AutoWeek articles from December 2001

AutoWeek archives from December 2001

Hoosier Hauler; Toyota builds a big ol' American truck.(Toyota Sequoia pickup truck)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
December 3, 2001... The Toyota Sequoia is not only built in Middle America-alongside the Tundra pickup in Princeton, Indiana, just north of Evansville and the Ohio River-it is also aimed at the heart of domestic automakers' profit centers in big trucks. Bigger...

Car Board.(Dodge DURANGO 4x4 R/T )(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... With race season about over, what's a speed junkie to do? Drive fast cars (and trucks), that's what. * Dodge DURANGO 4x4 R/T Price: $37,855 Engine: 5.9-liter V8, 245 hp, 335 lb-ft Curb weight: 4737 lbs Drivetrain: 4wd,...

2002 Volvo S60 AWD; Car guys take heart: Volvo gets funky (sort of).(Volvo Cars of North America's new president/CEO)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... The Swedes are starting to loosen up, according to Dan Werbin, a well-traveled Swede and new president/CEO of Volvo Cars of North America. ``Swedes are learning that it's okay to have fun,'' he says half-jokingly. As proof, Volvo has the...

Offside Undo.(Rufus Harvey, legendary crew chief in auto racing)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... We're with Rufus ``Snuffy'' Harvey, a legendary crew chief in racing's modern era. Harvey's unique resume represents the kind of background today's professionals must have to be a success. He started in go-karts, worked through dirt-track...

2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class; With more than 1000 changes, the M-Class marks its territory.(Mercedes-Benz 's second-generation M-Class)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
December 3, 2001... Sporting two three-pointed stars on its front end, the M-Class makes a bold statement, just as you'd expect from a Mercedes-Benz product. When it debuted in 1998, it cracked the market for German-make luxury trucks. BMW's sweet X5 came on board...

2002 Hyundai XG350; Once unwanted, it now sails as Hyundai's flagship.(Name changes from XG300 to XG350, upgrade from 3.0-liter V6 to 3.5-liter engine)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
December 3, 2001... How do you sell a $24,000 Hyundai? One you don't want to sell in the first place? That's what company officials in the States were asking themselves last year when the Korean parent company forced the XG300 on its U.S. office. It turns out...

Fast Poll: Factory-built hot rod Caddy stirs interest.(Cadillac engineering)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... * With Bob Lutz at the helm let the in-house design team have a try at the performance Cadillac. It certainly worked well for him at Chrysler. Mark Frolick, Germantown, Tenn. * Cadillac already has the Northstar, which will make...

...But Wait, There's More.(Indianapolis Motor Speedway auction)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Scoreboard Like we say, who needs stick and ball sports? We knew big bucks are to be made in racing, but did we know how much? This just in: The four World Series games played in Phoenix generated an estimated $88 million in local...

VIEWS AND REVIEWS.(Toyota Motor Corp.'s Sequoia)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... OWNERS Very quiet ride. Far more solid than the Chevy products I looked at. I wanted the Avalanche at first, but the plastic side panels fit poorly. Also, getting the Midgate down was a pain. I love the electric rear window and extra-large...

FACTS.(Toyota Motor Sales USA )(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
December 3, 2001... 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: Japan Number of dealers: 1208 ...

In war and peace ; Exhibit traces Jeep origins and heritage.(Walter P. Chrysler Museum's Pearl Harbor exhibit)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... In an America at war following a surprise attack on its homeland, the approaching 60th anniversary of the Dec. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor is bound to resonate. From the standpoint of automotive history, the longest lasting echo from World War II...

2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class; The ultra sport/ute G500 brings truckin' to a new level.
December 3, 2001... As smart as the folks at Mercedes-Benz undoubtedly are, you wonder why it took so long for them to recognize the market for a high-line super-rugged sport/utility vehicle. Look around: At one end is Range Rover's Land Rover, whose interior...

Off to the races.
December 3, 2001... To complement Toyota's much-publicized entry into Formula One next year, the Japanese automaker showed off a range of hot concept cars at the late-November motor show in Essen, Germany. Leading the charge is a reskinned version of the MR2...

Wired Wheels ; Filo's control unit may look like something from a video game, but this car is no toy.
December 10, 2001... As if the exterior styling weren't stunning enough, you open the vehicle's wide, clamshell doors and are struck by bright red seats that look more like sofas for an upscale cocktail lounge than any sort of automotive benches. Eventually, you'll...

Long Term: Infiniti Q45.
December 10, 2001... It's already clear our Infiniti Q45 will contend for the AutoWeek record for total miles driven on a long-term car. It joined our fleet as road-trip season got underway and immediately became a top choice for road-tripping staffers. Aside from...

