| OCR Text |
Show Friday, January 22, 1999 AUTOMOTIVE 1999 GMCSierra: the Cadillac ofpickups By G. CHamBers WiLiaMs III KNIGHT RUDDER NEWSPAPERS By Donato W. Nauss (©1999, Los ANGELES Times General Motors has rolled out big guns in its truck shootout with Ford, DETROIT — The millennium and the GM arsenal includes two will bring a bevy of“crossover” and “tetro” vehicles to U.S. consumers, judging from a preview of concept cars andtrucks unveiled recently by Detroit automakers. brands, not one. I've already told you aboutthe all- new 1999 Chevrolet Silverado pickups, introduced in September, -| thefirst major redesign of the full- So-called crossover, or hybrid, size Chevy trucksin a decade. vehicles are expected to become oneofthe hottest auto segments in coming years as automakers look to blend the bestattributes of passenger sedans with those of sport-utili- But the GMC truck division also hasits version of the new pickups, called the Sierra, andif you thought the new Chevy trucks were something special, you've got to check out the 1999 Sierra. Granted, the Silverado and Sierra ty vehicles, pickup trucks and minivans. The auto retro movement will start out the same underneath. But GMChasbeen positioningitself as a premium-vehicle marketer, so the The Sierra extended cab has enoughroomin the backseat to fit three adults comfortably. Sierra models have much more standard equipment and amenities conditioning, four-wheel disc brakes with antilock system, dual front air bags with a passenger-side stripped-downversion. cut-off switch, five chrome-plated steel wheels, chrome front bumper, thanthe Chevy, and you can’t buya Thetwo vehicles alsolook differ- ent: the Sierra has the distinctive AC hood andgrille, as well as fog lamps, dual electric outside mirrors, fancy instrument cluster with a for the big engine. The two V8s on the 1500series are based on the legendary GM small-block V8 design. The 4.8- gain as well. Leading the way back are remarkably car-like, and brak- ing power is awesome.I've never experienced brakesthis good on a pickup; they are racing quality. Oneof the Sierra extended-cab’s liter is rated at 25 horsepower and 285 foot-poundsoftorque; the 5.3 bestattributesis its roominess. The backseat is almost asbig asthat of acrew-cab pickup,andthree adults liter at 270 horsepower and 3 unique fenders, bumper, fascia and driver information center and foot-pounds of torque. Our SLE headlights. Enginechoices are iden- tachometer, leather-wrapped steer- came with the 5.3-liter, at an extra will find it very comfortable, espeing wheel, swing-out rear quarterpanel windows,tilt steering wheel, and cruise control. Theframeis strongerthan before, cost of $700. A five-speed manual gearbox is of the previous Chevy trucks and any of the competition. Four-wheel tion gave the Sierra outstanding 1500 extended-cab model with the Sportside (step-side) short cargo disc brakes are standard across the tical: a V6 and three V8s. GMC trucks comein three trimlevels: cially when compared with the Ford F- 150 or Dodge Ram. Forseriousoff-roading, our Sierra standard on lower-priced models, { base SL, SLE and top-of-the-line but our SLE camewith the smoothwas equipped with the optional | SLT. The differences between the the V8 engines are all new and shifting four-speed automatic trans- lockingrear differential ($270), and GMCsand Chevys make the Sierra more powerful than ever, and even mission with noextra charge. This wealso hadoff-road tires ($365), the Cadillac of pickups. Our test the brakes are far superiorto those transmission and engine combina- front fog lamps ($140) anda heavy- 5 model — the four-wheel-drive duty trailering pac ($285). With this package, the four-wheel- powerin all