1998 North American International Auto Show Notes
8 January 1998
1998 North American International Auto Show Notes
A Daily Look at What's Happening at the Auto Show
DETROIT, Jan. 8 -- Following are Auto Show notes from
Jan. 5-7.
MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 1998
-- THREE CONCEPT VEHICLES FROM CHRYSLER, a concept car and a special
edition production car from Aston Martin and a half-dozen environmentally-
friendly cars of the future from General Motors were unveiled yesterday as the
1998 North American International Auto Show marked the opening of Press Days,
a special auto show preview for the media.
-- CHRYSLER UNVEILED A TRIO of concept vehicles on the opening Press Day
of the 1998 North American International Auto Show. The Plymouth Pronto
Spyder is an affordable mid-engine 225-horsepower sports car that could be
made of plastic pop bottles to reduce manufacturing costs so money could be
spent on more meaningful items to the customer. The Jeep Jeepster is a
vehicle that combines the excitement of a sports car with the ruggedness of a
sport utility. It is equipped with a new 4.7-liter 32-valve V8 engine -- the
same engine that will debut on the all-new 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The
Chrysler Chronos, with the look and proportions of Chryslers from the 1950s,
is the latest exercise to develop a flagship luxury car for the Chrysler
Division. The luxury car is powered by a V10 engine.
-- ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA, owned by Ford Motor Co., unveiled a new concept
supercar and a special edition DB7 model. The V12-powered concept car,
Project Vantage, can travel up to 200 miles per hour, has low emissions and
delivers 20 miles per gallon. The luxurious Alfred Dunhill DB7 special
edition is outfitted with an Alfred Dunhill humidor to store cigars, a silver
cigar cutter, a specially made cigar lighter and a set of carbon fiber pens.
-- GENERAL MOTORS INTRODUCED a family of six environmentally-sensitive
vehicles at the 1998 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on
Sunday. The advanced-technology includes an EV1 and S-10 pickup with a
nickel-metal-hydride battery that doubles the range of the car to 160 miles, a
hybrid car that uses an electric motor charged by a gas-turbine generator
system, a performance-oriented hybrid powered by an electric motor and direct
injection turbo diesel engine, a fuel cell vehicle that runs on electrical
energy created from a hydrogen-oxygen chemical reaction, and a compressed
natural gas vehicle.
-- "CLEAN AND GREEN" is emerging as a theme of the 1998 North American
International Auto Show. General Motors unveiled a family of six
environmentally-friendly vehicles on the opening Press Day. Chrysler and Ford
are expected to unveil environmentally-sensitive vehicles as well this week.
-- NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW officials report that this
year's show will serve as the stage for the debut of at least 30 concept
vehicles.
-- TODAY'S SHOW SCHEDULE includes 11 manufacturer press conferences: Ford;
Volkswagen; Mercedes-Benz; Honda; Mitsubishi; Chrysler; BMW; Ferrari;
Chevrolet; GMC; and Buick.
-- THE NORTH AMERICAN CAR AND TRUCK OF THE YEAR AWARD winners will be
announced today to open the second Press Day of the 1998 North American
International Auto Show. The finalists for car of the year honors are: Audi
A6; Chevrolet Corvette; and Lexus GS300/400. Finalists for the truck award
are: Dodge Durango; Mercedes-Benz ML320; and Subaru Forester.
-- PRESS DAY HOURS for today, Monday, Jan. 5, are: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Please note that proper media credentials are required for show access.
-- DETROIT'S AUTOMOTIVE PRESS ASSOCIATION and the Detroit Auto Dealers
Association, sponsor of the 1998 North American International Auto Show, will
toast out-of-town media today at a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
-----
TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1998
-- THE 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE AND MERCEDES-BENZ ML 320 were named winners
of the North American Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year
awards, respectively, by a panel of independent journalists. The awards were
presented Monday, Jan. 5 at the 1998 North American International Auto Show in
Detroit.
