European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 12, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes monday september 12, 1977 Corner 0 be of the top attractions at the Frankfurt International Auto show which opens on thursday will be the new opel record a car i had the pleasure of driving last month during a press introduction. The new Model which succeeds the top Selling record introduced five years ago by the Russel sheim firm packs a visual Wallop in body design the aerodynamically sophisticated wedge shape the result of thorough wind Tunnel research. In creating the new record one of opel s main Aims was to increase fuel Economy. By Means of wind Tunnel development total wind drag on the new car is 10 per cent less than that of its predecessor despite an almost 10 per cent wider front surface. And with the result of the aerodynamically streamlined body a fuel savings has been achieved with consumption Cut up to 5 per cent while a gain of 5 per cent maximum Speed was realized into the bargain. Quite an accomplishment. The new record comes in two door and four door Sedan versions and it s also available in station Wagon form. Six four Cylinder engine variations Are offered three of them 2-liter motors one with fuel injection a 1.9 liter a 1.7 liter and a 2.1 liter diesel. Standard is the Well known opel 1.9-liter motor which uses regular gasoline. Four Speed manual transmissions Are Standard while automatic is optional. Fast and silent during the fairly Long test drive route on every Type of Road and in both wet and dry conditions one had the Opportunity to change models and i drove both the 2-liter injection record automatic and the Stan Dard 1.9 four Speed manual. Although aimed at the family Driver the two cars i drove were spirited enough fun to drive with Quick pickup in both. The injection record automatic would cruise at an easy 150 is 93 Mph on wet roads with total stability. Both cars were silent even at relatively High speeds and the ride was firm but comfortable. Handling rates High the cars Quick but never nervous on twisty and Hilly sections and they went where you pointed them holding the line the balance so accurate that constant correction efforts were unnecessary. Compact but Roomy easy to drive in traffic the new records Are compact yet Interior room is plentiful and the Driver seating position can t be faulted. Outward vision deserves special notice the Low profile front Hood dropping away sharply to present the Road in full View. The new opel records Are attractive cars and they la sell on looks alone Al though they have far More than appear Ance to offer. The new record had to be Good to top the old one and it is. While the new records will be featured on the opel stand at the Frankfurt Auto show the firm also will give Star Billing to two new prototypes the Monza and Sena Tor these cars to be produced next year. Both the Monza Coupe and the luxury Sena Tor Sedan will be powered by six Cylinder 3-liter motors with fuel injection version producing 180 horsepower. Both go from Zero to 62 Mph in under 10 seconds while top Speed for the senator is about 130 Mph and for the Monza 135 Mph. Along with these cars opel will also unveil its new Commodore Sedan. Now let s take a look at other major offerings at the Frankfurt show. Ford of Ger Many will feature its new Granada the Model discussed on this Page a few weeks ago after its press debut. Along with the Granada models Ford will show its famous fiesta the latest version now pow ered by a 1.3 liter motor Standard being the 1.1-liter unit. Bow of Munich will be showing a wide Range of models among them the 320 car from the 3 series formerly with 4-Cylinder engine now powered by what Bow Calls the new six Cylinder generation the Sixes of in line configuration. The 320 will now have a Small 2-liter six while top Model in the 3 series will be the new 323i with a 2.3-liter, fuel injected six. The 316and 318 models will remain with four Cylinder motors. Bow also will feature its 6 series coupes the 630cs and 633 Sci models along with its top line 7 series sedans the Bow 728, 730 and 733i. Volkswagen will have its restyled passant on display while Daimler Benz will debut its Long awaited Mercedes station Wagon. The famous German firm will also premiere a 300sd Turbo diesel car devel oped especially for the . Market. It is the first car powered by a Turbo diesel engine. Porsche and Audi of course will also have a full display of their models. Other cars As space limits a full listing Here Are just a few of the Many cars of above aver age interest to be shown at Frankfurt Toyota s new Cressida Coupe and Turbo charged celica racing car Dat Sun s 180b Sedan Chrysler s new compact Sunbeam the Saab Turbo the Fiat 132 2-liter the British Leyland cars including Jaguar and the Triumph tr7 Lancia models with the famous rally Stratos spearheading the line while the British Lotus firm will Fea Ture its Esprit. Rolls Royce and Cadillac will both be in there while among sports super cars will be the Lamborghini Contach the Bow mid engine Coupe and the Aston Martin Lagonda. Ferrari will feature its 308 gab and also will unveil its new 2 seater 308 its styled by Pini Farina. The Frankfurt show opens thursday and runs through sept. 25, with the passenger cars housed in Halls 5 and 5a of the exhibition Fairgrounds. Hours Are from 9 . To 7 . Daily with admission 7 Marks for adults and 2 Marks for children up to 14. More than 1,100 firms from 26 countries will be represented at the German Auto Industry s 47th exhibition. Randy Barnett More Power for fiesta Ford of Germany s fiesta introduced optional 1.3-liter engine for european on the . Market recently now has an use top Speed nearly 100 Mph. Ferrari at show the Ferrari 308 gab above will appear at the Frankfurt show and the italian firm will also debut its new Ferrari 308 its styled by Pini Farina. The senator and Monza opel s new senator Sedan top and Monza coup6 Bottom will appear at the Frankfurt Auto show in prototype form. The new cars will go into production next year. Both Are powered by 3 liter six Cylinder engines. Hie new opel record features a thoroughly streamlined body the result of opel s new record wind Tunnel research. The Renkor econies As a Sedan in two or four door models and it s also available in Sta Tion Wagon form