It’s Full Speed Ahead for 2002 Car Models

The 2002 model year offers 47 brands and hundreds of choices to consider. Whether you’re in the market or just looking, here’s our take on the best of what’s new and notable, compiled by Times staff writers John O’Dell in Southern California and Terril Yue Jones in Detroit.

Acura

CL luxury coupe, TL and RL luxury sedans, RSX compact hatchback, NSX exotic coupe, MDX luxury sport-utility vehicle; https://www.acura.com.

Honda Motor Co.’s luxury division adds the RSX as a replacement for the aging Integra. But the new entry will come only as a two-door hatchback, no sedan. Honda says it is tuned to maintain the same snappy response and high degree of control as the Civic, whose platform it shares, and early reviewers seem to agree.

The base RSX, starting about $20,000, comes with a 2.0-liter, 160-horsepower inline-4 engine with the intelligent valve timing system Honda calls i-VTEC. Acura turns up the heat with the RSX Type-S, a $23,200 performance model with a six-speed manual transmission and a staggering 200 horsepower from a retuned version of that same 2.0-liter engine.

Elsewhere in the lineup, the mid-engine NSX, the world’s most underappreciated exotic, gets a minor face-lift but no mechanical changes; those are waiting until the completely revised 2004 model hits the streets, possibly with a 4.0-liter V-8.

Aston Martin

DB7 Vantage exotic coupe and Volante convertible, Vanquish exotic coupe; https://www.astonmartin.com.

James Bond’s favorite car (that’s the movie Bond--in the Ian Fleming novels the secret agent drove a supercharged Bentley) comes in just three flavors for 2002, but what flavors they are.

The newcomer is the $228,000 Vanquish, a long, low, lean machine of carbon fiber, aluminum, composite plastics and steel, with the body--and stance--of a well-muscled sprinter. Think Flo-Jo with a British accent. The 190-mph, 460-horsepower, V-12-powered model uses a six-speed manual transmission that works in automatic mode or is shifted, sans clutch, by racing-type paddles mounted on the steering wheel.

Aston Martin drops the base model from the DB7 line, but keeps the $145,000 V-12 Vantage coupe and the $155,000 V-12 Volante convertible.

An $80,000-or-so baby Aston is coming in 2003--unless the new bosses at Ford Motor Co. decide to rethink the strategy for their Premier Automotive Group, to which Aston Martin belongs. It’s all part of a plan to ensure that Aston Martin dealers in the U.S. have something to sell as their numbers swell to 40 from 26 in the next few years.

Audi

A4, S4 mid-size luxury sedan and sport sedan; All-Road Quattro luxury wagon; A6, S6 Avant full-size luxury sedan and wagon; A8, S8 full-size luxury sedan and sport sedan; TT coupe and roadster; https://www.audiusa.com.

A longer, completely redesigned A4 went on sale in October with a new 30-valve V-6 engine (3.0 liters, 220 horsepower, up from the heavier 2.8-liter, 190-horse version). The A4 also gets a 1.8-liter, 170-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder and is available with Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive. Roomier than its predecessor, the new A4 has an available continuously variable transmission for imperceptible gear shifting. The new line starts at $25,000.

Rounding out the performance S-Series, the 2002 S6 Avant sport wagon went on sale recently, churning out 340 horsepower from its 4.2-liter V-8.

Several Audi models also get OnStar service from General Motors; the system provides navigation, concierge services and hands-free telephoning.

Bentley

Arnage Red Label exotic sedan, Continental R exotic coupe, Azure exotic convertible; https://www.rolls-royceandbentley.co.uk.

There are no major changes to Bentley’s 2002 lineup of exotic cars, which sell for $214,000 to $370,000. The real news is a year away, with the arrival of a range of more affordable 2003 cars, starting with the GT Coupe.

The 2003s will constitute the company’s first all-new entries since its sale by BMW of Germany, with the Britons going independent as Bentley Motors Inc. at the factory in Crewe, England. The Germans will take over Rolls-Royce and move production to a new factory under construction in Britain, with an all-new BMW-designed lineup of Rolls-Royces for the ’03 model year.

BMW

Mini subcompact; 3-Series luxury convertible, coupe, sedan and wagon; 5-Series luxury sedan and wagon; M3 luxury convertible and coupe; 7-Series luxury sedan; Z3 and Z8 sports cars; X5 luxury SUV; https://www.bmwusa.com.

A completely redesigned 7-Series line arrives in January, its most notable features being high-tech. A bulky knob that can be pushed in, up/down and left/right or spun to make selections controls most of the car’s internal functions, from climate control to navigation. The line also sports what BMW calls the world’s first six-speed automatic transmission.

The 735i is powered by a new 3.6-liter, 272-horsepower V-8, and the 745i by a 4.5-liter V-8 that generates 333 horses. An ultra-premium version also will be available with a 408-horsepower 12-cylinder engine. Pricing is expected to be near that of the current 7-Series cars, which sell for $63,000 to $92,000. BMW says this 7-Series will get a hydrogen-combustion engine sometime during its model life.

The X5 4.6 also arrives for 2002 as a performance upgrade to the X5 line. The 4.6-liter engine grinds out 347 horsepower, plenty to bust through a snowbank in January. The base price is $67,000.

Less expensive but perhaps more anticipated is the Mini, a bigger, updated evolution of the tiny, iconic British car of the 1960s and ‘70s, under a brand name BMW now owns. The low-slung Mini has a host of safety updates to make it street-legal in the U.S. It runs on a 1.6-liter, 115-or 160-horsepower four-cylinder engine and is certain to pick up on the “cute” factor where Volkswagen’s New Beetle left off.

Buick

Century mid-size, Regal mid-size, LeSabre full-size and Park Avenue near-luxury sedans, Rendezvous full-size SUV; https://www.buick.com.

The big news for 2002 is a truck, the first from this division of General Motors. The Rendezvous SUV is actually built off a minivan platform and is the sister vehicle of GM’s Pontiac Aztek--but has heard none of the jeers the Aztek has endured. Looking much more like a standard sport-utility, the Rendezvous is intended to combine features of an SUV, a minivan and a premium sedan.

The Rendezvous, which went on sale in the spring, boasts a 3.4-liter, 185-horsepower V-6 engine and four-speed automatic transmission. The available third-row seating holds seven people, but watch yourself clambering out of that rear row--when tilted, the second-row seats have been known to practically impale exiting passengers. Options include sonic rear parking assist, GM’s OnStar communications system, roof-mounted hard-shell carrier, roof-mounted bicycle carriers, removable backpacks attached to the front seats and hitch-mounted ski carriers.

Cadillac

Eldorado luxury coupe, Seville and DeVille luxury sedans, Escalade full-size SUV, Escalade EXT pickup-SUV; https://www.cadillac.com.

