• Midgate - Avalanche personifies spontaneous adaptability with Chevrolet's revolutionary Convert-a-Cab System and industry-exclusive Midgate . When the rear passenger seat is folded, the Midgate can be lowered to allow longer and larger cargo. Folding down the Midgate allows the 5'3" standard bed length to convert to a full 8'1", long enough to carry 4' x 8" sheets of plywood.
• Three-piece rigid cargo cover - Interlocking panels can be used to cover and protect the cargo box and its contents from the elements.
• Removable rear window - The rear window can be removed and stored in the Midgate, providing the capability to carry larger items such as a personal watercraft- with the tailgate closed.
• Lockable Top-Box Storage - Two Top-Box Storage compartments on either side of the cargo box provide a combined 3.5 cubic feet of weather resistant, lockable storage space.
• PRO-TEC composite - The Avalanche Midgate and tailgate are made of GM's new PRO-TEC composite materials. The composite material is exceptionally durable, and will resist dings.

February 23, 2001 — In an effort to meet Ford Motor Company federal environmental commitments, the Taurus brand team has announced a standardization of the FFV Engine (order code 992) on all Taurus LX and SE Sedans and Wagons. This change will become effective on March 14, 2001.

Fleet customers will have the option of ordering a 3.0L 2-valve gas engine (99U) on both models. If (99U) is not specified on the order, it will automatically receive the FFV (992) engine.

February 19, 2001 - DaimlerChrysler Corporations’ Dodge Division announced plans to continue producing the Dodge Ram Van through the 2003 model year. Ram Van will continue to be built at the Pillette Assembly Plant through the normal 2003 MY and then production will end in the summer of 2003.

Full details about the complete model line-up are unknown at this time. New government standards for the 2003 model may affect the configurations that can be built and certified. DaimlerChrysler has yet to determine the feasibility of building the 2003 passenger wagon.

Additional information will be posted in the Purchasing News, as it becomes available.

February 21, 2001 — Ford Motor Company announced that its 12-month-old alliance with UPS Logistics Group, a subsidiary of United Parcel Service, has successfully sliced vehicle transport time by 26 percent, or four days. The initiative is six months ahead of schedule and winning praise from Ford dealers.

"We exceeded even our own high expectations of how soon we would realize tangible results from the supply chain innovations Ford and UPS Logistics Group have implemented," said Frank Taylor, vice president, Material, Planning and Logistics, Ford Motor Company. "With the results we've already achieved, we expect to meet our goal of decreasing delivery time by up to 40 percent. The real winners are our dealers and ultimately our customers, who now have greater confidence that once a Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury vehicle leaves the factory, it will arrive when promised."

Ford and UPS Logistics Group launched the alliance a year ago to reengineer Ford's vehicle delivery system amid rising consumer demand for on time vehicle delivery. UPS Logistics Group created UPS Autogistics as a business unit to manage the project.

Ford executives said the Autogistics network is running well ahead of schedule, even with record vehicle volumes in 2000. By the end of the first quarter 2001, the newly reengineered network will be fully operational in the US, Canada and Mexico. UPS Autogistics will ultimately oversee the distribution network dedicated to serving 21 Ford Motor Company assembly plants, 4 rail centers and 55 destination ramps, providing delivery to more than 6,000 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealers throughout North America.

One of the initiative's early achievements has been the ability to integrate the entire supply chain and provide Autogistics operators complete visibility to track the journey of each vehicle along the transport route via a web enabled system. The new system, developed by UPS Autogistics, will provide Ford the latest information on vehicle transit status. This data can be rapidly communicated to update dealers on a vehicle's progress en route.

In 2000, the average transit time for Ford units was 11.5 days, compared to 15.5 days in 1999. By 2003, Ford hopes to reach their goal of an 8-day maximum for transit time from plant to dealership.

February 22, 2001 — Ford has announced start-up and order bank opening dates for the 2002 model year.

Please note that 5 vehicle lines have short 2002 model year runs. These models include Crown Vic, Grand Marquis, Town Car, Expedition and Navigator. Tentative 2003 start-up dates are included for these models.

In addition, Ford has announced that there will be a "2002.5" Explorer and Mountaineer. These models will have some packaging and equipment changes mid-year. Ford will announce updated pricing and package content at a later date.

Lincoln LS

Focus 3DR

Sable

Mountaineer

Excursion

Ranger

February 15, 2001 — Chevrolet introduced the first-ever Cavalier Z24 sedan at the 2001 San Diego Auto Show. The new Z24 sedan offers all the performance and appearance upgrades of the Z24 Coupe, and more. The Chevy Cavalier has long been GM’s best selling passenger car and one of the 10 best-selling cars in the United States.

