Innehållsförteckning för May 2003 från MotorTrend

Volkswagen of America will replace ignition coils in 530,000 model-year ’01 and ’02 cars, and some early production ’03 models because of what it calls a “higher-than-normal failure rate.” The recall action follows a groundswell of consumer problems with some of the cars. If you have one of the vehicles involved, VW/Audi will replace the coils whether or not you’ve had any problems. VW says its supplier is working triple shifts, and the automaker has signed on a second supplier to produce enough replacement ignition coils. And dealers will provide customers with alternative transportation when they bring in cars for the new coils. Call VW customer relations at 800/822-8987 or Audi customer relations at 800/822-2834. Cars affected are: • 1.8-liter/turbo-equipped Audi A4 and TT, VW Golf, Jetta, New Beetle, and…

“Confident” isn’t sufficient in describing Bentley’s opinion of its prospects for winning this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, but that’s the word it used when it introduced its 2003 driver lineup. Car one’s drivers are Tom Kristensen, Rinaldo Capello, and Guy Smith, while the second car will have Johnny Herbert, Mark Blundell, and David Brabham as pilots. “Victory at Le Mans is not a given for even the best-prepared team,” Bentley exclaimed in a press release, “but Team Bentley is confident that everything that can be done to provide the best possible chance of vic-tory will be in place by June.” Preparation includes competing at the 12 Hours of Sebring, Bentley’s first competition appearance in the United States since 1922. And, oh, it’s spending a few quid. Bentley has…

“Ambitious, yet extremely logical,” says John Fernandez, director of Dodge Motorsports operations. Taking the new Dodge Viper roadster and making a full race coupe out of it was ambitious. While there are plenty of high-performance parts in the SRT-10 street car, there was still loads of work to do to make the Viper a turnkey racer. Logical, Fernandez says, because there’s a ready market. After all, dozens of Viper racers were taking a new $80,000 car and throwing away $30,000 worth of safety and comfort equipment—airbags, climate control, seats, stereo, you name it—and spending thousands more to make their cars raceable. So Fernandez and crew took the platform and basic powertrain of the Viper roadster and built their own racer. We’re talking an FIA-legal rollcage, onboard telemetry,…

When Acura replaced the Integra with the RSX for the ’02 model year, the sedan variant was cut from the lineup. To fill that void, Acura brings us the TSX. Don’t be fooled: The TSX isn’t a stretched RSX. Rather, it’s a downsized version of Honda’s global midsize platform (Accord, TL, CL). This sleek sedan is offered with but one engine, a high-rewing 2.4-liter/200-horsepower four. In six-speed manual form, acceleration is aggressive enough to live up to its sporty claim, but it leaves those accustomed to six-cylinder torque wanting more. The TXS’ firmly damped double-wishbone suspension provides a high level of lateral grip, but serves up some bounce during tight cornering. Decisions at the dealer will be minimal: six-speed manual or five-speed automatic and either yes or no to…

We hope that, by now, the sun is shining wher-ever you are—even if there’s snow on the ground. Springtime is all the excuse we need to round up a great crop of open-air fun machines and check out the latest ways to go topless. Besides our usual battery of performance tests, we’ve evaluated this year’s batch of convertibles as just that—convertibles. We’ve measured the time it takes to morph from top-up to top-down modes. We’ve checked out the effectiveness of heating/air-conditioning and sound systems, measured noise levels, and rated ease-of-use operation. And we can say this: Today’s road sters and ragtops are the best ever. Manufacturers have developed convertible-top design to an exceptional level. Cars are now structurally stiffer, quieter, and more leakproof. Some tops create their own tonneau cover,…

Daniel E. Panoz is a fool. Well, a car fool, anyway. And we mean that in the most engaging sense of the term. Another appropriate term might be “rabid enthusiast who lives and breathes cars 24/7.” Example No. 1: Panoz has a ’66 Mustang fastback that’s been involved in three major accidents. Under normal circumstances, it would’ve been written off as a total loss. Yet, each time, he rescued the hapless, twisted Ford and restored it. In polished, measured speech that melds a life lived in both Ireland and south of the Mason-Dixon line, Danny Panoz muses, “I have a fortune in that car. Way more than it’s worth. And I could’ve replaced it with a better one that’s never been damaged. But if I did, then it wouldn’t be…

