European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 6, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 the stars and stripes automotive saturday March 6.1993 behind the general motors. Corp. Is working on a Fargo Quot world car that could be sold in the United states and Europe with few changes a pm executive says. A Small team of . And european engineers and designers has been working on the program for six months Peter h.  executive director of pm s technical development Center in Europe was Votca by the Detroit news on thursday As saying. A we Are in the planning stages to see if we can come together and develop one vehicle which can be used for North America Europe and the rest of the world a Hanenburg or said at the Geneva Auto show. A a it a very confidential. We Are looking at a bigger vehicle that would be a Small sales volume  Ford motor co. Has gotten a lot of attention for its world car which debuted this week at the Geneva show and goes on Sale in Europe this year As the Monde. A version will begin . Production next year As a replacement Tor the Ford Tempo Mercury Topaz compacts. Automakers traditionally have designed and built different cars for markets around the world. A world car could result in huge Cost savings in design engineering and tooling. However the Monde project largely developed in Europe is estimated to be costing Ford about $6 billion. Production in genk Belgium and Kansas City mo., is targeted for worldwide sales of 700,000.  said Gmys project will Cost much less though he would not Rcv eat a figure. A # Chrysler corp. Has promised the Clinton administration to curb Price increases on its minivans if the president agrees to boost the Tariff on imported models. Chrysler chairman Robert j. Eaton said Price increases would be held at or below the rate of inflation indefinitely continuing the company s current pricing strategy. The statement came in a feb. 11 letter to Treasury Secretary Lloyd n. Bunt san but made Public by the automaker thursday. Ford motor co. Said it does t intend to follow suit. A pm spokeswoman said the automaker would not comment of its pricing strategies Chrysler s pledge is an attempt to devalue claims by japanese automakers that both . And imported minivan prices will skyrocket it the import Tariff is raised to 25 percent from its current Rale of 2.5 percent on multipurpose vehicles. A a Wyoming has the lowest gasoline prices in the country according to the american automobile association. Fuel can easily be obtained for less than is a gallon in parts of the state and Overall the average Price of All blends is $1,064 per gallon according to the Auto club. That average Price is 20 cents below the National average and 30 cents cheaper than the Western average according to aaa. One reason for the cheap fuel is a state gasoline tax of just 9 cents a gallon which state officials say is the fifth lowest in the country. Although the wholesale Price of gasoline is lower in the Denver area than in Cheyenne Industry officials say Colorado a 22-cent-a-gallon tax boosts retail prices higher m that state. A front wire reports shocking development new device designed to stymie car Ackers with a Jolt of juice by new Day a California company is marketing a unique Way to discourage carjacking. In fact its shocking and it also might be illegal. The system uses a Remote control device Small enough to carry in a pocket or purse. After the car has been hijacked the device can shut off the engine and then when the car has come to a Stop it warns the carjacked to leave or face the consequences. At that Point it delivers the consequences a a  electric Shock through the seat. Any person in the passenger seat gets it too. The Jolt lasts five seconds. Then there is a second warning and another Shock and so on until the owner shuts the sys tem off or the Battery Dies hours later. The system invented in Europe and sold there for about two years is not yet on Sale in the United states. Allan Kretz mar chief executive of secure products of los Angeles which is marketing the product said he is lining up retailers. It will sell for $399 for the Remote disabling feature and $299 for the electric Shock option. For $299 More another feature will be available the release of brightly coloured smoke to help draw attention to the car. The system also will Shock a thief who does it the old fashioned Way and Waits until the owner has parked the car before trying to steal it. Other systems also will shut Down i. Cards engine after a theft but the electric Shock feature is unique said Michelle Guido editor of installation news a Trade Magazine. A everyone under the Sun has come out with some sort of anti carjacking device a she said. A but that a definitely the most unusual one in be head.  a it is Likely to be controversial. Told about the system Law enforcement officers and Legal experts urged caution. Although the 50,000-Voh Shock is described As a a nonlethal because its amperage is very Low the experts said the courts might deem it beyond what the Law allows to prevent a theft when the thief is leaving the scene and the victim is no longer in danger. It. Robert Martin of the new York City police Auto crimes squad and others said car owners could be held liable if a car goes out of control As a result of a device that kills its engine or if the Cai Jacker is injured or killed. Kretzmar who said the electric Shock is less powerful than that from a stun gun thinks the system will be found Legal. He added a a in a rather face a court than have a Cai Jacker come to my  Bugatti debut the Bugatti eb1i2 dry cow a crowd this week at the Geneva Auto Bon fiber Chassis and halt an . ,., a u j a show during its world debut. The Cor is built on a Bug Atil car 450 horsepower. Aluminium body 12 cylinders and Ford helps Jaguar Spring Back to life by the los Angeles times How bad did it get Jaguar executives remember 1988 As the year that product reliability went bonkers. Engine Assembly and Quality controls were so Sloppy that variances among factory fresh in line Sixes wavered by As much As 40 horsepower. Or 18 percent of potential Power. How Good is it getting. Tighter manufacturing methods said Mike Dale president of Jaguar cars inc., Hava resulted in significant improvements in the Marque s Quality Over the last 18 months. A you know Quot he said with a sly smile Quot i just can to get used to How the Chrome lines up  which leaves Only the question of How Jaguar managed this apparent return from the Brink of extinction to the Cusp of a better future. Recovery began three years ago when Ford motor co. Of Dearborn mich., purchased Jaguar cars Ltd of Coventry England for $3,5 billion. That chunk of change bought a grand history a terrible reputation and a very dodgy future. Many believe the Price should have included the British broadcasting corp. And unlimited time sharing at Windsor Castle. Undaunted Ford began the enormous task of putting claws Back into Jaguar. Its Lone caveat was a luxury Jaguar is a British tradition a world distinction that must never be recycled As an american l Ord styled for the masses. Executive changes were made with desks for anyone dedicated to ruthless Quality management. A top heavy work Force was trimmed from 12,000 employees to 7,000. Productivity was pushed design processes and manufacturing methods were polished machinery that looked like Industrial revolution leftovers v junked and Union Feather bedding was i letter. A employees had been working to quota system a say the production of what hits a shift said Jaguar Spok Man John Crawford. A any employee i had made his 30 a what hits by 11 30 a was then allowed to sit around and nothing All  the new improved transitional not visibly changed jaguars have by Selling in the United states for aim two years. A Lii at period the car has gone in Oln to 10th place in a . Power sur measuring customer satisfaction Inch tag buyer impressions of vehicle Eliab a a  line Levels Crawf added faults by so percent per 100 cars have drop warranty claims Are do