A Bad Taste... ; How CART's Indy Lights series went away.
December 10, 2001... It was old news by the time it was official. On Sept. 10 CART announced it would consolidate its two primary development series into one, using the Toyota Atlantic Championship chassis, engines and rules. Atlantic as we know it would live;...

Subaru Impreza WRX.
December 10, 2001... There's nothing like falling in love. It's a wonderful sentiment. But we all know that after the fall, it can go one of two ways. TLF. True Love Forever. Or the big D. Discontent. We're not very far into our love affair with the new Subaru WRX...

Ford adjusts its Focus; SVT makes this its most high-tech offering ever.
December 10, 2001... So there I was, in the driver's seat of a fairly pedestrian, garden-variety stock Ford Focus hatchback, lined up side-by-side on an empty street with a tuned-to-the-gills SVT Focus hatchback, engines revving, countdown sounding off... ...

First Look: '02 Civic Hybrid makes it easier to be green.
December 10, 2001... In March next year Honda will make it even easier to be an ecology-minded member of the U.S. motoring public when it begins selling the Civic Hybrid here. Honda made a splash with its gas/electric high-mileage hybrid Insight a couple of...

Prime Time for Hybrids? ; Consumers soon will have many options. Will they take them?
December 10, 2001... ``Hydrogen,'' they whisper, as though we were Dustin Hoffman in the role of Benjamin in The Graduate. The experts are convinced that our future is in hydrogen-powered fuel cells to provide propulsion for our cars and trucks. But with...

2003 Toyota Matrix; Toyota branches out with cross-over utility vehicle.(Brief Article)
December 10, 2001... Hurtling headlong into uncharted territory is not something for which Toyota is known. And yet here it goes, launching this new Matrix onto the market, a vehicle so unconventional that Toyota made up one of those annoyingly precise category...

Long Term: Chevrolet TrailBlazer LTZ 4WD: Now that's an engine.
December 10, 2001... When the General launched its Vortec 4200 inline-six, we knew we had to have one. How could we resist: With 270 horses and a Blue Flame bloodline, choosing the 4.2-liter-and the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer that came along with it- as our newest...

Of belts and pulleys and cones: The continuously variable transmission shifts into the mainstream.
December 10, 2001... * Honda INSIGHT Price: $21,620 Engine: 1.0-liter I3, 71 hp, 90 lb-ft Curb weight: 1964 lbs Drivetrain: fwd, CVT Gears in a traditional transmission provide a fixed set of drive ratios between engine and wheels. On the...

Midwestern homecoming for BMW's Bangle.
December 10, 2001... During nearly a decade as BMW's director of design, American Chris Bangle's influence is visible in everything from the razor-edged Z8 to the humpbacked new 7 Series. Bangle, an Ohio native who attended high school and college in Wisconsin...

Super TT: Audi hints at adding an S.
December 10, 2001... Here's the latest in TT hardware: a modified Audi TT hot-lapping at the Nurburgring during a secretly planned Audi test. Now that Audi has cured the TT's high-speed handling quirks (via a rear spoiler, modified suspension and electronic...

The News: December 10, 2001.
December 10, 2001... We're wondering how BMW design leader Chris Bangle's Midwestern upbringing figures into his work. Could the Z3 and Z8 be Germanic expressions of the early Thunderbird? Is the new 7's rear end an heir to the bustleback Cadillac Seville? Is Viper...

Catching some Zs.(Bayerische Motoren Werke AG testing the Z5 to replace the the M Coupe)(Brief Article)
December 17, 2001... BMW engineers are testing the first prototype of the BMW Z5, a higher-contented Z3 slotted as a likely replacement for the M Coupe. The Z5 has a short rear deck and long hood like the current Z3 coupe, but an overall increase in size allows...

The Car: 1937 MG Two-Litre Folding Head Foursome ; The big car part of the small car legend.(Brief Article)
December 17, 2001... When MG introduced its Two-Litre models at the October 1935 London automobile show, the car was lauded as both a great automobile and good value for its low [pound]375 base price. Enthusiasts in the United States rarely enjoyed them as new...

Late Racing News.(Brief Article)
December 17, 2001... Still studying International Speedway Corp., the largest operator of racetracks in the country, has extended until January a feasibility study on a new track in the greater New York City area. ISC is working with the New Jersey Sports &...

Competition This Week.(Roger Penske leaves CART; who is next?)
December 17, 2001... Penske leaves CART So, Roger Penske has moved the most successful open-wheel team to the Indy Racing League. Now answer these questions: Who is surprised, and who's next to leave CART? As for the first, it seems plenty of people on...

