Innehållsförteckning för March 1996 från MotorTrend

One of the most talked-about new designs on last year’s auto-show circuit was a distinctively angular coupe by Acura called the CL-X, a version of which was promised for production in 1996. Well, the agonizing wait is over: Honda’s luxury division has introduced its new ’97 CL-Series. The first model to arrive—the 2.2CL—will appear in showrooms in March, and the second—the 3.0CL—will debut in October. Aimed specifically at the North American market, the CL is the first Acura to be designed and engineered primarily in the U.S. In addition, it will be built exclusively in East Liberty, Ohio, and it’s expected to be EPA classified as a domestic vehicle. The front-drive CL is a thoroughly enjoyable coupe that provides a wonderful balance between livability and sporty appeal. Visually, the new…

NEW SEVILLE TO ARRIVE IN ’99 Cadillac’s sport/luxury sedan will get a complete revamp for the turn of the century. Its smartly recontoured sheetmetal will display a smoother, lower, and leaner look. The C-pillars will gain some BMW 5-Series-style personality as they angle down to a high rear deck that provides an aerodynamic advantage and a roomy trunk. Speaking of personality, stylists are considering adding narrow, vertical taillamps like those on the Cadillacs of the good old days before “tasteful restraint.” Up front, the previously boxy nose will be canted back for a sleeker appearance, much like that of the new Opel-derived Catera. The headlights, grille, and front fascia styling will be better integrated, and the use of high-intensity-discharge or projector-beam lamps is a strong possibility. Insiders contend that chrome…

FORD TAURUS/MERCURY SABLE JBL AUDIO SYSTEM TEST While the boldly styled Integrated Control Panel on the new Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable has been getting plenty of attention for its design, Ford’s optional JBL audio system ($500) backs up the look with some premium sounds, especially when combined with the available trunk-mounted six-disc CD changer ($595) and the standard AM/FM full-logic cassette deck. Seven strategically placed speakers help deliver full, rich sound, particularly at low to mid volumes. Tweeters are mounted on the forward portion of the upper door panel (inside of the side-view mirrors), with midwoofers positioned in the kick panels. Two full-range speakers are mounted in the rear deck under a carpeted back panel along with a single, center-mounted subwoofer. For better security, all tuner and amplification components are located…

There’s something to be said for sheer size, especially for a 2.5-ton two-door that’s quicker in the quarter mile than most production sports cars, more comfortable than the Elvis suite at the Las Vegas Hilton, and decorated with the savoir-faire of any Cary Grant movie in which he wears a tuxedo. There’s also something to be said for a 48-valve DOHC 12-cylinder engine displacing seven full liters and producing approximately 485 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. And it’s all built like a Mercedes because it is a Mercedes. RENNTech is the brainchild of Hartmut Feyhl, who left both the renowned AMG tuning firm and his native Germany to settle in Delray Beach, Florida. From there Feyhl has been expanding the Mercedes-Benz performance envelope significantly. The most popular of the…

Legions of loyal Ford Mustang enthusiasts have eagerly awaited the emergence of the first aftermarket components for the modular-engined ’96 Blue Oval ponycars. After a successful decade of tuning the venerable 5.0-liter V-8, creating a whole power-minded industry in the process, speed freaks have been faced with the monolithic OBD-II emissions hurtle that stands in the way of supertuning the new high-tech SOHC and DOHC V-8s. A legendary name in aftermarket performance, Kenne-Bell has burst through the gates with a supercharged Mustang Cobra touting the first tweaked 4.6-liter to hit the market. According to Jim Bell, president of Kenne-Bell, the goal was to add a solid dose of power for a moderate price. Awaiting final CARB emissions approval, the five-psi twin-screw Whipplecharger kit is solely responsible for the brutish, tire-shredding…

