With the race more than half over, Evans took a few shots, but was unable to pass Taylor. When both drivers came down the straightaway side by side, Evans had the opportunity and briefly took the lead when they made the first turn before Taylor relinquished the lead, heading to the second turn. Entering the most dangerous part of Midwest Off-Road Raceway, Evans disappeared down into a steep bank and reappeared in the lead. As the crowd responded, what they did not realize was that Evans had passed Taylor in a yellow-flag zone, which is illegal. When Evans accepted his black-flag penalty, which is a five-second stop and go, his truck stalled during that time, which put Taylor in the lead. Taylor held on and picked up the victory, the 18th of his career.
Supercharged Xterra and Frontier
In the last issue of OFF-ROAD, we gave you a sneak peek at the new Xterra. Since then, we've had the opportunity to drive it, as well as the '02 Frontier Crew Cab longbed. The improvements made to both vehicles shows Nissan's continued desire to provide the vehicles that consumers want. For example, one of the biggest complaints people had about both the Xterra and the Frontier was the relative lack of horsepower. Now, both vehicles are offered with superchargers, giving the 3.3L DOHC V-6 210 hp and 246 lb-ft of torque, a dramatic improvement over the naturally aspirated engine. The supercharged engine is available on the S/C Desert Runner, the S/C 4x4 King Cab, the S/C Crew Cab, and the Crew Cab longbed, as well as on XE and SE Xterra models. Another issue some consumers had with the Frontier was the size of the bed behind the Crew Cab. This is why there is a longbed option for the '02 Frontier Crew Cab. This option brings the bed length to 74.6 inches.
Other improvements for the '02 Frontier include a Rockford Fosgate nine-speaker AM/FM/six-disc in-dash CD changer with steering wheel controls and a subwoofer (Frontier Crew Cab), a redesigned instrument panel, and a change from the pull-type brake to a foot-operated parking brake. The Xterra received a new front fascia, new colors, a redesigned instrument panel, and a new eight-speaker stereo system. There is also a new option package, known as the Enthusiast Package, which comes with manual hubs, rubber floor mats, a limited-slip differential, and other off-road options. The new Xterra and Frontier finally have the right combination of power, off-road capability, and utility.
New Crossover Vehicle Based on ST-X Concept
This new vehicle concept combines the versatility of the Subaru Outback with the utility of a pickup, creating a whole new type of vehicle. Garnering an enthusiastic response from both the media and consumers at several auto shows throughout the U.S., the concept is the ultimate expression of the Subaru brand essence - fun, freedom, adventure, confidence, and control. "Subaru invented the crossover category with the introduction of Outback, the world's first Sport Utility Wagon," said Subaru of America Incorporated Chairman, President, and CEO Takao Saito. "Now, Subaru has taken this concept a step further, establishing a new segment to complement the active lifestyle. Based upon the overwhelming response by the public and our dealers to the ST-X, we are confident this new vehicle will form the latest chapter in the Subaru crossover success story."