2002 Los Angeles Auto Show by
TCC Team (1/3/2002)

Toyota show sponsor
sponsored by
Toyota
XLR ON HOLD, ART & SCIENCE UNDER ASSAULT

Evoq_Front
The world will get its first look at the
production version of Cadillac's Evoq concept roadster at the North American
International Auto Show next week. But potential buyers will have to wait an
extra six months to get their hands on what has been renamed the Caddy XLR.
General Motors' product czar, Bob Lutz, tells TheCarConnection the last-minute
delay is meant "to make sure of the XLR's execution," with a focus on ensuring
good fit-and-finish of the roadster's composite panels. Look for the vehicle to
now reach showrooms in spring of 2003. In his effort to reshape GM's product
program, Lutz has also delayed the next-generation Cadillac Seville, to be
called the STS. That delay is meant to improve its styling, Lutz acknowledges.
Meanwhile, insiders say Lutz would like to abandon Caddy's controversial Art
& Science design theme. While the 69-year-old executive wouldn't confirm
that, he did admit wanting to soften and round out the knife-edge styling that
debuted on the division's new CTS sedan.
Preview: 2003
Cadillac CTS by TCC Team
(8/20/2001)
GREATER THAN ZERO?

Bob Lutz 2002 Los Angeles Show
With GM abandoning its zero-interest loan
program in favor of new cash rebates, many industry analysts now expect a sharp
decline in U.S. auto sales in the coming months. The automaker's own forecast
calls for a drop of more than one million units this year, to something over 15
million vehicles. But Bob Lutz, Chairman of GM's North American operations, is
turning cautiously bullish. "My personal feeling is things have bottomed out,"
he told TheCarConnection at the L.A. Auto Show. "Personally, I would not be
surprised to see (sales) somewhat better than that."
Trucks Set To
Pass Cars by Joseph Szczesny
(12/31/2001)
LUXURY MARKET RESISTS RECESSION

2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500
Recession? What recession? It's certainly hard
to measure the current economic climate by reading the latest luxury car sales
numbers. Manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Jaguar used the L.A. Auto
Show as the stage for announcing record sales tallied during 2001. And with a
flood of new, top-end products coming, most of the luxury marques are looking
for sales to match or exceed last year's levels in 2002. Mercedes' marketing
chief, David Schembri, forecast his company would do "slightly better than last
year," partially on the strength of the newly revised SL roadster. Jaguar
officials were optimistic for their own brand, citing record sales since the
introduction of the X-Type sedan in August. BMW chief Tom Purvis was only a bit
more cautious, predicting flat sales for 2002, perhaps because of uncertainty
about the critical reception for the new 7-Series sedan. The flagship line has
been faulted for its quirky, bustle-back styling and high-tech iDrive control
system. But adding in sales of the new Mini line, which launches in eight weeks,
Purvis predicted BMW's total corporate volume would also be up, despite the
recession.
LINCOLN GETS LUCAS’ SOUND
Ford's
Lincoln luxury division has inked an agreement with THX, the spin-off of
director George Lucas's film empire. Developed to enhance the realism of movie
theater sound systems, THX has become a hot feature on high-end home audio
systems. And starting with the redesigned 2003 LS sedan, Lincoln will begin
rolling out THX-certified sound systems in its cars, a first for mobile sound.
Audio systems have become increasingly important to U.S. car buyers trying to
differentiate between otherwise similar vehicles, and carmakers like Lincoln,
Cadillac and Lexus have been rushing to partner with top-end audio brands. As
part of the Lincoln deal, THX will certify other audio manufacturers, rather
than supply the hardware itself. The company's top executive, Monica Dashwood,
cautioned that while Lincoln is its first automotive client, THX did not grant
the carmaker an exclusive contract.
LINCOLN LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

2002 Lincoln Continental concept
Hoping to define its new “American
Luxury” design theme, Lincoln unveiled its edgy new Continental Concept Vehicle
at the L.A. Auto Show. Borrowing heavily from the distinctive Lincolns of
the 1960s, the slab-sided prototype featured a high-chrome-edged beltline and
distinctive “suicide” rear doors. With no B-pillars, that creates a nearly
six-foot aperture when both doors are opened. The show car boasts a
6.0-liter V-12 and an interior filled with an array of unusual luxury
touches. The instrument panel features analog gauges, as well as a large
video array for displaying navigation and other information. There are
storage areas in the door for an umbrella, as well as cigars. There’s a
drink dispenser and an airplane-style, fold-out rear table with a built-in
DVD player. While the automaker has yet to decide if the Continental
Concept vehicle will be put into production, “You will see this kind of design
thinking incorporated into Lincolns from mid-decade” onward, said design chief Gerry McGovern.

