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ber 2, 1992 — North Shore News - 25

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NEWS photos Cindy Goodman

A subcompact Geo Metro four-door notchback sedan joins the hatchback and convertible models. The new sedan has a larger 1.3 litre four-cylinder engine with 70

horsepower, seating

Chevrolet Geo Oldsmobile, 845 Marine Dr., North Van.

A NEW Geo Metro four-
door notchback sedan has
been added to the Geo
lineup this year.

The new sedan joins the Metro
two- and four-door hatchbacks
and two-door convertible. Some
may remember that the Metro was
previously named the Chevrolet
Sprint/Pontiac Firefly. The name
was changed last year when parent
company General Motors created
the Geo import line to correspond
with a similar division in the
United States.

Metros are now sold only at
Chevrolet/Ges dealerships.

The Metro is basically the same
car as the Suzuki Swift, with the
exception of some powertrain dif-
ferences in the base models. Both
Metro and Swift hatchbacks are

Geo Metro

Interior room of new four-door sedan surprisingly spacious

built at GM/Suzuki’s CAMI plant
in Ingersoll, Ontario, while con-
vertibles and sedans are built in
Japan by Suzuki.

While Metro hatchbacks and
convertibles have a tiny 1.0 litre
three-cylinder motor with 55
horsepower, the new sedan comes
with a standard 1.3 litre SOHC
engine with 70 horsepower.

Though this is not a lot of
horsepower even by economy car
Standards, the Metro sedan offers
adequate straight-line acceleration
primarily because the whole car
weighs just 768 kilograms (1,693
Ibs.) unladen.

In addition, the engine’s max-
imum torque is reached at just
3,500 rpm while the engine’s max-
imum horsepower is reached at
6,000 rpm. This means that the
engine doesn’t have to be wound

Base price $9,740

Type four-door,
sedan

Layout
front-wheel-drive

Engine 1.3

transverse front

litre

up to its redline to exiract usable
.power, a benefit of particular use
in urban driving.

Two transmissions are offered,
a five-speed manual and a three-
speed automatic.

1 would recommend ordering
the manual transmission for two
reasons: you can wring better per-
formance out of this small engine
with the option ef changing gears
when you want to, and fuel
economy is better witn the manual
transmission.

Equipped with the standard
manual five-speed transmissicn,
the Metro offers 7.2 litres per 100
kilometres (39 mpg) during urban
driving and 5.4 litres per 100
kilometres (52 mpg) on the high-
way.

However, with the three-speed
automatic transmission, fuel

economy drops significantly to 9.5
city/7.3 highway (30/30 mpg).
The lack of an overdrive fourth
gear causes the little engine to
work harder, and thus consume
more. fuel.

Oh, and it’s noisier too.

Speaking of noise, both Metro
hatchbacks and sedans suffer
from a lack of sound insulation.
Engine noise is noticeable when
accelerating but not excessive.
Highway cruising is relatively
quiet in fifth gear.

I was pleasantly surprised at the
Metro sedan’s handling and brak-
ing characteristics. The ride is
somewhat harsh over bumps, but
it is generally firm and flat
without being uncomfortable, and
the handling is nimble. An in-
dependent MacPherson strut

(three-speed automatic)
Curb weight 768 kg/1,693 Ibs

four-passenger

Wheelbase 2,365 mm/93.1 in.

Length 4,074 mm/160.4 in.

engine/

‘Width 1,593 mm/62.7 in.

Height 1,379 mm/54.3 in.

four-cylinder,

Trunk area 282 L/9.6 cu.ft.

for four, and excellent fuel economy when equipped with a standard manual five-speed transmission. Inquire about the Geo Metro at Dick Inwin

Greg
Wilson

AUTGMOTION

suspension on all four wheels is

standard.
Narrow

SOHC, throttle body fuel injection
Hursepower 70 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque 74 Ibs-ft @ 3,500 rpm
Transmission five-speed manual

Fuel economy City 9.2 L/100 km,
39 mpg; Hwy 5.4 L/100 km, 52

mpg
Warranty three years/60,000 kms

155/70 13-inch tires
See Geo page 29