Innehållsförteckning för September 1996 från MotorTrend

BMW’s sprightly Z3 is about due for its first round of upgrades. Next month’s Paris Auto Salon should see the debut of the eagerly awaited 2.8-liter/190-horsepower inline-six variant. Although the car is expected to go on sale later this year in Europe, our sources indicate that it could well be spring 1997 before any of these max-motored Z3s turn up at U.S. dealerships. Also likely to join the list of factory options for the upcoming model year is a proper bolt-on hard top, which should give owners in colder climes the opportunity to flog their Z3s in comfort through all four seasons.…

Monte Carlo fans will now be able to order an even hotter version of the Z34 coupe from their local Chevrolet dealers. The high-quality look-sharp and go-fast pieces that transform a garden-variety Z34 into a Z/Sport variant were developed by Magna Decoma Exterior Systems of Troy, Michigan, one of the leading suppliers of OEM components to the U.S. auto industry. The package (Part Number MC-1001-001) has been fully approved by General Motors Performance Parts, which means all standard warranty terms remain in full effect. Z/Sport hardware, which also can be fitted to the Monte Carlo’s four-door Lumina platform-mate, includes a new rear spoiler with an integrated stop lamp, special graphics, chrome five-spoke wheels mounting 245/50ZR16 BFGoodrich Comp T/A radials, a free-flow stainless steel exhaust system, a low-restriction air filter, and…

FoMoCo’s sophisticated but costly-to-produce MN12 platform, on which the rear-drive Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar are based, has been threatened almost from the moment it was born in 1988. Now word comes of yet another reprieve. Ford’s current focus is to reduce complication and cost by building more models on the same platform. And until quite recently, the company intended to slap the front-drive DN101 Taurus’ structural backbone under the next-generation Thunderbird. That front-drive ‘Bird concept was code-named the EN158. Thus, like the midsize four-door Chevrolet Lumina and Monte Carlo two-door, the midsize Ford coupe and sedan would have been built on very similar front-drive platforms. Ford planners, having watched General Motors bail out of the rear-drive-car business with the end of Chevrolet Caprice, Buick Roadmaster, and Cadillac Fleetwood production, now…

Only a few years ago, such a term would have been unimaginable, but today at Ferrari the watchword is drive-ability. But don’t think that the world’s most coveted sports car maker is going soft—far from it: witness the outrageous F50I—it simply has, at last, caught up with the modem concept of user-friendliness. And the upcoming 456GTA, with its four-speed autoshifter, is further confirmation of that. The mere thought of a Ferrari automatic will have some purists ready to take up arms in protest. The 456GTA, however, unlike the unloved 400 and 412 autos of the 70s, is from Maranello’s New School, and that means it’s more thoughtfully designed and more thoroughly engineered than the road-going Ferraris of any previous decade. To understand the 456GTA, consider for a moment the New…

What’s in a’ name? In the early ’80s, Volkswagen made “GTI” synonymous with razor-sharp handling and lightning-charged acceleration in a low-buck package by transforming the fuel-efficient Rabbit into a big-fun sport hatch. Two generations later, the now-legendary GTI badge has been applied to a two-door Golf III powered by the base 2.0-liter/115-horsepower inline-four engine riding on the standard suspension with the rear stiffened via a 20-millimeter anti-roll bar. This new affordable sportster continues the original mission, but in a more diluted, consumer-friendly form. The Golf III GTI offers numerous standard features, such as dual airbags, a premium AM/FM/cassette eight-speaker stereo, air conditioning, power sunrbbf, power door locks, rear air ducts, and an anti-theft alarm system. The 2.0-liter GTI is distinguished from more-plebeian Golfs by a two-bar grille, projector-lens foglamps, a…

