Mazda and Saab recently released final order due dates for the 2003 Model Year. In addition, both have announced 2004 startup and Fleet order bank opening dates.

All other available 2003 final order due dates can be found in the online edition of the ARI Purchasing News at www.arifleet.com All dates are subject to change without notice.

Mazda 2003 Final Order Due Dates and 2004 Startup Dates
Model	2003 Final Orders Due	2004 Fleet Order Banks Open	2004 Startup
Protégé	Mid-May	6/1/03	9/16/03
Protégé 5	Mid-May	6/1/03	9/16/03
Mazda 6	Mid-May	5/15/03	8/4/03
Miata	2/6/03	4/15/03	7/22/03
MPV	3/6/03	5/15/03	8/20/03
Mazda Truck	3/5/03	5/15/03	August
Tribute	2/6/03	4/15/03	Mid-June
RX8	N/A	Presently accepting	3/14/03

Saab 2003 Final Order Due Dates and 2004 Startup Dates
Model	2003 Final Orders Due	2004 Fleet Order Banks Open	2004 Startup
9-3 Sports Sedan	5/16/03	6/30/03	8/11/03
9-3 Convertible	No longer accepting orders (port stock available)	TBD	TBD
9-5 Sedan	5/16/03	6/30/03	8/11/03
9-5 Sport Wagon	5/16/03	6/30/03	8/11/03

GM Offers No-Charge Power and Light Package

Effective immediately, qualified Fleet customers are eligible for a special offer on the 2003 Model Year Chevy Express and GMC Savana Cargo Vans. A "No-Charge Power and Light Package" (option code PDN) is available until the Fleet order cutoff date, which is currently scheduled for April 29, 2003 for the 2003 Express and Savana Cargo Vans.

Regularly priced at $550 MSRP, the Power and Light Package includes power door locks and windows (ZQ2), power mirrors (DE5) and auxiliary lighting (TR9).

Qualified Fleet customers must have a GM Fleet Account Number (FAN) to be eligible for the program. Vehicles ordered under Competitive Assistance Programs (CAPS) are not eligible. The offer is compatible with the $1,250 National Fleet Incentive.

The program is offered on 2003 Express and Savana Cargo Vans only (models C/T****05). Passenger and Cutaway models are not eligible.

Toyota Announces Pricing for All-New Sienna Minivan


2004 Toyota Sienna XLE Limited AWD	2004 Toyota Sienna XLE Limited AWD with 7-passenger seating

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., has released manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) for the all-new 2004 Sienna minivan, which arrives at dealer showrooms in March.

The new Sienna will come in four trim levels, CE, LE, XLE, and the uplevel XLE Limited. All four models will be available in a 4x2 configuration. The LE, XLE, and XLE Limited will also offer all-wheel-drive. The CE and LE will be available in both seven- and eight-passenger configurations.

The seven-passenger CE starts at a base MSRP of $22,955, which is $950, or 4.0 percent less than last year's model. The MSRP for the eight-passenger CE is $23,575.

The Sienna LE is priced at $24,260 MSRP, which is $1,495, or 5.8 percent less than last year's model. The MSRP for the eight-passenger LE is $24,410. The all-wheel-drive LE is $27,875 MSRP.

The base MSRP for the Sienna XLE is $28,260. The all-wheel-drive version of the XLE carries a base MSRP of $31,465. The XLE Limited is $34,480 MSRP. The all-wheel-drive XLE has a MSRP of $36,930.

The new Sienna comes with an all-new V6 engine. The 3.3-liter V6 with variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) will deliver 230-horsepower at 5,600 RPM and 242 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 RPM. Fuel economy is improved with preliminary EPA city/highway gas mileage of 19/27 for two-wheel-drive models and 18/24 for all-wheel-drive models. The powertrain will be certified as a Level II Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV-II).

The V6 is paired with an all-new five-speed automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) that delivers improved shift quality and contributes to its improved fuel economy. Both the engine and the transmission will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia's powertrain production facility.

