20 ~ Friday, January 5, 1990 ~ North Shore News AU TT G@GM OT 3 Y E— §$ ad High tech to revolutionize cars AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY is springing ahead by leaps and bounds to gain a competitive edge in a global marketplace. Automobiles in the °80s made considerable ad- vancements in performance and safety with features like electronic engine manage- ment and anti-lock brakes. Cars of the °90s are ex- pected to make big im- provements in the areas of electronic components, lightweight construction, aerodynamics, safety and powertrain efficiency. Electronic components will be used more and more in the '90s in everything from instruments to suspen- sions. ‘Head-up’ displays, which project a digital speedometer reading onto the windscreen in front of the driver, ar> al- ready available on some Nissan models. Full ‘head- up’ instrument displays which include tachometer, oil, water and fuel gauges, are expected to be available in a few years. Voice-activated radios are now under development. With a simple voice com- mand, the driver will be able to turn the radio on or off, adjust the volume or change channels. This will solve the problem of having to fiddle with stereo buttons while driving. In conjunction with an automatic climate control, a sun-load sensor will automatically turn on the air conditioner when it senses sun-generated heat. This feature will become more important in the future because new cars will tend to have more window glass area for better visibility. Electronically-activated suspensions promise to make automobiles mde smoother and safer. Some air suspen- sions already available can ‘predict?’ when a bump is Care for converter ONE OF the ‘‘hottest’’ automobile replacement items may be the catalytic converter. This is the part of the ex- haust system which turns poisonous exhaust gases into harmiless carbon dioxide and water. Looking much like a mu7- fler, its stainless steel casing contains chemical and/or metalurgical devices to react on the lethal elements of ex- haust gas. Originally design- ed to have a 80,C00 km (50,000 mile) life span, they’re doing much better than that so long as the vehicle is properly maintain- ed Essentially, there are three things that can destroy the converter. First, and ADVERTIS IN Gy G U foremost is the use of leaded gas. The lead ‘‘poisons”’ the catalyst, making it ineffec- tive. The second catalyst killer is engine trouble, usually malfunctions due to im- proper maintenance. In- complete burning of fuel, often a result of misfiring spark plugs or improper carburetion, will cause the converter to heat up to a point where the inside can actually melt. The third reason for replacing a converter is normal ‘‘wear-and-tear,’’ including rust or damage to the unit itself. Sometimes a converter will fall off See Load Page 22 /oeE near (using a sonar device), and adjust the air shocks to absorb the bump in a capable manner. ‘Active’ suspensions, now used in Formula One racing, adjust the suspension automatically to keep the car AutoMotion Greg Wilson the car is idling. At idle, the engine mount automatically ‘softens up’ to absorb vibra- tions, and at speed it ‘firms-up’ to keep the engine steady. Expect to see this feature on more cars in the "90s. level and stable at all times. Sensors at each individual wheel detect speed, accelera- tion, braking forces, and lateral ‘G’ forces and adjust the shock absorber valve rat- ings to a harder or softer setting. Honda’s 1990 Accord has the first electronic engine mount which eliminates engine vibrations in the pas- senger compartment when Back-up sensors, which use a sonar-like device, will warm drivers if there is something directly behind the vehicle that cannot be seeu through the rear-view mirrors. This will be an especially useful safety feature for vans, motorhomes and trail- ers where visibility is restricted. Infra-red technology will WIS PLUS 15536R12 Owing We stock most tire brands: Pirelli « Michelin * BF Goodrich * Sumitomo « And more WIRED 1484 RUPERT STREET ome 986. 8473 * NORTH VANCOUVER scum THE ONE STOP DIRECTORY FOR ALL YOUR AUTOMOTIVE NEEDS To advertise in this special feature Phone 980-0511 SPECIALIZING IN | JAPANESE MODELS | Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Suzuki ‘Ic lee CLAIMS ‘WELCOME 65 MAHON, N. VAN. 984-4566 (2. blocks west of Seabus) We can arrange the purchase of new or used vehicles our at Baby Son, .TLC Complete Repair Shop Specializing in GM makes & models TLC Auto Centre 1531 Clyde Ave., W.Van. : We also ofier undercoating and 5 year limited guarantees on new car paint Orolection packages (P 5 2 2) 926-7;LCC soon allow us to see five times further during night time driving. Using ordinary low beam headlamps, a driver with good vision can spot a pedestrian 85 metres away. With the aid of in- fra-red light (which detects heat), a driver wiil be able to spot a pedestrian 500 metres away. And unlike conventional high beams, infra-red light does not blind drivers com- ing in the other direction. Experts predict that cars of the future will have no door handles on the outside. Electronic transmitters will be used to open the doors and perhaps perform other functions such as starting the car and adjusting the seat. At present, all automobiles steer and brake using mechanical or hydraulic means. Research is now under way to make these functions eleccrinic. ‘Steer and brake by wire’ is still a long way off, tut we may seé it in production by the end of this decade. An increasing number of TIGER PAW AS $4983 155SR12 Bure 8.75 R165 31”10.50 RIS i 6235/85R 26 LAREDO S/R UNIROYAL TRUCK A 2ISTSRISIS ZAS/7SR1S/8 A} 23S/SSR16/3 31/10.S0R15/6 WE PROTECT YOUR CAR FROM ‘. THE BOTTOM UP! ‘XG p& cars will have plastic bodies and components in the "90s. Plastic has a number of ad- vantages over sheet metal including resistance to cor- rosion, lighter weight and recoverability from parking lot dents. GM’s new Lumina APV and Trans Sport mini-vans both use plastic body panels that are ‘glued’ to a sheet- metal frame. GM is also de- veloping a futuristic plastic-bodied pickup truck called the Sedonna. The world’s first plastic wheel was developed for the 1989 Dodge Shelby Shadow. Weighing just 18 pounds, the plastic composite wheel is 30 to 40 per cent lighter than a comparable steel wheel, and 10 to 15 per cent lighter than a comparable aluminum wheel. GM, Ford and Chrysler recently agreed to jointly fund a research project into plastic composite materials, a venture that should put North American carmakers in the forefront of this new technology. Vy UNDERCOATING AUTO DETAILING Full new and used vehicle protection packages. 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