Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2000 i MotorTrend

In case you haven't noticed, the theme of this month's issue is flat-out speed. A pure-blood velocity-fest of high-buck horsepower that doesn't stop twisting the speedometer needle until wind resistance stalemates with horsepower. Yeah, a 650-horsepower twin-turbo Corvette, a fistful of credit cards, and nothin' but beautiful blacktop between me and 226 mph! Or, at least, that's how it works in our latent teenage dreams. Unfortunately, in today's sanitized-for-your-protection world, there's, more often than not, an electronic fun-stealer hiding within your car's electronic brain: the speed limiter. The purpose of these dastardly curtailers is, of course, to protect us from our own evil right feet-to stop us before we go too fast and presumably kill off the entire human species in a wreck the size of a giant asteroid hit.…

Chrysler literally invented the front-wheel-drive minivan 16 years ago. Since then, a hungry market devoured 8 million of this maker's transport gadgets. Today, with no fewer than 15 competitors fighting for a chunk of that segment, DaimlerChrysler chefs have cooked up an even more delicious van. We recently sampled some early examples of this new-for-2001 recipe in a preview drive near Phoenix, Arizona. Some of the basic ingredients of this eminently successful offering have not been changed, things like its size, seat-height, and front-drive configuration. But the upcoming Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, and Chrysler (née Plymouth) Voyager, and models do benefit from quieter-ride suspension pieces, bigger brakes, a trio of more potent V-6 engines, a powered rear lift-gate, dual powered sliding doors, improved front airbags and new side-impact…

Although a bit of a late arrival as 2000 models go, our first encounter with the new Nissan Sentra indicates that it may be well worth the wait. Even a brief stint behind the wheel on a recent trip to the firm’s proving grounds in Tochigi, Japan, convinced us that the new Sentra is a solid step up from its predecessor in almost every meaningful way. Still imbued with a fairly conservative character, the Sentra’s new sheetmetal does display a bit more upscale flair. That enhanced sophistication carries over to the interior as well, which now offers more useable people and cargo space plus a number of ergonomic enhancements. A modest revamping of the Sentra’s Mac-Strut/Torsion-beam-with-control-link suspension results in slightly more responsive handling and improved compliance. Minor power steering tweaks…

DaimlerChrysler recently announced that, by this time next year, the venerable Plymouth marque will have completed its final journey, that jaunty schooner logo to be anchored for the last time. Lagging sales and a lack of any real brand identity combined to precipitate the long-rumored demise of this 71-year-old division, which for quite some time had been Chrysler Corporation’s softest line. Plymouth's best year came in '73, when, riding on the tailfeathers of its high-performance Road Runner, the division sold 750,000 units. By model year ' 99, that figure had fallen to a mere 280,000, despite ongoing efforts to revitalize the interest of buyers in the critical 20-40 age range. First products to exit will be the Breeze sedan and the Voyager/Grand Voyager minivans. However, both will be immediately resurrected…

A month can seem like an eternity between issues of Motor Trend for information-hungry readers. Fortunately, Motor Trend Online can supplement your fiber-rich diet with daily helpings of automotive news. Stories break every day, from rebates and pricing announcements, to vehicle unveilings and catastrophic developments. Catch them all, and an occasional fun item, in the Auto News section of MTOnline. Go beyond the headlines to our unique Future Vehicle Forecast, a multipage compilation of hard facts and insider rumors about the cars and trucks destined for production in the next few years-the information the manufacturers don't want you to know. While at MT Online, browse through the article archives, dive into exclusive online show coverage, and download a few desktop wallpaper images. Factoid-starving enthusiasts who binge on every automotive datum…

SPEED BLIND: A PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION CREATED BY LONG STINTS OF 150-plus-mph driving, wherein the brain readjusts itself to process incoming data (visual, aural, and pants-seat stimuli) at a higher than normal rate. Vaguely remembering high school biology, this is an extension of the “fight-or-flight” response designed to keep our pre-historic ancestors from being eaten by giant tapirs. Only now, it lets us drive really insanely fast for long periods of time without killing ourselves—pretty cool, huh? The “blind” part of the equation occurs when you decide to stop up ahead to change cars and strap on another feedbag of high-sucrose snacks. You coast and brake and downshift for what seems like an eternity, yet you still haven’t dropped below 90 mph—a speed that seems slow enough you to step out…

