Innehållsförteckning för January 2002 från MotorTrend

REAR-DRIVE COUGAR— Mercury may build a future Cougar off the next Ford Mustang platform. That means the sporty “personal” coupe would return to its rear-drive roots and could be offered with a V-8 option. Under this scenario, the current Cougar, based on the old Contour/Mystique, will remain on the market to about mid-2004. A new Mustang is due by then on what has been called the “DEW Lite” platform, but with enough unique (lower-price) components to be considered an all-new foundation. The Cougar would be built off the DEW Lite and would have unique sheetmetal, much as the new Mountaineer is distinguished from the Ford Explorer. If Cougar comes back based on new Mustang underpinnings, it’s to appear at least six months after the Ford so there’s room for two…

Never have so many put in so much effort to road test one car. You remember our contest: Over 3000 entrants tried to convince us they should be the ones to go to Indianapolis for the U.S. Grand Prix and to road test Jaguar’s new X-Type. Five finalists in fact accompanied us to Indiana and put the car to the test, each one evaluating a particular subject. Ellen Camenker (Apopka, Florida) rated the car’s comfort. Allison Johnson (Macomb, Michigan) examined its engineering. Gregory Scott (West Roxbury, Massachusetts) pondered its market significance. Robert Starr (West Hollywood, California) critiqued its design. And Alex Tziortzis (Palatine, Illinois) tested its performance. Working around the pressures of race weekend, and its blur of hospitality tents, VIP passes, police escorts and lavish dinners, our intrepid band…

It's one thing to be on the outside of a drop-dead gorgeous car, looking in. However, that's not how we drive; it's from the inside, looking out, of course. So that inside better be a pretty good place. Is there room for you, your passengers, and your stuff? Do the seats hold you comfortably? Are the controls within reach and easy to use—or awkward to operate? What about visibility? Are the materials appealing? Hey! Lets talk cupholders!! Jack Keebler spoke for the entire staff in his assessment of the Audi cabin: “A beautifully designed and detailed interior with A-plus quality materials.” We also found the new, larger Altima's interior a comfortable place to be. “Great back-seat area,” observed Chuck Schifsky, “lots of legroom, plenty of headroom, seat bottoms supportive but…

Why bring Bugatti back? Part of the answer lies in what the marque represented while it was alive—and why it died. Ettore Bugatti must be considered one of Europe’s most gifted industrialists. He combined business acumen with considerable sensitivities for both design and engineering. Born in 1881, Bugatti began tinkering with all things mechanical at a very young age and even did some racing. Investors bankrolled the construction of the first Bugatti automobile in 1901; a legitimate manufacturing facility was established in Molsheim, France, in 1909. During the ’20s and ’30s Bugatti conquered all manner of motorsport, particularly Grand Prix; the cigarshaped Type 35 is considered a landmark GP machine, with an impressive list of wins and championships to its credit. At the opposite end of the scale, the six…

Debate continues over whether or not Lincoln and Cadillac belong in the truck business. The former has been around since 1917, the latter was founded 100 years ago. And if you don’t count the Escalade and Navigator SUVs or the odd custom-bodied special here and there, each has manager to last this long without building trucks. Why now? Simple: Times change, as do people’s wants, tastes, and needs. At the moment, the market wants trucks and sport/utilities to the tune of one out of every two new vehicles sold. And, like it or not, Lincoln and Cadillac are in business to move metal and earn a. profit? So while ’55 Continental Mark II and ’59 Eldorado convertible collectors may feel the very notion of rigs like the Blackwood and Escalade…

1998 Jeep Cherokee SE Affordable Off-Roadino In 1984, the Jeep Cherokee nameplate was lifted from the aging J10 platform (a la Wagoneer) and dropped on an all-new XJ unibody structure. Similar in size to the S series Blazer and Jimmy from GM, Jeep engineers never guessed that its new go-anywhere/do-anything vehicle would appeal to so many buyers. Sales skyrocketed and, at minimum, held steady for a decade and a half. Ceasing production this year—replaced by the all-new Liberty—the third-generation Cherokee Classic (‘97-’O1) represents genuine Jeep-ness, solid off-road capability, and a good value. Using our ’98 model as an example, base SEs receive a 2.5L/125-hp I-4 mated to a five-speed manual; a three-speed auto also is available. A 4.0L/190-hp l-E and four-speed automatic is optional—and recommended. Value-positioned Sport, upscale Classic, and…

