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Coming Next Issue
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Detroit Auto Show 2004 |
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Jaguar S-Type Review |
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| 2004 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, continued. |
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It’s been 36 years since Morgan released a “new model,” but this year marks the North American debut of a car that is as unique as the passage of time since the company’s last “new model.” With styling that looks like a cross between a 007’s car and the bat mobile, the Morgan Aero 8, sporting a BMW engine revives the past with a look that, while contemporary, is definitely unlike anything else you’ll see on the road. The body panels are aluminum, which help keep the weight of the car down, while the frame, like all Morgans, is constructed of ash.
Chevrolet will release what will replace the venerable Cavalier in 2005. The Chevy Cobalt will feature a sleeker, more contemporary design and a dynamic performance. There will be two- and four-door models as well as an SS model. It will compete with the Ford Focus, Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla for a niche in the American marketplace.
The Maserati Quattroporte is a return to basics for the Italian automaker, which is a rather ironic statement to make, as there is nothing about the Quattroporte that is basic. With a total of 12 different exterior colors, three types of wood trim and 10 varieties of leather to choose from, the Quattroporte can be personalized all the way down to the minutest detail.
Porsche and BMW are launching multiple entries into the car market this year. Porsche is coming out with six-cylinder model, which will reduce the sticker price, some $18,000 from the Cayenne S. Porsche is also releasing a beefed-up sports car: the Carrera GT. Sporting a 5.7 liter, V-10 engine, the GT is essentially a street-legal race car. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, according to Porsche. With a sticker price of $440,000 and a top speed of 205 mph, (according to a test report written by Daniel Pund in the December issue of Car and Driver magazine), this car is not for the faint of heart.
BMW has added a new, more powerful engine to its top-of-the-line SUV. The re-styled X5 4.8is, along with the X3, will hit the market this year, while the X2 is on the bill for the future. BMW will also re-introduce its six series coupe in the market for the first time since 1989. The 645Ci Coupe will be aimed at true enthusiasts, and will command nearly $70,000.
The Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata is an upgraded version of what the Guinness Book of Records calls “the world’s best-selling sports car.” The MX-5 will have a turbocharger fitted to its 1.8 liter, inter-cooled engine, and will deliver 25 percent more horsepower than the standard Miata.
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