Subaru, Saab, BMW, VW/Audi etc... will be sharing the compact and premium compact markets with the new Volvo S40. Volvo may have a winner with this car, if they have a quality feel. The storage compartment behind the floating console is one of the better design features I have seen on any new car. I am always annoyed by where my wifes shoulder bags end up while riding with her in our cars, the ability to stow bags in this area is innovated to say the least. Volvo has aways been a favorite brand amongst the educated female market, with their reputation of safety minded products. Interesting car

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=04498892

The forthcoming VW golf 5, is a very handsome car, frames 47 & 48 show GTI body cladding, This car should be successful internationally. I hope Subaru effectively counters this Golf 5 launch with the next generation Impreza.

http://vwvortex.rely.net/gallery/gallery2.php?mode=album&album=/Volkswagen/Golf%20V

The new Impreza needs to be this handsome.

http://www.velocidad-maxima.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7612

GTI will lead fifth generation VW Golf into U.S. market


By RALPH KISIEL | Automotive News


FRANKFURT - In a bid to boost Golf sales when the redesigned, fifth generation bows in the United States, Volkswagen of America Inc. will introduce the sportier, more powerful GTI version rather than the traditional sedan.

The GTI, with a turbocharged, 2.0-liter inline-four that makes 200 hp, is slated to debut in the United States in spring or summer 2005.

The Golf, including the GTI model, is longer, wider and roomier than its predecessor.

The GTI's front end features the same dramatic V shape that encompasses the hood, grille and bumper of the Concept R, a VW roadster that was unveiled here last week. This style element will be carried over to all new VW models, said Gerd Klauss, president of Volkswagen of America Inc.

The new GTI has a more powerful, sporty appearance than the previous generation.

This is the first time that VW has tried to better differentiate the GTI from the four-door and two-door Golfs.

Jens Neumann, Volkswagen AG board member for North American strategy, said he expects to sell at least 15,000 GTIs a year in the United States, plus 15,000 to 20,000 four-door Golfs.

VW of America sold a combined 20,490 Golf and GTI models through August of this year in the United States, down from 22,052 a year ago.

Audi of America Inc. also expects to introduce its entry-level car, the A3 five-door hatchback, in summer 2005. Audi has three A3 models on sale in Europe, but they are all three-door hatchback models.

Len Hunt, Audi of America vice president, said, "Nobody has seen the A3 version that is coming to us in summer 2004."

The five-door hatchback probably will be equipped with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine, Hunt says.

Audi of America is willing to wait for the five-door version because it is a larger car that should be more appealing in the United States, he says.

Audi also will add the S4 Cabriolet, which was unveiled here Tuesday, Sept. 9, to its U.S. lineup. This will be the first time Audi will offer a convertible in an S model, Audi's performance range.

The soft-top will debut next summer. It is powered by a 344-hp V-8, borrowed from the S4 sedan, mated to a six-speed gearbox.


Note: New Mazda 3 a darling, what's not to like if you are a car enthusiast.

http://www.autoweb.com.au/start_/showall_/id_MAZ/doc_maz0309151/cms/news/newsarticle.html

Mazda 3 release slated for January 2004
18 Sept 03: Mazda will introduce a new standard of design flair, driving dynamics and quality to the small car market when the all-new Mazda3 goes on sale in January 2004.
Building on the success of the critically acclaimed Mazda6, Mazda2 and rotary-powered RX-8, the Mazda3 will be the fourth all-new Mazda launched in Australia in just 18 months.

Available in two unique body styles – an aggressive and confident five-door hatch and a refined and sporty sedan – the Mazda3 brings a new level of sophistication to a market segment traditionally focused on functionality and sales volumes.

The sedan and hatch will be powered by a choice of state-of-the-art 2.0-litre or 2.3-litre MZR four-cylinder engines, which develop 104 kilowatts (ECE) 140hp and 115kW (ECE) 154hp respectively using regular unleaded fuel. They also meet the strict Euro Stage III emission standard.

The Mazda3, which is bigger in every dimension inside and out than the 323, will offer even better value than Mazda’s superseded small car.

It is expected to be priced from about $22,500 and it will come standard with air conditioning.

It will boast class-leading safety features that include dual stage inflation airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners with load limiters, five lap/sash seatbelts, an intrusion minimising brake pedal, anti-whiplash front seats, a soft interior to reduce secondary head strike, rear ISOFIX and top tether child seat anchor points, tilt and reach adjustable steering and three rear headrests.

Six airbags – dual front, front-seat mounted side airbags to protect the chest and head protecting curtain airbags – and ABS anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) will be standard on some models and optional across the rest of the range.

Built around new-generation architecture and suspension systems, which include a rear multi-link arrangement based on that of the Mazda6, the Mazda3 has been engineered to set the driving benchmark in the class.

Engine power is delivered through a five-speed manual or four-speed Activematic transmission, while four-wheel disc brakes will ensure Mazda’s usual high standard of braking response. A new electro-hydraulic steering system ensures quick, responsive steering.

The managing director of Mazda Australia, Malcolm Gough, said: “The Mazda3 is our fourth car to be designed and engineered to reflect our Stylish, Insightful and Spirited brand DNA.

“Building on the market success of the Mazda6, Mazda2 and RX-8, the Mazda3’s combination of two stylish body styles and class-leading on-road ability makes it the perfect replacement for the much-loved 323, which has been on our roads since 1977.

“For the first time in a long time buyers can choose an exciting, high quality, great value sedan or hatch in the highly competitive but fundamentally conservative small car market

Autoweek Magazine first drive of the new Mazda 3

Impressive Review

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_print.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=reviews&loc_code=index&content_code=02067768&1797752502

http://www.autoweek.com/weekart/2003/1006/mazda34001.jpghttp://www.autoweek.com/weekart/2003/1006/mazda3int250.jpg

Engines for North America include a 148-hp version of the 2.0-liter and the 160-hp 2.3-liter four used in the Mazda 6 (the 2.0-liter in non-N.A. markets). We drove a four-door with the 2.3-liter and a five-door with the 2.0, both with the five-speed manual. By the end of 200 or so miles, we knew we’d take a five-door 2.3-liter S (i.e. Sport Appearance Package) with five-speed and 17-inch tires. The four-door, though it goes well, is a less exciting design than the very cool five-door; the S package and upgraded wheels make this practical hatch a segment leader in the looks department. With an H-point nearly two inches higher than on the Protegé it replaces, sightlines are extremely good. The interior is bigger in every dimension for both passengers and cargo. The only gaffe we noted inside is foot room for the rear passengers that is cut off at the heels by a required crossmember.

http://www.swcp.com/~zsprings/alfa.gif
http://www.racing.com/bmw-z4-0729.jpg

You make the call, Alpha1

http://www.cars-on-line.com/13000/63stude13059-B.jpg
http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2002/ellingson_orphan/stud6001.JPG

Studebaker " Hawk "

http://www.auto-motor-sport.de/sixcms/media.php/23/B9_hinten_450.jpg

Note: it appears that the B9 has a single piece hood and trunk caps, this leads me to believe that the B9 has some advanced manufacturing processes. It may incorporate some space frame technology, very interesting. I also like the plastic lower external planels. This is the best looking integration of those type of panels to date. Much superior to the Pontiac Aztec, Honda Element or Subaru's new Outback.

There is hope for the next generation Subaru's. I would like to see you guys take a more serious look and these new designs from a finite vantage and look at how some of the design components can be utilized in future Subaru products.

The design elements are far more important than the actual prototypes. I love the instuments pod and center console of the B9, it lookS alot like the new Porsche GT Carrera.

http://porscheweb.kvalitne.cz/Porsche/foto/pCarreraGT-5.jpghttp://www.auto-motor-sport.de/sixcms/media.php/23/B9_Innen_450.jpg

It appears that several auto manufactures have their sights set on an all-weather convertable. This maybe becoming a more viable concept.

http://www.carbc.com/news/highres/golfvcabriospeculation-01.jpg

Though the car pictured is a computer-generated speculation of the Mk.V Cabrio by specialists Nextline, we believe it's an accurate depiction of what the upcoming car will be. In a similar fashion of how the hatchback Peugeot 307 and Renault Mégane were converted into smooth, long-tailed cabrios, the Golf will undergo a similar process. Stretched slightly to allow for proper accommodations of four people, as well as to hide the tonneau cover. We expect to see the first concept this upcoming April 2004 at the Geneva show, and at the earliest, as a production model in '05.

Oct 17, 2003 – Nissan says the C-Note is a proposal for a new "compact car with superior quality, packing an array of comfort features into its compact body".

Based on the same platform of the Renault Megane, the C-Note previews next years all-new Almera for the Japanese market. The European version of the Almera is likely to feature a different body style, possibly reflecting the Nissan Evalia concept shown earlier this year at the Geneva show.

http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/tokyo/preview/nissan-concepts/images/nissan-cnotecg01.jpg

http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/tokyo/preview/nissan-concepts/images/nissan-cnotecg02.jpg

http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/tokyo/preview/nissan-concepts/images/nissan-cnotecg03.jpg


C-note, sounds like dope , it may sale like dope!!!

This is also a great looking compact car and should be successful in the hatch segment. Great Interior, looks upscale for a economy car

Oct 17, 2003 – The Nissan Fuga concept proposes a new direction in luxury cars that are both sporty and roomy. The key points in Nissan's presentation of the Fuga:

- Fuga’s styling achieves two elements of a sporty exterior and roomy interior without any compromises.

- The FR-L Platform (FM Package), which is also used on the new Skyline, delivers superb driving performance.

- Interior spaciousness surpasses all other sedans in this class. Fuga’s tall overall height that provides ample headroom, and legroom is expanded for rear-seat occupants.

- The interior’s overall tone is unified in Japanese imagery and a modern design.

- Human-machine interfaces (HMI) that are simpler and easier to understand and operate are located in the middle of the center console. Control switches mounted on the steering wheel reduce the driver’s workload substantially while providing multifunctionality.

http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/tokyo/preview/nissan-concepts/images/nissan-fuga05.jpg

http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/tokyo/preview/nissan-concepts/images/nissan-fuga02.jpg

http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/tokyo/preview/nissan-concepts/images/nissan-fuga09.jpg

Love the front end, the rear quarter reminds me of a Chevrolet Impala, not particularly appealling. The overall design is solid

http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/tokyo/preview/nissan-concepts/images/nissan-fuga03.jpg

This is an interesting approach to the emerging wagon market.

Honda Odyssey

The Honda Odyssey is the most significant new production debut at a show dominated by concept cars. The design has the latest evolution of the corporate Honda face now defined by a single upper line for both lights and grille, but it is most interesting for its interior functional design.

The front seats’ H-point is as for a standard passenger car with foot wells similarly low on a thin car like floor. Second row occupants sit slightly higher on a seat that splits, reclines and slides. These second row seats also have squabs that hinge forward to reveal useful storage space and have backs with a section that hinges back to cover the rearmost foot wells of third row occupants and form a flat floor when the seats are folded. Third row seats are marginally higher again, although still with sufficient space to accommodate adults, and fold electrically into the boot floor. All of this is achieved within a length of 4765mm (think Accord) and a height of 1550mm (only 50mm more than a Civic five door).

Low roofed MPV, or tall versatile estate car? The Odyssey serves to show how increasingly blurred vehicular types have become as well as how Honda lead vehicle packaging and interior functional design by an impressive margin.

http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/tokyo/highlights/images/honda-odyssey4910.jpg

http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/tokyo/highlights/images/honda-odyssey4908.jpg

http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/tokyo/highlights/images/honda-odyssey4896.jpg

http://199.239.248.45//images/full/1999/s99040101/sa56sn01.jpg

Above: Saab Sonnet 1, Below: Saab Sonnet 3

http://viggen.saabnet.com/tsn/class/031020romeb.jpg

http://viggen.saabnet.com/tsn/class/030922cluic.jpg

http://www.edmunds.com/media/reviews/future_cars/02.apr/pontiac.solstice.500.jpg

http://www.edmunds.com/media/news/concept.car/pontiac.solstice.coupe/pontiac.solstice.coupe.500.jpg

GM has another great opportunity with the Subaru/Saab venture to field a pair of sportcars based on the B9 frame to compete with Nissan Z cars, Porsche Boxster(soon to have a hardtop variation), Audi TT and Mazda Miata & RX7, etc...

The new pontiac Solstice is expected to be a sub $25,000 cars, where as the B9 variants could start around $25,000 with a 190hp AVCS NA 2.5 and push up to $40,000 in the turbo 2.5 300+ hp STI versions.

http://www.wheels24.co.za/Images/Photos/20020805085454Por2.jpg

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7190_image.jpg

Honda's sleek Japanese-market Odyssey drops jaws


By JAMES B. TREECE | Automotive News


TOKYO -- The new Japan-market Odyssey minivan created more buzz at this year's Tokyo Motor Show than any of the concepts on display.

The vehicle drew such widespread applause that Thomas Elliott, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co. Inc., was hinting that he might have to find a spot for it in the U.S. lineup.

There are no plans for it to be exported to North America and, despite the name, it has no connection to Honda's U.S.-market Odyssey.

Show goers were amazed by the model's markedly low stance.

The roof has been dropped 3 inches from the already low-slung previous-generation model, but interior space was kept the same by lowering the floor, too.

The result looks so sleek that first-time viewers could not believe that it was not longer than the previous Odyssey. It isn't.

Unlike the outgoing model, the new Odyssey offers only a 160-hp, 2.4-liter inline-four. Rather than offer an optional V-6 as it did with the previous-generation Odyssey, Honda instead will introduce a bigger minivan next year that will be powered by a standard V-6.

As a competitive vehicle, "It scares the heck out of me," one rival carmaker executive said.

Nissan Motor Co. Executive Vice President Patrick Pelata said the Odyssey had "the best interior design Honda has ever done."

The low height will be a huge selling point in Japan, with its low-ceilinged parking garages. But Pelata was one of the few who did not immediately endorse the redesign.

"I'm very skeptical of bringing down the eye of the driver in a family car," he said. "There's a true customer benefit to having a higher eye point. You can see better, and your kids can see better. We'll see how customers react."

http://www.autoweek.com/images_content/2003_10/odyssey.gif

Nissan says Fuga Tokyo concept will be next Infiniti M45


By KATHY JACKSON | Automotive News


The Nissan Fuga debuted at the Tokyo motor show.
TOKYO -- The Fuga show car on the Nissan stand at the Tokyo Motor Show will be the new Infiniti M45, sources confirm.

With a four-person seating capacity, the sporty-looking sedan shares a platform with the Infiniti G35 and FX45 and the Nissan 350Z. It will come with both six- and eight-cylinder engines and in rear-drive and all-wheel-drive versions.

The M45, which will debut at the end of 2004 as a 2005 model, is crucial to Infiniti's growth plans in the United States.

"When we replace the M, I'm expecting sales to rise," said Norio Matsumura, executive vice president of global sales and marketing for Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. "With the styling and roominess of the new M and also the quality interior, I put it in the first-tier luxury mode."

The show car featured a plush leather interior and telematics.

"For Infiniti, interior is very important," Matsumura said.

U.S. dealers sold only 468 M45s in September and 3,508 for the nine months ending Sept. 30.

Matsumura would not estimate the number of sales for the new M45, but he expects Infiniti sales to be about 100,000 in the United States this year and to be considerably higher with the arrival of the new M.

Infiniti sales were up 40.7 percent through September to 89,856. But its volume lagged luxury leader Lexus, which had sales of 186,009 for the same period.

Infinitis are sold only in the United States. Matsumura says he doubts the brand will go global, although Nissan President Carlos Ghosn was quoted in the Financial Times last week as saying the company was studying the possibility of extending Infiniti to Japan and Europe.

"It is my dream to make Infiniti global, but that is not a reality due to regulations, etc., around the world," Matsumura says. "You have to spend a lot of money."

http://www.autoweek.com/images_content/2003_10/fugamain.jpg

http://www.autorevue.cz/Images/1676/55.jpg

http://www.rs-ford.co.uk/images/cosworth/focus2_r2_c1.jpg

dude this forum is subaru news and rumors

take this to offtopic

I for one find it interesting. I think that most of us are curious to see what new cars are coming out from all of the manufacturers; especially cars that fill similar market niches as our cars. It is always good to know what is out there.

Good work, Alpha1. I'm sure that took quite a bit of your time.

Jay

:huh: Did a moderator do this? With all of these good changes going on with the layout, who knows. Anyway, this is good because these kinds of posts were cluttering up the other threads as much as I like reading the info. Notice all of the dates on the posts were from the original time Alpha posted them in the other threads.

This is cool, keep them coming!
The OT forum gets filled up too quickly and so car rumors get lost easily there.

Originally posted by PPower
:huh: Did a moderator do this? With all of these good changes going on with the layout, who knows. Anyway, this is good because these kinds of posts were cluttering up the other threads as much as I like reading the info. Notice all of the dates on the posts were from the original time Alpha posted them in the other threads.

Yeah, that was me :). Alpha1, if you read this, what you were doing looked entirely like post-whoring to me, but they were good posts- just posts entirely out of context for the most part. So, we now have the Alpha1 commemorative non-Subaru cars thread in the News and Rumors forum because

Originally posted by RA29
This is cool, keep them coming! The OT forum gets filled up too quickly and so car rumors get lost easily there.

RA29 is right... OT moves very quickly, and these things get lost :).

Balyndraks and others, Alpha1 didn't so much post all this stuff in one thread to annoy you... I just put all the non-Subaru stuff in one spot ;).


Brian

http://www.ravensblade-impreza.com/hosting/home.jpg (http://www.ravensblade.com) http://www.ravensblade-impreza.com/hosting/impreza.jpg (http://www.ravensblade-impreza.com) http://www.ravensblade-impreza.com/hosting/imprezamods.jpg (http://www.imprezamods.com) http://www.ravensblade-impreza.com/hosting/dmw.jpg (http://www.deniedmywarranty.org) http://www.ravensblade-impreza.com/hosting/bratthumb.jpg (http://brat.ravensblade-impreza.com)

new Fuga is so awesome!!!

The EVO VIII MR has me excited. If this comes to the states with a 2.4 liter at a reasonable (under 35k) pricetag, I may be on board. I just can't wait to see what Subaru will do to respond.


The MR looks a lot sexier than the normal EVO VIII.

http://www.fast-autos.net/mitsubishi/evo8mr.jpg

http://www.fast-autos.net/mitsubishi/evo8mr4.jpg


I agree that this thread is a good idea. It's nice to have somehere to talk about other cars other than off topic, where you have to sift though 50 pages of trash to find anything worthwhile.

http://www.streetracersonline.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2004_bmw_one%7E0.jpg

http://www.streetracersonline.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/bmwone3.jpg http://www.streetracersonline.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/bmwone2.jpg

http://www.streetracersonline.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/bmw1_front.jpg

First post on new car thread, Alpha1

I would love to see Subaru do a 3 door WRX in the next generation Impreza similar to the new BMW 1 series car.

It's about time we in the States have the opportunity to buy this type of car. Likely around 1700-1800lbs., non-boosted steering, 190hp, 0-60 in less than 5, sticker price likely to be 38.5k. Probably about as close to a no-frills driving experience that can be bought today (for the street). I can't wait to own one!



Lotus Elise, Road & Track (http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=6&article_id=868)

http://www.lotuscars.co.uk/media/Ice_Blue_Elise.jpg

The Elise will be about 2000lbs in US form unfortunately. Still, that's pretty light.

Originally posted by PPower
The Elise will be about 2000lbs in US form unfortunately. Still, that's pretty light.

Could be. I think lots of things about it are still up in the air. R&T says 1975lbs: could be wet, could be dry, and could be with driver based on what I've been able to gather. A/C might be standard, but could be an option that would make a significant difference. A few guys who've gone on the factory tour recently have said that they're just starting to build the US federalized model now. We'll probably know the number at the debut at the LA auto show in January for sure.

Anyone know if the EVO will get Side Air Bags soon?

If so, I may get that Evo MR...

Lutz reports to Autoweek that the new GTO will be roughly a $34,000 car. Alot of performance for the sub $35,000 market. I like to see this car group with is price point counterparts for a comparison. Oh, that would include a Impreza STI, Mustang SVO,EVO, etc... interesting

http://www.autoweek.com/specials/galleries/04gto/images/z_int.jpg

http://www.autoweek.com/specials/galleries/04gto/images/20.jpg

http://www.autoweek.com/specials/galleries/04gto/images/engine3.jpg

To fill the gap between the Passat and the Phaeton sedans, Volkswagen is expected to introduce a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive crossover. Expected to arrive in concept form in 2005, the actual production version should to be ready to launch in 2007.

The name "Sfero" was registered by Volkswagen in June of 2003. Insiders have told us that the Sfero will be a crossover between a wagon and an SUV, although all-wheel drive will not be offered

To lessen the development costs, Bernd Pischetsrieder and Ferrari-boss Luca di Montezemolo are said to be in agreement for a unique technology transfer: While Maserati will deliver the chassis of their brand-new Quattroporte sedan as a base for the new VW Sfero, Volkswagen will deliver the 4x4 chassis of its Touareg off-roader for the future Maserati Kubang SUV. This deal is actually quite interesting for both parties: while the Touareg's 4x4-chassis is regarded to be the best currently available, the Quattroporte's transaxle chassis allows an excellent weight-balance and therefore promises superb handling for the Sfero.

Another advantage of the Maserati chassis is the compatibility with Audi's V-8 engines. They are too large to be fitted under the hood of the next Passat - but they are said to fit perfectly in the Sfero, with the top-of-the line engine expected to offer as much as 450 horsepower.

Other luxury features include a new active steering system, a wide track and long wheelbase (114.2 inches), an electrically operated rear door, air suspension and LED taillights, and an adaptive brake light.

Lots of information has been leaking out about the Sfero, but apparently no decision has been made as to if the Sfero will be a four-, six- or even seven-passenger vehicle.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7460_image.jpg

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7461_image.jpg

Only problem I have iwth the GTO is no AWD, at least not yet. Granted, it's nice to see a few RWD sports cars popping up out there, but I still want AWD for winter driving. (There's actually winter in parts of Arizona.)

Originally posted by C-daleRidr
Only problem I have iwth the GTO is no AWD, at least not yet. Granted, it's nice to see a few RWD sports cars popping up out there, but I still want AWD for winter driving. (There's actually winter in parts of Arizona.)

then you may be interested in this:

---------

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7453_image.jpg
Holden stole the Sydney International Motor Show, which opened on October 16, with a radical new production-ready coupe destined to outshine the 350-hp (260kW) 5.7-liter LS1-powered Pontiac GTOs even before the first U.S.-bound cars ship out. The new all-wheel drive Coupe4 is the brainchild of Holden's go-faster division: Holden Special Vehicles. Power is up to 362 hp (270kW) and drive through the strengthened four-speed auto is split 38 percent front, 62 percent rear, giving the Coupe4 a launch to 100 km/h time of 6.1 seconds on sealed surfaces and an impressive 6.6 seconds on gravel. Australia's first homegrown all-wheel drive coupe runs 19-inch alloys, a wider track all round, complete with natty wheel arch extensions. A muscular body kit front and rear adds muscle tone without looking garish, and four fat chromed tailpipes complete the look-at-me image.

Holden CEO Peter Hanenberger denied the body kit would be fitted to the 2004 Pontiacs to counter the 'jelly bean' critiques leveled at the sleek coupe, designed to resurrect the GTO nameplate in the U.S. Hanenberger, who retires late this year, says up to 200 of the Coupe4 models will be built next year priced about US$60,000, though there are no export plans in the frame - yet. However exports of the regular Holden Monaro to the United Kingdom will start later this year, the Holden Lion replaced by the Vauxhall Griffin badge. Asked how many cars would go to the U.K., where it will be sold in a premium market segment, Mr Hanenberger said: "If we do above 1000 it would be a dream (come true). We don't need big volumes as a global niche manufacturer to be profitable and successful."

Holden Special Vehicles also revealed a four-wheel-drive crossover performance wagon, the Avalanche, at the show - again utilizing the LS1 5.7-liter engine tuned to produce 362 hp and 475 N-m of torque. The aggressively styled five-seater wagon is the pumped-up brother to Holden's Adventra, which goes on sale in Australia later this year. HSV will build just 500 Avalanches next year, with performance claimed to deliver zero-to-100 km/h-to-zero times of 8.5 seconds, despite its two tonne curb weight. With almost eight inches of ground clearance (200 mm), and the same 38/62 drive torque split as the Coupe4, the Avalanche will be a formidable contender for performance enthusiasts who revel in the rough.

