AutoWeek articles from September 2001

AutoWeek archives from September 2001

Bringing Back the Bentley Boys; Ambitious marketing program aims to educate target customers.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2001... You and I know about the Bentley Boys, about the five Le Mans wins out of eight entries in the 1920s, about the prestige and beauty of the handcrafted automobiles built by W.O. Bentley. But much of the rest of the world might not know. And the...

The Hire Film Series.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2001... You probably have already watched the Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. And there isn't a copy of Snatch to be had at the local video store. Nothing new or exciting on the shelves? Not to worry. You can still catch the work of...

Jaundiced Eye.(Porsche Rennsport Reunion observations)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2001... I can't imagine what brought me to be so dour when I wrote about the Porsche Rennsport Reunion. After giving a rather skimpy and inaccurate history of Porsche in the United States I said I was off to the reunion looking forward to not much more...

Sitting pretty.(Acura )(Brief Article)
September 3, 2001... Acura won't improve on the powertrain propelling its aluminum-bodied NSX supercar, but styling refinements will give the 2002 model a sharper image. The near-$90,000 hand-built mid-engined NSX will continue to offer the same high-revving...

More power! Less money!(Volkswagen of America's strategy for its 2002 GTI)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2001... It's tough to argue with Volkswagen of America's strategy for its 2002 GTI: The cars will get more power and a lower sticker price. VW has boosted its 1.8-liter turbo's horsepower from 150 to 180 and torque from 155 lb-ft to 174 lb-ft....

Competition This Week: September 3, 2001.(NASCAR releases report)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2001... After six months and $1 million, NASCAR released its in-depth report into why Dale Earnhardt died in a last-lap crash at Daytona in February. The report cited several safety-related factors that contributed to Earnhardt's death, but the...

Competition This Week.(Bobby Rahal resigned as chief executive of the Jaguar Racing Formula One team )(Brief Article)(Interview)
September 3, 2001... Bobby Rahal resigned as chief executive of the Jaguar Racing Formula One team after a lengthy meeting in London Aug. 23. Rahal, who was appointed by Ford CEO Jacques Nasser and began a three-year contract on Dec. 1, 2000, appears to have lost...

Nothing New ; Following a six-month investigation into why Dale Earnhardt died, NASCAR makes no changes in safety mandates.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2001... NASCAR spent more than $1 million and invested six months to confirm what it already knew: Dale Earnhardt died from a blow to an unprotected area of his head after his restraint system failed during his Feb. 18 crash in the Daytona 500. That...

The Race Report: Sharpie 500; Winston Cup, Round 24 of 36, Bristol, Tennessee.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2001... No, that average speed is not a misprint. It was, indeed, only about 85 miles per hour for 500 laps around the half-mile, high-banked concrete battlefield known as Bristol Motor Speedway. That's 38 mph slower than Jeff Green's pole speed and...

The Race Report: Gateway 250; Round 11 of 13, Madison, Illinois.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2001... Sam Hornish Jr. was in no mood to celebrate a third-place finish in Sunday's Gateway 250 at Madison, Illinois, despite the fact he all but locked up his first Indy Racing League championship when last year's champ, Buddy Lazier, struggled to...

Jaguar XKE Silverstone.(Base price is $85,155)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 10, 2001... PRICING Base: $85,155 As tested: $97,500 IntelliChoice target price: $105,232 Rebates: None Destination charge: $595 What owners paid; average: $97,000 to $140,000; $111,125 Options as tested: Silverstone...

FACTS.(Jaguar)(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... MANUFACTURER'S DATA Jaguar Cars 555 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah NJ 07430 Customer assistance: (800) 452-4827 Internet address: www.jaguar.com Country of origin: England Number of dealers: 120 SPECIFICATIONS ...

Really Big Wheels ; Silverstone's secret ingredient is 20 inches in diameter.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... Jaguar Thinks word-of-mouth CAN sell 250 copies of its 2001 XKR Silverstone in North America. No ads, no billboards, no posters for dorm rooms. Just the press and you. If you're passing that word, know this: When Brits say it, the racetrack for...

