Evening star., 1931-11-29

season IuTIleu Ills dJI6uIlOu 10
the clutch and transmission. AL
ready one manufacturer has
adopted as standard equipment
on his models what is, in brief,
the automatic" clutch. The sim
pie operation of this enables gear
changes by the mere act of touch
ing a button with the foot. For
those experts who delight to eX-
hibit their skill in clashless shifts
up or down. the new clutch will
be a revelation.
The automatic type or devices
of a similar nature for clutch
control, was a logical answer to
the demand of the driving pub
lie, particularly women, and to
the ultimate trend toward sup
plying the torque required to
start and move the car without
effort on the operators part.
With the new controls, the en-
gineer is approXimating the
smooth, high -torque getaway of
the steam engine and the electric
vehicle.
Mounting Advances.
The new engines will reveal
marked advances in mOuntingS.
Already one or more manufac-
turerS have made novel use of
rubber for obtaining a floating"
power plant. Other similar APP
plicationS are quite likely; at
least, there are rumorS in the in
duStry of new methods for max
ing the engine vibrationleSs.
There should be some surprises
in this line at the show.
One of the many features of
the 1882 models will be the newer
provisions made for riding COM
fort and roadability. Among the
former is adjustment of the shock
abSorberS from the seat. This is
step in the right direction,
since all roads are not as smooth
as billiard tables. With practical
control, plus marked improve
mentS in riding comfort, the
days mileage can be stepped up
appreciably with no discomfort.
Several of the companies at the
shows will exhibit partly dis
sected or cutout chaSSeS, showing
how these improved features op-
crate.
There is an indication that
wheelbaSes will be slightly in
creased. and this lengthening
probably is more marked in the
popular or loW-priced fields. The
argument that the short wheel
base car is ideal for city use
that is, parking-apparently has
lost its appeal, and longer wheel
bases on the low-priced cars in
dicate the public'S demand. I'M
proved steering gears and link
age permit easy parking of the
new models.
Advance Information.
Advance information indicates
a lower center of gravity in the
new car and that larger tire sec
tionS will be favored. The drop
base or drop center rim will be
seen in greater numbers.
Generally speaking, the new
designs of bodies will be longer
and wider. affording more gener-
Gus seating accommodations than
in the past, although last years
bodies were generous. Better
streanlining will he revealed, as
we'll as new treatments of exterior
body units. The trend is for
these to flow into the outline of
the car. Eliminating wind re-
siStance is a problem the body
designer has been giving careful
study during the past year and
innovations may be expected.
Rumor has it that some new
twelves and siXteenS will be un-
covered at the show. Fights
doubtless will predominant and
of these it can be said that the
new models will give greater
mileage the gallon of fuel, due to
better vaporization and control,
and to improvements in engine
componentS having a bearing on
fuel consumption. Similarly the
new power plants will be more
economical to lubricate.
Automatic Starting.
Another new feature is auto
matte starting. Years ago a we'll
known American manufacturer
brought out a form of automatic
starting, but it was not generally
adopted. The device provided
for restarting the engine if it
stalled in operation or in traffic.
Provision against stalling will be
seen on several of the 1882 mod
els, another example of the in
dustry making the automobile
safer and requiring less effort
and, perhaps, skill on the part of
the operator.
There is every reason to be-
lieve that numerous innovations
and improvements will make
1925 product highly desirable
from every viewpoint, and visitors
at the New York and Chicago eX-
hibitionS will find much that is
highly interesting from the
standpoint of appearance, econ
omy of operation, comfort and
smartneSS.
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