Innehållsförteckning för October 2003 från MotorTrend

Design Contest Registration is over and the entry deadline is here. Get your 2020 tuner design in by September 15. Finalists will be notified by October 1, and winners will be announced on opening day of the California International Auto Show. Competitors and spectators alike can then check out all the top designs at the show. Can’t make it to Anaheim? Visit www.motortrend.com following the show to see the winning designs. Amateur competitors will be happy to hear that more prizes have been added, compliments of the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. The Amateur: 18 and Over winner receives two free online design classes and the Amateur: 17 and Under winner receives a scholarship to the AAC’s summer art program. Detailed contest information is available at mtdesigncontest.com. Good…

The unfortunate reality is that driving is often about as relaxing as a field trip to a hand-grenade factory. Consider the typical morning commute: all that obnoxious horn-blowing, fist-shaking, name-calling, and fender-bumping, (I’m sorry if that was you in the next car.) You’d be more relaxed if you stayed home and kicked back with a nice, cheerful Oliver Stone movie. But you can’t. Cars are this country’s lifeblood. We need to drive—we’ve got places to go and, more important, it keeps this magazine from being called Foot Trend. And that begs the obvious question: Can anything be done to reduce stress behind the wheel? Mercedes-Benz thinks so. For more than 20 years, the automaker has maintained a unique Active Safety group in Sindelfingen, Germany, charged with the mission of analyzing…

Z9 concept-inspired coupe breaks cover BMW will take the wraps off its new flagship two-door, the 645i, at Frankfurt. The coupe slots neatly between the 5 Series sport sedan and the 7 Series, both in stature and in sharing of platform bits. Judge the looks for yourself, but the dynamics promise to be BMW’s standard-issue leading edge. The 645i’s 4.4-liter/325-horsepower 330 Ib-ft V-8 pushes the rear wheels of a lightweight coupe featuring aluminum hood, door panels, and suspension; composite trunklid; and thermoplastic front fenders. It also has run-flats, which means no spare tire. A standard glass panorama roof mitigates the weight-savings, and the coupe is big—189.9 inches long. Tranny choices are six-speed manual, six-speed Steptronic automatic, or the six-speed sequential manual gearbox available on the M3 SMG. Besides more electronics…

Does the name “Subaru” conjure images of Birkenstock-shod Deadheads? Thanks to WRXs, STis, and Lance Armstrong, that stereotype is fading. Also aiding the transformation is the 05 Legacy sedan/wagon, already launched as an ’04 model in Europe and Japan. The new Legacy is for sport-sedan intenders who want something bigger, more luxurious, and less rowdy than a WRX STi. It launches in April with a new turbocharged, twin-cam 2.5-liter boxer four for the GT (250 horsepower, 230 Ib-ft of torque) and a naturally aspirated version as the standard engine. Meanwhile, Subaru is readying a new Legacy-based crossover for fall 2004, to compete with the Lexus RX 330 and the Acura MDX. That gives the 05 Outback room to become more elegant and carlike. Body-color cladding will replace the dove-gray…

You know what a taxi ride is, but have you ever been asked to put on a helmet and fire suit before taking one? The term applies to demo rides in race cars. We were at the Hockenheim, and veteran Bernd Schneider gave us a show at the helm of the raw and loud CLK-based DTM racer. In his hands, the car appeared light, responsive, and tossable, with flexible power and impressive grip. The rules in DTM (Deutschen Tourenwagen Masters) restrict modifications to keep costs down and competitiveness up. Mercedes-Benz (through AMG), Audi, and Opel are the contenders. The 4.0-liter V-8s make over 400 horsepower, and do so reliably. They have to: Engines are sealed for the season (oil changes and valve lash only), and teams are allowed three for…

