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D4 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, April 18, 2001 B e s t W h e e l s · O a k v i l l e New Yorkunveiling step towards rekindling spirit ofMazda I n a brash move, Mazda pulled away the curtains on its future products and showed a group of invited jour nalists the 11 new products it will bring to North America in the next three years. Yes, it was brash, but in a calculated way. Mazda wants to get the word out that it is moving ahead aggressively with new models in a time when the only automotive industry news being made is JIM ROBINSON RoadWorthy about cutbacks and huge losses. No cameras were allowed because the models shown now carry a very distinctive Mazda family look -- the five-point grilled and pointed prow look seen on the flagship RX-8. On FOR THE ERIN -,s#iV . MILLS 3 D A Y S O N I 1 A U T Q L j ^ S1 c!N T R E's 8 PAGE N ti'/J a , USED v e h ic l e s · 1 FLYER IN ODAY'S AKVILLE BEAVER m v/ Four-Wheel Alignment Special I · Check toe-in, loe-out a n d cam ber I · A djust a s needed | · Inspect suspension | · Check ball joints a n d tie rod ends | · Check tire w e a r a n d a ir pressure Keepin' it real. I V O LK S W A G E N PARTS & SERVICE || Plus tax where applicable. Please present coupon at time of write-up. N o t to be com bined with other §§ offers. N o t redeemable for advertised specials, |1 previous purchases, o r cash. || Expires June 3 0 , 2 0 0 1 . SERVICE HOURS: M o n .-Th u r. 8 p m -8 p m Friday, 8 a m -6 p m S aturday, 8 a m -4 p m Oakville Volkswagen 557 Kerr Street, Oakville (905) 844-3285 its sedans, a very prominent reverse "L" will be seen on the C-pillar. Wagons and crossovers (wagons are very big in the future of Mazda) will have full-length windows that recede to a vertical rear deck treatment. This part is dever because Mazda can now design a wagon, a SUV or even a con vertible/pickup and not lose the overall family design. The New York City reveal was led by Mark Fields, presi dent of Mazda worldwide. He was backed up by senior man aging director Kei Kado, and managing director Phil Martens. Their message was repeated often and forcefully so that none of the assembled journalists would miss the point of the meeting. Mazda, they said, had lost its way from building fun-todrive cars in the 1980s and try ing to be all things to all people in the 1990s. More than once the brass talked about "rekindling the spirit" of Mazda. Mazda must be "quick and nimble" again. Using Ford resources, cutting back staff and closing a plant in Japan (probably a very hard decision for Fields to make), the main objective now is to bring on vehicles with the "zoom, zoom, zoom" spirit built in. Spirited certainly describes the seven vehicles I saw start ing with the "Small Hatchback" that will be built in Spain at a Ford of Europe plant. Powered by four-cylinder gas engines ranging from 1.4 to 1.7 litres and a single rail, four-cylinder, 1.4-litre diesel, these cars are aimed at European and Japanese consumers. But the pert yellow hatchback I saw was larger than a Chevy Metro. With rising gasoline prices, a modest re-engineering to meet crash requirements could see the car here. Definitely coming in 2003 was the "Compact Sedan," an obvious replacement for the current Protege. Much of its styling was borrowed from the RX-8 super sedan. Although a four-door, the Compact Sedan has coupe looks and will also be offered as a five-door hatch back and probably a wagon. Called the "Midsize Sedan" This is a sketch of the 2003 Mazda "Midsize Sedan". The prominent reverse "L" on the C-Pillar, the shape of the tail lamps and the vestigial spoiler on the rear deck a la Miata will be seen on all future sedans. and the "Midsize Wagon," the place that they can call their own away write about cars get to see this far into the 2003 626 replacements will be from home with emphasis on a flexible future. But these are perilous times in the offered with a 1.8- and 2.3-litre interior. Looking like a huge lozenge with automotive industry where changing