Innehållsförteckning för April 1996 från MotorTrend

FIRST DRIVE: HYUNDAI ELANTRA Casting aside its penny-pinching persona, Hyundai has redesigned the elegant Elantra from the ground up for ’96, hoping to compete seriously with big-volume subcompact sedans such as the Dodge Neon, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla. Shoppers typically enter Hyundai showrooms looking for a basic transportation appliance to fit their budget, but Hyundai hopes to change that with its new Elantra sedan and wagon, available in base and GLS trim. Our experience with a pair of preproduction models indicates that the automaker has built an effective competitor to challenge the sales giants. Carrying styling themes established with the Excel-replacement Accent, this new Elantra is wrapped in tasteful sheetmetal bereft of hard edges. A slight nip-and-tuck along the doors, a round smiling “face,” a delicately penned rear-door seam,…

DOES THE FUTURE BELONG TO HYBRIDS? While there’s plenty happening on the electric-vehicle front these days (see this month’s Trends Detroit Report for news on GM’s soon-to-be-marketed EVI), behind the scenes there’s even more activity that could have a tremendous impact on future cars. At the forefront of advanced EV development is the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), which combines battery-powered electric propulsion with a secondary powerplant to provide an extended driving range. Taking a long view of the EV industry are agencies like the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Transportation Technologies. Its hybrid-electric-vehicle program is working with competing auto and component industry teams, including Ford and Chrysler, to make high-fuel-economy, low-emissions vehicles a reality by 2003. These teams have made substantial progress toward their goals, completing the analysis phase…

If you built a street-legal, two-seat version of the open-wheeled racers that scream around the Indianapolis oval at 200 mph, what would it look like? Something like the Ford Indigo, no doubt. But there’s news even more incredible than the fact that staid Ford Motor Company built this concept car. High-level insiders at Ford looked Motor Trend editors in the eye and told them the company may produce a very limited number (200-300 per year) of these low-slung blacktop blasters. Yeah, an Indy car for the street! Ford’s Design and Product Development groups cooperated on this ultimate sports car. The result, rendered in under six months, is a wedgy, V-12-powered, 2300-pound dream machine that stretches the outer limits of production-car performance, styling, manufacturing, and aerodynamics. Although the Indigo showcases Ford’s…

The next-generation Cutlass may not be your father’s Oldsmobile, but the new Century is definitely designed to be your father’s Buick, In fact, Buick says the car is intended specifically for older boomers and traditional Buick buyers. Oldsmobile’s version of this (P90) platform, which it will probably dub the Cutlass, arrives later this year. The front-drive Century is built on an essentially all-new platform created for older, practical sedan buyers. Buick put the engineering emphasis on drivetrain smoothness, economy, solidity, and road isolation. Traditional Buick buyers like a gentle ride and effortless acceleration, but with V-6 economy and quietness. The single solution is GM’s ubiquitous 3.1-liter V-6. A well-developed 160-horsepower pushrod engine, it’s coupled exclusively with a sweet-shifting four-speed automatic. Buick claims the new car gets 20 mpg in the…

Chrysler thinks a special version of its Town & Country minivan might be just the ticket for executives in the fast lane. Perfect for an on-site office or a quick over-the-road business meeting, this rolling executive suite has rear-facing front buckets and quad rear seats. And there’s plenty of elbowroom, because the Professional is built on the long-wheelbase version of the Chrysler Corp, minivan chassis. Special convenience features include an overhead communication console, an office caddy system, a thermo storage and refreshment center, and lots of extra storage areas. The finishing touch is the rich, three-coat Ivory Pearl paint.…

