Innehållsförteckning för November 2002 från MotorTrend

motortrend.com Witness the Hummer H2 Extreme Road Test Motor Trend finds out if the 03 Hummer H2 lives up to the brand’s reputation by undertaking what may be the most extreme road test in this magazine’s 53-year history. Total mileage for this ambitious adventure tops 10,000, with over 800 miles on unpaved roads. The journey starts in Alaska, where the editors travel 400 miles into the Arctic Circle, then begin driving south to their ultimate destination: Key West, Florida. Halfway through the test at press time, the H2 faces desert-to-mountain challenges, while the editors chronicle the arduous trek online with text, photos, and video. The full report will appear in a future issue, but you can go behind the scenes now at motortrend.com to see if man and machine survive.…

General Motors’ first non-Cadillac Performance Division car will be a hot V-8 version of the ’04 Pontiac Grand Prix. The car will be powered by an all-new multivalve V-8, said to be less than 4.0L, yet making 300-plus hp, with variable valve timing. The Performance Division Grand Prix will be front (not all-wheel) drive to control costs and will debut within a year of the quotidian Grand Prix. That next generation of the midsize Pontiac, which carries over many components from the current car, debuts next fall as a four-door sedan only. The coupe is being retired.…

When the British Motor Corporation exported the original Mini to the U.S., it sold about 10,000 from 1960 to 1967. Who would’ve dreamed that, within five months of its North American debut, the new Mini Cooper would already surpass that total? Almost 3000 were sold in July alone, putting it ahead of the Jaguar X-Type and Land Rover Freelander, the two best-selling British vehicles available in the U.S. A few years ago BMW wasn’t even sure there would be a market for the Mini Cooper here. It reasoned Americans, with their love for big sport/utility vehicles, would shun the smallest car on the road. Nonetheless, the Mini’s success follows the path of other headline-grabbing new models such as the PT Cruiser and the New Beetle. How well are they doing…

Think big carmakers can’t successfully produce niche-market cars? Aston Martin isn’t a big carmaker, but it’s owned by one—Ford. Dearborn and Ford’s Premier Automotive Group management are supporters of Aston’s freedom to dream, the results of which aren’t likely to get any more dreamlike than the DB7 Zagato. The original DB4GT Zagato (only 19 were built in 1961), remains a high watermark among Astons. The premise was elegantly simple: a stunning, light alloy body, designed and built by Italian carrozzeria Zagato, draping a shortened DB4 chassis and powertrain. Today’s DB7 Zagato concept, the third collaboration between these two companies, relies on much the same principles. The standard DB7 chassis is shortened by 60 mm in the wheelbase and 211mm overall. It’s wrapped in shapely aluminum skin conceived by Aston’s…

Since Kia sold its first vehicle in the U.S. eight years ago, the Korean automaker has been known for inexpensive small cars and SUVs. In a bold step to expand market share, the company has introduced an SUV that ventures deeply onto crowded midsize sport/utility turf. But going up against the likes of the Grand Cherokee means expectations are high in regard to styling, power, off-road prowess, and liveability. Does Kia deliver? The body-on-frame Sorento could be mistaken for a Lexus RX 300 at first glance, not a bad source of styling inspiration. Two trim levels, base LX and upscale EX, dictate whether a monochromatic or two-tone finish graces the body. Power comes from an aluminum 3.5L V-6, churning out 192 hp and 217 Ib-ft of torque. Rated to…

Though Jaguar’s XJ sedan lineup received substantial updates in ’90, ’95, and ’98, its basic platform and dimensions date back more than 15 years. As handsome as the current car remains, an overhaul has been overdue. Here it is, new from scratch, and for all its fresh technology and luxury feature content, the ’04 XJ still says “elegance.” As with the Audi A8, the new XJ’s chassis and most of its bodywork are made of aluminum. The structure is lighter, yet substantially stiffer, than that of its predecessor. According to Jaguar design chief Ian Callum, “The new XJ is a luxury car with a true sense of gravitas. The proportions, stance, and obvious dynamic quality clearly display that all-important Jaguar DNA and give it real presence on the road.”…

Looking at chassis dyno numbers and the squiggly lines that engines trace during a pull to redline is both dull and interesting. It’s dry and a bit unreal because it isolates the engine and the rest of the driveline from the symphony of the vehicle’s steering, suspension, and braking systems. The vehicle is chained or strapped to the dynamometer rig and turns a large drum with its tires in one gear. This rotational energy is then measured electronically and calculated into max net power and torque figures at specific rev points. Our figures are measurements taken directly from the tire-contact patch. Because of frictional losses in the car’s driveline, the readings on a chassis dyno are less than the engine’s horsepower rating if it were measured on an engine dyno…

