Indholdsfortegnelse for July 1998 i MotorTrend

Designed to be “the world’s most exhilarating four-door driving experience,” the all-new Bentley Arnage is the first model in nearly 60 years with a powerplant uniquely developed for the marque, the first in Bentley’s 94-year history to have a body assembled “in-house” at the Crewe factory of parent company Rolls-Royce, and the last to be brought to market before Rolls and Bentley were bought by BMW. The Arnage is the first truly new Bentley in 18 years. Its predecessors, the Brooklands R and Turbo RT, relied on a GM-derived V-8 whose origins go back much further than that (the current two-door Continental coupe remains in production). As Rolls Chief Executive Graham Morris candidly confesses, We’ve not improved our standards as fast as we would have liked, but with our new…

In typical Porsche style, the company famous for limited-production, hand-built, highly responsive, and costly automobiles is doing its part to promote the cause of clean air by taking to the trails with a hat trick of high-end mountain bikes. The S ($2250), FS ($4500), and FS Evolution ($6000) deliver that same level of commitment to a different clientele. Because Porsche already knows that 25 percent of those who own its cars also own mountain bikes, why not supply them with a handbuilt bike deserving of the name Porsche? While the S (for “suspension”) and the FS (“full suspension”) models slipped quietly onto the scene last summer, the debut of its tour de force FS “Evo” model this year underscores Porsche’s desire to expand its brand recognition. By offering the bikes…

Passion-evoking American two-seaters have fueled our automotive dreams ever since the days of the ’53 Corvette and ’55 T-Bird. ‘Today’s renegade roadsters fend off the world’s best ragtops with a potent combination of feisty performance, aggressive big-tired stances, and distinctive retro flavor. The fifth-generation Corvette is a rolling technology showcase that delivers a road-hugging yet amazingly comfortably riding suspension, ferocious but refined V-8, and masterful interior ergonomics. Its manually operated top is super quick and easy for one person to manage. While a power mechanism would be expected at this price range, the Corvette’s engineers went for the weight, space, and cost savings of this design. With the top dropped, an attractive hard boot creates a smooth rear deck that pours like a waterfall between the leather-wrapped bucket seats. A…

All sorts of medium- to large-size American cars were available in convertible form 30 years ago. Most offered room for four people and a trunk good for a weekends worth of luggage. Though “them days are gone,” the American convertible came back with a vengeance a little more than a decade ago, and has flourished ever since. The Pontiac Sunfire and Chrysler Sebring, respectively, represent the least expensive and the best selling U.S-made ragtops. The Sebring is a purpose-built convertible from the ground up. It seats four quite comfortably, five in a pinch, and offers one of the largest trunks available in a droptop. The fully padded cloth top makes for plenty of headroom, and the long doors and large amount of side glass keep the cabin relatively airy. The…

We drove them through a ragged granite tunnel punched dean through a mountain. We four-wheeled over knee-high white snowdrifts on ratted trails. And for three days, we cautiously carved the wet and icy two-lanes that snake through the forested 5000-foot elevations of Yosemite National Park. This early taste of the ’99 GMC Sierra full-size pickups confirmed that General Motors takes its position in the truck business very seriously. We believe these redesigned trucks now represent the state of the art in full-size pickup engineering. But then, they had to. Full-size pickups are absolutely critical to the health of GM. We’ve watched a steady erosion in the giant’s overall automotive market share’ < recently below 30 percent). Its car sales, even with heavy incentives, are down sharply. But last year. GM…

Nothing beats spending 14 hours at a crack behind the wheel of a new car to really discover its strengths and weaknesses. I’m happy to report that the New Beetle displayed far more of the former than the latter during a whirlwind cross-country trip that took us from Atlanta to Los Angeles over the course of three days. Traversing I-20 and 1-10, deftly skirting the best El Nino could offer, this modern incarnation of an automotive icon proved genuinely amenable to long-distance running, while showing an uncanny ability to absolutely mesmerize virtually every living being whose path it happened to cross in the process. One of the prime bits of good news concerns its front seats. Although Teutonically firm and lacking any lumbar adjustments, they boasted an impressive blend of…

If you’re Chevrolet, the Indy 500’s problem is that those pesky race cars tend to drown out the dazzling warble of the Corvette pace car the fans really came to hear. So Chevy did the logical thing and made the pace car louder by installing special Corsa “Power-Pulse” stainless steel mufflers. The $795 Corsa system for street-bound C5 Vettes uses “reactive sound cancellation technology” to reflect pressure waves through muffler passages and cancel out unwanted sounds. The result is, the company claims, a “tuned” muffler with a clean sound that evokes the essential, symphonic timbre of performance with 45 percent more exhaust flow in the C5. Corsa Performance, Dept. MT, 80 Helwig St., Berea, OH 44017; 800/486-0999; www.corsaperf.com.…

