European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 30, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday january 30, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13 general motors acquires control of Lotus firm general motors announced from Detroit ust week Hal it his acquired n 58 percent interest in group Lotus the famous British sports car and formula one racing car manufacturer. In addition pm also announced a Public offer to acquire up to 100 percent of the balance of i lie outstanding shares. In revealing the Purchase of its majority interest in the Lotus firm general motors was Quick to Point out that pm intends tint Lotus will continue to operate As an Independent entity with its own product identity and philosophy pm said Lotus will also continue to provide worldwide engineering consultancy services with continued client confidentiality and added no major changes in employee relations or management Are  along with its sports car and formula one racing car production Lotus also pro Vides engineering consultancy to numerous automotive and Industrial clients. General motors being the largest customer of Lotus engineering services. While Many purists May Sec the pm takeover of Lotus As inc end of that firm s autonomy we think 11 will be otherwise the Busl example is Ferrari which was acquired some years ago by Fiat. Since the Fiat takeover Ferrari has prospered Bath on the track and in the sports ear sales department and we think it will be a Case of the same with the legendary Lotus firm Lotus was founded in 1952 by the late Colin can Penn and his ears have captured Many formula one world championships the american Mario andr Clit winning one of them for Lotus in 1978. Lotus Headquarters arc in Llyl Hal England near nor wich. In announcing its Lotus Stock Purchase pm also revealed plans to establish a Muro can coordinating organization to support its expanding passenger car business in Europe. This organization will be located in Zurich Switzerland and operate under the name of general motors Europe Pas Senger cars beginning this Spring. Ferdinand a Eickler a pm vice president and managing director of opel pm s subsidiary in rues Millheim German will head the new organisation in Zurich a lost Vav. La Eric managing director of pm Espana in Zaragoza. Spain will succeed Brickl or at opel. Pm said the new office in Zurich is being established in response to the in creased importance and growing competitiveness of the european markets in which pm s opel and Vauxhall car lines have increased their combined Market share in 17 countries by 25 percent since 198. F. James Mcdonald president of pm emphasized that the establishment of the Zurich coordinating office will not change the Legal and business status of the pm National companies. He said that opel of Ruessel licit will continue to have responsibility for the design and engineering of pm passenger cars in Europe. Randy Barnett the winning porsche 959 on desert Trail. Porsche 959s of Paris Dakar came saw and conquered the four wheel drive porsche 959 sports car the hit of last fall s Frankfurt Auto show was also a i i in prototype Competition form in the acc Cal Paris Dakar Senegal rally. Three prototype 959s prepared by porsche s research and development Center at a Kissach Germany were entered in the 9,000-mile desert Marathon and three finished first second and sixth. It was a Brilliant Success for the three ear Jacky icky rothmans team and for the Frenchman Rene Metge whose Victory was his third in inc fans Dakar Marathon. In what must rate As u rather Large understatement porsche says  Paris Dakar result give impressive proof of the future High tech porsche sports car s  for the Paris Dakar Marathon the three 959s were powered by 2.11-liter, twin Turbo engines with water cooled Cylinder Heads and air cooled Block the engines de tuned to 400 horsepower for the use of Low Grade fuel. The six Speed transmissions featured a computer controlled electronically adjustable four wheel drive that automatically selected the Best possible front to rear ratio All according to surface conditions. Top Speed for the 959i in the rally was about 130 Mph. Produce icon of the porsche 959 sports car will Start within the nest few months porsche says. . K1rst the Lancia 84 in Way to Etc Tual Moalc curio it Clory. Second Tel Igent 205 Turbo at Speed in col do Turin third Audi quallo draws cheers in Thi col de Turin singe. Four wheel drive necessary for rallying in today s scene the three rally ears shown above in the ready has established itself As the outfit to nil tar of ln�.,r of a lakh in Insl li",./t,i  a Tel in i pm order of i hair finish in last week s Monte Carlo rally All have one thing in common four wheel drive. The italian Lancia firm without four wheel drive until it developed the s4 ear late last year has been a Winner with this nimble Little machine since the Start. The 54 won in its debut last november in the British Rac rally and now Monte Carlo has made it two victories in a Row. Lancia whose mid engine Lancia Stalos ruled the rally world during the mid-1970s, May have another super car in the s4, and the 1986 world championship season will provide the answer. At the moment Wilh Finland s Henri Toivonen scoring both of the impressive Vic tories aboard the s4, the Lancia team Al read Micati iw6. All of the lop factory in cred cars the Lancia s4, Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 and Audi Quattro have Turbo engines that develop Between 450 and 500 horsepower. The Lan Cia Anil Peugeot cars Wilh mid engine de signs have an advantage Over Audi in that respect and it is becoming apparent that Aadi May need an All new rally car to Bat the the italian and French teams. On the special stages Lite the Cal de Turin the photos above All were taken there the audis appeared to be just too big to Cope with Llie Small and nimble Lancia and pc Geol cars but it s a Long Way to go Wilh 12 rallies remaining and anything can Hap pen. The a Chi round is the swedish on feb. Ij.j6.