Innehållsförteckning för February 2002 från MotorTrend

As you’ve probably figured MW out by now, this month’s issue focuses on sports cars. So it’s only appropriate we begin with three sports-car design studies that stood out among all the strange little commuter-box concepts at the 35th Tokyo Motor Show. Looking vaguely like an angry Jimmy Durante, the F400 Carver is Mercedes-Benz’ latest research show toy. It’s jammed with the automaker’s latest techno-developments, including brake- and steer-by-wire. The coolest trick up the F400’s sleeve is active camber control. Electro-hydraulics adjust the alignment of the front wheels on a curve from 0° to 20° of camber. The result is 1.28 g of cornering force, says M-B. Many feel Nissan’s Skyline GT-R concept was the hit of the show, and nonlocal fans of this nameplate were pleased that its maker…

Lancer-based SUV will be toughened for America Mitsubishi is expanding its sport/ute line into the sizzling car-based segment with the Airtrek, a current Japanese model that offers a look at things to come. At 103.3 in., the Airtrek has a near-identical wheelbase to the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Sante Fe, yet it’s a few inches shorter than both at 173.6. Spun off the Lancer platform, the Airtrek adapts its MacPherson-strut front and multilink rear suspension; it borrows the all-wheel-drive system from the rally-bred Evolution VII. The Airtrek employs four-cylinder engines, with a 2.0L base and gasoline direct-injection 2.4L uplevel option both falling short on power compared to its U.S.-prepped rivals. However, Mitsubishi will fit the 2.4L/l40-hp I-4 from the Galant in the U.S. model for more grunt, also making this…

’03 Jaguar S-Type/S-Type R 400 hp, a fresh interior, and more for Coventry’s midsize sport/lux sedan We don’t even have room here to talk about all that’s up with the S-Type for the ’03 model year. The biggest news is a much-anticipated, ultra-performance variant called the S-Type R. With the BMW M5 clearly in its crosshairs, the R packs a supercharged 400-hp DOHC V-8, along with suspension, brake, rolling stock, interior, and appearance upgrades. Naturally aspirated S-Types get a workover as well. The V-8 model’s 4.0L/281-hp powerplant grows to 4.2L and an even 300 hp. Backing the more powerful engine is Jaguar’s first-ever six-speed automatic transmission; 17-in. wheels/tires will now be standard. The 3.0L V-6’s output remains 240 hp, but a five-speed manual will be offered for the first time;…

Sports cars are back. You may have thought they never left, but it was dicey there for a while. Some 25 years ago. cars that even whispered the notion of performance were a no-no. Legislators were researching the viability of outlawing the open/convertible body style for “safety reasons.” Sports-car makers practically raced each other to leave the North American marketplace: MG, Triumph, Lotus, Fiat, just to name a few. Even Ferrari struggled. The mid to late ’90s was the beginning of this most recent sports-car renaissance: Boxster, C5 Corvette, Z3, SLK. Then, a revamped Miata—-which has become the world’s best-selling sports car. A new 911. The return of the MR2. And a fresh wave of big guns like the Ferrari 360 Modena, Porsche GT2, and BMW Z8. Why? Several reasons.…

WHEN MASERATI RETREATED EROM THE NORTH American marketplace a dozen years ago, it was awash in marginal products, a so-so-at-best dealer/support organization, and a well-earned reputation for lousy reliability. Well, forget all that. Since being acquired by Ferrari in 1998, this legendary Italian carmakerhas been turned upside down and inside out. The truly good stuff was wisely and sensitively retained; the rest was tossed in a dumpster somewhere on the outskirts of Modena. There’s been substantial plant and equipment investment (see sidebar) in the name of vehicle quality and an ambitious growth plan. A successful return to the U.S. is an important element in the marques future. And the car charged with leading that comeback is the Maserati Spyder. If you’ve seen the current 3200 GT coupe (never officially imported…

The very definition of hellfire and brimstone THE MURCIELAGO’S 6.2L/571-HP V-12 DOESN’T JUST START. IT IGNITES. After a few cranks, this all-alloy 12 lights off with a barrel-chested whump that will draw a smile on the face of anyone who really loves cars. Lamborghini has wisely seen fit not to isolate out all this mesmerizing noise. A few wonderfully mechanical vibrations also are retained: Run the tach up to about 4000 revs, stab the gas pedal, and it’ll send a tingly buzz up and down your spine. The twin large-bore center-exit exhaust pipes resemble a Navy destroyer’s anti-aircraft cannons. In spite of the fact that the Murcielago is a wholly more sophisticated piece than the Diablo it replaces, a few sharp edges remain. This all-new Lambo was one of the…

