ENGINE SIZE

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 13 September 1930, Page 13

ENGINE SIZE

WILL AMERICA FOLLOW BRITISH LEAD ?

In considering the outlets abroad tor British-built vehicles, the question of engine size is usually regarded as a handicapping factor. It is generally assumed that the power units of cars manufactured in quantity in Great Britain are in the main too small to find a ready sale outside that country. Further, it is usually assumed that the smallness of the average British engine is a reflection of Britain’s mode of taxation.

Quite recently, however, according to the “Automobile Engineer,” Mr. H. S. Rowell, of the Research Association of the British Motor and Allied Manufacturers, successfully demonstrated that this view is a fallacious one. By analysing the statistics relating to various countries where the tax is not based directly on bore, and comparing those with our own figures, lie lias shown (says our contemporary) that it is not the tax but some other factor that has been, the governing one. Tn other words, the average stroke bore ratio of British engines is demonstrated as being the best for a certain type of engine.

PUBLIC’S PURCHASING POWER

The chief factor governing the choice of engine size is evidently the purchasing power of the general public. It is the market price of motoring per mile that counts, and the relative prosperity of the United States in the past is reflected in their large engines. On the other hand, a lower degree of general prosperity, for instance in Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, plus efforts to cater for the mass of the public, has resulted in the development of smaller units in Europe. The success of the “Seven” on the Continent is a demonstration of this.

, A few years the proposition of putting down large plants abroad for manufacturing so small a car in large Quantities would have seemed unpractical. Sir Herbert Austin’s plans for buildinoi this little vehicle in the United States are being criticised by American automobile engineers whose lives have been spent in automobile production in that great country. They point, out that in America cars are very low

iii price ; petrol is cheap, and taxation almost negligible. There would seem therefore to be no reason why a small ear of this description should make am appeal to the buying public there. It would appear, however, that Sir Herbert Austin is more far-seeing than they. He has stated publicly that he believes the United States to be approaching a period when there will be a. return to smaller cars. He rightly considers that the question ol etonomv in transport will become a very much more important, matter than it has been in the immediate past. NEED OF ECONOMY. Despite the fact that recent Lstatistics relating to the American automobile industry may appear to contradict this view, it has to be borne in mind that changes occur very rapidly in these days. The percentage of cars in the United States of America of over 70 h.p. has steadily increased year by year until they are now over 68 per cent, of the total production. While, however, the giant plants of America do not lend themselves to rapid change, it seems reasonable to suppose that the economic crisis which brought about the Wall Street crash will bring about a. check in this liighnowered car market. The more general need for economy and the endeavour to attract new buyers must, it would seem, inevitably result in the greater production and .sale of smaller cars in America.

The motorist desirous of economising in his motoring will first of all probably select a low-priced car, without much regard to engine size. In the .end, however, the motoring public must awaken to the fact that it is running costs rather than initial outlav that are the more important where real economy is sought. This must necessarily lead to a demand for the small highly efficient engine that has been a characteristic of the Britishbuilt vehicle. It would seem, therefore, that so far from British manufacturers having to follow others, particularly with regard to larger engines to meet foreign competition, it may be that we have already developed a typ-*

of vehicle that will soon he demanded even bv those who to-day use highpowered vehicles.