DaimlerChrysler recently announced that it will provide a free 7-year/70,000-Mile Limited Powertrain Warranty on most* new 2002 and 2003 vehicles purchased or leased on or after July 9, 2002.

Components covered include engines, transmissions/transaxles, transfer cases and axles. Coverage becomes effective following the expiration of the standard 3-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on all other components and extends to 7 years or 70,000 miles, whichever comes first. Under the 7/70 Warranty, customers pay only a $100 deductible per repair visit on covered items.

In addition, vehicles sold with the new warranty receive 24-hour Towing Assistance to the nearest dealership for any covered component failure during the Warranty period.

The Warranty can be transferred to all subsequent owners at no cost, which may enhance resale value.

* The 7/70 Powertrain Warranty is not available on police, taxi, postal and ambulance vehicles.

Ford has announced that the Power Group (option code 85A) is now an available option with the 2003 MY XL and SL Work Truck Group. The Power Group features power windows, power door locks, power mirrors and remote keyless entry.

The option can be ordered for units with production dates of October 7, 2002 or beyond (subject to change). If the Power Group is ordered with the XL or SL Work Truck Group prior to the tentative release date of October 7, the order will remain on hold.

GM Extends Production for Astro and Safari

General Motors has announced that production for the Chevy Astro and GMC Safari will continue into the 2005 calendar year. The automaker was originally planning to make 2002 the final model year for both vehicles.

Built exclusively at the Baltimore Assembly Plant, the Astro and Safari continue to be popular selections for commercial customers. Over 3 million units have been produced since the models' introduction in 1985.

Nissan recently compiled an overview of product changes and new model introductions for 2003 to assist customers in their order planning.

The following is a summary outlining the changes in Nissan Division products for the 2003 model year that may be of interest to fleet customers:

Murano
The all-new Nissan Murano sport utility vehicle is Nissan's first entry into the crossover SUV segment. It comes with a standard 240-plus horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6. It also offers Nissan's advanced Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). Other performance features include 4-wheel independent suspension and a new all-wheel drive system. A front-wheel drive model will also be offered. The Nissan Murano will be available in November 2002.

2003 Nissan Murano

Maxima
For 2003, Nissan's flagship model offers a new Titanium Edition Package (for SE models), standard front seat side-impact supplemental air bags for GLE models and two new exterior colors - Sheer Silver (all models) and Polished Titanium (Titanium Edition Package only).

Altima
New for 2003 is the addition of charcoal seat fabric and two new exterior colors – Sonoma Sunset and Crystal Blue. Automatic transmission, heated front seats, heated outside mirrors and simulated wood trim is standard on the 2.5 SL. There is a new 3.5 SE Sport Package, which includes a sunroof and rear spoiler. Also available is a 3.5 SE Sport Package Plus that includes a sunroof, spoiler, Bose® audio system and xenon headlights.
The 3.5 SE Leather Package now includes Bose® audio system, sunroof and Cold Package, while the 3.5 SE Leather Sport Package includes the contents of the Leather Package plus a spoiler and xenon headlights. A 3.5 SE Premium Leather Package features simulated wood trim.

Sentra, Sentra SE-R
The Sentra line offers a new Sentra 2.5 Limited Edition Package and other equipment changes for 2003. The Sentra CA model is no longer available, as all 1.8-liter engine-equipped Sentra XE and GXE models sold with California emission specifications offer zero evaporative emissions and meet SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles) standards. Sentra SE-R and SE-R Spec V models are also now offered in a new bright yellow exterior color called Sunburst.

Xterra
All 3.3-liter normally-aspirated V6-equipped Xterra models receive an additional 10 horsepower (an increase to 180 hp) and two additional lb-ft of torque (now 202 lb-ft) for 2003. In addition, Vehicle Dynamic Control with Traction Control System and a tire pressure monitoring system will be available on Xterra for the first time. All Xterra XE V6 models now come with standard 16-inch alloy wheels and side step rails. Four new exterior colors are available, which include: Canteen, Granite, Atomic Orange (limited availability) and Camouflage (limited and late availability)

Frontier, Frontier Crew Cab
Following the 2002 introduction of the Frontier Crew Cab Long Bed, which gives Frontier the longest bed in the compact crew cab class, the Frontier features multiple enhancements including three segment firsts - the industry's first-ever power-operated retractable top in a compact truck, available Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and tire pressure monitoring system. The new Frontier Open Sky model's sliding roof, optional on Frontier Crew Cab models, measures over four square feet. Other changes for 2003 include the addition of 10 horsepower to all normally aspirated V6 models, a new 16-inch six-spoke wheel design, available tire pressure monitoring system and two new exterior colors – Canteen and Granite.