The all-new, hot-selling 2002 “‘Slade,” as the second-generation Escalade has supposedly become known among rappers, has been a hit, replacing the previous version, which was little more than a quickly gussied-up and rebadged Chevy Tahoe. This Escalade is designed for luxury, volume (a third row of seats brings seating capacity to eight) and muscle: The rear-wheel-drive version is powered by a Vortec 5.3-liter V-8 that puts out 285 horsepower; the all-wheel-drive version gets a 6.0-liter Vortec V-8 that pumps out 345 horses.

The $50,000 Escalade EXT, Cadillac’s latest entry, began shipping last week , so it is just arriving at dealerships. It’s basically a luxury version of the Chevy Avalanche, complete with the reconfigurable mid-gate unit that folds away to form an 8-foot pickup bed. It has the top-end Escalade 6.0-liter engine.

Caddy’s ’02 Seville and DeVille are coming off assembly lines with optional factory-installed XM Radio units, the first cars with built-in satellite radio capability. XM provides 100 channels of digital programming for $9.95 a month and has begun broadcasting in parts of the country.

Coming in 2003 are the angular Cadillac CTS sedan, which replaces the German-built but problem-plagued Catera, and the chiseled XLR roadster, known as the Evoq during its concept phases.

Chevrolet

Prizm compact, Cavalier compact, Malibu mid-size, Monte Carlo mid-size, Impala mid-size, Camaro sports car, Corvette sports car, Venture and Astro minivans, Express full-size van, Tracker compact SUV, Blazer mid-size SUV, TrailBlazer mid-size SUV, Tahoe full-size SUV, Suburban full-size SUV, Avalanche pickup-SUV, S-10 compact pickup, Silverado full-size pickup; https://www.chevrolet.com.

The most heralded arrivals to GM’s Chevrolet division for 2002 are the TrailBlazer mid-size SUV and the Avalanche pickup-SUV.

The TrailBlazer and its GMC Envoy and Oldsmobile Bravada siblings are larger than the Chevy Blazer and have their own unique platform and brand-new engine: an all-aluminum 4.2-liter, 270-horsepower Vortec inline-6 (the first I-6 in any GM vehicle in 17 years). GM gave the three new SUVs five-link rear suspension for a smooth ride reminiscent of a premium sedan, and one of the sport-utility market’s first applications of rack-and-pinion steering. Later in 2002 will come an extended TrailBlazer with a third-row seat to accommodate seven passengers, something much in demand in SUVs these days.

In what GM calls the industry’s first “configurable” truck, the Avalanche sports a foldaway mid-gate that separates the rear seats from the pickup bed. With the mid-gate stowed, the bed becomes 8 feet long. The muscular, in-your-face truck, often likened to something out of a “Mad Max” movie, is powered by a 5.3-liter V-8 engine putting out 285 horsepower. The truck also is the basis for the Cadillac Escalade EXT, with which it shares a platform and many other parts.

The Cavalier gets a new engine in the LS sport coupe and sedan: the EcoTec 2.2-liter, 140-horsepower four-cylinder. A first-ever Cavalier Z24 sedan, with a 2.4-liter, 150-horsepower four-cylinder, joins the Z24 coupe.

The Corvette Z06 gets a 20-pony boost to 405 horsepower, making it the fastest production Corvette.

Meanwhile, it’s farewell to the Camaro and the Prizm, which are in their final model year. The Prizm may not be widely lamented, but the Camaro has had a loyal following since the late 1960s. Sales, however, have plummeted as younger drivers, long the main Camaro market, have drifted to imports and less-ostentatious cars. For 2002, GM offers a 35th-anniversary package on its Camaro SS models, which are bright red with wide silver racing stripes and have special leather and embroidery inside.

Chevy also has big news late next year: the V-8-powered 2003 SSR roadster pickup truck, evoking classic hot-rod trucks of the past. Expect the production version, with retractable hardtop, to be unveiled soon.

Chrysler

Sebring mid-size, Concorde full-size, 300M full-size, PT Cruiser compact car-truck, Prowler sport convertible, Voyager minivan, Town and Country minivan; https://www.chrysler.com.

Chrysler has discontinued the LHS sedan for 2002, replacing it with the Concorde Limited. The LHS look will survive, however, across the Concorde line, which adapts the trademark tall grille with chrome edging and Chrysler’s winged logo, quad projector headlamps and rear fascia. The Concorde LXi gets 12 more horsepower with a 3.5-liter V-6, to 234, replacing the 3.2-liter V-6.

The 300M Special is a new version for 2002, of which only 8,000 to 8,500 will be made, featuring a 3.5-liter, 255-horsepower V-6 engine and 18-inch wheels.

There are three new versions of the popular PT Cruiser: the Woodie, a version that evokes the wood-paneled station wagons of the 1940s; the Dream Cruiser Series 1, which looks as if it were carved out of solid gold; and the Flame Package PT, with factory-installed flame decals that add a hot-rod punch to the car.

In the wings is the Crossfire, a rear-wheel-drive two-seat sports coupe that will go into production next year, either as a 2003 or a 2004 model, and is expected to replace the Prowler. The Crossfire is based on a concept car, previously shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, with a split front windshield and a 2.7-liter V-6 engine.

In the first true synergy of the company’s 1998 acquisition by Daimler-Benz, Chrysler says the Crossfire will have a Mercedes-Benz engine, transmission, axle assemblies and other major underbody components and will be built in Germany by Karmann. The production version is expected at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show in January.

Chrysler sources also say the company is planning a crossover sport wagon, with details coming early next year.

Daewoo

Lanos subcompact, Nubira compact, Leganza mid-size; https://www.daewoocars.com.

As Daewoo Motor America awaits word on General Motors Corp.’s pending purchase of its South Korean parent--a purchase that could dramatically alter the U.S. operation’s fate--the lineup remains largely untouched save for cosmetic tweaks for 2002.

The big news will come when GM seals its acquisition of Daewoo Motor Co. and decides what to do with the U.S. operation--various GM bigwigs, including Ron Zarrella, president of GM North America, have said they are unsure Daewoo has a role in GM’s U.S. strategy.

If the operation does survive, Daewoo’s next move in the U.S. would be the July launch of a larger, more powerful 2003 Leganza, its flagship sedan. The addition of a small minivan--that’s not a redundancy, it is a small minivan, downsized from the norm--would follow in January 2003. The model, called the Rezzo back home, features a suspension designed by Porsche and an intelligent transmission that adapts its shift pattern to match drivers’ styles.

Dodge

Neon compact, Stratus mid-size, Intrepid full-size, Viper sports car, Caravan minivan, Ram van, Durango mid-size SUV, Dakota compact and Ram full-size pickup truck; https://www.4adodge.com.