The Jaguar XKR is so ungodly fast it seems almost undignified. Maybe I'm just being sucked in by the upper-crust ambience of this achingly elegant coupe, caught off guard when its 370-horsepower supercharged V-8 does its best to blast past its electronic speed limiter and keep right on accelerating through 160 mph and beyond. Full-on sports cars are supposed to exhibit this sort of rabid enthusiasm, but you may not expect such behavior of $75,000-plus luxury coupes. Where Jaguar is concerned, obviously you should. Jaguar has made something of a habit of pushing the boundaries of luxury and performance, most recently with the tire-burning XJR sedan. The XKR (in coupe or soft-top roadster form) merely uses the same formula (a supercharged infusion of horsepower backed with substantial chassis upgrades) to…

FIRST LOOK Remember way back in late 1989 when Lexus stormed into the luxury sedan market with its ground-breaking LS 400? Recall the uproar this caused? Well, don't be surprised to see history repeat itself this fall when the new LS 430 model rolls into dealerships. Bigger, bolder, more powerful, and more luxurious, the new top-line Lexus also packs a whole new generation of high-tech tricks beneath its ultra-sleek 0.25 Cd sheetmetal-the best drag coefficient to be found on any current high-end cruiser. Now dubbed LS 430 in deference to its larger-displacement V-8, this formidable four-door maintains its current 196. 7-inch overall length, but rides on a 3-inch-longer wheelbase than before (up from 112.2 to 115.2 inches). Lexus says that extra wheelcenter-to-wheelcenter span makes the LS 430 more spacious inside…

Given their primary function as Class-A family haulers, it wasn't at all surprising to find a common thread running through the basic suspension tuning formula on each of these cars. But even in a game where greater value is placed on overall comfort and compliance rather than sheer grip and lightning reflexes, there were a few obvious standout points. As far as hardware is concerned, Chevy uses conventional MacStruts with lower A-arms up front, while Dodge and Ford augment that basic theme with a supplemental tension link. In the rear, struts strike again, however the Impala locates them with trailing arms, the Ford with lateral links plus a tension strut, and the Dodge by pairing trailing and transverse links. Anti-roll bars fore and aft trim out the equipment on all…

I used to think squealing tires, burning rubber, and sideways slides were reserved for movie stunt driving. But then I became a road test assistant at Motor Trend. I quickly discovered that part of my duties include driving for action photos, which closely resembles movie stunt driving. So, before I tipped over a test car or ran over a photographer, Senior Road Test Editor Mac DeMere thought it appropriate that I attend the Motion Picture Driving Clinic. Now. after just three days at the school, I can squeal tires, burn rubber, and slide sideways (and backward!) better than ever, and now I’m in control of the vehicle. The Motion Picture Driving Glini¢ is run by the husband-and-wife team of Rick and Lori Seaman at Los Angeles County Raceway in Palmdale,…

Have you ever wondered what your car would look like with different wheels and tires on it? Well, we decided to find out by using The Tire Rack’s Wheel Rack Interactive Wheel Fitment Guide. The car in this case was our long-term test VW Beetle, which was fitted with 16x6.5-inch wheels wrapped with 205/55HR16 Michelin Energy MX V4 tires. By visiting www.tirerack.com, we were a mouse click away from over 6000 vehicles and hundreds of different wheel designs. Calling up our Beetle displayed a side view of the car along with photos of possible wheel choices. Pick the wheel and tire size you want and the computer instantly installs them on the car for you to see. You also have access to pricing and ordering info. For our test, we…

Steeda Autosports has a well-deserved reputation for building sturdy, high-performance Fords, backed by years of motorsport experience. Although the bulk of Steeda’s business is manufacturing, producing components for FoMoCo and the aftermarket industry, the true-blue company also transforms hundreds of bone-stock Fords into personalized, fire-breathing street demons each year. We recently toured Steeda’s immaculate south Florida facilities and sampled their latest project vehicles at nearby Moroso Motorsports Park, including this comprehensively upgraded F-150. The suspension was tweaked with a sport package, including springs, shackles, shocks, and an uprated front anti-roll bar. The trick here is moving the rear axle above the leaf springs with flip brackets, U-bolts, and wedge spacers to create a cost-effective solution to axle hop. An expensive upgrade, pizza-pan-size, 14-inch Brembo disc brakes were added, effectively filling…

