FROM TH€ PUBLISHER
by Winfred Cross
20
Jeep Jamboree Is Family Fun
22
Motorsports Report:
Gaining Ground In
Elite Industry
T
by Reg McGhee
and Jacqueline Mitchell
28
Where’s The Crisis?
by Warren Brown
32
Urban Pick;
Full-Size SUVs
Departments
6
Auto Briefs
10
411: Car Care & Letters
12
First Impressions
30
Diamante Four Season Review
36
Sebring Four Seasons Review
Editor-In-Chief
Randi Payton
E ditoria l D irector
Vivienne Samms
Cover Photo
Delane Rouse
E xecutive E ditor
Jacqueline Mitchell
Reporters
Frank Aukofer
Adam J. Dixon
Joe Elia
Reg McGhee
Azure Buni Rae Thompson
Photographers
Calvin Ferguson
Kim Johnson
Sue Mead
Dot Ward
Photo Editor
Cassandra Bryant
A F R IC A N A M E R IC A N S O N W H E E LS
‘Full-Size,’ 4-Door Sport-Utility Vehicles
Make
Model
Avg.
0-60
Transact.
Price
base
base
engine trans.
(liter/cyl) 1
horse
power
MPG
(City)
wheel- length/ Cargo
Maximum
base
width
Capacity/ Number
(inches) (inches) (cu. feet) of passgrs.
*AMG Hummer
$61358
19.5
6.5D1/8 4A
170
1 3 ft
130
185/87
varies
4
Chevrolet Suburban C1500 $22239
9.4
5.7/8
4A
255
14
132
220/77
97
9
Chevrolet Tahoe
$26072
8.8
5.7/8
4A
255
14
118
200/77
67
6
Ford Expedition XLT
$24878
N/A
4.6/8
4A
215
14
119
205/79
63
9
GMC Suburban C1500
$22296
9.4
5.7/8
4A
255
14
132
220/77
67
9
GMC Yukon SLE
Web Site Development
Web Visions
$26267
88
5.7/8
4A
255
14
118
200/77
67
6
•1999 GMC Yukon Denali
$38192
N/A
5.7/8
4A
255
13
118
200/77
67
6
•Lexus LX470
$49534
9.9
4.7/8
4A
230
13
112
193/76
54
8
230
12
119
205/80
63
8
Lincoln Navigator
$34780
9.9
5.4/8
4A
•Range Rover 4.OSE AWD
$52028
11.7
4.0/8
4A
190
13
108
186/74
31
5
•Toyota Land Cruiser
$40664
9.9
4.7/8
4A
230
14
112
193/76
61
8
* Model has standard Four- or All-Wheel Drive
t Diesel
f t With optional 195 horsepower turbodiesel
t With third seat folded into floor or removed, where available
The average transaction price is determined using a formula which better reflects what a buyer actually pays, excluding
options, destination charge, or applicable rebates.
Data provided by Edmunds. Road & Track, Kiplingers. AutoSrte. and Car & Driver
Compiled by Adam J. Dixon
Publisher
Randi Payton
Business Manager
Mike Epps
Communications
Kimatni D. Rawlins
PRO A I R /
Operations
Gary V. Joseph
Advertising Representative
Christine Anderson
Motor City Media
22 Cambridge
Pleasant Ridge, Ml 48069
(248)544-8762
African Americans On Wheels
2034 National Press Building
Washington, DC 20045
Tel.(202)588-9459
Fax(202)588-5136
Member of
S toff
Copy Editor
Andrea Puchalsky
URBAN PICKS CHART
by Frank Aukofer
his publication started
out providing news and
inform ation about the
auto industry to its readers. As
Parked in front of a black church is where you will most likely
we expanded our coverage, we
see the all-new 1998 Lincoln Town car Pictured in the
background is the Metropolitan A ME.. the oldest black church
began to dig up w orthy infor
in Washington. D C. The sporty performing Town Car is
m ation about black participa
powered by a 4.6 liter V8 that produces 220 horsepower Base
tion in the development o f the
price ranges from $37.830 to $41.830.
industry and our passion for au
tomobiles. T h e last frontier,
however, appears to be o u r love for
senting a crisis. And we won’t let our read
ers off the hook regarding seatbelt safety,
motorsports. We can't seem to satisfy our
readers' thirst for this sport. T he phones
especially when it involves children. O u r
won’t stop ringing and the flow o f e-mail
contributing writer Reg M cGee reveals
on the subject hasn't diminished.
some startling statistics on the subject.
Just what is it about motorsports? His
We should all be concerned about the
tory tells us that blacks have been racing
environm ent. In this issue. Senior Edi
since the sport first began. But why is it
tor Paul Eisenstein provides the latest de
still considered a rich, w hite sport? Are
velopments of the electric vehicle and
sponsors willing to support us? W hy aren’t
the movement toward a cleaner car.
th ere any black corporate sponsors?
Finally, a word about the cover illus
I his interest sparked us to start a regu
tration of our Spring 1998 black history’
lar section on black involvem ent in
edition. We can’t help but m ention the
motorsports. And annually, we devote our
am ount o f positive feedback we received.
cover story to this subject. This time we go
N atio n ally ren o w n ed a rtist B arbara
"behind the scenes’’ to learn w hat blacks
Higgins Bond colorfully conveyed the
are doing in supporting roles. You will be
historical interest and passion we have
surprised by w hat we have found. As the
for our automobiles.
cover of this issue shows, blacks who aren’t
T he cover embodied the spirit o f what
drivers or owners are making strides in sup
we attem pt to do each and every issue:
porting roles as pit crew members, mar
illustrate the deeply rooted and everlast
keters, organizers, EV. producers and trans
ing love affair between us and our cars.
porters.
O ther hot topics inside this issue in
clude an analysis by Senior Editor Warren
Brown on whether crashes between sport-
utility vehicles and passenger cars are pre-
S enior E ditors
Warren Brown
Winfred Cross
Paul Eisenstein
Rosville Embry
Blair Walker
Summer 1998
Volume 4, Issue 2
14
Lexus GS Series Review
What is it
about
motorsports?
A rt D irector
Ed Towles
CONTCNTS
International Motor Press Association
Washington Automotive Press Association
National Association of Black Journalists
Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce
National Press Club
Aud<t Bureau nf Grcutabons
African Americans On Wheels, © 1998 is
published quarterly as a supplement
to newspapers by On Wheels, Inc.
AAOW is on the Internet at http7/
www.automag.com. Our e-mail address
is AA0W@A0L.com
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Flying from Detroit City Airport (DET)
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For more information and réservations call your travel agent
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AFRICAN AM ERICANS O N « H EELS
35