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BMW has its 3 Series, Audi the A4, and Mercedes-Benz the C-Class. While these models are at the lower-price end of the prestige scale, they create tremendous showroom traffic for their manufacturers. Jaguar, which three years ago sold only large, upper-end sedans, luxury sport coupes, and convertibles, is following the Germans' lead with plans to expand its X-Type lineup. The long-rumored S-Type wagon is dead, sources say, because the smaller “entry-level luxury” models are leading the trend toward popularity of sport wagons in both North America and Europe. So while the current version of the S-Type will remain sedan-only, the new X-Type will spawn a sport wagon and possibly a coupe. The X-Type coupe, which will take styling cues from the S-Type-based Jaguar R-Coupe that debuted at Frankfurt (Dec. '01)…

FIRST DRIVE ’03 Nissan 350z An important sports car icon returns Nissan’s product lineup has suffered from a gaping hole since the 300ZX retired after the ’96-model year. Many a magazine cover, including ours, has shown concepts, mockups, and styling models of the car intended to close that wound. It’s just about here, and we’ve driven a late-development prototype that gives a reasonably clear indication of what the new 350Z will be all about. Its 3.5L/260-hp-plus V-6 launches with spirited smoothness, running quickly up to a 6600-rpm redline in each of six gears. If the exhaust note is Italianate, its brakes are almost Germanic in their fortitude. Our initial impressions are of excellent handling, too, thanks to a structurally rigid reardrive chassis shared with the new Skyline/Infiniti G35. The…

Imagine the most beautiful car in the world. How useful would it be if it never moved? That would be the result if style and design didn’t work hand in hand with technology and engineering in the creation of a complete automobile. Engineering goes beyond just engines and suspensions; it’s the way the buttons work—or don’t; it’s how electrical systems perform—or won’t; it’s how a vehicle’s safety equipment can save your life—or can’t. Clearly, number crunches are important. This year’s round of contestants evidenced the many interesting ways manufacturers are obtaining big horsepower from small, or smallish, powerplants. Mercedes-Benz’ AMG uses a new twinscrew helical supercharger that allows its compact, handbuilt 3.2L V-6 to crank out 349 hp—the same as in AMG’s 5.5L V-8. Audi sticks with a naturally aspirated…

Everyone seems to enjoy the innovative, thoughtful, handy, just plain cool features that set one car apart from another. Some goodies are truly innovative; others are just a thoughtful or amusing convenience. You know, the “why didn’t they think of that sooner” kind of stuff. And finally a few are just exercises in gizmology, but what the heck: Toys are for kids of all ages. One uniquely designed aspect of the C230 Sport Coupe is its optional glassroof system. There are two tinted glass roofs: one that’s fixed over the rear-seat area and another that opens above the front seats. Press a button, and twin sunshades deploy to cover them up if you want less sun. Press again, and the large front glass panel slips up on top of the…

One could argue that “Performance = Fun,” so why have another category called Fun Factor? Simple: A fast car isn’t always fun to drive, nor does a fun-to-drive car have to be fast. Zingy performance helps—but it’s not a requirement. It can almost go without saying that BMW’s superlative M3 is a kick. We sampled both coupe and convertible, and interestingly enough, found them enjoyable in different ways. The coupe’s lighter weight and structurally stiffer chassis make it more fun from a pure performance standpoint. But the M3 convert might as well be dubbed the Ultimate Tanning Machine (unless you can afford a Z8!|. The RSX is fun, too, as long as you don’t mind revving it up. When the VTEC variable cam timing system switches to its more aggressive…