John Lingenfelter isn’t your average speed merchant. Two things set him apart from other horsepower hounds: Lingenfelter paid his dues working as an emissions engineer for a major manufacturer, and he’s a real racer with a dozen national event wins behind the wheel of an NHRA Aecono dragster. In other words, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering in Decatur, Indiana, is where you buy engine mods that make genuine horsepower, not just a rough idle and a funky exhaust. A case in point is the Chevy Impala SS we recently hustled down a Muncie, Indiana, dragstrip. After a massage session in Lingenfelter’s shop, the big black beast clocked a quarter-mile ticket that would do a Corvette ZR-1 proud: 12.9 seconds at 104.6 mph. The sprint to 60 mph took but 4.7 seconds, which…

Balancing the aesthetics of sculpture and the necessities of industrial design is an Italian passion, and it shows up in everything from six-slice toasters to 12-cylinder Ferraris. Take Antera’s new Type 143 wheel, for example: an elegantly detailed, traditional five-spoke expression of the company’s “soft-line” styling, which incorporates such details as a valve-stem cap concealed behind the flush-fitting center cover. Available in sizes from 15x7.0 inches ($295 each) up to exotic 20-inch diameters (a lot more), for cars ranging from Hondas to Porsches, the alloy rim increases in thickness toward the inner lips to reduce deformation. Contact Claus Ettensberger Corporation, 16200 S. Figueroa St., Dept. MT, Gardena, CA 90248; 800/766-0064.…

The number of aftermarket components available for the new BMW 5-Series sedans has become a torrent. Latest to appear is Eibach’s new lowering kit, which drops the car about 30 millimeters (an inch or so) closer to the road. The Eibach Pro-Kit does the plummet with four replacement springs calibrated to work well with the standard BMW-issue shock absorbers and aluminum suspension components, while, Eibach claims, maintaining ride comfort and enhancing handling. According to Eibach, the resultant stance produces “the final touch for that laid-back dynamic look.” Hey, at least it looks good in the photo. Contact Eibach Springs, 17817 Gillette Ave., Dept. MT, Irvine, CA 92714; 714/752-6700.…

Picking out a factory audio system for the GMC Suburban SLE is pretty simple: Do you want the optional CD or not? Since the electronically tuned Theftlock AM/FM/cassette is part of the popular $5845 SLE trim-level package, all one has to decide is to spring for the $200 in-dash, single-play CD slave unit. Also included is the enhanced eight-speaker package. It’s worth noting that the console between the front buckets offers a rear-facing drawer much like the one in the Lexus LX 450 (Autotronics, Aug. ’96); maybe GM will see fit to offer a factory-installed CD changer in this location. The double-DIN (7.0x4.0-inch) main unit is dominated by a large fluorescent LED display and huge controls for all functions except fader, balance, bass, and treble, which are handled by smaller…

In addition to catching speeders, radar can be used to prevent vehicle theft. To that end, Alpine (800/ALPINE-1) offers the active/passive SEC-8058 mobile security system ($380). Its central feature is a ceramic-resonator, dual-sector radar sensor that signals a warning as a potential thief approaches the vehicle. It goes into full alert if the vehicle is breached. A second optional sensor can be installed to cover open areas, such as a pickup bed. The SEC-8058 also includes an electronic dual-stage impact sensor, a digital pager output, a full complement of onboard relays for light flashing, dome-light interfaces, and door locks. Factory door locks can be controlled through the ignition switch. For maximum flexibility, four EXT outputs are provided. Two microprocessor remotes are included and employ advanced Random Code Technology, making them…

Eagle One’s popular Wet line of finish-care products has now been expanded; in addition to the original Wet Car Polish in liquid and paste forms, there’s also now a Wet Car Wash and Wipe ’N Shine product. All are formulated with Du Pont’s Teflon, which the company claims enhances plating and helps protect against the damaging effects of hard-water spots and bird droppings. Both polish formulas contain ultra-high-viscosity resins that bond to the surface, filling swirl marks, remoisturizing paint, and helping optimize the paint’s reflectivity. Going for light weight and ease of handling, Black & Decker recently introduced a palm-grip, 6.0-inch random-orbital polisher, designated the BP900. In contrast to conventional polishers, this ergonomically designed model is intended for one-handed use. Its random-orbit swirl pattern simulates that of hand-polishing, a 0.5-amp…