There are almost four million Jeep owners in the United States. Whether they drive a Grand Cherokee, Cherokee. Wrangler, Comanche, CJ, Renegade, Honcho, Jeepster Commando, or the original military-issue Willys MA, they share a common nameplate that, over the decades, has become synonymous with serious off-road capability and rugged adventure. Sure, many of these vehicles never see anything more challenging than a mall parking lot during summer white-sale days, yet Jeep owners know, deep down, they’ve got the right stuff to tackle the grizzliest of wilds if ever they want. And in between urban commutes or trips to the Little Teague field, for many, the idea of venturing off into the unpaved back-country remains simmering just below the surface, waiting for the right opportunity. That’s where Jeep Jamborees come in.…

Forget the Sidekick. And Suzuki hopes you’ve forgotten the Samurai by now, as well. The new SUV name the maker would like you to learn and remember is Vitara. Or in this case, Grand Vitara, the first model in an all-new lineup of compact Suzuki SUVs that will begin appearing in showrooms late this summer. With the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Kia Sportage as its obvious competitors, the Grand Vitara does them all two cylinders better by offering the class’ first V-6 engine. And it’s a jewel, a 2.5-liter four-cam four-valve-per-cylinder unit offering 155 horsepower and 160 pound-feet of torque. The 60-degree layout means no balance shaft nor other nonsense is required to keep things smooth; this new-from-scratch V-6 is well polished and delivers power through your choice of…

It is no secret that factory-installed audio and security systems have improved dramatically over the past decade but for many new-vehicle buyers, nothing can otter the performance, features and flexibility of an aftermarket system. The latest audio components can create a concert-like front stage enveloping the driver in powerful crisp sound, while cutting-edge security packages bring a plethora of useful convenience and safety functions. The aftermarket has recently launched exciting new products in three major categories in-vehicle-computing devices, integrated mobile navigation and dedicated 12-volt video components Several full-line manufacturers have even combined all three in cutting-edge top-of-the-line systems that can put many home entertainment centers to shame. Partially fueling the in-vehicle multimedia boom has been the market’s movement to SUVs and full-size pickups. which boast generous room for components and…

Online www.motortrend.com Our ever-Iively Bulletin Board has been overhauled with a fresh interface, malting it easier to use than before. Enthusiasts from around the globe can post messages, reply to others, engage in heated debates, and share ownership insights and performance tips. Search for items related to your vehicle, or scroll through the different discussions until something grabs your attention. Want immediate feedback? Hop into the Chat room and join the nightly discussion from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. PST. A reminder will flash on the Table of Contents alerting users that an intense debate is being waged. Simply register for a password and enter the fray. Editors and industry insiders do frequent the Chat room to participate and observe. Have an idea for future stories? E-mail choices have been…

Stirred by the lowest gas prices ever (adjusted for inflation) and reports of better safety, sales of sport/utility vehicles are soaring, presenting the government with a major dilemma: how to reconcile overall safety, fuel economy, and emissions goals with tire decided trend to brawny, fuel-hungry SUVs. SUV sales have climbed from 7 percent in 1900 to 16 percent of overall U.S. sales in 1937. Ironically, sales of sport/utes are often spurred by reports about their added safety, such as a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (HHS) that showed occupants of a car are 10 times more likely to die in a crash-with an SUV Meanwhile, as high gas prices and global warming fears elicit a host of new and innovative small car offerings in Japan and…

These four-wheel-drive fun machines crave open-air adventure, eager to escape into the countryside to commune with nature and explore its splendor. Both sport/utes are available in four- and six-cylinder variations, with and without four-wheel-drive, and, starting this Rummer, choice of hard- or softtop. The all-new Amigo offers a strong balance of urban runabout and terrain conqueror, where the Wrangler leans toward the hard-core off-roading end of the spectrum. Civilized and sporty, the V-6-fitted Amigo brings a potent combination of brisk acceleration, decent ride compliance, and decidedly refined interior courtesy of components shared with the larger Rodeo. Supportive bucket seats, well-placed controls, and room for five to ride in comfort add to the driving experience. A pushed button engages four-wheel drive, readying the Amigo for off-road excursions, while a floor lever…

