AutoWeek articles from January 2003

AutoWeek archives from January 2003

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
January 6, 2003... Fueled by diesel Bring on diesels (AW, Dec. 23)! I drove a Ford Mondeo with the 2.0-liter Duratorq diesel for 4000 miles all over Europe and loved it! (When was the last time you loved a rental car?) It was a great car with a torquey,...

News.
January 6, 2003... Performance lives at the Los Angeles auto show, embodied in everything from Pontiac's Australian GTO to this highly anticipated Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. See our show coverage on the facing page, and look to our web pages at autoweek.com....

Fast Poll.(News)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Q: Will cleaner, quieter attributes have consumers embracing diesel once again? Reader opinion is it may take more than technology. The question is ``when'' not ``if.'' Tax credits toward purchase and/or a tax break based on diesel fuel...

Flash.(News)(Obituary)(Biography)
January 6, 2003... Suzuki's rallying future? Consider it a sneak preview of what may be the next step in Suzuki's genetic code. Suzuki officials won't say whether they'll build the concept coupe that debuts at the Detroit auto show, but they do hint that...

Five books commemorate Ford Motor Co.'s 100 years. Three are already in print, two more are slated for release in time for the June anniversary.(News)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... * Ford: The Dust and the Glory, Volume 2 By Leo Levine, hardbound, 413 pages, $39.95, SAE International, www.sae.org. Picking up from 1968 where Volume 1 ended, there are great stories here interspersed with in-depth reference...

The Golden Age Is at Hand.(Column)(classic marques doing well under new ownership)
January 6, 2003... Byline: Dutch Mandel Who dares question whether the automobile's golden age is at hand, poised at 10 and 2 o'clock? Imagine: Marques that once teetered on the edge of oblivion now thrive in the care of companies that embrace the...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)(Holden)(briefs)
January 6, 2003... ``Holden is a lot like Chevy. We have [Aussie rules] football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden.'' -Holden sales and marketing chief Ross McKenzie. A Holden will be the basis for the new Pontiac GTO [[[[[[ International Intrigue ...

TV Jan. 10-12.(News)
January 6, 2003... Friday, Jan. 10 Dream Car Garage, 8:30 a.m., Speed Channel (T) Car and Track, 9:30 a.m., Speed Channel (T) Legends of Motorsport, 10 a.m., Speed Channel (T) NASCAR Tech, 11:30 a.m., Fox Sports Net (T) 2002 Bathurst 24...

PRODRIVE'S ITALIAN JOB; how The Le Mans GTS class got a wake-up call.(Racing)(Company Profile)
January 6, 2003... Byline: MATT DAVIS Since 1984, Prodrive has been creating glorious noise in the peaceful English countryside from its Oxfordshire skunkworks in Banbury. The company is best known for teaming up with Subaru in the World Rally Championship...

Events.(Calendar)
January 6, 2003... March 7-9 Fourth Annual Seattle Roadster Show Seattle Rod and custom show at the Seahawks Stadium Exhibition Center. Call (877) 236-0632 or visit www.hotrodshows.com. March 7-9 Goodguys 44th March Meet Bakersfield,...

OWNERS SAY...(Auto File)(Honda CR-V)
January 6, 2003... Byline: @@Text: I have 4300 miles on my CR-V, and I'm still enamored with the car. It has just enough ``edge'' to its exterior and interior styling to make me feel less middle-aged, and it's okay for my daughter to be seen in! It also has all...

What You Crave; Little HONDA ute just keeps on truckin'.(Auto File; small sport utility vehicles)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 6, 2003... Facing ever-stiffer competition Honda doesn't appear to have lost its commanding hold on the mini-ute segment. Even the noteworthy Ford Escape, which successfully challenged Honda's top spot earlier, has fallen slightly behind the Japanese...

Brembo's daily grind; Here's proof that sticking with one thing and doing it best pays off in the long run.(News)(Company Profile)
January 6, 2003... Byline: MATT DAVIS High up in Italy's Orobian Alps, in the thin air at 10,000 feet, the River Brembo has its source. It cascades from there down the Brembo Valley until it intersects with the A4 autostrada west of Bergamo. Driving east...

No major complaints.(News; Volkswagen cars get strong ratings)
January 6, 2003... Byline: CARRIE ROCA In our book, Volkswagens are among the most esteemed cars for their overall performance, value and smartness. That said, we have some issues with VW's flagship W8, here for a yearlong evaluation. Almost everyone has...