2003 Nissan Frontier Open Sky

Pathfinder
All 2003 Pathfinders will have optional satellite radio, with a choice of XM or Sirius services. The LE model receives standard leather-appointed interior, while SE models feature restyled wheels. Both models also feature a new 4-spoke steering wheel and electronic rear hatch window release. A new Vehicle Dynamic Control Package offers Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System and tire pressure monitoring system. Four new exterior colors are also offered for the 2003 model year - Crystal Blue, Burnt Copper, Sunlit Sand and Polished Pewter.

2003 and Beyond
A new Nissan truck, styled, engineered and built in the United States, will be introduced in late 2003. It features a large V8 engine, completely new platform and offers impressive horsepower, suspension, payload and towing capacity.

Effective August 1, 2002, diesel fuel tax will increase by 44 percent (8 cents per gallon) in the state of Connecticut, according to Automotive Fleet Fuel News. Currently 18 cents per gallon, the increase will bring the fuel tax to 26 cents.

While other states are boosting fuel taxes to support weak transportation budgets, Connecticut's 44-percent jump seems to be the highest.

GM Offers Risk-Free Trial OF XM Satellite Radio

From July 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002, GM is offering a free, 30-day, risk-free trial of the increasingly-popular XM Satellite Radio, which offers 100 channels of digital quality sound from coast to coast. As part of the special offer, GM will also waive the activation fee.

XM Satellite Radio features a variety of high quality programming including news, sports, talk and kids channels as well as dozens of music channels with interests ranging from classical to rock and everything in between.

Satellite radio has been receiving excellent reviews in recent automotive news publications – most of which applaud the ability to travel across the entire country without ever having to "tune" the radio or change stations. Most reviewers also appreciated the diverse programming and musical variety that mainstream radio often lacks.

First introduced in select Cadillac models in the 2002 model year, XM Satellite Radio is now available as a factory-installed option on a variety of 2003 GM models, which include:

BUICK
LeSabre
Rendezvous

GMC
Yukon Denali
Yukon XL Denali
Sierra
Yukon
Yukon XL

CADILLAC
CTS
DeVille
Escalade
Escalade EXT
Seville

PONTIAC
Aztek
Bonneville
Grand Am
Sunfire

CHEVROLET
Avalanche
Cavalier
Impala
Monte Carlo
Tahoe
Silverado
Suburban

OLDSMOBILE
Alero

The option code for XM-ready radio on all 2003 models is U2K. The (U2K) radio is required to receive XM Satellite Radio services.

Customers who wish to continue service after the free trial period will be charged $9.99 per month. The end-user can choose to pay XM Satellite Radio either monthly via credit card or quarterly though a direct invoice.

For more information about XM Satellite Radio, or to hear samples of the programming, please visit www.xmsr.com.


The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well in both the 2002 Honda CR-V (top left) and 2003 Subaru Forester (top right).

The 2003 Subaru Forester and the 2002 Honda CR-V have earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) highest rating - "good" - in the most recent series of frontal offset crash tests. Both models also received the Institutes' "Best Pick" designation.

Of four new or redesigned models that were tested, which included the CR-V, Forester, Saturn VUE and Land Rover Freelander, the Forester was the only model to achieve the highest rating in both the 5-mph bumper and 40-mph frontal offset tests. The VUE received a "good" rating and the Freelander was rated "acceptable" in the 40-mph crash test. The CR-V, VUE and Freelander all received "poor" ratings in 5-mph crash test.

The IIHS safety ratings reflect performance in a 40-mph frontal offset crash test into a deformable barrier. Based on the results of this test, the Institute evaluates the crashworthiness of passenger vehicles, assigning each vehicle a rating of good, acceptable, marginal or poor.