Modern technology is constantly whittling acceleration (and deceleration) curves, with the apparent goal of making them all straight, vertical lines. The ultimate car would go 0-100 mph in zero seconds and, after a zero reaction time on the part of the driver, slam back to 0 mph in another zero seconds. It would be a neat trick, if time were on our side. In the world of supertuned street cars, braking modifications are now nearly as common as engine tweaks (five of the six cars tested here had larger-than-stock brakes). With its 13.0-second turn of the 0-100-0-mph trick, John Lingenfelter’s well-balanced Corvette bested the mythic 14.0-second blast of the ’65 Shelby 427 Cobra by a full second. Few if any cars can match the Corvette’s 8.8-second acceleration from 0 to…

We watched; we waited; we envied. Since the beginning of 1995, Europe has been enjoying a 325i successor—called the 328i—that boasts a stronger, more refined inline-six engine, while North American enthusiasts have had to remain content with the previous version. Not that the 325i is an underpowered car; we’ve dealt out plenty of praise for its quick-revving inline-six over the past few years. With excellent handling, precise steering, and a high fun factor, the 325i is like a sports car in stealthy clothing. It may seem content with day-to-day commuting, business lunches, and trips to the mall, but in its heart, it yearns to be unleashed on a winding backcountry road; the twistier, the better. Yet, despite its many attributes, one area in which the 325i falls short is in…

Hey, is that a kit car?” came an excited shout from the next lane. I could see the frustration in the eyes of Automobiles Gillet sales manager Vincent Van Humbeeck, as we had already answered this question several times for curious onlookers while making our way through coastal Santa Monica, California. Van Humbeeck would explain politely that the Vertigo is a production car from Belgium. This was followed inevitably with, “Is it fast?” A gentle smile would creep across Van Humbeeck’s face: “It’s the fastest car in the world.” Heralding from a country known for its waffles, Automobiles Gillet made its mark in the international arena when it claimed the title of the world’s fastest-accelerating production car, with a blistering 3.14-second 0-60-mph blast in its 360-horsepower Vertigo. The Ford RS200…

NEWS RAM EVEN TOUGHER Nearly two years ago, Dodge put the all-aluminum Viper version of its 8.0-liter V-10 in a half-ton Ram pickup, backed it up with a six-speed transmission, painted the whole thing blue with white stripes, and proclaimed it the “Ram VTS.” That show truck is now nearing reality. Unfortunately, no amount of electronic manipulation could emissions-certify the iron truck V-10 in the halfton, short-wheelbase, regular-cab pickup chassis (and the Viper’s engine is prohibitively expensive). So the production VTS will be powered by the 5.9-liter Magnum V-8. The V-8 may even be treated to certain Mopar Performance Magnum R/T components (see our test on the following page) to boost power from 230 horsepower up to somewhere near 280. It’s likely the only available transmission will be a four-speed…

TRUCK OF THE YEAR Congratulations on your choice of the 1996 Truck of the Year (the Chevrolet Tahoe). It’s good to see a real company get the award for two straight years—Bow ties rule. Rob WilliamsWayne, Pa. I give Chevrolet a lot of credit for its new addition to its truck family. I think the Tahoe is a beautiful truck, but what happened to a nice truck not costing a lot of money? Anthony AbelaCarleton, Mich. One of the factors that swayed our decision in favor of the Tahoe is how much truck you get for the money. Compare the cargo capacity, towing abilities, power output, and passenger comfort to its contemporary peers, and it becomes obvious that the Tahoe is a sound value.—Ed. Chevrolet Tahoe: the 1996 Truck of…

Following a trend set Stateside, Europe’s minivan market is booming, and automakers are scrambling to grab a share of it. The past year has seen new entries from Ford, Volkswagen, Citroen, Fiat, and Peugeot, while GM’s Opel brand is readying a U.S.-designed contender. Now, it appears even Porsche is jumping on the bandwagon. This illustration is based on sightings of a preproduction prototype that was spied wearing Porsche badges. As you’d expect, the Stuttgart company is taking the high ground. Although the Porsche MPV is based on VW’s Euro-only Sharan (itself a platform-mate to Ford of Europe’s Galaxy), it is distinguished by sportier styling and higher performance. Unlike the VW or Ford, the Porsche has no grille above the front bumper; it achieves a very different “facial expression” through the…

