1876 — Nikolaus August
Otto improves the gasoline
engine, making it a practi-
cal power source,

1908 —- Henry Ford uses
assembly-line production to
manufacture his famous
Model T, nicknamed the
Tin Lizzie because, light-
weight steel sheets that look
“tinny” are used for the
body.

1911 — Cadillac introduces
the electric ‘starter and
dynamo lighting,

‘1936 — Fiat brings to mar-
ket the world's first “baby”
car, the Topolino 500 ce.

1951 — Buick and Chrysler
introduce power stecring to
American car buyers.

1952 — Rover's gas-tur-
bine car sets a land speed
record of 243 km-h/152
m.p.h.:.. (Editor's | note:
‘Today’s Test Drive vehicle,

the Porsche 911, has a top:

speed of 265 km-h/159
m.p-h),

1979 — American Sam
Barrett exceeds the speed of
sound in the rocket-engined
Budweiser Rocket, reaching
atop speed of [,190 km-
h/739.6 m.p.h. However,
due: to timing difficulties,
the record is never officially
recognized,

CORRECTION... — Last -

week a photo: of a
Mercedes-Benz SLK was
incorrectly identified as a
Mitsubishi Spyder in Greg
Wilson's Automotion col-

F Coupe - hay cpl wi co,

WHO TO CALL:

dese Goehittt
AOE OVALL otlin

985-2131 (113)

” Photo submitted

THE 1895 Porsche 911 coffers slightly revised styling, a 272 horsepower six-cylinder engine, anew six-speed manual transmission;
and an optional four-speed Tiptronic transmission that can be operated in automatic or manual madss, inquire about the’ ot at

MCL Motor Cars, 1730 Burrard, Varicouver.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR sports car buffs,
the performance of many contemporary |
sports cars has been diluted by such features

‘as over-boosted power steering, soft suspen-

sions, and transmissions designed to improve
fuel economy rather than performance. A
few dedicated, uncompromising perfor-
mance cars are still available, but not many.

The Porsche 911 is one of them.

In fact, the 911 is about as close to a racing car as
you'll find these days — its powerful brakes, precise
steering, phenomenal handling and enormous power
(all improved on the 1995 model) are unmatched by
most other street cars. Many of its engineering fea-
tures, including the unique Tiptronic transmission, arc
derived from Porsche racing cars.

There is a price to be paid for this uncompromising
performance, though. The 1995 911 is still noisy, has a

. Stiff ride, and a small trunk. Also, getting in and out of

the seats is awkward. The dashboard layout is outdat-
ed, and rear-seat room is minimal. The brake pedal
requires considerable pedal effort, and the clutch pedal

f Supreme it is - mid-size

(with the six-speed manual transmission) is quite stiff.
100.

But you won't find anyone at Porsche making
apologies. The.911 was never meant to appeal to
mainstream buyers, and Porsche sells every one of
the new 91s they can make — even at $90,000 a
pop. . : : :
The new 911 — code-named 993 -— was intro-
duced early in 1994, Its styling, while instantly rec-

ognizable, has been updated considerably, And, might ’

{ add, successfully. The new ellipsoid headlamps,
inclined at an angle for better aerodynamics, provide
improved lighting. New, body-colored bumpers have
been successfully integrated into the overall! shape of
the car, and the frent bumper has functional air ‘out-.
lets ahead of the front wheels that act as an “invisible .
spoiler.” The extendible rear spoiler, which automati-
cally raises at highway speeds, is now larger in size. °

’ And a new underbody cover improves aerodynamics.

From the front or back, the 1995 9t1 loaks very
low, wide and purposeful. The 91 1's rear-mounted,
air-cooled 272 horsepower 3.6-litre “boxer” six-cylin-
der engine is slightly more powerful than before and
offers a number of technical refinements for improved

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