CAR OF NEAR FUTURE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16946, 30 January 1926, Page 11

CAR OF NEAR FUTURE.

SMALLER AND LIGHTER. Shortly before leaving America ..to visit the London Olympia motor show, Walter B. Chrysler, the president of the Chrysler Car Corporation, uttered some very interesting remarks regarding the future of motor cars. “it is the physical, and not the financial, saturation point that the automobile manufacturer must bear in mind, ’ ’ says Mr. Chrysler. ‘ ‘ The physical incapacity of our streets and roads, and of the available parking spaces in metropolis and village alike, to accommodate the ever-growing number of cars, has definitely sealed the fate of the.cumbersome car. Size that adds nothing to roominess, and weight that adds nothing to riding comfort, are now distinct handicaps. “The massive, heavy-weight motor ear is to lie replaced by a smaller and lighter car. The over-size, overweight motor-car cannot survive, oven in the limited quantities in which the highest-priced automobiles are now produced. “The whole industry,” continues Mr. Chrysler, "recognises that the coming of the compact but roomy, light, but substantial popular-priced but high-quality car of two years ago initiated an about-face in popular taste; but I unhesitatingly predict that within, say, two years the highpriced cars will have followed in the path of the popular-priced leaders. This new type will bo larger and roomier than tho most successful models in the popular-priced field today. It will contain all the quality and luxury that can be built into a car, and will offer extremes in performance, surpassing anything now built. Within the next two years, cars of 100 horse-power, capable of travelling continuously at speeds up to 90 miles an hour, will be on the market.” Mr. Chrysler contends that the builtin ability of a car to achieve aiid maintain high speeds is the surest and best possible test of manufacturing soundness, long life, freedom from necessity for replacement, and consequent saving in operation. High potential speed proves that a ear is correctly designed, for only the properly designed motor will stay cool and be properly lubricated at such speed. It proves line manufacturing nist\ because sustained speeds put the heaviest possible load on bearings, gears, and on other moving parts. Last of all, it is definite proof of the use of the very best materials, because poor materials warp, crystallise, or break under the extraordinary strains of such speed. Comparatively few drivers will over use the full capacity of their motors, just as to-day but few use tho speeds of seventy miles that many of their cars can do, but these new speed ranges will be an assurance to them of still finer engineering design. This development of greater horsepower ancl speed is but a logical evolution. Scarcely half a dozen years ago only from 10 per cent, to 12 per cent, of the potential energy of fuel used actually was transmitted to tho rear wheels. Refinements in carburetion and manifolding, development of new materials for reciprocating parts in tho motor, and lessening of friction in the motor and in the power line have raised this nearly to 20 per cent, at the present time. Few engineers, until recently, cared to submit their designs to dynamometer tests in speeds in cxcces of 2400 revolutions per minute. Hugo and cumbersome power plants wore needed to develop speeds of 25 to 35 miles per hour. Contrast this with the engineering design to-day. Motors aio of far smaller size and. weight, yet of such improved materials that wo think nothing of subjecting them to 50-hour tests at speeds of 3250 and 3400 revolutions a minute. The coming of these new cars with added power and speed possibilities is but (lie forerunner of totally new developments in motor car manufacture.