4B - The Michigan Daily - Weekend, etc. Magazine - Thursday, January 18, 2001
AUTO SHOW
QUICK FACTS:
2 Fourteen semi-trailers are
required to carry the 75,000-plus
yards of carpet used for the exhibits
and aisles at the NAIAS. With the
average home using 125 yards, the
carpet used at the NAIAS would
cover the equivalent of 600 homes.
9 Auto show exhibits, theatrical
lighting and sound equipment will
use enough electricity to power a
360-home subdivision for six
months.
Equipment needed to set up the
show includes over 1,000 semi-
trucks, 14 million pounds of freight,
75 forklifts, 18 45-foot booms, 20
scissor lifts, and 12 miles of elec-
tric wires.
* It takes many personnel to pre-.
pare the auto show,'including: 200
janitorial workers, 500-700 catering
personnel, 65 vehicle polishers, 135
car porters, 87 full-time Cobo Center
staff members and 20 additional
part-time Cobo Center staff mem-
bers.
The total value of the exhibits in
the NAIAS is in excess of $200 mil-
lion, excluding the value of the more
than 700 vehicles in those exhibits.
l The auto show's annual Charity
Preview event has helped raise more
than $25 million for Detroit-area
children's charities since its incep-
tion in 1976. The 2000 Charity
Preview raised $5.25 million.
Source:'North Amencarntt. Auto Show
AUTO SHO1N
Continued from Page 313
but expect a premium to bring one
home anytime soon. A fully loaded
model - including removable top,
17-inch chrome wheels, traction
control and unique interior trim
color - is still priced under S40 K.
Made here in Michigan with a 3.9
liter V-8 engine, the Thunderbird
may signal a return to the glory days
of big, beautiful American cars.
Porsche 911 GT2 - Cleaners
will have trouble keeping the carpets
dry around the Porsche exhibit as car
enthusiasts continue to drool over
their latest beauties. The NAIAS
gives us our first glimpse of the
super-secret, super fast, greatest pro-
duction Porsche ever built, the 911
GT2. Differences from the 911 Turbo
include bigger brake cooling vents, a
larger rear spoiler and a whopping
30 more horses under the hood.
Porsche executives surprised the
media by revealing the car will not
have limited production. In other
words, if you have the money, you
can have the car.
Jeep Liberty - Say goodbye to
the 18-year-old Jeep Cherokee as the
Liberty replaces one of the founding
members of the booming SUV club.
Built on a completely new platform,
the Liberty is slightly larger than the
Cherokee and available with an
optional new 3.7 liter V-6 engine (4
cylinders are standard). Although the
car's skin is updated from its boxy
predecessor, the interior cargo area
pales in comparison to other SUVs
in its class. Built at
DaimlerChrysler's new SI.2 billion
factory in Toledo, Ohio, Chrysler
hopes to sell at east 200,000 of these
vehicles next year.
Infiniti Q45 - With the grow-
ing full-size luxury sedan battle
heating up between the Mercedes S-
class and Audi A8, Infiniti wisely
redesigned their flagship into a more
seductive, more sophisticated win-
ner. Powered by a 4.5 liter V-8 that
puts out an impressive 345 horse-
power, this beast can race to 60 mph
in less than six seconds. Available
with a host of goodies, including
voice activated stereo, adaptive
cruise control and satellite naviga-
tion, expect one at the nearest
Infiniti deAlership by April.
Mercedes-Benz C-class Sport
Coupe - Along with the release of
a new V-6 Kompressor (German for
supercharged) engine, this car marks
a new venture for Mercedes.
Recognizing Americans' apprehen-
sions with hatchbacks, Mercedes
cleverly raised the roofline of the car
to add rear seat and cargo room to
compete with a standard coupe.
However, the new Coupe does suc-
ceed in adding a sporty flavor miss-
ing from previous Mercedes models
and faster acceleration times to
match. A glass panel is mounted on
the vertical surface of the hatch to
aid rear-view visibility, ala the old-
school Honda CRX.
Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix -
Can Toyota and Pontiac successfully
share a platform? Perhaps more
importantly, Why would they? These
questions remain to be answered as
the two begin production of these
hybrid/crossover vehicles later this
year at the GM-Toyota plant in
California (where the Geo
Metro/Toyota Corolla was made).
- -
a
The Michigan Dais- Weekend, etc.