Mercedes-Benz considers its upcoming ’98 M-Class sport/utility vehicle so new and unique, it wants to make sure the vehicle is correctly perceived and accepted. Toward that end, Mercedes has carefully pursued “relationship marketing” since the fall of 1995—two years before the M-Class is planned to hit showrooms. “Relationship marketing lets us carefully target who we speak to,” explained Fran O’Hagan, product manager for the M-Class. “We listen, we respond, we listen again.” After a large-scale introductory mailing (before there were even pictures of the AAV prototype shown above), Mercedes sent follow-up mailings to responders who expressed particular interest in specific features: details on off-road capabilities to some, facts about safety equipment to others. Mercedes also used these mailings to fight perceptions that the $30,000-base-price M320 would cost much more, to…

Shock absorbers lose their effectiveness with time, and the deterioration can be so gradual that a vehicle’s regular driver never even notices it. Installing new shocks can be epiphanic: Suddenly the truck handles and rides better. Bilstein, whose shocks are original equipment on dozens of domestic and import performance vehicles, says its new “digressive piston head” gas-pressure single-tube shock design is now available specifically engineered for lowered GM and Ford full-size pickups. The optimization includes shortened shock bodies to accommodate relocated suspension pickup points and reduced suspension travel. Contact Bilstein Corporation of America, 8845 Rehco Road, Dept. MT, San Diego, CA 92121; 619/453-7723.…

The all-new Jeep Wrangler continues the dirt-flinging tradition established when the original four-wheel-drive mountain goat was first commissioned for military service just before World War II. “A bare-bones vehicle with the ability to go anywhere” has long been the Wrangler’s rugged reputation; now, the latest iteration has made significant steps toward civilizing this off-road warrior while enhancing its climbing abilities. Beyond the return to round headlamps, the most obvious change is the incorporation of a conventional carlike instrument pod, complete with standard climate control, a glovebox, and dual airbags, plus optional tilt steering wheel, air conditioning, and stereo systems. Despite these additions, the interior still can be hosed clean. The doors feature full trim panels complete with map pockets, and the center console sports a cupholder. Rear passengers benefit from…

FEROCIOUS FERRARIS You need to start sending me two magazines each month: one to save and one to drool on. The “Flat-Out Fast Ferraris” cover story (June ’96) was wonderful. I have just one bone to pick: your comment about East Texas. I’ll bet you guys drove your rental cars straight from the airport in Houston to the speedway, right? Please remember how big Texas is; there are numerous roads that sports-car owners could spend all day carving up. As for the two armadillos you didn’t see, they were with me enjoying a cold one. Todd GrageBryan, Texas I was just wondering what kind of music you would listen to in the F50? John ArnoldUSS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)Somewhere at seavia the Internet All the music you need is being…

In case you hadn’t noticed, the good folks at Mercedes-Benz have taken a renewed interest in performance. The factory introduced a series of high-value Sport option packages for its C-Class, E-Class, and SL-Class cars earlier this year. We recently put a Sport-equipped SL500 through its paces, and the experience left us duly impressed. The SL Sport package is based on a mix of functional and cosmetic elements developed in conjunction with partner AMG. A deeper front airdam with a mesh grille and projector-beam foglamps is complemented by nicely integrated aero side skirting and a recontoured rear apron. The most prominent change involves the fitment of a plus-two wheel and tire package. In place of the standard 225/55ZR16 all-season radials on 16x8.0-inch cast aluminum wheels, one finds “summer-spec” 245/40ZR18 Dunlop Sport…

When the ’97 Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer recently debuted, the hatchback version of the car was missing. And enthusiasts noted that the Escort GT hatch, with its 1.8-liter/127-horsepower multivalve engine and the good suspension, was lost. Although hatchbacks are handy for hauling the occasional piece of bulky cargo, the market seemed to feel that the attendant rattles, loss of overall structural rigidity, noise pass-through from the rear suspension, and the low-budget look weren’t worth the added convenience. That market message also prompted Ford to send the Mustang liftback out to pasture when that car was redone for ’94. Now, Ford appears to have come up with an interesting alternative to the humble and utilitarian-appearing Escort hatch: a slick GT-type coupe that looks a great deal like a mini Mark…

