Small cars (up to 1300 cu cm)

Press, 27 November 1980, Page 13

Small cars (up to 1300 cu cm)

‘ O One car in three of hew car sales in New Zealand is in the under 1300 cu cm range. The cheapest at present is still the Mini, which has been in production since 1959. A basic Mini costs $6829, the LE model $B5 more, and the 1275 GT’s77B2. Mother British Leyland cars in this range include the Allegro 1300 at $7985, which rises in price, to $8970 for the LE 111 (8970). ? VAUXHALL Chevettes have a 1300 ciu cm motor and come in three models, the hatchback four-speed at $9045, the four-door hatchback at $9245, and the estate at $9445.

Recent improvements to the Chevette include increased rear-seat foot and headroom. TOYOTA This year’s Corolla range includes six models with new engine and body designs. The four-door manual is $8990 ($4OO more for the automatic) and the waggon is $9970,. The SE liftback retails at just under SlO.OOO. Corolla is Toyota’s bestselling car in New Zealand and the 1980 range has been redesigned from the ground up. A new body shape has given extra inside room, wider track and larger wheelbase. The Starlet three door

is $7990, and the five-door version costs $8490. FORD The popular Escort range begins with the four door 1.1 litre at $8165. The 1.3 manual is $8650, and the waggon costs $3OO more. The 1.3 automatic is $9221. MITSUBISHI The Mirage, known in most countries as the Colt, is available with either a 1200 or 1400 cu cm engine. The three-door 1200 costs $8351. With “super-shift” the price rises to $8896. The “super-shift” gives a choice of either “power” or “economy” drive in all gears. Beside the .normal four speed gear box is a lever which has an “Economy"

or “Power” setting. In “Power,” the gear ratios are reduced to 1.526 to give the car good acceleration and flexibility. The “Power” range is specially suitable for hills or for carrying heavy loads. The “Economy” setting makes the reduction ratio 1.181, giving the car longer legs so that the engine spins more slowly for a given speed and gear. The “Economy" range is for ordinary cruising and, according to Mitsubishi, ensures quiet travelling and lowers fuel consumptibn.

Changing between “Economy” and “Power” is done by simply depressing the clutch, shifting the lever and releasing the clutch again, just as the driver does when normally changing gear. The Mirage also comes in a five-door version, which costs $9450 with “super-shift.” The Lancer also tops the $9OOO mark at $9295. This year’s model has

been redesigned completely, again giving more interior space and a cleaner, more streamlined body. DATSUN The Sunny has an 1171 cu cm engine. The fourdoor version sells for $8990 and the waggon for $9795. MAZDA The 323 has been available for two years and this year’s model has been given a facelift. The threedoor version costs $8550, the five-door $8960, and the waggon $9680.

It took Mazda Motors of New Zealand, Ltd, a year to produce the first 2000 323 Hatchbacks, But by this month the 5000th locally assembled 323 will be ready for despatch, two years and one month after the model launch.