AutoWeek articles from July 2003

AutoWeek archives from July 2003

But wait there's more.
July 7, 2003... A fine time was had by the wolfsburg coalition... Celebrating in all-conquering style, these British troops from Bentley parade from Paris' Arc de' Triomphe following the obliteration of the field in Le Mans, France. "The good news is he...

SOLAR CIRCUIT.(americansolarchallenge.org )(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Thirty of the nation's top colleges are set to race student-designed, solar-powered cars across 2000 miles of Route 66 this summer. The U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored American Solar Challenge leaves Chicago July 13 and alights in...

BMW M3.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 3.2-liter, 333-hp, 262-lb-ft I6 Drivetrain: rwd, six-speed manual Base price: $47,195 2002 U.S. sales: 5500 (mfr.)

HONDA CIVIC.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 1.7-liter, 115-hp, 110-lb-ft I4 Drivetrain: fwd, five-speed manual Base price: $13,270 2002 U.S. sales: 299,452

HONDA CIVIC HYBRID.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 1.3-liter, 93-hp, 116-lb-ft I4 Drivetrain: fwd, five-speed manual Base price: $20,010 2002 U.S. sales: 13,707

top three.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Winner: Honda Civic/Hybrid, 27.5% First runner-up: Ford Focus, 21.4% Second runner-up: Toyota Corolla, 8.4%

HONDA ODYSSEY.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 3.5-liter, 240-hp, 242-lb-ft V6 Drivetrain: fwd, five-speed automatic Base price: $24,860 2002 U.S. sales: 153,467

top three.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Winner: Honda Odyssey, 9.6% First runner-up: Audi allroad quattro, 7.7% Second runner-up: Chrysler Pacifica, 7.4%

PORSCHE CAYENNE.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 4.5-liter, 340-hp, 310-lb-ft V8 Drivetrain: awd, six-speed automatic Base price: $56,665 2002 U.S. sales: n/a

top three.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Winner: Porsche Cayenne, 13.7% First runner-up: Land Rover Range Rover, 11.2% Second runner-up: Hummer H2, 9.5%

FORD F-SERIES.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 4.6-liter, 231-hp, 293-lb-ft V8 Drivetrain: rwd, four-speed automatic Base price: $19,920 2002 U.S. sales: 813,701

top three.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Winner: Ford F-Series, 28.4% First runner-up: Chevrolet Silverado, 17.9% Second runner-up: Dodge Ram, 15.1%

FORD SVT LIGHTNING.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 5.4-liter, 380-hp, 450-lb-ft supercharged V8 Drivetrain: rwd, four-speed automatic Base price: $33,310 2002 U.S. sales: 4726

top three.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Winner: Ford SVT Lightning, 46.5% First runner-up: Dodge Ram SRT-10, 22.4% Second runner-up: Chevrolet SSR, 21.9%

MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 4.3-liter, 275-hp, 295-lb-ft V8 Drivetrain: rwd, five-speed automatic Base price: $74,040 2002 U.s. sales: 21,118

top three.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Winner: Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 21.8% First runner-up: Audi A8 L, 20.9% Second runner-up: BMW 7 Series, 14.8%

BENTLEY ARNAGE.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 6.75-liter, 400-hp, 616-lb-ft twin- turbocharged V8 Drivetrain: rwd, four-speed automatic Base price: $207,385 2002 U.s. sales: 313

top three.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Winner: Bentley Arnage, 40.3% First runner-up: Maybach 57 and Maybach 62, 39.2% Second runner-up: Rolls-Royce Phantom, 20.5%

BMW 3 SERIES.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 2.5-liter, 184-hp, 175-lb-ft I6 Drivetrain: rwd, five-speed manual Base price: $28,495 2002 U.S. sales: 67,000 (mfr.)

BMW M5.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 5.0-liter, 394-hp, 368-lb-ft V8 Drivetrain: rwd, six-speed manual Base price: $71,095 2002 U.S. sales: 1600 (mfr.)

top three.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Winner: BMW 3 Series, 32.6% First runner-up: Mini Cooper, 19.8% Second runner-up: Mercedes-Benz CLK, 11.9%

BMW 3 SERIES.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 2.5-liter, 184-hp, 175-lb-ft I6 Drivetrain: rwd, five-speed manual Base price: $30,295 2002 U.S. sales: 15,500 (mfr.)