Enough already! There are so many conflicting vehicle-safety claims that trying to negotiate one’s way through all the data is like being dropped in the Amazon without a compass or a paddle. Vehicles are crash tested by the government, manufacturers, and the insurance industry, and then are reported on by the media at various sensational levels. But the tests are done within weight and class parameters and at different speeds into different kinds of barriers, so the results don’t always jibe. Aware of the consumer safety muddle, the National Research Council (NRC) recently completed a study for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on standardizing vehicle-safety information. The NRC is calling for a label for new vehicles that gives a standardized safety rating across models by the year 2000.…

Join us each Sunday on The Nashville Network (TNN) for Motor Trend Television, the fastest-paced, most interesting, and most informative half-hour of automotive programming on the air today. Each week, we’ll be bringing you road tests, comparisons, late-breaking industry news, and lots more. Here’s a look at what’s on tap for this month. Check your local TV listing for air times in your area. August 4: First test of Ford’s full-size Expedition sport/utility; First drive: ’97 Buick Le Sabre. August 11: Last test: A farewell flog of Chevy’s tire-smoking Impala SS; First drive: ’97 Hyundai Elantra Sedan and Wagon. August 18: Performance sedan extravaganza: ’97 BMW 528i and 540i; Pontiac Bonneville SSEi; Special report: the ill-fated Tucker Torpedo. August 25: First test: 30th Anniversary Camaro LT1; Plus, a look back…

NON-ROCKING CRADLE GM engineers used a host of methods to produce the impressively rigid—and thus quiet and crisp-handling—Cutlass chassis. Instead of conventional separate front frame rails that twisted like bread dough, the Cutlass boasts a boxed “full frame front chassis cradle” that looks like it would be at home on a NASCAR stock car. To further improve rigidity, the cradle is bolted directly to the unibody, without conventional rubber isolators. To enhance smoothness, especially at idle, the drivetrain is secured to the cradle by a pair of fluid-filled mounts located on the engine’s torque axis. Also helping to stiffen the chassis are high-strength steel reinforcements in the A-pillars. Increased visibility is an added benefit of the reduced pillar width. SAFETY FIRST In an accident, the central “safety cage” portion of…

Jay Signore is gun-shy about loaning out his cars. He’s earned the right. Since 1973. the world’s best drivers regularly have wrecked the hell out of his International Race of Champions (IROC) race cars. Every season, save for a short gap in the ’80s, Signore and his crew have lovingly crafted about two dozen identical-as-humanly-possible, immaculately finished race cars—and then watched as the biggest names in racing smashed them into each other and unyielding concrete walls, all for the amusement of the television audience. Recently, Signore faced a terror worse than an eight-car, 190-mph pileup: A journal-ist wanted to drive one of his cars. The writer—namely me—wasn’t content to putter around in an old hag that had been first wrecked by Ray Harroun. Instead, I wanted to run wide-open around…

One of the best ways to determine whether a modification to your car is worthwhile (or at least nondamaging) is to find someone who has had experience with such a change. The challenge is finding that someone, and the Internet’s World Wide Web makes it easier. Scattered about the Web are sites dedicated to particular vehicles; links to communities of enthusiasts dedicated to getting the most out of their favorite cars. Often maintained by car buffs whose fervor far outstrips their means, these Web pages concentrate on specialized information about a specific vehicular passion in a way general publications cannot. You’ll find sites focusing on everything from the obscure, like the ancient Graham-Paige (http://www.mts.net/-rjsill/), to the expected, like the Ford Mustang (the Yahoo! index lists 35 sites). The quality of…

