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January 3, 2003
Pontiac unveils GTO show car
Pontiac introduced a show car version of the 2004 GTO at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The car is one of two GTO show cars that will be shown this week and next. The other will be on display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The production version of the GTO will be available in Pontiac showrooms in late 2003.
January 3, 2003
Dodge unveils Magnum SRT-8 Sports Tourer concept in L.A.
Dodge unveiled a low-slung wagon ’sports tourer’ concept vehicle at the L.A. Auto Show on Thursday, and says a similar vehicle will go into production in 2004. The Dodge Magnum SRT-8 Sports Tourer has a supercharged 5.7 litre Hemi V8 engine with 430 horsepower and rear-wheel-drive.
January 3, 2003
Ford shows Faction concept
Ford calls it a “tough, yet fashionable three-door SUV with all-wheel drive, novel utility and multimedia features..for city drivers who haul friends and gear, and who need to maneuver quickly through crowded streets.”
January 3, 2003
Supercharged Ford T-Bird makes debut
Ford introduced a supercharged Thunderbird concept car as a possible future addition to its ‘Living Legends’ line of automobiles. The supercharged Ford Thunderbird concept is powered by a 3.9 litre 390 horsepower supercharged V8 engine. Ford says it was designed to gauge consumer interest in a performance-tuned version of Ford’s two-seat sports roadster. The Supercharged Thunderbird concept was a joint development of Ford’s Living Legends Design Studio and the FPG (Ford Performance Group) as a potential addition to FPG’s future product portfolio.
January 3, 2003
2003 Ford Focus PZEV meets strict California emissions standards
The 2003 Ford Focus PZEV (partial zero emissions vehicle), introduced on Thursday at the 2003 Los Angeles Auto Show, meets California’s stringent partial zero emissions standard without sacrifices, says Ford.
January 3, 2003
Toyota to sell PZEV Camry in California
Toyota announced it would begin sales of the 2003 Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) Camry beginning in January. Most 2003 Toyota Camry vehicles equipped with four-cylinder engines and automatic transmissions sold in California will meet PZEV standards.
January 3, 2003
Cadillac XLR sports car unveiled
Cadillac unveiled its new 2004 XLR luxury sports car, a two-seater with a retractable hardtop convertible based on the Corvette platform.
January 3, 2003
BMW shows 330i Performance Package and Alpina Roadster
A new Performance Package for the 2003 330i Sedan made its world debut yesterday at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. As well, the BMW Alpina Roadster V8 made its North American debut. BMW is also showing the new Z4 Roadster.
January 3, 2003
Chrysler restyles some 2004 models early
The Chrysler Group took the opportunity to introduce restyled Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Stratus models at the L.A. auto show.
January 3, 2003
Subaru introduces cheaper Baja
Subaru of America introduced the Baja Sport, a second version of the Baja with a lower suggested retail price. The new model will arrive in U.S. dealerships in February, but the price was not disclosed. Canadian plans were not discussed.
January 3, 2003
Chrysler, Hyundai, Mitsubishi to operate new engine plant in U.S.
Chrysler Group President and CEO Dieter Zetsche kicked off the 2003 auto show season by announcing plans for Chrysler Group, Hyundai Motor Company and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation to jointly operate a North American production facility that will produce a co-developed World Engine.
Preview
December 20, 2002
Toyota’s U.S.-only Scion division to introduce first two models in L.A.
Scion, the new car marque from Toyota, will unveil its first two production models, the xA and xB, at a press conference at the 2003 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show on January 2, 2003.
December 19, 2002
Aston Martin roadster to be unveiled at L.A. auto show
Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover North America announced that it will unveil a new roadster at the L.A. auto show on January 2nd. Describing it as “tailor-made exclusively for the North American market”, and “a new definition of the American roadster”, the new convertible is expected to be a roadster version of the DB7 Zagato coupe, a limited edition DB7 modified by the Italian coachbuilder.
December 18, 2002
2004 Jaguar XJ to make its North American debut
Due in showrooms late spring, the new Jaguar XJ8 and XJR sedans will make their North American debuts at the Los Angeles auto show January 2nd, 2003.
December 13, 2002
BMW to show 330i Performance Package, Alpina Roadster V8
BMW will unveil a new Performance Package for the 2003
330i Sedan and a unique version of the Z8 roadster called the Alpina Roadster V8 at the
Los Angeles International Auto Show on January 2, 2003.
December 6, 2002
2004 Pontiac GTO, Dodge concept to be introduced at L.A. Auto Show
Among the approximately two dozen vehicles making their World or North American debut at the 2003 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show are the 2004 Pontiac GTO, 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Toyota’s new SCION brand (not offered in Canada) and an unnamed concept from Dodge.