2000 L.A. Photo Gallery I

2000 Pontiac Aztek NAIAS

PONTIAC MINTS "SAV" AZTEK Coining a new phrase for its "sport recreation vehicle," a crossover station wagon/sport-utility vehicle, Pontiac's new little all-wheel-drive Aztek adventurer has a wide-track chassis and an all-speed traction control system. It’s derived from the Montana minivan’s chassis, which means an independent suspension, and optional four-wheel drive is coming. Powered by a 3.4-liter V-6 packing 185 horsepower, the nimble Aztek's fuel economy could well top practically every six-cylinder SUV on the road.

2000 Kia Spectra

TURNAROUND KIA CASTS SPECTRA When you leap from receivership to the quickest and most phenomenal rebound in the industry, you can afford to boast about your next sedan, the Spectra. A compact sport hatchback figuring to sell for under $10,000, the Kia Spectra’s 1.8-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine offers a respectable 125 horsepower. A split-folding rear seat, remote-control power mirrors, five-speed manual transmission, and high-end suspension are all part of the entry-level package. Upgrade models provide automatic transmission and a few more goodies.

2000 Saturn CV1 concept

FIRST CONCEPT EVER: SATURN CV1 For its first concept vehicle, Saturn popped an all-wheel-drive van, sedan and SUV, into a Cuisinart mixer and came up with a vehicle that has bi-fold doors and add-on rear jump seats to accommodate five adults and two kids. All the seats except the driver's (who might want to stay in the car) can be folded flat. If it goes into production, the CV1 will house a 2.2-liter DOHC in-line four-cylinder engine that pumps out 137 horsepower.

2001 Saturn SC

SATURN REFASHIONS THE SC This jazzy new 2001 entry is the world's first and only three-door coupe. Geared towards Gen X and Y buyers, its futuristic front grill and Saturn-swoosh styling are head-turners, while the narrow third door is strictly for the young and slender. The engine is Saturn's tried and true 1.9-liter in-line four-cylinder. On sale in the spring, the SC is estimated to have a price tag under $15,000.

2000 Oldsmobile Profile concept

PROFILE SHARPENS AT OLDS Concept cars are hi-tech by nature and the Profile sports sedan is no exception. A Smart Car keyless ignition system performs all personal driver adjustments including responding to some voice commands. Filtered e-mail, an audio library and palm-top activity are part of the package via satellite, while a DVD player entertains rear-seat passengers. A supercharged 3.5-liter, 24-valve DOHC V-6 with a more than adequate 250 horsepower at 5500 rpm is teamed with four-speed automatic transmission.

2000 Subaru ST-X concept

JAPANESE EXUBERANCE? WITNESS ST-X.The most exuberant of this Japanese carmaker's models, the ST-X is Subaru's first U.S.-designed concept vehicle. Targeted at Southern California's beach and mountain biking lifestyle lovers, this hybrid truck-cum-SUV is a four-door, four-passenger experimental beauty guaranteed to give you a suntan when its soft top roof folds back. A switchback seat extends the 55.5-inch bed forward rather than backward another 20 inches, and a supercharged and intercooled 230-horsepower boxer six-cylinder engine powers the Sube through its all-wheel-drive system.

2000 BMW Z8

BOND’S BMW Z8 If you have $128,000 to toss around, then James Bond's Bimmer is for you. Classically designed, the exotic roadster harks back to the late Fifties when BMW's 507 sports car was all the rage. For 2000, the Z8 slouches towards 0-60 in less than five seconds, thanks to its rather quick 394-hp V-8 engine that also powers BMW's M5 sport sedan. Large 18-inch wheels, an aluminum space frame for less weight, a push starter button, GPS navigation, hands-free phone, electric soft top and removable hardtop add up to a nifty package. Only 500 are coming here — and it’s first come, first served.

2000 volkswagen Dune beetle concept

VOLKSWAGEN DUNE Okay, so the New Beetle is now scurrying over to tackle the sand. VW's concept takes to the dunes with a variety of modifications for sissies that include big wheels, adjustable ground clearance, desert Baja-style bumpers, two tiny coolers, a navigational system, a transparent removable top, protective rails, and an aluminum-lined rear compartment. Currently, the concept houses a high-torque 2.3-liter V-5 engine with a six-gear transmission and all-wheel drive.

2000 Rolls Royce Corniche

ROLLS ROYCE CORNICHE The most expensive and elegant conveyance in the show, the all-new Corniche convertible is breathtaking. Unfortunately, it is the last gasp for Rolls Royce, which surrenders its legendary logo in 2003 to BMW while VW keeps the Bentley name. Nevertheless, the VW-owned Rolls goes out in a blaze of glory: the magnificent slimmed down Corniche, at $384,000, easily clobbers the competition in Los Angeles for sheer glamour. Tech specs include a 6.75-liter V-8 engine with 325 hp, and a maximum speed of 135 mph.

2000 Acura CL concept

ACURA CL A high-performance, second-generation sleek luxury coupe, the 2001 CL lineup consists of two models: the 3.2 and 3.2 Type S. Both are powered by versions of Acura's 24-valve V-6. With VTEC alone it makes 225 horsepower in the 3.2, with more mods in the Type S it makes 260. The transmission is a race-inspired Formula 1 clutchless shifting, with a special sport suspension tuning on the S. Base prices are $28,000 and $32,000.