Innehållsförteckning för December 2000 från MotorTrend

◼ MAZDA’S RX-Evolv four-door sports car will be in showrooms late in 2002 as an ’03 model, with its normally aspirated twin-rotor Wankel making 275-300 hp. The production version will be very much like the Tokyo ’99 show car, down to its “suicide” rear doors. ◼ In late 2002, SUBARU will offer a production edition of its ST-X show car, an Outback-based four-door pickup with a bed that extends to 76 in. Engine options include the venerable 2.5L flat four and the new 3.017212-hp flat six. ◼ MAZDA will venture into the Subaru Outback market with a wagon version of its Protege, available with all-wheel drive. The car debuted at the ’98 Birmingham (England) Motor Show as the 323 Country Concept. Look for it within a year. ◼ Long-wheelbase variants…

The next hip thing? The hottest pint-size sport sedan of the ’60s, and the original inspiration for the “pocket-rocket” segment, is back. Brought to you by the volkat BMW, the reborn Mini Cooper is to be built in Oxford, England, and will come to our shores in March 2002. It’s an all-new car, yet a direct descendent of the old, which has been in production for more than 40 years. Power for the 2200-lb fourseater will come from a 1.6L/125-hp 16-valve four. An agile suspension is said to provide “go-kart-like reflexes.” Four-wheel discs will ensure stopping muscle and, unlike the original, expect a full raft of safety hardware. Value was one of the original’s most endearing qualities. In 1960, the Alec Iissigonis-designed front-drive roller skate made its U.S. debut at…

More than just styling, design encompasses a vehicle’s concept, proportions, size and visual balance, materials, functionality, equipment, and ergonomics. It even relates to function, which is why we ask: “How well does it do what it’s designed to do?” One SUV dominates discussion on the subject of design: the Pontiac Aztek. Pontiac’s designers may deserve points for trying something daring and different. But while daring and different can succeed (Chrysler PT Cruiser), when it fails, it fails big-time. We feel the Aztek (shown below) has too much going on, designwise. The mix of lines, the chunky tail, the awkward look of the rear windows, the gray side body cladding with its big gaps. Daring and different? Yes. A model of proportion and well-detailed design. No, at least not to our…

The interior of that new sport/utility is where you’ll spend a good chunk of your time. So we spent our own time living in our contestants (figuratively, of course). We looked at everything: materials usage, comfort, convenience, storage, visibility, powerpoints, cupholders, cargo tiedowns, consoles, armrests, and seat cushions. What’s good, what’s bad, and how do they differ? If room for up to eight adults and their luggage is your biggest consideration in shopping for an SUV, you can stop with the GMC Yukon Denali XL. Its interior will swallow said eight adults plus their luggage (if they pack lightly) and keep them comfortable during a lengthy trip. Denali amenities include an 11-speaker Bose sound system with dash-mounted six-disc CD changer and independent air-conditioning systems front and rear with separate automatic…

If you believe it’s the little things that count, you’ll understand the notion of liveability. Just about any new vehicle feels good on a quick test drive, but what do you learn as the miles roll by? What good features become even more endearing? What minor irritants ultimately drive you nuts? When do you feel your new rig is “money well spent” or something you wish you were rid of already? Does it fit in your garage, hold your family, tow your trailer, etc.? The Acura MDX’s blend of on-road handling, enthusiast feel, supple luxury, seven passenger seating, enough cargo room to haul stacks of plywood, plus its respectable off-roading qualities, rang up big points in this important category. Other contenders may be stronger in one area or another, but…

Every MT editor takes the notion of voting for any of our “of the Year” awards very seriously. But your involvement is even more serious, because you vote with your hard-earned dollars when you ultimately make your purchase decision. With a field as varied as this, it’s important not to confuse the notion of value with price. Price is what you pay, value is what you receive—or don’t—in return. And good value means getting more for your money. While a mid-$30,000s sticker price is no workingman’s bargain, it’ll buy you a lot of SUV these days. It’s enough to allow you to choose between seating for seven and all-wheel-drive (Acura MDX) or something more utilitarian, with even more passenger and cargo space and very respectable off-road abilities (Montero or Sequoia).…

