European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 28, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday. December 28, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 13 car Corner two motors for two situations Audi creates dual purpose Auto anyone who drives a car in Europe today is More than aware of the increasing traffic congestion in the cities and on the highways. And traffic congestion spells not Only increased emissions pollution but noise pollution As Well. In West Germany the shopping Cen ters in Many towns and cities have been made into pedestrian areas and some towns have even closed their centers to private traffic altogether. This rapidly increasing traffic volume obviously requires new vehicle concepts and the German car maker Audi has come up with one that should prove highly successful. Audi has created a hybrid car an Audi 100 Avant Quattro with two Power sources that operate independently of each other. An electric motor drives the rear wheels when the City Mode is required. But for out of town driving the switch is made to the Normal engine and front wheel drive. Audi says the the hybrid drive sys tem is so simple that the clean Power can be used whenever it makes sense. In Stop and go traffic the Driver simply switches on the electric motor. And for Short trips within a City or for shopping in residential areas the car will run on the batteries with no problem. 1 his eliminates noise and pollution As Well As being Ine Pansic to operate. The Driver can switch Over to the Gas Oline engine at any  Audi says. When the engine starts All the connections for the electric Power system arc automatically shut Oil. The car is now driven via the front wheels with All the advantages of the combustion engine better acceleration higher speeds and greater effective  the new Audi our car was Gien its premiere in Munich earlier this a nah in a ceremony attended in. August r. Lang the bavarian minister a trims Jet and eco nomic affairs. Audi St a the car is being shown to local authorities transport an delivery services and similar 01 Gani actions. Audi says that w ii sufficient response the system can be made ready for production in a relatively Short Linn despite years of research from various companies throughout the world no one has yet come up with a practical alternative to the gasoline or diesel engine. Although Progress has been made on other Power sources mainly electric motors the Gaso line and diesel engines still remain unchallenged for performance operating Range carrying capacity and payload. Audi Points out that because there is no Type of passenger car engine As economical and practical As a gasoline or diesel engine automotive engineers continue to work on methods of eliminating their disadvantages exhaust and noise emissions while still making use of their great benefits. And Here is where the hybrid system comes in each Power unit offering particular advantages for particular operating conditions. The gasoline engine in the hybrid car is the familiar Audi 5-Cylindcr, 2.3-Litcr unit of 136 horsepower while the electrical motor is rated at 9.3 kw/12.6 he. The car weighs 3,828 pounds. The Audi company which worked with the German electronics firm of pm Hornan on this project says the new hybrid propulsion car is suitable for Large scale production and adds that i principle the hybrid system can be in stalled in any Audi Model with four wheel drive. In using the Model 100 Avant Quattro As the first hybrid car Audi says the car already has the drive to the rear wheels in Standard form plus a transmission front gasoline engine front wheel drive. Baek electric motor and drive batteries. In taxicab form the Audi duo is using its electric motor for in town service. Batteries Are located in the spare wheel Well. Electric motor in Cylinder drives rear wheels. Tunnel with enough space to take the electric motor. So Audi s hybrid system needs no complicated and expensive modifications to the body the ingols Ladt based firm says. A set of batteries weighing about 400pounds is housed in what is normally the spare wheel Well. A compact spare is car ried in a separate partition of the Luggage compartment. The Nickel cadmium Bat Lerv provides 1.2 volts per cell the 49 cells connected in series to deliver a total voltage of 58.8 v. The Battery has a life of at least 10 years Audi says and it requires minimum maintenance. Despite the extra space required for the batteries the car still has the same carrying capacity and payload As the Normal Audi 100 Avant Quattro. The extra Battery weight Over the rear wheels is handled by uprated Springs and Shock absorbers from regular Audi Stock while 205/60 tires Are used on 15-Inch wheels. In starting the Driver has his Choice. He can Start the regular engine or he can press the a electric Button and Start the electric motor. The car must be in Neutral gear for a starts. When the car is running with the Clicc drive drive a Small additional electric motor Powers the Hydraulic systems so All the controls work in the Normal Way with Power steering and Power assist Abs brakes. An auxiliary gasoline fed water Heater maintains proper temperatures when the car is running on batteries. When the electric motor is used the Audi duo can be driven in the same Way As with an automatic Gearbox the Driver presses the accelerator and no gear changing is necessary. There s a lot More technical detail but this gives the basics and it appears that the German company has scored a breakthrough with its new Audi  Randy Barnet Auto columnist Brussels Auto show Sef the 68th Brussels International Auto motorcycle and bicycle show will take place Jan. 18-28 in the hey Sel exhibition hark. The annual belgian show will Fea Ture new cars and motor Homes in eight Halls. The Mower cycles and Bicy cles will be shown in Large separate  of an automotive nature will be on display at the hey Sci exhibition Park and there will also be a special Section on the history of automobiles in Belgium and its particular significance. Auto manufacturing in Belgium will also be a pan of the displays. The show will be open daily from 10 . To 6 . Hours will be extended to 9 . On Jan. 24 and 26. Entrance is 200 belgian francs per person about $5.50and the fee for children under 12 will be 100 francs about j2.75.