2002 Lincoln Continental concept
Brian Kelly, the new president of
Lincoln-Mercury, revealed that his top-line brand will eventually offer as many
as eight separate models, double today’s offerings. On Top of that, Lincoln is giving strong
consideration to adding high-performance versions of some of its future models,
along the lines of BMW’s M-series and Mercedes-Benz’ AMG models. A final decision will be made in six
months, though Kelly appears to clearly favors the idea. Meanwhile, Kelly re-emphasized that
“Mercury is here to stay,” despite continuing rumors Ford Motor Co. will kill
off the brand. Hard plans for
Mercury will be put in place within the next six months, he added, but insiders
reveal three new products have been approved for the struggling brand in recent
months.
NAVIGATING THE MARKET

2003 Lincoln Navigator
Lincoln brought its heavily reengineered
Navigator SUV to the L.A. Auto Show Thursday. The top-line, full-size ute
carries over only a few body panels, including the front doors and roof, and the
changes extend to its undercarriage, as well. Sharing platforms with the
newly-updated Ford Expedition, Navigator gets an independent rear suspension for
2003, which results in a roomy rear and a lower overall height. One of the
updated SUV’s more unusual features is a power retractable running board that
extends a full four inches when a door is opened. A new air suspension
system lowers the vehicle an inch when parked. Overall the new Navigator
is 1.6 inches wider than the old model. Towing capacity increase 400
pounds to 8500 lbs. It features 18-inch wheels and a tire pressure warning
system, as well as foldaway mirrors that, when retracted, let the Nav park in a
space a foot narrower than the old model.
CHRYSLER TAKES CROSSFIRE

2004 Chrysler Crossfire
In one of the LA Auto Show’s worst-kept
secrets, Chrysler unveiled the production version of the Crossfire sports coupe
that first debuted in concept form a year ago. The automaker bills the ’04
model—it will hit the road in mid-2003—as a cross between traditional American
design and German precision. Indeed, while Crossfire was designed at the
Chrysler Technology Center, it will be built by the custom production house,
Karmann, in Germany, and will borrow 39 percent of its components from
Chrysler’s sibling division, Mercedes-Benz. Many of those parts will be
lifted from the SLK roadster. Among the most significant Mercedes
contributions: the Crossfire’s 215 hp 3.2-liter V-6. While the automaker
isn’t talking numbers, insiders suggest volumes upwards of 20,000 a year.
“This will not be a limited niche vehicle, like the Viper,” stressed Chrysler’s
marketing guru, Jim Schroer, though Crossfire intends to serve as a divisional
icon. Look for pricing upwards of $35,000.
JAGUAR’S TYPE-CASTING

2002 Jaguar S-Type R
Hoping to “add a little more spice” to
its S-Type sedan, Jaguar unveiled the eagerly-awaited S-Type R performance
model during its LA news conference. The new car, according to new
general manager Sue Callaway, features a 400 bhp, 4.2-liter V-8, as well as a
new six-speed automatic transmission and modified suspension. The R, as well as
other S-Type models, will get an all-new interior in the coming weeks, a move
designed to mollify critics who have complained the Jaguar sedan is too close to
its lower-cost Lincoln LS cousin. Despite such criticism, the S-Type has
become the best-selling model in Jaguar history, propelling worldwide sales over
100,000 last year, a record for the British brand. But Callaway also said
she expects the new X-Type to soon take that crown away. Jaguar expects to
launch four new models this year, including a replacement for the flagship XJ
sedan, which is due next fall.
LAMBORGHINI GOES FOR THE
NUMBERS
Look for Lamborghini to quadruple sales by mid-decade,
according to the Italian automaker’s chief executive, Dr. Giuseppe Greco.
Currently, it’s selling about 400 Diablos a year, and the exotic carmaker hopes
to increase demand a bit with the launch of the new Murcielago. (For the
many readers wondering how to speak that odd name, it is pronounced
Mur-THEE-eh-lah-go, the accented syllable said with a lisping “TH”. It was
derived from the name of a legendary bull from the rings of Seville,
Spain.) The big boost will come with the addition of a second,
lower-priced model next year that could push volume to a record 1600 annually,
Dr. Greco projected. “That will generate the financial resources to ensure
the future” for the long-struggling
marque.
MASERATI MAKES ITS MOVE
Another luxury brand looking
for big growth—at least in relative terms—is Maserati. Absent for a decade
from American shores, it got a new lease on life when it was purchased by
Ferrari four years ago. Maserati’s new Spyder convertible launches in the
U.S. in February, and it will be quickly followed by a coupe, which is debuting
at both the Detroit and L.A. auto shows. Volume could jump to 9,000 and
perhaps even 10,000 over the next four to five years, according to Stuart
Robinson, president of Ferrari/Maserati North America.
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