European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 8, 1980, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and strips monday. September a 1980 to Corner Tody we begin i four part series on new cars from the big four the series to provide in Over All new on the 1981 mod Els now making their debuts in the United states. American motors corp. Is featured today and next week on the car Corner Page it will be Chrysler corp. Vehicles followed by Ford motor co. And general motors for american motors corp., the French connection is one that spells survival with the nationalized Renault company having a 5 percent stake in am and rumours going Strong that it will increase its equity stake to 22.5 per cent next month. Along with the expected 22.5 percent increase Renault has loaned am Money for the past two years and just last month came through with another $90 million. While Chrysler corp. Depends on the government to bail it out of financial difficulties american motors has Ren Ault to rely on. Why docs the French Renault firm play the role of Friend and financial Backer to am Industry analysts explain it this Way it s another step in Renault s drive to achieve International status and strengthen itself competitively against the new generation of world cars that Ford general motors and some japanese Mak ers arc now developing. According to the new York times Renault s increasingly close involvement with am in the United states appears another example of what the company president Bernard Var Nice Pawlicz Calls his strategy for creating a world car business " launched by la car it All began two years ago when the French firm put its famous front a Eccl drive Renault 5  car on the . Mar Ket through am. The Little fuel efficient  car has been Well received in the . It has been a big seller in Europe for years no Wand for i9ki Renault has added an other front wheel drive Model for am dealers to sell the Renault i8i the y for fuel injection. The Renault 18i, on the european mar Ket for More than two years it was introduced in april 1978was unveiled to the . Motoring press last month by am president Paul Tippet. While la car is aimed primarily at the youth Market the Renault i8i is a family car and in its americanized version bumper changes Etc it will be offered in four door Sedan and station Wagon designs. The r18i, equipped with rack and Pinion steering is powered by a fuel injected 1.6 Flitcr engine and the buyer will have a Choice of three transmissions 3-Spccd automatic transmission or 4-Spccd or 5-spced manual. Fuel miser the ri8i, to be rated at 26 Miles per gallon in City traffic and 37 mpg on the Highway will be marketed against such cars As the Volkswagen jct a and Audi 400. It should do Well As its Cost will be slightly lower than the jct a s and Audi a while its mpg figures give it the second Best rating of any european car sold on the . Market. Renault s la car rates Best on mpg. So am re Nash have it made in the Gas mileage Derby. Last month Renault introduced a diesel version of the ri8 Model in Europe and am is expected to Market the diesel car in the . About this time next year. Regarding la car am says that acc Ogni ing the solid acceptance la car has already achieved among Small car buyers in the ., Renault has concentrated on product improvements for 1981, primarily on trim and option availability in other words the car will have no important changes. A new exterior metallic color dark Green has been added on the be car deluxe models along with Multi coloured Side stripes Bright wheel trim rings scuff molding and cloth trim Interior As Standard. In Europe you can Purchase a super fast Renault 5 Turbo but that car will not be on the american Market any Way soon if Ever the am Renault tic up includes plans for american production of a Renault car in 1982, with joint planning and design currently under Way. The joint am re Nault car will be built in the american motors Plant in Kenosha wis. Regarding am s own models for 1981. The firm is producing two new ones four wheel drive versions of its subcompact Spir it line. Last year am came up with some thing entirely new when it introduced its four wheel drive Eagle passenger car the Eagle based on the compact Concord Model. Spirit bodies for 81. Am will offer its two smaller models Bolh with four wheel drive and both using the spirit bodies. The cars Are designated the Eagle sx/4, a 3-door lift Back and the Eagle Kamback a 2-door Sedan. Am says these vehicles Are targeted for buyers who want sporty styling and practicality coupled with the performance characteristics of four wheel drive. The sx/4 and Kamback will Lake their places alongside the three already established Eagle models for 1981 the Eagle 2-door and 4-door Sedan  the 4-door Wagon models. Other cars in the am lineup include the Basic Concord and spirit models not much changed from last year the jeep cd models and the jeep Cherokee. Wagon car and jeep truck models. Most of these jeep vehicles will feature lower profiles to reduce height therefore cutting drag and hopefully improving the Miles per gallon figures. Am Calls the lineup the broadest in jeep s 40-year history with engineering and equipment changes in jeep vehicles result ing in Gas mileage increases. Heading the list of changes am says. Is a new 6-Cylin Der engine which weighs 90 pounds less than its predecessor yet improves performance and reliability through redesign of primary engine components and use of Al Ternate materials mostly aluminium. Next week new models from Chrysler corp. Randy Barnett the am Eagle sx/4 new for 1981, the Eagle sx/4 offers performance oriented styling with four wheel Drite on a passenger car design. A 2.5-Litcr, 4-Cyllnder engine and 4-Speed manual transmission Are Standard on in new am car. The Eagle Kamback am s Eagle Kamback with four at the recreation enthusiast Market. All wheel Drinic and the Adian Lages of a Eagle models utilize 100 percent gain station Wagon Type design will be aimed in cd steel on exterior body panels. Jeep Cherokee chief the famous Cherokee chief available in either 2-door or 4-door design features a new air dam beneath the front bumper to funnel air downward reducing wind resistance and aiming for an increase in fuel Economy. Introduced in Europe two years ago in front wheel drive Renault Isi the i for fuel injection now comes onto the . Am s americanized Renault i8i Wagon to attn. The Marl i. La f _ Market through Tat French Flynn a tie up with american motors corp. The r18i will be available in 4-door Sedan and station Wagon models the Wagon shown Here offering 65.5 cubic feel of cargo space when the rear scat is folded Down