Indholdsfortegnelse for December 1997 i MotorTrend

It’s true that Ferrari’s most popular model, the F355, is still selling strongly. But Porsche has just launched a seductively sophisticated new 911, and the 400-horse-power Turbo model is only 15 months away. To effectively meet the challenge of these new Teutonic road warriors, Maranello is preparing to unleash an F355 replacement with more style and more firepower. Expect to see it debut at the ’99 Geneva Motor Show and join the lineup as a 2000 model. The new car will again be shaped by Pininfarina, and come in Coupe, Spyder, and lift-top variations. Using an aluminum space-frame skeleton and suspension components, the second-generation car will be stiffer, stronger, and about 150 pounds lighter than the present offering. It will continue to be propelled by a gloriously willing mid-mounted V-8.…

The Nissan Altra EV soon will join the ranks of electric vehicles plying American highways. Set for its first industry showing at the EVS-14 Electric Vehicle World Congress at Walt Disney World in mid-December, the all-new electric minivan will make its official public debut at the Greater L.A. Auto Show in early January. Nissan’s electric minivan is sure to create a stir because it’s powered by Sony lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Lithium-ion and lithium-polymer are currently viewed by the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium as the most sophisticated battery technologies feasible for electric vehicles, and great sums of money are being spent on their development. To witness the use of a lithium-ion battery pack in a current-generation EV is nothing short of stunning. The Altra EV’s Li-ion battery is said to provide…

FIRST DRIVE It’s never easy to improve on a pure design, and Mazda’s popular Miata definitely ranks as one of the “purest” automotive designs in recent memory. Although the second generation of this petite two-seater rolls onto the scene next spring with a new look and new level of sophistication, remaining fully intact are all the wonderful traits that made the original car fun to drive and easy to own. We ventured to Mazda’s proving ground in Hiroshima, Japan, to put some early prototype Miatas through their paces on the challenging World Circuit endurance course. Even that brief first encounter made it clear the upgrading process has been an unqualified success. All-new sheetmetal imparts a cleaner aerodynamic profile and better integral downforce to the new Miata, along with a good…

Prime among the options available on Lexus LS, SC, and GS models for ’98 is a new on-board navigation system. Developed by Denso, which also created the compact, foldaway, stand-alone system used by Toyota, this new Lexus package not only boasts a much larger touch-sensitive LCD screen, it’s fully integrated into the dash and incorporates the audio and climate controls. The system determines vehicle location by evaluating distance traveled and inertial movement, as well as by GPS input. Eschewing CD-ROMs, the Lexus NAV package relies on a computer with a 1.6-gigabyte hard drive to retain its data base, which currently takes up about 800K of memory. Developed by NavTech, the mapping includes all major national highways in the 48 contiguous states, as well as 35 key metropolitan areas with more…

FIRST TEST Toyota engineers have faced formidable challenges under strict corporate orders to improve some of the best-built cars in the U.S. market while shaving away cost. The exceptional Camry paved the way, proving that such a lofty goal could be accomplished. Now with the introduction of the all-new ’98 Corolla, Toyota has once again succeeded in delivering a better car for less money. The ’98 Corolla’s evolutionaiy exterior design slices through the wind with a streamlined 0.31 drag coefficient (a cleaner visage than that of a Supra Turbo’), while aggressively pursuing high safety standards. A large emphasis was placed on crash-worthiness, with the intention to surpass foreseeable requirements in Asia, Europe, and the United States. To accomplish this, special care was taken in the unibody design for passenger safety…

As most of the nation settles in under the deep freeze of winter, now is the time to venture into Death Valley. The searing 120-degree temperatures that bake the region all summer have dipped to pleasantly cooler (if not downright chilly) levels, and the winter sun sculpts the desert landscape with a richer palette of colors and lighting effects. Despite its bleak, foreboding name, Death Valley is actually a fascinating slice of the American West. In addition to its storied history of 20-mule teams, hit-or-miss mining camps, and stranded ’49ers clinging to hope of a miracle rescue, the region offers a diverse tapestry of otherworldly terrain that’s at once stark, rugged, and enchanting. As the sun sets behind an 11,000-foot mountain range that towers—sentry-like—over vast stretches of salt flats and…

