AutoWeek articles from September 2004

AutoWeek archives from September 2004

TWO TO GO.(Motorsports)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Okay, long-haul truck drivers, listen up. When you leave your shops this week do not-repeat, do not-head toward South Carolina. Granted, you'll find short lines at the Cracker Barrel in Florence, but that's only because nobody else will be...

ALMOST OVER; Tony Kanaan closes in on title as AGR sweeps Nazareth podium.(Motorsports)(Andretti Green Racing)
September 6, 2004... Byline: CURT CAVIN In the final race at Nazareth Speedway, favorite son Michael Andretti got a championship send-off. The second-year owner of Andretti Green Racing took control of the Indy Racing League's title chase with the series'...

OUT OF A FUNK; Has Dale Earnhardt Jr. turned it around?(Motorsports)(Bristol Motor Speedway)
September 6, 2004... Byline: AL PEARCE Dale Earnhardt Jr. had been stinking up the joint. No ifs, ands or buts: He and his Budweiser Chevrolet team had been in a serious funk in July and August. For them, though, the new Chase for the Championship was a...

BRUNO BACKS IN; Junqueira wins an action-packed Montreal race.(Motorsports)
September 6, 2004... Byline: J.P. VETTRAINO Excitement... overtaking... commotion... Let's call it action. The previous two Champ Car races had more action than the five road races before them combined, and Montreal continued the trend. Yet the race around...

Flash.(Briefs)
September 6, 2004... Sullivan hangs it up Former Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan will hang up his helmet at the end of the season. The 53-year-old, who won at Indy in 1985, will retire after the final event of the Le Mans Endurance Series at Spa-Francorchamps...

A GOLDEN FUTURE?(Competition)(McDonald's sponsors for champ car world series)
September 6, 2004... There is no doubt CART and its reformation as the Champ Car World Series has had a tough couple of years. Yet after its race in Montreal, where the series again drew in excess of 100,000 fans for the weekend, Champ Car shows all signs of...

2005 MUSTANG GETS ROUSH TREATMENT.(News)
September 6, 2004... Byline: MIKE SUTTON The 2005 Ford Mustang will be in dealer showrooms next month, but the next-generation SVT Cobra is still more than a year away. Not to worry, says Jack Roush, who hopes to tide Mustang fans over with several Roush...

Ones to watch.(Motorsports)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Kasey Kahne: 11th in points, 488 behind Gordon. Lost a position with a 21st at Bristol; fell from 10th to 11th. More bad news: In spring races at Fontana and Richmond, he was 13th and 28th. Maybe NASCAR will add a Sprint Car race... Mark...

TV: Sept. 10-12.(News)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
September 6, 2004... AutoWeek: Bondurant School 30 Years Later, 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible, 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona Coupe Sunday 10:30 a.m. & 11:30 p.m. Speed Channel * * * Friday, Sept. 10 Formula One practice from...

G WHIZ; The G-Timer lets you see about how quick your car is.(Revs)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 6, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Now YOU can be a high-paid car magazine test driver! YOU, yes that's right, YOU will make 'em swoon when they see you push the Timed Run button on your G-Timer and bravely hammer the throttle, a sneer parked on your...

LITTLE BIG TRUCK; A midsize hauler with full-size aspirations.(News)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 6, 2004... Byline: MIKE FLOYD This truck has definitely been working out. After pumping some serious iron with Ram, Durango and its other Dodge big brothers, the 2005 Dakota has become a chiseled, muscular brute of a truck, flexing not one but...

Now That's Italian; Concorso is bigger than ever but still intimate enough.(News)(Concorso car exhibition)(Column)
September 6, 2004... Byline: Mark Vaughn Concorso started 17 years ago as an outgrowth of the Maserati Club's annual Monterey meet. Janet and Francis Mandarano built the event into what it is and ran it until last winter, when they sold it to Jack and Leslie...

OF LEMONS AND LEMONADE; Jaguar can't sweet-talk our sourpuss.(News)(Advertisement)(Column)
September 6, 2004... Byline: Natalie Neff As you skim over these words keep the number 66,770 in mind. That's the sticker price on our long-term Jaguar XJ8, slathered in all the luxury bits any lover of fine cars demands. By now you know we use these...