In April 1964, Ford’s sporty Mustang hit town and created a whole new category of American car. After 22,000 were sold the first day, the Mustang’s success took everyone—including GM management—by surprise. They were hoping the redesigned ’65 Corvairs, particularly the turbocharged Monza or drop-top Spyder versions, would give Chevrolet competitive entries in the emerging ponycar segment. But it took just three more months and another 100,000 Mustang sales to demonstrate to corporate decision-makers the market potential and to underscore GM’s urgent need for a competitive response. Fortunately, the corporation was already developing a new type of construction for a planned small car, the Nova. Combining unitized chassis/body structure from the firewall back, this approach added a bolt-on stub frame carrying the front suspension and engine. With this head start,…

“So, you ever worked on cars before?” I heard this question a lot my first day on the job with Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Winston Cup team. Usually, the person asking was looking me up and down and clearly wondering How This Chump Ever Got Through The Door. Actually, I was on official business: Motor Trend sent me here to learn the ropes of Cup racing. My job for the week would be to act as a fully competent mechanic for Dale Earnhardt Jr., even though, well, I’m the kind of guy who knows what a latte is and tends to enjoy cars featuring independent suspension. Upon departure, my girlfriend pinched my cheeks and offered a verbal pie in the face: “Good luck, tough guy.” Tuesday Arriving for work at Dale…

2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SE It’s no mystery why Toyota sells over 400,000 Camrys a year. These cars don’t represent greatness in the emotional sense (as Senior Editor Ron Sessions states, ‘The Camry lacks a soul, even with a rear spoiler”), but it does represent great goodness, superb reliability, and endearing quality—it may be vanilla, but it’s definitely Dreyer’s Dreamery. The Camry drives superbly, handles smartly, and is more than comfortable for long cross-country jaunts. While most OEMs are turning to electro-laden interiors, the Camry’s simplistic knobs and buttons are a refreshing change. Cargo-carrying capacity is first rate, and with the rear seats folded, hauling large items (even lumber) is an easy chore. As the odometer nears the 20,000 mark, our complaints are few: We wish for an additional 25 hp,…

IMAGINE THE LOOK ON YOUR FRIENDS’ FACES IF YOU DRIVE UP IN THE FORD MUST AN WACH 1. IT COMES FULLY LOADED AND GUARANTEED TO EXCITE. AND SOMEBODY IS GOING TO WIN IT. SO GRAB YOUR PEN, FILL OUT THE ATTACHED CARD AND DROP IT IN THE MAIL. DO IT TODAY. SUBSCRIBE TO MOTOR TREND TODAY AND SAVE 75% OFF THE COVER PRICE. GET 1 YEAR FOR $ 12. You’ll get so much - like pulse-quickening rides in the fastest street-legal machines… sneak previews of the hottest concept cars… rigorous head to-head tests of hot cars, trucks, and SUVs. Plus you’ll get a front row seat for MOTOR TREND’S coveted Car- and Truck-of-the-Year Awards. Mail the attached card today. Or send payment with your order to: MOTOR TREND, P.O. Box…

briefs As we approach the winter of 2002, it’s critical to remember that many analysts and pundits predicted Ford Motor Co. would overtake General Motors in market share before year’s end. Now, GM is refreshed and ready to battle the world’s automakers with (and here’s a scoop) a new sheetmetal-fabrication process that will allow it to build a steel-bodied Cadillac XLR alongside a plastic-paneled Corvette by ’06. And there’s more punch coming from the General’s Performance Division, including (another scoop) a V-8-powered Pontiac Grand Prix for the first time in more than a decade. Which isn’t to say that everyone else is sit ting still. It’s a fluid, dynamic business, with all players advancing—some more quickly than others. Ford Launches Performance Group—With new competition from Chrysler’s Performance Vehicle Operations and…

Environmentalists are rejoicing over rumors that Ford is going to kill the biggest sport/utility vehicle known to man for ’04. The rumors are true, but Greenies may want to temper their reaction. The Excursion will be replaced in model-year ’04 by a new, extended-body Ford Expedition. The new Expedition, the name of which is not yet known, gives the line two versions, like the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL. Lincoln plans no such extended version of its Navigator SUV and will concentrate future product on cars instead. When the Excursion debuted in the ’99-model year, the Sierra Club dubbed it the “Ford Valdez,” after the Exxon tanker that spilled millions of gallons of oil off the coast of Alaska. Though certain environmentalists are lining up to take credit for…