BATTLE OF THE BOY
It might sound crazy b ut it's
DAVID KATZ 0atly
tc From the Vault
The Wh
i i
shine In
i i
lve classic
A good live rock and roll album is a
wolf trekking through the forest, angry
and violent, stalking its prey, fast and furi-
ous, unrelenting. But a great rock and roll
album needs to eat that wolf, tearing
through the soft flesh with razor-sharp
incisors, spitting out all that is indigestible
in a great arc of triumph, emitting a war
cry meant as both a warning and a chal-
lenge. That first guitar riff must blow you
backwards and send you reeling like an
electro-shock victim, the rattle of drums
Onlookers gather to view the Lexus SC400's sporty design.
By Jeff Dickerson
TV/New Media Editor
Not since Frankie goes To Hollywood has a musical act garnered as much atten-
tion as pop sensation 'N Sync. With two multi-platinum albums under their belts,
Justin, Joey, JC, Chris and Lance have captured the hearts (and panties) of America's
youth. This boy band is far from a fad; their legacy has lingered for nearly three years.
With a new album coming in the summer and the Super Bowl halftime show next
week, 2001 promises to be another landmark year for the talented young men.
The Michigan Daily: Thanks guys for giving up your time normally reserved for
touch sessions with preteens, it's an honor to be with you. How are things shaping up
for the big halftime show?
Joey: We've been in Tampa all week getting ready for the big show. This is going
to be a big event for us. We'll be on live TV
Chris: Ever since I started my clothing line "FuMan Skeeto," I haven't really had
time to think about the show. Right now I'm concentrating on this new venture. I have
to be brutally honest. I'm 28 years old and this boy band thing isn't going to last much
longer for me.
TMD: Are there ever squabbles between the members? Recently Justin has been
getting a flood of media attention because of his intimate relationship with Britney
Spears. Does this pose a problem for the rest of you?
JC: Do you know how much money we make? What's there to complain about?
TMD: How does it feel to be in the limelight, Justin?
Justin: I'm the cute one.
Chris: Not true, we're all prissy bastards.
JC: There's no "I" in 'N Sync!
Lance: Whoa there, mouseketeer, I think you need to use spell check.
TMD: How do you approach your albums knowing your rivals, the Backstreet
Boys, are analyzing your every move? What kind of preparation do you guys under-
go before heading into the studio?
Joey: Good question. We don't really feel we're competing with any band out
there. We focus on our music, on our fans, that's what it's all about.
Justin: If you look at us and them, it's not really fair. We have an extra guy on
our roster. A pinch hitter if you will. When we need another hit, he's always there.
Aiming at taking away sales of the
wildly popular PT Cruiser, both
vehicles will have optional 4-wheel
drive and aggressive ground clear-
ance. Each will boast a completely
redesigned interior; Toyota borrows
design cues from the Celica, while
Pontiac from the Aztek.
Toyota Sequoia - Though the
interior may have some cheap plastic
parts, this S40K+ full-size SUV will
give intense competition to the Ford
Expedition and Chevy Tahoe. Based
on the Tundra pick-up, the Sequoia is
larger than a Land Cruiser and offers
an easy-to-remove and roomy third
row of seats. Achieving ULEV (Ultra
Low Emissions Vehicle) status with
a 4.7 liter V-8 engine forced Toyota
to cut horsepower down to a "mere"
240. Resting on the strong Toyota
heritage, the Sequoia may even win
the hearts of many SUV naysayers.
Concept Cars:
Mazda RX-8 - Since the death
of the RX-7 in North America, sports.
car enthusiasts have been waiting for
a replacement of their beloved
speedster. Based on last year's
Evolve concept car, this RX-8 is in
the stages somewhere between con-
cept and production. The RX-8 seats
2+2 (unlike the RX-7), but still uses
one of Mazda's unique rotary
engines, expected to pump out 250
horses. Sheathed in a beautiful
candy-apple red, the RX-8 is distinc-
tive and simply beautiful.
Nissan Z - Nissan has had
success with designs stemming from
its Design International studio in
California, so expectations ran high
on the "Z," the future of Nissan's
sports cars. Powered by a V-6 enaine
and expected to go on sale in the
See AUTO SHOW, Page 5B
Live at Leeds
The Who
MCA Records 1970
Reviewed by
aily Arts Wrter
Joshua Grss
should send any vet-
erans caught in the
backlash of the feed-
back ducking imag-
ined mortar fire, the
rumble of the bass
should send crows
scattering from
trees, blocking out
the sun in a moment
That's why it's so critical to ha
more person singing.