The HSV Avalanche will be specified to match luxury European off-roaders with high intensity discharge lamps, tire-pressure monitoring systems and on-board DVD entertainment systems, as well as leather sports seats.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7454_image.jpg

http://www.autobytel-japan.com/ncar/newmodel/odyssey/img/photo06.jpg

http://www.autobytel-japan.com/ncar/newmodel/odyssey/img/photo01.jpg

http://www.autobytel-japan.com/ncar/newmodel/odyssey/img/photo07.jpg

Wagons popping up everywhere, all sizes shapes and configurations. What's up !!!!

Originally posted by mh_WRX
To fill the gap between the Passat and the Phaeton sedans, Volkswagen is expected to introduce a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive crossover. Expected to arrive in concept form in 2005, the actual production version should to be ready to launch in 2007.

The name "Sfero" was registered by Volkswagen in June of 2003. Insiders have told us that the Sfero will be a crossover between a wagon and an SUV, although all-wheel drive will not be offered

To lessen the development costs, Bernd Pischetsrieder and Ferrari-boss Luca di Montezemolo are said to be in agreement for a unique technology transfer: While Maserati will deliver the chassis of their brand-new Quattroporte sedan as a base for the new VW Sfero, Volkswagen will deliver the 4x4 chassis of its Touareg off-roader for the future Maserati Kubang SUV. This deal is actually quite interesting for both parties: while the Touareg's 4x4-chassis is regarded to be the best currently available, the Quattroporte's transaxle chassis allows an excellent weight-balance and therefore promises superb handling for the Sfero.

Another advantage of the Maserati chassis is the compatibility with Audi's V-8 engines. They are too large to be fitted under the hood of the next Passat - but they are said to fit perfectly in the Sfero, with the top-of-the line engine expected to offer as much as 450 horsepower.

Other luxury features include a new active steering system, a wide track and long wheelbase (114.2 inches), an electrically operated rear door, air suspension and LED taillights, and an adaptive brake light.

Lots of information has been leaking out about the Sfero, but apparently no decision has been made as to if the Sfero will be a four-, six- or even seven-passenger vehicle.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7460_image.jpg

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7461_image.jpg


OMG, this is soo awesome.

http://www.autoweek.com/specials/galleries/04gto/images/z_int.jpg

That is, bar none, the ugliest interior I've seen since maybe the '77 Monte Carlo.

As to price points, the only "real" direct competitors should be other 2wd/rwd coupes, not the Evo or STi sedans.

And, remember that the Mustang is about to be completely redone (leaving the Ford Fox platform after *only* ~27yrs!) and the C6 'Vette is near.

2004 Corvette:
Base Styles (MSRP: $44,535)
2dr Hatchback Auto. 5.7L 8cyl

Z06 Styles (MSRP: $52,385)
2dr Coupe Manual 5.7L 8cyl

2004 Chrysler Crossfire
MSRP: $34,495 - $35,570

2004 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
MSRP: $36,200

2004 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Premium
(MSRP: $29,590)

2004 Infiniti G35
MSRP: $29,795 - $32,995

2004 Mazda RX-8
MSRP: $25,700 - $27,200

2004 Nissan 350Z
MSRP: $26,910 - $34,720

http://www.autoweek.com/specials/galleries/04gto/images/z_int.jpg

One of these days, Bob Lutz might actually sit in a Pontiac, and then immediately get the designers to work on improvements there, too. That is fugly. :rolleyes:

SEMA:Liberating the Beast Within: Lexus Unveils V8-Powered IS 430 Project

http://www.theautochannel.com/N/F/news/2003/11/03/172028.1-lg.jpg

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 3, 2003 -- Lexus unveiled a one-off example today of its IS 300 luxury sport sedan powered by a 4.3-liter V8 engine from a Lexus GS 430. Seeking to demonstrate the potential of the IS 300, Lexus commissioned Rod Millen Special Vehicles (RMSV) to build the car. The resulting "IS 430" was completed last week at Millen's shops in Huntington Beach, Calif.

"We wanted to explore the performance possibilities of the IS 300," said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Denny Clements. "The marriage of our 4.3-liter V8 with the sporty IS 300 creates a classic muscle car."

The potent V8 engine was paired with a Getrag 6-speed manual transmission and lightweight flywheel, which drive the rear wheels through a stronger limited slip differential and GS 430 driveline components.

Total Performance Approach

The concept direction from Lexus required that handling be matched to the high-powered V8 while maintaining reasonable ride comfort and noise levels. TEIN springs and 16-way electronically adjustable shock absorbers work with the original IS 300 front suspension in addition to selected GS 430 rear suspension components, which help ensure durability against the higher torque of the 4.3-liter V8. Large, sticky Michelin Sport Cup tires on 18-inch Speed Star SSR alloy wheels put the power to the ground.

A similar approach was taken with the cooling system and brakes. A GS 430 radiator was fitted to provide ample cooling for the high-output engine. Large Brembo brakes with vented, cross-drilled rotors and four-piston aluminum calipers are there to arrest the newfound acceleration and speed of the IS 430.

"The standard IS 300 is a robust and well balanced sport sedan, so we thought it would respond well to the additional power of the Lexus V8 engine," said Rod Millen, president of RSMV. "With a package of complementary modifications, it has exceeded our expectations."

Although not a simple conversion, the V8 and 6-speed fit well within the compact IS 300 body structure. Curb weight is slightly higher than the standard IS, some of which is due to larger/stronger components needed to deal with the increased performance and some from the new audio/video system.

"Fitting the 4.3-liter V8 and six-speed manual transmission to the IS 300 was fairly straightforward," said Millen. "The larger challenge was to develop an electronic interface that would allow the V8 engine to work with the manual transmission and IS 300 body -- something it was never designed to do."

RMSV's engineering team met the challenge with expertise developed through years of successful racing and building special vehicles for military and automotive clients. They focused on designing the electronics interface while simultaneously working through the mechanical conversion and enhancements. Numerous parts were specifically fabricated for the IS 430 including stainless steel exhaust headers and dual exhaust system, transmission adaptor, engine and transmission mounts, air intake system, wire harnesses and fluid connectors.

"Next Generation" Entertainment System

Pushing the IS 300 performance envelope was not limited to vehicle dynamics. Lexus also wanted to discover the potential of what might be termed a "next generation" in-vehicle entertainment system. Lexus naturally turned to its premium audio systems partner, Mark Levinson(R), whose system engineers were eager to gain experience with their advanced system development work and receive feedback from users in the field.

The goals for the experimental system were the introduction of a discrete multi-channel 7.1 surround sound experience suitable for automotive use, complete system integration of audio and video, and advancement of sonic performance beyond previous OEM premium systems.

The result of their vision is a 20-speaker/24-channel, 720-watt* audio/video system using a proprietary DVD video player and removable 6.5-inch wide-screen video display. This prototype Mark Levinson(R) system is well suited to the expanded performance of the IS 430.

Functional Aggression

To complete the package, Chip Foose from Foose Design was employed to give the IS 430 a more aggressive yet functional appearance. Foose used subtle upgrades including a Rhys Millen Racing front lip spoiler and side skirts with a black over red exterior color scheme that emphasizes the wedge profile of the tightly drawn IS body. A mesh grille and gray headlamp treatment is used up front, and the taillights and rear badging are modified for a simpler look at the rear. Dual exhaust tailpipes not only improve performance, but also help advertise the potent 4.3-liter V8 engine.

Key Features and Specifications

IS 430 IS 300
Engine: 4.3-liter DOHC V8, 3.0-liter DOHC I6,
normally aspirated normally aspirated

Horsepower: 340 (estimated) 215

Torque: 300+ 218

Exhaust System: Custom-fabricated tubular Tubular stainless steel
stainless steel headers; headers; dual
dual hi-flow catalysts and catalysts; single
dual low restriction mufflers outlet

Transmission: Getrag 6-speed manual 5-speed manual

Driveline: GS 430 Standard IS 300

Differential: 3.769:1 limited slip 3.727:1 limited slip

Suspension: Double wishbone with Double wishbone
adjustable-height 16-way
electronically adjustable
shock absorbers

Brakes: Brembo ventilated and Vented front, solid
cross-drilled 355x22 mm front, rear discs: twin-piston
345x28 rear rotors; Brembo front, single-piston
4-piston aluminum calipers rear calipers

Wheels: Speed Star SSR 5-spoke 17x7 inch 5-spoke
aluminum - 8x8 inch front, aluminum
18x8 inch rear

Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup -- 215/45 R17 front and
265/35 ZR18 front, 325/40 rear
ZR18 rear

Curb Weight: 3,350 lbs. (estimated) 3,255 lbs.

Body Components: Rhys Millen Racing front Optional rear spoiler
lip spoiler and side skirts;
IS 300 optional rear spoiler

Paint & Bodywork: Foose Design/Chris Guinn -- Absolutely Red
solid black over red with
silver dividing pin stripe

Audio System: Mark Levinson(R) discrete Lexus Premium 4-channel
multi-channel with 20 with eight speakers;
speakers and DVD video six-CD changer
system; 720 watts*, all
channels driven; six-disc
CD changer

* All channels driven, 20-20kHz, with no more than .01% Total Harmonic
Distortion.

I have read something about that HSV AWD coupe on the boards before, probably in OT. Nice. Not sure about the price tag or potential for NA import/rebadge, but it's sweet. Of course I'd like to see almost any brand but Pontiac get a hold of such cars, for reasons seen in the GTO interior. But it's still a kickass car.

http://press.nissan-global.com/TOKYO_MOTOR_SHOW_2003/COMMON/IMAGES/SHOW_CAR/FUGA/LOW/fuga_10.jpg

http://press.nissan-global.com/TOKYO_MOTOR_SHOW_2003/COMMON/IMAGES/SHOW_CAR/FUGA/LOW/fuga_05.jpg

I think the New M45, along with the success of the current G35 cars will push Infinity ahead of Acura and possibly Lexus in a short time. I wonder if they will get the Formula of their flagship car Q45 correct soon. I'm not quite sure why it doesn't sell better.

Cuz people buy LS430 for that price or pay little more and get bmw/MB/Audi there.. Infinity is not known for the luxury cars..
Yes, new M45 gonna be incredible car.. Possibly AWD with 350 hp....
Watch out for 2005 GS4xx - very hot also..

Originally posted by amdmaxx
Cuz people buy LS430 for that price or pay little more and get bmw/MB/Audi there.. Infinity is not known for the luxury cars..
Yes, new M45 gonna be incredible car.. Possibly AWD with 350 hp....
Watch out for 2005 GS4xx - very hot also..

That's my point. The LS400/430's are considered much more prestegious than a Q45. I am not sure if it's just from more successfull marketing. Back when the Q45 had the funky grill, I drove both at found the Q45 a better driving vehicle.

Q was sporiter, while Lexus was more luxury soft vault-like quiet ride.
Lexus had betetr marketing I guess also... Reputation?

Originally posted by Alpha1
Wagons popping up everywhere, all sizes shapes and configurations. What's up !!!!

Because wagons rule. They often have better weight distribution than their sedan counterparts, making them just as much fun to drive, and now that manufacturers are paying attention to the "sport" part of sport wagon, there really is no fun penalty for having the extra cargo room.

I wouldn't even consider driving a sedan. Wagonwagonwagon!

Kevin

One thing that worries me about the Lotus Elise is that they are not changing the gear ratios found in its Celica GTS 6-speed transmission. It has been awhile since I've driven a Celica GTS 6-speed, but from what I remember, 1st gear was too short (not unusual at all for a street car), and 2nd gear was way to tall, we're talking insanely tall for the engine's powerband. If they're going so "no compromise" with the Elise, why leave the Celica GTS 6-speed gear ratios unchanged :confused:

The Elise should be able to out auto-x anything short of a cart though :banana:

i'll be on the list for an 06 Cobra... hmmm easy low 12 from the factory. :)

its american POS...

But you can't get it in a Wagon!

And no mention of the 2007 Nissan Skyline (R32) comming? 400HP, iron block 6cyl, heavily rear biased AWD, drool. Probally in the < $40K range

Originally posted by wgknestrick
And no mention of the 2007 Nissan Skyline (R32) comming? 400HP, iron block 6cyl, heavily rear biased AWD, drool. Probally in the < $40K range

G35R and Skyline thread (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=408609&highlight=g35r)

And I'll say greater than $40K, they are saying $80K+. But one heck of a car. The Current VQ32dett is testing at 480 HP.

Originally posted by Corn-Picker
One thing that worries me about the Lotus Elise is that they are not changing the gear ratios found in its Celica GTS 6-speed transmission. Where did you hear this? AFAIK the Elise is not using the USDM GTS gearbox, it's a JDM version. And IMO there's no way it will be 1800# for the Federal version.

Paul

Mitsu making a nice marketing package for the driving enthusias.

http://www.autoweek.com/images_content/2003_11/1110n-mitsuRS1.jpg

WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN A Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution? An Evolution RS, naturally.

Mitsubishi trimmed 146 pounds of “nonessential” items from its already-stellar Lancer Evolution for even more performance. Those items include the wing; HID lights (replaced with halogens); rear wiper; air conditioning; ABS; power motors for the windows, doors, locks and side mirrors; the entire audio system; trim in the trunk; vanity mirrors; rear assist grips; map lights; lots of sound-deadening material and even that little piece of leather wrapping that goes around the parking brake lever.

Then it added a helical limited-slip differential to replace the Evolution’s open diff, a crossbar over the spare tire hole in the trunk, and a strut tower brace in front.

Is it really better? Maybe on an autocross.

We drove several Evolution and Evolution RS models back-to-back on the big track at Willow Springs in the California desert, where speeds of more than 100 mph are the norm for most of the course, and we couldn’t feel the difference. The RS’s limited-slip grabbed better going into some turns, but the rear wing starts generating downforce at 86 mph, so the non-RS felt a little more stable in the faster sweepers.

Lauchlin O’Sullivan, Mitsubishi’s SCCA ProRally driver, said he thought the RS was lighter under braking and acceleration, and he should know. The spec sheet shows there should be a difference, but it would be a difference measured in tenths of a second, well within the limits of driver error.

Performance measures aside, Mitsubishi says the lack of stuff makes the RS more “customizable.” You can add your own stereo, for instance.

There are no RS badges anywhere, either, just blacked-out door handles and mirrors to let everyone know you’re serious about motorsports. Mitsubishi says the 700 RS models for the abbreviated 2004 model year will go on sale at the end of January. More will come for 2005. Pricing will be under $27,000.

Is it evolutionary or de-evolutionary? That may be for you to decide.

Originally posted by Snowphun
Where did you hear this? AFAIK the Elise is not using the USDM GTS gearbox, it's a JDM version. And IMO there's no way it will be 1800# for the Federal version.

Paul

I didn't know there was a difference :alien: When they said Celica GTS 6-speed I never even thought that there could be different gear ratios between the JDM and US versions (even though I know this is the case with the STi). I immediately remembered my test drive in a Celica GTS and the poorly ratio'd gearbox. Tranny felt smooth though.

If the JDM gear ratios are centered around the engine's power band then I'm cool. I hate US gearboxes and how they are geared for the quickest 0-60 time and best highway MPG.



Edit: Can't spell

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/large/1760-2.jpg

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/large/1760-1.jpg

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/large/1760-6.jpg

Honda seriously plans to be a diesel vehicle player. Watchout VW

YEs, $70+... U prett much get 911 Turbo performance ($125k) for a LOT less...

Originally posted by mh_WRX
G35R and Skyline thread (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=408609&highlight=g35r)

And I'll say greater than $40K, they are saying $80K+. But one heck of a car. The Current VQ32dett is testing at 480 HP.

When does the Mazda 3 hit the US?

Thanks!

Its here already.. or very soon..

Brings back memories of my old RWD Corolla SR5 2t-g:


Toyota Unveils All-New Corolla XRS Sport Sedan And Tundra Racing V8 Engine at 2003 SEMA Show
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 5, 2003 -- The all-new Toyota Corolla XRS sport sedan made its world premiere at a press conference today at the 2003 Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) Show. The press conference also featured the unveiling of the Toyota Tundra racing V8 engine that will power the new Tundra race truck next year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

The Corolla XRS will feature a newly tuned version of Toyota's 2ZZ dual overhead cam engine and six-speed manual transmission found in both the Celica GT-S and Corolla Matrix XRS. The increase in power will be complemented by improved ride and handling, thanks to a sport-tuned suspension and new steering improvements.

"With the popularity of the sporty Corolla S, the logical next step was to match its youthful styling with a performance-driven powertrain," said Don Esmond, Toyota Division senior vice president and general manager. "We expect the XRS to follow the course started by the S grade by appealing to younger customers, with an increase in single male buyers."

The new Corolla XRS will be powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder DOHC engine that produces 170 horsepower and 127 pounds of torque. The engine will deliver a broader and stronger mid-range torque than the previous versions of the 2ZZ engine. And, it will feature a VVTL-i variable valve timing and lift system that produces a supercharged-like rise in power from 6,000 to 7,800 RPM. The result is a compact sport sedan that blends sub-eight-second zero-to-sixty acceleration with exceptional throttle response throughout its broad power band.

Despite the increase in power, fuel economy is hardly compromised with initial estimates of 25 miles-per-gallon in the city and 32 on the highway.

The XRS features a sport-tuned suspension that includes a front connecting rod damper developed by Yamaha. The damper is mounted between the shock towers to produce improved ride and handling without compromising NVH. In addition to the performance damper, the XRS features increased rate coil springs and shocks on all four wheels for improved roll and pitch, and a ride height that is lower by a full half-inch.

The suspension stands on larger 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels and Michelin performance tires, an upgrade from the standard 15-inch wheels on all other Corolla grades. It is complemented by a steering system that features a more rigid steering column, producing less vibration and improved response. A power steering rack specially developed for the XRS allows for better steering feedback.

The improved performance of the Corolla XRS is accompanied by performance-themed convenience enhancements including sport seats, color-keyed bezel surrounding the grille, silver-colored center cluster and switch plates, a leather-like shift boot with a leather shift knob, and unique badging.

The Corolla XRS will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Canada (TMMC) in Cambridge, Ontario alongside the Matrix. It will reach dealerships on May 1st of next year. Annual sales of the XRS are projected at approximately 5,000 units.

The SEMA Show unveiling of the Tundra Racing V8 for the Toyota Tundra race truck represents one of the most critical steps in Toyota's journey to NASCAR's victory lane. It follows a historic press conference at the 2003 Chicago Auto Show where Toyota first rolled out a race-prepared Tundra pickup to formally announce its plans to begin participation in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

"Once we had our truck, the next phase in its development was to create an engine capable of achieving success in this competitive racing series," said Dave Illingworth, senior vice president, chief planning and administrative officer for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. (TRD).

The normally aspirated, Tundra Racing V8 engine was designed entirely in America by Toyota Racing Development. TRD's technical capabilities came to the forefront as they designed and produced "from a clean sheet of paper," an overhead valve racing engine in a remarkably short period of time. The engine design focused on high quality, performance, lightweight, reliability, and ease of manufacture.

Measuring 358 cubic inches of displacement, the V8 is capable of producing up to 650 horsepower. The cast aluminum cylinder head and cast iron cylinder block both use a computer-optimized cooling system. The engine is also equipped with forged aluminum pistons, forged steel connecting rods, and a high strength billet steel crankshaft. Its fuel pump and exhaust were each developed by TRD.

The engine's Craftsman Series debut will take place at historic Daytona International Speedway in February 2004 where it will be represented by at least six American-built Tundra race trucks.

Team affiliations will be determined soon. TRD will design, develop, and build the Craftsman Truck Tundra V8 to NASCAR specifications in its Costa Mesa, Calif., facility.

Toyota has been in the business of selling pickup trucks in this country for nearly 40 years. Since 1991 Toyota's compact pickups have been manufactured at its NUMMI plant in Fremont, California. Toyota has assembled the full-size Tundra pickup exclusively at its Princeton, Ind. plant since its debut in 1999. Toyota's commitment to building trucks continues to grow as witnessed by the recent groundbreaking of its newest truck plant in San Antonio, Texas.

"With Toyota's ongoing commitment to build American trucks for the American truck buyer it made sense to become involved with a true form of American racing," said Illingworth. "From an Americanization as well as a marketing perspective, choosing NASCAR was a no-brainer."

Toyota's entry into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series further extends the manufacturer's rich auto-racing history. Over the last 20 years, Toyota has won championships in a variety of high-level racing series including IRL, CART, IMSA, MTEG, SCORE, CORR, Pikes Peak, as well as NHRA import drag racing and various SCCA classes.

Since 2000, Toyota has competed in the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series. The V6-powered Toyota Celica's victory at Kentucky in 2001 was the first by an overhead-cam, multi-valve engine in NASCAR history. In the recently completed 2003 season Robert Huffman won his record-tying fifth Goody's Dash Series driver's championship and Toyota won its first NASCAR championship.

http://www.autofiend.com/images/articles/r35%201.jpg

http://www.autofiend.com/images/articles/r35%202.jpg

The new R35's engine will be called VQ33DET; it will be lot bigger from R34's RB26DET. The new engine will not be inline-6 but it will still keep the twin-turbo. The new engine will produce 380hp @ 7000rpm and 361 ft-lb @ 4500rpm. The new R35 might have the new so called "Electric Turbo" that spins the turbine electronically. It also comes with new 4WD system called "e-4WD" that will elctronically control the motor as well. Everybody in Japan are dying to see the new GT-R. Check back for more information.

A proper roadster she is indeed.

http://a298.g.akamai.net/7/298/5382/080703222433/www.eletra.com/autospies/word_images/9880220_image001.jpg

Originally posted by Alpha1
A proper roadster she is indeed.

http://a298.g.akamai.net/7/298/5382/080703222433/www.eletra.com/autospies/word_images/9880220_image001.jpg

Any stats on it?

And what about the rumored Boxster-coupe?

IS this 2007 Infinity Skyline?

Originally posted by Alpha1
http://www.autofiend.com/images/articles/r35%201.jpg

http://www.autofiend.com/images/articles/r35%202.jpg

The new R35's engine will be called VQ33DET; it will be lot bigger from R34's RB26DET. The new engine will not be inline-6 but it will still keep the twin-turbo. The new engine will produce 380hp @ 7000rpm and 361 ft-lb @ 4500rpm. The new R35 might have the new so called "Electric Turbo" that spins the turbine electronically. It also comes with new 4WD system called "e-4WD" that will elctronically control the motor as well. Everybody in Japan are dying to see the new GT-R. Check back for more information.

Originally posted by amdmaxx
IS this 2007 Infinity Skyline?

Here is a whole thread about the 2007 G35R (Skyline):
G35R and Skyline thread (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=408609&highlight=g35r)


Alpha,
The last thing I read was a 480 HP Direct injection, with a possible downtune of 400.

http://www.autofiend.com/images/articles/altezza.jpg

For those of you waiting for a legit picture of the 2004 Toyota Altezza, also known as the Lexus IS 300 in the states, then wait no longer. Below is a picture of the new Altezza/IS that is set to hit Japan in the Fall of 2004. Not only will Japan lose the famous 2.0 liter engine, but they will gain two new engines that will help push the car's sporty image.

The car will share one engine with the new Aristo, known as the Lexus GS in the states. They will come with a 3.5 liter V6 engine in Japan. The engine code is 453F and the specs are as follows: 280hp @ 6400 rpm, 238 lb-ft @ 4000. Also, there will be a smaller V6 with a displacement of 2.5 liters available for the new Altezza.

Other rumors for the IS that is bound to appear in the states is that they will come out with a 3.3 liter-V6, meaning that Lexus is saying goodbye to the inline. The hybrid is also rumored to come equipped with AWD, just like it's big brother, the GS.

Originally posted by Ghostrider600
Any stats on it?

And what about the rumored Boxster-coupe?