Darkness makes working on your car so much more difficult; things that seem simple, like finding the oil fill cap, suddenly become daunting challenges. The solution? Light! Coleman claims its Powermate line of products provides precision lighting for specific tasks. All 24 Powermate models are weatherproof, unaffected by temperature extremes, can withstand attacks by even the most noxious chemicals, and are rugged enough to bounce back from being dribbled on a concrete slab. The clever design of the lights allows even the most ham-fisted shadetree mechanic to overcome the shade he’s in by probing around obstacles and into crevices to illuminate where tough problems can hide. Coleman products are available at most major retailers.…

MacPherson strut suspensions are simple and economical, but limited in adjustability. When a strut-suspended car is modified for performance, this tuning incapability can leave it uncompetitive in either straight-line stability or cornering capacity. Supplementary camber/caster plates mounted atop the MacPherson struts’ chassis towers add adjustability to opti-mize performance. Hotchkis Performance’s $249.95 Delta Plates for ’79-93 Mustangs (’94-and-later models should be available as you read this) are CNC-machined from T-6061 aluminum and use polyurethane bushings to minimize deflection, allowing up to three degrees negative camber adjustment and five degrees positive caster variation. Strut boots, bump stops, mounting hardware, and instructions are included. Removing the stock boot and bump stop can take some cutting, but installation is a bolt-in procedure. The trick is to mark the position of the stock strut before…

OEM audio and security systems are improving at a breakneck pace, raising the stakes for aftermarket producers to come up with something better. Since its introduction in fall 1989, the current-generation LS 400 has been acknowledged as having one of the finest OEM audio systems available. A challenge was presented to the staff at Directed Electronics, Inc. (DEI, 800/283-1302), when its president’s ’95 LS 400 was delivered to be outfitted with both a security system and DEI Audio’s (800/288-4474) new line of speakers and amplifiers. Mark Rutledge and Rick Baranowski, DEI’s technical-support gurus, were faced with one overriding directive from President Darrell Issa: Make it look and sound great without visible alterations. On the audio side, Baranowski left the OEM head unit and changer intact. The Lexus’ AM/FM/cassette receiver uses…

Another sign of engine oil leakage is bluish-white smoke coming from the tailpipe; this indicates burned oil that has leaked into the combustion chamber. This is usually due to worn piston rings and cylinder walls, or defective valve-stem seals. While the latter requires cylinder-head work, the former means a major engine overhaul and big bucks. That’s why a common treatment is the use of an aftermarket oil additive formulated to stop the smoking condition. Most products of this type consist of a high-viscosity oil that’s added to the motor oil, making it thicker and less likely to work past the rings or seals. Naturally, this treatment needs to be repeated with every oil change. Another approach is that used in Restore’s Engine Restorer. Instead of treating the oil, this product…

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! Ground Force’s new Ford F-150 lowering kit is officially the first drop system for the ’97 full-size Ford half-ton pickup to catch our attention. The kit comes complete with new front coil springs, rear spring shackles, and hangars to produce a two-inch dive in the front and a four-inch trip closer to the planet in the rear. In addition, the kit also includes four of Ground Force’s nitrogen-charged gas shocks. Since the $560 kit is, according to its maker, a specifically engineered compilation of matched high-quality components, it takes the guesswork out of the lowering equation and maintains ride quality. Contact Ground Force, P.O. Box 149, Dept. MT, Mt. Braddock, PA 15465; 412/430-2068.…

A Diablo replacement with intimidating and futuristic looks is at the top of Lamborghini’s plan for three new models in the next four years. The Italian marque also aims to introduce a mid-engined V-10-powered coupe to rival Ferrari’s F355, and a thunderously torquey sport/utility, which company boss Mike Kimberley describes as “the Rolls-Royce of Range Rovers.” Kimberley, a former Lotus chief, joined Lamborghini from a Far East outpost of the GM empire. He faces a tough task in persuading Lamborghini’s Indonesian owners to fund all three models, but the Diablo replacement has the best chance: While other Lamborghinis have come and gone, the Diablo and its Countach predecessor have been the mainstay of the Sant’Agata marque for 23 years. Unlike either the Diablo or Countach, however, Lambo’s new showpiece isn’t…

