AutoWeek articles from August 2002

AutoWeek archives from August 2002

Competition.
August 5, 2002... Hakkinen retires * Mika Hakkinen, McLaren's 1998 and 1999 Formula One world champion, formally announced his retirement at the German Grand Prix. The 33-year-old Finn explained he had decided against a comeback after visiting this...

Late Racing News.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... * Toyota customer engines? Toyota Motorsport chairman Ove Andersson has confirmed that Eddie Jordan made a tentative approach to the company about customer engines, but he said Toyota is not yet in a position to consider such an...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
August 5, 2002... Pondering Phaeton's fate Volkswagen didn't do its homework on the Phaeton (AW, July 22). Toyota, Nissan and Honda correctly determined that to aim higher, they'd have to introduce new brand names, such as Lexus, Infiniti and Acura. These...

Results: Pocono Raceway.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Pocono Raceway 2.5-mile tri-oval July 28 1. Bill Elliott, Dodge, 175 laps at 125.809 mph avg. speed; 2. Kurt Busch, Ford, 175; 3. Sterling Marlin, Dodge, 175; 4. Dale Jarrett, Ford, 175; 5. Ryan Newman, Ford, 175; 6. Kevin...

...But Wait, There's More.(News Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Society Notes A shill is a shill is a shill We don't go in for blatant promotion of car events-okay, we do, but not usually on this page. We couldn't help ourselves, however, with the 2002 Jaguar Roadrunner 1000 classic car soiree. The...

Cien shelved, at least for now; But cancellation may not be the end of the road for Cadillac supercar.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... The bad news is that General Motors is officially putting the Cadillac Cien sports car on the shelf. The good news? GM now has a new shelf, one from which it can retrieve canceled vehicle plans if resources and market conditions support a...

LIKES/DISLIKES.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... LIKES * Toyota quality * Braking distance * Price DISLIKES * No manual with V6 * Difficulty reading instruments * A bit sluggish

Television Aug. 9-11.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Friday, Aug. 9 Two Guys Garage, 12:30 a.m., Speed Channel (T) RPM 2Night, 1 a.m., ESPN2 (T) Car Crazy, 1 a.m., Speed Channel (T) Inside Drag Racing, 1:30 a.m., ESPN2 (T) Totally NASCAR, 6 a.m., Fox Sports Net (T) ...

Hoppen Up and Down; Raising the output and lowering the chassis makes the Hoppen allroad really jump.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... If you have difficulty comprehending the Audi allroad, find solace in the fact you're not alone. Josef Hoppen doesn't get it, either. ``What is it?'' asks the former director of motorsport for Volkswagen/Audi of America. ``A station wagon?...

The Race Report.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Finally after months of personal frustration and a week of team hell, Tomas Scheckter won an Indy Racing League event. It came last weekend in the Michigan Indy 400 at Michigan International Speedway. But in the days prior, the...

Decisions, Decisions; IRL team owners are scrambling to sign engine deals for 2003.(Indy Racing League, planning for the 2003 season)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... With the first of Toyota's new Indy Racing League engines track testing July 22 comes the realization that 2003 is just the throw of a camshaft away. And not surprisingly, teams have begun load-ing up. Toyota has signed series points-leader...

Results: Concord Pacific Place.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 5, 2002... Concord Pacific Place 1.781-mile street circuit July 28 1. Dario Franchitti, Lola-Honda, 100 laps at 78.525 mph avg. speed; 2. Paul Tracy, Lola-Honda, 100; 3. Tony Kanaan, Lola-Honda, 100; 4. Michel Jourdain Jr., Lola-Ford, 100;...

The News; August 5, 2002.
August 5, 2002... We'll see how long this lasts, but for now the word out of Cadillac and General Motors is that production of the showstopper Cien supercar is shelved for the foreseeable future (Headliner, page 11). Not so for the CTSi, the V8 version of...

Results: Hockenheim.(automobile racing, 2002)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Hockenheim 2.842-mile road course July 28 1. Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 67 laps at 130.029 mph avg. speed; 2. Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams-BMW, 67; 3. Ralf Schumacher, Williams-BMW, 67; 4. Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari, 67; 5....

Bread&Butter; Seventh-generation model is best yet.(Honda set to introduce the 7th generartion Accord)
August 5, 2002... Say what you will about the staid ol' family car, Honda knows from whence it butters its bread. And it's not trucks. Granted, sales of its popular sport/utes continue to soar-from the best-selling compact CR-V to the newly introduced...