It’s no secret that the launch of Hyundai’s Santa Fe in ’01 has helped the company grow from selling 90,000 units a year in 1998 to 375,000 in 2002. Thus, in order to stay viable in an increasingly competitive market, Hyundai has added displacement, power, and revised gearing to its car based SUV, along with a new four-wheel-drive system. Nothing has changed about the Santa Fe’s appearance, but the ’04 model is now available with an optional 3.5-liter V-6, bringing engine choices to three, including the 2.7-liter V-6 and 2.4-liter l-4. The 3.5-liter Sigma engine, borrowed from the XG350, makes 219 Ib-ft of torque at 3500 rpm and 195 horsepower at 5500 rpm. This is up 37 Ib-ft and 22 horsepower from the 2.7-liter’s performance and results in an…

Perhaps you’re one of the millions of fans of NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck racing—a series that’s boomed in popularity since its inception in 1995. And you’d like to know: Is my streetgoing sport pickup anything like its NASCAR counterpart? In a word: notreally. Like NASCAR Winston Cup cars, Craftsman Truck racers are purebreds. Sure, they vaguely resemble the Ford F-150s, Dodge Ram 1500s, and Chevy Silverados you can buy in dealer showrooms. But apart iron the basic blueprints of their V-8 engines, NASCAR race trucks and production sport pickups are similar in name and shape only. Craftsman Truck racers, like Winston Cup cars, use purpose-built tubular chrome-moly frames onto which “production-looking” body pieces are bolted (for 2004, the series will follow the lead of Winston Cup and move to a common…

Designing utilitarian vehicles used to be simple: Take a family sedan, extend the roof to the rear bumper, replace the rear coilspring suspension with heavy-duty leaf springs and—bam!—a station wagon that cost $500 more than its sedan counterpart. Later, automakers applied a similar formula to pickup trucks, extending the roof over the tailgate and—bam again!—a sport/utility vehicle that cost $5000 (or even $10,000) more than its pickup progenitor. Today’s consumers are more sophisticated. They want all the best attributes of a sport/utility (ruggedness, cargo capacity, off-roadability, good visibility) combined with the best attributes of a sedan (smooth ride, precise handling, performance, comfort). What they want are “crossover” vehicles—station wagons for the 21st century. To station-wagon aficionados, all-wheeldrive crossovers like the three ’04 models gathered here—the Volvo V70 Cross Country (XC70),…

It’s something every serious car freak dreams of: unearthing a rare automotive treasure that time has somehow forgotten. It usually starts with a rumor here, a secret there; somebody who knows somebody who might have heard something “about an old classic car so-and-so had until the day he died.” The proverbial “Bugatti in a barn.” Then comes the hunt. Like an archeological dig, the search for a priceless classic can drag its pursuer around the world, testing wills and exhausting resources. Or, in some instances, that million-dollar masterpiece is entombed nearly in plain sight. Two such examples are a one-of-six Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe and a one-of-a-dozen Jaguar E-Type Lightweight racer. Until recently, both were tucked away in Southern California garages—within the grasp of many of the world’s foremost car…

Vehicle maintenance is one of the more bothersome aspects of automobile ownership. Taking your ride into the dealer is often like having a tooth pulled—painful, but necessary. Maintenance also can be confusing: Which service interval should you follow, the “normal-duty” or “severe-duty” schedule? Severe-duty applies to vehicles that operate under a variety of conditions. Frequent starting and stopping, excessive idling, or trips of less than five miles can lead to carbon buildup. Driving in the desert or off-road can cause the engine to ingest more airborne contaminants. Other intense scenarios include towing, operating in cold climates, and sustained high speed. Because of the stresses involved, severe-duty schedules recommend a larger number of maintenance operations at shorter intervals. Maintenance schedules vary between manufacturers, so it’s best to consult the owner’s manual.…