Specs & Data.(Auto File; American Honda Motor's new cars)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... MANUFACTURER INFO American Honda Motor Company Inc. 1919 Torrance Blvd. Torrance CA 90501 Customer assistance: (800) 999-1009 Internet address: www.hondacars.com Country of origin: Japan Number of dealers: 1000...

LOOKING FOR NEW GALAXIES; Ford expects edgy 427 to be a star.(News; Ford introduces car with bigger engine)
January 6, 2003... Byline: NATALIE NEFF J Mays smiles as he handles the key fob. One click and the flush-mounted driver's door handle swings out in robotic fashion, enough to slip a hand around, grab and pull. Mays does this carefully, deliberately, with the...

L.A. auto show preview; FROM BBX TO BOND.(Los Angeles 2003 auto show; youth targeted)
January 6, 2003... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Los Angeles jump starts the 2003 auto show season just 36 hours into the new year, when the press files into the Los Angeles Convention Center on Jan. 2, looking for the shrimp buffets and free hats. The public, looking...

Drivers Log.(News; 2003 Saturn Ion)
January 6, 2003... 2003 Saturn Ion Date in fleet: Dec. 18-23 As-tested price: $13,855 Powertrain: 2.2-liter I4; fwd, five-speed automatic Hp: 140 @ 5800 rpm Torque: 145 @ 4400 rpm Curb weight: 2766 lbs KOVACH: I suppose Saturn wanted to make the Ion...

The little guy's capable little guy.(Escape Roads; American Motors' Eagle line of vehicles)
January 6, 2003... Byline: JOHN MATRAS Never underestimate the little guy. He'll surprise you every time. American Motors surprised just about everyone in the fall of 1979 by introducing the 1980 Eagle line. No doubt about it, AMC was the little guy, a...

Flash.(new vice chairman of NASCAR's board, Brian France)
January 6, 2003... All in the family NASCAR has promoted another member of the France family and added another ``outsider'' to its board of directors. Brian France, son of chairman of the board, Bill France, has been promoted from executive vice president to...

Z8 ONE BETTER; Alpina finally rumbles into the big, bad USA.(News)
January 6, 2003... Byline: MATT DAVIS Alpina is one of those companies ``over there in Europe'' we know well, even if only by name. Such brand recognition happens when your sole partner has been a nearby company called BMW. Bavarian Motor Works has had an...

100 CANDLES ON THE CAKE.(News)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Byline: ROGER HART For the century America has been on wheels, the Detroit area has been the industry's mecca, which is why automotive enthusiasts should plan a pilgrimage to Dearborn, Michigan, this summer for Ford Motor Co.'s 100th...

Rear-drive, Hemi power-in a station wagon? Dodge Magnum SRT-8 provides more answers than questions.( Dodge Magnum SRT-8)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER If you can't find something to like about the Dodge Magnum SRT-8, Chrysler's ``performance sports tourer'' answer to the Audi allroad, may we suggest you check your pulse? Not since Lee Iacocca roamed the halls of...

Papis to Rocketsports?(Competition)
January 6, 2003... Rocketsports Racing will reach to the old country to man its new CART entry. Italian-American team owner Paul Gentilozzi is expected to sign native Italian and popular CART veteran Max Papis for the 2003 season. The official announcement...

GM announces hybrid future.(News)
January 13, 2003... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER Even if General Motors' 16-cylinder behemoth (above) can get 20 miles per gallon on the highway thanks to cylinder deactivation, the idea of building a 1000-horsepower supercar for the rich doesn't necessarily endear...

Online chatter.(News)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Here's how the North American Car and Truck of the Year finalists ranked in the AutoWeek Combustion Chamber: Cars Infiniti G35, Mini Cooper, Nissan 350Z Trucks Hummer H2, Volvo XC90, Nissan Murano, Honda Element

Fast Poll.(News)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Readers wrap up 2002 BY choosing best and worst moments Best: Revival of the Z car. Worst: Tie between the death of Camaro and the no-go call on the Alfa Romeo Brera. Brad Richtsmeier, Cedar Falls, Iowa GM surrendering the pony car...

Flash.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Audi spark knock That ignition coil failure problem initially thought to affect only Volkswagen and Audi 1.8-liter turbocharged engines in 2001 and 2002 models (AW, Nov. 25, 2002) is appearing on some 2002 3.0-liter models, though not at...

