European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 13, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Paga 10 the stars and stripes automotive saturday november 13.1993 Ford motor co. Has slowed production of its1994 Mustangs because of a wiring defect but says the redesigned cars will debut dec. 9 As scheduled. The no. 2automaker plans to replace wiring behind the dashboards of 1,800 Mustangs being stored at it Dearborn Mich Assembly Plant. A wiring harness that connects the instrument panel to electrical components in the car did t meet Tofu specifications Ford spokesman Bert Serre  said he did t know How Long it would take to fix the 1,800 cars but said the problem should t delay the Model s introduction Ford also shut Down the Assembly line for one Day nov. 5 because of concern about that and other defects he  we want to do is ensure that the systems Are right the processes arc right and the components Are right Serre  harnesses Are supplied by. Augat automotive components of mount Clemens Mich. Augat now i meeting Ford standards for the wiring harnesses which were being used incurs assembled this week according to the Detroit free press. Chrysler corp. Last week recalled its 1994 Model Dodge ram 4x4pickups to make sure a Bolt on the front suspension track bar is properly  said the Bolt is one of two that secure the front suspension track bar to the front Axle. If the Bolt is no tight enough the track bar May disengage causing front Axle vibration and making steering control difficult. The problem has caused no accidents Chrysler said adding that the Loose Bolt was discovered on two vehicles during routine  said 4,000 trucks produced before sept. 25 about halt of which already have been sold need to be inspected. Dealers have been instructed to inspect All trucks still i Stock and recall notices have been sent to the owners of the remaining vehicles. To make the air cleaner life will get More complicated for the owners of5.8 million vehicles in the new York City area. Beginning in 1995 or 1996,those vehicles will have to undergo a new emissions test every two years atone of 3? new inspection stations at a Cost of $25 per test new York state has  will still have to get an annual safety Check which is generally done at local gasoline stations. But that inspection will no longer include the less stringent tailpipe emissions test now used in some  Federal environmental Protection Agency which is requiring the change under the clean air act estimates that 20 percent to 30 percent of the cars vans pickup trucks and four wheel drive vehicles covered by the new rules will fail significantly More than fail the current test used in the new York City  whose cars fail will be required to make up to $450 Worth of repairs but if a car still fails the test after those repairs the owner will be allowed to Register it anyway.,.- Mercedes Beni confirmed thursday that it is studying Sites in the czech Republic where labor is cheaper for a new factory that would produce it planned subcompact City  responding to reports in several czech newspapers company spokesman Christian Dau said a decision is expected soon. From wire reports Gas fuel being tested in search to find gasoline alternative by Warren brow the Washington Post it s an old runner with a new heart a 1992 Ford Crown Victoria with a Gas engine natural Gas compressed. It s clean burning natural Gas the kind proponents see As an alternative to dirtier burning gasoline. The Gas vie is part of a three year test being conducted by Ford and 20 Utility companies nationwide including Washington Gas. The idea is to gather real world data on the use durability and re liability of natural Gas can under Many conditions. There Are 41 experimental Ford Gas sen. I ran mine for a week. Unlike gasoline which must be converted from liquid to vapor before being mixed with air and made ready for com Bustion natural Gas is Well already Gas. It comes ready to mix and Burn which creates a delightful yet troublesome efficiency in the internal combustion engine. The Delight is performance. You want fast use natural Gas. The trouble is mileage. Natural Gas Burns at a higher temperature than Gaso line. But it Burns faster especially it seems when the Gas car is sitting and baking in traffic. For example the gasoline powered 1992 Crown Vic with a 20-gallon tank four Speed automatic transmission and 4.liter 8 gets about 24 Miles per Gal Lon on the Highway. That s a possible Range of 480 Miles Between fills based on my real world experience with that car. The comparable natural Gas Vic has a Highway Range of about 200 Miles be tween fills based on the test week run. In the City the Gas Vic inhales at the equivalent rate of 10 Miles per Gal on compared with about 18 Miles per gallon for the regular Vic. Background the clean air act amendments of 1990 require cities with smoggy air to Start doing More to cleanup the mess. That Means producing cleaner running can and cleaner Gaso lines. It also Means a genuine push for the development of alternative fuel Vehira cites such As the tested