Today’s truck buyers want comfort features that at least match those available in passenger cars. In fact, with many extended-cab trucks doing double duty as work machine and passenger mover, we’re not surprised to see big-amp multi-speaker sound systems, leather-seating surfaces, real wood trim, and even satellite navigation setups. In this case, we’d be hard pressed to say whether the Cadillac or the Lincoln had the plushest cabin. Both were trimmed with Jag-style wood and extra-smooth leather. Keebler wrote, “The wood and leather wheel in the Escalade looks premium, and the instrumentation is a visual feast day or night. But the wheel’s molded plastic airbag cover appears low-budget.” The subtle contrasting shades of gray leather in the Denali also caught our attention. But several editors thought the plastic wood bits…

Remember when trucks were regarded as workhorses or construction site haulers? Today, that simply isn’t the case. Last year, the Big Three collectively sold more pickups than cars or sport/utilities. Why? Because trucks are today’s go-anywhere/do-anything-anytime conveyances. They’re asked to provide daily transportation to work, haul clients, shuttle the kids, take the whole gang away for weekends in the woods, and haul home-improvement supplies for those honey-do projects. Today’s truck buyer demands maximum versatility and function along with the safety, convenience, and entertainment capabilities found only in premium luxury cars a few years back. From the onset, we knew the Avalanche was a solid Truck of the Year contender. We continually gravitated back to this new Chevy for its potent powertrains, commodious interior, feature content, aggressive styling, workaday capability, and…

Paxton Lincoln Blackwood Funny thing: Although the new Lincoln Blackwood is just hitting the streets, aftermarket tuners are already offering a plethora of performance parts to hop up this new luxotruck. Case in point is Paxton Automotive, which debuted a decidedly over-the-top Blackwood at the 2001 SEMA show in Las Vegas. You’d expect a show toy from a supercharger company to be mostly about power, and it is. The Blackwood’s stock 5.4L DOHC V-8 has been fitted with Paxton’s Novi 2000 centrifugal supercharger that adds 8 psi of boost to the equation. Doing so increases rear-wheel power by an impressive 65 percent, all of which is easy to feel. This Blackwood is also fitted with Paxton’s new liquid-cooled intercooler setup that reduces intake charge temp and the risk of pinging,…

Q A tire on my 2000 Chevy Tahoe LT was found to be defective. The dealer will replace it, but with 9800 miles on the vehicle, I’m concerned the new tire will be significantly different in circumference from the others. Might that difference cause wear and tear to the limited-slip differential?—Brian Lewis, Ladera Ranch, Calif. A With that amount of mileage, wear should not reduce the size of the original tires to the point where the limited-slip would see enough speed difference to work. If the difference does seem significant, put the new tire on the front, or use the spare tire (if it’s fullsize). Q My 10,000-mile conversion van has a rear axle whine between 47 and 52 mph that gets worse as I accelerate. The noise has been…

2001 Mitsubishi Montero In a world of crossover, car-based SUVIettes, you’ll never mistake the Montero for anything other than the real deal. Don’t misunderstand: crossovers have their place for folks who spend the majority of their time on pavement and whose four-wheeling extends no further than the occasional dirt or snow-covered mountain road. The Montero is the opposite, however, as it’ll go places most of its owners will never take it. In daily use, it still feels tallish and has more body roll than most are comfortable with; yet those same attributes make it the off-roader that it is. The interior is an awfully friendly place: lots of room in every dimension, neat fold-away third-row seat arrangement, nice materials, comfy seats, and reasonable quiet, too. Horsepower? Just adequate under a…

Isuzu Begin Funkybox wasn’t this show’s wackiest concept Why does Tokyo have far wackier concepts than any other big-time, international auto show? It’s because the city is its own crowded planet, one in which designers are challenged to maximize interior space within a small exterior. Throw in a cultural obsession with gadgets and strict government mandates that encourage small-displacement engines, and you have a creative atmosphere far different from that of the West. One more reason: It’s Japan’s carmakers just letting loose, its stylists allowed to go far beyond designing what’s useful and practical. Tokyo means art for art’s sake—not much different from the Detroit dream cars of the socially repressed ’50s. Highlights from the 35th Tokyo Motor Show include Isuzu’s Z-E-N, a van with Renault-ish styling outside, stowaway seats…