TRACK TO STREET Expanding on its extensive roster of die-cast race-car miniatures, Racing Champions has added a line of collectable street machines. The Mint Collection, the official die-cast vehicles of Motor Trend, includes cars ranging from the ’50 Ford Coupe to the ’98 Corvette. Contact Racing Champions, Dept. MT, 800 Roosevelt Road, Suite 320, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137; 630/790-3507. FAST AS SCHUMACHER Want times to match Michael Schumacher’s? Get an Omega Speedmaster Racing Watch, the same timepiece you’ll find on the World Champion’s wrist. To go as fast as Schumacher in a race car, you’ll need to contact God. For more, contact Omega LTD at www.omega.ch or visit your local retailer. SPEEDWAY SCULPTURES Celebrate the end of an era with this bronze sculpture of A.J. Foyt and his ’64 Indy…

Mitsubishi’s Diamante Special Sedan Concept (SSC) isn’t just a not-for-production show car, it’s an argument. It’s a compelling debate for augmenting the regular front-drive Diamante’s mission with elements of the corporation’s performance heritage: for high style in a segment dominated by sensible Japanese near-luxury sedans; for deep, throaty sounds instead of hushed isolation. The new-in-’97 Diamante is a Japanese design built in Australia, but the work on the SSC is pure American chutzpah. Modifications to the SOHC 24-valve 3.5-liter V-6 consist of an intake kit (worth, the company claims, 5 horsepower) and a cat-back exhaust system claimed to free up another 10. That results in a total 225 horsepower compared to the stock 210. However, the big draw of this V-6 is low-end torque. Mitsubishi claims a peak 231 pound-feet…

In the beginning, all was void—although Racing Dynamics was already making BMW accessories and performance parts. That experience shows up in the company’s new aerodynamic styling kit for the ’96-to-present BMW 5 Series. Built of impact-resistant polyurethane, the $2675 kit includes a front spoiler with openings for the front factory foglamps, side skirts, and a rear apron that covers the area under the bumper. The piece d’resistanee is an “aggressive” rear wing that looks good and, Racing Dynamics claims, adds stability at highway speeds. The kit ships with all necessary mounting hardware and the body parts ready-to-paint to match BMW colors. Contact Electrodyne, Inc., Dept. MT, 4750 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA 22304; 703/823-0202, ext. 304.…

FIRST DRIVE Datsun (now Nissan) literally invented the compact truck market when it introduced its first mini-truck almost 40 years ago. And through the ’60s and ’70s, the company was wildly successful with its series of Regular-and King (stretched) Cab pickups. Now, however, the segment is crowded and the domestic manufacturers are particularly tough. But Nissan is determined to remain a force in the market, and its latest weapon in the war is an all-new ’98 Frontier pickup. This is the first Nissan pickup to wear a name and the first new sheetmetal since the introduction of just superseded “Ilardbody” trucks. Built in Nissan’s Smyrna, Tennessee, plant, the Frontier enters the fray available with either two- or part-time four-wheel drive, in Regular and King Cabs, and in three trim levels…

Custom intakes for ’88-’95 GM fullsize trucks are nothing new. At this point, handi-crafters weave them together instead of afghans. Still, when one looks this good, it can stand out. EverGreen Performance’s Airaid uses a molded thermoplastic housing over the throttle body, a 3.5-inch 6061 polished aluminum barrel, and a K&N filter element to, EverGreen claims, increase airflow by 20 percent and power by 15 horses. That’s all well and good, but it looks even better. The $199 Airaid is a direct replacement for stock GM intake systems and bolts on in about 30 minutes using common hand tools. Contact EverGreen Performance, Dept. MT, 14840 N. 74th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85260; 800/4986951; www.4evergreen.com.…

Remember “Daktari”? The ’60s TV series where veterinarians crossed Africa in Jeep pickups painted like zebras and with a cast that featured Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion? Or how about “Hatari”? That ’62 John Wayne potboiler where the Duke steamed across the African wilderness in an old Chevy pickup trapping exotic game? Well, whichever ‘tari you prefer, those guys could have used a rack like the Con-Ferr Safari. This is the sort of serious piece of equipment that makes even hauling cargo seem romantic and exciting. Installing one of Con-Ferr Manufacturing’s massive Safari Porthole Roof Racks isn’t the same as bolting on a lightweight bike carrier. These serious cargo carriers are built of sturdy powder-coated welded steel girders and bolt together in various lengths. In this case, an 8x5-foot model stretches…

