Innehållsförteckning för October 2000 från MotorTrend

New for ’01 is a trio of high-performance offerings from AMG. All three pack the same engine, a 5.5L/354-hp aluminum V-8 that subjects the rear rubber to 391 Ib-ft of twist. At the top is the S55 (right), a garage-filling sedan that swallows the handbuilt powerplant with ease. The 4100-lb sedan gets a 0-60-mph time of only 5.7 sec. Next is the CL55 (center), a full-size two-door picture of rolling grace. It cruises smoothly at triple-digit speeds, yet, like the S55, uses the ABC system to maintain poise. Finally, the CLK55 (left), a genuine sleeper. The lower weight of the CLK allows the twin-plug three-valve engine to pull the AMG version up to its electronically limited 155 mph quicker than any other production Mercedes ever built. All three models benefit…

Behind the striking 18-in. aluminum wheels lurk the massive disc brakes that bring the over-2-ton S-Class to a halt in a sports-carlike 118 ft. The cross-drilled front rotors are fitted with four-piston Brembo fixed-type calipers, while the rear employs internally ventilated rear discs with dual-piston sliding calipers. A sophisticated anti-lock system helps maintain control and ensure swift stops in low-traction conditions. In an emergency panic stop, the brake assist system recognizes the frantic speed at which the brake pedal is depressed and applies maximum stopping force.…

The DeVille carries the distinction of being the first mass-produced automobile to offer a night-vision type of system, a technology more associated with military operations than civilian duties. Using a heads-up display, the system floats a rectangular gray-scale view of the road above the dash. A grille-mounted camera uses a refractive optical-lens system to gather infrared energy from potential road hazards, generating an eerily negative image of what obstacles loom far beyond the reach of the headlamps. The thermal imaging is best appreciated on country roads; we found it challenging to interpret the screen in light-intense urban driving.…

Camo just ain’t happenin’ here. That’s because this smoothed-out alloy-trimmed Hummer is not your basic mil-spec olive-drab Desert Storm kind of pack mule. No, the H2 concept vehicle is massively yellow, the right stuff for any serious hot rod—even of the snow-and-dirt-eating kind. And don’t worry, it wouldn’t, be a___ Hummer if it weren’t huge. That’s our take after running the security gauntlet at General Motors’ Milford, Michigan, Proving Ground. We were invited out for a drive and photo session with some of the company’s million-buck auto show concept vehicles. And although other cool one-offs, like the Pontiac Piranha, the Chevrolet SSR, the GMC Terradyne, and the Buick LaCrosse, also showed up, we focused on the H2 because insiders say it’s the one headed to market soonest. We suspect aftermarket…

Over the past nine years, I've logged almost 100,000 miles behind the whheel of dozens of minivans. These minivans have crossed mountain ranges and deserts, toured national parks and battlefields. visited ski slopes and ocean harbors, shuttled kids to soccer and baseball fields, and echoed with “are we there yet?” a gazillion times. I’m sure my children will fondly reminisce about A our minivan vacations: “If he took us to one more defunct volcano, I was personally going to erupt!” The most significant observation from my hard earned experience: The minivan has undergone a rapid evolution from a rough-riding, rattley, Spartan penalty box to a comfortable—even luxurious—powerful, thoughtfully equipped long-distance people- (and stuff-) mover. This couldn’t be better illustrated than by the Honda Odyssey EX and the almost-all-new ’01 Dodge…

The Mercedes-Benz SLK is an attractive, sprightly sports car, but when even the new SLK320 V-6 five-speed only runs 0-60 mph in 6.6 sec, you can’t call it blazingly fast. This all changes when German tuner Brabus bolts in a 6.5L DOHC V-8. This pushes the Brabus SLK to 60 mph in 4.5 sec, while the quarter mile goes by in 12.9 sec at 110.6 mph. Severe tire spin kept all the power from getting to the ground; otherwise these numbers would have been better. Think of the SLK V-8 as a rolling catalog for Brabus (which has a California division). The tuner offers everything from engine and suspension modifications to eye-catching bodywork and interior enhancements. And this SLK V-8 has it all—at an as-tested price exceeding $200,000. The conversion…

