Evening star., 1934-01-28

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especially to improve acceleration
performance.
Economy Of New Cars
OF Higher Order.
Economy has ceased to be something
secondary and abstract with the result
that it has received genuine considera-
ton in this years cars, particularly in
the case Of the popular priced group,
where high engine power in recent years
has been accompanied by lower gasoline
mileage. Ten to twelve per cent better
ment of economy performance is dem
onstratable, making lower operating
cost compensation for the higher ini-
tial prices.
That original prices should be higher
Is an inevitability. Not only are ma
terial and labor costs increased mark
edly over last year, but also the indus
try has determined to build complete
car in every detail. It asks more dol
lars for the individual car, but 1t gives
more automobile per dollar than ever
before. Value, not price, is the founda-
tion of its recovery campaign.
Most striking of the features Of the
1884 automobile, If only because 1t Is
the most visible, is the new body de-
sign "Streamlining" is no new word in
the lexicon of motordon, but the idea
1t embodies finds its first real express
sion in motor car bodies this year. The
degree to which 1t Is embraced by vari-
Gus companies differs, but the most
tentatively and hesitantly streamlined
cars of 1884 transcend the most en-
phatic expression of this design last
year Two offerings for the current
-, ofS hat of 1n-
eating the engine at the rear.
Rear Of Bodies Given
Attention This Year.
Last years cars were Streamlined to
the extent that radiators we're given
V-shape and sloped backward at an
angle which matched a windshield with
the same degree of rearward tilt. Moth
ing was done, however, with the rear
Of the body to modify the vacuum erect
created by the forward motion OF the
vehicle, which constitutes one OF the
strongest forms of air resistance en-
counrered.
The back Of the body in 1884 very
definitely has joined the front Of the
car in conforming to the streamline
pattern It slopes forward at reverse
angle which parallels that of the cars
"entering wedge" to assure smoother
and far less resistant airf1ow.
The effort to achieve more eflcient
form has brought numerous other in
teresting detail changes. Headlamps
are entirely new in style, spare tires
are carried In streamlined carriers, or,
In one instance, concealed inside the
rear body panel, external hardware has
been revised to smooth airflow over the
body and even hood louvers have been
reshaped to conform to the designers
new conception of efficient bodies.
Fender Skirting Practice
Reaches New Extreme.
The practice of skirting tenders is
carried to its maximum expression IN
the case of some special models on
which the wheels are almost completely
covered by the equivalent Of the pants"
used to reduce the resistance offered
by airplane landing wheels, and almost
identical in shape with those stream.
lined covers used on the WneeH OF
Sir Malcolm Campbells Bluebird, the
worlds only 2eo-mile-an-hour automo-
bile.
Sharing the limelight with the spec
tacular new bodies of the 1894 models
is that long discussed feature, inde-
pendent springing of the front wheels.
With that genius for which it Is noted,
the industry has given this develop
tnent variety of popular designations,
Including "knee-action," "axle-f1ex."
floating cushion"
Independent springing, however, Is
It's generic name and its purpose Is
to eliminate the conventional solid. or
fixed, axle connecting the front wheels,
In order to provide not only greater
riding comfort, but to improve steering
co fnf N
velopment permits each front wheel to
move up and down, In other words. IN
the vertical plane, entirely independ-
emily of the other. Sponsors OF the
device point out that the elimination
Of the connection between the front
wheels removes all tendency Of the
front wheels to wobble, tramp or
Shimmy.
New Type Tires Used
With Development.
Let 1t be said that the tendency
toward Q scufang action on the tires,
which some may perceive as posi-
bility of the new suspension. Is taken
care Of through an increase in tire
tread thickness. --.--
The engine chapter Of the automobile
story for 1894 Is the most vivid ever
written by the engineer. The figure
which tells it with the most startling
effect Is that which shows that the
average peak horsepower for all makes
Of cars this year Is liz, with the range
from 60 in the lowest price field to 800
In the case of q super-charged special
etght-cylinder product.
Power increases have been general
throughout the entire list Of passenger
carr with 80 horsepower representing
an average among the four best sellers
In the popular price field.
The most pronounced trend toward
higher engine output u that to be found
IA cars In the medium price tier. From
90 to 100 horsepower last year, they
have climbed to peaks Of lis In 1894.
Fha most impressive single improve
1nsnt tn this group II that to be found
y - go o6 IN eiaht-cyIindef Aoduet