’97 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS We named it ’97 Car of the Year, but that didn’t stop our long-term Chevrolet Malibu from leaving us stranded when the ignition key mechanism failed. With the key frozen in place, the car was towed to Santa Barbara’s friendly Graham Chevrolet, where the ignition lock mechanism was replaced. The Malibu returned to Graham two months later when the left front headlight went out, and a new “function controller” had to be installed. Beyond those annoying warranty-covered frustrations, the Malibu has proven adept and comfortable with a satisfying sound system, a smooth four-speed automatic transmission, strong V-6 engine, and enough room for a quartet of editors radar-locked on IHOP’s lunch buffet. The four-door’s right sizing and spirited demeanor have made it a constant weekend choice of…

FIRE-BREATHING TRANS AM My immediate response to your article on the ’98 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (Sept. ’97) was, “Wow!” First of all, I was amazed by its lightning-quick quarter-mile times. Plus, its stunning good looks were a definite seller to me. Goodbye, Camaro; hello, Firebird. I was a diehard Camaro fan until I saw the ’98—yuck! More horsepower is always better, and GM doesn’t skimp on that. Watch out, Mustangs, there’s a new screaming chicken on the loose! Greg “Rio” SandhagenSarasota, Fla.via Motor Trend Online I must congratulate Pontiac on an excellent styling upgrade to the already attractive Firebird Trans Am. Its more aggressive looks go along nicely with the more powerful LSI V-8. My chances of buying a Trans Am have definitely increased! Oscar LlerenaMiami, Fla.via Motor Trend…

Mazda took the wraps off of its completely redesigned ’98 626 sedan at the New York Auto Show last spring. We recently got our first chance to slip behind the wheel of several preproduction versions at a long-lead event held in central California. Although Mazda’s best-selling model will have to face its stiffest market competition ever, the new fifth-generation 626 appears ready, willing, and quite able to take on the challenge. Cloaked in all-new sheetmetal, the ’98 626 boasts a more upscale appearance. Its subtle wedge shape borrows several cues from the top-line Millenia, and crisper character lines are tastefully offset by understated brightwork accent trim. Inside, the 626’s already generously proportioned passenger compartment has gained a bit more useable space and trunk capacity, thanks in part to a 2.3-inch…

www.motortrend.com Be among the first to know the winner of Motor Trend’s ’98 Car of the Year award by simply visiting MT Online. Each year, the MT staff rigorously evaluates every all-new or significantly revised domestic automobile to determine which will be crowned Car of the Year. The list of’98 contenders is very strong, ensuring several eight-day work weeks will be spent by the editors testing, driving, debating, and voting. Any one with Internet access can get on the inside track to the ’98 winner of the automotive industry’s most prestigious award. We’ll count down the days until this year’s recipient is announced in late November, prior to the Jan. ’98 “Car of the Year” issue’s on-sale date. MT Online visitors will have full access to the complete story, as…

Movie-goers got a sneak peek at Mercedes’ innovative new sport/utility vehicle in “Jurassic Park: The Lost World.” Now, stripped of its special-effects appendages, the M-Class is poised and ready to conquer your personal urban jungle. As the first entry in the Mercedes-Benz sport/ute line, the ML320 grafts a fresh, new strain into the SUV mix. While other sport/utility manufacturers claw over each other to make the next Ford Explorer or Jeep Grand Cherokee, the M-Class is quite clearly—and proudly—a Mercedes. It’s a masterful blending of elements designed to address the myriad needs of the SUV buyer. In one fell swoop, Mercedes has redefined what a sport/utility can be and brought it to market at a bargain price. THE RIGHT DESIGN FOR THE TIMES In 1993, when Mercedes-Benz executives sat down…

At the stoplight, you catch the side glance of the shifty-eyed ’66 Mustang driver in the next lane. Why, that impertinent lightweight is sizing you up’ Quickly mute the Mozart CD. Yes, now you can hear his furtive attempt to quietly bring his revs up for a jump on you. Aahh, but the joke’s on him. Carefully, you tuck your silk hanky back into your breast pocket and holster your jar of Grey Poupon in one of the cupholders. Little Mr. Hood Stripes is about to be put in his place. Color this Caddy 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds; the Lincoln in 7.9 seconds. Not too long ago, those would’ve been musclecar numbers. True, very few ’98 Lincoln Town Car Touring Sedans or Cadillac DeVille Concours will ever be involved…

To call Carroll Shelby merely a racing legend would be a disservice to the man who created one of the world’s most lusted-after performance cars of all time. OF Shel is much more than just the father of that Anglo-American alchemy called Cobra: he’s the patron saint of everyone who has an ounce of gasoline in his veins and of anyone who dreams of rising from obscurity to make a lasting mark for himself. I have had the great honor not only of working for the man. but of calling Carroll Shelby my friend. Following is a thumbnail sketch of some of Mr. Shelby’s incredible achievements, followed by an intimate, one-on-one interview in which the snake charmer speaks out about everything from Lee lacocca to the settlement of his disagreement…