1999-2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee More than a decade ago, Jeep hit one out of the park with the unibody Grand Cherokee, a smoothly rendered, midsize sport/utility brought in alongside the basic-yet-popular Cherokee. But the original Grand was fraught with quality problems, jeered by jilted owners who grew tired of frequent recall notices, and steadfastly anchored at the bottom of the J.D. Power quality surveys. Jeep unleashed a new Grand Cherokee for ‘99, dramatically restyled and effectively reengineered. It featured a 4.7-liter/235-horsepower, SOHC V-8 as the upmarket engine (replacing the aged 5.2-liter/220-horse V-8, better known as Chrysler’s 318), joining the 4.0-liter/195-horse l-6 dating back to the last good Burt Reynolds movie. With a wider track, the Grand Cherokee was meant as a better on-roader to go with the marque’s famous off-road…

Royal Roadsters I applaud Cadillac for daring to try the Allanté formula again and for what appears to be a solid execution in the XLR. With all the platform sharing going on today (Ford and Jaguar, for heaven’s sake), we’ve grown accustomed to tuning and packaging making the critical difference, and in that context, the Corvette would seem a good foundation for a sport-luxury roadster bearing the Wreath and Crest. Alan HickhamKansas City, Missouri Art St. Antoine did a great job on your luxo-roadsters comparison (and you did a great job snagging him, by the way). I’m not drawn to these cars myself, but I have many friends who are, and I’m glad to be able to tell them they shouldn’t be afraid of taking a serious look at the…

Cool stuff this month New Ferrari [always cool] New BMW 6 Series [also cool] New powertrain tech Rumors, spy shots, and other assorted conjecture Chewy Sings the Blue The next-generation Chevrolet small car will drop the Cavalier nameplate in favor of Cobalt, which launches in early 2004 as an ‘05 model. Chevy hints that the Delta-platform model will be more premium than the current Cavalier is and ready to compete with the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Delta has thus far fallen short on that promise, in terms of critical and sales success, in the form of the Saturn Ion sedan and coupe. As reported here in June 2002, Delta also will underpin a new Chrysler PT Cruiser competitor, using retro Chevy Suburban styling cues and codenamed HHR. Suburbans from…

Gains for mass-market vehicles Variety is the spice of life, but when it comes to choosing a new car, truck, or sport/utility, 50 percent of buyers settle on just 33 out of more than 250 models available in the U.S. Despite the development of niche vehicles, these 33 top-selling models did better this year, with a minimal decline of under half a percent compared to last year, versus the remaining 220-plus models, which were down by 4.5 percent. During the first half of ‘03, the overall market was down 2.5 percent. Sales incentives helped shift buyers back toward mass-market models. Among the Top 10 (which account for one quarter of all sales) six saw sales declines, with the Toyota Camry suffering the largest drop, nine percent, year to year. The…

The old Rolls-Royce plant at Crewe in the English Midlands, whence came the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines that powered the Spitfires and Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain and the Lancasters that bombed German cities night after night, is now a Volkswagen-owned facility dedicated to the production of Bentley Arnage sedans and Continental GT coupes. It’s changed dramatically, with German light and fresh paint and new machinery replacing rundown British charm. The work force is younger and willing to chat about how Bentleys are built. To a several-time visitor over the past three decades, the difference is startling. About all that’s recognizable are the fabric, leather, and wood areas, where the tools are higher tech, but eyeballs, fingertips, and experience still play an important role. To walk into the factory…

Just because they can, five lucky buyers are having new, streetgoing, roadster versions of the CLK GTR Le Mans race cars built by AMG’s racing division. A CLK in name (and taillights) only, the mid-engine V-12-powered GTR cleaned up against Porsche and McLaren to win the GT1 championship in 1997. To homologate the car, 25 road-legal examples were built in the ’90s. This new, limited revival series was presold at an officially undisclosed price—one that surely reached deep into seven figures.…

