This space was going to be devoted to a review of the 1992 Chevy Lumina APV mini-van, the plastic-body people hauler with the humongous snout that forces those behind the wheel who are about to park to ask the question: How far away am I from the light pole?
Plans changed once we had the opportunity to see the new Chevy Sizigi at the Detroit Auto Show. The review comes later in this column.
Sizigi is a concept vehicle, a poorly named one at that, with a moniker that sounds more like the makings of a sneeze than a motorized chariot.
Sizigi, according to the folks from Chevrolet, means ”unity.” One look at the mini-van and you realize Sizigi actually means ”nose job,” the protuberance that critics of GM plastic-body mini-vans have panned since Day One.
The front end on the Lumina, Pontiac Trans Sport or Olds Silhouette today look like ski slopes-long, low and sharply sloped downward. It`s an eerie feeling to some to sit behind the wheel and know a front end is out there somewhere but never be able to see it.
Chrysler vans, by contrast, have a less stylish, stubby nose, but one you can see when driving or changing lanes or parking. There`s even a hood ornament up front for good measure.
There is a benefit to that long GM mini-van nose: It puts more crush space between you and any object ahead.
Though insisting most consumers love the current design, it`s significant that Sizigi is on the auto show circuit to serve as an early peek for approval for the 1995-`96 remake of the GM mini-vans.
Sizigi`s nose is shorter and rounder than that on the current Lumina APV. Sizigi sports less of that low, angular front end slope than the current van. There`s even a stubby grille. Add a hood ornament, and you`ll even see the front end from the driver`s seat.
Also of note is the fact the windshield is curved, and that what appears to be massive side vent windows framed by oversized and view-obstructing pillars on the existing model are gone on Sizigi. No massive pillared side window and no obstruction. A cleaner look. Hurry up 1995.
The Sizigi is noteworthy for another noticeable design theme: It looks almost identical to the Chrysler mini-vans. Oh, well, if you can`t outsell them, you might as well join them.
Other noteworthy Sizigi features include 18-inch tires; integrated mudguards to keep slop off the body panels, and therefore your clothes; an integrated step in the rocker panel to make for easier entry and exit; an integrated adjustable roof rack; a manually operated sunroof over driver and passenger; an electric sunroof over backseat passengers; and a split tailgate in which the upper glass lid lifts up, the lower tailgate pulls down for loading or unloading. With the split gate and its smaller glass hatch lid, you run less risk of problems when opening the lid within the low-ceiling confines of a garage.
Inside, the seats are on tracks so you can move the second and third rows forward to increase cargo-carrying capacity without removing the seats. Look for that feature to be added in the current Lumina mini-van before the styling remake debuts in 1995. It`s noteworthy that Chrysler has added cargo capacity without popping out the heavy mini-van seats, too, though that automaker is working on having its third seat in back fold out of the way under the floor rather than move forward on a track.
Seats in the second row of the Sizigi swivel 180 degrees so they can face the third row of seats. A table under the third seat then slides out to serve second- and third-row occupants.
Another clever feature for vacationers or business travelers is the satchel pockets in the front door trim panels. They can be removed and used as briefcases.
The Sizigi will be displayed at the Chicago Auto Show Feb. 8-16 in McCormick Place.
Also at the show will be the 1992 Lumina APV so you can see what changes Chevy has in store for the mini-van in the very near future.
The more we drive the GM mini-vans, the more user friendly they become. The long nose still bothers us, as do the harshly pillared vented side windows. Knowing better things are coming makes the existing features less disappointing.
For 1992, the Lumina APV adds the 165-horsepower, 3.8-liter, V-6 engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission so that a 120-h.p., 3.1-liter engine and 3-speed automatic no longer are the only game in town.
Roughly 80 percent of the vans are being ordered with the 3.8 and 4-speed.
The 3.8 has the power the 3.1 sorely lacked, the 4-speed that one last shift the 3-speed couldn`t deliver on the way to reaching cruising speed.
The 3.8 with 4-speed is rated at 17 m.p.g. city/24 m.p.g. highway versus an 18/23 rating with the 3.1 and 3-speed automatic.
The `92 APV also offers anti-lock brakes as standard, which makes so much sense considering the van typically will be loaded with kids. All it lacks is driver- and passenger-side air bags.
Other improvements for 1992 include moving up to larger 15-inch all-season radials from the former 14-inch tires, and adding folding outside mirrors to reduce car-wash mishaps. The cloth seats are treated with Scotchgard.