The Insight’s innovative technology expands to popular compact Until this latest Civic hybrid, we had an uneasy feeling that we were participating in a science experiment when driving production hybrid-drive cars. But this neat little sedan’s powertrain polish, steering precision, overall ride, and road poise make the experience quite like driving a well-executed conventionally powered compact. The automatic transmission-equipped four-door we drove felt peppy, solid, and downright normal. Like Honda’s efficient but seemingly fragile Insight hybrid two-seater, the Civic employs a gasoline engine for its main propulsion; the difference is the use of a four-cylinder within the Integrated Motor Assist system, instead of the Insight’s three-banger, to handle extra vehicle and passenger weight. A brushless, DC electric motor supplements the internal-combustion engine with additional torque for more thrust, lower emissions,…

Freshened image, upgraded interior, and new suspension for Lincoln’s strong-selling sport/utility Lincoln’s updated Navigator breaks cover at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show, boasting a new hydroformed frame, rack- and-pinion steering, independent rear suspension, a cleaned-up yet familiar exterior, and an all-new interior. The uprated cabin portends the interiors of all future Lincolns and features satin-nickel trim and a white light glow to the instrument panel, audio systems, and switchgear. Other wow items include a power fold-down third-row seat and a standard power tailgate on toplevel models. The latter is also offered with optional power retracting runningboards. In an effort to benchmark luxury cars, as well as trucks, in terms of handling and steering characteristics, Lincoln has fitted the Navigator with a short/long-arm air-spring-equipped independent rear suspension. The IRS makes…

Name one way a great car can become instantly greater. Simple: more horsepower. How serious is Chevy’s updated Z06 about becoming an instantly greater Corvette? At least 20 horsepower worth; it’s now rated at 405, as opposed to last years already impressive 385. Even with the bite provided by its monster Goodyears, launching this blue rocket required a cool la-ad and a gentle toe. At just 2000 rpm. traque-easily overwhelmed available traction and made us wish for drag slicks. With just the right amount of clutch and throttle feathering. Ute ’02 Z06 will (ire off four-second runs to 60 all day long and will consistently hit 101) mph in less than 9.5 sec. Yet for all its dragstrip-worthy acceleration, it offers brakes and suspension that make it a legit sports…

Big things are happening on Viale Giro Menotti Maserati moved from Bologna to its current location near the center of Modena in 1939. Its wonderful red-clay and blue-colored buildings were long ago declared historical properties by the city. But their insides-meaning Maserati’s production processes had grown old and tired. A major element of the company’s renaissance centers around a multi-year $250 million renova-tion and expansion plan. The current structures have been faithfully restored externally, while the interiors were completely gutted to make room for all-new up-to-date assemblyline fixtures. A multilevel parking structure and new executive office building are under construction, which will clear valuable acreage for new paint facilities, a machine line, and yet more assembly space. The first time I visited the Maserati works, there was no such thing…

Luckily, we didn’t shear off a wheel, pretzel a frame, or puncture a sump. But 2002 still goes down as one of the longest, toughest Truck of the Year competitions ever. MTs staff assembled in California and put six all-new or substantively remodeled trucks across 1000 miles of highway, over winding two-lanes and desert trails, and through a series of instrumented braking, acceleration, and handling tests. In sunrise-to-sunset flogs, we drove from Pasadena to Barstow to Twenty Nine Palms to too many other places to name. Onroad. off-road, and no-road. Our mission: Select one winner. Our six factory-fresh ’02 competitors were the Cadillac Escalade EXT and the Chevrolet Avalanche (each offering General Motors’ innovative Midgate bed system), the allnew and bolder-than-ever Dodge Ram pickup, GMC’s jobrated Sierra 1500HD Crew Cab…

Easily one of the coolest new truck features is the Convert-a-Cab system found in the Escalade EXT and the Avalanche. For now, these are the only vehicles available that can be reconfigured without tools from a closed cabin with a 63-in. closed cargo box to an open cabin with a 97-in. open box for supersize cargo. Just fold down the rear seats, pop out the rear window, and drop the hinged Midgate. One feature of the system, however, caught some editorial static: The bed liner is a high-grip rubber. Matthius noted the problem. “Bedliner is excessively tacky to prevent stuff from sliding around, but it makes it difficult to slide a load in and out.” The most expensive truck tested, the Blackwood, is well equipped with special features. Top among…