Next time you see an electric-green Civic hatchback with ultra-low profile 18-in. Nitto tires on Konig Caffeine wheels, a 4000-watt Kenwood blaring the latest industrial metal, West Wings cladding scraping the pavement, and a nasal exhaust note emanating from a 5-in. polished exhaust tip, find the owner and thank him—or her. That kid behind the wheel, the one who refers to grunge as “classic rock” and considers the last air-cooled 911 an antique, is responsible for getting the punch back into the Honda Civic line. Honda trimmed the Civic hatchback out of its North American lineup when it introduced a new, more mainstream Civic sedan and coupe here last year. North American brass say they planned just a one-year hiccup in hatchback supply, but surely the emergence of the Eurocentric…

Only two hybrid-drive vehicles are currently sold in our marketplace: the two-seat Honda Insight and Toyota’s compact Prius sedan. But GM, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler all have pickups or sport/utility vehicles in the works for as early as 2003 that will make use of some level of this fuel-stretching technology. Hybrids employ both a gasoline or diesel-fuel internal-combustion engine and an electric motor with a sophisticated storage battery to power the vehicle. Depending on how the car is driven, a complex computer-based control system manages power from the I.C. engine, the electric motor, or both, to maximize running efficiency, low emissions, and performance. Hybrids conveniently don’t need to plug in to recharge the battery. Charging takes place in two ways: First, power is created via the car’s forward momentum by a…

CRAFTSMAN PORTABLE JUMP STARTER Craftsman’s new, super-compact Portable Jump Starter easily tucks away in your trunk and offers instant power to start cars, trucks, boats, or most any 12-volt-style engine. Featuring Thin Metal Film technology, the internal battery lasts up to six months without recharging and recharges in less than five minutes. A built-in, audible low-battery alarm and charge indicator light alert you of battery condition. The 18-in.-long cables with springloaded clamps are a cinch to hook up, and a built-in lantern provides light during dark nights. We tested the unit and found it not only easy to operate, but it works darn well, too! Plus, its compact size allows us to pack it in our tool kit during road tests. $89.99; 800/377-7414; www.sears.com QUANTUM TEK WHEELS Quantum Tek’s new…

The Rarest ’Bird of All? Every ’55-’57 Thunderbird is a classic, but the 208 factory-supercharged “F-code” ’57s are easily the most desirable—and valuable—of the flock. Ford installed a McCulloch centrifugal supercharger atop the Bird’s 312-cu-in. Y-block V-8. The combo was rated at 300 hp in an effort to compete with the 283-hp fuel-injected ’57 Corvette. This photo, taken by a Petersen photographic staffer in 1956, shows a prototype—perhaps the only?—used to develop the supercharged engine package. The presence of the fifth-wheel device evidences the car’s use for testing, and the “Supercharged” script badging is clearly visible on the rear fender. Then-Editor Walt Woron remembers: “McCulloch’s shop wasn’t too far away from our Los Angeles offices. We were also friendly with Pete DePaolo [1925 Indy 500 winner, then working for Ford…

“Mario Andretti: A Driving Passion” Andretti is the very definition of been there, won that. And there are other books covering his never-to-be-duplicated 40-year career. But none that brings it into such sharp focus as this one. Author Gordon Kirby is highly qualified for the job and clearly had uninhibited access to the subject; this book is refreshing in its un political correctness and isn’t afraid to delve into some of the bad times. Kirby also generated a lot of new, first-person interview material. The text is neatly organized and well balanced. Credit the publisher for high production values and a clean, crisp design. The archival art package is exceptionally comprehensive, from a photo of a one-year old Mario to his appearance at Le Mans in 2000, at age 60.…

ONLY 1 WINNER 27 NEW CARS 10 TOUGH TESTS Bigger isn't always better. But driving, evaluating, testing, and understanding the ins, outs, and relative merits of 27 new cars makes for an interesting—and often intense—process. Motor Trend's Car of the Year award is now well into its sixth decade, and we've never had a greater number of cars to evaluate at once—a lot of work for us and a lot of fun, too. More important, it's good news for you because a field this large means automakers are hard at work designing, developing, and bringing new cars to the marketplace—giving you, the consumer, more choices. Choice is good,…