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7190_image.jpg

Without a doubt IMO the sexiest vehicle ever produced. I will have a GT one day, now all I have to figure out is how to trade my $23,000 Impreza in for a $150,000 car :lol:

http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/image/1072003121029.jpg


I would have to have the retro powder blue with orange stripe too :)


http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/image/62200313313.jpg


500 ft-lb and 500 HP, oh yeah.

http://www.mazda.gr/mazda3/photogalls/maz3-5hb-large/mazda3_08.jpg

http://www.mazda.gr/mazda3/photogalls/maz3-5hb-large/mazda3_09.jpg

http://www.mazda.gr/mazda3/photogalls/maz3-5hb-large/mazda3_23.jpg

This is simply a beautiful compact hatchback, The 2004 2.3S base price $16,895 with equipment package 1MC $890 (Moonroof & 6 CD Package) total price is $17,795.,which is a well equipped vehicle.

Mazda will not be able to make enough of these wagons..."Great Little Car"

2005 Mustang Lights 'em Up
By: Jennifer Shatwell | Ford Communications Network

LAS VEGAS – Ford is turning up the lights in Vegas at this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show with a sneak-peek showing of its industry-first, color-configurable instrument cluster – just one of many innovations coming with the new 2005 Mustang. Instrument gauges can be subtly or dramatically illuminated in the new 'Stang, using three light-emitting diodes (LEDs). But it's not just red, green and blue, like crayons from a box. The colors combine to provide six preset shades – green, blue, purple, white, orange and red. Innovative "light pipe" technology then steps in and allows '05 Mustang owners to mix and blend these six shades for up to 125 custom-colored backgrounds.

Imagine it – a vehicle interior to suit your mood.

"Make no mistake about it: The new Mustang will be a head-turner on the outside," says J Mays, Ford group vice president, Design. "But it also will set new standards for sports car interiors – in a manner very similar to how the new F-150 has changed the game in the pickup market."

Already one of the most customizable cars ever, the new Mustang will feature unprecedented aftermarket tune-ability.

"Mustang's heritage is built on performance and attainability, as well as its appeal with aftermarket tuners who customize their cars inside and out," says Hau Thai-Tang, Ford Mustang chief nameplate engineer. "Now, Mustang customers will get more interior flexibility straight from the plant."

The 2005 Mustang will arrive in showrooms next year.

http://www.online-racer.com/Ford%20Media/05Mustang7.jpg

http://www.online-racer.com/Ford%20Media/05Mustang3.jpg

http://www.online-racer.com/Ford%20Media/05Mustang6.jpg

Only pics, I could find

^Ugly.

Looks like a new F-150 ran into a '67 Stang late one night on a dark road.

Originally posted by Ghostrider600
^Ugly.

Looks like a new F-150 ran into a '67 Stang late one night on a dark road.

I agree, this is not an impresive looking Car, the interior of the GTO, which is bland looking, is nicer than the new Mustang.

Looks like they had a hard time making it out of plastic. Ford couldn't remake an original.

Should have dropped the stang and put it in the Focus. :lol: Turbo I4 w/ AWD and RWD V-8's! SHWEET! (If you could get them off the assembly line without like 5 recalls you're doing good. 4 is doing great. :lol: )

EDIT: In case some wonder if I know about the RWD V8 Focus Ford did or had done for them... yes, that's what I was suggesting. :rolleyes:

Ford really knows how to screw up a great concept...

That design looks like it has a coefficient of drag similiar to that of a brick wall.

It's probably pretty close. :lol:

Yea, but with as much power as the Cobra will have it could push a bick to low 12's >:)

I don't think that the base or GT wont look that great, though I think that the Cobra and Shelby will look much better.

Here's the one shown at Sema, THis is the Concept though, Alpha's is the early production prototype:
http://www.urbanracer.com/gallery/gallery/event_coverage/sema/sema_day_1_11-4-03/0002.jpg

The silver one definitely looks better at least from that view on the outside.

Looks like I'd have to be a contortionist to fit in that beamer, like the Z3, but I like the styling of that VW. Looks pretty nice, but I'm sure the price won't be for us average folks.

Originally posted by SUBE555
Looks like I'd have to be a contortionist to fit in that beamer, like the Z3, but I like the styling of that VW. Looks pretty nice, but I'm sure the price won't be for us average folks.

The 1 series will be around the size of the E36 as I have heard. Somehow that seems hard to believe, but I would expect it to at least be the size of the E30 (84-91). I expect that this will be about $24,000 and up to 30-something for the M1/M2. I think it looks great.

http://www.autonews.com/images/articles/45858.gif
Toyota Corolla XRS kicks performance up a notch


By Mark Rechtin


LAS VEGAS -- Toyota Division will launch a high-performance version of the Corolla in May.

Toyota says the Corolla had gained a younger audience with the current Corolla S model, and the company saw a further opportunity for a Corolla that backed up its performance look with actual performance.

The Corolla XRS was approved last year, said Don Esmond, Toyota Division general manager, at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show here last week.

"We've wanted to get into the Honda Civic Si market," Esmond said. "Three years ago, here at SEMA, you wouldn't have seen any of our products. Now you see Scions, Celicas and Matrixes. We're getting our foot in the door."

The Corolla XRS is powered by the same 1.8-liter Yamaha engine that's in the top-end Celica and Matrix, generating 173 hp and 127 pounds-feet of torque. But the engine has been altered to provide more mid-range torque. A six-speed manual transmission will transfer that power to the pavement.

In keeping with the performance angle, Toyota used a sport-tuned suspension with tighter springs and shocks that lower the vehicle by half an inch. Sixteen-inch wheels and Michelin performance tires are standard.

The interior will be outfitted with sport seats, a leather shift knob and faux-metallic center console and switch plates.

Toyota hopes to sell 5,000 Corolla XRS units a year. All will be built at Toyota's plant in Cambridge, Ontario. Prices have not been set, but Esmond said the XRS will cost about $2,500 more than the top-end Corolla model. The top-of-the-line 2004 Corolla LE starts at $15,265, including freight.

The 1 series looks pretty cool.
But for that money I'd be shopping for something else :D.

Preston, I do tend to like at least some of Bangles work, but I don't know about the BMW 1-series. The lines for the skirts and lower airdams just don't fit with the BMW I know. Yes, I am playing a little more to traditional BMW folk. I guess if we were to compare those two, that is one reason I much rather prefer the VW, stright cut lower skirts, smooth yet muscular lines. Guess I am more of a sucker for Audis, especially the generation that included the S4 with the 2.7L biturbo engine up to the RS4 high output wagon. To me those are timeless lines.

Oh and I agree with reks.

IMO 1 is typical bangle car and its UGLY..
New passat photoshopped pix are NICE!!!

http://www.auto-motor-sport.de/sixcms/media.php/76/einserv_450.jpg

http://www.mazda.gr/mazda3/photogalls/maz3-5hb-large/mazda3_23.jpg

http://www3.autoascii.jp/issue/2003/1016/article54311_1.images/56531.jpg

Somewhere morphed between this three vehicles profiles, laids the shape of things to come for the next Impreza.

The new Mazda 3 will become the benchmark for economy front-wheel drive sport compacts, the new BMW will likely become the benchmark for premium sports compact cars.

The trick for Subaru will be in riding the fence between these vehicles.

Subaru is ideal situated to provide a family of Impreza based vehicles that provide the best combination of performance, quality and value in the compact car market segments.

More will be a stake for Subaru with the new Impreza, than with the introduction of the new Legacy. The next Impreza, will determine to a large extent, whom will become the next generation of Subaru brand loyalist and how large this group ultimately grows.

That is the importance of the next Impreza, as it is the reason that BMW, Saab, Volvo, Mazda, VW and others are all introducing new vehicles to these market segment.

This is where the manufacturing battlelines are being drawned.

If a automotive customer has a good experience in your entry level vehicles, they tends to remain brand loyal and move up into more premium models of your make.

Chyrsler is having a major time aquiring new market share. DCX must produce some quality entry level Jeep, Dodge and Chyrsler products and become real players in the compact/midsize market segment, until they address this issue, they will continue to slide.

On the other side of the coin, look at Toyota, Honda, Mazda and Nissan.

Originally posted by gargleblaster
Ford really knows how to screw up a great concept...

YUP!! :mad:

Go FORD.... :rolleyes:

ROAD TEST

BMW 530d SE http://www.carkeys.co.uk/images/v/bm5se007.jpg


The Voice Of The People (04/11/03)
by David Finlay
Perhaps, as the saying goes, you should never believe what you read in the papers. BMW's design chief Chris Bangle has had to withstand a huge amount of criticism in recent months from members of the press who feel that touching the new 7-Series would be a waste of a good bargepole. The 5-Series is less radical and has caused less venting of spleens as a result, but many of the unpopular styling cues are carried across, and the smaller car has not been untouched by journalistic disapproval.

In light of what you're about to read, it would be tempting for me to say that I never believed a word of this, and claim that I loved the new design philosophy right from the start. But no. I think the 7-Series looks ghastly, and I regret the fact that the 5-Series has lost much of the grace that it had in its previous incarnation.

Recent events, however, have begun to persuade me that I might just possibly be (whisper it) wrong about this. The first occurred when I was transporting two ladies to a concert. One of them was the wife of the conductor, who had phoned from the venue to ask if we could bring him some bottled water. We stopped at a petrol station where his wife attempted to make the necessary purchase.

It took some time, because nobody behind the counter was paying any attention to her. They all had their noses pressed to the window and were making cooing noises about the 530d SE in which I was patiently sitting. One of them, I'm told, even went so far as to utter the following remarkable sentence: "If you could drive one of those you'd die a happy man."

Without Going Quite That Far . . .

From this point on I started studying public reaction to the car more closely, and I noticed that if, for example, I happened to be sitting in a queue of traffic, the occupants of almost every vehicle around me would be gazing in wonder at the BMW. On the move through city streets, I realised that almost everyone I passed stopped what they were doing and stared longingly - sort of like the sonic boom effect, only slower and more moist.

You know, I never thought I'd say this, but Chris Bangle may have had a point after all.

There remains the question of how good the rest of the car is. In general, it's exceptionally impressive. It's very comfortable, with lots of room (more in the back than you would guess at first glance), and there are more than enough toys to keep you occupied. Foremost among these is the iDrive computer system, which like the outer styling is a toned-down version of what originally came to market in the 7-Series. In this application, iDrive is simple and intuitive to use, by which I really mean that I was able to work my way round it without reference to the instruction manual.

I also liked the Park Distance Control system which tells you when solid objects are too close to you, or you too close to them. The warnings come in both audio and visual form, sparked off by sensors at all four corners, and it all works very well, though it doesn't distinguish between a nearby wall when you're parking and a pedestrian walking close by when you're sitting waiting for someone to buy bottled water.

A Split Personality

BMW has been trumpeting for decades about how wonderful its cars are to drive. The behind-the-wheel experience in the 530d is undoubtedly a memorable one, but I did feel that the test car seemed unsure of exactly what kind of machine it was supposed to be. The ride is a little too thumpy for a luxury cruiser, but the car doesn't carry its own weight with quite the grace you would expect of a sports saloon.

There may be a suspension issue here. The test car was fitted with a Sports pack, one of a great many optional extras which sent the basic price of £30,950 skyrocketing up to over £38,000. With this pack, ride height is lowered by 15mm (good) and the suspension is stiffer (less good), but there's more to it than that. An equally likely cause of the handling confusion is the low-profile tyres on the test car. No doubt about it, these contribute a lot to the visual effect, and I'm sure the marketing people were thrilled when they first saw them.

They also provide enormous amounts of grip. On the other hand, they do create an unfortunate compromise. I'm sure BMW's reaction would be to say that the car is in fact both a luxury cruiser and a sports saloon, but I reckon it's trying to be both and not completely succeeding in being either.

The confusion is increased - though in a very positive way - by the engine, which is brilliantly suited to either type of car. It's BMW's three-litre turbo diesel, now uprated to produce 218bhp, and if there is a finer unit under the bonnet of any mass-produced production vehicle, let me at it.

Formidable Pull, Leisurely Cruising

As usual with turbo diesels, the power figure gives no hint of the engine's full potential. The 530d will operate perfectly happily at 1000rpm or, if you prefer, thunder up to five times that speed with no hint of a performance dip anywhere in between. A huge sixth gear (nearly 40mph per 1000rpm) is carried with no fuss whatever, so you can let the profuse torque do all the work for you. Alternatively, you can work your way through the gears to squeeze the last drop out of the engine.

Two extra points here. First, although it's inevitably less refined than an equivalent petrol unit, the diesel sounds terrific. Second, it is quite astonishingly economical. The official combined figure is just under 41mpg, but if the trip computer wasn't playing me false I was able to beat that quite comfortably, even though I made use of the available performance whenever it seemed appropriate.

I zeroed the tripmeter when I picked up the car, and it was reading bang on 618 miles the first time I had to refuel, which is far in advance of anything I've ever managed before in a three-litre car.

To my surprise, this has turned out to be one of my favourite cars of the year. I'm still not convinced by the shape (even though almost everyone else seems to be), and I think I'd save money and go for the standard suspension and normal tyres in order to regain some of the lost ride comfort. Even in the form as tested here, though, the 530d is a remarkable piece of work. It's not a cheap car, but I would be tempted to think of the engine as being worth the asking price on its own, with everything else thrown in for free. It would be a good buy, at that.

Price: £30,950
Capacity: 2993cc
Power: 218bhp
0-62mph: 7.1 seconds
Maximum speed: 152mph
Economy: 51.4mpg extra urban, 40.9mpg combined
CO2 emissions: 184g/km
Insurance: Group 18
BMW figures.

Second opinion: I've come to realise that the way to appreciate the design of the 5-Series is to look at it bit by bit, and that there's one brilliant styling feature most owners will never actually notice. The car looks fine side-on, for example, if you keep your eyes away from the remarkably clumsy bootlid treatment. But if you want to get a handle on what makes Chris Bangle's work rather special, park the car at night with the dipped headlamps on, then walk round the front and see the "samurai" effect of the twin headlamps with the amber eyebrows of the indicators placed imperiously above them. Engine - magnificent. Fascia - how odd that Munich has lost ground here to Stuttgart. The iDrive - no, thanks. Ride quality - I'd have the standard suspension set-up, and skip the run-flat tyres. Ross Finlay.

CARkeys


http://www.carkeys.co.uk/images/v/bm5se009.jpg http://www.carkeys.co.uk/images/v/bm5se008.jpg http://www.carkeys.co.uk/images/v/bm5se010.jpg

Originally posted by Corn-Picker
I didn't know there was a difference :alien: When they said Celica GTS 6-speed I never even thought that there could be different gear ratios between the JDM and US versions (even though I know this is the case with the STi). I immediately remembered my test drive in a Celica GTS and the poorly ratio'd gearbox. Tranny felt smooth though.

If the JDM gear ratios are centered around the engine's power band then I'm cool. I hate US gearboxes and how they are geared for the quickest 0-60 time and best highway MPG.





IIRC, one of the guys on Elisetalk who visited Hethel and talked to one of the engineers was saying that they had a choice of three different gearsets from Toyota and they chose the shortest :D

Originally posted by Alpha1
A proper roadster she is indeed.

http://a298.g.akamai.net/7/298/5382/080703222433/www.eletra.com/autospies/word_images/9880220_image001.jpg

Any more info on this? Looks like a mini Carrera GT

Originally posted by SUBE555
Guess I am more of a sucker for Audis, especially the generation that included the S4 with the 2.7L biturbo engine up to the RS4 high output wagon. To me those are timeless lines.



One of my friends has a 2000 S4 sedan. I remember before the great internet crash, back when I was single, being taunted to take up Ira Audi on their 'invoice' deal. I could have had a 2001 S4 avant in the silver I cherish for $37,500. Unfortunately for me, financial prudence won out.

I don't really like the new S4 as much, would have preferred the RS4 tuned biturbo to the V8 and generally regret not getting it :D. To this day I've attempted to avoid driving the cars... Just too tempting.

Originally posted by Costanza
Any more info on this? Looks like a mini Carrera GT

The new Boxster S is rumor to get a small displacement increase to 3.3L and come in at roughly 275hp. If Porsche is capable of getting on the same weight loss program as Subaru, a sub 2800 lb 275hp Boxster S would be a screamer.

SRT-4 sales screaming

When Dodge first envisioned building a performance version of its Neon subcompact, internal estimates suggested sales might reach 1000 per year. By the time the vehicle hit the market earlier this year, that number had already been revised upward to 3000. Now Dodge marketing chief David Kimball says the earlier projections need another adjustment, given the company is on track to sell 10,000 SRT-4s per year and will likely decide soon to boost annual production to 13,000 cars. The SRT-4 will still be hard to come by, no doubt, considering the 2004 model’s horsepower increases by 15 to 230 hp and the car gets a limited-slip differential, all for the slightly higher base price of $20,995.

Originally posted by Alpha1
SRT-4 sales screaming

When Dodge first envisioned building a performance version of its Neon subcompact, internal estimates suggested sales might reach 1000 per year. By the time the vehicle hit the market earlier this year, that number had already been revised upward to 3000. Now Dodge marketing chief David Kimball says the earlier projections need another adjustment, given the company is on track to sell 10,000 SRT-4s per year and will likely decide soon to boost annual production to 13,000 cars. The SRT-4 will still be hard to come by, no doubt, considering the 2004 model’s horsepower increases by 15 to 230 hp and the car gets a limited-slip differential, all for the slightly higher base price of $20,995.

If this thing didn't fare So poorly in the IIHS crash tests I would have bought one a LONG time ago since the reliability issue is covered by the 7/70 warranty...pity too, since it's such cheap fun...(which is probably the best kind of fun there is :devil:)

Alpha1, you should really quote your source when you do these copy paste things. I know the SRT4 blurb came from Autoweek, but just copy the link to where the original story is. That's just good practice for all of us to remember to do.

Originally posted by PPower
Alpha1, you should really quote your source when you do these copy paste things. I know the SRT4 blurb came from Autoweek, but just copy the link to where the original story is. That's just good practice for all of us to remember to do.

No problem goodman, will attempt to do so in the future.

Well, let me jump in and give you this....

Ford's 420bhp Focus Muscles In


It's a Ford Focus, but not as you know it. While British motorists have to 'make do' with the 210bhp RS, here's the ultimate version of the small family car, which punches out double that! Called the RS8 because it packs a V8 engine - a first for the Focus - it boasts 420bhp fed to the back wheels.

The amazing motor is the work of the blue oval's Ford Racing division. And the RS8 stunned showgoers when it was unveiled at last week's Speciality Equipment Market Association (SEMA) exhibition in gamblers' paradise, Las Vegas, Nevada. The clever bit is that, to the untrained eye, it looks just like any other fast Focus.

Yet a closer inspection reveals a few giveaway signs of what's hidden underneath. The twin exhaust pipes exit at portals cut into the sides of the rear bumper, while a bigger cooling system can be seen through the mesh front grille. Inside, racing gauges mounted on the driver's A-pillar give up-to-the-second readings, and the beefy transmission tunnel is clearly visible.

As you'd expect of a machine that has been developed far beyond what it was originally intended for, some extensive re-engineering was needed to make all this possible. The engine bay had to be altered to physically cope with the 5.0-litre V8, but this was only after new pistons had been forged, along with a host of other minor modifications.

Next up, a bespoke exhaust system was fabricated, while the drivetrain feeds the power to the rear wheels via a five-speed racing gearbox. Finally, the development team had to create new suspension set-ups for both front and rear, so that the car could handle the massive increase in power.

The RS8 came about because bosses said they wanted to recreate the traditional V8-powered muscle car, but have it wrapped in a modern-day package. Dan Davis, director of the development team at Ford Racing, told us: "This isn't a typical sport compact modification project, but it will sure get attention out on the streets. The Focus RS8 will make itself known at the drag strip and on every road."

In America, the engine and drivetrain package will cost any interested customers nearly £9,000. On top of that, there is the additional expense of paying for the new suspension set-up. But it doesn't look like UK buyers will be getting a Focus V8 any time soon, even though sporty concepts such as the Focus Cosworth were well received here. A spokeswoman for the blue oval was lukewarm on the possibility of the RS8 coming to these shores. "Next year we will introduce the new Focus, but I just don't think there would be a market for a V8 version. The majority of people want to buy economical cars, not pay an extra £9,000 for a bigger engine," she said

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/picture_library/dir_24/car_portal_pic_12417.jpg?7980

Courtesy of Autoweek [before I get butched by PPower :D ]

^ Wonder how many recalls will be on THAT Focus? :p

By THE EDITORS OF AUTOWEEK

2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER RALLIART
DATE IN FLEET: Oct. 13-27
AS-TESTED PRICE: $20,072
POWERTRAIN: 2.4-liter I4; fwd, five-speed manual OUTPUT: 162 hp @ 5750 rpm, 162 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
CURB WEIGHT: 2838 pounds


RAYNAL: This is a nice ’tweener, a car in between the full-on Evo VIII (or whatever number Mitsubishi is using) and the silly-looking and too-slow OZ edition. This car has decent poke, a nearly cool exhaust note, and it’s nice and nimble and flingable around town. The ride is nearly perfect (in no way is it too harsh). It’s easy and fun to throw the Ralliart around. This is one of those cars that are pretty price sensitive, not sure whether I’d take it over a five-door Focus. I do dig the wagon version of this car I’ve seen around. Let’s get one of those in.

http://www.autoweek.com/weekart/2003/1103/1103-dl-lancer.jpg

I'm looking forward to reading a review similar to this on the next generation Subaru Impreza RS powered by a NA 2.5 liter AVCS 190hp, 175 ft/lb/torque weighing roughly 2,800 lbs. This type of formula will seen the RS into orbit and assist in Subaru achieving CAFE goals that will allow the expansion of performance oriented models.

That is what we want???.....Alpha1

SRT-4 sales screaming
When Dodge first envisioned building a performance version of its Neon subcompact, internal estimates suggested sales might reach 1000 per year. By the time the vehicle hit the market earlier this year, that number had already been revised upward to 3000. Now Dodge marketing chief David Kimball says the earlier projections need another adjustment, given the company is on track to sell 10,000 SRT-4s per year and will likely decide soon to boost annual production to 13,000 cars. The SRT-4 will still be hard to come by, no doubt, considering the 2004 model’s horsepower increases by 15 to 230 hp and the car gets a limited-slip differential, all for the slightly higher base price of $20,995.

^^^^^^ SO awesome!!!

The best part is that if everything goes well, this car will be the one to spearhead Alfa's return to the US market in 2007.

Super HICAS anyone? ;)

Skyline's Super HICAS

However, Nissan Skyline GT-R still proved that 4WS is worthy for demanding driving. Aided by computer, its Super HICAS system enable tightly-controlled power slide that cannot be implemented by any alternatives. When attacking a corner, the rear wheels will steer in reverse first in order to sharpen the initial steering response. Then, when sensors sense that the car responds to steering, the rear wheels will steer in the same direction as the front wheels, thus immediately introduces rear-tyre slip which help adjusting the attacking angle. Since the computer is monitoring the whole process, the amount of oversteering is always under check. You need not to be afraid of losing control.

http://autozine.kyul.net/technical_school/traction/tech_traction_other.htm

The Lancer Ralliart is definitely a nice in-between spec, but who the hell decided the stylish, Peugeot 307-esque wagon version should only be available with a slushbox??! An 'automatic' no-sale for me.

This thread is proof that NASIOC needs a 'Car Lounge' in the style of VWVortex.. Nearly all of my at-work timewasting is spent there these days when I used to be here. *shrug*

lb
www.trancelab.com

Originally posted by LordBass
This thread is proof that NASIOC needs a 'Car Lounge' in the style of VWVortex.. Nearly all of my at-work timewasting is spent there these days when I used to be here. *shrug*

lb
www.trancelab.com


I don't go over to vwvortex, but I completely agree. All of this in one thread is too much. But then again, that's why I went over to join on Autoweek's forum. Those forums are sometimes better except that one here would be able to relate it back to how it compares to Subaru pro/con.

ye, carlounge is AWESOME on VWvortex..

Someone on the Corvette Forum got pictures of it leaving a GM site.

http://www.talkingpenguin.com/vette2.jpg

http://www.talkingpenguin.com/vette1.jpg

http://www.talkingpenguin.com/VETTE3.jpg

Originally posted by mh_WRX
Someone on the Corvette Forum got pictures of it leaving a GM site.


Cool! Too bad they didn't get a head on shot though :(

Lookin SHWEET! :disco:

Originally posted by mh_WRX
Someone on the Corvette Forum got pictures of it leaving a GM site.
Very tasty... when is it supposed to hit dealers?

