Innehållsförteckning för December 1999 från MotorTrend

It’s hard to believe the time has passed so quickly, but this is the final issue of our 50th-anniversary year. Our 12-month celebration, highlighted by special sections in the magazine, as well as gala parties at both the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles and as part of the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise in Detroit (among over 20,000 parading musclecars and nearly one million people), was the result of an amazing effort by our entire staff. From the creation of the giant September “50th-Anniversary” issue to the days of detective work required to find first Editor Walt Woron, to the night we brought together 20 former staffers for the big L.A. party, the results far exceeded even our lofty expectations. However, there was still time for a final tip of…

FIRST DRIVE Even as you got your first look at this handsome little hauler back in our September issue, we were venturing over to Germany for a bit of first-hand experience with several preproduction vehicles. Two days of spirited motoring solidified our initial impression: If you’re one of the hip new breed of sport wagon enthusiasts, put this new BMW on your “must-drive” list. Since the 323i Sport Wagon will be a U.S.-only model and won’t arrive here until next spring, we did have to make one accommodation in the form of a next-best-thing substitute. Happily, that turned out to be a 328i version. As with the 3 Series Coupe and Sedan models, save for a larger, more powerful engine and a bit more curb weight, the 323i and 328i…

You don’t have to look very hard to find the muscle/ponycar DNA in the Camaro SS. It’s there in spades: a rumbling overhead-valve V-8 and a stick-shift tranny, packed in a low slung, distinctly American 2+2. Just like the Z28s and SSs of 30 years ago. No gizmo-actuated variable-valve timing, no overhead cams, no independent rear suspension, no BS. The honest-to-quarter-mile musclecar goods, and one of the last examples on the market that can make the claim of being a true descendant of what it’s been from, well, its beginning back in ’67. There are few changes to the SS from last year: the addition of redundant audio controls on the steering wheel, an optional 12-disc CD changer, new interior fabrics, and new wheel designs, (for all Camaros, actually). The…

With 360 supercharged horsepower, the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning is the embodiment of my favorite saying: “Hey, y’all, watch this!” The Lightning just begs you to do a big ol’ smoky burnout and a power-sliding, opposite-lock lap of the parking lot. From the time I was handed its keys to when there were a pair of 295-millimeter-wide 17-yard-long black streaks on the floor of the Petersen building parking garage took no longer than its 0-60-mph time. It was only by superior will power that I resisted filling the underground garage with tire smoke. No current production vehicle does a stationary burnout easier than the Lightning. With this simple recipe, anyone can convert $600 of Goodyear Eagle F1 GSs into smoke and rubber dust: Start with one Lightning, hold moderate pressure…

Memorandum Date: Nov. 1,1999 Security Level: Top Secret, Level To: Agent 007 From: M, Head of Secret Service Our operatives in Spain have sighted BMW’s new ultra-high-performance Z8 sports car at a remote installation near Cuenca. Moneypenny has you booked on British Airways Flight 458 from Heathrow to Madrid, First Class, of course. She’s prepared everything required for your cover. You’ll be traveling as Matt Stone, an editorial type at Motor Trend magazine, one of the Yanks’ big-selling auto buff books. The line is that you are there to do a story on this motorcar, which is soon to appear in a major motion picture currently in production. Your goal, of course, is to learn as much as you can about the vehicle, and see how it is dealt with…

Honda’s Accord has become an American success story in every sense of the term. It was initially conceived in the mid-’70s specifically for the U.S. marketplace and today most are built in Honda’s Marysville, Ohio, assembly plant. A perennial favorite in American driveways, it’s been the second-best-selling car here for eight consecutive years since slipping from the top spot in ’91. Completely remodeled for ’98, the Accord enters Y2K with very few changes. All engines now meet California’s LEV or ULEV standards and can go 100,000 miles before needing a major tuneup, side airbags are now available, and front airbags receive a new dual-stage inflator system. Save for a few new paint colors, it’s the same stellar player that over 400,000 customers will snap up in ’99. How can you…

