TEST DAIVE

_ PRODUCFE PLANNERS at
BMW, Lexus and Cadillac
must be lying awake ai
night trying to figure out
how Chrysler can offer the
1904 New Yorker luxury
sedan for under $30,000.

The radically restyled New
Yorker offers sweeping good
looks, a roomy, well-equipped in-
terior, great ride and surprisingly
good performance for.a base price

of $28,855. -

Most of the New Yorker's V6-
powered competitors are well over
$30,000, or even $40,000.

If the New Yorker looks famil-
‘jar, it’s because it’s based on the
‘same platform as Chrysler’s new

mid-sized sedans, the Intrepid,
Concorde and Vision.

The New Yorker borrows the
same basic suspension, wheelbase,
3.5-litre overhead cam V6 engine,
and four-speed automatic

_.transmission, but is about 18 cen-
timetres (seven inches) longer than
‘an Intrepid, with most of that
length contributing to the New
Yorker's larger 18 cubic foot
trunk...

The New Yorker also has an ex-
tra eight centimetres (three inches)
of rear legroom achieved by mov-

. ing the rear seat back in the body.

The New Yorker’s rounded

roof-line blends traditional and

ubaru

THERE ARE many young
people out there who enjoy
the extra room availabie
with minivans, utility vehi-

_ cles, and station wagons.
Unfortunately, with the excep-
tions of handsome new entries like
the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4X4 and

Mercury Villager/Nissan Quest

twins, many younger people
would never want to be caught
dead driving one of these family
cars.

Over the past several years,
some of these younger buyers
have shifted their interest to
trucks.

Though somewhat boring in
appearance, the go-anywhere,
}’m-tough-and-strong image of
4X4 trucks has become a trendy
symbol among the new generation
of kids who grew up watching
movies like The Terminator.

However popular, trucks do
have limitations: limited passenger

ry Eh

BAMA Mae ADI

NEWS photo Miko Waketioid

'F THE New Yorker's styling looks familiar, it's because it’s based on the same platform as
Chryster’s new mid-sized sedans, the intrepid, Concorde and Vision. inquire about the New Yorker
at Jubilee Plymouth Chrysler, 1177 Marine Dr., North Vancouver.

contemporary styling elements.

The circular rear side window,
for example, is claimed to have
been inspired by the Type 57
Bugatti of the late 1930s.

Chrysler’s stylists did a com-
mendable job of integrating it
with the otherwise sleek propor-
tions of the rest of the car.

The New Yorker looks low,
wide and purposeful with a few
styling touches, such as the
upright rear taillights that hark
back to previous New Yorkers.

Unlike older New Yorkers,
however, the new model has very
little chrome trim, no opera win-
dows, whitewal] tires or vinyl
roof.

Harv Martel, a Chrysler pro-
duct planner, claims that it would
be virtually impossible to stick a
vinyl roof on the New Yorker
anyway; ‘‘It would be like sticking
a vinyl roof on a bowling ball.’

The New Yorker has not aban-
doned traditional elements
altogether.

It offers seating for six passen-

space, mediocre handling, and
minimal safety features (no air-
bags, door beams).

The minvans and sport utility
vehicles address some of these
issues with more carlike qualities
engineered into them in recent
months, but still, some people
don’t like the high centre of gravi-
ty and utilitarian character of
these vehicles

Which brings us to, well, yes,
the station wagons — perhaps the
least popular type of cargo-hauler
among the 20- to 30- year-old
Yuppies.

Since these vehicles are based
on the passenger sedan versions,
things like handling, ride,
quietness, fuel efficiency and safe-
ty features all reflect high stand-
ards.

Even with their carlike feel and
features, however, many buyers
are turned off by the station
wagon’s boxy looks that spell out
“UGLY” (Toyota Camry station

gers, a split bench front seat, and
has a column-mounted shift lever
rather than the more contem-
porary console shift.

A sportier five-passenger ver-
sion of the New Yorker, called the
LHS, offers a more European ap-
proach to luxury, (I will be
reviewing the LHS in a future
test-drive.)

Standard features on the New
Yorker include: a 214-
horsepower, 3.5-litre overhead
cam ¥6 engine; electronically
controiled four-speed automatic
transmission; anti-lock brakes;
driver and passenger airbags;
cassette radio with six speakers;
air conditioning; power windows
and central door locks; eight-way
power driver’s seat; power-heated
outside mirrors; cruise control;
and adjustable steering wheel.