Plan ahead. This July, tens of thousands of Confederate and Union troops will converge on Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and for three days the town will echo with the roar of cannons and massed musket salvos. Haven’t we heard this one before? Unlike the 1863 original, though, at the end of the fighting, modern Civil War reenactors will pick them-selves up and return to their period tents and camp stoves. For the 135th anniversary of the battle, two reenactment groups are planning, events over the July 4 weekend in the Gettysburg area. Civil War Heritage will host what it calls “The mother of all reenactments”: a full-scale Pickett’s Charge, featuring as many as 14,000 Rebels and 6000 Federate. Another group plans a three-day-long battle with a live-fire mortar competition. These action-packed reenactments…

Pumping oxygen-rich nitrous oxide into an engine creates an environment that encourages combustion. Add some supplemental fuel to the equation, and the result is bigger bangs in the combustion chambers and more power. Nitrous’ major limitation is the gas must be stored in a bottle, and once that bottle is drained, the performance advantage is gone. It’s used often in drag racers, but rarely on exotic sports cars. Randy Marchetti, the owner of RM Racing, is nuts for NSXs, and the ’92 (with a 3.0-liter VTEC V-6) used for this test is his one and only commuter/race car/shop showcase. Beyond RM’s straightforward nitrous system, the car wears every NSX thing Marchetti has ever dreamed up and built. That includes a carbon fiber intake feeding an oversize throttle body, revised engine…

Most of us don’t get the chance to drive great race circuits in carefully prepped, extreme coupes. Now, with Bethesda Softworks’ XCar: Experimental Racing, anyone with a Pentium-based PC can slam a 900-horsepower race car around realistic tracks. There’s even an official Motor Trend machine to build up and tweak for record-breaking performance. Racetracks included on the CD-ROM include Mid-Ohio, Lime Rock, Grattan Raceway, Putnam, and Thunderhill Park. Theme-oriented fantasy tracks include downtown Seattle, mountain roads, and a Mayan village. The three-dimensional displays include billboards, elevation changes, and ever-evolving weather. The realism isn’t limited to the intense graphics; race nuts can marvel at the almost infinitely adjustable car-design parameters. Even neophytes will relish choosing from more than a dozen race cars, swapping powerplants, finding the killer suspension setup, and visiting…

Underneath its trucklike exterior, Toyota’s RAV4 is closely related to the Celica sport coupe. The engine is a 2.0-liter DOHC four that sits in the nose transversely and, unless the buyer orders all-wheel drive, sends power to the front wheels. Still, when a civilian looks at a RAV, what he sees is “a truck.” Maybe “a cute little truck,” but a truck all the same. It’s no surprise many RAV4 owners are as passionate about their cute little trucks as full-size SUV owners are about theirs. Axis Sport Tuning (which produced the turbocharged Toyota Tacoma featured in “Truck Trends” Oct. ’97), picked up a front-drive ’97 RAV4 with automatic transmission and applied a few tricks, some worthwhile, some extravagant. Toyota equips the RAV4 with 120 horsepower, which results in a…

Trucks are built to carry loads and withstand utilitarian abuse. Race cars instead contend with the abuse from savage acceleration and lunatic cornering. Yet in this wacky truck-crazed culture, some of us turn trucks into race cars. Hotchkis Performance’s $230 Panhard Rod Kit for ’88-and-later GIVI full-size trucks helps control lateral rearend movement, which is especially critical on trucks with softer-than-stock springs and low-profile tires. The black powdercoated rod is engineered for trucks lowered 4 inches and built of CNC-machined, TIG-welded steel. It ships with polyurethane bushings and grade-8 mounting hardware. Contact Hotchkis Performance, Dept. MT, 12035 Burke St., Suite 13, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670; 562/907-7757.…

The MOTOR TREND Electronic Reprint Service The MT Electronic Reprint Service gives you anytime access to many of our most popular reviews through an automated, 24-hour computerized system. With a touch-tone phone and a Visa or Mastercard, you can order up to five reviews, for delivery by mail or fax. Single reviews cost $4.95 each, and comparison reviews (marked by a “c” next to the issue date) cost $9.95 each. (Body copy and tech data are included. Photos do not appear.) It’s easy: 1. Note the four-digit ID numbers of one or more of the reviews you’d like to order from the ROAD TEST REVIEW list on the following pages. Have your Visa or Mastercard handy. 2. Using a touch-tone phone, dial 1-800-549-0682. Follow the instructions of the friendly automated…