After the successful launch of its red-hot Evolution, Mitsubishi is seeking ways to crank more sales out of the Lancer lineup. One source of additional heat is Mitsu’s new high-performance and motorsport arm, named Ralliart. At the heart of several new models is a new 2.4-liter MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing and Lift Engine Control) 1-4, standard in the Lancer Ralliart, Lancer Sportback (wagon), and Sportback Ralliart. The company’s first foray with variable-valve timing in a U.S.-spec vehicle produces 160 or 162 horsepower, depending on the model, and an impressive 161 (or 162) Ib-ft of torque. ES, LS, and OZ Rally Lancers still carry the 2.0-liter/120-horse l-4 with 130 Ib-ft of torque. All ’04 Lancers (except Evolution) get new front and rear fascias, hood, front fenders, and rear decklid.…

Northern Italy’s autostrada proved too much of a temptation, and we went for it. But now, as we settled back down to 120 klicks enroute to lunch on the shores of Lago Maggiore, the buzz in the steering wheel vanished, and my heart sought a normal tempo. Italdesign Giugiaro’s 35th-anniversary celebration was well on its way to being a most memorable event. The Aztec concept I was driving held its own as an effective sports car while we worked our way out of Piedmont’s vineyard-wrapped mountains. Italdesign described the provocative roadster as “an expression of the need to sculpt a shape instead of drawing it.” It’s hard to visualize this astonishing twin-cockpit spider as the valuable one-off show car it had been; it now wears a comfortable patina of age…

Ford is retiring its current F-150-based Harley-Davidson Edition pickup, but the Harley nameplate will return for ’04 on Ford’s all-new Super Duty F-250 and F-350 models. The limited-edition 4x4 (just 8000 will be built for ’04) will feature such extras as 18-inch forged-aluminum wheels, chrome tubular step bars, leather captain’s chairs with embossed Harley-Davidson logos, and lots of unique exterior-styling cues. Base sticker will start at just over $40,000. Get yours fast: The first 1000 buyers who opt for the Halloween-like black-and-competition-orange paint scheme will be entered into a drawing to win a custom-painted ’04 Harley-Davidson motorcycle.…

It’s no coincidence that we chose an afternoon photo location at the top of a long, twisty canyon road. We wanted to give the HKS Evo a spirited run in the real world. In this environment, just as at our test track, the Evo didn’t disappoint. It gobbled up the straights, devoured the mountain hairpins, and provided repeatable fade-free stops from high speed. The HKS Evo is such a competent AWD package that almost anyone can put the car through its paces without getting too far over his head. Senior Road Test Editor Chris Walton notes, “I thought the stock Evo was good until I drove the HKS. Where the standard car feels stiff-legged, skatey, and likely to bite in the event of a midcourse correction, the HKS car feels…

2003 MINI COOPER S Pop quiz: What do you get when you blend retro styling, supercharged power, and the reflexes of a go-kart? A Mini Cooper S, of course. Our dark silver-and-black S came loaded with leather ($1250), the cold-weather package (heated washer jets, seats, and mirrors: $300), premium package (with steering-wheel controls, panoramic sunroof, trip computer, and automatic climate control: $1250), sport pack (Dynamic Stability Control, sport seats, foglamps, rear spoiler, Xenon headlamps, and 17-inch alloys: $1250), and a Harmon/Kardon sound system ($550). Tack on an extra $400 for the metallic paint and $550 for destination, and our Cooper S’ $19,425 base price finished at $24,975. So far, we’re enjoying the Cooper’s crisp handling, but its lack of bottom-end torque takes some getting used to—seems a few editors have…

Actually, the vehicle we got is a van, a giant, full-size, 15-passenger Chevrolet Express that’s going to do multiple duty carrying kids and dogs (seats in) and motorcycles (seats out). Minivans and sport/utilities can do the family-hauling thing, but then you need a trailer to move dirt bikes. Pickups are perfect for bikes, but where would I stow two restless boys and a pair of neurotic golden retrievers? No, a monster van was the right compromise: simple and effective, with no emotional strings attached, like a good power drill or torque wrench. And I’d be buying used, as usual, so as to let the Other Guy take that initial depreciation hit. I started my search with comparison-test articles in back issues of sister publication Truck Trend and with copies of…