With 6.5 inches in additional length, 5.1 inches in additional wheelbase, four inches in additional width, and larger wheels, the new Sienna presents a wider stance for improved ride and handling.

In total, Sienna's interior volume has increased by nearly 45 cubic feet. In its seven-passenger configuration, Sienna features second-row captain's chairs with a passenger-side chair that can be moved side-to-side, offering either a bench or a bucket arrangement. In its eight-passenger configuration, Sienna features a second-row, three-way split/folding bench with a Front and CenterÔ middle seat that can be moved almost 13-inches closer to the front seat, making infants and toddlers in child-seats more accessible.

Standard equipment on all models is a 60/40 Split & Stow 3rd RowÔ bench seat that folds flat into the floor. Either side of the seat can be stowed separately.

Sienna will be produced on an all-new assembly line at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI) in Princeton. Orders are currently being accepted, however; there will be limited Fleet allocation during the next several months. All orders will be handled on a will-try basis.

Ford Introduces All-New 2004 Freestar Minivan

2004 Ford Freestar

The Ford Freestar, recently unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show, is the latest addition to Ford's 2004 lineup. The new model will replace the Windstar minivan, a Ford spokesperson said.

The Freestar features upgrades in safety equipment, interior design, fold-flat seating, steering, ride and performance – including a new 4.2-liter V-6 engine.

Other features on the new 2004 Freestar include:

An available Safety Canopy™ side curtain air bag system that offers protection in side impact collisions and rollovers for all three rows of seating
Improved access to the third row seat, which can fold flat into the floor and disappear without having to remove the head restraints
The largest engine in a minivan – the newly available 4.2-liter V-6 – offering best-in-class torque for improved passing and towing performance
A new power liftgate, which will be available later in the model year
Latest generation Ford four-speed automatic transmission with special hydraulics for seamless shift quality and improved downshift response
New, larger four-wheel disc brakes with a new "Panic Brake Assist" system is standard on models equipped with Ford's AdvanceTrac™ stability enhancement system

Additional Freestar features include a cooling system for the engine that allows the vehicle to continue running for a short period following the loss of coolant, a Reverse Sensing System, signal mirrors, adjustable pedals, self-sealing tires, Smart Locks, keyless entry keypad and available 17-inch wheels.

Four trim levels will be offered: Freestar, Freestar LX, including an LX Sport Appearance Package, Freestar SE and the uplevel Freestar Limited.

Creating maximum interior space was one of Ford's objectives when designing the Freestar, the automaker said. It can accommodate up to seven passengers and offers more than 135 cubic feet of cargo volume. Maximum space can also be afforded when the third-row seat is stowed in the floor and the second-row seats are removed, allowing enough space to fit four-by-eight sheets of work materials into the cargo area.

The standard adjustable second-row bench seat tips and slides horizontally along its rails when the lever is pulled. Dual captain's chairs, standard on LX with the Sport Appearance Package, SE and Limited models, have a fold-and-tumble feature similar to those of the Ford Explorer and Expedition. For easy access to the third row, the second-row seats can be moved out of the way with a single lever. They can also be completely removed from the vehicle when maximum cargo space is needed.

On the exterior, different front, rear and body-side design treatments give each Freestar model its own character. Freestar and Freestar LX models have monochromatic, body-color fascias and a body-color grille. On the Freestar SE and Limited, the grille is chromed and the bumper fascias and cladding have bright trim strips. Limited models also have color-coordinated two-tone lower body paint.

To accommodate larger brakes, Freestar, Freestar LX and SE models are equipped with standard 16-inch wheels and tires. Aluminum alloy wheels with a painted finish are available on Freestar SE and LX with the Sport Appearance Package. A 17-inch aluminum wheel with a machined finish is optional on Limited, LX and SE models (late availability).