-- VOLKSWAGEN UNVEILED THE NEW BEETLE at the 1998 North American
International Auto Show in Detroit Monday, Jan. 5, 1998 to a packed house.
The much-anticipated New Beetle goes on sale this spring with a base price of
$15,200. Volkswagen plans to sell 50,000 New Beetles in North America during
the first full year of production. European deliveries will begin this fall,
with worldwide sales beginning in 1999. Unlike the original, the New Beetle's
engine is found in front, and drives the front wheels. Buyers are given a
choice between a 115-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and the
optional 90-horsepower 1.9-liter TDI turbo direct-injection diesel engine. A
150-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine will be available
later this year.
-- FORD UNVEILED ITS P2000 DIATA family-sized sedan for the future that
achieves 63 miles per gallon at the 1998 North American International Auto
Show in Detroit Monday, Jan. 5, 1998. Ford also announced that all sport
utility vehicles -- including the Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, Ford
Expedition and Lincoln Navigator -- as well as its Ford Windstar minivan will
be sold nationally as Low Emission Vehicles starting with the 1999 model year.
-- CHRYSLER SHOWCASED ITS LATEST MASTERPIECES -- the 1999 Chrysler LHS and
1999 Chrysler 300M -- at the 1998 North American International Auto Show on
Monday, Jan. 5, 1998. The LHS is aimed at those buyers who want an American
automobile that makes a statement with its sophisticated styling, yet
possesses the handling characteristics of a touring sedan. The LHS offers
buyers a spacious interior filled with premium features. The 300M is a modern
interpretation of the original: it offers a balance of powerful performance,
outstanding fuel efficiency and precise handling along with the comfort and
roominess not found in many premium sport sedans.
-- BMW PREMIERED A CONCEPT CAR, reported record year-end sales, discussed
its plans for a sport-utility vehicle, displayed its new V8 race engine and
showed a design study for a sidecar to its Cruiser motorcycle at the 1998
North American International Auto Show Monday, Jan. 5, 1998. BMW's Z07
concept car shows how BMW designers think the legendary BMW 507 sports car,
introduced at the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show and launched in 1956, might have
evolved had its development continued. Meantime, BMW is developing a Sports
Activity Vehicle, a vehicle that has the performance of a BMW sports sedan and
the traditional attributes of a sport utility.
-- HONDA UNVEILED THE MV-99 CONCEPT MINIVAN, a concept version of the
forthcoming 1999 Honda minivan to go on sale in the fall, at the 1998 North
American International Auto Show Monday, Jan. 5, 1998. Featuring front-wheel
drive, an Accord-derived V-6 engine and dual sliding rear doors, the MV-99
offers a glimpse of the size and shape of the Honda minivan to be built on a
second assembly line currently under construction at Honda of Canada
Manufacturing in Alliston, Ontario.
-- MERCEDES-BENZ CONTINUED ITS PRODUCT OFFENSIVE at the 1998 North
American International Auto Show Monday, Jan. 5, 1998 with the introduction of
three new production vehicles, a race car and a concept car that may
eventually become a production. Mercedes introduced a V8-powered version of
the CLK coupe, the CLK 430, and a V8-powered sport utility, the ML 430.
Mercedes also unveiled a limited-production, high-performance C43. Mercedes
also displayed, for the first time in North America, the Maybach, a large,
ultra-plush sedan equipped with a powerful V-12 engine and amenities like a
built-in television and humidor that Mercedes is considering building.
Meantime, Mercedes reported record worldwide and North American sales.
-- CHEVROLET INTRODUCED A CONCEPT version of its upcoming 1999 Silverado
pickup truck at the 1998 North American International Auto Show Monday,
Jan. 5, 1998. Chevrolet officials said the concept truck bears a close
resemblance to the production version of the truck, which goes on sale in the
fall and is "bigger, faster, stronger and smarter" than the pickup it replaces
and the competition. The first redesign in more than a decade produces a
pickup truck that is evolutionary in its exterior design but contemporary.
