NORTH SHORE NEWS AUTOMOTIVE GUIDE on luxury DESPITE the growing popularity of upscale sport-utility vehicles and minivans with four-wheel-drive, there are some buyers who prefer the ride and han- dling of a luxury car or station wagon. With a lower centre of gravity, lighter curb weight. unit body construction, and often 2 fully independent sus- pension, cars and wagons often have superior dnving dynamics, and better fuel consumption, than SU'V’s and minivans. As well, the aggressive siling of SUV's hike the BMW X5, ML430 and Jeep Grand Cherokee is not every- one’s cup of tea. Luxury cars offer a more refined, and less ostentatious image for more conservative, well-to-do buy- ers. One of a few 4WD luxury cars While there are now many SUV’s and minivans to choose from, 4WD luxury cars are in limited supply. Currently, there are four Ju ury cars with four-wheel-drive on the market (some available with different cagine options): the six cylinder Mercedes-Benz E320 4Matic sedan and wagon, the eight cylinder E430 4Matic sedan, the Audi A6 2.8 Avant wagon, Audi A6 2.7T Quattro sedan, Audi A6é 4.2 Quattro sedan, the Audi A8 4.2 sedan; and the Volvo V70 AWD R wagon. The Mercedes-Benz E430 4Matic and Audi A6 4.2 Quattro are the only two mid-sized V8-powered all-wheel-drive sedans. First Mercedes with V8 engine and 4WD New for 2000, the E430 4Matic sedan is the first Mercedes- Benz available with 4Matic (full-time four-wheel-drive) and a V8 engine. Previously, only six-cylinder models offered 4Matic. The 4Matic system employs a permanent 35/65 front/rear torque split via a planetary centre differential, and is capable of apportioning more power to individual wheels by using tae- tion control to slow the other wheels. For example, if only one wheel has traction, the 4Matic system can direct all of the engine’s power to that wheel. WOLWO for life ith the E4 NEWS pheto Miko Wskefield THE 2000 £430 4Matic is the first Mercedes-Benz to offer a V8 engine in combination with a full-time four-wheel-drive system. in addition to ali-wheel-drive, the mid-size E430 4Matic sedan offers standard ESP anti-skid system, ASR traction control, Brake Assist, and four wheei disc brakes with anti-lock — pilus front, side and head curtain airbags. Tes? drive the E430 4Matic at Mercedes- Benz, 1375 Marine Drive, North Vancouver. The £430’s 4Matic system is so compact thar it doesn’t rob the sedan of any interior space or trunk room. It’s also light- weight — the E430 4Matic sedan weighs about 85 kg (187 ib.) more than an E430 sedan with rear-wheel-drive. The E430’s 4.3-litre V8 engine is one of Mercedes-Benz new generation V8 engines with single overhead camshafts on each cylinder bank, nwin sparkplugs per cylinder, and three valves per cylinder — nwo intake valves and one exhaust valve. The latter is designed to improve engine breathing while reducing emissions. This engine develops 275 horsepower at 5,750 r.p.m. and 295 ft-lb. of torque between 3,000 and 4,400 rp.m The 4.3-litre V8 engine also features an electronic “drive- by-wire” throtde. And for 2000, a new Flexible Service System uses an oil quality sensor to determine when co change the oil. The minimum interval is 15,000 km, but FSS will allow as much as 30,000 km between oil changes. A warning light near the instrument cluster tells the driver when to take it in for ser- anti-lock brakes, the E430 4Matic reacts to slippery surfaces much faster than a driver can, thus increasing winter driving safety substantially.” vicing. New Touch Shift automatic transmission . Another new feature for 2000 on the E-Class is a five-speed automatic transmission with Touch Shift, a manual shift fea- ture. The driver has the option of selecting gears manually by gently pushing the gear lever to the left to downshift and to the right to apshift while in the ‘Drive’ position. The transmission also has a Winter mode which starts off in second gear and shifts at lower engine speeds in order to maxi- mize traction on slippery surfaces. This transmission was first offered last year on the all-new S-Class sedans. Subtle but significant styling changes Though not obvious to the casual observer, the 2000 E- Class sedans and wagons have some styling changes. The front Sce Summon following page DRIVE A NEW 2000 VOLVO WITH A LEASE RATE AS LOW AS SEE US NOW FOR DETAILS ABOUT THIS SPECIAL 1.9% RATE ON NEW 2000 S805, $70 SEDANS, V70 SPORTSWAGONS, AND V70 CROSS COUNTRY AWDS. SPECIAL EQUIPMENT PACKAGES ARE INCLUDED. 1.9% LEASE RATE IS BASED ON A TAX-FREE VARIABLE INVESTMENT WHICH WILL BE RETURNED IN FULL AT THE TERMINATION OF THE 36-MOiNTH LEASE. HURRY IN! OFFER ENDS MAY 37, 2000. Volvo of North Vancouver Service & Parts 108 Bowser Avenue (604) 986-6669 Sales & Leasing 710 Marine Drive (604) 986-9389 5 JIM PATTISON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 010969