Indholdsfortegnelse for November 1998 i MotorTrend

Collectors are a strange breed. I know, because I’m one of them. My vice is vintage (’20s through ’60s) automotive sales brochures, nameplates, and hubcaps. Old road-scene postcards and roadmaps, prior to the days of the interstate system, are pretty neat, too. After three decades of collecting, I have way more stuff than I could ever display, but that doesn’t stop the urge for more. There’s always that next rare find, such as my recent purchases of a 100-share stock certificate from the Tucker Motor Corporation of 1947, a commemorative copper ashtray from the 1938 GM stockholders’ meeting, and an original Pennsylvania registration for Mr. Bruno Garafaolo’s 32-horsepower ’13 Cadillac (not much power from 366 cubic inches). However, the most rabid group of all car-stuff collectors has to be Shelby…

Remember the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV), the joint government-industry future car project launched with great fanfare in 1993? The 10-year goal was to produce a family sedan that would get 80 mpg, seat five in comfort and safety, and cruise the highway with near-zero emissions and at a cost comparable with that of conventional vehicles. Well, at the halfway point, despite no clear leader among propulsion systems, the project has pioneered new technologies that are already making a difference in today’s vehicles and may yet reach its lofty goals. The partnership was formed when GM, Ford, Chrysler, and 19 government labs pledged to pool their resources and collaborate on precompetitive research to find ways to shave 2000 pounds off the typical family sedan and develop cleaner,…

The production Shelby Series 1 will surround you with abundant leather trim, a nicely padded top, and a high-watt, multi-speaker Monsoon sound system. But as I circle the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in a Series 1 development vehicle named ft P3. the environment is different: Heat boils up through holes in the aluminum floor, carbon-fiber door skins flap in the wind, and dirt and oily grit from the track’s surface enter the cockpit—and every pore in my skin—from several openings. The doors don’t open, the gas gauge is dead as a rock, and the A/C doesn’t work either. Fit and finish? The P3 is a rolling amalgam of steel, aluminum, screws, rivets, wood, wires, plastic, nails, glue, and duct tape. Lots of duct tape. But the sound from the bellowing…

It’s a pivotal year for truck shoppers, what with the arrival of a wide assortment of landmark models. At last, Cadillac joins the swelling ranks of luxury sport/utility purveyors with the Escalade, the GMC Envoy similarly caters to the human desire for luxury, and Jeep strives to set a new highwater mark with its fully redesigned Grand Cherokee. Against this backdrop, Land Rover strikes back with a new Discovery, Mercedes-Benz sticks an optional V-8 in its popular M-Class, Isuzu plays dirty with the VehiCROSS, Suzuki shows off the Vitara, and Chevy livens up the Tracker. Pickup lovers will be itching to sling a bale of hay into the new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickups, as well as Ford’s big new hard-working F-series models. No pushing, please…you’ll get your…

DOORS FAN I really like the new Honda Odyssey, especially its double automatic sliding doors. I like to surprise my friends by using the remote control to open the doors from a long way away. I also like how you can change the seat aisle to be a center aisle or a side one. That works perfect with kids like my brother who is seven and me who is nine. If we fight, Daddy can just move the seat apart and split us up. It works. —Camille DeMere CUPHOLDER CRITIC I liked the Honda Odyssey because the electric doors are really awesome. I didn’t like how the cupholders are in the front tray because I couldn’t reach my drink from the second row. I loved the changeable seat in the…

So, you own a handbuilt Aston Martin automobile. Perhaps it’s a DB4 that was once your grandfather’s, and he didn’t take such good care of it. Or maybe you’ve just severely bent your new $140,000 DB7. In any case, you’re now responsible for renovating a very special piece of motoring transport. But where do you get it fixed? Although factory-authorized service is available in most large cities, Aston Martin offers a one-of-a-kind program at the factory in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England. Can you imagine returning an SVT Mustang Cobra to Dearborn for a tuneup or an engine swap? The Aston Martin Lagonda Works Prepared Service program handles everything from routine maintenance to elaborate custom-designed body work. Want your coupe turned into a convertible or perhaps a station wagon? Maybe the…

Compact truck enthusiasts have frothed at the mouth over the past couple of years as Chevrolet has unveiled a series of S-10 sport variants, including the Hugger show-circuit star and the Xtreme Force and Xtreme Plus 4 showcased in last year’s Toy Box roundup (Aug. ’97). Just like the Impala SS, overwhelming public response has pushed Chevrolet to bring an engineering exercise into production based on these concepts. Heading to a dealership near you as a ’99 model, the production S-10 Xtreme was designed to address the needs of enthusiasts, offering a factory-built, lowered truck with a striking 360-degree aero package. Most important, it comes with a full manufacturer warranty, readily available financing, and the confidence that the components were carefully designed. Reminiscent in appearance to the long-retired GMC Syclone…