LOOK DRIVES TESTS “We celebrate the spirit of a small Italian car company.”—Luca di Montezemolo, chairman and managing director, Ferrari SpA Ferrari does this every so often: Dipping into a vast reservoir of racing technology and aesthetics, the Maranello engineers create a limited-availability road car with strong competition-car echoes. In ’87, celebrating the company’s 40th anniversary, it was the raw, 480-hp F40, reputedly the last model personally approved by Enzo Ferrari. In ’95, we got the 520-hp F50. Now, almost suggesting a zenith in this line, Ferrari presents the Enzo Ferrari, named—lovingly, if a bit awkwardly—for the founder. Why use his name, and why now? Chairman Luca di Montezemolo explains what was clearly an emotional issue for him. “It’s so unique, so personal, so innovative, this…

Body-on-frame sport/utilities seem to have taken a back seat to the latest, often car-based, unibody models. However, when the road morphs into a pack-mule grade or heavy-duty towing is part of the picture, the inherent strength of a separate frame is often an advantage. The fourth-generation ’03 4Runner retains its separate frame/body configuration and is available in three trim levels: SR5, Sport, and top-line Limited. Offered in 2WD and 4WD, it boasts an optional V-8 for the first time. Using the same 4.7L/235-hp DOHC V-8 as in the Sequoia, the 4Runner has no trouble merging into traffic, as well as pulling a fair-size trailer. An all-new 245-hp DOHC aluminum V-6 is standard, and, frankly, it’s all the engine most buyers will need. Techno aids include Downhill Assist Control for…

Almost enough of a good thing OHV V-8 (rated at 218 hp and 300 Ib-ft of torque) offers nearly a 20-percent jump in output over the previous Discovery’s 4.0L V-8. The huskier motor notwithstanding, the combination continues to feel underpowered and sluggish around town, but comes alive at full-throttle, and off-the-line acceleration feels stronger as well. Other significant improvements include an upgraded four-wheel-disc system, a super-smart load-leveling setup (able to manually or automatically adjust during towing or difficult terrain situations), and a new jewellike headlight arrangement, resembling that on the all-new Range Rover. The freshened Discovery still drives like most traditional, ladder-frame SUVs and offers the added benefit of Land Rover’s exclusive—and outstanding—active handling suspension (Active Cornering Enhancement). For challenging 4x4 tasks, the Discovery remains a mud, rock, and…

Fact: U.S. sales of trucks and sport/utilities are increasing. Problem: Subaru doesn’t make traditional trucks or SUVs (the Forester is really a high-roof wagon). Solution: Take the popular Legacy Outback, lop off the roof aft of the rear doors, add structural reinforcements and 6 in. of overall length to the wagon’s floor that now forms a mini pickup bed. Result: Baja! Like the Chevy Avalanche, the Baja melds the attributes of a four-door wagon/SUV with a (very) shortbed pickup. How short? The bed runs 41.5 in. with the tailgate up, room aplenty for two 20-gal trees and several 50-lb bags of mulch. Or add the dealer-installed tubular bed extender, flip down the tailgate, and bed length rises to 75 in.—space for a pair of mountain bikes and camping gear.…

BY 1927, GENERAL MOTORS had been incorporated and the Buick Motor Company was its premium division and most popular seller, and they sent for the one man in the country who could take them to the next level. The telegram reached Harley Earl on the 15th hole of the Los Angeles Country Club. He boarded the California Limited in Los Angeles, hopped off in Detroit, and never looked back. His first official assignment as GM’s first official styling chief was to build a Buick he would want to drive.…

AT THE APEX OF HIS CAREER, Harley Earl created Motorama, an annual extravaganza that started its season at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria, then traveled the country in a convoy of air-conditioned trucks. Crowds came by the thousands for a sneak peek of Harley Earl’s visions for the future, and maybe to catch a glimpse of the man himself. Blending chrome with couture, speed with fashion, Motorama was a dizzying and dazzling display of the mind of a man who long ago brought the glamour of Hollywood to the grit of Detroit. As the ’50s became the ’60s, the curtain fell on Motorama and the amazing career of Harley Earl. In 1959, he took the stage one last time, tipped his fedora to the crowd, bent his six foot four frame into…

