Innehållsförteckning för October 2001 från MotorTrend

SUPER E-AMG’s next generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class will have a supercharged 5.0L 32-valve V-8, replacing the current E55’s normally aspirated 5.5L 24-valve V-8. Its power target is 450 plus, up from the E55’s 349. The E-Class AMG is set to reach U.S. shores a year after an all-new E-Class debuts for the ’03 model year. F1 V-10 IN YOUR GARAGE? That powerful blown E-Class V-8 means stiff competition for the BMW M5. So the Bavarians are considering installing a version of the Williams-BMW Formula One V-10 in its next M5. BMW has modified the engine bay of the new 5 Series coming in ’04 to accommodate the F1 V-10, if management deems it necessary to fight the Merc in the horsepower wars. The V-10 should make more than 450 hp, fed…

For the first time in a dozen years, Mercedes-Benz is rolling out an absolutely all-new high-line roadster. The original 300SL “Gullwing” of 1954 was a technological, performance, and styling trendsetter when it first debuted; the ’03 SL500 will be no less. High-tech highlights include a fully retractable, self-tonneau-covering hardtop, conceptually similar to the smaller SLK’s. Press one button, and the SL500 goes from fully enclosed coupe to wide-open roadster in 16 seconds. But the real flash trick is the world’s first production-car use of a fully electronic braking system. A conventional pedal controls a computer managing four fast-acting valves that apply braking force to the wheels. Mercedes claims it serves up quicker, more surefooted response than conventional brakes, especially in emergency situations. A hydraulic system is employed as a backup.…

How can you argue with a strategy like this? Offer more power, better handling, better looks, and more safety, and then charge almost $5000 less than for the previous model. The new-for-’01 EuroVan offers a new torsion-bar front suspension that vastly improves road feel, a new electronic stability control (ESP) system designed to minimize skidding, bigger wheels, tires, and brakes, as well as a cleaner exterior look. But by far, the EuroVan’s biggest improvement is the addition of VW’s 2.8L. V-6 engine, which produces 201 hp and 181 Ib-ft of torque (compared to the old engine’s 140 and 177, respectively). At the track, the “unminivan” jumped off the line, stopped 60-0 in an unimpressive 125 ft, and slalomed like a coupe There are two flavors of EuroVan now, the standard…

BMW M ROADSTER CHEVROLET CORVETTE CHRYSLER PROWLER FORD THUNDERBIRD LEXUS SC 430 How do we come up with the themes for our giant road-trip adventures? It probably sounds easy: Find a provocative new destination for this month’s big comparison test that’s chock-full of long flat-foot straightaways, tasty hairpin corners, delectable scenery, and goofy roadside attractions we’ve never before seen. But when you’ve done exactly that pretty much each month for the past 50-something years, you’ve exhausted about all the lowest-to-highest-elevation test venues, cold-to-hot-temperature ranges, and donkey-to-Don-King photo opportunities in the Western world. For this month’s soiree, we decided that the challenges of an almost unobtainable time/distance/roadside-attraction schedule would make for a rather unique convertible road-trip story. Thus was born this “Sun, Speed & Sin” road trip: a mere 1200 miles…

As distinctively styled as the original Dodge Viper, the niche-market Prowler has brought a factory-fresh street rod to the do-it-for-me public complete with the protective security blanket of a manufacturer’s warranty. But as novelty becomes familiarity and competition marches boldly forth, the Prowler’s overt short-comings have diminished its appeal (with | us, at least) over time. Perhaps it was back in January when the Chrysler brand name took the place of the original Plymouth moniker that the twinkle in our eyes cataracted. Or maybe it was the hundredth bouncy mile with its paint-shaker ride, deafening wind noise, sporadic air-conditioning, and I top-raised tank-slit visibility when the lappeal fizzled. Sure, compromises are to be expected with such a radical machine. In someways, they lend charm to a vehicle destined to be…

