DaimlerChrysler has announced a second price-increase for most 2003 model lines. The revised base pricing went into effect on October 14, 2002.

Option prices and destination charges remain unchanged.

Price protection applies to bona fide sold orders received by DaimlerChrysler prior to October 14, 2002.

Increases for all Chrysler and Dodge cars range from $50 - $170 MSRP (300M Special remains unchanged)
The increase for all Minivans is $145 MSRP (eL and eX models remain unchanged)
Jeep price-increases range from $50 - $185 MSRP (Rubicon models remain unchanged)
All other Dodge trucks including: Dakota, Ram pickup, Ram Van and Durango received base price-increases ranging from $70 - $235 MSRP

October 31, 2002 is the deadline for various special incentives offered on multiple makes and models. Orders should be submitted to ARI at least 3 business days prior to the deadline to allow for sufficient order processing time.

For select DaimlerChrysler models, Fast Start Incentives are available on 2003MY orders received by DaimlerChrysler by October 31, 2002 and produced by December 31, 2002. Please see Purchasing News issue number 219 dated September 30, 2002 for more details.
To receive GM's 2003MY Early Order Bonus on select models, orders must be received by GM by October 31, 2002. Impala free ABS also expires on October 31, 2002. Details can also be found in the Purchasing News issue noted above.
The deadline for 2003 Ford Taurus No-Charge ABS is October 31, 2002. Ford's Early Order Incentives will continue to be available on select units ordered by December 31, 2002.

Other Deadlines

The 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix has a Final Order Due Date of November 15, 2002. Order banks for the 2004 Grand Prix are scheduled to open on November 7 and limited retail production is set to begin on February 3, 2003. There will be no Fleet allocation through April and limited Fleet production in May and June.
The Final Order Due Date for 2003 Stratus/Sebring Sedan and Sebring Convertible is November 13, 2002. Order banks for 2004 models are expected to open by late October or early November. Job #1 is scheduled for January 21, 2003.
There are multiple colors that are building out early on certain 2003 DaimlerChrysler models. Please visit the ARI Production News at www.arifleet.com for more information.
Due to assembly plant down time, all 2003 Windstar orders for December production must be received by November 15, 2002. The plant will be down during the weeks of 12/9/02, 12/16/02 and 12/23/02.

2004 Pontiac Grand Prix Features and Highlights


2004 Pontiac Grand Prix	2004 Pontiac Grand Prix interior

General Motors recently unveiled the ninth generation Pontiac Grand Prix. The new 2004 model offers improved performance features, revised packaging and a new look.

In designing the new model, GM's Grand Prix development group took everything that was successful with the current Grand Prix and improved it. "We know Grand Prix has a large and loyal following, so we took what people loved about it and concentrated on making it better inside, outside and under the skin, " said David Whittaker, vehicle line executive.

For 2004, the base model SE will be eliminated – leaving a choice of either the GT or GTP. A GTP with the Competition Group Package is also available, which includes sport-tuned suspension, high-performance 17" wheels and tires and Stabilitrak Plus. Stabilitrak Plus expands cornering stability during high-performance maneuvers and adverse conditions.

The new models' exterior has cleaner lines and a more contemporary design. In the front, the park/turn lamps accentuate the cars' "Wide Track" stance. Twin-styled dual exhaust outlets are standard on all models as are 16" and 17" wheels and tires. The overall car is the same size as the model it replaces.

Inside, the fabrics and leather are more contemporary in design. Larger analog gauges have a three-dimensional appearance and satin nickel accents on the doors, wheels and shifter give the car a more upscale feel. The standard Driver Information Center and optional Trip Computer and Head Up Display (HUD) units feature view screen reconfigurability with more capability than the previous model. The new HUD displays more information in three languages, including speed, turn signals, high-beam indicator, warning messages, radio/CD/tape status, ice warning, outside air temperature and compass. A new "stealth mode" for the HUD allows the driver to navigate soley using the HUD when the cluster lights are turned off.

The new Grand Prix has rear doors that now swing open to a full 82 degrees, which makes entering and exiting, as well as loading bulky cargo, simpler. The 60/40 split-folding rear seats fold nearly flat, extending the load floor well into the interior. A double-hinged front passenger seat is optional and it allows the seat to fold flat, extending cargo capacity even further.

Under the hood there is an improved 3800 Series 3 engine lineup. The 3800 V6 provides 200 hp on the base GT model. The GTP model produces 255 hp with 280 lb-ft of torque. In addition, a racing-inspired feature called TAPshift (Touch Activated Power) is standard on GTP with the Competition Group Package. With TAPshift, drivers can engage a paddle on the steering wheel and switch from automatic transmission mode to manual mode.

Safety features include StabiliTrak Plus, which is included on the GTP with Competition Group; standard Traction Control and ABS; larger brakes; and a tire inflation monitoring system. Advanced occupant protection features include dual-stage air bags, optional head curtain side air bags and front-seat safety belt pretensioners and force limiters. An aluminum engine cradle and cross-car beam improves the body structure.