ROAD TEST DATA.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... STANDING-START ACCELERATION 0-30 mph: 2.19 sec 0-40 mph: 3.04 sec 0-50 mph: 4.21 sec 0-60 mph: 5.50 sec 0-100 km/h (62.1 mph): 5.75 sec 0-80 mph: 8.81 sec 0-quarter-mile: 102.6 mph, 13.98 sec ...

Views and Reviews.(2001 Jaguar Silverstone)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
September 10, 2001... OWNERS I JUST TRADED IN MY 2000 XKR for a 2001 Silverstone. I have owned Porsches, Ferraris, a Viper and various other toys. I can only say you get as much fun with half the effort. The car handles incredibly well, the power is awesome and...

Late Racing News.(Nissan to sponsor sports car racing)(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... Wilson will get test * FIA F3000 points-leader Justin Wilson will test a Formula One car soon. He's preparing to test a Jordan and also has had a seat fitting at McLaren. Taking his third win of the season in Hungary and a second at Spa,...

U.S. Grand Prix Preview.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... table: Odds - Driver/Car: Comment Even - Ralf Schumacher/Williams: BMW power suits the circuit 2:1 - Michael Schumacher/Ferrari: He's already world champion, what't left to prove? 4:1 - Rubens Barrichello/Ferrari: For the rest...

Fast Poll; Readers love the W8, but almost unanimously believe VW won't win going up against M-B.(Volkswagen's Passat W8 )(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... * I don't think VW can easily compete with Mercedes. Though the cars may have very good quality, VW currently lacks two things. First, it hasn't got the pedigree, and second, it has to seriously improve the competence of its dealers. ...

2002 Dodge Ram 1500; 'Big-rig' look goes one better.(Chrysler's new pickup truck)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 10, 2001... Folks say the all-new 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 looks a lot like the old one. And they're right, at least when it comes to Dodge's patented ``big-rig'' look-the bold crossbar grille and muscular truck-on-steroids haunches visible from a football...

Up Close and Personal ; Juan Montoya talks about what it's like to race Indy cars at Indianapolis, and what he thinks it will be like at the U.S. Grand Prix.(Indianapolis Motor Speedway )(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... Editor's note: Juan Montoya doesn't yet know the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from the Formula One perspective. He was a spectator at last year's inaugural U.S. Grand Prix, watching the action on the 2.6-mile road course from the pits of Frank...

Car Board.(Volkswagen GOLF GLS 1.8T )(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... Some cars we love like a faithful dog. But if that dog chews or lunges inappropriately (down boy!), we reluctantly admit that some things need to change. Volkswagen GOLF GLS 1.8T Price: $20,425 Engine: 1.8-liter turbocharged I4,...

In Brief.(Jaguar XKR Silverstone)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 10, 2001... Jaguar XKR Silverstone Likes * Sportier style * Sticky tires * Braking performance Dislikes * Too heavy * Cramped cabin * Nonlinear brake feel

The Future.(Greater New Orleans Corvette Club )(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... Nov. 10-11 Pro-formance Swap Meet Canton, Ohio Swap in two heated indoor buildings plus outdoor space and car corral. For details call (330) 477-8506. Nov. 11 ExtraVetteGanza Kenner, La. This indoor all-Corvette...

Offside Undo.(Ford's Team Jaguar)(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... With the sacking of Bobby Rahal, America's man in Formula One, we learn that either nothing succeeds like success, or that it pays to speak German when running Ford's Team Jaguar. In December last year, Bobby was recruited to oversee Ford's...

Look Ma, no Retro; R Coupe Concept for Frankfurt looks to Jaguar's future.(Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 10, 2001... There are definitely no production plans for a car just like this one in Jaguar's playbook. Still, you're looking at Jaguar's future in the R Coupe Concept being unveiled Sept. 11 at the Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany. It's perhaps the first...

