European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 16, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday August 16, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 13 a  a wry a Ltd v.  �-7e if a a pc i j i a a �?��?�., j t a v a via. Ift -. I Ujj i i w. A a a a a Ufi Ofira to it Quot .�7 9 a a j j c v a to Al \ % a Sam amp a it Bias j Star Vii a a m a it i s 3 a Altir a i1 a amp a Jet it Sta a is Jami. Rotary engine racing heritage _ -7 a car the Mazda rx-7, the worlds Only sports car with a rotary engine has a lot going for it.  its unique engine and a sleek appearance based on. The porsche 944, the rx-7 two seater is great fun to drive it handles Well on Back roads and it offers impressive Road hoteling. It also has some drawbacks. Hut by and Large it s a sports ear that Means business and you feel it the minute you climb in. T or instance the Brake and accelerator pedals arc set close together for a Heel and toe style driving the Tach has a Rcd inc of 8,000 rpm that s motorcycle territory and in arc s a dual exhaust system making a Nice sound when you turn on the engine. Once on the Road the fun begins we had the rx-7 on test recently from Auto Exchange Mazda military sales the test Model a Gnu. Other versions in the series include the Turbo gel and  for the Turbo the rx-7 series is powered by a fuel inject cd twin Rotor inline rotary engine that turns out 160 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 140  of torque at 4,000 rpm. Using the same l.3-1itcr Wankel engine the inter cooled Turbo version turns out 200 he at 6,500 rpm and 196 . Of torque at 3,500 rpm. Auto Exchange Mazda military sales markets Only the Gnu version which Well discuss from Here on in. The test car was equipped w Ith a Standard five Speed Gearbox with overdrive and it w worked nicely with the High revving engine s smooth Power Range. At 8,000 rpm Rcd inc we got 40 Mph in first gear. 70 in second and 102 in third in Lourah it was 120 Mph at 7,000 rpm while in fifth overdrive we turned 128 Mph. Driving at an even 100 Mph the lath read 4,000 rpm while at 70 Mph it read 3,000. Our Zero to 60 Mph figure came in at 8.3 seconds. Through the first three gears you hear a Bleep Quot when you hit 8,000 As a warning not to push any harder. Once under Way the the Gnu functions Best in the upper ranges a Between 6,000 and 8,1 00 a and the Power builds steadily. Hut once in overdrive fifth and rolling along quickly you la get no Strong acceleration until you drop Down a gear. We found this the Only disappointing aspect a it of the rx-7 Gnu s Overall performance. A on Buck roads the rx-7 really comes into its own holding the proper line and giving the Driver a great degree of Doniv dene.�?T. In pow i slides the cards reaction  always predictable. I he rx-7 has a Sau retractable headlights Aid aerodynamics. T he 15-Inch Alloy wheels Are Standard. Two Rotor inline rotary engine turns out 160 horsepower. Long racing heritage from both Simsa and Acca Coin petition in the states. And if s obvious that some of this heritage has been dialled into the Overall design and the fully Independent suspension system. The rx-7 Gnu has Power assist rack and Pinion steering As Standard and it is direct and with a proper Feci for the mad. The brakes meanwhile Are Power assist discs All around the front discs vented. The 15-Inch Alloy wheels were shod by Bridges tone Potenza 205/6 radials. The Interior of the car is Well done with two dec lockable storage boxes behind the Driver and passenger scats. With the Hatchback treatment the car can carry a Large amount of cargo and the rear Hatch door with heated window goes up automatically at the turn of the key. The three spoke steering wheel feels a just right and the various gauges Are easy to read. These include Oil pressure fuel temperature volts Hig Rev counter and speedometer with trip odometer. There s also a a Check list Quot panel on the dash for Oil level Seatbelt coolant doors ajar Etc a Driver sealing is comfortable but the Center console has a storage Box at the end. Of it that sometimes intrudes upon your right dhow when you re changing gears Inis can prove annoying. There a a lockable Glove Box dual overhead map lights a Power Sunroof and Power adjust outside rear View mirrors. There were no storage pockets on the doors however. The am pm cassette stereo system has a Power Antenna and six speakers All strategically placed 1o produce Good sound. The rx-7 Gnu is an attractive ear the fit and finish both inside and outside being impeccable. The test car was Bright red with a Black Interior and there was no Chrome anywhere. Even the door handles were red. So were the outside rear View mirrors whose aerodynamic design included Large holes within the mounts. All in All quite impressive. Spoilers Are located at the front and rear with a Large wrap around spoiler also red Loei died behind the rear Hatch window. The rear third Light is just below the spoiler and integrates Well into the general design. In the fuel Economy department the ear returned 18.4 Miles per gallon with Long High Speed runs part of the Lota. The Era meanwhile rates the Gnu with manual transmission at 17 mpg cily and 25 Highway. The Mada rx-7 Gnu described in this report costs $20,776, but during the month of August the Auto Exchange sales outlets an offering these models Tor $18,776.�? Randy Harnett Auto i i he Inist i Cooper Bock on Market acc i u a i .11 a. To  a Vonis. I mini a. R is the Soulor you of me Norma mini passenger ear. The Normal mini whih gamed world Inarae on its own a account ended on the scene in 1956, and the mini Cooper sports version made its sales do but just two years later. Though production of die mini Cooper ceased in 1971, after a 1 1-year run die ear has maintained a Strong reputation to this Das. The most recent Success came m late june when a mini Cooper won the Pirell Lassie Marathon a it a historical ears. The Competition successes of the mini a Ooper Ami mini Cooper s Are Well Doc a vented. Mikil the Little ear s main claim i lame came through Uverna Iionia ral Durine. The i Liiv Ith in lories in mini c Ooper from the 1960s left meets new 1990s�?T version. The Monie Carlo rallies of 1964 and 1965, its place in motor sports history was assured. The mini Cooper s also won the european touring car rond racing championship in 1968. The new mini Cooper maw hemp manufactured reflects tile style and to Ditmon of the original i a in Nam package. Rover cars says. Powered by a 61 horsepower version of the 1275cc a a Quot series engine with a catalytic converter fitted As Standard the new Cooper has a top Speed of 92 Miles an hour and goes from Zero to 60 Mph in i 1.2 seconds the engine is Lou cd to a 4-Speed manual Gearbox i be m Holt h it per 6 y die i Ove will be a Standard Del in i a m of o \ a Vid. A mini Range the Fri says. I he mint Ooper cars will be guarded by a special introductory edition of 1,000 units these cars featuring while slopes on the Hood plus the signature <4 John Cooper a father Quot of the original car. The special mini Cooper also has leather trim a Glass Sunroof tinted Glass and special auxiliary driving lights. Rover says the new mini it Ooper has been developed in association with John Cooper and Era specialist Urs l to. Of England. Although minis Are not made with u s. Pc Kiln actions. Those interested in the new Ooper versions May write Rover cars for further information. The address is Cardey Road Coventry 9 5 6a England for Germany it s Rover i Reubi  a Mph. Am f  in i a. I. H a \. S i ref