34 -— Friday, May 15, 1992 - North Shore News

AUTOMOTIVE

New Japanese models arrive like clockwork

Second in a series on what consumers can expect to see in showrooms

THE JAPANESE are
obsessed with being on
iime.

David

OVERDRIVE

Fven though the subways in
Tokyo arrive every minute during
the rush hour, businessmen still
compiain and stare at their wat-
ches if the train is more than iS
seconds late. Their ‘‘time-
conscious” minds, however, make
it a little easier for us to predict
the introduction dates of ail
mainstream cars from Japan.

Practically every Japanese
automaker sticks rigorously to the
**minor-at-second, major-at-
fourth’? rule. This means that
most vehicles, with the exception
of sports cars, minivans, trucks,
and low-volume cars, are com-
pletely changed over every four
years. In addition, the cars are
given ‘‘minor’’ face-lifts, such as
grill or tail-light changes, half-

way through their product cycle
— that is, on their second year.

Actually, some Japanese
automakers, such as Honda, can
create a new model in three years.
However, this capability will not
affect North American introduc-
tions, since the Japanese have in-
dicated that they would not
shorten the North American
“‘life-cycles’”” to less than four
years for the time being.

Some mainstream cars are being
introduced here after five years of
service — such as the Toyota
Corolla. The current version of
the Corolla was completely rte-
done for the 1988 model year
along with its competitor, the
Honda Civic. Even though the
new Civic was introduced last fall
in Canada, and the new Corolla
debuted in Japan around the same
time, Toyota decided not to in-
troduce the Nerth American ver-
sion of the new Corolla until this
fall —- putting the current Corolia
on a five-year cycle instead of
four. The new, larger Corolla will
sport a more powerful engine, and
its styling will remind you that it
is related to the larger Camry.

Buyers looking for a Japanese
mid-sized car are already blessed
with excellent choices, such as the
Honda Accord and Toyota
Camry, but will see even more
selections in the near future. First,
Mazda will introduce an all-new
line of 626 models on June 1.
Available in three. trim levels, the
new 626 Cronos sedans will be

‘priced from $16,995 for the DX

models with a 2.0-litre four-
cylinder engine, to $21,695 for the
high-line EX models equipped

See Mid-size page 37

‘JPOLCORMOTIVeE 590.

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MAY SPECIAL
ENGINE TUNE-UP

® Install new Autopar spark plugs
© Check plug wires, distributor
cap, rotor, coil, PCV vaive, belts,
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MAZDA WILL introduce an all-new line of 626 models. at the end of this month. A: sportier coupe
version, called the MX-6 Mystere, just arrived here on May 1.

After the rigors
of winter, let us
get your Mazda
ready for the |
joys of summer.

For less than

you might think.

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