Portland observer., January 28, 1998, Page 33, Image 33

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It must be Magic!
MCRCCDCS-BCNZ
Mercedes is blossoming into a full-line auto­
maker, offering an array o f products appealing to
different lifestyles. T he most widely anticipated
addition is the new M-Class all-activity vehicle,
assembled in Tuscaloosa, Ala. T his is Mercedes
first step into the highly competitive sport-utility
market. Starting around $35,000, the M-Class
competes head-on with the Chevrolet Tahoe,
Ford Explorer, and Jeep G rand Cherokee. Also
new for 1998 is the CLK, powered by a new 3.2-
liter, 18-valve V6 engine. T he CLK coupe, m od­
erately priced around $40,000, is based on the
C-Class. T he E-Class wagon returns in 1998 with
a new 3.2-liter V6. T he E420 is renamed the
E430, and gets a new 4.3-liter V8 engine.
"Brace-face" to "nice smile!",
C student to Head of the Class,
y
backpacks to briefcases,
Mercedes ML-320
BMW
Engineers at B M W are w orking diligently to
produce a stream o f new and improved models
for 1998 and beyond. T h e Z 3 M Roadster joins
the line-up by next summer. T he new roadster
will be fitted with a 3.2-liter 240-horsepower
inline-6 engine. In fact, th at’s the big news for
the 3-series models. Replacing the 318 coupe and
convertible are the more powerful 323s. BM W
continues as a leader in safety with an inflatable
head protection system, which will be added to
the 5-and 7-series.
VOIKSWAGCN/AUDI
big yellow bus to black sedan
...with tan interior, of course.
The 1998 Nissan Maxima
Volkswagen enters the near-luxury arena this
fall w ith its new Passat, built off the Audi A4
p latfo rm . C o n sid ered a c o m p e tito r to the
Mercedes C-Class and BM W 3-Series in Europe,
the new Passat is sturdier and bigger than the
previous model. More changes are expected early
next vear when Passat offers a 2.8-liter, 193-horse-
power V6 engine. Also next year, the long-awaited
Beetle will arrive as a 1999 model. A new G olf
and Jetta will arrive later in the year. Audi will
offer two new models for 1998: T he A4 Avant
wagon, equipped with the new 5-valve V6: and
the A6 Q u attro mid-size sedan, powered by a
200-horsepower V6 engine.
VOLVO
Volvo, the Swedish car maker known for safety,
has had a busy 98 model year. T he C 70 coupe,
unveiled earlier this year, will be available in a
convertible model, Volvo's first since 1956. T he
V 70 wagon will come with a 190-horsepower,
2.4-liter engine com pared to the V 70 R with a
2.3-liter, turbo that gets 236 horses. Volvo height­
ens ground clearance on the V70 and adds a roof
rack and other sport-utility styling to create the
V 70 XC A W D, its first assault on Subaru’s
O utback sport-utilirv vehicle.
You've always known you could do anything you put your mind to. So how does
it feel to reach the other side? Magical? That's the way it is with the newly
designed 1998 Nissan Maxima . Its luxurious interior with optional leather seat­
ing surfaces and 8-way power driver's seat provide superior comfort. And its avail­
able 200-watt Bose" CI) Audio System with six speakers cradles you in Bose"
sound around. And talk about magic, the Maxima's 190-horsepower V6 engine
has been heralded by Automobile Magazine as one of the best V6 engines in
the world!* We invite you to test drive the Maxima at your nearest Nissan
Dealer. Or, if you have any questions, please give us a call at 1-800-981-8531.
Volvo V70R AW D
Xissax Motor Corporation
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S m art people always read the fine print. A nd they always wear their seatbelts.
■fPtse is a registered trademark o f Hose Corp. * Automobile Magazine. September 1995.
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