Icy wind tugs at our wool hats and goggles. Heater motors howl, and the front-seat bun warmers are cranked to 11. Dude, it’s cold out—like 21 degrees F. We’re gloved and zipped and snapped into heavy winter coats as we dash sideways with tops down across bright snow. A cold-weather convertible test? Anything to help out MT’s L.A.-based editorial team. Sissies. Obviously, most owners drive their ragtops year ’round. Although it’s most often done with top up, sunny open-air days do present themselves—even in mid-winter. And who appreciates drop-top motoring in the sunshine of spring and summer more than drivers who endure hard winters? The icing on this two-layered Bird-and-Bug review is the retro frosting on the alfresco pair. One of the American creators of the New Beetle’s retrofuturistic look…

First, the bad news: Lincoln no longer offers the LS V-6 with a five-speed manual gearbox. There’s not enough demand for anything but the five-speed automatic, the automaker says. Now the good news: The LS V-6 with the optional Sport package (standard on the V-8) is at least as dynamically satisfying as its more powerful sibling, except for having less power, of course. And what it loses by giving up 48 horses (the V-6 is rated 232 at 6750 rpm and 220 Ib-ft at 4500 rpm) it pretty much makes up for by being lighter and better balanced. The V-6 weighs just 81 pounds less than the V-8, not enough to make up for the power deficit. But all the other qualities—the quick, light steering, the smooth, accurate handling, and…

Our 23rd state has a lot more to offer than crusty, pipe-smoking fishermen in yellow rain slickers. Take a drive up Maine’s historic U.S. Route 1, and you might find heaven—or, at the very least, a killer seafood feast fresh from the briny deep. Route 1 meanders along the jagged Maine coast, where you’ll cruise by quiet stretches of the sunny Atlantic, harbors dotted with old fishing boats, picturesque lighthouses, and guys selling lobster out of their vans. Start at the New Hampshire/Maine border with a factory-outlet shopping bonanza in the portside town of Kittery, and then head north for Kennebunkport, the stately seaside community of postcard-perfect mansions and a plunging rocky coast. It’s the ideal summer retreat for the well-to-do. Once you’ve had your fill of seafood and cole…

Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll find our road test of the Panoz Esperante—perhaps the nicest low-volume specialty roadster we’ve come across. Some owners may want to further capitalize on Panoz’ pro sports-car-racing success; others might just want to give their Esperante more bite. Answering that call is JRD Tuning. Johan Ragnarsson assisted Danny Panoz’ team with the chassis development of the Esperante as the car was coming to market, so he knows it stem-to-stern. Like a good pizza, you can order your JRD with a wide variety of toppings. We tested the house special, Johan’s top-of-the-line RSr coupe. The heart of the RSr is its seri-flow ously uprated powertrain built around a hand-assembled 5.2-liter DOHC Ford V-8. Based on the 4.6, it incorporates forged pistons and con rods, reworked heads,…

It’s not easy to produce a convertible or roadster today. Everyone wants one-touch up/down operation, coupe-rivaling silence and security, a heated-glass rear window, and we’ll pass on the ’do-wrecking wind, thank you. But concept cars, most of which spend their lives on draft-free autoshow turntables, needn’t be restricted by such practicalities. Ford’s Allegro II of 1967 was one such product of an “anything goes” mentality. The Allegro unabashedly melded Mustang and Cougar design cues with pillarless front and side glass, without even the slightest thought about all weather protection. A sport bar, somewhat recalling that on the first-generation Viper, melted into a pair of fin-like flying buttresses on the back deck. The press release boasted of the Allegro H’s low 33-inch cowl height and 41-inch overall height—not much taller than…

