Stately elegance - luxury cars - Black Enterprise 1993 Auto Guide - Buyers Guide

Black Enterprise, Nov, 1992 by Jay Koblenz

Colorful brochures, magazine articles and even your friends all conspire to send you off to the dealership, financing in hand, ready to buy a new car. Your choice is beautiful - it has the right style, size and, surprise, it fits into your budget. Could it be a dream? You rush to sit in the driver's seat but your legs get caught in the passive seatbelt streaming from the door.

Okay, you're settled in. The seat isn't quite right, but k adjusts. You try to Oft the steering wheel, but find it doesn't have that middle position you want Never mind, you'll get used to it You take ft out on the road for a test drive. You go to turn on the radio, but you can't find the "power" button; the sales person helps you. Then, you get so caught up in how to set the volume, you nearly slam into a parked car. You come back sweaty, not only about the near-disaster off.

Welcome to the study of human factors, or ergonomics. When cars are developed, there are thousands of considerations. It used to be that the came first, then the steering and suspension and along the line, the passenger compartment showed up. It's different today: People packaging is a first priority.

Yet compromises are still made. In many cars, it's obvious that styling comes before engineering. Unfortunately, this is more often true of luxury and sports cars because that's where the sizzle sells the steak. Buyers of average cars tend to be more practical and less swayed by the flash.

"The purpose of human factors is to know the capabilities and limitations of

the people," says Lyman Forbes, manager of human factors engineering and ergonomics at Ford Motor Co. Or, simply put, "Make the vehicle comfortable and safe."

Automakers have always made some effort to make potential buyers comfortable with the car, but its only more recently that this has become a serious scientific effort. "The Taurus and Sable were the first cars that went through a complete human-factor continuum (at Ford)," notes Forbes. While there are cars with good ergonomics and those with bad, there is no such thing as perfection. And, there won't be until people all come in the same size and shape. The effort goes toward pleasing the widest range, meaning that if you're extremely large or small, it's going to be tougher finding a good fit. But cars that feature more adjustments help.

One car that has received perhaps the most critical acclaim for its ergonomics is the Lexus LS 400. One reason is that there are many adjustments and, once found, they can be locked into a memory function. "There was a real effort to be in the things that are most important," says Bruce Decker, product development manager at Lexus. The memory system sets the seat, steering-wheel tilt, outside mirrors and even the shoulder-belt height

The task of good ergonomics, notes Decker, is to be able to "operate the car with a minimum of attention diverted from the task of driving. Things should fall naturally to hand." Cars are improving all the time, says Forbes. "Our designers are sensitive to the issue of ergonomics." Anyone who has been in a Variety of cars knows that isn't always true.

MERCEDES-BENZ 600SEC

Last fall, Mercedes-Benz brought out its big guns, the new S-class sedans - behemoths that weigh in at more than two and a quarter tons. But something was missing: a coupe to replace the 560SEC.

That deficiency in the line ends this fall in grand style, with a choice of two large coupes. The 600SEC will take top honors, replete with 389-horsepower, 48-valve, V-12 engine. It is also likely to set new standards in pricing, probably in the $177,000 area.

Those who find that just a bit out of reach will be able to purchase a nearly identical coupe with a 5.0-liter, 32-valve V-8 engine. The 500SEC with 315 horsepower will be a bit over $100,000.

For such largess, customers expect a lot and they get it Power, handling, comfort, safety and convenience, all wrapped up in a vault-like enclosure that's only a bit understated in style.

CADILLAC FLEETWOOD

This is the longest passenger car sold in America. Most people think of vehicles this size in nautical terms. Almost 19 feet long with a wheelbase over 10-feet this care is buift for riding in grand style. it isn't related to the 1992 front-drive Fleetwood, but is a name change to a revision of the Brougham. (The Fleetwood Brougham is the same car with more standard features.)

The Fleetwood retains its rear-drive layout with a large, 5.7-liter cast-iron block V-8 engine. The 185-horsepower and 300 foot-pounds of torque motivates more than 2 tons of rolling mass, and k tows up to 7,000 pounds.

While the basics are traditional, the execution is modern. The shape appears upfight but the wind tunnel knows if s sleek, you benefit by reduced wind noise. Dual air bags replace last year's motorized belts. Even the stereo gets a nice touch: volume goes up with speed. The car weighs in around $34,000, not so costly by the pound.

CADILLAC SEVILLE

All new for 92, there is big new again for this year's Seville: the new Northstar four-cam, 32-valve V-8 engine. A solid 295 horsepower makes k the fastest sedan built in America.