European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 24, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 the stars and stripes automotive saturday july 24,1993 the Raj of i i wheel general motors will expand the availability of vehicles that Burn natural gain the 1994 Model the automaker said thursday it had signed a two year agreement Withim co technologies inc. To develop an produce a gaseous fuel engine management system. Pm began offering natural Gas Fulcd Van in the 1993 Mode year becoming the first original equipment manufacturer to offer a vehicle capable of operating on either natural Gas or gasoline. The automaker said thursday agreement with Imp co allows it to offer a variety of 1994-Model car and truck platforms capable of running on natural Gas. It did not specify which Model would be affected. Imp co will design test validate an install electronically controlled gaseous fuel systems on the vehicles in strict compliance with of specifications. Saab automobile has unveiled moderately priced technically advanced car As a key to the future of the loss Ridden manufacturer. Analysts have said sales of the new 900model series could determine the Fate of Saab whose production has slumped inthe past five years. The company has Cut its staff to 9,500, from 16,500 three year Sago. Saab has lost More than $1.1 billion since 1990, when general motors corp. Acquired 50 percent of the company. The privately held Saab Scania of Sweden owns the other half. President Keith Butler wheelhouse said trends have already turned around at Saab despite the worst global conditions for car sales in nearly 50 years. He said he expected a profit within 12months. Saab Hopes next year to sell 45,000 of the new 900 Model the first Saab launched with general motor involvement. Ford motor co. Plans to consolidate design operations in North America Europe and the Asia Pacific area under an electronic  the worldwide operation Aims to make designing vehicles More efficient by linking designers on different continents via computer and satellite. This new organization enables us to. Ensure that what is Learned and developed in one area of the company can be applied throughout said Jack Weinack vice president of the new design organization. Mercedes Benz of North americas id Friday it was recalling 128,000 cars because of a problem with a Cable connector that could make acceleration impossible. The voluntary recall involves 300-Ciassmodels from 1987 through 1992 with five and six Cylinder engines. The throttle Cable connector which secures the Cable to the engine can become deformed because of heat an Wear the company said. If the Cable Breaks the engine will return to Idle Speed preventing acceleration. The company said there were no reported accidents or injuries As a result of the problem. Owners of the recalled vehicles can have an improved connector installed at no charge at any Mercedes Benz dealer. Mercedes Benz also announced that Thad installed Drivers Side air bags that Don t comply with Federal safety standards in about 400 vehicles the 1993 a class. 300-class and 190. The company said it would replace them with . Versions at no charge. From win reports Ford Mustang ready to run costs project time reduced dramatically for latest edition Pear born Mich a the  Ford Mustang will Roll off the Assembly line in october just 35 months after top management at Ford motor co. Approved the project. At $700 million the Mustang s development costs were 30 percent Tower than those for a typical new vehicle. The. Car exterior is All new except for the floor pan White a v�6 engine replaces the base tour Cylinder engine. Ford officials Are speeding the project approval to production process through out the company. The goal is 37 month from Start to finish for a new car. Eventually that May be Cut to As Little As 30months. The no. 2 automaker s methods of achieving its world class timing goal differ from operations at Chrysler corp.,widely hailed for its use of japanese style techniques in setting up so called plat form teams. The development time for a new car among american manufacturers typically has run four years. But lean manufacturing methods eliminating anything that does t add value to the car or the wait s made Are changing that. Japanese automakers were first to use lean manufacturing. But As general motors corp., Ford and Chrysler have adopted their own strategies they Are de livering cars and trucks that customer say they want faster. It s not just a race for bragging rights said Edward Hagenlocker executive vice president of Ford s North american automotive operations. It s absolutely essential for survival in today intensely competitive global automotive  Chrysler s much Bash Hood 1989 reorganization of its manufacturing into four teams Small can Large cars minivans and jeeps trucks has drastically shaved the time it needs to being new vehicles to Market. Its popular Trio of midsize sedans Cameto life in 39 months. Its new Subbot pact the Neon will be unveiled in september,31 months after project approval. Of the least efficient of the big three in manufacturing also is changing the Way it brings cars through development. Its North american vehicle launch Center is now an incubator for new products. Ford s timing on the Mustang partly resulted from locating the project team in the same area. Fewer formal meeting were held and less paperwork was passed resulting in More informal discussions. The Mustang team Cut the number of engineering prototypes from three to two made Gams in design and color and trim work and Cut five months from the 30 months it typically takes to make tool for major body panels. The new Mustang will be introduce dec. 27, typically one of the biggest sales Days for the Auto Industry. The first production Model is due to Roll out of the Dearborn Assembly Plant on oct. 4. The aging Bulck Century limited like the other Centiu models just keeps on Sellian despite its Lack of changes. /. Century outdated but people love it by Tom 1ncantalupo new Day our subject is to paraphrase former British prime minister Winston Church ill an anachronism wrapped in an Enigma. How else but chronologically out of place would you describe a car that s been essentially unchanged for 4 decade?.and looks it from the Hood ornament to the Chrome trimmed Interior to the Whitewall tires. And la it Market that s changing at Warp Speed. How else but As a mystery would you describe this car s continued Success not Only is it still going Strong four Yea after it was joined in Buick showrooms by the More modern midsize regal. Butt i been outselling the regal which with special discounts can be had better equipped for less Money. It s no mystery at All of course to peo ple who buy centuries. They re drawn says Buick by some of the very traits that make it anachronistic the styling for example. And they re drawn by attribute that All of us can appreciate like the Century s Quality which according to Market researchers . Power and associates is quite Good. There is in fact much to like about the Century. Its ride is quite comfortable despite an outdated rear  is at least predictable. With a front Bench seat there s room for  trunk is Large although leftover i High. And the Century is easy to Park with Good visibility All around. Controls Are simple. The Century is available in nearly end less variety. There Are. Special custom and the most expensive limited equip ment Levels. There Are sedans for $15,415, wagons for $16,170 or coupes for$16,120. Freight included. Even the least r expensive special comes with Power locks tilt wheel and air conditioning. A 160-horsepower v-6 engine which most people buy costs $660 extra. A four Speed automatic transmission re places the three Speed for an additional$200, for better fuel Economy and less engine Wear. The Century has serious flaws too mostly because of its age. A speedometer and fuel gauge Are the Only instruments and they sit behind a Lens so reflective that Drivers not Only can contemplate their navels in traffic they can see them a longstanding pm problem reme died in newer models. Antilock brakes Are not available on the Century nor Are child locks for the rear doom or a Power window  keep the kids from jumping out onto the Highway. The door mounted automatic seat belts Aren t needed now that there s an air bag manual belts anchored to the pillars would satisfy the Law. And they d be better since a door mounted seat Belt is worthless if the door opens in a crash. It s that kind of stuff that makes the Century an anachronism and its popularity a mystery except that is to about1.7 million owners