Motorweek; 1920

This time on motor we bought new cars in Detroit. BMW is latest three series and a look behind the curtain. So come drive with us next. TV's original automotive magazine brought to you by boys no matter what you drive. Voices over 27000 items in stock virtually any part for any car with all the name brands you know plus service be staffed with certified technicians boys parts tires accessories service. Your host for Motor Week. John Davis. Well hello and welcome again to motor week. We're glad to have you with us. For serious car nuts like the auto show season is definitely the high point of the year. And while we gladly travel around the world some of the most exciting Auto Show news is made right here at home. In the last decade or so Detroit's North American

International Auto Show has gone from a reflection of a struggling industrial city to that of a reborn automotive powerhouse. And with that power comes a lot of products and ideas that rivals those of any auto show anywhere in the world. So let's take a look at the latest and greatest in America's Motor City. What a difference a new century make. Last year Detroit's North American International Auto Show opened to the press during Michigan's worst blizzard of the winter. But for 2000 the grey skies produced only like rain as temperatures were well above freezing. Andy the Welcome to the over 7000 members of the press got downright hot during some of the 70 new production models and concept introductions at the Motor City's Auto Show General Motors baptize its mammoth one of the 65000 square foot exhibit with five near production ready concepts. First up the Buick LaCrosse for clamshell door luxury sedan with

nostalgic portholes as well as a thoroughly modern four point two liter Twin Cam V8 and a huge Hatch tailgate for near sport utility. The crossover vehicle trend blending car with truck with minivan noise everywhere including this retro Chevy SS our pickup. Think of it as a two seat be a powered sports car with a convertible hard top attached to a very big trunk a very big truck is the GMC Teradata crew camp family friendly Duramax be a diesel fuel efficient look for GMC trucks to start resembling Terra done within two years but in less than one year you'll be able to buy this crossover Chevrolet avalanche this thinly disguised concept crew cab pickup is built on the frame of a suburban SUV. It features a mid gate between cabin and cargo bed and a removable backglass to showcase its global presence. GM of Germany's Opel unveiled its first Detroit concept the Opals appear a snow tracker is a five place mini mini van with permanent all wheel drive glass roof and airline like overhead storage console.

An early surprise of the show was the Hummer H2. Now that the Hummer brand is owned by GM engineers wasted no time in grafting the Humvees military look to their full size pickup truck chassis. Look for this room we are more civilized Hummer H2 in 2002 and our price kept the original. Ford produced easily the strangest concepts at Detroit looking like the boxes a computer comes in. The 24/7 design team includes a coupe wagon and pick up appliance playing outside the 24/7 interior is a rolling high performance computer that allows the interior colors graphics and lighting to be custom tailored to each driver. Voice activated gadgets like DPF navigation and Internet access to keep this motorized chip container totally linked. The Chrysler part a dimer Chrysler best known for making fantasy cars reality also build a strong team of concept trucks working in Detroit this dodge Mac's cab is the dictator. But the cab forward Mac's cab order be a powered pickup puts people purse with a

huge interior and car smooth handling Jeep weighed in with the bar city and urban adventure SUV based on the current Grand Cherokee varsity game to improve traffic agility with a shortened link while adding a slanted hatchback rear in the sexiest purists just a car concept with a Chrysler 300 Hemi C4 placed drop top with elegant exterior lines a luxurious but practical interior and a rear drive 5.7 liter all aluminum V8 power train the Hemi C could easily become Chrysler's new flagship. Then there was the Dodge Viper GTA as our own. Peek at what the second generation of the sports car icon could look like. It's lower but wider for BPO proportions a vastly improved cockpit allows easier driver control of this pipe hundred horsepower beaten beast with the sweet Chrysler P.T. cruiser ready to go on sale for only $16000 to customize variations were shown alongside the original. The lower 200 horsepower turbocharged Chrysler GTI cruiser and a delightful

Chrysler panel cruiser other notable concepts said Detroit included Volkswagens Ed Vance activity concept their first truck the muscular A A C crew cab pickup is said to resemble beat up his forthcoming sport utility vehicle the Acura MDX for a multi-dimensional cross trainer. There's a strong resemblance outside to the brands car based SUV due this fall. B6 an all wheel drive will be standard for this Lexus our x 300 competitor Suzuki showed a nearly production ready midsize SUV concept cars three rows six passenger Suzuki Xcel six has an extended version of the V-6 powered grand but the Ford equator another intriguing crew cab concept is based on the current F-150 the USSS is Mitsubishi's latest cross between an SUV and a sports sedan Isuzu also showed up four door P across concept of VX pour. One of the few car concepts was the Infinity XBLA A3 series size rear drive sports