California dreamin'; Auctions deal with market realities.(Sports Car Market )(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... Amidst all the fun of the big Monterey weekend, a thought must strike most onlookers: ``Hey, maybe I could be that guy with the cool car.'' Of course, in our consumptive society one need only briefly consider anything and several sellers will...

The General takes command; Cadillac's 750-hp supercar Cien concept is the latest in GM's hit parade.(Cadillac Cien luxury sports car)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 10, 2001... Like Chrysler before it, General Motors' design shop is suddenly pumping out hit after hit-and GM is turning the best concepts into production cars. From 2000's Chevrolet SSR to this year's Buick Bengal roadster and Hummer H2 sport/utility...

Letters.(CART's new TV package)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
September 10, 2001... CART TV Unfortunately for many CART fans, the news is not good (``Television Rating,'' Aug. 27). Due to our home's location and the cable operator's ``packages,'' if we subscribed to Speedvision, our monthly bill would more than double....

The Incredible Lightness of Being (Hydrogen).(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... Like Raymond, everybody loves hydrogen. We've already told you (AW, July 30) about BMW's hydrogen world tour and its opening of a hydrogen refueling station in California for a fleet of internal-combustion 7 Series sedans. Now Honda...

Commemorative Vette may be more than a concept.(Chevrolet )(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... When Chevrolet gets around to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Corvette next year, the General Motors division may not have far to go to find the right car for the occasion. Automotive supplier Magna Steyr, which provides support in...

Mid-engine Jaguar.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... Jaguar's F-Type sports car is being developed with a mid-engine layout, pitting the open-top two-seater directly against the Porsche Boxster when sales start in the 2005 model year. Boxster was always the target, but the Detroit 2000 show...

Results: Concord Pacific Place; 1.781-mile street circuit, Sept. 2.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... 1. Roberto Moreno, Reynard-Toyota, 98 laps at 80.543 mph avg. speed; 2. Gil de Ferran, Reynard-Honda, 98; 3. Michael Andretti, Reynard-Honda, 98; 4. Tony Kanaan, Reynard-Honda, 98; 5. Oriol Servia, Lola-Ford, 98; 6. Michel Jourdain Jr.,...

Results: Chicagoland Speedway; 1.5-mile oval, Sept. 2.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... 1. Jaques Lazier, Dallara-Oldsmobile, 200 laps at 172.146 mph avg. speed; 2. Sam Hornish Jr., Dallara-Oldsmobile, 200; 3. Eddie Cheever Jr., Dallara-Infiniti, 200; 4. Jeff Ward, G Force-Oldsmobile, 200; 5. Donnie Beechler, Dallara-Oldsmobile,...

The New and Future Kings ; Jaques Lazier won the race but Sam Hornish Jr. won the title.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... On a picture-perfect day, the Indy Racing League showed off its future at the new Chicagoland Speedway. The ultra-smooth track lived up to its pre-race hype, third-year driver Jaques Lazier scored his first win and 22-year-old Sam Hornish Jr....

Hard-Hitting Information ; CART can teach NASCAR about the value of crash data recorders.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... After four fatalities in the past two seasons, NASCAR has taken considerable heat for what critics say is a stubborn and insular approach to safety. The three hot spots: failure to appoint a full-time medical officer; a reluctance to embrace...

The Race Report: Molson Indy Vancouver.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... The tight quarters at CART's street races can breed some genuine street fights, but Roberto Moreno kept his cool through the fracas and took the hard-earned win at Vancouver. Only then did the often emotional Moreno let it all hang out, with...

Silly Season ; Around the NASCAR paddock, rumors, half-truths, lies and damn lies are running rampant.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... Maybe this missive should begin with a disclaimer: Since hardly anyone is willing to say anything on the record at this point, virtually everything you're about to read is full-blooded, unofficial speculation. But, on the other hand, that...