SATELLITE GUARDIAN ANGELS OF THE HIGHWAY With carjackings and crash survival becoming rising concerns of car buyers, both the feds and automakers are tapping military spy satellite technology to serve as your highway “guardian angel,” instantly pinpointing serious crashes and criminal acts anywhere on U.S. roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a two-year study of an in-vehicle unit that logs onto the Defense Department’s Global Positioning System’s (GPS) 24 satellites; the device automatically alerts emergency medical services when a severe auto crash has taken place and indicates the location. Sensors in the system can distinguish between a fender bender and a serious collision. NHTSA spokesman August Burgette sees this technology as a major breakthrough for automotive safety, but admits “cost is a major consideration. Until now this…

Bring together six cars with an average of 500 horsepower apiece, each massaged by one of the country’s top tuning houses, out to Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona, and the sounds, chords, and harmonies of horsepower come into vivid, stereophonic relief. We brought the cars there not to anoint one emperor of speed, but to appreciate each on its own merits, seeking symphonic convergence. Sound is an overwhelming force with Hennessey Motorsports’ Dodge Viper Venom 600. Larger cylinder bores and longer-throw crank strokes the mammoth V-10’s displacement up from a merely gargantuan 488 cubic inches to a stupefying 520. Every odd exhaust pulse pounds from the side pipes like a cannon shot and reverberates for a moment before being overridden by the torrent of pulses right behind it. It’s raw,…

The basic design of the small-block Chevrolet V-8 powering this car was introduced in September 1954, and the platform of Corvette it sits in first appeared back in 1983. A 42-year-old engine in a 13-year-old car, and… it’s spectacular. Why? It’s a combination of great continuing GM engineering and outstanding modifications by John Lingenfelter. Lingenfelter has built almost infinite variations on the small-block theme at his Lingenfelter Performance Engineering (LPE) Shop in Decatur, Indiana, but it’s the 383-cubic-inch LT1 for which he is famed: an approximately 470-horsepower savage built around the Corvette’s four-bolt main bearing block. It’s essentially the same engine that powered Lingenfelter’s F-car representative in our December ’94 “Natural Born Killers” roundup of Camaras and Firebirds. Any garage hound worth his Hot Rod subscription can build a 383…

Acura’s performance warrior appeared to be threatened seriously by the megahorsepower monsters gathered at the Firebird Raceway for our cost-no-object performance test, Facing the likes of the venom-dripping Hennessey Viper with 2.8 times more displacement, and the megadollar supercharged Porsche, whose every spoiler and air intake screamed autobahn dominance, the Japanese exotic appeared to be the underdog from the start. In the company of these hairy-chested competitors, the NSX shines as one of the only supercars in the world that can serve comfortably as a daily commuter by combining the finest race technology with the Accord’s user-friendly nature. Thus, the DC Sports Honda/Acura tuning gurus had their work cut out for them when they began tackling the well-balanced NSX; the wrong combination of performance mods could reduce the exceptional mid-engined…

Observe closely. If the Mercedes-Benz product planners are right in their predictions, you’re getting an initial glimpse at the shape of sport/utility vehicles to come. The AAVision concept study provides the clearest view yet of the styling to be found on the firm’s upcoming AAV (All-Activity Vehicle), which goes on sale here in the fall of 1997. While noting that this show car isn’t entirely representative of the production model, Mercedes execs admit the two share a considerable number of visual cues, inside and out. With the AAV—an all-new, purpose-built platform that will be assembled exclusively at the company’s new plant in Vance, Alabama—M-B is looking to effectively reinvent the traditional sport/utility vehicle. Not only will the AAV bridge the gap that separates sport/ute from minivan, it will add numerous…