“I never had to leave my computer to buy my new car.”- Joe Detuno “My entire experience with CarsDirect.com has exceeded my expectations. If word of mouth has any validity, half the United States will know about my experience shortly.”- Hugh Kelleghan “It was an extremely easy process.”-Eric Leventhal “Thanks to your service, I got a very popular car at a reasonable price.”- Ellen Canaday “This is the first time my wife and I enjoyed purchasing a vehicle.”- Bill Loesch “This 1s my best car shopping experience!”- John Xu “You guys are too good to be true!”- Dallas McGlinn “Thank you so much for making the purchase of an automobile so simple.”- Steve Lombardo “I couldn't have been a more satisfied customer, buying online is the way to go.”- Angelito…

HORSEPOWER WARS 2000 I just finished reading the Dec. issue and have to disagree with Chuck Schifsky’s assessment of the 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 as the quickest Pontiac ever made (5.0 seconds/0-60 mph; 13.5-second/107.4-mph quarter mile). I have a Pontiac that’s been in my garage for nearly 10 years that was quicker. The ’89 20th Anniversary T/A with the Buick Intercooled Turbo V-6. Posted 0-60 times published were in the range of 4.6 to 4.8 seconds! I don’t have an old Motor Trend issue to see how you rated it back then, but can you remember the acceleration numbers? Truly a great engine (and “only” a V-6)! Richard Schencker Birmingham, Ala. The Nov. ’89 issue of MT featured an 89 Pontiac 20th Anniversary Trans Am: 5.1 seconds 0-60 mph,…

The solid chassis of the new-for-2000 Ford Focus provides an ideal architecture for any number of performance versions of this already nimble subcompact. Expect the first of these enthusiast-oriented derivatives to be an SVT version, which Ford plans to position as a head-to-head competitor for the Honda Civic Si and Acura Integra Type R. Accompanying the SVT badging on this limited-edition Focus hatchback will be more aggressive looking front and rear fascias set off by a subtle rear spoiler mounted at the top of its backglass. As with any SVT product, raising head count in the underhood pony corral is deemed a primary goal. To that end, the Focus’ optional 2.0-liter 16-valve DOHC Zetec four—which currently makes 130 horsepower—uwill be upgraded to produce 150-160 horses. Other package elements include a…

Mercury’s sleek Cougar will purr with higher power some-time during the 2000 model year. A limited (as yet undis closed) number of V-6-powered Cougar S variants will get a horsepower boost from 170 to 200, along with 5 additional pound-feet of torque. Modifications to the 2.5-liter Duratec engine include tweaks to the cylinder heads, camshafts, and intake/exhaust mani-folding. Did we mention that only genuine enthusiasts need apply? This fired-up front-driver is equipped exclusively with a five-speed manual transaxle, a decision that should drop its 0-60-mph times from the current 7.7 ticks into the high-6-second range. Ford’s engineering group upgraded the car’s already sporty suspension in several areas to allow drivers to take full advantage of this extra muscle. Key changes include stiffer springs, larger rear anti-roll bar, and BFGoodrich P215/50ZR16…

Chevrolet has confirmed it will add a new variation to its truck lineup for model year 2002. Called the Avalanche, this six-passenger, four-door pickup is derived from the division’s full-size Silverado model. Unlike its conventional counterpart, the Avalanche features a clever folding rear bulkhead system that General Motors has dubbed “Convert-a-Cab,” which expands its stubby 5-foot, 3-inch bed to a full 8-foot, 1-inch measure. GM refers to the super-tough plastic door between the cab and bed as a “Midgate.” With it down and the rear-window glass stowed, the Avalanche can swallow everything from standard sheets of building material to a full-size motorcycle. And the load can be protected from the elements by a three-piece, lockable cargo cover and rear gate. Beneath the Avalanche’s innovative metal-plastic bed system is the company’s…

Like Hollywood, the auto industry is pursuing the elusive online | marketing success of “The Blair Witch Project” in a money-spending frenzy. Manufacturers are expanding their online efforts, using the power of the Internet to target specific customer groups with special Web sites. This enables the automaker to zero in on the particular needs and interests of customer groups, offering the information and entertainment most likely to appeal. Some of the more clever sites are dynamic enough to create their own buzz, such as Volvo’s www.swedenrules.com focused On promoting the new 40 Series sedan and wagon. In an effort to reach up-and-coming Gen-Xers, Volvo created Lars, a character who is chronicling his hip road trip around North America through regular updates. Visitors are encouraged to return to follow along with…

