European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 10, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday april 10, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13 mini becomes first British car to reach 5-million sales Mark the British motor Industry had cause for Celebration recently when the 5 Millionth mini rolled off Austin Rover s Longbridge Assembly lines this mini be coming the first British car Ever to reach the "5-million  the mini was launched in August of 1959, arriving first with an 850cc engine and then fitted later with larger engines. The mini became world famous in the 1960s when it won races and International rallies including three Monte Carlo Victo Ries in mini Cooper form. The mini Cooper name came about when British formula one racing entrant John Cooper convinced the Austin firm that the marketing of a High performance mini would be a Good Way to go. Cooper had developed just such a version and it proved a Winner. The Normal mini cars also began to sell Well after a slow Start with London s May fair trend setters giving them the boost needed to guarantee sales. Success has continued since. The Austin mini was designed by sir Alec Issigonis he was knighted for his creation and it was of front wheel drive design with a transversely mounted four Cylinder engine at front a design that has had had enormous influence on world Auto makers practically every firm around hav ing a similar Model on the Road today. In fact As a British Magazine observed recently if Issigonis had been Able to collect royalties on his ingenious design he would have become the richest Man on  hit of the show while on the subject of British cars the $127,000 Aston Martin Vantage Sagato it car see Phot which made its debut at last month s Geneva Auto Salon was also the hit of that show. The 50 units to be built have already been sold with orders coming in from customers in Britain the far East Germany and Australia. Aston Martin says it could have sold the planned production of the new car three times Over but is Adamant that just 50 will be built and of these 30 will go to buyers in the United kingdom. The car is based on the v8 Vantage Model but has a distinctive body and two seater Interior styled by  Italy. Its engine produces 432 horsepower which gives it a top Speed of 186 Mph. The Zero to 60 Mph figure is under five seconds which puts the new Aston Martin in the world s super car performance league. The car is built in two stages. The Chassis with running gear is constructed at Aston Martin s Newport Parnell factory in eng land and then shipped to Sagato of Milan where it is fitted with the aluminium body and Interior. Pontiac s Fiero racer general motors Pontiac division has announced that its popular mid engine Fiero sports car will be competing in the International motor sport association series this season. Called the Fiero Ftp the car see photo will be entered in i Mesa s Ftp Light class the rules for that category re Quiring a minimum weight of 1,800 pounds and a maximum engine displacement of 3 liners 183 cubic inches. In making the announcement j. Michael Losh Pontiac s general manager said there Are numerous similarities Between production and motor sports vehicles Pri Marily in the areas of construction and application of High technology. Our intent is to apply the knowledge gained on the track into viable techniques for use in future production  the exterior shape of the vehicle was developed by Pontiac s Fiero design staff with wind Tunnel testing critical. The drag co efficient emerged at 0.29 compared to the production it s 0.34. Spice Engi Neering of Northamptonshire England was commissioned to construct the Fiero Ftp. Headed by Gordon spice the firm has extensive experience in building world class motor sports machinery. This season will be spice s first entry into . Competition however. Besides the structural and design input from Pontiac the division has chosen its super duty engine to Power the Fiero Ftp. Similar engines took Fieros to seven i Mesa Gnu class wins last season. Corolla gets a diesel we had the pleasure of checking out some new Toyota cars recently when Toyota s German division presented several new models from its lineup. We had Brief out Ings in the 2-liter camry the Carina ii diesel the Corolla diesel see photo the four wheel drive land Cruiser and the 2 liter celica it Toyota s new front wheel drive sports Model that we be detailed previously. Of the group the car that took our fancy during Toyota s test Day program in the Taurus Mountain area was the Corolla die Sel. Its transversely mounted four Cylinder diesel engine is a newly developed overhead Cam 1.8-liter unit that turns out 64 horse Power. Available in compact or lift Back design the Corolla diesel is an extremely Peppy yet fuel stingy Model that rounds out the Cor Olla Range on the German Market. We spent most of our time with this car we had the lift Back version because its diesel performance proved so interesting. The Corolla topped out at nearly 100 Mph and was so Quick and smooth through the gears a five Speed Gearbox is Standard that it was difficult at times to believe that the car was powered by a diesel engine. It was also surprisingly quiet. Returning about 43 Miles to the gallon the Corolla diesel compact costs about $6,200 without tax. Unfortunately the diesel Model is not made with . Specifications. Randy Barnett Fiero for the track called the Fiero Ftp this racing version of the Pontiac Fiero will compete in the Simsa Ftp Light class series this season. Spice engineering of England constructed the car and is responsible for the Overall racing program. Sold out at $127,000 each a photo the Aston Martin Vantage Sagato it which made its debut at the recent Geneva Auto show is sold out. Only 50 will be built. The Chassis running gear is by Aston Martin of England while he body is by Sagato of Italy. Toyota Corolla diesel Toyota s German division recently Intro autobahn speeds from Salzburg to Ham diced the Corolla with a 1.8-liter diesel Burg 558 Miles on a thankful of diesel. Engine. The Corolla will run at Normal the tank holds 50 liners 13 Gallons .-spec Mitsubishi now available in Europe by Bob Hoyer staff writer Mitsubishi cars built for the american Market now Are available in Europe. The first shipment of 150 autos has arrived in Germany and will be marketed by Mitsubishi nato military sales in Mann Heim. Dave Reeves director of the new sales organization said orders Are being accepted at sales Sites in Aschaffenbur Fuerth Nuernberg Hanau Heilbronn Kaiserslautern and Mannheim. In establishing its new program Mitsubishi becomes the third japanese firm Selling .-specification models to military buyer sin Europe. Toyota cars sold by car world of Kaiserslautern and Nissan autos marketed by overseas military sales group in Frank Furt already have sizable portions of the military car Market. Initially Reeves said Mitsubishi is Mak ing three 1986 models available. It will add three More models in september when 1987 production commences. Cars now available Range in Price from the compact Mirage at $6,995 to the tre Dia a four door Sedan Selling at $9,995, and the Gallant a luxury Sedan priced at $14,695. The Mirage and Tredia also Are available in Turbo models Selling respectively for $9,995 and $11,295. For the 1987 Model year we plan to add the starion Cordia and Montero Reeves said. Customers outside of Germany May order their cars from German sales Sites. In another year military sales programs will be established in the United kingdom Spain and  Reeves said Mitsubishi launched its new program under the direction of Mitsubishi Colt car co. Of water Moor England. It took More than four years to set up the program he said and extensive test ing of Mitsubishi cars at High speeds on the German autobahn was part of that Prepa  Reeves said German Mitsubishi dealers have mechanics trained to service . Specification cars and that the firms Are equipped to service these cars