WHO TO CALL: % Auto Editor A.P, McCredie $85-2131 (113) Car Chronology 1885 —- Gottlieb Daimier develops a successful light- weight, petrol engine and fits it to a bicycle to create the prototype of the modern motorcycle. The same year, Karl Benz fitted the light- weight engine to a three- wheeled carriage to pioneer the modern motor car. 1891 — Frenchmen Rene Panhard and Emile Levassor establish the mod- erm design of cars by putting the engine in the front of oa. vehicle. Previously, all engines had been mounted in the rear. 1896 — Frederick Lanchester developed and installed epicyclic gearing, the forerunner to the auto- matic gearbox. 1906 — Rolls, Royce brings to market the legendary Silver Ghost, establishing the British automaker's rep- utation for finely-engi- neered cars. 1911 — Cadillac.introduces the clectric starter and dynamo lighting. 1938 — German avtomaker Volkswagen mass-preduces: Hitler’s “people car”, the Volkswagen Beetle. 1951 — Buick and Chrysler introduce the public to power steering in their 1951 models. 1981 — BMW introduces ‘the on-board computer, which monitors engine per- formance and indicates to the driver when engine ser- vice is required. Price as tested: $53,590 Base MSRP: $43,995 ‘Type: (wo-door, four-passenger convertible Layout: transverse front engine/front-wheel-drive Engine: 2.5-litre V6, DOHC, multi-port fuel injection Horsepower: 170 @ 5,900 rpm Torque: 168 ft-lbs 4,200 rpm Curb weigtit: 1,465 kg (3,164 Ibs.) Fuel consumption City: 12.4 1/100 km (23 m.p.g.) Hwy: 8.6 1/100 km (33 m.p.g.) + Cit AES F bes ta ain riteo ce Photo submitted THE 1995 Saab 900 convertible is a two-door, four passenger, front-wheel-drive luxury car with a power-operated top, full feather. ~ upholstery and available turbocharged four-cylinder or V6 engirie. A four-door hatchback was introduced first, with the two-door hatchback coming shortly thereafter. The con- vertible is the latest model to arrive. As with previous 900 convertibles, the new model is based on the two-door bodystyle. The 900 Convertible is available with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine or an optional normally aspirated 2.5-litre V6 powerplant. Transmission choices are five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. Unlike most 2+2 convertibles, the 900 has room for four adult passengers. With the top up. there's plenty of headroom and legroom for both front and rear passen- gers. However, getting into the back seat is still-awk- ward, especially since the right front passenger seat won't automatically slide forward when the seatback is lowered. Once in however, the rear passengers are com- fortable enough. Front and rear passengers have three- point seatbelts and headrests for safety. The convertible top is power-operated, and easy to A FEW years ago, when things looked bleak for Swedish specialty carmaker Saab, Generat Motors stepped in and bought 50% of the company, injecting the cash and technology needed by Saab to redesign the aging 900 to meet modern, stringent technological, comfort and safety standards. The bailout also proba- ° bly saved Saab from bankruptcy. Not surprisingly, the new 900 (introduced last year) is essentially a GM/Saab hybrid. Its platform is based on a European Opel and the optional V6 engine is a European General Motors unit. The base four-cylinder engines and exterior and interior were provided by Saab. However, Saab and GM did a ciever job of updating the 906 without altering its basically funky character. Despite its new aerodynamic shape and modem mechan- ics, it still has a tail that resembles a whale, a huge cargo area, a short hood, and an ignition key that goes into the floor — all uniquely Saab traits. Greg Wilson See Saab puge 34 29% mere HP, seats, per formance tires, eed winds “T spor, eke, § VALUE f PRICED ‘94 LUMINA EURO One gon iy equipped with sport ond Euro desi VALUE PRICED 9,998] a9 $00 | MI Oldsmobile quolity with o V6, | Supreme it is - mid-size & automatic, luxury. & R Power options, ABS and cir bag. VALUE PRICED 17,99 The boss’ hilly soloed company ar leather, 3,4t VALLE ¥ PRICED + All you con *25,998 all the power & luxury f options, ABS & big V6. 20,468 | VALUE PRICED Top-of- the: line, full-sized & ole dsmnobile, juxutious appointments, all options! | YALE, "35,934 with more sta than Ford, Mazda & Toyota vas “4 3608 This is it - one only - the ulti- mate convertible — with every- thing, including hardtop More stondard horsepower, re fuel paiionis ane ore maximum poy [ vate, “46 6,098 I Save $5,000 on Mr, Irwin's compal ~has absolute 7 y ceryhing! j vate, $34,823 the ophons (M.S.R,P $24,438) var, *20,098 | PRICED iv | 11 special ecder, fully opioned tind Tether), cd We i with Vortec engine vases 26 983 | PRICED 7 ] af Hod tod b aossages mpl lose ea fi Hy nf he price of u vaue $99 998 : the Saw convertible, or od optional outomatic or 4WD rat | 1,888 9-9 Mon.-Thurs, 9-6 FrixSat. CLOSED SUNDAYS | FOR BROWSING