THE RUNNER-UPS...(News)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Infiniti G35 Base price: $27,645 Wheelbase: 112.2 inches Length: 186.5 inches (sedan); 182.2 inches (coupe) Engine: 3.5-liter dohc V6 Nissan 350Z Base price: $26,809 Wheelbase: 104.3 inches Length: 169.4...

PASSION FOR CHANGE; A Monegasque adventure in search of tomorrow.(News)
January 13, 2003... Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON Ed Welburn says the young designers General Motors assigned to the Hy-wire program experienced an unexpected problem. ``After about two weeks, you could see it in their eyes,'' remembers Welburn, the director of...

The Next Level; With its two new R cars, Volvo hopes to wash away some of its conservative image.(News)
January 13, 2003... Byline: WES RAYNAL The Paul Ricard circuit in southern France, near Marseilles, has been completely rebuilt with plenty of Bernie Ecclestone's money into what track officials hope will be the world's best test facility. The extensive...

Scudi, a model Ferrari business.(News)
January 13, 2003... Byline: MIKE COVELLO Some of us are pretty lucky and the business we're in allows us to indulge our passion. Todd Lockwood's lust for Ferraris led him to start Scudi, a website touting all things that would interest the Ferrari nut,...

TV; Jan. 17-19.(News)(Calendar)
January 13, 2003... Friday, Jan. 17 Australian V8 Supercars from Bathurst, Australia, 2 a.m., Speed Channel (T) Dream Car Garage, 8:30 a.m., Speed Channel (T) Car and Track, 9:30 a.m., Speed Channel (T) Legends of Motorsport, 10 a.m., Speed...

Mini Cooper/Cooper S.(News)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Base price: $16,850 Wheelbase: 97.1 inches Length: 143.9 inches Engine: 1.6-liter sohc I4 (Cooper S is turbocharged)

Bentley names '03 season drivers.(Competition)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Four-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen will go for a fifth victory with Bentley this year, it was announced at last week's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello (inset, left), his regular teammate in...

Volvo XC90.(News)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Base price: $34,010 Wheelbase: 112.5 inches Length: 188.9 inches Engine: 2.5-liter turbo I5; 2.9-liter twin-turbo I6

You can go back again.(News: Dean Kruse buys back Kruse International)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Dean Kruse has purchased his old auto auction company, Kruse International, back from eBay.com, which had bought it in May 1999. ``When I sold it, I thought I was happy, but I was like a racehorse put out to pasture,'' Kruse said of his...

2003 Ford SVT Focus ZX5.(News)
January 13, 2003... Date in fleet: Dec. 18-Jan. 13 Price: $22,230 Powertrain: 2.0-liter I4; fwd, six-speed manual Hp: 170 @ 7000 rpm Torque: 145 @ 5500 rpm Curb weight: 2675 lbs AW MPG: 21.4 NEFF: What more could any self-respecting car enthusiast want...

Green Machines and Politics.(Column)
January 13, 2003... Byline: Kevin A. Wilson Critics will cite the juxtaposition of the GM Hy-wire fuel-cell car on our cover with news of a V16-powered ultraluxury Cadillac concept car as evidence of corporate deceit, or at least insincerity. I can already...

Dallara launches new IRL car.(Competition)
January 13, 2003... On its home track at Varano de' Melegari just south of Parma, Italy, last year's dominant Indy Racing League manufacturer Dallara revealed its 2003 IRL car. Having won 12 out of 13 races in 2002, the new Dallara, reflecting the updated IRL...

Flash.(Competition)
January 13, 2003... Porsche quickest The best of the Porsche-powered FABCARs came out on top in the first head-to-head clash of the new Daytona Prototypes. David Donohue topped the times in one of Brumos Racing's pair of entries in the traditional official...

HYDROGEN3: MUCH LIKE A REAL CAR.(News)
January 13, 2003... If Hy-Wire reinvents the car, the HydroGen3 is easier to relate to. It's basically an Opel Zafira minivan converted to run on a fuel cell. The one we drove around portions of the F1 race course in Monaco had its fuel cell and electric drive...

Letters.
January 13, 2003... Keep it small and fun Cory Farley's ``Unstoppable Supersizing'' column (AW, Dec. 23, 2002) is spot on. There's a ``Why not?'' attitude toward bigger and bigger vehicles, to where we consider a 4000-pound car to be midsize and a 2600-pound...

