Chrysler's quick-change-supposedly from a mini car to a mini-van—Voyager III must have attracted the most generai press attention and occupied more media space than any other concept vehicles shown at the Detroit show. Its 'do-ability' must, however. be the least.

Aside from numerous technical problems to be solved, such as the rigidity of connection and the complexity of retracting mini car wheels, there must emerge some insurmountable legai blocks ahead of it, as admitted by Robert Lutz of Chrysler Motor. It is one vehicle, or iwo? What numbers should be entered in the spec sheet for certification? Reactions of bureaucrats worldwide may present interesting conjectures.

Chrysler says that the Voyager III is not a vehicle to be built in the next five years, or even ten. The concept is interesting and the proposal worth studying. In today's urban traffic, or for short-to-medium distance commuting, no big cars are really necessary. A two or at most three-seat mini car should fill the bill.

When needs arise for carrying large number of passengers or volume of cargo, simply attach the rear module and transform it to a mini van. The mini car's rear wheels are retracted like aircraft landing gear. The mini-vanized vehicle occupies about the same space as Chrysler's production Voyager. The front-wheel drive mini car is powered by a transversely mounted 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to an automatic transmission.

The engine uses propane in anticipation of future alternate fuel requirement. With the rear module attached and laden with full load of passengers and or cargo, this may not provide enough pulling power to ensure safe merging with highway traffic, so the second power unit, a 2.2-liter gasoline engine and automatic transmission, in the rear module provides additional push, resulting in the equivalent of 3.8-liter eight cylinder power. Once attaining desired cruise speed, the rear engine may be cut off, for maximum economy as well as minimum emissions. With advancement in electronics and with the automatic transmissions, it should not present difficulties for smooth change between single and twin engine operations.

The mini car has single row of three abreast seating, which is rational as the car the same width as the rear mini van module. The rear module has two rows that accommodate five people. The Voyager III in eight passenger guise measures as follows wheelbase 122-inches (3090 mm), front track 50.8 in. (1468 mm), rear track 59.5 in. (1511 mm), overall length 198 in. (5042 mm), width 70 in. (1 778 mm), height 65.2 in. (1656 mm). The mini car alone measures 2642 mm long.