Competition in the automotive sport-utility market continues to rev up, as at least 11 new SUVs will drive onto the playing field for the 2003 model year, along with a host of new midsize sedans and high-performance sports cars.


From the sporty new five-passenger Honda Element SUV, with a base price of $16,000, to the Cadillac Escalade ESV, an upscale version of the Chevy Suburban for which pricing isnt available yet, the newest SUVs span a wide range of sizes and price levels. Asian automakers and foreign and domestic luxury-car manufacturers are expanding their lines to the point that some now offer nearly as many SUV models as Ford and Chevrolet, which have dominated that niche.


Meanwhile, Mercury is introducing a powerful new muscle car called the Marauder; Nissan is introducing a Z car that calls to mind the once popular Datsun 240Z; BMW is replacing the Z3, which Pierce Brosnan drove in a James Bond movie; and Mercedes has an ultra powerful new sports car thats pricedgulp!well into the six figures.


Small SUVs


At least a half-dozen new small SUVs are entering the market for 2003.


The 4-cylinder Honda Element is aimed at the active generation-X market, says Joe Kronenberg, Honda sales manager at Honda/Acura of Spokane. With rear suicide doors, which open in the opposite direction from the front doors, the Element offers unobstructed openings on both sides for easy loading of athletic gear or child safety seats, Kronenberg says. The cargo area behind the rear seat is tall enough to accommodate a bicycle standing up, he says. The Element is expected to be in dealer showrooms in December.


The Mitsubishi Outlander joins the larger Montero and Montero Sport. Billed as part sport utility, part urban utility, the Outlander is a crossover, entry-level SUV, Mitsubishi says. Cristo Nicolaidis, district sales manager for Spokanes Appleway Automotive Group, says the vehicle is expected to be priced at between $18,000 and $25,000. The Outlander should reach showrooms here this month.


The new five-passenger Kia Sorento, is the largest, most powerful vehicle yet in the Kia line, with 192 horsepower and 217 foot-pounds of torque. With on-demand four-wheel drive as an option, the Sorento is rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds and is priced from just under $20,000.


For the avid four-wheel-drive enthusiast, Jeep is coming out with the Wrangler Rubicon. Mike Price, general sales manager for Barton Jeep, says the Rubicon is an extreme off-road vehicle with off-road tires, diamond-plate window sill protectors, and locking front and rear differentials as standard equipment. All the extras hike the Rubicons price up to a starting point of $25,000nearly $9,000 more than a base-model Wrangler.


The Nissan Murano, priced starting at $25,900, continues the car-like SUV trend many automakers have followed over the past few years, says Paul Jaremko, owner of Jaremko Nissan/Saab. The Murano has a 7-speed transmission with a centrifugal clutch, which drivers have the option of shifting even though its automatic, Jaremko says.


On the upper end of the scale is the sporty Lexus GX 470, which is designed for the off-road enthusiast with features such as ultraviolet protection in the windshield and a voice-activated DVD-based navigation system. With a 4.7-liter V-8 engine, the GX 470 can go from zero to 60 in 8.5 seconds, Lexus says. Its priced at between $45,000 and $50,000.


Subaru continues in the crossover-vehicle vein seen in its Outback and Forester with the Baja, a sporty new compact four-door, car-like pickup truck. The Baja is aimed at a younger, active buyer, says Eric Simonis, a sales associate at Camp Imports. With a base price of $24,500, it offers a cargo bed with an integrated bed liner and chrome side bars, and a pass-through opening in the rear of the cab for hauling longer items.


Midsize SUVs


Meanwhile, competition is heating up in the midsize SUV market, with several new models offering three rows of seating.


The Honda Pilot, which is priced starting at $26,900, has become Hondas largest SUV, replacing the Passport, which has been dropped from the automakers lineup. Equipped with a Variable Torque Management four-wheel-drive system, which senses wheel slippage and increases traction, the Pilot has a 240-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine. Honda/Acuras Kronenberg says that the Pilot, which already has been released for 2003, moves Honda into more direct competition with such SUV flag bearers as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Toyota 4Runner. We cant keep them in stock, he says.