2003 Volvo XC90; Volvo gets into the sport/ute market with this svelte Svede.(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
August 5, 2002... In SUV-speak, ``Medium Premium'' refers to all luxo-crossover-not-for-serious-rock-crawling sport/utilities based on passenger cars aimed at semi-wealthy suburban soccer parents. That's where Volvo's XC90 fits. Buyers there want lots of room,...

Car Board.(sport utility vehicles)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
August 5, 2002... Chances are you don't need NOAA (you know, the weather guys) to tell you that much of the country is in drought. You didn't need to wash the car, did you? * Hyundai SANTA FE Price: $18,344 Engine: 2.4-liter I4, 149 hp, 156 lb-ft...

Strategic Retreat; CART backs up and digs in for next season.(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... You're damn right we're going to be back next year,'' says CART CEO Chris Pook. Embattled and beleaguered he might be, but there are no plans to throw in the towel. ``This is too good a product,'' he says. ``This is not going to go away.'' ...

Awesome Once Again?; Bill Elliott wins in Pocono.(Bill Elliott; 2002 Pennsylvania 500)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Bill Elliott apparently has no intention of going gently into the good night that promises-what, a well-earned retirement to the woods of north Georgia? His stirring, late-race win in the Pennsylvania 500 (actually 437.5) at Pocono proved what...

The Race Report.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 5, 2002... Dario Franchitti scored his first win of the 2002 CART season in the Molson Indy at Vancouver, defeating teammate Paul Tracy with a superior pit stop strategy. The 1-2 finish was the first for Team Green since Vancouver in 2000. In finishing...

CTSi spied.(being developed by Cadillac)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Cadillac, which honed its 2003 CTS sport sedan on Germany's Nurburgring racetrack, is back at the famous testing ground to develop the more powerful CTSi for 2004. Most noticeable at first glance are the 15-spoke wheels mounted with...

Life with Cars.(the unique experiene of riding in a Bentley)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Was history made one recent Saturday when the worlds of zoology and automobiles collided? Experts will no doubt debate the question for decades. Specifically, whether giving a chipmunk a ride in a Bentley is a world's first or not. We may have...

Feather in the Cap.(Goodwood Festival of Speed, 2002)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... The Goodwood Festival of Speed drew a record 138,000 fans to its 10th running July 12-14. From the giant ``feather'' display of Renault-powered F1 cars in front of Goodwood house, through the drag racers, rally cars and celebrity drivers, it...

2003 Honda Accord Sedan DX.
August 5, 2002... On sale: September 2002 Base price: $15,500 (est.) Powertrain: 2.4-liter, 160-hp I4; fwd, five-speed manual 0 to 60 mph: 8.2 seconds (est.) EPA mpg, city/hwy: 26/34 (est.)

Fast Poll.
August 5, 2002... Respondents who actually care say da Matta can be caught with a little help from Lady Luck and, ahem, maybe someone named Guido. Michael Andretti can catch Cristiano da Matta if da Matta starts having a little bad luck and Michael starts...

HOPPEN AUDI ALLROAD.
August 5, 2002... On sale: Now Base price: $45,725 (est.) Powertrain: 2.7-liter, 320-hp twin-turbo V6; awd, five-speed automatic 0 to 60 mph: 6.3 seconds (est.) EPA mpg, city/hwy: 16/22 (est.)

Sky falling, but automakers ready.(new emissions standards planned for California)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... California's new law aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions is essentially a way of increasing Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE. See, the thing about reducing CO2 at the tailpipe is that pretty much the only way to do it is to burn...

Future.
August 5, 2002... Sept. 28 British Car Day Montgomery, Ala. This eighth annual event honors Jaguar. For details, call (256) 234-3343. Oct. 3-6 Fall Carlisle Carlisle, Pa. More than 100,000 enthusiasts will cover 82 acres with...

FACTS.(Toyota Camry)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 5, 2002... MANUFACTURER'S DATA Toyota Motor Sales USA 19001 South Western Ave. Torrance CA 90509 Customer assistance: (800) 331-4331 Internet address: www.toyota.com Country of origin: United States Number of dealers: 1201...