Win, Place or Show; This sports coupe is on the podium.(North American Car of the Year Award.)
July 7, 2003... Second place is not a bad finish in most contests. In horse racing, it pays. In motor racing, you're on the podium. And the Miss Universe runner-up, for example, would step up and wear the crown in the event that the current Miss Universe, for...

Events.(Calendar)
July 7, 2003... Sept. 5-7 Colorado Classic Colorado Springs, Colo. Featuring more than 1500 rods, customs, classics and muscle cars. For event details visit good-guys.com. Sept. 5-7 Springfield Swap Meet and Car Show Springfield,...

Television; July 11-13.(Automotive television programs.)
July 7, 2003... Friday, July 11 * Totally NASCAR, 6 a.m., Fox Sports Net (T) * Totally NASCAR, 7 a.m., Speed Channel (T) * Totally NASCAR, 8 a.m., Speed Channel (T) * Dream Car Garage, 8:30 a.m., Speed Channel (T) * Totally NASCAR, 9...

Drivers Log; 2003 Porsche Cayenne Turbo.
July 7, 2003... Date in fleet: June 12-19 As-tested price: $94,130 Powertrain: 4.5-liter twin-turbo V8; 4wd, six-speed automatic Hp: 450 @ 6000 rpm Torque: 457 @ 2250-4750 rpm Curb weight: 5192 pounds WILSON: I know I should like...

MANUFACTURER INFO.(@@Page: 34)
July 7, 2003... Infiniti Division Nissan North America 18501 S. Figueroa St. Gardena CA 90248 Customer assistance: (800) 662-6200 Internet address: www.infiniti.com Country of origin: Japan Number of dealers: 162 sticker...

owners say...(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... The car is beautiful. It has great power, the transmission is very smooth and precise, handling is great, acceleration is plenty fast and the Brembo brakes are outstanding. It should, however, have a power telescopic wheel, some of the interior...

KIWI Dominance; Scott Dixon's second consecutive win makes him the one to watch in the Indy Racing League.
July 7, 2003... Byline: CURT CAVIN There were days this season when the Indy Racing League's drivers were chasing Tony Kanaan. Now the chase is different. Now the target is Scott Dixon. The Australian-born New Zealander won his second consecutive...

PIKES PEAK plunder.(Automobile race results.)
July 7, 2003... Paul Dallenbach overcame a fuel pickup problem, failed brakes, a spin and a stall to win the Falken Tire Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 27. Dallenbach pulled an old single-seat racer out of his dad Wally Sr.'s barn and began...

Results.(Automobile race results.)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Nurburgring 3.199-mile road course June 29 1. Ralf Schumacher, Williams-BMW, 60 laps at 121.560 mph avg. speed; 2. Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams-BMW, 60; 3. Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari, 60; 4. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 60; 5....

Results.(Automobile race results.)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Richmond International Raceway 0.75-mile oval June 28 1. Scott Dixon, G Force-Toyota, 206 laps at 106.798 mph avg. speed; 2. Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Toyota, 206; 3. Gil de Ferran, Dallara-Toyota, 206; 4. Sam Hornish Jr.,...

Fast Poll.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Most readers say NASCAR should stick to the racing business of being the sanctioning body, and leave the regulation of contracts to teams. They are already on their way to a common race car body. Next it will be a common drivetrain; then...

The Best of America, and America's Best.(The Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Collection.)(Column)
July 7, 2003... Byline: Dutch Mandel I felt sort of like a blues club owner who shoos the last late-night patron out then sits down with a tall cold one to enjoy a private jam session. That was lunch in Ypsilanti, Michigan, home to as much automotive...

Flash.(Automotive news.)
July 7, 2003... to prime time In a push to highlight its hottest programming in prime viewing slots, the Speed Channel moves AutoWeek TV to the front lines. The network will create an hour-long auto enthusiast program block between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.,...

America's best; WHAT ARE THE BEST CARS AND TRUCKS SOLD IN AMERICA? WELL, THIS IS WHAT YOU SAY.
July 7, 2003... Raise a flag! Stick your chest out! Be loud and proud! As America's arbiters of automotive taste, you have spoken. What you've chosen are unequivocally America's Best cars, trucks and sport/utility vehicles as identified by the minds and...

