Compacts v. the World

There was a car for almost every taste as the U.S.'s fifth International Automobile Show opened in Manhattan's huge Coliseum last week. More than 400 new models were on display from 40 automakers in ten nations. Even Detroit, which previously conceded the spotlight at the show to foreign competition, turned out in force to introduce its new bucket-seat brigade--the new generation of compacts that are built on the old body shells but emphasize sports-car interiors.

Buick introduced its Skylark, a flashy coupe with a more powerful engine, chrome-trimmed fenders, and an optional cloth-covered white roof. Pontiac showed off its Le Mans five-passenger coupe, a sleeker version of the standard four-cylinder Tempest with a four-speed gearbox and wire wheels. Ford introduced its new Futura (TIME, March 24) and Comet S-22. Chrysler showed off its experimental Turboflite; it has a rakish body by Ghia, a gas turbine engine only half as heavy as a regular V8, and an aft flap that acts as an air brake.

Biggest crowd pleaser in the show was a Jaguar XKE which, powered by a 265-h.p. engine, will do 150 m.p.h. Price: the hardtop coupe, $6,320 (P.O.E. East Coast), and the convertible $525 cheaper.

Among other new autos:

P: Israel's Sabra sports car with a fiber glass body, a British Ford Consul engine. Top speed: 100 m.p.h. Price: $3,200.

P: Mercedes-Benz's new 220 SE hardtop coupe with a hand-buffed walnut interior trim, and a 134-h.p. fuel-injection engine. Top speed: 105 m.p.h. Price: $8,783.

P: Bentley Continental Park Ward convertible, one of England's statelier cars--with a stately price, $25,038, and an impressive guaranteed top speed: 110 m.p.h.

P: Daimler SP-250 with cat-quick acceleration (0 to 60 m.p.h. in 9.5 sec.) and a $4,404 price tag.

P: Alfa-Romeo's Sprint Speciale Giulietta, designed by Bertone and costing $5,600.

Foreign automakers need all their flashy new models to hold their own in the competitive U.S. market. Since U.S. compacts came out in quantity a year ago, sales of most imported cars have slumped severely. Latest figures showed that Renault, which had 6,077 registrations in January 1960, had only 1,760 this January. Fiat registrations fell from 1,954 to 706. Many foreign-car dealers report a spring improvement in sales.

Much of the European auto industry is only now beginning to shake off the shock of the sudden falloff. British auto factories, after cutting back production and putting many workers on short time, are now approaching normal production again. Despite a 37% drop in sales to the U.S. last year, British automakers hope to regain a fatter share of the market. Says Rootes Motors, Inc.'s Managing Director John T. Panks: "It's nothing but bloody nonsense that the imported car is about to vanish from the U.S. market." To prove his case, Rootes sent to the show a new Humber Super-Snipe sedan designed especially for .the U.S.

Though Italian auto exports declined 8% last year, Italian automakers hardly noticed the difference. In their own country, the prospering Italians are switching in such numbers from scooters to autos that the domestic demand more than offset the export slump. Fiat, Italy's biggest automaker, plans to expand its Turin plant to turn out 3,000 cars a day instead of the present 2,000.

Renault is also getting over the blow. It has taken back most of the 3,000 workers laid off when the slump began, has its output back to normal. To spur U.S. sales, it put on sale the Gordini, a more powerful version of the Dauphine. Renault and the other foreign car makers think that the slump that hit them last year has bottomed out.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.