Jack Telnack, vice president of Corporate Design at Ford Motor Co., says the Sentinel blends classic Lincoln styling themes with Ford’s “New Edge” design theme. One critic described it as “over the edge” design. If the Sentinel is any indication, Ford stylists apparently have leapt from one end of the styling continuum to the other. Although many of the company’s newest production vehicles, like the ’96 Taurus and the ’97 F-150 truck, have been designed with an elliptical theme, the next wave of vehicles appears headed toward sharp creases and pancake surfaces. Ford designers claim to have already lifted the curtain for this styling approach with last year’s concept GT90 V-12-powered sports car, which wore a body of fused triangles. Lincoln cognoscenti will recognize a new interpretation of the ’40s…

“Fake wood or no fake wood?” When our parents pondered the purchase of a family mover, this was among their toughest choices, ranking up there with the agonizing debate over glass portholes in the roof. Twenty or 30 years ago, “family mover” and “station wagon” were synonymous. But today’s choices are much more daunting. Minivans and sport/utility vehicles (SUVs) have put the station wagon on the threatened-species list. Minivans offer more” capacity for carrying people and cargo than even the largest station wagons of yore. They also offer ride, handling, quiet, and sophistication rivaling today’s luxury sedans. But many buyers in the market for a people mover, perhaps rejecting the idea that they’ve become their parents, wouldn’t be caught dead in a minivan, much less a station wagon. For them,…

NEWS BORN TO BE “Z” BMW is a major force in the automotive performance aftermarket partly because its vehicles are engineered using common components, making it simple to develop performance equipment. The just-released Z3 roadster, for example, looks unique on the outside and is produced in a new plant in North America, however, underneath that two-seat sheetmetal, it’s mostly a clever and careful blend of off-the-shelf BMW components, the majority of which come from the 3-Series coupes and sedans. The aftermarket is already gearing up to vigorously support the Z3. According to Greg Woo of Koni, because the Z3 shares its suspension with the 318ti, shock absorbers should be available for the car virtually from its introduction day. Eibach Springs already has 3-Series performance springs that fit the Z3 and…

NEWS FORD GETS A RUSH Displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show was the Ford Adrenalin concept truck, which, Ford claims, combines the rugged practicality of a compact pickup truck with the versatility of a sport/utility vehicle in one stylish package. The four-wheel-drive Adrenalin features a mix of Ranger and Explorer components. The four-door cab sits on a chassis that features the Explorer’s short- and long-arm front suspension and uses the Ranger’s 4.0-liter V-6 and five-speed manual transmission. Painted Bright Amber, the body itself has flush-fitting side glass in the doors, a huge canvas sunroof, and an interior swaddled in fabrics associated with rock climbing and camping equipment. There are built-in items such as day packs and gear bags so sports equipment can remain packed in the truck just in…

’95 BMW 740iL Our Bavarian limousine has been busy shuttling people around Tinseltown to dinners, jazz concerts, and business meetings. Despite its gargantuan size and voluminous legroom, the 740iL is essentially a four-seater, albeit one with enough panache to serve as a royal coach. After a recent 1000 mile excursion across the Southwest, the big Bimmer was described in the logbook as “a truly phenomenal highway car.” Even high speeds, heavy rains, and derelict roads couldn’t upset the 740iL’s stately demeanor; nor could they lower the total trip fuel economy below an average 21 mpg. Finally, after months of top-notch motoring, the time came for the 7-Series’ first trip to the dealership. The scheduled oil service included the standard oil replacement, filter change, fluid-level check, and function test on all…

THE COLOR OF SPEED As a faithful “Motor Trender,” I enjoy reading all the articles in each issue. I was most intrigued by “The Color of Speed” article in January [chronicling the transcontinental delivery of MT’s long-term Porsche 911 C41. It was informative, interesting, and humorous. You are very lucky to have the greatest jobs in the world. However, I’m in college to become a mechanical engineer to design engines for cars. That’s not so bad for a girl, right? Jan FeldmanWestwego, La. I enjoyed the article about your new Porsche 911 Carrera 4. It amazes me that people will spend over $70,000 for a new 911, but won’t spend $30,000 for a Toyota MR2 Turbo (hence the MR2’s demise in the U.S.). In autocross racing, the MR2 dominates the…