It was like learning the secrets of a Jedi Knight. Ricky Johnson, ’99 American Speed Association Rookie of the Year, played Yoda to my confused Luke Skywalker. “Coasting fast the secret is, hmm,” Johnson might’ve said had he known he’d be cast as a Jedi Master. Lights came on in my once-dark road racer’s brain. Harnessing this force allowed me to will a previously recalcitrant 430-hp stock car smoothly and quickly through the oval’s tight turns. Lap times plummeted. What a simple, easy-to-implement secret! And what a giant difference it makes! “Tell you more later, I will.” FAST SECRETS We were at USA Speedway, a paperclip-shaped three-quarter-mile oval near Lakeland, Florida, to track test an entry in the first stock car series to exclusively employ fuel-injected engines. Since the beginning…

Carbon Monoxide Alarm COSTAR’s easy-to-mount carbon monoxide (CO) alarm is great in detecting dangerous levels of CO emitted from engine exhaust. Increased CO causes the sleepiness, nausea, and headache said to be common causes of driving accidents. The unit operates on a 9V battery and features an audible warning when excess CO is detected. $59.99; 800/432-5599; www.qginc.com. Emergency Air Airman’s multipurpose air pump delivers 150 psi pumping capability in an easy-to-use palm-size package. Operated from a 9.6-volt rechargeable battery or a 12-volt cord, the Airman is great for airing up low tires, filling air mattresses, or inflating beach balls. $44.95. 818/998-2100; www.calcarcover.com. Fibered Filter For less engine wear and improved power, consider Fram's new Extra Life III air filter. The microscopic channels of its patented Triad fibers are said to…

When Audi took over Lamborghini, boss Ferdinand Piech halted work on the next Diablo, code-named Project L147, reportedly because he didn’t like the design by the European Zagato styling house. The project is again active as shown in this unauthorized spy shot snapped during festing at Germany’s Nurburgring racetrack. This version is said to sport a Bertone-designed body. Our sources indicate the car will debut at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show and will be powered by a 6.0L V-12 pumping out over 600 hp. The “Canto,” as it’s reportedly named, will be rear drive and feature a six-speed manual transmission. Look for a top speed of over 200 mph, 0-60 mph in the 3.5-sec range and a pricetag around $250,000. No word yet on when vehicles will be available for…

Ford’s Special Vehicle Team is promising a higher-voltage Lightning this fall. Look for the pickup to leap to at least 375 hp from 360. SVT is likely to have found the increase by simply cranking up the supercharger boost slightly and opening up the currently too-civilized exhaust system. We’re expecting the jump to 60 mph to take just 5.5 sec and quarter-mile times to go sub-14 at 100 mph. Chassis refinements and stronger brakes are also expected. Our criticism of the truck’s low-key appearance (June ’99) also will be addressed with clear-lens headlamps, vertical-bar grille, and new five-spoke light-alloy wheels. Ford’s suspension and steering experts have also tweaked various systems to give the truck a more lively feel without adding any painful ride motions.…

THE PLAYERS While the new Lexus LS 430 maintains the LS 400’s 196.7-in. overall length and basic powertrain and suspension architecture, the rest is about as new as it gets. The wheelbase has increased an all-important 3 in. (to 115.2), and most of that additional space between the wheels makes for more interior room. As you can see, both interior and exterior styling have changed—much more on that later. Pop the hood, and you’ll find an updated 4.3L version of Lexus’ supersmooth ultra-quiet DOHC all-alloy V-8. Though horsepower remains the same 290 as before, torque has increased by 20 Ib-ft worth, for a total of 320. Its WT-i (Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence) system allows a broad power range and helps the LS 430 earn a ULEV emissions rating. The…

Audi has broken from the industry tradition of placing navigation-system monitors in the center dash, which replace conventional audio and climate controls with frustrating, greasy-finger touch screens. Instead, a compact screen is integrated in the instrument panel, where the red information display resides. Although smaller, this LCD screen shows only basic directional information, not a complete map. It makes up for any lack of pizzazz by providing useful navigational assistance, while minimizing the distance a driver’s eyes must travel from the road, preserving the clean interior design, and saving consumers money.…