Almost every one of the Jaguar XJS platform’s nine live were used up in the long, 21-year product cycle leading up to the sleek and sultry XK8. With time on their side Jaguar designers and engineers had ample opportunity to create a worthy successor to not only the veteran XJS but to the legendary XK120 and XK-E coupes. From our first auto show peek at the graceful body, we were enamored with the delicate lines and alluring promise of world-class, open-air motoring. We secured a Carnival Red example to test the Coventry cat over a year’s time, evaluating its luxury cachet, sporting flair, and liveability. Base price rang in just shy of $70,00 with a host of standards expected in this premium range V-8 engine, real wood and leather trim,…

ELOOROADSTER CONCEPT After reading “Cadillac Eldoroadster” (Aug. ’98), I put the humble contents of my piggybank into an interest-bearing savings account I definitely want to be ready if and when this beauty hits the market. A^ the current owner of an STS. I know the Cadillac people can build a great car when they set their minds to it. I just hope they don’t procrastinate on building it as they did with the Escalade. Gentlemen, make the “Yeldo” a reality, and I will truly own a Caddy that really zigs! Zan HutsonAlpharetta, Ga. Love the new Cadillac/Corvette roadster! If it has the performance of a new Corvette with a refined, comfortable cabin of a Seville STS, and looks like your artist’s rendering, I’d like to put my order in today.…

There’s big news under the hood of the ’99 Oldsmobile Intrigue. Its hearty but aging 195-horsepower OHV 3800 V-6 is being mustered out and replaced by an all-new 3.5-liter/215-horse DOHC counterpart. Standard in the top-line Intrigue GLS from the start of production, the 3.5 V-6 will gradually supplant the 3.8-liter in the GX and GL models by the end of the model year. Exclusive to Olds for ’99, it’ll ultimately be used throughout the GM lineup. This new 3.5-liter shares much of its internal architecture with the 4.0-liter DOHC V-8 used in the Aurora, itself an offshoot of Cadillac’s premiere 4.6-liter Northstar engine. Along with a lightweight aluminum block and heads, it features cast-iron cylinder liners for added durability and uses long-life quiet-running chains instead of belts to drive the…

MOTOR TREND online www.motortrend.com That’s right, all the hot, new ’99 cars have been added to our fact-filled online buyer’s guide. The updated Buying & Leasing section offers everything a cost-conscious shopper needs to choose a vehicle and negotiate a good deal. In cooperation with LeaseSource, a joint Motor Trend/Car Wizard area offers complete technical specifications, vehicle descriptions, invoice and retail pricing, rebates and incentives, residual values, warranty terms, and safety information on every automobile offered in the United States. Freshly posted articles on shopping smart further make the MT Online Buying & Leasing section a comprehensive source of new-vehicle information. Elsewhere on the site, exclusive online features are brewing as Detroit Editor Jack Keebler serves up a detailed look at the ’99 Chevrolet Corvette Hardtop. Keebler’s epic story combines…

During this test of four popular minivans, history was made on several fronts. For the very first time recorded, a 7-year-old boy said from the back seat of a moving minivan, “You know, Dad, I’m kind of having fun.” (Translation: “I like your job: driving around all day thinking about cars, telling jokes on the two-way radio, and occasionally stopping for expense-account ice cream.”) And for the first time anyone can remember, MT editors relinquished the wheel to their spouses. The occasion was a minivan comparison that doubled as a quickie family vacation. We enlisted spouses, children, and pets as guest minivan evaluators. Pitted against the Dodge Grand Caravan and its worthy rivals, the Chevrolet Venture and Toyota Sienna—and the reason for this comparison—was Honda’s all-new Odyssey, the biggest vehicle…

Unless you own one of today’s premium model sport/utility vehicles, chances are the interior of your truck is drowning in a sea of plastic. Adding a bit more class used to mean an expensive trip to a custom interior shop. Today, that’s no longer the case, as the aftermarket is populated with firms that produce well-made, cost-effective, and easy-to-install kits to spruce up your cabin. Most of these packages consist of very thin, stick-on panels for the dashboard, door panels, console, and perhaps even the steering wheel. The most luxurious and popular finish is wood, though the carbon fiber look is catching on with those seeking a high-tech treatment. Just about any type of wood grain is available. Some companies make their kits out of genuine wood, while others are…

'98 FORD ESCORT ZX2 SPORT A clear sign that cars are getting better every year, the sporty ZX2 does little to remind us of the square-edged Escorts of old that drove so many students off to college. Tray’s first-time buyer has a much different definition for “entry-level car” than was widely accepted 10-15 years ago. The ZX2 delivers owners sleek styling, respectable dynamics, and even a decent stereo system. Recent logbook entries hit on this: “Although lightyears removed from the econobox Escorts of late-’80s and early ’90s, it’s not perfect,” “Sporty and affordable without a low-buck styling stigma,” and “Quite spunky for a coupe that delivers 30-plus mpg on the freeway.” The well-executed ZX2 bears no shame at being entrenched in the entry-level zone, though a few concessions are made…