From the Smart city car, a reality at last, to radical dream machines, to 200-mph GT wundercars, the 57th Frankfurt Motor Show had something lor everyone. Urban cruisers, otf-road vehicles, racing cars for the road, road cars for the races, the world’s largest auto exhibition handily covered all the bases and included no fewer than 33 world premieres. As if the show itself weren’t big enough, BMW even held a special off-site briefing to provide a limited-access sneak peek at several future automobiles, as well as announce its return to Formula One in 2000 as engine supplier to the Williams Team. Here’s a brief look at the highlights of Frankfurt ’97, which was presented under the banner “Cars—the Link.” MERCEDES-BENZ CLK-GTR Highlight of the expansive Mercedes-Benz display hall was the…

With the United Nations berating American motorists for greedy petroleum consumption and world opinion painting us as the Attila the Hun of polluters, what does the future hold for besieged drivers and their beloved vehicles? Well, it depends on whose “facts” you want to listen to and believe. The AAA just released a rather reassuring study concluding that urban smog produced by automobiles continues to decline and is no longer a primary cause of the ozone problem in major U.S. cities. The study shows that cars and light trucks currently cause less than 30 percent of the emissions that lead to ground-level ozone problems in 24 major cities despite almost a 100-percent increase in miles driven since 1970. The AAA study says that 70 percent of smog comes from smoke…

Here’s a look at what’s ahead on another great month of Motor Trend Television, the fastest-paced, most informative half-hour of automotive programming on the air today. Join us twice each weekend on TNN (The Nashville Network) for all the non-stop action. Check local TV listings for showtimes in your area. Nov. 1/2: • First tests: Hot, new ’98 Corvette convertible and Porsche Boxster • A look back at the Chevy El Camino Nov. 8/9: • Complete coverage: MVs ’98 Truck of the Year Nov. 15/16: • Performance-testing the high-flying Hurst Firebird by Lingenfelter • Tailfins deluxe—the outrageous ’59 Cadillac and ’64 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado droptops Nov. 22/23: • Battle of the best-selling import SUVs—torture-testing the top five sport/utes from abroad • American Classics: Ford’s fantastic Fairlane 500s Nov. 29/30: •…

203 mph! Can you honestly grasp what that level of brutal velocity is like inside a street car? 203 mph. That’s a seriously big number, fast enough to leave a stock Viper GTS lagging 16 mph behind like an unwanted calf. The few lunatics brave enough to mash this 602-horse-power Viper’s throttle and hang on for the entire top-speed ride should be anointed into the speed-freak hall of fame. In your wake will be a sea of puny-powered underachievers, such as the Ferrari 550 Maranello, Porsche 911 Turbo S, and Corvette ZR-1. With the unveiling of his unbelievably powerful, Venom 600 GTS, performance maestro John Hennessey has established his place alongside automotive power pirates like Reeves Callaway, John Lingenfelter, and Don Yenko. Entry into this elite club is not easy,…

Bending Corvette Iron With Water Tube hydroforming is a not-so-common technical term that describes a relatively new automotive metal-forming process in which small (garden hose-size) closed cross-section structural members or even large (six inches in diameter) frame rails are ballooned into proper shape from steel tubing filled with water pressurized to anywhere from 5000 to 100,000 psi. Perhaps the most impressive place hydroformed pieces have shown up so far has been in the two main frame rails on the 1997 C-5 Chevrolet Corvette. Traditionally, these 16-foot-long parallel rails would have been made using 14 individually stamped and welded pieces of steel. At the plant, that would have meant many blanking, drawing, trimming, flanging, and piercing operations, several different fixtures, and numerous complicated welding operations. Instead, the new process involves a…

Wondering how far it is down the road to the next gas station, food stop, motel, hospital, rest area, and so on? Get your button-pressing fingers nimble and pull out the Road Whiz Plus. This calculator-size unit contains a database that’s chock full of information on the services available along every mile of America’s interstate highways. Punch in your state, highway, direction, mile marker, and desired service, and it will tell you what’s coming up, how many miles away it is, what exit to use, and basic directions to find it. It also includes local phone numbers for motels, travel info, and the highway patrol, and allows you to search by specific names (such as Chevron, Denny’s, Holiday Inn’etcJ $39-95-Travel USA: 800/274-0971. You can never have too much light when…