In 1979, Rosemary Shahan was in an accident and her car needed extensive repairs. She took it to a dealer in Lemon Grove, (ironic, isn’t it?) California, who promised a speedy fix. Three months later, the soft-spoken poetry teacher was still without her car. She decided to take a stand and began picketing the agency. She marched in front of that dealership for five months; all the while, mechanics yelled obscenities, made rude gestures, and pretended to “shoot” at her with imaginary guns. But passersby took Ms. Shahan more seriously. People sympathetic to her cause stopped on the street to tell her their own auto repair horror stories. Shahan began taking names and phone numbers, and realized she wasn’t alone. Thus was born the citizens’ movement that begat today’s “lemon…

1 BORLA BOOMER Included in many of Borla’s cat-back exhaust systems for vehicles such as the Mitsubishi Eclipse, the Boomer Blowtorch muffler is builtz from T-304 stainless steel and offers a 1 deep, throaty exhaust tone. $283.49 • 805/986-8600 • borla.com 2 AROSPEED BOMB Available in either stainless steel or kevlar/carbon fiber, the Arospeed Bomb muffler is tunable, thanks to removeable silencer caps. With the caps out, Arospeed says the Bomb is good for a 5-9-hp gain over stock and comes in several inlet/outlet styles. $235 • 305/969-9973 • arospeed.com 3 FLOWMASTER 60-SERIES Long known as a V-8 performance muffler manufacturer, Flowmaster recently applied this expertise to four- and six-cylinder vehicles by developing its 60-series units. Available in many inlet/outlet configurations, the Flowmaster 60 is welded together using aluminized steel…

2000 Nissan Maxima SE Servicewise, “Black Max” has been flawless, the only non-warranty item or expense being a quart of oil. We recently had the chance to test an automatic-equipped Maxima, and two editors felt they might actually like it better than our five-speeder. Weil, to heck with those aging stiffs: This is a legitimate sport sedan, and its driver deserves the control offered by a worthy manual. The shift action is as good as you'll find in a front-driver, and the engine remains one of the Maxima’s best attributes. “Could fool you into thinking it’s a straight six” was one recent logbook notation. For some reason, the leather trim at the base of the headrests has come unglued, and flaps in the breeze. This happened on both headrests; we'll…

future forecast Lincoln’s full-size Navigator Sport/utility has been a runaway sales success—With rivals Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, jand spon adillac, all playing in the midsize Jluxur SUV category, it only makes sense that Lincoly jump into |this profitable pool, as well.-The-“Baby-Nav-will-be-built-gn-the new-for-’02 Hord Explorer/Mercury Mountaineer platform. That mean a vehicle just slightly larger than today’s Explorer, riding on a much-revised frame design thatjincorporates an independent rear suspension and third-row seating. Styling-should-be-a-blend-of Navigater-and LS sport sedan cues. We hear an optional ‘Sport’ model, employing more body-color trim and aggressive 17: or even 18-in. rolling stock, may also be part of the mix. Look for this new Linceln—currently-code named Equator—as an’03 model, or in mid-2003 as an ’04. briefs ■ PLYMOUTH may be going away after the '01 model year, but the Prowler will…

Mix two parts wagon, one part SUV, and one part Orvis hunting outfitter together to create a hybrid vehicle tailormade for snow-belt family vacations. While the first-generation Cross Country grew from the 850/V70 wagon, the new XC was engineered as a distinct model from the get-go. The result is a more capable vehicle that improves on its predecessor by being almost 4 in. wider, 2 in. taller, having 2 in. more ground clearance, increased load capacity, and gaining only 10 lb in the process. Best of all, the better-equipped base XC is priced $2000 lower than last year’s model. Quite capable in poor traction situations, the 197-hp XC utilizes a viscous clutch to distribute power from primarily the front wheels to the rear, as needed. On a drive through rain-washed…

There are big commercial or recreational towing and hauling jobs that even a full-size light-duty V-8 truck can’t handle. For those tasks, GM offers its all-new 2500 and 3500 Series pickups in Chevrolet Silverado or GMC Sierra variations. We recently drove these beasts on the twisting mountain roads of the Ozarks. We found that, even with a load in the bed or a trailer attached, these pickups ride pretty smoothly, handle surprisingly well, and stop quickly. What we also discovered were two all-new V-8 powerplants and an all-new five-speed automatic transmission. Replacing the old 6.5L diesel is an all-new “Duramax” 6.6L turbodiesel V-8 that cranks out 300 hp at 3100 rpm and a fabulous 520 Ib-ft of torque at just 1800 rpm. Driving the Ford and Dodge diesel competitors…