The redesigned Toyota 4Runner, which will be available in December, comes with a more powerful, 245-horse V-6 engine and also will be available with a V-8 for the first time. Its larger than earlier 4Runners and sports a new look, says Anthony Delger, new-car sales manager at Downtown Toyota.


Also replaced in the 2003 model year is the Isuzu Trooper, which has been ousted by a new vehicle called the Ascender after an 11-year run. Even though its an Isuzu, the Ascender is built on the same General Motors platform as the GMC Envoy XL and Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT. The Ascender is the largest and most powerful vehicle in Isuzus history, and is touted to be the only vehicle in its class to offer a 10-year, 120,000-mile limited warranty on its powertrain.


Camps Simonis says the Volvo XC90 is the Swedish automakers first SUV and is built on the S80 sedan platform. Its expected to provide competition for the Mercedes ML and Acura MDX, he says. Available with space for either five or seven passengers, the XC90s seats can lay flat to maximize cargo space. Volvo claims that both available enginesa 2.5-liter in-line five-cylinder or 2.9-liter in-line six-cylinderoffer the best fuel economy in the class. The XC90s base price is just under $34,000.


The new, midsize Lincoln Aviator SUV, with 302 horsepower and 300 foot-pounds of torque, is especially powerful for its size, says Scot Lenhart, Lincoln-Mercury sales manager at Foothills Lincoln Mercury Mazda. Some people refer to it as a baby Navigator, he says, because of its similarity to the Lincoln Navigator, which is similar in size to the Ford Expedition. Priced starting at $45,000, the Aviator has genuine wood trim, heated and cooled front seats, a flat-folding third seat, and an available DVD entertainment system.


Cadillac is shouldering its way into the class of largest SUVs with the new Escalade ESV, which is built on the Suburban platform, says Dan Martin, new-car sales manager for Camp Chevrolet Cadillac. Starting at $49,700, the ESVs 6.0-liter V-8 puts out a whopping 345 horsepowermore than the Suburban or Ford Excursion, although the same amount as the power plant in the somewhat smaller Escalade. It comes standard with a new passenger-sensing system that, by detecting the size and weight of front-seat passengers, disables the airbag when a child or booster seat is placed there and notifies the driver of the airbags status.


The Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups are getting a new look and a more powerful optional Cummins diesel engine for 2003, says Tom Maine, new-car sales manager for Dishman Dodge. Along with putting out 305 horsepower and 555 foot-pounds of torque, the new Cummins engine runs far quieter than previous models, Maine says. The body styles of the big trucks now match that of the 1500, which was changed for the 2002 model year.


Several new small sedans and wagons are designed to appeal to the younger market and have sticker prices below $20,000, including the Saturn Ion, Toyota Matrix, Pontiac Vibe, and Suzuki Aerio, which already are in showrooms, and the soon-to-be-released Mazda 6. Also in this class, the Toyota Corolla and Honda Accord have been redesigned for 2003.


The Saturn Ion, which is replacing the S-series, is priced starting just under $12,000. The sedan is available now, and a Quad Coupe and three-door hatchback are expected to follow. With rear torsion suspension and a tight turning radius, the Ion is being marketed to young city drivers.


The Toyota Matrix crossover sedan appeals to buyers who are looking for the functionalism of an SUV with the size and affordability of a subcompact sedan, says Downtown Toyotas Delger. The rear seat can lay flat to maximize cargo space. The Matrix is priced from $16,000 to $21,000 and comes with all-wheel drive.


Built on the same platform as the Matrix is the Pontiac Vibe wagon, which is priced starting at $16,900. Its available with all-wheel drive, a DVD-based navigation system, and six-disc remote changer.