Does it look more like a Viper than a Vette, or is that just me?

I do see the Viper contention in it, especially in the frontal area with the destinctive rear of a Vette. I think this will be one heck of a Vette!

Originally posted by Ghostrider600
Does it look more like a Viper than a Vette, or is that just me?

No, it just looks like they are bringing out the 60's vette fenders. Maybe it's the extreme angle that makes it look like a Viper to you.

It's suppose to resemble a 67 vette. But there are definate Viper tones, especially the headlights.

Originally posted by mh_WRX
Someone on the Corvette Forum got pictures of it leaving a GM site.

http://www.talkingpenguin.com/vette2.jpg

http://www.talkingpenguin.com/vette1.jpg

http://www.talkingpenguin.com/VETTE3.jpg

Me no see no-ting :confused:

Well, it has been said that GM has asked the pictures to be taken down. Did anyone save copies?

Sounds like a Subaru/NASIOC incident to me.
;)

prolly GM asked to take them down..
Front - raked, rear - just like old corvette, 2 round bulbs...
thecarconnection.com got sum spy pix.. and autospies.com got some also..

DCX softens sticker blow

Luxury sedan, Dodge Durango SUV drop prices
November 18, 2003

BY JAMIE BUTTERS
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

The Chrysler 300C full-size luxury sedan will start below $25,000 -- under $35,000, even with a Hemi engine -- signaling that Chrysler Group executives are trying to avoid profit-eating incentives and another round of sticker shock for customers.

Burned by the launch of the Pacifica luxury crossover, which rolled out earlier this year with mostly high-content models priced around $40,000, the Auburn Hills-based arm of DaimlerChrysler AG suffered a costly misstep in its effort to shift the Chrysler brand upscale.

But now, the automaker is aiming to offer lower sticker prices up front, as it has with the recent launch of the Dodge Durango sport-utility vehicle, which is bigger, more powerful and $2,000 cheaper than its predecessor, said chief operating officer Wolfgang Bernhard.

"You can carry that out. This is going to be our decision behind each of these vehicles," he said, gesturing to almost a dozen new models or derivatives that will be launched in the coming year, such as the Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 that can outrace a Porsche Boxter and the Hemi-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Magnum.

Along with the display of coming models, chief designer Trevor Creed showed video of three concept vehicles that will be shown at Detroit's North American International Auto Show in January:


The futuristic Jeep Treo, which debuted in Tokyo in October.

The Hummer H2-size Jeep Rescue, a Cummins diesel-powered search-rescue vehicle.

The Dodge Slingshot, a 90-horsepower sports car that explores the opposite end of the brand that produced the Viper.
The presentation for reporters Monday afternoon recapped a roadshow for U.S. dealer groups, which will now go to Canada and Mexico, said CEO Dieter Zetsche.

"We and our dealers clearly need to focus on the future because the future is now," he said.

Alan Helfman, general manager for family owned River Oaks Chrysler Jeep in Houston, said his brother-in-law went to the event in Dallas to see all the new models, which reflect about 60 percent of Chrysler Group's volume.

"There was a tremendous amount of euphoria, because we know it's right around the corner," Helfman said.

Executives also spoke about their continued push for quality -- a longtime Chrysler weakness.

The quality gains make the products more competitive, but they do hurt dealers in the short run. Helfman said River Oaks warranty work has plummeted from $125,000 a month on parts and $60,000 in labor each month to $50,000 in parts and $30,000 in labor.

Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. also have many new or refreshed models on tap for 2004. By various counts, 60 to 65 new vehicles will be out next year, compared with 50 to 55 this year and 30 to 40 a year for most of the previous decade.

Automakers often see new models as an opportunity to dramatically improve their cost and quality with new designs and manufacturing plans.

Chrysler is also aggressively addressing weaknesses in current models, fixing defects three times faster, executives say, and redirecting $4 billion of purchasing over the last three years.

The highest profile of these moves has been to take work away from Troy-based Collins & Aikman Corp., a maker of plastics and fabrics for interiors. In recent months, Chrysler has pulled from C&A work on the Jeep Liberty and future versions of the Dodge Stratus and Chrysler Sebring as well as the all-new minivans scheduled for 2006.

Tom Sidlik, Chrysler's top purchasing executive, said that most such moves are consensual, based on whether the supplier can meet the demands for cost, quality, technology and on-time delivery. "It's not adversarial. . . . It's more of a conversation," he said.

http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/dcx18_20031118.htm

I'm betting the upcoming Lotus Elise for $39,000 is still probably a more fun car than that Vette, and for less $$. :D

wow, they fixed all my gripes about the C5. Except for maybe the rear end :D.

BlitZ

Originally posted by username i think if GM really didnt want anyone to see the car, they wouldn't have left it so exposed. it just seems like a way to generate free pre release hype to me.

The bottom photos are masked. Just look, no headlamps and a lot of other things. :D

Originally posted by Ghostrider600
I'm betting the upcoming Lotus Elise for $39,000 is still probably a more fun car than that Vette, and for less $$. :D

I agree, but if I had to have one for a daily driver, I think my mind would be made up. Somehow I don't see most Corvette owners even considering the Elise. Especially seeing as how most Corvettes are automatics. Now Z06 owners may consider the Elise.

Originally posted by PPower
I agree, but if I had to have one for a daily driver, I think my mind would be made up. Somehow I don't see most Corvette owners even considering the Elise. Especially seeing as how most Corvettes are automatics. Now Z06 owners may consider the Elise.

You're right- Dave Hill, the chief engineer for the C5 said that they just didn't have a marketplace for a "heater-only" C5 with crank windows etc. Most people that buy them also want some amenities and conveniences. Me- I'm an Elise kinda guy, but have a WRX-sized budget, so won't be getting one any time soon.

the pics are down again

Update:
Power, rear-drive cars highlight Chrysler's '04 products


By Rick Kranz
Automotive News / November 18, 2003

DETROIT -- The Chrysler group will use powerful engines, two rear-drive cars and two convertibles in its product offensive in 2004.

A V-8 engine, dubbed the Hemi by company marketers, will play a starring role next year as the company tries to make good on its turnaround plan. It will launch nine new, redesigned or freshened vehicles through the end of next year.

“At the end of the day you cannot win the game just on defense,” said CEO Dieter Zetsche. “You cannot win it just with cost reductions. You have to be successful on the revenue side, and for revenue, you only can be successful with product.”

The Hemi V-8 will be offered in three of the nine products, the 2005 Chrysler 300, the 2005 Dodge Magnum and the 2005 Grand Cherokee.

2005 Chrysler 300

Zetsche calls the 300C sedan “the new flagship of the Chrysler brand. With the Hemi engine, well equipped, it will be priced below $35,000.” Chrysler estimates 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 6.3 seconds for a car equipped with the optional 340-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V-8. The “C” designation will only be given to cars with the Hemi engine.

Zetsche said the base model 300 sedan, equipped with a 2.7-liter V-6, will start at about $25,000.

The 300 replaces the Concorde and the 300 M sedans. Sales begin in April.

2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible

The PT Cruiser’s convertible will go on sale in March. Zetsche said the “pretty stiff body structure will minimize mirror shake,” adding that it will be “the most quiet convertible in the segment.”

The car will feature a pass-through under the convertible top. With the rear seats folded forward, long narrow objects can be carried inside the car.

2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

The Wrangler Unlimited will be 15 inches longer than a conventional Wrangler, resulting in 2 inches more rear seat space and 13 inches of additional cargo space. To achieve the extra room, the wheelbase is stretched 10 inches.

Additionally, the Wrangler’s towing capability is increased to 3,500 pounds and off-road capability is improved. Sales begin in April.

2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The redesigned Grand Cherokee goes on sale in October. Among the product highlights: the Hemi V-8; four-wheel-drive with electronically limited slip differential, and the addition of independent front suspension. The Hemi V-8, the first used in a Jeep vehicle, will provide 47 percent more power than the V-8 in the 2004 model.

2005 Dodge Dakota

The redesigned pickup will retain its midsized dimensions. It will feature front-end styling cues shared with the Ram and redesigned 2004 Durango.

“It features best in class horsepower, towing, torque and overall interior space,” said Eberhart. “It has the only full-time transfer case in its class.” Sales begin in September.

2005 Dodge Magnum

The wagon, with the optional 340-hp, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, will go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. It will be positioned as a performance vehicle, not a traditional family wagon.

Options include all-wheel drive, electronic stability control, navigation system, hands-free telephone system and self-sealing tires. Sales begin in May.

Both the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum share components with the Mercedes-Benz E class, such as the automatic transmission, electrical architecture and steering column.

2005 Chrysler Crossfire roadster

COO Wolfgang Bernhard said the vehicle will have a state-of-the-art soft top with aluminum linkages. Production begins in May.

An SRT-6 performance option will be available in the fall for both the Crossfire coupe and convertible. The vehicle will receive horsepower, suspension and tire enhancements. “SRT” is the Chrysler group’s performance brand.

2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10

The 500-hp V-10 powered Dodge Ram pickup goes on sale early next year. The automaker promises 0 to 60 mph in just over 5 seconds. Production will be limited to approximately 2,500 units annually.

Dodge, Chrysler minivans

The vehicles are expected to feature a third row seat that folds flat into the floor. Sales are expected to begin in the spring.

Don't forget that the liberty is getting a 2.8L diesel... hmm do I hear yj motor swap. :)

They come out with some better concepts...


Chrysler unveils 2 concepts


Automotive News / November 18, 2003


The Chrysler Group unveiled two concepts at Cobo Arena on Monday. They are the Dodge Sling Shot and Jeep Rescue.

The automaker also showed its Jeep Treo, which was unveiled in Tokyo.


Dodge Sling Shot
http://www.autonews.com/images/random/1118SLINGSHOTGOOD.jpg
Dodge says its Sling Shot sports car concept is designed to be practical and affordable. Sling Shot accelerates from 0-60 mph in about 10 seconds and delivers as much as 45 miles to the gallon.


Jeep Rescue
http://www.autonews.com/images/random/1118JEEPCHRYSLERGOOD.jpg
Jeep says the Rescue is designed for extreme driving conditions. The vehicle hints at the future design direction for a large Jeep.


Chrysler Treo
http://www.autonews.com/images/random/118TREO.jpg
The Jeep Treo's North American debut will be at the North American International Auto Show in January. Its world premiere was in Tokyo. Treo uses fuel-cell technology to drive electric motors at each wheel, and also has drive-by-wire technology.

These concepts will be shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.


Chrysler says it will unveil a ninth new vehicle that will go on sale next year, but would not reveal details.

2004.5 Volvo S40
Quiet Revolution: A new S40 moves Volvo up a few rungs on the small-premium ladder

By MATT DAVIS

VOLVO HAS SEEN NORTH America gobble up the S60 pretty nicely while being more than tepid about the V70, but the real volume opportunity in the global sense is that broad segment below these cars, filled with everything from a Honda Civic to a Volkswagen Passat. How now to take that segment and make it work harder across all American states and territories? The best year for the previous S40 here was in 2000 when sales hit 29,863. Now Volvo wants this new S40 to maintain that 30,000-ish strength (in a segment averaging 700,000 units annually in the States) for a few years, say mid-2004 through mid-2007. Job Two is then to make the V40-replacing V50 a selling proposition for the United States.

2004.5 VOLVO S40
ON SALE: January
BASE PRICE: $23,500 (est.)
POWERTRAIN: 2.4-liter, 168-hp, 166-lb-ft I5; fwd, five-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT: 3304 pounds
0-60 MPH: 8.4 seconds (mfr.)

We’ve driven the Mazda 3 and not-for-U.S. Ford C-Max mini MPV, both of which use the new global C1 architecture, and have been mightily impressed. The S40 is bound to be the most mature execution seen on C1—prices starting just below $23,000 for a naked five-speed manual with the 2.4 inline five-cylinder engine—so our expectations were sort of high.

Spain’s Costa del Sol will test any car that purports to be a driver’s car. Each road heading inland is an endless succession of perfect curves with ever less traffic and seemingly little police interest in enforcing any laws. Seeing as any driving experience in Sweden is about the exact opposite, it’s not surprising we’ve been summoned here instead of there.

After some 250 miles in these loopy conditions, we’re more than happy to say the upcoming S40 goes comfortably beyond the previous model. C1 is a revelation for Ford worldwide. The S40’s body structure increases torsional rigidity over the last model by some 68 percent, and length/ width/height dimensions not only make the package better-looking, but also contribute heavily to the much-improved handling traits and passenger room. It is a thoroughly different automobile.

Width is up 2.1 inches (to 69.6 inches), taking front and rear tracks with it, and height increases 1.5 inches (to 57.4 inches). Most impressive proportionately and for driving dynamics is the wheelbase increase of 3.1 inches (to 103.9 inches) while overall length decreases by two inches (to 175.8 inches). Inside, every cabin dimension is up a bit, rear leg- and shoulder-room in particular. This puts it right on par with an Acura TSX or Audi A4 1.8T, which is exactly what Volvo North America requested. It beats them on price.

The big deal on the inside is the ultra-thin center stack of the console first seen at the last Geneva show on the massive Versatility Concept Car. Very Scandinavian in its simply dealing with the conundrum of why empty unused spaces need to be blocked off by plastic modules. Now you can use that stow space, and the stack is very Bang & Olufsson. The Swedish elders are still debating whether to make the see-through iMac-inspired Iced Aqua version of the stack available. ’Twould be sure cool, youbetchya.

Now to the Spanish roads. We drove both the 168-hp, 2.4-liter, non-turbo inline five and the 218-hp, 2.5-liter turbo five, the former with the five-speed automatic-stick option (five-speed manual is standard), the latter with its standard six-speed manual. The T5 with six-speed manual is our favorite, though we know 85 percent of Americans will want the five-speed automatic stick if only for reasons of maintaining sanity in urban and commuter traffic. The 2.4 gets to 60 mph fastest using the five-speed manual—7.7 seconds vs. 8.4 with the automatic. Meantime the T5 with six-speed manual hits 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds, the auto taking 6.7 seconds. The current S40 with the 1.9-liter four and automatic makes it in a tick less than eight seconds. But the overall behavioral boost afforded by these two new engines and fresh dimensions makes then-and-now comparisons difficult at best.

In those hallowed Andalusian curves, the independent front and multilink rear suspension matched to the C1 chassis mostly shined. One really nice aspect is that though the S40 is still decidedly a front-wheel driver, you can work the tail out wide in controlled slides with traction control on or off. You have to bully it a bit to get the tiger to come out, but it is capable of handling anything you dish out.

At the same time, the assisted steering, aided and abetted by passive rear-wheel steering, is a little too soft and light under such circumstances and can make the car feel floaty during those pleasant slides. We drove the 2.4 with standard 15-inch alloys as well as with 16-inchers, and the T5 we sampled had 16s. Based on all this, we’d go with the 17-inch option.

Again, though, we face the truth that few will drive their S40 in the Andalusian way. Treated normally, the five-speed automatic stick with 16-inch wheels is a great setup, with overall comfort at an impressive level. Cabin noise at highway speeds may be the lowest we know in this class.

The No. 1 question when the car was shown at Frankfurt and here at the first drive? All together now: Will there be an R version? Volvo folks tiptoed a bit, but told us a few things through their sheepish grins. Everything in the chassis and powertrain of the car can handle up to 300 hp easily, there’s room under the hood for more turbo action, and the six-speed manual used is the same as that in the S60R and V70R. They also said, “Please, keep asking.”

Other good news making this new S40 even more of a player is the arrival of the Haldex all-wheel-drive version in mid-2004. If you don’t see yourself shelling out the dough for an S40R, get a T5 awd with the sport package and you’ll be feeling just as nifty. There was a normal T5 in red on display with this package applied and it looked better than any Volvo in recent memory.

And Pininfarina was just given the nod to create the convertible version before 2006.

Only automatic front-wheel-drive S40s will be available through the first six months of 2004, so that sub-$23K price will not apply. The sport package will cost around $1,900 and be offered right away.

Volvo is still awaiting North American certification for optional 18-inch wheels as well, but foresees them being available mid-2004.

Just get us that tricked-out R version ASAP, Hans-Olov.


http://www.autoweek.com/weekart/2003/1124/s40rear400.jpg
http://www.autoweek.com/weekart/2003/1124/s40int.jpg

Autoweek

The bad thing for Subaru is that while this should be Impreza competition, it may be closer to the Legacy since it says that it is on par with the TSX and A4. There seems to be some confusion as to what the Impreza and Legacy are supposed to compete against. They keep matching up against the same models of other manufacturers, and that isn't good for product differentiation.

Originally posted by PPower
There seems to be some confusion as to what the Impreza and Legacy are supposed to compete against. They keep matching up against the same models of other manufacturers, and that isn't good for product differentiation.

I agree, Subaru's next generation of Impreza will need to be more clearly define in the compact car market. Some of this dilemma lies in the pricing of the WRX which is the most popular Impreza base vehicle.

With the WRX going out the door around $26,000 on average, it's eneviatable the the Impreza is compared to like priced cars.

This also defines the need for the Impreza RS to become a better car, there for expanding the Impreza market and making the RS more comparible to the like tweeners.

There is also the consideration of how the Legacy and Impreza pricing overlap. Subaru greatess immediate challenge, will be in distancing the Legacy from the Impreza and growing both models.

This also defends why the Turbo GT variant Legacy's will need to be $30,000 cars

Originally posted by Alpha1

There is also the consideration of how the Legacy and Impreza pricing overlap. Subaru greatess immediate challenge, will be in distancing the Legacy from the Impreza and growing both models.

This also defends why the Turbo GT variant Legacy's will need to be $30,000 cars

$30,000 or probably *more* (unfortunately).

I still have to agree to disagree. Drop the premium pack on the WRX, then will it be so close? The premium pack on the WRX will be everything on the GT and more! It's only logical in my book to make to streamline model lines to make things as defined and clear as possible while reducing costs and and keeping overlaps to a minimum. Offer the sunroof as an option, but NO leather on the WRX is best in my book. That throws out $1,000 on the price comparison.

I stick to my guns, $25,995 to $26,495 (+$550 D&D) for MSRP base on the Leg GT sedan, add $1,000 for wagon, add $500 over wagon for a 3.0R sedan. The H6 model is still more expensive to build.

They need 5 clearly defined models in the OB line, ALL wagons! Base and leather 2.5 models, cloth H6, leather H6, premium leather H6. Same all over!

Forester looks pretty good, but add manual to FXT Premium as a BTO option, that's about $1,000 less right there.

Legacy, could come in 5 destinct flavors as this can very easily become the best selling line outright, the 3.0R premium luxury model, 2.5GT premium luxury model, 2.5GT sport touring model, 2.5 base model, with a spot for a 2.5 premium as an option. Both wagons and sedans. The impreza line is really pretty good defining itself apart from the Legacy is sort of hard from a size comparison. It definitely needs to change for the next itteration.

And onto the 'what should Subaru do next thread'. :lol:

Motor Trend Magazine Names Toyota Prius 2004 Car of the Year
The First Hybrid Vehicle to Receive the Coveted Golden Calipers Award

NEW YORK, Nov. 20 -- MOTOR TREND magazine, the world's #1 automotive authority and part of the PRIMEDIA Consumer Automotive Group, today announced the selection of the Toyota Prius as the 2004 Car of the Year. Now in its 55th year, the title of MOTOR TREND Car of the Year is the most coveted and most recognized award in the automotive industry.

"We realize the selection of a hybrid vehicle is going to stir controversy, but we believe the performance, engineering advancements, and overall significance of the Toyota Prius merits the distinction of MOTOR TREND's Car of the Year," said Kevin Smith, editor-in-chief of MOTOR TREND. "The Prius is a capable, comfortable, fun-to-drive car that just happens to get spectacular fuel economy. It also provides a promising look at a future where extreme fuel-efficiency, ultra-low emissions, and exceptional performance will happily coexist. That makes it meaningful to a wide range of car buyers."

After weeks of exhaustive testing, MOTOR TREND editors found the Toyota Prius to be a user-friendly gas/electric hybrid capable of delivering an impressive 60 miles per gallon in city driving. It is the first of such vehicles to move into the automotive mainstream, with performance, style and quality. Spacious enough to be classified as a midsize sedan, the Prius' futuristic bodywork, innovative Hybrid Synergy Drive, pleasing interior and five-door hatchback design, clearly placed it above the competition.

"We're thrilled MOTOR TREND magazine has chosen the Toyota Prius as the 2004 Car of the Year," said Don Esmond, senior vice president and general manager, Toyota Division. "This may be the first hybrid vehicle to win the award, but it won't be the last. The Hybrid Synergy Drive in the Prius is cutting-edge technology and we applaud the editors of MOTOR TREND for recognizing its significance in the evolution of the automobile."

This year, the editorial staff of MOTOR TREND conducted testing on 26 new vehicles, from sports cars to minivans, searching for the automobile that best represented exceptional value, superiority in its class, and the most significant development on the new-car scene for 2004. All truly new or substantially revised cars were considered with the condition that they be available for public sale by January 1, 2004.

For the 2004 Car of the Year competition, the following models were included: Acura TL, Acura TSX, Audi A8 L, BMW 5 Series, BMW Z4, Cadillac XLR, Chevrolet Malibu and Maxx, Chevrolet Aveo, Chrysler Crossfire, Ford Freestar, Jaguar XJ8/XJR, Mazda RX-8, Mitsubishi Galant, Mitsubishi Lancer/Ralliart/Evolution, Nissan Maxima, Nissan Quest, Pontiac Grand Prix, Pontiac GTO, Scion xA, Scion xB, Subaru Impreza/WRX/STi, Suzuki Verona, Toyota Camry Solara, Toyota Prius, Toyota Sienna, and the Volkswagen Phaeton.

"Our readers trust the MOTOR TREND brand to provide the most authoritative and unbiased vehicle evaluation for the Car of the Year award," said Smith. "Each year our staff dedicates hundreds of hours to vigorous testing and focuses on identifying the best and most noteworthy automobile to receive the award. We are very proud of the credence and trust placed in our selection by our readers and the automobile industry. "

The MOTOR TREND Evaluation Process

Each year, the editorial staff of MOTOR TREND evaluates the eligible vehicles based on three key categories: Significance, Superiority, and Value. Significance refers to impact on the market and looks for mastery and innovation in engineering, technology, design, safety and packaging, as well as envisioned sales forecasts for that model line. Superiority levels the playing field and looks for class-leading levels of performance, style, and value within its specific competitive set -- not among all new vehicles. Finally, the all-important Value question asks, "What does this vehicle deliver in relation to what the consumer has to pay to purchase and own it?"

In making the selection, vehicles are taken to task through thousands of miles of on-track and on-street driving, in a wide variety of weather and road conditions to evaluate many factors, including styling and design; fit, finish and materials; engineering and technology; interior; safety; performance; and value. Additional aspects evaluated included handling balance, response, predictability, and power delivery.

The complete report on the 2004 Car of the Year can be found in the January 2004 issue of MOTOR TREND, on newsstands December 2, 2003. Additional coverage, with high-resolution images, will be posted on MOTOR TREND's Web site at http://www.motortrend.com/media. Multimedia coverage of the testing and selection process will appear on MOTORTREND television, hosted by feature editor John Matthius.

OUTLOOK FOR CAR MODELS: GM plans to replace slow-selling Saturn

Step-up L-300 called a letdown
November 20, 2003

BY JEFFREY MCCRACKEN
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

The midsize sedan General Motors Corp. had hoped would be a hit with Saturn lovers is instead on the automaker's hit list.

GM will kill off the slow-selling Saturn L-300 sedan and wagon in the summer of 2005, say suppliers, auto insiders and GM officials. The plan is to replace it later in 2005 with a four-door hatchback that some insiders call the Saturn Sportsback. It would be built on the same structure as the new Chevrolet Malibu and the Saab 9-3.

The Saturn L-300, called L-Series when it debuted in 1999, was GM's long-awaited attempt to create a midsize car that satisfied buyers of the original, compact Saturn would want to move to. Instead they just moved on, say auto-sales experts.

GM poured hundreds of millions into producing a first-ever midsize for Saturn and hoped to sell 200,000 of the L-Series a year. It topped out in 2001 with sales of 98,000, and a few years ago GM cut production from two shifts to one at the L-Series' Wilmington, Del., plant.

