempts to create a mass market for alternative-fuel vehicles. Perhaps the most high-profile effort was that of the California Energy Commission (CEC), which worked hard to promote the use of methanol flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) among fleets. The CEC got automakers to commit to producing limited numbers of FFVs, obliged gasoline retailers to include M85 methanol pumps at over 50 service stations, and offered purchase incentives to aid sales of these vehicles. These efforts did result in a 14,000-vehicle methanol demonstration fleet on California highways. But it ultimately failed to commercialize the technology. Without a significant enough number of FFVs on the road, oil companies were unwilling to continue adding M85 (85 percent methanol, 15 percent gasoline) fuel storage tanks…

The spirit of the Acura Legend GS lives in the new Honda Accord V-6. It feels as if that sport-flavored, $42,000 edition from three seasons back has been reincarnated as the thoroughly re-engineered ’98 Accord. With added width, more glass, and a generous helping of rear passenger room, this sixth-generation Accord seems almost as commodious as its legendary cousin. Computer-positioned chassis reinforcements give the new Accord milled-from-an-aluminuming at solidity and also allows use of softer springs for improved ride quality. The latter, when combined with a totally new rear suspension and revised front geometry, produce a wonderful combination of plush freeway ride and taut, controlled cornering posture, much like what we enjoyed in the Legend GS. With power from a 200-horse U.S.-built 3.0-liter SOHC V-6, the preproduction Accord we tested…

It’s been a busy year in the car business! This guide catalogs the departure of 19 different models, the disappearance of one brand name, the arrival of another, and the appearance of 13 new car names. It’s enough to give any enthusiast arrhythmia and elicit a minor surge of excitement from even the most disinterested value-hunting buyer. Our alphabetical listing includes all passenger cars and minivans; we’ll cover trucks, full-size vans, and sport/utilities in next month’s ’98 New Truck Buyer’s Guide. This compilation is based on the best information available at press time. In each spec chart, the data on curb weight, brakes, and fuel economy applies to the base trim level of that model. Up-level versions weigh more, typically have more elaborate brake systems, and use more fuel. Few…

As is typical in Leicestershire, England, it rained all day. Yet we had a fantastic time attacking the rotten, wet, roads with Jaguar’s gorgeous and dazzlingly powerful ’98 XJR sedan. Some carmakers believe auto writers don’t catch on when the car company purposely chooses easy roads to show off their newest vehicles. Smooth streets falsely flatter body rigidity and ride. And long, gentle curves don’t begin to plumb a suspension’s true body and wheel control. So we were surprised and impressed when Jaguar chose to introduce its new supercharged V-8-powered XJR sedan on the narrow, snaking, and poorly maintained two-lanes, north of London. But after carving these rain-slick roadways in the XJR, we came to the conclusion that Jaguar’s execs were actually clever to choose that challenging venue. Customers in…

I can just picture it. Some 20 or 30 years from now, my granddaughter’s going to come walking into the garage, spinning her key chain on her finger (still used in even those days of remote transponder ignition identification cards), and ask incredulously, “Come on, Gramps, is it really true that you used to have to carry an extra wheel and tire around in the trunk of your car?” “Yup,” I’ll nod, “we called it a spare.” “And you needed it because a tire on the car could go…what’d you call it?” “Flat,” I’ll say. Then she’ll stare at me for a moment with a wide-eyed, unbelieving look, shake her fluorescent-dyed hair a couple times, and walk back out muttering, “Wow, that’s so…old millenia.” The process is already well underway.…

’97BMW 540i MANUAL It’s been a grand year spent behind the wheel of our long-term BMW 540i, from participating in the pick-it-up-at-the-factory tourist delivery program to 155-mph autobahn blitzes and fast-paced romps through local mountain ranges. Checking the calendar, we saw the return date for our beloved 540i was drawing near. Could we part so soon with what is arguably the best sport sedan in the world? After a diplomatic summit with BMW officials, we were granted another year in the all-black muscle sedan. Since our last update, the 540i’s first scheduled service was performed and a few wear items corrected under warranty. Our previous months of hard driving had loosened the six-speed’s shift knob. Attention was also given to a stubborn rear cupholder that refused to stay closed, a…