Cadillfac’s edgy-looking GTS luxury? sport sedan is a runaway sales success, and although its performance doesn’t match levels offered by targets like the BMW 330i and Infiniti G35, a factory-issued response, in the form of the V-8 powered CTS-V, is on the way. But if you don’t want to wait, or if you already own a CTS, Lund Cadillac has some goodies that’ll get you at least part way to V-levels of handling and punch. This particular CTS was treated to a bucket full of Lund-developed or sourced components. The stock 3.2L V-6 benefits from a free-breathing Volant fresh-air intake and a B&B low-restriction cat-back exhaust system. The upgrades team to deliver a claimed 20-hp gain and yield a decidedly more aggressive sound. It’s still no powerhouse, but the engine…

OUR PREVIOUS ONE-YEAR TEST BOXSTER—-A STANDARD-SPEC, manual-trans-equipped ’98—proved to be a “list car.” We liked it a lot, but everyone who drove it came up with a list of suggested improvements. “Needs more horsepower. How about a six-speed? Wish the interior materials were nicer. The top could use more insulation to reduce noise levels. The suspension is great, but an even sportier/sharper version would be cool. Needs more torque, too.” There’s no way Porsche could’ve had our wish list in hand when it developed the Boxster S, because that One-Year Test wasn’t even complete by the time the uprated S was on the drawing board. The result would make you think the gang from Stuttgart was reading our minds the whole way, since the Super Boxster addresses virtually every concern…

Since its earliest days, Jaguar has built sedans that embody its vaunted slogan: “Grace, space, pace.” The XJ Series was launched in 1968, and the fifth-generation models that came along in 1995 represented the first major overhaul since Ford purchased the marque in the late ’80s. There were four versions from which to choose: base XJ6 and Vanden Plas models powered by a revamped 4.0L/245-hp AJ16 straight-six-cylinder engine, the XJ12 fitted with a 6.0L7313-hp V-12, and the XJR, a performance-oriented sedan packing a supercharged 4.0L straight-six that generated 322 hp. Performance from the first two was more than adequate, while the V-12 delivered smooth, locomotive-grade pulling power. The XJR, while not packing the punch of today’s supercharged V-8 R, also served up impressive go-power. All were less than frugal with…

According to automotive illustrator Mark Stehrenberger, Ford’s all-new ’05 Mustang GT will feature styling details that recall the ’67 Mustang GT, with that model’s rally lamps framing a horizontal chrome trim bar. This differs from the base Mustang V-6 that, as we’ve reported earlier, features a grille similar to the ’68 ponycar’s. The new Mustang was to be introduced in late 2003 as an ’04 model, then a delay pushed launch to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the first car, which debuted in April 1964. Now, it looks like the new Mustang will be ready in time for a traditional fall 2004 launch, although we’ll probably see an official unveiling earlier in 2004, possibly at the New York Auto Show and in time for that 40th anniversary. The new…

Cadillac’s ’04 XLR, which has a sheet-molding-compound (SMC) plastic skin, will be replaced after just two model years with a new design rendered in steel. General Motors will continue to build the sheetmetal XLR alongside the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette, which continues as an SMC-bodied car in the same factory, thanks to a new metal-fabricating procedure. The revolutionary procedure is designed to allow such factory flexibility, a source says. The new ’05 C6 Corvette also will get a face-lift as early as the ’06-model year, another source adds, to allow for some changes that GM product czar Bob Lutz wants made to the sports car. That means the ’05 could be a very rare machine. Changes to the XLR for ’06 will be significant, although the new styling will still reflect…

General Motors’ executives, designers, product specialists, and public-relations types felt they could get extra ink by slipping us sketches of some of next-year’s dream machines. Okay, it worked. It’s important to note the three design studies featured here are cars. GM’s product lineup is generally strong in the truck and sport/utility area, so the company’s management is intent on making it clear it’s putting focus on cars again—particularly of the performance variety. These illustrations are enthusiastically overstated. Expect the actual cars to be tamer. Real details, such as production possibilities and powertrain specs, have yet to be released. The company will use auto-show media and public reaction to gauge whether or not these concepts have a future—either as entire vehicles or as cues that’ll show up on tomorrow’s renditions…

On the surface, the ALMS TT’s reason for being is to commemorate Audi’s American Le Mans Series wins and championships. Which it does. But it also represents the most performance-oriented iteration of Audi’s wonderfully Bauhaus sports car: closed coupe body, 225-hp turbo-four/six-speed combo, quattro AWD, and a handsome new 18-in. wheel-and-tire combo. Just 1000 ALMS editions will be built, all of them sporting this coupe/high-output/manual-trans configuration. Choose between Misano red over silver/gray Nappa leather interior or Avus Silver over red. We don’t normally go for the tacky stripes and otherwise overadornment that often comes with commemorative models, but a discrete AudiSport or ALMS badge might have actually been cool. The ALMS does prove to be the “driver’s TT.” It handles with confidence and precision, all controls offering a nice…