GM TO MARKET ELECTRIC CAR THIS FALL In a surprise move, General Motors has announced it will become the first major manufacturer to market an electric car in America. This fall, select Saturn dealerships in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and Tucson will begin selling GM’s new EVI. GM Chairman Jack Smith said the firm will also market a battery-powered Chevrolet S-10 pickup for commercial fleet users starting in early 1997. The EVI shares a great deal in common with the much publicized “Impact,” a vehicle the company first introduced to the public several years ago. Production EVls will be assembled at the Lansing Craft Centre in Lansing, Michigan. Like the Impact, the EVI features composite-plastic body panels over a welded and adhesively bonded aluminum space frame. The car’s overall…

As your personal automotive prognosticators we’ve assembled this special future-car section to give you a look at the transportation modules you’ll be lusting after in the years to come. This varied vehicular horizon is illuminated by photographs of 97 and ’98 products, thinly disguised future production vehicles, and absolutely outrageous concept cars. (Keep in mind that the ’98 Plymouth Prowler hot rod and the V-10-powered Dodge Viper were once just outlandish concepts.) Normally, the automotive future is locked securely behind barbed-wire fences, vigilant guards, and never-blinking security cameras, but at auto shows, car designers and engineers crack open the doors to their future-product studios. They test the public-opinion waters by teasing crowds with the elegant, the absurd, and frequently, the bizarre. On the following pages, you’ll find a comprehensive collection…

Spun from a styling idea introduced last year on a Ford show car of the same name, the petite Fusion was envisioned as a possible entry-level vehicle for the Mercury line. Designed in California to appeal to young, active buyers, it features interchangeable modular bodywork and can be configured in several semi-open modes, thanks to removable rear quarter and back glass plus a fabric top section that can be slid forward to further enhance the alfresco experience. Beneath its distinctive sheetmetal there’s a tubular steel frame for maximum safety. While somewhat minimalistic in character, the car’s well-finished passenger compartment features a generous dose of leather accent trim. Up front, the Fusion is fitted with dual airbags and lightweight yet supportive racing-type buckets. Its split rear bench seat folds and pivots…

The best news about the ’97 Grand Prix sedan is that the production four-door appears little changed from the swoopy 300 GPX concept car shown at auto shows last year. The only missing cues are the GPX’s hood ducts and bulging fender flares. Actually, the flares are still there but are now more subdued. For better ride and crisper handling, the wheelbase was stretched 3.0 inches over the current Grand Prix’s. Pontiac engineers also made structural improvements that enhance solidity and safety: A cross-car instrument-panel beam supports the steering column and eliminates rough-road wheel shake and an annoying idle; to meet the new side-impact standards, the door beams have been reinforced and high-strength steel is now being used in the B-pillars; and foam has been pumped into the rear quarter…

The Dodge Division could make the trip to Grandma’s house a lot more exciting if it brings the Caravan ESS concept into production. The hardware upgrade list is headed by a high-output 3.8-liter V-6 generating 215 horses. This new motivating force is teamed with the corporation’s AutoStick transaxle, which allows the driver to select gear-shift points for maximum control and best performance. Already offered in some of the company’s sporty sedans, the AutoStick system converts what is essentially a fully electronic automatic to a clutchless manual. Extra go without better suspension control, bigger contact patches, and more stopping muscle is bad medicine, so the Dodge doctors also wrote a prescription for front and rear suspension modifications, meaty 18-inch tires, wide alloy wheels, and four-wheel disc brakes. To ensure that folks…

