2002 Oldsmobile Bravada

January 23, 2001 – Oldsmobile Division of General Motors has announced pricing for its all-new 2002 Bravada mid-size sport utility vehicle.

The base MSRP price for the all-wheel-drive version Bravada is $34,167. A two-wheel-drive version, priced at $31,635, also will be available for the first time. The destination freight charge for both is $600.

The 2002 Bravada is completely redesigned from the ground up. It features a new 4.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine that delivers 270 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, an all-new rear air suspension and larger exterior dimensions that allow more interior room. OnStar is standard equipment for all models.

The 2002 Bravada also will be covered with a special 60-month/60,000-mile protection plan, which runs through April 15, 2001. The service plan is available to customers who purchase all new and unused 2000, 2001 and 2002 Oldsmobile products.

The (LB7) Duramax Diesel Engine, available on the Silverado and Sierra HD, was recently on hold and production timing was to be determined.

In an administrative message from GM dated January 25, 2001, GM informed dealers that (LB7) production will now resume and they anticipate that all previously approved orders will likely move to production. However, due to high demand, production will be slow and is expected to go beyond planned target production weeks.

Although GM has assured us that they are making every effort to fill order requests for this engine, they cannot guarantee production. Please consider the potential for significant delays or possible non-production when placing future orders that include the (LB7) engine.

The chart below represents DaimlerChrysler’s projected final order due dates and is subject to change. To ensure consideration for production, orders must be placed in the DaimlerChrysler Order System by the dates listed below. Please submit your orders to ARI at least 3 business days prior to the final order date.

Effective January 29, 2000, DaimlerChrysler raised wholesale dealer prices by $75 on most models. MSRP and destination charges are unaffected.

Bona fide sold orders that were obtained prior to January 29, 2001 will be price protected.

Ford has released pricing for the all-new 2002 Ford Thunderbird. Pricing is effective as of January 26, 2001.

Order banks opened on January 8, 2001 and Job #1 production is scheduled for May 21, 2001.

Dealer allocation is low due to the limited quantity of 2002 T-Birds being produced; however Ford will accept fleet orders. If purchasing a unit out of dealer stock, dealer pricing will likely be above MSRP.

Town & Country Limited with a 3.5L Engine *

A new package (27X) will be offered on the Town & Country Limited which will include an all-new, high-output, 3.5-liter aluminum SOHC engine. The engine boasts 230-hp. and 250 lb./ft. of torque at 4000 rpm. Standard on the Town & Country Limited is a 3.3L V6 with an optional 3.8L V6 engine. Pricing for the 27X package should be released in early February.

Town & Country EX *

A new EX model/trim level has been added to the Town & Country line-up. The new EX is comparable to the LX trim level, but with some additional standard features. In comparison to the LX, the EX model has the following additional standard equipment:

Climate Group III, removable center console, overhead console, passenger power sliding side door, 3.8L V6 engine, remote keyless/illuminated entry, power liftgate, light group, AM/FM cassette/CD/equalizer, roof rack, 8-way power driver’s seat, rear split-bench seat, illuminated visor mirrors, 16" aluminum wheels and traction control.

The new Town & Country EX has an MSRP of $26,175 compared to LX at $24,430 — a difference of $1,745.

Grand Caravan EX *

DaimlerChrysler has also added an EX model to the Grand Caravan line-up. The EX is comparable to the Sport model with additional standard equipment. The Grand Caravan EX is priced at $26,070 MSRP - the Sport model is $24,275. Compared to the Sport, the EX has the following additional standard equipment:

Climate Group III, 4-wheel disc brakes, removable center console, overhead console, passenger sliding side door, 3.8L V6 engine, headlamp off time delay, remote keyless/illuminated entry, power liftgate, AM/FM cassette/CD/equalizer, roof rack, 8-way power driver’s seat, rear split-bench seat, traction control and 16" aluminum wheels.

Grand Caravan SE *

A base Grand Caravan SE is now available and has an MSRP of $21,785.

* DaimlerChrysler is now accepting orders for the new EX and SE models on Town & Country and Grand Caravan. Production timing for the Town & Country 27X package with high output 3.5L engine is to be determined.

Unveiled at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Toyota Matrix is touted as having the functionality of an SUV, the style, image and performance of a sports car and the affordability of a subcompact sedan.