FAMILY TIES; 2005 STS snags Caddy's edgy design theme.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Byline: JOHN D. STOLL Just about the time Bimmer buyers are getting used to the looks of their 2004 5 Series, Cadillac will open the next chapter of its assault on German engineering by introducing the next-generation Seville. Expected...

Flash.(News Briefs.)
July 7, 2003... Musical F1 chairs? Renault F1 technical director Mike Gascoyne has told the team he wants to leave. Gascoyne has been rumored for a while to be on his way to Toyota Motorsport, but he told a German newspaper he simply wants to spend more...

BRING ON THE NEXT CENTURY.
July 7, 2003... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER, MIKE FLOYD We'd argue Ford's current F-150 is more than capable of holding its own in the light-duty pickup market. But we're not the Ford product development experts, who aren't about to rest when fully one-fifth...

2004 FORD F-150.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... On sale: August Base price: n/a Powertrain: 5.4-liter, 300-hp, 365-lb-ft V8; 4wd, four-speed automatic Curb weight: 5590 pounds 0 to 60 mph: 9.0 seconds (est.)

Likes and Dislikes.(News)
July 7, 2003... likes * Sleek looks * Stopping power * Good steering response dislikes * Manual versions hard to find * No satellite radio * Cheap center console

A New Pavement Pounder.(Subaru.)
July 7, 2003... Byline: CARRIE ROCA On pavement there's no more practical a vehicle than a Subaru wagon, with its excellent cargo capacity, elevated ground clearance and wonderful awd. On the back roads the WRX is known for its performance-the latest STi...

Salute to Parnelli Is No Drag; Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum Honors Jones.(National Hot Rod Association honors.)
July 7, 2003... Byline: TRICK C. PATERNIE Why, you may ask, is the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum featuring a "Salute to Parnelli Jones'' through Aug. 31? The answer reaches further back in history than the Vel's Parnelli Jones-sponsored 1976...

WE'VE GOT US A CONVOY.(The 90th anniversary of the Lincoln Highway. )(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Byline: ANDREW LUU What better way to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Lincoln Highway than with a mass gathering of cars making a pilgrimage down America's first transcontinental highway? That is exactly what the Lincoln Highway...

Best's Sports Car; Porsche 911.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Technological sophisti-cation, design beauty and over-the-road driving enjoyment are the makings of a great sports car, and so it makes sense that the Porsche 911-which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year-emerged as the top pick of...

Best Exotic Sports car; Ferrari Enzo.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Last year Ferrari won this class, too, with the 575M, but it claimed nothing like the margin of victory the new F1-inspired Enzo turned in over the Porsche GT2/GT3 and Turbo combined. Of course, the car's exclusivity and extreme performance...

Best Luxury Car; Mercedes-Benz S-Class.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Enthusiasts have spoken, and this year's luxury standard-bearer is the Mercedes- Benz S-Class. The S-Class, which took top honors last year, evokes poise, presence, power and panache. It is not just the luxury car of choice for the well-heeled...

Best Ultra-Luxury Car; Bentley Arnage.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Interesting, isn't it, that the old- school car, the veddy much more mature Bentley Arnage, topped out the category in a three-way shootout between the Maybach and the new Rolls-Royce Phantom. So what does this say about ultra-luxury buyers?...

Best Sedan; BMW 3 Series.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Leave it to an automotively passionate audience to choose not the best-selling sedan in America-the Toyota Camry-as its preferred four-door driver, but the car that best puts driving pleasure in four-doors. Whereas 45 entries filled this...

Best Sports Sedan; BMW M5.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Talk about being caught between a rock-or is that rocket?-and a hard place. Earlier this year BMW officials announced the company was ending production of its current-generation M5. Enthusiasts shrieked and hollered... only to have new M5 spy...

Best Sports Coupe; BMW M3.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Oh, how easy it would be to say that for every heap of praise that goes toward the BMW 3 Series Coupe goes a gazillion times more for its potent M3 sibling. Okay, maybe a gazillion is stretching it... but not by much. The M3 Coupe is as...

Best Economy Car; Honda Civic/Hybrid.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... With an ever-increasing concern for the environment, and understanding the need to squeeze out every bit of energy from a drop of gas, the importance of this America's Best category grows daily. The good news for enthusiasts is that sipping...

