The New Models

In the parade of new 1952 models that automakers rolled out this week, there was one brand-new entry: the Aero Willys. Willys, which has not made a conventional passenger car since 1942, claimed that the Aero's six-cylinder, go-h.p. engine gets more horsepower for its size than any other U.S. automobile engine. With overdrive ($86 extra), Willys said the Aero can do 35 miles on a gallon of regular-grade gasoline. One big drawback: the small Aero (gft. wheel base, 2,570 Ibs.) is high-priced. List price, without extras: $1,824 to $1,903 (f.o.b. Toledo), considerably higher than other small cars now on the market.

General Motors' new models looked the same on the outside, but under the hood there were some important changes. Biggest improvement was the use of a new carburetor in the Cadillac, Buick and Oldsmobile. When the accelerator is pushed down more than halfway, the carburetor supplies the engine with 45% more air than formerly, boosts horsepower as much as 20%. The new Cadillac is boosted from 160 to 190 h.p. The Buick Roadmaster, which also has a higher compression ratio, is increased from 152 to 170 h.p., and Oldsmobile from 135 to 160. The three cars also have, as optional equipment, a hydraulic power-steering device which helps the driver turn the wheel whenever he exerts more than 3 1/2 Ibs. pressure. (Chrysler introduced power-steering last year.)

If designs are pretty much unchanged, prices are not. Last week, OPS okayed a wholesale price boost for G.M., Hudson and Ford. G.M. dealers got word that the new Chevrolets will probably be $60 to $100 higher than in 1951, Oldsmobiles $75 to $110 higher, some Cadillacs $135, Buicks as much as $150.

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