New VW Does 81 m.p.h.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 9

New VW Does 81 m.p.h.

Since the first announcement from Wolfsburg of the new model 1500 c.c. Volkswagen, further information of the technical specifications of the car have become available. The car produces 45 brake horsepower and has a top speed of 81 miles an hour. A four or five-seater, the new car has mountings for safety belts. A feature of the car is the large amount of luggage space, in contrast to the smaller 1200 c.c. Volkswagen. The petrol tank is behind the spare wheel under the front luggage compartment. The air-cooled, four-stroke, fiat-four engine has overhead valves which are camshaft driven by rocker arms. The transmission, final drive, and engine are in one unit and are easily removed. The front wheels are independently sprung by two torsion arms, horizontally crossed torsion bars, a stabiliser, and double-acting telescopic shock absorbers Progressive rubber stops limit the amount of wheel travel up and down. The steering is by worm and roller, with divided track rods and a hydraulic steering damper. Swinging arms are used for the rear axle, with independent wheel suspension, spring plates, horizontal torsion bars, and telescopic shock absorbers. Production is ‘planned to start in the next few months.