Carmakers Midyear Introductions

February 12, 2002 By Rick Popely Chicago Tribuine -- Like a restaurant that pours a bottomless cup of coffee, the auto industry serves an endless supply of new models throughout the year.

Instead of introducing all their vehicles Oct. 1, the traditional start of the model year, manufacturers roll out new hardware around-the-clock, when it best suits their schedules and purposes.

Several early 2003 models are on sale or will be soon, and a few 2002 models are waiting in the wings.

Here is a rundown of new models that have arrived since Jan. 1 or will be in showrooms before fall, most of which are on display at the Chicago Auto Show.

While some Americans were still nursing hangovers from New Year's Eve 2001, General Motors kicked off the 2003 model year. The rear-drive Cadillac CTS went on sale Jan. 2 as the luxury brand's entry-level model.

In February, Toyota introduces the 2003 Corolla and Matrix. The new Corolla sedan is larger than its predecessor, and its front-wheel-drive platform is the foundation for the Matrix, a sporty four-door hatchback aimed at younger buyers.

Pontiac also borrows heavily from Corolla with the 2003 Vibe, a hatchback similar to the Matrix that will be available this month. All-wheel-drive is available on the Vibe and Matrix.

Jeep emulates the look of race vehicles for off-road events with the Liberty Renegade, which makes its first public appearance at the Chicago show and will go on sale this spring as a 2002 model. The Renegade wears a roof-mounted light bar, wheel well flares with a bolted-on look, removable tubular side steps and a two-tone front fascia.

In the summer, Jeep will add the 2003 Wrangler Rubicon, equipped for extreme off-road use.

Honda adds two new models this spring, the Civic Si and Civic Hybrid, both as 2003s. The Civic Si, due in March, is a racy two-door hatchback with a 2-liter, 160-horsepower engine not available in other Civics. The Civic Hybrid, coming in April, is a four-door sedan powered by a fuel-sipping 4-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor.

The 2003 Honda Pilot, a new sport-utility vehicle based on the Acura MDX but with different styling, will arrive in the summer.

Acura updates its 3.2 CL coupe for 2003 with more aggressive styling, a 6-speed manual transmission and General Motors' OnStar telematics system as a new option. Sales begin in March.

Around the same time, Suzuki introduces a pair of small, FWD cars, the 2003 Aerio sedan and Aerio SX four-door hatchback. All-wheel-drive will be available in the fall.

BMW's new flagship 7-Series sedan arrives in three shifts. The 745i came out in January, and the longer-wheelbase 745Li is due in March. Both are 2002s. A V-12-powered 760Li will arrive in the fall as a 2003 model.

March is a busy month for new models. That is when the 2003 Infiniti G35, a sporty rear-wheel-drive sedan, goes on sale with a $27,100 base price. The Mini Cooper , BMW's modern rendition of the British icon, arrives as a 2002 model with a base price of $16,850. The Mini is the shortest car in the U.S. at 142 inches, about 14 inches shorter than the Mazda Miata.

GM broadens its SUV roster with the Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL, extended versions of midsize SUVs. They are 16 inches longer and three inches taller than the regular TrailBlazer and Envoy and have a standard third seat to raise passenger capacity to seven from five.

Also in March, Maserati re-enters the U.S. market after an 11-year hiatus with the Spyder GT, a two-seat convertible. A four-seat coupe is due a month later. Both use a 4.2-liter V-8.

Chrysler tries to give its convertible line more pizzazz by installing a 5-speed manual transmission in the Sebring GTC, a late-arriving 2002.

Hyundai begins selling the 2003 Tiburon sports coupe in late February or early March, and the styling is an evolution of the current model. A 2.7-liter V-6 and 6-speed manual transmission are new options. Base prices will range from $15,999 to $19,997.

The 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL roadster goes on sale in the spring with racier styling than the current model, a new power retractable hardtop and a 5-liter V-8 engine. A high-performance AMG version and a V-12 model will come later.

Audi expands the A4 lineup in spring with the 2002 Avant wagon. A redesigned A4 sedan came out last fall and a convertible is due next fall.

Ford Motor plans early introductions of several 2003 models, but it expresses its schedule in seasons instead of months. The 2003 Ford Expedition full-size SUV comes out in spring with fresh front styling, a new independent rear suspension, roomier rear seat that folds flat into the floor and other functional changes. The Lincoln Navigator, a luxury version of the SUV, follows by a month or two with similar changes plus a power liftgate.

Also due in spring are a mildly restyled Lincoln Town Car with chassis and interior changes aimed at pleasing an older clientele, and the Ford Focus SVT, a performance-oriented version of the two-door hatchback aimed at the younger set.

Mercury tries to rekindle its performance image with the Marauder, a muscle-car rendition of the Grand Marquis sedan. The V-8-powered Marauder will arrive in early summer and boast 300 h.p.

Lincoln will add another SUV for 2003, the Aviator, which arrives late summer or early fall. The Aviator, to be shown for the first time in March in New York, is based on the Ford Explorer, but Lincoln says it gets unique styling and features.

By early May Volkswagen will introduce the Passat W8 sedan and wagon, all-wheel-drive models with an innovative 8-cylinder engine. W8 is named for the engine configuration, four banks of cylinders in an overlapping double-V layout. Prices starts at $37,900.

A redesigned Subaru Forester SUV arrives in May as an early 2003 model built on the new Impreza platform.

In June, Ford-owned Land Rover will introduce a redesigned Range Rover developed when the British SUV marque belonged to BMW. The 2003 Range Rover will have a BMW V-8 and a base price around $70,000.

Later in summer, GM adds the 2003 Hummer H2, an SUV based on the Chevy Tahoe with Hummer's traditional styling and off-road capability. The base price of around $50,000 will be about half that of the current H1 model.

Nissan plans to squeeze the 350Z sports car in just ahead of the herd of 2003 models coming in the fall. The 350Z is set for an August debut at a base price of $26,629.

Also due in late summer is the Kia Sorento, a new truck-based SUV larger than the Sportage and with the 3.5-liter V-6 found in the Hyundai Santa Fe.