Little known fact The original Porsche 911 Cabriolet was kept under wraps at Weissach until New Year’s Day. 1981, remaining a secret until Peter W. Schutz was installed as the new CEO. The Cabriolet—indeed all developments of the 911—were taboo under the old regime, which firmly believed that the 928 was the key to Porsches future. What a wonderful thing, hindsight! Today, it’s difficult to imagine Porsche being without a softtop version of the 911, especially one as slick as the just-released Carrera Cabriolet. We got our first taste of the new open-air 911 variant on the wide-open roads of southern Spain, between Seville and the Mediterranean. The Cabriolet is a mechanical clone of the Coupe, which means it numbers among its lengthy roster of standards the same wonderful 3.4-liter/296-horsepower…

Fire up the pulsating powerplant in a new Camaro Z28 or Mustang Cobra and rap the throttle real good a couple of times. You’d think that 305 horsepower bellowing under the hood would be enough to satisfy just about any reasonable human being. You’d expect that the eye-watering, tangy scent of wide rear tires frantically converting themselves to dense plumes of rubber smoke during berserk sessions of full-throttle exhibitionism would leave any driver fully satisfied—and enervated. Nope. Not a select group of hormonally imbalanced individuals. This sort of foolishness only breeds the desire for more: even more power, more handling, and more thrills. It’s this relentless craving that drives a thriving automotive performance aftermarket—and gives thousands of state troopers a way to while away the hours between hostage situations. And…

The day of this Motor Trend photo shoot at the Santa Monica Pier was one I will always remember—the day I saw my first New Beetle. Everywhere we took these cars, the response from the public was nothing short of amazing! I’ve never seen so many people show such fascination toward a new automobile in my life. The New Beetle is one of those rare cars to which photographs alone can’t do justice; it has to be seen in person to truly appreciate Its unique styling and friendly familiarity. When I saw it for the first time, I knew right away Volkswagen had a winner once again. I’m very proud of my ’64 VW Cabriolet. Thanks to Hollywood Movie Cars for arranging my car to represent the “old” part of…

Stories about modifying Mustangs are to MT as rate-your-relationship quizzes are to Cosmopolitan and farming Warren Buffett profiles are to Fortune. Four years ago, MT supercharged the then all-new ‘94 Mustang’s 5.0-liter V-8 (“Project Mustang,” June ’94), and we’ve fiddled with other ponies stretching back to the ‘60s. Working with Ford’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) performance equipment division, MT has again indulged its own idea of what a new Mustang should be. Starting with a ‘97 Mustang GT convertible powered by the 4.6-liter/215-horsepower SOHO V-8 and stirred by a five-speed manual transmission, we conjured a more capable, much quicker, and more exhilarating car than the standard GT. Replacing the legendary OHV 5.0-liter V-8 with the SOHO 4.6-liter “Modular” V-8 in ‘96 has been controversial with Mustang maniacs. While the rated…

Every tinkerer dreams of “the demon tweak,” that one magical mod that makes an engine much more efficient and powerful. Advanced Engine Management’s (AEM) timing gears for Honda and other small engines gives tuners a way to precisely vary cam timing. Intricately machined from aluminum billet, the gears are marked in one-degree increments and allow adjustments from minus-10 to plus-10 degrees. Such variance could be the demon tweak on a modified engine. And they come anodized in red, blue, or silver, which will surely and tremendously impress the opposite sex. A set for the current Honda Civic EX costs S149. Advanced Engine Management, Dept. MT, 200 Corporate Pointe, Suite 465, Culver City, CA 90230; 310/327-9336; www.a-e-m.com.…

NEW SHELBYS Picture the ferocity of the auction bidding if a pristine, never-driven Shelby Cobra 289 and a never-raced Cobra Daytona Coupe were on the block: The security guards would need shotguns to retain order. Well, perhaps the rent-a-cops should place their order with Remington now: Carroll Shelby is restarting the Shelby American assembly line. Soon, brand-new 289 FIA Cobras and Cobra Daytona Coupes, the cars that combined to win the ’65 World Manufacturers Championship, will be available. These all-new cars will be built largely true to the original specifications. Still, some modem materials will be employed and a few chassis refinements added to cope with ultra-sticky modem tires, says a Shelby spokesman. Also, Shelby is still evaluating whether to make the bodies of fiberglass, carbon-fiber, or aluminum. The cars…