Somewhere, Sir David Brown is smiling. But it hasn’t always been that way. Just after World War II, the wealthy industrialist rescued Aston Martin from the brink of oblivion—akin to an American rescuing the Dallas Cowboys or Chicago Cubs—and led the company through the glorious, but unprofitable, “DB” model years. Escalating losses forced Brown to sell the company in 1972. He died in 1993, just before production started on the elegant and potent Aston Martin DB7 Coupe, a modern interpretation of the original DB series. In 1995, more than 600 DB7s were delivered worldwide (none to North America), topping Aston’s previous best single-year sales mark (591 DB6s in ’66). Last January, Aston Martin heralded its return to the U.S. by holding the international launch of a superbly crafted open-top variant…

With the introduction of the fourth-generation Maxima, Nissan engineers achieved the impossible: They gave the new car evolutionary styling while improving nearly every characteristic embodied in its virtuous predecessors. Mind you, this was no small task; the Maxima nameplate has become synonymous with affordable, luxurious, sporting sedans. With the aid of a Cray supercomputer, Nissan engineers stretched the Maxima’s wheelbase, increased its interior and cargo space, reduced noise and vibration, and improved safety, all while reducing its curb weight by 138 pounds. The new, improved Maxima competed for our 1995 Import Car of Year award and drove away with the coveted Golden Calipers. After the ICOY victory was announced, we eagerly filled out the order forms needed to add a Maxima to our long-term test fleet. Being performance enthusiasts, we…

Despite recurring rumors of its prerelease cancellation, Lamborghini’s Diablo Roadster finally will arrive in the U.S. this June. Billed as “the fastest open-roof production car in the world,” it’s also, surprisingly, the first true roadster to be offered by the Sant’Agata marque in its 34-year history. Although Lamborghini previously has manufactured two semiopen-top models (the Urraco-based Silhouette and the Jalpa), the few pure roadsters it’s paraded at shows (‘65 350GT, ‘68 Miura P400 Roadster, ’80 Athon) were all mere dream cars. The new Diablo Roadster puts that to rights—and allows Lambo to take one more much-needed step in its response to the recent bombardment of new models from archrival Ferrari. Like the Diablo hardtop and its Countach predecessor, the Roadster was designed by Marcello Gandini. He has brought to the…

They say it won’t be marketed in the United States… as a stand-alone product. They also say it will pass all U.S. certification tests, bar one, without modification, and “we can’t rule out that it will be sold in America one day.” This is the Rover Group’s way of underplaying the possibility of a return visit to the once-happy hunting ground for the MGA and MGB, this time with the sprightly new mid-engined MGF. The real crux of the matter, though, is parent-company BMW’s belief in its own Z3. If that rakish roadster reaches its target sales volumes and can stand a bit of extra heat, then expect to see the MGF on sale here as early as 1998, with a pricetag in the mid-$30,000 range. Rover’s K-Series twin-cam four…

LITHIUM: NISSAN’S EV PRESCRIPTION There seems little doubt that the electricvehicle (EV) field is undergoing serious growth, with surprising news breaking almost daily. In our January ’96 issue we mentioned Sony’s advanced lithium ion battery and that company’s intention to develop the technology in tandem with auto manufacturers. Now at least one automaker already has come forward with a new concept electric vehicle powered by these advanced battery modules. Nissan’s FEV-II, the next-generation iteration of the stylish FEV (Future Electric Vehicle) concept that debuted at the ’91 Tokyo Motor Show, features lithium ion as its power source. The stylish 2+2 coupe, designed by Southern California—based Nissan Design International, offers a Beetlelike design flavor, somewhat in the vein of Volkswagen’s upcoming Concept 1 coupe. Its flat floor allows these batteries to…

Nuh-uh… no way: This car isn’t for novices. Or for rational humans of any race, creed, or political persuasion, for that matter. Hennessey’s Viper Venom 600 has gone so far past the line of sanity, it’s become wholly and unequivocally demented. With a dyno-certified 528 rear-wheel horsepower (that’s about 635 at the crankshaft), this bulging-fendered 8.5-liter go-kart from hell is scarier to experience than a carjacking. And that’s at idle. Crack open the throttle and it becomes a Texas chainsaw massacre on wheels. Comparatively speaking, a stock Viper with its merely monstrous 8.0-liter/415-horse V-10 is a tabby cat full of Darvon. Never mind the fact that this tabby cooks 0-60 mph in five seconds flat and rampages the quarter mile in 13.2 seconds at 113.4 mph. However, next to the…

