ing the evolution of « econo Yesterday’ s ‘tin box’ has developed into dependable, reliable transportation AUTOMOTION IN THE late 1960s, Dat- sun’s clever advertising slogan, “It’s all you really need,”’ pretty well summed up 4 new generation of small, fuel-efficient Japa- nese cars that were landing on North American shores. Datsun’s slogan wasn’t just a clever phrase; it represented a growing sentiment amongst con- sumers that might have been characterized as: ‘‘Less may not be more, but it’s certainly enough for my needs.”’ Though it was the ubiquitous VW Beetle that captured the hearts of economy car buyers in North America, the torch was * soon passed to a wide new range of Japanese cars that were simple and economical, though at the time, somewhat unreliable and prone to the ravages of rust. Thirty-five years later, the evolution of the econoniy car has reached the point where small cars rival large sedans in interior noise levels, overall reliability, build quality, and drivability. The theme ‘‘It’s all you really need”’ is probably more appropriate today than it was then. According to the CAA, Con- sumer Reports, J.D. Power & Associates, and other independent research groups, there are many cars priced under $15,000 that are statistically more reliable and bet- ter built than some cars priced over $50,000. The Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic are two good examples. - From the driver’s point of view, it is the driving experience that has changed the most in the past 35 years. Remember when manual gear- boxes had to be crunched into gear and when automatic transmissions simply weren’t available? When manual steering required super-human strength to turn the steering wheel when parallel parking? When engine noise at 60 mph (97 kph) was so excessive that you couldn't hear yourself talk? When radiators commonly overheated on long drives?. When heaters were so poor that they could barely defog the windscreen, let alone the side windows and rear window? Economy cars suffered most of these ills because as cheap trans- portation, they weren’t equipped with all the ‘‘luxuries,’’ such as sound insulation, defrosters, automatic transmissions and power stecring. Today, most of these ‘‘Iux- uries’”’ are taken for granted and in many cases they are standard equipment. Buyers are even de- manding such standard features as anti-lock brakes, airbags, premium stereos, and sophisticated powertrains. Today’s economy car is a long way from the tin box of yesteryear. Probably the greatest single design improvement in the evolu- tion of the economy car was the advent of front-wheel drive in the early °70s. Though it was the Brit- ish, French and Germans who first developed this techt-logy, they weren’t able to market it as successfully in North America as the Japanese and Americans. Placing the engine and transaxle sideways in the engine bay created a number of benefits. With more’ weight over the front wheels, trac- tion and straight-line stability were improved. With less engine length and no central! driveline, interior room was significantly in- creased for the same length of car. And combined with unit body construction, economy cars weigh less than rear-wheel-drive cars, thereby improving fuel consump- tion. More recent design advances have contributed to improving the economy-car driving experience. Lower-profile front suspension systems — such as Honda’s dou- ble wishbone setup — have allow- ed automakers to lower the hoodline by up to three inches (7.6 cm). This provides a much better view of the road ahead, which of course, contributes to safety. Longer wheelbase lengths and shorter overhangs have increased passenger cabin space while not increasing overall length. An addi- tional increase in cabin space has been achieved by moving the front windshield forward to the point where it’s right over the front wheels. Taller roof lines have changed one of the most common complaints about import cars: no headroom. A good example of this is the Ford Escort (based on the Mazda 323), which has more interior vol- ume than the larger, but older, Ford Tempo. The width of economy cars has also increased dramatically. Com- pare old economy cars such as the Chevrolet Acadian to cars like the Ford Festiva and Mazda 323 — some which seem as wide as they are long. Wider tracks also improve handling, stability, and resistance to side winds. On many economy cars, interior noise levels have been decreased via smooth, aerodynamic body styles (to decrease wind noise), free-revving overhead-cam engines and quieter transmissions with overdrive gears, stronger, rattle-free boviies and suspensions, and more efficicnt use of sound insulation and door sealing. Overdrive transmissions, in par- ticular, have contributed to a greatly improved driving experi- ence. In top gear, a four-cylinder economy car commonly cruises at 100 kph (66 mph) with the engine turning over under 3,000 rpm. Many cruise at engine speeds under 2,500 rpm, thereby reducing engine vibration and noise dramatically while improving fuel economy. Overall horsepower has increas- ed over the years, too. Compact sedans commonly offer over 100 horsepower on the base engine and more on optional power- trains, Even crash safety has been vast- ly improved. 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It is also a beautiful example of suspension system and a viscous, ly cars almost always true that big cars were safer in a collision than small: - cars, many of today’s small cars _, are designed with front and rear crumple zones, side-impact pro- tection, collapsible steering col- umns, airbags, softer interior sur- faces, and three-point seat belts for outboard passengers. Yesteryear’s tin box has evolved into a dependable, comfortable means of personal transportation that is a distinct pleasure to drive. SPECIAL OFFER. ON 1995 FORD |p EXPLORER XLT 4xa'S | 5 10 TO CHOOSE FROM LEASE WITH ZERO DOWN FOR ONLY * . Sg “B39 10. Inciudes 4 door, auto, power windows, locks & mirrors, AM/FM cassette, crulse, tilt, alr- cond., sport wheels, 2 tone paint & more. curouusome 524,899 | limited slip differential. Of course, being an Infiniti, the ]30 will do more than make someone's head turn. It will provide a Total Ownership Experience so rewarding it will make your head spin. 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