Vehicles: Page 77
-
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chevy Corvette LT2 Small-Block V-8 Answers Call
With a radically new mid-engine placement, the LT2 also may finally silence critics calling the camshaft-in-block an elder statesman.
By James M. Amend • Dec. 20, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai Kona Electric Goes the Distance Again
Despite all the luxury BEV newcomers in 2019, the mass-market Kona still has one of the longest-range lithium-ion battery packs in the industry.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 19, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ram’s 3.6L V-6 With eTorque Offers Something Special
The workhorse Pentastar engine was a Wards 10 Best pick for 2019. Judges deemed it so well done and technologically clever with its 48V mild hybrid system, that it’s a returning winner for 2020.
By Steven Finlay • Dec. 18, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
RM19: Hyundai Builds a Mid-Engine Monster
We can’t help but smile after turning a few hot laps in Hyundai’s latest performance creation, the mid-engine RM19 near-supercar. Is a production version in the works?
By Bob Gritzinger • Dec. 17, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GMC Sierra 1500 Thrives With 3.0L Duramax Diesel
As tested in the ’20 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab SLT, General Motors’ all-new Duramax light-duty turbodiesel wins points for its fuel economy and smoothness debunking diesels’ growly image.
By Jim Irwin • Dec. 17, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
VC-Turbo Takes a Second Bow in Nissan Altima
A technological marvel, the 2.0L Variable Compression Turbo 4-cyl. in the Nissan Altima wows our judges with silky power and stunning fuel economy for a non-hybrid midsize sedan.
By Bob Gritzinger • Dec. 16, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Straight-6 Returns Triumphant to Mercedes With 3.0L EQ Boost
Powerful, quiet, inherently smooth and with a touch of electrification thrown in, the GLE450’s new turbocharged 3.0L inline 6-cyl. makes a strong first impression.
By David Zoia • Dec. 13, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Wins Again With Accord Hybrid 2.0L i-VTEC
If electrification is going to truly take hold, it must be affordable, efficient and fun to drive. The Honda Accord Hybrid checks all three boxes.
By Drew Winter • Dec. 12, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Bentley Breaks Ground on U.K. Engineering Center
The automaker hopes the facility will help it meet customer demand for both internal-combustion and electrified powertrains, the latter seen for the first time in the brand with the Bentayga Hybrid SUV.
By Paul Myles • Dec. 11, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Pony Up! Hot 2.3L Turbo 4-Cyl. Earns Ford Another Honor
A 4-cyl. delivering more power than V-8s found in Mustangs a decade ago puts smiles on our faces and punches the 2.3L EcoBoost High Performance Package into this year’s top echelon.
By Bob Gritzinger • Dec. 11, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
2020 Hyundai Sonata Breathes New Life Into Midsize Sedans
Hyundai’s redesigned 4-door is not just a pretty face, with great performance, handling, a lovely interior and scads of technology.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 10, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Yet Another Spectacular 6-Cyl. Turbo from BMW
With 47 more ponies than last year’s winning B58 inline 6-cyl. turbo, the M340i’s engine never gasps for breath, no matter how much flogging occurs near the redline. And who would expect 25 mpg to go along with 369 lb.-ft. of torque?
By Tom Murphy • Dec. 10, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Why Epic Games is Doubling Down on Detroit
Automotive designers are integrating solutions such as Epic Games’ Unreal Engine into production workflows. Unreal Engine is free to use and can run real-time interactive simulations on consumer-grade gaming hardware.
By Heiko Wenczel • Dec. 9, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai’s 1.6L Turbo-4 Sophisticated, Remarkably Efficient
Appearing first in the all-new Sonata sedan, this clean-sheet 4-cyl. is part of a family of new Hyundai engines. It’s an absolute gem – stout, refined, punchy, a delightful daily driver and it’s the world’s first application of continuously variable valve duration.
By Tom Murphy • Dec. 9, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Propulsion Summit Part of 2020 10 Best Celebration
The field of 26 nominees in this year’s competition is as diverse as ever. Winners will be honored Jan. 16 at the inaugural WardsAuto Engine & Propulsion Summit in Detroit.
By Tom Murphy • Dec. 3, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Still No Six for Titan
The vast majority of ’19 F-150s had a 6-cyl., with the truck’s 3.5L twin-turbo V-6 the most popular engine overall with a 41.8% installation rate.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 2, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Kudos to Lowly Inline 4-cyl. Engine
Heretofore, the inline 4-cyl. engine seldom received the respect it’s earned as a dependable, cost-effective power producer. Let’s remedy that.
By Don Sherman • Nov. 27, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Wards 10 Best Engines Video Tribute from BMW
In celebrating 25 years of Wards 10 Best Engines, automakers were invited to submit videos about the competition. This is the last of six videos that have posted throughout the year.
Nov. 26, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Electric Cars, Smart Charging and the Future of Energy Management
With vehicle-grid integration, automakers can simultaneously advance two high-level goals: the decarbonization of electricity generation and decarbonization of transportation.
By Preston Roper • Nov. 22, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mini Unveils High-Performance John Cooper Works GP
The 2-seater is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cyl. that reaches 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.2 seconds and 332 lb.-ft. (450 Nm) of torque. Top speed is 165 mph (265 km/h). It makes 306 hp, 75 hp more than its predecessor John Cooper Works model.
By Jim Irwin • Nov. 19, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Europe Nurturing Hydrogen-Vehicle Market
The European Commission is funding two research projects that aim to see an additional 49 hydrogen filling stations and more than 1,400 cars, vans and trucks run on hydrogen within the EU by 2022. Currently there are fewer than 200 fueling stations across the EU.
By Diana Yordanova • Nov. 19, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan Titan Improved for 2020, But Issues Remain
For the ’20 model year, the Titan gets a refresh costing $230 million. It corrects some issues the outgoing ’19 model had and puts it on more even ground with the competitive set, but deficiencies remain.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Nov. 19, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Renault EV’s Cabin Material to Be 100% Recycled
Renault will use the new material – made from safety belts, textile scraps and plastic bottle recycling – in its new Renault Zoe electric car.
By Paul Myles • Nov. 15, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Car Dealers May Dislike Regs, But Stricter Data Rules Help
Consumers are tired of their information being stolen. They want data protection.
By Erik Nachbahr • Nov. 15, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
The Transformative Power of Hybrid-Electric Vehicles
By 2025, global sales of EVs will be 7.7% of the total vehicle market, while HEVs and PHEVs will boast a 23% market share, J.P. Morgan analysts indicate.
By Marco Guglielmini • Nov. 12, 2019
Previous
