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An Oakville Beaver Advertising Feature To advertise in this section call 845-3824 Fax: 337-5568 DaimlerChryslergives new meaning to the word Concept9 By Rob Beintema SPEC IA L T O T H E BEAVER DETROIT - Journalists from around the world gathered at the 2000 North American Auto Show in Detroit to wit ness the unveiling of new cars for the new millennium. But forget about Y2K. That's yester day's news, baby. Auto manufacturers here are display ing full production cars for 2001 and hinting at the automotive future with brave new concepts for the years to come. DaimlerChrysler was slated as first to take centre stage at the show's "Concept Day" -- only fitting for a company that revolutionized the whole idea of "con cept cars" -- and they responded with a showing of four impressive new dream machines. First, the Dodge MAXXcab, a con cept truck described as the world's first Passenger Priority truck. Traditionally, pickup trucks were designed solely with cargo and hauling in mind. Recent refinements and larger cab spaces have made pickups more "userGrand Cherokee's 4.7 L V8 and features independent friendly" but bed dimen suspension, 18" wheels sions and payload have and adjustable pedals. remained key factors, even Don't hold your breath in the pickups of today. waiting for this, one but Using cab-forward archi some of the integral ideas tecture in a truck for the may show up in future first time, development trucks. engineers maximized inte The Jeep Varsity was rior space in this long designed as a go-anywhere wheelbase truck, creating a concept vehicle that can Urban Adventure Concept, double as an "office-ona heavy-duty car perfectly wheels" or as a "mobile suited for environments normally reserved for daycare centre", while still offering a half-ton payload A new cab-forward pickup concept, the Dodge MAXXcab, trucks. Sport utility-style and enough bedspace for seating, shift-on-the-fly deemed as the world's first Passenger Priority truck. weekend projects or sports available four wheel-drive, kids in the rear child safety seats can be a TJ-influenced profile and the unmis equipment. The centre console houses a pop-up kept busy with a DVD player, Internet takable seven-slotted grille up front mark laptop with displays in the instrument access and hand-held electronic sketch it clearly as a Jeep. Yet the Varsity, pow panel and rear of the console. A voice pad. The middle rear seat can be power- ered by a 3.5 L, 300 hp V6 with inde recognition system allows the driver to controlled from the front doors in order pendent front and rear suspension and access the Internet for traffic info, weath to move a toddler closer for tending by massive 19" wheels is designed to pro er updates and e-mail. Voice commands the front passenger or to separate the two vide the ride and handling of a sports also control navigation and diagnostic outboard kids during those traumatic sedan. "Mom, he's looking at me!" incidents. systems as well as the telephone. I'm not exactly sure in which direc The Dodge MAXXcab harnesses the tion Jeep is going with the Varsity's As for that "mobile daycare" aspect, debut, especially hot on the heels of other exciting recent concepts like the Icon and Dakar versions, but all these vehicles remain true to the spirit of Jeep and I think we can expect to see a little influence from all of them in that divi sion's future products. It's been more than a decade since Chrysler first unveiled the original Viper roadster concept, but this year DaimlerChrysler has reheated the fever with a street-legal, LeMans endurance race-inspired concept car, the Dodge Viper GTS/R. "Don't change it," owners whine every year while wistfully lusting for the all-out racing version of the GTS Coupe. "Just give it more power," they say. Well, like the race version, the V10 is now dry-sumped and delivers 500 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. Whew! Say no more. The Viper GTS/R's one-piece carbon fiber body in Enhanced Viper Red has been lowered by two inches and redesigned from the ground up. "We also took an inch-and-a-half out (See `DaimlerChrysler' page D4) _________ _ _ Ewan McGregor Ron Marlow JOHN DeFREITAS Top Sales Associate Frank Apa,Vice President and General Manager, on behalf of the entire staff, would like to congratulate John DeFreitas fo r being the Top Sales Associate for 1999. John has been with Oakville Toyota fo r four years and is a first-time winner of this prestigious award. John would like to thank his many friends and customers who have helped him in achieving this honour. EVAN BACK Bob Salvian, General Manager of Oakville Dodge Chrysler Jeep & all the staff would like to congratulate Evan Back fo r being the Top Producer fo r 1999. Evan has been with Oakville Dodge Chrysler Jeep fo r the past 4 years and has consistently shown award-winning results. Evan would like to thank all his many customers fo r their continued patronage & looks forward to seeing them in the New Year fo r any automotive needs. John Ironside, Sales Manager a t Glenleven C h rysle r Ltd., is pleased to congratulate Ewan M cG re g or & Ron M a rlo w fo r achieving " Salespersons o f the Year." Both Ewan and Ron w o u ld like to thank th e ir many custom ers and friends fo r helping them to attain this honour. G lenleven · JEEP C h ry sler 1091 SPEERS R D . DORVAL 4TH LN PLYMOUTH · EAGLE · DODGE TRUCKS r QEW A Mtllf 0QOGE 6HRV&H* < JE E I* 646 4th Line, Speers Road, Oakville, 845-4211 · 2388 R oyal W indsor D rive , O akvhjje · (9 0 5 ) 845-7575 842-8400 V___ S PEER S y VISIT US AT OUR WEB SITE AT www.oakvilleloyota.com I Vic Cu pi di o Mr. Glen Yates, President o f Tow ne Chev O lds, Rob Moscandini, N ew C ar Manager and Jason Brownlee. Used Car Manager are pleased to annouce Vic C upidio as Top Producer. Vic C upidio w ould like to take this tim e to thank all his new and past customers fo r th e ir valued patronage and look forw ard to serving all th e ir personnel, as w ell as friends and families, needs long in to the next m illennium . John Clements Mr. Glen Yates, President o f Towne Chev Olds, Rob Moscardini, N ew Car Manager and Jason Brownlee, Used Car Manager are pleased to annouce John Clements as I st Runner Up. John Qem ents w ould like to take this tim e to thank all his new and past customers fo r th e ir valued patronage and look forw ard to serving all th e ir personnel, as w ell as friends and families, needs long into the next millennium. EDDIE YAU Peter Cheung, Sales Manager and Ron Chan, D e a le r principal, proudly congratulate Eddie Yau as N e w and Used C a r Salesperson o f the Year. Eddie Thanks his many loyal custom ers fo r th e ir p atro n age and fo r assisting him in earn ing this honour. Bob McIntosh Oakville Nissan Ltd. and staff would like to congratulate Bob McIntosh, the Fleet & Re-Lease manager as " Salesperson o f th e Year" fo r 1999" Bob would like to thank all o f his customers and friends fo r this honour. OAKVILLE N ISSA N ltd. 1450 Speers Road, Oakville 827-7191 1071 SPEERS R O A D Oust West of 4th Line) 905 845-7791 -