In 1975, American Motors introduced the Pacer, a meager machine meant to reinvigorate the manufacturer's product contour and receive work of the mart's increased bag in little cars. Although revolutionary in draft and initially hailed by the press as an crucial transaction forward in car evolution, the Pacer suffered from heavy problems that regional its popularity. The latest Pacers were produced in the One thousand nine hundred eighty example year.
Concept
The Pacer was envisioned as a mini automobile, with significantly extra passenger period than what now cars of corresponding vastness were offering. The machine's spacious interior was designed early and then enveloped in a item that would minimize exterior immensity. Dynamism was to be if by a peaceful rotary engine, and the thing would include reinforcements that would accommodated latest safety standards. Innovative styling would headline the Pacer's basic composition, moulding it gaze commensurate no thing else on the road.
Dimensions
The Pacer's hood was shorter and more radically sloped than the standard of the day, and the rounded rear hatch helped reduce the vehicle's overall length. Windows and doors were large, and although the car was shorter than other cars in its class, it was wider than comparable models, giving the interior a surprisingly roomy feel. The Pacer was three inches wider than the Ford Granada and over a foot wider than the Chevrolet Vega.
The weight resulted in poor fuel economy -- a hindrance during the energy crisis of the 1970s, and perhaps more importantly, sluggish performance. The Pacer achieved no more than Twenty miles per gallon and accelerated from zero to Sixty mph in 14.7 seconds. These unimpressive performance statistics proved fatal to the model, and although an optional V-8 engine introduced in One thousand nine hundred seventy eight improved performance, sales didn't respond, and the Pacer was discontinued two years later.
The refit worked, but the compromise introduced major problems into the Pacer design and was ultimately a major contributor to the car's demise.
Problems
On account of the bigger six-cylinder engine and the heavily reinforced body, the Pacer was heavy. It weighed up to 3,400 pounds, an unusually hefty weight for such a small car.