per gasoline engines as well as a a smaller lozenge on top for the windows ceptions can make or break you. 3.0-litre V6 with sequential Summing up what Mazda hopes to do and roof, the lack of styling embellishment variable valve timing. is its own saving grace. Secret Hideout was Fields who said, "these vehicles will To be built in Flat Rock, may never hit the streets, but a lot the engi help us to rekindle the energy, the spirit and Mich., these are very elegant the competitiveness that once was our way neers learned will show up in future cars. machines, the wagon being It's not often that a majority of us who of doing business." particularly sexy looking in deep red livery. Bigger and wider than the current 626, they are more in the Millenia cate gory. I won't go much into the RX-8 with its 250 hp rotary engine and seats for four, but I was intrigued by the MX Sport Tourer, a concept car that uses a Ford Lincoln MK 9 hybrid system of a 2.0-litre gasoline engine and electric motor. Instead of looking quirky like the current crop of hybrids, the MX Sport Tourer is very much RX-8 in form and spirit combining sportscar looks with SUV utility. With NEW YORK, NY, - Following Ford's declared to be the most beautiful car in the fully retractable roof, freestyle trend o f blending modem and retro styling world - is significant for its sheer elegance. door system with no centre pil with new age technology, the all-new The Continental was the first vehicle hon lar, rear seats that store away to Lincoln MK 9 coupe concept points to the ored for design excellence by the Museum create a flat cargo floor, and a o f Modem Art in N ew York. design direction o f future Lincoln vehicles sportscar cockpit, there is little The Mark II, envisioned as the contem and is a statement o f the brand's "American doubt in my mind that this is a Luxury" signature. porary evolution o f the original vehicle we will see, probably Continental, established the classic hood, Unveiled at the 2001 N ew York Auto within five years. cabin and deck proportions o f the modem Show, the Lincoln MK 9 is the first tangi Same thing goes for the luxury coupe and was an oasis o f restraint ble expression o f the values and philoso in a market dominated by tail fins, chrome phy that will guide Lincoln's growth in "Secret Hideout," an odd-look North America, and eventually, in Europe and exaggerated styling elements. ing duck at first glance, but And the 1961 Continental remains one and other markets around the world, says marvelously clever the more I o f the most enduring automotive designs of Mark Hutchins, president o f Lincoln thought about it. It took a while Mercury. all time. Its sheer body surfaces, unique to realize it was probably the center-opening doors, chrome-accented "Lincoln's goals for the new decade are standout vehicle among the shoulder line and overall restraint estab simple, but challenging: build on our standouts shown. lished a signature look for Lincoln that strengths in North America, grow the busi Mazda took a group of wastotally unique. ness and achieve global desirability," youpg engineers and told them 1960s-era Continentals still have Hutchins says. "But as they evolve, to get lost in Tokyo's youth cul Lincolns always will be distinctively and tremendous visual impact and have been ture. They then had to come featured in several popular films, including unabashedly American." back and design a vehicle that Intrinsic details o f the MK 9's exterior, "The Matrix." would give young drivers a "When a brand has such a strong design such as the chrome-accented upper shoul Future Ford Lincoln MK 9 is a reflection of the past (expectmore E V E N T expectm ore value and s e le c tio n at y o u r fo rd d e a le r now. Cash purchase f o r ^ 2001 fordfocus se sedan * Plus 1 6$73 ,9 95' 0 freight 36 month lease for only per month with $2,895 down, $250 security & $730 freight. O r lease for S240/m onth with $1,500 d o w n 3 m9 % t 4 8 m o n th p u r c h a s e o r 3 6 m o n th le a s e fin a n c in g o n A L L n e w in - s to c k 