2001 CADILLAC VIZON CONCEPT 2000 CADILLAC IMAJ CONCEPT 2003 CADILLAC CTS SPORT Cadillac is back on track. It’s stopped zigging and zagging and has finally taken a direct approach to winning back market share with a clean-sheet rear-drive sport sedan. About the same size as its ride/handling/quality target—BMW’s still-superb 5 Series—this completely new Caddy’s assignment is to begin recalibrating the market’s perspective on General Motors’ prestige division. Product—spelled CTS in this instance—is now doing the talking. Our initial take, based on hot laps at a high-speed test track, is that the ’03 CTS Sport is wrought with the engineering passion that once made this nameplate the standard of the world. At straightaway speeds that touched 125 mph and with hard braking on blind comers that cycled the anti-lock braking and…

2001 Mitsubishi Montero By now, everyone's heard the brouhaha over Consumer Reports' testing of the Montero and its alleged high rollover risk. Many of you have contacted us about it. All we can tell you is what we've experienced so far. Yes, the Montero is a heavy, tall vehicle, with a higher-than-average center of gravity. And yes, we've mentioned that it exhibits more body roll than we'd like. This is the case with many sport/utilities, and those who drive them need to be aware of how the laws of physics impose an effect on their handling characteristics. Driven aggressively enough, any vehicle can be provoked into potentially dangerous behavior. However, the Montero performed adequately during our standard slalom and skidpad test regimen. We've not attempted to verify the validity of…

Mercedes-Benz officials probably aren’t happy that Chrysler engineers are designing rear-drive replacements for the LH sedans. After all, Mercedes is Daimler-Chrysler’s rear-wheel-drive division, while most Chryslers have been front-wheel drive for the last two decades. But those at Chrysler who read auto market tea leaves had already noticed a shift in American consumer tastes reverting to rear drive and had redirected engineers and designers accordingly. The result is the new LX line of full-size cars for ’04, plus an ’04 crossover SUV based on the 2000 Citadel concept. All these new Chryslers eschew cab-forward styling to cut down on glass area for less weight and reduced air-conditioning load. Meanwhile, rear drive accommodates new versions of Chrysler’s iconic Hemi V-8. Top models will be offered: with an all-aluminum 5.7L pushrod Hemi…

Erik “On the Roof” Carlsson surprises Darrell Waltrip with this: “I’ve driven Talledega.” Sweden’s two-time Monte Carlo Rally winner tells America’s three-time Winston Cup champ—both in England attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed—of how he was one of the drivers to push a Saab 93 to 40 speed and endurance records there in ’96. We’re at a dinner where General Motors has gathered a wonderful group of retired racers: Waltrip, Carlsson, Junior Johnson, and ’70s British touring-car wiz Gerry Marshall. The experience uncovers two reasons why you should begin planning for next July’s Goodwood Festival. First, it ranks as probably the best display of cars and speed extant. Everything and everybody can be found racing up 1.12 miles of the Earl of March’s driveway, from David Coulthard in a 15L…

Continuously variable transmission hits the mainstream Audi has made many changes to its ’02 A6 sedan and Avant including a new nose, revised interior, and an improved electronic stability system. However, the real highlights are under the hood, where the venerable 2.8L V-6 has been replaced by an all new 3.0L V-6. Power goes up from 200 to 220 and torque jumps from 207 Ib-ft to 221—both noticeable improvements. The 3.0 serves as the base engine, while the 250-hp 2.7 biturbo V-6 and 300-hp 4.2 V-8 are optional. Backing the new engine is a continuously variable automatic transmission, or what Audi calls Multitronic. Unlike traditional automatics, which have one actual gear for each forward speed, the Audi CVT uses two sets of variator pulleys connected by a chain. Varying the…

Make no mistake, the previous iteration of the M Roadster was a quick pocket rocket. Its 3.2L/240-hp DOHC 1-6 was a fast-rewing powerhouse, but BMW engineers couldn’t leave well enough alone. Big news for ’01 is the M Roadster’s (and M Coupe’s) hot new 3.2L 1-6 plucked from the entirely wicked new M3. With a stout 315 hp on tap, a sky-high 8000-rpm redline to play within, and five close-ratio gears to choose from, the M Roadster is a true Corvette challenger. Mash the gas, and a new throttle-by-wire setup opens six individual butterflies to prompt delivery of big power and a resulting angry rasp of an exhaust note that sounds as if you whipped a hornets’ nest with a garden hose. A staggering 11.5:1 compression ratio, adaptive knock control…

