26 ~ Friday, July 24, 1992 —- North Shore News

Comfortably quiet
at cruising speeds

From page 25

and a two-plug outlet inside. The
sink has a holding tank for dish
water, but I’d recommend carry-
ing along a piece of garden hose
to drain water from the tank to
the sewer drain at the RV site.

As before, the Westfalia’s
pop-up top pivots up from the
rear, revealing a two-person bed
with a built-in mattress. It’s not
quite as big as last year, and with
no steps, it’s difficult to climb up
to the top bunk.

But overall, I'd say the
Westfalia’s top is an ingenious
way to provide two extra beds
while still retaining a roof height
low enough to get into the garage.

Astute observers will notice that
‘the EuroVan Westfalia has a
lower profile than the Vanagon
Westfalia. In fact, it is nine cen-
timetres lower in height, making it
possible to drive into parking
garages with a two-metre height
limit.

The previous Vanagon
Westfalia was often accused of
being underpowered. The new
EuroVan addresses this problem
with a larger, more powerful
1!0-horsepower five-cylinder

engine (compared to last year’s ,

90-horsepower, rear-mounted
four-cylinder engine). "Still, 110
horsepower is not a lot of power
for a 2,140 kilogram (4,700 Ibs)
mini-motorhome, .and overall per-
formance could only be described
as adequate. However, accelera-
tion from a standing start and
low-speed passing acceleration has
been improved.

The engine is noisier than many
‘competitors’ engines under accel-
eration, but comfortably quiet at
highway cruising speeds.

Outward visibility from the
driver’s seat is excellent. The win-
dows are large and the driver sits
up high. The steering wheel, gear-
shift lever and major controls are

all placed where they can be
operated easily.

Though the Westfalia’s average
fuel economy of 12.1 litres per
100 kilometres (22 mpg) is not
very good by automobile stand-
ards, it is excellent by motorhome
standards. The Westfalia will get
up to 10.1 litres per 100
kilometres (28 mpg) highway.

Volkswagen’s Guaranteed Mo-
bility new vehicle warranty pro-
gram is particularly useful for
Westfalia Owners, For example, if
the van breaks down more than
120 kilometres from home, an
authorized service shop will repair
it at no charge and VW will pro-
vide a free motel room and loaner
car if they can’t fix it the same
day..

Price as tested $36,360
Base price $29,250
Type four-passenger,
door camper van
Layout transverse front
engine/front-wheel drive
Engine °2.5-litre five-cylinder,
electronic fuel injection
Horsepower 110 @ 4,500 rpm
Torque 190 @ 2,200 rpm
Transmission five-speed man-
ual (four-speed automatic)
Curb weight 2,140 kg/4,717 Ibs
Tires 205/65SR-15
Wheelbase 2,920 mm/115.0 in.
Length 4,655 mm/183.3 in.
Width 1,840 mm/72.4 in.
Height !,970 mm/77.6

‘Fuel economy City 14.1 L/100
km, 20 mpg; Hwy 10.1 L/100
km, 10 mpg
Warranty Complete three yrs/
60,000 kms,
Inquire about the VW Eurovan
Westfalia at Capilano
Volkswagen, 1151 Marine Dr.,
North Van.

three-

Nissan invites Canadian
to °92 summer seminar

A UNIVERSITY of Toron-
to undergraduate is one of
14 students from the United
States and Canada who will
attend the fourth annual
Nissan Research and Devel-
opment Summer Seminar in
Japan.

Andres Rochwerger, who has
just completed the third year of
his Bachelor of Applied Science
degree at the University of Toron-
to, is the lone Canadian in a
group drawn from some of North
America’s finest universities.

Rochwerger is specializing in
computerized manufacturing, and
is particularly interested in learn-
ing more about the use of com-
puter-directed robots in the
automotive manufacturing pro-
cess.

“There’s no question that
automakers are on the leading
edge when it comes to com-
puterized assembly and com-
puter-aided design,’’ says
Rochwerger, who has been
reading up on Nissan’s Intelligent
Body Assembly System (IBAS).
“There are almost limitless oppor-
tunities to apply this technology in
any number of industries, and at
Nissan we can fearn about the en-
tire process, from design right
through to finished product.”

The Nissan summer seminar is

open to undergraduate and grad-
uate students, and selections are
made on the basis of academic re-
cord and a highly competitive ap-
plication process.

In Japan from July 13 to Aug.
1, the students’ activities will in-
clude a visit to Nissan’s Technical
Centre outside Tokyo and the
Oppama assembly plant and prov-
ing grounds. They will learn about
Nissan’s product planning and
development processes, safety
technology, motorsports activities
and computer-aided design.

Participants will also spend time
with a Japanese family, par-
ticipate in Japanese cultural
events, both modern and _ tradi-
tional, and have the chance to
learn some Japanese.

“Nissan is proud once again to
bring students from some of the
world’s top engineering colfeges
and universities to our research
facilities,’’ says Masazumi Sone,
coordinator of the program and
director of research for Nissan
Research and Development Inc.

*This program is an excellent
opportunity for students and
Nissan,” Sone continues. ‘‘The
students get a chance to see vehi-
cle engineering processes for
themselves and exchange ideas
with Nissan engineers and other
students. It also offers Nissan the
opportunity to hear fresh ideas,
which makes us a better com-

pany.”

Photo submitted”

THE EUROVAN has a two-burner propane stove, electric fridge, sink with electric weter pump,
hide-away table, swivel captain's chairs, and lots of cupboard space,including a clothes closet.

Raise your standards, —
not your cost of living.

Rediscover the pleasure of driving.

The Infiniti G20 luxury sports sedan is a driver’s car.
It has been designed for those who feel that driving is the
best luxury of all. Every element, every feature has been
designed with just one thought in mind. ‘Yo make the
driving experience as exhilarating, as pleasurable as
possible.

Rediscover the pleasure of driving for yourself.
Please visit or call us today for a guest drive.

Thank you.

LEASE REAL LUXURY

$399, 2°,

® PLUS TAX
BASED ON 48 MO. TERM WITH

$2000.00 DOWN. T.P. $19,252 + Tax.

created by Nissan

INFINITiof NORTHSHORE:
1148 Marine Dr. N. Van.
Telephone: 985-0339