ROAD TEST DATA.(Toyota Camry)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 5, 2002... STANDING-START ACCELERATION 0-30 mph: 2.87 sec 0-40 mph: 4.32 sec 0-50 mph: 6.32 sec 0-60 mph: 8.50 sec 0-100 km/h (62.1 mph): 9.09 sec 0-80 mph: 14.78 sec 0-quarter-mile: 84.5 mph, 16.49 sec ROLLING...

VIEWS AND REVIEWS.(Toyota Camry)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
August 5, 2002... OWNERS THE NEW CAMRY OFFERS EXCELLENT fit- and-finish and overall quality. Steering response is quicker than the previous Camry and handling is improved. There is a lurching or shuddering sensation between 35 and 45 mph at steady speed or...

Results: Michigan International Speedway.(2002)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Michigan International Speedway 2.0-mile oval July 28 1. Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Infiniti, 200 laps at 179.044 mph avg. speed; 2. Buddy Rice, Dallara-Infiniti, 200; 3. Felipe Giaffone, G Force-Chevrolet, 200; 4. Tony Renna,...

What You Ask For; Toyota's fifth-generation Camry delivers as promised.(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
August 5, 2002... Well, you asked for it, and you got it. Toyota Camry owners who wrote to us say they went shopping for an economical, dependable sedan and got exactly what they were looking for. Toyota's fifth-generation Camry impressed us on both the...

PRICING.(Toyota Camry)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 5, 2002... Base: $24,155 As tested: $30,229 IntelliChoice target price: $21,945 Rebates: None Destination charge: $455 What owners paid; average: $21,300 to $24,090; $22,893 Options as tested: Package 6, with keyless entry,...

News.(Porsche developing a vehicle similar to the 928)(this and other items are discussed)(Brief Article)
August 5, 2002... Return to 928 Porschephiles have heard these rumblings before, but now the jungle drums are very loud: Porsche plans to add a 180-mph coupe-conceived along the lines of its discontinued 928-that will share major pieces (such as a...

2003 Volvo XC90.(automobile)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 5, 2002... On sale: November 2002 price: $45,000 (est.) Powertrain: 2.9-liter, 268-hp twin-turbo I6; awd, four-speed automatic 0 to 60 mph: 8.2 seconds (est.) AW mpg, city/hwy: 17/21 (est.)

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
August 12, 2002... Targeting GM's Epsilon platform I can see why you titled the July 22 article about the Saab 9-3 ``Target Practice.'' Looking at the picture of the center of the dash, I see about 45 buttons. It'll take some target practice to push the...

1966 Ferrari 365P Three-Seater; An automotive fantasy realized.(Brief Article)
August 12, 2002... Today a factory Ferrari racing car commands in excess of $1 million. But in the mid-1960s, last season's racers were more frequently relegated to the scrap pile than turned into cash. The 1965 P2 racing car, chassis No. 8971, was granted a...

Car Board.(vehicles from Mitsubishi, BMW and Honda)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
August 12, 2002... Momma always said, a sports car is as a sports car does. * Mitsubishi DIAMANTE VR-X Price: $28,757 Engine: 3.5-liter V6, 210 hp, 231 lb-ft Curb weight: 3549 lbs Drivetrain: fwd, four-speed automatic To some, all it...

2003 Mitsubishi Outlander; Aggressive-looking SUV seeks a hip crowd.(Brief Article)(Evaluation)(Statistical Data Included)
August 12, 2002... Outlander's name is borrowed, we presume, as an amalgam of Subaru's Outback and the Toyota or Land Rover Highlander/Freelander. But name aside, Mitsubishi sees its entry-level SUV as hip and chic-what car company doesn't?-and aims to market it...

`N'ext letter in Chrysler's arsenal.(reintroduction of Hemi engine)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 12, 2002... Hemi. For such a short word, it carries tremendous weight for Chrysler and for those who associate it with Chrysler motorsports prowess and serious street-car muscle. As far as we can tell, the U.S. arm of DaimlerChrysler is well on its...

Competition This Week; August 12, 2002.(auto racing)(Brief Article)
August 12, 2002... He was Awesome Bill from Dawsonville (Georgia) first. After he won the Winston Million, he became Million Dollar Bill. If Bill Elliott continues his return to winning form-he won his first Brickyard 400-he may well become known as Billion...