sedan the XBLA shows a new more. The original direction for infinity Starling delicious describes two sports car concepts the Mercedes-Benz vision SLA Parros futuristic styling views from the megabuck vision SLR roadster and running gear from the economic class. But it's the tightness Daljit that fuel the shape of this totally modern Jaguar F-Type roadster. During the show the prestige just North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards were announced for 2000 the top car honors went to the 2000 Ford Focus on the truck not going to the 2000 Nissan Xterra selected by 47 of North America's most respected auto writers. The award seeks to single out the best and brightest the car industry has to offer. But new car designs were pretty scarce when it came to 2001 production models introduced in Detroit. Finally more daring 2001 Lexus LS 430 premium luxury sedan with it. Large V8 in electronics galore arrives next fall next winter this

Hyundai ex-GI mid-size family sedan back. While the gorgeous Mitsubishi Eclipse spider convertible arrives before summer's heat. The Audi A8 L rides in spring to along will base a distressed finances for more rear leg room. In addition spring brings a fresh compact sedan from the spectra even sooner the 2000 Nissan Sentra will ride larger and more stylish outside and inside with larger engines an optional side impact airbags. The center of clean air model will be the least polluting gasoline powered car in the world. Also quickly on tap our Volvo's newbie 70 wagon borrowing the chassis and much of the smooth front styling of the S.A.T. sedan. The nuvi 70 features the world's first smog eating radiator the more serious all will drive cross-country and lots of aggressive gray trim as it steps even closer to being a bonafide SUV. Without a doubt sport utility vehicles made up the bulk of new production vehicle introductions at the small end of the scale as the 2001 Ford Escape

on sale this summer. This American made four and six cylinder SUV is based on the Mazda 6 2 6 sedan the interior is the largest in class and includes a standard CD player. There's a choice of front or automatic all wheel drive which allows you to mechanically lock the axles for serious off roading. It will do battle with a restyled Subaru Forester SUV that arrives in February. The field of new midsize SUV these will grow with an all new 2001 Mitsubishi Montero and the long awaited and bargain priced Hyundai Santa Fe. As for full size SUV the crowds came to see the 2001 Toyota Sequoia built on the Tundra pickup chassis and aimed directly at the Tongo an expedition Sequoia features a passenger three row seating of four point seven leader V8 and the brands on question quality. The big big truck news was at the all new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra three quarter ton pick ups will be available with the new Duramax turbo charge be a diesel made by truck expert is used to but easily the most anticipated production

vehicle introduction was the fourth generation Chrysler minivans leaping into the ever more crowded minivan market. The 2001 Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country hide all new components behind evolutionary styling will power doors are offered for the first time and they're the only minivans available with the power assisted tailgate. The new premium engine choice will be the 230 horsepower three point five lever overhead cam B6 that powers the 300 m sedan. Look for these new people movers and the fall which will be only a few months before the next North American International Auto Show. The auto show there proved to the world that no one knows how to throw a party quite like Motown. Do antilock brakes always reduce your stopping distance in emergency situations. A new government study concludes that except on loose surfaces like sand and snow all panic stops can be shorter with more will and you walk breaks then without shorter on what pavement.

And shorter on dry pavement. Remember ABS works best when you stop the brake pedal stay on the brake pedal and steer where you want to go. Coming up the work behind the wizard. Next with more cracker jack Karkare advice to keep all of our vehicles running right. John you would not believe the number of questions that I get regarding more horsepower from the car and the most common question I get is what should I do with the fuel injection system or the intake manifold or the mass airflow sensor. Well the reality is that's not where you start. See no matter how much more fuel and air you put into the engine it doesn't do you any good unless you can get exhaust out of the engine. So that means that the exhaust system is your first area to modify. But then comes the question. How about a cat back system. Well I gain a lot of

horsepower there. Maybe but probably not. So then comes the question headers Well if I put headers on it that's certainly going to do it. Well again probably not. And the reason is very simple. The catalytic converter mounted right in the middle of all of this stuff. It is not a high performance converter it is not free flow and it has some age on it so the interior of it may be partially melted which restricts exhaust flow so you always do it as a complete package from beginning to end and the catalytic converter is critically important. Also install new oxygen sensors while you're doing it now. Then comes the question of legality and everybody looks at the box or the statements that come with the product it says 50 states legal. And hey I'm good to go. Well maybe maybe not. You have to check your local regulations because sometimes they're going to be noise limits. There may be restrictions on these systems and so on.