MotoRex Skyline GT-R WHAT’S HOT: • Big twin-turbo performance • high-tech electronic AWD •exclusivity WHAT’S NOT: • Bland styling • steering/shifter/controls on the opposite side • big $$$ for a used car Some have labeled it “the best production supercar to ever come from Japan.” Others have called it “the ultimate street sleeper.” But the one thing that it’s never been is “for sale in the USA"—officially, at least. Over the past 10 years, many companies have tried, and failed, to import Nissan’s bad-boy supercar—the Skyline GT-R—but MotoRex claims to have succeeded. Packing standard wares such as a 2.6L DOHC intercooled twin-turbo I-6, electronically controlled variable-ratio all-wheel drive, taut suspension, 17x9.0-in. wheels, and a six-speed manual gearbox, the GT-R is a serious player. So much so that it helped spawn…

John and Rebecca were enjoying a Sunday drive on their way to a friend's home, not a care in the world. But that was about to change. Without warning, a young boy bolted from between two parked vehicles, right into the path of their car. John reacted quickly, slammed on his brakes, and skidded to a stop. Unfortunately, he didn't stop in time; the front bumper hit the child. You can only imagine the panic, terror, and siren-punctuated scene that followed. The boy's parents claimed he had permanent brain damage and would never recover completely. Naturally, the previously carefree couple was devastated. Five years of depositions, investigations, tur moil, and attorneys' fees were about to further disrupt John and Rebecca's lives. Ultimately, it was determined that the boy's condition was…

GM'S Do-It-All Sport/Utilities It was one of those ideas whose time had come, yet once it happened, everybody asked, “Why did it take so long?” While the Suburban literally and figuratively fills a big spot in the SUV marketplace, not everyone wants or needs a rig that large. So GM whacked nearly two feet out of the Sub's overall length, took away the third-row seat, and created the Tahoe/Yukon twins for '95. Available in 1500 Series (1/-ton) form only, they proved an ideal package for buyers who needed or wanted V-8 power and four-wheel drive in a slightly smaller package. The originals were replaced by all-new versions after the '99 model year, andthough the current platform offers some advances, the earlier ones are plentiful in the marketplace and remain popular.…

2003 Z3 ROADSTER LOUIS KLEMANTASKI, 1912-2001 One of the world’s pioneers of motorsport photography has left us for that big darkroom in the sky. Louis Klemantaski’s original involvement with cars was as a racing driver, and he began shooting while at the track. He served England as a photographer during WWII, then picked up where he left off, further developing his already considerable skills. Klemantaski later competed as a navigator (and often in-car photographer) in three Monte Carlo Rallies and two Mille Miglia races. Though he officially retired in 1982, his most famous images are from the ’50s and ’60s—long before the advent of auto-focus and motordrive cameras. His effect on the art of racing photojournalism was monumental. Louis Klemantaski was 89. “We’d really love to have a NASCAR…

FIRST DRIVE 2002 Porche 911 Carrera More engine—more sports car A common complaint about the current 911 Carrera is that it shares the same nose as the less-expensive Boxster. For ’02, Porsche has addressed this by redesigning the front and rear bodywork to make the car more distinctive. The changes also improve engine cooling through twin, front-mounted radiators, while reducing front and rear aerodynamic lift. The 3.4L flat-six engine has been replaced by a new 3.6L version good for 316 hp and 273 Ib-ft of torque, compared to 296 hp and 258 Ib-ft for the old engine. The 3.6 (based on the Turbo’s engine of the same size) features VarioCam Plus, an electrohydraulic system that varies intakevalve timing and lift to optimize power, torque, fuel economy, emissions,…