Each of the tuners in this test is among the very finest in the nation; their reputations are as impeccable as their cars. But we strapped each of their cars onto a chassis dynamometer to verify power outputs, just to be certain. Pro Dyno (602/967-5530) in Tempe, Arizona, was the host for this aspect of our testing adventure. Pro Dyno’s brand-new Dynojet 248E automotive dynamometer now resides in its pristine shop right next to the motorcycle dyno, where the company has developed some of the most wicked Honda CBXs and other two-wheeled road rockets around. Partners Jeff Morrow and Chris Hines (crew chief for Billy Kann’s Winston West NASCAR stock car) use this ultimate tuning tool for both cars and motorcycles. Unlike the manufacturer-provided power figures normally cited in Motor…

The Jeep Wrangler traditionally has had the highway manners, overall mechanical polish, and styling sleekness of a farm tractor. And lots of folks liked it that way. These devotees lovingly describe this rugged simplicity as “charm,” “personality,” or “flavor.” The ’97 version of this classic American off-roading icon is significantly refined but not at all redefined. Chrysler Corporation’s Jeep/Truck Engineering department executed a “don’t fix what ain’t broke” approach. For a paltry $260 million, engineers have completed what they describe as “a functional upgrade program.” (Keep in mind that conventional all-new vehicle programs generally cost between $1.5 billion and $3 billion.) Yet on this tight budget, they were able to change all exterior sheetmetal, replace the leaf springs with coils at all four corners, strengthen the ladder frame, engineer a…

Sheetmetal sentries and engine examiners will underestimate radically the changes made to the ’96 Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan. Those who judge a car’s newness by fresh fender creases and horsepower additions will miss a bushel of delightful new features crammed inside the unchanged, but still elegantly lovely, bodywork of the new STS. Only dedicated Cadillac enthusiasts will notice the STS’ single exterior change—seven-spoke cast-aluminum wheels—and even Cadillac service technicians will have difficulty spotting the refinements made to the Northstar V-8, which still pumps out a thrilling 300 horsepower. Yet a quick drive and a peek at the interior will reveal the significant enhancements made this year. Cadillac said the philosophy of “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road” was the motivating force behind many of the interior changes. The…

Aston Martin was founded in 1913 (by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, with “Aston” the name of their favorite hill climb) and boasts a glorious history that includes an overall victory in the ‘35 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, the period from 1947, when Sir David Brown purchased the company, to 1972, when he sold it, holds the most fascination for many Americans. Here’s a brief look at the “DB” series of Aston Martins. DB1, DB2, DB3 The DB1 was an adaptation of a prewar design propelled by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder. After Brown purchased the Lagonda car company, the Lagonda 2.6-liter/105-horsepower inline-six was fitted to a shortened DB1 chassis and mated to a new body, the combination becoming the DB2. Built from ’50 to ’53, it captured two class…

’95 CHEVROLET BLAZER LT Versatility is the Chevrolet Blazer’s strong suit, as it has adapted deftly to a variety of lifestyles over the past year; active, outdoorsy types have taken advantage of its go-any-where abilities, those in the “family way” have welcomed its five-passenger seating and abundant cargo space, and no-nonsense business tycoons have noted the rugged style and driving ease. One editor wrote, “The suspension is soft and carlike on bumps, providing some of the best ride compliance I’ve ever felt in a compact SUV.” The Blazer has received only scheduled maintenance (oil changes and tire maintenance) since our last update. Previous problems with the fuel gauge and shocks haven’t resurfaced since their warrantied repair. Fuel economy has proved to be consistent overall, hovering between 17 and 18 mpg.…