HEADQUARTERED IN LOS ANGELES, home of the dreaded 405 freeway, the Motor Trend staff has developed a keen understanding of commuting and perhaps the best (some might say worst) appreciation for this combat drill. If you live in a major metropolitan area, you know the routine: You’re creeping 30 miles from home to office, mongo java cup of coffee in its well-crafted cupholder long enough to cool to non-scalding temperatures, cell phone in its proper place, favorite morning show on the radio (favorite CD playing on the way home), and if all goes well, you arrive at the office an hour and a half later, roadworn and ready for a full day of work. And what if it’s raining? Simply double the time estimate. What’s that? Need a low purchase…

There’s a revolution not so quietly occurring at Volvo: Boxy is out, sporty is in. Just look at it: The all-new S60’s bodywork is by far the most forward thinking ever to come from Volvo’s Camarillo, California-based design center. The S60’s sculpted, curvaceous shapes more resemble a coupe’s trailing roofline than an old, square-rigged sedan’s. The S60 uses the larger S80 platform as a springboard. Its suspension architecture (MacPherson struts up front; multilink out back) is also retained and thoroughly retuned for sportier sedan duty. This combination provides cat-quick steering response and enthusiastic handling, without jolting occupants over rough roads. Our top-of-the-line T5 tester came with an all-aluminum 2.4L high-pressure turbocharged inline five-cylinder putting out 247 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. Power goes to the front wheels via the…

Road-Trip Buddy The RoadRelay4 is an add-on device that enables motorists to closely track (via a digital monitor) vitals such as engine load, coolant and transmission temperature, oil and boost pressures, voltage, fuel economy and rate of use, and more. It also incorporates a GPS, compass, altimeter, latitude/longitude coordinates, and even a security system. Plus it lets you know when general service is needed. $1095 installed, 800/343-7357; www.cummins.com. Grime-Fighter Lava’s new heavy-duty hand towels are a quick and easy way for you to clean dirty hands without running for the sink. The presoaked towels contain Lava’s proven scrubworthy cleaners and incorporate an antibacterial agent. Simply grab a towel, wipe clean, and go! They’re available in a 50-towel pack ($9) or an easy-to-tote 10-pack ($2.50). 800/448-9340; www.wd40.com. Easy Antifreeze Check-Up How…

IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT BIDDING A valued co-worker farewell can be difficult at best. So it was with our Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LS. By the end of its year-long test, it too seemed like a member of the staff. When we needed to haul sod from the nursery, tow a race-car trailer, move stuff people don’t let the movers touch, or even include the family dog on daily maneuvers, there was one long-term vehicle that could do it all, the Silverado. Whoever took it home was likely to be the most popular guy on the block—at least when someone needed to use a pickup. Shortly after winning our ’99 Truck of the Year title, we put a half-ton, 2wd LS to work—and it worked long hours. Chevy faced a…

For most of us, a car is one of the largest investments we will ever make—and it’s not just the purchase price. The related expenses for the lifetime of the car can add thousands of dollars more. That’s why many of us—about 45 percent according to a recent study—are now turning to the Internet for research, comparison shopping and other aspects of the car buying process. Yet, for all the Web surfing, most of us don’t have the time to fully investigate what we’re getting into and end up spending more time and money than necessary. Adding to the frustration is that most Internet car sites only want to sell cars. That’s where we believe MotorTrendcarclub.com is different. MotorTrendcarclub.com was started to help anyone who owns a car navigate the…

Chrysler has dominated slightly smaller Ford the convertible market Mustang V-6. But just with its ’96-2000 Sebring. Until now, this raytop’s with its Camiy-ragtop’s only direct competition has been the slightly smaller Ford Mustang V-6. But just as Toyota enters the fray with its Camry-based Solara, Chrysler petition has been the is introducing a new, quieter, smoother Sebring. Just in time. The ’01 Sebring rag-top’s look is richer than its predecessor’s, with an ovalish grille borrowed from the Concorde and a sharper, elegant tail reminiscent of the 300 C Hemi show car. More important, the Concorde’s 2.7L/200-hp 192 Ib-ft DOHC V-6 replaces a less-powerful 2.5L V-6 as the Sebring convertible’s only engine. Together with a 44-percent-stiffer chassis, the new powertrain contributes to lower noise, vibration, and harshness levels. A fresh…

