Stately elegance - luxury cars - Black Enterprise 1993 Auto Guide - Buyers Guide

Black Enterprise, Nov, 1992 by Jay Koblenz

The shape is new and sleek, but it keeps the spare tire bulge on the rear deck. Inside, the modern look brings a tiered instrument panel with large analog gauges. Dual air bags are fitted and luxury amenities include a travel computer, full climate control and AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo.

CHRYSLER NEW YORKER

This flagship, due early '93, will share most of the features of its lower-priced sibling, the Concorde, but with some significant upgrades. In addition to its unique styling, with a retro-style bulbous rear window, the most notable change is wheelbase, longer by a few inches. This improves the ride while the cab-forward design gives rear-seat passengers more room.

Standard fare includes driver and passenger air bags, anti-lock disc brakes, automatic air-conditioning and four-wheel independent suspension.

Power goes to the front wheels via a smooth functioning four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. The only engine is a 3.5-liter SOHC 24-valve V-6, producing a healthy 214 horsepower. Expect standard traction control which has, unlike some competitors, an on/off switch.

Pricing? Expect to go a bit higher than $25,000 for this one, which goes on sale in April.

LEXUS LS 400

Lexus gives its flagship a host of small changes for 1993 in the "relentess pursuit of perfection." On the outside are new, larger 16-inch wheels and tires. Inside, a second air bag protects the passenger and seatbelts automatically retract when the air bag goes off.

Little things make life with Lexus a bit better, such as the addition of an outside temperature gauge, and an adjustable audible signal confirms you have remotely locked or unlocked the doors, while headlamps automatically go on or off according to darkness. If you didn't believe this car had the best audio system available before, wait you hear it now, with even more power. This is a susperbly comfortable four-door sedan with 250-horsepower, 32-valve, aluminum block 4.0-liter V-8 and four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. It's ergonomic bliss with performance to match, all for around $45,000.

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL R

The blue blood of this performer will attract drivers who would have had to settle into the back seat of a Rolls Royce Silver Spirit but prefer to drive! Bentley's racing heritage shows in the model. (Horsepower isn't specified: The company indicates only that, with turbocharging, horsepower is "more than adequate.")

The "R" represents the first post-WWII Bentley that does not share its body with a Rolls Royce. This two-door coupe is the fastest Bentley ever made. Top speed is electronically limited to 145 mph. Its 6.7-liter turbo V-8 drives the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission.

This is rolling artwork priced at $261,800. For around half the price, Bentley is introducing a new sporting sedan this fall; it will be called the Brooklands, named after the racing circuit

JAGUAR XJ6

This fall the XJ6 joins the modern world: driver air bags eliminate the need for those motorized seatbelts. Accompanying this change will be a new manual tilt steering wheel.