•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ll MAZDA Chrysler Concorde, Dodge Intrepid and Eagle Vision CHRYSLER Of all the manufacturers, Chrysler Corp. currently has one of the strongest lineups for 1993, with four all-new cars and a new jeep. Topping the list for excite- ment is the Dodge Viper, a $55,000-plus sports coupe that everyone is talking about. Powered by a 400- horsepower V10 engine, the Viper is capable of incredible acceleration and braking — from zero to 100 mph and back to zero in just under 15 seconds! But don't rush out to buy one. Chrysler's Dodge Division is only making about 200 cars for '93 and they've already been spoken for. However, they plan to build around 1,300 Vipers in 1994. Aside from killer street machines, Chrysler has devel- oped a new line of family cars — Chrysler Concorde, Eagle Vision and Dodge Intrepid. These vehicles, dubbed the "LH series" by Chrysler, are all-new designs that feature the latest in technological advances in manufacturing and design. Geared to go against such vehicles as Acura, Lexus (Concorde), Taurus, Accord, Camry (Intrepid), Grand Prix and Bonneville (Vision), the new cars mark a complete turnaround and change of direction for Chrysler Corp. Powered by a zippy V6 cou- pled to a four-speed automatic overdrive transmission, the LH series promises to bring midprice motoring to new horizons. The cars come complete with standard driver and pas- senger air bags, automatic temperature control with non- CFC air-conditioning refriger- ant, integrated child seat (optional) and adjustable- height front seat belts. But apart from being safe, the cars are good-looking and fun to drive. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the largest and newest sport utility vehicle available from Chrysler's Jeep Division. It offers levels of luxury and comfort, combined with 4- wheel drive ability and sport sedan handling. It comes with a choice of 6- cylinder or V-8 engine, has a towing capacity of 6,500 pounds and is larger than any vehicle in its class, including the Ford Explorer. Grand Cherokee is also the only vehicle in its class to come equipped with a driver- side air bag and four-wheel anti-lock brakes as standard. Power is supplied by a 190 hp, in-line 6-cylinder or an optional V-8 that puts out 220 horsepower and gives the Grand Cherokee a towing capacity of 6,500 lbs. cab-forward design, curvy exterior, seats four and is powered by a choice of engines. Base models come with a 115-hp, 2.0-liter 4- cylinder, and performance ori- ented GT models are equipped with a peppier 164-horsepow- er, 2.5-liter engine. With either version, there's a choice between a manual five-speed transmission or a four-speed overdrive automat- ic. The car is built in the United States but shares its running platform with the Mazda MX-6. The newest entry into the minivan market is a joint effort between Nissan and Ford Motor Company, with most of the design and engi- neering work being done by Nissan's U.S. design facility and the assembly being done in the U.S. by Ford. The Mercury Villager/ Nissan Quest enters a com- petitive market. The advantages that this new minivan has over the rest of the market are numer- ous. It is the first minivan to meet all 1993 Federal Passenger Car Safety Standards. Like Chrysler Corp., Mazda has decided to go all out for 1993 and has brought out an entire new line of cars during the past few months. So much so, that they have, in effect, rebuilt the company, changing their market direction and concentrating on giv- ing consumers the most handling and per- formance for the dollar. Mazda's change in direction started with the 1992 model year when it introduced a new 929 luxury sedan and a sporty MX3 coupe. This year, they've continued the trend by offering the sleek, sophisticated MX-6, an upper midlevel sports coupe built in the United States by Mazda's manufacturing facility. In fact, the car has a U.S. domestic con- tent exceeding 75 percent and is classified as a domestic car under the Corporate Average Fuel Economy formula. Two MX-6 models are available, a more luxurious and sporty LS model, powered by a peppy 164-horsepower, 2.5-liter engine, and the standard model, powered by a 118-horsepower, 2.0-liter, in-line 4- cylinder engine. With either model, there's a choice of five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic overdrive. Like the Probe, the MX-6 features four- wheel independent suspension, power rack-and-pinion steering, driver's side air bag and optional anti-lock braking system. The jewel in the Mazda lineup is the new RX-7. This sexy, curvy no-nonsense sports coupe is priced in the mid-30s and comes equipped with a 255-horsepower, twin-turbocharged rotary engine that pro- duces neck-snapping acceleration and brings a smile to the face of any serious driving enthusiast. GENERAL MOTORS Although GM has had its share of prob- lems lately, and is saving most of its new designs for introduction in 1994 and 1995, they are introducing a new Pontiac Firebird and Chevrolet Camaro early in 1993. The design is more rounded and radical than the 1992 version. Power will probably be supplied by a V6 (though a small V8 might also be used), and both cars will continue to be rear-wheel drive. ❑ FORD MOTOR CO. New from Ford this year is the all-new Probe, Ford's mid- price sports coupe. Since its introduction in 1989, Probe has consistently captured the lion's share of this segment and the swoopy, sexy design of the new Probe will certain- ly assure Probe's king-of-the- hill position in the market. The car features a modern Mercury Villager