Quick! Define “sport/utility vehicle.” That task is tougher than ever this year. It used to be that a sport/utility was something very specific: It was built on a truck-chassis, packed all-mechanical four-wheel drive, offered a reasonable amount of towing capacity, and coddled you in all the, comfort and luxury of a gravel pit. Nowadays, an SUV means different things to different people. maximum cargo space is important to some; others expect the same features and performance they can get in a high-end luxury sedan? A few buyers still want serious off-road capability; most don’t care, though they may appreciate the increased all-weather safety and convenience offered by a modern all-wheel-drive system. Style? A must versatility? Duh! Safety? Absolutely. Size? Big (actually, huge) ones, little apes, and everything in between. Several…

Solid engineering must be part of any car, truck, or SUV design mandate from the very beginning. Yet it ends up going beyond that when the vehicle leaves the designer’s drawing board—or nowadays, a computer screen. Engineering can make or break any aspect of a sport/utility, not just the engine or suspension, as many commonly think. It’s what makes a vehicle work and perform; it’s what makes it easy to use—or not. And it’s what makes it last, or fall apart before the end of the lease. BMW’s X5, the company’s first foray into modern SUV-hood, debuted earlier this year with 540i sedan’s 4.4U282-hp DOHC V-8. Late last summer, BMW added its new 3,0L7225-hp DOHC inline-six-powered version to the X5 lineup. While the V8 is available only with BMW’s Steptronic…

Good design is in the details. A great engine, transmission, and suspension make a great sports car, but if the car, or truck, is anything bigger than a two-seater, those components must be surrounded by nifty features to complete the driving experience. They’re the things that help a vehicle deliver a little “something extra,” and may differentiate it from others. We could go on and on about the Acura MDX’s stowaway third seat (and in a negative light, about the touch-screen ventilation system controls). But there were plenty of other intriguing features, both good and bad, across the field. Our on-the-road testing reconfirms what most of us already believe about manumatic automatic transmissions: That BMW’s Steptronic is the best. Unlike other sequentially shifted automatics, especially those used in some Japanese…

• Good audio systems are a key to maintaining sanity (advantage Sentra with 180W). In-dash multi-CD players (all) and dedicated CD storage are a bonus (advantage Corolla). • Good air-conditioning systems are a must (all); effective “recirc” mode is a bonus (advantage Civic with micro-filtration). • If engine has enough torque to idle along in first gear, it’s better in bumper-to-bumper traffic (advantage Sentra). • Commuter cars must have a conveniently placed powerpoint for the cell phone and an accessible place for the phone to rest (advantage Civic). • Cupholders must accommodate a variety of vessels and must not interfere with dash controls (advantage Civic, Sentra). • Intuitive controls help in eyes-off adjustment situations (advantage Civic). • Nooks and crannies for comestibles, spare change, gate cards, aspirin bottles, and map…

Every car fool has seen it: That 12 or so minutes of film magic from the film “Bullitt,” when an icy-cool Steve McQueen and his ’68 Mustang GT fastback go metal to metal with gun-wielding baddies and their soon-to-be-well-done ’68 Dodge Charger 440. There have been countless chase scenes filmed over the intervening 32 years (those in “Ronin” and “Mission: Impossible 2” are among the better recent ones), but the Battle of Bullitt is considered by many the consummate fender-smashing, tire-melting, cars-flying-through-air, explosion-laden classic. And, maybe, the best ever. J Mays was a wide-eyed 14-year-old, growing up in rural Oklahoma about the time Detective Frank Bullitt sent that black Charger careening into a gas station and into cult-film history. The movie, and McQueen’s Mustang, made an obvious impression on him,…