2 0 0 1 fo c u s sedan & w agon. J with air and cd player · 2.0L Split Port Induction Engine · Air Conditioning · AM/FM with C D Player · Power Door Locks with Remote Keyless Entry · DualStage Front Air Bags · Height Adjustable Driver's Seat · SecuriLockTM Anti-Theft System *1 9 9 " der line that runs the length o f the vehicle, are applied with precision. Gloss black paint highlights the execution o f the body surfaces. The face o f the MK 9 incorpo rates an evolution o f a Lincoln signature grille flanked by twin xenon gas^iischarge headlamps. The Lincoln design team began their work with an exploration o f Lincoln's heritage."Before we could define what Lincoln design should stand for in the future, we first had to understand its past," said McGovern. McGovern says the 1940 Continental a car that architect Frank Lloyd Wright heritage as Lincoln, the challenge is to rec ognize the past without being held back by it," McGovern says. "These are qualities we can realize in a modem context without being at all retrospective." "The Lincoln MK 9 displays a timeless elegance borne o f the design's inherent simplicity and visual logic, while its over all exuberance is unmistakably American," says Lincoln D esign Director Gerry McGovern. "During the next several years, Lincoln will build on the design direction evident in the MK 9 through new concept and pro duction vehicles." 2001 fordtaurus se sedan with power adjustable pedals · 3.0L O H V V6 Engine · Automatic · Air Conditioning · Power Driver's Seat with Lumbar Support · Power Adjustable Pedals · AM/FM with CD Player · ABS · P e rs o n a l S a fe ty S y s te m , including: / " C a s h purchase for * Plus 2 3 7 9 5 $ 8 9 5 freight 36 month lease for only per month with $3,995 down. $325 security & $895 freight. O r lease fo r S350/m onth with $1,500 d ow n *2 7 9 · Dual Stage Air Bags · Crash Severity Sensors, and More... jL J l H n n 0 .9 % t4 8m o n th p u r c h a s e o r 3 6 m o n th le a s e fin a n c in g o n A L L n e w In -s to c k 2 0 0 1 ta u ru s . ^ n n T h e Taurus has earned five stars - the highest possible U.S. Governm ent crash test rating _ for front impact for both driver and front passenger - three years in a row.* 2001 fo rd w in d sta r Ix Cash purchase fo r'x with personal safety system · 3.8L 200hp V6 Engine · Automatic ·Air Conditioning ·ABS · Dual Sliding Doors ·Pcwer WrxjcNvs/Locks/Mrrors · Over 40 Standard Safety Features v Includes Value Group: · Speed Control · Tilt Steering · Privacy Glass · Roof Rack *2 4 4 9 5 Plus $ 9 5 5 freight 36 month lease for only per month with $3,995 down, $350 security & $955 freight. O r lease for 3370/m onth with $1,500 d o w n 4 8 m o n th p u r c h a s e fin a n c in g o n A L L n e w in - s to c k 2 0 0 1 w irtd s ta r. J *2 9 9 0% t V expectm ore event on n o w for a lim ited tim e 2001 fo rd m u sta n g coupe · 190hp 3.8L V6 Engine Purchase for · 5-Speed Manual Transmission ^ jP TM * · Air Conditioning j m 5 3 · Premium AM/FM Stereo/Cassette/CD Plus $790 freight · 15" 6-Spoke Cast Aluminum Wheels 2001 fo rd m u sta n g convertible Same Great Features as Coupe, PLUS: · Automatic Transmission · Power Convertible Top Purchase for * 28,195 Plus $790 freight www.ford.ca/ofFers YOUR ONTARIO FORD DEALERS. ISC BUYERS READ THE LEGAL COPT: fun amouit of purchase once Purchase 9% and a 36 month lease r a n Ford Cred 9% ourclose financing on all new ri-sto 226 40 and total to be repaid is $ 16.2? rd Credt to o s p e d retail lessees, on ap new «i-stock2001 Taurus SESwan fo r. $20,37 U 24 Down payment or equivaJenl adit Total lease om aflo n is $14 .7 59 /J l' onths to letail customers, on approved cn n pared to a Short Wheetoase model at* -3 5 S 8 9 S ^ 6 5 ). licence, nsrnnce. adr tier offer Some conditions r a y apply to t Merriment National Highway Traffic Safety i rch aseart s exclude I aialifed ret x fi ftc u s : S 2 / 9 ^ f t 0 per month ; month s payment and i months, monthly payn xxith based on an a m a t required i0% purcf time without notice. 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