Blackhawk honors Pebble Beach Concours.(Revs)
September 6, 2004... Byline: MIKE SUTTON The Evolution of Greatness exhibit at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California, is a tribute to the 54-year history of the greatest automobile concours in the world, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The...

HURRICANE FERRARI; Charley uncovers a treasure trove of vintage sports cars.(News)(Column)
September 6, 2004... Byline: STEVEN COLE SMITH AutoWeek readers, dial your way-back machine to Sept. 17, 1990, when we told you about Florida real estate developer Walter Medlin, a Ferrari collector who owed the Internal Revenue Service $540,000, but for...

Is Less More? The Quail says yes and offers solitude among the madness.(News)(The Quail Lodge)
September 6, 2004... The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering started last year as a replacement for Concorso Italiano. Concorso outgrew the golf course in front of Carmel Valley's luxurious Quail Lodge and moved to bigger greenery. The Quail is a much smaller event than...

Stampede; The Running of the Bulls is speeding as it was meant to be.(News)
September 6, 2004... Byline: Mark Vaughn Not all cars, placed in their proper element and driven as they were meant to be driven, would shine so well as these. A minivan packed full of kids and running the director's cut of Captain Nemo through the flip-down...

Drivers Log.(News)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 6, 2004... 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Date in fleet: Aug. 19-26 As-tested price: $30,250 Powertrain: 2.3-liter I4/permanent magnet electric traction motor; fwd, CVT Output: 133 hp @ 6000 rpm (I4)/94 hp @ 3000-5000 rpm (electric motor), 129 lb-ft @ 4500...

Seven-Day Weekend.(News)
September 6, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN This was not just any Saturday and Sunday sandwiched between five-day slogs of working for The Man. This was The Weekend, and for car guys (and gals) it was an automotive event unparalleled among automotive events. What...

JOY RIDE JOY DRIVE; Putting the hammer down ON CHRYSLER'S SUPER SHOW CAR.
September 6, 2004... Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON THE Chrysler ME FOUR-Twelve is a real runner. Chrysler showed its 850-hp quad-turbo V12 concept car at the Detroit auto show in January and promised we could drive it within the year. That promise has been fulfilled...

Fast Poll.(News)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... BMW enthusiasts are reluctant to embrace the shape of the new 3 Series, but the car's increased performance may overcome its polarizing design. Where older BMWs quietly declared their presence with as few lines as necessary, Bangle's overt...

Elegance on the Fairway.(News)
September 6, 2004... Byline: DUTCH MANDEL For the week leading to Sunday's car extravaganza crescendo, fog shrouded the Pebble Beach Lodge like a soggy dish towel. Each afternoon, though, the bright northern California light squeezed through, but not before...

Flash.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Meet Milan Milan is the name Mercury will bestow upon its entry-level sedan, a version of the Lincoln Zephyr and Mazda 6. Milan will debut at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and the 2006 model goes on sale by...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
September 6, 2004... Ford's Phil Martens, who had sent the Cobra Concept version back to the design shop, saying it didn't "grab my soul,'' is right. The Cobra Concept is too techie and has no soul. But the GR-1 is inspirational, heart-pounding rock 'n' roll. ...

Events.(Calendar)(Calendar)
September 6, 2004... Nov. 5-7 Hilton Head Island Concours Hilton Head Island, S.C. Call (843) 785-7469 or visit hhiconcours.com for details on this event celebrating 100 years of Rolls-Royce. Nov. 6 Desert Prowl Car Show Phoenix ...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)
September 6, 2004... Besides the glitterati, auctions and historic races, Pebble Beach weekend always provides memorable sightings, quips and incidents. This year's low, er, highlights: "Come on you guys, we have three grand raised; that's as much as the...

Incident at Exit 12.(Column)(Column)
September 6, 2004... Byline: Rich Ceppos It did not happen in slow motion. It was just a blur in my peripheral vision at first: a white Chevy Tahoe, passing on my right, 15 mph faster than me and close. Too close. Just as the truck drew even, it swerved left...

Corrections.(Correction)
September 6, 2004... Our Aug. 30 story on the Audi A3 should have said the BMW 318ti's rear suspension is semi-trailing arm. An Aug. 16 news item should have said 2002-04 Land Rover Freelander models are being recalled to replace A-pillar interior trim that...