Late Racing News.(Brief Article)
August 12, 2002... Pruett to the Glen * Scott Pruett will drive a third Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge at the Winston Cup race at Watkins Glen on Aug. 11. Pruett, who lost his full-time Cup ride in 2000, has been working since then primarily as a television...

News.(trucks and cars in production)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 12, 2002... More powerplant patter Flush with the success of its 275-hp 4.2-liter inline six, General Motors is readying two smaller versions for duty in 2004 replacements for its small pickups. Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon will be offered...

Television Aug. 16-18.(auto racing events)(Brief Article)
August 12, 2002... Friday, Aug. 16 Formula One practice from Hungary, 7 a.m., Speed Channel (L) NASCAR Winston Cup qualifying from Brooklyn, Mich., 3 p.m., Speed Channel (L) CART qualifying from Elkhart Lake, Wis., 5 p.m., Speed Channel (SD) RPM...

2003 Mitsubishi Outlander.
August 12, 2002... On sale: October 2002 Base price: $18,000 (est.) Powertrain: 2.4-liter 140-hp I4; fwd, four-speed automatic 0 to 60 mph: 10.7 seconds (est.) EPA mpg, city/hwy: 20/26 (est.)

Opposite Lock.(Corvette)(Brief Article)
August 12, 2002... It was easy, during a recent staff meeting, to dismiss the assertion by a young devil's advocate that ``Corvette is irrelevant.'' After I'd been to Bowling Green, Kentucky, the last weekend in June, though, it wasn't so easy. The Corvette guys...

Fast Poll.(Alfa Romeo's Brera)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 12, 2002... Readers decry Alfa Romeo's decision to kill the Brera, but maybe Lutz can help Chances are Alfa Romeo wouldn't have sent the Brera across the pond, anyway. I do love the design, but if we couldn't have it, I don't want them to have it,...

Future.
August 12, 2002... Oct. 6 Newport Coast Concours Irvine, Calif. This year honors Aston Martin, as well as celebrating 50 years of Corvette and Bonneville Salt Flats racers. Proceeds benefit Assessment and Treatment Services Center, an Orange County...

...But Wait, There's More.(Brief Article)
August 12, 2002... Society Notes Miss Manners would approve The public relations commander of Aston Martin, Tim Watson, knows a thing or two about good and proper behavior. That's clearly the reason why he commissioned a set of eight black-and-white...

2004 Enzo Ferrari.(Brief Article)
August 12, 2002... Arriving: January 2003 Base price: $670,000 Powertrain: 6.0-liter, 660-hp,485-lb-ft V12; rear-drive, six-speed paddle-actuated manual transaxle Curb weight: 3009 pounds 0 to 60 mph: 3.5 seconds (mfr.)

Results: Spa-Francorchamps.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 12, 2002... 4.316-mile road course Aug. 3-4 1. Vosse/Bouchut/Terrien/Bourdais, Chrysler Viper, 526 laps at 94.46 mph avg. speed; 2. Sterckx/Verdon-Roe/de Castro/Law, Lister Storm, 521; 3. Ortelli/Dumas/Collard, Porsche GT3, 519; 4....

The News; August 12, 2002.(automobile industry)(Brief Article)
August 12, 2002... We like engine talk, especially when it's about clean, efficient modern engines that haven't forgotten how to include old-fashioned muscle. Chrysler is busy preparing just that kind of engine with its Hemi V8 due in the 300N (below). General...

Bookmark.
August 12, 2002... Okay, so the photos are a little grainy and the car's covered in camouflage, but you can see what we're told are the first spy shots of the actual C6 Corvette at www.z06vette.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19646.

Volkswagen Passat W8.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)(Evaluation)
August 12, 2002... Five-passenger sedan 270 hp @ 6000 rpm, 273 lb-ft @ 2750 rpm 4.0-liter W8, five-speed automatic All-wheel drive Estimated mpg: 18 city/25 hwy Base price $38,450, as tested $38,450 Or you could buy: BMW 540i...

The Race Report.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 12, 2002... Longtime NASCAR ``experts'' could have seen this one coming from halfway to South Bend. After all, Bill Elliott had always run well at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, about as well as anyone who'd never won a Brickyard 400. He finished 10th...

