European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 19, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday september 19, 1985 the stars and stripes Page 13 car Corner clean cars at Frankfurt environment plays a or role of show while new cars arc providing inc outward excitement at the 51st International Frankfurt Auto show which continues through sunday the emphasis from the German manufacturers Point of View involves the environmental situation and the threat of Speed limits in the fed eral Republic. During the prs show press conferences and discussions German Auto executives All stressed the necessity for immediate use of cleaner engines that operate with catalytic converters to Cut pollution. The executives also were Quick to Point out that their current lineups All include autom Bills that make use of these american style converters the cars engines set up to use the Lead free Gas that is now available throughout Germany. German cars equipped with the converters All Are on display at the show not that they look any different and the Auto testing program at the Hocke Nchim race track last weekend also featured the con Verter or Kalal Salor models along with the other cars. The testing program for motor journalists has been held for Many years now in conjunction with the biennial show. During the test Day program we drove As Many of the new cars As time allowed and we can Only say that the cars equipped with converters and that included such High performance models As the Bow 635 Sci All ran Well and the engines were quite smooth. Overcoming problem addressing the much publicized German environment Issue one that has been Sharp ened by the dying Forest situation Werner Breitschwerdt chairman of the Board at Daimler Benz told a press conference that the automobile Industry is on the Way to overcoming the environmental problem. This is proved by the successes not Only in noise reduction but also increasingly in the reduction of exhaust emissions. The crucial thing now is to ensure the fastest possible introduction of these Low pollutant cars. We can be fairly confident that the Motorist will play his part Breitschwerdt Laid and his readiness to buy Low Pollut ant can or to convert cars already on the Road can no longer be doubted. The environment Standard on a car has already be come an important Purchase criterion Rudolf Hoernig head of the Daimler Benz research and development division added that the catalytic converter is the Best and most effective emission control technique in use today and will remain so for a Long Lime to come Long enough to justify the enormous Effort and expenditure for development and production. The Opin Ion voiced Here and there for whatever motive that catalytic converter technology is already obsolete is  where Speed limit proposals Are concerned German Auto executives All lined up wildly against them primarily because German cars would lose their image on world markets. German cars arc built to run at High speeds and High speeds require top class engineering the Industry main Lama the results being some of the world s Best automobiles. Tests under Way in Germany the Speed limit proposals plus Speed limit tests now in effect on Var ious autobahn stretches have nothing to do with safety. The limits Are being urged to reduce pollution the Speed limit advocates claiming that cars driven at higher speeds produce More pollutants. To that charge. German Auto executives Point out that their cars Are becoming cleaner and cleaner so there should be no need for Speed limits. Eberhard von Kue Nchim chairman of Bow said at the very latest when the new dec regulations come into Force All Bow models not Only those with More than 2 liners capacity will be equipped with catalysts. I hardly have to emphasize that this will also enable us to expand our Model Range in America and Japan two markets with which we Are already very satisfied. I should add however that Bow s special image and reputation in those coun tries is largely due to the fact that we Are Able to build cars suitable for Safe motoring at High speeds. This is indeed the first Strong argument against any kind of Speed limit on German autobahn. The second argument in this context von Kue Nchim said is presented with great concern by mass producers in Ger Many. Those manufacturers will no longer be Able to compete with cheaper imports if cars Only have to be designed for a Maxi mum Speed of 100 Kph 62 Mph. And in that Case jobs will be at risk in the entire German car  like Mercedes Bow porsche opel and Ford the Volkswagen Audi firm also opposes a 100 Kph Speed limit vow chair Man Karl h. Hahn saying with 100 Kph on motorways the technological top Posi Tion of German cars would be reduced not Only where Speed is concerned but generally. Nobody is suggesting that we can or indeed wish to drive fast All the time but if