European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 19, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ige 13 a 4x4 with a touch of class fold s Bronco ii Strong yet stylish the Ford Broncos Nosonc of the most popular special purpose fuck los on inc american Market and after dry 8g i for some Lime it s easy to Sec Why. Generally speaking the popularity of four wheel drive sports vehicles obviously rests with their individuality or pure Thuc and even if they never go off Road and most Don t it does t mat Ter because they offer their owners some thing different. In Short these vehicles arc Tor people who Don t want Normal cars or sports cars either. Our Ford Bronco ii 4x4 compact test vehicle from the Ford motor f o. The vehicle if also available in two wheel drive came i individualistic Eddie Bauer styling this involving special seats and Interior design Withan exterior of Hunter Green with Gold Sandoc Wood trim and a Sandl Wood Interior. It was such a luxurious and attractive 4-Whcclcr that one would think twice before taking it into off Road mud and grime situations but the Bronco ii could handle that. Although inc Bronco ii is defined As a compact Utility vehicle it is exl emely car like where Interior amenities arc concerned and if you did t sit up High you might thin you were in a Normal car. The Bronco ii is easy to drive has All of the luxury you need and despite rear Leaf suspension for heavy duty purposes it gives a relatively norma1and comfortable ride on regular roads. " to give an example of its  there s a Sucro Casso radio with four speakers a Simul Upwood instrument panel cruise compel air conditioning Power Windoft tilt steering wheel Central  seats for both hard and so to stings fully reclining scat backs. Mini pc panels on both doors and much my. There arc also optional Louth drive electric controls on the privacy indents arc featured on Broncel dash meaning Lam you can engage either regular 4x4 Dwe or Low 4x4 by pushing a Button. Fitful in t be simpler. The Large number of Interior there is no overhead map Light up for the Driver and his co Driver Andi is is a rather startling omission on a vehicle that can go into areas where night Lime map Reading can be a necessity. The lest Bronco featured a four Speed overdrive automatic transmission with a steering column mounted shifter that Al lows additional front floor space. The Standard engine for both inc two wheel drive and four wheel drive Lirocco ii is a fuel injected 2.9-Litcr v-6 of 140horsepower at 4,600 Rorn and 170 foot pounds of torque at 2,600 rpm. The engine proved Strong a on Ivland silent and provided Quick pass the kick Down. Cruising at 70 to 80was about right. Al the Legal limit of 6 Mph in most states the engine was pull ing 2750 rpm redline is 5500. At 55 Mph. Still the Legal limit in a few states the engine was loafing along at 2250 rpm. At 70 Mph. The Tach read 3.000rpm. The Bronco ii was fairly Quick off the line with our /ero-Lo-60-Mph figure recorded at 12.4 seconds. Our Road notes show that visibility was first Rale from both front and rear seals and thai the vehicle always proved Strong and stable in High winds an heavy rain. Because of the nature of its construction and with four wheel drive on Tammie Bronco ii provided a great of occur it regardless of weather is True of most special purpose four wheel drive vehicles a characteristic that has added to their popularity the ride As noted earlier was quil comfortable for this Type of vehicle and Ford says this is due to new standardp205/75ri5 tires and revised Shock absorber Valving. The brakes were quilt effective with 10.8-Inch discs at the front and 9 Inch Drums at the rear the rear drum equipped wish an anti lock system. To make entry and and exit easier forbear Seal passengers the right front bucket scat slides Forward and the Scarback flips Forward and Down. With the rear scat backs in place Luggage room is quit adequate 23.8 cubic Feeland when the scat backs arc Down to provide additional space it totals 56.9 cubic feet. A rolling Blind hides the Luggage when the rear setbacks Are. In place. The Bronco ii provides scaling for four or five  spare tire is carried on the outside and it swings outward so that the backdoor can be opened with Case. Our combined City open Road fuel dreading came to 18.7 Miles per gallon a is 16 City and 20 Highway and the23 Gallons so the Range is Well  Siam cml Price for the Bronco ii 4x4 is $13,915, by with inc optional equip ment package Dew try costs clc., the vehicle described in sift report Sells for 18,188. For special military prices and for full details on inc Bronco ii. Prospective buyers should Contact Ford sales representatives at the cafes new car sales Point son the various bases in Europe Randy bar Natl  i Britain s mini 30 years old and still going Strong by Dave us kill. . Bureau in no Way is the name mini a mis Nomer because it is truly mini in Al most every Way. Mounted on four 12-Inch wheels pushed along by inc motorcycle sized 998cc engine the pint sized Auto tools along in much inc same Way the first one did when in was introduced onto the British Markel 30 years ago. Although people of All Ages drive inc cars most seem to be Young people. British youngsters have inc mini As american youths had i hair corsairs Mustangs vegas. Pintos and Chevy us. The common Bond among them is Economy. But with the mini it is spelled with a capital  even in City driving Gas Only trickle through to inc Carburettor As the car gels some 46 Miles per gallon. On the High Way it s 60. The cars arc also in the lowest an cheapest class of British insurance groups. The front wheel drive minis find Ihei Way into families of All Means even in class conscious Britain. The mini spans All classes and alleges Austin Rover spokeswoman sue Curtis said. That is the Garcal thin about  the cars have never been sold in inc United states but they arc marketed in More than 20 other coun tries outside of ils big Gisl Market Brit Ain Curtis said. During their 30 years of " i r to a i. A .-v7t-?-gpjmbb�mb� the saucy Little mini hits changed Little in appearance during its production lifetime. Sis Dav Diehl production More than 5 million minis have been sold throughout the world in places As diverse As Iceland. Tahiti and new Caledonia. The mini is for the Young at heart Andich Strong of spine. Silling some six inches off inc ground the mini gives a ride one would cup Cal Oul of such a Small Low Slung car. And at 1,400 pounds Theca tends to Bounce passengers along in their seats which do Lille to absorb the Shock the suspension system can  Best thing Aboul the mini is ils handling. In is a fun Carlo drive. It whip around turns and is terrific on winding English roads. The fal and Liny  is easy to grip and Garcal for play ing race car Driver. The car has plenty of Power for its size and weight. In is Relia ble on Quick starts out of intersection Sand onto highways and will cruise easily and relatively comfortably at 70 Mph. Parking there can be no car thai Parks easier. In will fit where no others will. When the late sir Alec Issigonis de signed the car his mini design earned him a Knighthood he Slart cd from inc inside. He made certain in arc was ple Lyof room for humans and inc makers have done nothing since to change  in the trunk was one sacrifice. It will hold Only a few groceries or a Small overnight bag and Lille else. Bui like most subcompact minis arc not made for very Large people although six footer still has plenty of headroom. The seats however Aren t very accommodating to the larger of the species. They get downright uncomfortable on Long or bumpy rides but Small people who Rode in the test car did not complain the minis Start at a tax free Price of about $6,100