NO BULL EFFORT; The Five Hundred spells out the future of the car at Ford, though don't say bye to the Taurus just yet.(News)
September 13, 2004... Byline: NATALIE NEFF "One of the hurdles we're going to have to overcome is the 203 horsepower.'' So confessed Amy Marentic, marketing manager for the Five Hundred, at our daylong introduction to the vehicle at Ford's Michigan Proving...

EXTREME MAKEOVER; The new RL is more of a driver's car.(News)(automobile)
September 13, 2004... Byline: WES RAYNAL Another hot, sunny July day in Washington, D.C. Temperatures in the high 90s, humidity way up there. The Mall is packed with profusely sweating tourists gawking at the Washington Monument, the Capitol building. The...

ONES TO WATCH.(Motorsports)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Elliott Sadler With his timely win, Sadler has virtually guaranteed himself a spot in the shootout, where the game essentially starts over at square one. Kevin Harvick Poor Harvick lost seven spots by finishing 28th in California....

LITTLE SILLINESS YET.(Competition)(motorsports news)
September 13, 2004... Silly season in the Champ Car World Series is well short of hurricane strength, but the wind is starting to pick up. More than a few things are set, starting at the top. The Newman-Haas Racing driver lineup is more or less settled. Bruno...

TRADITION BROKEN; For the first time in 54 years, there's no Labor Day race at Darlington.(Motorsports)
September 13, 2004... Byline: AL PEARCE It's a bright, crisp Saturday afternoon in Darlington, South Carolina, about 20 hours into Labor Day weekend. There's precious little traffic along Harry Byrd Highway, the multilane road that runs within 20 yards of...

TV: Sept. 17-19.(News)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
September 13, 2004... Friday, Sept. 17 NASCAR Live from Loudon, N.H., 2 p.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Nextel Cup qualifying from Loudon, N.H., 3 p.m., TNT (L) Speed Touring Car Championship from Elkhart Lake, Wis., 6 p.m., Speed Trackside at Loudon, N.H.,...

Drivers Log.(News)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 13, 2004... 2005 Hummer H2 SUT Date in fleet: Aug. 24-Sept. 7 As-tested price: $60,135 Powertrain: 6.0-liter V8; 4wd, four-speed automatic Output: 325 hp @ 5200 rpm, 365 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm Curb weight: 6400 pounds MPG (AW observed): 11.6 HART: These...

Touched by an Arnage.(car)
September 13, 2004... Byline: Matt Davis It was a Sunday. Among many good reasons for living across the Atlantic, the Formula One coverage here is tremendous. Coverage of all sports, apart from American college football, baseball and NASCAR, is tremendous. Mind...

Crazy 'bout the Montego; Mercury version of the Five Hundred worth the extra cash.(News)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 13, 2004... Byline: Natalie Neff Take a Ford Five Hundred, dress up its face with a "waterfall'' grille, add some nifty HID head- and LED tail lamps, sprinkle some nice aluminum trim touches inside and break up all that monotone surface treatment, and...

Unwavering Passion, 40 Years and Counting.(Revs)(Biography)
September 13, 2004... Byline: LARRY EDSALL Remember how, as a kid, you drew all those exotic sports cars and exciting hot rods and wondered what it might be like to actually drive one of them? Leonardo Fioravanti can tell you. Fioravanti not only designed...

Dynamic, from All Angles.(Escape Roads)
September 13, 2004... Byline: LARRY EDSALL Ferrari had no plans to make major changes to the 365 GTB it introduced at the 1967 Paris show. After all, this was Ferrari's largest and most luxurious sports car, and over the course of its life it would account for...

Events.(Calendar)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
September 13, 2004... Nov. 11-14 Fall AutoFest Zephyrhills, Fla. Call (813) 258-6726 or log onto zephyrhillsauction.com for details on this show, auction and vintage race. Nov. 13 Goat Roast Denton, Texas Featuring a car show, poker...

Fast Poll.(News)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Respondents believe the Audi A3's combination of performance, versatility and quality craftsmanship will make it successful in the compact luxury car market in America. The A3 is a pioneer of the sport-hatchback style. It's a great car for...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... RECALL OF THE YEAR BMW of North America is recalling 161 SlideCarvers. Customers are asked to stop using the three- wheeled SlideCarver scooter immediately and return the product to BMW dealers for a full refund. Oh, and you'll get a $200...

