Suzuki SX ConceptLook out Matrix, Suzuki has set its sites on the personal-sized SUV market, too! Unveiled at the New York Auto Show, Suzuki's new SX (stands for sport crossover) is meant to appeal to the adventurous segment of the car-buying market by combining "thrilling sport sedan performance" with SUV cargo-toting convenience.
The supercharged, 220-hp, all-wheel-drive SX concept was built with two things in mind: hauling down the road and hauling the gear of a weekend warrior. The SX concept is aimed at young, sports-minded individualists who don't want either sedans or full-sized SUVs.
The engine in this concept is a supercharged 2.0-liter, all-aluminum, DOHC, 16-valve, inline four banger. Its stance is enhanced with wide fenders that shroud fat, 17-inch alloy wheels and 225/45-17 tires. Peeking through the airy five-spoke rims are massive discs and big yellow brake calipers ready to slow the SX with the aid of an advanced anti-lock braking system.
The interior is bold, too. The sporty leather seats are upholstered in black and yellow with the Suzuki "S" emblem stitched into the seat backs. The roomy interior of this concept car includes an advanced GPS navigation system, while an LCD monitor also serves as a television and an information center for the radio and CD player.
Could we expect to see this concept turn into a production car soon? With small SUVs like the Matrix, PT Cruiser and Vibe running around the streets, chances are good that Suzuki will jump in the fray.
Atlantic City RaveCool cars, hot music, and cute girls (and guys) are why Hot Import Nights events attract huge crowds. Sport Compact Car was among those that flocked to the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, N.J. to check out the latest trends and the finest show cars the East Coast has to offer.
Vision Entertainment had its hands full; the crowd waiting to get into the event wrapped around the building. As the evening progressed into the evening, it became difficult to even walk in between the sea of people. But we didn't mind. Especially when companies like Toyo Tires, MTX audio, Unorthodox Racing, Bosal exhaust, SPI, Infinity and many more were giving away sample products to those that attended. For a token amount, you could even have had your picture taken with the models from the covers of sister publication, Import Tuner. When you had your fill of cars and products, you could make your way over to the dance floor, where a DJ was spinning some tunes with a little scratch of the turntable in a rave-like atmosphere.
If you needed to recharge, all you had to do was step outside and make your way to one of the many casino tables. Partygoers knew where the action was; even as SCC left the building late at night, there was still a line of people just waiting to get inside. - John Prescott
AEM And NHTSA Announce Voluntary RecallIn cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Advanced Engine Management Inc. (AEM) of Hawthorne, Calif. is voluntarily recalling about 3,000 AEM Air Bypass Valves sold to consumers by independent distributors and retailers between August 2000 and January 31, 2001.
Under certain circumstances, the Air Bypass Valve (constructed of two plastic pieces sonically welded together with a silicon diaphragm and foam spring on the inside) may come apart and, in certain cases, the diaphragm and/or foam spring may be ingested into the throttle body, sometimes forcing the throttle to stick in an open position. This may present a driving hazard to consumers who have installed the AEM Air Bypass Valve.
AEM has received three reports of the Air Bypass Valve coming apart. One of these reports described possible damage to the user's throttle body. Another of these reports described the diaphragm and/or foam spring being ingested into the throttle body, forcing the throttle to stick in an open position. The other of these reports described the valve coming apart with no resulting damage to the throttle body and no sticking of the throttle. No injuries have been reported.
The recalled Air Bypass Valves are identified by AEM part numbers 20-401, 20-402 or 20-403. The affected valves were sold to consumers only between August 2000 and January 31, 2001.
The subject valve is easily fixed, and AEM will provide all consumers of the AEM Air Bypass Valve with a free, easy-to-install clip to prevent the diaphragm and/or foam spring from being ingested into the throttle body. However, consumers who have installed the subject Air Bypass Valves on their automobiles should not drive or operate their vehicles until either the Air Bypass Valve is immediately and entirely removed or the remedial clip is installed. The action should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete. The installation of the remedial clip is a simple procedure that will fully remedy the potential problem. While the measure is not necessary for AEM Air Bypass Valves purchased after January 31, 2001, consumers with any concerns regarding these later-sold units may also obtain the free, easy-to-install remedial clip. Only those AEM Air Bypass Valves identified by AEM part numbers 20-401, 20-402 and 20-403, which were sold to consumers between August 2000 and January 31, 2001 are the subject of this recall. AEM Air Bypass Valves sold after January 31, 2001 are not affected, and consumers of AEM products bearing AEM part numbers other than 20-401, 20-402 and 20-403 need not be concerned.
AEM reminds its customers and consumers that the AEM Air Bypass Valve is designed and intended for use only with the AEM Cold Air Intake systems. Use of the AEM Air Bypass Valve in conjunction with any other system is neither recommended nor warranted and may result in, among other things, malfunction of the AEM Air Bypass Valve.
For further information, consumers should call AEM at (310) 484-2322 x500 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (PST) Monday through Friday, or visit the AEM Web site at www.aempower.com.
Chevy Launches Z24 SedanFor 2001, the Chevy Z24 Cavalier is now available as a sedan. Aside from more doors, the new sedan Z24 will feature factory ground effects and 16-inch, chrome-plated aluminum wheels. Under the hood, the Z24 sedan relies on Chevy's 2.4-liter, twin-cam engine that puts out 150 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. The sedan also has improved suspension feel, thanks to stiffer anti-roll bars in the front and back. A Getrag manual transmission and stainless-steel exhaust with polished chrome exhaust tip are also premiums available with the new sedan.