"It just had price, styling and size issues from the beginning. It's really a pretty boring car," said Rebecca Lindland, senior analyst for Global Insight, an auto-research firm. "GM suppliers were told to expect it to sell 200,000 a year, but it's never come close."

Lindland said competing Asian vehicles such as the Hyundai Sonata and Nissan Altima are faring the best in the competitive midsize-car segment. Sonata sales are up 20 percent for the year while Altima sales basically are flat.

L-Series sales tumbled to 81,000 last year and are down 16 percent in 2003. The L-300 is on pace to top 70,000.

GM has put heavy rebates on the L-300. They increased from $1,400 per vehicle in January to more than $3,400 in October, according to the vehicle-sales Web site www.edmunds.com. The vehicle's suggested retail price is between $16,000 and $24,000.

Sales have driven into a ditch the last two months. They fell 37 percent in September and 40 percent in October, compared with the same months in 2002. This is despite Saturn making over the front grille and rear and adding a brushed-nickel trim and silver gauges inside.

"You go into a Saturn dealership and you can just see the L-Series isn't doing well. It's been a bit of a dog," said Mike Wall, analyst for the forecasting firm CSM Worldwide. "Coming out, Saturn hoped people would want to graduate to the L-Series from the small Saturn, but they go on instead to a Toyota Camry."

Wall said GM has about a 116-day supply of unsold L-300 sedans and wagons, well above the 60-day supply automakers prefer. That number remained high despite a supplier strike that halted L-300 production for three weeks in late October.

The Saturn L-300 will be replaced by a car off the so-called Epsilon platform for the 2006 model year. Epsilon is a global midsize car platform, a basic architecture from which a number of different-looking vehicles can be built.

Saturn spokeswoman Sherrie Childers Arb declined to comment on the fate of the L-300.

"We will have a vehicle off the Epsilon platform. Beyond that I can't say what will happen with the Saturn midsize entry," she said.

The Saturn vehicle made on the Epsilon platform, code named GMX384, would have more modest sales goals of around 75,000, say GM and supplier officials.

Early on, the new Saturn was going to be some sort of wagon, but "we weren't pleased with the early wagon designs so we made a course correction," said a GM official. "It will not be a wagon."

The official said the new Saturn won't be made at Wilmington. Instead, it'll be assembled either at the Fairfax, Kan., plant, where the 2004 Malibu is built, or the Lake Orion plant. Lake Orion is going to build the Grand Am replacement, called the Pontiac G6.

"The more likely one is Fairfax," said the GM official.

The L-Series was based on the Opel Vectra, from GM's main European brand Opel, based in Germany.

WORDS FROM NICK SCHEELE: Ford's Focus is on Europe

All-new model not heading for U.S.
November 20, 2003

BY JAMIE BUTTERS
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Ford Motor Co. has no plans to bring an all-new Focus to North America in the foreseeable future, president and chief operating officer Nick Scheele told the Free Press this week.

Ford is rolling out an all-new Focus for Europe next year, which will also provide the basic underpinnings for Mazda and Volvo small-car models. Suppliers and analysts had once expected that European Focus to be brought to North America in 2005. Later, they believed it had been pushed back to 2007. Now they are finding that nothing more than minor freshenings are planned until at least 2010.

Scheele said no plans for an all-new Focus have been seriously discussed since he came to North America in 2001. A complete overhaul isn't necessary, he said, with quality dramatically improved, accolades rolling in, and millions of dollars in state incentives to help make Wayne Stamping and Assembly the sole source of all Focus models in North America. The plant consolidation is set to be announced today.

"We think we've got a great product for North America. We see no need to change it," he said.

When businesses spend money on new products -- called capital expenditures -- it is a bit of a gamble. Automakers bet hundreds of millions of dollars, even a billion, that a new model will generate big profits.

But choosing not to place that bet has risks, too. And some outside experts say Ford is taking a chance that it won't get left behind in a very competitive part of the market.

Excluding a handful of the smallest and cheapest models, J.D. Power and Associates calls the premium compact-car segment a brutally competitive one that accounts for 13.5 percent of the U.S. light-vehicle market. (It accounts for one-third of sales in Europe, where it is considered a midsize car, Scheele said.) The main reason is that Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. have maintained an unrelenting pace of full redesigns every five years, said Tom Libby, an economist with J.D. Power and Associates in Troy.

"The leaders in that segment are refreshed every five years," he said, referring to the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. "A 10-year product life cycle in that segment is not fully competitive.

With a newer model, automakers can avoid incentives and generate more revenue with each car.

The Civic sells for about $16,000 and the Corolla about $15,500, according to J.D. Power's analysis of actual transaction prices. The Focus typically sells for $13,500 to $14,000, while the Chevrolet Cavalier, which hasn't been redesigned since 1995, has sold for $12,000 to $13,000.

Scheele said 10 years is still a typical life span for a platform, or basic structure. And it is worth noting that one automaker's face-lift can be nearly as substantial as another's redesign.

But the idea that Ford is delaying the redesign to save cash -- which Scheele dismisses -- strikes some as a typically Detroit form of suicide.

In a February report that outraged some within Ford, UBS Warburg analyst Saul Rubin questioned the wisdom of delaying the new Focus from 2005 to 2007, as was then thought to be the case.

"It leads us to believe that Ford feels it can let the Focus sit in the marketplace for longer without significant damage," he wrote. "With this among the most competitive of segments, it appears to us there is a high risk that an aging model is likely to suffer."

With the Ford Futura, Five Hundred and scores of other vehicles being introduced across eight brands around the world in the next few years -- and credit-rating agencies demanding that Ford maintain massive cash reserves -- the company has to choose carefully where to spend its money.

Scheele and other Ford executives are also not in a hurry to redesign the Focus because it is finally getting credit for fixing quality problems that sullied the car's U.S. introduction in fall 1999.

With its ample headroom, sporty driving dynamics and a stylish design that even General Motors Corp. CEO Rick Wagoner says has aged well, the Focus has long been a favorite compact car within the industry.

But owners have been another story.

The first two model years the Focus was sold in the United States, Ford held 10 safety recalls. Wednesday, Ford said it will replace a part in the fuel system of 671,000 models because it can cause the engine to stall.

Ford made the mistake of treating the U.S. Focus as if it were a simple carry-over of the European model that had been on the market for two years, Scheele and other executives said.

But it really wasn't that simple. Many major components, such as the engine and transmission, had to be different.

Without enough engineering resources to manage the transition, recalls and defects plagued the model's first two years in the States, and poor results from owner surveys kept the model off of Consumer Reports' annual "recommended buy" list.

Until this year, when it posted a third consecutive year of better-than average quality to earn a spot on the coveted list.

Under quality chief Louise Goeser, Ford initiated hundreds of major "black-belt" projects to address defects such as noisy brakes, flaking paint and squeaks and rattles in the sunroof.

Since the 2000 model, complaints after three months in service are down 31 percent and warranty costs down 51 percent, said Goeser, who points to the Focus' improvement as indicative of the progress throughout the world's second-largest automaker. "The Focus is an example, but it's widespread" progress, she said.

Originally posted by mh_WRX
WORDS FROM NICK SCHEELE: Ford's Focus is on Europe

All-new model not heading for U.S.
November 20, 2003


Hmmm... It sort of makes sense... We already have 2 cars on the market using the same platform -- the Mazda 3 and the Volvo S40/V50. Whereas at least the Volvo is differentiated by it's entry level luxury status and Volvo engine, it seems that the Focus would be in direct competition with the Protege.

Both seem to want to be stylish compact cars with an emphasis on sporty handling. And I'm assuming both will have hopped up SVT/Mazdaspeed versions that will end up being somewhat similar as well. It seems like both would cannibalize each other. 10 years is an awefully long product cycle these days though... I wonder what the Focus forum guys think about this...

Pricing for 3

Mazda announced prices for its 2004 3 lineup, which reaches U.S. dealerships in December. The base four-door 3i—powered by Mazda’s 2.0-liter, 148-hp 135-lb-ft inline four—starts at $14,200, including destination. The 2.3-liter, 160-hp 150-lb-ft 3s sedan checks in at $16,925. The top-of-the-line five-door hatchback (available in 2.3-liter s-trim only) stickers for $17,415. All come standard with a five-speed manual transmission. At the upper end, a loaded 3s hatchback with four-speed automatic transmission lists for $23,115.

Mazda3 uses Ford’s new C1 compact car platform, which also underpins the Volvo S40 (see page 12) due here next year and the not-for-U.S.-sale Ford C-Max MPV. Mazda expects to sell 70,000 to 75,000 of its Protegé / Protegé5 replacement in North America per year.

BMW M3 CLS...

M3 Lightweight (http://www.bmw.com/generic/com/en/products/highlights/m3csl/main.htm)

400-500 lbs lighter, that's pretty darn good.

lol :lol:

So it has a 12/1 lbs/lbs ratio?

There will be a M3, M4, M5, M6, and M7.

Now I haven't heard about a M2.

M7? not happening?

M3, m4, m5 amd m6 are confirmed pretty much...
V8 for first 2 (375-400hp), v10 for last 2.... (497 hp)

I saw the 4 series picture from autospies, but they don't show the 3 series sedan. I tried searching, but I couldnt' find it anywhere. username? Show me those mad skillz.

Taste is subjective. For me, it's "EWWWW!!!"

Way to go! I don't think it looks too bad. I prefer it over the 5 and 7. That's for sure. M3 wagon, now that would be sweet. I don't think my wallet will EVER be able to get the M5 wagon.

So... In effect they've effectively fuglified what was originally the world's best compact sedan design ever. :(

At least it makes my decision to commit myself to the Legacy that much easier.

I don't know about the rear but the front/body of the 3 Wagon looks nice....

Originally posted by username
5,4...

http://galleries.wheels24.co.za/special/5estate/images/11.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/bloodtypeb4/b5er.JPG

:eek: No way. I can't believe Subaru has achieved the same overhang as BMW....

Looks pretty darn close, I think we still have about 2" or so more forward to go. Pretty respectable none-the-less.

I always knew Subarus were excellent cars. This just proves it more and more.

Originally posted by Kuro
I always knew Subarus were excellent cars. This just proves it more and more.

Yes, and a USDM Spec B would seal it. ;)

Ford will drop SVT Focus
Ford Division, planning to take the SVT performance brand to a more premium position, will drop the SVT Focus after the 2004 model year, the company says

Ford Retooling SVT Lineup

Ford is shelving its high performance SVT Focus coupe next year and suspending production of the entire Special Vehicle Team lineup for the 2005 model year. Ford, like other automakers, has big plans for performance cars, but the company finds itself playing catch-up in tricking out SVT versions of upcoming new models. Ford's next scheduled model year for SVT products will be 2006. The Mustang Cobra and F-150 Lightning truck are to be based on the new platforms of those vehicles, and it takes time to do the SVT versions after the mass-market model debut. John Coletti, SVT's chief engineer, said the 2006 Lightning will be powered by an engine similar to the one featured in the 500-horsepower Ford GT, which debuts next year. Other possibilities include supercharged versions of the Mercury Marauder and Lincoln Navigator, a Mustang with a V-10 and a turbocharged Focus, said Coletti. In 2005, Ford plans to introduce the Focus ST, which stands for street tuned. It offers slightly less horsepower than the SVT Focus -- 155 compared with 170. But it will have more torque and likely cost less than the SVT. GM, Chrysler and Mazda are all adding performance models at the same time Ford is retooling. Chevy has an Impala SS coming out in 2004. Chrysler is bringing out the Dodge Ram SRT-10 and Crossfire SRT in 2004. Mazda is growing its MazdaSpeed lineup with the new Mazda3 and Mazda6. Ford has sold 4,500 Focus SVTs since 2002, but sales have underperformed in part because of steep insurance rates. -Jim Burt

So when everyone moves up, who will be on the bottom to get the people starting out? The used car segment?

Nope. The Koreans. Kia, Hyundai, Daewoo.

Where's that : puke: smiley?

Which is why Hyundia has twice the growth rate of ANY other major manufacturer.

Originally posted by mh_WRX
Which is why Hyundia has twice the growth rate of ANY other major manufacturer.

...and their service contributes to that ;)

http://www.carenthusiast.com/bmw/bmw_5estate2004_08.jpg

This is a much more handsome car than the BMW 5 Saloon

http://www.carenthusiast.com/vw/vw_touaregvs10abt2003_03.jpg

Green welly

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2003-11-22

Think of a 373 bhp performance car, and the first marque that springs to mind is unlikely to be Volkswagen. OK, now we're over that hurdle, imagine the body style. Two-door coupe? Supercar? Hot hatch? Nah. Think 4x4 off-roader actually. As for the engine, maybe a V8, perhaps, at a push, a straight 6? Wrong again. V10. Er... and it's a diesel.

The car in question is the new Abt Sportsline Touareg VS10, which this week arrived in the UK. Hailed proudly as the world's most powerful diesel off-roader, the VS10 features VW's diesel powerplant with various engine management changes to raise power and torque (the latter to an incredible 634 lb.ft at 2000 rpm) and improve throttle response. This allows acceleration from 0-62 mph in just over seven seconds, and a top speed of almost 150 mph.

Visually the car benefits from deeper front and rear bumpers, a new front grille, a 'discreet' rear spoiler and extended wheelarches and sideskirts. The rear skirt incorporates the four Abt tailpipes. The look is further enhanced by Abt's gargantuan 10 x 22 inch rims shod with low profile ContiSport Contact tyres.

Clearly not one for habitual off-roading, the VS10 sits at rest approximately 60 mm lower than the standard Touareg. Abt's newly developed Abt Level Control (ALC) air suspension system optimises the ride for a given condition, and when the car is running it is raised 30 mm (or 20 mm in 'Sport' mode). Bear in mind this is still 30-40 mm below standard ride height.

The complete Abt Touareg VS10 costs £64,460 - this price includes engine management changes, suspension modifications and styling upgrades mentioned above. Individual Abt Sportsline products for the Volkswagen Touareg start from just £340 and can be purchased from local Volkswagen centres or from Abt Sportsline.

When we approach Abt to borrow a VS10 for a few days I'll be happy to hand over my green wellies in exchange, as I'm confident they'll be seeing absolutely no use whatsoever.

http://www.carenthusiast.com/news.html?article=196

This is awsome!!!

They're (VW) having a hard enough time keeping stock Touaregs up and running. I can only imagine spending the kind of coin needed for the beast above only to have it sit at the dealer while they wait for tranny parts to come over from Germany... :rolleyes:

Originally posted by gargleblaster
They're (VW) having a hard enough time keeping stock Touaregs up and running. I can only imagine spending the kind of coin needed for the beast above only to have it sit at the dealer while they wait for tranny parts to come over from Germany... :rolleyes:

Neither could I, but most exotic vehicles have that characteristic, I simple stated that it was awsome!!!

http://www.theautochannel.com/N/F/news/2003/11/23/173333.1-lg.jpg

Opel Vectra OPC: concept car with high performance turbo-diesel

This year´s Essen Motor-Show (November 28 to December 7, 2003) will host a spectacular world premiere. The Opel Performance Center (OPC) is presenting an ultra-sporty concept car based on the Vectra GTS. Featuring innovative twin-turbochargers, the 1.9-liter diesel produces 156 kW (212 hp) and peak torque of more than 400 Nm from as low as 1400 rpm. With this engine the Vectra OPC needs no more than 6.5 seconds to sprint from zero to 100 km/h. Top speed is limited electronically to 250 km/h, while fuel consumption in the European test cycle is only six liters per 100 kilometers. With this powerful yet economical, high-performance common-rail injection engine, Opel demonstrates again its renewed diesel expertise.

Besides the Vectra OPC concept, Opel is also showing its current motorsport program in Essen – the Nürburgring-24-Hours-winning Astra V8 Coupé; the Opel 2.0-liter-powered winner of the inaugural Formula 3 Euroseries; and a Corsa S 1600 junior world rally car, similar to the example that won this year’s hotly contested British S 1600 rally championship. A big display of production performance cars, including the Speedster Turbo, Zafira OPC and the all-new Astra, completes the exhibits on Opel's stand in Hall 3.

The Vectra concept car, developed by OPC and based on the GTS sport sedan, is powered by a new development of the 1.9 turbo-diesel available early next year in the Vectra and the Signum. While the standard 1.9 CDTI ECOTEC develops 110 kW (150 hp), the twin-turbo version increases this to 156 kW (212 hp) and therefore has a higher specific power output than the V12 6.0-liter gasoline engine in the Ferrari Enzo. The Italian supercar develops 80.8 kW (110 hp) per liter, the Opel Vectra OPC´s twin-turbo engine produces 82 kW (112 hp) per liter.

Two electronically controlled turbochargers, with maximum boost-pressure of 3.0 bar, are key to the improved performance, enabling the 1.9-liter twin-turbo to drive as smoothly as a naturally-aspirated, large-displacement engine. Peak torque of more than 400 Newtonmeters is available all the way up the engine-speed range from 1400 to 3500 rpm. Apart from the considerable power increase, one of the advantages of the twin-turbo principle is the engine's low fuel consumption. Whereas additional power is often coupled with higher fuel consumption, the Opel twin-turbo in the Vectra OPC consumes no more than the standard production engine (6.0 l/100 km in the European test cycle). The exhaust emissions of the Vectra OPC are also below the Euro 4 limits that come into force as of January 1, 2005.

The concept car shown in Essen features the Arden blue typical of OPC products, a lowered body with aerodynamic accessories and 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/30 tires. The interior is largely trimmed in blue leather. In view of the car's high performance potential, the spring and shock absorber settings have been modified and an even higher-performance brake system installed.

2003-11-23 Please quote Autoindex.org if You use this news article!

Hey that Opel doesn't look too bad and that VW just looks BADASS! The Opel headlamps look sort of like the last Prelude. Not bad IMO.

Originally posted by mh_WRX
Ford will drop SVT Focus

Yeah.. and they're dropping the entire Ford based Focus line as well shortly.. to be replaced by a variant of the new Mazda 3.

I just read the other day that the Mazda 3 will come with HID headlamps standard. Unheard of before in a sub $15k car. AWD is slated for the new Focus, and possibly the 3 as well. I'm thinking.. new 3, plus mazdaspeed turbo (a decent one this time) and AWD = WRX fighter in nice clothes.

Subaru set the benchmark and others are trying to match it. I think the key word is trying. Look at the B4 in Japan! :lol: No competition for years now.

Originally posted by Beaverboy
Yeah.. and they're dropping the entire Ford based Focus line as well shortly.. to be replaced by a variant of the new Mazda 3.

I just read the other day that the Mazda 3 will come with HID headlamps standard. Unheard of before in a sub $15k car. AWD is slated for the new Focus, and possibly the 3 as well. I'm thinking.. new 3, plus mazdaspeed turbo (a decent one this time) and AWD = WRX fighter in nice clothes.

The US won't get the new Focus until after 2007 (Don't get that), while the rest of thr world will get it by 2005. AWD models will be available for the Mazda 3, Focus, and the Volvo S40/V40. All those are built off the same chassis. The New Mazda 3 AWD turbo may be called the GTX, and how many here remember that car. :banana:

Originally posted by mh_WRX
The New Mazda 3 AWD turbo may be called the GTX, and how many here remember that car. :banana:

Oooh OOoh! I do! (but you probably already figured that out) The only problem is that the new GTX would weigh about 600-900lbs more than the original. Of course, the original only had a 1.6L turbo engine. It would be nice if they did the center diff lock again.

2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Two seats, eight cylinders, 617 horsepower and $400,000 – but does it add up?
by Paul A. Eisenstein (2003-11-24)

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7517_image.jpg

The baboons are unimpressed. They calmly stare off at the ocean, refusing to be distracted as we pull into the parking lot at the tip of the Cape of Good Hope. You can't say the same for the crowd of tourists who'd until now been watching the antics of the local wildlife. As the gullwing doors of our two-seater pop open, people step aside and gape as if they were watching the Red Sea part.

You'd think they had never seen an SLR before. Come to think of it, they haven't. And except for the prototype put on display at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, neither had we. To get a closer look - and some time behind the wheel - TheCarConnection spent the better part of two days traveling to South Africa.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7508_image.jpg
Five-year gestation

It's been five years since the SLR made its debut in concept form, a prototype designed to showcase the skills of Mercedes and its Formula One partner, British-based McLaren. The over-the-top, two-seat coupe was a smash on the auto show circuit, as was the roadster that followed a year later - prompting Mercedes to announce it would add the SLR to its ever-expanding lineup.

Going from concept to production has been no mean feat, especially in light of the SLR's heritage. The designation dates back to the race cars of the '50s, as well as the 1955 300SLR "Uhlenhaut Coupe." The show car was strongly influenced by Mercedes' modern Formula Silver Arrow racecar. That meant the production SLR would have to utilize cutting-edge materials and deliver world-class performance.

Of course, it helps to have an ally like McLaren, which has long been one of the dominant players in the global motor sports circuit. So in early 1990, the partners divided up duties and set to work. McLaren was assigned the challenge of transforming the concept vehicle into production form, along with developing the vehicle's chassis and suspension. It also produces the so-called "body-in-white" at a new assembly plant near its headquarters in the U.K.

Mercedes took on what was left, including exterior and interior styling, powertrain development, brakes, and safety technology. The German automaker also invested 200 million Euros. Actually, that number is a bit misleading, since Mercedes holds a 40-percent stake in McLaren, which reportedly put up millions more of its own.

That might not sound like much in an industry where even a mundane sedan can rack up a billion-dollar price tag. But during an anticipated run, Mercedes and McLaren plan to produce just 3500 SLRs. Not annually, but 3500 total, at $400,000 a pop. Yet according to Dr. Jans-Joachim Schopf, the man in charge of development and engineering, Mercedes has already rung up enough advance orders to cover more than two years of production with little more to go on than the show car and a few promises.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7510_image.jpg
Exotica

Let's face it, when you're spending this kind of money, you want more than just a fast car. It has to look exotic, and grab attention wherever it goes. There've been some changes in the production SLR's dimensions. The nose and tail have been tweaked a bit. But it's still got the same, long-nosed profile and sci-fi gullwing doors. Overall, the production SLR is just as striking as the show car, turning heads constantly.

As with the prototype, the '05 SLR borrows bits and pieces from the McLaren F1 design, starting at the long front end with inset Mercedes tri-star. The twin wings below the nose serve similar purpose on street and track, providing plenty of downforce while helping channel air for cooling and engine breathing.

Unlike such supercars as the Ferrari Enzo and Lamborghini Murcielago, the SLR follows the form of a classic GT, down to the front-mid engine layout. That's going to keep high-performance aficionados arguing for years to come. As for Mercedes and McLaren, they insist they've matched the performance of classic, rear-engine supercar designs, in part due to the SLR's track-influenced chassis.

The monococque consists of three basic components, a front crash structure, an engine cradle and passenger compartment. The cradle is aluminum. All the other chassis parts, as well as the body, are made of incredibly stiff carbon fiber. Using new production methods, there are just 70 parts to the chassis, which weighs in at less than 700 pounds.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7511_image.jpg

Largely hidden away under the passenger "cell," the engine is a modified version of the big Mercedes 90-degree V-8, an SOHC design displacing 5.4 liters. In SLR trim, each engine is hand-built by the automaker's AMG unit. By integrating a belt-driven supercharger, sequential fuel injectors and a fully electronic throttle control, power comes on strong and fast, and by 3200 rpm, the package is making 575 lb-ft of torque. Horsepower peaks at 617.

In a vehicle of just 3734 pounds, the effect is like being launched from the catapult of an aircraft carrier. Step into the throttle and you're thrust deep into the one-piece carbon fiber driver's seat. There's plenty of sound and fury; Mercedes engineers have put some effort into tuning the sound of the big V-8, though they haven't completely masked that strangely unsettling blower gear whine.

The engine is mated to a beefed-up version of the Mercedes five-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed simply couldn't handle all that torque. While the thought of an automatic in a supercar might seem the ultimate oxymoron, we found little to complain about. In sport mode, shifts are quick, precise and quite intuitive. There's a comfort setting as well as a manual mode, the latter offering three settings that alter the abruptness of shifts. In manual, you toggle the transmission with well-placed buttons on the backside of the steering wheel - or with the gearshift lever.