NOTABLE QUOTABLE Mustang Concept, February 2003 “Retro styling is a nice novelty, hot it shouldn’t be applied to a mainstream vehicle like the Mustang. What’s next? A Fncus that Innks like the Model T?” Mike Bentley Charleston, South Carolina Horsing Around I’m vice president of the Mustang Club of Maryland, and I just saw your feature on the ’05 Mustang (February). It looks great! Some of us weren’t sure when the body style changed in ’99, but it grew on us and I’m confident the DEW98 platform will do the same. I can’t wait to see what happens for final production. Thanks for a great magazine. Dan Heagy Aberdeen, Maryland Okay, joke’s over. Where’s the real car? I was disappointed with the new “Mustang” concept from Ford. This car has…

Montego Reprise Mercury has named its version of the Ford Five Hundred Montego (below) for the Torino-based sedan of the late ’60s and ’70s. Featuring Mercury’s now-signature vertical-slat grille and satin-aluminum accents, with high-intensity discharge headlamps, it has LED taillamps shaped like those on the Acura 3.5 RL. It launches next year as an ’05 model, with the Duratec 3.0-liter V-6 and an optional CVT automatic. A 3.5-liter V-6 will be added for ’06. Land Rover To Dump BMW? Ford Motor Co. no longer wants to pay premium prices for BMW 4.4-liter V-8s that are installed in Land Rover Range Rovers. But whither its replacement? Jaguar’s 4.0-liter V-8 doesn’t work, sources say, although both that engine and the 3.0-liter V-6 apparently fit in the new Range Sport. The situation illustrates…

Saab will use Subaru’s Impreza/WRX compact platform as the basis for its, which the Swedish automaker’s management has just approved. While it’s tempting to call it a “Saabaru,” the 91 should bear virtually no resemblance to the Subie, if Saab’s experience with GM platforms for the 95 and 93 are any guide. And it’s likely to get power from an inline-four, rather than a traditional Subaru boxer engine. The 9^ will be in dealer showrooms no earlier than the ’07 model year, as a competitor for the next-generation models of the Volvo S40/V40, Audi A3 (see spy box, page 36), Mercedes-Benz A-Class and for the upcoming BMW 1 Series. All those cars are slated for import to North America, in one form or another. The automaker also will extend its…

The VW/Audi-owned exotic sports carmaker has launched a registry in connection with its 40th anniversary. Its goal is to identify the best-maintained Lambos as well as those restored to their original state, of about 10,000 cars and trucks built since 1963, which are still on the road (or in museums). Join the registry and you get a 25-percent discount on spare parts when you have the work done at the Lamborghini Restoration Centre in Sant’Agata Bolognese, free issue of certificates and documentation relating to your car, participation in any special events and inscription of your car (or LM001) in the Historic Lamborghini Registry. Not sure how many of you own a Lambo, but it’s a cool photo, no?…

Rotary-engine fans in North America are spinning with glee—at 9000 rpm. Why? Because not since the ’95 model year, when the last twin-turbo 255-horsepower rotary-powered Mazda RX-7s were sold here, could they warble the praises of the unconventional and compact 1.3-liter sport coupe. Back then, RX-7 R2s were peaky, pricey (as much as a BMW M3), sometimes spooky to drive, and produced substandard emissions and fuel economy. Yet many still say the last-gen RX-7 remains one of the most attractive cars ever to come from Japan. All that’s changed for the ’04 Mazda RX-8. The new (nonturbo) Renesis 1.3-liter two-rotor engine delivers a linear and smooth 250 horsepower through a slick six-speed manual transmission and carbon-fiber prop shaft to the rear wheels. We anticipated a hunger for more torque…

“Thanks for noticing.” GM Chairman of North American Operations Bob Lutz was responding to a comment about the improved switchgear and materials in the ’04 Grand Prix’s interior. In fact, most everything you touch or see inside and out of the new car is more inviting, despite previous-generation mechanicals carried over underneath. The body gaps are tighter, interior pieces fit flush instead of overlapping, and plastic mold lines are hidden. The new Grand Prix looks and feels more like a car you’d own, less like one you’d rent. With the 60/40-split rear seat and passenger front seat folded flat, objects 9 feet long will stow inside. The venerable 3800-liter V-6 continues to be one of the most agreeable engines GM builds, now supercharged to 260 horsepower in the GTP…

