2000 Geneva Motor Show Part II Page 2

By Marty Padgett

Marty Padgett

Editorial Director BIO

Marty Padgett is High Gear Media's Editorial Director, overseeing the words that skim across High Gear Media's portfolio of automotive destinations... More

LATEST ARTICLE
30 Days Of 2013 Ram 1500: Gas Mileage, So Far
As we roll through our 30-day road test of the 2013 Ram 1500, we're ready to file our first report... Read More

• #5LEADERBOARD RANK
• 5170ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
• 111COMMENTS POSTED

8,980 views Mar 1, 2000

Follow Marty

Add to circle

2000 Fiat Ecobasic concept Enlarge Photo

BACK TO BASICS Unlike the exotically crafted, fuel-cell-powered city concepts of the competition, Fiat’s three-liter concept Ecobasic was made with cost in mind. Its1.2-liter common-rail diesel and semi-automatic transmission are feasible for production today, Fiat says, as is its stop-and-go engine, which shuts itself down when the car stops at traffic lights and intersections. The Ecobasic’s body is made of colored plastic panels bonded to a steel frame, and in a Tonka-toy touch, its service points are in the nose, tipped in bright Playskool colors.

2001 Chrysler Sebring Enlarge Photo

SEBRING SPEARHEADS CHRYSLER IN EUROPE Twinned with the Dodge Stratus sedan we brought you from the Chicago auto show, the Chrysler Sebring is the replacement for the former Cirrus sedan. It shares the Stratus’ 2.7-liter V-6 and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines, and manual and automatic gearboxes. Successful rhinoplasty has removed the former Cirrus’ bulging nose, while lippy wheel arches and smooth taillamps give the Sebring an upscale look in the same genre as the VW Jetta. (The faux woodgrain could use some more work, though.) Chrysler group president Jim Holden says the company is committed to increasing the quality of its cars, and announced that this new Sebring will spearhead the company’s effort to get more Europeans into its products. As for Americans, the Sebring should go on sale in the summer; the convertible companion is expected to debut at April’s New York auto show.

2001 BMW M3 Enlarge Photo	2000 BMW X5 leMans concept Enlarge Photo

BMW’S CHOICE: 343 OR 700 HP The stunning power on tap for the next M3 coupe, officially unveiled at Geneva, is enough to make any enthusiast check their bank balances. Nearly an inch wider than the standard 3-Series coupe, the M3 sports 225/45 ZR-18 tires, 255/40ZR-18s in back. The hood bulges to accommodate the 3.2-liter in-line six, now possessed with an astonishing 343 bhp. Sport seats, steering wheel, deep air dam and rear spoiler, and four-tip exhaust make the new M3 look the part of a supercoupe slayer. BMW estimates 0-60 times of less than 5.2 seconds. As a companion, BMW also showed a V-12-powered version of the X5 sport-ute, dubbed the Le Mans concept. If a 700-hp sport-ute doesn’t thrill you, maybe its 4.7-second 0-60 time will. Massive 315/35 rear wheels and aluminum trim are production-esque touches, but even BMW dismisses talk of building any more of the Le Mans.

2000 Renault Kolios concept Enlarge Photo ]

SUV FUTURE IN KOLEOS? An unusually futuristic SUV from the same designer that penned the Avantime (see above), the Koleos can morph into a pickup by folding in its retractable tailgate. Variable ride height and four-wheel drive endows it with off-road possibilities. Nearly the length of a Chrysler 300M, the Koleos uses voice commands to control cockpit gear, and sports carbon-fiber-frame seats and immense 21-inch wheels. Power comes from a 170-hp, 2.0-liter 16-valve turbo four powering the front wheels; it’s paired with two lithium-ion batteries driving the rear wheels through an electric motor.

2001 Toyota RAV4 two door Enlarge Photo	2001 Toyota RAV4 Four Door Enlarge Photo

RAV4 MATURES A surprise debut at Geneva, Toyota’s RAV4 emerged with more sophisticated trappings inside and out. Powertrains are essentially carryovers, but the body structure is completely new, with a handsome arc to the roofline and a more substantial appearance. Three and five-door models are still on tap, and Toyota says the new RAV is the most spacious vehicle in its class. Safety features include whiplash-reducing seats. No word yet on U.S. availability or pricing, although the new RAV4 is expected to go on sale in late summer.