L.A. SHOW: NO SNOW, MUCH GO.(News)
January 13, 2003... Byline: MARK VAUGHN While automakers usually make at least cursory attempts to go ``green'' at the Los Angeles auto show, this year it was just ``go,'' as pure horsepower colored the Convention Center's three huge halls. Pontiac...

Nissan beats itself at its own game; Mini, XC90 foil Japanese juggernaut for top car, truck awards.(News)
January 13, 2003... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER Nissan put three finalists on the podium for North American Car and Truck of the Year, yet walked away empty-handed as a panel of 49 automotive journalists selected the BMW Mini Cooper/Cooper S for top car honors and...

DETROIT DREAMS.(News)
January 13, 2003... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER Sixteen. Whether you're talking candles or cylinders, there's no question the number carries significant meaning. In this case, Sixteen refers to General Motors' audacious attempt to rocket Cadillac into the supercar...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)
January 13, 2003... ]]]]]] Living Words Heard at Hollywood and Vine, or at the nearby Los Angeles Convention Center, some select quips from the auto-mighty... The press was interviewing Ford design veep J Mays after his address on the Ford Faction concept...

A few decades too soon.(Escape Roads)
January 13, 2003... Byline: ERIC TEGLER When Americans think of hot German hatchbacks, what mostly come to mind are Volkswagens, the earlier Rabbit-based GTI and the current Golf-based GTI. The BMW 316/318ti series aimed to be a part of that group, but it was...

VOLVO S60R/V70R.(News)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... ON SALE: May PRICE: $36,825 (S60R), $38,325 (V70R) POWERTRAIN: 2.5-liter, 300-hp, 295-lb-ft turbocharged inline five; awd, six-speed manual CURB WEIGHT: 3592 pounds 0 TO 60 MPH: 5.7 seconds (mfr.)

Events.(Calendar)(Calendar)
January 13, 2003... March 13-16 NHRA Mac Tools Gatornationals Gainesville, Fla. At Gainesville Raceway. Call (626) 914-4761 or visit www.nhra.com. March 14-16 29th Annual Custom Auto Show LaCrosse, Wis. Sponsored by God's Country...

Corrections.(Correction)(Correction Notice)
January 13, 2003... In the Jan. 6 issue, we should have said the German-market Volkswagen Golf coming to the States in a year will be called the R32 3.2 V6. Also in the Jan. 6 issue, we should have said the Dodge Magnum is the first Hemi-powered...

The Kids Are Growing Up at a Fast and Furious Rate.(News)(racing sanctioning bodies chage rules)
January 20, 2003... Byline: MARK VAUGHN The import scene is growing up, the kids are branching out into TV and drag races are fast becoming merely the focal points of bigger events centered around this sociological phenomenon known as import culture. It's...

Flash.(Briefs)(includes, Lotus Elise to arive in either april or June 2004, or in 2005)(Brief Article)
January 20, 2003... Lotus position The Lotus Elise will arrive on our shores as a 2005 model in either April or June 2004, depending on which Lotus executive you speak to. Without releasing specifics, Lotus execs said our Elise will have a more powerful...

Speedway tours.(News)(Indianapolis Motor Speedway offers tours)
January 20, 2003... If you're looking to gain an in-depth view of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 92-year history, check this out. The Speedway will offer an insider's look at the track grounds with behind-the-scenes tours this summer. In addition to guided...

A NEW Prescription; Second-generation Lexus RX ups the luxury ante.(News)
January 20, 2003... Byline: ROGER HART Barely five years ago, luxury sport/utility vehicles hardly constituted a market segment. With fewer than 100,000 vehicles sold annually, ``niche'' seemed the more appropriate word. That was before Lexus created the...

Red, white and true blue.(history of American Motors)
January 20, 2003... Byline: John Matras If you were the factory race team for a company named American Motors, how would you paint your race cars? In all-American red, white and blue, of course. And if you were a company named American Motors and wanted to...

GREEN MACHINES; Gas-electric production hybrids come out of the woodwork at Detroit show.(General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. plans for hybrid vehicles)(Brief Article)
January 20, 2003... Byline: JOHN D. STOLL Make no mistake, performance remains Detroit's reigning king. But far from playing court jester at this year's show, hybrids have gained legitimacy as automakers pulled them out of pipe dreams and into the future...