Seldom has an idea been so obvious. Now it’s here: the seriously sexy top-down Z. The original 240Z deserved to be offered in convertible form, but it never happened. Nissan isn’t missing that opportunity again. The concept seems simple, but the job of converting Nissan’s fastback sports car into a convertible is an involved one. The Z was designed with this body configuration in mind, so it’s hardly an aftermarket chop job. The slickest, trickest part of the deal is the rear deck, which not only serves as a design element, but creates a hard tonneau cover for the one-touch power top. Thick plastic shrouds encapsulate the rollhoops just aft of the headrests; a clear plastic wind blocker runs between them. The coupe’s rear hatch gives way to a conventional…

Racing sells sports cars; just ask Ferrari. And Panoz is a sports-car company that also happens to build and sell race cars. In this case, the Panoz GTS. Unlike the rakish, front-engine Panoz LMP roadster built and raced by Panoz Motor Sports Group (yup, Danny’s father, Don), the GTS is an approachable, even affordable, race car. It’s certainly a versatile one, as variations of it are used at the Panoz racing school, in Panoz’ own single-marque series and certain SCCA classes, and it debuted last year in 700-plushorsepower SCCA Trans-Am trim, where it took the 2002 manufacturers championship. It’s a straightforward machine: heavily caged tube frame, ther moformed plastic body panels, carbu-reted 5.8-liter/385-horse Ford crate motor, Tremec five-speed trans, and a simple live rear axle. The premise behind the GTS…

Cell-phione toting, latté sipping, warehouse shopping, jogging, after-hours volunteering, home improving, and chainsaw juggling: We’ ve become a nation of multitaskers, balancing career and family, work and recreation on a teeter-totter of disappearing time. So much ground to cover. Not enough hours in the day. So it makes sense that car companies come up with a product that meets such a diverse set of needs. Forget those big and clumsy, hard to park, tough to maneuver behemoths; no one has time for that. Hence, the car-based midsize SUV. In this test, we examine three such SUVs that owe more of their DNA to passenger cars rather than trucks. Though the Nissan Murano, Mitsubishi Endeavor, and Toyota Highlander are available in base form with front drive, we’re looking at versions equipped…

With its long winters, hard-boiled streets, and industrial-strength attitude, Detroit isn’t high on the list of a tour guide's places to visit. But when the gray funk lifts in the summer, enthusiast cars come out of hibernation like fire flies in the night. The Woodward Dream Cruise in Michigan is a mid-summer classic that celebrates the cars, music, and memories of cruisin’ in the ’50s and ’60s in the place that put America on wheels. The world's largest one-day celebration of car culture, held the third Saturday in August, offers 30,000 musclecars, street rods, custom, collector, and special-interest vehicles. Running 16 miles down Woodward Avenue from Ferndale to Pontiac, the Dream Cruise draws over 1.5 million visitors and supports over 30 local charities While you’re in the Motor City, check…

Deep in the heart of Nevada, two highways stretch for miles, offer diverse scenery, and remain sparsely traveled. At either end (and in between) are some of the coolest car-guy places to visit. We’re talking about the Silver State’s Highway 93 (the Forgotten Highway) and the 50 (the Loneliest). Our journey starts in Las Vegas at the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino, with its Auto Collections, a revolving compilation of classic and exotic cars. More than 100 vehicles are on display here, and every one of them is for sale. Leaving Sin City behind, head north on Highway 15 toward the 93, but be sure to take a detour at Speedway Boulevard, home of Shelby American. Inside Shel’s complex, you'll find the very first Cobra built, as well as GT350s,…

INTELLIVALVE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM A recent NHTSA study found that 27 percent of cars and 33 percent of trucks and SUVs were driving on at least one underinflated tire. Improper tire pressure lowers fuel economy, decreases tire life, degrades handling, and can cause outright tire failure. PDK’s new Intellivalve tire-monitor system allows drivers to quickly and easily check tire pressures from within the vehicle. The dash-mounted digital monitor receives info from each tire via wheel-mounted wireless transmitters. The monitor also delivers an audible warning if tire pressure is below or above recommended levels. The Intellivalve is available for vehicles with four, six, or even 12 wheels and is easy to install. $299; 800/735-2822; www.intellivalve.com. STOPPING TIME If you’re looking to dress up your home or office in true car-guy fashion,…

