2006 New York Auto Show, Part VIII

2006 New York Auto Show, Part VIII - The Car Connection 2006 New York Auto Show, Part VIII
Maserati driving school, BMW Z4 Coupe and Mitsu Outlander.

by Henny Hemmes

(2006-04-17)

2006 New York Auto Show Coverage by TCC Team (4/10/2006)

Maserati Opening Driving School

InNew York , Maserati announced a U.S. driving school modeled after the successful Master Maserati program hosted at the Varano racetrack in Italy . The North American school will be the first master driving school outside Italy .

Master Maserati provides instruction in proper performance driving in order to achieve a fluid relationship between the driver and his or her car. That way the Maserati drivers learn to get the most from their car and themselves, Maserati says.

Classes will be limited to 18 participants and will be divided into smaller groups to make sure that everyone gets the maximum teaching experience. Master Maserati is open to both Maserati owners and any enthusiast interested in learning driving skills on the Road Atlanta racetrack, with support from Panoz Racing School . Each program will include all technical equipment necessary, gourmet catering, concierge service and business center availability. The classes will start in May and will be offered as twelve two-day and eight single-day programs. The two-day course includes a stay at Chateau Elan resort and golf club and is offered for $3400. The one-day course is priced at $1800.

Saleen Tunes Parnelli Jones Mustang

Parnelli Jones Mustang |

Steve Saleen has teamed up with Parnelli Jones to develop a limited-edition Mustang. Saleen's vision of retro goes back to 1970, when Parnelli Jones raced his Boss 302 Mustang around the country in Trans Am races. The design of the 2007 Saleen/Parnelli Jones Limited Edition Mustang celebrates the racing legend's Boss 302.

That is why the Parnelli Jones Mustang will only be available in Grabber orange, while it also has details that also go back to the famous Boss 302. They include the unique front fascia, racing style air dam, hood pins, a black striped "shaker" hood, a black trunk deck and 302 side stripes. A trunk insert license plate with chrome trim, badging and decals (including Parnelli's racing number 15) are there too, but the decals are of a static cling, instant-off type. The interior features racing seats, a nostalgic IP, an oil temperature gauge and race pedals.

The Limited Edition is equipped with a Saleen-tuned suspension-in this case, a Watts linkage suspension derived from racing-and performance gear such as shocks, springs, brakes and high-performance Pirelli 275/40-19s up front and 285/40-19s in the rear. Under the hood sits the new Saleen-tuned 302-cid V-8 that produces 370 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque. The V-8 will be mated to a five-speed gearbox and gets a 3.73 rear differential.

The special edition is limited to 499 units. Saleen will build 500, but Parnelli Jones gets # 001. The Mustang will be available at Saleen dealers and will be priced in the range of $55,000-$60,000.

Mitsu Outlander Arrives in New York

2007 Mitsubishi Outlander |

With the 2007 Outlander, Mitsubishi introduces the new design language that will mark new models from the Japanese brand going forward. The new model is built on a global platform that will also be used for the next Evo, which will arrive in North America next year.

The Outlander will be equipped with a 220-hp 3.0-liter V-6 engine that delivers maximum torque at 1900 rpm and is mated to a six-speed Sportonic transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters.

The new Outlander has a flexible interior that seats seven, five or two. The load floor is very low, and while the two rear rows fold flat, the Outlander also sports a flat-fold tailgate.

Front-wheel drive is standard; optional electronically controlled four-wheel drive offers a driver-configurable system that changes modes at the turn of a knob. The new car will be offered in other markets such as Europe with a turbodiesel engine and with 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter gas engines that have been developed with the Chrysler Group, which uses them for the Dodge Caliber and other models. The new Outlander will arrive in dealerships this fall.

BMW Z4 Coupe

BMW brought the Z4 Coupe to New York for its North American debut. The Z4 Coupe 3.0si will hit the market this summer and should compete with other newcomers such as the Porsche Cayman S.

The Z4 Coupe 3.0si features a new six-cylinder engine with 255 hp and 220 lb- ft. Fuel efficiency for the automatic model improves to 21/29 mpg, up from 19/27 mpg. With the manual transmission, the 3.0si Roadster and Coupe average 20/30 mpg.

The Z4 M Coupe shares a lot of parts of the current M3, such as the 330-hp in-line six and its suspension. With the 3.2-liter engine the Z4M Coupe sprints in just under 5 seconds from zero to 60 mph and reaches a limited top speed of 155 mph.

A price for the Z4 M Coupe has not been announced yet. The Z4 Coupe 3.0si will be priced at $40,795 including destination charge. Production of the Coupe will start on May 1^st.