CARS OF 1936.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 250, 22 October 1935, Page 18

CARS OF 1936.

Engines Forward,

Rumours of New Eight Cylinders,

ENGLISH TREND. WHAJT TO EXPECT. RUMOURS OF NEW "VS." The great Olympia Motor Show, which has been aptly described as the shop window of the British motor trade, opened this year on October 17. A London correspondent says that already the motoring Press has begun to forecast tlic developments to be expected in the 1936 cars, and, although manufacturers have for the most part withheld the details of their latest models to be "released" at Olympia, those in close contact with the factories in the United Kingdom have been able to compile a dependable summary of the general trend of design.

It docs not seem that there will be any changes comparable in novelty and importance to those of former years, such as streamlining, independent front springing, and syncro-mcsh gears. On the contrary, most of the new cars will display improvements of a general, nature, and simplification has been the aim. This reaction is one which has occurred on several previous occasions, following periods of rapid development and increasing mechanical complexity.

Specifications have been combed to eliminate fittings which arc 110 longer considered necessary, and the design of the chassis "cleaned up" to reduce the number of minor components. Even in the external appcarance the effect of this endeavour to. simplify the car is noticeable.

All that is very much to the good. It is predicted that "wi.''n the wheelbase seating" made possible by more forward mounting of the engine, will

become a standard practice, and that ride-stabilisers in the form of a torsion bar at the rear of the car will be adopted by many more manufacturers.

In the coachwork a general increase in interior widths is expected, and even in the low-priced saloons the rear seat will be wide enough to carry three passengers. It is suggested that better springing will be obtained by the redistribution of weight, owing to the position of the engine and the use of improved springs.

It will be Interesting to note whether in the long run the controlled front axle will be ablq to compete with the more radical plan of doing without an axle altogether. For 1936, at any rate, we shall see the two systems in even keener competition than in the current year. Chassis frames will not show much change in form, but welding is replacing rivets as a means for joining the various parts of the structure.

Braking systems have been improved, so that the driver's effort is communicated to the shoes with a minimum loss due to the resistance of complicated linkages.

Hand brakes arc to be more powerful and acccssible. Down draught carburcttion has been accepted generally as very efficient, and many manufacturers are by that and other means procuring a greater output of power at low revolutions.

Crankcases have been enlarged to ensure good cooling of the oil, which has heavier work to do in high efficiency units; centralised chassis lubrication and permanent wheel jacks will be numerous, and, although it is expected that British factories will mostly continue to produce four and six-cylinder engines, there are rumours oi one or two new "V 8" makes.