Inside, the truck's cabin is larger and more comfortable.
-- GMC, CHEVROLET'S SISTER DIVISION, likewise introduced a concept version
of its upcoming full-size Sierra pickup truck. The Sierra ACE (Advanced
Concept Execution) is based on the forthcoming 1999 GMC Sierra pickup with
which it shares many features. Like Chevrolet's Silverado, the upcoming
Sierra is bigger, faster, stronger and smarter than the truck it replaces.
-- MITSUBISHI UNVEILED ITS SST CONCEPT CAR, which suggests the styling
direction of a new sports cars due out in a couple of years, at the 1998 North
American International Auto Show Monday, Jan. 5, 1998. Designed and built at
the Mitsubishi Motors R&D Design Studio in Cypress, Calif., the SST embodies a
"geo-mechanical" theme. The geo-mechanical look represents strength, motion
and power.
-- BUICK INTRODUCED a most unusual concept vehicle for the normally staid
General Motors division at the 1998 North American International Auto Show
Monday, Jan. 5, 1998. The Signia, a cross between a car, a station wagon and
a sport-utility vehicle, "signals" Buick's near-term product direction. The
Signia is a multiple-activity vehicle, designed to meet the needs of active
families. Based on the architecture of the Buick Park Avenue, the five-
passenger Signia has even more interior volume than the Park Avenue even
though its exterior dimensions make it far smaller. Seats are positioned
higher than in a car to give a more commanding feel for the road.
-----
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1998
-- PONTIAC TOOK THE WRAPS off its 1999 Grand Am at the 1998 North American
International Auto Show, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998. The new Grand Am, Pontiac's
highest-volume car, is aimed at demanding, style-conscious drivers who want
bold, sporty styling and a spirited driving experience in a reliable, well-
executed package. While specific pricing was not released, a 1999 Grand Am
with the same equipment as a 1998 model will cost $134 less.
-- AUDI UNVEILED AN "ALL-ROAD" CONCEPT that combines the creature comforts
and convenience of a luxury car with the all-road capability of a sport
utility at the 1998 North American International Auto Show Tuesday, Jan. 6,
1998. The Audi All-Road Quattro, which Audi showed for the first time at the
show, is positioned in a market niche between conventional road-going cars and
classic off-road vehicles, "all roaders."
-- MERCURY UNLEASHED ITS 1999 COUGAR, an all-new four-seat sports coupe
with a vivid design, at the 1998 North American International Auto Show
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998. The new Cougar is the first Ford car in North America
to feature the company's New Edge design, a style defined as having geometric
accents added to a flowing shape, creating a tension that is visually
arresting. The Cougar is based on the front-drive platform used for the Ford
Contour, Mercury Mystique and European Ford Mondeo.
-- SEVEN-TIME NASCAR WINSTON CUP CHAMPION Dale Earnhardt helped Chevrolet
introduce the Intimidator at the 1998 North American International Auto Show
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998. The aerodynamic vehicle is a racing-inspired concept
car that offers a glimpse of next-generation Chevrolet Monte Carlo styling.
-- OLDSMOBILE INTRODUCED THE 1999 ALERO and a concept version of the
Bravada sport utility, called the X-Scape, at the 1998 North American
International Auto Show Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998. The Alero is expected to be
Oldsmobile's highest volume car line with sales in the 150,000 unit per year
range. It is targeted at import-oriented buyers who rate function as their
first priority but also desire refinement and performance in an attractively
styled mid-market automobile. The Bravada X-Scape is a sport utility that
sits lower to the ground to make the vehicle more car like and giving it a
more aggressive stance. The X-Scape "may well point the way to a more
versatile and entertaining sport utility vehicle of the near future."
-- LEXUS PREMIERED ITS NEW RX 300 car-based, sport-utility vehicle at the
1998 North American International Auto Show Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998, and
announced its base price will be lower than that of its prime competitors.