After more than a decadeaway, Modena, Italy’s old-est exotic carmaker is primed for a return to our market. And by the looks of the just-unveiled Spyder, Maserati appears more than ready. This new drop-top represents much more than just a 3200 GTcoupe with a chop job; itis, in fact, largely a newcar. Styled by Ital Design, its 96.1-in. wheelbase is some 8.6 in. shorter than that of the never-sold-here 3200. The GT’s 3.2L biturbo V-8 is replaced by an all-new 4.2L naturally-aspirated V-8, good for 390 hp at 7000 rpm. Transmission choices will include a six-speed manual or a six-speed semiautomatic paddle-shifter unit, much like that employed by F1 versions of the Ferrari Modena. The Spyder’s convertible top is a sophisticated design, including one-touch operation, a self-covering tonneau, and active…

For ’02, Nissan revives a performance-oriented sub-model that was virtually its only bright light in the mid-’90s. And the new one gets more horsepower and more doors than the original Sentra hot rod. The SE-R and SE-R Spec both stem from the Sentra sedan, your basic econocar that got a major freshening for ’01. The SE-R gets the ’02 Altima’s 2.5L I-4, producing 170 hp in standard form and 180 hp in Spec trim. The 170-horse version is available with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, while the Spec V can be had only with a slick-shifting six-speed manual. Both have sport-tuned MacPherson struts up front and a multilink rear suspension. The SE-R has 16-in. wheels, while the Spec V comes with 17-inchers. The Spec V also gets a Skyline…

Rippling with American bravado, the Corvette’s wind-cheating exterior exudes a bad-boy persona restrained only by a vision of law enforcement in the rear-view mirror. Even more fun lives underhoods this year, as power edges up five notches for ’01, putting its OHV V-8’s output peak at a magic 350 horses and matching the cubic-inch displacement better than one for one. Even more significant, torque comes on strong at a lower rpm this model year, benefiting standing-start acceleration and passing maneuvers. Our car was fitted with the 4L60-E four-speed automatic transmission, respected for its smooth shifts when you’re cruising and outright tire-boiling cog changes at full throttle. Muscling the heavy car through serpentine roads at nose-bleed elevation allowed us to explore the handling limits in the well-behaved Vette. Feeling heavier and…

Each of the five cars in this top-down test has its own unique qualities. The BMW is the most nimble, the Corvette has maximum muscle, the Prowler is the most outrageous, and the T-Bird has the best retro styling. However, the Lexus SC 430’s best attribute is that it drives more like a luxury coupe than a sport convertible. It’s super quiet, ultra smooth, and has virtually no wind buffeting when the metal hardtop is retracted into the trunk. In short, it combines the best of a coupe and a convertible into one amazingly plush vehicle. The SC 430 competes in the performance arena thanks to a 4.3L DOHC V-8 that pumps out 300 hp and 325 Ib-ft of torque. This exceptional engine is backed by a smooth-shifting five-speed automatic…

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” versus You snooze, you lose.” Which road do you take when it comes to update Bling the best-selling car in America? There’s a lot at stake: Do you play it safe and, conservative in order to retain your current customers (well over 400,000 of them last year)? Or do you take some chances and change your image in hopes of casting an even wider net? Toyota’s management, product development, and design teams took both routes and arrived at what’ll probably be a popular destination. First order of business: an all-new more up-to-date platform. The third-and fourth generation Camry’s underpinnings had reached their 10th birthday. Longer, wider, and taller than the car it replaces, this fifthgeneration sedan rides atop a 2-in.-longer wheelbase that provides…

Ford’s new Thunderbird. The Lexus SC 430. Prowler. And the Vette, of course. Each is its own, modern-day interpretation of the sporting two-place convertible—all packing varying levels of style, luxury, performance, and image. This seriously elegant custom-bodied Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet embodied a heaping spoonful of each of these important elements when it debuted at the Turin Auto Show in 1957. Remember, there was a distinct difference between domestic and imported ragtops back in the ’50s. Made-in-the-USA convertibles generally represented any nameplate’s top-of-the-line full-size model; the Corvette and the ’55-57 T-Bird were about as sporty as it got. Most American’s view of “them little furrin’ jobs” was represented by four-cylinder MGs and Triumphs, plus the occasional Jag, Healey, or maybe an Alfa. So a one-off handbuilt Ferrari was…