Best People Mover; Honda Odyssey.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... The People Mover category is as wide and varied as its name suggests, with 48 entries listed. It includes crossovers like Acura's MDX, the Buick Rendezvous and Mitsubishi Endeavor; and cars such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon and Pontiac...

Best SUV/Off-Road Vehicle; Porsche Cayenne.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Wow! There's no sagebrush growing under the tires of Porsche's new off-road vehicle, Cayenne, as AutoWeek subscribers gave it top honors. Should it come as any surprise, really, considering the way you feel about the 911? You obviously have...

Best Truck; Ford F-Series.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Even though an all-new F-150 is about to hit dealer showrooms, the outgoing model took Best Truck honors. That might be predictable, considering the F-Series is the absolute best-selling vehicle in the United States-and has been for two...

Best sports truck; Ford SVT Lightning.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... This year we separated Sport Trucks from standard pickups, which seemed like a good idea considering the number of performance-oriented trucks available these days. Well, Ford's SVT Lightning flat trounced the competition, which is something...

2004 SUBARU FORESTER 2.5 XT.(News)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... On sale: Now Base price: $24,970 Powertrain: 2.5-liter, 210-hp, 235-lb-ft turbocharged flat four; awd, five-speed manual curb weight: 3210 pounds 0 to 60 mph: n/a

Top Three.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Winner: Porsche 911, 26.4% First runner-up: Chevrolet Corvette, 26.3% Second runner-up: Dodge Viper SRT-10, 10.1%

PORSCHE 911.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 3.6-liter, 320-hp, 273-lb-ft H6 Drivetrain: rwd, six-speed manual Base price: $69,365 2002 U.s. sales: 8941

FERRARI ENZO.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Engine: 6.0-liter, 660-hp, 485-lb-ft V12 Drivetrain: rwd, six-speed manual Base price: $670,000 2002 U.S. sales: n/a

Top Three.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Winner: Ferrari Enzo, 23.9% First runner-up: Porsche 911 GT2/GT3/Turbo, 17.3% Second runner-up: Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, 9.7%

An affordable, uncompromising sports car.
July 7, 2003... Byline: NICK KURCZEWSKI The Lotus Europa may not have been the first mid-engined road car to enter the sports car arena in 1967, but it was the one that would make the most waves. Produced until 1972, the Europa sold more than 9000 copies,...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
July 7, 2003... Byline: Russell Frank, Gorham, Maine Drivers on speed What a concept: What used to be the fundamental rule of the road, keeping to the right, now gets its own month (BWTM, June 23). With the imposition of the 55-mph speed limit 30...

ROADS LESS TRAVELED.(The California Mille.)
July 14, 2003... Byline: JOE KOVACH The California Mille celebrates the full driving experience if it has an interesting name, you've got to drive it. Names like Skyview Road, or Buena Vista. That's one feature of the Love of Driving, which by its very...

ONE BIGBright Dot; If CART can start connecting them...
July 14, 2003... Byline: J.P. VETTRAINO As shtick goes, the Big Shtick in Cleveland was effective. Major-league open-wheel cars turned left and right at night, under lights, for the first time anyone seems to know of, and it went off without a significant...

results.(Racing results.)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... Magny-Cours 2.741-mile road course July 6 1. Ralf Schumacher, Williams-BMW, 70 laps at 126.676 mph avg. speed; 2. Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams-BMW, 70; 3. Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 70; 4. Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren-Mercedes, 70;...

Race Report.
July 14, 2003... The smart money going into the Pepsi 400 was on Dale Earnhardt Inc. teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Michael Waltrip. Little wonder: Waltrip had won three of the last five Cup races at Daytona International Speed-way and Earnhardt Jr. is a...

results.(Racing results.)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... Burke Lakefront Airport 2.106-mile road course July 5 1. Sebastien Bourdais, Lola, 115 laps at 117.315 mph avg. speed; 2. Paul Tracy, Lola, 115; 3. Bruno Junqueira, Lola, 115; 4. Patrick Carpentier, Lola, 115; 5. Mario Dominguez,...

Show stopper.(Mini Cooper S.)
July 14, 2003... Byline: MAC MORRISON With three months and 7200 miles logged on our Mini Cooper S, we're happy to report no significant problems. Yes, we managed to break the plastic ashtray lid, and we're annoyed by an occasional buzz from the shifter...