Imagine for a moment you've just been blindfolded and your rump has been tossed into the front seat of a sports car. The engine is revved and a burly exhaust note emanates from the tailpipes. The driver floors the throttle and effortlessly spins the rear tires for a city block as your Spine is compressed into a plush leather seat. You hurtle 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds and you gobble the quarter mile in a scant 13.3. The brakes are mashed and you struggle to keep your brain from shooting out your eye sockets as you come to a race-carlike halt. With your senses still abuzz, but without taking off the blindfold, guess in which sports car you just went for that E-ticket ride. You're probably wrong. We're suggesting that…

ON SECOND THOUGHT I would proudly own any of these cars, but two stand out. For my cost-be-damned fantasy garage, Td buy the Aston in a minute. It doesn’t scream “Pm an obnoxious loudmouth who just made a pot-load taking my dotcom startup company public.” It confidently states that “I appreciate fine automobiles, have acres of taste and the wherewithal to indulge.” The Vantage’s combination of exceptional styling and worthy V-12 power make it ideal for when I’ve got a long way to go, and a short time to get there—in style. But the real amazement in this collection—or any, for that matter—is the BMW M5. Its performance holds up to any comparison, and the fact that it does so in quiet and comfort is further testimony to its overall…

When Acura first introduced its CL-series sport/luxury coupe in ’96, the car’s character definitely leaned toward the luxury side of the equation. Classy, comfortable, and refined, it had no problem drawing buyers—accounting for about a quarter of all Acura sales—but its lack of sport appeal left many enthusiasts unimpressed. Since then, the luxury coupe market has heated up with the likes of Mercedes-Benz’ CLK Class, Volvo’s C70, and BMWs redesigned 3 Series, and onlookers wondered if the next-generation CL—rumored to be based on Acura’s 3.2TL sedan—would be up to the challenge. After our initial outing with the car, one thing is now perfectly clear: Acura is serious about going head-to-head with its European rivals. Debuted at the Los Angles Auto Show in January and due to go on sale in…

FIRST DRIVE Future automotive trends are challenging to accurately forecast. So when a long-awaited, hyped-up vehicle like the Chrysler PT Cruiser finally materializes, we always ask ourselves: Will it fly? There’s often a big difference between what turns heads at an auto show and what will actually sell. In this case, can retro fever successfully meet millennium mania in an affordable yet edgy vehicle targeted at Gen-X and younger nostalgia-crazed buyers? PT Cruiser designers insist their creation isn’t “retro,” instead saying it borrows from “recognizeable themes.” Some people see 30s American influence, others think ’40s Woodies or even London taxicabs. Whatever your point of reference, the PT Cruiser certainly is distinctive. Huge flared fenders, steep forward rake, large rear hatch, and a Prowleresque prow ensure the PT won't be confused…

Laguna Seca Raceway has become one of American motorsport’s crown jewels. Memories of Laguna are many: Ferraris and Corvettes breaking in this new, hillside road facing course during the late ‘50s; Bruce McLaren winning the Can-Am race in ’69; “the Pass,” as administered to Bryan Herta by Alex Zanardi in ‘96. It's one of those venues that began making history the day it opened. Its first 40 years have now been documented in an excellent new book—even as positive changes are underway for the future. Race photographer/historian Dave Friedman, and Mary-Ellen Wright-Rana, Laguna Seca’s assistant manager of marketing and promotions, approached the assembly of “Laguna Seca Raceway: Forty Years Through the Corkscrew” a bit differently from usual. Rather than just text and photos, this work reads and feels more like…

The General clearly has had enough of those pesky Ford V-10s and Dodge Cummins Turbodiesels kicking torque in its face. So when the new medium-duty GM trucks bow next year, they'll be packing two potentially spectacular new powerplants. Big block lovers are already bemoaning the loss of the 7.4-liter \V-8—and it's not even gone yet. Its replacement, however, is even larger and more powerful. It's an all-new design, and at 8.1 liters (give or take, 495 cubic inches), it’s just a few cubic centimeters larger than Dodge’s potent V-10. Although GM is mum so far about horsepower and torque ratings, it's said to outpower all other gas engines in the light- and medium-duty class segments. It'll be offered on 2500 and 3500 series trucks beginning with the 2001 models to…

