A 100-m.p.g. Wonder Car

A 100-m.p.g Wonder car

Its funny droop nose may recall the Concorde jet, but the exIts funny droop nose may recall the Concorde jet, but the experimental car unveiled by British Leyland last week does something much better than fly supersonic: driven at a steady 30 m.p.h., it gets 100 miles to the gallon. Push the pedal to 60 m.p.h., and BL's Energy Conservation Vehicle 2, or ECV, still gets a respectable 60 m.p.g.

The ECV, which is not expected to roll off assembly lines before 1988, is a modified version of the company's 50 m.p.g. Mini Metro model being introduced this summer. The droop nose helps save gas by reducing aerodynamic drag, but the real secret behind the experimental ECV lies underneath--a novel three-cylinder engine. The ECV body, about the size of a Ford Pinto, is bantam weight. Bereft of bumpers and stripped of all interior furnishings except for the drivers seat, the test car tips the scales at 1,320 lbs. The body is constructed largely of lightweight aluminum and plastic. The windows are made of Perspex, a plastic that is lighter than glass.

The car's major drawback to date: swaying in side winds. The low weight and sophisticated design come at the expense of lateral stability. "We've got a long way to go." Concedes a BL official. Another problem could be inadequate development funds. Officials of the state-owned company are afraid that Prim Minister Margaret Thatcher, all too mindful of past government-sponsored white elephants like the Concorde, which has cost Britain and France $9 billion, will not provide money to continue testing. Engineers claim that without further government subsidies, the company may forfeit its lead in developing the first gas-stingy wonder car to Volkswagen or Renault, which are working on similar projects.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.