Dodge’s splash for 2002 is the all-new Ram pickup truck, the Chrysler Group’s top-selling vehicle. Not wanting to tinker too much with a success story, the company has resisted radically altering the Ram’s looks, focusing the changes on an even more massive crosshair grille and glaring headlamps.

This time the Ram also has a quad cab with four full doors, a new automatic transmission and two new Magnum engines that are smaller but more powerful than their predecessors. The new power plants--a 3.7-liter, 210-horsepower V-6 and a 4.7-liter, 235-horsepower V-8--join the returning 5.9-liter, 245-horse V-8.

Dodge is counting on the 2002 line to build on the momentum of the 1994-2001 Ram, which lifted sales from 70,000 to 350,000 a year. The new Rams start at $17,000 for an entry-level two-wheel-drive model.

On the car side, the Stratus R/T sedan adds to Dodge’s performance-oriented R/T lineup, with an all-aluminum 2.7-liter, 200-horsepower V-6 and numerous R/T styling cues; and the Intrepid gets a new engine for 2002, a 3.5-liter V-6 delivering 234 horsepower.

The Grand Caravan line adds an EX extended-wheelbase model, with a lowered price of $26,000, as Chrysler hopes to solve one of its big problems of 2000 by re-pricing its bread-and-butter minivans to lure back buyers.

The all-new 2003 Viper, the Chrysler Group’s super-performance sports car, comes at the end of next year; until then, Dodge is offering a special ’02 version of the $70,000 car in graphite metallic paint with silver stripes covering its 8.0-liter, 450-horsepower V-10 engine. Complete details are unavailable for the ‘03, but Dodge says it also will produce a 2003 “competition coupe” that will come with about 520 horsepower and a price tag of nearly $100,000--and won’t even be street legal.

Ferrari

550 Maranello and 360 Modena high-performance coupes, 456M GT/GTA high-performance 2+2 coupe, 360 Spider convertible. https://www.ferrariusa.com.

There are no changes to the 2002 lineup of Ferraris available in North America, other than the departure of the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina, which was produced for the 2001 model year only.

Ford

ZX2 sporty compact coupe; Escort compact; Focus compact; SVT Focus performance compact; Taurus mid-size sedan; Mustang sports car; Thunderbird roadster; Crown Victoria full-size; Windstar minivan; Escape compact SUV; Explorer and Explorer Sport mid-size SUVs; Explorer Sport Trac mid-size truck; Expedition and Excursion full-size SUVs; Ranger compact pickup; F-Series full-size pickup; F-150 SVT Lightning pickup; https://www.ford.com.

It’s hard to say which of these all-new vehicles has had more headlines this year: the ’02 Explorer or the ’02 Thunderbird.

The Explorer has been for sale since the spring, helping to divert some of the attention from its predecessor, which is linked to hundreds of deaths and injuries because it used Firestone tires that shredded on highways.

The 2002 Explorer and its sister SUV, the Mercury Mountaineer, reduce the danger of rollover accidents by lowering the center of gravity. They have a host of other improvements, notably independent rear suspension (a first for trucks) and an optional third row of seats to bring capacity to seven people. The new model has an optional side-impact air curtain for side collisions, as well as sensors that deploy the curtain if a rollover is about to occur. Another option is a tire-pressure monitoring system. The Explorer is powered by a 4.0-liter, 210-horsepower V-6 or a 4.6-liter, 239-horsepower Triton V-8 engine. Pricing starts at $26,000.

The Thunderbird is arguably the most anticipated car to have come on the market this year, though it hasn’t exactly been a dream roll-out. The factory making the T-Bird shut down for about 10 days in August because of problems with a cooling fan, halting production of three Lincoln models as well.

But buyers, many of whom put down thousands of dollars months ago, are champing at the bit for their piece of automotive nostalgia. The Thunderbird’s design deliberately recalls the T-Bird of the mid-1950s, complete with egg-crate grille, turquoise spread-winged T-Bird logos and a round porthole window in the optional hardtop roof. The rear-wheel-drive roadster is powered by a 3.9-liter, 252-horsepower V-8 with a five-speed automatic transmission and sells for $40,000--but brokers have been accused of buying them and immediately reselling them for $50,000.

The Focus compact gets a five-door version known as the ZX5, as well as an SVT (Special Vehicle Team) package based on the ZX3 three-door hatchback but with a beefier front look. The SVT Focus’ 2.0-liter inline-4 Zetec engine is boosted from 110 to 170 horsepower and has a six-speed manual transmission. It starts at less than $18,000.

The Expedition SUV, introduced as a 1997 model, gets completely redesigned and will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.

GMC

Jimmy and Envoy mid-size SUVs, Yukon/Yukon Denali and Yukon XL/Yukon XL Denali (formerly GMC Suburban) full-size SUVs, Safari and Savana minivans, Sonoma compact pickup, Sierra full-size pickup; https://www.gmc.com.

The upscale Envoy SUV is new for General Motors’ GMC division, appearing along with its more modestly apportioned Chevy TrailBlazer and Oldsmobile Bravada siblings, with which it shares the new platform and powerful 4.2-liter, 270-horsepower inline-6 engine. An option for the Envoy is an air-bladder suspension for a smoother ride, which comes standard on the Bravada.

Available in the spring: the Envoy XL, which adds a third row of seats to increase seating to seven. The Envoy also offers what GM proclaims to be an industry first: an optional factory-installed rear seat DVD entertainment system.

The Yukon XL (previously the GMC Suburban) gets a new engine in the 3/4-ton model: a Vortec 8100 8.1-liter V-8 that puts out 340 horses and 455 foot-pounds of torque, which GM says beats all competitors’ V-10 engines.

GMC also introduces an upscale version of its Sierra full-size pickup, called the Sierra Denali, which is the first truck to get the new four-wheel steering system developed by Delphi Automotive. Quadrasteer, as it is called, gives the Denali a turning radius of 37.4 feet, compared with 46.2 feet for a Sierra without Quadrasteer, 50.4 feet for a Ford F-150 and 52.3 feet for a Dodge Ram, GMC says.

Honda

Insight hybrid, Civic compact, Accord mid-size, S2000 sport convertible, Odyssey minivan, CR-V compact SUV, Passport mid-size SUV; https://www.honda.com.

Japan’s No. 3 auto maker is one of a handful of companies that need no help in the U.S. in 2002, despite predictions of a continuing weak economy and a hefty drop in new-car sales. Honda has developed a reputation for safety, reliability and performance that sticks like glue and has old customers coming back while new ones keep lining up.

