Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-17
MOTORING
The inflated his driving ability often
be identified BY underinfated tires his
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.

many of the lower and medium
priced products.
X X **
| Upholstery is going to compel
more notice from now on. The
tuftcd variety, which Immediately
appeals with its appearance OF great
or comfort and newncsS, is making
important gains with the announce
ment of almost every new model, and
further adoption is to he expected.
One of the impressive tendencies
is the utilization of every fraction OF
an inch to give greater roominesS.
One maker has added several inches
TO the width of the rear seat of his
closed cars by building the body out
over the tenders, a practice new to
this factory, but not to the industry.
Others are following. and it truly
is surprising what can be achieved.
| One light six sedan model has had
but an inch more room added to the
that the increase must amount to
several inches.
Door locks, lock controls, light
controls and switches, accelerators,
spark and gas controls and many
other such items are being given the
consideration that leads TO improve
ment. Several manufacturers have
introduced the accelerator in a form
that makes it fit the entire foot in
stead OF just the ball of it. The ef-
feet is to assure steadness of &C
CELEBRATION that was lacking i'll the
old design, which involved A rubber
or steel disc set atop of relatively
thin spindle.
The odds are against radical
changes i'll power plants. However.
the tendency toward higher COM
preston and higher engine speed
continues. As regards the former,
the trend. while sporadic, is assum-
ing greater emphasis. Together,
with the adoption of higher compress
sion-which has not by any means
reached its full express sion-there is
noticeable tendency toward the use
of lighter aluminium alloy pistons
and lighter connecting rods to COM
pensate for increased engine speed.
Engineering observers arc looking
forward to some manufacturer to
offer optional engine heads of vary
ing compression ratios. If this ex-
pectation is realized, its creator prob
ably will be in the higher price class.
X X X
Vibration still is the object of
relentless attacks in the laboratory.
Gigantic strides in the elimintion of
this annoying feature were recorded
in the 1927 cars, but it is regarded as
likely that the 1923 models will hold
an element of still greater progress.
The disappearance of vibration is
being marked by the appearance of
engines of still higher speed.
Still greater economy and efficiency
are the especial detectives of efforts
to improve carburetion. The carbure-
tor, greatly bettered, still is a unit
that permits of further Improvement.
Carburetor mixtures, according to
some engineers, rather generally err
on the side of richness. New wrinkles
IN high turbulence manifolding may
prove other desirable features of the
new cars.
AS to driving mechanism, the 1923
car will be little different from those
OF the current season. Here and
there, it is possible that the spiral
bevel final drive may give way to
hypoid or worm, but the first men
toned type still has firm hold.
Enttr-Snao1 -,
a most active subject of discussion,
but if they are to be very generally
adopted it probably will be at more
distant date than was anticipated in
many quarters.
Refinement, therefore. is the chief
prospect III relation to the 1923 auto
mobile. But, with manufacturers
reaching out for wider markets. and
with engineering departments work
ing at top speed; it is possible that
simple rehnement-as much as it
means-in limited way, may be sup
planted by some radical gesture in
design.
One of the fields in which this
might be expected more than in any
other, according to MANY close oh
servers, is that of body design. De-
spite the remarkable beauty that has
been given to the modern automobile,
there has been relatively little de-
parture from normal practice if one
does not lay too much emphasis upon
finish.
Motordom has the convertible
coupe. Who will be the first to create
the convertible victoria or sedan?
AND, who will be the creator of the
front-wheel drive passenger car?
The industry is working feverishly.
II 1t has radical ends in view, that
tact still is a secret of the laboratory.
fCOpyright 1871