Seen first at SEMA 1999, this variation on the Cavalier theme inspired tremendous customer feedback, persuading Chevrolet to build the four-door Z24 as a 2002 model. Production is scheduled to begin on 6/8/01 and order banks should be open in March/April.

Z24 Cavalier Sedan Standard Features and Highlights

Addition of an XLS Sport Package

The Escape XLT Sport, which features the No Boundaries Dual Sliding Roof Rack, has been delayed to a Job # 1 date of 7/30/01. This will make the XLT Sport a 2002 MY package.

A new XLS Sport (47P) has been announced and has a Job # 1 date of 4/2/01. Order banks for the XLS Sport are currently open.

The Escape XLS Sport will include the following features:

The XLS Sport package requires Body Code U01 or U02 (XLS Models) with the I-4 powertrain.

After conducting extensive winter weather driving tests over the past four months, members of the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) named the all-new 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport All-Wheel Drive as "Best In Class People Mover" in its annual "Official Winter Car of New England" competition. This marks the fourth year in a row that a Chrysler Group minivan has driven home with this prestigious award.

"Once again, Dodge Caravan comes to New England armed with a Chrysler Group exclusive - all-wheel drive," said John Paul, President of NEMPA. "In addition to offering this exclusive minivan feature, an extremely valuable feature in our part of the country, Dodge has taken Caravan's ride and handling quality to an all-new level. It's a winner."

The New England Motor Press Association is based in Boston. The organization has 75 members, including automotive journalists who cover the six-state region, which includes Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

February 15, 2001 — Jaguar announced the MSRP for the new all-wheel drive X-TYPE sports sedan that will go on sale in the United States this summer. The X-TYPE will start at $29,950.

Jaguar's all-new sports sedan becomes a fourth model in the company's expanding product range and marks Jaguar's entry in the fast-growing compact sedan segment. X-TYPE is Jaguar's first all-wheel drive model, and will be aimed squarely to challenge the segment's existing sales and image leaders.

"With the launch of the S-TYPE in 1999, we clearly signaled that Jaguar stands for not only style and performance, but also for terrific value," said Mike O'Driscoll, President Jaguar North America. "The new all-wheel drive X-TYPE, at less than $30,000, is going to make Jaguar accessible to a whole new generation of buyers."

Jaguar will offer two X-TYPE models in the United States both with the advanced Jaguar Traction-4 all-wheel drive system. The X-TYPE 2.5-liter will feature the 194-horsepower AJ-V6 engine fitted with either a five-speed manual or an optional five-speed electronic automatic transmission. The X-TYPE 3.0-liter equipped with a 231-horsepower AJ-V6 engine comes with the automatic as standard, with a manual as a no-cost option. The car's practical strengths include comprehensive safety and security equipment and generous space for passengers and luggage. Standard safety technology includes anti-lock brakes (ABS), three-point safety belts throughout, pre-tensioning front safety belts with load-limiters, dual-stage deployment front airbags, front-seat side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags for the front and rear occupants, sophisticated occupancy sensors and a collapsible brake pedal mechanism.

Standard equipment also includes traditional wood veneers in bird's-eye maple combined with leather seating. A full slate of luxury amenities include automatic climate control, a 120-Watt audio system and remote keyless entry. Both X-TYPE models include standard cruise control and Integrated Communications and Entertainment (ICE) controls for the audio and optional telephone.

The X-TYPE is one of the most significant models in the company's history, giving Jaguar its first compact sport sedan in 30 years. The X-TYPE will help transform Jaguar from a niche player to a major competitor in the luxury car segment.

Order by Midnight, Get Delivery the Next Business Day Through New Uptime Critical Parts Program

February 20, 2001 — Ford Motor Company has joined with FedEx Corp. through its subsidiaries FedEx Express and FedEx Supply Chain Services, to provide around-the-clock critical-parts support to Ford's commercial truck customers.

The Uptime Critical Parts Program will provide 24/7/365 service to commercial truck customers in "vehicle down" emergency situations with parts delivery the next business day via FedEx Priority Overnight® service. Dealer orders placed through the program will be filled at a commercial-truck parts distribution center located close to the FedEx Superhub at the Memphis airport.

"It's not just a cliché: Time is money. And we've created this Uptime Critical Parts Program to help ensure that our commercial truck customers never lose a day of work," said Darryl Hazel, executive director, Ford Customer Service Division — North America. "Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year — we're going to be there to provide the parts support our customers need."

Previously, only dealer emergency orders received prior to the cut-off time of 3 p.m. EST were shipped the same day (Monday through Saturday). Orders received after 3 p.m. were shipped the next working day.

The Uptime Critical Parts Program truck center will specifically support customer service requirements for the commercial truck segment: F-250/F-350 Super Duty pickups, F-350/F-550 Super Duty Chassis Cabs, F-650/F-750 Super Duty Chassis Cabs and E-Series (Econoline) commercial vehicles.