Cars n' Stars: Daewoo Revs up for Sales, IRL in Atlanta, 1999 Jeep Prices
1 September 1998
After three false 'introductory' major auto show starts, Daewoo Motors has initiated a public relations program aimed at auto journalists with a drive 'em, you'll like 'em offer and is completing finishing touches on a new retail sales facility in Huntington Beach, CA. The company is also is solidifying its U.S. entry position by importing 800 new models at Jacksonville, FL port of entry. They will be sold at Daewoo stores in Orlando, St. Petersburg, and Fort Lauderdale, FL. In a recent focus group meeting of automotive journalists who had tested the Korean auto makers' products the initial consensus among the scribes was concern over the retail pricing structure. The cars performance and build quality was not questioned, and the feeling prevailed that if Daewoo can bring in the three models with stickers at the company's bottom range estimated retail prices (Lanos, $9,000; Nubira, $12,000; Leganza, $15,000), then there may be hope for success. We drove the Leganza extensively. This top of the line model only churned out 105 hp from its 2.2 liter four cylinder motor . . . that kept the gearbox busy on a four-hour Las Vegas, "pass 'em where you find 'em" trip. The airconditioner took too long to get up to speed, and in Las Vegas' 110 degree heat, that is not an enjoyable experience. Once it started churning, though, all was well. A full review on the Leganza will be coming up later. Last Saturday night's IRL race from Atlanta Motor Speedway was a barn burner that rivaled any race series in the world for action and drama. The multi-hued speedsters under the lights are fascinating, and drafting/passing at 215 mph is big time racing. You just know that all these guys in the open cockpit racers are from the Sprint car ranks. It's just too bad nobody was at the Atlanta oval to see the race. Cameras panned the stadium and we saw nothing but empty seats except for patches in the main straightway. Too bad, as it's good competition. Like just about all the other auto makers, Jeep has announced that they will not raise prices for their 1999 models: Grand Cherokee (2WD) Laredo $26,220 Grand Cherokee (4WD) Limited $34,415 Mercedes Benz also is keeping the prices down for 1999, and announces an overall increase of only 1.3% Steve Saleen, maker of fierce Saleen Mustangs and Expeditions is holding an all Ford car show at his headquarters in Irvine, CA on Sept 12. For info: 714 597 4900 We see that several CART teams are going to test at the 2.5 mile Road Atlanta course. The general feeling is that Chip Ganassi's drivers Alex Zanardi and Jimmy Vasser are not only honing their road racing skills, but that they are also trying out the track for a possible future CART date. Mr. Ferrari--Gianperro Moretti, the millionaire auto accessory mogul and endurance racer in Ferrari 333Sp Can Am type cars--announced his retirement right after his team won the Watkins Glen USRRC sneak meet last week. This weekend in Los Angeles, three NASCAR aces, Mark Martin, Chad Little and Ken Schroeder are expected to run Featherlite cars at the L.A. Street Race on Labor Day. They will jet into LAX right after they run at Darlington, S.C. on Saturday. Info for the L.A. race is www.lastreetrace.com. Is that prophetic? Last street race?? Rumors abound that the IRL and CART are going to patch things up and get together in 1999. Discussions were held at the IRL Pikes Peak race, but Leo Mehl of IRL says the differences are too big to get everyone together. Stay tuned. The Kool Toyota Atlantic series is bringing back a new/old class called C2. It will start in 1999 and feature the Ralt RT-40 and RT-41 chassis. Nelson Piquet and Emerson Fittipaldi are the new promoters of the CART Rio 400, starting in 1999. It will be a night race, and CART loaned the former racing champs $4 million to renovate the Nelson Piquet Speedway. CART is happy with the crowd turnout for the Elkhart Lake, Road America race August 16--it was announced at 115,000 tickets. The podium was all 'i's: the winners were FranchittI, ZanardI and FittipaldI. Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel