Think last season’s selection at car dealerships was overwhelming? Get ready for an even more confusing vehicle-shopping season in 2001. MDX and XG, Tribute and Escape, Aztek and Santa Fe, Rio and Prius are just a few of the never-before-used names for 2001 models.
Because far more badges are arriving than are disappearing, the number of models on the market is hitting new heights. For 2001, there are 36 major manufacturers selling in the U.S., plus six secondary ones (Aston-Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus and Rolls-Royce), plus a handful of minor specialty makers, such as Panoz and Morgan.
According to Art Spinella of CNW marketing in Bandon, Ore., which researches why people buy the cars they do, there are two reasons for adding names: to modernize and to boost used-car values.
“If a particular name, or a particular brand, has a reputation for not being so good in the used-car market,” introducing a new name requires the guidebooks to start a new category. He cites the Chevrolet Malibu, which might have kept the Lumina name. But because used-car valuations for the Lumina were not so good, Chevy chose a new name instead, to start fresh.
“Most car companies would rather not” introduce new names, he said, because “they have a lot invested” in the ones they have.
Gone are the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique. Introduced for 1995, these two compact sedans didn’t keep their momentum in the sales race.
At DaimlerChrysler, a make is biting the dust. Plymouth, dating to 1928, has been disappearing since 1999. For 2001, the retro-look Prowler “street rod” wears a Chrysler badge, rather than Plymouth. Subcompact Neons will be sold only as Dodges, and the Plymouth Breeze–a low-buck relative of the Chrysler Cirrus/Dodge Stratus–has faded away. Restyled for 2001, Voyager mini-vans will be Chryslers rather than Plymouths.
Spinella says most people don’t care much that Plymouth is departing, except for those who are “like the purists in baseball.”
“No tears will be shed . . . because nobody really wants to buy a Plymouth anyway.” Besides the same cars will remain available, but under different names. But it hurts resale values to abandon a make.
Chrysler and Dodge lose two names as part of a major redesign for 2001. The redesigned mid-size Sebring coupe and sedan spell the demise of the Cirrus badge, used for mid-size sedans since 1995. At Dodge, the Avenger coupe becomes a new Stratus two-door. Dodge sedans stick with the Stratus designation.
Probably the best-known new nameplate for 2001 is the Chrysler PT Cruiser. Launched last spring, the Cruiser has been capturing the hearts of shoppers among many age and demographic groups. From April through August, 45,609 PT Cruisers have been sold.
Because sport-utility vehicles continue to attract legions of buyers, a number of the new SUV names have surfaced for 2001.
Acura, Honda’s luxury division, brings out the MDX, for multi-dimensional cross-trainer. It replaces the SLX, a rebadged Isuzu Trooper available from 1996 to 1999. The new MDX is all Acura, powered by a new 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 240 horsepower.
Tribute is the newcomer to the Mazda stable. A cousin to Ford’s new Escape, Tribute is a mid-size sport-ute that carries a four-cylinder or V-6 engine, the latter yielding 200 horsepower.
Mazda promotes its Tribute as the sportier of the pair, in keeping with its sporty image, but Ford expects to sell considerably more Escapes.
A new sub-model can be found among Ford trucks. Painted black with gray, orange and chrome accents, the Harley-Davidson edition of the F-150 SuperCrew pickup features a 260-horsepower V-8 with a specially tuned exhaust system. Ford launched a Sport Trac version of its Explorer sport-utility this year, with a modest-size pickup bed trailing the passenger compartment.
Santa Fe is the new kid on the Hyundai block. Developed for the North American market, it’s Hyundai’s first SUV. Also new in 2001 is Hyundai’s XG sedan, slightly larger than the existing Sonata and powered by a 3-liter V-6 engine with five-speed automatic transmission.
Introduced this year, Aztek is Pontiac’s all-new model, a “hybrid” that blends the attributes of a sport-utility with those of a passenger car and/or mini-van. Styling strays far from GM’s conventional designs, and the interior is designed for versatility, with such conveniences as removable flip/fold seats, a sliding cargo tray, a removable console/cooler and a new camper tent accessory.
One new product from Kia is on the market, and another is coming soon. Introduced in late summer, the mini Rio sedan claims the title of lowest-priced automobile sold in the U.S., starting at $8,595. This fall, the South Korean automaker introduces a larger Optima sedan.
