He serves on the board of directors for the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois. He also serves on the boards of the Jefferson College Foundation and is active in St. John’s Lutheran Church.
To GM’S credit, the new 860s sailed through the south-of-the border launch unruffled. Stiffer frames and more sophisticated suspension systems took the hard knocks out of the bad roads. Bumps serious enough to use up the ample wheel travel were absorbed by the Bilstein gas-pressure dampers and well-tuned urethane jounce bumpers. Rear air springs — standard in the Bravada, optional in the Envoy — were noticeably effective at diminishing back seat din. The one chassis shortcoming is a lack of steering feel.
The new 4.2L dohc 6-cylinder powerplant, engineered specifically for this application, is smooth and practically silent, but two factors undermine its performance: wide ratios and occasionally rough shifts provided by the 4L60-E automatic transmission and a curb weight pushing 5,000 pounds. It will be interesting to see if this engine’s 270 peak-hp keeps up with the new Ford Explorer, which is lighter by nearly 200 pounds and available with a 240 hp V-8.
“This is going to be a very slick, ‘virtual’ program,” a GM executive says. “We’re doing it with Heinz (Prechter, ASC’s founder and chairman) because his company is an expert at low-volume, high-profile programs like this.”
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Pep Boys Now Sells …Manufacturing the …FUEL TRIM(MING) …The internal …After 4 years, Suzuki …
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Autoparts ReportAutomotive IndustriesAutomotive Design …MotorTrailer Boats
The production SSR will retain a retractable hardtop, like that of the concept vehicle–a capability “which is ASC’s forte,” the executive explains. (ASC specializes in producing convertibles for the OEMs. In 1989, the company produced the industry’s first, and so far only, convertible pickup - a ragtop version of Dodge Dakota.) The production SSR will also feature the concept truck’s tailgate system, which operates in either of two modes — remotely, via the key fob, or manually.
Mark Pauze, director of marketing at ASC, would not comment on SSR, explaining that as a matter of policy his company “doesn’t talk about anything related to our customers.”
A GM spokesman says nothing about SSR has yet been finalized, but confirms that the automaker is studying the use of the former Reatta Craft Center for SSR production. “It’s among other facilities being considered,” he notes. Regarding ASC, the spokesman will only confirm that ASC “does have engineering work” on the program.
The Lansing, Mich., Craft Center plant built Buick’s short-lived two-seater in the 1980s. For the SSR program, it is planned that ASC will basically run the plant and serve as the program’s lead integrator, managing the SSR’s supply chain, according to the GM executive.
The sporty SSR’s curvaceous bodywork is what GM dubs “heritage styling.” It evokes the classic 1947-54 Chevy “Advanced Design” series trucks, which thrust GM into the light truck styling lead at their introduction.
While GM CEO Rick Wagoner has announced that the SSR will enter production in 2002, sources say the program is a long way from being completely nailed down.
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