B&M Becomes NHRA Title SponsorB&M Racing and Performance Products is continuing its involvement with the National Hot Rod Association by sponsoring the NHRA Summit Import Drag Racing Series event in Gainesville, Fla. The company reached a multi-year agreement with the NHRA to sponsor the event, the second of six races in the $120,000 NHRA Summit Import Drag Racing Series.
Open TrackButtonwillow Raceway, located near Bakersfield, Calif., is a track we have come to know rather intimately; SCC staff members test there frequently. The weekend at the end of April, however, we checked out the going-ons of the Open Track Motorsports/NASA event.
An event that sold out three weeks prior, around 300 race and street cars were in attendance. Despite an almost overwhelming number of entrants, Open Track's organizer, Ryan Flaherty, did an excellent job of making sure everything went smoothly and everyone got enough track time.
Open Track was started with the intention of providing the drivers of an ever-growing number of modified and high-performance vehicles in the Southern California area a fun and informative place to exercise their cars and hone their skills. Many new drivers took advantage of the free instruction available, and many spectators were on hand to watch the action and get rides in both street and track-prepared cars.
As of last April, Open Track joined forces with the National Auto Sport Association to incorporate wheel-to-wheel racing into their weekends. By doing so, Open Track is offering a way for those hot-lappers who catch the racing bug to get into cost-effective racing. In fact, staffer Jared Holstein will take part in the upcoming SE-R Race Series after having flogged his street Sentra SE-R as a Open Tracker for years.
This weekend featured an Open Track-first three-hour night enduro for those in race cars, in addition to the usual race series. As you can see, all kinds of equipment, satisfying most automotive tastes and budgets, were on hand. Although Open Track is based in Southern California, NASA offers the same HPDE (High Performance Driving Event) programs everywhere they have a chapter, including Texas, Nevada, Florida, the Tri-state area, Puerto Rico, and others.
For more information on Open Track, check out its Web site at www.open-track.com -Jared Holstein
Anarchy In The U.K.Slammin' Your Wellies To The FloorboardAside from very cheap petrol, there's another advantage to living in Florida or California rather than the United Kingdom-the weather. Having just returned from the first big car show of the year here in the United Kingdom, I certainly notice the differences between our events and those in the United States; shows in the States are blessed with bikini competitions, while our shows usually end up leaving spectators drenched in wet coats, jeans and muddy Timberlands because of rain!
As compensation, at this particular season opener there was a good selection of cars, some of which I managed to photograph before the show ended. One of the coolest cars turned out to be a 400-bhp Renault 5 with one engine in the front and another in the rear! Sure, I've seen twin creations in the past, but that's been restricted to twin VR6-powered Golfs. I also fancied a black Ford Focus that sported twin headlights, custom-made twin exhausts, bodywork modifications, loads of alloy mesh and a chipped and polished engine to match. How about a 380 bhp Escort Cosworth 4x4, running on 18-inch Speedline alloys and fitted with a $16,000 six-speed Quaife sequential gearbox? The bill for the work on the car was a hefty $40,000. I actually drove the car and although you don't need the clutch after third gear and the gearbox makes full use of the massive torque, around town, it's a total nightmare to drive.
Prefer something from the Far East? How about a slammed Honda Prelude running 17s with a full leather interior, Erebuni body kit and the almost obligatory twin headlights, twin exhausts and aggressive bonnet scoops?
Most obvious trends for the new season? Double headlights with additional driving lights seem to be all the rage, while bonnet vents combined with mesh continue to be something that no decent car would dare venture onto the streets without. The exhaust systems certainly grabbed my attention. While having an aftermarket exhaust on a car is nothing special, they now come in all shapes, sizes and designs. Here in the United Kingdom, you can have a huge single exit (like a Porsche Boxster), a twin set, (like the new BMW M3), or even one pipe out each side under the rear doors, like the set on a Subaru Impreza I noticed. Anything goes; the wilder the better.
Burn out competitions are a fairly recent addition to the United Kingdom's car show scene. The concept is simple: Chain a car down, put your foot to the floor and the first to burst a tire wins. I wonder if breathing in clouds of toxic black smoke is bad for your health?
Caption Contest!When SCC photographer-at-large John Prescott sent us this photo of a giant sand sculpture at the Toyo Tire booth from the SEMA Show, we knew he had the makings of an excellent "photo caption" contest.
Here's how to win: Write a caption for the photo, and we'll select one winner from the entries we receive before August 10, 2001. We'll publish the winner in an upcoming issue! Heck, we'll even give the winner an SCC T-shirt! How's that for customer service?Try this one for the photo above: "Don't laugh, it never needs washing!"
Send your captions to us at Sport Compact Car, Caption Contest, 774 South Placentia Ave., Placentia, CA 92870. Or, by fax at (714) 572-1864. NO e-mails, please.
Ginetta in the United StatesGinetta Cars, although not well known in the United States, have a historic place in motorsport, having raced against the likes of Lotus, Jaguar, TVR and Marcos since 1961.
For the first time, we will be seeing a Ginetta stateside-the G20. The U.S. model is built to accommodate a Mazda Miata powertrain, and uses a tube chassis and a fully independent wishbone/coil-over suspension on all four corners. It will weigh approximately 1,000 lbs. less than a Miata. Performance? Wow.
Stunning retro styling paired with modern technology produce a car equally at home when cruising or on the track. There are street and racing kits available, with both costing under $20,000 when assembled by the owner. The competition model is offered complete with a roll cage, a fire system, aero screen, six-point harness, racing seat and a fuel cell.
For more information, contact Moto America Inc. at (770) 928-3555; www.motoamer@aol.com.