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| Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2003 |
Most Significant Vehicle of the Year
 Winner: Nissan
350Z
Those who remember the great Japanese supercar war of the early 1990s know that
the last 300ZX was a fast, luxurious and highly capable performance machine. When
equipped with the twin-turbo engine it would rocket to 60 mph in less than six
seconds. It also featured Nissan's HICAS four-wheel steering, and it could be
had in 2 + 2, T-top and convertible form. But the performance didn't come cheap,
and once turbo Z prices passed the $40,000 mark sales faltered. It was a far cry
from the $3,000 asked for the first Datsun 240Z in 1970, a car that offered tremendous
performance and seductive styling at a bargain price. In 1996 Nissan killed the
overpriced 300ZX because, frankly, nobody was buying it and the company couldn't
justify the expense of a redesign.
But for 2003 it seems Nissan has rediscovered the charm of that original Z car,
utilizing it as the philosophical shepherd for today's version. The new Z offers
cutting-edge style and class-leading performance at a price well below the competition.
With 287 horsepower on tap, and a chassis capable of near telepathic handling,
the latest Z certainly has changed the rules in the performance car segment (specifically,
the rule stating that you had to spend at least $30,000 to get a serious sports
car). Honda S2000s, Audi TTs and even Porsche Boxsters — beware.
Honorable Mention:
Honda Element
Here's something we didn't expect from Honda — a bold and stylish truck with
cutting-edge features. Normally the big "H" concentrates its efforts (quite successfully,
we might add) on producing best-selling sedans or highly functional minivans.
But the company has jumped into the burgeoning "crossover" market with a vehicle
that makes the PT Cruiser and Pontiac Vibe look passé. Whether you're talking
fold-flat seats, reverse-opening doors or hose out interior materials, the new
Element is not your older brother's CR-V (despite using much of that vehicle's
platform). Major props to Honda for producing such a bold design.
Honorable Mention: Mazda
6
Little did we know, as the Millennia and 626 were dying on the vine and in showrooms,
that the Zoom-Zoom company was developing an all-new sedan to uphold its latest
marketing tagline. The Mazda 6 is a sedan for those who need four doors, but want
a Miata. The standard four makes 150 horsepower while the optional V6 creates
220. Neither engine is a barnstormer in terms of torque, but, in the tradition
of great driving machines, the Mazda 6's appeal comes from its sublime steering
and nimble chassis. Look for a five-door hatchback and wagon to appear in the
next year, likely giving Mazda sales a much-needed boost.
Honorable Mention: Porsche
Cayenne
It will be argued by many that Porsche's Cayenne is significant only in how far
it strays from the automaker's traditional role as performance car company. We
won't debate the philosophical ramifications of the Cayenne, but we will note
that, as performance-oriented SUVs go, this one goes quite well. The base Cayenne
S will come with a 340-horsepower 4.5-liter V8 mated to a six-speed Tiptronic
automatic. But go for broke (literally — it costs almost $90,000) and you
can have the Cayenne Turbo with a twin-turbocharged version of this same engine
that makes 450 horsepower. No substitute indeed.
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