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COVERT OPS
Myriad of minivans line local lot
Also, supercharged Saturn and a focus on fuel
By Harry Coverts
Thursday, September 25, 2003
MOUNTAIN OF MINIVANS
Almost overnight there's a great big sea of minivans in an all-new storage compound at the northwest corner of the QEW and Highway 403.
They're the first 2004 Freestars and U.S.-only Mercury Montereys to emerge from Ford's Oakville, Ontario assembly plant and they're being held for quality audits before release to North American dealers.
Ford says the new lot can hold a whopping 8,000 vehicles. At last count, it was just over half full, but already a sight to behold. A quick drive around the block suggests the site is about one kilometre from north to south and roughly half that from east to west.
Despite elaborate grading of the city-owned lot, special surfacing and the marking of thousands of yellow lined parking spots, plus sturdy chain-link and barbed wire fencing and an entire cordon of security lights, a Ford spokesperson says this is just a one-time exercise to support this autumn's launch of its new-generation minivans.
RED HOT RED LINE
A year ago, General Motors let us loose on its test track at the wheel of a deafening and outrageously potent Pontiac Sunfire. It was propelled by an Ecotec 4-cylinder engine cut down to 2.0-litres and supercharged. It was already bench-tested at 245 horsepower and touted as capable of more.
GM's techies also gave us the old nod-nod, wink-wink routine about this or a very similar engine being destined for a production car - all of which sparked media and enthusiast buzz.
Production has yet to begin, but we are about to meet the 2004 Red Line Saturn Ion. It'll be a rip-snorting, tuner-style quad-coupe with a high rear spoiler, 17-inch forged wheels and performance tires.
Like the test mule that we drove last year, the Red Line Ion will be propelled by an Ecotec engine shaved down to 2.0-litres (from 2.2-litres), supercharged and tentatively rated for street use at 200 horsepower. It's mated with a special F25 MU3 5-speed manual transmission.
FUEL FACTOR
Although many Canadians fret over gasoline prices and as a result favour small cars, Americans still don't seem to give a hoot. Underscoring this, out of all the cars, vans, SUVs and trucks sold in the United States in the first six months of this year, the three biggest sellers were big and beefy full-sized pickups: Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado and Dodge Ram.
This is hardly a surprise given that a recent survey by the American Automobile Association reveals U.S. families spend proportionately far less of their automotive budgets on gas and oil today than they did in 1980. Back then, gas and oil accounted for 27.9 per cent of the average automotive expenses. By 2002 these same expenditures accounted for just 11.8 per cent.
Even so, a snail's-pace change could be starting. A new survey by J.D. Power and Associates reveals American car buyers are starting to think about fuel efficiency. Barely a year ago, fuel economy was almost off the radar, placing 13th on buyers' lists of concerns. Suddenly, in recent months fuel consumption has already reached at least fifth spot on the list.
Moreover, 15 per cent of American vehicle shoppers in the survey also reported they rejected vehicles they originally planned to buy because they learned they were gas-guzzlers.
Nor is the J.D. Power survey alone in such findings. Another poll by CARFAX recently discovered that 75 per cent of American car shoppers now place significant emphasis on the fuel efficiency of the vehicles they consider for possible purchase.
SAAB SPREADS ITS WINGS
This is the year Saab's icon - the griffin on its corporate badge - spreads its wings to explore the world beyond its traditional Swedish homeland.
Japan enters the picture with the launch of Saab's entirely new 9-2 compact, based on the platform, and possibly the suspension and powertrain, of Subaru's sporty Impreza. No word yet on where the car will actually be assembled.
Also, Austria will play a role when Magna begins building the handsome and all-new Saab 9-3 convertible at its Graz assembly plant.
All of these developments have become feasible now that Saab, Subaru and other relatively small carmakers are members of General Motors' global alliance.
DC KNOWS WHEN TO FOLD 'EM
First we saw cupholder wars, with automakers scrambling to include more drink holders than seats in vehicles built for sale in North America.
More recently, there's been a wave of all-you-can-seat minivans and sport-utility vehicles - even though today's households rarely include more than one or two children.
And now that almost every minivan boasts fold-flat third-row seats, DaimlerChrysler is reportedly poised to pounce from the back of this field to the front.
Where every rival already boasts fold-flat third-row seats, DaimlerChrysler is reportedly preparing to launch a 2004.5 version of its Caravan with two fold-flat benches in the second and third rows.
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