WHAT’S HOT: • Gotta love 50 more horses • Cool foglights and bumperless front end • Great sound WHAT’S NOT: • It’s not available yet! • Will have a bumper in production form • Exhaust too loud for the feds What You See: A cool, semi-customized PT Cruiser concept car. What We See: A clear look at the ’02 PT Cruiser Turbo. DaimlerChrysler has long made a practice of hiding its future products in plain sight. The original Dodge Viper, Plymouth Prowler, and Plymouth Pronto Cruiser concept cars are proof that many of the company’s show toys end up rolling down the assembly line in one form or another. The key to the GT Cruiser’s production potential is its 2.4L turbocharged four, which betters the stock Cruiser’s 150-hp output by…

TOYOTA TUNDRA • Base engine: 3.4L/190-hp V-6 • Opt. engine: 4.7L/245-hp V-8 • 0-60 mph, sec: 7.9 (4.7 RWD) • Fuel economy: 16/20 • Price range: S15.000-$30,000 What’s hot: Smooth ride; DOHC V-8 What’s not: Rear seat like park bench What’s new: All-new in 2000 FORD F-150 • Base engine: 4.2L/205-hp V-6 • Opt. engines: 4.6D240-hp V-8; 5.4U260-hp V-8; 5.4L/360-hp super charged V-8 • 0-60 mph, sec: 8.1 (5.4L RWD) • Fuel economy: 16/21 • Price range: $17,500-S37.000 What’s hot: 4 engines/3 cab sizes/3 bed lengths What’s not: Rough on uneven surfaces What’s new: ABS is now standard…

IF SILENCE IS GOLDEN, OUR LONG-TERM Lexus RX 300 must have been 24 karat-certified. Not just because of its whispery driveline and comfy, well-trimmed cabin, but also for keeping our editorial staff uncharacteristically quiet by giving them very little about which to complain. Normally, at the end of a year-long test, we crack open the on-board logbook to find it sprinkled with about equal parts criticism and praise. It’s not uncommon to read entries that begin, “Y’know, it didn’t bother me at first, but living with this vehicle I found the [fill in the blank] really annoying.” To the contrary, with the RX 300, there were more entries like: “Great vehicle—I wish I had one!” That’s not to say we never checked the “has room to improve” box on its…

2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue This is going to be one boring update, as our Intrigue continues to serve well with little fanfare or complaint. The oil light, which began turning itself on and off with fewer than 5000 miles on the odo, continues its serendipitous habits, and checking the dipstick always evidences a full crankcase. As recently as 8843 miles, the light came on for 35 miles, then disappeared. Well address this with our dealer at the next service. Otherwise, it’s put in gas and drive. The general feeling is that the Intrigue doesn’t possess quite the polish and sophistication of some of its German and Japanese competitors, but it offers a higher feature content and more room—for less money. The trademark GM signal stalk cruise control makes no friends; its…

future forecast BMW’s 3 Series is available as a four-door sport sedan, two-door coupe, convertible, and four-door sport wagon. Mercedes-Benz’ hew-for-’01 C-CIass ultimately will be offered in at least as many variants. We’re impressed by the new Lexus IS 300, arid, judging by early sales returns, so are you But so far, it’s only offered as a four-door.; What if…? As you can see, the IS shapes and i platform lend themselves handsomely to coupe, convert, and wagon styling treatments. We hear that Lexus continues to work on developing the notion of L Sport models—something to compete with everyone else’s “sport packages” and maybe, ultimately, the M and AMG-branded models offered by the IS’ German competitors. Which would come first? Lexus officially is mum on the subject, but we know…

Will this be the next supercar? Appropriately, for something from a division of Ford Motor Company, Lincoln’s fancy four-place Blackwood pickup comes in any color you want—so long as it’s black. Inappropriately, the “wood” half of the name no longer applies. Ford will use photo-laminate plastic panels in place of the concepts exotic wood paneling on the side of the bed when the Blackwood debuts early next year. The faux wood is in response to concerns about accident repair costs, durability problems, and maintenance headaches. The rear-drive, limited-edition (10,000 per year max) Blackwood is well motivated by the Navigator’s 5.4L/300-hp 355 Ib-ft DOHC Intech V-8. A short- and long-arm suspension with variable-rate dampers in front and a special rear axle should ensure a boulevard ride and big-truck load/tow capacity, which…

