Mazda Nextourer concept
Mazda calls its Nextourer concept a "next-generation touring sedan." The company is gauging consumer and press reaction to its crossover between a luxury sedan and a sport-utility vehicle. We'd say they've done a pretty good job; the Nextourer is certainly much more handsome than, say, the Pontiac Aztek that's going on sale this summer. The four-passenger vehicle features a typical concept-car-like cabin, with futuristic shapes, colors, and materials; a long, narrow sunroof running from front to back; individual climate controls for all occupants; and a pleasant airiness. The right-hand-drive concept car has a centralized instrument cluster; only the steering wheel is directly in front of the driver. That may look nice, but one wonders how it would translate to real-world use.
Like most of the sedan-cum-sport-utility concepts we've seen this year at the Detroit and Chicago shows, Nextourer has a versatile rear cargo area. The lower half of the Dual-Mode liftgate can be opened like the trunk of a conventional sedan, while the entire liftgate can be opened for larger items. The rear seats and cargo shelf fold forward electrically to create a 35.2-cubic-foot cargo area with a flat floor, enabling one, as a Mazda executive from Japan described, "to go to the Home Depot and buy a big lot of things."
Nextourer also features an active height control that lowers the vehicle when it's stopped for easier ingress/egress, raises it nearly four inches at around- town speeds for better visibility, and then lowers it another two inches at highway speeds for better handling and fuel economy. A continuously variable transmission and a 3.0-liter DOHC V-6 comprise the powertrain.

DAEWOO
2001 Daewoo Korando
In addition to its current lineup of the entry-level Lanos hatchback, compact Nubira, and mid-size Leganza, Daewoo will late this spring or early this summer begin offering the Korando two-door sport-utility vehicle. Korando is not especially pretty, but it sure comes well-equipped for its base price of about $20,000. A 217-bhp, 3.2- liter in-line six-cylinder engine that was licensed from Mercedes-Benz; a four- speed automatic transmission; ABS; a tilt steering wheel; four-wheel drive with low range; and keyless remote entry are all standard on both the softtop and hardtop models.
Daewoo is officially pronounced "Day-ew," but the Korean company is promoting itself as "Day-woo" in the U.S. because Americans find that easier to pronounce. In any case, the fledgling automaker insists that it is here in the American market to stay, never mind the fact that its parent company in Korea is bankrupt and on the auction block. "We are full-throttle forward and pursuing a very aggressive expansion plan for 2000," says U.S. PR director Bill Tucker. Indeed, there are currently about 250 Daewoo dealers in the States, and the company expects 200 more by the end of this year and is shooting for 100,000-unit annual sales.

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