FIRST DRIVE With all the sexy ragtops coming out of Europe and Japan, what’s a domestic automaker like Buick to do to grab some attention? Well, what about a four-door convertible without the security worries, high road noise and - water leaks of a typical softtop? Sound unlikely? Believe it. In fact, we've already piloted that better drop-top idea. It’s called the Buick Regal Cielo (Spanish for sky). But is this unique convertible treatment ready for prime time? Our exclusive first drive revealed strengths and weaknesses. First, the top’s hard panels and fixed roof rails are a safety and security strength. Second, with a target price of $5000 for the movable roof, Buick is serious about affordability for what could be a very limited production run. Third, the top works…

Just in time for spring break, the al fresco version of BMW’s 3 Series will be making an appearance in U.S. dealerships. First up is a 323Ci powered by BMW’s 2.5-liter/170-horse in-line-six, but expect a 328Ci version to turn up in the fall, and an M8 variant to follow later. Visually, the new cabrio shares common front sheetmetal with the Coupe but features slightly recontoured rear flanks and a very tidy top stack. Heading the long and impressive list of 3 Series drop-top standard features are a fully lined and padded power lid with glass rear window, front and front/side airbags, front buckets with new integrated seatbelts, and roll bars in the rear headrests. Also on hand are traction control and BMW’s DSC stability system. No firm word on pricing…

Due in showrooms this summer, Ford’s diminutive Escape will offer both on- and off-roaders a new take on personal freedom. Available with either a 2.0-liter/130-horsepower DOHC four and five-speed manual or a 3.0-liter/200-horse twin-cam V-6 and a five-speed automatic, this boldly angular four-door SUV was developed with partner Mazda, which will market its own version of the five-passenger midiute under the Tribute name. Buyers can custom their own great Escapes with either a full-time automatic 4x4 system or front-wheel drive. Even though it’s based on a frameless unibody platform, this versatile lightweight has been designed using Ford’s truck durability standards. Thanks to a fully independent suspension, the Escape should provide a refined, carlike ride quality regardless of the terrain it’s traversing. Fitted with the optional upgrade towing package, it'll tote…

“John Lingenfelter, you’re the bravest son of a gun on earth—or else you're totally insane.” I told the 54-year-old engine builder, car tuner, and drag racer the former (but kept the latter to myself), as he climbed from his latest creation. It’s a modified Chevrolet Corvette called the Lingenfelter Twin Turbo 650. For our test, he’d just driven it to the incredible peak speed of 226 mph. And survived. Two hundred and twenty six miles per hour! That's CART FedEx Champ car velocity with no aerodynamic modifications to prevent the Corvette from doing a poor imitation of an airplane. It’s about 50 mph faster than the trap speed of his NHRA Pro Stock Truck in a car shod with regular street tires and lacking rollcage, six-point racing belts, or fuel…

High-performance cars often require a sacrifice of creature comforts to gain the desired levels of handling, power, and styling. Ride comfort usually bites the dust in the name of superior handling. Backseat legroom and trunk space give way to accommodate a sleek, two-door body. High-output engines tend to make for noisy cockpits. So prepare to look surprised as the BMW M5 blows all these stereotypes away with your first drive. The M5's ride quality is exceptionally good for a vehicle that can pull 0.87 g on the skid-pad (bettering the Ferrari 456M), and the interior filters in just the right amount of noise from the awesome 4.9-liter/400-horsepower V-8 engine-even at the speed-limited 157-mph maximum. But, for me, the M5's best feature is its four-door configuration. It offers loads of trunk…

It’s a funny world we live in when a Porsche 911 is considered civilized transportation. But that’s just what the latest version of Stuttgart’s rear-engined playtoy has become. I know this well because the silver Carrera used for this testis, in fact, our long-term tester, and it’s become my daily commuter more often than not. Yes, I still carp about the Box-ster-inspired dashboard and front-end styling, but overall, in terms of everyday driving thrill, comfort, and utility, this is the best 911 yet. You get accustomed to left-handing the ignition key in short order, the cockpit’s now wide enough to accommodate two big dudes, and the fact that there are still no cupholders reminds you with a poke of reality that this is, after all, a sports car, not just…

Before you write us angry letters, we'll just say it right up front: This is an unfair comparison. We know it is because we designed it that way. How could we pit a 4x4 against a 4x2? Well, for starters, their prices are so close as to be considered identical. As a baseline for this comparo, we selected the bestselling “compact” sport/utility, Ford Explorer, in a two-wheel drive, 5.0-liter V-8 configuration, which came in at a base price of $27,960, including the $775 optional V-8. The challenger, a 2000-model Durango is newly offered with a 4.7-liter Magnum V-8 (first introduced on the 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee), but the catch is that it’s only offered in four-wheel drive (for now). The price of entry for this sport/utility is $27,975, or a…