Detroit sampler.(Detroit automobile show, product information and statistics)
January 20, 2003... Lest you miss them, here are a few more product highlights from the Detroit show: * Nissan calls its first solely designed 2004 Quest ``the Z of minivans.'' Coming this summer and starting at about $25,000, it rides on Altima underpinnings...

Fast Poll.(public opinions of Ford 427 Throwback automobile)(Brief Article)
January 20, 2003... Q: Is the big-engine, rwd 427 throwback the best direction for Ford's sedan strategy? Most of our readers' answers go south. Not one of Ford's better ideas. Consumers have spent the last 30 years learning the advantages of front-wheel drive...

Letters.
January 20, 2003... Three numerals provoke passion I gasped out loud with glee seeing your photos of the bold Ford 427 (AW, Jan. 6). Finally, on the dizzying, overpopulated highway of cars with no names but numbers, there could be one with heritage and...

Drivers Log.(evaluation of Infiniti G35 Coupe automobile, information and statistics)
January 20, 2003... 2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe Date in fleet: Dec. 23-30 As-tested price: $36,195 Powertrain: 3.5-liter V6; rwd, five-speed automatic Hp: 280 @ 6200 rpm Torque: 270 @ 4800 rpm Curb weight: 3422 lbs MORRISON: Daaaaaaaang! Now this is a car....

WHAT FRED SAID.(interview with Porsche Cars North America CEO Fred Schwab)
January 20, 2003... On Jan. 9 Porsche announced that Fred Schwab, who has served for 11 years as president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, will step down March 1 after 18 years with the company's U.S. arm. We caught up with Porsche's outgoing prez for a...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)
January 20, 2003... ]]]]]] They just couldn't keep their mouths shut in the land of beautiful people, beautiful cars.... In his keynote to the Motor Press Guild at the L.A. show, Chrysler president Dieter Zetsche acknowledged his company's environmental...

Specs & Data.(Toyota Matrix automobile information, price, and statistics)
January 20, 2003... MANUFACTURER INFO Toyota Motor Sales USA 19001 South Western Ave. Torrance CA 90509 Customer assistance: (800) 331-4331 Internet address: www.toyota.com Country of origin: Canada Number of dealers: 1200 ...

TV; Jan. 24-26.(News)(Calendar)
January 20, 2003... Friday, Jan. 24 Dream Car Garage, 8:30 a.m., Speed Channel (T) Car and Track, 9:30 a.m., Speed Channel (T) Legends of Motorsport, 10 a.m., Speed Channel (T) Men Behind the Wrenches, 10:30 a.m., Speed Channel (T) NASCAR...

Events.(Calendar)(Calendar)
January 20, 2003... March 21-23 13th Custom & Classic Car & Trade Show Syracuse, N.Y. At the New York State Fairgrounds. Call (315) 487-8310. March 21-23 Mustang Show Gulf Breeze, Fla. Sponsored by the Gulf Coast Regional Mustang...

What Kids Want.(car models)
January 20, 2003... Byline: Rich Ceppos Ah, the search for youth eternal. So ravenously pursued. So prized. So elusive. And so we jog. We low-fat diet. We Jazzersize. Vitaminize. Aroma-therapize. We go herbal, go veggie. TaeBo. Botox. Viagra, anyone? But oh,...

OWNERS SAY...(owners discuss their cars)
January 20, 2003... I saw a print ad for the Matrix one day, bought one the next. It's one solid, sweet-handling car. I'm in love with how it drives, plus I can load it with bikes, dogs, camping gear and as much other stuff as I used to cram into my Volvo wagons....

2004 LEXUS RX 330.(automobile product price, information, and statistics)(Brief Article)
January 20, 2003... On sale: Spring Base price: $35,000 (est.) Powertrain: 3.3-liter, 230-hp, 242-lb-ft V6; fwd, five-speed automatic Curb weight: 3860 pounds 0-60 mph: 7.7 seconds (mfr.)

RUMBLE IN DETROIT: Part 1 of 2; Revved-up competition roars into the New Year.(News)
January 20, 2003... Byline: AUTOWEEK STAFF We bumped into Chris Theodore, Ford's North American product planning chief, at the Mini stand a little after the three-day press preview for the Detroit show finished. Given the economic hard times, we told him, we...

