LOOKING AHEAD.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19812, 27 December 1929, Page 4

LOOKING AHEAD.

CAR TEN YEARS HENCE, j WILL GO 80 MILES ON A GALLON. I Within ten years, automobiles will safely travel a hundred miles an hour, weigh less than a tnousand pounds, sell for less than £2OO, and cover SO miles on a gallon of petrol. This is the prophecy of Charles F. Kettering, prcsiden f or Generals Motors Research Corporation, and inventor of the self-starter and many other automobile improvements. Lightness of Construction. " Lightness of construction is one of the things we have learned from the aeroplane," said Mr Kettering. "Until 1920 we used to boast of how heavy our cars were. Now a chief selling point is how light they are. Aluminium, lvnite, and invar all came into motorcar construction by way of the aeroplane. Just now we are perfecting for commercial- purposes a new metal 15 times stronger than nickeled steel, yet only one-third as heavy as aluminium. We figure we ean allow about four pounds per horse-power in making motors of this new metal. Thus a 50-horse-power jnotor would weigh only 200 pounds. •'Light weight and improved methods of carburetion are going to double the mileage we can get on a gallon of benzine. I also believe that many parts will be eliminated on the motorcar of the future. The whole method of gear shifting is undergoing a series ot* changes—changes that eventually will do awav with the cumbersome shifting lever. Shifting, braking, and possibly steering will be part ot the electrical system. Science of Streamlining. "Body design is due for marked changes, alao. We are only beginning to learn the possibilities of the streamline body in reducing wind resistance. Major Segrave never could have made his recent record unless he had thoroughly understood the science of streamlining. " \s far as I can see —and l am taking a long look into the future—the motor-car and the aeroplane will never conflict. Instead, they will complement each other —and inside of another ten years it will be a wise man indeed who can tell, when blindfolded, whether he is riding in an aeroplane or a car.