At the heart of this voluptuous four-passenger coupe lies Nissan’s gutsy VQ35DE-series V-6. In rear drive, the 3.5L six produces a V-8-rivaling 280 hp and 270 Ib-ft of torque. Coupled to our tester’s six-speed manual transmission (a five-speed auto is available), the kinetic thrust and intoxicating voice of this drivetrain cannot be overstated. From a mere 2000 rpm up to its 6600rpm redline, the G35 Coupe first groans with anticipation then sings with delight. If you could squint your ears, you’d swear it’s a V-12. Our 700-mile first test was extensive. Onlookers gawked at the Coupe’s sensually sculpted skin then stood slack-jawed as we leapt into traffic. Imagine classic Italian GT proportions mixed with an equal part British GT design restraint. Put it all through a modern Japanese filter,…

More. This is what GMC gives buyers with the new XL version of Motor Trend’s ’02 Sport/Utility of the Year winner. The ’03 Envoy XL has a 13-in.-longer wheelbase than the standard Envoy, allowing a third-row seat to slip in. There are now two engine choices: the 4.2L/275-hp I-6 and a new, all-aluminum OHV 5.3L/290-hp V-8. Order the V-8 and torque ratchets up from the straight-six’s 275 Ib-ft to 325. This translates into more towing capability, 7200 Ib in 2WD compared to 5900 Ib for a 2WD I-6 model. Both engines use regular unleaded fuel, and V-8 mileage should only be about 1 mpg less than the 4.2’s. Available in 2WD and 4WD, the Envoy XL tips the scale at about 300 Ib heavier than the Envoy, so the…

If you’ve ever questioned the Viper or C5 Corvette’s prowess as sports cars (as opposed to being thought of as just straight-liners), consider the success each has enjoyed in professional road racing. Fewer than four years after the Viper’s introduction, Dodge itself commissioned the racing GTS-R coupe. The result was multiple FIA GT championships and back-to-back-to-back GTS class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (not to mention an outright win at the Daytona 24). Chevy met the Mopar boys where they lived with the creation of the Corvette C5R, which is successfully carrying the mantle: So far, it’s earned consecutive class championships at Le Mans (last year and this year) and also bagged an overall victory at Daytona. Who said American cars can’t be made to go around…

Standing six foot four in his two-tone shoes, Harley Earl towered over every other giant of the American car business. Part Botticelli, part P.T. Barnum, this Renaissance man in the snap-brim fedora created the tail fin, the concept car, the auto show, and the very idea that a car not only could be — but should be — a public declaration of personal style. Welcome to the story, improbable but true, of America’s greatest car designer, and of the car company where his spirit still lives today.…

FRESH FROM CALIFORNIA, Harley Earl blew into Detroit like the Santa Ana winds. He started shaping the future of car design by sculpting models from clay instead of wood, which allowed for dramatic curves and swooping rooflines. "Longer, lower, wider" became his mantra. He pushed his design ideas to the extreme when he invented the concept of the "concept car." His first concept, the Buick Y-Job, emulated the streamlined look of fighter planes of the era. The most daring and radical experimental design of Harley Earl’s career bore a name that still rides the road today: LeSabre.…

Luxury. Ingenuity. Power. The touchstones of Harley Earl’s styling philosophy inhabit every Buick that rolls off the line today. From the curves to the chrome, from the muscular engines to the whisper-silent interiors, from the fit and finish to the spit and polish, today’s Buicks are direct descendants and living legacies of America’s greatest car designer. To drive a Buick is to feel what Harley felt. To drive a Buick is to know what Harley knew. felt. To drive a Buick is to know what Harley knew. buick.com…

The Dodge Charger III concept car hails from 1969. Press materials of the day highlighted its “jet-aircraft-type canopy, swing-away steering wheel, elevating bucket seats, and spoiler-type air-brake flaps.” We wish we knew what “elevating bucket seats” were all about, but the notion sounds fascinating. It’s obvious rearward visibility wasn’t much of a concern. It is clear, however, that Dodge was aiming for its share of the Corvette’s audience; the frontend styling smacks of the Mako Shark-inspired third-generation Vettes. The Charger design team must have had a photo of the Peter Brock-designed Shelby Daytona Cobra Type 65 hanging in the studio, as that car’s overall proportions and sawed-off Kamm tail are unmistakably present on the Charger, in profile and from the rear. The Charger III remained a stillborn dream machine, and…