THE MOTOR WORLD.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15124, 13 November 1914, Page 9

THE MOTOR WORLD.

Thero -is. little douht thati to somo extent, the war and the consequent dis-. location of to mention tho actions of the British and foreign Governments .in tho commandeering line—has had somo effect upon the display; o£ ..motor-cars and motor-cyctes at tho Metropolitan Show,, but taking everything „■• into -consideration, the, agency, firms who wore represented __i Addington have done well, and havo combined to make a vei-y fine all-round display. There.is no radical departure from 1913 practico visible to tho casual; observer 'in tho care ai the Show this year. Probably the most outstanding impression ono gets is tha. tho big, heavy, and" expensive car is rapidly losing _ its popularity, and people are. beginning to .realis. that tho best proposition in every way is' the medium-powered car, - ' which nowadays can bo rolied'upon to do the work at a reasonable outlay for running expenses. Four "cylinders seem to bo the favourite number on practically all medium cars, now, .and oven the littlo cycle-car engines have four diminutive cylinders in preference to tho older idea of two larger ones. On : many of tho' English and Continental; cars four-speed gear boxes are rapidly coining into vogue, hut nearly all the ; American cars noticed still mount'the three-speed gear box. Engine starters and electrio light out__j . _sro very general on all cars above a certain prico limit. Tho American cars in particular are well fitted-out in these respects. 'Tho lengthening of _the wheel base of small and medium-sized cars- is distinctly a feaiure of 41914 designs. The general details of the bodywork are very well thought out, an I the finish on some of the cars iV really superb. Tho show; of motorcycles and side-cars was as excellent in its-way as the show of oars. Tho 191. motor-cyclo is generally a find Sieco of engineering work,: and the ten-, oncy to fit car typo gear-hpxes, two-' step or chain drives, ;automatic oiling, is thoroughly .praiseworthy, j