While we haven't had the opportunity to confirm the factory numbers, Mercedes claims 0-100 km/h (0-62.5 mph) of 3.8 seconds. Even more impressive, the SLR will launch from 0-200 km/h (0-125 mph) in just 10.1 seconds. Top speed is 334 km/h, or about 208 mph.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7512_image.jpg
Cape of good performance

We only managed to nip the 180-mph mark on a long straight on a quiet stretch of well-paved road an hour outside Cape Town. But the engine had plenty left in it.

Speed isn't the only thing that matters, of course. The composite chassis was as stiff as promised. Though, at times, it actually proved a bit too stiff. On a smooth surface, the SLR seemed almost glued to the road, tracking absolutely on-center. Steering was precise and smooth and, until we neared 140 mph or so, confidence inspiring. Above that speed, it tended to get a bit light, requiring lots of little corrections.

Descending through the narrow, twisty pass towards the quaint wine country town of Franschoek, the SLR negotiated the tightest switchbacks with uncanny skill - except when the road surface got rough. There the carbon fiber chassis and race-tuned suspension could conspire against you, though it wasn't particularly difficult to bring the car back on track.

Mercedes planners anticipate a number of SLR owners will be taking their car out onto the track. Perhaps, but for those who simply want to test its mettle on the street, the suspension could prove a bit difficult to handle. It's great on smooth pavement, but would likely shock one into numbness after an hour on the potholed roads of Detroit.

Company officials say they're considering the idea of offering an optional electronic suspension, but that likely wouldn't show up in production for at least the first two years. Nor would such other niceties as the Mercedes Parktronic system, which would alert you when you're about to crunch the long, sloping nose into the back wall of your garage.

When you're going racing, weight matters as much as raw horsepower, and Mercedes doesn't want to handicap any driver going up against the likes of the Enzo or Porsche's new Carrera GT. That means a minimum of sound-deadening insulation. You'll hear every grunt and roar of the engine, the rumble of a rough road surface and a surprising amount of wind noise.

Call it the supercar irony. The more you pay, the more you give up to the effort to maximize performance. In the old days, some supercar interiors were as unrefined as a Yugo, and they weren't much more drivable. Mercedes intended to make the SLR a "daily driver." Indeed, if you don't mind the noise and the awkward way you have to slide over the wide door sill and tumble into your seat, it's quite possible to use the car all the time. There's even a trunk large enough - with 9.6 cubic feet of space - for the weekly family groceries - if you're planning to cook at home and save some money so you can meet your monthly payments.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7514_image.jpg

Unexotic bits

We were a wee bit disappointed with the leather, aluminum, and carbon fiber interior of the SLR. It's reasonably well executed, though not quite as exotic as we'd have expected for the price tag. Sure, there's the cool "Start" button. You lift a perforated cover atop the gearshift lever to reach it, and when the car's running, it glows a ticket-me red. But the gauges? They could have been lifted out of a base SLK. If you're spending $400,000 - and especially if you're doing track time - you want more than just the basic tach, speedo, water temp, and fuel gauges.

With a car like this, however, we'll overlook the complete lack of cupholders.

One of the more striking visual features of the SLR is the big, deck-mounted flap. It serves double duty, first as a spoiler providing downforce at high speeds. Then, when you need to stop in a hurry, it pops all the way up to act as an air brake. And if the SLR launches like it was shot off an aircraft carrier, it stops like a jet grabbing a carrier's arrest hook. In terms of stopping power, the carbon fiber-reinforced ceramic brakes are a work of wonder, weighing half as much as steel discs, while developing 1.3 g of stopping force.

But they are also the source of our biggest frustration. The floor-mounted pedal takes a surprising amount of force to engage. There's a noticeable amount of dead space and it's difficult to modulate. SWLR Project Manager Christian Fruh admits it's the most common source of complaint, but insists that's the price to pay for the SLR's high-tech brake-by-wire technology, which can do such things as adjust brake force, wheel-by-wheel, in a corner. Think of it as another one of those supercar ironies.

So, when you add it all up, the power and performance, the compromises and idiosyncrasies, does it work out to $400,000? We have to admit that number is well beyond the budget for any member of TheCarConnection. Among those who can afford the likes of the SLR, Enzo, and Carrera GT, the new Mercedes/McLaren effort is more than a bit controversial. But there's no questioning the sales numbers. Nor the crowd-pleasing power of its exotic design. Even if you won't take it on the track, you're going to score big simply parking the SLR out front at a nightclub.

Baboons might not take notice. Everyone else will.


2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Base price: $400,000 (U.S. est.)
Engine: Supercharged 5.4-liter V-8, 617 hp/575 lb-ft
Transmission: Electronic five-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts for manual mode, rear-wheel drive
Length by width x height: 183.3 x 75.1 x 49.5 in
Wheelbase: 106.3 in
Curb weight: 3734 lb
Fuel economy (EPA city/hwy): 10/22 (prelim., based on European driving cycle)
Safety equipment: Dual front airbags, knee bags, dual head/thorax side airbags, load-limiting seatbelts with pretensioners, ABS, traction control, stability control, BabySmart system for passenger seat, composite front crush system and carbon-fiber passenger compartment safety cell
Major standard equipment: Electric seats, navigation system, leather, aluminum and carbon fiber interior, premium audio system with CD changer, xenon headlamps, LED taillamps
Warranty: Three years/unlimited miles

More on the US vs European Ford Focus.


WORDS FROM NICK SCHEELE: Ford's Focus is on Europe

All-new model not heading for U.S.
November 20, 2003

BY JAMIE BUTTERS
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Ford Motor Co. has no plans to bring an all-new Focus to North America in the foreseeable future, president and chief operating officer Nick Scheele told the Free Press this week.

Ford is rolling out an all-new Focus for Europe next year, which will also provide the basic underpinnings for Mazda and Volvo small-car models. Suppliers and analysts had once expected that European Focus to be brought to North America in 2005. Later, they believed it had been pushed back to 2007. Now they are finding that nothing more than minor freshenings are planned until at least 2010.

Scheele said no plans for an all-new Focus have been seriously discussed since he came to North America in 2001. A complete overhaul isn't necessary, he said, with quality dramatically improved, accolades rolling in, and millions of dollars in state incentives to help make Wayne Stamping and Assembly the sole source of all Focus models in North America. The plant consolidation is set to be announced today.

"We think we've got a great product for North America. We see no need to change it," he said.

When businesses spend money on new products -- called capital expenditures -- it is a bit of a gamble. Automakers bet hundreds of millions of dollars, even a billion, that a new model will generate big profits.

But choosing not to place that bet has risks, too. And some outside experts say Ford is taking a chance that it won't get left behind in a very competitive part of the market.

Excluding a handful of the smallest and cheapest models, J.D. Power and Associates calls the premium compact-car segment a brutally competitive one that accounts for 13.5 percent of the U.S. light-vehicle market. (It accounts for one-third of sales in Europe, where it is considered a midsize car, Scheele said.) The main reason is that Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. have maintained an unrelenting pace of full redesigns every five years, said Tom Libby, an economist with J.D. Power and Associates in Troy.

"The leaders in that segment are refreshed every five years," he said, referring to the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. "A 10-year product life cycle in that segment is not fully competitive.

With a newer model, automakers can avoid incentives and generate more revenue with each car.

The Civic sells for about $16,000 and the Corolla about $15,500, according to J.D. Power's analysis of actual transaction prices. The Focus typically sells for $13,500 to $14,000, while the Chevrolet Cavalier, which hasn't been redesigned since 1995, has sold for $12,000 to $13,000.

Scheele said 10 years is still a typical life span for a platform, or basic structure. And it is worth noting that one automaker's face-lift can be nearly as substantial as another's redesign.

But the idea that Ford is delaying the redesign to save cash -- which Scheele dismisses -- strikes some as a typically Detroit form of suicide.

In a February report that outraged some within Ford, UBS Warburg analyst Saul Rubin questioned the wisdom of delaying the new Focus from 2005 to 2007, as was then thought to be the case.

"It leads us to believe that Ford feels it can let the Focus sit in the marketplace for longer without significant damage," he wrote. "With this among the most competitive of segments, it appears to us there is a high risk that an aging model is likely to suffer."

With the Ford Futura, Five Hundred and scores of other vehicles being introduced across eight brands around the world in the next few years -- and credit-rating agencies demanding that Ford maintain massive cash reserves -- the company has to choose carefully where to spend its money.

Scheele and other Ford executives are also not in a hurry to redesign the Focus because it is finally getting credit for fixing quality problems that sullied the car's U.S. introduction in fall 1999.

With its ample headroom, sporty driving dynamics and a stylish design that even General Motors Corp. CEO Rick Wagoner says has aged well, the Focus has long been a favorite compact car within the industry.

But owners have been another story.

The first two model years the Focus was sold in the United States, Ford held 10 safety recalls. Wednesday, Ford said it will replace a part in the fuel system of 671,000 models because it can cause the engine to stall.

Ford made the mistake of treating the U.S. Focus as if it were a simple carry-over of the European model that had been on the market for two years, Scheele and other executives said.

But it really wasn't that simple. Many major components, such as the engine and transmission, had to be different.

Without enough engineering resources to manage the transition, recalls and defects plagued the model's first two years in the States, and poor results from owner surveys kept the model off of Consumer Reports' annual "recommended buy" list.

Until this year, when it posted a third consecutive year of better-than average quality to earn a spot on the coveted list.

Under quality chief Louise Goeser, Ford initiated hundreds of major "black-belt" projects to address defects such as noisy brakes, flaking paint and squeaks and rattles in the sunroof.

Since the 2000 model, complaints after three months in service are down 31 percent and warranty costs down 51 percent, said Goeser, who points to the Focus' improvement as indicative of the progress throughout the world's second-largest automaker. "The Focus is an example, but it's widespread" progress, she said.

^ wonder if it'll do as poorly in the IIHS crash tests as other GM products.

Glad Subaru is going its own way for the 7pass.

Agreed!!

Originally posted by Alpha1
http://www.carenthusiast.com/bmw/bmw_5estate2004_08.jpg

This is a much more handsome car than the BMW 5 Saloon

Volvo S40 T5 gets great review by EVO

Prepare to abandon all your preconceptions

f there's a trend among the oily bits of today's new car designs, it is the rediscovery of the importance of steering, the way it feels and responds. Which until recently was generally poor.

Especially so in the old Volvo S40. But not any more. The all-new model is based on the platform of the forthcoming Ford Focus and what a difference it makes. I can't quite believe what I'm feeling as I punt Volvo's new S40 along some very three-dimensional Swedish backroads on the way back from a thrash around a handling circuit. Here's a Volvo which feels like Volvos have looked for some time; lithe, alert, keen and crisp. A car with Focus-like dynamics and Volvo quality... it's an appealing proposition.

The two top models use S60-ish five-cylinder engines. Quickest is the 2.5-litre T5, using the S60R unit but more gently turbocharged, reducing power to 217bhp and turbo lag to near-disappearance. Next down is a naturally-aspirated 2.4 of 170bhp; there will also be other smaller petrol engines and turbodiesels.

Both five-pots spin with tuneful five-cylinder smoothness, but the T5 is the pick because it blends considerable ultimate urge with a quick throttle response and a marvellous ability to amble in high gears without letting the fire go out.

The stub-tailed S40 looks agile, and is; the steering I've mentioned, but the T5 with its sports suspension (stiff dampers and anti-roll bars, broader rubber but standard springs) feels especially planted if less absorbent of sharp road-edges. The regular-suspension 2.4 is softer, lighter in the helm and more driftable, but it too involves the driver like Volvos never used to do. One downside in the T5, though, is that at the 149mph max on Volvo's banked test track its steering starts to feel a touch hypersensitive. This is unlikely to be a real-world issue.

Competitive on interior space, the S40's cabin design is unlike anything we've seen before. The design team, led by Brit Guy Burgoyn, was inspired by 'designer' durables and the end result is far chicer than you can see in the small picture to the left.

This is a classily-finished, neatly-detailed car that also drives superbly; Volvo has cracked it at last.


It will very interesting to see the other Ford family cars based off this platform reviews. This is the best compact platform Ford group has ever engineered. Alpha 1

Originally posted by Alpha1

It will very interesting to see the other Ford family cars based off this platform reviews. This is the best compact platform Ford group has ever engineered. Alpha 1

Should be able to test drive a Mazda 3 soon, and that's the same New-Focus platform (Ford owns both Mazda and Volvo)...

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7502_image.jpg

Next generation Jeep Grand Cherokee

Aston Martin DB9 Volante World Premiere at 2004 Detroit Auto Show

http://www.theautochannel.com/N/F/news/2003/11/26/173495.1-lg.jpg

Aston Martin is all set to give the elegant DB9 Volante its world premiere on January 4th at the 2004 Detroit Motor Show – the sixth new car from the company in less than two and a half years.

The DB9 Volante is the latest model from Aston Martin and is also the 13th convertible from the company - joining a prestigious line-up of post-war convertibles that stretches back to the DB2 of 1950 and includes the DB4, DB5, DB6, V8 and DB7. However, this will be the first convertible ever to use Aston Martin’s unique VH Platform (Vertical/Horizontal) Strategy and the first to be built at the newly opened Aston Martin Gaydon facility.

The DB9 Volante will be built alongside the DB9 Coupe, which was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2003. Both models will be hand-built at Aston Martin Gaydon with the Coupe being delivered to customers in Spring 2004 and the Volante in Autumn 2004. It is expected that more than 2000 DB9 models will be sold next year of which around 50% will be the Volante model. Pricing will be announced at a later date.

Dr Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin said: “From the outset of the DB9 programme we knew we wanted a convertible model. So the Volante has been designed, engineered and built from the outset as a convertible – it’s not a Coupe with just the top taken off.

“The DB9 Volante has all of the traditional styling cues you’d expect from a convertible Aston Martin. It’s very elegant and perfectly proportioned from every angle, while subtle embellishments help create a powerful-looking sports car.”

Designed by Henrik Fisker, Aston Martin’s Design Director, who took styling cues from previous Aston Martin convertibles, the DB9 Volante has a fully retractable hood that is stored within the body of the car when closed allowing the car to retain a very smooth and elegant profile.

“I wanted to ensure that the DB9 Volante was unmistakably an Aston Martin, but it had to retain all of the values of a convertible. Even with the hood raised it had to look beautiful,” said Henrik Fisker.

The hood is operated by the push of a button and retracts within just 17 seconds. When down, it folds behind a hard tonneau cover, which then electrically closes flush with the DB9’s bodywork. The DB9 Volante has a boot capacity of 197-litres (170-litres in the DB7) and has two rear seats.

In the event of an accident, sensors in the DB9 Volante detect the risk of a potential rollover and two roll-hoops are deployed from the rear seat headrests, while front seat passengers are protected by the windscreen A-pillars which can withstand twice the total body weight of the car.

Like the DB9 Coupe, power for the Volante is supplied by Aston Martin’s low emissions, all-alloy, 48-valve, 6.0-litre, V12 engine. No performance figures have yet been issued by Aston Martin but the Volante will be able to achieve a 0-62mph (100kph) time of under 5 seconds and a top speed of more than 180mph (300kph). Like the DB9 Coupe it will be offered with a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.

CLICK4MORE from AutoIndex.org

Please quote Autoindex.org if You use this news article!

Check out new Pontiac Bonneville GXP with V8 Northstar engine..

http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6607&sid=184&n=157

2004 Saturn Red Line
Seeing Red: Saturn turns sporty with two new models

http://www.autoweek.com/weekart/2003/1201/redline_bigfront.jpg


By ROGER HART


SATURN, THE CAR COMPANY that we’re told begs to be different, is making a double-barreled assault on the performance market with a couple of products that are, well, different for Saturn. They’re real performers.

Saturn kicks off its Red Line (get it, red line, like in a tachometer?) with two vehicles, the Ion Red Line and the Vue Red Line. The 2004 Ion Red Line is aimed at the tuner car culture, which mostly buys import models and then customizes them to not only perform better than stock, but to look different from every other like-model car on the road.

2004 SATURN ION RED LINE
ON SALE: Spring
BASE PRICE: $20,000 (est.)
POWERTRAIN: 2.0-liter, 205-hp, 200-lb-ft supercharged I4; fwd, five-speed manual
CURB WEIGHT: 2915 pounds (est.)
0-60 MPH: 6.3 seconds (mfr.)

Saturn’s engineers started with a two-fold directive: The car must be competitive in the market and on the track. The engineers had first crack at GM’s new small-car Delta global platform, and they had the entire GM global parts bin from which to scavenge pieces. After flogging several Ion Red Lines around the road course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, we’d say the work paid off.

Powering the Ion Red Line is a supercharged version of GM’s inline four-cylinder, 2.0-liter dohc Ecotec. The Eaton supercharger (found on GM’s 3800 V6 engines) can deliver boost up to 12 psi and features an air-to-water intercooler. The engine develops 205 hp at 5600 rpm and 200 lb-ft at 4400 rpm. GM engineers dipped into the “global durability parts bin” for high-performance pieces like sodium-filled valves and a forged crank. And the electronic control module has been calibrated for performance. It is the strongest motor you’ve ever felt in a Saturn, with enough oomph to easily do smoky burnouts, the kind the kids love. It will even give a good chirp of the front tires on the 1-2 gear change.

On the road course, too much throttle in second-gear corners easily broke the tires loose. There is no traction or stability control.

The Ion Red Line’s five-speed gearbox, the same one used by Saab and Opel, has a nice, short-throw shifter. It is the best Saturn shifter we’ve used. There are equal-length halfshafts and beefed-up CV joints to handle all the torque. We attempted several full-throttle launches and never once uttered the words “torque steer.”


While base Ions are fitted with drums in the rear, the Red Line car features four-wheel disc brakes, 11.6-inch rotors up front, 10.6 in the back, and ABS. The brakes held up with no fade after repeated hard laps around the track.

Saturn engineers spent a month at the Nürburgring and a month at racetracks around the States tuning the suspension to get the right amount of spring rate and shock dampening. Anti-roll bars fitted to give the car good enough daily driver habits, but to also perform well at the track. On average, the springs and shock dampening was increased by 15 percent from the stock model. The ride, while firm, is not harsh. The steering has a good on-center feel and is progressively firm through the corners, and the standard Recaro seats have nice side bolsters to keep you
in place.

“The car really has to have good behavior on the road,” said Tracy Thueme, program engineering manager for small-car vehicles. “And we think tuners will be able to bring the torque up by about 15 percent; the engine can easily handle another 25 hp.”



2004 SATURN VUE RED LINE
ON SALE: Late December
BASE PRICE: $24,530
POWERTRAIN: 3.5-liter, 250-hp, 242-lb-ft V6; fwd, five-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT: 3552 pounds
0-60 MPH: 6.9 seconds (mfr.)

Supporting its sporting behavior, the Ion Red Line is fitted with a heavy-duty cooling system with dual fans (a Saturn first), a 120-amp alternator and a 50 percent less restrictive air induction system, all the better to let those 205 ponies breathe.

The car rides on forged-alloy wheels wearing Dunlop SP Sport tires, P215/45R-17s all around. Thueme admits Saturn didn’t have the time to do all the tire development he wanted to do on this project, but he believes the Dunlops are a good overall choice for a sport tire. Even though the Las Vegas track was covered with a light haze
of sand, we found the tires to be a bit slippery and were, as Thueme said, a compromise. Anyone buying this car for club racing will certainly look to swap tires before the first meet.

Our biggest complaint with the Ion Red Line was trying to drive the car fast on the track. Like the standard Ion, the instrument cluster is mounted in the middle of the dash with three round gauges: a large center 140-mph speedometer with the tach to the right and the fuel/temp gauge to the left. We’ve never hit the rev limiter so often in a car as with the Ion. When you’re trying to keep your eyes on the road to pick out apexes, the tach was difficult, if not impossible to see. For a car attempting to be a player on the track, this layout would seem to be a major oversight.

When we complained about this setup, a Saturn official told us “customers love” the center-mounted instruments, and many noted it as one of the reasons for buying the standard car. That may well be true, but we doubt those customers are hustling their cars around a track, as it simply doesn’t work.

On the bright side, there’s plenty of space on the dash in front of the steering wheel for a nice, big aftermarket tach. If the car were ours, this would be the first thing we would do, followed by new tires.

While the Recaro seats are a nice touch and speak to the car’s attempt to be sporty, much of the interior materials don’t have the look or feel of other models in this class. From an interior materials standpoint, we’ve found few other vehicles we’ve disliked more.

“We focused on driver controls rather than on cosmetics,” Thueme admits. “We wanted to make sure the gas pedal was close to the brake pedal for heel and toe shifting, and that the brake pedal had less travel for a better response.”

The Ion, which will weigh in at slightly more than 2900 pounds, is capable of a top speed of 144 mph, with 0 to 60 mph taking 6.3 seconds and 60 mph to 0 needing 119 feet, Saturn says. Those are all good numbers for a car that should sticker around $20,000. Production starts in the first quarter of ’04 with about 5000 units expected to roll off the Spring Hill, Tennessee, assembly line.

“There is no doubt in my mind this car could be real successful [in club racing],” said GM’s John Heinricy, director of high-performance vehicle operations, who knows a thing or two about club racing, having driven both a Camaro and a Corvette to titles at the recent SCCA Runoffs.

Time will tell if Heinricy is right, but the Ion Red Line seems to be mostly up to the task.

THE OTHER RED LINE ENTRY, the Vue, has a less ambitious goal. We don’t think anyone will be looking to take the Vue to the track, other than as a spectator.

GM looked to rival Honda for the Vue Red Line’s six-cylinder powerplant and five-speed automatic gearbox. Like the Ion Red Line, this Vue is the best Vue we’ve driven, due in part to the Honda powertrain. The 3.5-liter 16-valve V6 is silky-smooth, delivering 250 hp at 5800 rpm and 242 lb-ft at 4500 revs.

The Vue Red Line will be available in both all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive, although we only sampled the awd version.

Saturn says the suspension is “sport tuned,” and we did find the ride to be a bit firmer than other Vues we’ve been in, thanks partly to the entire suspension being 26 millimeters lower. Standard tires are all-season P245/50SR-18 Bridge-stone Turanzas on seven-spoke aluminum wheels. Brakes are vented discs up front and drums in the rear with ABS standard.

The interior is comfortable and the ride is fairly quiet at highway speeds, due in part to extra sound-deadening in the doors, floor and engine compartment.

Like the Ion Red Line, this Vue is a notch up from the standard-issue Saturn offering, and while costing $1,995 more than a base Vue, we’d say if you’re looking at this vehicle, the Red Line option is worth the price. Production begins this month in Spring Hill.


http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=reviews&loc_code=index&content_code=04395168

Focus RS8: Rear-drive & 5-litre V8


ust as production of the 212bhp front-drive Focus RS winds up, Ford has unveiled this V8-engined, rear-wheel-drive Focus RS8 concept at the Las Vegas SEMA show. It's been developed by the Ford Racing Performance Parts division to showcase the company's new 5-litre V8 'Cammer' aftermarket powerplant.

But this is no flight of fancy. Ford Racing Performance Parts is actually planning to develop a proper factory-approved kit; the hope is that US buyers will be able to order the kit for about $22,000 (around £15,000). The idea is that all of the parts to recreate the RS8 should be available through the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalogue, so that a talented home spannerman should be able to convert his existing Focus.

In theory, UK Focus owners should be able to order the parts, too; the only possible flaw in the plan is that while the RS8 concept has been built- up in a European-spec shell (it was once a Ford press fleet car), further development work will be carried out on a US-spec Focus which may be subtly different.

Although shoehorning V8 engines and rear-drive into the compact body of the Focus has been achieved before by a couple of independent specialist operations, Ford says it wanted to showcase its new Cammer 'crate' engine. The 'crate' engine is a new all-alloy, overhead-cam unit based on Ford's modular production 4.6-litre unit from the SVT Mustang Cobra, which has been the backbone of the specialist sports car industry since the decline of the Rover/Buick V8.

The Cammer is intended to build on the 4.6-litre V8's success, selling to tuners, hot-rodders, specialist sports car makers, and even owners of De Tomaso Panteras who want to update their old Ford pushrod V8s.

'Aftermarket' engine sales are huge in the States, so Ford is keen to prove that although the Cammer is a modern engine with all the attendant electronics, it will be flexible enough for the home mechanic to deal with. Which is why the V8 was also displayed at SEMA in a classic Mustang, fed by carbs, and in a 1953 Ford van, boosted by a supercharge.