A new option for `92 is an air conditioning system for the rear ($450). An optional sunroof had been planned for midyear, but more than likely it won`t appear until the fall for the 1993 model year. No explanation on the hangup.
The Lumina APV CL version we drove starts at $17,355. Options included $619 for the 3.8 V-6 and $200 for the 4-speed automatic. Tinted glass runs $245; rear-window defogger, $170; roof carrier, $145; plus $425 for 7-passenger seating versus the 5-passenger seating that`s standard. With a wide variety of other goodies that ran the gamut from a trailering package to cast aluminum wheels, the test vehicle ran $21,055.
Dakota Club Cab
A compact pickup too small? A full-size pickup too big?
That`s the whole idea behind the Dodge Dakota, providing a truck with more cargo-carrying capacity than a little truck, better fuel economy than a big one. And for those who buy a truck for socializing rather than for work, the midsize Dakota is considerably easier to maneuver and park than a full-size Ford F Series or Chevy C/K.
The Club Cab adds another benefit: seating for two behind the driver and passenger seat. You have to be mighty small to get back there, and any distance greater than around the block would be punishment, but there`s just enough room for tiny kids to join mom and dad.
When not holding a couple of tiny kids, those rear seats do allow you to store some small packages and a grocery bag or two without exposing them to the elements and thieves by plopping them in the open rear cargo bed.
The only problem with the Dakota Club Cab we test drove is that it was powered by a 5.2-liter V-8 engine teamed with 4-speed automatic. The EPA rates that powertrain at 14 m.p.g. city/19 m.p.g. highway. Let`s just say the EPA was optimistic. Gas station attendants drool when a Dakota with a 5.2-liter V- 8 gets within six blocks, which is roughly the driving range of one tank of fuel.
You`ll power off the line like a Viper, and the acceleration will knock your Stetson into that rear kiddie seat. But unless you are into heavy construction, the 5.2 isn`t very practical for everyday usage, unless you are the majority stockholder in Mobil, Amoco or Shell or people address you by the title of ”Your Royal Highness.”
Base price of the Dakota Club Cab is $11,872. Our test vehicle added just about every option except your royal highness. A super LE package ran $3,793 and included more chrome than you`ll find in South Africa; air; power steering; bodyside and wheelflare moldings; intermittent wipers; sliding rear window; AM/FM stereo cassette radio; P215/75R15 tires; cruise control; tilt steering; and a 22-gallon fuel tank (15 gallons standard), to name the more noteworthy items. Power windows and locks added $361; two-tone paint, $173; 4- speed automatic, $887; the 5.2-liter engine, $1,118.
After a $2,722 discount for selected options the sticker topped $16,000.
Notes
The Chicago Auto Show runs Feb. 8-16 in McCormick Place. Hours will be 11 a.m to 11 p.m. daily. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens, and $1 for those 12 and under.
The show has attracted more than 900,000 visitors each year since 1971.
The show will give you a chance to see Ferrari`s new 512TR, the successor to the Testarossa. The 512TR is powered by a 5-liter, 421-h.p., 12-liter engine mated to a 5-speed manual.
The mileage rating is 11 m.p.g. city/16 m.p.g. highway, numbers that earn the 512TR a $4,500 gas-guzzler tax.
Base price of the 512TR is $195,600.
By the way, ”5” stands for 5-liter, ”12” for 12-cylinder and ”TR”
for Testarossa, though the name formally isn`t being used on the car.
The fourth annual Model Car Swap meet will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Terrac Centre in Worth. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children under 12.
Mark your calendar that on Sunday, March 15, the 22nd annual Super Model Car swap meet and festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hillside Holiday Inn in Hillside. Admission is $4 for adults and $1 for children under 12.
Both shows feature scale-model plastic-body promotional cars, called promotional because they typically were given away by dealers with the new car sale. For details on either show call 312-642-5131.
The Chicago Chevy Vettefest Nationals will be Feb. 29 and March 1 at McCormick Place`s Donnelley Hall. Admission is $7 for adults; children under 12 accompanied by an adult get in free.
Up to 33 Chevies and `Vettes will be on display and competing for awards. For details call 708-563-4300.
Porsche Cars of North America has formed Porsche Credit Corp. to provide leasing and retail financing through its authorized U.S. dealership network.