circumstances allow it then at least we Are permitted to. This fact has up to now been the incentive for the German automobile Industry to strive for maximum possible performance in All requirements made for the Auto Mobile vow s Hahn said. Have solution Hahn also pointed out thai we already have the necessary Catal Yzer solution in accordance with european and american standards for each of our passenger car models from the Polo to the Audi 200 Avant Quattro. These solutions Are either available now or have a firm Date of introduction. In other words any Volkswagen or Audi Type can be ordered from a . Dealer with ready installed emission control. And we also have a converter retrofit system for our older cars now on the  regarding four wheel drive vehicles which Are much in evidence throughout the Frankfurt show Volkswagen chairman Hahn said we Are now pressing ahead with the process of popularizing permanent four wheel drive which we introduced with the Audi 80 Quattro at the last Auto show Here in 1983. In this connection we have the Golf synchro on show for the first time. With the use of four wheel drive technology in the most popular Volkswagen Model this drive concept is now available to even broader groups of  Hahn also pointed out that in the Case of Audi the four wheel drive Quattro lineup is now Complete Audi the first manufacturer in the world to offer a Complete Range of four wheel drive models. Next year the automobile will celebrate its 100th anniversary and the technological Progress and the future of the car Are being noted by the Frankfurt show s motto the automobile 99 years  Randy Burnett world debut of Nissan mid 4 the Nissan mid 4 from Japan a mid engine four wheel drive sports car is miking its world debut at the Frankfurt Auto show which is running now through sunday. The Nissan mid 4, to be sold on the is. Market next year is powered by a 3-Liler, 24-V�Lre v6 engine that produces 230 horsepower. First 86 Camaro the first of the 1986 Chevrolet Camaro iroc-28 models is shown coming off the line at pm s von Guys calif., As Sembly Plant. The front spoiler missing from the iroc-z28 shown Here. Is shipped separately for dealer Assembly. Official introduction Day for the new Camaro is oct. 3. 85 car sales should hit record High Levels in . Detroit not Cir and truck sales should hit record High Levels for the 1985 Model year Roger b. Smith chair Man of general motors corp., told a news conference Here before an address to the Detroit economic club. The pm chief predicted that total Amer ican sales of cars and trucks domestically made or imported will reach is.4 million by the end of this month which is the end of the 1985 Model year. That would surpass the previous record of 15.3 million vehicles set in the Boom year of 1978, and would be Only the second Tine in history that . Sales have exceeded 15 million cars and trucks. Last year sales totalled 14.2 million cars and trucks. He said cars would account for 10.4 Mil lion to 10.6 million sales for the 1985 Model year while trucks including the popular minivans will make up the rest. Smith said the current torrid sales Pace was largely due to Price cuts in the form of below Market financing plans offered by All the Domestic manufacturers but largely unmatched by imported brands. We knew it would be a big boost but it far exceeded our expectations he said. General motors is offering 7.7 percent financing on most of its remaining 1985 mod Els which is Well below the 12 percent to 13 percent charged by most Banks on Auto Loans. Along with the Strong Domestic sales. Smith noted that imports arc capturing 25 percent of the current car Market and 16 percent of the truck Market and their share has been growing rapidly with inc lifting of restrictions on Japan. 2nd military Cycle Ray will be staged sept. 28-29 the second annual military motorcycle rally will be staged on sept. 28 and 29 on the Buseck by urn Motocross grounds area just East of Giessen Ger Many with events set in Many Cycle categories. The two Day rally is being sponsored by the Giessen Rod and gun club and the motor sports club of Busick Bauern. Along with competitive events both saturday and sunday programs will Fea Ture Harley Davidson new Bike shows and test rides on the 86 harleys As Well As motorcycle films. A custom Bike show will be featured in an indoor Hall on saturday evening along with live music and entertainment. Saturday s program begins at 8 30 . And tuns through 9 ., while sunday s program starts at 9 30 . And ends about 4 30  Camping will be available at the Motocross grounds site. Admission is $2 per person and includes a rally kit featuring a motorcycle brochure and rally Patch. Both German and american riders on any Type of motorcycle Are Welcome the organizers say. The Buseck Beurn motorcycle club site is located off autobahn a5 that runs East of Giessen exit Giessen North.