Innehållsförteckning för March 2001 från MotorTrend

As part of our Death Valley Torture Test a few months ago we gave you the chance to follow our scorched footsteps on the high-speed/hot-weather/fuel-swilling lunacy that is a Motor Trend road trip. We did this in a connect-the-dots fashion by burying several of our MT license plates along the way and giving clues in the form of global positioning coordinates as to where they were located. From hidden slot canyons teeming with rattlesnake dens to craggy 6000ft elevations surrounded by tricky labyrinths of abandoned mines, we hid four plates in places so obscure none of us thought even one would be found in our lifetime. We were wrong. Within three days of the Sept. 2000 issue’s on-sale date, all four plates had been uncovered. Clearly, we’d hit on something…

▪ Mercedes-Benz’ new C-Class wagon made its world debut at the North American International Auto Show this January in Detroit. It goes on sale in Europe in September and comes to the U.S. in spring 2002. ▪ Volvo debuted a concept at the Detroit show, and—surprise!—it’s a safety concept. The SCC was designed with superior vision in mind, which means see-through A-pillars and good rearward visibility. A sensor locates the driver’s eye and uses the information to adjust position of the seat, pedals, steering wheel, and center console. ▪ Honda’s Detroit Auto Show concept was the Model X, a crossover SUV/minivan/pickup based on the Civic platform. It has two very flexible bench seats and a roof panel over the cargo area that can be removed to create a pickup bed.…

The typical life cycle for most Japanese cars is four to five years; the fact that the current Integra has been around for eight is impressive testimony to its popularity. Still, it’s time for a new one. Acura’s RS-X concept, unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, clearly represents the direction of the next Integra. Like its platform-mate, the ’01 Honda Civic, the RS-X has a MacPherson strut front suspension. But the RS-X also packs Honda’s new-generation 16-valve 2.0L Intec three-stage “intelligent” variable valve timing four-cylinder engine, said to produce good low-end torque and retain the Integra’s high-rev characteristics. The production version, likely called the RSX, will be available in two trim levels when it goes on sale this summer. They’ll be more upscale than the current Integra variants, since the…

CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE VS. BMW M5 VS. JAGUAR XKR SILVERSTONE VS. MERCEDES-BENZ CLK55 Normal people expect that eventually you’d get tired of it. But you don’t. When speed addicts like you crave acceleration, only a fresh tank of premium unleaded and hundreds of miles of vacant desert road can begin to satisfy the agitated little speed-monkey on your back. Like us, you’ve got an itch that can be scratched only with dyno-bending horsepower applied to sticky Z-rated rubber. Yes, we speak from personal experience. Where fast cars are concerned, the Motor Trend staff shows all the restraint of Robert Downey Jr. at a Controlled-Substance Factory Outlet Store. That’s the driving force behind “Power Trip.” It’s the single-minded result of our sordid urge to drive fast cars insanely fast, bounce off…

Truth be known, I’ve never really been much of a Jaguar fan. However, when assigned to test Jag’s then-new XKR coupe in late ’99,1 got a rude wakeup call. Shattering my opinion of Jaguar as merely a stodgy luxo-cruiser, the XKR proved. a well-handling, solidly built, tire-burning bandit that loved to be run hard. So when I learned Jaguar had just upped the ante with its new XKR Silverstone, I was immediately interested. The Silverstone option takes the already stout XKR package to an even more race-like level. Most obvious to passersby are its huge 20-in.-diameter five-spoke wheels, which are actually two pieces of aluminum clamped together with titanium bolts (sweet!). The rear wheels measure a hefty 10 in. wide and wear steamroller-size 285/30ZR20 Pirelli P Zero tread. In track…

Detroit’s original musclecar formula was simple: Take one relatively light, midsize car platform, stuff in the largest, highest-compression mega-horsepower V-8 you could find in your parts bin, and burn rubber until you run out of gas. Mechanically, the Pontiac GTO, Oldsmobile 4-4-2, and Buick GS 400/455 of the late ’60s/early ’70s were simply Le Mans, Cutlasses, and Skylarks that benefited from the above noted treatment. But they, and the rest of the musclecar greats from Ford, Chrysler, and even AMC, became the stuff of legends. General Motors is trying to recapture some of that muscle magic with these three midsize concept cars from its mid-priced divisions. The Pontiac Grand Prix G8, Oldsmobile Intrigue OSV (Oldsmobile Special Vehicles), and Buick Regal GNX (named for the limited-edition, seriously fast ’87 rear-drive midsize…

