Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 27, 1996)
The automobile has corne a long ways. "Mercedes I think it is a status thing. A Mercedes is a state ment of being successful. Many professionals like athletes or doctors drive Mercedes ” By Jacqueline Mitchell M AZDA We would like to say, “Mazda Killed the RX- 7, that’s it for 1997.” But that wouldn't be fair, even if it is speaking Irom the heart. We can only hope that the demise of this legendary sports car doesn't shelve the company s use o f that marvelous rotary en gine in the U.S. I he MILLENIA sedan, Mazda’s excellent flagship since the demise of the 929, offers little new for '97 except updated headlights and a new console. Stan dard engine for the base and L models is a l 70hp 2.5L V-6; the S gets that leading edge, 210hp 2.3L supercharged “Miller cycle" en gine. Cadillac OnStar System ISU ZU lsuzu welcomes the ’97 model year with its OASIS minivan. It it looks familiar, very fa miliar, it’s because it is a specially-produced version of the H onda Odyssey. Like the Honda, it’s powered with the same l40hp 2.2L four. Oasis offers a great ride for up to seven people thanks to its race-derived sus pension. K IA Like Hyundai, Kia is also based in South Korea, and its claim to fame is the nicely appointed and affordable SEPHIA sedan. Base power is a 122hp 1.8L tour, except in California, where it gets a 105hp 1,6L four. There’s also the SPORTAGE mini-SUV— competition tor Toyotas RAV4 — that is possessed o f “brickhouse" underpinnings. It comes with a 2W D or 4W D drive layout and gets the 122hp 1.8L four. 16 AFRICAN AMERICANS ON WHEELS Cheryl Jones Phoenix, AZ Michele Kimbrow Long Island. NY Gene Kimbrow Long Island. NY ACURA The one Acura that never ceases to amaze is the 17Ohp 2.2L V T E C four-pow ered IN T E G R A GS-R. If vour pocketbook doesn’t permit your driving away with an $80,000 NSX supercar, check out this gem for about 1/4 the price with halt the perfor m ance. N o changes o f substance for ’97, b u t it is one of those th in g s th a t still m ake you go hm m m m m m m ......The delightful CL se ries coupe, like the original Legend, is creat ing its own category. Feel free to acquire the base 145hp 2.2L four, but it you are into “joyful noises,” then opt tor the 200hp VTEC V-6. “Oldsmobiles because they are affordable luxury cars. I own a Lincoln Town Car because I like a lot of room and rear-wheel drive.” “I would have to say Cadillac, although I drive a Nissan. They are the most affordable luxury cars geared towards the black community. Most of their commer cials are directed toward African- American families.” B M W Side Airbag The automobile has come a long way. The first vehicles didn’t have win dows, heaters, turn signals, radios or seatbelts -- all amenities and safety features taken for granted today. But as the style and performance of the automobile evolved over the past 100 years, so has auto technology. The 1997 model year is no different. Following are highlights of advanced safety and technological features now available on certain models. Probably one of the most exciting new technologies to hit the market this model year is a computer system using an advanced global positioning satellite and cellular phone network to link drivers to an emergency system with a touch of a button. W ith Cadillac's OnStar system and Lincoln’s Remote Emergency Satellite Cellular Unit (RESCU), drivers can contact an emergency center and receive roadside assistance or medical, police or fire emergency at any location. Even if the driver is unable to verbally communicate with the center, it can still dispatch help to the vehicle after receiving a distress signal. Porsche and BMW were the first companies to introduce a transmission that allows drivers to switch between an automatic or clutchless manual transmission with a flick of the wrist. Chrysler introduced the Autostick in 1996 on its Eagle Vision TSi, but now is making it optional on certain Dodge and Chrysler mod els. Mercedes’ Parktronic system, which alerts the driver with an in-dash light and beeper as the vehicle approaches an object, makes parking easier. The closer the vehicle gets to an object, the faster the light will blink and beep. Cadillac and Mercedes are offering advanced braking systems that sense when the rear or front o f a vehicle is not going in the direction being steered. The appropriate brakes are signaled to respond, thus guiding the vehicle back on course. BMW has loaded its 8-Series vehicles with more airbags than any other ve hicle in the U.S. , with a total of eight. In addition to having four airbags for front-seating passengers and two airbags for rear-seating passengers, BMW has placed two airbags in the ceiling for front-seating passengers to help prevent whiplash in an accident. Mercedes is also providing a passenger-side airbag that will only deploy if it detects a weight of over 25 pounds. And drivers who want the feel o f a convertible year-round, might want to take a look at Mercedes’ new transparent, glass hard top. “We would have to say Chrysler because they offer bigger rebates on certain models which stimulate more sales Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Smith Toledo. OH "General Motors Their cars are more economical and durable. They are the best American made cars because they last longer. I like American made products anyway.” Gerry Walker Memphis. TN GM/MINORITY DEALERS LAUNCH YOUTH PROGRAM G eneral M otors M inority D ealer D evelopm ent (GM M DD) has joined forces with GM's Youth Educa tional Systems (GMYES) to help identify and train a new generation of minority technicians. “Finding quali fied minorities to work in the technical service area o f GM dealerships has been next to im possible,” said Leon McDaniel, general director o f G M M D D . “We want to correct this situa tion by tapping into urban com m unity schools and finding youths interested in more than just a job.” The school-to-work program targets 11 th and 12th graders whose high school cur riculums are coordinated with on-the-job training. “As far as my family goes, we have been happy with Toyota for over 10 years We have always gotten superb service and according to my husband they are easy to maintain and all parts are accessible Our most recent Toyota is a 11-year-old Camry and we have just passed it on to our son." Annie Gavin Potomac, MD CARS NOW MORE AFFORDABLE Cars are more affordable today than they were six years ago. Buving an average-priced new vehicle in the first quarter of 1996 required 28.8 weeks of median family income before taxes, the low est number since 1990, according to the Detroit-based Gomerica Bank. Contributing factors: a one-halt percent drop in average financ ing costs; a $223 drop in average consumer outlay after rebate; low unemployment; a $500 rise in median income, and changes in the wav the Department of (Commerce calculates the average price of new cars. Under the old method, the average cost of a new car in the third quarter o f 1994 was ar $20,247. The new method recalcu lates it at $18,993. WINDSHIELD WIPER LAW GAINS MOMENTUM Drivers using their windshield wipers will also have to turn on their headlights, according to a new Illinois law. Be tween 1990 and 1993, there was an average o f97,065 crashes in the state during wet weather. Illinois is one of eight states that have a wiper/lights law; the others are New Jersey, Con necticut, Georgia, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, and West Virginia. AFRICAN AMERICANS ON WHEELS 5
