January 21, 2004

2005 Chrysler 300C 2005 Dodge Magnum Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible 2004 Chrylser Crossfire Roadster 2005 Jeep Wrangler (TJ) Unlimited 2005 Ford Mustang Ford Five Hundred 2005 Ford Freestyle 2005 Pontiac G6 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt 2005 Chevrolet Corvette 2005 Nissan Pathfinder 2005 Nissan Frontier 2004 Mazda6 Sport Wagon 2004 Mazda6 5-door Honda SUT 2005 Lexus RX 400h 2005 Subaru Legacy 2004 Kia Spectra 2004 Volvo V50 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Ferrari 612 Scaglietti BMW 645ci Click images to enlarge

What's new for 2004
by Paul Williams

It's been a while coming, but U.S. manufacturers are bringing many new products to market in 2004. Fittingly, many were introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this month. Together with vehicles from Europe and Asia, a total of 700 new vehicles were on display.

Here are some of the highlights:

For Chrysler the big news is its new 300-series cars. Expected to be a volume seller by Chrysler, the 300 is a traditional three-box, rear-drive sedan that departs from the company's signature flowing design for its large cars. Compared to current models, the 300 (available in four levels of trim, including one with a Hemi V8 engine, the 300C at $42,995) is a squarer, upright design, but is nonetheless elegant and visually striking. The 340 horsepower Hemi engine will feature cylinder deactivation (MDS), allowing the car to cruise on four cylinders and conserve fuel when V8 power is not needed. The 300 ranges in price from US$22,970-$32,370 and will debut in Canada for $29,995 this spring.

The Dodge Magnum is a sport-wagon interpretation of the 300 cars. It's built on the same platform, but there's no equivalent Dodge sedan. The Magnum brings a rakish, hot-rod style to (what is becoming) the formerly conservative wagon segment. Electronic stability control (ESP is Chrysler and Dodge's proprietary system) will be standard on these vehicles.

Chrysler and Dodge minivans will feature a platform that permits both second and third row seats to fold completely into the floor. Designed with help from an Erector set, chief engineer Lou Rhodes and his team created an entirely new underbody for the popular vans to create a cavernous cargo area, and a multitude of seating configurations. "Good ideas can come from anywhere at anytime," said Mr. Rhodes of his well-used Erector set.

Also from Chrysler, the PT Cruiser Convertible transforms the wagon/truck-like appearance of this vehicle into a custom-style car that offers practicality and great looks. Similarly, Chrysler has managed to retain the distinctive design of the Crossfire while providing a top-down experience for owners of the new Crossfire Roadster.

Although the massive and imposing Jeep Rescue that rumbled onto the stage was only a concept, the Jeep Wrangler (TJ in Canada) Unlimited comes to market in mid-year. It adds 37.5 centimetres in length with a wheelbase that's stretched 25 cm, and towing capacity is increased to 3,500 pounds. Also from Jeep, the long-hoped-for Liberty diesel will be on the market this year. It uses an engine derived from Jeep's 2.8-litre, four-cylinder diesel already available in Europe, making 148 horsepower and 266 lb-ft. of torque.

Cross-town rival Ford is not sitting on its hands while DaimlerChrysler gets busy. Mustang enthusiasts should love the all-new 2005 version of their favourite vehicle, due to be released later this year. The design of the 200 horsepower V6 and 300 horsepower V8 models is clearly inspired by the 1967-68 cars which many feel was the best ever look for the Mustang.

Sedan buyers will soon see the Ford Five Hundred, a tall, intermediate-sized vehicle that's only 30 cm shorter than the full-size Crown Victoria, but offers more interior room than that car, and an enormous trunk capable of accommodating eight bags of golf clubs. The V6-powered, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive car offers a choice of continuously variable or six-speed automatic transmissions. Styling is urbane and functional. The Taurus continues.

The Freestyle is Ford's answer to the Chrysler Pacifica; it's a large maxiwagon with three-row seating built on a Volvo-based platform. This vehicle is designed for families seeking an alternative to a minivan or SUV, but who require the practicality and ruggedness expected from those vehicle types. The Freestyle is available with the same powertrain options as the Five Hundred, and is notable for its interior room, split rear hatch and safety options.

Ford's small car offering, the Focus, receives an exterior restyle, unlike the European version which is all-new.

At the other end of the price spectrum, Ford has again revisited its past with the GT, a limited edition (1,500 per year) supercar based on its four-times Le Mans winning GT40 from the 1960s. This car is very similar in appearance to the original, although it's somewhat bigger and the underlying technology is fully modern.

General Motors revealed several vehicles at Detroit, of which the G6 and Cobalt were likely the most important as volume sellers (the latter first shown in Los Angeles). The G6 is a Grand Am replacement scheduled to appear this fall. Built on GM's global Epsilon platform (shared by the Saab 9-3 and Chevrolet Malibu) the G6 has a long 2,852 mm (112.3") wheelbase (about the same as Ford's Freestyle, a considerably larger vehicle). Expect an excellent ride from the stylish G6. Speaking of the Epsilon platform, the Malibu Maxx is a hatch-like "extended sedan" as GM puts it, which is unusual but may be popular with buyers

Also from GM, the new Chevrolet Cobalt compact car is set to replace the Cavalier. The Cobalt is five-centimetres shorter than the cavalier and about the same width. It will arrive with standard air conditioning, CD player and driver information centre. Initially, two engine choices will be offered: the 150 horsepower, 2.2-litre "Ecotec" currently in the Cavalier, and a 2.4-litre version with variable valve timing that makes 170 horsepower. A supercharged engine is also scheduled.

At a special evening event, GM unveiled its new Corvette, known unofficially as the C6. The coupe is scheduled to go on sale this summer, and the convertible follows in the fall. The C6 is 12.5 cm shorter than the model it replaces, but interior room is not affected. The car arrives with an all-new interior and at 400 horsepower, the most powerful standard engine ever offered in a Corvette. It also features a revised chassis with three suspension options, and excellent projected average fuel economy at 10.6 L/100 km.

From the imports, there was still no new Sentra from Nissan, but there was a new Pathfinder that looks like a scaled down Armada SUV. Similarly, the Frontier compact pickup emulates the new full-size Nissan Titan. Infiniti will be offering its QX56 mega SUV, a luxury version of the Armada, and a new Infiniti sedan will debut at the New York auto show in April. Also promised at that show by Nissan/Infiniti Chairman Carlos Ghosn is a revised Nissan Xterra, expected to go on sale this fall as an '05 model.

Mazda introduced the Mazda6 Sport Wagon and 5-door hatch. Like the sedan, which is already on sale, these are vehicles of fine design – probably the nicest of the Japanese intermediates. Mazda also showed a MazdaSpeed version of the Miata, and a micro car called the MX-Micro Sport that executive Stephen Odell promised would debut "in a key automotive market" this year (although he didn't identify the market).

From Honda came news of an Accord V6 Hybrid to complement its Insight and Civic Hybrid line. The Accord will be the first V6 sedan available with hybrid gasoline-electric power. It will also utilize Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) to save fuel and reduce emissions. Similar in concept to Chrysler's MDS, this technology enables the car to use all six cylinders when accelerating, but only three when cruising on the highway and at low engine speeds. Additionally, Honda announced its SUT (Sport Utility Truck), a mid-sized sport truck to be built at its Alliston, Ontario plant.

Toyota also had hybrid news, showing its planned Highlander hybrid with a higher capacity electric motor, and from Lexus, the RX 400h, the first luxury hybrid SUV. This vehicle will produce 270 horsepower from its RX 330-derived V6 engine and will deliver fuel economy matching the average compact sedan, at 8.5 L/100 km. The RX 400h is rated as a SULEV vehicle (the most stringent emissions rating in the US) but will still accelerate from 0-60 mph in under eight seconds, bettering the current RX-330's acceleration figures.

Subaru is also working on hybrid technology and may offer a hybrid vehicle in the future. The company has a new designer, Andreas Zapatinas, charged with "creating a new design language for Subaru." His work was evident in the two concept cars shown (a hybrid roadster and an electric micro-car). The attractively re-designed (before Mr. Zapatinas) mid-size Legacy will be available this fall, however, in several trim levels. The GT, which is powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged boxer motor making 250 horsepower, and five-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission, is the most powerful.

From Korea, Kia showed its redesigned Spectra four-door sedan. The car uses a longer wheelbase and is wider than the current model. Horsepower is up to 138, and comes standard with four-wheel disc brakes and six airbags, including a full-length side curtain.

From Ford's upmarket divisions, Jaguar unveiled a revised S-Type with subtle styling changes that produce a "more athletic" look. Volvo showed its revised S40 sedan and V50 (formerly V40) wagon after a video dramatized some of Volvo's highly regarded safety technologies (occcupants were unharmed after a subject car was "t-boned" at 50 km/h). The new S40 and V50 cars are slightly shorter than the current models, but wider and taller. A five-cylinder inline engine, with a 218 horsepower T5 turbocharged edition available, powers them. All-wheel drive is an option and comprehensive crash resistance and safety items distinguish the cars, following Volvo tradition.

While the $100,000 Phaeton was lovingly polished and showcased in the Volkswagen exhibit, something that may be of more interest to Canadian buyers is the return of the Passat Tdi. Now featuring a 2.0-litre diesel engine making 134 horsepower, the VW Tdi will become the only mainstream, mid-size family diesel sedan on the Canadian market.

For a few (likely quite a few) dollars more, Mercedes Benz will again make available its diesel option in the E320 CDI which arrives in March. Its 3.2-litre, six-cylinder diesel engine makes 201 horsepower and a whopping 369 lb-ft. of torque, propelling the car from 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds.

Competitor Audi is not yet in the diesel fold in North America, but does have a taste for the exotic. It showed the new A8 L with a 450 horsepower, 6.0 litre V12 engine. This motivates the big car from 0-100 km/h in 5.2 seconds.

Another exotic car, the Maserati Quattroporte sedan will be available in Canada later this year. Its 400 horsepower engine gives similar performance to the Audi A8 V12. Designer Sergio Pininfarina didn't want to comment on the exterior design of the car, "Because it speaks for itself," he explained.

Not to be outdone, the Mercedes SLR McLaren is a carbon-fibre bodied supercar that rockets to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. It'll be a half-million dollars, give or take a few bucks.

In the similar stratospheric financial territory, another V12 car, the 540 horsepower Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, vies to be best performing four-seat coupe in the world. Like the SLR McLaren, much of the technology found in the 612 Scaglietti comes from Ferrari's experience in Formula 1 racing.

At these prices, the new BMW 645ci convertible enters the "affordable" category for buyers of normal wealth. However, we've yet to see 645ci coupe on the road, and likely won't see the convertible until the fall.

Look for all these vehicles during 2004, with most of them debuting later this year.

Paul Williams is an Ottawa-based freelance automotive writer and senior writer for CanadianDriver.