So you have to do your homework That way you don't throw a lot of money away. Well right. Now. You get all of that done. Here's another common question I want to put a high performance air filter in my car. Can I expect 20 or 30 horsepower from it. Probably not. You see high performance air filters on most cars are going to have little or no benefit except at full throttle. That means if you're towing a trailer or doing some other kind of heavy work or you're racing the car yeah you're going to get some benefit from it. But for day to day driving you may not notice anything at all. So study what you're going to do follow your plan and you can gain horsepower if you have a question or a comment. Write to me if I use your letter. I'll send you a motor week T-shirt The address is Motor Week always Mills Maryland 2 1 1 0 1 7. Our companies invest tons of time and money designing new products. So when they

first present the finished efforts to the world they want to put their best foot forward. A prime example was the recent unveiling of this 2000 Cadillac DeVille. Granted it's the car not the event that will impress savvy buyers and the press but it's f y i reporter Jennifer because novice found out stirring up a little showbiz excitement is an essential part of the mix. Most people think when a car company unveiled their newest models it's pretty simple. Well it's not as you can see behind me. So much preparation and planning goes into turning an unveiling into a true impact. Inside here we've basically done is we've we're trying to recreate a 1949 era which is the first year that Motor Trend magazine awarded car of the year which is to the 1949 debil. A 50 year legacy of achievement and a new millennium full of even greater

expectations. That's the message Cadillac delivered with the unveiling of their new 2000 Deville. And they did so with all the style and theatrical of a full blown Broadway production for 50 years with all of the fine American luxury on wheels. And this time a whole lot of Asian in our industry in a calculated blending of past and future Cadillac presented an updated image a more muscular contemporary Deville designed as a boomer's first luxury car. Critical to launching any new image is a successful unveiling and preparing for an unveiling can be more like rehearsing for opening night on Broadway and staging a new car debut and will have lighting treatments on the walls and moving lights on the floors. Kirk Kovar is project manager for encore Productions. The team responsible for all the incredible sets costumes and special effects that showcase the unveiling of the 2000 Deville. And we're going to have talent on stage that will be hair makeup. They're going to be in the wardrobe. They're going to be scripted with with the 1049 garb that

they're going to be doing I think Atlanta at this beautiful mansion that we see right over here. The world's first redhead. High compression went sour for five months ago we had to get an idea of a creative concept that we pitched to Cadillac and sold them on. The experience that we were trying to create for everybody when they came in the room. It was an experience of playfulness punctuated with reminders of Cadillac's own proud heritage. You feel like you're. Pretty busy right now pretty busy right now but we're ahead of schedule and under budget and we're ready for John Smith tomorrow morning for him to come in and do his rehearsals on stage and the first year.

Thought the boy Mr. Camp would like a little more drama. That's what they're using as well but that's OK but things are quite flat so there's a there's a lot of people like what though obviously you really have drama and visioning a creative production like this and then making sure it succeeds in delivering a clear and accurate statement about the new to Bill is the job of Gina shrubs or of JMS communications we have a creative director a lighting director a production company that's involved in my job or simply to make sure that they understand what Cadillac's trying to achieve and then let them go ahead and take those parameters and run with it and run with it. They did mounting 50 years of highlights from Cadillacs prestigious history and culminating with the high tech to build 2000. A car Cadillac hopes will project them as a leader in such areas as all weather control active and infotainment. State. Rules. When you're working in a

live. Show. The reward is when it all comes off perfectly. It's a really good feeling to get the reaction from the client. After the show I look for the hinges. Time now for more of what's new and exciting on the automotive scene. Once again here's Jennifer because novice but this time with all the latest Motor News in the Spanish language the word see a low mean sky at Le Casa de Buick in Detroit. It also means a whole new way of viewing it. That's because the Buick Regal CAA low features a fully retractable hardtop giving sedan buyers the open air enjoyment of a convertible and the roominess stability and security of a sedan. When you have the top up you have the floor utility of a traditional midsize sedan. Sixteen point seven cubic feet of trunk space you can store a tremendous amount of gear in the trunk for baccy

forefronts. All those things are for additional midsize sedan brings home. But when you drop the top the character of the car changes entirely the feeling that you got the idea of the regal CA Loz retractable top was borrowed from the seal of concept car which debuted last year and was shown again at this year's L.A. Auto Show. The response was so overwhelming. Buick designers decided to use the top in a more practical application. The two panel top can be utilized in three different ways. First the front panel can be retracted just enough to give the front seat occupants the same effect as a traditional sunroof. Those not ready for the wind in their hair can still get a healthy dose of fresh air by lowering the rear window. Only the roof uses a system of cables and electric motors to move the roof panels and takes about 20 seconds to fully open and close when fully retracted. The panels are stored in the trunk and although capacity is somewhat diminished there are still plenty of room for a week's worth of groceries. At this time the Buick Regal celo is still just a concept car but source that Buick can't that a limited

