__ Fall Ca Care Contour gets Special Vehicle Team treatment From page 31 includes all the power conve- niences found on the SE, including power windows, remote keyless entry, power antenna, air-conditioning, tilt steering wheel, cruise control and premium AM/FM cas- sette stereo. The only option is a CD player (which replaces the cassette) and a power moonroof. The SVT’s 195 horsepow- er 2.5-litre dual overhead cam, 24 valve V6 engine is a modified version of the SE’s 170 horsepower engine. Almost all of the extra power is derived from better engine breathing, and more efficient mechanical operation. The SVT engine has a 10- to-l compression ratio, larger air cleaner and throttle bod 1 larger port throttles, revised camshafts, a lighter flywheel, and larger exhaust pipe diam- eter. The SVT also has a big- ger radiator for better engine cooling and a unique oil cooler to reduce oil tempera- tures. In addition, air flow to and from the engine has been improved with new technolo- gy called “extrude honing.” This involves forcing a putty- like, fine grit material through the intake ports and runners to polish the inside of the air channels. It’s such a simple idea, I can’t imagine why anyone hasn’t thought of it before. The standard five-speed manual transmission has a new, short-throw shift linkage and the clutch has been beefed up for greater reliabili- ty. An automatic transmission is not available. The SVT’s engine delivers 195 horsepower at 6625 p.m, (compared to 170 horsepower at 6500 r.p.m.) and 165 Ibs.-ft. of torque at 5625 r.p.m. (compared to 165 Ibs.-fr. @ 4250 r.p.m.). As you can see, the SVT’s power and torque is available at higher engine revolutions, but that’s OK — this engine loves to rev high. It’s one of the sweetest, smoothest V6 engines I’ve ever tested. Zero to 100 km-h takes 7.9 seconds, not a particularly fast time, but the SVT has excellent mid-range and upper range power for pass- ing and accelerating on the highway. For improved braking per- formance, the Contour SVT has larger front disc brakes Technical Data 1998 Ford Contour SVT Curb weight: 1392 kg (3,068 Ib.) Base price: $27,995 Type: four-door, five-passenger compact sedan Layout: transverse front engine /front-wheel- drive Engine: 2.5-litre V6, DOHC, 24 valves Horsepower: 195 @ 6625 r.p.m. Torque: 165 Ibs.-tt. @ 5625 r.p.m. Transmission: five speed manual Tires: Goodyear GS-C 205/55ZR-16 Len and unique calipers. Four- wheel vented dise brakes with ABS are standard. The SVT will brake fiom 100 km-h to a full stop in just 40 metres (130 feet) in optimal condi- tions. The SVY¥ has virtually the same suspension as the SE (front MacPherson strut independent suspension and 2 | Wheelbase: 2705 mm (106.5 in.) gth: 4691 mm (184.7 in.) Width: 1755 mm (69.1 in.) Height: 1385 mm (54.5 in.) m.p-g.) Trunk capacity: 394 litres (13.9 cu. ff.) Fuel consumption: City (28 m.p.g.); Hwy —~ 6.4 1/100 kms (44 — 9.9 1/100 kms Warranty: three years/60,000 kms Fountain’s Lowest Price of the Year on our best ail-season tire. INFINITRED delivers outstanding all-season performance and a lifetime treadlife limited warranty all at an unmatched value. And at our lowest price of the year! GOODJYEAR INFINITRED Premium All-Season Sg O5iscn Starting trom P175/70R13 Guaranteed for as tong as you own your car." AN DINERS: 2 3 aay sOsUTEDT ED, sat if HARTHEELER Fountain Tire Price Busters CONCORDE CALIBRE , SBR ax All-Season Radial PUSsisontg CONCORDE RADIAL SR 67% EACH Performance All-Secson From PIBS/10R13 $30°% EACH From P2OS/T5R14 Premium All-Season SUPER SPORT AP D5 cace Starting trom TSR Economy Pickup & Van Up to $60 manufacturer's rebate on Aquatred, & Eagle Aquatred fl and Wrangler Aquatred tires“-RS Win Double, Triple or Quadruple Air Miles on Goodyear car, pickup, minivan or sport uiility tires* "2 Winterization “Service Package - Visit our website at www.fountaintire.com rear multi-link independent setup) except that the front stabilizer bar is slightly small- er and the spring rates have been recalibrated, In addi- tion, the SVT has P205/55ZR-16 Goodyear Eagle GS-C on 6.5 inch wide five-spoke alloy wheels ‘replacing P205/60R-15- tach radials). The SVT offers fantastic grip, neutral handling, and a Surprisingly smooth nde con- sidering the low-profile tires. The standard power-assisted ‘rack and pinion steering, offers well-weighted stcering feel, and turn-in is quick and responsive. This has to be one of the best-handling front-wheel- drive cars in the world. Though rear-wheel-drive cars like the BMW 328i offer bet- ter front to rear weight bal- ance, the Contour SVT offers superior traction and stability in the rain and snow. Ford’s SVT team is to be commended for improving on an already great car with- out increasing engine dis- placement or making the engine more complicated by adding a turbocharger or a supercharger. At $27,995, the Contour is SVT is thousands of dollars cheaper than its German competitors and will run rings around any Japanese or domestic competitors. Approximately 5,000 Contour SVT’s have been produced for the 1998 mode! year with 250 of those allo- cated to Canada. There are 19 Ford SVT dealers ‘in Canada. If you'd like to find out more about SVT vehicles, check out their web-site: www.ford.com/vehicles/SVT Beating the weak battery blues DID you know that a bat- tery’s output decreases as the temperature drops, so a bat- tery that was doing its job during the warm summer months may only have half its output when the thermonie- ter dips below freezing? Meanwhile, your cold engine may need twice the starting power. If your car is hard to start Sale prices end October 31, 1997 “See retailer for details because of a weak battery you should consider replacing it before it lets you down. There are many factors to consider as well as price when buying a new battery. So remember: when idling in stop-and-go traffic with the heater, defroster, stereo and lights turned on it’s comfort- ing to know there’s a strong battery under the hood. You can purchase a new - battery at retail outlets and department stores or you may want t0 go to your local auto- motive parts dealer. Many of them will also accept your old battery and dispose of it _ properly. PLUS... Win the use of a Learjet for a Month!* *See retailer for detaits. “Dic be et ed Hac pics rd wo, GEMS code: OF THE TIRE EXPERTS « 13689 - 104th Ave. (Surrey) 588-3077 * 1750 Clark Drive (Vancouver) 255-8494 * 2546 King George Hwy. {White Rock) 535-3973 or she * 20610 Lougheed Hwy. (Maple Ridge) 465-1933 © 880 West 15th St.{North Vancouver} 986-9131 * 7080 No. 3 Rd. (Richmond) 273-3751 Open Sunday © 2051 No. 6 Rd. (Richmond) © 15392 Fraser Hwy. (Surrey) * 14540 Riverside Road (Abhotsford) 859-3513 + §850 Kingsway at Imperial (Burnaby) 437-4771 Open Sunday * 2764 Barnet Hwy(Coquitlam) © 8209 - 120th St{Detta) * 19926 - 96 Ave. (Langley) 941-3150 591-1151 882-9272 273-3425 583-1948 ||| The Tire Repo Cenve | | Sperns