So which of these family four-doors got our nod, once the dust had finally settled? As you might expect, given the nature of the segment and cars this equally matched, a lot of evaluation and scoring was, by necessity, somewhat subjective. All three vehicles have established long-standing reputations for quality, reliability, and utility. And dynamic testing did not indicate a runaway victor. In a battle where nearly every relative advantage was measurable in half-letter grades and tenths of an inch, it became nearly impossible to make any meaningful determination without first qualifying it as to the specific likes of a given driver. But despite the similarities, several salient points did emerge for and against each player. Arguably the most important aspect of any family sedan is the quality of its…

Studying the M5’s specs gives you a clue: 400 horsepower, 395 pound-feet of torque, 11.0:1 compression ratio, 7000-rpm redline, six-speed manual gearbox, and 18-inch wheels should make for a lot of fun in any car. But it only takes one drive to convince you beyond the shadow of a doubt: BMW has herewith created the greatest super-sedan of all time. That’s a strong statement when we live in a world spiced with rubber-burning Bentley Continental Ts, corner-sliding AMG-timed Mercedes E55s, and haul-ass Jaguar XJRs. Each of these ultra-powerful machines already morphs your perception of what a sport-luxury sedan can be, but the all-new M5 instantly takes the art to a whole ’nother level. To fully appreciate how sharply the luxo-sedan market has changed toward performance, you need only look back…

Few cars have impressed me enough to make melook forward to my 31-mile urban commute, but the new Audi S4 certainly has. It’s the kind of car that inspires curiosity and selfishness among the staff—like a game of “I have a secret” nobody else knows I’m playing. “So, how’s that S4? I heard it’s a lot of fun,” lobs a colleague. “It’s alright; pretty quick, I guess,” I sheepishly reply, “but I’ll need at least another night in it to be sure.” Another advance foiled, but how long can I keep tills up? Damn. What if the boss wants to drive it? As our temporary automotive inventory now stands, he’d have to want it pretty bad to trade our new long-term Porsche C2 for the Audi S4. I’m safe for…

MT’S 50TH YEAR OF LETTERS I’ve been reading Motor Trend for all 50 years, and I still love it. Your 50th-anniversary issue brings to mind only one word: perfect! Frank G. Battulo Winchester, Mass. Congratulations on your splendid 50th-anniversary collectors’ edition. It is precisely that! It’ll be treasured for many years to come. I remember your first issue came out about the time I was starting my senior year in high school. As an auto buff since my preteen years, I secured my first copies of Motor Trend from the newsstands at the comer drug store in my hometown. When I got to college, I began subscribing, and I’ve kept every copy of the magazine since then. Thank you immensely for a half-century of reliable information and pleasant reading. You’ve…

General Motors has taken one more stride in the quest to create an 80-mpg five-passenger family sedan that meets all future regulatory standards while maintaining the same price, utility, safety, and performance characteristics as current midsize production cars. Sound too good to be true? Read on. As its contribution to the PNGV (Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles) program, a matchup of government, private industry, suppliers, and academics, the General recently unveiled this computer-generated design for an ultra-high-efficiency four-door it claims is the most aerodynamic midsize sedan ever built. With a projected drag coefficient of 0.16—in a world where 0.31 is about average for sedans and 0.29 is downright awesome—it’s even better than the firm’s diminutive EV1, which currently holds the record for production cars with a Cd of…

After hopping between our four-pack of outrageously potent musclecars (and the bodacious F-150 Lightning muscle truck), I eagerly climbed into the Dodge Dakota 5.9 R/T. Meaty 17-inch performance rubber and its biggest-in-the-bunch displacement tattooed prominently on its bulging, slammed, retina-burning-yellow bodywork promised similar time-warping acceleration and brain-draining cornering force. But I soon found myself parroting the old lady in the classic Wendy’s commercial who wondered why Brand X burgers were so small: “Where’s the beef?” Though the Dakota’s “Magnum” OHV V-8 is rated at a peak of 250 horsepower, the Dakota 5.9 R/T’s 7.7-second 0-60-mph time was a distant last in this field. In handling, it struggled to share the back row. This was a Jack Russell terrier in a pack of Rottweilers. Even more embarrassing: This ’99 Dakota 5.9…

