European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 13, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday March 13, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13 Pontiac trans sport is vehicle in Pursuit of the next decade7 new Toyota Supra Pontiac s design studios personnel assigned a minivan project for the future have created the trans sport a Multi Pur pose concept vehicle that Pontiac describes As a futuristic statement in automotive design. A vehicle in Pursuit of the next  Pontiac says that the trans sport is the essence of free expression with its fluid aerodynamic shape Sec photo below. The vehicle is based on a front a Eccl drive Sedan configuration extended to a 11.6-Inch wheelbase the length of a full size Wagon. These elements allow the Central Load floor to be extremely Long and Low. With an Overall exterior height of 59.6 inches the trans sport is 5 to 12 inches Shorter than a number of current mini Van Wagon entries yet its Interior walk through height of 48 inches is nearly equal to those vehicles. The 12.5-Inch step in height and Passen Ger accessibility is closer to a mid size Sedan Entrance of 8.9 inches and from 4 to 9 inches lower than the mini Van Wagon models on the Road today. Terry Henline Pontiac s exterior design studio chief says the generous use of Glass provides a pleasant and contemporary Interior environment while also highlight ing the exterior  the slanted Windshield extends Well Back Over the Driver with the profile slightly raised in a helicopter like Bubble form. The Side windows wrap into the roof resulting in an Interior Headliner Only three feet wide and running the length of the passenger compartment. The concept trans sport which has been appearing in american Auto shows is powered by a prototype 2.9-liter Turbo charged aluminium engine. With its Low Long wheelbase Interior design personnel were Able to locate six individual bucket seats in a Forward facing Mode while maintaining a Low Cross Section and profile. The seats swivel and recline and Are removable for creating cargo space. The Middle and rear seat passengers can View a Small television mounted in an Over head console. A cassette player Reading lamps and laser disc player All Are Fea tured As Well As radio controls and ear phones at each seat. The trans sport is obviously quite a package for the future and it is too bad that it can t be marketed right now. It would attract a lot of buyers. Supra sports car Toyota of Japan unveiled its new Supra sports car at the Chicago International Auto show recently and is now giving the car its european debut at the Geneva Auto Salon in Switzerland see photo. The Supra retains its rear wheel drive design the new celica has gone front wheel for True sports car handling and also to split the Supra away from the celica series and move it into a higher Market. The new Supra with an estimated . Price in the $17,000 bracket is destined to compete against such models As the porsche 944, Chevrolet Corvette Mazda rx-7 and Nissan 300-zx. The Supra has a detachable Targa Type roof spoilers front and Back and 16-Inch Alloy wheels. The Supra engine is a 3-liter in line 6 Cylinder twin Cam unit that puts out 204 horsepower. It is of four valve per Cylinder design similar to the Multi valve twin Cam engines of 2 and 1.6-liter capacity that have been so highly successful on other Toyota performance cars. Saab convertible arrives Saab of Sweden which introduced a 900 Turbo convertible prototype More than two years ago at the 1983 Frankfurt Auto show said at the time that if enough inter est was shown a production version would be built the interest certainly was there Saab began tooling up and now has introduced the .-specification convertible version at the recent Chicago International Auto show see photo. The new Saab convertible will be Avail Toyota s new Supra which retains its rear wheel drive design for All out sports car performance is being featured at the Geneva Auto Salon the Swiss show under Way now through sunday. The Supra s 3 liter engine is rated at 204 he. Saab convertible in Chicago the convertible version of the Saab 900 Turbo Sedan was unveiled recently at the Chicago International Auto show. The new convertible will be available on the United states Market late this Spring but Only in limited volume. The first Mercedes diesel this 1936 Mercedes Benz 260d, the first mass produced diesel powered passenger car in the world came onto the Market 50 Able in limited volume through . Saab dealers in late Spring. Based on the two door Saab 900 Turbo Pontiac s futuristic trans sport a Gull Wing door gives Access to the six passenger Interior of the Pontiac trans sport a futuristic concept multipurpose vehicle. Of front wheel drive configuration the car s aerodynamic exterior feature extensive use of Glass. Years ago. Its 4-Cylinder, 45-horsepower engine gave it a top Speed of about 60 Miles an hour. Sedan the front wheel drive four seat Model is powered by a twin Cam inter cooled Turbo engine that develops 160 horsepower. The car is being manufactured now for the . Market and once that production is completed the Saab convertible will be built for european sales. It is expected to arrive on the european Market this fall. 50 years of diesel cars Daimler Benz is having a great year where anniversaries Are concerned. The Stuttgart firm which manufactures Mer cedes cars and trucks is having two celebrations during 1986, both of historical automotive importance. The two birthdays include the 100th anniversary of the automobile when Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler working separately first put their famous cars on the Road in 1886 and the 50th anniversary of the first mass produced diesel powered Pas Senger car. This diesel was the Mercedes Benz 260d, which made its world debut at the Berlin Auto show in february 1936, then moved into the world markets. The 1936 diesel see Phot was powered by a 2.6-liter 4-Cylinder diesel that devel oped 45 horsepower at 3,000 rpm producing a top Speed of about 60 Mph. From 1936 on the diesel car gained More and More significance the Daimler Benz firm maintaining its role Over the years As a major manufacturer of diesel powered cars. Randy Barnett