Here we focus on precise assembly and the use of handsome, rugged materials inside and out. And we’re happy to say that not one of the six trucks we examined squeaked or rattled—that wasn’t the case in this contest a few years ago. We were particularly impressed with the tight, parallel body gaps on the Dodge and GM trucks. This is one of the important benefits gained from the hydroformed frames and ever-improving quality assurance process. Still, even using conventional frame technology, the Lincoln Blackwood’s exterior and interior got pretty good grades. Kiewicz liked the “beautifully finished stainless bed and the cool LED lighting system.” Keeblerwas impressed with the “precision stitching on the perforated leather seats, handbag-style magnet clasps on the seatback map pockets, and the dash’s well-assembled design.” Praise…

Poland. Hungary. Brazil. Egypt, Italy, Austria, Turkey, and Spain. And at least 30 of the 50 United States. These are just some of the places from where we received entries for this year’s Motor Trend International Design Contest. When we brought the notion of an MT-administered design forum back to life three years ago—our first was held in 1951 —we never dreamed that entrants from so far anc wide would participate. Have we ever learned. We also learned that the automotive design community is a tight-knit group and communicates worldwide via the Internet. It was, in fact, the contestants who spread the word, encouraging others to enter. And enter they did: some 500 submissions, from more than 40 countries. Our mailroom overflowed. Is this a big deal? Well, it certainly…

EVEN BEFORE THE ALL-NEW TOYOTA Tundra took home the Golden Calipers as Motor Trend’s 2000 Truck of the Year, we knew we had to have one for our One-Year-Test fleet. The Tundra was, and remains, an exceptionally significant product for Toyota, as it became the first Japanese automaker to take on Detroit in the full-size pickup class. Quality construction and materials, a carlike interior, and the first V-8 offered in a non-domestic branded pickup showed that Toyota was serious. We took delivery of our Sunfire Red Pearl Tundra 4x4 shortly after its TOY victory. Built in an all-new assembly facility in Princeton, Indiana, our One-Year Tester carried a base price of $25,585. A handful of the most commonly ordered options, including a convenience package ($1060) with power windows/locks, mirror lighting,…

’97’01 BMW 5 Series Still the textbook definition of “midsize sport sedan” BMW’s 5 Series debuted in late 1972 and has since been a major player—often the defining one-in the sport-sedan class. Now in its fourth generation (having undergone a complete redesign for ’97 and winning MTs Import Car of the Year), the 5 Series represents quality and performance in the midsize lux/sport-sedan segment. Using the ’98 model year as an example, the 5 Series was offered in two varieties: six-cylinder 528i and V-8-powered 540i. An important change that year was an all-aluminum suspension that reduced unsprung weight by 46 lb. If you value extra sport in your sport sedan, seek out a car with the optional Sport Package, which includes stiffer springs and shocks, along with 17-in. rims and…

LOOKS DRIVES TESTS Will breaking records build street cred? Volkswagen’s latest exotic-car concept covered 4402.8 miles in 24 hours and broke 10 international endurance records at the high-speed Nardo, Italy, circuit. All that just days before it debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show. So, will the record-setting W12 give the economy-car icon some credibility as a supercar builder? And why build a monster VW when you already own Bugatti and Lamborghini? The answer to the latter is that retiring chief Ferdinand Piech believes VW can compete against Mercedes-Benz (and, apparently, Porsche supercars) in the upper-class segment. That leaves Lambo to battle Ferrari, while Bugatti builds million-dollar 16-cylinder hyperexotics. The VW gets by with four fewer cylinders than the Bugatti; its W12 consists of two 72° four-valve…

Not a rider’s, but a driver’s Caddy We’ve given the look of the Cadillac CTS more than enough time to grow on us. And it hasn’t. Although unquestionably bold and different, its sheetmetal is not particularly premium in appearance to most eyes that see it. That has little to do with how good the allnew midsize Caddy’s powertrain, ride, steering, and handling are. Indeed, this rear-driver is so agile, mechanically polished, and comfortable that it leaps well beyond any car General Motors has executed in 20 years, with the exception of the C5 Corvette. In fact, its overall dynamics closely trace those of the BMW 5 Series sedan, its primary engineering target. At the track, the 3.2L/220-hp V-6 mated to a Getrag five-speed manual transmission helped spool this Catera replacement…

Adding lux and smooth to the mix Rugged, tough, and simple are words associated with Jeep. But now we add luxurious, plush, and in this case, fast. That’s because Jeep is now offering a premium version of the Grand Cherokee, called the Overland. Besides being quite capable off-road, thanks to its Quadra Drive four-wheeling system, the Overland is also a serious onroad device. The reason? A fortified version of DaimlerChrysler’s excellent 4.7L SOHC V-8. This one cranks out 260 hp, as opposed to the standard.version’s 235. Our test gear Bk confirmed a musclecar-like 6.9-sec jump to 60 mph and a brisk—15.4 at 86.6 mph through the quarter. That means it’ll run fender to fender with BMW’s X5 4.4i and well away from domestic competitors. This is no stripped-down hot rod:…