A musclecar, by definition, is a powerful and sporty vehicle that must be able to spin its tires at will. The Firebird Trans Am is capable of laying down twin black streaks of rubber several hundred feet long. We wanted to be sure it could, so we did it a hall dozen times in the name of automotive science. For this test, we chose a 2000 Trans Am powered by a 5.7-liter (346 cubic inches, for you traditionalists) LS1 V-8 engine backed by a Borg-Warner six-speed manual transmission. It was fitted with the WS6 Ram Air performance package, consisting of functional front-end air dams leading to an underhood ram air system (a longtime Pontiac musclecar element), dual exhaust outlets, power steering cooler, Hurst shifter, P275/40ZR17 Goodyear F1 GS tires, and,…

The assignment seemed easy enough. As Motor Trend’s staff photographer, I got the new 2000 Jaguar XKR coupe for an afternoon photo shoot before Editor-in-Chief C. Van Tune was to scoop it up for a driving evaluation. Having been reared on classic ’60s musclecars with big-cube V-8s, I mentally shunned the new XKR as a typical stodgy luxo-cruiser before even getting behind the wheel. Clearly, this assumption was myopic, as the XKR had a surprise for me—specifically, a 370-horsepower surprise. While the XKR shares the same basic platform as its XK8 brother, the R version employs a few key elements that radically change the traditional XK’s attitude and feel. First are its slick 18-inch-diameter Asteroid five-spoke wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tires that team with Jag’s Computer Active Technology…

Do you care which family sedan sells best? It’s no secret Nissan’s Maxima remains a fairly distant third in this triumvirate when it comes to sales numbers. But a “show” spot in the popularity derby hardly does justice to the basic quality inherent in this reformulated package. In fact, its predecessor earned our ’95 Import Car of the Year title. The 2000 version is completely restyled, comprehensively reengineered, and more attractively priced. And is it so bad to drive a car that doesn’t look just like your neighbor’s best-seller? Slightly larger and about 200 pounds heavier than the vehicle it replaces, the new Maxima remains front drive, but gains a stiffer unibody and enhanced noise attenuation. Its roomier and better-appointed interior boasts improved control layouts and more comfortable, supportive bucket…

At the risk ot spoiling the suspense, you’re looking at the quickest, fastest, besthandling, and, quite simply, the baddest sport/utility on the planet. Empirically speaking, the ML55 AMG will run 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds, blitz the quarter mile in 14.8 ticks at 94.6 mph, top out at a claimed 150 mph, and stop from 60 mph in just 124 feet. A true international team effort, each ML55 begins life at the AMG facility in Germany where all the engine and chassis modifications are performed. This work in progress then travets to the M-Class factory in Alabama for final assembly, which occurs in a specially dedicated work area. Powering the ML55 is a stroked version of the V-8 used in the new S500. Along with a displacement bump from 5.0…

PERFORMANCE TEST “Aggressive” describes the ’99 Mercury Cougar’s styling, but its performance was only “frisky” until Paxton Automotive bolted on one of its Novi 2000 centrifugal superchargers. With its pressurized 2.5-liter DOHC V-6 pumping out two-thirds more horsepower than stock, the modified Cougar now roars 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds—almost 2 seconds quicker than stock and damned fast for a front-driver. Several hurdles had to be cleared before this was possible. Since the Cougar’s air intake is aimed toward the transaxle of the transverse-mounted engine, the supercharger had to be an engine’s length away from its drive source. Paxton solved this by running a belt from the engine pulley to a go-kart axle shaft mounted in three bearings in front of the engine. Drive is transferred via another belt to…