The 2004 Grand Prix will be manufactured at GM's Oshawa, Ontario Assembly Plant.

GM will begin accepting orders for the 2004 Grand Prix on November 7, 2002 and retail production is scheduled to begin on February 3, 2003. There will be no Fleet allocation through April and limited Fleet production during the months of May and June 2003.

Toyota Announces 2003 4Runner Pricing

2003 Toyota 4Runner

Toyota has released manufacturer's suggested retail prices for the all-new 2003 4Runner mid-size SUV. MSRP for the base SR5 4Runner 4x2 starts at $28,005.

The 2003 4Runner provides enhanced off-road capability, is larger and roomier, with more power, increased fuel efficiency and improved ride and comfort adding up to a better value than the previous generation model.

4Runner now offers a 4.7-liter i-Force V8 engine on all models. The engine produces 235 horsepower at 4,800 RPM and 320 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,400 RPM. Preliminary EPA city/highway gas mileage for the V8 is 17/19 for all 4x2 models and 16/19 for 4x4 models and is LEV certified.

The V8 is paired with Toyota's first use of a five-speed automatic transmission with overdrive in a light truck. The transmission is equipped with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Shift control, which changes gear-shifting patterns according to the driving conditions and driver intent. All 4Runner 4x4's equipped with the V8 are full-time four-wheel-drive and come standard with a Torsen® sensing type limited slip differential with a locking feature.

All 4Runner models are equipped with standard front and rear ventilated disc ABS brakes. Electronic traction control and vehicle stability control are also standard. Four-wheel-drive models come equipped with a standard Downhill Assist Control system, which assists engine braking to improve speed and directional control during descent on steep or slippery surfaces. Active wheel sensors are used for an all-new Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) system that comes standard on all two- and four-wheel drive models. HAC increases stability for improved control on steep upgrades and stopping and starting on slippery surfaces.

4Runner is now offered in three trim levels: the SR5, the all-new Sport Edition and the Limited.

The base MSRP for the 4Runner SR5 V8 4x2 is $28,005. The SR5 V8 4x4 starts at $30,280. The Sport Edition V8 4x2 is priced at $29,800 and the 4x4 is $32,075 MSRP. Pricing for the uplevel Limited model starts at $34, 205 for the 4x2 and $36,480 for the 4x4.

An all-new V6 engine will be available on 4Runner in January 2003. Pricing for the new engine will be announced at that time.

GM Introduces Factory Installed Remote Vehicle Start Feature

A remote vehicle starting feature will debut on a new GM car in 2003, the automaker announced. The feature will enable customers to start their engine with a remote key fob. This marks the first factory-installed remote start system that is integrated with the vehicle safety and security systems, and fully warranted by the vehicle manufacturer.

A remote start is activated from the key fob by first pressing the LOCK button, then pressing and holding the remote start button for about one and one-half seconds. This two-step process was designed to prevent inadvertent activation. Once the vehicle starts the park lamps turn on and the doors automatically lock. They may be unlocked at any time using the key fob.

The GM remote start system checks and/or monitors the status of the hood being closed via a hood switch and it checks the vehicle theft deterrent system. The system also checks and monitors the engine oil pressure, engine temperature, engine RPMs, the throttle position, the brake transmission interlock, vehicle speed, emission system on-board diagnostics, battery voltage, the serial data communications link between modules and the ignition switch integrity. All of these systems must be within operating requirements for the remote start system to operate.

A remote start will time out after 10 minutes, causing the engine to shut off. At any time during the initial 10-minute run interval, the timeout can be restarted once. To drive away after a remote start, the ignition key must be placed in the switch and rotated to the RUN position, at which time the theft password is sent to the theft deterrent system and an electrical message is sent to the operating modules that the vehicle is now in a normal running condition. With these systems satisfied, the brake transmission shift interlock will allow shifting out of PARK.

GM has yet to announce which model or models the remote start feature would be offered on in 2003.

Mercedes-Benz Launches New "Pre-Safe" System


PRE-SAFE is the result of some six years of intensive development work by Mercedes engineers. Hundreds of drivers took part in the testing and refining of PRE-SAFE on test tracks and in the DaimlerChrysler driving simulator in Berlin.

The 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the world's first production car equipped with a new system called Pre-Safe, which can sense a possible collision a few seconds in advance and take pre-crash protective measures.

Mercedes engineers found that cars can be equipped to sense an imminent crash up to five full seconds before an actual impact. As a result, they've designed the Pre-Safe system to first tension the seatbelts if the system detects an impending collision. If the front passenger seat and any of the electrically adjustable rear seats are reclined, Pre-Safe moves them to a more vertical position. In addition, if the vehicle skids (sometimes a precursor to rollover), the system automatically closes the sunroof. If a crash is averted, the electric belt tensioners automatically relax and are ready to deploy again if necessary.

