RECORD MOTOR SHOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15169, 7 December 1912, Page 5 (Supplement)

RECORD MOTOR SHOW.

£250..000 IN CARS.

FEATURES AND NOVELTIES FOR

NEJCT YEAR.

The great Olympia Motor Show, the world's, largest trade exhibition, excelling even the famous Paris Salon, was to open its doors in London on November 8, and, according to the later-1 advices forwarded just previous to the opening of the show, over a quarter of a million will be the value of the exhibits. Every available inch, of space will be used to advantage, with the result that no fewer than 353 exhibitors can he accommodated.

A noticeable chaise will be observed in the grouping of the exhibits, the tyre firms for the first time being located., on the ground floor, leaving the gallery Vat the disposal of the accessories' and component parts. As before, chassis and complete cars, and the coach-builders' stands, ever increasing in", importance-,, will be'displayed-in the main hall, which, with - the annexe now forms practically one building. . ' . . ...•'. The exhibition will, be remarkably representative, . embracing British, Continental, and American cars, small'and largo car's, carriages that are both low-priced and costly, and engines with two, four, six, and even eight cylinders. Moreover, tho handy run-about, cars for medical men, touring tars, and luxurious- town, carriages alike will be prominent. Modern Tendencies. . The trend of the automobile industry. as will be revealed by Olympia is both striking and welcome. " lii the .first, place, there is a real and successful attempt tto blend the carriage-work with the chassis, tho majority of the exhibits . no longer giving the impression that the body has been built regardless of its future destination. On the contrary, the dash not infrequently sweeps upwards and outwards, its swelling panels merging harmoniously into the carrosserie. Moreover, there is a successful attempt to continue this graceful contour through the body, the gentle curves, rounded corners, and graceful outlines of which form an' entourage at once graceful ■• and ' effective.

Yet another tendency is that towards accessibility and autoniaticity. On the whole, the exhibits at the forthcoming exhibition will show conclusively that care has been taken so to dispose magnetos and carburetters and other vital features that they can readily, be got at for adjustment or removal, a feature likewise aimed at in respect to the gear-box and brakes.

|- While the general run of the exhibits conform more or less to well-known lines, there are here and there certain interest:ing innovations. Tor example, the twostroke engine will be represented in an improved form, self-starters will be found to be adopted on quite a large number, of cars, ana there are also several very interesting improvements in body-work. 1913 Features. In addition to the harmonious blending of chassis and coach-work there will be various other . tendencies of considerable interest to the observer. First of all, monobloc casting is popular with the " fours," and, as far as can be gathered beforehand, grouping in threes is a feature of six-cylinder engines. Taken as a whole, manufacturers would seem ' to favour a bore-stroke ratio, skilfully avoiding the "square" engine on the one hand and the excessively long stroke motor on the other. Four forward speeds are becoming increasingly common. Amongst welcome points noticeable in the exhibits will be the clean appearance of the engine, the neatness of the dash, the increased steer-ing-lock, and the provision for adjusting the steering-wheel to.suit individual requirements. Likewise petrol tanks have greater capacity.

One of the outstanding features of the exhibition is the- care that has been taken to study the convenience and comfort of motorists in every possible manner. For example, nelf-starting devices are fitted more generally than ever, while detachable wheels, or rims of the same denomination, are found in the majority of cases. Electric lighting for cars has made astonishing progress.

The driver of the future will have little to- do but steer, owing to the reliable automatic functioning of the carburetter and magneto, not to mention the lubrication system. Yet another . important point is that not infrequently seats will be found capable of being adjusted to individual needs, while protection from the elements in touring cars has been carefully studied. Silence will characterise the "majority of the new models, and real efforts will be noticed in respect to supplying double-purpose bodies which arc at once tasteful and practical.