Even so, Honda is offering a couple of 2002s in the spring that will add to its luster: the 2.0-liter, 160-horsepower Civic Si three-door hatchback, aimed at the import performance crowd, and the Civic gasoline-electric hybrid, aimed at buyers concerned about fuel economy and the environment.

The Insight, Honda’s original hybrid, gets an automatic model that uses a continuously variable transmission. Though it drops a bit in gas mileage when compared with the five-speed manual version, the CVT-equipped Insight still gets an Environmental Protection Agency rating of 51 mpg in city driving and 56 on the highway.

On the truck side, Honda has redesigned its CR-V compact SUV with a longer, wider, smoother body and a beefed-up 2.4-liter, 160-horsepower inline-4 engine; and the popular Odyssey minivan, which gets a number of upgrades, including a 30-horsepower boost to 240, a new five-speed automatic transmission and side-mounted front air bags.

Hummer

H1 SUV; https://www.hummer.com.

General Motors has made some external and interior enhancements to the 2002 Hummer H1, but it remains essentially the same beefy retail SUV based on the military all-terrain vehicle.

GM acquired the rights to the Hummer brand name in 1999 from AM General. In 2003, look for the Hummer H2, a smaller version of the truck but still unmistakably a Hummer, despite the change in corporate identity. GM also has shown a concept vehicle called the H2 SUT (sport-utility truck) that probably will become a reality in a few years.

Hyundai

Accent and Elantra compacts, Sonata mid-size, Tiburon sports coupe, XG350 full-size, Santa Fe compact SUV; https://www.hyundaiusa.com.

The pioneering South Korean auto maker--first from its country to start selling cars under its own name in the U.S.--has recovered from the debacle of its low-quality early days and is winning admirers among the buying public and the often snooty automotive press.

The turnaround came when executives in Seoul started listening to Hyundai’s U.S. marketing and product planning specialists and emphasized quality over quantity and bottom-of-the-barrel pricing. The buying public started getting the message in 1999, when Hyundai put its money on the line with a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty on all its vehicles.

Most of Hyundai’s lineup was new or renewed last year, so for 2002 the only significant changes come on the Sonata mid-size sedan. It gets a lot of new sheet metal, a revised suspension and, in the top-of-the-line model, the 2.7-liter, 181-horsepower V-6 and four-speed automatic with semi-manual mode from the Santa Fe.

The flagship semi-luxe XG sedan gets eight more horsepower for a total of 200 and a boost in nomenclature to XG350 (for its 3.5-liter engine) from XG300.

Coming next year as 2003 models are a restyled Tiburon sports coupe and a revamped Accent.

Infiniti

G20, I35 and Q45 luxury sedans, QX4 luxury SUV; https://www.infiniti.com.

Taking a cue from its down-market parent, Nissan Motor Co.’s luxury line is playing the horsepower game to the max in 2002. It’s a good game to play when your vehicles are well-balanced and neatly packaged.

The redone Q45 sedan, Infiniti’s $50,500 flagship, is the chief beneficiary of the “more is better” policy. It gets not only a class-leading 4.5-liter, 340-horsepower V-8, but also a chassis and suspension package tuned to handle it. The 3,800-pound Q isn’t a sports car, but even without the optional sport package it holds the road well and sticks tightly on curves.

The downside is Infiniti’s decision to pack the Q45 with more technology--sometimes cumbersome technology--than the typical owner wants or needs. A voice-activated control system requires users to memorize specific commands and transforms once-simple chores such as changing radio stations into complex processes. A laser-guided adaptive cruise control system comes at midyear.

Infiniti’s top seller, the I30, gets rebadged as the I35 for 2002 because of a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that replaces a 3.0-liter and generates 255 horsepower, up from 227.

Isuzu

Rodeo Sport compact SUV, Rodeo and Trooper mid-size SUVs, Axiom sport-utility wagon; https://www.isuzu.com.

Japan’s only all-SUV company is dropping its uniquely styled two-door Vehicross and, except for some new color choices and bigger tires, is leaving everything else alone.

Isuzu introduced its only new-for-2002 model, the Axiom, early this year and has won generally positive reviews for its driver-selectable suspension settings, 230-horsepower V-6 engine and crossover styling, which blends SUV with station wagon but keeps it all on a truck platform--the opposite of what such companies as Ford, Mazda and Toyota are doing with their car-truck blends.

Jaguar

X-Type entry-luxury sedan, S-Type luxury sedan, XJ luxury sedan and XK luxury coupe/convertible; https://www.jaguarcars.com.

The senior British member of Ford’s Premier Automotive Group introduced its newest and most affordable model late this fall, and now 67-year-old Jaguar Cars says it is, once again, a full-line luxury brand. We wonder at that description, what with all the other luxury brands including at least one sport-utility in the mix, but we are hoping Jag eschews the temptation to truck it up, sticks to motorcars and leaves the SUVs to Land Rover.

The new baby Jag, the X-Type, is priced starting at $29,950 for the 2.5-liter, 194-horsepower model and $35,950 for the 3.0-liter, 231-horse version. Both use V-6 engines and feature all-wheel drive as standard equipment, a first for Jaguar. Parent Ford expects the X-Type to nearly double Jag’s worldwide sales, which hit a record 90,000 last year, almost half in the States.

The S-Type, introduced in 1999 and responsible for much of Jag’s explosive growth since then, gets a sport package for 2002. The flagship XJ sedan line adds a 290-horsepower Sport model and the long-wheelbase, 370-horsepower Super V8, formerly the special-order Vanden Plas, to the mix.

Jeep

Wrangler compact, Liberty mid-size and Grand Cherokee mid-size SUVshttps://; www.jeep.com.

Goodbye to the Cherokee, which has been replaced by the all-new 2002 Liberty. The Liberty retains Jeep’s signature off-road capabilities with a highly rigid underbody, while enhancing on-road driving with reduced noise and vibration. Its round headlights hark back to Jeep’s early designs, though the interior is modern with lots of pockets.

The Liberty, starting about at $23,000, falls between the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee along the Jeep spectrum. This newest entry is powered by an all-new 3.7-liter V-6 engine with 210 horsepower as well as Jeep’s 2.4-liter, 150-horsepower inline-4. The Liberty also gets Jeep’s first rack-and-pinion steering.

The Grand Cherokee gets a boost with a 4.7-liter, 260-horsepower V-8 to go with the 235-horse V-8 and 195-horse inline-6 engine choices.

Later in 2002, a Jeep source says, will come an ’03 model with “dramatically increased capability” at the Wrangler end of the line.

Kia

Rio and Cinco subcompacts, Spectra compact, Optima mid-size, Sedona minivan, Sportage compact SUV; https://www.kia.com.

Kia is covering both ends of the spectrum for 2002 with the introduction earlier this year of the Sedona minivan and the introduction in October of the Cinco, a subcompact station wagon based on the Rio platform.