Freestar's paint color choices include Arizona Beige clearcoat metallic, Black clearcoat, Matador Red clearcoat metallic, Medium Steel Blue clearcoat metallic, Silver Birch clearcoat metallic, Tropic Green clearcoat metallic and Vibrant White clearcoat. Interior trim is either Flint or Pebble.

Freestar comes with a standard 3.9-liter V-6 engine. A newly available 4.2-liter V-6 is optional. Fuel economy for the latter is expected to remain comparable to the 3.9-liter engine, at 18 mpg in the EPA city cycle and 23 mpg on the highway. Like the 3.9-liter V-6, the new engine has a ULEV emissions rating.

The 2004 Freestar will go on sale in fall of 2003. It will be produced at Canada's Oakville (Ontario) Assembly Plant. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.

Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon to Replace S-10 and Sonoma


2004 Chevy Colorado	2004 GMC Canyon

GM is introducing two all-new mid-size pickup trucks in the 2004 Model Year – the Chevy Colorado and the GMC Canyon - which will replace the S-10 and Sonoma. The new models will be produced at GM's Shreveport assembly plant in the fall of this year.

Colorado and Canyon will be offered in three cab styles, including regular, extended and crew, and two-or four-wheel drive. The Colorado offers three suspension packages (standard, sport and off-road), while the Canyon offers two (standard heavy-duty and off-road) suspensions.

Crew cab models feature front bucket seats, available in cloth or leather, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat capable of accommodating up to three passengers. The regular cab models feature 60/40 bench seats, in cloth or vinyl, with available bucket seats. The four-door extended cab comes with two forward facing rear seats with under-seat storage and a flat-load floor.

Both Colorado and Canyon feature a standard 2800 Vortec inline four-cylinder engine that produces 175 hp and 185 lbs.-ft. of torque. An optional 3500 Vortec inline five-cylinder engine produces 220 hp and 225 lbs.-ft. of torque. Both engines are derivatives of the award-winning Vortec 4200 6-cylinder engine, which is featured in the Trailblazer and Trailblazer EXT.

Engine features include electronic throttle control, variable valve timing and coil-on-plug ignition. Like the Vortec 4200, the 2800 and 3500 engines are designed to reduce noise, vibration and harshness. Both engines meet Federal Tier II and California LEV II standards.

Optional with both the 2800 and 3500 engines is the HydraMatic 4L60-E 4-speed automatic transmission, which is used in all of GM's light-duty applications. A new high-torque capacity 5-speed manual transmission is standard.

Pricing and ordering information, such as order bank opening dates and production startup dates, for the 2004 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon will be announced at a later date.

2004 Toyota Tundra Double Cab

The all-new Toyota Tundra Double Cab pickup truck, set to arrive at dealerships this fall, recently made its world debut at the 2003 Chicago Auto Show. Toyota is touting the new model as the "longest, widest, deepest, and roomiest" Tundra ever built.

The Tundra Double Cab will ride on a ladder frame chassis that is longer than the chassis shared by the two-door Tundra Standard Cab and the four-door Tundra Access Cab. From front to back, the Double Cab's overall length has grown nearly 13 inches. In addition, the wheelbase has increased by more than a foot, with an additional three inches of rear track and overall width, and an additional three inches of overall height. Its bed-depth has been enlarged by four inches.

The Tundra Double Cab will offer a vertical power-sliding full-rear window, which is similar to the power-sliding window on the Sequoia SUV in design and operation. At 750 square inches of total open area, it is more than four times larger than the open area of the manual sliding rear window in the Regular and Access Cabs.

Additional specifications and pricing for the all-new Tundra Double Cab will be announced at a later date.

Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corp have signed an agreement to develop a high-volume, front-wheel-drive, 6-speed automatic transmission with improved fuel economy.

The two companies announced a preliminary agreement in October 2002 to bring this new transmission to market, and signed a definitive agreement on Feb. 7, 2003.

The new 6-speed transmission is expected to offer approximately a 4 percent improvement in fuel economy over traditional 4-speed automatic transmissions available in today's front-wheel-drive cars.