Gas Vic and elec tric can. Natural Gas has at least the Short term Edge in the race for new fuel automobiles because natural Gas is readily available because natural Gas vehicles Are cheaper to produce and run than electric models and because the Gas scr reduce smog causing pollutants by As much As 98 per  some things remain to be worked out before natural Gas can can have mass Appeal. Improved driving Range is a must. A new fuel gauge specifically designed to measure natural Gas pressure and inboard availability is needed. More compact Gas canister would be helpful. A standardized filling nozzles at natural Gas stations is an absolute must. I had to lug around some five pounds of Metal adapters to guarantee Access to pumps. Of course More natural Gas filling stations Are needed. As of july 1993, there were 730 natural Gas filling stations nationwide compared with about 140,000 gasoline  very clean Burn. Superior acceleration. Super smooth engine performance. Long term test notes by washing ton Gas indicate that the natural Gas Vic also has Overall lower maintenance costs than comparable gasoline powered can. The tested Vic uses the same electronically fuel injected 4.liter 8 found in the gasoline powered  engine i rated 190 horsepower at 4,200 rpm with a maximum torque of 260 horsepower at3,200 rpm when running on gasoline. It kicks out about 200 horsepower with Nat ural Gas. Sporty lexus has italian influence  press International Chicago lexus has crossed it popular so 300 sport Coupe with its Flag ship is 400 Sedan. The result is a distinctly sporty and luxurious midsize Sedan that does t look a bit japanese. The new lexus is 300 has a distinctly european look and feel. Its initial design was developed in the studios of Giorgetti gig Faro s ital de sign. Ital design has worked with Toyota inthe past but the is 300 Marks the ital Ian firm s first involvement in a projector lexus Toyota s luxury car division. It is common for Toyota to hold styling Competition when working on the design of a new car said lexus chief de signer kunihiro Uchida. Not Only do different Toyota studios compete we sometimes open the Competition to out Side firms. In this Case stat design submitted a Model we believe took a significant step  the design is a one stroke Silhouette leading from a sloping front end around the spacious but aerodynamic Cabin to a High rear deck. The final result is a work of Art Graceful free flowing form that seems to be in perpetual motion. A we Klong test drive however proved the Beauty of the is 300 to be a Lotmore than skin deep. The real Joy is in the driving. The new lexus is 300, with its italian design slides Down a City Street. Very comfortable ride. Emitting even a squeak of protest. Standard Antilock brakes and the of positioned in the lexus lineup bet ional traction control help keep the car tween the is 300 Sedan and the flagship in Check during emergency Maneu vers. While things like collision  generally Are confined to the test track the is 300 was put to the Teston a country Road in southwestern Michi Gan. Cresting a Small Rise on a country Road the is 300 combines style and luxury i spotted a station Wagon stopped dead More than ample. A. I  i a a i2 4�vmm _  1_ & it ._._. _. _ _ is 400, the is 300 is just a Tad smaller than the is 400 less than 2 inches in Overall length and just two tenths of cubic foot in total Interior volume. The size difference is hardly notice Able. The is 300 accommodates five adults in Comfort and the amenities Are with Superb handling. Its twin Cam 24-valve, liter, in line six Cylinder engine the same Power Plant used in the sc300 sport Coupe delivers 220 horse Power and 210 Pound feet of  to the Standard electronically controlled four Speed automatic trans Mission it can accelerate from Zero to 60mph in a Little More than eight seconds. Handling is excellent. The test car a ahead. The is 300 was cruising at about the is 300, with a base Price of55 Mph when i slammed on the brakes. $39,900, features a Power adjustable the car slowed quickly but it was Clear steering wheel that Botn tilts and Tele it could t Stop in time. There was traffic Scopes and automatically tilts up and in the oncoming Lane. The Only alter a away when the ignition key is removed Totive was a narrow gravel shoulder. I eased off the Brake and guided Theca onto the shoulder around the station Wagon and Back onto the Road. The car accomplished the Man Euver without a neutered flawlessly through the curves hint of Roll or Sway traversing the Shoul make it easier to get out of Fth car. Both the Driver and front passenger get Power seats Standard. Leather seats Standard on the is 400 Are available As an option. A seven speaker 225-Wattstereo system is Standard. The double Wishbone suspension kept Wagon even knew there was an emerged or trunk mounted 12-Dlsc cd changer the test car stable during High Speed Cor by. The Antilock brakes and traction con Premium sound system traction control nering and braking but still delivered a tool prevented the is 300 s tires from heated front seats and Power Moon roof