The cup no longer runneth over

By T. Uncle

IN the automotive industry, there is an accepted truism that goes along the lines: "Success in the American new-car market is not possible without a cup holder."

Trite and simplistic that might seem, but the fact is that if you bother to closely examine any new car from any carmaking nation in the world wishing to tackle the high-volume North American market, you will always find a cup holder within.

At least one.

The Japanese might be fixated on their coin holders, the Australians on their bull bars or the Koreans on their single, blinding and annoying rear fog lamps that seem only to be used when not required, but the Americans are the true connoisseurs of the cup holder.

Consider, for example, what Swedish carmaker Saab did with its new 9-5 model when it was filling in the details of what would be needed to have it succeed on the all-important U.S. market (by far its largest).

The new car is not only replete with all sorts of cubby holes, storage nets and other nooks and crannies; it also has what must be the cutest cup holder ever invented.

This device unleashes itself from the instrument panel of the new Saab with a bewildering display of articulated trickery that would warm the heart of any sci-fi enthusiast.

With a press of a panel on the dashboard, the operation begins.

More akin to matter transformation than simple mechanics, the device folds gracefully down, pirouettes, then transforms itself into the perfect receptacle for a mobile phone or a small bottle of Perrier.

No Saab in the past has been the subject of such R&D. Never has there been such an exquisite engineering solution to a problem once simply dealt with by a couple of indentations in the drop-down lid of the glove compartment.

The Saab, which backs up this very impressive cup holder with a glove box capable of cooling its contents down to four degrees, also has a neat pop-out double cup holder for the rear seat passengers, this time emerging from the fold-down center armrest in a style similar to, but nowhere as impressive as the one at the front.

One Japanese carmaker in the past has come up with a cup- holder system that almost rivals the Saab. It folded out from the instrument panel in similar fashion, but the end result was less aesthetic as it tended to look like a pair of Woody Allen's reading glasses.

It's easy to understand what the Europeans are up against when you consider some of the American cars that are available on various markets.

For example, Chrysler's Voyager people-mover -- widely regarded as state-of-the-art in its segment -- goes for broke in providing cup holders.

While the standard version provides a handy total of no less than eight, the top-of-the-line LE model blitzes the field with -- count them -- 14 cup holders.

That is virtually two per person with a full load of passengers.

It has been suggested Chrysler issue a warning with its Voyager LE, advising drivers traveling with a full load of passengers, all using their cup holders, to exercise extreme caution when cornering.

Fluid dynamics and liquid displacement could result in the vehicle being destabilized as it simultaneously leans over and generates powerful centrifugal forces, not unlike the effects experienced in a fully loaded water tanker.

Of course, all this started long before the takeout burger and Coke existed, in the leafy lanes of England, where it was once considered genteel to park the Vanden Plas Austin Princess in a secluded spot off the road, or adjacent to a racecourse, and partake of a quiet Champagne and a chicken sandwich.

The British were not so much into quick and efficient cup holders as they were endeared to the fold-down burred walnut picnic table, usually provided for the driven, rather than the driver, and attached to the rear of the front seats.

Perhaps the nearest equivalent today to the British concept is the device fitted to the CRV Honda.

This is a combination picnic tray and cup holder, and resides in the area between the walk-through front seats -- not unlike the little tables we are familiar with on airplanes.

Yes, car design has come a long way since the days when the only means for securing with reasonable safety a cup, glass or small bottle was the fold-down front glove box lid.

The British may have started it, the Americans may have popularized it, but the world has embraced the purpose-built cup holder with open arms.