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solutions, comfort, drivability and stability. When it was introduced in
September 1987, the car was named the Gurgel 280 but by the time sales started it was changed to the BR-800. The car could only be purchased if the buyer also bought 750 shares in Gurgel, making it considerably more expensive than the much bigger and more capable
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The body was made using
Plasteel, designed for four passengers, and considered by some to have a good level of space for passengers and the driver, despite being less than 3.2 m (10 ft) in length. During development, the little 650 cc engine was set aside, and only a 32 PS version
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cylinders. Essentially a halved VW boxer-four engine, it was developed with either 650 cc or 800 cc displacements, generating 26 PS (19 kW) and 30 PS (22 kW) respectively. It had a very simple and robust design, eliminating totally the V-belt by using the crankshaft for
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between 1988 and early 1992. The project started under the acronym CENA, meaning "National
Economical Car" ("Carro Econômico NAcional", in Portuguese), designed to be essentially a small car for urban daily use. It received great attention and good reviews from critics, regarding the mechanic
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of the 800 cc engine entered production. Nonetheless, the car was considered underpowered, with a top speed of 110 km/h (68 mph). Power was increased to 36 PS (26 kW) for the later SL version. The body, in order to save costs, has flat windows.
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The car's ride also came in for heavy complaints, due to the use of Gurgel's own "Springshock" suspension. This system, made mainly from synthetic materials, was abandoned for a more conventional setup for the succeeding
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decided to give a similar tax cut to all cars with engines smaller than one litre, thus equating the price of the BR-800 with those of significantly larger and more usable cars, reducing the BR-800 sales to a trickle.
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By the end of 1991, the BR-800 received some restyling and other improvements, it was now sold under the name BR-SL. This then received some general improvements and a more thorough restyling, evolving into the
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Between 1988 and July 1990, Gurgel BR-800 had the IPI tax reduced to 7%, thus giving a great advantage for Gurgel. In July 1990, the
Brazilian president
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435:[BR-800 and Supermini, History Continued] (in Portuguese). Salvador, Bahía, Brazil: BR 800 Clube. Archived from
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371:(in Portuguese). Salvador, Bahía, Brazil: BR 800 Clube. Archived from
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Nicholson, Brian (1988-10-31). "Brazilian auto maker dreams". UPI.
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479:(in Italian). Milano: Editoriale Domus S.p.A. p. 328.
407:"Genius or Joker? João Gurgel and the Lost Cars of Brazil"
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The project was favoured by Brazil's then-president,
453:[Following the new Gurgel to the finish].
500:General information and forums about Gurgel cars
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433:"BR 800 & Supermini, á historia continua"
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477:Quattroruote: Tutte le Auto del Mondo 1990
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354:"Publicações - Quatro Rodas - Gurgel 800"
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451:"Acompanhe o novo Gurgel na reta final"
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475:Mastrostefano, Raffaele, ed. (1990).
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457:(in Portuguese) (327). October 1987
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405:Bannister, Andy (2009-12-29).
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131:front engine, rear-wheel drive
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308:Rear view of Gurgel BR-800 SL
409:. Autosavant. Archived from
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227:650 kg (1,433 lb)
201:3,195 mm (126 in)
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217:1,460 mm (57 in)
209:1,460 mm (57 in)
193:1,900 mm (75 in)
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369:"BR 800 & Supermini"
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84:João do Amaral Gurgel
71:Rio Claro, São Paulo
493:Automobile Catalog
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263:Chevrolet Chevette
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90:Body and chassis
51:Also called
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16:Motor vehicle
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459:. Retrieved
455:Quatro Rodas
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437:the original
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415:. Retrieved
411:the original
373:the original
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171:Transmission
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157:792 cc
41:Manufacturer
270:José Sarney
175:four-speed
527:1990s cars
522:1980s cars
511:Categories
498:Gurgel 800
461:2013-09-05
417:2012-02-17
341:References
291:alternator
232:Chronology
183:Dimensions
147:Powertrain
59:Production
54:Gurgel 280
537:City cars
299:Supermini
276:Mechanics
237:Successor
189:Wheelbase
62:1988-1992
254:city car
160:Enertron
101:City car
79:Designer
73:, Brazil
67:Assembly
36:Overview
137:Related
258:Gurgel
214:Height
198:Length
177:manual
153:Engine
126:Layout
45:Gurgel
206:Width
119:sedan
96:Class
248:The
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105:A
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