situations: starting from a deadstop, merging into freeway traffic, passing on two-lane roads drive Sierracanpull a trailer of up to 8,000 pounds. box and Z-71 off-road packa line Otherextras included a “comfort” The base engine for the Chevy and evenclimbinghills. is about as fancy as an off-roadpa ‘age ($565) with front bucket As an avid off-roader who has and GMCmodels is a 4.3-liter V6, capable pickupcanget. and an excellent AM/FM/casOf course, you pay extra forall standard on two- and four-wheel- spentcountless hoursin the wild, I the amenities that come with a 3MC pickup, sothe list price for drive 1500s. It cranks out 200 heartily recommend the automatic transmission for serious back- horsepower and 260foot-pounds of woods and desert exploring ours was a hefty $33,416 (including torque. Three all-new Vortec V8 engines manual transmission might seem $640 transportation). But les: equipped models start at $1 (with two-wheel drive). are available on the GMCs,but the The Sierra SLE comes with lots of standard equipment including power windows/door locks, air- Detroit automakers unveil crossover, retro concepts ogy of the future,” said Jacques jasser, Ford president and chief executive DaimlerChrysler, meanwhile, showed for the first time the Chrysler PT Cruiser, a crossover vehicle that combinesattributes of a car and truck in one package. The PT Cnuiseris bed mode! holds 26 gallonons of gasoline. environmentally correct 4.7 liter, small van-like light truck. DaimlerChrysler said the PT Cruiser would be a 2001 modelthat would go on sale in late 2000.It is expected to cost less than $20,000 and become the signature model for the upscale Chryslerdivision. Beetle Increased competition in high- profit vehicle segments,particularly SUVs and full-size pickups, is ‘Continued from Page D-1 Sdiesel engine emits pthan a comparabl diesel advocates VWofficials smile at this and point out that many peoplealsosaidthat the Beetle was dead Both the company and the anti-diesel environ- mentalists are betting against each other onthis: 20 percentless carbon dioxide soline engine. And because issue. Thescientists union, for example, says “it is unlikely” that diesel engines will capture enoughof the passe! vehicle market to have a significant impac on the environment, as it ris naturally more environmentally friendly than their TDI diesel is so fuel economical, they saay asoline motors 900—Domestic Cars and incapable of resurrection andthat the com- panyitself was headed toward the dump. They proved the world wrong on those count envisioned by Volkswagen andother advanced 900—Domestic Cars | 900—Domestic Cars They'reready to givethe diesel Beetle a “go. 900—Domestic Cars 900—Domestic Cars SDEfps, g Ow YoBee RUEKCerny,Vb, me BGAa Pk nag ee Sn | RUCKade Pre ceaCaaeRo| S| TCADA "Seo HHoan fog wool ol cre, co|con HICK Cy et ‘ait | saleees id RASINRE mutt see | oe : prompting automakers to experiment with new designs in an attempt to carve out new market s. Toyota Molea0., for Lexus RX300, a compe tSUV built off a car chassis. 900—Domestic Cars tes Cars Bre RICKSi Roget scons (5 Sec saes $18.98. 61-0607 YA22KA $14,727 JOHNMECHAM $8 BUCK Losobee pw A Oat,Groen,iat 545 manor Bh te Conyaon | BAK “sroseri sueoes co tl Sa5 a“\erow ik LOH Nile Corhay FBmis CayWoO eres tat bape Gl | A WEST VALLEY 8C thier ‘ vs "a UseD CARS SATURN B gtm. ts ee picaper 20-868 Super Contr PoorouBs ove i cle,com $47.995 4 98 DODGE 15 PASS VAN eS 1 98 CHRYSLER CIRRUS LXi 360 Ys Dual Air, ee loves Ss Loaded, Low Miles Se. i . Everything At $45 OOH '; = Several Automatic, jevseverat__ @4 Automa! 