Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-14
LIGHTER AUTOS
SEEN IN FUTURE
Automobile Engineers at
Present Engaged With Multi
Cylinder Designs.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
DETROIT, September 13-The light
car of the future is occupying the at
tention of the engineering fraternity,
but the possibilities of it appear to be
visionary for four or five years yet. On
two points the men who design the cars
appear to be in agreement. One is that
the future light cars when they are
evolved, will be in the "featherweight"
class, as compared with those we use
now. The other is that progress in met
allurgy will bring them into existence.
The new phase which automobile de-
sign now appears to be entering is that
of multi-cylinder operation Is seen in
straight and V-type power plants utiliz-
ing eight, twelve and sixteen cylinders.
Engineers Agree.
The engineers also agree that six
cylinder engines, having reached max
imum of smoothness and efficiency, the
aim is now to better their performance
without limit on the number of cylin-
ders. That means cars of somewhat
greater weight and ability to consume
fuel, but with the added advantages of
sickness" in operation and greater
speeds under less driving strain.
When these reach the ultimate, then
will come the truly light or feather
weight models that are a subject of
technical conversation now
Progress in metallurgy already has
brought stainless steel to cars of the
present. 1t is used for radiators and
+. small parts that require brilliancy of
surface with resistance to rust and cor
rosion. Stainless steel is an alloy. Re-
search in connection with it has directed
effort also toward development of other
alloys that the automobile factories are
using Tor engine blocks to make cooling
easier.
In this the airplane engineers are
taking hand, because they too are in
quest of engines that are lighter and
easier on the oil.
Foresees Radical Cars.
William B. Stout, who gained his ini-
tial experience in the motor car field
is among those who insist that radical
cars must come.
he has said there is no reason why
automobile engines cannot be built to-
day that weigh only 2 pounds per horse
power, and at no more cost. considering
the quantities produced. He believes it
possible to build cars now that will give
twice the performance of the present
cars in everything except top speed.
They would be only half the weight, and
road better because of lightneSs.
Even more radical than his idea is one
expressed in print one year ago by
Charles F. Kettering, official head of
research OF one OF the large automobile
corporations
Within 10 years. he is quoted, "au-
tomobiles will safely travel 100 miles an
hour, weigh less than 1000 pounds, sell
: Tor less than $1,000 and cover 80 miles
on one gallon of gasoline.
"Lightness is one of the things we
have learned from the airplane. Until
1870, we used to boast of how heavy
our cars were. Now a chief selling point
is how light they are.
Aluminium, Ignite and 'invar' all
came into automobile construction by
way of the airplane."
Then Mr.. Kettering told of a new
metal that was being perfected which
was Is times stronger than nickeled
steel, yet only one-third as heavy as
aluminium. He intimated that use of
such metal would allow four pounds
per horsepower in building engines.
Thus a so horsepower engine would
weigh only 200 pounds.
Will Double Mileage.
Light weight and improved carbure-
ton are going to double the mileage we
get on gasoline. Many parts will be
eliminated on the automobile of the
future. The method of gear-shifting
IS undergoing changes that will even
tually eliminate the cumbersome shift
ing lever Shifting. braking and possibly
steering will be part of the electrical
system
Body design" he added. sis due for
marked changes also. We are only
beginning to learn the possibilities of
the streamline body in reducing wind
resistance"
That such theories are in no way
visionary IS shown by current stories of
progress the metallurgistS are making
one IS OF new metal called "beryl-
lum" that has been produced but at a
cost approximating 5000 a pound. 1t is
two-thirds lighter than aluminium, and
has been called "the king of metals"
because 1t possesses higher tensile
strength than steel. Recent reports
have 1t that a nsw process has been
discovered whereby beryllium can be
manufactured for less than IS per
pound.
Its primary use would be for airplane
construction To cut present weights in
half. This would combine it with alumni
mum IN new alloy metal. Those who
are experimenting with it say that IL
can be mixed with copper to give an
other alloy that could be used for auto
mobile springs lighter and stronger than
any used today.
With such metal to work with an
engineering knowledge making a pro-
portonate advance. the day may come
When fun size cars can be built so light
mat the only spring suspension they
would need would be under the seat. as
on existing types of motor cycles.
Copyright, 1899. by North American News
paper Alliance)