Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Dec. 2, 1993, edition 2 / Page 22
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FAMILIAR FACES WITH NEW FEATURES FOR 1884 By almost any stretch of the imagination, the 1994 auto season can be summed up in one surprising word - modest Oh sure! The Big Three automakers will introduce a few new cars and tnicks, a new name or two, and several new design features. Thanks tothe soft economy and new emission controls, Detroit is keeping its eyes on controlling manufacturing -costs. The result: we won't see many new models this fall. But don't cry for Detroit. Chrysler, Ford and Gen enl Motors have enjoyed a renaissance of sons with consum ers. New price incentives, technical and design improve ments made 1993 a banner year for the Big Three against the imports. New safety regulations are the big news this auto season as automakers have responded with safer cars. The new rules require each automobile sold in the 1994 model season have frontal crash protection for two occupants. In short, more cars are offering dual aiibags as standard features. Given these safety and technical advancements, Americans no longer simply assume that the Japanese pro vide more value in their automobiles. Higher prices brought on by a stronger yen against the dollar have hurt the sales of Japanese cars. Honda, Mazda and Mitsubishi have seen their sales slide, and although Nissan and Toyota are still going saong, they remain concerned about their future in the American market The European automakers have similar sticker shock problems, but they are also gearing up for battle after seeing their sales drop last year. Mercedes-Benz and BMW are trying to offer value, and Saab, Volkswagen and Volvo are finally introducing new products to the maxket in hopes for success. Given the imports' pricing disadvantages, the American automakers seem to have a wide open lane to the motoring public. Their careful blend of new designs and simple technical updates tfiould win over more consumers in the new automotive season^ Some of the biggest news in 1994 comes from Chrysler, the nation' s smallest but perhaps most talked -about automaker. The new Dodge Ram pickup arrives in showrooms this fall and an optional V-10 engine will be available on the Ram early next year. Therestyled truck comes in three models with two bed sizes, two wheelbases and five engines, includ ing a high performance 8-liter, 300 horsepower V-10. Chrysler also unveils the new Dodge/Plymouth Neon, a front-wheel drive subcompact that will replace the Dodge Shadow and Plymouth Sundance. The Neon sedans feature dual airbags as standard equipment and offer ABS as an option and a choice of two 4 -cylinder engines, a 133 horsepower single overhead cam and a 140 horsepower dual overhead cam In the popular Jeep group, Chrysler drops the Grand Wagoneer, while the automaker adds integrated child safety seats to the Grand Cherokee. Wrangler and Cherokee comes in new 3-speed automatic with the 2.5-liter, 4 cylinder engine. The Fold Motor Company brings big changes to the automotive showroom with a newly styled Mustang, the first major change in the car since 1979. A 3.8-liter 145 horse power, V-6 is standard in the base model, a 5-liter, 215 horsepower V-8 in the GT Coupe and convertible with a hard top cap are offered. An even more high powered Cobra version with a 5 liter, 245 horsepower, V-8 engine and 5 speed manual wQl come out six months later. Besides revising a well-known car, Ford will intro duce two new four-wheel drive compact cars this season. The Ford Contour and the Mercury Mystique, designed in both America and Europe, debuts next spring and will eventually replace the Tempo and Topaz. The Ford Thunderbiid and Mercury Cougar boast new interiors, modest sheet metal revisions and a new V-8 engine. The Ford Aspire replaces the Festiva, and the popular Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable add cellular telephones as optional equipment. General Motors is offering several innovations this season, including a new luxury sedan from Oldsmobile, a new S-10 compact pickup truck from Chevrolet, a new Camaro convertible, a re styled and larger Cadillac Sedan de Ville. The Oldsmobile Aurora marks a comeback of sorts for a GM division that has been mired in the perception of the past The new luxury sedan, which debuts in May, has a 4 liler version of GM's 4.6 liter, 32 valve, North star V-8. The car also has dual airbags, anti-lock brakes and traction control as standard equipment. Chevrolet's newest offering is the revised S-10 pickup. The truck oomeswithfourwheel ABS with the choice of two 4.3 liter V-6s and rear-wheel ABS with the base 4 cylinder. A high performance and off-road version are available. COVER: TOP LEFT/Bulck Park Avenue Ultra ,TOP RIQHT/Oodga Grand Caravan, CENTER LEFT/Ford ThundreWrd, BOTTOM LEFT/Mercuiy Grand Marquis, BOTTOM RIGHT/Ctvysler Concorde MERCURY COUGAR XR7 MERCURY TRACER
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Dec. 2, 1993, edition 2
22
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