A NEW FAMILY CAR THE CONSUL CORTINA, BY FORD OF BRITAIN, WAS INTRODUCED TO THE PRESS AT A DEMONSTRATION IN RICHMOND PARK IN LONDON TODAY. (WEDNESDAY) FORD HAVE DESIGNED THE NEW 48.5 BHP MODEL TO MEET A DEMAND FOR A LOW PRICED SMALL CAR WITH THE ROOM AND COMFORT THAT IS USUALLY ONLY FOUND IN LARGER AND MORE EXPENSIVE PRODUCTS.

WITH AN 1200CC ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FROM THE ANGLIA AND CLASSIC POWER UNITS THE CORTINA HAS A TOP SPEED OF ALMOST 80 MILES-PER-HOUR. THE NORMAL TOURING FUEL CONSUMPTION IS ABOUT 38 MILES-PER-GALLON, ALLOWING FOR FIVE ADULTS. THE FOUR FORWARD BEARS ARE ALL SYNCHROMESH, WITH OPTIONAL COLUMN OR FLOOR CHANGE GEARSHIFT.

BUILT WITH CLEAN LINES THERE IS A MINIMUM OF ORNAMENTATION. THE FRONTAL AREA HAS BEEN KEPT SMALL TO REDUCE WIND DRAG. THE BODY TAPERS BACK TO A 21 CUBIC FOOT LUGGAGE BOOT. THE CORTINA IS AVAILABLE IN TWO-DOOR AND FOUR-DOOR DE-LUXE AND STANDARD VERSIONS.

NO DATE HAS BEEN RELEASED FOR THE CORTINA'S APPEARANCE ON THE MARKET, NOR HAS THE PRICE BEEN GIVEN.