Evening star., 1927-09-18
MOTORING
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.

has IOlliplClCQ lIS ellIlTc civ
" satisfactory scrutiny of the
exterior appearance, the
greater roominess and other SUR
lace improvements of the new auto
motive crop. its attention gradually
IS being called to the emphatically
impressive mechanical progress cm-
bodied in the models shown
Prior to the appearance of the new
cars prophets had warned the mo-
torist not to look for sharp de-
partures from current practice in
the mechanical field In this the
prophets were particularly accurate.
The rehncmcnts which they forecast
have been so numerous and their re-
suits so successful that motor car
performance has been improved in
such a way that the application OF
the word radical to the new cars
seems fully justified
For instance. an engine looks little
changed and no design principle is
cast into the discard when it's piston
displacement is increased or its COM
preston ratio raised. but certainly it
performs with vagor that seems to
indicate an entirely new note in en-
ginecring.
* x
Apart from their enhanced beauty.
which is recognizable at a glance.
two outstanding gains must be
recorded in favor of the new models.
These arc greater power and greater
comfort. This does not mean that
the manufacturer who did not make
A. model change has been outdis
tanccd by his competitors in these
two vital qualities. but it does mean
that those who made changes have
improved upon their own models
just supplanted
Two principles--in some cases
fusion of the two-have been re-
sorted to in the effort TO step-up
the power of the new models. Sew
eral manufacturers have enlarged
their motors, increasing both bore
and stroke.
Higher compression is the other
form in which the jealous seeker of
automobile performance has ex-
pressed himself. In some cases
cylinder heads have been rcdesigned
to permit utilization of the last ounce
of energy in the gasoline charge
within the cylinder. Adoption OF a
special, patented high-compression
cylinder head is prominent in the
announcements of other manufac-
turers. Still others have resorted to
the effective cxpedient of reducing
the area of the combustion chamber
by lowering the cylinder head. In
the first two instances the advan-
tage is claimed that any motor fuel
can be used successfully. while in
the latter the highly volatile, non
decorating fuels are declared indis-
pensable to superior performance
Such fuels are to be found in every
locality, however. and their avail
ability is expected to be followed by
still wider application of the higher
compression principle
Larger inlet valves. lighter pistons,
fearrangement of valves and changes
in nianifolding are other manifesto
tions of the desire for smooth power.
In connection with the boost in the
compression ratio. the alterations in
the engine units layout, the greater
lightness of reciprocating parts and
smoother carburetion, and. in one
case at least, and advance in timing,
have come higher engine speeds.
which mean greater fiexibility and
smoothncss in traffic-one of the
most marketable of motor car vir-
tues.
Il II
The mental comfort that comes
from improved performance in the
latest automotive products is more
than matched by the physical ease
that they offer. The motor car mar
ket has seen engine changes, brake
design improvements, body. tire.
steering and other alterations by the
dozen during the last three years,
but it had to wait until this year
to see springs leap into the lime
hight of the laboratory.
But the wait was justified. Once
they got an opportunity, springs
came out with rush. Apparently.
after years of comparative DOR
NANCY, every manufacturer started
thinking about springs at the same
time. and the craving for comfort
has found qualification.
In the latest devices employed to
keep the automobile occupant COM
Portable one finds new steel alloys
used, longer leaves. more leaves in
the rear and fewer in front. different
degrees of arching. new ideas in sus-
pending and shackling and many
other thoughts which indicate con-
ciusively that springs have been get
ting careful attention. Every motor
ist knows of the debate that has
ragged for years relative to the ad-
vantages or disadvantages of oiling
the springs Then came the argu-
ments over boots or no boots.
Now. If one new type Of spring
works out and meets the favor OF
other manufacturers all these ques-
tions may be answered The dry
leaf" spring has arrived. Its spon-
sor declares that it never will need
fabrication. because the composition
of the metal used is such as to as
sure. the exact amount OF resiliency
without oil or grease during the en-
tire life of the car.
Regardless OF the method en-
ployed, virtually every manufacturer
offering greater comfort is correct
in his claim In two medium priced
six-cylinder cars. principles that arc
directly antithetical are used. yet
ride in both automobiles proves that
both are more comfortable than their
immediate predeccssors--w hich. by
the way, seemed to be the ultimate
in ease.
Leg room and body room that sur
pass previous offerings are two other