Come to me, little boat “Barchetta” may be Italian for “little boat,” but nothing about Ferrari’s new 550 Barchetta Pininfarina, introduced at the Paris Auto Show, suggests “little” or “boatlike.” Certainly not the Barchetta’s 5.5L/485-hp 420 Ib-ft DOHC V-12, the same superlative powerplant used to such great effect in the 550 Maranello coupe. Last month, we gave you an exclusive first look at the car with a computer-generated image. This month, it’s the real deal. Ferrari says the 550 BP has a traditional barchet-ta-style cut to the windscreen, about 0.04 in. lower than the Maranello’s. And there’s no top, just a tonneau that covers the interior from the base of the windshield to the rear cowl. The Barchetta tips the scales at 3718 lb, same as the Maranello. Ferrari credits…

It’s a fact: Most SUV owners never take their precious machines off-roading. But there are variations on this theme, such as people who live in snowy climes, the mountains, or whose driveway may be three miles of soft dirt in the summer and slick muck every other season. Of course, some purely urban drivers just want the security of knowing they have four- or all-wheel drive. To test each machine’s off-road mettle, we spent a couple of days of hard miles slogging up steep hills, through deep sand, across rock-strewn washes—and up a few more treacherous hills for good measure. Acura’s MDX impresses with its on-road prowess, and emerged an early staff favorite. But what if it gets stuck when we drive it off the pavement? It turns out the…

This category means different things to different people. To us, it means not only acceleration, but braking and cornering performance, the ability to execute an emergency lane change, and how much off-road and bad-road action a given rig can handle. It even relates to safety. That’s why we don’t guess: We test, both at our regular paved test facility, and at our giant offroad area. Numbers don’t lie: The BMW X5 4.4i dominates every Motor Trend on-road performance test category. It scored a 6.7-sec 0-60-mph time, a 15.2-sec quarter mile at 91 mph, and a slalom time—62.6 mph—that puts many cars to shame. And it does all this with a great exhaust note. “Wondrous engine symphony” was a common notation. That’s no misprint in the chart, the Acura MDX exactly…

FIRST DRIVE Brag all you want about the last BMW M3. Hey, we sure did. Profess about its being the king of compact sport coupes/sedans. But the fact is that the previous E36-platform M3 gets flat-out trounced in just about every way by the new E46-based design. How? Thanks to a thrilling new 3.2L DOHC inline-six that delivers a sky-high 8000-rpm redline. 333 serious horsepower, and a torque curve flatter than Kansas. Don’t forget its wider-track, larger-rubber, race-inspired brakes and redesigned suspension. Factor in a more aggressive look and upgraded interior appointments, and you begin to get an inkling of what the ’01 M3 is all about. Clearly, the main performance-generating element of this new, maximum-strength M3 is its M-tuned inline six-cylinder engine, which shares only 5 percent of its…

MUSCLECAR DOOMSAYERS HAVE BEEN bracing themselves for a musclecar apocalypse at the end of 2002. That’s when GM’s contract with the Canadian Auto Workers at its Ste. Therese, Quebec, plant expires. Ste. Therese is where GM has been building the fourth-generation Camaro and Firebird. There’s been much speculation about the future of the F-body cars, and little official information to calm enthusiasts’ fears that the all-new ’03 Ford Mustang will go unchallenged. Take solace; our inside sources indicate the General’s camp may be strategizing a two-pronged attack; While the Camaro’s expected to wage V-8 rear-drive horsepower war against the Mustang in 2004 as a first-generation-inspired coupe (i.e. with a trunk), Pontiac may flank the performance segment by challenging the import roadster market. Offering a repackaged, Americanized version of Opel’s excitingly…