Pininfarina has released these sketches of the Ferrari 456M GT replacement, which makes its international debut at the Detroit auto show next January. The new 2+2 Gran Turismo is rumored to be named Bologna in keeping with the city-names theme established by the 360 Modena and the original 550 Maranello (Bologna lies just south of the Ferrari factory). The Bologna will be powered by a 6.0-liter V-12 based on the 5.8-liter engine in the 575M Maranello. The latter is rated at 508 horsepower at 7250 rpm and 434 Ib-ft at 5250 rpm, so expect even bigger numbers for the Bologna. Like the Maranello, the new super coupe will be offered with a conventional six-speed manual gearbox or Ferrari’s F1 six-speed sequential manual. The Pininfarina design features a long-hood/short-deck treatment,…

A cool car show, by design If any one entity should be able to put together an interesting group of automobiles, it would be a school known for its transportation program. Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design proved this notion true, and then some, at its Annual Art Center Car Classic. In only its third year, this small but mighty gathering has elbowed its way onto the “don’t miss” calendar. Besides the usual raft of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and hot rods, the Classic’s calling card was a number of one-offs, concepts, and special bodied machinery. Art Center alums Peter Brock (Daytona Cobra Coupe) and Chuck Pelly (Scarab and Chaparral I) gave presentations on the design processes of these famous race cars. A subsequent “Meet the Designers” panel discussion was noisily interrupted…

One would think that two all-wheel-drive, twin-turbocharged Porsches would be similar machines. Perhaps 25 or even five years ago, that would have been the case. But times have changed. We’re not here to debate the philosophical merits or demerits earned by Porsche injecting a big sport/utility into its lineup. That’s over; the vehicle is here. And since the company now offers two ways to sell you 450 horsepower, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to compare them and play with the numbers. By now, you’re familiar with the Cayenne; it’s an all-new and distinct product, although it shares platform architecture with Volkswagen’s new Touareg SUV. The Cayenne Turbo has it all: a twin-blown 4.5-liter V-8, six-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission, full-time AWD with low-range transfer case,…

The recipe comes straight out of the ’60s musclecar heyday: Drop a biggish engine into a smallish chassis to create a lusty, V-8-powered, two-door hardtop coupe. The word “synergy” wasn’t around in 1965, but that’s what Mercedes-Benz gets in its top-of-the-range CLK55 AMG: a performance car that’s more than the sum of its parts. Those parts themselves aren’t especially humble, either. The second-generation CLK line appeared for ’03 (a Cabrio joins the family in ’04) using a lot of existing E Class componentry to bring the swagger of the flagship CL coupes to a friendlier price point. The rigid, aerodynamic body carries a full complement of Mercedes’ finest hardware, from well-sorted brakes, steering, and suspension bits to all the computer-based driver aids (Electronic Stability Control, Automatic Slip Control, Brake…

Okay, so the punny subhead is a groaner, but the car sure isn’t: The Z was engineered with a convertible variant in mind from the beginning. Though Nissan couldn’t go the retractable hardtop route (too costly), it did equip the Z Roadster with a slick power softtop that neatly disappears beneath a stylish, hard tonneau. Considerable effort, in the form of extra cross-bracing and other structural enhancements, went into ensuring that the chassis was rigid enough for ragtop duty. The effort paid off, and we’re impressed by the Z’s solidity and lack of cowl-shake. Wind noise is minimal, and buffeting also is well-controlled. Thanks to an insulated fabric top, conversation remains easy, even at higher speeds, although we’d rather listen to the 3.5-liter V-6’s warbling dual exhausts. As you’d…

