CAR OF TO-MORROW

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 120, 16 November 1929, Page 29

CAR OF TO-MORROW

LIGHT, FAST, ECONOMICAL

"Within ten years, automobiles will safely travel 100 -miles' an" hour, weigh less than 10001b, sell for less thEn £200, and cover 80 miles on a gallon of petrol." This is a prophecy of Mr. wiarles h. Kettering, president of General Motors Research Corporation. "Lightness of construction is one of the things wo have learued from tho aeroplane," said Mr. Kettering. "Until 1920 we used to boast of how heavy our ears were. Now a chief selling point is how light they are. ' Aluminium lynite. 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 cmly one-third as heavy as aluminium. We figure that-we can allow about 41b per horse-power in making motors of of tins • new metal. Thus, a 50 lip motor would weigh only. 2001b. "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 ot gear-shifting is undergoing a series of changes—changes that eventually T-L f way with the cumbersome shifting lever. Shifting, braking, and possibly steering will be part of the electrical system. "Body design is due for marked changes, also. We are only beginning to learn the possibilities of tho streamline body m reducing wind resistance.