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Down
The Road – March 2003
| New features and models coming soon
“Baby”
Acura Sport Sedan – 2004
Acura will introduce a sport sedan, slightly smaller
than the TL, the TSX, to fill the gap
left in the absence of the Integra sedan (which was
recently replaced, in coupe form only, by the RSX).
The new car is based on the European Accord (which looks
a lot like the new Mazda 6 sport sedan), and is powered
by a 2.4-liter, 200-horsepower four-cylinder engine.
It should be introduced sometime this spring.
Face-lifted
Ford Taurus – 2004
The Ford Taurus will get a revised front end
for the 2004 model year, with grille, headlight covers
and bumper a little squarer than 2003 models. An all-new
model remains a few years away.
Nissan’s
Trucks Grow – 2004 & Beyond
Nissan will introduce its first full-size pick-up, the
Titan, this fall. The next generation
Frontier pickup will grow in size to
more closely match the Toyota Tundra, rather than the
Toyota Tacoma with which the Frontier currently competes.
New
Ford & Mercury Minivans - 2004
No longer sharing its platform with the Nissan Quest,
the next generation Mercury minivan, possibly named
Monterey, will grow larger, sharing
its platform with the next generation Ford Windstar,
which may be called Freestar, due in
2004.
GM’s
Remote Vehicle Starting - 2004
GM will begin, with some 2004 models, to offer a remote
starting function. By pressing a specific combination
of buttons on the familiar remote key fob, owners will
be able to start their cars from inside their homes,
allowing the interior to warm up or cool down before
entry. Since the technology is relatively simple, this
feature should expand throughout most of the GM line
quickly.
Pontiac’s
Legendary GTO Returns – 2004
Pontiac revives is famous GTO nameplate
with an Australian import this fall. About 18,000 of
the rear-drive coupes, based on one of GM’s Australian
Holden Monaro models, and packing a high-powered V8
engine, will be produced for the 2004 model year.
A
Bevy of Small Chevy’s – 2004 & 2005
Chevrolet will revamp the smaller end of its lineup
this fall. The 2004 Aveo, essentially
a re-badged Daewoo or Kia, will fill the subcompact
slot in four- and five-door versions. A new 2004
Malibu, with a slight hint of the ’55
Chevy’s styling, will replace the 2003 model,
which will continue in production for fleet (rental)
use as the Chevy Classic. The 2004 Colorado
is a one-size-larger replacement for the aging S10 pickup
line. The 2005 Equinox compact-SUV,
based on the Saturn Vue, will replace the smaller Tracker
in the lineup early next year.
Honda
Pickup? – 2005
Honda may produce its first pickup truck,
based largely on the Honda Pilot and Acura MDX SUVs,
possibly as early as the 2005 model year.
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