Ford and GM agreed to:

Share common design, engineering and testing of the new transmission
Jointly work with suppliers to develop and purchase components
Assemble their own transmissions at their respective manufacturing plants

The new transmission will be available beginning in mid-to-late decade on front-wheel-drive cars and sport-utility vehicles.

"This agreement has many potential benefits for both companies, our shareholders and our customers," said Dave Szczupak, vice president, Ford Powertrain Operations. "New powertrains require high development costs, and the higher volumes realized through this deal will enable us to reduce costs by realizing economies of scale. At the same time, this new transmission will help us improve overall vehicle fuel economy."

Under the arrangement, each company is responsible for integrating the transmission into its own vehicles. Only the base transmission design will be common. Each company will have powertrains that are distinct in feel and performance since the transmissions will be mated to different engines.

The transmission design being pursued is a new architecture with a wider gear ratio span to improve fuel economy. Compact in design, the 6-speed also will be capable of higher torque capacity when compared to existing front-wheel-drive transmissions such as 4-speed automatics.

2004 Chevrolet Aveo

GM recently introduced an all-new subcompact model at the Chicago Auto Show. The 2004 Aveo, designed to compete with the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio, is expected to arrive at dealerships in early 2004.

The Chevy Aveo lineup will include a Base and LS four-door sedan and a sporty five-door model. All models will come with a standard 5-speed manual transmission and a 1.6-liter dual overhead cam 16-valve inline four cylinder engine that produces 105 hp and 107 lb.-ft. of torque. A four-speed automatic will be optional.

Standard features on the Base model include: daytime running lamps, intermittent wipers, tilt steering wheel, rear window defogger and body-colored mirrors and door handles. The LS also comes with standard air conditioner, power windows and door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM stereo with CD, heated outside rearview mirrors and a power passenger side mirror.

Optional features include: 4-wheel antilock brakes, 6-speaker premium sound system, Power sunroof (LS only), 4-speed automatic transmission and an Appearance Package, which includes bright 14-inch aluminum wheels, fog lamps, mudguards and rear spoiler (5-door only).

While pricing will not be announced until closer to introduction, Aveo will be price positioned to compete with the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio, GM said.

Early production volume is slated at approximately 50,000 - 75,000 annually. GM expects about 10 - 15% of the total volume to be fleet vehicles. The Aveo will be produced in South Korea by General Motors Daewoo Automotive & Technology.

CARS
Year	Make	Cyl	Model	Dr	Location	Invoice	Ref #
02	Buick	6	LeSabre Custom	4	Phoenix, AR	$22,683	03441
03	Dodge	6	Intrepid Sedan	4	Houston, TX	$20,335	23718

TRUCKS
Year	Make	Cyl	Model	Location	Invoice	Ref #
02	Chevrolet	8	3500 HD Chassis Cab	Grand Island, NE	$25,686	Multiple
03	Chevrolet	6	Astro Passenger Van	Raleigh, NC	$21,524	22050
03	Chevrolet	6	Astro Passenger Van	Cincinnati, OH	$21,527	22052
03	Chevrolet	6	S-10 Crew Cab 4x4	Wahpeton, ND	$22,650	23016
03	Chevrolet	6	S-10 Crew Cab 4x4	Council Bluffs, IA	$22,573	Multiple
03	Dodge	8	B350 Maxivan Cargo	Gastonia, NC	22,780	83040X
03	Ford	6	Ranger 4x4 Super Cab	Smyrna, GA	$18,421	21285
03	Ford	8	F150 Super Cab 4x2	Scottsdale, AZ	$21,261	30412
03	Ford	8	E250 Cargo Van	Multiple Locations	$30,310	Multiple
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 304– February 24, 2003

Toyota Announces Pricing for All-New Sienna Minivan

Ford Introduces All-New 2004 Freestar Minivan

Tundra Double Cab Pickup Makes its Debut At 2003 Chicago Auto Show

Pool Vehicle Inventory

Call your ARI representative for details!