Dalmiler Chrysler plans a major case of for North America in 2005. A new crossover/sport/utility will lead here, offered with a 100-horsepower gasoline four-cylinder and possibly a turbodiesel designed for the next-generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The robust-looking Smart crossover will have the Tridion safety-cage design that was unveiled in a concept car at the 2002 Geneva show. Styling features the Smart’s trademark two-color scheme. An all-wheel-drive sys tern, shared with Mitsubishi’s Rallye Colt subcompact, necessitates a higher ground clearance and a wider track than the Smart four-door sedan. It won’t sit in a one-car Smart showroom: The crossover may share space with Smart & Family, a four-door city car codeveloped with Mitsubishi, the Smart & Passion, an American-market version of the familiar European city cabrio, Smart & Pulse, the fixed-top version…

Here’s trivia question for you: What's the best-selling vehicle in Canada? if you guessed the Dodge Caravan, you'd be correct. Have you ever wondered what the most popular Vehicles are with our neighbors in Canada and Mexico? Canadians obviously like minivans more than SUVs—Just look at how well the Pontiac Montana and Chevrolet Venture sell compared to the U.S. Otherwise, the Canadian and U.S. markets are surprisingly similar overall. The selling rate (approximately one Car sold per 18 people each year) is almost the same, and a dozen of the vehicles in the Top-20 list appear in both countries. Trucks are almost as popular in Canada as in the U.S. Generally, the market share enjoyed by manufacturers in Canada is remarkably similar to the U.S., although Honda has a larger…

No16-cylinder cars or 10-cylinder Motorcycles debuted at the Chicago Auto Show, just real-live production models. New minivan and economy car introductions were accented with sexier, high-performance versions of existing hardware. Besides the following cars and trucks, Chicago also saw the debut of the new BMW 745i Sport, the 20th-anniversary VW GTI, and, not one, but two Mazda Miata Special Editions. Mercury Monterey This is the latest beginning of the rebirth of the Mercury division. Like the Freestar, the Monterey features an Audi-esque dash and interior materials, plus an easier pass-through from the second to third row. It comes only with the 4.2-liter V-6, making 201 horsepower and 265 Ib-ft. Both minivans hit showrooms this fall. Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG AMG keeps topping itself, this time with the subtle sedan powered by…

Hammering down the autobahn in the hill country south of Munich at more than 240 clicks (about 150 mph), the ’04 Crossfire prototype felt cool, calm, and collected. Aside from the chest-pounding V-10 Dodge Viper, nothing else in the Chrysler Group’s passenger-car quiver can muster such moxie, let alone dynamic composure, in the left lane with the Porsches and BMWs. The Crossfire is a significant development. It’s the Chrysler brand’s new flagship, which, along with the Pacifica crossover, sets the tone for the rest of the line. The two-seater is also the first example of major parts sharing between the Chrysler Group and Mercedes-Benz, a process that will intensify with the fullsize Dodge and Chrysler LX cars in 20041A Based on Mercedes-Benz SLK320 mechanicals dating way back to 1997,…

Toyota has no illusions about what this all-new, next-generation minivan must be: “Simply put, this has to be a home run,” says John Jula, executive engineer/program manager for the Toyota Sienna. “And we think we’ve done more than that.” Built off the Camry platform, the ’04 Sienna is longer, wider, faster, and loaded with many (if not all) of the best features offered by the competitors. “This segment is about kids, so we’ve tried to give them everything they—and their parents—might need,” notes Jula. It’s powered by the same transverse-mounted 3.3-liter V-6 and five-speed automatic recently introduced in the Lexus RX 330. In fact, many interior details reminded us of the Lexus compact SUV, and that’s not by coincidence. Gone is the column shifter, replaced by the familiar dash-mounted…

When it comes to small, open sports cars of German persuasion, two manufacturers have long been fighting for market share: BMW and Porsche. The Z4 and Boxster S are both tangible, driveable proof of a significant difference in each firm’s approach to pop-top two-seaters. While BMW uses the front-engine/rear-drive configuration it has utilized in just about all of its sports cars, Porsche puts the engine aft of the driver—a hallmark since the company’s birth. Each roadster packs a six-cylinder engine: BMW’s in an inline configuration, Porsche employing its equally hallmark, horizontally opposed layout. The new-for-’03 Z4 replaces the successful Z3. During its seven-year production run, the Z3 was criticized for its tight cabin, power shortage (except in M form, of course), and suspension and steering, which fell short of real…