Hybrid-drive propulsion, lightweight body materials, and leading-edge aerodynamics combine in the Synergy to triple the fuel economy of a current six-passenger family sedan. That’s 80 miles per gallon. Power comes from a tiny 1.0-liter diesel engine mounted in the vehicle’s back end. The diesel spins a generator that pushes power to electric wheel motors. Any excess power created by the diesel is stored by a flywheel energy-storage system, and the powertrain also captures energy during stopping via regenerative braking. With its all-aluminum unibody construction, the Synergy weighs about 2200 pounds, or approximately 1100 pounds less than a conventional sedan. Aluminum’s down side is that it costs at least twice as much as steel. Aerodynamic drag has a major effect on fuel economy, so Ford aero experts focused on managing airflow…

By building budget compact pickups, such as the long-retired P’UP and the recently put-to-pasture TF-Series, Isuzu established a name for itself in the light-truck field. These models offered first-time buyers and businesses affordable alternatives to more-expensive vehicles from larger manufacturers. Isuzu learned the cost-saving route it needed for its new-generation pickup by providing vehicles (such as the Storm) for General Motors’ Geo division and by building Rodeos and Troopers for Honda, to be renamed Passport and Acura SLX, respectively. Now, it’s adapting the successful Chevrolet S-10 to suit the needs of its own dealers. Ironically, Isuzu produced the popular LUV minipickup for Chevrolet over 20 years ago, and now it’s Chevy’s turn to reciprocate. While already one of the world’s largest truck manufacturers, Isuzu didn’t hesitate to pursue rebadging an…

For our December ’95 issue, we conducted a tire test that matched the Michelin MXX3, a traditional “summer” high-performance tire, against the company’s new XGT Z4, an all-season high-performance tire. We didn’t conduct an “allcomers” tire test for a host of reasons, not the least of which is that we, along with many auto manufacturers and all other magazines—even those with “consumer” in their titles—lack the proper facilities for accurate, repeatable wet-road testing. Another reason: Relative attributes may vary within a single tire model. Although the two may have the same name on the side wall, a Goodyear Eagle RS-A that fits the Cadillac STS isn’t identical with the version of that model that fits the Camaro Z28. Thus, the “best” tire as determined by an all-comers test on the…

MCLAREN’S MIGHTY F1 BIDS A FAST FAREWELL If there was any dispute about the McLaren F1 GT’s performance credentials, designer Gordon Murray has settled the matter with this street-legal LM evolution model, which erupts from standstill to 100 mph in less than five seconds. The initials stand for Le Mans (of course), a celebration of the marque’s first-time victory in the 24 Hours last June with the competition-bred GTR variant; first, third, fourth, and fifth overall, and the top four places in the Grand Touring category, went to a car that raced for the first time only four months previous! After two seasons without a victory in Grand Prix racing, that was at least some consolation for Ron Dennis and his colleagues at McLaren. The LM upgrade kit improves the…

The Chrysler Corporation has a well-established track record of eschewing wildeyed one-offs in favor of building concept vehicles that provide legitimate insight into future styling and design approaches. The new LHX is the latest embodiment of that philosophy. Despite a few over-the-top visual cues and a modest dose of not-quite-ready-for-prime-time technology, insiders say this vehicle possesses a good deal of the aesthetic and mechanical character that will be found in the next-generation Chrysler luxury sedans, currently due to appear during the ’98 model year. Chrysler Executive Vice President of Product Design and International Operations Tom Gale refers to the LHX as a “heritage design.” This term is defined as “taking the best aesthetic elements from the past and providing a modern interpretation.” A quick glance confirms that the LHX’s aero-dynamic…

Not too big and not too small—just right: The Chevrolet Malibu’s mission is to plug the gap in the lineup between the compact Cavalier and midsize Lumina. The dutiful Corsica will get the broom this year. Chevrolet resurrected its Malibu nameplate to position its front-drive sedan against the new compact to midsize domestics including models like the Ford Contour and Plymouth Breeze. Chevrolet points out that the Malibu is shorter and narrower than the new Taurus, but has more headroom, a bigger trunk, and comparable legroom to the Ford. A significantly tougher task for the front-drive Malibu is to attract buyers normally interested in the slightly smaller midsize import sedans like the Honda Accord, Mazda 626, and Mitsubishi Galant. The car’s fresh exterior styling is a subdued combination of distinctly…