Old School; NASCAR has a program to keep traction control out of Cup cars.
August 12, 2002... Bernie Ecclestone and his Formula One minions finally unplugged their computers and surrendered. Likewise, Chris Pook and his CART techno-wizards. So what makes Bill France and Mike Helton think they're smart enough to keep traction control out...

Competition.
August 12, 2002... Da Matta to F1? * Not so fast. Reports from Europe claim Cristiano da Matta, CART points-leader and current hot property, has closed a deal to drive one of Toyota's Formula One cars next season. Da Matta is certainly a front-runner to...

Results: Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(Brief Article)
August 12, 2002... 2.5-mile oval Brickyard 400, round 21 of 36 Aug. 4 1. Bill Elliott, Dodge, 160 laps at 125.033 mph avg. speed; 2. Rusty Wallace, Ford, 160; 3. Matt Kenseth, Ford, 160; 4. Ryan Newman, Ford, 160; 5. Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 160;...

Seven Days in L.A.; One week in June has become a celebration of car culture in la la land.(Brief Article)
August 12, 2002... Who says there's no culture in Los Angeles? There is some car culture, if nothing else. Every year, centered around the Concours on Rodeo on Father's Day, is a week's worth of automotive celebration that, you could argue, rivals the best car...

Flagship-for now; Until the Phaeton arrives, the W8 is VW's big daddy.(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
August 12, 2002... We are big Volkswagen Passat fans. The $22,000 1.8-turbo is a terrific car for the money, and the fast, smooth V6-powered models are an excellent step up. Both engine choices are available in a sedan or wagon so the Passat offers something for...

The Enzo Ferrari; F1 made user-friendly.(Evaluation)
August 12, 2002... Maranello glowed with good news. Michael Schumacher had clinched his Fangio-tying fifth Formula One World Driving Championship at Magny-Cours on Sunday and by happy coincidence we had watched the race from a hotel in Modena. Monday morning, we...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
August 12, 2002... Our Aug. 5 AutoFile should have said the Toyota Camry lost its title as best-selling car in America to the Honda Accord in 2001.

Subaru Impreza WRX.(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
August 19, 2002... Few long-term test cars have arrived at AutoWeek amidst more anticipation than the Subaru WRX. This longing came not only from the Gen-Xers on staff, but also from those of us considered by some to be over-the-hill (born before 1960). Getting a...

Shelbys Forever!; SAAC's 27th big wingding.(Shelby American Automobile Club convention)(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... More than 5000 aficionados of all things Shelby trekked to the California Speedway just east of Los Angeles July 5-7 to celebrate their favorite car. The faithful have been gathering for-obviously-27 years now, from the first Shelby American...

ROAD TEST DATA.
August 19, 2002... STANDING-START ACCELERATION 0-30 mph: 2.44 sec 0-40 mph: 3.60 sec 0-50 mph: 4.73 sec 0-60 mph: 6.21 sec 0-100 km/h (62.1 mph): 6.53 sec 0-80 mph: 10.35 sec 0-quarter-mile: 95.5 mph, 14.77 sec ROLLING...

FACTS.(Nissan North America)(Brief Article)(Directory)
August 19, 2002... MANUFACTURER'S DATA Nissan North America 18501 S. Figueroa St. P.O. Box 191 Gardena CA 90248 Customer assistance: (800) 647-7266 Internet address: www.nissandriven.com Country of origin: Japan Number of...

PRICING.
August 19, 2002... Base: $25,989 (includes $540 destination charge) As tested: $28,135 IntelliChoice target price: $23,084 Rebates: None What owners paid; average: $23,400 to $29,000; $25,625 Options as tested: Bose audio system ($1,099);...

Sometimes a little is all you need.(Porsche Boxster)(Evaluation)(Product Announcement)
August 19, 2002... Villa Grazioli in Grattaferrata, Italy, and the Schlosshotel Lerbach near the Odenwald in Germany have at least a few things in common. Each was the residence of aristocracy for centuries; today both are holiday stops for gentrified tourists....

Venomous Volvo.(new Volvo S60 R)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 19, 2002... Uncle Olaf is spinning in his grave-at 6000 rpm. Or he will be early next year when Volvo introduces a version of its S60 sedan meant to compete with performance icons like the BMW M3 and Audi S4. Ja, you heard dat right. The new Volvo S60 R...

