European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 9, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes automotive monday May 9,1994american Honda motor co., citing inflation and increased operating costs announced Prii e increases last week for Honda and Acura cars and Honda sport Utility vehicles Honda car prices were raised an average of $185 per vehicle. Passport sport Utility vehicle prices went up an average of $211. A prices on Acura automobiles went up an average of $254 per vehicle. If Florian Eugest cry a accent Hadnot Given him away the shiny boots and / the just out of the package Cowboy hat would have. The unshaven string can standing next to his 1969 Mustang was anything but an american kid out for a spin. He was out for a spin All right across America in the quintessential american car. But Eugster is Swiss and so Are most of the 31 other Mii Stang Drivers taking a spin with a him. And the Cowboy hat which Eugster cot in fort Worth Texas was the first no had Ever plunked on his head. Eugster 22, was touring America with other Swiss fans of the Mustang to Mark the 30th anniversary of the car. Two of the Drivers Are English. The group started the trip March 18 in Jacksonville Fla. The members drove through Florida to Texas Arizona Ana California then headed East to Detroit. But before arriving there the Drivers stopped for a weekend in St. Louis. After leaving Detroit they plan to return to Jacksonville where they will leave their cars with a shipping company and Fly Home. This is the second time that a group of Swiss Mustang owners has toured the United states. The first time was in 1989, to Mark the 25th anniversary of the car said Madeleine Koch 50, who organized both trips. She paused to look at the Hal dozen Vintage Mustangs lined up in a parking lot. �?o1 never found anybody who said that san ugly car a a she major love affair for minivans what is it about the Mustang that appeals to the Swiss a i think its almost the same As How americans like the German cars a the Bow or the Mercedes a said Juerg Pfluger 39, an electrician. A a we love american  a Eugster shrugged. A a it a a Nice car a he said. Marc eds Benz a said last week that it wants to carve out a new Market Niche with an a eau Active Tyr car to begin production in 1997 at the firms new Alabama Plant. In a statement from its Stuttgart Germany Headquarters marking the groundbreaking for the Plant at Tuscaloosa ala., the maker of luxury cars said tit Utility vehicle will have the newest available four wheel drive technology. The car will have a Large Interior and a Quot a dynamic design Quot with flexible use possibilities the statement said. It offered few other details. A the assignment Wasny to to create a new and better car for an already existing Market segment Quot but Quot to. Meet the personal lifestyles of the customers with a new product based on intensive larget group analysis a the statement said. The Tuscaloosa Plant will have an annual capacity of 60,000 to 70,000 car Sand will employ 1,500. Investment in the facility will total $300 million Mercedes said. Mercedes Benz ., which also makes commercial trucks is the largest division in the Daimler Benz   from Ivre reports automakers trying a a a 1 a 1 a a a v. To keep up with demand in Europe by Terril Jones. The associated press Paris a when Sylvie Labrilla had her third son years ago she and her husband knew they could no longer make do with their Small Sedan. So they decided to try what in Europe is still a Novelty a a minivan. A i did no to want one at first a said la Grille a pharmacist from Fontainebleau South of Paris. A but it looked interesting and was a Good Price and now i can to travel in anything  she a one of a growing number of europeans who Are getting hooked on a Mode of transport invented in America and designed for freeways and suburban living a a it a terrific. You can spread out inside it. It has great vision to Sce the scenery. You can pack lots of stuff inside a said Labrilla who escapes to the Countryside nearly every weekend in her Green Renault space a kids toys and bikes in Tow. Europeans Are beginning to discover what americans have known for a dec Ade minivans Are fun and practical. The emerging love affair is touching off a scramble to control one of the most promising segments of an otherwise depressed european Auto Market. Sales of minivans in Europe Are expected to Rise to 170,000 units this year double the a 1990 figure and soar to 400,000 in 1996, according to the business research firm Dri Mcgraw Hill. A so far there just Haven to been enough minivans for the european Consumers who wanted to buy them a said John Lawson research director for Dri in London. European automakers after ceding much of their Home Market for the vehicles to foreign rivals arc scrambling to catch up. Two of the continents largest makers recently announced new minivan offerings the first european foray into the segment in 10 years. Frances spa Peugeot Citron and Italy a Fiat spa Are jointly producing a minivan that will be marketed under their respect live Brand names beginning this summer Ford motor co. And Volkswagen  Are jointly producing one to be sold next year and general motors corp. And Honda motor co. Also Are expected to enter the fray. Chrysler corp. And Nissan motor co. Already a produce minivans in Europe. Mercedes Benz is developing a vehicle known internally As the