So what does Isuzu’s New Age sport/utility have to do with Audi’s finely designed, equally New Age sports car? The meeting of these design ideals is an Isuzu concept vehicle called VX-02. Both sport an openair design, all-wheel drive, artsy aluminum trim, and aggressive rolling stock. Though these common traits don’t make the Audi an SUV nor the VX-02 a sports car, the similarities make for interesting debate; think of the VX-02 as an off-roadster. Isuzu wanted an attention-getter for the New York Auto Show, so it turned a VehiCross over to the American branch of ItalDesign for a top-ectomy and a host of other dream-car touches. The rear seat and cargo areas became a huge trunk, topped by a nicely contoured rear “speedster”-style decklid. This piece also mounts a…

’99 FORD WINDSTAR SEL When it comes to sheer people—and cargo-moving duties, we’re not ashamed to order up another well-trimmed minivan. Far more comfortable than either a sedan or sport/ute, our Ford Windstar offers truly luxurious travel accommodations for passengers on short commutes and multi-state vacation tours. Starting with an upscale SEL model, the $30K Windstar window sticker read like it was lifted from a Lincoln: power everything, leather upholstery, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, aluminum wheels, auxiliary climate controls, rear defrost, and so on. With such a heady base price, options were kept to a minimum, including side airbags ($390), floor console ($155), reverse sensing system ($245), tow package ($435), security package ($275), and power driver’s seat/quad package ($1070). Factor in discounts and delivery, the total tallies $32,535. This is a…

How do you make Motor Trend’s ’99 Car of the Year, the Chrysler 300M, even better? How about adding some even slicker interior and exterior design items—and about 50 more horsepower? An interesting premise, you say? So did we when Tom Gale, DaimlerChrysler’s executive vice president for Chrysler product development, design, and passenger-car operations, privately unveiled this stunning one-off to a press gathering in conjunction with the recent Monterey Historic Races. Wearing a gleaming coat of dark-blue paint with argent lower body cladding, fitted with aggressive 18-inch wheels, bolstered by stiffer springs and tauter shocks, and sporting a 300-horsepower version of the firm’s all-aluminum 3.5-liter DOHC V-6, this low-slung 300M “Special” concept is a very possible “what if.” “The key to developing the 300M Special was to create additional horsepower…

CHEVROLET CAMARO SS DODGE DAKOTA 5.9 R/T FORD F-150 SVT LIGHTNING FORD MUSTANG GT PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM WS6 PANTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP Musclecars. They were the pride of the ’60s, the bane of ihe ’70s, the come-back kids of ’80s, and the survivors of ’90s — much to the surprise of many. In spite of the fact that our world, and our cars, have been revolutionized a dozen times since the days of LBJ, the Beatles, and 30¢ gasoline, most of today’s musclecars remain true to the formula first struck upon by that original ’64 Pontic GTO: a big, rumbling V-8 stuffed in a relatively light, rear-drive American chassisA.nd that tried-and-true formula still works nearly four decades later. Yes, there have been changed. Electronic, multiport fuel injection has completely…

Easing behind the wheel of a Mustang GT, pushing the clutch pedal to the floor, twisting the key, and dipping into the throaty V-8—blipping the throttle at least once more than necessary—is one of those purely adolescent exercises, resurrecting from the past just about every instance of driving any great V-8 Mustang, including the first time. Hearing that authoritive, barking exhaust note will make anyone feel 17 years old again. My first time? I was behind the wheel of my friend’s ’65 GT that he and his father lovingly restored when we were in high school. Giddy? You bet, and anxious to see what all the fuss was about. Then, as now, you drop the clutch, lay rubber, bark the tires in second and third, and run it up to…

Hell-fire performance vehicles are great toys. But even the most nitrous-addled MT editor will admit that they’re sometimes tough to live with day to day. Fact is, most of the star-spangled, heavy-breathing hardware in this story snorts mega-cubic dollars of atomized petrol, provides occasional auditory and vibratory overload, grabs unwanted speed-enforcement interest and is ride-biased toward the hairy edge of comfort in order to more neatly carve the corners. That probably sounds fantastic to those of you on motoring’s lunatic fringe. But what if you could have most of the grins without the gripes? A sleek Grand Prix GTP coupe with real-people-size room and comfy seats could be the answer. It’s aimed at a similarly sporting, but perhaps more mature, audience. The impressive specs tell that story, with its 6.8-second…