Toyota’s new subcompact Prius sedan, packing a gasoline-electric powertrain, debuted this summer. Early in 2001, Toyota is expected to launch a car-based Highlander sport-utility vehicle, positioned between the smaller RAV4 and the bigger 4Runner.
To add yet another notch to its SUV lineup, Toyota is preparing a new Sequoia for introduction at year-end, described by general manager Don Esmond as the company’s “first mainstream full-size sport-utility.” Riding a Tundra pickup platform and bigger than a 4Runner but smaller than the Land Cruiser, Sequoia will be similar in size to Ford’s Expedition.
BMW is renumbering its least-expensive series. What had been the 328i will be known as the 330i, paving the way for a switch from the 2.8-liter 6-cylinder engine to a larger-displacement 3-liter 6. An all-wheel-drive version of the 330xi sedan also goes on sale. BMW has another new model: the $128,570 Z8 coupe. But only about 400 of these high-powered exoticars will reach dealerships each season.
Next year, Chevrolet will launch an Avalanche, based on its full- size Silverado pickup. A cross between pickup and SUV, Avalanche will be fitted with a Convert-a-Cab that lets the owner modify the barrier between the passenger compartment and the cargo box.
Two new names–actually numbers–are featured on Lexus vehicles for 2001. The all-new IS300 debuted this summer, as a subcompact sedan companion to the sporty GS300/400. Also new is a full-size LS430 sedan, which gets its revised designation from a larger engine: a 4.3-liter V-8, rather than the 4-liter that powered the previous LS400. Next in line, by spring 2001, is an SC430 coupe with a retractable hardtop, in keeping with the “SC” prefix used by Lexus coupes since 1992.
Audi has a new “all-road” Quattro wagon ready for debut this fall, featuring a four-level adjustable-height suspension. Based on the A6 Avant, it will have a 6-speed manual transmission or Audi’s 5-speed, semi-automatic Tiptronic unit and a 250-horsepower biturbo V-6. Audi also will be launching a pair of high-performance “S” models: an S4 Avant wagon (joining the S4 sedan); and for the first time, a performance-focused full-size sedan, the S8.
A new S60 sport sedan will join the Volvo lineup in 2001–slightly smaller than the S70 sedan it replaces, with a choice of three 5-cylinder engines. The Swedish automaker also has a new Cross Country version of its V70 wagon.
SOME THINGS OLD, SOME THINGS NEW
If the fall automotive lineup doesn’t offer enough selection, stay tuned. More new nameplates are scheduled to arrive in 2001 as mid-year 2001 models or early 2002s.
Two of them bring back well-known names from the past. By summer of 2001, Ford plans to release its modern rendition of the (1955-57) two-passenger Thunderbird, as a 2002 model.
Late next year, BMW dealers might have a modern-day version of the old British-built Austin Mini, last seen in the U.S. in 1967. The contemporary Mini debuts at the Paris Auto Show this fall, going on sale in Europe during 2001. American versions are expected as 2002 models.
An all-new Rendezvous hybrid that blends sport-utility and passenger-car traits is scheduled to arrive next year at Buick as a 2002 model.Chevrolet is expected to introduce its new Trailblazer sport-utility in 2001, while GMC launches an Envoy. Still to come is Chevrolet’s SSR high-performance roadster-pickup, evolved from a show vehicle, expected in 2002.
Cadillac won’t have any names to promote until the two-passenger Evoq becomes reality, which isn’t likely before 2003. By then, its name might change.
Jaguar’s new small sedan, which has a code name of X400, is expected to arrive in mid-2001.
Isuzu asked consumers to come up with names for its next new model, announcing the winner at the New York Auto Show in April 2000. The Axiom sportwagon is expected to arrive in spring 2002.
Saturn has announced a new sport-utility vehicle, but the model has not been named and won’t arrive until at least 2002.
Even Porsche is joining the SUV race, with its entrant, expected to be called Cayenne, arriving as a 2003 model. Volkswagen also will have a version, which is going by the code name Colorado.
Kia will have a new Sedona mini-van on sale by then.
Daewoo has been on the auction block, and its future is fuzzy. A Korando sport-utility vehicle appeared at the New York Auto Show last spring and might make it to dealerships–if the South Korean automaker remains in the U.S. market under new ownership.
