Lexus Gs 300The big news on Lexus' GS 300 midsize luxury sedan is an all-new five-speed automatic transmission behind the 3.0-liter/220-horsepower DOHC inline-six. Not only is this the first five-speed automatic for Lexus, the company also promises that it's the most compact, lightweight one in the world. The close gear ratios of the new transmission and a new final-drive ratio should add extra verve to the rear-drive sedan's athletic abilities, while maintaining smoothness and silence. Heralding the mechanical changes is a reconfigured rear end featuring new lamp assemblies and new badging for a more integrated appearance. Chrome-plated aluminum wheels become an option for the first time.
Body type: SedanDrivetrain: Front engine, rear driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 3652Base engine: 3.0-liter I-6, DOHC, 220 hpOpt. engine: NoneBrakes, f/r: Discs/discs, ABS std.Price range: $38,000-$45,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 18/23
Lexus LS 400Lexus' great challenge in redesigning the LS 400 for '95 was to not screw up a good thing. So the engineers made the rear-drive luxury sedan more powerful, roomier, more refined, and lighter. We expect few changes for '96. Never have 260 horsepower been more hushed than those cantering from the LS 400's 4.0-liter 32-valve DOHC V-8. The cavernous interior is so tidily packaged that a CD changer, large glovebox, and airbag were all fitted into the dash in front of the right-seat passenger. Both the interior and exterior are styled with elegant simplicity-no excess or flourish. Best of all, it's fast, with a 7.4-second 0-60 time, which betters cars like the BMW 740iL and the Jaguar XJ6.
Body type: SedanDrivetrain: Front engine, rear driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 3650Base engine: 4.0-liter V-8, DOHC, 260 hpOpt. engine: NoneBrakes, f/r: Discs/discs, ABS std.Price range: $51,000-$56,000 (est.)Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 18/25 (est.)
Lexus Sc 300/SC 400This will be a year of mostly detail changes for the Lexus coupes. The V-8-powered SC 400 will adopt the revised 4.0-liter DOHC V-8 introduced in the '95 LS 400 sedan. By raising the compression ratio, reengineering the fuel injection, and incorporating a solid-state airflow meter, output rises to 260 horsepower (10 more than last year). The 3.0-liter/220-horsepower DOHC inline-six in the SC 300 is unchanged. New for both are self-dimming mirrors and an improved keyless-entry system. Both SCs combine Lexus' elegant understatement with an evocative emotional shape and enthralling road manners. More power and another year of refinement can only make them better.
Body type: CoupeDrivetrain: Front engine, rear driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 3495Base engine: 3.0-liter I-6, DOHC, 220 hpOpt. engine: 4.0-liter V-8, DOHC, 260 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/discs, ABS std.Price range: $39,000-$51,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 18/23
Lincoln ContinentalCompletely redesigned for '95, the Continental received long-due changes-not the least of which was a brand-new 260-horsepower DOHC V-8 engine. The only alterations this year are new colors and the addition of a Lincoln 75th Anniversary package, which includes a JBL audio upgrade, a telephone, a moonroof, and chrome wheels. The front-drive Continental faces off against a host of luxury competitors, with an extensive list of amenities ranging from a "memory profile system," which automatically sets the seating, stereo, and even steering effort to the whims of each driver, to a custom wood-handled umbrella stored on the back of the passenger seat.
Body type: SedanDrivetrain: Front engine, front driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 3972Base engine: 4.6-liter V-8, DOHC, 260 hpOpt. engine: NoneBrakes, f/r: Discs/discs, ABS std.Price range: $35,000-$46,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 18/23
Lincoln Mark VIIIThe greatest luxury of all may be performance, and the Mark VIII delivers on this score in mass quantities. Powered by a silky DOHC V-8, the 280-horsepower Mark VIII lunges to 60 mph in only 7.1 seconds; if you want more, check into the LSC and its 10 extra horsepower. Warmed with wood trim, the Lincoln's interior has the most purposeful ambiance of the current luxury coupes. As the only rear-drive domestic car in its class, the Lincoln has road manners similar to those of a Lexus SC 400, but for considerably less money. It's faster, too. New colors and the addition of a Lincoln 75th Anniversary package are the only changes for '96.
Body type: CoupeDrivetrain: Front engine, rear driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 3768Base engine: 4.6-liter V-8, DOHC, 280 hpOpt. engine: 4.6-liter V-8, DOHC, 290 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/discs, ABS std.Price range: $38,000-$43,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 18/25
Lincoln Town CarWant to roam the wide-open spaces? The Lincoln Town Car contains so much premium internal real estate you'll want to graze carpet-munching sheep. As the luxury flagship of the Lincoln line, the rear-drive Town Car comes equipped in your choice of Executive, Signature, or Cartier editions. A favorite of limousine builders and drivers who want a limousine of their own, the Town Car has a serene, silent ride. With its 4.6-liter/210-horsepower SOHC V-8, it also has the power to deal gracefully with tense traffic situations. The Cadillac Fleetwood will be discontinued by the end of '96, so the Town Car will have the domestic rear-drive luxury-sedan class all to itself.
