European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 7, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes automotive monday february 7,1994 a no bits Chrysler corp. Is recalling 115,000 jeep grand cherokees and grand wagoneer to repair a defect that could cause steering loss. The recall involves 1993 models built from dec. 18,1992, through last summer Chrysler notified dealers that the lower and upper portions of the steering column could separate because of a sheared connecting pin. Dealers will install a sleeve to limit movement of the lower Shaft a repair that takes about 30 minutes Chrysler said. A /. A. A. Chrysler said it has received 12 reports about the defect. But All of them occurred in stationary vehicles and no accidents or injuries were reported. The National Highway traffic safety administration began a preliminary investigation of the defect last october. Chrysler sold 217,000 grand cherokees and grand wagoneer in 1993. A a Quot a. Quo Ferrari the italian luxury automaker that runs a formula i team blamed a worldwide recession for a 29 percent drop of its sales in-1993 from a year earlier. Ferrari which did not immediately report economic results said it sold 2,400 cars last year a about 80 percent abroad. The United states and Germany were the Best markets for Ferrari which Only sold 321 cars in Italy. A company spokesman said Ferrari was looking Forward to a growing demand for its models from far East countries in 1994. A a a. Federal safety regulators have intensified investigations into reports of ruptured batteries in certain Toyota camry and sticking throttles in some Ford thunderbird and Mercury cougars. The National Highway traffic safety administration said in a monthly report of its activities that it had upgraded to the second highest of three Levels an investigation into 61 complaints of Battery explosions in 1990 through 1993 camry of which 1.1 million Are on the Road in the United states. No injuries were reported in any of the incidents. The Agency offered no theory As to Why the batteries might be failing and Toyota had no immediate comment. The other investigation involves certain 1989 through 1992 thunderbird and cougars of which 544,000 Are in service. The Agency said it had eight complaints from owners including one report of an Accident in which no one was Hurt that a throttle valve linkage bushing broke or crumbled preventing the cards engine from returning to Idle Speed. Cars involved Are those with 3.8-liter, v-6 engines. Those cars with superchargers arc not included the Agency said. A. A a. Ford motor co. Says it will begin building its redesigned Mustang for Export to Japan this week. Ford said wednesday it plans to ship 3,000 Mustangs this year More than half As Many total cars it exported to Japan from North America in 1993. The Mustangs being exported to Japan will have the steering wheel on the left Side despite japanese custom of driving on the left Side of the Road that requires the steering wheel on the right Side. A from wire reports Battery charged idea Road to achieving an electric vehicle is bumpy pm asserts by James Bennet the new York times Chicago a general motors corp. Is sincerely trying to develop an electric vehicle Consumers will buy but needs More time than state regulations allow Gmys president and chief executive said Friday. A a a during a speech in Chicago John f. Smith or. Appeared to be defending Gmys electric vehicle program against assertions in an article in the new York times on Jan. 28. A we Are not putting our electric vehicle act on the Road and planning for a Flop As was implied in one of the news articles last week a Smith said. The article suggested that the automaker was counting on a test of an electric car to show that it was not possible to produce a marketable a Zero emissions vehicle under California regulations. California is calling for 2 percent of All vehicles sold there by major automakers to Emit no pollution by 1998. Twelve other states and the District of Columbia agreed to have the Federal government impose the same emission standards. In the Industry electric batteries Are widely believed to be the Best Way to meet the  though Smith made Clear he did not intend for pm to fail to comply with the regulations he said that he expected the company would fall Short. All present batteries he said a fall far Short of meeting customers  that included he said the Type of Battery that Powers the Impact Gmys electric vehicle which the company plans to begin testing in the Spring. A it is very very unlikely that the kind of breakthrough needed for electric vehicles will happen during the time frames the regulators Are now talking about a Smith said. The regulations he said should not be set arbitrarily but should be tied to developing better batteries. A i think it would be Nice if All the key players especially in California could step Back and talk about what we be Learned and what a the Best Way to continue the Progress rather than Force investment in current technology for the Sake of meeting arbitrary deadlines a Smith said. Ford motor co. Chairman Alex Trotman left and the Lincoln Mercury division vice president Keith Magee stand with the 1995 Mercury mystique at the Chicago Auto show last week. The mystique boasts a new modular v-6 engine. Ford uncovers mystique in Chicago Chicago apr when it came time to replace the aging Mercury Topaz Ford motor co. Decided the last thing it or Consumers needed was a replacement. So Ford looked to Europe the creative Home of its global car program to come up with the bigger roomier and More expensive Mercury mystique. The Challenge for Ford in marketing the mystique which was unveiled last week at the Chicago Auto show is daunting. The vehicle enters one of the newer but most competitive passenger car segments smaller than mid size sedans but larger than subcompact. The Arena already is crowded with heavyweights like the Honda Accord Pontiac grand am and Mazda 626, and newcomer like the Nissan Altima and Mitsubishi galant. Ford is counting on new engine and transmission options and a Bevy of safety and convenience features a such As a v-6 engine that needs no tuneup for 100,000 Miles a to help mystique win a following. Lincoln Mercury general manager Keith Magee said the division estimates that 50 percent to 75 percent of buyers will be owners of cars other than me curies. About half of those will be import owners. A i think the difference is going to be when you ride and drive this car and see How incredibly quiet and smooth it is a he said. As it moves up the line in size Comfort and expense with mystique Mercury is looking to attract a younger More affluent and better educated buyer. The Price of the car Hasni to been finalized Magee said but it will hold a value a if not Price a advantage Over import nameplates. Market research shows that the typical mystique buyer will be 40 to 44 years old with annual income of $45,000 to $50,000. More  Are expected to be women and one of two buyers will have a College degree. In recent years the Price of the Topaz edged closer to that of the subcompact Mercury tracer and an increasing number were ending up on rental car lots. The average Price of topazes sister the Ford Tempo last year was several Hundred dollars less than the smaller Ford escort which is tracers sibling. A we think we have a More logical walk Fri to the tracer to the mystique to the mid size Sedan Mercury Sable than we did with tracer and Topaz which were two cars Down Here on top of each other a said Magee. He said he a encouraged about attracting younger buyers to mystique in part because of the positive reaction of the Ford youth Council a group of College students who get sneak previews of Ford cars and trucks. The Council did no to see mystique itself a the most conservatively styled of the three global car bodies a but rather an Early version of the european Ford Monde. The Ford contour to be introduced in april at the new York Auto show debuts at Ford dealerships As mystique appears in Mercury showrooms this fall. A what they said about the cars is that they look sporty they look Young yet they Are practical four door sedans a Magee said. A we think its the right