The interior is wide and
spacious with excellent outward
visibility through the big front
windshield which leans way back
at a rakish 65 degrees.

Tastefully applied buri walnut

wagon designers, take note!).
{t's no surprise then to see a
new style of station wagon in-
troduced to the market from the
unique-and-different niche pro-

trim lines the dash and doors and
most controls, and instruments are
well-marked and well-lit for night
operation.

Rear legroom is voluminous, as
it should be in a luxury car.

My only complaint is that there
are no rear head restraints:

The New Yorker drives as well
as the other Chrysler mid-sized
sedans, but is a little less nimble
because of its extra Jength.

Though it’s not quite a driver's
car, the New Yorker is much more
satisfying to drive than any
previous Chrysler luxury sedan.

It accelerates quickly, develop-
ing maximum torque at just 2,800
rpm, tracks straight and true at
high speed, responds well to steer-
ing input, brakes quickly and
handles with surprising balance
for a front-wheel-drive car.

At speeds over 90 km/h (55
mph), wind noise intrudes on an
otherwise quiet passenger com-
partment. It’s not noisy, just more
than | would have expected in a
luxury car,

ducer Subaru,

The new Subaru Impreza Sport
Wagon is meant to be a people-
mover for those who want the ex-
tra space, but not the looks, of a
station wagon. It’s even available
in all-wheel-drive versions, which
should please 4X4 lovers.

The name Sport Wagon, instead
of Station Wagon, reflects the
nature of Impreza’s marketing
strategy: go after the younger
generation. :

My recent experience with the
fmpreza people-hauler proved this
point.

Qn numerous occasions, people
stared at the Impreza all-wheel-
drive LS Sport Wagon | was driv-
ing, trying to decipher what it
really was,

Many of my friends approached
me and asked, ‘‘Is this really a
station wagon?”

This should be an encouraging
sign for the Impreza Team at
Subaru, who must have toiled for

Price as tested $30,055
Base price $28,855
Type four-door,
passenger sedan

Layout longitudinal
engine/front-wheel drive
Engine 3.5-litre V6, SOHC x
2, 24 valves, multi-port fuel
injection

Horsepower 214 @ 5,800 rpm
Torque 221 ft-lbs @ 2,800
rpm

Curb weight 1,568 kg/3,547
Ibs
Wheelbase 2,870 mm/113.0
in.

Length 5,268 mm/207.4 in.
Width 1,890 mm/74.4 in.
Height 1,416 mm/55.7 in.
Tires P205/70R-15 Michelin
XW4 ;

Cargo capacity 231 litres/17.9
cu.ft.

Fuel consumption City 13.0
L/100 km (22 mpg); Hwy 8.2
L/i00 km (34 mpg)

Warranty one year/20,000 km
+ Powertrain seven years/
115,000 km OR Complete
three years/60,000 km

five-

front

Though it's not offered witha
V8 engine, it should be
remembered that the New
Yorker’s relatively light curb
weight (1,568 kg/3,450 Ibs) pro-
vides it with a good power-to-
weight ratio, not to mention
teasonably frugal fuel economy
for a luxury car (average 10.6 L/
100 km or 28 mpg).

Four-wheel anti-lock brakes are
standard equipment on the New
Yorker and low-speed traction
control is optional, but if the New
Yorker is anything like its LH
siblings, it offers excellent traction
in winter conditions even without
traction control.

Overall, the New Yorker is a
giant leap forward over the
previous New Yorker and provides
luxury and performance at a
more-than-reasonable price.

days on end trying to figure out
how to design a station wagon
that looks, well, yuppyish.

{ think Subaru did an excellent
job of minimizing the wagon look
while inaximizing the Impreza’s
attractive body lines.

The sloped and curvy rear
hatch, which neatly follows the
contour of the C-pillar and stays
Slim from the roof to the bumper,
is the key to Impreza Wagon’s fun
appearance.

With the optional fancy alumi-
num wheels and slick roof zack,
the Sport Wagon will give popular
yupmobiles like the Acura Integra
and Jeep Cherokee a good run for
their money, even in the looks
department only,

The front end is a little boring
because of the generic Japanese
style, but the hoodline is nice and
low, thanks partly to the Subaru’s
innovative longitudinally

See Suort Wagon page 40