Body type: SedanDrivetrain: Front engine, rear driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 4031Base engine: 4.6-liter V-8, SOHC, 210 hpOpt. engine: NoneBrakes, f/r: Discs/discs, ABS std.Price range: $36,000-$42,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 19/27
Lotus Esprit S4SRent the James Bond film, "The Spy Who Loved Me." Isn't that Lotus Esprit that turns into a submarine cool? Well, that movie was made 19 years ago, and the mid-engine, two-seat Esprit is still around! The Esprit S4S's ancient essence shows in Cro-Magnon ergonomics and rearward invisibility. But the car is propelled by a 2.2-liter 16-valve DOHC turbocharged four so heavily boosted that it produces a startling 300 horsepower. The effect is sub-5-second bursts 0-60, photoreactive chassis reflexes, and sustained velocities few other cars can match. Still, with the S4S priced at around $75,000, the Acura NSX and Porsche 911 may be more tempting. And in real life, the S4S doesn't turn into a sub.
Body type: Coupe Drivetrain: Mid-engine, rear driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 2952Base engine: 2.2-liter turbo I-4, DOHC, 300 hpOpt. engine: NoneBrakes, f/r: Discs/discs, ABS std.Price range: $75,000-$77,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 17/27
Mazda 626Bounding off the same Flat Rock, Michigan, assembly line that builds its Mazda MX-6 and Ford Probe coupe platform-mates, the 626 sedan has been thoroughly updated for '96. On the outside, new styling includes a chrome grille surround and raised-center-section hood. Inside, door-beam reinforcement helps the car meet all '97 side-impact crash standards. Unchanged are the three trim levels (DX, LX, and ES) and the choice of either the standard 2.0-liter/118-horsepower DOHC four or the optional 2.5-liter/164-horsepower DOHC V-6 we've come to admire. Over 75 percent of the 626's components come from U.S. sources, which qualifies the front-driver as a domestic in the EPA's eyes.
Body type: SedanDrivetrain: Front engine, front driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 2626Base engine: 2.0-liter I-4, DOHC, 118 hpOpt. engine: 2.5-liter V-6, DOHC, 164 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/drums, ABS opt.Price range: $16,000-$24,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 26/34 (est.)
Mazda 929As Mazda's flagship, the 929 has been somewhat eclipsed by the imaginative Millenia. However, this smooth-riding cruiser retains sterling rear-drive dynamics, beautifully curvaceous styling, a luxuriously appointed leather-and-wood interior, and a substantial 3596-pound road presence. That weight tempers the performance possibilities of the 3.0-liter/195-horsepower DOHC V-6 that powers all 929s through a four-speed automatic transmission, but the engine never feels overwhelmed. Among the few minor changes to the '96 929 is a new standard in-dash CD player and the availability of Everglades Mica paint (which may soon be added to the list of federally protected wetlands).
Body type: SedanDrivetrain: Front engine, front driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 3596Base engine: 3.0-liter V-6, DOHC, 195 hpOpt. engine: NoneBrakes, f/r: Discs/Discs, ABS std.Price range: $33,000-$36,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 19/24
Mazda MilleniaOstensibly a normal midsize luxury sedan, the Millenia is in fact Mazda's 142-mph front-drive claim to the innovation high ground. Base Millenias get a respectable 2.5-liter/170-horsepower DOHC V-6, but the 2.3-liter/210-horsepower Miller-cycle-supercharged DOHC V-6 in the line-topping Millenia S brings gasps of admiration. Seizing an effective 28.5 psi of boost from a Roots-type blower, the resulting muscle mimics that of V-8s with twice the displacement. That power is supported by precise steering and exhilarating chassis deportment. For '96, changes are limited to not much more than seat-trim variations, a rear-window-mounted radio antenna, and revised alloy wheels.
Body type: SedanDrivetrain: Front engine, front driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 3350Base engine: 2.5-liter V-6, DOHC, 170 hpOpt. engine: 2.3-liter supercharged V-6, DOHC, 210 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/discs, ABS std.Price range: $27,000-$33,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 20/28
Mazda MPVLast year we wrote, "Entering its seventh model year without a major styling or mechanical change, the Multi-Purpose Vehicle is starting to grow a little aged." Big changes are due in '96 as the MPV minivan (available in November) gains a driver-side rear door, standard four-wheel ABS, roll-down rear windows, a new instrument panel with dual airbags, and fresh styling. Base models are DXs, with LX and ES models featuring more-comprehensive equipment. The ES gets four captain's chairs, while the DX and LX get a three-passenger second seat to raise passenger capacity to eight. All MPVs still get a 3.0-liter/155-horsepower SOHC V-6, and the standard rear drive can be replaced with all-wheel drive.
