Mitsubishi T ods African
American To oversee
Diversity Relations
Roy Roberts enjoying scouting Jamboree
Roy Roberts Heads Boy Scout Program
Chrysler Sebring Convertible JXi
—
By Marc Battle
Photo Credit:
As the highest ranking black executive at General M otors C orporation, Roy Roberts is
indeed a busy man. But the vice president and general manager of Pontiac-GM C takes time
to m a k ea difference in communities. Roberts, 58, chaired the 1997 Boy Scouts o f America
National Jamboree held July 28 - Aug. 5 at FortA.P. Hill, Va. T he Jamboree attracted over
35,000 participants from more than 30 nations. Roberts is the first black to hold the
position of national chairman.
“It’s about doing the right thing for people, showing that you care about this nation,”
says Roberts. “Scouting builds character. These young people are going to be our future
leaders, so we must get involved!”
The Jamboree, Roberts says, took two years to plan and is held every four years. T h o u
sands o f participants were joined by President Clinton; Secretary o f the Army,Togo West;
members of Congress and countless other dignitaries. Transportation was handled exclu
sively by Roberts' P ontiac-G M C .
In an effort to improve its relation
ship w ith w om en and m inorities,
M itsubishi M otors of America has
hired an African-American woman as
director o f diversity relations in the
com pany’s W ashington office.
Brenda C irton-M itchell, 49, for
merly associate executive officer o f the
National Council o f Negro W om en,
will now ensure that M itsubishi u n
derstands and properly handles diver
sity issues in the corporate office and
throughout its subsidiaries.
“I’m confident that with support
M itsubishi will institutionalize the
concept o f diversity, both internally
and externally,” Girton-M itchell said.
T h e creation o f G irton-M itchell’s
position stem m ed from a diversity
plan developed with the cooperation
o f the Rainbow Coalition / PUSH, and
the National Organization ofW omen
(N O W ). H er appointm ent has been
praised by the National Association o f
M inority A utom obile Dealers and
N OW
-
Ì
Mercedes-Benz
Builds Hi-Tech Bike
The first-ever all-terrain m ountain bike may
become an accessory fo r active Mercedes customers.
A collaborative design by
Mercedes-Benz and A M P Re
search has assembled the first
ever Mercedes-Benz all-terrain
mountain bike. T he 24-pound,
high-tech bike features alum i
num and carbon fiber tubing,
front and rear suspension, disc
brakes and can be packed into
a carrying case. Mercedes re
cently featured the bike at the
debut o f its new 4-wheel sport
utility vehicle, the M L-320.
Sold through the Mercedes-
Benz Collection accessories pro
gram, the bike’s suggested re
tail price is $3,300.
Brenda G irton-M itchell
4
AFRICAN .AMERICANS ( IN WHEELS
A convertible car with com fortable rear passenger seating? Yeah, right. In
most convertibles, cram ped rear-seating is the norm , with the back seat re
served for packages and pets. N ot so with the Chrysler Sebring. Load the
packages in the trunk, because now there’s am ple room to accom m odate
additional friends.
T h at was one o f the first, am ong many, surprises that caught the attention o f A frican A m eri
cans O n Wheels. T his sum m er we obtained the 1997 Sebring Convertible JXi— our first one-
year loan vehicle, courtesy o f Chrysler C orporation. A A O W staff is now testing this spunkv
roadster that has quickly become a favorite am ong convertibles. This report is the first o f four,
and includes our initial impressions.
First off, the Sebring d idn’t go unnoticed in the W ashington, D .C . business com m unin'.
M ore than a few heads turned to adm ire the full-sized convertible bathed in dark am ethvst
paint. 1 he adm iring glances gave way to drop-jaw amazement w hen, upon inquiry, passers-by
learned that our fully equipped model bore a sticker price o f $26,525.
Raising and lowering the convertible top is simple. A clamp located under the sun visor on
the driver and passenger sides has to be released first. W ith two people, it’s a snap. O ne occu
pant might struggle a bit to release the clam p from the driver’s seat. After that, though, a button
m ounted on the center arm rest actually lowers or raises the top. And even though the top
lowers into the tru n k area, there’s still am ple room for luggage.
T he interior is well laid-out: T h e controls are uncom plicated, easy to reach and logicallv
placed. Cruise control functions are all m ounted on the steering wheel.
T h e sound system (with in-dash C D ) is excellent — even w ith the noise o f open air travel.
T he Sebring’s stereo autom atically adjusts to the right acoustic quality when the convertible
top changes position.
T h e Sebring handles respectably, negotiat
ing D .C .’s daily traffic jams with relative ease.
Its 2.5-liter engine responds effortlessly with just
Base Price.....................................................$24,660
a soft nudge o f the accelerator to d a n through
Price As Tested............................................$26,525
traffic, and musters plenty o f passing power
Engine...................................................... 2.5 liter V6
while on the highwav. O n average, we observed
17 mpg in the city and 21 on the highway. At
Horsepow er................................ 168 <® 5,800 rpm
4,200 miles, we took the Sebring for its first oil
Acceleration (0-60)........................................ 10 sec
and filter change at Bob Banning Chrysler in
Seats.............................................................................4
Hyattsville, M d. T h e mechanics also checked
for m anufacturer’s service alerts, b u t found
Fuel Econom y....................................17 city/21 hwy
none. O n e hour and $23 later, the Sebring was
Tank Capacity............................................... 15.8 gal
back on the road with a clean bill o f health.
N ext stop: Baltimore, where A A O W Senior
E ditor Blair W alker will take it through its
paces.
AFRKLAN AMERKLANS O N W H EEl s
3*