Ford Motor Company is studying the possibility of offering a diesel-powered Ford Focus in North America within the next five years as a way to give customers more powertrain choices and even greater fuel economy improvements.

Diesel technology has advanced in recent years to the point that diesel engines compare very favorably with gasoline engines on many consumer-driven attributes, such as noise, performance and emissions. Today's modern diesel is clean, quiet and nearly odorless.

While Ford believes diesels should be part of the North American product mix, the company is not seeking any changes in emissions standards to deliver diesel cars to North American consumers. Ford will provide light-duty diesel vehicles only if they are able to meet the EPA's stringent Tier II emissions rules.

Achieving Tier II emissions standards requires further improvements in engine and fuel systems and exhaust aftertreatment technology. Low sulfur diesel fuel (15 parts per million or less), which will be available in the U.S. in mid-2006, is a critical requirement for these emissions controls. A way to manage nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, critical for Tier II compliance, also needs to be achieved. Ford is also working to develop an aftertreatment technology that will reduce the issues surrounding particulate matter and health concerns.

Diesel technology offers advantages in fuel efficiency in the range of 25 percent to 30 percent over a gasoline vehicle. This fuel economy improvement translates into a 20 to 25 percent reduction in CO2.

Ford's highly acclaimed Focus TDCi in Europe is powered by a 1.8-liter Ford Duratorq Turbo Diesel Common-Rail Injection (TDCi) engine, which benefits from second-generation common-rail diesel injection technology. The common-rail technology provides superior vehicle performance, drive quality, and fuel economy with substantially reduced noise, while also providing the complex injection control needed for future emission reduction systems.

The Focus TDCi has a top speed of 120 mph and is capable of 0-60 mph acceleration in 10.7 seconds. The fuel economy and range of the vehicle are comparable to a gasoline hybrid, but with a higher continuous torque. Fuel economy is up to 30 percent higher compared to a traditional gasoline engine product.

Ford offers a full range of vehicles powered by fuels other than gasoline, including natural gas, propane, ethanol, electricity and diesel. In addition, a hybrid electric version of the Ford Escape SUV is being readied for sale in 2003 and a fuel cell version of the Ford Focus will begin low-volume production by 2004.

Saturn has received top honors in the most recent J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Index (CSI) Study. This is the first time that a non-luxury nameplate came in at #1 since 1986 when Honda topped the list.

The study showed that Saturn's best attributes are its excellent routine maintenance performance, friendly interaction with customers, flexible service appointments and timely service.

Nearly 65 percent of Saturn service is routine maintenance-related; the industry average is about 55 percent. "Saturn owners are intensely loyal to their dealers," said John Harbicht, director of service/dealer satisfaction at J.D. Power and Associates.

Infiniti follows Saturn in the ranking with marked improvement in service facility ratings compared to 2001. Customers rate Infiniti service exceptionally well on both routine maintenance and repair.

Lexus ranks third in 2002 after dominating the top position for the past five years.

CARS
Year	Make	Cyl	Model	Dr	Location	Invoice	Ref #
02	Chevrolet	6	Impala Sedan	4	Seaford, NY	$19,040	02115
02	Ford	8	Crown Victoria HD Sedan	4	Springfield, NJ	$22,274	55309
02	Ford	8	Crown Victoria HD Sedan	4	Birmingham, AL	$22,002	21274
02	Ford	8	Crown Victoria HD Sedan	4	Birmingham, AL	$22,002	21275
02	Mercury	6	Sable GS Plus Wagon	4	Dallas, TX	$19,713	100506

TRUCKS
Year	Make	Cyl	Model	Location	Invoice	Ref #
02	Ford	8	Explorer 4 Dr XLT 4x4	Batesville, MS	$29,417	20014
02	Ford	8	F350 Crew Chassis 4x4	Broadway, VA	$27,684	Multiple
02	Ford	8	F-150 SuperCab 4x2	Salinas, CA	$20,816	03144
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!

Feature News

Pool Vehicles

Issue 214– July 22, 2002

GM Extends Production for Astro and Safari

The 2003 Nissan Lineup - Charting the Changes

Diesel Tax Increases 44% in Connecticut

GM Offers Risk-Free Trial OF XM Satellite Radio

Pool Vehicle Inventory

Call your ARI representative for details!