Hoover Busts the Dam ; But no flood of opportunities for Toyota Atlantic drivers.(Brief Article)
December 17, 2001... The 2001 Toyota Atlantic Championship can be summarized with two words: Hoover Orsi. The 23-year-old Brazilian won the most poles (four) and the most races (five) and led the most laps. With nine podium finishes in the first 10 rounds, Orsi...

Car Board.(review of new cars)(Brief Article)
December 17, 2001... This week, Car Board comes to you from One AutoWeek Tower's new and improved locale. Fear not: The digs may be new, but we promise the same great taste you've come to love. * Nissan XTERRA SE S/C Price: $25,000 (est.) Engine:...

Fast Poll: Audi Avantissimo.(Brief Article)
December 17, 2001... Response mixed for big Teutonic Avant. * The S8 is already the finest passenger car on the planet; an Avant companion is a natural. Bill Kennamer, Fayetteville, Ark. * The realities of life and family responsibilities dictate our...

Different Language; The Lexus roadster speaks loudly.(Brief Article)
December 17, 2001... The Lexus SC 430 was introduced to America with a TV commercial entirely in French. The point was as much to emphasize the new language of this Lexus as it was to try to cast a faux-Riviera sensibility-la voiture fastueuse. Try as it might,...

FACTS.(Lexus )(Brief Article)
December 17, 2001... MANUFACTURER'S DATA Lexus Division Toyota Motor Sales USA 19001 S. Western Ave. Torrance CA 90509 Customer assistance: (800) 255-3987 Internet address: www.lexus.com Country of origin: Japan Number of...

Like a bat out of the Diablo; We have a go in Lamborghini's new Murcielago.(review of new racing car)
December 17, 2001... Murcielago contrives to be both a pure Lamborghini and a product of mixed heritage. As the first new car from Sant'Agata Bolognese since Audi took over in 1998, it is destined to be forever known as the original Lamborg-Audi, but traces it...

Simply Outstanding ; Sam Hornish Jr. has a year he won't soon forget.
December 17, 2001... Championship seasons like the one Sam Hornish Jr. had in the Indy Racing League in 2001 are so infrequent they become unforgettable. Hornish captured his first major racing title, winning three races, posting an average finish of 3.38 in 13...

2002 Porsche 911 Targa; Big Air.(Brief Article)
December 17, 2001... Let's not mince words: The new Porsche 911 Targa is a 911 Coupe (AW, Sept. 24) with a giant sunroof and a goofy hatchback. Like the 993-series 911 Targa before it, this new ``Targa'' isn't really one-at least not in the sense of the original....

Likes/Dislikes.(LEXUS )(Brief Article)
December 17, 2001... LEXUS SC 430 LIKES * Exterior styling * Retractable hardtop * Sound system DISLIKES * Run-flat tires * No transmission options * Useless back seat

We'll refrain from using this space to rehash the debate over high vs. low art. Instead, we simply ask you to consider these "art'' cars.(Lexus SC 430, Audi TT Roadster, Chrysler Prowler)(Brief Article)
December 24, 2001... * Lexus SC 430 Price: $61,440 Engine: 4.3-liter V8, 300 hp, 325 lb-ft Curb weight: 3840 lbs Drivetrain: rwd, five-speed automatic The great thing about art is that it inspires-nay, encourages-disagreement. For example,...

Past due notice; Where are those Saleen S7s, anyway?(Brief Article)
December 24, 2001... When we put the Saleen S7 on our cover (AW, Sept. 25, 2000), Steve Saleen told us the cars would be ready for delivery by ``the second quarter of 2001.'' Now, here it is a week away from 2002. Has anyone seen an S7 driving down any city street?...

Fighting for horsepower: Florida vs. '99 SVT Cobra.(Ford Motor Co. false advertising investigation)(Brief Article)
December 24, 2001... It's not every day that a government agency fights for more horsepower. But Florida's Attorney General office has launched a formal investigation of alleged false advertising in Ford Motor Co.'s handling of horsepower claims for the 1999 SVT...

A more suburban Hummer.(2003 Hummer H2)(Brief Article)
December 24, 2001... Looking much like the concept truck from 2000, the production 2003 Hummer H2 boasts serious off-road hardware that makes it more than a restyled Chevy. The 6400-pound H2 has its own specific full-time 4wd system, with two-speed transfer...

Not for U.S. Sale; BMW Compact.(Brief Article)
December 24, 2001... No BMW better signifies the marque than the 3 Series, whether sedan, coupe or convertible. But what of the Compact, the unloved and discontinued stepchild that failed here in the States? No need to assign blame, as the dealers and their...