NORTHWEST HERALD SectionC Friday. S*pt«mbtr 27, IMS P«g«S Wheels m,' ci 'W • •i. #*•: -M,,- • k - i . Japanese cars strive for more style in '86 § I h-| I w H I B y D a v i d R . Schweisberg ' UP1 auto writer TOKYO -- For Japa nese automakers, 1986 appears to a year in which change "will be more of style than of substance. While the Japanese giants are keeping many new models un der wraps until the To kyo auto show in late October., the model changeovers and new designs made public so far stress the automo tive equivalent oi cos metic surgery. Outside, aerodynam ics is the watchword as carmakers highlight fuel efficiency and dis tinctive imagery. In side. roominess! pas senger comfort and the dawning of the informa tion age will count. "It's a year of style changes." said Tom Waters, a spokesman ifor Toyota. "Evervone is trying to get their cars as widely accepted as possible. "Everyone is trying to find an image! so when you look at the car. you won't say, that's a Japanese car.' but you'll know it as a Toyota or a Honda or whatever." Analysts noted that as c a r m a k e r s h a v e i n creased their penetra tion of the U.S. market, they have been forced to become more sophis ticated about it. « "Almost all the Japa nese companies have opened design centers on the West Coast." one analyst said. "Their scouts are telling them t h i n g s . I ' p t o n o w they've been building cars just for Japan. Now. they have to mar ket them." One manifestation that will be seen in the U.S. market this year will be added roomi ness. comfort and seat variations for bigger Western drivers. "We're trying to be more accommodating to all sizes of drivers." Waters explained. Beneath the surface. Pre-approved it set WARREN, Mich. - Chevrolet Motor Divi sion is introducing a pre-approved credit plan through General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC). This type of credit ar rangement has never been offered before on a national basis by any automotive manufac turer. Beginning in the Oc- tober issues of "Cosmopolitan" and "Women's Sports and Fitness" magazines, a pull-out credit applica- Olds tion allows qualified applicants to obtain an advance line of credit on a Chevrolet model of their choice. Upon preliminary approval from GMAC, the customer would receive a letter advis ing of his/her good credit standing "good at any Chevrolet dealer." "This credit ar rangement is conve nient and saves time for a person in the market for a new car by eliminating the need to shop all over f o r c r e d i t a r rangements," said Robert D. Burger, Chevrolet general m a n a g e r a n d a General Motors vice president. "This is particularly attractive to younger, first-time buyers who may be less familiar with the available avenues of credit," Burger added. "With this pre-approved credit plan, we hope to make it easier to pur- c h a s e a n e w Chevrolet." a main thrust- is ex panding the use of elec tronics and on board computers, although most of those changes will not show up in the U.S. market for several years. Nissan, for example, is developing a suspen sion system that moni tors road movement and tells shock absorb ers how much to give. Nissan is also incorpo rating a Sony compact disc player in its Sky line series. Toyota is experiment ing in Japan with a vid eo display unit in the dashboard of its top-of- the-line specialty Soar- er sedan. The screen will give the driver ac cess to his on-board computer's informa tion. such as how far he can drive on remaining fuel. It will even pick up commercial television broadcasts. Honda's Prelude' will have a new instrument panel designed around e Foreign help for Renaults l' 1*1 phi >lt i French workers from the Renault Car Company block off the Champs Elysee with new Renault models that JAPAN - Page 8C were constructed in foreign countries, noteably Spain and Belgium to protest the re-importation of the vehi cles made using cheaper labor. In the background is the Arc de Triomphe. (Continued from Page 4C) tion center will over ride the selected mode of operation to alert the driver of vehicle operations problems. This system gives three types of informa tion -- it has a driver warning system; it provides a system monitor function, and it has a serviceability or diagnostic function. DELTA 88 The all-new Delta 88 coupe and sedan also make their debut in 1986. This full-size, f a m i l y c a r marketplace is an im- p o r t a n t o n e f o r Oldsmobile, compris ing over 20 percent of the division's sales each year since 1975. O l d s m o b i l e customers will find that the new front- drive Delta 88 will more than live up to their expectations. It has the interior spaciousness to which they are a'ccustomed as well as excellent handling and major fuel economy im provements. The exterior design of the Delta 88 is con temporary with soft lines and rounded edges, yet the new sedan retains the traditional Oldsmobile styling with its split grille and semi- notchback roofline. The new couple is highly styled with rounded backlite and sloping roofline. It is expected to appeal to younger buyers who want a practical, roomy car with an ex tra stylish flair. M a j o r i m p r o v e m e n t s i n aerodynamics have reduced the coefficient of drag to .36 on the Delta 88 coupe and .38 on the sedan. Fuel economy with the stan dard 3.0-liter are pro jected EPA estimates of 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. Zero to 60 acceleration is 14.5 seconds. The optional 3.8-liter V6 engine is EPA estimated at 19 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, with 0-60 of 11.5 seconds. 