RUMBLE IN DETROIT: Part 2 of 2.(automobile trade show product information)
January 20, 2003... MOST FUN (Continued) ACURA TSX Slotted between the RSX and 3.2TL, Acura's new TSX targets Audi's A4, BMW's 325i and Lexus' IS 300 in the entry-level luxury-sport sedan market. From an engineering and performance standpoint, the TSX...

Flash.(automobile industry news)
January 20, 2003... Renault lands McNish Renault F1 has signed the former Toyota driver Allan McNish as a test driver. Most of the team's 2003 testing will be confined to the new Friday schedule, so McNish will retain his Grand Prix profile. Boosted by the...

Back where they started.(Competition)
January 20, 2003... Paul Gentilozzi's new Rocketsports CART team has finally landed its driver. CART veteran Alex Tagliani, the first driver Gentilozzi spoke to after he announced his team last fall, will drive Rocketsports' Johnson Controls-backed entry. ...

The Car Design Yearbook I.(News)
January 20, 2003... Byline: LARRY EDSALL The subtitle for this large-format volume is The Definitive Guide to New Concept and Production Cars Worldwide, and the work includes reviews in words and multiple photos of 127 vehicles introduced at auto shows...

A Funky, Fun Corolla; But some faults show, too.(Toyota's Matrix automobile, information and statistics)
January 20, 2003... Toyota Matrix owners who contacted us love the fun and functionality of the CUV (crossover utility vehicle, in Toyota-speak, which is how the vehicle is labeled on its Monroney sticker). We agree, and part of the fun is the Matrix's funky...

Weekend warriors.(Subaru's WRX STi automobile, information and statistics)(Brief Article)
January 20, 2003... ``At least we had the weekend.'' That's what Mitsubishi folks had to say when, just days after unveiling their 271-hp Lancer Evolution rally car in Los Angeles (AW, Jan. 6), Subaru trumped its competition with the North American version of...

Correction.
January 20, 2003... A caption in the Jan. 13 issue should have said the Mini Cooper S engine is supercharged. However, eagle-eyed readers should be aware that BMW says the ``S'' designation refers not to supercharger but to ``Sport'' or ``Special.''

Flash.
January 27, 2003... Tomahawk talk One of the hits of the Detroit auto show, the Viper-powered Dodge Tomahawk motorcycle, may have more of a life than just as an auto show concept, according to DaimlerChrysler chief operating officer Wolfgang Bernhard. At the...

FIA PLANS COST-SAVING MEASURES.(Competition)
January 27, 2003... The FIA has begun introducing major changes to Formula One that have huge implications for the motorsports industry. Clearly, FIA president Max Mosley and his advisers are so concerned about F1's future in the light of plummeting TV figures and...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
January 27, 2003... Hy-wire act with no net Am I the only enthusiast with the feeling that fuel-cell cars like the Hy-wire (AW, Jan. 13) are soulless? Add automated driving controls and driving a Hy-wire will be as much fun as riding a horizontal elevator. I...

Gizmos Galore; The Consumer Electronic Show is a technogeek's paradise.(News)
January 27, 2003... Byline: MARK VAUGHN The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is like a Star Trek convention except all the little gizmos work. Here's our report, Captain. Trend No. 1: Wireless, baby! The world's going wireless. Bluetooth...

CREATIVITY REIGNS.(10th Annual AutoWeek Design Forum)
January 27, 2003... Byline: TAMARA WARREN it's 2003. Product is king of the car world and the designer holds royal court. That was the feeling at the 10th Annual AutoWeek Design Forum, an event that celebrates style and design inside and outside the castled...

2003 INFINITI FX45.(price, specifications)(Brief Article)
January 27, 2003... On sale: Now Base Price: $44,225 Powertrain: 4.5-liter, 315-hp, 329-lb-ft V8; awd, five-speed automatic Curb weight: 4299 pounds 0 to 60 mph: 6.5 seconds (est.)

Product in the pipeline; Saab set to add Subie-powered 9-2, Caddy-based sport/ute, by '06.(Saab-Scania AB plans to introduce a new compact car, sport utility vehicle by 2006)(Brief Article)
January 27, 2003... Byline: MATT DAVIS With the product-starved Saab part of General Motors reporting year-end losses upward of $200 million, both Scandinavian survivalists and Detroit management have put the newly planned high-volume 9-2 compact on a fast...