Flash.(Briefs)
September 13, 2004... Ford drops Duval Ford Motor Co. released FIA World Rally driver Francois Duval from his contract to drive for the team in the 2005 season. The 23-year-old Belgian has driven for Ford in the WRC since the beginning of 2003 and will stay on...

BWANA'S NEW RIDE; Land Rover's LR3 sport/ute tames the savages of suburbia.(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 13, 2004... Byline: DUTCH MANDEL To say Land Rover's new LR3 is a special vehicle is more than hyperbole, and not just because it is the long-awaited offspring from the Ford and Land Rover conjugation. Nor is LR3 special for the ingeniously configured...

Car Control Road Show.(driving instructions training)(Column)
September 13, 2004... Byline: Kevin A. Wilson The Sears Driving School instructor had good advice for parents after my youngest son's state-mandated training. Under Michigan's graduated licensing program, the course-12 hours in the classroom and six on the...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
September 13, 2004... Leno's supercar (and shifting) spree I don't resent Jay Leno buying three new supercars (Aug. 30). We car guys can appreciate that he's living our dream, to be able to own any car in the world. If I had those cars in my garage, I'd...

For the love of a Trabant.(News)
September 13, 2004... Byline: NIGEL BURNHAM An English farmer has been ordered to get rid of his massive collection of Trabants after they sparked a cold war in his village. Graham Goodall loves Trabants and has been collecting them since 1990. He claims to...

Flash.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Ferrari droptop Word from Italy is that Ferrari will launch a 575 Maranello roadster. Unlike the 550 Barchetta, the open-air 575 will feature a folding glass hardtop that lies on top of the trunk, rather than inside. Ferrari is keeping...

Bose invents An Ear-Opening Ride.(News)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Byline: ANDREW LUU Bose, best known for its audio technology, is on the verge of adding a suspension system to its resume. Instead of conventional shocks and springs, the Bose system proposes a suspension that uses linear...

ODD MEN OUT; In the new NASCAR points system, not everyone is a winner.(Motorsports)
September 13, 2004... Byline: BILL McGUIRE What a boon for NASCAR. You can say the new Nextel Cup points system is too gimmicky, that it flouts tradition, or that you just plain don't like it. But you can't say the new format, with its 10-race, 10-driver...

Race Report.(Motorsports)(Darlington Raceway)(California Speedway)
September 13, 2004... For the first time in 54 years, NASCAR was not running at Darlington Raceway on Labor Day weekend (page 45). The Southern 500, stock car racing's original superspeedway race and its longest-running event, has been dumped in favor of a second...

Just One Left.(Motorsports)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... With just one race left at Richmond before the 10-race championship round, only 15 drivers are still eligible for the 10 available spots. The leading six, Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Earnhardt Jr., Stewart, Kenseth and Sadler, were mathematically...

A CHECKERED FUTURE: Part 1 of 2; Ford gets lulled by the feminine persuasion.(Motorsports)
September 13, 2004... Byline: Natalie Neff Two figures stand outside the catch fence for hours under a blistering Indiana sun. As a lone car buzzes round and round the quarter-mile asphalt, carving out the high banks and pounding down the straights, they wait...

A CHECKERED FUTURE: Part 2 of 2; Ford gets lulled by the feminine persuasion.(Motorsports)
September 13, 2004... Byline: Natalie Neff TESTING, TESTING, 1-2-3-4 Push-ups, crunches, hand grip, stretching: The next morning finds us sweating at the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, where every repetition, duration or distance gets tallied to...

Rule the School; Relive The PAST the right way in a Unique Performance Mustang.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: MARK VAUGHN Now you can be the alpha male you always wanted to be in high school but for which you just didn't have the car. Texas-based Unique Performance is making Shelby GT500Es and Shelby GT350SRs just like it was 1965 again....

Drivers Log.(News)
September 20, 2004... 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Date in fleet: Aug. 9-23 As-tested price: $33,698 Powertrain: 2.5-liter turbocharged H4; awd, six-speed manual Output: 300 hp @ 6000 rpm, 300 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm Curb weight: 3298 pounds MPG (EPA combined/ AW...