edition production run is possible in the future. And that's it for this week's Motor News. It's been said that history is simply a piece of paper covered with print. But in the case of Hemmings Motor News is book abandoned autos. It's more like old automobiles covered with rust expanding upon their calendar of the same name. The folks at Hemming's have put together a coffee table book with over 100 color photos of old cars and trucks in varying stages of a static decay and where available each photo was accompanied by an ad showing the vehicle in its pristine prime abandoned autos is history you won't mind repeating again and again. When you test nearly 150 new cars and trucks every year you naturally find a few that really stand out from the crowd here at motorway BMW 3 series cars especially the coops have always been among our favorites. So naturally we look forward to the arrival of the all new 3 series coupe for some

time. Or now that it's here. Will it retain our most favorite car status. Well let's put it this way. If they didn't it would be a serious indication of something gone horribly awry as BMW Agege. Napoli all is right in Burberry and the new 2003 23C II is proof positive of that. And although it cheers its drive train and suspension components with the three series sedans introduced last year the coupe has its own very distinctive character that can be seen Ensign lay in its styling where it shares only logos door handles and side blinkers with the four door body proportions are slightly longer with a more sharply raked windshield and it's wider. The coupe also has a one point eight inch lower right height underscored by a far more aggressive lower front facia complete with bullet fog lamps at the rear the tail lights are uniquely styled and they can be had with 17 inch wheels which are not yet available on the 3 series sedan. Inside the cabin while

still business like there's a brighter trim on the dash indoors than the sedan for a sporty or feels our car had a pair of optional 10 way adjustable sports leather pockets while the driver faces a leather wrapped multifunction three spokes for steering wheel attached to a standard tilt telescoping column beyond the wheel as a gauge cluster we'd still like to see be a bit more comprehensive while to the right the well placed stereo with AM FM casette an available CD player does an awful lifting job driving the 10 well placed speakers just below the single zone climate controls now come with an automatic circulation control mode which re circulates the inside air when a high level of pollution is detected outside. Access to the rear seats is made easy with a tilting glide mechanism that moves the front seats forward three and a half inches when the seat back is tilted forward. Once there you will find acceptable space for two average sized adults and when adults are absence you can fold either or both seat backs to expand upon the modest

1.5 cubic feet of trunk space expanding the fun factor in our tester is the surprisingly peppy 2.5 leader double overhead cam twenty four valve inline six cylinder found under the hood but double bandos variable valve timing dual resonant intake system and a lightweight aluminum block and heads combined to give RCI tester one hundred seventy horsepower and one hundred eighty one pound feet of torque. And that's enough to get this 5 speed manual equipped compact to 60 and a quick six point five seconds past the quarter mile stripe and 15 seconds at 93 miles per hour. That's actually. Quicker to 60 than the more powerful but slightly heavier 328 I said and we tested last year the celebration is pretty rapid to twenty three point three. Ten point nine inch rear ventilated disc with ABS grabbed and held until we came to a stop in a short 105. Our drivers love the excellent pedal feel and stability. We also admire the sea

ice taut and superbly balanced handling the standard suspension on the sport package on the sedans which is finally front and rear set up with lightweight aluminum. Component steering inputs are honed to a fine edge and the engine speed sensitive steering feels grafted to your hands. Lateral transitions are effortlessly man is allowing the driver to toss the car at will without threatening control. Of course it doesn't hurt to have the standard dynamic stability control system as your safety net. Twenty nine thousand five hundred sixty dollars isn't too much and a great personality tester came with a few other goodies. Thirty four thousand six hundred thirty dollars at Automobile magazine. A car that has been honed by driver and we couldn't agree more. In fact status with us.

I hope you'll join us next week for more motor week. Well test the Dodge Dakota quad cab pickup and its cousin the Durango s l t plus sport you will also check out the latest Ford Taurus family sedan and look at the unique culture of the Morgan that God shows us how electronic stability programs work. Plus we'll have an auto rewind report on buying a used Chevy or GMC Suburban and all the latest Motor News. I'm John Davis. We'll see you then. To learn more about motor week. TV's original automotive magazine. Visit us at PBS online at the Internet address on your screen. Motor Week has been brought to you by Pep Boys. No matter what you drive Pep Boys has over twenty seven thousand items in stock virtually any part for any car with all the name brands you know plus service based staff with AMC certified technicians Pep Boys parts tires accessories service to order a video cassette of this program call 1

800 4 2 2 0 0 6 4. Or send one thousand ninety five plus 495 shipping and handling to this address. Hey. This is PBS.