Vehicles: Page 101
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2018 Winner: Honda Civic Type R 2.0L VTEC Turbo 4-Cyl.
High-rpm flogging is not required but makes for storming good fun as the 2.0L turbo 4-cyl. pounds out 306 hp before reaching the 7,000-rpm redline. With a specific output of 153 hp/L, this VTEC engine is the most powerful street-legal Honda ever to reach America.
Jan. 9, 2018 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
UAW Elects New FCA Department VP
The UAW chooses a veteran union director to head its FCA unit, replacing a vice president who retired Dec. 31 amid a federal investigation into misused union training funds.
By Joseph Szczesny • Jan. 8, 2018 -
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2018 Winner: Ford F-150 2.7L EcoBoost Twin Turbo V-6
Take a step down Ford’s product hierarchy, and it’s the F-150 with the heavily revised 2.7L twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 that now makes specific output a relevant spec among pickups. It weighs in at an unheard of 121 hp/L.
Jan. 8, 2018 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
JATCO Chief Discusses Shifting Transmission Industry
“We have a big plant in Mexico which accounts for 30% of our global production. Therefore, if any major changes were to occur with NAFTA, it would have a big impact on our operation. I tend to be optimistic, at least neutral,” Teruaki Nakatsuka says.
By Roger Schreffler • Jan. 5, 2018 -
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2018 Winner: Ford Mustang GT 5.0L DOHC V-8
After a one-year hiatus, a V-8 is back on our list and deservedly so in the form of the Mustang GT 5.0.
By Bob Gritzinger • Jan. 5, 2018 -
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2018 Winner: Chrysler Pacifica 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 eHybrid
The heart and soul of the industry’s only hybrid minivan is a Fiat Chrysler propulsion system mating the automaker’s stellar 3.6L Pentastar V-6 with an FCA-developed dual-motor, electrically variable transmission.
By James M. Amend • Jan. 4, 2018 -
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2018 Winner: Chevrolet Bolt EV 150-kW Electric Propulsion System
The Chevrolet Bolt EV captures our collective attention with its real-world range, punchy performance and smart packaging.
By Bob Gritzinger • Jan. 3, 2018 -
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2018 Wards 10 Best Engines Quick Hits
A pro-and-con summation of all 32 powertrains evaluated in the 2018 competition. Many comments come directly from editor scoresheets. Winners in red.
Jan. 2, 2018 -
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Groundbreaking Prius Hybrid Evolves Over 20 Years
Since the Prius hybrid’s launch, Toyota has sold 4.3 million units. Honda, ranked second, has sold 2 million hybrids. The rest of the industry combined has delivered an estimated 2 million.
By Roger Schreffler • Dec. 28, 2017 -
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Titan V-6 Intro Date Unclear; Return of Xterra?
A smaller engine option for the Titan could be tied to the debut of the new Frontier, while Millennial males represent an opportunity to introduce another off-road model.
Dec. 28, 2017 -
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Diesels’ Removal Linked to Cleaner Air, Fuel Savings
Researchers believe their estimate of emissions reductions is conservative, because their analysis is based on all older diesels being replaced by cars with new diesel engines, whereas many in fact would be swapped for electric or hybrid-electric vehicles.
By Alan Harman • Dec. 22, 2017 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Aston Martin to Craft Sports Cars at Historic Site
The brand’s Newport Pagnell facility in Buckinghamshire has been selected to produce DB4 G.T. Continuation cars – racing-track-only, lightweight-specification cars that take about 4,500 man-hours each to build.
By Paul Myles • Dec. 21, 2017 -
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Renault Says New GDI Engine Improved Across Board
The engine developed jointly between the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and Daimler, claims better torque at low rpm and greater performance at high rpm while reducing fuel consumption and carbon-dioxide emissions.
By Paul Myles • Dec. 20, 2017 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Spain Launches Alternative-Mobility Subsidy Program
The program initially will distribute €20 million to subsidize purchases of alternatively fueled vehicles including electric, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen-fuel-cell, liquid-propane-gas, compressed-natural-gas and liquefied-natural-gas vehicles.
By Jorge Palacios • Dec. 19, 2017 -
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U.K. Seeds EV Battery R&D With £120 Million
A newly created development facility will bring together experts from academia and industry to develop the processes required to manufacture pioneering battery technology at high volume.
By Alan Harman • Dec. 18, 2017 -
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PSA Takes Wraps Off Diminutive Hybrid 3-Wheeler
Dubbed the EU-LIVE, the 94-in.-long vehicle uses a plug-in hybrid-electric powertrain, two electric in-wheel motors and a gasoline internal-combustion engine.
By Paul Myles • Dec. 15, 2017 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
2018 Wards 10 Best Engines: Mainstream Brands Triumph
This year’s list sees the return of the fuel cell, as well as the V-8. Jaguar and Kia win their first trophies. Half the winners are turbocharged. Toyota wins for a hybrid that’s not a Prius.
Dec. 14, 2017 -
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All-New Wrangler Capable and Civil
The Wrangler’s once-a-decade makeover gives the all-new ’18 model surprisingly civilized on-road manners without sacrificing one iota of the iconic Jeep’s rugged off-road prowess.
By Bob Gritzinger • Dec. 13, 2017 -
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Mercedes Reveals Facelifted ’18 G-Class Interior
The traditional military-grade SUV aims to add comfort without diminishing any of its celebrated functionality.
By Greg Kable • Dec. 12, 2017 -
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U.K. Designer Sets Sights on Lightweight Seats
The project hopes to design and manufacture a new auto seat offering significant weight savings over conventional metallic seat structures while developing robust production methods including reduced process time.
By Paul Myles • Dec. 12, 2017 -
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Car Dealerships Fail EV-Selling Test, Mystery-Shopping Study Indicates
Mystery shopping indicates car salespeople steer customers away from electric vehicles and toward mainstream models.
By Steve Finlay • Dec. 12, 2017 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chinese Car Customers Slowly Switch to Electric
China has become the world’s largest EV market with the help of generous government subsidies and preferential policies. Those subsidies are to be eliminated in the next few years, but automakers looking to do business in China will have to produce electrified vehicles in ever-increasing numbers.
By Alysha Webb • Dec. 12, 2017 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Civic Type R Satisfies a Primal Urge
The 5-door Civic Type R hatchback comes with a red-hot interior, a boy-racer wing that adds 66 lbs. of downforce, an aggressively tuned suspension, sticky tires and a throaty 3-way exhaust. With 306 hp, it’s the most powerful Honda ever sold in the U.S.
Dec. 11, 2017 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Aptiv, Formerly Delphi, Eyes Mobility’s Big Prize
The supplier officially launched Dec. 5 with Kevin Clark, president and CEO of Aptiv, saying the company has an opportunity to play a large role in an industry’s transformation underpinned by the promise of autonomous vehicles.
By James M. Amend • Dec. 8, 2017 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Engineers, Australian College Form STEAM Team
The interaction with Ford engineers from the Research and Development Centre in Geelong inspires and motivates the Northern Bay College students to challenge themselves, vocational education and training teacher Richard Ellson says.
By Alan Harman • Dec. 7, 2017
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