t.o., for production in Spain starting in 1996. Quot we saw there was a considerably Large Market for the product a said Pascal Henault planning director for Peugeot Citron. A if we shared the Cost with another manufacturer it would be a lower investment  Henault attributed the increasing demand for minivans across Europe to social and cultural changes. A we noticed around 1988-89 that the family is taking greater importance in Peoples lives a he  is a tendency to think less of oneself and More of feeling Good together. The minivan lends itself to  / the minivans will hit the Market As the Citron evasion Peugeot 806 and Fiat Ulysses. A Model by Fiat subsidiary Lancia will come later. Renault set the Pace 10 years ago when it introduced the space a about the length of a Sedan but far roomier. The vehicle accounts for 50 percent of euro can minivan sales and Renault sold a record 59,100 a spaces last year. The Renault Model has four swinging doors on hinges. Peugeot Fiat a minivan which goes on Sale in june is the Only four door minivan with _ swinging doors up front and rear sliding doors. Audi letting its top in . By Ann Marie Job the associated press German car maker Audi is springing its a first convertible on Winter weary americans. Quot a. A. And what a Spring like Beauty it is. The 1994 Audi Cabriolet is arguably one of the few convertibles today that a striking with its top up or Down. \. Shoppers contemplating the Cabriolet a $38,950 base Price though will expect More and they get it. The Cabriolet comes with Standard leather seats burled Walnut Wood inlays automatic transmission fog lights anti theft alarm anti lock brakes air conditioning cruise control Power doors and windows and ski bag. The rear seat a for a actually has a Good amount of leg room. Best of All the Audi Cabriolet a convertible top is virtually fuss free. Just shift into Park set the parking Brake release the front handle of the convertible top and press a Button. The rest is done automatically with the rear Boot methodically rising and falling and the top fold the Back carefully. Audi even makes lowering the Side windows easy with a Button that automatically Lowers All four simultaneously. And the front handle on the top is nicely coated so Drivers in Southern states done to scorch their hands in  v a a the Cabriolet is a fun car a said Gerd Klauss vice president in charge of Audi of America. A yet with All the excitement of open air motoring comes such practical features As front wheel drive and dual air  based on the former Audi 90 Coupe the Cabriolet has reinforced doors floor Windshield Frame and Chassis a to prevent body shake. The Cabriolet s suspension is lowered a bit too. Company spokesman Pat Fitzgerald said Audi decided to build its first Ragtop because Quot it looked rights and noted it has been a sales Success in Europe. There is a bit of a Trade off in the Cabriolet. The reinforcement added weight to the 90 Coupe Frame boosting the Cabriolet to some 3,500 pounds. That affects the performance of the Lone Power train offered a 2.8-liter v-6 with electronic engine control mated to a four Speed automatic transmission. The 1994 Audi Cabriolet could Send convertible lovers in America through the roof. On the test drive the Cabriolet Felt sluggish at times and it takes 10.3 seconds to go from 0 to 60 Mph according to Audi. Horsepower is 172 at 5,500 revolutions per minute a bit less than the 189 horsepower at 5,900 rpm of the Bow 325i convertible. But its More than the 170 horsepower at 5,900 rpm of Saab a upcoming new v-6-powered 900 convertible. The Audi is a couple of Hundred pounds heavier than the Saab and some 70 pounds heavier than the Bow. Cabriolet riders will notice shift Points in demanding driving especially in a a sports Mode where shifts Are delayed for optimal performance. Still fuel Economy is commendable at 18 Miles a gallon in the City and 26 mpg on the Highway. This Cabriolet takes Premium fuel. There s a bit of a Trade off in the handling characteristics too. Audis Are known As wonderful Road machines but the Cabriolet test car had a bit More body Roll on winding Mountain roads than i would have liked. The suspension a front and rear Coil Springs struts and Stabilizer bars a absorbs a few bumps but riders readily feel Road unevenness. Inside the Audi is Well equipped even upholders Are provided in the Center front console. There Are no Center armrests however front or rear. Riders in Back will find a surprising amount of leg room. They tend to sit inward a bit to avoid brushing up against the smooth curved sides where the mechanical for the top merge with the rear seat area. A Large doors that open nearly perpendicular to the car body help ease entry and exit. The audits trunk space of 6.6 cubic feet is limiting. The Saab a trunk has 10 cubic feet and the Bow 3251 has 9. One tip the optional $370 wind screen works very Well to reduce wind buffeting and wind noise. Its designed to be positioned Over the Back seat and can be used if there Are no rear seat riders. Audi looks to sell Between 1,000 and 2,000 Cabriolet in 1994, Fitzgerald said. The cards $3s,950 base Price compares with $38,800 for the Bow 325i convertible and the Low $30,000s for the Saab 900 Ragtop that a to debut by summer. Audi Cabriolet buyers Are expected to be in their mid-40s, w Ith professional jobs and household incomes of More Toljan $ 100,000, he said. Half will be w Omen