European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 31, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pogo 12 the stars and stripes automotive in turny july 31,1993 behind the wheel ill k Cost of owning and operating a now car increased two tenths of n cent per mile since the Elul of March averaging 38.7 cents per mile Thea me r ican automobile association said monday. The $30 increase brings the total average yearly expenditure to $5,805,based on 15, too Miles of driving. Aaa s study of driving costs is updated ii Arterly from computations made by run he incr International of Rochester wis., which specializes in transportation travel and living costs. The average per mile Cost is determined by combining operating and fixed costs. During the second Quarter of 1993, motorists paid an average 9.16 cents per mile in operating costs including gasoline Oil maintenance and tires. Fixed costs which include insurance depreciation registration taxes and financing averaged $12.13per Day. A Motorist driving 15,000 Miles per year would pay $1,374 in operating costs plus $4,427.45 in fixed costs based on the fixed Cost average of$12.13 per Day. Aaa s Cost estimates Are based on n. Composite National average for three domestically built new cars u subcompact Ford escort la a midsize i Ord Taurus go and n full sic Chevrolet Caprice classic. New England at 40.3 cents per mile was we most expensive Region in which to own and operate a car during the second Quarter. The Midwest was the least expensive at 37.1 cents. Other regional costs were West and mid Atlantic both 39.1 cents Southwest 38.7 cents great lakes 37.9 cents and Southeast 37.7 cents. Aaa is a federation of 139 motor clubs with More than 34 million members in the United states and Canada. � Shiiki motor corp. Of Japan said wednesday that it and Volkswagen a of Germany Are giving up their plan to join in developing and making minibars in Spain Tor the european Market. Volkswagen which has been intensifying Cost cutting measures made the final decision a us Uki spokesman said. I be suggested the plan which would have used Culip mint and parts from us Uki also had become less attractive to Volkswagen because of he yen s recent Rise against the Spanish peseta which would make items from Japan More expensive. Volks wac a n United states introduced its Long delayed Golf 111 and Titi i models last week nearly u year late because of labor problems in Mexico and late manufacturing changes. The two cars Hud been expected to be introduced last fall und Volkswagen sales in the United states have suffered from the delay. Through june vow sales were off 48 percent. During an introduction in Santa Monica calif., Volkswagen United Stales vice president Tom Shaver said vow would resume Selling the vow ill next year. The git will be powered by the 2.8-liter vk6 engine capable of 172 horsepower that earned the lilt the nickname pocket  the git vr6 will become the flagship of the new Golf Iii Model lineup. The Golf 111 und Julta 111 being sold in California will appear nationwide for 1994 his full. From Wilt reports hogs take Over Oryland Harley s sidelines help steal spotlight at Nashville show Nasi Ivillia Tenn. A what else could silence the fiddles and guitars in Nashville hit the 1994 line of Harley Davidson motorcycles the new edition of hogs As the Hur Leys Are affectionately known was presented to 2,000 dealers this week at the Oryland convention Center. Attracting just As much attention How Ever was an Ever expanding Tine of Hur Ley paraphernalia. Learley jackets Are familiar perhaps even Learley hats steins and key chains. Hut Learley swimsuits Harley furniture How about Learley silk boxers it seems anything with the Harley Davidson logo on it especially the gleam ing Chrome and Black leather on new motorcycles is destined to find a Market. Harley s 1994 line is indicative of the company efforts to improve Quality through Small evolutionary changes in design said Ken Schmidt spokesman for the Milwaukee based company. The Only new motorcycle Model for 1994 is Harley s Road King which takes n Retro traditional look to the mid-1970s. We Don t have Radical changes from year to year said Schmidt the new emphasis on Hartey paraphernalia is nut of the company s at tempt to turn Learley dealers from solely Bike Sellers into one Stop shopping Cen ters for goods invoking that most Ameri can of companies. Among Harley s new suppliers is Brand