FIRST DRIVE With an all-new-for-’99 3 Series sedan already on sale here, one might wonder why BMW now offers an M3 Convertible based on the old platform. Three reasons: First, the required parts were already available; second, an M-spec convertible off the new 3 Series remains about two model years off; and last but hardly least, it’s a package that people have begged for since the current-generation M3 appeared in ’95. Physically, this stylish newcomer is a 3 Series droptop fitted with an M3 powertrain, underpinnings, interior bits, and body modifications—all for a base price of $45,900. As a twist, we elected to pair its killer 3.2-liter/240-horse DOHC six with BMW’s multimode, five-speed automatic transmission, one of the few M3 options. BMW estimates nearly 60 percent of the M3 Convertibles…

Wait a minute. “The most significant car Carroll has ever produced?” How dare we claim that?! How can we even begin to compare this modern-day concoction to Shelby’s own LeMans-winning, Ferrari-ass-kicking Cobra? My God, the Cobra is not only the ultimate American musclecar, it’s world renowned as one of the greatest automotive icons of all time. That’s all true, but consider the following as a “why” the Series 1 is Carroll’s most newsworthy effort yet: The Series 1 is the first car the legendary snake-charmer has ever created from the ground up. Yep, that’s right. The very first machine that’s pure Shelby from top to bottom and (in spirit, if not exactly literally) inside and out. It’s the embodiment of everything the great She!’ has learned about great cars in…

Mazda has totally recast its entry-level sedan for ’99. Now based on the “narrow” 626 platform sold in Japan and Europe, this compact front-driver gains style and structure along with powertrain and suspension upgrades keyed toward raising its profile among young, well-educated, professionals who demand value in their not-so-basic transportation. Our first encounter with this new Protege came in Toronto, Canada, where we sampled each of the latest trim and powertrain combinations. All were drawn from the very first batch of production cars to roll off the assembly line in Hiroshima, Japan. The Protege continues in three flavors: DX, LX, and sporty ES. While all critical dimensions remain very close to those of the ’98, a comprehensive rework adds 22 percent more bending strength and 12 percent more torsional rigidity…

specially Produced By The Editors of Skin Diver Magazine www.skin-diver.com When the sky fills with gloomy gray clouds and the cold wind blows, it’s time to think about a tropical vacation of sun, sea and scuba. While others are scraping the snow and ice off their windshields, you can be basking in the warm glow of a setting sun, gently rocking in a hammock and enjoying the good life. And, what better way to enjoy a tropical vacation than as an above and below water adventure that includes snorkeling, scuba diving and coral reef exploration? The Caribbean beckons, with daytime air temperatures in the 80s (°F) and water just as warm. Scuba diving is a three dimensional sport that allows you to defy gravity. Unlike the two dimensional world of…

Please join 100,000 of our closest friends for a genteel three-day motorsport celebration. Entertainment will be provided by scores of museum quality, one-of-kind, race-winning classics commanded by legends such as Mario Andretti, Jacky Ickx, Stirling Moss, Nelson Piquet, and John Surtees. Saturday evening, the caped crusader will show Gotham City’s most famous rides, as Batmans friends and foes join us for dinner. And Sunday, as we snack on tea and scones, the high-flying Red Arrow stunt team will perform an aeronautical ballet. Don’t forget your bumberchute! Sound tempting? It should. The Earl of March hosts an amazing automotive extravaganza each summer in West Sussex, England, when the regal families’ property becomes home to the Good wood Festival of Speed. The event is centered around a driveway hillclimb, but it encompasses…

X HITS THE SPOT When it comes to upgrading a vehicle’s performance, balance is everything. Well-matched, high-quality components balanced to work with each other can improve the way your truck or sport/ute accelerates, handles, stops, or rides. Buy mismatched goods, and you may actually be spending money to make your machine slower, sloppier, harsher, or even unsafe. Dave and Pat Vanek of Explorer Express understand these concepts. The result of their R&D efforts is a comprehensive catalog of parts and accessories made just for Ford’s number-one selling Explorer. Explorer Express is now constructing turn-key vehicles, and we recently put its supercharged demonstrator through its paces. Dave will tell you he wanted the typical guy stuff—more acceleration, better handling, and aggressive looks. Pat then reminds you that, while women can and…

Well, summer’s over, fall is here, and winter is just a frosty breath away. For many vehicles in the Snow Belt, this is the time of the annual ritual called winter storage. Convertibles, sports cars, collector and vintage vehicles—many of these either aren’t practical to drive in the cold and snow, or the winter conditions are too demanding for their pampered temperaments. So it’s into the mothballs they go until spring. Still, you can’t just park the car, walk away, and expect it to be ready to go with the blossoms. There are insidious varmints lurking within the vehicle—rust, corrosion, fuel system gum and varnish, oil sludge and acids, and mildew—just waiting for a few down months to really have at it. If you want your pride and joy to…

The MOTOR TREND Electronic Reprint Service The MT Electronic Reprint Service gives you anytime access to many of our 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 above ROAD TEST REVIEW list. Have your Visa or Mastercard handy. 2. Using a touch-tone phone, dial 1-800-549-0682. Follow the instructions of the friendly automated voice. 3. When asked,…