Welcome to the popular world of the midsize, family four-door. It’s a realm where genuine substance holds importance over mere style, a place where people buy more with their heads than with their hearts. Obviously, the formula works, as the Accord and Camry are perennially two of the most popular cars sold in the USA. For this particular confrontation, we’ve tossed the all-new Nissan Maxima into the competition. Each was readied for battle the way an average customer with roughly $25,000 to invest would likely outfit it. In today’s world, that means V-6 power, an automatic transmission, and as many luxury items as can be added, while still adhering to the designated price bogey. Although only two members of this low-key trio are actually built in the U.S. at the…

To take home best-selling honors in the family-sedan arena, you have to please a lot of people a whole lot of the time. But there are caveats: not too sporty, not too stylish, not too big, not too small, and the most important, not too expensive. Clearly, Toyota’s engineers and marketers have hit on the exacting formula for sales success. But the competition is heady, indeed. Like the Accord, the Camry is available in three trim levels—CE, LX, and XLE—and offers a choice of four- or six-cylinder engines. Based on its as-tested pricing profile, we opted for a nicely outfitted LE V-6. Along with an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission, its generous roster of standard equipment included air conditioning, six-speaker AM/FM/cassette audio package, power windows/locks/mirrors, cruise control, four-wheel disc brakes…

Quigley Motor Company has been manufacturing high-quality 4WD conversions for full-size Ford and Chevrolet/GMC vans and light-duty trucks since 1975. Although Dodge versions were previously accommodated, the relocation of the fuel tank since ’98 makes these models currently unavailable. Why a full-size 4x4 van? You can carry up to 15 people and their gear over rugged or slippery ground—and tow a boat or trailer at the same time. While 60 percent of Quigly’s sales go to commercial fleets, four-wheel-drive conversions are also becoming more popular with outdoor enthusiasts and for such specialized markets as ambulance and Emergency Medical System, school bus, and the physically challenged who need four-wheel drive. “Our number-one customer for the past 11 years has been Federal Express,” explains Marketing Director Brian Geller. “Were a niche market…

UPCOMING LIBERTY SHOWS Jan. 7-9—West Virginia International Auto Show, Charleston, W. Va.; 717/566-6100 Jan. 13-16—Utah International Auto Expo, Salt Lake City, Utah; 801/534-4777 Jan. 20-23—Northeast International Auto Show, Providence, R.1.; 401/458-6000 Jan. 26-30—Pennsylvania Auto Show, Harrisburg, Pa.; 717/787-5373 EXOTIC FEVER Every auto show in November offers an Exotic Vehicle Display featuring Ferrari and Lamborghini and includes the hot new Ferrari 360 Modena. The Exotic Vehicle Display at the Central Florida International Auto Show in Orlando will also feature Rolls Royce and Bentley. NASCAR AT THE SHOW NASCAR Busch Grand National Driver Matt Kenseth will be making a special appearance and signing autographs at the Tampa Bay International Auto Show on Sunday, Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and at the Arizona International Auto Show on Saturday, Nov. 27,…

Judging from the flood of inquiries we’ve received, quite a few of you were intrigued by one uniquely styled but otherwise unidentified vehicle on the cover of our 50th-anniversary issue (September). This radical push-me/pull-you concept car designed by Ghia’s Tom Tjaarda was called the “Selene” and made its debut at the 1959 Turin Motor Show. The six-passenger people mover was supposedly adaptable to a mid- or rear-engine drive system and could be operated from either front seat using an aircraft-style throwover steering yoke and a duai pedal set, The Selene’s shag-covered aft quarters featured a cozy rear lounge area with face-to-face seating and obligatory minibar. Ghia’s contention that its appearance would establish “a new step toward the body of the future,” notwithstanding, the Selene began and ended life as a…