The Aerio sedan is Suzukis answer to the popular Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and Mazda Protg. It also has available all-wheel drive and 141 horsepower. The Aerio is priced starting at $17,500.


The Mazda 6 moves in to replace the 23-year-old 626 line and provide competition to the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Honda Accord, which all have been redesigned in the last few years, says Phil Agnew, Foothills Mazda sales manager. Priced from $16,900 to $26,000, the Mazda 6 is expected to be in showrooms in late November.


The Toyota Corolla, which has been around since 1966, has a whole new look for 2003 and an updated engine, says Downtown Toyotas Delger. The more powerful engine also runs cooler because of a new resin-intake manifold, he says. In spite of the changes, the base price of the Corolla is $14,000, which is $1,500 less than last year, he says.


The Honda Accord also has been redesigned for 2003, with a new appearance and added options such as dual climate control, heated front seats, a GPS navigation system, and a voice-activated sound system, says Honda/Acuras Kronenberg. Were starting to get some real luxury appointments, he says. The Accords starting price is $16,300.


For those looking for more power and luxury in a sedan, Infiniti is offering the new G35. The G35 has a weight distribution that Infiniti claims gives it better handling and aerodynamics. Priced starting at $27,600, it has 260 horsepower and 260 foot-pounds of torque and an available DVD-based navigation system.


Emphasis on performance


From the return of the muscle car to the continuing evolution of the sport coupe, automakers are putting an emphasis on performance this year.


The new Mercury Marauder, released earlier this year as a 2003 model, is a blast from the past, and it only comes in black. With 302 horsepower, 318 foot-pounds of torque, high performance wheels and tires, dual exhaust, and an all-aluminum 32-valve 4.6-liter V-8 engine, the powerful sedan is causing muscle-car enthusiasts to overlook the limited color selection, says Foothills Lenhart. The Marauder is priced starting at about $34,500, and he says, Theyre selling as fast as they come in.


Mazda is taking a look back into automotive history as well, bringing back a lighter and more powerful version of its rotary engine from the RX-7 model in the new RX-8, says Foothills Agnew. With a sticker price starting at less than $30,000, the 250-horsepower RX-8 is due to roll out early next year, he says.


Nissan is bring back the Z car, which Jaremko says is the best-selling sports car of all time. The new 350Z, priced starting at $26,800, offers 287 horsepower and 274 foot-pounds of torque. To improve aerodynamics, the 350Zs side windows have a two-step closing procedure to provide a wind-tight seal.


With a starting price of $42,300, the Infiniti M45 is sporty and luxurious. Along with 340 horsepower and a sport-tuned suspension, M45 drivers can use a voice recognition system to operate the stereo, climate control, and available DVD-based navigation. It also has intelligent cruise control, which uses lasers to detect distances and adjusts the cars speed to maintain a drivers preset preferences.


The BMW Z4 is taking the place of the discontinued Z3, with initial models due to arrive in showrooms this month, says Camps Simonis. Two in-line-6 engines are availablethe 2.5i with 184 horsepower, and the 3.0i with 225 horsepower. Along with an available DVD-based navigation system, the Z4 has an optional integrated hands-free phone. BMW hasnt released pricing information on the Z4 yet, Simonis says.


The new Audi A4 Cabriolet 3.0 convertible sport coupes V-6 delivers 220 horsepower and 221 foot-pounds of torque, and Audi claims it will go from zero to 60 in 7.5 seconds. The 3.0 is expected to be available this fall, with the smaller 1.8T to follow next spring. Pricing information is not yet available.


The price of the new Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG convertible starts at a staggering $113,900. The sports car comes with a supercharged V-8 that delivers nearly 500 horsepower and 516 foot-pounds of torque and is said to go from zero to 60 in as little as 4.4 seconds. The leather power seatswhich can be either heated or cooledhave 14 adjustable positions and three memory settings.