SIGHT, SMELL, TOUCH, SOUND, AND TASTE—those are the senses we have at our disposal, at least so tar. Trust me, driving Ferrari’s new 180-mph hair dryer will overload the first four. And puny adjectives like “exciting,” “beautiful,” and “manthisthingisfreakingfast” (okay, so I made that one up) don’t even describe it. A drop-top variant of Maranello’s all-new-for-2000 360 Modena has been a part of the product plan since inception. Don't think for a second, though, that it’s any type of conversion or chop job—the 360 Spider was designed and engineered as a convertible from the getgo. The engine, transmissions, suspension, brakes, most of the interior, and the front 60 percent of the sheetmetal are indeed carryover components. Building an open car on a monocoque or unit-body chassis is tricky, as they…

Lexus offers a comprehensive audio package as standard equipment, with a much appreciated in-dash, single-teed six-disc CD changer. This tidy location leaves the twin gloveboxes and center console open for storage. Redundant steering-wheel controls make it easy to conduct the mobile seven-speaker orchestra. Audiophiles will salivate at the thought of the optional system designed by Mark Levinson—a soundsmith known for developing home systems that cost more than $100,000. The sonic envelope is explored with an 11-speaker 240-watt setup featuring Digital Signal Processing specially designed and tuned for the LS 430…

Veteran readers of Motor Trend will notice we've improved our annual New-Car Buyers Guide this season. We've made it friendlier to read easier to compare and more packed with facts and stats than ever before. The categories are divided into what matters what matters most to every new-car buyer price. The first pages cover7the entry-level models costing $16,000 and under. Then we gradually move up the price scale ($16,000 to $20,000, $20,000 to $30,000, and so on) until we top out at true dream-car levels of the $111,000 Porsche 911 Turbo, $223,967 Ferrari 456M, and $367,000 Bentley Azure. For easy comparison shopping, we’ve dedicated a separate area in the spec chart for each model of new car. Within that area is a one-line description of what’s new, plus pricing (a…

When this Ford Expedition-based ‘ute looms behind you in the rearview, it seems ready to suck you off the tarmac like a funnel cloud. Tom Scarpello of Ford's Special Vehicle Team describes the Thunder as “authoritative” and even uses the word “intimidating.” But unlike the limited-production Lightning, you won't find the Thunder in Ford dealers anytime soon. It’s an experimental “what if” screwed together by SVT project manager Al Suydam, with engine and suspension parts snatched from the Lightning. Unfortunately for performance fans, SVT told us that “other more pressing performance projects have bumped the Thunder off the to-do list. Underhood, the Thunder’s rumble is provided by the same supercharged 5.4L SOHC V-8 used in the Lightning, which pumps out 360 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. With virtually zero…

PORSCHE UNVEILS AN ALL-NEW VEHICLE about once a decade, with each debut causing the auto-enthusiast world to pause in reverence. The mid-engine Boxster had Porschephiles ready to sign checks long before the first car was even built, with its sultry lines, promised world-class road manners, and “affordable” entry to the premium marque. Right car at the right time, the Boxster entered a growing market matured by the popular Mazda Miata, and enlivened by the James Bond-promoted BMW Z3 and a droptop version of the C5 Corvette. When the buying public, and MT staff, was clamoring for European roadsters, Porsche delivered. Departing from the classic, air-cooled 911 engine was a serious consideration, but the swift-rewing water-cooled 2.5L/201-hp Boxer engine quelled all staff concerns. The horizontally opposed Boxer engine is an eager…

Although the ’75 Hurst/Olds was the first production vehicle to offer glass “T-Tops,” the idea was by no means new. Mercury experimented with them on this XM-Turnpike Cruiser concept car, unveiled to the public at the 1956 Chicago Auto Show. “Virtually unobstructed vision in every direction is a salient feature to permit full enjoyment of the wide new vistas opened to turnpike travelers,’’ claimed Mercury’s PR folk, in recognition of the ever-improving and expanding interstate highway system. The XM also demonstrated the notion of individual rear bucket seats, a desirable feature on many of today’s premium luxury cars. Mercury did, in fact, launch a production version of Turnpike Cruiser for ’57, though the “transparent plastic ‘butterfly’ openings” didn’t make the mix. There’s no question the TC’s bumpers, rear window treatment,…