Vehicles: Page

New Rules for Head Restraints

U.S. motor vehicle regulations pertaining to occupant head restraints have gone unchanged for about two decades, but soon they will get a massive overhaul. Seat suppliers currently are studying and scurrying to meet the new code, FMVSS 202A, and U.S. auto makers are in the throes of deciding the best way to satisfy the new mandate. The code applies to front seats for all vehicles produced on or after

By Tom Murphy • Oct. 1, 2006

eBay Motors Sells 2-Millionth Vehicle Online

eBay Motors has sold its two millionth passenger vehicle online. Kelly Joyce purchased an 05 Jeep Liberty. Six years ago, the thought of going online and buying a car was an unfamiliar concept to most people, says Rob Chesney, senior director of eBay

Oct. 1, 2006

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from WardsAuto

Automakers are evaluating their long-term strategies, revisiting their product mix, and approach to both retail and manufacturing approach along the way.

By WardsAuto staff

Making The Case

Arguably the world's most diverse auto supplier, Magna International Inc. has expertise in just about every segment from electronics and metalforming to full interiors and complete vehicle assembly. Yet, one piece remains lacking in Magna's mission to develop and manufacture low-volume niche vehicles for an auto maker in the U.S.: a contract. Even without that crucial piece of the puzzle, Magna continues

By Tom Murphy • Oct. 1, 2006

Audi Q7 to Get 500-hp V-12 Diesel

The cross/utility vehicle sprints to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds and bolsters Audi's efforts to create a premium image for diesel technology.

By Mike Sutton • Sept. 13, 2006

Saleen Open to New Niche-Vehicle Partnerships

"Ford is not causing us problems, but its problems are something we're watching closely," Steve Saleen says.

By Byron Pope • Sept. 11, 2006

Aura Aglow

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.Sporting acoustic laminated glass and strategically placed sound damping, Saturn Corp. engineers say they tried to make the new Aura the qui...

By Scott Anderson • Sept. 6, 2006

Reinventing In-Vehicle Infotainment

The entire area of infotainment fits well with the overall theme of Convergence 2006: "Reinventing the Automobile."

Sept. 6, 2006

Fueling Optimism

A funny thing is happening in the race to find a fuel-efficiency solution for North America: One of the world's oldest engines is in position to become the front-runner. Hydrogen may indeed be the ultimate fuel of the future, and hybrid-electric vehicles and ethanol grab headlines. But in the next 10 years, the diesel engine promises to be by far the most rapidly adopted alternative powertrain. Driving

By Mike Sutton • Sept. 1, 2006

Collaborate, Consolidate

The new spokesman for the Autosar consortium knows a thing or two about vehicle electrical architectures and the benefits of standardization. Helmut Fennel, vice president-control systems software at German supplier Continental Automotive Systems, gets credit for a mammoth technical breakthrough in the 1980s that ushered in widespread use of antilock braking systems (ABS) in vehicles around the world.

By Tom Murphy • Sept. 1, 2006

Mechanics Sound Off On Oil Changes, More

Is it all right to put 5,000 miles on a car before changing the oil? Yes, say some in the industry. They wave off the long-time conventional recommendation that engine oil should be changed every 3,000 miles. But 60% of surveyed National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified master technicians stick with 3,000-mile standard. Twenty-nine percent of them say up to 5,000 miles before

Sept. 1, 2006

Study Shows U.S. Consumers Open to E85, PHEVs

While interest is strong, many consumers are not familiar with the specific benefits and drawbacks of new powertrain technologies.

By Mike Sutton • Aug. 17, 2006

CVT Applications Still Increasing, Supplier Says

With fuel economy a top industry concern, CVT developer Jatco appears positioned to seize the advantage.

By Bill Visnic • Aug. 11, 2006

Saturn Exploring Clean Diesel Engines

Diesel engines could find a place within Saturn's lineup, as GM considers a number of energy-efficient powertrain technologies.

By Scott Anderson • Aug. 11, 2006

ZAP Imports First Chinese-Made Electric Minicar

The 3-wheel, pod-like Xebra is designed for U.S. roads and will sell for less than $10,000.

By Ward's Staff • Aug. 10, 2006

Hyundai Engineering Starts with ‘Layman’s’ Approach

Hyundai is obsessed with the idea of having the customer drive engineering discipline.

By Drew Winter • Aug. 8, 2006

LMT Opens Auburn Hills Center

Germany's LMT-Fette, part of Leitz Metalworking Technologies Group, opens a new Automotive Support Center in Auburn Hills, MI. The company produces tooling for transmission and engine components, with major customers in Europe. The center's role is to help U.S. customers with service and support for tooling located in North America. Employment at the facility is expected to increase from nine workers

Aug. 1, 2006

Cherry Bomb and Mopar to Build Charger Show Car

Cherry Bomb, the iconic glass-pack muffler manufacturer, is teaming up with Chrysler Group's Mopar Performance division to build a custom '06 Dodge Charger show car for display at the Specialty Equipment Market Assn. show in Las Vegas this fall. The project is one of the first elements of Cherry Bomb's effort to capitalize on the automotive industry's renewed passion for muscle cars and vehicle personalization,

By Ward's Staff • Aug. 1, 2006

7% Better Fuel Economy

Baseball sometimes is referred to as a game of inches. Rising fuel prices are turning the automotive business into a similar battle over small increments. Already, General Motors Corp. appears to be winning sales with the 1- or 2-mpg advantage its new Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon enjoy over their closest rivals in the fullsize SUV segment. The competition likely will get even more intense going forward,

By Drew Winter • Aug. 1, 2006

Automotive, Electronic Worlds Meet at Convergence 2006

Convergence 2006 will be held at the Cobo Conference Center in downtown Detroit, October 16-18.

July 12, 2006

Advanced Cooling System Makes Hybrids More Efficient

Researchers are developing a more effective cooling system for hybrid-electric vehicles.

By Herb Shuldiner • July 11, 2006

Toyota Interior Supplier to Locate in Woodstock

Toyota Boshoku says it will provide seats, door trim and carpet for the RAV4, investing C$65 million ($57.8 million) and creating 330 jobs in the process.

By Ward's Staff • July 10, 2006

Sonic Picks Exclusive Menu-Selling System Provider

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.Sonic Automotive dealership chain, which has had irregularities at some of its dealerships' finance and insurance departments, picked MenuVa...

July 1, 2006

Hybrid Gut Check

As a relatively new and complex form of automotive technology, hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) have created several uncertainties and misconceptions among the car-buying public. In an effort to separate hybrid perception from reality, Toyota Motor Corp., the epicenter of the technology with five Toyota- and Lexus-brand HEVs currently on sale, is looking to unravel the mysteries and set the facts straight

By Mike Sutton • July 1, 2006

Hail CESAR

Siemens VDO Automotive Corp. says aspects of its modular cockpit structure likely will appear in production vehicles in Europe as early as next year. The supplier displayed a BMW 5-Series sedan equipped with its fully operational CESAR at the Ward's Auto Interiors show. The Cockpit Electromechanical System Architecture represents a revolutionary change in the way instrument panels are designed and

By Tom Murphy • July 1, 2006

Reinventing the Automobile

It started out more than 30 years ago as a humble event, a response to stricter government mandates related to automotive safety, fuel and emissions standards. Now the biennual Convergence conference and exhibition is talking about reinventing the automobile. With the exponential growth of the world's population and vehicle ownership rates, advanced electronics along with advanced propulsion, materials,

July 1, 2006