Vehicles: Page 170
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
10 Best Engines Quick Hits
Audi AG 2.0L TFSI I-4 turbo 211 hp (A4 Avant) + Benchmark NVH - Output starting to lag = Time for upgrades 3.0L TFSI supercharged V-6 333 hp (S4) + Stunning power, efficiency - Needs macho exhaust note = Nirvana in a smaller package BMW AG 1.6L I-4 turbo 181 hp (Mini Cooper S) + Valvetronic intake; 113 hp/L - Torque steer severe = Prince Charming 3.0L I-6 turbodiesel 265 hp (335d) + 36-mpg highway
Jan. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ward’s 10 Best Engines Include ‘Propulsion Systems’
Last year, we floated the idea of changing the name to Ward’s 10 Best Powertrains. But we’ve reconsidered, realizing the equity built into the 10 Best Engines nameplate is too valuable.
By Tom Murphy • Dec. 16, 2010 -
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This Year’s 10 Best Pack Big Punch
Of the nine winners on the Ward’s 10 Best Engines list that carry an internal-combustion engine onboard, five boast 100 hp/L ratings or better.
By David E. Zoia • Dec. 16, 2010 -
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Manual Isn’t Just in Glovebox
Of 38 vehicles evaluated this year for Ward’s 10 Best Engines, 14 featured 3-pedal manual transmissions, nearly all of them with six speeds. That’s an astounding 37%.
By Tom Murphy • Dec. 16, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ward’s 10 Best Engines Quick Hits
A concise pro-and-con review of every engine evaluated as part of the 2011 competition.
By Ward's Staff • Dec. 16, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mia 3-Seater to Join French EV-Sharing Program
The city of La Rochelle next year will renew its “Yelomobile” car-sharing fleet with at least 20 Citroen C-Zeros and 20 Mias, heralding the arrival of a new brand of electric cars in a small but high-profile way.
By William Diem • Dec. 15, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
JCI Countering OEM Trend to Vertical Integration With Strategic Acquisitions
Johnson Controls recently purchased Michel Thierry to weave its own cloth and plans to take over C. Rob. Hammerstein for its high-end seat technology.
By William Diem • Dec. 10, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ward’s Names 10 Best Engines Winners
This year’s list represents the biggest turnover in the competition’s history, with four completely new engines, two EV propulsion systems, two heavily modified engines and only two carryover powerplants.
By Tom Murphy • Dec. 7, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Developer Looks to Take Next Step With 2-Stroke Engine Concept
Achates Power says sophisticated modeling tools allowing researchers to perfect the combustion process and eliminate emissions concerns are giving the 2-stroke new life.
By David E. Zoia and Tom Murphy • Dec. 7, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
SPE Honors Plastics Innovation
The auto industry has responded to cost pressures and fuel-economy challenges with a flurry of creative ideas. The Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers recently honored the best of the best in the plastics field with its annual innovation awards: Powertrain: Diesel Exhaust Fluid System Both the category and Grand Award winner, the diesel exhaust fluid system on the '11 Ford Motor
By Drew Winter • Dec. 1, 2010 -
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Lutz Plugs Lotus Product Strategy
The Eterne, with four doors and a back seat comfortable enough for Bob Lutz, represents a radical departure for Group Lotus. It’s one of five new vehicles expected by 2015.
By Tom Murphy • Nov. 19, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Japan’s Li-Ion Capacity Good for 300,000 EVs, Hybrids
The NEC/Nissan JV currently has the highest stated capacity for vehicle battery cells at 12.5 million per year.
By Roger Schreffler • Nov. 17, 2010 -
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China Pushes Ambitious Plan to Become World EV-Technology Leader
Reaching its target calls for the central government to spend RMB100 billion over the next 10 years to support everything from building infrastructure to developing what officials term as new-energy vehicles.
By Mack Chrysler • Nov. 10, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Engineering Specialist Mahindra Satyam Back From the Brink
Problems caused by a financial scandal that froze business and saw workers defect in droves have been put to rest, a top official says, and the company now is setting its sights on expanding its engineering capability.
By David E. Zoia • Nov. 8, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Volvo Begins Work on Range-Extending Fuel Cell for EVs
In the project’s first phase, the auto maker is studying a range extender, which consists of a fuel cell coupled with a reformer. Volvo expects an EV’s operating range to be increased up to 156 miles.
By Alan Harman • Nov. 5, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Sorry, But 80 Photos Too Many for Online Vehicle Listing
Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.Has a friend or family member ever cajoled you to view seemingly endless snapshots of their summer vacation? Boredom starts to creep in at a...
By Steve Finlay 2 • Nov. 4, 2010 -
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Auto Makers Use Dedicated Websites, Social Media to Educate Public on EV Technology
Ford joined the industry’s education initiative with a recently launched online site that features video, text and diagrams to help consumers understand electrified-vehicle technologies.
By Byron Pope • Nov. 4, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Infiniti Looks to 3.0L Diesel to Boost European Sales
The M sedan is positioned as a competitor to the BMW 5-Series but at a lower cost. Gasoline versions already are on sale in the U.S. and other markets.
By William Diem • Nov. 3, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Street-Legal EV Carts Attract Buyers
Not a converted golf cart proclaims a promotion for Tomberlin Electric's latest all-electric vehicles, which some new-car dealers are taking on. The Augusta, GA-based Tomberlin is selling vehicles that are legal on public roads, seat up to four, and have a range of up to 30 miles and a top speed of 23-25 mph. Tomberlin says its dealers and customers find them palatable runabouts. Holland, a city in
By Mac Gordon • Nov. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
V-6 and I-6 Engines, Beware
Say you have a perfectly fine 2.0L direct-injection gasoline turbocharged 4-cyl. that puts out 200 hp and 207 lb.-ft. (281 Nm) of torque, has good fuel efficiency and won three straight Ward's 10 Best Engines awards. Then you decide to design a new and better version. Do you, like many auto makers, base it on the old one and share as many parts as possible? Do you bump its displacement to increase
By Gary Witzenburg • Nov. 1, 2010 -
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Eliica EV Fast, Economical and Drawing Interest From Japan’s OEs
The only certainty about entrepreneur Hiroshi Shimizu’s creation is that it accelerates like a mini-rocket, reaching 60 mph in just 4 seconds and a top speed of more than 200 mph.
By Roger Schreffler • Nov. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Europe Still Working to Reach Agreement on EV Recharging-Plug Standards
The socket on the car side could be whatever the auto maker wants, but the idea of standards is that the socket on the infrastructure side should be the same everywhere.
By William Diem • Oct. 26, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Vehicles Becoming MOST Capable
The MOST consortium prepares to launch a new network with bandwidth of 150 megabits per second. That’s enough capacity to transmit video images to 40 display screens.
By Tom Murphy • Oct. 22, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dow Kokam Slowly Carving Out Piece of EV Pie in France
The supplier earlier this year acquired SVE in France and in May began construction on a plant in Le Bouchet that will have capacity for 5,000 battery packs annually.
By William Diem • Oct. 19, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Tight Supply of Battery Winders Could Limit EVs, Analyst Says
It takes 250 machines to support production of 750,000 EVs. Last year, CKD, a leading supplier, sold nine.
By Roger Schreffler • Oct. 18, 2010
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