BRITISH CARS POPULAR

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20955, 8 September 1933, Page 15

BRITISH CARS POPULAR

WORLD MARKETS INCREASE AMERICAN ALARM (FROM OL'E OWK COIIRESrOJfDEN'T.) LONDON, August 4. British motor-car manufacturers have obtained a definite ascendancy in world markets, says the motoring correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph." American competition has been overcome not only in the Empire, but in Europe to such an extent that United States exports hav.e been cut in half during each of the last two years. American manufacturers are now seriously alarmed at the threatened disappearance of their foreign trade. Spain furnishes the latest evidence of this reversal of fortunes. A message from Bilbao yesterday reported that American selling agents have been ordered to prevent, at any cost, the continued replacement of American cars by their morn attractive British rivals. An intensive propaganda campaign has been started all over the country. Comfort and Economy. One American company is reported to have organised a spectacular cortege of 35 vehicles, which is touring the Republic. All the latest models are represented, headed by a large car broadcasting popular tunes. But the display is said to be making little im-, pression in the Basque provinces, where the British invasion has been most marked. Spanish and other European buyers appear to have ceased to demand luxurious design. Instead, they favour practical comfort combined with economy of running, which are the strong points of the British car. In view of the official figures given me, the American alarm is not surprising. In 3931 Spain took from us a total of 97 private cars of the value of £11,290. Iji 1932 the total was 955 cars valued at £120.376, and in the first five months of this year v/e exported to Spain 1173 cars of the value; of £145,999. Thus Our exports to Spain have multiplied more than 12; times in two years and ore still rising. Other European countries are also turning to Great Britain for their j motor-cars to a gratifying extent. The! Netherlands last year took from us 3416!

[ cars, value £189,670, against 594 of the value of £08.237 in 1931. Portugal practically doubled her imports of ; flritish cars last year, and Sweden, which took only 43 from us in 1931, ! bought 350 last year, value £23,975. Altogether we exported to European , countries 11,957 cars last year, against 7818 in 1931, and to all parts of the ! world 31,797 cars, against 18,992 the year before. Last year's total was 15.6 per cent, of all the cars produced in the United Kingdom. The United States exports for the same year fell to 40,657, only 3.6 Eer cent, of her production. The year cfore they were 80,430, and in 1930 the total was 153,088. STREAMLINED CARS BRITISH EXPERT'S VIEWS Discussing streamlining recently a prominent British engineer said that little had been done on cars sold to the public, probably because there had been more important improvements to be made than that of discovering the shape offering the least resistance to the air. The possibilities, however, were enormous. A normal type of closed car, running at 35 miles an; hour, required eight horse-power to; overcome rolling resistance, and another eight horse-power to overcome air resistance. At 70 miles an hour the figures became 16 and 64, while at 80 miles an hour no less than 19 horsepower was required for road resistance and 100 horse-power for air displacement. It is interesting to note that at the moderate cruising speed of 35 miles an hour half the power developed is being used to force a passage through the air, and at very frequent bursts of speed about twothirds of the power is being wasted in overcoming air resistance. EUROPE'S ROADS Among European countries France has the greatest length of motoring roads, according to statistics published in Prague. These statistics show that the world possesses 6,665,800 miles of motoring roads, of which 1,225,700 are in Euro De. The figures are:—

GLARING HEADLIGHTS The attention of the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland has been drawn to the practice of some city motorists driving with powerful headlights full on in the city streets, says the Brisbane "Courier." "The average motorist, doubtless, has never given much thought to the matter, and probably is quite unaware of the difficulty he is creating for other road users by this practice," the club writes. "There can be little or no difficulty of, driving quite safely in city streets with lights dimmed. If only drivers, would realise this and keep their headlights dim until they reach the outer suburbs of the city a relief from this danger would be found. When the bitumen roaas are wet this danger is considerably increased, and conse« quently it becomes more necessary to avoid having headlights full on. This may entail the exercise of a little more care, and less speed, but, in the interests of safety, it will Jse found, 'yortfr wfail^

Ill J.UU UgUlC '.XX L • Miles. France .. 392,500 Germany 217,035 Great Britain .. 179,736 Italy Poland .. .. 121,985 ., 59,045 Spain .. .. 54,435 Sweden 44,545 Czechoslovakia .. .. 30,508 Belgium .. 28,671 Norway .. 22,751 Austria .. 20,000 Hungary .. 10,122 Holland .» ,. 15,855 Switzerland 8,612