Maybe you’d rather not cop to the retro craze that’s so hot right now, but understanding the importance of the ’03 version of Ford’s Mustang Mach 1 requires an appreciation of history. Think back some 30 years ago, when big-blocks ruled the strip, long before street racing included nitrous-injected sport compacts. We’ve tested the Mach before, but it’s now available with an automatic transmission. We felt it was worth a run down the 1320. All time-machine cues are present: front and rear spoilers, check. Magnum-style wheels, check. Shaker hood scoop—oh, yeah. Open the hood to see the wall-to-wall 4.6-liter, four-valves/cylinder, DOHC Ford V-8 (think Boss 429). Output is 305 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 320 Ib-ft of torque at 4200 rpm. There’s a choice of transmissions: a five-speed manual…

It’s never been difficult to find horses around pickup trucks. The two seem made for each other, like Michael Moore and heckling. Lately, though, finding horses around pickups has become downright effortless: All you have to do is lift the hood. Take a whiff: There’s a new scent wafting through the air. That’s because, for a fastgrowing breed of sport pickups, the payload isn’t horse manure—it’s horsepower. No doubt inspired by all the whoopin’ and hollerin’ they’re attracting in NASCAR’s bed-bashing Craftsman Truck Race Series, all three major American pickup makers—Ford, Chevy, and Dodge—are now producing adrenalized street versions of their most popular models. Are these trucks true to the rubber-smoking spirit of their Craftsman-decaled counterparts? To find out, we gathered two of them, the Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Hemi…

Guess again. Toyota’s full-size Tundra pickup is built in Indiana. It not only qualifies for the series, it’ll be making its 2004 debut at Daytona in February (as many as six Tundra race trucks are expected to compete). Toyota will have to build a new pushrod V-8 to NASCAR specs (Toyota Racing Development will design, develop, and build the engine at its Costa Mesa, California, facility), but for a company with billions in reserve cash that’ll be the easy part. The hard part? Getting Japanese engineers to understand the meaning of the phrase, “That dawg won’t hunt.”…

If you’re getting fidgety right about now, we understand. Carmakers have been minting a fresh batch of shiny new automobiles with the intent of putting you behind the wheel. It’s okay; we’re here to help. In this comprehensive 29-page guide, we’ve distilled choice facts and inside tips on all the ’04 models. And we’ve peeked behind the curtain on a few upcoming ’05 machines you won’t want to miss. Consider this your cheat-sheet on 168 new sedans, coupes, wagons, hot hatches, and ragtops, complete with basic specs, warranty info, and prices (where available and estimated from reliable sources if not yet announced). Remember that the base prices listed cover the range of models and trim levels without options. If you’re shopping for a “non-car” ride, stay tuned. In our November…

SLP LSI HEAD/CAM PACKAGE If you’re looking to add serious punch to the LS1 V-8 in your Corvette or Camaro/Firebird without adding nitrous or a supercharger, check out SLP’s head and cam package. The LS1 heads feature CNC-ported intake/exhaust runners, have been decked to increase compression to 10.7:1, include Manley 2.02-/1.67-inch stainless-steel valves with a performance valve job, and come with SLP valve springs held by titanium retainers. SLP’s special hydraulic roller cam is matched to the heads’ greatly increased airflow and team to deliver a stunning 485 dyno-proven horsepower when combined with free-flowing exhaust. That’s a whopping 175-horse increase over stock. $2595; 732/349-2109; www.slponline.com HANDS ON THE WHEEL, PAL With many states about to put restrictions on driver cellphone use, you might consider JABRA’s hands-free mobile-phone options. Traditional wire-type…

Any time a manufacturer attempts to build a successor to a benchmark, it faces a dilemma: Stick with what it’s got—that which people buy in droves—or risk stretching the appeal even further in an attempt to gain more market share. When Toyota redesigned its undeniably successful Camry for ‘02, the company decided to add a bit of flair and performance to the otherwise Plain Jane midsize sedan. The goal? Simple: Upgrade a dowdy image, stay ahead of Honda, and stem any possible attack from the bigger, faster, and edgier new Altima. Most of our staff warmed to the Camry’s more aggressive styling, and we wanted to spend a year checking out the latest version of one of America’s best-sellers. While few Camry owners get out-and-out excited when they tell their…