TMD: If I'm not mistaken, t
Justin: I'm dating Britney S
TMD: Justin, how would yo
Justin: Joev is the womanize
and JC's sleepy.
TMD: Lance, would you say
Lance: There is an idea of a I
real me: Only an entity, somethii
you can shake my hand and feel
our lifestyles are probably comp
Joev: What about me?
TMD: Nobody cares about v
Justin: I'm the cute one.
N SYNC
r
THE
VAGINA
MONOLOGUES
"A ONA FIDE PH ENOMENON,
TH R M E$
A WORK F ART
V ;1"1 volo Of HN901 N~i."
"SIMPLY SPECCULAR."
ENTEOTAIN WEEKLY
I of fluttering panic.
When the sky turns black, you know
you're listening to quality.
The Who's recording of a concert at an
English college, "Live at Leeds, is such
an album. Each member of the Who
seems absolutely possessed in this
recording, a quartet of demons, daring
you to attempt an exorcism, prancing
around the stage in a rambunctious, pure-
ly visceral dance of doom. Roger Daltry
sings with a cathartic rebelliousness, Pete
Townshend plays with the intensity of a
rowdy, reckless, drunken heathen, John
Entwistle plucks his bass with the com-
bined tenderness and violence of a domi-
natrix, and Keith Moon pounds his drums
with the primitive energy of a repulsive
Neanderthal. They soar through Who sta-
ples like "Substitute," "Happy Jack,""I'm
A Boy," "Amazing Journey," "My
Generation" (including a proto-punk jam
lasting almost fifteen full minutes), and
the operatic "A Quick One While He's
Away." The songs poetically soar through
the horror of parenthood, the horror of
adolescence, the horror of old age, the
pros and cons of talking to strangers,
wrath (both divine and human), patholo-
gy, voyeurism, fornication, pedophilia,
gender roles, melancholy, fond remem-
brance and the questionable trustworthi-
ness of engine drivers. While all of these
songs are available in any Who greatest
hits compilation, this release infuses them
with the sweaty frenzy of a prison not.
mattresses burning and alarms crying like
plaintive widows.
Back again? The Backstreet B
By Luke Smith
:Music Editor
Entrepreneur Lou Pearlman's creation first crash-
landed on the music scene sporting boyish charm and
simple sweet melody. They targeted an audience mas-
terfully, digging deep into the hearts of pre-teen girls
everywhere.
With the release of their new album "Black and
Blue," the men within the Backstreet Boys only
strengthened their claim io the crown as the Kings of
Music We Don't Write Ourselves.
The Michigan Daily: You guys seem to re-invent
yourselves on each record, its really uncanny how each
song and each album sounds totally different than its
predecessor. How do you do it?
Howie: Well, when we go into the studio each time,
we take about two weeks to sit down and write our
songs for the re-
Kevin: (Interjecting) Howie ... We don't write our
own songs, remember, those guys in that city Sweden
do.
AJ: Yo man, dat's wack, Sweden is a state or
sumthin'. My hat is sweet.
TMD: The Backstreet Boys image seems to take a
turn with each record. How would you describe the
turns taken with this album?
Kevin: Well, when the other band's record, No
Strings A ttached, blew up we knew we had to come out
swinging. Joey from our labelmates' band is a bit chub-
by, so Lou thought it would be best if Nick started pack-
ing away the double Whoppers so he could girth up.
Our endorsement deal with Burger King has really paid
off. The results have been amazing, our female fans dig
the fat one.
TMD: Nick, how do you feel about Lou telling you
what you can and can't eat?
Nick: What? I'm not picking my nose, I'm doing this
(clearly picking his nose). Is that a problem?
TMD: Brian, you seem to take center stage in this
band a lot, although it's clearly a four piece and Howie.
Brian, do you fear the limelight?
Brian: With all due respect, could you call me B-
rock from now on? I mean that is what everyone calls
me. How can I re-invent myself when I'm constantly
confronted with the past? But to answer your question,
you hit it on the head.
TMD: Uh. I asked a question?
B-rock: Yeah and you answered it.
TXMD: On the road things can get pretty hairy, always
busy with touring and press. Do you guys have some-
one who does cvervday things for you?
Kevin: No we don't, and actually that makes it kind
of
ke
ck
git
ten
the
me
thi
it
Note to the reader: Although these interviews are primarily the product of.Jef//and Luke s imaginations, they are con
these are the answers the band memhers would have provided ifthey werent "too husy" to Speak to The hc'higan A