The Cinco’s base price of $10,385 makes it the least expensive wagon in the land. As with all Kias, it is covered by a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty--copied from Hyundai, which acquired controlling interest in Kia in 1999.

The wagon is powered by the Rio engine, a 1.5-liter inline-4 rated at 96 horsepower and tied to a five-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed automatic. The wedge-shaped body with its tall greenhouse gives the stubby wagon more headroom than in many small vehicles. Kia also uses the extra room to position the driver’s seat higher, giving a better view of the road.

The Sedona, with a 195-horsepower V-6 and five-speed automatic, is loaded with most of the goodies minivan buyers want. At a base price of $19,600, it is positioned thousands of dollars less than comparably equipped competitors. Missing are power doors, remote locks and fold-flat seats, but the interior is large, seating for up to seven is flexible, and there are cup holders for everyone.

Kia is dropping the Sephia name from its compact line and will use Spectra for both the sedan and the five-door hatchback.

Look for a new mid-size SUV, larger than the Sportage, sometime in mid-2002, probably as a 2003 model.

Lamborghini

Diablo exotic coupe; https://www.lamborghini.com.

This Audi-owned supercar manufacturer wraps up a 12-year run for its lone model, the 6.0-liter, 543-horsepower, 12-cylinder Diablo.

Coming in 2003 is the sleek but angular Murcielago, powered by a 6.2-liter, 571-horsepower engine. The Murcielago--the name, Spanish for “bat,” comes from a bull that was admired for its fighting spirit--is equipped with four-wheel drive and a rear spoiler that rises out of the body only when the car hits 81 mph. It also will come with a supercharged price: $273,000.

Land Rover

Freelander compact SUV, Discovery mid-size SUV, Range Rover full-size SUV; https://www.landrover.com.

They still don’t sell that many sport-utility vehicles in Europe, but the numbers are growing by 20% a year. Of those that are sold--and the competition includes Mercedes-Benz and BMW--the bestseller is the Freelander, a compact number made by Land Rover.

It comes to the U.S. next month as a four-door with seating for five, boasting a 2.5-liter, 174-horsepower V-6, a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting capabilities, all-wheel drive and a viscous-center differential instead of a transfer case when you want to slip into off-roading. Base price is $25,600; it tops out at about $32,000 before accessorizing with brush guards and other goodies Land Rover hopes you’ll buy from the dealer.

Land Rover says the Freelander will go almost anywhere despite being built on a unibody system instead of a truck-type steel frame and despite the use of car-like independent suspension at all four wheels. Although there’s no low-range gearing for treacherous off-road paths, Land Rover engineers devised an anti-lock braking system with a special hill-descent mode to help keep you from caroming down mountainsides if you do decide to leave the asphalt. There’s also four-wheel traction control to assist when surfaces get slippery.

Early next year, the company will roll out a redesigned 2003 Range Rover that seeks to smooth out its predecessor’s boxy looks while keeping all that Range Rover heritage.

Lexus

IS 300 luxury sedan and wagon; ES 300, GS 300-430 and LS 430 luxury sedans; SC 430 luxury convertible; RX 300 and LX 470 luxury SUVs; https://www.lexus.com.

Toyota Motor Corp.’s luxury unit has been racking up hits for so long it’s hardly news anymore, but yup, they’ve done it again.

For 2002, Lexus launched the ES 300, based on the stellar redesign of the Camry; the SC 430, a hot-selling hardtop convertible replacement for the aging Lexus coupe; and the $33,000 IS 300 SportCross, a new version of last year’s BMW-fighting IS 300 sedan that finishes the back end with an enclosed cargo area instead of a trunk.

Although IS 300 sales are strong this year, the jury still is out on the SportCross, which offers all the power and handling of the original sedan but didn’t get the five-speed manual transmission when Lexus added it to the sedan’s repertoire this year. The design is pleasing to the eye, but could confuse some potential buyers: The SportCross is bigger than a hatchback but smaller than a traditional wagon.

The entry-level ES 300 ($31,500 to $38,000) is doing its job to keep customers streaming into Lexus showrooms--sales are even with last year without special financial incentives--and in many markets customers are waiting months for delivery of a $61,500 SC 430. The latter is a king-sized cruiser of a roadster with a metal top that folds neatly away at the touch of a button, an optional Mark Levinson sound system that beats most home installations by a mile and a 4.3-liter, 300-horsepower V-8 that makes even sweeter sounds than the stereo.

Lincoln

LS luxury sports sedan, Continental and Town Car luxury sedans, Navigator luxury SUV, Blackwood full-size luxe truck; https://www.lincoln.com.

The only news from Lincoln for 2002 is the Blackwood, a limited-production marriage of a leather-lined Navigator cabin and a carpeted, covered, pickup truck cargo box.

Ford’s domestic luxury brand--which has been lumped in with Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo in the Premier Automotive Group--is waiting for the results of design director Gerry McGovern’s redo of the entire line. His brief is to transform Lincoln and its lumbering line of limo-like lumps into the American ideal of luxurious life in the fast lane. The first cars from McGovern’s stable are expected to show up circa 2004.

Meanwhile, the enthusiasm for the LS sports sedan that sent sales soaring in 2000 has tapered off, and Lincoln has dropped behind everybody but Infiniti this year in the luxury sales race.

Because Lincoln plans to build and sell only 10,000 units a year, the Blackwood will help ’02 sales little unless it pulls people into dealer showrooms, where they can be sold on other models.

On the plus side, for a vehicle that has no real purpose except to get people to notice the owner, the $52,000 Blackwood’s driving dynamics are so much better than those of the hulking Navigator that Lincoln execs say they will make the Blackwood suspension setup available on their SUV when it is revamped for 2003.

Lotus

Esprit exotic; https://www.lotuscars.com.

Enthusiasts still long for a street-legal version of the nimble Elise to hit these shores, but for 2002 they will have to be content with the only Lotus they can buy for street use in the U.S., the Esprit coupe.

The car features a 3.5-liter, 350-horsepower twin-turbo V-8. Improvements for the ’02 model include a recalibrated engine control module to improve low-end torque and bigger brakes on all four wheels.

Maserati

Spyder luxury performance roadster and Coupe luxury performance car; https://www.maseratiusa.com.

Maserati, owned by Fiat of Italy, is returning to the U.S. early next year, with the 2002 Spyder and four-seater Maserati Coupe. The former will make its North American debut at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show in January; the latter will have its world introduction at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit later that month.

Both cars use a 4.2-liter V-8 engine that pounds out 385 horsepower and will be available sometime around March. Prices have yet to be set, but expect them to be in the $85,000 to $93,000 range--well below sister brand Ferrari’s starting price of $142,000.