Cars, Trucks, SUVs WHAT’S HOT: “I’m not a limo” styling • all-weather cruiser • super high-tech appointments • ultimate in security WHAT’S NOT: People won’t know you’re a bigwig (but maybe that’s good) • big, scary $85,000 base price The market’s strong and you’re finally doing well. You travel a lot and need to conduct business while you go about the town. You need a large, classy rig in which to pick up and entertain clients. Whatever the reason, you’re now in the market for a personal limousine. The only problem is you don’t want a traditional (stodgy-looking) stretch limo. Becker Automotive Design has just what you need, and more. Becker specializes in creating personal limos using Ford’s more-than-full-size Excursion that not only offers loads of interior space, but will…

Liberty Auto Shows MT Show Awards Dodge made a clean sweep for concept car awards at two of Liberty’s Thanksgiving auto shows. Chrysler Executive Don Schmid accepted the honors as the MAXXcab concept grabbed the “Most Outstanding Concept” in Phoenix. The flashy Sidewinder stole the Show in Las Vegas. Lincoln/Mercury received “Best of Show” honors for its overall display in Phoenix and Chevrolet captured the title in Las Vegas. February Shows PORTLAND, OREGON February 1-4 Oregon Convention Center SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA February 14-18 San Diego Convention Center RICHMOND, VIRGINIA February 23-25 Richmond Raceway Complex MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN February 24-March 4 Midwest Express Center Get Your Own “Car of the Year” C. Van Tune (pictured) introduced the Chrysler PT Cruiser as Motor Trends’ pick for “Car of the Year” at the Arizona…

And You Thought the Pacer Was Ugly Everyone values safety in an automobile, right? But at what price? More than a few who’ve seen this photo of AMF Industries’ experimental safety vehicle would gladly risk a little bodily harm in exchange for being seen driving it. Most of the passenger compartment was derived from an unsuspecting AMC Hornet, while the headlight buckets look as if they were cribbed from a Datsun 240Z, and -the tail end seems somewhat Pinto-ish. The “handsomely integrated” safety bumpers would do any Kenworth proud and make those on a Checker cab appear dainty by comparison. We can offer no explanation for the ground-adhering stance. This project was developed in the early ’70s as a joint venture between AMF, Firestone, and the U.S. Department of Transportation;…

Turns out there is a substitute for cubic inches: a supercharger. AMG has added a helical-type blower to Mercedes-Benz’ 3.2L V-6, serving up 349 horses for the new SLK32 roadster and C32 compact sport/luxury sedan. That equals the output of the 5.5L V-8 used in AMG-tuned CLK-, E-, and S-Classes. The SLK32 AMG and C32 AMG bowed at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Mercedes says the engine delivers 332 lb-ft of torque through a five-speed automatic (the only transmission to be offered here) upgraded with a new, advanced shift program. The tranny is a conventional automatic, but delivers shifts four to five times faster via this new programming. Each new AMG gets its own set of unique springs, shocks, and anti-roll bars, plus huge brakes, redesigned 17-in. alloys, plus…

Cars like the original ’91 140-hp Nissan Sentra SE-R bridged the gap between economy and performance, with better than average horsepower and decent fuel mileage at an affordable price. Now, after seven years away from the market (not counting the somewhat forgettable 200SX SE-R coupe of the late ’90s), the Sentra SE-R is back. With way more than 140 horses. The 2002 SE-R. which debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show, is rated at 180—that’s one-eight-oh-horses in top line “Spec B” form. It will come with 17-in. wheels, a close-ratio six-speed gearbox—a first in this class—and helical limited-slip differential. A base SE-R will make 170 hp and come with 16-in. wheels and a five-speed manual. Nissan promises both versions will debut this fall for less than $20,000. Both deliver their…