The Race Report.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... Jeff Gordon won't say it, but we will: This hunt's about done. Another decent finish or two and the three-time NASCAR champion will be a four-timer. He won't get it until Atlanta in November, but his runner-up finish to Ward Burton in the...

Competition This Week: September 10, 2001.(Dodge wins)(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... The weekend's biggest story was Michael Schumacher winning the Belgian Grand Prix. With 52 wins he's now the winningest F1 driver ever, passing Alain Prost. Schumacher made it look easy, unlike the CART drivers, who bumped and banged their way...

Heavy-hitting featherweight.(BMW M3)(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... BMW will show a lightweight M3 adorned with its celebrated CSL badge at this month's Frankfurt show. Built by BMW's M division as a study of lightweight materials, the car is a one-off with no production potential, the company says. It...

September 10, 2001.(Jaguar and Aston Martin planning new sports cars)(Brief Article)
September 10, 2001... Ford's British Empire keeps generating news of note for enthusiasts, with Jaguar and Aston Martin planning new sports cars. Meanwhile, Dearborn itself seems to be eclipsed on the domestic side by General Motors. The General has created an...

Long Term: Porsche Boxster S.(Brief Article)
September 17, 2001... The good things in life don't come cheap. Take for example our Porsche Boxster S. With a $57,452 price tag it will definitely make a dent in most people's pocketbooks. But as we found out in the third quarter of its yearlong visit to our fleet,...

2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R; It'll make you fast, but in no way furious.(Brief Article)
September 17, 2001... Could there be a more perfect time for a new Sentra SE-R? Sixteen- to 24-year-old males across the country are going nuts for inexpensive, easy-to-modify sport compacts. Almost every other manufacturer, from conservative Honda and Toyota to...

Frankfurt 2001.(best vehicles in Motor Show)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
September 24, 2001... BEST IN SHOW Lamborghini Murcielago One key question AutoWeek editors ask when choosing Best in Show vehicles is this: What's the one car people will remember from this show years later? At Frankfurt, two cars kept coming up in...

Rockin' roadster; Van Halen bassist displays custom hot rod.(Michael Anthony, Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2001... Michael Anthony definitely likes it hot, whether he's chowing down on Tabasco sauce or pumping out blistering bass lines for rock supergroup Van Halen. Now, the 47-year-old musician is generating some heat in the world of hot rods. His replica...

2002 Porsche 911; Moving target.(redesigned Carrera)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
September 24, 2001... The benchmark has moved up. Customers will be more thrilled than competitors to learn Porsche has given its fabled 911 Carrera a significant makeover for 2002. It looks much as it has since the 996 debuted in 1997, though changes to the...

Offside Undo.(Bob Lutz of General Motors)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
September 24, 2001... General Motors is changing. Why? Because Bob Lutz is the new keeper of the car keys at The General. You know Lutz even if you haven't been to the house where he keeps his rather impressive car collection. He is the one who has written the...

2002 Honda CR-V; Honda's cute-ute grows up.(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
September 24, 2001... One could say the CR-V perfected the mini-sport/ute formula, besting models from Toyota, Chevrolet, Kia and even Jeep in terms of its all-around family-friendly design. It may not be the best off-road, nor is it the sportiest-looking trucklet...

Fast Poll: Out with the old, in with the new.(Jaguar poll)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2001... Most respondents agree that Jaguar should move away from retro design. * As a longtime Jaguar owner (a 1961 XK150 DHC and a 1984 Vanden Plas), I totally support a move by Jaguar away from retro toward the R Coupe Concept styling theme. ...

Automakers increasingly realize what an asset all-wheel drive can be; just look at the diversity of choices on which it's available today.(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
September 24, 2001... * Subaru IMPREZA 2.5 RS Price: $19,820 Engine: 2.5-liter flat four, 165 hp, 166 lb-ft Curb weight: 2965 lbs Drivetrain: awd, five-speed manual If you choose Subaru's Impreza 2.5 RS over its wilder brother, the WRX, you'll...