Mazda

Protege compact, 626 mid-size, Millenia near-luxe mid-size, Miata roadster, MPV minivan, Tribute compact SUV, B-Series compact pickup; https://www.mazdausa.com.

Mazda is waiting for the 2003 model year for its next round of excitement: introduction of the long-awaited and neatly styled RX-8 rotary-engine sports coupe and the new Mazda 6, a sporty replacement for the aging 626 sedan.

Meantime, the MPV minivan gets a needed redo early next year: a new front fascia; power sliding doors; a 3.0-liter, 200-horsepower V-6 to replace the 2.5-liter, 160-horsepower plant; and a new five-speed automatic transmission.

Earlier this year, Mazda rolled out the Protege5, a youthful sport wagon version of its well-received Protege compact, as an ’02 model.

Mercedes-Benz

C-Class luxury sedan, sports coupe and wagon; CL-Class luxury coupe and convertible; CLK-Class luxury performance coupe and convertible; E-Class luxury sedan and wagon; S-Class luxury sedan; SL-Class luxury convertible; SLK-Class luxury roadster; M-Class luxury SUV; G-Class full-size luxury SUV; https://www.mbusa.com.

Coming in 2002: the most affordable Mercedes yet. The C230 sports coupe sells for about $25,000, making it within reach of anyone who can afford a well-equipped Toyota Camry. Critics sniff at the hatchback’s interior, but you still get a 192-horsepower supercharged engine.

The $40,000 C320 wagon also is new for ‘02, sporting a 215-horsepower V-6. To top off the C-Class for 2002 is the $50,000 C32 AMG, the high-performance entry to this model, with a hand-built, 349-horsepower V-6 supercharged engine from Benz’s AMG division.

The CLK55 AMG cabriolet brings the screaming 5.5-liter, 342-horsepower AMG engine to the CLK convertible for $80,000.

A mere $55,000 will get you the new-for-’02 SLK32 AMG, which puts the 349-horse AMG engine into the luxury roadster.

The $45,000 ML500 puts a 5.0-liter, 288-horsepower V-8 into the SUV for 2002, as it replaces the ML430.

For 2002, Mercedes-Benz is bringing over its Gelaendewagen, a boxy SUV hand-built in Austria for military and hard-core off-road enthusiasts. Going on sale in December as the G500, it uses a 5.0-liter, 292-horsepower V-8 and will sell for $73,000.

Late next year comes the ultimate Mercedes--Lionel Ritchie even wrote a song about it: the tuner version of the SL, Benz’s most exclusive coupe. The SL55 AMG’s supercharged 5.5-liter engine will thrust out a massive 476 horsepower and blast from 0 to 60 mph in less than 4.6 seconds.

Mercury

Cougar sports coupe, Sable mid-size, Grand Marquis full-size, Mountaineer mid-size SUV, Villager minivan; https://www.mercuryvehicles.com.

Ford Motor’s forgotten brand got the new Mountaineer this spring as its big boost for 2002. Though essentially a rebadged Explorer--as Mountaineers have always been--the new model has enough changes in bodywork and interior appointments to let Mercury claim it as its own.

One big difference is that the Mountaineer lacks Ford’s part-time four-wheel drive suitable for off-roading. Mercury executives looked at the brand’s demographics and decided to stick with full-time all-wheel drive at the upper end--good enough for wet freeways and towing the ski boat to the lake.

Plans for a performance version of the Cougar have been shelved, but Mercury will roll the Marauder as an ’03 model in April. It’s a souped-up Grand Marquis with a 300-horsepower V-8 engine, 18-inch wheels and fat black tires and all-black exterior a la Chevrolet’s vanished Impala SS. Also expected as a 2003 model is a replacement for the Villager minivan, which is expected to end production at the end of the 2002 model year.

Mitsubishi

Eclipse sport hatchback and Spyder sport convertible, Mirage subcompact, Lancer compact, Galant mid-size, Diamante near-luxe mid-size, Montero Sport mid-size SUV, Montero full-size SUV; https://www.mitsubishicars.com.

Mitsubishi’s big news for the 2002 model year is the Lancer. The longtime favorite in Asia and Europe was finally brought to the U.S. this fall as a replacement for the smaller Mirage. A Mirage coupe will survive through most of ‘02, however, because there is no Lancer coupe yet, just a sedan.

The Lancer is 4 inches longer than the Mirage and has a more modern design, significantly more legroom and headroom, a sporty new dash and instrument panel and a 2.0-liter, 120-horsepower inline-4 engine, all for a sticker price starting at just under $14,000.

The U.S. version doesn’t come close to the 260-horsepower Lancer Evolution sold overseas. But Mitsubishi is playing off the wide recognition of the Lancer name among youthful rally and street-performance enthusiasts with an $18,000 edition tricked out in screaming yellow paint, special alloy wheels and a racy interior. There are coy smiles and sly winks when discussion at Mitsubishi’s U.S. headquarters turns to bringing the real thing--the “Evo”--to these shores in 2003 or ’04.

Mitsubishi’s Montero Sport gets a new full-time all-wheel-drive system for 2002 and is expected to be replaced in ’03 with a new compact sport wagon shown this year at the Tokyo Motor Show as the CZ3 concept.

Nissan

Sentra compact, Altima mid-size, Maxima mid-size, Quest minivan, Xterra mid-size SUV, Pathfinder mid-size SUV, Frontier compact pickup; https://www.nissandriven.com.

Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn is a major-league celebrity in Japan, and no wonder: The former Renault executive guided Nissan from bankruptcy to black ink in just under a year and now is unleashing a flood of hot new products--many of them headed for the U.S.

Among the first is the 2002 Altima, a complete redo of a stodgy commuter car that has won early raves for its powerful engine, sprightly handling and sporty new styling. The base car has a 2.5-liter, 175-horsepower inline-4 that is almost as powerful as the V-6s in rivals Camry and Accord; the upscale V-6, a first for the Altima line, leads the mid-size import pack at 240 horses. Prices range from less than $18,000 to slightly more than $24,000.

The Maxima is in the middle of a model cycle, but with the Altima using a new platform that makes it larger than its putative big brother, Nissan had to do something. That something is pretty impressive: a slight face-lift that makes the Maxima sportier and a new V-6 that pumps out 255 horsepower and makes it one of the quickest sedans in town. The SE performance model also gets a slick six-speed manual transmission.

The Sentra gets its SE-R hot rod model back for ’02 to round out Nissan’s passenger-car performance pack. Last seen in 1994, the SE-R helped popularize the term “pocket rocket.” The new models keep the spirit alive. The base SE-R gets a 2.0-liter four-banger that boosts your everyday Sentra’s 126 horsepower to 170 horses; the higher-performance SE-R Spec V jumps to 180 horsepower. Prices run from $12,000 to almost $24,000 for a loaded Spec V.