Pre-Safe also reacts to uncorrected fishtailing (oversteer) as well as "plowing" (understeer) by using existing sensors for ESP stability control that measures steering angle, vehicle yaw and lateral acceleration. Emergancy braking can also trigger Pre-Safe, which monitors sensors for the Brake Assist system as well.

Mercedes-Benz accident researches found that about two-thirds of all accidents are preceded by skidding, emergency braking or a sudden evasive maneuver – all of which can provide several valuable seconds of advance warning before impact.


2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2003 S-Class, which offers the Pre-Safe system, is part of the Mercedes-Benz Executive Choice Program designed for volume Fleet orders. For more information about the program, please visit www.mb2b.mbusa.com.

2003 Ford Taurus Telematics to Safety Concept Car

Ford's new 2003 Taurus Telematics to Safety Concept Car, or T2S, demonstrates some of the safety research currently under development at Ford Motor Company's Scientific Research Laboratory. The Ford T2S was on display at the 9th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems in Chicago. Also on display was the Windstar T2S concept, which features advanced software that can help determine the probability of an accident and the desired actions needed to mitigate or even avoid an accident.

Special features in the T2S Concepts include:

The lane departure warning system, a low-light forward-facing camera, that senses changing road conditions and alerts the driver.

Blind spot detection uses radar to warn the driver when a vehicle is detected in a blind spot during a lane-change maneuver.

SmartNAV navigational system that uses vehicle-to-vehicle communication, as well as incident report information from local municipalities, provides real-time traffic routing.

SafetyNet enables vehicle-to-vehicle communication allowing each vehicle to know the location, direction and speed of other vehicles on the road. The information is used to engage the safety belt and warning system during a crash.

SmartSwitch, which is mounted on the steering wheel and controls the fan speed and temperature setting for climate control, but becomes the volume, seek and selection control for entertainment, keeping a driver's hands on the wheel and out of harm's way.

Other advanced features will start to roll out in the fall of 2003 with the all-new 2004 Mercury Monterey minivan. The Monterey will offer an ultrasonic object-sensing system for the front, in addition to the rear-sensing systems to assist in gauging distances while parking.

2003 Volvo XC90 – Motor Trend's 2003 Sport/Utility of the Year

Volvo's first ever SUV – the XC90 – has received the Motor Trend 2003 Sport/Utility Vehicle of the Year Award more than a month before the first untis arrive at US dealerships.

Motor Trend's editorial staff selected this year's winner following rigorous testing on 14 eligible vehicles. To qualify for the competition, vehicles had to be SUV's that were new or substantially re-designed for 2003 and are, or will be on sale January 1, 2003. In addition to the Volvo XC90, the contenders were Ford Expedition, Hummer H2, Lexus GX 470, Lincoln Aviator, Lincoln Navigator, Honda Element, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Baja, Subaru Forester, Toyota 4 Runner, Honda Pilot, Isuzu Ascender, and Kia Sorento.

"No other new or substantially upgraded sport/utility vehicle addresses our criteria and testing as effectively as the new Volvo XC90," said Motor Trend. "More than any other vehicle in the running this year, the Volvo XC90 moves the standard in its market segment .It drives comfortably like a sedan, tows like a tough pickup, off-roads like a rugged sport/ute, and moves bulky cargo or as many as seven people like a minivan".

Two all-wheel-drive versions of the Volvo XC90 will be offered initially when the vehicle goes on sale next month: the XC90 AWD and the XC90 AWD T6 starting at $35,100 MSRP. They will be joined in the first quarter of 2003 by a front-wheel-drive version priced at $33,350.

CARS
Year	Make	Cyl	Model	Dr	Location	Invoice	Ref #
02	Chrysler	6	Concorde LX Sedan	4	Little Rock, AR	$20,878	02020
03	Chrysler	6	Sebring Lxi Sedan	4	Oneida, NY	$18,326	23040
03	Ford	8	Crown Vic LX Sedan	4	Pittsburg, CA	$25,896	23004
03	Pontiac	6	Grand Prix SE Sedan	4	Sherwood, AR	$20,493	119893
03	Pontiac	6	Grand Prix SE Sedan	4	Battle Creek, MI	$20,493	123344

TRUCKS
Year	Make	Cyl	Model	Location	Invoice	Ref #
03	Chevrolet	6	Astro Passenger Van RWD	Grand Rapids, MI	$23,329	23124
02	Chevrolet	8	3500 HD Chassis Cab	Grand Island, NE	$25,686	Multiple
03	Ford	8	F150 Supe Cab 4x4	Brighton, CO	$23,001	83006
02	Ford	8	F-150 SuperCab 4x2	Salinas, CA	$20,816	03144
02	Ford	6	F-150 Regular Cab 4x2	Modesto, CA	$16,959	09855
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 221– October 28, 2002

Toyota Announces 2003 4Runner Pricing

GM Introduces Factory Installed Remote Vehicle Start Feature

Pool Vehicle Inventory

Call your ARI representative for details!