Two New Continentals
Both the B.M.W. and the Lloyd works have announced new models within the last few days. The B.M.W. model is the 700 which is an improved version of the 600 saloon, the car which looks the same from both ends. The chassis is similar to the 600 although integral construction is used, having trailing arm independent rear suspension but the horizontally opposed twin-cylinder engine now has a capacity of 696 c.c. with a bore and stroke of 73 by 78 mm. A power output of 30 b.h.p. at 5,000 r.p.m. is claimed for this engine as against the 20 b.h.p. at 4,500 of the 582 c.c. unit fitted to the 600.
The engine is at the rear mounted integrally with a four-speed gearbox. A centrally mounted gear lever controls the all-synchromesh gearbox. A maximum speed of around 117 k.p.h. (72½ m.p.h.) and acceleration of 0 to 90 k.p.h. (56 m.p.h.) in 20 sec. is claimed for the 700. The car appears to be a fairly roomy four-seater with bucket seats at the front and a bench seat for the rear passengers.
The body is rather reminiscent of the recently introduced N.S.U. Sport Prinz but has a fairly high waistline and a large area of glass. A price of around £450 is quoted for Germany but no plans for selling the car in Britain have yet been announced.
The new Lloyd model has not yet been given a name but it is announced that it will not replace the Alexander TS economy model and its specification suggests that it is a full sized four-seater which will compete on level terms with the VW and possibly the smaller models of other German manufacturers.
The engine is a water-cooled flat-four engine placed at the front of the car having a capacity of 892 c.c. and developing 42 b.h.p. (S.A.E.) at 4,800 r.p.m. using a 7.5 to 1 compression ratio. The engine is mated to a four speed all-synchromesh gearbox which drives the front wheels and which is somewhat surprisingly controlled by a steering column gear lever.
The chassis is the backbone type with all independent suspension by wishbones and coil springs at the front and trailing wishbones (as on the B.M.W.) at the rear. An anti-roll bar is used at the rear.
A top speed of around 75 m.p.h. is claimed together with acceleration of 0 to 100 k.p.h. (62 m.p.h.) in about 27 sec., which is commendable for a small saloon car. The body is a two-door saloon not unlike the Hillman Minx with seating for four. It seems that the Lloyd will undercut the B.M.W. 700 by a few pounds, the German price being the equivalent of £435. Once again no plans for the British market have yet been made.