28 - Friday, September 20, 1991 ~ North Shore News AUTOMOTIVES GM set to unleash host of new products North American company taking notice of import gains OVER THE past decade, import cars have captured much of the limelight in automotive magazines and news- papers. This was due in part to the sheer number of new import cars introduced into North America and = the tendency for import manufacturers, primarily Japanese ones, to redesign models in a shorter time period, often four years. In addition, gains in quality as reported by Consumer Reports, J.D. Powers & Associates, the CAA, and other reputable con- sumer survey companies have boosted the profile of imported cars tremendously. Import cars and light trucks now represent a third of all vehicles sold in North America. This hasn‘t gone unnoticed in the domestic camp. North Amezi- can quality standards have im- proved drastically, particularly in the last few years, and develop- ment time for new models has been shortened. The largest Nosth American automobile company, General Motors, which comprises Cadillac, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC trucks, and now Geo, Saturn, Saab, and = Isuzu Trucks, is about toe unleash a stampede of new products design- ed to boost sales, win over some import buyers, and boost its pro- file considerably. 1992 will be the first year Ca- nadians see Saturn automobiles (they were introduced into the U.S. Jast year). Compact, front- wheel-drive economy cars designed to appeal to import car buyers, Saturn automobiles are Ameri- can-designed and American-built in Tennessee. At present, two body styles are available: a four-passenger two- door coupe and a five-passenger four-door sedan. The coupe has a sporty 124-horsepower dual overhead cam 1.9 litre four- cylinder engine while the sedan has a fuel-efficient 85 horsepower single overhead cam unit. They are sold through Saturn, Saab, Isuzu Truck dealerships, formerly Passport Motors. Cadillac will attempt to thwart severe competition from Lincoln, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, and In- finiti with all-new Seville and Eldorado models. The °92 Seville Greg Wilson AUTOMOTION sports sleek new styling and is 36 centimetres longer and nine cen- timetres wider than the '9f model. Designed to provide performance as well as luxury, the new Seville features a stiffer body, improved noise isolation, better handling, and a more contemporary ‘‘feel’’ than traditional Cadillacs, Buick is introducing a radically redesigned Skylark. With sweeping curves both inside and out, the compact, front-wheel-drive Skylark is refreshingly unconven- tional. Only time will tell whether its startling design will go over well with customers. Performance has been improved with a stand- ard overhead cam 2.3 litre four- cylinder engine and optional 3.3 litre V6. Surprisingly, anti-lock brakes are now standard equip- ment on the Skylark. Oldsmobile’s compact Achieva (formerly Cutlass Calais) and Pontiac Grand Am get similarly aggressive styling and a platform similar to the Skylark, though engine options, and interier ap- pearance are somewhat different. Buick’s best-selling car, the Free 57 point inspection for all Yolkswagens. September 26-28. There’s no place tke home Parteu- arly when the home im quesnon is 2 Volkswagen “Auto Haus” No matter what youown, from Beetle to Passat bona your Volkowagen hame and st will be given a therouah &7 pont unsperton py a factary-traaned Votkswade Tech nacteatt For free Just gwe us a call and wel afange an appointment at your con- vemence September 26th. 27th or 28th And remember -- no matter haw far you travel trom your nome, you'll always be welcome at our Haus Welcome Home Call for an appointment today. DEALER NAME AND ADDRESS LeSabre, receives new styling for 92, but has a more dignified, Jaguar-like design. A wrap-around interior, anti-lock brakes and se- curity system are also new. Buick's full-size, six-passenger Park Avenue and Roadmaster models were redesigned in the middle of i991, but the Park Avenue now has a supercharged 3.8 litre V6 engine as standard equipment, Oldsmobile’s big 88 Royale and 98 Regency and Touring sedan have also received new rounded styling and contemporary new in- teriors. Ditto for Pontiac’s new Bonneville sedan and SSE and SSEi sports sedans which offer sweeping new lines, improved handing, a bigger trunk, stronger body, an optional supercharged 3.8 litre V6 engine, and available ABS and traction control. The big news at Chevrolet is an increase in performance capabili- tics for the Corvette. The °92 "Vette has 55 more horsepower than fast year, up to 300. in addi- uon, it offers a form of traction control called Acceleration Slip Regulation as well as ABC anti- lock brakes to virtually eliminate wheelspin or wheel lock-up. Both the Chevrolet/GMC Suburban and fuil-size Blazer/ Yukon (formerly Jimmy) get new aerodynamic sheet-metal, longer wheelbases, roomy interiors, and better towing capacities. General Motors ‘‘captive’’ im- ports, the Chevrolet Spring, Pon- tiac Firefly, GMC Tracker, and fsuzu Impulse will now be sold through | selected = Chevrolet/Geo dealers as the Geo Metro, Geo Tracker, and Geo Storia respec- tively. This was done to make Canadian nameplates the same as those in the U.S. ft remains to be seen whether General Motors’ tide of new vehi- cles will swamp the competition, but one thing is for sure: GM will get a jot of media attention. 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