2001 New York Show, Part I

Sponsors of TCC's 2001
NY Auto Show coverage

 

LEAP OF FAITH . Suzuki demonstrated to the New York auto show press that, if you want real fireworks, you have to use real fireworks. Suzuki motorcycle racing champ Travis Pastrana leaped over Suzuki’s newest concept, the SX activity vehicle, while his jump-off ramps went ablaze. Oh, the car itself, you ask? The SX is a supercharged four-cylinder, 220-hp, all-wheel drive wagon, sort of a bad-ass Pontiac Vibe. Suzuki’s very squarely aiming the SX concept at “active-lifestyle women,” but the screaming-yellow brake calipers told a different story. A production version of the SX is coming in the fall.

 

CIVIC LESSON. Honda’s not forgotten its most rabid fans. Even if it’s not called a CRX, the latest edition of the Honda Civic Si should be enough to appease the most discerning of zealots. The ’02 Si is a British-built Civic three-door with “European styling, hatchback utility, and SI performance,” according to Honda execs. Its 2.0-liter I-VTEC four-cylinder spins out 160 hp. Aside from the hatch styling – it’s now the only three-door Civic you can buy in the States --  you can also spot the Si by its mesh grille, sport seats, and silver-faced gauges. A nifty console-mounted gearshift is said to be inspired by rally racing. Honda is pegging 0-60 mph runs at 7.5 seconds, is predicting five-star safety ratings, and will make side airbags optional for the as-yet-unpriced Civic Si.

 

HALFWAY HOME . Nissan has already accomplished half of the goals it set out for itself under the revival plan it unveiled in October 1999. That according to Nissan’s Brazilian-born CEO, Carlos Ghosn. Ghosn and Nissan were honored by stock firm Morgan Stanley for having the biggest improvement in its stock last year, the automaker’s share price doubling since the Nissan Revival Plan was announced. During a subsequent appearance at the New York Auto Show, Ghosn stressed that Nissan is “not ready to cast off the image…as the underdog.” The worst danger, he warned, is developing “a sense of complacency.”

 

’02 ALTIMA BOWS. Nissan has seen the light when it comes to true midsize sedans: the ’02 Altima is growing bigger and frankly, more interesting to look at. To build the attractive new Altima, Nissan grew the car’s wheelbase to 110.2 inches, and stretched it to 191.5 inches long. They say it’s bigger than the current Camry and Accord inside, and by pegging the Audi A4 and VW Passat as some handling benchmarks, have refashioned the anonymous compact into more of a driver’s car. Two engines will be available: a 180-hp four-cylinder and a 240-hp six-cylinder based on the current Maxima engine. A five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic can be had. Four-wheel disc brakes on all models and a V-6-equipped SE model with 215/55 rear tires tops the model range. We’ll have a full report on the new Altima later this summer.

 

MITSU’S QUINTUPLETS. Not just one new product, but five from Mitsubishi at the New York Show. The Diamante gets a light restyling and a new VRX model with a rear wing; both the VRX and the standard car sport Mitsubishi’s new twin-grille nose styling. The bigger news, says Mitsubishi, is the company’s new Lancer sedan, a four-door economy sedan with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The base model is the ES, well equipped with air conditioning and a CD player; the LS gets a four-speed automatic transmission and keyless entry. The O-Z Rally edition gets special air dams, a black interior with white-faced gauges, and O-Z alloy wheels for a hot-rod look.