On the truck side, Nissan brings out a Frontier that is the industry’s first long-bed crew-cab compact pickup and stuffs a supercharger under the hood of one of its V-6-powered Xterra models to boost it to 210 horsepower, a gain of 40.

Look for Nissan’s first full-size pickup and the return of the Z sports car in 2003, followed in ’04 by a new minivan to replace the Quest (sibling to the Mercury Villager) and Nissan’s first full-size SUV.

Ghosn may yet attain celebrity status in the U.S. as well.

Oldsmobile

Alero compact, Intrigue mid-size, Aurora full-size, Silhouette minivan, Bravada mid-size SUV; https://www.oldsmobile.com.

The only new 2002 in GM’s 104-year-old Oldsmobile division, which is being phased out, is the Bravada, a sister SUV to the Chevy TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy.

They share the same unique chassis and 4.2-liter, 270-horsepower inline-6 engine. Unlike its siblings, however, the Bravada has a five-link independent rear suspension based on air bladders, replacing traditional leaf springs, to give a softer ride that should appeal to female and older drivers.

Panoz

Esperante roadster; https://www.panozauto.com.

Panoz Auto Development Co., based in Hoschton, Ga., drops its AIV roadster but is gleefully filling a two-year backlog of orders for its $80,000 Esperante, an aluminum-bodied two-seater with a 320-horsepower Mustang Cobra V-8 under the hood.

Pontiac

Sunfire subcompact, Grand Am compact, Grand Prix mid-size, Bonneville full-size, Firebird sports car, Vibe sport-utility wagon, Montana minivan, Aztek sport-activity vehicle; https://www.pontiac.com.

For 2002, GM is doing a quick fix on the exterior design of the Aztek in response to more than a year of withering criticism. The minivan-cum-SUV’s hulking shape goes monotone: Gone is the wide swath of cladding that took up half the grille.

The Aztek also gets larger wheels (16-inch standard, with 17 inch available) and tires, which GM execs concede it needed from the get-go when it was introduced a year ago, and a new rear spoiler. The Aztek now sells for $20,000 to $23,500, a reduction of about $1,000 for 2002, after GM determined it was overpriced.

Sports-car enthusiasts will lament the demise of the once-iconic but now slow-selling Firebird convertible and hatchback, which along with the twin Chevy Camaro will end production this model year.

Coming next year is the 2003 Vibe, a beefy entry-level wagon aimed at younger buyers and offering SUV characteristics such as higher ground clearance and optional four-wheel drive. The Vibe will be built at the joint GM-Toyota factory in Fremont, Calif.; its sister vehicle, the Toyota Matrix, will be assembled in Canada. Toyota will import to Japan the Pontiac-styled Vibe, not the Matrix, and sell it as the Toyota Voltz.

Porsche

Boxster and Boxster S sport convertibles, 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera 4, Targa, 911 Turbo and 911 GT2 sport coupes; https://www.porsche.com.

Porsche rolls out the 911 GT2, similar to the 911 Turbo but with 456 horses under the hood versus the Turbo’s 415. Simply put, the GT2 is the ultimate road-going performance Porsche, the fastest car in the lineup.

The Targa, also new for 2002, has Porsche’s 3.6-liter turbocharged engine but sports a different roof line and profile, a sliding glass roof and a glass rear window that opens.

The flagship 911 Carrera goes to a 3.6-liter, 320-horsepower engine from last year’s 3.4-liter, 300-horse version, and for the first time in this model generation gets that most basic of vanities: a glove compartment. A new Bose sound system also is available, addressing one of the weak points of the sometimes-noisy 911.

Porsche-philes are awaiting details on the arrival of the Cayenne, Porsche’s first sport-utility vehicle. Look for more news in coming months.

Rolls-Royce

Silver Seraph exotic sedan, Park Ward exotic sedan, Corniche exotic convertible; https://www.rollsroycemotorcars.co.uk.

This marks the last model year of production of Rolls-Royce cars as we know them. For 2003, BMW takes over and will produce all-new Rollses at a new factory it is building in Britain. The Crewe factory, where Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars have been built for more than five decades, will become the plant for Bentley Motors Inc.

The 2002 Silver Seraph, Rolls’ $230,000 flagship, wraps up its run with its 5.4-liter, 322-horsepower V-12 engine, but there will be external touches marking the end: The wheels will have the flying-lady logo in the center, and all RR badging on the hood and elsewhere will be in red, recalling Rolls-Royces built before 1933.

Saab

9-3 near-luxury convertible and five-door; 9-3 Viggen coupe, convertible and five-door; 9-5 luxury sedan and wagon; 9-5 Aero high-performance sedan and sport wagon; https://www.saabusa.com.

The model year looms quiet for this Swedish subsidiary of General Motors. The 9-5 Aero gets a horsepower boost from 230 to 250, a new five-speed automatic transmission and an electronic stability program, a first for Saab.

Saab discontinues the base three-door and five-door models of the 9-3 in 2002, in advance of an all-new 9-3 due next year. Until then, there is an enhanced five-door version of the 9-3 with new leather and other luxury appointments.

Saleen

S281 and S281-E Mustang and S7 mid-engine supercar; https://www.saleen.com.

Few successful new auto manufacturers have started in the last 50 years; most of the marques we know and love are well-rooted in the early decades of the last century.

But former race driver Steve Saleen is an exception. He started altering Ford’s Mustang almost two decades ago and now changes so many pieces that his company is classified as a car builder rather than a tuner. He cemented his status as a manufacturer in 1999 when he unveiled a vehicle of his own design, the S7 supercar.

New in the Saleen stable for 2002 is the S281-E, for “extreme,” which the Irvine-based builder says is the world’s fastest and nastiest Mustang. The Saleen-modified and supercharged 4.6-liter Ford V-8 pumps out 425 horsepower and 440 foot-pounds of torque. Starting price is $59,995.

Saleen also says 2002 will mark delivery of the first production models of the 7.0-liter, 550-horsepower S-7 to some of the 30 buyers who have plunked down deposits on the $395,000 exotic car.

Saturn

S-Series compact, L-Series mid-size, VUE compact SUV; https://www.saturn.com.

The big news at the “different kind of car company” is the arrival of a sport-utility vehicle, a much-needed addition to the aging lineup at Saturn, which has had only two product lines even though the brand is entering its second decade.

The entry-level VUE (pronounced “View”), which goes on the market this month, sells for about $20,000. It offers a 2.2-liter, 143-horsepower four-cylinder engine or a 3.0-liter 181-horse V-6. Eventually it will get an optional, continuously variable transmission for smooth, non-step gear shifting and improved gas mileage. Saturn parent General Motors hopes the VUE will attract buyers who might otherwise go for a Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4.

