Vehicles: Page 181

Mazda to Debut Stop-Start System on Next Mazda3; Unveils Fuel-Efficient Mazda2

Measures, such as stop-start technology that shuts off the engine at idle, are just the tip of the iceberg in developing more fuel-efficient and less-polluting vehicles, Mazda chief says.

By Christie Schweinsberg • March 4, 2008

Scirocco Returns to Geneva

Also taking their bows are three “green” models, including the Golf TDI Hybrid concept, the natural-gas-powered Passat Variant TSI EcoFuel and the Sharan BlueMotion van.

By David E. Zoia • March 3, 2008

Whiplash Regs Becoming Pain in Neck

The future may see a lot fewer serious whiplash injuries, thanks to a fresh crop of front-seat head restraints hitting the market that comply with a new federal safety standard. But like some notorious past examples of safety features that never gained public acceptance, early evidence says vehicle buyers think the new whiplash-mitigating restraints the less-expensive, variety are a genuine pain in

By Bill Visnic • March 1, 2008

French Researchers Warn of Hybrids’ Green Facade

Researchers in France, Concerned about the growth potential of hybrid-electric vehicles, say hybrid technology is not sustainable, and the current rush to HEVs could delay development of more advanced fuel cell-powered vehicles. Jean-Jacques Chanaron, research director at the French National Center for Scientific Research, along with Julius Teske of the Grenoble School of Management, say in the International

By Herb Shuldiner • March 1, 2008

Noise Control and Regular Fuel Sets New GM DIG V-6 Apart

The new engine was designed to burn regular fuel from the start. A 2-mode hybrid version is coming.

By Gary Witzenburg • Feb. 27, 2008

Morgan LIFECar Concept to Bow at Geneva

The hydrogen fuel-cell sports car has a 200-mile range and took the auto maker and a consortium of suppliers more than two years to develop.

By Mike Sutton • Feb. 26, 2008

Ricardo to Benefit From Greater Engineering Needs

The engineering firm’s Total Vehicle Fuel Economy service is well suited to helping technologies to market in the face of tough new fuel-economy standards.

By Mike Sutton • Feb. 8, 2008

Suzuki Bucks Trend With New Small Pickup

Even as sales plummet, Suzuki still sees a need for compact pickups and will attempt to win over customers who already own Suzuki motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles or marine engines.

By Tom Murphy • Feb. 7, 2008

Pininfarina 4-Door Concept Set for Geneva Debut

The Sintesi borrows elements of its passenger compartment from the innovative Nido concept, a futuristic commuter car designed and engineered by Lowie Vermeersch, now in charge of design at Pininfarina R&D.

By Giancarlo Perini • Feb. 1, 2008

Even Ferrari Is Bitten By the Biofuel Bug

With the ink still wet on a congressional mandate to boost fuel economy to 35 mpg by 2020, every auto maker at this year's Detroit auto show is talking about fuel consumption even Ferrari SpA. The Italian icon for exotic sports cars unveils a concept F430 Spider Biofuel designed to run on E85, an alternative fuel made up of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. A growing number of E85 flex-fuel vehicles now

By Tom Murphy • Feb. 1, 2008

Used-Vehicle Customers Vary

Not all used-vehicle buyers are created equal, says Lonnie Miller, director-industry analysis for R.L. Polk & Co. Nor, considering their differences, should they be marketed to in the same way, he adds. Their diversity in income levels, tastes and lifestyles reflects how the used-car market has evolved, branching off into various subgroups. It makes for a vibrant market, prompting franchised dealers

By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2008

Its Torque Trashes Any V-8: Daimler AG’s 3.0L DOHC V-6 Turbodiesel

We wish we could just bring this engine to your house to let you try. Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz 3.0L V-6 turbodiesel is that engine. If you haven't yet been fortunate enough to experience what we call new age diesel, there's only so much we can do to verbally translate how the inexorable turbine surge of 400 lb.-ft. (540 Nm) of torque at a stupefying low 1,600 rpm can change your life. You push the

Feb. 1, 2008

Megadealers Stepping Up Their Used-Vehicle Activities

Responding to a new-vehicle sales slowdown, some publicly owned megadealers have stepped up their used-vehicle and remarketing activities. The sector's first online used-car center was scheduled for opening by Sonic Automotive Group, which says it is seeking to reform the of the sales experience through greater use of the Internet. An innovator in new marketing solutions has been Lithia Motors, which

