WORLD NEWS continued

1 Great White 'Soexter' blows in from the north

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1 Yet another revival of the Porsche Speedster, this one by a Canudiun designer I
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Canada delivered a better reinterpretatton of the Porsche Speedster theme Has Pmche itself has managed?

Some might think so, judging by the halfhearted reaction to the new Speedster Porsche showed at Frankhut last fall and thc "Wows" that p e e d the Spexter shown at the Toronto show in February. Based on a 91 1. the Spexter is a concept car developed by Spex Design of M o n W l o showcnx its talent. The six-year-old fum is best-known for its Spex Elf roadster eonversion based on the Honda Civic. Spex Design president, and chief Spxter stylist. Paul Deutschmao says pmduction plans depend on response to the pmtotype. If he proceeds, it would retail for about $150.000. Not exactly a mvival of the original Speedster's markel segment. But there's no question it's a slick. clean piece of design work, capluring Speedster flavor outside and featuring innovative simplicity in the interior. A basic the-gauge instrument panel and passenger-side grab handle (no glove box) are in keeping with thc back-to-basics narure of the Spexter, but Ux floating insuument pod and single piece "cradle" that encompasses both bucket sears and the console are fully modem a p preaches. Weather and wind pmtection is oil, but practicality has never been a Speedster-lover's priority. Lie it? Are you wealthy? Spcx is at 2135 Oxford, Montreal. Quebec. Canada, H4A 2x7. or d ( 5 1 4 ) 48444%.

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Reatta on pace with sales targets

Buick hopes to use 3.8-liter turbo motor in fwd cars

ins, indications of "conquest sales" in product which buyers for the lm Reatta. acompeting Sixty carmaker's percent of

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utck general manager Edward Mertz says B sales of the firm's two-seat Ream luxury wupe am right on target and that the con'

vertible model is pobably I8 months away from dealer showrooms. He also said Buick is working on ways to use. in its now allfwd lineup. the turbocharged. intercooled 3.8-liter V6 that powered the high-performance Grand National and GNX. Mertz told Auromorive News that the Reatta sold 556 units through April 10 and
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the sales mget for the year is only 3000 cars. Buyer demographics are on the high side of Buick's expectations in terms of age and ancome levels. but Menz said that is normal for such a car in its first year. He expects the average Reatta buyer's age and income to decline in the second year. Buyers of the first Reattas averaged about 55 years of age and had an average houxhold income of $106.MM. Menz said he as encouraged by the vade-

These figures are based on sales prior to the recently launched series of television ads--buyers were lured to the showmoms on the strength of publicity given the car and print advertising. Menz said. Reatta. Riviera and Regal am all candidates for a fwd application of the turbo V6. Menz added. GM's BOC division engineers have been studying means of controlling front-drive toque steer in the 230-250 hp range that the tub V6 makes. and claimed last year to have made great advances by strictly controlling driveshaft angles. The usual means of combating toque steer has been to make sure that halfshafts are of equal length, but Buick showed a Riviera concept car with the turbo V6 last year ar said halfshaft angle is more imponant thr length in such applications.
AUTOWEEK MAY 9.