Welcome to the heartland. In this virtual center of the U.S. car industry, comfort, convenience, safety, and reliability rule. Its also a place where total value is often measured by more than just purchase price alone. For this square-off, we've gathered three prime examples of the domestic-family-sedan state of the art. We put them through their paces at the track, as well as drove thousands of miles in the real world to see how each measures up in terms of both practicality and driving pleasure. The cars were equipped as identically as possible, given the non-scientific selection of press pool vehicles, and each delivers at least 200 horsepower from its V-6, transfers that power to the front wheels via a four-speed automatic, and bottom-line tallies within a stone's throw of…

Last weekend, I drove like a delinquent without consequences, was a passenger (on the high side) in a truck on two side wheels, and was spun out with a nudge of a bumper, police-pursuit-style. I'll never drive the same again, thanks to Bobby Ore Motorsports’ stunt and precision driving school. I learned skills that could save my life. You may recognize Bobby Ore’s name from the credits of “Dark Skies,” “Gone in 60 Seconds,” “Rockford Files,” and many other movies and TV shows, or for setting an ’89 Guinness World Record by driving a London double-decker bus on two wheels for a frightening 810 feet. Besides his impressive driving credentials, he’s a 6-foot 3-inch former U.S. Marine from Oklahoma who knows how to give crystal-clear orders. But, as his Scottish…

“Bring it to the U.S.” was our plea to Mitsubishi after testing its new Lancer Evolution VI sport sedan. Unfortunately, Mitsubishi doesn’t plan to import the car (about the size of a Mitsubishi Galant) to North America. The Evo VI is the sixth version of a hopped-up Lancer modeled after Mitsubishi's championship-winning World Rally car. The reason for our desire is simple: The left-hand-drive RS-2 model we tested was spectacular to drive. Senior Road Test Editor Mac DeMere was quite impressed with the Evo’s track manners. “I felt like a naval aviator about to take off from an aircraft carrier when I did the acceleration run on the Evo VI. I reved the engine to 6500 rpm (7000 redline), placed my head back against the headrest, and dumped the clutch.…

There are fascinating trucks and sport/utilities everywhere you look; and some that go well beyond the norm. Here are three. We've tested some impressively powerful modified Durangos in the short two years that Dodge’s midsize SUV has been on the market. But even the usual supercharged 5.9-liter Magnum V-8 isn’t enough for some people—lke Vipermeister John Hennessey. So he’s shoehorning an 8.0-liter all-aluminum Viper V-10 into a Durango. After a bit of Hennessey’s tuning, horsepower is rated at a tantalizing 520. John has promised us the first test of this monster-ute, and you'll read about it here. Lest you think only Americans are into off-roading, even politically challenged, economically turbulent Russia manages to produce a few sport/utilities for its masses. Lada is Russia’s largest carmaker, and its compact Niva SUV…

FIRST LOOK We've heard plenty of rumors about Toyota’s new full-size SUV based on the Tundra, but not many hard facts. Now we've got em: On sale late this year as a 2001 model, the newest member-to-be of Toyota’s truck family blends rugged good looks with V-8 power and luxurious innards to make an SUV that’s perfect for buyers who need something larger and more powerful than a 4Runner but can’t quite hack the Land Cruiser’s heady $50K price point. Based on the same platform as its MT Truck of the Year award-winning Tundra, Toyota’s new Sequoia also will be built at the company’s state-of-the-art assembly plant in Princeton, Indiana. Dimensionally, this four-door SUV measures 203.9 inches bumper to bumper and has a 118.1-inch wheelbase. That makes it slightly larger…

'99 BMW 3281 Our tester is trimmed to the nines with sport package, leather, and myriad electric goodies, including a navigation system to assist our male editors who refuse to ask for directions. The nav system has been criticized for waiting too long to recognize that the driver has changed course and needs the route replotted. One frequent BMW pilot has gripped that when the map is displayed large enough to read street names, the view is limited to one or two blocks. (That myopic scribe is serving penance as soap boy at the local car wash.) Gizmos and features only serve to dress up a solid enthusiast’s car. In typical BMW style, the essentials are all in place and work commendably well. The pedals are positioned for effective heel-toe…