By Mac Gordon • Feb. 1, 2008

A World-Class Engine for Cadillac: General Motors Corp.’s 3.6L DOHC V-6

Not that we didn't like General Motors Corp.'s 3.6L DOHC V-6 when it launched in the Cadillac CTS for the '05 model year. Its initial output was 255 hp and 255 lb.-ft. (346 Nm) of torque, and there were several competing similar-displacement V-6s already making in the neighborhood of 300 hp. Thanks to a decade of horsepower wars, 300-hp V-6s now are the price of entry in the premium market. To get

Feb. 1, 2008

288 American Dealers Sign Up To Sell Vehicles From India

A total of 288 U.S. dealers have signed up to sell two diesel SUVs and a pickup truck built by Indian auto maker Mahindra & Mahindra, Ltd., according to importer Global Vehicles' CEO, John Perez. The count approaches the 300 target set by Perez for March and has brought the Alpharetta, GA-based importer about $40 million in committed franchise purchase fees at the rate of $125,000 to $150,000 per

By Mac Gordon • Feb. 1, 2008

Power Plus Good Fuel Economy: Audi AG’s FSI 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-4

We've always said Audi AG, more than any other auto maker of the last 20 years, has been the avatar of advanced engine technologies later adopted for mainstream application. No better case makes the point than the FSI 2.0L DOHC I-4, winning a 10 Best Engines award for the third consecutive year. The power-dense, fuel-sipping FSI 2.0L is the engine many auto makers only now say they're gearing up to

Feb. 1, 2008

Audi Puts Super Diesel in Concept R8

Add another 500-hp super car to the growing list. But this one, the Audi R8 V12 TDI concept, is diesel powered. Audi AG says it is writing a new chapter in diesel technology with the R8 V12 TDI's race-bred 5.9L V-12 engine, which already appeared in concept form at last fall's Paris auto show lodged under the hood of Audi's Q7 cross/utility vehicle. The larger-displacement V-12 is derived from the

By David Zoia • Feb. 1, 2008

Powertrain Poster Child: Mazda Motor Corp.’s DISI 2.3L Turbocharged DOHC I-4

It's hard for us to believe 2008 marks the third 10 Best Engines appearance for this one. When the engine launched in 2005 for the '06 Mazdaspeed6, it was a radical piece of work something we've come to expect from Mazda's powertrain unit. This engine is the poster child for how affordable horsepower has become. Yes, there are models from Japanese auto makers with hyper-tuned turbocharged 4-cyls.

Feb. 1, 2008

Acura First to Get Honda Diesel

A vehicle from Honda Motor Co. Ltd.'s Acura brand will be the first recipient of the auto maker's long-awaited 4-cyl. turbodiesel engine next year, Honda CEO Takeo Fukui tells media at the Detroit auto show. Fukui says there is no grand plan to make Acura a diesel brand, but the product cadence of the unnamed Acura model coincided with Honda's promised 2009 U.S. debut of its clean diesel. The auto

By Christie Schweinsberg • Feb. 1, 2008

Renault to Demo Fuel Cell But Believes Battery Power Better Answer

The fuel-cell demonstrator, which may debut at the Geneva auto show, is aimed more than anything else at illustrating how the alliance between Renault and Nissan works.

By William Diem • Jan. 31, 2008

Low-Price Tata Nano Sparks Industry Innovations

Tata is changing India’s manufacturing practices by asking engineers and mechanics to join together to set up their own assembly operations.

By Sudhakar Shah • Jan. 17, 2008

Land Rover May Produce LRX Cross-Coupe Concept

A 2.0L turbodiesel hybrid engine, capable of running on biodiesel fuel, powers the concept.

By Byron Pope • Jan. 14, 2008

Acura First to Get Honda Diesel; V-6 Pushed Back

Honda's CEO is bullish on diesels, believing the auto maker will be able to exceed its European production levels of 100,000 units annually in the U.S.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Jan. 13, 2008

GM Unveils Cadillac Provoq Fuel-Cell Concept

Provoq hints at Cadillac’s next entry in the midsize CUV segment, which will succeed the SRX in about two years.

By James M. Amend • Jan. 8, 2008

’09 Saturn Vue Receives 2-Mode System

The auto maker expects the system to provide a combined-cycle fuel-economy improvement of up to 50% over the ’08 Saturn Vue with a 6-cyl. engine.

By Ward's Staff • Jan. 7, 2008