The Cammer has enlarged bores to raise capacity to 5 litres. It also uses a new forged crankshaft and stronger con-rods, and this particular version also has crankcase reinforcement. There are also forged pistons, a highish compression ratio, ported heads, higher lift cams, high-flow injectors and a magnesium intake with variable geometry. The upshot, with electronic fuel injection, is an output of 420bhp and a whopping 370lb ft of torque.

Ford engineers have designed 'plug and play' wiring harness kits, which allow the new engine and its electronic control units to connect in a straightforward manner to a recipient car's existing wiring loom.

In the overall context of the RS8, however, making the engine run properly seems like the easy bit. How on earth do you convert a front-drive, four-cylinder family car into a V8-powered rear-drive supercar? It was, says Ford spokesman Alan Hall, surprisingly easy. 'There weren't many changes to the basic Ford platform at all. The Focus has a big centre tunnel in the floor (designed to add stiffness) that usually houses the exhaust. We've used it to house the propshaft.' A new, twin-pipe exhaust system has been designed.

Ford engineers have junked the complex independent rear suspension and replaced it with a stock solid rear axle - currently used on basic versions of the Mustang. All the mounting brackets needed to bolt the new axle and rear diff to the stock Focus shell will be supplied in the kit.

The front suspension has also been redesigned as it no longer needs to accommodate driveshafts. The RS8 concept rolls on Multimatic adjustable dampers and 18in RS wheels.

The transmission is a Tremec five-speeder, though there may also be a six-speeder and an auto. Different versions of the V8 - including a less powerful 4.6-litre and a more powerful supercharged 4.6 - could also be on the options list.


Comments: 0 Article from: evo

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/picture_library/dir_25/car_portal_pic_12643.jpg?3703

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/picture_library/dir_25/car_portal_pic_12644.jpg?5180

Krazy Babe, yeah

Originally posted by BigElm
Well, let me jump in and give you this....

Ford's 420bhp Focus Muscles In


It's a Ford Focus, but not as you know it. While British motorists have to 'make do' with the 210bhp RS, here's the ultimate version of the small family car, which punches out double that! Called the RS8 because it packs a V8 engine - a first for the Focus - it boasts 420bhp fed to the back wheels.

The amazing motor is the work of the blue oval's Ford Racing division. And the RS8 stunned showgoers when it was unveiled at last week's Speciality Equipment Market Association (SEMA) exhibition in gamblers' paradise, Las Vegas, Nevada. The clever bit is that, to the untrained eye, it looks just like any other fast Focus.

Yet a closer inspection reveals a few giveaway signs of what's hidden underneath. The twin exhaust pipes exit at portals cut into the sides of the rear bumper, while a bigger cooling system can be seen through the mesh front grille. Inside, racing gauges mounted on the driver's A-pillar give up-to-the-second readings, and the beefy transmission tunnel is clearly visible.

As you'd expect of a machine that has been developed far beyond what it was originally intended for, some extensive re-engineering was needed to make all this possible. The engine bay had to be altered to physically cope with the 5.0-litre V8, but this was only after new pistons had been forged, along with a host of other minor modifications.

Next up, a bespoke exhaust system was fabricated, while the drivetrain feeds the power to the rear wheels via a five-speed racing gearbox. Finally, the development team had to create new suspension set-ups for both front and rear, so that the car could handle the massive increase in power.

The RS8 came about because bosses said they wanted to recreate the traditional V8-powered muscle car, but have it wrapped in a modern-day package. Dan Davis, director of the development team at Ford Racing, told us: "This isn't a typical sport compact modification project, but it will sure get attention out on the streets. The Focus RS8 will make itself known at the drag strip and on every road."

In America, the engine and drivetrain package will cost any interested customers nearly £9,000. On top of that, there is the additional expense of paying for the new suspension set-up. But it doesn't look like UK buyers will be getting a Focus V8 any time soon, even though sporty concepts such as the Focus Cosworth were well received here. A spokeswoman for the blue oval was lukewarm on the possibility of the RS8 coming to these shores. "Next year we will introduce the new Focus, but I just don't think there would be a market for a V8 version. The majority of people want to buy economical cars, not pay an extra £9,000 for a bigger engine," she said

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/picture_library/dir_24/car_portal_pic_12417.jpg?7980

Courtesy of Autoweek [before I get butched by PPower :D ]

Umm... Alpha.. look what I found on page 2... :p

What's the big deal? It's just a different article about the same car. :confused: Yes, this would all be easier if it were in a separate forum, but all of this is really just a regurgitation of articles from autoweek, evo, & autoexpress for the most part. It's difficult to discuss any single car because it gets immediately sidetracked with a post about another car.

Originally posted by PPower
What's the big deal? It's just a different article about the same car. :confused: Yes, this would all be easier if it were in a separate forum, but all of this is really just a regurgitation of articles from autoweek, evo, & autoexpress for the most part. It's difficult to discuss any single car because it gets immediately sidetracked with a post about another car.

Yet another reason for a separate forum.

U have my vote for Car lounge Forum..
Mods - please create it.. Just look @ vwvortex - so much good info...

Originally posted by amdmaxx
U have my vote for Car lounge Forum..
Mods - please create it.. Just look @ vwvortex - so much good info...

And if you have a good and well known open forum like that, some people will actually post spy picts there before anywhere else. That's where the First GTI picts and G35X pics were posted.

OK, Info Hounds. I have heard that Concept drawings for the 2006/7 GTO are now out. Care to find and post them here?

... this came along!!!

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/2004/Mitsubishi/100161648/022798-E.jpg

All New Mitsubishi Galant GTS

Originally posted by BigElm
... this came along!!!

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/2004/Mitsubishi/100161648/022798-E.jpg

All New Mitsubishi Galant GTS

From the reviews, it looks like another mediocre entry into the hugely competitive midsize market... Filled with cars like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Chevy Malibu, Subaru Legacy, Mazda 6, Nissan Altima, Ford Taurus, Acura TL... Too many.

Originally posted by mh_WRX
OK, Info Hounds. I have heard that Concept drawings for the 2006/7 GTO are now out. Care to find and post them here?


Username and Alpha1...Where are you?

These are the sameone that will appear in January's Car and Driver (I think).

Username thanks for getting me off the hook for the 2007 GTO concept drawings.

Here is the V50. 1 of the true wagon competitors to the forth-coming Legacy Estate. It wiil be very interesting to see these cars in a comparison test with all-wheel drive and turbocharged options for the pair. They would likely be close in pricing, just a thought!!!

http://www.autoindex.org/images/news/651/norm_1_orig.jpg

http://www.autoindex.org/images/news/651/norm_2_orig.jpg

Remember, the Volvo AWD is much more FWD biased. ;)

I agree. I think the new Volvo V40 and V50 will be direct competition for the new Legacy. Should be a good fight to watch.

Bob

Bob, does that mean you don't plan on partaking in the competition? :(

Thanks Username, but that's not the latest. The ones I saw were more of a 65 retro look.

New Eclipes:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/tmb/7526_image.jpg

The first pictures of Mitsubishi's sporty Eclipse, code name PS24S, show a much larger coupe with lots of Mitsubishi styling cues.

Likely based on the Galant platform, the next Eclipse will arrive late in the 2005 model year, or possibly for 2006. The Galant, the Eclipse, and the Endeavor crossover ute are based on Mitsu's "Project America" platform; the Galant and Endeavor are built at the Mitsubishi facility in Normal, Ill., where the Eclipse will be assembled as well.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7188_image.jpg

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7189_image.jpg


- The Car Connection

From what I can see, I feel sorry for Mitsubishi...it seems with their line up, excluding the Evolution, everything seems mediocre at best.

Originally posted by SUBE555
Bob, does that mean you don't plan on partaking in the competition? :(

I don't follow??

Bob

I think he's asking if you're considering buying a volvo :D.

No, not at all. I just think the new Volvo is great looking, and seems it will be an able foe for the new Legacy in the battle for sales.

Bob

Well, if Subaru shows us some competition on that SUV, then I'll have a good time with my wife to decided which is right for her... :devil: Of course, when her lease is up; 2006 :D

Originally posted by rsholland
No, not at all. I just think the new Volvo is great looking, and seems it will be an able foe for the new Legacy in the battle for sales.

Bob

Yes, battle for sales, is where it's at.

The Legecy should be of equal quality and a better performing package to the Volvo V40 and V50 respectively.

I am interested in seeing how the female market receives the new Legacy.

Volvo has historically done a great job of selling their conservative values to women.

Subaru must do a better job of marketing the value characteristics of the Subaru brand in general. Only the base Outback and WRX are perceived to be good value purchases with in the Subaru brand, this must change.

thats my favorite..

Ford reveals the 2005 Focus

Ford is planning a veritable product launch blitz over the next two or three years, and is kicking off with the important 2005 Focus. Ford says that the 2005 Focus benefits from major performance, design and handling improvements for 2005, including a 24% increase in base-model horsepower and a 32% reduction in tailpipe emissions. The year 2004 will see six new Ford and Lincoln-Mercury models launched in North America alone. Ford Motor Company Executive Vice President Jim Padilla commented, "The all-new and freshened 2005-model vehicles alone will deliver more than 1.2 million units of volume - that means nearly one-third of our U.S. sales will be from new designs. When you include the new F-150, Mercury Monterey and Ford Freestar, which just hit the market, that number is closer to two million. That means half of our Ford, Mercury and Lincoln volume in the U.S. - or one-third of all Ford Motor Company vehicles sold worldwide - is new." Focus Chief Engineer John Sidelko said, "We have refined the Focus' exterior styling and given it a smart new interior with a very clean, very contemporary instrument panel design. We have taken a great handling car and made it steer, ride and stop better. And we've backed up a great chassis with some of the most sophisticated, powerful and 'green' four-cylinder engines you can buy in any car." New for 2005, a Focus ZX4 ST performance sedan has been added to the line up.

http://www.waitnews.com/images/ford_25.jpg

Originally posted by mh_WRX
Thanks Username, but that's not the latest. The ones I saw were more of a 65 retro look.


OK, I haven't been able to find a online or digital copy. But the pictures will be in January's Car and Driver and Road and Track.

Lexus Unveils All-New GS Series and Hybrid Version of its RX 330 at the North American International Auto Show
TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 9, 2003 -- Lexus will stage the world premier of its second-generation GS series luxury sport sedan at a press conference at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The all-new more powerful GS will showcase the industry's most advanced technology and offer a glimpse of a new direction in Lexus styling.

Lexus will also unveil its hybrid version of the popular RX 330 luxury SUV. The breakthrough hybrid electric-gas powertrain will add a new powerful performance dimension to the traditional hybrid advantages of high mileage and low emissions.

The reveal will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at the Riverfront Ballroom in COBO Center.

new GS gonna be one SICK CAR!!!!!
more powerful?? Do I hear 5.0 v8 - 330hp?

Rumors are closer to 400 HP

No way!!! New Ls still has 4.3 and 300hp... I cant see GS having a higher displacement and much higher hp figures.. yes, GS is the sporty smaller model, but LS is their top of the line model and I cant see them having GS cut majorly into LS sales, even though the buyer croud is totally different...
If I had a choice between sporty luxury 400hp for $60k or luxury boat for $70 with 300hp - I'd choose GS - no brainer..
It will be a VERY pleasant surprise to see 350+ hp though....
Lexus is in my eyes is becoming a powerforce.... Their new designs (2005 GS, etc) seem to be amazing, their car qualities are much higher than MB, BMW, their dealership services are top notch and their luxury is unmatched...

The Rumored Bump (400 is probably way high, your 330-350 guess is most likely closer) is to compete with the upcoming M45 with 360 HP.

Now who said M45 gonna be 360? lol..
I believe Q45 has 34x hp and they recently released dealer ECU flash that makes it a little more zippier (people were unhappy that 300hp LS430 was just as fast as 34x hp Infinity)...
Let the war begin.. Fuga (m45) vs GS4xx (or 500) vs Audi A6...
BMW current 5 series is a let down... $60k for an ugly 530 with sunroof & luxury package - gimme a break..
BTW, Infinity M35 will be out first, then almost a year later M45....
(from freshalloy forums)
BTW, Since supra supposed to be out 2005-2006, my guess is new GS V8 and new Supra gonna share that engine...

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Named Magazine's 2004 'Automobile Of The Year'

CYPRESS, Calif., Dec. 9, 2003 -- An automotive thoroughbred. An enthusiast driver's dream. A street-legal racecar. A rally-racing champion. Affordable and fun. An everyday sedan and a supercar.

Now add another label to Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: The "2004 Automobile of the Year."

In its January 2004 issue, Automobile Magazine bestows its most prestigious honor to a car that has attracted wide-ranging accolades for superb performance dynamics that deliver a driving thrill similar to exotic sports cars three times the price. In fact, Automobile Magazine notes: The Lancer Evolution is "not just our 2004 Automobile of the Year, but also very likely the automotive icon of the decade."

Developed through years of rally racing, the Lancer Evolution exudes performance for one simple reason: that's what it was built for. The Evolution distributes 271 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels, thanks to its turbocharged four-cylinder engine and all-wheel-drive system. Brembo disc brakes and Sport ABS provide precise control over the lightweight 17-inch wheels, which are wrapped in Yokohama performance tires.

"The Lancer Evolution exemplifies the superior spirit, fun and value of the Mitsubishi Motors brand and its expanding lineup of cars and S.U.V.s,'' said Finbarr O'Neill, co-chairman and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA). "And as the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution clearly demonstrates, and the editors of Automobile Magazine confirm, high performance and high value are no longer mutually exclusive."

In awarding the magazine's top honors after evaluating dozens of other cars, Automobile Magazine said the Lancer Evolution "unapologetically, uncompromisingly, unequivocally provides the most performance for the money of any car in the world." The editors further noted that "this is the first time anyone with $30,000 has had access to the high plateau of vehicle dynamics," and that Lancer Evolution "is both a reasonable everyday sedan and a supercar."

Originally posted by amdmaxx
Now who said M45 gonna be 360? lol..
I believe Q45 has 34x hp and they recently released dealer ECU flash that makes it a little more zippier (people were unhappy that 300hp LS430 was just as fast as 34x hp Infinity)...
Let the war begin.. Fuga (m45) vs GS4xx (or 500) vs Audi A6...
BMW current 5 series is a let down... $60k for an ugly 530 with sunroof & luxury package - gimme a break..
BTW, Infinity M35 will be out first, then almost a year later M45....
(from freshalloy forums)
BTW, Since supra supposed to be out 2005-2006, my guess is new GS V8 and new Supra gonna share that engine...

I got it from a pretty good source that the 4.5 will get a 20 HP bump and that the M35 will be powered by a 280 HP variant of the VQ35DE.

M35 is a done deal (current g35 coupe/z350 (287). I ever heard/read that coupe and z350 engines are itentical and have identical ECUs... I do see M35 with 280 also (Since even maxima has 265 already)...
20 HP boost for M45 is always good news....
About EVO - ye, its car of the year, but I love their conclusion: If the roads are perfect and u got plenty of sharp curves - this is a dream car..
Ye, but here, in NYC roads are horrible and no major curves around, just sitting in traffic mostly..
:huh: :huh:

Although Supras aren't as exciting as they used to be with the AWD R35's hopefully coming to the US, does anyone have some info on the possible new toyota super-cars in these pics?

http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/SuperCars-Proto/Toyota/MKV/MKV.htm

http://www.jefftsai.com/Pictures/Cars/SuperCars-Proto/Toyota/MKV/toyota4500gt.jpg
For Example ^^^^^^

Originally posted by Alpha1
The forthcoming VW golf 5, is a very handsome car, frames 47 & 48 show GTI body cladding, This car should be successful internationally. I hope Subaru effectively counters this Golf 5 launch with the next generation Impreza.

http://vwvortex.rely.net/gallery/gallery2.php?mode=album&album=/Volkswagen/Golf%20V

does anyone else see the peugeot 306?

Honda expected to show new pickup



Reuters / December 10, 2003


DETROIT (Reuters) -- Honda Motor Co. Ltd. is expected to reveal shortly its first pickup, a model that will be more suited to suburban shopping than working on the farm, analysts said.

The pickup, which is expected to go into production at Honda's Alabama plant next year, is expected to be derived from the Honda Pilot, a full-sized SUV that is based on the Odyssey minivan, analysts said.

Unlike a traditional pickup, Honda's will have a short cargo bed behind a five-passenger compartment and carlike ride and handling, analysts said.

"It's not going to be your rugged, workhorse pickup," said Joseph Barker, manager of North American sales analysis with industry consultants CSM Worldwide. "It's going to be more driver friendly; it's going to cater to families."

Honda could show the pickup truck Thursday during its annual holiday party, where it traditionally unveils some concept and production vehicles. Officials have said that a couple models will be shown again this year, and analysts expect one will be the truck.

By deriving the pickup from the Pilot SUV, Honda will get a foothold in one of the largest segments of the U.S. market without making costly investments in developing V-8 engines and rugged frames for a typical pickup.

Honda's new entries in the truck segment, in particular the Pilot, have helped boost its total U.S. sales by 9.2 percent through the first 11 months this year.

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. became only the second non-U.S. automaker to enter the full-sized pickup market when it launched its Titan pickup, built at its new plant in Mississippi, this month. Toyota Motor Corp. also sells the Tundra pickup.

As SUV and truck sales in the United States have continued to grow, the auto industry has experimented with crossovers between the two segments, with some success.

Ford Motor Co.'s Ford Explorer Sport Trac, which has a small cargo bed behind the passenger compartment, has had strong sales since it was launched in 2000. General Motors' Cadillac Escalade EXT and Chevrolet Avalanche pickups have short cargo beds that can be extended into the cab by folding down the rear seats and the the back wall of the truck cab, behind the seats.

Meanwhile, trucks are being made with more roomy, SUVlike interiors. The combination of comfort and convenience have made trucks more popular with suburban buyers and women drivers.

"I think all of the industry is going to be watching this (Honda) product," Barker said. "If they're going to pull more families and women in with this product, then the others will likely follow."

Hummer H3
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7540_image.jpg

http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6676

Originally posted by amdmaxx
Hummer H3
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7540_image.jpg

So far, that's probably the most "practical" Hummer. It would be nice for Hummer to make a SWB off-roader like a Land Rover Defender or Jeep CJ. It would fit with the direction Hummer is wanting to go.

It's amazing how much that looks like a Scrambler or Huncho. No wonder DCX sued.

What is scramber/Huncho?

Jeep trucks from the 70-80's

Huncho? You mean Honcho. :)

Bob

Whoops, yes it's Honcho.

http://www.theautochannel.com/N/F/news/2003/12/11/174253.1-lg.jpg

TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 11 -- American Honda today released a sketch of the Honda SUT Concept vehicle, scheduled to make its worldwide debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 4, 2004. This new and innovative truck concept will provide the world with its first glimpse of the direction Honda will take with a future production sport-utility truck model.

-The Auto Channel
The Honda SUT Concept is a next-generation truck concept designed to meet the changing tastes of consumers purchasing trucks to accommodate their active, outdoor-oriented lifestyles. Taking advantage of its unibody underpinnings, the Honda SUT Concept combines the utility of an open cargo bed with the interior space and functionality of an SUV and adds traditional Honda strengths including superior ergonomics, innovative packaging, fun-to-drive character and legendary durability, quality and reliability.

In keeping with Honda's commitment to environmental and safety leadership, the Honda SUT Concept also sets a new standard for fuel efficiency, low emissions and safety performance in the light-duty truck segment.

Additional details of the concept and Honda's future production plans will be provided at the vehicle's unveiling next month in Detroit.

Originally posted by Corn-Picker
One thing that worries me about the Lotus Elise is that they are not changing the gear ratios found in its Celica GTS 6-speed transmission. It has been awhile since I've driven a Celica GTS 6-speed, but from what I remember, 1st gear was too short (not unusual at all for a street car), and 2nd gear was way to tall, we're talking insanely tall for the engine's powerband. If they're going so "no compromise" with the Elise, why leave the Celica GTS 6-speed gear ratios unchanged :confused:

The Elise should be able to out auto-x anything short of a cart though :banana:

They answered that in the article, they redid the ecu to the point that it cleaned up a lot of the nasty power holes a celica has, thus felt it unnecessary.

Remember celica is a good 1,000lbs heavier as well.

I like the elise but I don't have $40k spare for a car I can't drive in winter.

Now if they make an Elise AWD that could handle good in winter as well with a hard top option, hrmm yeah that'd be on order today :)

QUICK CONCEPT TO COMPLETION: GM has a huge stake in little Chevy Cobalt

December 12, 2003

BY TOM WALSH
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST


Detroit's desperate bid to become a credible force in the small-car market depends on 5-foot-2 Lori Queen and her obsession of the last two years, the Chevrolet Cobalt.

Queen, 47, is the vehicle line executive, or VLE, for small cars at General Motors Corp., the only Detroit automaker preparing to unveil new small cars at the Detroit and Los Angeles auto shows. Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group will have splashy new passenger car designs, but theirs will be mostly upscale offerings, midsize and larger.

GM will no doubt turn heads with the new Pontiac Solstice, a flashy little two-seater.

But it's the 2005 Chevy Cobalt, which replaces the aging and much-maligned Cavalier, that could be the most important car GM -- or anyone else -- rolls out this year.

With Cobalt as its high-volume entry, GM aims to unseat Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic as the class of the small-car crop, and to make money in a segment renowned for tiny or nonexistent profit margins. What's more, Cobalt's unusual birthing process became something of a pilot for GM's overhaul of its entire vehicle development operation in 2002.

In other words, as Cobalt goes, so might go GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz's vaunted crusade to turn out "gotta have" cars and trucks in super-fast time.

Married to the job
That's a lot of pressure on Queen, oldest of six children in a Dearborn family in which dad was a Ford executive. She never wavered from GM after she did co-op work as an engineering student at General Motors Institute in the 1970s. She's even married to the company, literally. Husband, Jim Queen, is GM's vice president of engineering.

So she knows the stakes. They're big.

"This may be our last chance. If we can't do it right, we're probably out of the small car business," she says.

Noting that Solstice and a tall wagon design code-named HHR are also part of her small-car stable, she adds, "if we don't nail the Cobalt, everything else will evaporate."

Queen's apocalyptic tone as she talks about GM and Detroit's future in small cars is perfectly justified. This is the product segment, after all, that has given us such Hall of Shame cars as the Chevy Vega, the Ford Pinto and the American Motors Gremlin.

And the Chevy Cavalier, the nation's top-selling car in 1984 and 1985, was held in such low regard by the late 1990s that GM opted to spend its scarce dollars on truck and sport-utility designs, ignoring Cavalier altogether. It last got a full makeover in 1995, but GM has reportedly lost as much as $1,000 per car on Cavaliers because of heavy rebates needed to move them.

Despite fierce competition and losses or paltry profits in small cars, GM is reluctant to abandon the segment, for two reasons:


It needs some low-priced models to attract first-time car buyers to GM brands.

It needs a high-volume car with good gas mileage to help meet federal fuel economy standards for its overall lineup.
Still, aside from Saturn, the brand launched in 1990 as a small-car import fighter with marginal results, GM entered the 21st Century will hardly any small-car development plans. "We had a huge portfolio problem with small cars," Queen recalls.

Queen chose her team
The call to Queen went out in September 2001, when she was chief engineer for the Chevy Colorado pickup truck project. As VLE for small cars, Queen was told she could handpick a team to quickly design, plan and make a business case for a Cavalier replacement.

That Cobalt project, then code-named X001, would also have its own advisory board of senior GM executives, led by Mark Hogan and including such top brass as group vice president Gary Cowger and labor relations vice president Troy Clarke. "This was unheard of," Queen says, a single car project having its own advisory board of GM corporate honchos.

"My VLE peers worried that this would disempower me," Queen recalls, "but it turned out exactly the opposite." Her team found it could move much faster as obstacles melted away with a mere phone call or two from advisory board big shots.

Hogan, a veteran executive who had headed GM's Brazil unit, was president of e-GM, the company's e-commerce entity, when he was tapped to form the Cobalt advisory board and work with Queen's team. "The advisory board was Mark's night job," Queen recalls.

Hogan said the advisory board was created "because the challenge was so great.

