Vehicles: Page 178

’09 VW Jetta Diesel Named Green Car of the Year

The Jetta beat out a number of green-leaning competitors, including two hybrid-electric vehicles, a clean-diesel sport sedan and a fuel-efficient microcar.

By Drew Winter • Nov. 20, 2008

Nissan Z Gets Bigger Engine, Shorter Wheelbase for ’09

The auto maker is focused on cutting the fat from its well-regarded sports car, reducing weight in everything from the Z’s body to its fuel tank and wheels.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Nov. 19, 2008

Study Finds Asian Companies Leading in Li-ion Battery Development

Research is still under way to develop safer, more efficient lithium cells, although CLSA notes the primary bottleneck to Li-ion battery usage in vehicles is material costs.

By Mack Chrysler • Nov. 5, 2008

New BMW iDrive Proof Electronics Engineers are Evolving

User-friendliness, not the number of features, is where the real competitive advantage lies in human/machine interface design.

By Drew Winter • Nov. 5, 2008

The People’s Diesel

Although Volkswagen of America Inc. has sold more than 800,000 diesel vehicles in the U.S. in the past 30 years, this latest '09 Jetta TDI model is by far the most significant. Not only must this unassuming sedan (and 5-door SportWagen) confront the latest wave of super-efficient conventional and hybrid-electric vehicles, it must convince a skittish consumer base that diesels are an affordable and

By Mike Sutton • Nov. 1, 2008

New Electric Car Industry Imminent

For Years, California Regulators have been Dreaming of the kind of headlines that came out of the Paris auto show. Among them: Paris Offers Drivers Electric Cars to Beat Pollution and Electric Cars Shine at Paris Auto Show. More than 30 electric cars were displayed at the show, from six established auto makers as well as 16 new entrants to the transportation market. These were extended-range electric

By William Diem • Nov. 1, 2008

Mercedes Diesel Sets New Standard

The Ward's 10 Best Engines competition has been recognizing outstanding powertrain development for 14 years. In this installment of our 2008 series, Mercedes reveals the technical challenges associated with the deliciously powerful, yet eco-friendly, 3.0L V-6 turbodiesel.

By Gary Witzenburg • Nov. 1, 2008

Eaton’s Supercharger Prospects Boosted

Thanks to This Year's Launch of the innovative new Twin Vortices Series supercharger, Eaton Corp. plans to boost its annual production of superchargers globally by 80% over the next two years. The aggressive ramp-up includes seven OEM programs for multiple customers, and five of those contracts are dedicated to TVS production, Joao Faria, president of Eaton's Powertrain and Specialty Controls Business,

By Tom Murphy • Nov. 1, 2008

Ford Aims to Exceed Federal Fuel Requirements

Ford's new hybrid system “is 100% Ford technology,” hybrid chief Nancy Gioia says. “It’s all Ford innovation and engineered right here in North America.”

By Byron Pope • Oct. 31, 2008

NASA’s Kranz Mesmerizes, Inspires Convergence Attendees

The director of mission operations recounts how a team of young engineers and scientists worked together to safely bring the astronauts of Apollo 13 home.

By Drew Winter • Oct. 21, 2008

Rapidly Changing Auto Industry Reason for Optimism at KPIT Cummins

Writing software with computer models and then testing the codes virtually has vastly improved reliability.

By James M. Amend • Oct. 21, 2008

Five TVS Programs Boosting Eaton’s Supercharger Prospects

New business has Eaton expanding its supercharger plant in Tczew, Poland, with potential expansions coming in the U.S. and China. Eaton also is moving forward with research into diesel superchargers.

By Tom Murphy • Oct. 21, 2008

Lear Tying EVs to Power Grid With New Charging Unit

The scalable charging unit will debut in several 2011 plug-in hybrids and can handle wall-socket outputs up to 440 volts.

By Mike Sutton • Oct. 21, 2008

Loss of GM Business Won’t Hurt Thailand’s Isuzu Engine, Exec Says

Isuzu’s export volume is expected to total 140,000 units this year, up from 130,000 units in 2007.

By Alan Harman • Oct. 6, 2008

OEMs to Enrich Small-Vehicle Content

Auto makers will turn their former econoboxes into sporty, stylish rides replete with an unprecedented level of high-tech gadgets, safety and creature comforts to win over car buyers keen on beating high gas prices. I've said for years, when the price of fuel over here starts resembling the price of fuel in Europe, which means $8 or $9 a gallon, the North American car parc will start to resemble the

By James M. Amend • Oct. 1, 2008

Many Damaged Vehicles Are Sold With Clean Bill of Health

More than 1 million vehicles throughout the U.S. were damaged by accidents or the likes of hail, tornadoes, flooding and thunderstorms during the first half of this year. According to data from Experian Automotive's AutoCheck system, more than 185,000 of these vehicles lost their damage designation when their titles were a practice used by unscrupulous sellers. When vehicles sustain damage or experience

Oct. 1, 2008

Diesel Invasion

Auto makers are planning to introduce more than 20 car and truck models in North America featuring a new type of engine that gets 30% better fuel economy — and is up to 70% better pulling a heavy load.With those kinds of numbers, shouldn't consumers be beating down dealership doors? Why isn't Congress demanding all future vehicles be equipped with this new miracle engine?

By Drew Winter • Oct. 1, 2008

Defining the Value Proposition

Convergence 2008 General Chairman Andreas Schell will suggest merging automotive and electronics with yet another dissimilar realm: the business world.

By Drew Winter • Sept. 30, 2008

Wilkie Leaves Bertone to Join Mindset Electric-Car Program

Wilkie has not left Bertone entirely. Both Mindset and Bertone have agreed to allow him to follow up on projects started at the Italian design house.

By Giancarlo Perini • Sept. 26, 2008

Chevy Volt: Bland Design, Bold Engineering

Still under-reported is the amount of technical detail and performance specifications the auto maker released on a vehicle that is not due in showrooms for another two years.

By Drew Winter and James Amend • Sept. 26, 2008

Ondelios Concept Renault’s Play in Diesel Hybrid Game

The Ondelios is a 6-seat tourer that expresses Renault’s ambitions for a luxury reputation, but the technical hints it offers for increased fuel efficiency would apply to anything in the range.

By William Diem • Sept. 15, 2008

T. Boone Pickens’ Strategy Needless Distraction

Under the guise of freeing us from dependence on foreign oil, T. Boone Pickens is trying to perpetuate our addiction to fossil fuels and stealthily undermining more practical renewable fuels.

By Drew Winter • Sept. 3, 2008

Auto Makers to Enrich Small-Vehicle Content

Small, subcompact and compact will no longer mean cheap, ugly or low quality, says GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz.

By James M. Amend • Sept. 2, 2008

Shift to Unitized Body No Slam Dunk

In This Time of Record-High Fuel prices, the idea certainly sounds good: migrate some of the industry's big-volume models SUVs and pickups from their body-on-frame architectures to the lighter, unitized body structures on which most cars are built. With a 35-mpg (6.7 L/100 km) fuel-economy mandate now on the books, everything must get lighter, and if SUVs and pickups are going to remain viable, it

By Bill Visnic • Sept. 1, 2008

Race for Chevy Volt Battery Contract Nearing Finish Line

No matter which one wins the bid, the auto maker wants to make sure products from both suppliers end up in its technology portfolio.

By Derek Stark • Aug. 18, 2008