The Promises of the Motor Show
EVER since the War the successive Motor Shows have each been hailed, in advance, as marking an important step forward in the development of motor design and construction. It is only natural, perhaps, that the wish should be father to the thought, and that with the active assistance of the perennial tale-bearers even the feast optimistic of us should have great expectations, but up till now, with some few exceptions, there has not often been much justification for these. Much has been promised by the various ranks and degrees of prophets, but the results have rarely been proportionate.
There has been no real reason, however, to complain. The progress in most directions, if slow, has certainly been steady, and if we have never yet had any of our major difficulties solved at one magic blow, every year has brought us a little nearer to that much desired end. In certain directions this rate of progress has undoubtedly been far too sober ; but, on the other hand, we may congratulate ourselves that in so far as the types of cars generally in use to-day are concerned, there has been no real stagnation.
Apart from one or two particular things, I do not think it is likely that the Show for 1926-27 is going to break any records by producing those novelties which, in the familiar phrase, will revolutionize existing conditions. There are two attempts at producing the famous £100 car, and not even the most sceptical will deny that more than a little interest will be attached to these. There is no particular magic in that price, £100, but as it represents a comparatively big drop in the price of the cheapest cars on the market, it is as good a figure as any at which to aim. - Those who have studied the progress of the light, popular car of to-day and marked what can be had for a very little money, and what can not, will view these two £100 efforts with considerable sympathy. Even if you strip your £100 car of everything to the bare essentials, leaving it denuded of even such necessary things as spring gaiters, you will not find it easy to build it to a satisfactory standard.
The £100 cars will be genuine novelties, but as such they will hardly claim, to be the leading mechanical feature of the Show for 1926. There is-little doubt that so far as the general motor-ear buyer is concerned, the most interesting thing about 1927 design is the appearance on the market of a number of new six-cylinder cars of moderate power and moderate price. These have in practically every case emerged from well-known factories hitherto devoted to the exclusive production of four-cylinder units. There are one or two exceptions to this rule, in each case where the firm concerned if of 'very old standing. But generally speaking: the new small aim* are really entirely new ventures.
These finial -six-cylinder ears, selling ..at really moderate
priceS some of them under £500 and even under £400 complete—will be remarkably intefilting to examine both..
on the stand and on the road. It be_aigued, and indeed I am inclined to think'ici mySelf, Mai for all practical purposes-_ the modern four-cylinder light engine givenas good-service as -
any six, and from the point of view of the economically minded, the additional complication and the increased cost are scarcely compensated by the very 'slight and by no means always certain increase in smooth running. The six-cylinder engine in this latter regard has to be made with extreme care, as experience shows us that when there is vibra- tion in this type of 'motor, it is considerably more serious than in the four-cylinder. These new cars, therefore, which as a general rule range in engine capacity from a litre and a half to a little over two litres, and will be sold complete with good coach work, will alone 'raise the level of the interest in the 1926 Show above the ordinary.
Apart from such mechanical details, however, it is my impression that this Show will make its mark chiefly as one in which the general comfort of motor-cars is definitely increased. Practically, all cars will be found to be more sensibly designed, better built and more comfortably equipped. Engines are being better balanced, which means that they will give longer and more economical service ; they are being rather more accessibly laid out and there will be much-needed improvement in gear-box design. The indirect gears will generally be found to make less noise than they have done hitherto, and, speaking generally, the performance of can; will have gained in refinement. This, as a rule, applies especially to cars of British manufacture. Our industry may truthfully be said to specialize in refinement of performance.
Coach work, except perhaps in the cheapest classes, will generally be better and more comfortable, but what is more important and an interesting sign of the times, it will be more commodious. Cars in all but the larger sizes will be found to be undoubtedly bigger. Not only will their engines give more power, whether they have four or six cylinders, but as travelling carriages they will be more practical and useful than those of preceding years.
Indeed, we shall find the general tendency of the designers has been to move away from the dimensions of the hitherto very popular 11.9 h.p. type of car. There are to be seen a number of what are called " baby " cars, tiny little vehicles, weighing very little and having an amazing ratio of efficiencY, but the 11.9 class is showing signs of being turned into some- thing more like the 13.9 class. The small, light car, especially the British type, has been extraordinarily successful and has gained highly-deserved popularity, but there are signs that people are beginning to realize that a small car which pretends to be a big one, even though it does most of the work of a big one, is not so satisfactory as the model it •imitates. The small, light car came as a tremendous -boon when prices ruled very high, and full-sized comfortable cars were beyond the reach of most purses, but very few people would be found to admit now that they really prefer the small car. It is a wonderfully ,-- efficient little machine, but for full-sized people its practical attractiOn is more imaginary than real.
The 1926 Motor Show, I am sure, is going to show the beginning of the reign of decent-sized cars. In some cases the engines, may be a little larger, but in the long run it will be _found that the running costs will be no greater than with the - others; The general tendency for 1927 is towards larger and more efficient cars, greater comfort and slightly more luxurious performance. In this respect the 1926 Show can claim with justice to mark that big step' foiward which has so often been falsely announced.
Iouti PRIOLEAU,
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