It’s difficult to describe this category in terms of conventional, dictionary-style definitions. Yet, it’s easily explained by asking some important questions about any particular car. Will I still like it when that new-car smell wears off? Do I still feel good getting in and turning the key? Do I want to keep it or dump it? Does it ease my commute or only make this migraine worse? Does it do what I need a car to do? Can I live with it at least until the lease is up? Any of the sport wagons wins points in this category; they do everything a sedan will do, plus haul more stuff. The Mercedes C320 wagon is an ideal, everyday jewel. It drives nicely, is well appointed, isn’t overly expensive, and has…

Ford revived more than an American icon when it boldly resurrected its unique Thunderbird sports/personal car for 2002. It also, as events would have it, reprised an historic Motor Trend Car of the Year win. Our forefathers here named the ’58 T-Bird—the first of the larger, four-seat versions—as Car of the Year, hailing “the overall concept…that combines safety with performance and comfort with compactness.” For 2002, we’re happy to bestow that honor again, recognizing today’s Thunderbird for how it combines heritage with modernity and pleasure with practicality. We first got an inkling that Ford might be on to something big with this car six months before Car of the Year testing. We were driving and photographing a new ’Bird for the road test that would be our July cover story…

WORLD WAR II WAS HELL on the car business. Automobile factories became tank and weaponry assembly lines. When peace returned, many carmakers, foreign and domestic, picked up where they left off. Some did better than that, thanks to much of the world’s booming postwar economy. But so many others—large and small, grand and pedestrian alike—never recovered. Bugatti was one such nameplate, though there was nothing pedestrian about it. It was, and remains, France’s most revered marque. Thanks to the singular vision and considerable influence of VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech, Bugatti’s renaissance for this new century has begun. The nameplate has come and gone over the years (see sidebar), but now appears to be safe atop VW’s impressive roster of makes. Much has happened since VW’s acquisition of rights to the…

There’s no question there are major challenges to overcome before fuelcell-powered cars reach the road. The rewards, nonetheless, can be great. Fuel cells feed on hydrogen. There are obviously no refueling stations for hydrogen, and creating the fueling infrastructure would be seriously expensive. But there may be a solution to this problem. The auto industry’s great hope is that research will some day allow the extraction of hydrogen from gasoline using an on-board “reformer.” This conversion device, however, is costly and complicated. Current prototype reformers are bulky, use expensive (platinum group) metals, have cold-start delays, and require the gasoline to have a near-zero sulfur content. Industry estimates put the today’s price of a reformer/fuel-cell powerplant at about 10 times that of a conventional powertrain. But 15 years ago, the price…

WHAT’S HOT: • Serious performance • finally, a six-speed • well-tuned ride/handling balance WHAT’S NOT:* How much?!?! overwrought styling not for everyone • extra hardware/trim adds many pounds Blue Ovalites have been begging Ford for a 400-plus-hp Mustang so they can go play with Corvettes and finally brush those pesky 320-hp Camaro guys aside for good. Ford hasn’t gotten there yet, but Saleen Performance has, in the form of its new for ’02 Saleen S281-E. The E, for “Extreme,” goes far beyond the usual bolt-on power route, with a highly internally modified version of Ford’s 4.6L SOHC V-8. Saleen developed and builds this new engine in house, under the eyes of powerplant guru Bill Tally and chief engineer Neil Hannemann. You may recognize the latter as the guy who taught…

’01 Acura MDX In this Acura’s previous update, we reported what we suspected was an errant airbag warning light. It turned out to be one of the MDX’s many safety systems, just doing its job. If you place something like a briefcase—or a small child—in a seat and the belt isn’t fastened, the seat sensors pick up on it, and the warning light comes on. As it should, to alert you of a potentially dangerous situation. So no problem here. Otherwise, the MDX has proven everything we expected it to be. The most maddening aspect is the one we noted in our 2001 Sport/Utility of the Year article: Having to fuss your way through the nav screen just to adjust the HVAC system is a serious ergonomic design flaw—it drives…