It’s just a mid-model facelift, and yet, it’s so much more. For the Passat’s second ’01 model, Volkswagen’s sedan gets a stronger look: a bolder grille and better-integrated front bumper and vertically stacked round taillamps, and backup lights under a clear outer lens. Confusingly, the old-style Passat has been sold as an ’01; but beginning in February, the facelifted model is an ’01 (not ’01 Ji) model, too. The facelift accompanies the ’02 3.7L W-8-powered version appearing this fall, although that eight-cylinder version gets 17-in. wheels and subtle “W-8” badging on the rear deck. The really good news for enthusiasts is that the eight will be sold in North America with an optional six-speed-manual gearbox. For’01 Part II, the Passat 1.8T gets a boost to 170 hp (as does the…

Three decades ago, at the height of the musclecar era, a fast car was one that’d turn the quarter mile in the low 13-sec range (and not many did in stock form.) Zero to 60 in the fives was another benchmark only a few of the very quickest achieved. Hairy-chested machines like the Hemi ’Cuda and Corvette 427 might’ve touched a mid-5-sec run on their best day, with their best driver and on a sticky dragstrip. But in stock condition, literally 99 percent of the legendary models from ’62 to ’72 ran 0-60 mph in the sixes or sevens and turned the 1320 in the high 13s to 14s. A few “names,” like the Mustang Boss 302 and the original GTO, barely broke into the high 14s without aftermarket equipment.…

There are few automotive logos that look as simple and attractive as the Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star. It looks especially nice on the front of a CLK55 AMG emerging from a cloud of tire smoke made possible by its 342-hp V-8. The only thing better is the awesome sound that emanates from the tailpipes. This, my friends, is the automotive equivalent of a home run hit out of the park. It just doesn’t get much better. AMG has always built fast and furious Mercedes-Benz vehicles, but now that Mercedes’ parent company DaimlerChrysler has control of AMG, even more performance models are coming. In fact, Mercedes has promised that every production vehicle will get a high-performance AMG version, and the CLK55 is the newest model to be hand-assembled at AMG’s Bremen, Germany,…

THERE’S SOMETHING MESMERIZING about a hardtop convertible. When Ford introduced the ’57 Skyliner, it was an instant hit, garnering loads of attention for offering the world’s first mass-produced, electrically operated retractable metal top. It was a whiz-bang kind of innovation so emblematic of the Flash Gordon era. Today, the concept is still attractive: a solid top for security and poor weather coziness, with the full tanning bed treatment available at the touch of a button. Add to that the entertainment value of a retractable’s geo-mechanical show itself—the whirring of electric motors and the folding ballet of pieces and parts as they disappear into the trunk. Whatever it is, people love it. It all certainly applies to Lexus’ new-for-’02 retractable-top SC 430. Case in point: While driving our brilliant-red tester, we…

1. HOLLEY/NOS BILLET THROTTLE BODY Holley and Nitrous Oxide Systems have teamed up to offer a high-flow 52mm billet aluminum throttle body that incorporates a nitrous oxide nozzle. The throttle body fits GM LT1 V-8 engines, is easy to install, and will deliver 15-20 more hp. When even more power is needed, activate the nitrous system for 135 extra hp and hold on for a pin-you-in-the-seat ride. $1495; 800/H0LLEY-1; www.holley.com. 2. B&B BOXSTER EXHAUST B&B’s new Tri-Flo exhaust system for the ’97-2000 Porsche Boxster and Boxster S is constructed of T-304 stainless steel and incorporates special “purge chambers,’’ which deliver improved power and a great performance sound without irritating interior resonance. The exhaust system is a direct replacement and is 50-state smog legal. $895; 888/228-7435; www.bbexhaust.com. 3. HURST QUICK/ST1CK SHIFTER…

future forecast Coupes are dead, right? Not exactly: BMW sells a good number of 3 Series coupes, and Mercedes-Benz has a wide range of two-door hardtops, including the CLK, CL, and the upcoming C-Class Sport Coupe. Cadillac is deciding whether or not to stay in this segment with a two-door built on GM’s new Sigma-rear-drive platform, which… could take the place of the current front-drive Eldorado (and possibly its name) when it’s phased out by ’05. Not coincidentally, a Sigma-based replacement could be ready in time for the ’05 model year. The ’02 Catera sedan replacement, named CTS, will be first-to-employ the Sigma-platform. That-sedan-will be minemann available only with a V-6—but a possible Catera coupe has been designed for a V-8. While the CTS is positioned to compete with midsize…

