European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 6, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday february 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13 can Corner the Corvette indy pushing car design to its outer limits experimental Corvette indy with removable canopy in place. While the new Chevrolet Cor Vette arrives on the american Market Early this Spring there s a work in Prog Ress Corvette called the indy that May never arrive on he Market at All. It strictly an experimental car and Market ing is not its target at least for now. Don Runkle Chevrolet s chief Engi Neer says while Chevrolet does not plan for the Corvette indy to become production car in the near future doing a car like the Corvette indy encourages our entire organization to dream a Little and to push automobile design and Engi Neering to its outer  the Corvette indy see photos is Mak ing the rounds at the american Auto shows the Detroit and new York show so Farand regarding these appearances Runkle says rarely has Chevrolet give the Public such an Early look at a project under development. What we be done i raise the shroud of secrecy just a Little on a concept program that has been under Way for More than a  the work in Progress car is a two seat mid engine research vehicle that will be used As the basis for a running prototype Mode featuring a total wheel steering  this system incorporates four wheel drive All wheel steering an mock braking traction control and Active suspension. The plastic body Corvette indy takes  its engine a modified version of the dual Over had Cam Chevy indy v8racing engine that is being developed for this year s North american cart racing season. All wheel steering allows steering through the front wheels alone or through All four wheels. Rear steering not Only enhances Kothlow Speed and High Speed cornering and handling but its applications in Normal driving Means that directional changes can occur with minimal turning of the front wheels. Ast result wheelhouse in the Corvette indy Are narrower and less intrusive to the Passen Ger Cabin Chevrolet says. A Micro compres Sor More and controls the rear wheel St a cup. Chevrolet says the main feature of the total wheel control system is a new Active suspension system that eliminate conventional Springs Shock absorbers and Stabilizer bars. Wheel and suspension response is optimized electronically for All conditions maintaining ride Quality without compromising handling. Fast hydraulics and con Stant input from the computer system changes the suspension compliance in stantly to absorb bumps or stiffen the vehicle for hard cornering Chevrolet says that prototype 86 Cor vettes Are already being tested with an Active suspension system similar to the onion the Corvette indy. Mazda import of year Mazda s new rotary engine rx-7 sports car beat out seven other automobiles to take top honors As motor trend Magazine s 1986 import car of the  year s Competition which the mag Azine s editors termed the strongest Ever also included the Audi 5000cs Turbo Quattro the Honda Accord the mazda323, the Mercedes 300e, the Saab 9000, the Toyota celica and the Yugo the first import from Yugoslavia. This year s import Winner also Mark the first major redesign of the rx-7 Model since its introduction in 1978,Mazda officials said. Japanese set records from the Japan automobile manufacturer s association Jama comes word that Japan exported a record 6.73 million cars trucks and buses in 1985, up 10.2 percent from the previous record of 6.15million set in 1984. Japan s production of cars trucks an buses meanwhile also set a record with 12,271,083 vehicles manufactured in 1985, up7 percent from the previous year Jama said. The association attributed the Export re rear View of Corvette indy with canopy removed. 1986 Corvette roadster first convertible in lineup since 1975. Cord to a Boom in sales to China Early in the year and to a japanese government decision to ease Export restrictions on passenger Carsto the United states. Exports to China in 1985 soared 194 per cent from 1984 to 7.49,332 vehicles. Those to the United states increased 21.4 percent to 3,131,998. Shipments to Europe climbed 7.6 percent to 1,363,694 vehicles in 1985. Jama said it was not certain Why exports to Europe were so brisk considering japanese automakers have Strong Competition from Europe s Small car models. They said however that persistent marketing efforts May have been responsible. Record sales for Jaguar the British Jaguar company meanwhile also had a record year in 1985, the firm announced recently that 37,724 Jaguar Sand Daimler were sold worldwide last year 13 percent More than in 1984, the previous record year. Jaguar sold 4,175 cars in december anal time High for a single month. For the full year new records were set in Nort America Jaguar s largest Market with 20,528 cars sold in the United states for a increase of 14 percent and 1,315 cars sold in Canada up 31 percent from 1984. Randy Barnett 1 korean Hyundai Excel hits . Market next week los Angeles up following the tracks made by the japanese Auto Mobile invasion of the 1970s. South koreans preparing to put its Low Cost High mile age entry on the american Auto Market. Hyundai motor America a subsidiary of the korean based Hyundai motor co. Is building a National Dealership networking preparation for the feb. 15 release of its Excel Model Hatchback and Sedan. Tucked into a Remote Corner of the Losangeles convention Center the Excel made its american debut late last Mon that the greater los Angeles Auto show where it made a Strong impression. 10help potential buyers pronounce its korean name the company dotted its exhibition space with signs that read Hyundai. Sounds like  was the most talked about car atthe  said Michael Garrett a show official. I was really surprised. Surprise has surrounded Hyundai since its Excel Model was introduced onto the Canadian Market last year. No one knew what to expect when the car called the Pony for that Market went on Sale in Canada last january. We thought we would sell 5.000 Pony front wheel drive Excel costs Between $5,000 and $7,000. Models the first year but by december we sold 25,000." said Max Jamiesson. Vice president and chief operating officer Hyundai motor America. The car has Mes that no one can put his Finger on.1 the Excel will be available in three models including three and five door hatchbacks and a four door Sedan. The car gets 37 Miles per gallon in City driving and 48 Miles per gallon on the Highway. It has a top Speed of about 100 Miles per hour. The car s components shared by the Mitsubishi Mirage and Dodge Colt Are manufactured in a new $400 million manufacturing Plant in Ulsan South Korea. The japanese automotive giant Mitsubishi owns 15 percent of Hyundai motor  prices ranging from $5,000 to $7,000, Hyundai Hopes to snare a health share of the entry level Auto Market formerly targeted by the japanese intern observers think the japanese will continue to concentrate on the higher endow the Market. Hyundai executives optimistically fore cast initial american sales of 100,000 cars this year and say they can double sales in1987. A network of 100 dealers has been established in 31 states to sell and service the Excel. Hyundai has spent $300 million to build and staff its american dealerships concentrated in the East South and wests far and plans eventually to expand into the  in 1967, Hyundai is Korea s largest automobile manufacturer. Its Par ent company the Hyundai group is the country s largest cop Tel of nearly $11 billion comerate with sales1984. The umbrella of the Hyundai group covers High technology ship building construction and steel  firm s . Headquarters is in Gar Den Grove Calif