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Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2004 12:04:15 GMT
From: "Steve B." <prettygoodnospamything.com.au>
Subject: Re: congratulations, welcome, what took you so long?


Richard Kilpatrick said: > Previously, <c2finu$gcc$1nospamre.INS.cwru.edu>, audi <audinospamam.com> > dipped their finger in oil and wrote: >> Congratulations to Saab, Ford, Chrysler, and Nissan (Infiniti) for the >> discovery of AWD in a sedan, hatchback or station wagon for the 2004 or 2005 >> model year. > > Ford experimented with 4x4 in the Formula-Ferguson Zodiac in the 1960s > (the same system used in the Jensen Interceptor FF). They released > around 1984 a little thing called the Sierra XR4x4, a four-wheel drive > hatchback/estate (Ghia 4x4) similar to the US-market XR4Ti. They also > produced a Merkur-Scorpio 'based' version (since I'm writing this from a > US-centric view to make it easier for you to understand). > > General Motors had similar experiments in the late 70s based on the > EU-market Opel Monza (no relation to the Chevy Monza). > > As others have pointed out, AMC Jeep long ago thought of sticking a > Matador bodyshell on a Cherokee chassis and introduced the AMC Eagle, > which will out 'hybrid' anything you care to throw at it. > > Nissan have been producing world-class AWD/4WD sedans for years. The > Sunny/Pulsar platform boasted 4wd from the mid 80s, though not for > export, and there's the little matter of the Skyline R32/33/34 so > beloved of rice-boys. > > Also, Peugeot/Citroen offered 4x4/AWD sedans in the mid 80s, and in > Peugeot's case a lovely hybrid device which I think is called the > Dangel, or 504 Safari wagon, which is basically a 4 wheel drive 504 > estate and competed in the Paris-Dakar, as well as being a kick-ass > hybrid. > > Lets not also forget just how many 4x4 systems VAG have used, and that > Quattro isn't the same system that won rallies anymore. In fact, on some > cars, it's not even Quattro, but Syncro (A3). And Syncro, in FWD > Transverse (original) form (i.e. Golf Syncro, Jetta), stinks. > > Other people with AWD sedans include Mazda (oh, look, Ford again), > Toyota (I think they offered a Carina, and I've definitely seen mid 90s > Corolla 4x4s), Alfa-Romeo, BMW (325iX), Mercedes (who can forget > 4Matic?), Volvo... > > I believe that Subaru's selectable 4wd, if not AWD, predates Audi's > implementation of AWD in a passenger car, too. There's little doubt that it's Subaru's total commitment to AWD (I don't know about the rest of the world but they don't sell 2WD cars in Australia anymore) that has spawned the current rash of AWD sedans, hatches etc... They made a brace decision and they're reaping the rewards. Steve = : ^ )

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