Behold, the epitome of current bom-in-the-USA musclecar drop-tops made by Ford and GM. We’re talking about high-horsepower, lotsa-torque, kick-in-the-pants convertibles. God bless America. Ever since these automakers brought forth the original versions (1953 for the Vette and 19641/for the Mustang), convertibles have been a large part of their respective market domination. Model-year ’03 has been significant for both, and each is on the verge of change. The Corvette celebrates 50 years as you read this, and the next-generation model (C6) is well past the drawing board stage. Mustang has outlasted its former rivals, Camaro and Firebird, and the first completely new version of Ford’s ponycar since 1979 is also currently under development. In celebration of the Vette’s five decades, there’s a special edition that offers Anniversary Red paint, Magnetic Selective…

Infiniti describes its new M45 as a “sport sedan.” And why not? As the company wins accolades (and “of the Year” competitions) with its superbly executed G35, the idea of a Q45 V-8-powered machine built around BMW 5 Series pretensions and dimensions is a worthy notion. A few years ago, Lincoln launched its own sport sedan that also targeted 5 Series packaging. It, too, proved an “of the Year” winner. The LS (both V-8 and V-6 versions) received a freshening for ’03, built around even better handling, ride, and steering, more power, and an upgraded interior. Thus, the Infiniti M45 and Lincoln LS V-8 promise a great fight. Are they real sport sedans, or is the proclaimed sport factor limited to their ability to carry two sets of golf clubs…

“I come from the art world. And I’m into dune buggies. ” Staring out at the Southern California surf that’s been his siren call since boyhood, Bruce Meyers, now 76, speaks without a trace of irony in his voice, as if the terms “art world” and “dune buggies” were as obvious a pairing as “Victoria’s” and “Secret.” But consider the source. Meyers is a trained artist and avid off-roader (he helped establish the Baja 1000) who just happened to unleash a global phenomenon when, in 1964, he designed and built his first Manx—the most recognized dune buggy of all time. Now, nearly 40 years and more than 6000 Manxes later, Meyers is back with an all-new, equally artful build-it-yourself runabout: the Manxter 2+2. Bruce Meyers' is a story no one…

2003 MERCEDESBENZ E500 SPORT It’s a good day at the office when a Mercedes shows up for a One-Year Test. The newfor-’ 03 E500 receives a fresh, sportier look, a redesigned chassis, and a host of technological advancements, including AIRmatic driver-adjustable suspension and electronic braking. Our Pewter Silver E500 (designating it as the 5.0-liter V-8 E-Class) based at $54,850 and is well loaded. The few extras are the E3 Sport Package, which includes bi-Xenon headlamps, headlamp washers, black bird’s-eye maple interior trim, blue tinted glass, LED brake lights, sculpted side skirts, restyled front bumper and rear apron, and 17-inch sport wheels shod with 245/45R17 rubber ($1375). We also added a factory-installed six-disc CD changer ($400) and harmon/kardon sound system (worth the $700 upgrade). The sun-seeking panorama sunroof ($1500), front active…

When it debuted for ’97, the new-generation C5 addressed a long list of the previous Corvette’s shortcomings. Chief Engineer David Hill undertook the task of improving the new Vette’s ride quality and safety, increasing fuel economy and power, while reducing weight. Design Chief John Cafaro further evolved the look of America’s longest-running two-seater. The result was a better Corvette in every area, its Gen III LS-1 345-horsepower V-8 cranking out 4.7-second 0-60-mph runs, while delivering EPA fuel-economy ratings of 18 mpg city and an astounding 28 mpg highway. One body style was offered in ’97: a fastback coupe. It was roomier than the previous car due to an 8.3-inch increase in wheelbase. Other packaging improvements, such as replacing the engine-mounted transmission with a rear transaxle and chucking the spare tire…