name apparel of Pharr Tims which designs leather clothing inspired by Harley. Rodney chafe vice president said Harley dealers buy his company s goods to Lap into the growing numbers of non bikers who still want to be part of the Harley mystique they re finding those people Are out spending Money in the malls and if they can get that traffic coming into the shop now they be got something to sell. It s working in nil the dealerships he said. The move toward paraphernalia is coming partly from necessity Many dealerships have n Lack of bikes in Stock be cause of heavy demand but we can t Compromise the Quality because we did that Back in the 70s and cranked up production too fast said Schmidt Quality went out the window with All our  Harley went to the Brink of bankruptcy in the 1980s because of a costly leveraged buyout production problems and foreign Competition. After managers bought the company Cut costs and reorganized. Harley his emerged with growing profits and Market share. Its 1992 earnings grew 45 percent to $53.8 million. The company has More than doubled production Over the past six years and built 81,000 bikes for the 1993 Model year that will be boosted by 2,500 for 1994 with 100,000 motorcycles planned for 1997, Schmidt said. Harley dealers said they Are being forced to step up their merchandising efforts for More sophisticated shoppers our customers Are used to shopping Ait better stores and can t walk into a Hur Ley shop where they re about to spend $15,000 on n Bike and not to treated Well snid Sheila Schumaker of los an Geles Harley Davidson inc. They re a much More educated group of Consumers so you be got to approach them in that  this Comfort conscious ram truck just launched Oil the Market again Jim nil motors unil Ford la the Upple of Chrysler Eye. Chrysler pins High Hopes on stylish ram by Alan l. Alk a Paulo Ollir . Chrysler corp. Looking to its radically styled new full sue pickup truck to keep its marketplace win Ning Streak alive. So Chrysler executives broke a couple of the Auto Industry s unwritten rules of etiquette tuesday during the Roll out cer Emony for the ram truck. First chairman Robert Falon mentioned the Competition general motors corp. And i Ord motor co. By name. It probably was t necessary since anyone no cares already knows pm und i Oul each hold about a 40 percent share of the full Sio pickup segment. Chrysler wants the ram to double its 7.5 percent no Tinct share to 15  do hat in will have to corned some pm and foul Duck Oueis. Own is of foul und pm Rucks Aie real die hards Fatou told local and state Dingui tunics Piui hindi icily of Dojic Cay truck Plant wot Kris. Prying hem away is nol going to be  Katon also announced the new trucks prices usually an event timed closer Toile Sale Date of a new vehicle. The base Model of the new t-300 rain half ton work special will be $11,824. The ram 1500 Lara tic is i with an optional 5.2-liter a a engine and four Speed automatic transmission will be $18,. That s the Model Chrysler expects to sell most often. The ram offered in three models five engines four transmissions two wheel bases und two bed sues will begin arriving in Dodge showrooms in september. An extended cab version built in Mexico will be imported beginning Mem june dealers can stari taking Omideis next week. Chrysler has drawn plenty of attention since i lust showed the  Luck  by its out the Road Sau Mailer St log at the North  Auto show it a Niue in. 1 Atou said to think Clu ser Momen Tum Tom its other inc Cal new vehicles the jeep grand Cherokee and the three i i midsize and two luxury cars has Given the buying Public a better feeling about Chrys Ler. That in turn has helped the company s own Confidence he said. Should it manage to gain six or More Points of Market share Chrysler would be awash in profits from the new truck. Full sue pickups arc among the Industry s most profitable vehicles because of their Lack of manufacturing complexity. Chrysler general manager of jeep truck operations Bernard Robertson said the ram would be profitable with 12 per cent of he Market. All indications arc we can do better than 12 percent Robertson said. To do hut Chrysler must Hope thai styling und cur like appointments of the ram attract Woie people to buy truck for personal use. Chrysler has Cheju about Jop Cincent of the ni4ikct Toi Woik ducks but a Mere 2 percent in the a Moi k area. But Otti Mitody in Yuu in to Strong in thai area you re  Rob Itsou