CONVINCING ROAD TRIALS

NZ Truth, Issue 1198, 15 November 1928, Page 21

CONVINCING ROAD TRIALS

Epoch-making Car Without Gears WHEN the de Lavaud car was first produced a few months ago, f "N.Z. Truth's" expert described this epoch-making machine and prophesied that it would play, a very important part m the future trend of design.

T^HE forecast appears likely to be 1 amply borne out, as,' road trials witlvthe.de Lavaud, which is now m regular production and on sale on the English market, have proved it to be so revolutionary m its ease of control that it is bound' to command a wide market. • The de Lavaud has neither gears nor clutch; it is driven exactly like a steam 'bar. f The gear ratio is changed'automatically, according to the road conditions. Thus, when the engine is started the car does, not immediately move forward. It remains stationary until the engine is speeded up to about 600 revolutions per minute. • The machine then moves away, quietly, but progressively gains iri speed until the road speed is the maximum for the. rate of engine speed. If a fast rate is desired it is only necessary to press the- accelerator. When a hill is reached, the gear ratio automatically decreases until it is at the most efficient ratio for the rate of

incline, and the speed at which the car is being driven. Trials over thousands of Wiles under expert and most critical supervision have proved the de Lavaud transmission to be fool-proof and at all times uncannily perfect m operation. Another feature of the de Lavaud which must appeal to the buyer is its wonderful degree of silence. The absence of any gears *'or clutch, with their attendant bearings, plays a large part m this connection. . '■ Blase motorists of many years' standing, who were quite convinced that motoring had nothing to show them, have been the most enthusiastic of those who have tried out the de Lavaud. . The engine is not water-cooled, but steam-cooled, which keeps it operating at maximum efficiency! An entirely new form of chassis construction. has enabled the de Lavaud to be built so low that the total height of the car is a shade under five feet. The de Lavaud should be suitable for New Zealand conditions, and it wilcertainly be seen' here before long.