Cowger: 18 Million Units, New Saturns Coming
subscribe
Chevy Cobalt Aiming Upmarket

2005 Chevrolet Cobalt

2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
BMW 6 Coupe Priced From $69,995
The 645Ci Coupe made its first U.S. appearance in the U.S. in Los Angeles, with a price tag reaching to the stratosphere. The new two-door, based on 5-Series running gear, will retail for $69,995 including destination and handling. Its 4.4-liter V-8 engine churns out 325 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque through one of three six-speed gearboxes: a manual, a Steptronic automatic, or a Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG). The 645Ci hits a top speed of 149 mph and could run and gun to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. BMW also priced its revised X5 4.8is sport-ute from $70,495, including destination charges, a six-speed Steptronic automatic and xDrive.
Acura TL A-Spec Concept: Type-S in Disguise

2003 Acura TL A-Spec concept
Ford GT Starts from $139,995
Will it be a beach condo or a new two-seat supercar? It’s time to decide, now that Ford has priced its retro-cool GT supercar from $139,995, not including destination charges or gas-guzzler taxes. The 500-hp GT, inspired by the Sixties racing GT40 supercar, goes on sale in the summer of 2004. Ford says it already has received about 700 special requests to line up for the GT, independent of the folks who have plunked down deposits with dealers. About 3500 GTs are expected to be built over the course of two model years.
Benz CLS 500 Coming in '05

2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS 500
The production version will be launched in March at the Geneva Auto Show and a month later in New York. The CLS is expected to arrive in European dealerships by the end of 2004. It is expected in the U.S. in the first half of 2005.
The CLS will have to compete with BMW’s new 6-Series coupe, but has two doors more than its fellow countryman. Mercedes uses 85 percent of the components of the E-Class, such as Airmatic air suspension, SBC electronic braking and bi-xenon projector beam lights with active-curve technology. The body is 193.3 inches long, 72.8 inches wide and 54.7 inches high. The wheelbase is the same as of the E-Class, 112.4 inches. The luggage compartment has 16.6 cubic feet more space than any other coupe in the class. The Vision CLS is equipped with 19-inch wheels with 235/35 tires in the front and 285/30 in the rear.
The CLS 500 will be powered by a 5.0-liter V-8 with 304 hp that is teamed to the new G7-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission that was especially developed for the Mercedes V-8 engines. The G7-Tronic helps reduce gas consumption and emissions and provides improved acceleration from 0-60 mph. Even more improvement is reached in the acceleration from 40-80 mph. A 5.5-liter AMG V-8 with 476 hp will be available in a later stage. —Henny Hemmes
Elise to Arrive in U.S. in May 2004

2005 Lotus Elise
With the Elise the British marque hopes to attract longtime Lotus enthusiasts. This model went on sale in Europe in 1996 as the twin brother of the Speedster, from GM’s European Opel division. More than 17,000 units have been sold since.
The Elise uses a Toyota 1.8-liter in-line four engine with 190 hp and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. It reaches a top of 150 mph. The engine works together with a six-speed manual gearbox.
The car will be priced at $39,985. U.S. buyers have the possibility to customize the Elise with a Touring pack for $1350, which includes among others leather seats, power windows, an upgraded audiosystem, a double insulated soft top and additional sound damping. Also available is a Sports Pack ($2480) with larger aluminium wheels, a track-tuned suspension and specific Yokohama tires. A hard top will be available for $1475.
Lotus Cars USA hopes to sell 2400 Elises on an annual basis through its 38 dealers in 29 major U.S. markets. —Henny Hemmes
Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata Gets 178 HP

2004 Mazda Mazdaspeed Miata
The turbo engine generates 166 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm (up 33 percent) and is teamed to a six-speed stick shift transmission. Furthermore this Miata has a different differential and a tuned suspension. The car has been lowered 7 mm and uses 17-inch wheels and high-performance Toyo tires.
A new front fascia, rear lid spoiler and a new diffuser mark the exterior. The two-tone cloth interior, a new instrument cluster and center stack are the most significant interior changes.
The Mazdaspeed Miata will go on sale in the spring and is priced at $25,500 with cloth interior and $26,200 with a leather interior. —Henny Hemmes
Email This Page