European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 13, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Chrysler a concept car the 300, has a mean and hungry took. Sri pm George general motors new prototype Camaro was a focus of attention at the preview of the Frankfurt car show. A amps Ken George 3 severe headlights and conspicuous rear View mirrors Mark this Mitsubishi concept car Sis do can a Auto show Extraordinaire from Golf carts to test Rossas by Luke Britt staff writer org Krake thought head died and gone to heaven the 25-year-old German student had just climbed out of a Jaguar xes and was heading toward a Rolls Royce corniche when asked about his surroundings Quot it is like a dream 1 he said with a smile but without breaking his Bee line for the corniche Krake who was supposed to be in class was among thousands of people attending a preview of the 54th International Auto Austel lung or exhibition in the Frankfurt Messe. The show billed As the biggest car extravaganza in the world opens to the general Public saturday that is no Ordinary car show. Rather it is the world series of the Road the super bowl of automotive excess. In just nine Days a million people will push and Jostle their Way through 1,200 exhibits fighting for a Chance to be dazzled delighted and perhaps deluded. The huge crowds will create havoc with Frankfurt s traffic too its All Here from million Dollar cars to overgrown go carts a a spectacle of gadgets gizmos and glamorous models organized on a Gargantuan scale each of 10 buildings has at least one full floor of vehicles most have two. Huge sections Are also dedicated to Auto parts accessories and repair. Mercedes Benz fill the entire the East end of the Messe while the British company Caterham a which produces seven roadster style models a is squeezed into a Booth about the size of a Large bathroom. Quot its a matter of prestige to be Here at All Quot said Eduard Staffler a Mercedes representative. Quot if you have even a Small place at the Ian you Are in the Best place to sell your cars but most visitors a an estimated 70 percent a Are Here to browse not buy. They won t be disappointed. At the top of the list Are the Quot concept cars Quot those aerodynamic Bat Mobile they gotta be joking kind of cars with names like x-021 Kaihatsu or f-100 Mercedes. The latter actually looks something like the old air Force Jet fighter of the same name. Quot every company must display a concept car Quot a japanese journalist said Quot to show that they re involved in research. Some companies have the same one they had five years ago Quot at least one firm plans to put a former concept Auto on the Road this year. Henning Hagenbaumer of Lotic a 20-year-old German design company announced tuesday that the Tolani Testa do Ora will be on Sale in Europe in 1992. The Testa d Ora an advancement on the Testagrossa which Lotic designed and sold to Ferrari set a new limited production Auto Speed record of 210 Miles per hour last month at the Salt Lake Flats in Utah. Only about 50 of the cars will be sold Hagenbaumer said. Quot if you can to get a Date driving that car Quot said one male observer Quot you re never going to get a another Lotic car the luxury ambassador won t outrun the Testa do Ora. But then the ambassador does t need to run from anything. In addition to the options of Telephone television and Tel fax Lotic offers the ambassador with Bullet proof windows and Kevlar Armor. At the other end of the scale a and of the same building Hall 4 a is a purple yellow and Green vehicle equipped with a snap together engine. Quot each component of the motor can be pulled off with a minimum of tools Quot said Petra Leifert of the Pollman families pass family fun car. Quot some parts can actually be pulled right off without avid tools at the families pass Drew Many chuckles and prompted much speculation about Why the manufacturer named one of his cars charade. Despite the bizarre attractions the music and the food the companies at the show Are All about business. Everyone wants people to remember their name Quot Mercedes Staffler said. Quot that is what they Are trying to do with these strange things. But what we All want is to sell Thi year s Ian theme a mobility and responsibility a is a hint that the Road to sales could be paved with Good intentions. Several companies Are unveiling eco cars promoting them As less damaging to the environment. Other companies Are offering to Recycle old cars instead of letting hem rust in scrap heaps. Still others. Suburu and Volkswagen included Are citing improved safety As their mottos. Carl Hahn chairman of Volkswagen s Board of management pushed his company a Quot vehicle safety offensive. Hahn said Volkswagen is trying to build All of its cars to meet . Safety standards which he called the toughest in the world. Ford offers its sleek contour As a prototype. A amps Ken George car show information Here Are some details on the world s biggest car exhibition. Where the Frankfurt Germany Messe Fairgrounds. The approaches Are marked by signs. When sept. 14-22, 9 . To 6 30 . How much general admission first weekend 25 Marks $15 thereafter 20 Marks $12. Everyday special rate of 10 Marks $6 for military members students and groups of 10 or More. Attendance probably a million visitors to View 1,200 displays from 29 countries spread throughout 10 buildings. Parking 30,000 spaces on weekdays 40,000 on weekends. The Auto show parking permit will get visitors aboard Public transportation to the Messe. Its nov come a car club representative re enacts s breakdown. Sis in a of simplicity Marks the solar Manlel. Future Shock automakers showcase electric cars is a a Ngy org i m Frame of the Ford contour is space age too. By David Tarrant staff writer shopping around for something different to drive you May be in for a Shock a an electric Shock that is. Volkswagen Mercedes Benz Bow and Ford of Europe Are among major car manufacturers producing electric prototypes. The cars Are on display at the 54th International Auto show which opens to the Public saturday in Frankfurt Germany. Electric cars Are one aspect of the environmental theme running through the automobile show and reflected in its motto a Quot mobility and car makers also Are unveiling recycling plans for when 1992 models Are ready for the junk pile. Once relegated to Novelty status electrics Are getting second looks As major German cities such As Munich Stuttgart and Hamburg search for ways to decrease noise and air pollution generated by conventional automobiles. Interest also has been generated by the Quot California beginning in 1998, electrics a or Zero emission cars a must account for at least 2 percent of each automaker s sales in California by 2003 the proportion rises to 10 percent. The trend has automobile manufacturers scrambling to their drawing tables to develop electric alternatives to the traditional gasoline car. At this stage electrics vary from Small purring Quot motorcycle cars Quot to larger hybrids aiming to Combine the advantages of the Power of combustion engines with the Zero emissions of electrics. Volkswagen chairman Carl h Hahn announced a tuesday that his company was presenting the concept car Quot Chico Quot a Spunky three door City car with a hybrid drive meaning it uses a combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Volkswagen claims that the classic drawback of electric vehicles including poor performance and limited distance Range do not apply to hybrids the hybrid Golf switches automatically Between diesel and electric Mode the diesel engine lakes Over when the car accelerates at speeds past 60 Kwh. Or 37 Mph the 7 kilowatt electric motor cuts in at the slower City speeds in May Volkswagen began testing a Fleet of 2� hybrids in Zurich Switzerland the test will continue Tor several continued on Pago 16 Friday september 13m991 the stars and stripes Page 15