Frankfurt 2001.(motor show coincides with World Trade Center attacks)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
September 24, 2001... The Frankfurt Motor Show attracts worldwide attention every two years as manufacturers display their latest offerings in the maze of buildings that make up the Frankfurt Messe. While there were many dazzling new products and tantalizing new...

Frankfurt 2001.(motor show cars)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
September 24, 2001... Mercedes-Benz SL500/SL55AMG The SL roadster tradition continues with the SL500. With its folding hardtop, the SL500 converts from coupe to roadster in just 16 seconds with the push of a button. (A glass-roofed version is planned for...

Frankfurt 2001.(concept cars shown at auto show)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2001... Jaguar R Coupe Future Jaguar design direction is hinted at in the never-to-be-produced R Coupe (Cover Story, AW, Sept. 11). A look at the front of the car instantly says Jaguar, with a large S-Class-like ovoid grille surround and twin...

Frankfurt 2001.(motor show cars)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
September 24, 2001... Hyundai Tiburon The new coupe (called the Coupe in Europe, Tiburon in the United States) is a completely redesigned model with hints of Celica in its sleeker styling. Considering its predecessor, this is not a bad thing. Tiburon also...

Why Retire If You're Having Fun? ; At age 73, Hershel McGriff has a 38-year-old wife, works weekdays at the mine and fills his weekends with a full-time ride in NASCAR's Winston West series.(Brief Article)
September 24, 2001... When Dave Marcis was a rookie in the Winston Cup series, Hershel McGriff already had been racing for more than 20 years. McGriff raced against Lee Petty, against Lee Petty's son Richard and against Lee Petty's grandson Kyle. ``McGriff,''...

Cobra a no-go; At least as far as insuring replicas through Hagerty.(Brief Article)
September 24, 2001... Hagerty Classic Insurance will no longer write new policies for Cobra replicas. They wind up paying out too much in claims. ``As the largest insurer of collector cars I want to try and mitigate losses,'' said president McKeel Hagerty....

Results: Autodromo Nazionale Monza.(Brief Article)
September 24, 2001... 3.6-mile road course Sept. 16 1. Juan Montoya, Williams-BMW, 53 laps at 148.723 mph avg. speed; 2. Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari, 53; 3. Ralf Schumacher, Williams-BMW, 53; 4. Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 53; 5. Pedro de la Rosa, Jaguar,...

Results: EuroSpeedway.(Brief Article)
September 24, 2001... 2.023-mile tri-oval Sept. 16 1. Kenny Brack, Lola-Ford, 154 laps at 155.319 mph avg. speed; 2. Max Papis, Lola-Ford, 154; 3. Patrick Carpentier, Reynard-Honda, 154; 4. Michael Andretti, Reynard-Honda, 154; 5. Oriol Servia, Lola-Ford,...

Little To Celebrate ; Kenny Brack wins a tragic CART race.(Following terrorist attacks at WTC and Pentagon)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2001... German and American flags waved at half-mast in the damp cold, and the little red-white-and-blue ribbons fluttering on lapels offered the only respite from somber gray. There was little to celebrate at EuroSpeedway Lausitz. With smoke still...

But Wait, There's More.(Auto racing)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2001... But wait... Our enthusiast passion is more than cars and trucks, auto shows and racing. Our passion also includes people, and the ways they use the car as a lens through which to look at life. For this back page, we choose to focus...

Competition This Week: September 24, 2001.(Auto racing)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2001... What racing there was over the weekend felt pretty trivial in the wake of last week's tragedies in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. Indeed, most major sanctioning bodies-including NASCAR and the IRL-opted out of holding their...

Supercharged S-Type R.(Jaguar)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2001... Jaguar will launch a facelifted S-Type and an all-new supercharged S-Type R performance model at Detroit's North American International Auto Show in January. The S-Type R boasts no less than 400 hp from a 4.2-liter supercharged V8, and is aimed...