1 CALAIS Calais, which wasin- l troduced as a coupe in 1985, will be com plemented by a sedan in '86, thus increasing that car's appeal to -young families. And £ for those~ buyers who want a more spacious, open feeling in the front seating area, a column shift option will be available. Two new specialty cars -- the Calis GT and ES -- will also be available in 1986. The GT features composite headlamps, aero rocker panels, specific front and rear fascias, a two-tone paint gcheme, 14-inch a l u m i n u m - s t y l e d wheels and Eagle GT tires. FE3 suspension is standard and a 3.0 liter V6 engine is available. The ES sedan will h a v e c o m p o s i t e h e a d l a m p s w i t h blacked-out rocker p a n e l s , m o l d i n g s , bumpers and mirrors. Like the GT, it is a driver's car and comes standard with the FE3 suspension which in- e l u d e s s t y l e d aluminum wheels and 1 4 - i n c h E a g l e G T tires. A specific in terior treatment with a r a l l y e i n s t r u m e n t cluster completes the sport look. FIRENZA The 1986 Firenza, Oldsmobile's most af fordable vehicle for the entry-level buyer, is featured in sedan, hatchback and wagon body styles -- along with a new notchback coupe. The sporty coupe will be available as the Firenza and the Firen za LC and will widen the appeal of the Oldsmobile small-car line-up. It has been targeted to attract the younger entry-level buyer and to increase the division's appeal a m o n g w o m e n customers. To emphasize the sporty* positioning of the Firenza carline, the Firenza GT has replaced the up-level hatchback. The GT combines sporty ap pearance with ex cellent performance a n d h a n d l i n g . T h e . standard 2.8-liter V6 engine with manual transmission has a 0-60 acceleration of 10 seconds. An excellent h a n d l i n g p a c k a g e , combined with 14-inch low profile Eagle GTs, results in a superb handling, fun-to-drive car. CUTLASS CIERA/ SUPREME The important mid size market is covered b y O l d s m o b i l e ' s C u t l a s s f a m i l y o f carlines -- Cutlass Ciera and Cutlass Supreme -- together accounting for almost 5 0 p e r c e n t o f Oldsmobile sales. The stylish Cutlass Ciera is forecast to be Oldsmobile's highest volume carline in 1986, comprising over 30 percent of sales. The performance aspects of the Cutlass Ciera GT and Cutlass Ciera ES models have been enhanced with a new standard 3.8 liter V 6 e n g i n e i n - corporated with se quential fuel injection and hydraulic roller lifters. A new FE3 handling performance package makes them truly exciting road vehicles. The popular Cutlass Supreme continues in coupe and sedan body styles. The sporty models -- Salon and 442 -- have contem porary front end ap pearances. NINETY-EIGHT Oldsmobile's full- size luxury car, the Ninety-Eight Regen cy, returns this year with more advanced technology to comple ment its elegance. It will be powered by the 3.8-liter V6 engine, with improved fuel economy and per formance. N i n e t y - E i g h t ' s precise road manage m e n t s y s t e m i s broadened to include optional FE3 handling -- a driver's package t h a t e m p h a s i z e s stability and precision along with excellent road-holding capabili ty. F o r t h e u p s c a l e buyer looking for ex clusive luxury, the Ninety-Eight Grande should provide an answer. Unique ex terior identification is created by composite headlamps. The new Grande package will include a leather in t e r i o r i n c l u d i n g a leather-wrapped steer ing wheel. Available as an option on the Grande package will be a distinctive pigskin interior design with suede, sport steering wheel, and functional storage console. STATION WAGONS Oldsmobile will offer a full line of three sta tion wagons for buyers who desire increased room for passengers and cargo. The sub- c o m p a c t F i r e n z a w a g o n , m i d - s i z e Cutlass Cruiser and f u l l - s i z e C u s t o m Cruiser will offer ex cellent functionality and outstanding value. MAKE YOUR BEST DEAL ON '85 LEBAR0N, CARAVELLE, AND NEW YORKER OR ANY USED CAR IN-STOCK! Then Present This Check S 4 A A 0 0 nus tm«* ORDER ̂ OF :u$torner, SUM OF • ExP,reS October discount .5 IKfl "",, 1983 MERCURY COUGAR 6 C yi Auto AC I'filed Glass Ml WW Pi PB C'uise ft Oelog AM IM Slwo Sil*er V 6 lo# Miles Stock'2866 A 1983 DODGE OMNI 4 C»: A.ito ps c b a rt lo* Miles *'tfi Higti leonomy Stock ' wn- 1983 CHRYSLERLEBARON i ' v.y - j lJM p: Oe'u sv :V ' , Cr i'r.»« u-»i ft 1982 BUICK SKYHAWK LMTD. 4 Cyl Auto A C Tinted Gltss lilt #hl P S P b P« P Setts P locks C'usie ft Uelog AM IM Bckt Setts Console tft'W full Whi Discs touted Icon Cti Slock «28t>i A 1983 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER « '•) A., 1 v k I !,r,|,d tiltv. Ill' «M y . P b ft# ft '.III'. ft lotks i iUf i ftt LiuIV* ft [ietoj AM IM Split Sett Ift H boat ifthMI Unit Iltttn t Stock 1/1 J'i A 1 1983 DATSUN MAXIMA 4 Cyi Auto A C lmt*d Gltss, 1iit WM ft S P 6 P« P >eits P Locks Cfune ft Oetaj AM IM lip* Deck bckt Setts Concoie 4 Oil A.,' AC l.n'ei Gltss P . P k hw Afeei «itti U«'ily I'/".ton St'i.k I ' . 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