98,795 4,995] a Devilles 9 Eldorodos 3 D'Elegance 2 Seville eville Concours 2 C finan fp Le a 3 150 och CHEV Cone (4000 96leather, GTNLowOBmust! WiePorted! nkt good cond ‘en's Nexto teC i T | ii HOR New Vast Sonrehama| learn oe ne, cadillac makes the promise. We keep it City « 52314444 Cadillac Now adie Boutique 1 c Open F Froaty ‘avah 104 ep crv NG ool gat ‘ponTens ald RR BORN HA 4, te to" “pape GeV Onto ere a | |i es Craytees, IONS 2S OF 9S“con CHIYSLER$1280 Hew Votan aACO, * "petons tat eRe OWaSodaOry 7 , 1070 S, Main « Salt Lake pone in, mete Gea Shemp 4997. AME 2628801 OY‘ern LN, sm eo aba bf smomneon ome SE RS 7% ORTNew Tora, we aa |Meat 4 ai a i it S 2309 So. State ore | 9598.97orate sie EAT ton wow “ORERRPRRmae 3 to Choose From Visit us of Our web site www hinckieydodge com MOMMASha| ME hee "hos Wimwomabr" | MTR fag ARa. ‘VO CHEY BERETTA FOP See the All New Escalade $9 995 1 HINCKLEY DODGE | Wegay SRSote ZA excHyoor] | paneenaan. CHEY ianoatOt wis FEwre, Comore, Bask 6) Chey awhealBee 971]Ge/ok Se sring 1S we Gui| ¥~~ aa " INTREPI ss \"* 29,500 i Leather ‘1 1°96 DODGE Ton, salBeard 4aoae nee 922,995 es| 9700 GV 412900 worry aman Gb NeaBoM| SsaR SLRoun SLT PLUS | DODGE DURANGO ‘98 $ Leather, R.Ai, 3.5, V-6, loaded Di, $288), WEST VALLEY "Sn sae oom calaaa : Cem. 4 Door, Highline, 2800 Miles! wonow/ netfnS01|‘ot pag ahd me |"eaisaeaceacaiie) FICHE eowes ee SES Covcter eiae 24a Vici, 5hip OL?Sere 8-208) tag DO moe Mataigen] 97Ghitroti ts eon Manic ewour me Sree ete 4s Wane Gee CHEV Malibu, V6. Blowoull| ¥8 CHY Lumina. aw CO. V6 . " Show Prices Car 98 DODGE NEON loaded, WEST V. a Cvedeils Miller a ; INVENTORY REDUCTION SALE OO '97 CHRYSLER LHS oieconGomes ot ho S78i USI ae eamesBat8 4GHEYConca Gong % ON ae condition A bargain ot 4M ob, 95 CHEY Bovofia, 2c, */ } sam. fom SATURN “sigma ee watt iio Wide ™ SATURN Coin. Sagon,|CA Ue 4 oki cy eek lw gi | OSSDI Mall ed BoeceSes, 400 S| Va,GAYCamaroV8,aged 5G NATEWADE URAL cere = ‘98 DODGE CARAVAN SE 4 Door, 331,V4 RIVERTON rosace Ra NATIONAL MORSE Sepa sri eesPa MmDOCR CHEATeso CMY Copa, Tot ot opto se soo “¥"| RIVERTON sowRQDGE ny *a SS Ris aSAS "|enfCore, cee cae yi oae| SSai, NTR rae a of | V6 OMY Coo 74g. 2Lees mn A, ome Tnoredibie otal 44.595. new, $9850. M69909 ‘CD 'S21-4444 96 CHEV Coveney. §11.808. $45995 BOREL oe MPRA” "AGaesCa $40,995 Cruise, Tape CAREER t panne oSES a Hacrost Ui $7,888, 262-9039 Tce, gaa | wmNCAR GS Re HGS| winae iia rg) ROBIN DOM |=}evunecteanSoe EGRRRETORER| ee| ILI . £232, 486-7100 |_ a vt PY nrgSacer Veord| 3 1eghoove Tom $04| Mam Maun Cones, tag te | JO) pS eek USEDCARS fj Used CARs SRR 1=| eames mu nrSUNTMh 98 DODGE STRATUS Automatic, Tilt, z WCCn aotna scnann as 0 BUICK Reta Coupe, ruses to Choose From te ; JQHNMEGHIM ES. $49 STRATUSSera! °98 Loaded, Vs, each 9 EASARaat| eeeESa aT) Sr coatCageuly mene Sm Cat Se Die Penee edad: _ $ 2 95)" ey, Mant toet 7908 aS CHoon : 0As08 88 98 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE Loaded, V-4, Low Miles, #1642 7M" 1a, Soe “8 sueLENE PECHEY Concer Swan dc. clo, DAVES avec vacreates ema erea,| crmena, | 900—Domestic Card 886284 4 G bilge rrWma on Suck a2t-ades ¥8.CAD Oate, Grn cl for CHEN mee aa|he5pateSeesira "amen se ion : | PBACK conga, 33. wa | 80 2a Sait Lr hacen Aree 4a am ' Saateat gra are ao" Gry 8700ron "Oem Hh Colne Rabaoaeeae ual Alr rave mt, ODUAC Rance * q8 3SAND CARAVAN SE is Donde Seerbunte sew | “aNEAMVONOase |ey ve bescuedCoN ome 9%,RUCK Roger i eoter CO Soar A ma Lisa Tey "Saget “avin8 vgsoar WEST VALLEY ak ae 7 ax Core ai Semtemesoh aicaagen CRIES er Wie acon hoo| |SARSATTong i saad BUDGET AUTO SALES send e-mail to macete@ nacorp.com or write wo Newspaper Ageney Conpoation, “Auto 135 S. Main St, Balt Lake City, UTae AN, For questionsre Liag sdveining call 237-2910 Managing Eitor Kent Condon dior | WEST .VALLEY 1 gs Ce ty S| 0 Ot, oe ws| MONGeS SKVOK. ood O40 |80K ee feats Sor conus seus CHEV Beret, 6 cy. Om) wal SPS 6sariesausags” “yaeco i vemoeBeitt| 4g. omnes! Gaoee oc9OCK ice, Tare xt || BHUCKCerkny Rew Me gag, oa, ely ELEman 8 Cem goscars Behe Cette | |GEOL Heures 120-709 _|ayauct su Bo te Carlson CarbsonCuddle § harbaareek arena moons aes Cad 98,2% YOR, kod $1195 Salt Lake Tribune. Aniclesin this section ate for the promotional consideration of advertis. Autor ative” Akonok crs, Views expresses necessarily reflect the eit The Salt Lake Tribune. For more int mation 1924, about this sectioncall the ed SENSceca 1S S| sry OOE sxsruy terberBrosSpeConfer 278-8866' So MN IB eres?ea. | EEKSE ey Soiree shiteei| RE3 imi TA 407080ManSoot Bower wows oaos abees ican ooeas Foo Automotive. |“excelent Ry MORO wanes | cord Maa! portion =5 ipgerncona| Sab Soacy DOINGS SLER-PLYMOUTALIEE? FE avy Sene BOUNMRL aor 26583 ag “os cKROO Canna 4aae SHR eco CY esoSER a | 88taeCADALAC MaDoves Cabo § 10 croose | 96 MICK ropa! Lied 1800 va Baer Ganee RCUnIW fobtnes Usosasans ausarie V8 engine supercharged by com- 900—Domestic Cars ma Oy BOR Naa orhor aa, omeBett) @ ar| Gereoem gecons Wisenetonda Pueaeren|ormare| Butterfield|| =. arbesouCadillac 6 BUCK rl RIVERTON ott Sau “ss: sedels Pon266833 en DaimlerChrysler displayed the Dodge Power Wagon conceptthat evokes the memory of the brand’s 1946 workhorse pickupof the same name. The Ram-based truck uses a 7.2-liter diese! engine. DaimlerChrysler also displayed the Dodge Ch: R/T that brings to mindthe division's 1960s muscle car coupe. The concept, however,is a sedan andis not a gas-guzzlerlike its predecessor, instead using an vehicle — DaimlerChrysler dubsit pressed natural gas. designed to appeal to consumers whowantthe ride and handling of a car but the room andversatility of a ($154), mpggallon in the city and 18 mpg Ride andhandling for the Sierra past while offering the best technol- tric rear-window deto; EPAfuel-economyratings are 15 slope. likely to reintroduce the sports car in about a year as a 2001 model, companyofficials said at the North American Intemational Auto Show here. “It captures the heritage of the a flexible activity vehicle — thatis biggest, a 6.0-liter, 300-horsepower first time youlosetractionshifting onthe highway forthe 5.3liter VB mammothis notoffered onthe half- gears on asteep, slippery uphill Thefuel tank of the Sportside short ton(1500) trucks; you havetogo to thethree-quarter-tton (2500) models Ford, which discontinued the oversized Thunderbird in 1997, is sette/compact-disc stereo; an elec and deep-tintedglass( more macho, but you'll hate it the to the future, Ford Motor Co. recently took the wraps off a new concept Thunderbird coupe that evokesthe sporty designofthe original two-seaterintroduced in 1955. General Motors Corp. indicated that itwill be a big player in the emerging new segments by displaying three new concept crossover vehicles: the Pontiac Aztek, an amalgam of a mid-size sedan, van and SUV; Oldsmobile Recon, a carlike, compact SUV equipped with high-tech gadgetry; and the Chevrplet Nomad, a modem sports wagon that combines the performance and Healing oe See flexibility of an SUV. GM Chairman John F. Smith ze would not say which of these concept vehicles would be produced or whenbut said the companyis cothmitted to being a leader in the crossover segments. “These are very serious concept vehicles,” he said. Many of the crossover vehicles displayed borrow heavily from vehicles from the past. The retro Chevy Nomad, for instance, takes design cues from a 1950s sports wagonofthe same name. Not to be outdone on. nostalgia, KaSebeaean, D-2 The Salt Lake Tribune | OR CaVe Ges 1 a et ka so ae he a Wate ra ¥4corcion, CHIV NOVA. immaculate $170 201-8040 = aafeatlies |