Originally, this article was intended to describe how lowerprofile tires on larger-diameter wheels—“Plus One, Two, or Three” packages—could improve the ride and handling feel of a sport/utility vehicle, increasing responsiveness, reducing that sloppy feeling, and enhancing traction. But after a little research, we came to this new conclusion. A tire’s construction, tread pattern, and compound are far more important than its aspect ratio in determining how it will feel and work. Said another way: Lower aspect ratio (or higher speed rating, come to think of it) does not necessarily make a tire more responsive, firmer feeling, grippier, or better handling. We had experienced this (in a Dec. ’96 tire comparison, we found 15-inchers had more ultimate grip than 16- or 17-inch sizes of the same model tire), but needed reminding.…

We’ve sung praises for the fifth-generation Corvette since it first emerged from the Bowling Green plant, applauding its superb powerplant, masterful ergonomics, and even its sonorous exhaust note. Despite the exquisite auditory sensations produced by the mechanical symphony, the real sound magic emanates from the Bose Music System. Since the introduction of the fourth-generation Corvette in 1984, it has been impossible to talk about audio and Corvette in the same breath without also mentioning Bose. Although the Bose Music System installed in many fourth-generation Corvettes was a clear step forward in the evolution of factory-installed audio systems, to the ears of some critics, aftermarket products continued to set the pace in delivering cutting-edge sound reproduction. Much of this was attributed to the fact that the aftermarket raced simultaneously in several…

’97 BMM 540i MANUAL We’re into our second year with the sumptuous and ferocious 540i, and our love affair continues. Logbook entries praising the black-on-black Bimmer read like a blend of Olympic commentary and art criticism: “Gold-medal sprinter able to dust international competition,” “Where’s the Nike swoosh? With 282 horsepower on tap, the eager powerplant says Just Do It at every stoplight,” and “Exquisite, elegant luxury with a devilish side.” After spending five days in the greatest sports cars in the world for our “Viva Velocity” cover story (May ’98), Editor C. Van Tune scrawled in the logbook, “I can’t think of a better car than this 540i Sport to use as a transition back into the real world. With its excellent power, six-speed manual, taut handling, ultra-supportive and comfy…

Mercedes-Benz is about to pummel the American marketplace with a family of uprated performance machinery. By the time you read this, the C43, a C-Class sedan packing an AMG-massaged 4.3-liter/302-horsepower V-8, wall be available in limited quantities at your Mercedes-Benz dealer. Following it this fall will be the V-8 version of M-B’s stylish CLK coupe. And the third salvo due to be fired—literally and figuratively—during the first quarter of 1999, will be the E55 AMG sedan. All 354 horsepower of it. The E55 recalls the Pontiac GTO formula for creating a muscle machine: Take a midsize platform, stuff in a way big V-8, and prepare to go fast. But this analogy would be an oversimplification of the comprehensive going-over given this flagship E-Class by Mercedes and AMG. For those not…

This promises to be a very special month on MT TV as we showcase some of the world’s fastest and most exciting cars and trucks. Join us twice each weekend on TNN (The Nashville Network) for the hottest automotive half-hour on the air today. Check local TV listings for show times in your area, then turn on, tune in, and rev up! June 6/7: Full coverage—MT’s ’98 Car of the Year winner • A super salute to the Chevy Corvette • First test: ’98 Nissan Frontier pickup June 13/14: Tarmac terror—Hennessey Viper Venom 600 GTS o• Dodge Dakota R/T Sport 5.9 • American Classic: Ford Torino Talladega June 20/21: Top-Speed Shootout—A no-holds-barred runoff to find the fastest sports car in America • Exploring state-of-the-art auto electronics • Retrospective: Chevy Chevelle…

As summer rekindles the American love affair with convertibles, Mitsubishi threatens to steal our hearts with the Transformer-on-steroids SST Spyder. A vision of 21st-centuiy, open-air motoring, the SST combines exhilarating performance and otherworldly, geo-mechanical styling in an invigorating roadster concept. While many show vehicles offer a three-dimensional glimpse into the inner workings of a manufacturer’s creative subconscious, revealing the deep-rooted automotive fantasies that will influence future products, Mitsubishi has handed over the keys and allowed us to take its prophetic dream for a drive. At first glance, the tangerine-orange SST Spyder looks as if it were tooled from solid aluminum billet, due to chiseled edges and retina-frying experimental PPG paint. Certain to cause whiplash double-takes, the PPG process uses a highly reflective, fine-grind silver metallic base topped with multiple layers…