Fast Poll.(News)(Dodge Dakota. )(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... The new Dodge Dakota is ready for a midsize truck battle, but questions on reliability and the lack of a Hemi engine may hurt it in dealer showrooms. If it drives as good as it looks, I'll buy a new Dakota. The Chevy Colorado seems small,...

A MATTER OF SURVIVAL; Adrian Fernandez wins a wild Chicagoland race.(Motorsports)
September 20, 2004... Byline: CURT CAVIN Helio Castroneves threw his arms in the air as he walked into Team Penske's motor home following the Delphi Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. "I survived!'' he said. Any of the Indy Racing League's 22 drivers could...

Flash.(Briefs)(automobiles)
September 20, 2004... Hot rumor There is strong speculation in Europe Ford Motor Co. will rebrand its woeful Jaguar Rac-ing Formula One team "Ford Grand Prix,'' and has signed off on a budget substantially increased by savings from a withdrawal from the World...

IRL CRACKDOWN.(Competition)(Indy Racing League)
September 20, 2004... Indy Racing League officials vowed to slow their teams down after a rash of pit stop problems-eight in the past five events-and it appears they're doing that. Chief steward Brian Barnhart (above) held Sam Hornish Jr. and Dario Franchitti...

ON TO THE PLAYOFFS; Who's out and who's in the "Chase for the Championship''?(Motorsports)
September 20, 2004... Byline: AL PEARCE Let's cut to the Chase: NASCAR changed its points system to a 10-driver, 10-race "playoff'' to hold fans' attention and maintain TV ratings in the fall, when football dominates the sports landscape. And, of course, to...

JOB WELL DONE; Carpentier shines again at Laguna; Bourdais gets Corkscrewed.(Motorsports)
September 20, 2004... Byline: J.P. VETTRAINO Laguna Seca is dusty, with abrasive tarmac that's usually hot and tough on tires. Its straights are short and a race driver has the steering wheel turned most of the way around, yet speeds are high. Laguna delivers a...

TV, Sept. 24-26.(News)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
September 20, 2004... Friday, Sept. 24 Formula One practice from China, 2 a.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Live from Dover, Del., noon, Speed (L) NASCAR Busch Series qualifying from Dover, Del., 1 p.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Nextel Cup qualifying from Dover, Del.,...

Back-Shop Blues: Servicing an Industry.(customer service)(Column)
September 20, 2004... Byline: Dutch Mandel My wife has this thing going with another man, and there's little I can do about it. Oh, sometimes I demand she keep a distance from him, but it doesn't do much good. Know what kind of stud this guy is? He's got...

UP A NOTCH; Acura improves the already fun RSX.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: MAC MORRISON Acura has infused its 2005 RSX lineup with more of what had already made it a top pick for front-drive fun. Both RSX and Type-S receive new front and rear bumpers, while the Type-S features a unique decklid...

SPORTS TOURER SIGHTINGS.(News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... ** Mercedes' coming sports tourer lineup will be on display in final concept form at the Paris Motor Show later this month. Dubbed the Vision R and Vision B, the cars are near-production versions of what will become the luxury R-Class and...

But Wait, There's More...(BWTM)
September 20, 2004... This Week's Sign the Automotive Apocalypse is Nigh: Mercedes-Benz teamed with online dating service Match.com to organize a "Wheels of Attraction'' event, during which eligible singles were paired together for driving dates behind the wheel...

Who's in, who's out.(Motorsports)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... By winning at Richmond, Jeremy Mayfield jumped five spots into ninth, racing his way into the top-10 and a chance for the Nextel Cup. Mark Martin's fifth-place finish in the race moved him to eighth in the championship. Ryan Newman finished...

Drifting into the Past.(Tom Kristensen)(Interview)
September 20, 2004... Byline: Richard S. Chang When I had lunch with Tom Kristensen at Matsuhisa's in Los Angeles four years ago, he had two Le Mans championships under his belt. Hard to believe the best lay ahead of him: He was driving an Audi R8 in the ALMS,...

Letters.
September 20, 2004... Making long-term lemonade So with your long-term Jaguar you had a bad experience at the dealership (Sept. 6). Welcome to the real world of dealer "service.'' Now you know why we hate them and the mules they rode in on. Barlow Soper,...

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE... Japan vs. Germany succeeds Dearborn vs. Detroit.(automobiles)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 20, 2004... Byline: Mark Vaughn ** For decades-indeed for a generation-car magazines featured the same cover words at least once a year: "Mustang vs. Camaro! One Must Die!'' There were subtle differences. Sometimes it was Mustang that lost, sometimes...