Bargain hunters take note: Hyundai has used an infusion of power and character to transform one of the most affordable cars in America into the sports-minded Accent GT. Based on the ultra-economical two-door Accent, the GT model gives the Hyundai lineup a sporty entry-level car with an enhanced appearance and performance that still carries a sub-$10,000 base price. The GT is distinguished by ovoid foglamps integrated into the sculpted front fascia, lower body cladding, a rear hatch spoiler, a rear window wiper/washer, and aluminum-alloy wheels. An inch larger than the base Accent’s steel wheels, the hubcap-looking 14-inch aluminum rims on the GT contribute to improved handling with the assistance of General HP 406 A/S 175/65HR14 tires. The fully independent Accent suspension has been bolstered for the GT application with revised…

Ford has been working extensively on the design, packaging, and engineering of two sport/utility hybrids based on the Escort and Contour car platforms. Being developed under the respective codenames of UW221 and UW187, these new SUVs likely would reach production around 1999 and would provide the automaker with smaller, smoother-riding, and less-expensive offerings for younger, less-affluent buyers. It’s worth noting that Asian makers like Honda and Toyota already are well ahead on their own programs of this type. The new Honda CR-V is spun from the Civic platform, while Toyota’s RAV4 is based on Camry/Celica All-Trac mechanicals. Ford itself tapped the previous-generation Taurus platform to serve as a basis for the current Windstar minivan. At the Turin International Motor Show, Ford unveiled the “Alpe” concept, a stylish, angular off-roader based…

For the ’96 season, after employing the same Banjo Matthews chassis for 12 grueling seasons—first under Chevrolet Camaro then Dodge Avenger bodywork—IROC built two dozen all-new Pontiac Firebirds. The only pieces carried over are the Alcon brake calipers and Carbone Industrie carbon brake rotors. The tube-frame chassis, like those for most Winston Cup cars, are built by Laughlin Racing Products. Unlike the previous chassis, which were set up for bias-ply tires, the new cars are designed for the current Goodyear Eagle racing radials. The cars’ 105-inch wheelbase matches Busch Series specs, but is 3.9 inches longer than a road-going Firebird. Equality, reliability, and longevity are far more important than ultimate power to IROC engine builders. They start with GM Motorsports engine blocks and Brodix-cast Pontiac heads, a design formerly employed…

The single easiest performance modification anyone can make to his or her car is the installation of a free-flow intake system. Most installations are so simple, you can accomplish them using a quarter and your teeth in lieu of actual tools. DC Sports’ new Direct Air Charger (DAC) for the ’96 Honda Civic will, the builders claim, snatch another six to eight horsepower from an EX model’s L6-liter/127-horsepower VTEC SOHC four. It also puts a big chrome pipe and cone-type filter element down to the right front corner of an engine compartment normally crowded with black plastic. That gasp-worthy engine dress-up aspect alone is nearly worth the $199.95 cost of the part. Contact DC Sports, 286 Winfield Circle, Dept. MT, Corona, CA 91720; 909/734-2030.…

Buy a Nissan Maxima SE and you get a way-cool rear deck wing. Buy the standard Maxima (powered by the same dazzling 3.0-liter/190-horsepower V-6), and the trunk is, frustratingly, as plainly adorned as an Amish barn. The solution is Freedom Design’s $232.47 hard-shell polyurethane wing, which neatly duplicates the look of the sportier SE’s spoiler. Warranted for five years, the wing is finished in gray primer for near-immediate application of the appropriate color-coats. Included also is a mounting template and the necessary hardware. Not included is the chutzpa to drill holes in your new sport sedan’s rear lid. Contact Freedom Design, 4750 Eisenhower Ave., Dept. MT, Alexandria, VA 22304; 800/296-1792.…

’96 FORD TAURUS LX America’s popular family sedan featured a significant redesign for ’96, so for a long-term test, we ordered a well-equipped LX model with the 3.0-liter/200-horse DOHC V-6 engine. The $20,980 base price included air conditioning, power windowsAocks/mirrors, a four-speed automatic transmission, a rear defroster, a power driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment, rear-seat ventilation ducts, and an air filtration system. For $2615, Preferred Equipment Package 210A added speed control, anti-lock brakes, keyless entry, air conditioning, chrome wheels, and floormats. We also added leather upholstery ($990) and a six-disc CD changer ($595). With final costs and package discounts, our Taurus stickered at $25,130. The only problem it’s had thus far is that the center console ashtray refuses to open. The late-spring gas-price hike has taken its toll on the…

