REACTIONS TO 18-22 SERIES

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33815, 11 April 1975, Page 4

REACTIONS TO 18-22 SERIES

Most of the first year’s production of the new 18-22 series of Austin and Morris front-wheel-drive cars will be for British markets, and exports are not expected to start in any volume until next year, it has been reported from Britain.

The .new models, which replace the Austin and Morris 1800 models and their British-market sixcylinder 2.2-litre equivalents. have been generally favourably received by British motoring writers. There has, however, been general criticism of the i cars’ gearchange, which is i the same as in the old 1800 ( models.

British Leyland has never been noted for producing cars with good gearchanges, and the new model has been said by several writers to continue gearchange faults that have been obvious, and criticised, in British Leyland and British Motor Corporation cars for 10 or 15 years. The cars have been i praised for their roominess.) ride, and roadholding,) although testers have given'

the models low marks for performance.