Vehicles: Page 174
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Diesels Turning Heads in Showrooms, Halls of Congress, Bosch Says
The message from the auto makers is mixed. The Germans are bringing diesels to market now, but the Detroit Three remain hesitant.
By James M. Amend • Feb. 18, 2010 -
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GM’s Volt to Fire Up Engine Automatically to Keep Fuel Fresh
The auto maker also will recommend low-mileage consumers fill their gas tanks only half way to minimize potential for spoilage.
By Herb Shuldiner • Feb. 17, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
January Fuel Economy Best Since Clunker-Program Peak
Volkswagen, in the midst of a sales surge, earned its best ranking on Ward’s FEI of 24.5 mpg.
By John Sousanis • Feb. 16, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Silent EVs Cause Industry to Ponder NVH Issues
Not only will the relative silence of an EV allow potentially annoying noises to emerge from behind the mask of the engine sound, but the vehicle itself may create new high frequency noises.
By William Diem • Feb. 12, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Redesigned ’11 Chevy Silverado HD Bold Step Into Recovering Segment
An all-new 4.5L V-8 Duramax turbodiesel, planned for light-duty pickups but shelved by GM as it buckled down for bankruptcy, remains on the shelf – for now.
By James M. Amend • Feb. 10, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Europe Studying Pinpoint Satellite Navigation for Vehicle Tracking
Despite invasion of privacy issues being raised by auto industry watchers, the Intelligent Transportation System movement continues to gain traction in Europe.
By William Diem • Feb. 8, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
System Shopping at NADA
While hundreds of software and service providers will exhibit during the National Automobile Dealers Assn.'s convention in Orlando, count on the dealership management system vendors as being the busiest of the bunch. NADA's latest DMS survey found that 19% of the dealers and general managers surveyed plan to switch to a competing DMS vendor when their existing contracts are up. Another 2% are undecided.
By Ralph Kisiel • Feb. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
An Olympic Bobsled, on 4 Wheels
If they had an Oddball Car of the Year award at the North American International Auto Show, almost certainly among the frontrunners would be the tiny Tango 2-seat electric car. It's only 39 ins. (1 m) wide, or about half the width of a standard midsize car, making it possible for two of them to ride side-by-side on freeway lanes or dart in and out of traffic, like a motorcycle. That also means it
By David C. Smith • Feb. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
EVs Invade Detroit
DETROIT - Would the Detroit Electric vehicle, circa 1910, fit in here at the 2010 North American International Auto Show's new EV exhibit, dubbed Electric Avenue? Maybe. The antique certainly is a reminder - as showgoers check out the likes of the new Nissan Leaf and BYD microcars - that battery-powered vehicles go way back. It's kind of back to the future, says dealer Barron Meade, co-chairman of
By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Engineering Role Remains Mixed Bag for Emerging BRIC Markets
No engineering work of any kind is under way by multinationals in Russia, despite the fact the country graduates “an impressive 400,000 engineers a year,” a study by The Boston Consulting Group notes.
By David E. Zoia • Jan. 22, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Jaguar Re-Engineered and Ready to Go
A new sedan, slightly smaller and a bit less expensive than the Jaguar XF, is on management’s wish list.
By David E. Zoia • Jan. 14, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Fuel Efficiency Does Tango
Commuter Cars is seeking partners willing to invest in the company, enabling lower sticker prices on its $105,000 electric vehicles.
By Tom Murphy • Jan. 13, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai Says Santa Fe’s New Engines Boost Fuel Economy
The Korean auto maker’s midsize CUV gets refreshed for ’10, with a 2.4L 4-cyl. replacing a small V-6 as the base engine.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Jan. 11, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Suzuki Plan Calls for Mild-Hybrid Kizashi Variant
A hybrid Kizashi launch is not yet a done deal. The GM mild-hybrid scenario is described as “the current plan” and is contingent on market response to the new-for-’10 car.
By Eric Mayne • Jan. 11, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Ford Focus to Get EcoBoost Engine
Chairman Bill Ford says his company’s next-generation hybrid-electric and plug-in electric vehicles will be built alongside the ’12 Focus at the Wayne, MI, assembly plant.
By Byron Pope • Jan. 11, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.: 2.5L Turbocharged H-4 Boxer
The last time the Subaru brand won a 10 Best Engines award, in 2004, the list was fueled by testosterone. The rally-ready 300-hp 4-cyl. WRX STI was in good company with similar high-octane entries such as the Audi S4, BMW M3 and two Dodge Ram pickups, one with a heavy-duty diesel strong enough to pull a freight train. The average displacement on the list was 3.5L. Six years later, there is only one
Jan. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
CRM Helps During Hard Times
When Andy Graff, sales director for Galpin Motors Inc., didn't call his mother on her birthday, he got an earful the next day. But Graff also learned his store's customer-relationship management software was working well. When he belatedly spoke with his mother, she lightly scolded him, saying, The only person who cares enough to call is the salesperson who sold me the car at your dealership. She
By Ralph Kisiel • Jan. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.: 2.5L Turbocharged DOHC H-4 Boxer
Subaru’s excellent 2.5L turbocharged boxer engine provides the ideal mix of restrained power and frugal sensibility. It’s the cure for the boring family sedan.
By Tom Murphy • Dec. 21, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Efficiency Drives 2010 Ward’s Best Engines Choices
Two turbodiesels and two hybrid-electric vehicles make the 2010 Ward’s 10 Best Engines list. This year marks the first time only one V-8 has earned a spot.
By Tom Murphy • Dec. 8, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
European Auto Makers Debate EV Charging Standard
While auto makers would like a global standard, it is unlikely to happen, as Japan and the U.S. already are moving toward their own protocols.
By William Diem • Dec. 2, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
The Secret of SEO Success
When managing and evaluating your dealership's search engine optimization provider, the tendency is to focus on individual keyword rankings. Often, dealers come up with a list of important keywords, check their website's ranking for each keyword, and then use this information to evaluate the success or failure of their SEO provider. But focusing on rankings alone is bad way to judge SEO success or
By Jason Lancaster • Dec. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
SPE Honors Eco-Plastics, Innovation
This year's winners of the Society of Plastics Engineers Automotive Innovation Awards reflect an industry laser-focused on reducing weight, enhancing recyclability, improving fuel efficiency, minimizing investment dollars and relying less on petroleum-based materials. Each honoree in the nine categories listed below was recognized at the annual Innovation Awards Gala held last month in Livonia, MI.
By Ward's Staff • Dec. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
DARPA Events Inspire 2011 Autonomous-Vehicle Challenge
Two Dutch groups have established a €5.5 million budget for the event, which will offer €500,000 in prizes to vehicles that utilize automated brakes and throttles.
By William Diem • Nov. 25, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dow Focusing on Specialty Products to Meet OEM Need
Dow is preparing to capitalize on the growing number of diesel vehicles with its new line of Aerify diesel-particulate filters designed to meet more stringent emissions regulations.
By Herb Shuldiner • Nov. 20, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Comau Sells Smart Assembly
Comau’s SmartCell allows one sophisticated and highly flexible machine to replace an entire transfer line of about a dozen machines dedicated to powertrain assembly.
By Tom Murphy • Nov. 10, 2009
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