--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGQ00004 Date: 12/18/97 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 09:51pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Lienert Report The Lienert Report - October 30th 1997 Volkswagen reportedly is developing not one, but two new off-road vehicles. The smaller model is based on the new Golf platform and will be marketed across Europe under both the VW and Skoda brand names. The larger model, which may be shared with Porsche, is to be powered by a new 5.0-liter V-10 engine, according to suppliers. Toyota's redesigned Aristo in Japan (sold in North America as the Lexus GS300/400) boasts an unusual new technology: An electronic system designed to "optimize quantitative engine sound to create a sporty effect," according to the manufacturer. In other words, to simulate a throatier exhaust note. A Jaguar executive based in North America hints the upcoming X400 sedan could be "all-wheel drive," suggesting the British sports-car maker has reached an understanding with its American parent over the potentially divisive subject of whether the 3-series beater will use the Mondeo's front-drive platform or a version of the X200's rear-drive platform. Since Ford has a 4x4 variant of the Mondeo chassis already engineered and tooled... What will Rover's new British-built Mini and the next European-bound Chrysler Neon have in common? A brand-new 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine built in Brazil--the first fruit of a joint venture between Chrysler and BMW, the German parent of Rover. How's that for a truly global program? 1999 Lincoln LS8 For months, Ford engineers have been testing heavily disguised prototypes of a new mid-size, five-passenger luxury sedan known internally as EDW98. The new four-door, which goes on sale in spring 1999 badged as the LS6 and LS8 (depending on engine choice), will be a companion to the new Jaguar X200 sedan that debuts in late 1998. According to company suppliers, the baby Lincoln will use a Ford-built version of Jaguar's twin-cam, 290-horsepower 4.0-liter V-8 with a five-speed automatic transmission; the rear-wheel-drive sedan will also be available with a twin-cam, 200-horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 engine that can be ordered with the automatic or with a five-speed manual. Judging from the latest round of spy photos, the LS8 will sport a prominent chrome grille, similar to those on the Continental and Town Car, plus limousine-style doors that wrap into the roof and a cozy cabin upholstered in leather. Sources say the LS-series will measure only 195 inches long overall, with a long wheelbase and extremely short front and rear overhangs. Four-wheel independent suspension is fitted, as are Goodyear Eagle GA 215/60R16 touring tires. Potential sales targets include the BMW 5-series, Mercedes-Benz E-class, Acura RL and Lexus ES300. Suppliers say the LS is to be assembled at Ford's Wixom plant west of Detroit. The rear-wheel-drive DEW chassis will be adapted for a variety of future global products, according to company sources, including the next-generation Thunderbird and Mustang, as well as the successor to the Australian Falcon. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGQ00005 Date: 12/18/97 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 09:52pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Japan Report U.S. Gov. Report Highlights Lack of Action by Japanese, Automakers Say December 5, 1997 WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ via Individual Inc. -- The following statement was issued today by Andrew H. Card, Jr., President and CEO of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA), in response to the release of the U.S. Trade Representative's Fourth Semi-Annual Report to the President of the Interagency Enforcement Team regarding the 1995 U.S.-Japan Agreement on Autos and Auto Parts. "Although we are almost midway through the five-year U.S.-Japan Auto Agreement, Japan is nowhere near the halfway mark in meeting expected market- opening results under the Agreement. "The report emphasizes the increasing U.S. concerns and disappointment that Japan has not taken sufficient action to deregulate and open up its restricted auto market, despite pledges made in 1995 as part of the bilateral auto agreement. Import vehicle sales are down, there are far too few dealer outlets, and the Japanese Government has been foot- dragging on deregulating the parts sector. Despite Japan's inaction, the report highlights the significant efforts U.S. vehicle and parts producers have been making to increase sales in Japan. "It's important to note that the U.S. is not alone in expressing frustration with