Time Flies in a Franklin.(Escape Roads)(vintage car)
September 20, 2004... Byline: GEORGE P. BLUMBERG It rained on the Orphan Car Tour through the Ann Arbor, Michigan, countryside, and so every so often, when the 1928 Franklin Airman's single vacuum wiper swept anemically across the windshield, there were...

Strategic Buying Guide, Part 1: Part 1 of 3.(Special Report)(Buyers Guide)
September 20, 2004... Byline: AutoWeek Staff ** More companies than ever are offering automobiles they call sporty-even if to hyper-enthusiasts, those offerings fall short of being truly sporty. But do not despair, you hard-core fans: The road is brimming with...

Events.(Calendar)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
September 20, 2004... Nov. 20 Antique Car Show Lake Placid, Fla. Call (863) 655-0609 for more on this Antique Automobile Club of America event. Nov. 20 Car Show, Toy and Food Drive San Jose, Calif. Call (408) 247-1257 or visit...

HUMMING ALONG IN AN OFF-ROAD PARADISE.(Revs)
September 20, 2004... Byline: MIKE FLOYD ** Call it one of those "Wouldn't it be cool if?'' moments: Jordan Weyand and his cohorts in the recreation department at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa in Farmington, Pennsylvania, were kicking around ideas and...

Strategic Buying Guide, Part 1: Part 2 of 3.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Byline: AutoWeek Staff * Honda American Honda Motor Co. hondacars.com Civic Si Highlights: Carryover. Base price: $20,200 (est.) What's next: Expect a redesign for 2006. Our opinion: Among the best for...

Strategic Buying Guide, Part 1: Part 3 of 3.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Byline: AutoWeek Staff * Nissan Nissan North America nissan-usa.com Altima SE-R Good news for the grown-up enthusiast: Nissan has made the fabled SE-R moniker-until now reserved for the entry-level Sentra-available on...

Flash.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Coupe coup Dodge recently surprised members of the Viper Club of America by rolling out a "concept" Viper Coupe at the group's annual meet in Texas. The blue-with-white-stripes hardtop featured the same 500-hp Viper drivetrain, but this...

From Elsie to Elise; SpaceShipOne designer Burt Rutan takes the latest Lotus out for a spin.(News)
September 27, 2004... Byline: ERIC ADAMS ** Lotus founder Colin Chapman was one of Burt Rutan's first customers. It's a little-known piece of both automotive and aviation history, a moment when two geniuses from largely separate fields came together and just...

SPECS & DATA.(Auto File)(Brief Article)
September 27, 2004... MANUFACTURER INFO Infiniti Division Nissan North America USA 18501 S. Figueroa Street Gardena CA 90248 Customer assistance: (800) 662-6200 Internet address: infiniti.com Country of origin: United States ...

OWNERS SAY...(Auto File; Infinity QX56)(Brief Article)
September 27, 2004... My wife and I test-drove the Lincoln Navigator, GMC Yukon Denali XL and Toyota Sequoia, but we really enjoyed driving the QX56. The rearview backup camera and intelligent cruise control are nice features, and the interior is very spacious and...

Television: Oct. 1-3.(News)(automobile race telecasts)(Calendar)
September 27, 2004... Friday, Oct. 1 USAR Pro Cup from Jennerstown, Pa., noon, Speed Autorotica: TV's Best Car Commercials, 2 p.m., Speed NHRA from Dallas, 3 p.m., ESPN2 NASCAR Live from Talladega, Ala., 3 p.m., Speed (L) NASCAR Nextel Cup...

Volkswagen Golf GTI.(News)(Brief Article)
September 27, 2004... ** Volkswagen Golf GTI. Here's a car you should keep an eye on, but don't bother placing an order for a while. Even though the all-new Golf has been on sale in Europe since last November, we won't start seeing versions of it, including the...

Events.(Calendar)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
September 27, 2004... Nov. 26-28 ICA Thanksgiving Classic Auction Scottsdale, Ariz. Call (800) 243-1957 or visit www.icaauctions.com for more information on this 14th annual event. Nov. 26-28 Rocky Mountain Rod and Custom Car Show Denver...