Vehicles: Page
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
2021 Yukon Gets New Engines, Interior, Tech to Take on Rivals
GMC’s large SUV grows bigger and more upscale and adds an off-road addition in a bid to shift out of its perennial No.3 position in the segment.
By Doug Newcomb • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Detroit Auto Show to Include Semi-Autonomous Shuttles
This is the first year the North American International Auto Show will be in June rather than January. Organizers plan both indoor and outdoor events.
By Steven Finlay • Jan. 15, 2020 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
The Propulsion Conundrum
Increasing battery capacity is expensive, so ZF is adjusting the driveline to squeeze maximum mileage out of a battery charge while offering leading transitional powertrain solutions.
By Jörg Trampler • Jan. 13, 2020 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
2020 Toyota Highlander Banks on Bland Predictability
While the all-new ’20 Highlander gets significant updates, Toyota plays it safe given the model’s sales dominance in the three-row CUV segment.
By Doug Newcomb • Jan. 13, 2020 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
ZF Promising Semi-Autonomous Tech for Under $1,000
ZF considers its coAssist system as Level 2+ because its technology allows for driver-initiated automated lane changes. Testing in a Buick Regal this week at CES shows more work must be done before the system is ready for market late this year.
By Tom Murphy • Jan. 7, 2020 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Electric Buses Could Help Appease Disgruntled Chileans
With protesters and riot police still clashing on the streets, Chile’s transport minister plans to replace more than 2,000 buses in Santiago’s unloved transport system with new quieter, cleaner vehicles, with electric vehicles being prioritized.
By Tom Azzopardi • Jan. 6, 2020 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Turn EV Charging into New Experience
Imitating gas stations is no way to create an EV charging infrastructure. There are startups with better ideas.
By Drew Winter • Jan. 3, 2020 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
We are Embarking on a Dangerous Decade
With electrification and autonomy, the automotive industry is about to swirl into the center of a historic maelstrom.
By John McElroy • Jan. 2, 2020 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Mercedes Compacts Right Past Wrongs
Each of the cars are wrapped in emotional exterior styling, boast surprisingly roomy interiors for their class and leverage responsive turbocharged 4-cyl. engines.
By James M. Amend • Jan. 2, 2020 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
2020 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems Quick Hits
A pro-and-con summation of all 26 powertrains evaluated in the 2020 competition. Many comments come directly from editor scoresheets.
By Tom Murphy • Dec. 27, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Making Sure Electric Fleets Have the Juice to Deliver
Whether moving packages or people, if there are constraints such as guaranteed delivery times, ride times and wait times, a vehicle’s battery strength is one of the variables that must be considered when deciding what vehicle to send to what traveler at what time.
By Anne Mellano • Dec. 26, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
2020 Nissan Sentra Has Winning Performance, Looks
The new eighth-generation Sentra is a pleasant surprise, with a peppy engine, an attractive appearance inside and out and good feature content.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 23, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
All-Inclusive List for 2020 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems
This year’s list of winners reflects an industry that is trying to do it all with heart-pounding fire breathers, capable pickups that don’t need V-8s, family cars that don’t need V-6s and a battery-electric CUV that is fun to drive.
By Tom Murphy • Dec. 20, 2019 -
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
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