FROM THE INSTANT THE KEY turned, we were in eight-cylinder heaven. The Howler’s V-8 vibrated and burbled the way a hot rod’s should. Driving this one-off concept was like finally getting a date with the potential soulmate you’ve lusted after for years—yet knowing you probably have no future together. That’s because DaimlerChrysler claims it has no official plan to build this saucier version of its production street rod, the Plymouth Prowler. Yet V-8 motorvation, said to be under engineering consideration, could actually happen. When the moribund Plymouth brand goes away after ’01, the production Prowler will remain—badged as a Chrysler and still powered by a V-6. ◼ Drop the shifter into first, stood on the gas, and the Howler thunders away with a proper V-8 wail. The Howler convincingly demonstrated…

WHAT’S HOT: • Aggressive lowered stance • Pin-you-in-the seat acceleration • Hauls lots of stuff WHAT’S NOT: • No serious off-roading with these wheels and tires • Already marginal fuel economy suffers Once upon a time, a pickup was a humble tool for hauling. Now the tune is different, with more trucks sold than automobiles. However, many pickup drivers clamored for more punch under the hood, so manufacturers have begun to build products such as the Ford Lightning and Dodge Dakota R/T. But the aftermarket is never content to let the OEMs get all the glory. Take this truck built by Magnuson Products as an example. It’s a ’99 GMC Sierra SLT Standard Cab Shortbed with an Eaton supercharger slipped under the hood, the same supercharger fitted to factory Buick,…

Keeping tabs on vehicle maintenance can be down-right dizzying. Knowing when to change the engine oil, service the transmission, and check the fluids is nerve wracking enough, without worrying about what sort of crud is actually floating in the fluids. But even if you could tell what the contaminants were, you probably wouldn’t know where they came from or what they may truly indicate. Are microscopic particulates in your engine oil a normal condition or an early sign of a big problem? The tranny fluid looks clean, but is it, really? Every time the engine runs, the oil collects tiny particles of worn metal from moving engine parts and bearings; it also gathers contaminants such as dirt, water, fuel, and antifreeze. Some of these oil-polluters are fairly harmless, while others…

It used to be called “The Weekend,” that which took place each year during the later part of August and included the Monterey Historic Races and the Pebble Beach Con-cours d’Elegance. It might as well be called “The Week” now, as there are so many ancillary events, auctions, club gatherings, rallies, press conferences—and parties, of course—you could go to for seven days straight, and still not see it all. Monterey remains the Big Kahuna of car-enthusiast love-ins. Here are some highlights from this year’s automotive Woodstock. PEBBLE BEACH TOUR D’ELEGANCE This event’s unofficial motto could easily be “No More Trailer Queens.” The typical Concours d’Elegance is a static display by nature, but three years ago, Pebble Beach organizers decided it was time to take the Show on the Road. Open…

ACURA MDX • Base engine: 3.5L/240-hp DOHC V-6 • Opt. engine: None • 0-60 mph, sec: 8.1 • Fuel economy: 17/23 • Price range: $34,000-$38,000 What’s hot: Price/content relationship What’s not: Frustrating in-dash screen What’s new: All new for ’01 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE • Base engine: 4.0L/195-hp OHV I-6 • Opt. engine: 4.7L/235-hp SOHO V-8 • 0-60 mph, sec: 7.2 (V-8 AWD) • Fuel economy: 16/21 • Price range: $27,000-$40,000 What’s hot: Two engine choices What’s not: Previous model’s quality rep What’s new: Five-speed auto…

Hot Wheels No one will ever accuse designer/educator/journalist/visionary Harry Bentley Bradley of being in any way conventional. But the one wacky-yet-thoroughly-wonderful (at least in a mid-’60s sort of way) design he’s perhaps best known for is the Dodge Deora. Dodge had envisioned a mild customizing project founded on its new A-100 van-based pickup. Bradley’s imagination took the project way beyond mild. Although the “passengers up-front” layout and stock slant-six powertrain were retained, everything else was tossed. An amazing number of parts actually came from Ford’s parts bin. A station wagon roof section and tailgate, for example, became the Deora’s swiveling front door. Even early Mustang taillight bezels were used as side-exit exhaust tips! Built by the Alexander brothers, the Deora was popular on the show circuit and spawned several model…