"We had never done well in terms of profits with small cars. In fact we consistently lost money," Hogan says. "Lori faced the toughest financial challenge of any VLE, not only to do a segment-leading product but to do it and make money. We felt we need to help eliminate any roadblocks in their way." The challenges included prickly relations with the UAW local in Lordstown, Ohio, where the Cobalt would be built.

Winning union support
By November 2001, in just two months, Queen's team had won approval for the Cobalt's charter -- the first major hurdle in GM's product development process -- with a plan that included design, pricing, materials and financial assumptions. Top-level GM labor relations people took the unusual step of opening their financial books for UAW Vice President Richard Shoemaker to win union support for the plan.

"People were in awe" of the two-month charter approval, Queen says, noting that other product programs had taken up to two years to reach that stage. From start to finish, the Cobalt team has taken a car from concept to completion in two years, about half of the standard four-year cycle of years past.

The success of the fast-track approach with Cobalt prompted Lutz and GM's top brass to revamp GM's entire product development along the same lines.

In January 2002, Hogan was named group vice president for advanced vehicle development. He, Lutz and Cowger installed a system predicated on early involvement by top GM executives in the design phase of every GM vehicle.

Speed is a priority. "Now the norm is a 14- to 16-week process for charter approval" on a vehicle project, Hogan says, adding that the Cobalt project "was definitely a precursor to our advanced vehicle design process."

The competition
Until its official unveiling Dec. 29 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Cobalt photos and product details are supposed to be under wraps. But it's clear GM is positioning the vehicle squarely against Corolla, Civic and Volkswagen Jetta at the upper end of the subcompact class (think of transaction prices from $15,000 up to the low 20s).

Thanks to its recent purchase of South Korean automaker Daewoo, GM will offer the smaller Korean-made Aveo next year at the low-priced end of the small-car universe.

GM hopes to sell about 300,000 Cobalts a year eventually. "This is a huge car for us," Hogan says. "It's important for the renaissance of Chevy cars. It's important to our ability to bring new customers into GM."

In an age when SUVs, trucks and luxury cars mean so much, when was the last time such a small car could mean big things for GM? It's been a long time.

^^^ I lost my concentration after line 4....
:)

Free Press??

would it be better if they charged for it?
;)

Peugeot is launching the 407, its new saloon in the 'middle to upper' segment in Europe. The 407 saloon will be followed by the SW coupe-estate model. This market segment has immense strategic importance for a mainstream manufacturer and, for decades the '4' series vehicles have played a key part in Peugeot’s history. The new Peugeot front-end identity is based on a dominating air intake grille and large swept-back headlamps. The windscreen pillars are steeply inclined and stretch far forward to merge seamlessly into the hood, while distinctive roof profiles and side window graphics give a strong character to the new range.

http://www.cardesignnews.com/news/2003/031211whats-new/images/peugeot-407-29.jpg

http://www.cardesignnews.com/news/2003/031211whats-new/images/peugeot-407-06.jpg

http://www.cardesignnews.com/news/2003/031211whats-new/images/peugeot-407-04.jpg

The upward sweepping rear door windows are very much like the B11S concept car and also on the R2. Subaru's future products may take this design approach and I would not be surprised to see something similar to this in the forthcoming Impreza. Alpha1

http://response.jp/issue/2003/1210/article56262_1.images/59509.jpg

The sedan is AMAZING lookin..

The 407 looks like an Intrepid humped a camaro

http://www.cardesignnews.com/news/2003/031211whats-new/images/peugeot-407-06.jpg

The emblem there looks completely out of place. The interior of the 406 sedan was really the sore spot as far as design goes, so surely that will be fixed with this one. I am really not liking this new look with the hood raised up higher so that it can blend in with a more steeply raked windshield. No thanks.

oops. double post

they need to blow the nose on that inflamed snout, ouch. Im curious how much of that nose is an optical illusion. My mind is blank on the term but how well does that bumpre react to steep inclines?

Talk about a reverse in the trend of less overhang in nature to tires. I always thought less is better:confused:

BlitZ

http://images.usatoday.com/money/_photos/2003/12-16-volvo.jpg

Volvo teams up to build what women want

By Noelle Knox, USA TODAY

GOTHENBURG, Sweden — About 100 women at Volvo are doing something no one in the auto industry has ever done. They are designing a car for affluent, independent women. And it's definitely not pink.

Key team members, clockwise from top left: Eva-Lisa Andersson, Camilla Palmertz, Elna Holmberg, Maria Widell Christiansen, Tatiana Butovitsch Temm.


The concept car, which will make its debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March, is a silver, sporty coupe with gull-wing doors, a 225-horsepower engine and tons of storage space. It's easy to park and easy to maintain.

Volvo hopes the prototype will send a message to female buyers, who have long felt neglected by male designers and disrespected by dealerships.

Beyond that, Volvo wants to shake up the male-dominated culture inside the company, something found at virtually all automakers. Ultimately, Volvo says, the project might help attract women employees as well as women buyers.

It might seem natural for this experimental project to come from a car company in Sweden — a country where half the prime minister's cabinet are women. But the Volvo women have had a rough road.

"Initially, they had to face a lot of resistance," acknowledges Hans-Olov Olsson, president and chief executive of Volvo, who gave the project the green light last December. "There were some who questioned, 'Will this work? Will they really be able to produce?' "

With three months still to go, the answer appears to be "yes."

The car is being developed in 15 months with a budget of about $3.3 million. It is the smallest budget and fastest time frame of any Volvo prototype — and by all reports, the best managed.

"When you talk to the guys in the Concept Center, they never had a concept car project that's been so on time and orderly as this one," says Lena Ekelund, assistant project manager.

The work has been done by a core team of 120 people that sometimes grew to about 140. The group — 80% of them women — was drawn from throughout Volvo to work on the project on a temporary basis. At its peak, the team was about 40 members larger than a normal concept car project group.

Concept cars are designed to test ideas and gauge customer interest. While Volvo's prototype might never be put into production, some of the bells and whistles could be added to cars that roll onto dealership lots starting in 2005. Camilla Palmertz, a safety expert who is one of the project managers, estimates the car's price would fall somewhere between $25,000 and $50,000, making it neither the most expensive nor the least expensive in Volvo's fleet.

The Volvo women surveyed about 400 of their female colleagues about what was missing from their cars and found that three-quarters of the answers were the same.

What do women want? Storage, parking, ergonomics and maintenance. Their design solutions led to some surprising features:

•No hood. The front end is designed as one large section, meant to be lifted only by the mechanic. The reasoning is women don't want to be bothered with maintenance, and the car is designed to be virtually maintenance free (oil change every 50,000 kilometers, or about 31,000 miles). When the car needs servicing, it sends a wireless message to a local service station, which will contact the owner and schedule an appointment.

•Storage space. The car has wide, gull-wing doors that allow easy access to the space behind the driver's seat. The rear seats are fold-up, theater-style, which allows more storage space. The emergency brake is electric, freeing storage space between the front seats.

•No gas cap. The car has a race-car-style fueling system in which the gas nozzle goes in through an opening with a roller-ball valve to prevent gas and fumes from escaping. Window-washer fluid is poured into a reservoir next to the gas tank.

•Easy to clean. The car has dirt-repellant paint and glass, as well as machine-washable seat covers. The seat covers and carpets come in a variety of styles for a customized interior.

•Easy to park. The car has a sensor to tell the driver if the car will fit in a parking space. It also can take over the steering to parallel park.

The car has run-flat tires, pedals that collapse to the floor during a crash to prevent leg injuries, and a headrest with a valley down the center for women who wear their hair in ponytails.

"The car industry has been trying for years and years to design a car that appeals to women," says Bob Peterson, an automotive consultant in Europe. "When Lexus did its research for the original LX400 in the late '80s, they studied the length of women's fingernails so they could design the (electric) window switches so they wouldn't chip or break nails."

Another Japanese automaker, Mazda, which is controlled by Ford Motor, created a women's marketing committee to provide information and input about what female buyers want.

Ford, which owns Volvo, supported the concept car designed with women in mind.

"I thought it was a very innovative idea," says Mark Fields, head of Ford's luxury division. He said some of the most successful features might some day find their way into other Ford cars and sport-utility vehicles, but, "We want to see the first application of that in Volvo."

Growing market share

No automaker can afford to ignore one of the most powerful trends in the industry: More women are, literally, moving into the driver's seat. Last year, women bought 65% of new cars in the USA.

Today, more women in the USA and Europe are having children later in life, which means they are working longer and need their own cars. The rise in the numbers of working mothers and divorced women also is fueling the demand for new cars

Volvos have traditionally been popular with women in the USA because of their high safety ratings. Volvo has a scant 1% of the U.S. car market, but it has the largest percentage of female buyers — 53% — of any luxury brand.

It's a different story in Europe, where just 14% of Volvo buyers are women. In Europe, many families have one car, and streets are narrower, making smaller cars easier to drive than the traditionally big and boxy Volvos.

"There were so many jokes in Europe about Volvo styling; it was like primary school children were asked to draw a car," says Peter Schmidt, editor of Automotive Industry Data, a newsletter based in Britain. "In the last five or six years, Volvo has gone literally overboard to add attractiveness in styling to the car. They look far less brick-shaped and more modern. They have a sportiness and have (polished) their image in order to appeal to women."

The women who designed the concept car are from all over the company, where only 20% of the employees are female. The biggest challenge was finding women who could free themselves from other responsibilities for more than a year.

Where the team couldn't find a woman with a particular expertise, men were recruited. But they couldn't make decisions. About 20% of the staff on the project are men, some of whom admitted feeling uncomfortable at the beginning.

The lopsided gender dynamics has led to some odd Mars-and-Venus moments.

"I remember a meeting, where I was the only man, and something came up on the agenda, and everyone started talking at once. Something was decided on, and everyone knew what the decision was except me," recalls Kenneth Thunberg, head of 3D-design for the car.

For Ekelund, who works on Ford/Volvo integration, it was the reverse.

"We talk a lot more in the meetings, but when we come to a decision, everyone is there and understands why we did make the decision we did in the end," she says. "I find it less political, less sensitive if you have to change your mind en route."

The women also feel they have had to work harder to prove to the men who resisted the project in the beginning that women can do the job.

"We are our own worst enemies. We are the ones driving ourselves so hard," Ekelund says.

Failure? "That's not an option," she says.

Palmertz admits, "I'm working much more than I have ever done. ... In the beginning, for half a year, I was dreaming and discussing it every night. And I said to myself, I just have to stop, I have to stop talking about this."

The pressure stems from the fact that although there is a rising number of women on showroom floors, there still aren't many in the executive suites in the auto industry.

Few female faces

At Volvo, 11% of managers are women. That's better than DaimlerChrysler, where 5% of women at its headquarters in Germany are managers. But it's lower than Ford, where one in five managers in its U.S. operations is a woman.

Volvo has one woman on its executive management team, Lena Olving, senior vice president for quality and one of the most vocal supporters of the concept car.

When she joined the management team two years ago, the nine men were reluctant to go on their annual skinny-dipping trip to a nearby lake. In the end they did, but Olving, who said it was too cold, sat on the shore and drank a beer.

"We still have the old men's club in the business sector," says Thomas Alslev Christensen, director general of the Nordic Council of Ministers, an intergovernmental organization for the five Nordic countries. "It's easier for women to get promoted in the public sector, because there is political guidance for equal representation of women."

The small number of female managers at Volvo seems at odds with the country's social policies.

In Sweden, when a child is born, the mother or father is entitled to 390 days of leave at 80% pay. Day care slots are guaranteed by law for every child from 18 months to age 10. Birth control is free.

Almost three-quarters of the women in Sweden are in the workforce, one of the highest rates in the world. But they still tend to gravitate to jobs in the public sector, where there are more cracks in the glass ceiling (36% are managers vs. 11% in private companies).

Volvo's hopes for the concept car reach beyond putting more rubber on the road.

"To the outside world, it's in line with what's going on in society," says CEO Olsson. He says he hopes the project "will inspire a girl of 16, who is now wondering 'What do I want to do?' "

He hopes it will make her think, " 'I want to work with cars, and I want to work with Volvo.' If we can achieve that, I am very happy. It works on the broader perspective for society and the car industry."

Originally posted by PPower
http://www.cardesignnews.com/news/2003/031211whats-new/images/peugeot-407-06.jpg

The emblem there looks completely out of place. The interior of the 406 sedan was really the sore spot as far as design goes, so surely that will be fixed with this one. I am really not liking this new look with the hood raised up higher so that it can blend in with a more steeply raked windshield. No thanks.

http://www.youngbabez.com/peugeot/407/pic04.jpg

I've bought 5 vehicles in the last 8 years. Of those, one was a sedan. The rest were hatches or wagon. I'm a wagon guy.

Having said that, the Peugeot wagon above is about the butt-ugliest thing I've ever seen, second only to the A$$tek.

Originally posted by Alpha1
Ford reveals the 2005 Focus...
http://www.waitnews.com/images/ford_25.jpg

and its still as ugly as :alien:
the only ford i would even consider buying is the cosworth - 300hp AWD, sound familiar..? maybe... but it only weighs 2850lbs...

put that in your pipe and smoke it... :disco:

Originally posted by gargleblaster
I've bought 5 vehicles in the last 8 years. Of those, one was a sedan. The rest were hatches or wagon. I'm a wagon guy.

Having said that, the Peugeot wagon above is about the butt-ugliest thing I've ever seen, second only to the A$$tek.

And that's one of the largest front emblems I have seen this side of a Mac truck.

Acura TL A-SPEC To be Revealed at LA Auto Show
(Auto Channel News)

The Acura TL A- SPEC Concept vehicle will make its debut at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show. This extensively modified TL is an exercise built to explore the next level of performance accessory possibilities for Acura's best-selling sedan.

Based on the all-new 2004 TL, the TL A- SPEC Concept takes the performance theme to the extreme, with a combination of aggressive styling, powertrain enhancements and racing-inspired interior modifications. Styling highlights include a wider track, 21-inch alloy wheels, wide fender flares, redesigned front and rear fascias and a full-length glass roof.

The 2004 TL debuted in October and has shattered sales records in each of its first two months on sale. Dramatically redesigned with sporty new exterior styling, a 270-horsepower engine, sport-tuned suspension and an assortment of the latest technology, the TL is a true driving enthusiast's car.

Additional details on the TL A-SPEC Concept will be announced on Monday, December 29 at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show.

http://www.theautochannel.com/N/F/news/2003/12/16/174550.2-lg.jpg

http://www.theautochannel.com/N/F/news/2003/12/16/174550.1-lg.jpg

Hyundai Plans HCD8 Concept

Hyundai will show off the latest in its HCD concept cars at Detroit with the debut of the HCD8 sports coupe concept vehicle. The coupe, Hyundai says, is the first vehicle to be introduced from the new $30 million Hyundai Design Center in Irvine, Calif. The HCD8 is powered by a supercharged version of the company's 2.7-liter V6 engine. The concept coupe will be shown along with a new Tucson SUV.

http://www.theautochannel.com/N/F/news/2003/12/16/174551.1-lg.jpg

ps- look for a AWD feature as well that may make it to a Certain production car.

Spy Shots: ’05 Saab SUV
Sharing in GM’s truck profits.
by Hans Lehmann/Hidden Image (2003-12-15)

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7544_image.jpg

Owned by General Motors, Saab has been one of only a couple of GM brands to be left out of the light-truck boom. According to statistics, about 25 percent of Saab buyers have left the brand in order to buy an SUV - which so far has never been available from Saab.

This will change in 2005, when the company will offer for the first time in its history a mid-size SUV, which will be called 9-7X. Based on the platform of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, the 9-7X's exterior design and handling is going to be significantly different from the TrailBlazer and other GM trucks. This was already positively confirmed by a selected number of dealers who have been introduced to the new model and who were amazed by its styling.

No prototypes have so far been sighted, but our computer image is an artist's impression made from insider information. The TrailBlazer's power comes from six- and eight-cylinder engines. Nothing is yet known whether Saab will use similar powerplants for the new model.



Hans G. Lehmann/ Hidden Image

good stuff, keep 'em coming..
:)

Originally posted by amdmaxx
good stuff, keep 'em coming..
:)

With the Major shows coming up, we should see a release or leak almost everyday now. I love this time a year for Auto News!!

Yes, detroit, LA are major ones..
anyone got good links to follow the shows?
I will start:
www.thecarconnection.com
www.theautochannel.com
autos.msn.com
www.auto.com
http://www.cardesignnews.com/
www.detroitnews.com

Boy, those look familar...

:p

:)

Originally posted by Alpha1
http://images.usatoday.com/money/_photos/2003/12-16-volvo.jpg

Volvo teams up to build what women want

•No hood. The front end is designed as one large section, meant to be lifted only by the mechanic. The reasoning is women don't want to be bothered with maintenance, and the car is designed to be virtually maintenance free (oil change every 50,000 kilometers, or about 31,000 miles). When the car needs servicing, it sends a wireless message to a local service station, which will contact the owner and schedule an appointment.

•Storage space. The car has wide, gull-wing doors that allow easy access to the space behind the driver's seat. The rear seats are fold-up, theater-style, which allows more storage space. The emergency brake is electric, freeing storage space between the front seats.

•No gas cap. The car has a race-car-style fueling system in which the gas nozzle goes in through an opening with a roller-ball valve to prevent gas and fumes from escaping. Window-washer fluid is poured into a reservoir next to the gas tank.

•Easy to clean. The car has dirt-repellant paint and glass, as well as machine-washable seat covers. The seat covers and carpets come in a variety of styles for a customized interior.

•Easy to park. The car has a sensor to tell the driver if the car will fit in a parking space. It also can take over the steering to parallel park.



:huh: :huh:
Please tell me this is a joke....

08:30 Dec. 17, 2003)Autoweek
What the Devil's going on? Corvette team said to be working on Ford GT fighter


By BOB GRITZINGER


THE 2005 C6 CORVETTE hasn’t even been officially introduced, but the Corvette development team is already hard at work on future, high-performance variants, including a wild 600-plus horsepower Ford GT-fighter known internally as “Blue Devil.”

While chief engineer Dave Hill has publicly announced the Z06 version of the next-gen Vette due in 2005 will have 500 hp, his engine team wasn’t sure until recently that they could actually achieve that impressive figure. Sources now say that it will be a case of “nothing beats cubic inches” with 95 extra horses (compared to today’s 405-hp Z06) coming as a result of boring and stroking the next-gen Chevy small-block V8 to 427 cubic inches—7.0 liters. Not since the late-1960s has that magic number of cubes been under a Corvette’s composite hood (though there were some 454s along the way).

More important, Chevy is clearly investigating an ultra-performance Corvette designed to do battle with—and conquer—the mid-engined GT from rival Ford, as well as many supercars from across the pond. Called Blue Devil (no one knows why it has that name—could it be Chevy hopes to bedevil Ford’s blue oval?), unofficial stats make the name seem appropriate. Reportedly producing 625 hp, Blue Devil’s initial power will come from a supercharged 427 engine—and it will use lightweight carbon fiber for key body parts, reducing weight by several hundred pounds to drop the super C6 to about 2900 pounds.

The price indicated on the internal documents is $100,000 for Blue Devil, if and when it actually makes production in 2006—at the earliest. We wonder whether the Devil’s chances of seeing light are further improved following product czar Bob Lutz’s comments that he’d like to see a Chevy-badged car like the 2002 Cadillac Cien concept.

General Motors officials aren’t connecting the dots and saying this is a “go,” but the high-performance heart of Blue Devil is the kind of specialized, high-content engine project envisioned for the General’s new Performance Build Center set to open shop next year in Wixom, Michigan. The center is intended to attack projects with “a sort of race team mentality,” says Ed Koerner, vice president of GM Powertrain engineering operations.

Patterned after low-volume race shops, the center could build up to 10,000 powerplants per year for very specific, high-end, high-performance GM vehicles. Koerner says engines from the shop should appear in showroom vehicles by 2005.

Mitsubishi plans 2 world debuts for Jan.

By Kathy Jackson
Automotive News / December 17, 2003


Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. is planning two world debuts for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The automaker will show concept versions of a mid-sized pickup and its Eclipse Concept-E car.

The production version of both vehicles will arrive in showrooms in the 2006 model year.

The four-wheel-drive pickup concept, which Mitsubishi calls the Sport Truck Concept, is powered by a 4.7-liter V-8 engine and a five-speed automatic transmission.

The truck is 210 inches long, 80 inches wide and 71 inches high. It has a 135-inch wheelbase and 22-inch wheels.

It seats four, but the rear seats can slide sideways to create either two separate seats, or bench seating. The seats also may be moved into the bed area for open-air seating.
http://www.autonews.com/images/random/1217MITSUTRUCK.gif


A production version of the concept will be produced jointly with the Chrysler group in Warren, Mich. The price and name of the truck have not been revealed.

Mitsubishi’s Eclipse Concept-E is a hybrid vehicle powered by a 3.8-liter V-6 engine generating 269 hp for the front wheels and a 150 kW electric motor that drives both the front and rear wheels for a total of 470 hp. It uses a six-speed automated manual transmission that allows the driver to drive in either manual or automatic mode.

http://www.autonews.com/images/random/1217ECLIPSECONCEPT.gif

The glowing orange two-plus-two seater has a lunging posture with 20-inch wheels, performance tires, rear wing spoiler, side exhausts and a glass roof. The outside mirrors have a teardrop theme. It features futuristic looking plasma headlamps and neon turn signals and brake lights. The inside also features neon lighting on the high-tech instrument panel.

The vehicle is 173 inches long, 74 inches wide and 52 inches tall. The wheelbase is 105 inches.

The automaker has not revealed the price of the vehicle.

More one the Truck...

Mitsu, Dodge Sharing Dakota

Japan's fourth-biggest automobile company, Mitsubishi Motors, announced Tuesday it will work with its DaimlerChrysler Corp. partner, Chrysler Group, to jointly develop a mid-size pickup truck to be built in Michigan starting in 2005. The project marks the first time Mitsubishi Motors North America has sold a pickup in the United States since 1996, when it sold a truck called the Mighty Max, according to U.S. consumer research group Kelly Blue Book. Mitsubishi will join Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co., Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler's Dodge division and General Motors Corp. as automakers selling pickups in the United States. The company, of which DaimlerChrysler Corp. owns a 37-percent stake, will get a version of the Dodge Dakota mid-size pickup, which will be built at DaimlerChrysler's Warren, Mich., plant. The Dodge version of the truck is being redesigned and the new version will go on sale in 2004. Mitsubishi's Cypress, California, design center will design the Mitsubishi truck off the Dakota platform, using many of the elements found on the Dodge product.

Eric Ridenour, Executive Vice President of Chrysler group product development, said in a DamilerChrysler press release that the joint effort is one of many such project collaborations going on between the two automakers in an effort to reduce costs and maximize research and development efforts. The two companies share product platforms as well as individual automotive components. "Ultimately, this will allow us both to reduce development, production times and costs while adding to our respective portfolios with distinctly different, high-quality products." Pickup trucks are known to be one of the highest-profit sectors in automobile sales.

The pickup will offer Mitsubishi Motors North America a potential positive step toward recovering from its recent financial bleeding. In October, the company announced it would cancel a plan, originally announced in March, to increase capacity to 300,000 units annually from the existing 240,000 and create some 300 new jobs by investing 200 million U.S. dollars in its Normal, Ill., plant. Poor sales in the United States forced it to suspend the expansion plan "until market conditions and product needs change (for the better)." In November, Mitsubishi announced it would slash 200 white-collar jobs at its Cypress headquarters and estimated another 450 job cuts to be made among the management and manufacturing employees in Normal. A Mitsubishi spokesman said that the Normal cuts haven't been finalized. The announcement came only days after Mitsubishi canceled its American rally-racing program. Through November, Mitsubishi's sales in the United States are down 24 percent from the eleven-month total in 2002. -John D. Stoll

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7534_image.jpg

These photos show BMW's new 3-Series Compact, featuring a dedicated sports package developed and designed by the acclaimed M division.

The special exterior features include: a dedicated deeper front skirt with larger air intakes, circular fog lights in the front skirt, sculpted sill extensions, a dedicated deeper rear skirt emulating the front skirt design, chromed exhaust pipes, a set of uniquely styled multi-spoke wheels shod with ultra-low-profile tires, and a lowered suspension.

Inside, expect sports seats, upholstery trims with two-tone color schemes and M logos in the main dials, on the steering wheel and the gearshift lever. This prototype might have the 3.0-litrer engine from the 330i.