Friday, July 1, 1994 - North Shore News - 19

AUTOMOTIVE

Automakers find their car niche

OVERDRIVE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY products. A

politically correct approach. Lean management mentaiity.

Welcome to the value-conscious, environmentally responsible '90s. .

With stricter regulations, tighter budgets, and stronger pressure from many self-interest groups, cars in general are becoming tamer in design, weaker in power, and less innovative, right?

Sorry, not according to my books. There is no doubt that these issues have recently forced automakers to take a more conserva- tive approach in developing vehicles than in the past. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any unique, eat-your- heart-out cars out there.

In fact, in recent years, automak- ers scem to have introduced more limited production, special edition vehicles than in previous decades, Car companies are realizing that, despite the depressed state of the economy, people are still very much in love with automobiles. And it seems they are more; willing to buv niche-oriented vehicles.

_ One of the best examples’of this was witnessed in the development of the new no-compromise Chevrolet Impala SS — a hot-rod muscle car based on the not-so-hot Caprice sedan.

The Impala started out as an autoshow car, but Chevy executives brought it to the market after receiv- ing overwhelming response from the showgoers. Peoplc just loved the aggressive all-black look, and many wrote to say that they would buy such a car if it were for sale.

So Chevy responded by dropping the LT1 V8 engine from the Corvette into the Caprice, and then added black-on-black trims, huge 17-inch wheels, and a unique C-pil-' lar treatment.

The result is a one-of-a-kind, 260-horsepower four-door muscle car that can blow the doors off many sports cars. Only 500 copies will be available in Canada; U.S. buyers get 5,000 units,

The car is not perfect (tacky digi- tal dash, modest column shifter, no tachometer), but at just over $31,000, it certainly offers a lot of

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What about the BMW M3 coupe, another special edition? Like the Impala, the M3 is a limited produc- tion model and is based on another existing car (the 325) coupe).

BMW engineers transformed the already excellent 3-series coupe into an exotic four-seater by replacing the standard engine with one designed by BMW's racing special- ist, BMW Motorsport GmbH,

This classy-looking coupe is capable of reaching 100 km-h (61 m.p.h,) in just six seconds, and takes corners like a true sports machine. Unlike the American Impala, which gets alot of help from the lasye dis- placement engine, the M3 pumps 281 horsepower (21 more than the fmpala) out of a considerably small- er 3.0-litre, naturally aspirated six- cylinder engine.

Even at a somewhat steep $60,000 price tag, the limited pro- duction M3 sold out completely after its introduction.

The Japanese haven't been keep- ing quiet, either.

Acura was the first company to ignite the sports-car market with its debut of the niche-oriented, all-alu- minum NSX sports car back in 1990, Though other Japanese com- panies decided to show some restraint by not introducing exotic machines in the same price range, they have introduced semi-exotic sports cars with performance levels very close to that of the NSX.

Toyota. for example, re-engi- neered the Supra for 1994 and trans- formed the touring-sports vehicle into a world-class sports car. The 320-horsepower, twin-turbo- charged coupe is not a limited-edi- tion model, but its hefty $60,000 price tag forces the car to be exclu- sive and of limited quantity. (How many new Supras have you seen on the road?)

The Supra turbo shines among the many available sports cars in this class by offering an exception- ally tight, yet refined and smooth, feel —- while at the same time pro- viding exotic car-like acceleration and handling. Who said you can't have everything in a sports car?

Other limited quantity perfor- mance vehicles that have arrived at dealerships in the past few years include the all-wheel traction Audi

Photo submited THE ALL-NEW BMW M3 coupe is powered by an engine designed by BMW's racing specialists.

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convertible; the Cobra-style Dodge Viper; the King-of-the-Hill Corvette ZR-1, the pure-bred Porsche 911 Speedster; and the soon-to-come Saab 900 turbo convertible.

The Dodge Viper roadster gets a lot of credit for revitalizing the niche-oriented sports machine mar- ket because Chrysler was able to prove to the public that it’s possible to develop a powerful, unique high- performance vehicle that has a lot of style and character.

Thanks to the advances in safety features and environmentally pro- tective devices, automakers will continue to bring out more not-for- the-masses niche cars in the future.

Let the fun begin.

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