Fast Poll.(Road trips.)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... It's time for summer road trips, and readers tell us what they're driving and where the road leads. I plan to travel to Montreal and Quebec City in a Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon, using as many secondary roads as possible. Len Dunlop, Oak...

Events.(Calendar)(Calendar)
July 14, 2003... Sept. 7 Fierorama Oak Brook, Ill. For event details call (630) 690-0324. Sept. 12-14 100 Cars of Radnor Hunt Malvern, Pa. For more on this show visit radnorconcours.org. Sept. 12-14 Indy British Motor...

Television.(Calendar)
July 14, 2003... Friday, July 18 * Totally NASCAR, 8 a.m., Speed Channel (T) * Dream Car Garage, 8:30 a.m., Speed Channel (T) * Formula One qualifying from Britain, 9 a.m., Speed Channel (L) * Two Guys Garage, 10:30 a.m., Speed Channel (T) ...

Full-throttle bottles.(Randy Lewis.)(Brief Article)(Interview)
July 14, 2003... Byline: SCOTT PRUETT Old joke with new twist: What's a race car driver's favorite wine? "I need more horsepower!'' That's not the case for retired Indy car driver Randy Lewis. From the whine of the engine to wine in the glass, Lewis...

LOOKS COUNT.(BMW.)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... Byline: MAC MORRISON Remember when race cars looked good? Before British American Racing unveiled its "two-faced'' paint scheme and Ferrari morphed its Italian red into Marlboro orange? We do, and some of our favorites return. Between 1975...

BWTM.(But wait, there's more...)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... "Most of the drivers nowadays are a bit like Eddie Irvine, who if he was half as fast as he thought he was, would be moderate.'' -Sir Stirling Moss, the fastest man never to have won a world championship "I guess down in the States...

FERRARI'S NEXT ACT.(News)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... Byline: MATT DAVIS Ferrari's all-new 2+2 GT premieres next January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, replacing the 456 that has run virtually unchanged since its 1992 launch. This official sketch from Ferrari...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
July 14, 2003... Byline: Alan Wilson, via e-mail Track designer responds As the track designer for Barber Motorsports Park, I would like to respond to the June 16 letter from Paul Ragonese on the track's guardrail locations. While I always try to place...

third quarter.(News)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... MILES DRIVEN: 5469 fuel mileage: 18.99 mpg MAINTENANCE: 20,000-mile service (lube, oil change, filter, air filter, tire rotation plus complete system check, $319.22); lube, oil change, filter ($108.76) AutoWeek is inviting owners...

Loving life with the "wee-eight".(Volkswagen Passat.)
July 14, 2003... Byline: ROGER HART Solid, quiet and comfortable are words that keep appearing in the logbook for our W8. Those words, plus a debate on whether the uniquely designed eight-cylinder engine is worth the price, have dominated drivers' comments...

XJ ACROSS THE USA; Three days, 2000 miles in Jag's all-new flagship answers the smallest questions.(Column)
July 14, 2003... Byline: MIKE FLOYD "Okay now, where the heck is that frickin' noise coming from?'' I'm about halfway through the Texas Panhandle and all I can think about is that confounded clicking sound. It sounds like the shutter of my camera, but...

NEVER SAY NEVER; Bryan Herta takes his first win since '99.
July 14, 2003... Byline: CURT CAVIN Bryan Herta's Kansas Speedway win dripped in irony, if not methanol. The veteran driver had been a CART supporter in his days with that series, though lately he hadn't driven an open-wheel car in either CART or the IRL....

Flash.(News Briefs.)
July 14, 2003... Losing Dixon? The Indy Racing League could be faced with losing Scott Dixon at season's end. The Australian-born New Zealander confirmed he is interested in testing a Formula One car in the fall. But Dixon, second in IRL points this...

COSWORTH'S FUTURE.(News)
July 14, 2003... So what do we official-ly know about Chevrolet's relationship with Cosworth in the Indy Racing League? Nothing other than the two groups were slated to test twice the week of July 7. But much is apparently happening behind the scenes. A...

When Irish Guys are Milin' (part 1 of 2); Flat-out Gaelic fun, bottom to top, in a Mini with the Works.
July 14, 2003... Byline: ROGER HART Gerard O'Leary doesn't recall the exact date of his revelation, but that really doesn't matter. The moment, fresh in his mind as if it happened yesterday, has guided his life for 40 years. "We have a sport in Ireland...