Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08
CARS
Continued From Page FL

COntlHuco from rage I'll
more output. Today's engine
loafs. It means a big reserve
It's power, moreover. Is due to
efficiency. Compression ratios
run right up to the 10 to / we
were dreaming about only yes
terday. This has been made
possible because of the steady
hiking of octane rating of gaso-
line. both regular and premium.
Teamed with horsepower and
high torque is the automatic
drive which makes what's under
the hood still more evident in
terms of performance. General
Motors. in the new Hydra-Natic.
has added snoothness while re-
tanning all the advantages of
gearing. Buick has improved
its variable pitch Dynaflow so
as to effect coupling of extra
power to the drive line as
needed. while Packard offers a
part throttle" position for pass
ing in addition to the full kick
down for emergencies.
Two harvard Ranges
Pontiac, oldsmobile, Cadillac,
Eldorado and Packard have
choice Of two forward driving
ranges-the HydrasMatic being
geared in both ranges with
double fluid coupling while on
Pack Ultra-Matic the
choice is between all gearing
with a toroue converter for
coupling or al torque converter
These options for the driver
result in greater economy. an
other important factor in the
1856 automobile travel picture.
On the five Chrysler-built lines
there is push-button control OF
the automatic drive. This not
only adds to driving ease but is
a. safety factor since it is Inn
possible to shift into reverse &C
cidentally while the car is going
forward faster than 10 miles per
hour Control is entirely me-
chanieal with this system.
Packard has optional button
control. but of the electronicI
variety. There are the two for
ward drive buttons in addition
to low and reverse, ard also a
park button. When the driver
takes his key from the ignition
switch the transmission auto
matically locks the car.
Special interest is being shown
in button shifting for the reason
that it was once a feature OF
such cars as the SGV in the
early days and later the Premier.
Like power braking and auto
matte chassis fabrication Ton
1856 Lincoln and Mercury 1t is
playing a return engagement.
"Hi-Fi" Photographs
There is a broad hint Of more
extensive use of the automobile
this year in the appearance OF
high fidelity monographs which
are optional equipment on all
cars of the Chrysler group. 1t
means that those who travel far
from the beaten track can have
the pleasure and companionship
of well-reproduced music
We see ar conditioning. on
Buick for example, condensed
into a subhood installation,
which means more space in the
luggage compartment for the
paraphernalia Of the long dis
lance trip.
On Continental we find the
spare tire in the lid Of the lug
gage compartment. Even in the
sports-car field there are new
concessions to the use of auto
mobiles for convenience and
travel, best illustrated by the
fact that the Thunderbird now
accommodates three on the front
seat comfortably.
Typifying the new theme is
Studebakers new Golden Hawk
line. which aims to combine
standard-car comfort with
sports-car performance and
functional design. In actual tests
the Golden Hawk accelerated
from 80 to so miles per hour in
5.4 seconds.
Since deceleration is equally
important as getaway for pass
ing cars, much detailed atten-
ton this year has been paid to