Two other Saturns are in the wings: The ION, which will replace the S-Series sedan for 2003 and the coupe for 2004, and an all-new vehicle for 2004 that is a bit larger than the VUE and will seat seven. Details are sketchy, but its V-6 engine will come from Honda as part of the deal in which General Motors provides Honda with four-cylinder diesel engines from GM partner Isuzu.

Subaru

Impreza subcompact, Legacy mid-size, Outback mid-size, Forester compact SUV; https://www.subaru.com.

All the Imprezas are newly redesigned for 2002, repositioned as premium vehicles rather than entry-level. They get their signature horizontally opposed four-banger engines boosted from 2.2 liters and 142 horsepower to 2.5 liters and 165 horses, the same as the base Legacy.

The long-awaited Impreza WRX, based on Subaru’s World Rally Championship winner, pumps 227 horsepower out of a turbocharged 2.0-liter H-4 engine and is renowned for its acceleration prowess. It has been clocked by auto enthusiast magazines as being able to out-accelerate the Corvette and Porsche 911. The base Impreza starts about $20,000; the WRX begins at $24,000.

Outback sedans get the 3.0-liter, 212-horsepower horizontally opposed six-cylinder introduced in the Outback wagons last year.

All vehicles sold in the U.S. by Subaru, the brand name used by Japan’s Fuji Heavy Industries, have all-wheel drive.

Suzuki

Esteem subcompact, Aerio compact, Vitara and Grand Vitara subcompact SUVs, XL-7 mid-size SUV; https://www.suzukiauto.com.

The Swift subcompact is gone, but Suzuki keeps its model count the same with the introduction early next year of the Aerio, a five-door hatchback that probably will be bigger than the Esteem wagon and smaller than the Grand Vitara SUV. Pricing is not yet available, and there are scant technical details except that it will use a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine and have all-wheel drive as standard equipment.

The Grand Vitara gets a 10-horsepower bump, to 165, and the XL-7 (for seven-passenger) gets a base model with only five seats and a 13-horsepower boost, to 183.

Think

Electric bicycles, Neighbor electric vehicle, City electric vehicle; https://www.thinkmobility.com.

Ford’s newest marque started with electric bicycles and graduated earlier this year to the Think Neighbor NEV, for neighborhood electric vehicle.

The Neighbor is a golf-cart-size but street-legal electric aimed at retirement communities, business and college campuses and other places where a low-speed, four-passenger vehicle with 30 miles of range might make sense.

Next summer the Think brand will launch the City, an enclosed, freeway-legal two-seat electric commuter car with a plastic body, air conditioning, CD player and 45-to 50-mile range. The price is expected to be at or slightly less than $20,000--offset somewhat by about $6,000 in federal and state incentives as well as fuel costs that are about half those of a small gasoline-using car (if the batteries are recharged during off-peak nighttime hours).

Toyota

Prius subcompact hybrid, Echo subcompact, Celica compact sport coupe, Corolla compact, Camry mid-size, Solara mid-size, Avalon near-luxe mid-size, MR2 Spyder roadster, Sienna minivan, RAV4 compact SUV, 4Runner mid-size SUV, Highlander mid-size SUV, Sequoia full-size SUV, Land Cruiser full-size SUV, Tacoma compact pickup, Tundra full-size pickup; https://www.toyota.com.

America’s favorite import brand is looking to become the first auto maker from someplace other than Michigan to gain a 10% share of the U.S. new-vehicle market. The introduction of a whole litter of new vehicles for the 2001 model year will help it get there--and lets it take a rest for 2002 with just one all-new offering, the redesigned Camry sedan, and new and more powerful engines for the Solara coupe and convertible.

The Camry, of course, is the country’s most popular family sedan; the revised version, even with a base price of nearly $19,500, probably will keep that crown. A little snappier styling without going overboard, a little peppier performance without becoming a hot rod, a little more space without getting too bulky, the 2002 Camry is just a little bit better version of a car that already was one of the best all-around mainstream vehicles on the market.

The new 2.4-liter inline-4 engine that 75% of Camry buyers will opt for cranks out 157 horsepower, up from 136 in the ’01 models; the V-6 is up a couple of horses to 192. Both get ultra-low-emission ratings in California. A five-speed manual is optional on the four-cylinder models, and there’s a sport version, the SE, with stiffer suspension and a rear spoiler for Toyota fans with a little bit of rebel in them.

Solara models get the new 157-horsepower four-banger as their base engine. The MR2 comes with a five-speed sequential-shift manual transmission.

The next big news from Toyota will come early in the spring with the introduction of the Matrix sport wagon as an ’03 model. It’s a Toyota-styled sibling of the Pontiac Vibe, to be built at a Toyota plant in Canada.

Volkswagen

New Beetle subcompact, Jetta compact, Golf compact hatchback, GTI sport hatchback, Passat mid-size, Cabrio sport convertible, Eurovan minivan; https://www.volkswagen.com.

As it has in the last couple of model years, the German auto giant is content to tweak the existing--and quite successful--U.S. product line.

A Turbo S version of the New Beetle is out, boosting the 1.8-liter engine from 150 to 180 horsepower.

The six-cylinder, two-valve VR6 engine in the Jetta and the GTI goes from 174 horsepower to a four-valve with 201 horses. The Jetta wagon and GTI also are available with the 1.8-liter, 180-horsepower turbo engine.

The Passat gets a remarkable eight-cylinder engine called the W-8--essentially two four-cylinder engines alongside each other, displacing 4.0 liters and packing 275 horsepower--as well as all-wheel drive. The power plant, unusually brawny in such a small car, won’t even be available in VW’s upscale Audis.

VW aficionados are awaiting the expected nod from Wolfsburg to go ahead with production of the minibus, shown as a concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.

Volvo

40-Series entry-luxury sedan and wagon; 60-Series luxury sedan; 70-Series luxury coupe, convertible and wagon; Cross Country luxury wagon; 80-Series luxury sedan; https://www.volvocars.com.

Volvo of Sweden, which has belonged to Ford Motor and its Premier Automotive Group since 1999, is warming to the task of expanding its lineup to meet Ford-type volume goals while retaining its reputation for stellar safety and premium engineering.

There is little new for 2002, just an all-wheel-drive model in the S60 sedan line and an all-wheel-drive option for the 70-Series wagon.

A new S60R is slated for mid-2002 as an ’03 model, though, and it will offer a 300-horsepower, all-wheel-drive performance package for those who like their Swedes with a lot of soul.

And Volvo is about to unveil its first SUV, perhaps as a late ’03 model. It is a Swedish-modern interpretation of the genre company insiders say will establish a new threshold for luxury SUVs.