Matrix will ride on a new platform that is similar to that of Corolla and will be offered in three trim levels. Buyers will have a choice of either front-, or four-wheel drive systems, with either manual or automatic transmissions.

The standard four-cylinder engine for Matrix will be ULEV-rated (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle). It will feature Toyota's variable valve technology and deliver 130 horsepower. The Matrix sport model will push that performance envelope considerably.

The sport model will feature the same 180-horsepower engine and six-speed manual transmission found in the Celica GT-S. Power will be complemented by a sport-tuned suspension and standard 17-inch wheels and tires.

A new cargo-floor sliding track system was developed especially for Matrix. The system will be the basis for a wide variety of accessory possibilities, designed to adapt to, and accommodate, specific active lifestyles.

Toyota's CALTY Design Studio, in Newport Beach, CA, was responsible for the initial styling concept for Matrix. CALTY's assignment was to render a fresh new take on the basic SUV configuration of four-doors-and-a-hatch.

Matrix will be built exclusively at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Canada, in Cambridge, Ontario and is expected to be available in 2002.

Ford Motor Company will soon open a new high-tech $10 million driving simulator laboratory to study driver workload and distraction issues related to new in-vehicle electronic devices. The new facility will allow researchers to measure a driver's ability to cope with common traffic situations while using cellular telephones, navigation systems and other in-car electronic equipment.

Dubbed VIRTTEX for VIRtual Test Track EXperiment, the Ford Research Laboratory simulator will allow scientists to duplicate highway driving in a safe and controlled laboratory setting. The first VIRTTEX study, to begin early in 2001, will focus on the demands that various in-vehicle tasks place on a driver. The goal is to discover better ways to measure the distraction potential of human/vehicle interfaces of the future. The results of this study and others like it will be released to the world in hopes of achieving a scientific basis for in-vehicle electronic human-machine interface standards upon which everyone can agree.

A specially instrumented Ford Taurus will be the first vehicle bolted inside the simulator, allowing participants to sit behind the wheel and begin driving according to the test instructions. During a simulated drive, researchers will measure the driver's ability to cope with an array of traffic situations while using in-vehicle electronic equipment.

Driver inattention is cited by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a major factor in the Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS). According to the FARS database, there were 37,043 fatal crashes recorded in 1999. Inattention was recorded as a driver-related factor in 3,823 of these crashes or 10.3 percent.

Introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January, the Pontaic Vibe is scheduled to come to market in early 2002 as a 2003 model. Conceived by General Motors and Toyota, the production version will be slightly different from the auto show car. It will be produced at GM and Toyota's NUMMI assembly plant in Fremont, California.

AutoWeek magazine editors and staff have named the Vibe GT the "most signifacant" vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. This category measures a vehicle’s significance to the manufacturer, to the marketplace and as a segment-buster. "The Vibe GT has the potential to begin redefining ‘Pontiac Excitement’ for a new generation of customers", said Dutch Mandel, editor and associate publisher of AutoWeek.

The show car Vibe sports a purposeful, athletic exterior that is smoothly sculpted and muscular. The distinctive roofline features a unique, integrated roof rack that creates a singular fastback shape. Vibe also features bold Pontiac styling cues, such as a vented front fascia with twin-port grille and recessed fog lamps.

Capable of packing 57.2 cubic feet of cargo behind the driver, Vibe features 40/60 split rear seats folding flat at the push of a button to create a level load floor. The fold-down flat front passenger seat allows for even more room to accommodate extra long cargo.

Vibe will offer safety features including all-wheel drive and ABS, seat-mounted side airbags, remote keyless entry, full feature security system, and OnStar communication and assistance.

Under the hood the show car Vibe is a 1.8-liter, 130-hp four-cylinder with 125 lb-ft of torque mated with a four-speed automatic. The GT version boasts a high-output 180-hp engine with a 6-speed manual transmission. The GT also offers 18-inch wheels and tires.

You can catch the Vibe at major auto shows and special events around the country during the 2001 calendar year. You can also learn more on the web at http://www.pontiac.com/vibe.

When a "stock purchase" is desired, you may consider using a vehicle from the ARI "pool"
to save money and time.

Call your ARI representative for details!