Japan. Representatives from the European Union, Canada, and Australia echoed U.S. complaints about the lack of Japanese action on these issues during talks held in San Francisco in early October to review the Agreement. "With the financial crises unfolding in Asia and the yen now approaching 130 yen to the dollar, it is Japan's responsibility, now more than ever, to show leadership by taking immediate, major deregulatory and market-opening action to foster domestic demand-led growth. Japan must take such steps to put its economy on more firm financial footing. The auto sector would be a good place to start." AAMA is the trade association whose members are Chrysler Corporation (NYSE: C), Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), and General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM). The AAMA site on the World Wide Web can be reached at http://www.aama.com. SOURCE American Automobile Manufacturers Association --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGQ00006 Date: 12/18/97 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:03pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Active Handling Industry News / Editor Views Corvette Option List Adds Active Handling and Dumps Magnesium Wheels November, 1997-- Buyers of the Chevrolet Corvette will soon be able to take delivery of a car equipped with an Active Handling system, but forget about equipping it with magnesium wheels. Standard on export- market Corvettes, the $3,000 wheels were more popular with U.S. buyers than Chevrolet expected. Demand far outstripped supply, so they've been deleted from the 1998 Corvette option list. The good news, however, is the availability of Active Handling, which goes into production in mid-December. Active Handling is designed to keep the overzealous Corvette pilot from spinning into a ditch. Aggressive drivers, fear not. Engineers have kept you in mind while designing the system. Unlike other stability enhancement systems, this one keeps the driver who knows what he's doing in control. An Active Handling Corvette will still get loose in the twisties or on the track. The system measures the amount of countersteer by the driver, and activates based on those measurements. Keep the Corvette in the groove, and you'll never know Active Handling is there as a safety net. If your teenage son heads out to impress his pals and gets rubber-armed while in over his head, Active Handling will step in and try to straighten things out. Active Handling operates on all four wheels, and can be switched off if that is the driver's preference. In other Corvette news, the new convertible has been selected as the pace car for the Indianapolis 500 this May. Chevrolet will build 1,158 replicas, all equipped with Active Handling and priced at just $47,790. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGQ00007 Date: 12/18/97 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:09pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Mobil SpeedPass Industry News / Editor Views Mobil Speedpass: Cool Idea of the Year November, 1997-- Driving along the East Coast last summer, we noticed that many Mobil stations accepted something called a Speedpass. A Speedpass is an electronic payment method that allows motorists to pull into the gas station, pump gas, and then drive off without worrying about running in to pay the cashier or swiping a credit card through the Fast Pay slot on the pump. Here's how it works. The motorist who signs up for Speedpass access can use either a window tag or a key tag that will "communicate" with the fuel pump via radio signals. Once the fuel pump finsihes its "conversation" with the Speedpass tag, it turns itself on and you're ready to pump. The gas is then charged to a credit card account. This is how you can find out more about Speedpass, and apply for one: 1. Call 1-800-459-2266 2. Go to www.mobil.com/speedpass 3. Complete an enrollment form at a Mobil station There is no cost to the motorist for a Speedpass, and there are no service charges. Speedpass is rapidly expanding across the country, so if you haven't seen it at your local Mobil station, it should be there soon. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGQ00008 Date: 12/18/97 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:06pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: NetCar Industry News / Editor Views Internet Access Coming to a... Car Near You? November, 1997-- Road rage. It's the latest buzz-subject with the media and government regulators. Supposedly, one source of road rage is inattentive drivers who travel too slowly and weave all over the road. Driver inattention is currently attributed to eating meals behind the wheel, yakking with a pal about the Big Game or new partner at the law firm, applying makeup or shaving on the way to work, and reading a book or newspaper during the morning commute, among others. Soon, another pasttime will be added to the list. Sun Microsystems Inc., International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), Delco Electronics Corp., and Netscape Communications have teamed up to provide motorists with Internet access via a console-mounted display screen. With a heads-up display, text-to-voice system, and a web browser, the average commuter will be able to download and listen to e-mail, play games, or look at nude women while sharing the road with you and me. Yikes! This tops the dumb idea list of automotive features, and makes a great argument for automated highway systems like the one currently undergoing tests in San Diego. To attract customers and get them to overlook the expected high price tag, the partners will bundle the system with on-board navigation. Hey, uh, on-board navigation systems currently sell about as well as Woolroch parkas in Miami Beach. Instead, give the bozo who wants to surf the 'net while driving free online access. That'll bring 'em in! Microsoft and Intel are also working on in-car Internet systems. Daimler-Benz, who displayed an E-Class concept car that provided occupants with Internet access earlier this year, expects to offer consumers such a feature within ten years. We have a better idea, guys. Pop a Sony Playstation in the back seat for the kiddies, and let Mom and Dad plug the laptop into the cigarette lighter and satellite phone when all that junk e-mail just can't be allowed to pile up. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGQ00009 Date: 12/19/97 From: CHRIS ZYCHSKI Time: 02:21am \/To: DON LEWIS (Read 0 times) Subj: Motor Trend takes bribes DL> Chris Zychski wrote to Roy Witt: DL>RW>... Chevrolet Blazer, Motor Trend 1995 Truck of the year. DL>CZ> ... Motor Trend, General Motors 1995 Magazine of the Year. DL>The Chevy Vega was also the Car of the Year, and in the mid-60s, DL>Motor Trend named the Toyota Corona or Corolla their Import Car DL>of the Year after Toyota literally paid for the magazine's DL>circulation for an entire year. My point egg-zactly! DL>About the only commercial magazines I trust for car ratings DL>are Popular Mechanics and Popular Science. Agreed... And _usually_ Consumer's Report. -cc * SLMR 2.1a * Start slow and taper off. --- Renegade v5-11 Exp * Origin: The Bearsville BBS * Warren, MI * (810) 582-9429 (1:120/650) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGQ00010 Date: 12/19/97 From: CHRIS ZYCHSKI Time: 02:21am \/To: ROY WITT (Read 0 times) Subj: RADIATOR LEAK RW> CZ> I believe that permanent antifreeze was an RW> CZ> early by-product of Double-U Double-U Two. RW> Did we import some of the German chemists too? Huh?! Did you sleep through the the late Forties"? Are we out to blow up the Russians? Are the Russians out to blow us up? HECK, NO! It's German Scientists on both sides playin' ROCKET SHIP! - Brother Dave Garner -cc * SLMR 2.1a * Stay back! I have a modem and I know how to use it!! --- Renegade v5-11 Exp * Origin: The Bearsville BBS * Warren, MI * (810) 582-9429 (1:120/650) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGQ00011 Date: 12/19/97 From: CHRIS ZYCHSKI Time: 02:21am \/To: ROY WITT (Read 0 times) Subj: Monte Carlo probs. RW>Two consecutive days and nites with Heather Locklears' dog... The dog's the one with the collar... RW>Starkle Starkle Little Twink What the hell you are I think? I dunno... -cc * SLMR 2.1a * Stealing a rhinoceros should not be attempted lightly. --- Renegade v5-11 Exp * Origin: The Bearsville BBS * Warren, MI * (810) 582-9429 (1:120/650) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGQ00012 Date: 12/20/97 From: CHRIS ZYCHSKI Time: 01:55am \/To: ALAN MORRISON (Read 0 times) Subj: BMW vs Corvette AM>I just can't get used to the headlights and that spoiler off a 70 Dodge AM>Daytona! Huh?! Dodge Daytona in 1970??? I musta slept through that one. Har! * SLMR 2.1a * The trick to overcoming temptation? Play dead. --- Renegade v5-11 Exp * Origin: The Bearsville BBS * Warren, MI * (810) 582-9429 (1:120/650) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGQ00013 Date: 12/20/97 From: CHRIS ZYCHSKI Time: 01:55am \/To: JASON WEDEHASE (Read 0 times) Subj: American Sports Car JW> Well, I guess that's one way to look at it. I'm curious... why JW>does the Vette stop faster when the Viper hsa so much bigger a contact JW>patch for braking? Vette drivers have bigger feet! Har! -cc * SLMR 2.1a * The ultimate Turn on. When they shoot at you.. and miss! --- Renegade v5-11 Exp * Origin: The Bearsville BBS * Warren, MI * (810) 582-9429 (1:120/650)