Say “rally” in the U.S. and most people will imagine a homecoming queen or sign-toting protesters, not a race car. Elsewhere, the World Rally Championship ranks with Formula One as the only worldwide auto racing series. Subaru has campaigned race versions of its Impreza to three consecutive WRC championships, in which cars based on real production models race on pavement, hard-packed gravel, mud-even snow. Thus, Subaru offers the ’02 Impreza WRX for the first time In the U.S. market, but already a performance car legend with a cult following elsewhere in the world. The new-gen WRX makes its magic with a turbocharged air-to-air intercooled 2.0L DOHC flat-four. Its 227 hp (an amazing 114 hp/L!) is routed through a five-speed manual, or optional four-speed auto, and a full-time (50/50) viscous coupling…

GM has taken a shamefully long time to design larger replacements for the Chevrolet Blazer, GMC Jimmy, and Oldsmobile Bravada. But we’re impressed with early-production models we drove recently. First, the name changes: from Blazer to Trail-Blazer and from Jimmy to Envoy. The Bravada name remains, but the Olds division won’t; still, GM says the Bravada will be on the market for at least two years. We drove them all on snaking, cratered two-lanes ideal for exposing powertrain, steeling, and chassis weaknesses. GM offers class-competitive power and torque with but one engine choice: a 4.2L/27O-hp all-alumimim DOHC inline-six. Matched to a four-speed automatic, it pulls grades with the ease and smoothness we’ve come to expect from big V-8s. But the tranny falls behind the latest industry standard: the competition is…

The irony was not wasted on us. Call it coincidence, but our first look at the next-generation Nissan Z-car, believed to be dead since late 1996, came just outside Phoenix at Nissan’s Arizona Test Center. Like the mythical Phoenix bird, so, too, will the Z be resurrected and renewed. Happily, the less than well received concept car from the 1999 Detroit show was set aside, and apparently the only common ground this ’03 Z concept shares with the ’99 are its paint and its much revered model designation. If what we see, hear, and surmise are to be believed—we think they are—the front-engine rear-drive “260-plus"-hp two-seat Nissan Z will not fail to inspire Zedophiles and common sports car enthusiasts alike. When the production car actually reappears in the late summer…

It’s been a busy year for Chevrolet’s Corvette team. Not only did they raise the all-time Corvette performance bar with the race-ready Z06 Corvette Hardtop, they also took the opportunity to enhance the regular Coupe and Convertible. Since we’ve tested plenty of Z06 Vettes, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to find out first-hand what sorts of changes were wrought on the Coupe. Plus, the Coupe has better long-haul appeal, anyway, with its larger cargo area and more compliant suspension setup. Powerplant upgrades that boost horsepower and torque lead the Coupe’s list of ’01 improvements. With a new composite intake manifold and revised cam profiles, peak horsepower has risen from 345 at 5600 rpm to 350 hp at the same revs. On the torque front, the increase has been…

2000 NISSAN XTERRA The Xterra soldiers on as a no-nonsense, all-business, ruggedly styled, value-minded sport/utility. Kudos for its exceptional off-roadability and tool-like nature; gripes are a wish for more power and a slightly quieter engine, and compromised on-road handling due to the tallish tires and high center of gravity. (We’ve driven Xterras equipped with +1 aftermarket 16-in. wheel/tire packages, and that makes all the difference—something to consider if most of your driving keeps you on the pavement.) It also served our “MTTV” crew during Sport/Utility of the Year testing and filming; fold down the rear seats, mount the camera in back, and “Action.” We’ve had no mechanical problems of note, other than the still sticky shift/brake interlock and a lack of spring in the strut units that hold up the…

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