Every time you hit the road, your license and insurance premium hang in the balance. It’s been estimated that law-enforcement agencies have in their arsenals more than 200,000 speed-detection devices. Today’s drivers need a new generation of radar/laser detectors to combat that threat. Motor Trend asked the leading manufacturers to submit their top-of-the-line models. Included are the BEL 855ST1, Cobra RDL-216SWS, Escort Passport 4600, Sanyo-Technica Cosmo 1000, Uniden LRD 6399SW, Valentine One, and Whistler 1490. Since its inception in the ’60s, speed radar enforcement has been used for local revenue generation, with little regard to safety issues. Modern radar detectors receive microwave transmissions on the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) allocated bands (X, K, and Ka). Five years ago, a new threat appeared: lidar, a laser beam that measures vehicle speed.…

When Editor C. Van Tune acquired his ’64 Cadillac Eldorado he was filled with optimistic predictions of nostalgic, troublefree motoring as he cut a rakish figure along the glamorous boulevards of Southern California. Then the reality of driving a 32-year-old car set in, and he began to replace some of the timeworn equipment. The first item of business was to deep-six the car’s single exhaust system, a rusty refugee from a discount muffler shop, judging by its crimped pipe bends and sloppy installation. While retrofitting the exhaust with standard replacement parts is still possible, Van took the opportunity to upgrade to a true dual, stainless steel exhalation system crafted by Borla Industries. Borla does a few idiosyncratic installations like our boss’s every year, but it isn’t part of its normal…

Two basic aesthetic faiths dominate sport/utility admirers. The first worships four-wheel drive: oversize mud tires and yards of suspension travel, even if the only mountain the truck will ever encounter is a Super Big Gulp Slurpee. The other profoundly holds that nirvana awaits anyone whose truck scrapes its frame on anything thicker than a discarded emotion. Bell Tech and Nicely Motorsports’ ’96 GMC Yukon is apostate in both cathedrals: It has four-wheel drive and it’s pasted to pavement like a Bott’s dot. By applying its resources to the seemingly contradictory task of lowering a 4x4, Bell Tech is testing new holy waters. The result is sort of a giant Audi Quattro—a truck built for the road, even when that road is covered with the entrails of the first spring thaw.…

Rear-mounted bicycle racks are great—until you want to tow something at the same time. Hollywood Racks’ solution is its Tow ’N Go hitch rack, which attaches by clamping around the standard receiver tube used in most towing apparatus. Three set screws keep the rack from wobbling. In addition to carrying the incredibly clever Tow ’N Go name, the rack can also accommodate two bikes. An adjustable-height feature allows for pre-positioning the two-wheelers up and away from a trailer’s propane tanks, a safety consideration when backing up or during sharp turns. The rack can be locked to the vehicle, and a quick-release pin makes removal easy. The racks should retail for about $90. Contact Hollywood Racks, 721 E. Compton Blvd., Dept. MT, Compton, CA 90220; 800/747-4085.…

The latest in Vortech’s series of Gearcharger centrifugal superchargers is the V-l S-trim, which replaces the A-trim as the base blower in the company’s supercharger kits. The heart of the new S-trim is an arch-bladed impeller whose blades cover a greater surface area than did the straight ones on the A-trim, therefore producing additional compression within the same size compressor housing. Horsepower levels as high as 680 horsepower can be sustained in some applications. Replacing an A-trim system with the S-trim on a Dodge Dakota V-8 test truck, the result was quicker spool-up and better low-end response, dropping 0-60-mph times by 0.2 second. Contact Vortech Engineering, 5351 Bonsai Ave., Dept. MT, Moorpark, CA 93021; 805/529-9330.…