Riding on an all-new platform, the RX 300, which goes on sale in March as a
1999 model, is powered by an aluminum 3.0-liter V6 engine. It comes as a
two- or four-wheel drive. The base price of the two-wheel-drive version
starts at $31,550; the four-wheel-drive base price is $32,950. A typically
equipped, four-wheel-drive RX 300 will cost $35,305.
-- CHRYSLER UNVEILED A CONCEPT CAR, the Dodge ESX2, that represents a
culmination of lessons learned on new materials and hybrid powertrains at the
1998 North American International Auto Show Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998. ESX2
explores an innovative, holistic technological approach in an attempt to move
the cost of hybrid-powered vehicles to that of today's conventional vehicles.
The cost penalty of Chrysler's first hybrid concept, the Dodge Intrepid ESX,
was about $60,000 per vehicle. The ESX2 moves the cost penalty closer to
$15,000.
-- SAAB INTRODUCED THE 9-5 AND THE 9-3 at the 1998 North American
International Auto Show Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998, as well as the company's first
turbodiesel engine. The 9-5 will replace the 9000 series and the 9-3 will
replace the 900 Series in Saab's lineup. Both go on sale in April.
-- ACURA TOOK THE WRAPS OFF ITS TL-X sedan concept car at the 1998 North
American International Auto Show Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998. The TL-X closely
previews the appearance of the replacement for the TL sedan, which will debut
in the fall of 1998 as a 1999 model. The TL-X was designed, engineered and
will be manufactured in the U.S.
-- PORSCHE SHOWED ITS 911 SPORTS CAR, the first completely redesigned 911
in 34 years, at the 1998 North American International Auto Show Tuesday,
Jan. 6, 1998. The much-anticipated, next-generation 911 retains the 911's
classic rear-engine layout and distinctive silhouette, but has more power,
beefier brake, more interior room and added cargo space. It features a more
stylish interior, and, for the first time, is equipped with a water-cooled
engine. This 3.4-liter, 296-horsepower flat six-cylinder engine will produce
258 lb.-ft. of torque and propel the car to a top track speed of approximately
175 miles per hour.
-- MICHELIN BROUGHT TOGETHER THREE legendary Italian automotive designers
at the 1998 North American International Auto Show Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998.
Sergio Pininfarina of Pininfarina, Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign and Paolo
Caolo of Bertone were on hand to unveil a half-dozen of their newest concept
cars. Pininfarina showcased the Argento Vivo and the Peugeot Nautilis.
Italdesign displayed the Bugatti EB 112. Bertone unveiled the Lancia-based
Kayak and a four-seat, rear-engine compact sedan based on Porsche 911
mechanicals.
-- SUBARU INTRODUCED THE WORLD'S FIRST sport-utility sedan at the 1998
North American International Auto Show Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998. Australian
actor Paul Hogan, who stars in Subaru ads, helped launch the new vehicle. The
Legacy Sport Utility Sedan, or Legacy SUS, is the latest iteration of Subaru's
successful Outback concept. It combines the security and convenience of all-
wheel-drive and car-like ride and handling in a versatile and rugged package.
-- CADILLAC SHOWCASED ITS NEW 1998 SEVILLE at the 1998 North American
International Auto Show Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998. The 1998 Seville, the first
Cadillac to be designed and engineered from the start to be a global
competitor, started arriving in dealer showrooms in the U.S. and Japan last
month.
-- TODAY'S SHOW SCHEDULE includes 11 manufacturer press conferences:
Jaguar; Karmann; Dodge; Toyota; Ford; Mazda; Isuzu; Hyundai; Saturn; Land
Rover; and AM General. In addition, Automobile Magazine is scheduled to
announce its car of the year honors. American Woman Motorscene magazine is
presenting its awards for vehicles in various categories. Ward's magazine is
to announce its top 10 engine awards.
SOURCE North American International Auto Show
