Vehicles: Page 182

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

Ford Outlines Future Powertrain Strategy

Near-term, which Ford describes as the 2008-2012 timeframe, the auto maker plans to have some 500,000 vehicles powered by EcoBoost technology on the road in North America.

By Byron Pope • Jan. 7, 2008

Mercedes Bluetec Blends Performance, Fuel Economy

Diesel chatter is nearly imperceptible, and during mixed city and highway driving, we averaged more than 30 mpg, far exceeding that of the Lexus GS 450h hybrid sedan.

By Byron Pope • Jan. 2, 2008

TRW Chooses Michigan For New Test Facility

TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. OFFI-cials say the auto industry's current economic malaise factored heavily into their decision to relocate a test track from Florida to Fowlerville, MI. The supplier's Florida (operation) had gotten to the point where it needed significant investment, says Thomas Oginsky, chief engineer, vehicle development-electronic braking systems. And travel budgets with OEMs have

By Byron Pope • Jan. 1, 2008

Reconditioning Sells Vehicles

Reconditioning is at best misunderstood and considered by most people to be one of the more boring aspects of running the pre-owned vehicle department. The truth is it should be intertwined into our sales philosophy and the selling system of our dealerships. It is a major part of our customer handling and owner retention philosophies whether we intend it to be or not. What is the result of an undefined

By Tony Albertson • Jan. 1, 2008

Ward’s 10 Best Engines 2008

Now in its 14th year, the Ward's 10 Best Engines list recognizes not only great powertrains but those who create them.Powertrain engineers toil in obscurity, getting their hands dirty building components that will be cut from solid chunks of metal and pieced together on the assembly line.

By Bill Visnic • Jan. 1, 2008

Texas Ethanol Plant to be Powered by Manure

Panda Ethanol says its planned Muleshoe, TX, facility will be engineered to gasify manure, saving the energy equivalent of 1,000 barrels of oil per day.

By Alan Harman • Dec. 27, 2007

Mustang Bullitt System to Migrate to Other Platforms

The Bullitt also benefits from a unique engine calibration designed to increase throttle response by boosting the red line by 250 rpm to 6,500 rpm.

By Byron Pope • Dec. 5, 2007

GM’s Big-Block V-8 Engine Revived After Scrap-Yard Rescue

Muscle-car enthusiasts have attentive eyes to thank for an all-new iteration of a classic and rare big-block V-8 soon to be available from General Motors Corp. Beginning in spring, GM will sell for a cool $20,000 a modern interpretation of the highly prized, all-aluminum 427 cu.-in (7.0L) ZL-1 V-8. GM will make only 427. The Anniversary 427 will be rated at 430 hp and 450 lb.-ft. of torque, just like

By Tom Murphy • Dec. 1, 2007

Timing Wrong For All-New Sequoia

In the context of the fullsize SUV segment, the new '08 Sequoia is a good progression of Toyota Motor Corp.'s family hauler, with increased interior space, a tight turning radius and the auto maker's brawny 5.7L V-8 under the hood. But with fuel prices ballooning and the lumps coming from environmental groups that once unwaveringly loved Toyota, there couldn't be a worse time to launch a fullsize

By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 1, 2007

Jersey Dealerships Serve as Polling Places on Election Day

Want to buy a new vehicle at the same place you cast your ballot? A few polling places in New Jersey can fill that order, notes the Asbury Park Press. One such spot is Elm Auto, a Dodge dealership in Kearney. We do it for the good of the town, says Frank Signore, whose father and uncle opened the dealership 60 years ago. While election day there is a bit disruptive to business, Signore says the dealership

Dec. 1, 2007

Micro-Hybrid Segment in Start Mode

Every day, millions of drivers from L.A. to Paris to Tokyo waste staggering amounts of energy going nowhere at all. Stuck in traffic or waiting at stop lights, their engines churn away, consuming millions of gallons of fuel and spewing pollutants into the air unnecessarily. Heavy trucks burn nearly 1 billion gallons (3.8 billion L) of diesel fuel annually while idling and emit 11 million tons (9.9

By Tom Murphy • Dec. 1, 2007

Autobytel Lists Its Best Vehicles for 2008

Domestic auto makers dominate the top picks in Autobytel Inc.'s fifth annual Editor's Choice Awards. Here are the '08 model-year winners in major categories and why Autobytel's MyRide.com editors and analysts say they picked them: Car of the Year and Best New Entry Luxury Car Under $40,000: Cadillac CTS. The second-generation features edgy style, world-class interior and extraordinary performance.

Dec. 1, 2007

Time for More Outsiders in Automotive

Conventional wisdom in the world's automotive capitals stipulates that industry outsiders can't run auto companies. The automotive business is so unique, so infused with passion, impulse and history, that if gasoline has not been coursing through your veins since infancy, you are better off seeking employment elsewhere. But as the economist John Kenneth Galbraith pointed out when he coined the term,

By Drew Winter • Dec. 1, 2007

TRW Developing Anti-theft Electric Parking Brake

TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. is awaiting a decision by the Economic Commision for Europe to determine whether it can move ahead with plans to offer its electric parking-brake technology as an automotive anti-theft system. Electric parking brakes, commonly found on European vehicles equipped with manual transmissions, eliminate the need for hand levers or foot pedals associated with traditional parking

By Byron Pope • Dec. 1, 2007

Mitsubishi Thailand to Expand Assembly Plant

The expansion reportedly will allow for the production of small, fuel-efficient cars under the Thai government’s eco-car project.

By Alan Harman • Nov. 28, 2007

Micro-Hybrid Segment in ‘Start’ Mode

The market for start-stop systems is in its infancy, but Valeo expects 4 million micro-hybrids on the road in Europe by 2010 and a 30% penetration rate by 2012.

By Tom Murphy • Nov. 27, 2007

TRW Developing Antitheft Electric Parking Brake

TRW’s antitheft device has the potential to save OEM customers money, reduce weight and free up space in their vehicles.

By Byron Pope • Nov. 21, 2007

Jaguar XF to Sticker Under $50,000

The high-end Premium Luxury XF will base at $55,975, while the Supercharged XF with a 420-hp engine will retail for $62,975.

By Ward's Staff • Nov. 15, 2007

Mazda Focuses on New Powertrains, Technology for the Masses

Ward’s discusses trends with Mazda research and development chief Seita Kanai.

By Roger Schreffler • Nov. 15, 2007

Daimler, Ford Forge Fuel-Cell Development Company

The company will be headed by Andreas Truckenbrodt, a former Ballard employee who currently serves as executive director-hybrid development at Daimler.

By Ward's Staff • Nov. 8, 2007

E20 Coming to Thailand

Beginning in January, the Thai government is cutting excise taxes on E20-compliant cars 5% to 25%-35% depending on engine size.

By Alan Harman • Nov. 8, 2007

Delphi to Spin Off Interiors Business by Year’s End

Delphi Corp.'s $1.3 billion automotive interiors and closures business is on track to spin off from its parent and become an independent company by year's end, an executive says. Lon Offenbacher, business line executive for interiors and closures at Delphi, tells attendees at the recent 2007 SPE Automotive TPO Global Conference that employees have selected a new name for the company, soon to be announced.

By Drew Winter • Nov. 1, 2007

Turbocharger Market Getting Crowded

Between Europe's booming turbo-diesel market and the growing popularity of gasoline direct injection in small-displacement engines, the outlook for turbochargers could not be brighter. According to one estimate, demand for turbochargers for light and commercial vehicles is expected to more than double over the next 10 years to 35 million units annually. Strict new emissions regulations requiring drastically

By Tom Murphy • Nov. 1, 2007