Oldsmobile claims the Intrigue is international in flavor. Indeed, it has been engineered as a family-oriented, midsize sedan aimed at the pricier imports like the Toyota Camry V-6 and Nissan Maxima. Looking much like a leaner version of the V-8-engined Aurora, the five-passenger Intrigue will reach showrooms in spring 1997 as a ’98 model. Stylists were shooting for a clean and understated design, devoid of lower body cladding, plastic moldings, and the too-obvious insignia of some previous GM models. Inside, surfaces blend smoothly together. Gauges are angled toward the driver, and leather is stitched over the seats, center-console shifter, and steering wheel. Interior goodies include front and rear cupholders, reading lights, extra 12-volt power outlets, and map pockets in all doors. The Intrigue gets high safety scores with dual airbags,…

Plymouth marketers believe they may be able to significantly expand the demand for slick-looking, highly flexible minivans aimed at active singles. The “Vertical,” in high-intensity blue with screaming-yellow accents, is designed to accommodate the athletic lifestyle of people who enjoy activities such as biking, hiking, boating, diving, rock climbing, skiing, and camping. Plymouth notes that many of the extreme outdoor activities favored by young buyers require cargo capability for bulky equipment and extra room for fellow enthusiasts. This flexible day-tripper is fitted with trick modular storage bins with rollers, a swing-out bike vise, storage space for refreshments, and a custom bike rack.…

Here’s a peek at the constantly shifting automotive future. As our radar screen’s needle sweeps across the next five model years, a picture is brought into focus by way of spy photographs and whispered conversations overheard from around the globe. In most areas, the vision provided is sharp and clearly defined. In other spots, it’s out of focus or even missing fragments. Generally, the nearer the date, the firmer the engineering plan and schedule. Further out, depending upon fast-changing market demands, prototype vehicles are modified, powertrains are swapped, or vehicle programs are canceled completely. But this snapshot is our very best idea about what your automotive future holds. 1997 Acura: Joining Acura’s just-released flagship RL sedan is the stylish CL Coupe, which offers a choice of 2.2-liter inline-four or 3.0-liter…

FROM THE FACTORY: MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS ALPINE-BOSE SYSTEM A six-hour drive from New Jersey to Boston gave us the opportunity to evaluate fully the Mercedes-Benz C-Class audio system. The ’96 C-CIass (C220/C280/C36) offers a comprehensive, high-value integrated system. The standard in-dash AM/FM/cassette tuner features an automatic volume compensation control, which adjusts itself as driving speeds change. The autoreverse tape deck includes Dolby noise reduction and offers direct controls for an optional ($1058, dealer-installed) trunk-mounted six-disc CD changer. Both units are supplied by Alpine. The custom equalized amplifier and all speakers are supplied by Bose (standard on C280/C36, optional $550 on C220), working with Alpine for tuner/amplifier compatibility. All control functions are adequately marked, using internationally recognized symbols to denote many of the functions. Initially, the controls are a bit confusing, but…

Chrysler essentially created the minivan market in 1984 with its first-generation Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. That front-drive, four-cylinder-only breadbox on wheels delivered comfortable upright seating, plus room for the whole family and their trappings. Buyers swarmed to this new phenomenon, which would soon dethrone the station wagon as the coach of choice in suburbia. As Caravan and Voyager sales soared, other manufacturers began working on their own minivans to capture a piece of this lucrative pie. Ford rolled out its Aerostar in 1985 as an ’86 model, offering an affordable rear-drive alternative with flexible seating and’ a V-6 engine. Although it grew increasingly powerful and luxurious, the truck-platform-based Aerostar never attained the enviable popularity (or ride comfort) that the car-platform Chrysler minivans flaunted. The new-for-’95 Windstar, the Aerostar’s scheduled…