Television Aug. 23-25.(automobile racing - TV)(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... Friday, Aug. 23 Two Guys Garage, 12:30 a.m., Speed Channel (T) Totally NASCAR, 1 a.m., Fox Sports Net (T) Car Crazy, 1 a.m., Speed Channel (T) Totally NASCAR, 6 a.m., Fox Sports Net (T) MotorWeek, 7 a.m., Speed Channel (T)...

Offside Undo.(drunk driving)(Brief Article)(Column)
August 19, 2002... What started with a wedding rehearsal dinner ended in a poignant life lesson, thanks to The Levelheaded Becky. It began simply: Brother-in-law Bobby and the delightful Martha practiced vows in a California wine country vineyard. The day was...

More grit for pavement pounding.(Land Rover Discovery 4.6)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
August 19, 2002... Ah, merry old England. Not only has that indomitable little land given us such glorious gifts as imperial weights and measures and the English language, it also spawned such confounding cultural references as Marmite, Shakespeare (admit it, you...

...But Wait, There's More.(Humor)(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... Society Notes Commuter nightmare, commissioner's dream Just what we need, another driver on the road not paying attention. In a charity fund-raiser last month, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban-his famously loud mouth covered in duct...

Car Board.(some 2nd-generation models)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
August 19, 2002... Upgrade your ride: Versions 2.0 now available for your driving pleasure. * Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Price: $44,000 (est.) Engine: 3.2-liter V6, 215 hp, 221 lb-ft Curb weight: 3515 lbs Drivetrain: rwd, five-speed automatic ...

The News; August 19, 2002.
August 19, 2002... Maybe the summer heat is getting to us, but car news seems a little scattered this week. In the desert, we spy Mitsubishi engineers tuning the hot Evo VIII (below). Meanwhile, BMW's new chief dropped in Stateside to fill us in on the latest...

Latest Legacy rendition takes Subie doin'.(Subaru Baja)(Evaluation)
August 19, 2002... Subaru doesn't ``do'' demographics... that's straight from the com- pany's mouthpiece. That being the case, it was hard for us to pin down just where Subaru is aiming the latest rendition of the Legacy-a car-based trucklet named Baja. We...

Fast Poll.(GM performance engineering vs. Honda)(Brief Article)(Panel Discussion)
August 19, 2002... GM is building specialty cars in-house to develop performance engineers. Honda puts its gearheads on racing programs. Which is the way to go? GM will fiddle with in-house specialty cars until it hits a period when: a) it's not politically...

VIEWS AND REVIEWS.(Nissan Maxima)(Brief Article)(Panel Discussion)
August 19, 2002... OWNERS I did some laps at Road Atlanta and it was nice to fly into the uphill esses, slam on the brakes, downshift and hammer it. The Maxima is easy to control and sticks like glue. Here's the downside to its drive-by-wire though: I was on...

2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER.(Brief Article)
August 19, 2002... on sale: Now Base price: $66,995 Powertrain: 4.4-liter, 282-hp,325-lb-ft V8; 4wd, five-speed automanual Curb weight: 5379 pounds 0 to 60 mph: 9.0 seconds (mfr.)

Second-Quarter Update.
August 19, 2002... Miles driven: 8532 Fuel mileage: 23.80 mpg Maintenance: Oil and filter change (warranty); a/c module cold-air button replaced (warranty); transmission module reset (warranty)

The chairman speaks; BMW leader confirms plans for 6 Series and beyond.(Helmut Panke)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 19, 2002... We've been talking about it for eight months (AW, Dec. 10, 2001), but now BMW chairman Helmut Panke-on the occasion of his first tour of the States since taking the helm at the German automaker-is confirming plans for the forthcoming 6 Series....

Results: Watkins Glen International.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 19, 2002... 2.45-mile road course Aug. 11 1. Tony Stewart, Pontiac, 90 laps at 82.208 mph avg. speed; 2. Ryan Newman, Ford, 90; 3. Robby Gordon, Chevrolet, 90; 4. PJ Jones, Pontiac, 90; 5. Ricky Rudd, Ford, 90; 6. Scott Pruett, Dodge, 90; 7. Jeff...

News.(Maserati Enzo, other items)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 19, 2002... Enzo-based Maserati? A Maserati version of Ferrari's new Enzo is in the works as Maserati hatches plans to build a carbon fiber racer to challenge the supremacy of Chevrolet Corvettes in the GTS division of the Le Mans 24-hour race. Rules...