These, folks, are sports cars. Pure and simple. They look cool, seat two, and neither is available in any sort of coupe form. Their purpose is driving fun, and they both deliver the goods. Mazda assumed huge risk in redesigning the Miata for ’93: how to retain the DNA cf the original, yet advance the car enough for it to maintain momentum in the marketplace. As described in last month’s First Test report, the result is a success. Though the new car may lack the absolute purity of form of the original, it’s a bolder look and won’t be mistaken for anything but a Miata. It also remains the spiritual successor to those MGBs, Lotus Elans, and Triumph TR4s of 35 or so years ago. The Miata’s fully manual convertible…

It would have been easy for Chevrolet to send its all-new ’99 Silverado pickups rolling merrily down the wrong highway. Given the success of both Ford’s aerodynamically shaped F-Series and Dodge’s Kenworth-inspired Ram trucks, we’d have understood if the Bow Tie gang used either formula as the design mandate for its new full-sizer. But then, would it have been a Chevrolet? Customer and dealer research told the company’s product planners, “When you’re done, make sure it’s still a Chevy truck.” They did, and it is. Motor Trend. was given the world exclusive first drive in the new pickup, specifically in this short-bed, extended-cab 4x4, packing the new 5300 Vortec V-8 and just about every other option available. Even though this particular truck was a handbuilt “pilot” model, Chevy says it…

Nearly everyone is familiar with the notion of “looking at the world through rose-colored glasses.” The gist of this timeworn saying is that the memory of things, people, and places somehow appear better than they really were, when viewed through spectacles of the correct, flowery hue. It certainly applies to cars. When we think of automobiles from our past, the psyche seems to cast that magical, rose tint over them; we’re able to focus in on the characteristics and experiences we remember most fondly, while forgetting about haywire electrics, vapor lock, rust, and the lack of CD player. When Volkswagen elected to recreate its icon, the Beetle, it was assured of a certain amount of success, mixed with a huge measure of risk Can’you really go home again? Will it…

Contrary to all North American evidence, General Motors still builds rear-drive, V-8-powered sedans. The giant corporation’s Australian Holden subsidiary’s Commodore is available with a 5.0-liter OHV V-8 and with a special 5.7-liter OHV V-8 from its affiliated Holden Specialty Vehicles (HSV) tuning shop in the potent HSV GTS. Since the Commodore is evolved from the German Opel Omega from which also springs the Cadillac Catera, what HSV offers is basically a slightly wider Catera with the equivalent of a Corvette drivetrain. The GTS 5.7-liter V-8 is a stroked version of GM’s Australian V-8 (slightly smaller than a Chevy smallblock V-8), which uses sequential fuel injection to whack out 295 horsepower and the sort of torque Americans (and apparently Australians) crave. Behind the engine is a choice of the Camaro’s T-56…

Stroll through any major auto show, and you’ll often hear choruses of “Cool,” “Wow!” and “Will they build it?” It’s probably kids—of all ages—gawking at the latest concept cars, fresh from the design studios of Detroit (or California, or Turin, or Tokyo). You know, I those glistening machines up on the turntables, under I the bright lights, offering John Q. Public and family a glimpse of what future models may, or may not, end up i resembling. Dazzling paint, brilliant chrome, perhaps accompanied on the show stand by an elegantly dressed model or two. Cars with Flash Gordon features and styling so breathtakingly dramatic, you can only dream of what it would be like to actually drive one. And that’s why they’re called Dream Cars. This scene could be taking…

It can happen anywhere: along a crowded highway or lonely mountain road, in the middle of a barren desert or horizon-to-horizon cornfields. It can happen any time: while hurrying to pick up your kids from school or during a leisurely driving vacation. And it can happen in any weather: during a sun-baked, triple-digit heat wave or a drenching downpour. A tire picks up a wayward nail and slowly goes flat, an overheating engine spews out its coolant, a weak drivebelt finally snaps, or a miscellaneous part deep inside the vehicle reaches the end of its service life. The result is a roadside emergency. Today’s cars are so dependable compared to those of decades past that we can settle into a false sense of security that they’ll just keep on running.…

By endowing it with bold new looks, an enhanced dynamic sense, and more value-oriented pricing as part of its new-for-’96 makeover, Mercedes-Benz ensured that its high-volume E-Class line would enter the next century from a position of strength. But as dramatic as this transition may have been on the surface, it was accomplished with no loss of the underlying fundamentals that had established the marque as an acknowledged prestige and safety leader in the automotive world. We were impressed enough with the feat to select this exceptional offering as our ’96 Import Car of the Year, but passed on the instant gratification of putting an E320 into our MT long-term test fleet in favor of waiting a few months until the V-8-powered E420 arrived as an early ’97 model. As…