Acura Honing 300-hp TL?
Yeah, you might not need a four-door for now. But don't think the dudes at Acura aren't thinking of the day when you're forced into car seats and screaming kids. The four-door TL might be the closest thing to fun you can get-and some insiders are saying this new 2004 Acura TL might be the brand's best shot at hitting 300 hp. The concept they showed at this April's New York Auto Show was close; these spy shots confirm that the cool wheel arches and cutlines are carrying over to the production vehicle. Nobody's telling if the spicy open-spoke wheels are a part of the deal, though. The TL goes on sale in the fall, likely with a 250-hp base engine; a sporty Type-S could nudge the 300-hp mark in the first half of 2004.
Are Roads The Real Problem?
Blame the other guy-or blame your own driving. But what if the road's at fault? A new survey of data by Reader's Digest magazine says that roads themselves-not drivers-might be the problem in as many as 24,000 road deaths each year. The old-folks monthly got their numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from the years 1998 through 2001. After studying the accidents that took place in those years, they found that in thousands of cases, driver error and/or impairment were not cited as contributing factors in car accidents. One-third of those fatalities happened in intersections where poor markings and sight lines could have played a part; about 32 percent of the fatal accidents happened in the dark.
Pathfinder Movin' On Up To ...Tennessee?
Nissan's master plan at world domination and general profitability means that the next Pathfinder sport-utility vehicle will be moving. Next time around, Nissan will build the 2005 Pathfinder at its super-productive plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. It's not just to be closer to Dollywood-although that may be the reason and they're just not telling us. Nissan will be putting the Pathfinder, Xterra and Frontier on a common set of platform pieces derived from the new Titan full-size truck, and (the number one reason) making the Pathfinder here will help the company wring more profit out of every one they sell. The new Pathfinder is not to be confused with the Pathfinder Armada, the full-size ute Nissan will build at their new plant in Canton, Miss.
Airing Out The 350Z
The only thing left out of the visceral experience of driving Nissan's 350Z is the moist towelette to clean off the driver seat-when it rains, sicko. But why bother with the wet nap when you can have the Z Roadster and let the wind do your dirty work?