DRIVING ANEW PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 4S (C4S) QUENCHES AN enthusiast’s thirst like nothing else can. It is a sports car, a supercar in every respect, yet it’s also a perfectly practical car for all those days and nights when you’re not tearing through the mountains. However, if you’ve ever been really thirsty—so thirsty that you could chug an entire glass of water without coming up for breath until the last drop is drained—that’s the feeling this new C4S imparts to its first-time driver. In the mountains, or on the way to work, it ravenously consumes the visible landscape at an alarming rate, as if by the mouthful. You just can’t get enough. The ’02 Porsche C4S may be the best Porsche 911 of the current crop of eight variants, which…

Anvil tough doesn’t mean anvil simple. Indeed, today’s trucks are easily as complex to engineer as their passenger-car siblings. With more buyers demanding smoothness and refinement without any loss in toughness, truck engineering may be even more difficult. Lighter, stronger, hydroformed frames are fast becoming a truck-engineering standard. Used under the Dodge Ram and the GM trucks, these closed-wall, high strength foundations ensure precise build quality and excellent ride. A rigid frame allows engineers to tune vibrations and noise out of suspensions while building in ride smoothness, more precise steering, and sharper handling. Chuck Schifsky wrote “great chassis dynamics” with reference to the Dodge Ram 1500 4x4’s highway manners; Chris Walton confirmed that observation: “It’s pretty darn good in the slalom-only a couple trucks are better. It has got a…

Suppose for a moment you’re the top dog of an automobile company. One of your many | priorities is directing clever engineers and talented designers to build a new compact sport sedan, intended to best represent the qualities and strengths of said imaginary car company. What would be on your must-have list? For a few members of the Motor Trend editorial staff, that ideal compact sport sedan grocery list would include an eye-catching yet tasteful exterior and a comfortable, well-appointed cabin that accommodates four adults. It’d be powered by a clean and efficient engine producing around 200 hp, routed through a reliable all-wheel-drive system. While more power would be nice, some of us would rather put the money into the AWD. Of course, four-wheel disc brakes and a well-sorted suspension…

AT LEAST THE INSIDE’S CLEAN! All-season interior care Nobody enjoys driving around in a dirty vehicle, and winter weather can play havoc on a car’s interior. But keeping the inside tidy can pay off in comfort and increase trade-in value when that time comes. Here are some tips to help keep Jack Frost outside. •Vacuum: Nothing destroys carpet fibers faster than dirt. Use the vacs at the coin-op carwash; they have better suction than most home units. • Flip the floormats: mandatory on Motor Trend road trips to dirty locales. The vinyl back cleans up easier than the carpeted side. • Carpet cleaning: For stubborn spots, dampen the area with a quality carpet spot cleaner, then rub with a terrycloth folded into quarters. Keep rubbing and turning the towel until…

Automotive enthusiasts can thank Bill Mitchell fora lot of things. The charismatic, often tyrannic Mitchell served as GM’s vice president of design from 1958 through 1977. Many of the best-ever Corvettes (not to mention many, many other important GM products) were created on his watch. Some were personal pet projects, like the original Mako Shark, which later became the new-for-’68 Corvette. One less than successful venture was this XP-700 concept car that bowed at the New York Auto Show in April 1960. The XP-700 clearly stemmed from the ’60 Vette, then went on a bit of a rampage from there. While its ducktail rear end foreshadowed the look worn by the ’61-’62 models, the front resembled botched plastic surgery. Aircraft canopy-style “bubble tops” were the rage of the day, so…

AGT The best sports car and road racing drivers from around the world, in cars prepared by the top engineers in racing, race wheel to wheel from February to November looking to bring home a championship. It is not the money, trophies or fame… they race to call themselves champions. Congratulations to all the 2001 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series Champions. Team Owner Champion: No. 09 Flis Motorsports Team X-1R Chevrolet Corvette Driver Champions: Doug Goad & Craig Conway (Flis Motorsports) GTS Team Owner Champion: No. 21 Archangel Motorsport Services Nissan Lola Driver Champion: Andy Lally (Archangel Motorsport Services) SRP Team Owner Champion: No. 16 Dyson Racing Team Ford Riley & Scott Driver Champion: James Weaver (Dyson Racing Team) SRII Team Owner Champion: No. 21 Archangel Motorsport Services Nissan…