LIQUID GLASS CAR-CARE KIT Liquid Glass has been a highly requested name in finish care for years. This all-in-one kit includes the company’s concours-quality polish, pre-cleaner, wash, and Connoisseur’s Choice products for interior care. For a free sample, contact Liquid Glass Enterprises, Dept. MT, P.O. Box 1170, Teaneck, NJ 07666; 800/548-5307 or 201/3876755; www.liquidglass.com. DURASPORT LINERS Specially designed for use in sport/utility vehicles, these flexible thermoplastic liners protect the rear cargo area from mud, dirt, water, sharp objects, or liquid spills. When not in use, they can be rolled up and stored in a case, perfect for people who use their SUV’s full potential. Durakon Industries, Dept. MT, 2101 N. Lapeer Road, Lapeer, MI 48446; 810/6640850; www.durakon.com. THE SCHRADE TOUGH TOOL Light and compact, the stainless steel Schrade Tough Tool…

Disc brakes look simple (if you don’t peer at the ABS circuitry), but they are actually a very complex technology. What they’re asked to do—turn a moving car’s energy into heat so the car can stop, then cool down to do it again—is a tough trick. Race teams have found machining radial grooves into brake rotors can improve braking performance. Much like water under a hydroplaning tire, gases build up between rotor and pad during maximum braking, and grooves, like those in Power Performance’s Power Slot rotors, allow an escape route. Power Slots are available currently for most imports and will be soon for domestics. Contact Power Performance Group, Dept. MT, 9421 Winnetka Ave., Unit J, Chatsworth, CA 91311; 818/709-4800.…

They’re almost impossible to ignore: big luxury sedans and coupes fitted with ultra-low-profile aftermarket tires and wheels of extravagant diameter. Around Motor Trends Beverly Hills-adjacent offices, where even the housekeeper drives a 740IL and conspicuous consumption is a cultural mandate, such wheel and tire combinations are status symbols. But are 20-inch wheels on a luxury vehicle more than a fashion statement? Enrolling our long-term Jaguar XK8 convertible in the experiment, a set of top-of-the-line P255/35YR20 Pirelli P Zero Assimetrico tires wrapped around a set of BBS RX 20x9.0-inch wheels were ordered from The Tire Rack (888/372-8473, or www.tirerack.com) to replace the equally prime P245/50R17 P Zero Assimetricos fitted as standard equipment. Except for the wheel swap, the Jag was stock, with just over 3000 miles on the odometer. Tires were…

At great risk, our intrepid spy photographer snapped this shot of Toyota Racing Development’s (TRD) upcoming supercharger kit for 3.4-liter V-6-powered Tacoma and T100 pickups and 4Runner SUVs. Unfortunately, all he had on him was black-and-white film. Seen installed on an extended cab, 4x4 T100, the kit is built around the Eaton Roots-style supercharger and should give that big truck the extra low-end grunt it needs. On a two-wheel-drive, superlight Tacoma, it ought to produce a rocket. TRD is Toyota’s own speed parts business, and this kit shows how serious they are about becoming a big player. When the kit will be available for sale, we’ll let you know.…

Few things are actually shaped like the pickup truck’s bed. Meaning whatever that stuff is, it will rattle around in the bed. The solution is to tie it down, and AHAA Enterprises thinks its Up-Tite cargo securing system is the way to do it. Each Up-Tite extruded, anodized aluminum rail runs the length of the truck’s bed and is milled, drilled, and countersunk every 6 inches to insert and set the one-piece slide hooks where they are needed most. Rated for cargos up to a half ton, the Up-Tite (from $120) is, the company claims, perfect for securing everything from barrels and machinery to motorcycles and watercraft. Contact AHAA Enterprises, Dept. MT, P.O. Box 502001, San Diego, CA 92150; 619/291-9025.…

It seemed simple: Any Motor Trend long-term Porsche ought to be finished in the sleek, sophisticated silver that German race machines have worn. Silver 911s have a dignified ferocity; an elegant disdain for mortal cars and vulgar showiness. Hmmm. But then again, the exhibitionist in us wanted something that would really pop, a color that would snap heads even among the jaded, seen-it-all drivers along Sunset Boulevard. Ah, “Speed Yellow.” The name says it all. So it was that we would spend nearly two years with a Speed Yellow ’95 911 Carrera 4 (C4) coupe. From the moment Rik Paul took the keys at Porsche’s Werk 1 in Zuffenhausen, Germany, to experience the company’s “Tourist Delivery” program, through 25,045 miles racked up scorching German autobahns, leaving a yellow blur across…