Body type: MinivanDrivetrain: Front engine, rear drive/AWDAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 3700 (est.)Base engine: 3.0-liter V-6, SOHC, 155 hpOpt. engine: NoneBrakes, f/r: Discs/discs, ABSPrice range: $22,000-$31,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 17/25 (est.)
Mazda MX-3Except for the factory sticker and serial numbers, the tiny '96 MX-3 sport coupe is indistinguishable from the '95 edition. When Mazda heralds that the Power Package has been renamed the Popular Equipment Package and that the "audio system is revised," it's a fallow year. Still, the front-drive MX-3's 1.6-liter/105-horsepower DOHC four, excellent handling, and bullet styling combine true enthusiast appeal with miserly fuel consumption. Sadly missing is the engaging 1.8-liter V-6 version of the car that was euthanized after the '94 season due to a lack of interest. New competition from a redesigned Toyota Paseo could spell trouble for the MX-3.
Body type: CoupeDrivetrain: Front engine, front driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 2350Base engine: 1.6-liter I-4, DOHC, 105 hpOpt. engine: NoneBrakes, f/r: Discs/drums, ABS opt.Price range: $13,000-$17,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 23/28
Mazda MX-5 MiataIt's untrue that the Miata Owner's Club has applied to the IRS for tax-exempt status as a religious group. However, Mazda's wispy little rear-drive roadster still arouses ecstatic worship among its acolytes. Inspiring the cult's conniptions for '96 will be five more horsepower (now up to 133) from the 1.8-liter DOHC four, the adoption of an OBD-II engine computer, '97-spec side-impact protection, and standard armrests with storage pockets. The race-minded R-model continues into the new model year but isn't available in the new Montego Blue Mica. Handling remains brilliant, but with only 114 pound-feet of torque on tap, acceleration remains unquick.
Body type: ConvertibleDrivetrain: Front engine, rear driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 2250Base engine: 1.8-liter I-4, DOHC, 133 hpOpt. engine: NoneBrakes, f/r: Discs/discs, ABS opt.Price range: $16,500-$26,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 22/27
Mazda MX-6While it shares its platform and Michigan assembly plant with the Ford Probe (and Mazda 626), the gracefully shaped front-drive Mazda MX-6 coupe leans more toward the indulgent side of the luxury/sport continuum than its Blue-Oval brother. It's sort of a junior Acura Legend coupe-an engaging, polished driver and better commuter companion. Power choices remain either a 2.0-liter/118-horsepower DOHC four or the silken 2.5-liter/164-horsepower DOHC V-6. (Trust us, you want the V-6 and LS trim.) Minimal changes for '96 include revised seat fabrics, OBD-II engine controls, and discontinuation of the Passion Rose Mica paint.
Body type: CoupeDrivetrain: Front engine, front driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 2620Base engine: 2.0-liter I-4, DOHC, 118 hpOpt. engine: 2.5-liter V-6, DOHC, 164 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/drums, ABS opt.Price range: $17,000-$23,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 26/34
Mazda ProtegLast year Mazda redesigned its small front-drive Proteg sedan, and we reveled in its roominess, poise, and elegance. This year it's available in Crimson Mica, a color that reappears 28 years after it was taken off the midnight-buffet gelatin-dessert menu at Las Vegas' Dunes hotel. In DX and LX trim, standard power comes from a smooth 1.5-liter/92-horsepower DOHC four. The top-of-the-line ES gets 122 horses from its just-as-velvety 1.8-liter DOHC four, and an extra measure of composure from its tautly tuned suspension and larger wheels and tires. Other changes include body-color B-pillars on all models, new seat fabric on the ES, and the adoption of OBD-II engine electronics.
Body type: SedanDrivetrain: Front engine, front driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 2385Base engine: 1.5-liter I-4, DOHC, 92 hp Opt. engine: 1.8-liter I-4, DOHC, 122 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/drums, ABS opt.Price range: $13,500-$16,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 31/39
Mazda RX-7Mazda's '96 RX-7 won't appear in showrooms until January, and rumors abound of a normally aspirated companion to the twin-turbo rocket now available. Until then, we'll settle for the lightweight, reduced-mass supercar that blasted to 160 mph in our last top-speed fiesta (July '95) on the strength of the 255 horses bursting from its 1.3-liter two-rotor engine; we'll tolerate the sleek, voluptuous shape and infinitesimal frontal area. The kinetic sensations in the close-coupled cockpit are commensurate with the R2 version's cornea-separating 0.98g skidpad orbit, 69.8-mph slalom blitz, arch-flattening 113-foot stop from 60 mph, and escape-velocity 14.1-second/99.9-mph run down the quarter mile.
Body type: CoupeDrivetrain: Front engine, rear driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 2800Base engine: 1.3-liter twin-turbo rotary,255 hpOpt. engine: NoneBrakes, f/r: Discs/discs, ABS std.Price range: $36,000-$39,000Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 17/25
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