Vehicles: Page
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford to Shutter Engine Plant in Wales
The head of Ford Europe says “changing customer demand and cost disadvantages, plus an absence of additional engine models for Bridgend going forward, make the plant economically unsustainable in the years ahead.”
By Jim Irwin • June 7, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
China’s Great Wall to Open Russian Plant
The new Haval F7 fullsize 7-seat SUV will be built at a plant in Tula backed by a $500 million investment and expected to produce up to 150,000 units annually.
By Paul Myles • June 6, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
2019 WardsAuto Interiors Conference: Ford Keynote Speech
Dennis Sartorello, Ford's chief designer-Global Strategic Design, says he and his team have been tearing up the playbook on interior design to foster a studio environment promoting free thinking and better communication with the outside world. The conference was held May 9 in Novi, MI.
June 4, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Cadillac Debuts Lighter Side of V-Series
Cadillac hopes small power bumps combined with big upgrades in interiors, technology and chassis will lure more buyers to the V brand.
By Bob Gritzinger • May 31, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM EV1 Set Stage for Tesla, Modern EVs
Ultimately, just 500 ’97 EV1s were built and 400 leased, followed by about the same numbers of ’99 Gen II cars (no '98s). Lessees loved their EV1s, but today they enjoy much more and better choices.
By Gary Witzenburg • May 31, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Autonomous Cars Will Need Airbags and Seatbelts for Foreseeable Future
As reality settles in, autonomous-vehicle interiors are being designed to calm nervous passengers and withstand severe crashes.
By Drew Winter • May 31, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ambient Lights Our Fire
The A220 has perhaps the best application of ambient lighting we’ve seen in an interior. It highlights the expected spots (seams of door- and instrument-panel trim), but also makes the car’s circular blade vents even more show-stopping.
By Christie Schweinsberg • May 29, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Extends Warranty to Address 1.5L Gas-Oil Dilution Problem
Honda seeks to reassure owners of Civics and CR-Vs equipped with the automaker’s 1.5L turbocharged 4-cyl. by extending warranty coverage in case gasoline-oil dilution damages engine parts.
By Bob Gritzinger • May 24, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
ZF, ams, Ibeo Link Up for Solid-State Lidar
The long-term goal is to make solid-state lidar available for less than $100 per unit. But even the least-expensive solid-state lidar nearing market arrival carries a price of several thousand dollars.
By Jim Irwin • May 23, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Great Grilles Grip Us
From Bentley to Kia, Lexus to Hyundai, speaker grilles go from blah to bling and become a focus in vehicle interior design.
By Christie Schweinsberg • May 22, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
2019 Wards 10 Best Interiors Quick Hits
A summation of all 32 interiors evaluated in the 2019 competition. Many of these comments are taken directly from score sheets submitted by Wards editors. Sticker prices listed. Winners in red.
By Christie Schweinsberg, Tom Murphy • May 21, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Color, More Juice for MIT’s EV Race Car
Team captain Serena Grown-Haeberli says the car’s expected 0-60 mph time is 2.6 seconds. Expected top speed is about 80 mph.
By Alan Harman • May 20, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
2020 Toyota Supra: Sports-Car Supreme
Packing a strong and smooth BMW-built, 335-hp inline 6-cyl. and a chassis and aerodynamically tuned body built for speed, the ’20 Toyota Supra is an enthusiast’s dream come true.
By Bob Gritzinger • May 20, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Patent Drawings Give Hints to Dyson’s EV
The patents include diagrams that make it appear the Dyson EV, to be built in Singapore, will look like a Range Rover. They show a car with a long wheelbase, an interior with reclining seats and an aerodynamic design.
By Alan Harman • May 17, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Police Power: 2020 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Hybrid on the Beat
Ford says police departments can save fuel and still catch the bad guys with all-new Explorer Police Interceptor Hybrid.
By Bob Gritzinger • May 17, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
2019 VW Jetta GLI Takes the Dragon by the Tail
Volkswagen has redone the sports sedan to appeal more to American buyers. “We want to grow here in the U.S.,” says Jan Dickman, VW’s head of compact cars.
By Steven Finlay • May 16, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Scandinavian Spirit Infuses Volvo Interiors
Tisha Johnson, vice president-interior design for Volvo Group, says at the Wards Auto Interiors Conference the company’s designs are rooted in Scandinavian traditions such as desire for light, forms that fit the human shape and respect for nature.
By Joseph Szczesny • May 15, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Attention to Details Makes MBUX Game Changer
“We wanted to make sure we had something that was constantly evolving and completely intelligent,” says Andrew Hill, Director-UX, Data & Artificial Intelligence,Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America.
By James M. Amend • May 15, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
2019 Volkswagen Arteon Sporty and Sophisticated
VW’s newest model has an eye-grabbing exterior, a minimalist, uncluttered interior, athletic handling and loads of rear-seat and cargo room, but it stumbles on technology and materials.
By Christie Schweinsberg • May 13, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Inside Story One of Comfort, Flexibility
Ernie Wilson, vice president-advanced design and engineering at supplier Auria, says comfort will be influenced by both styling and functionality.
By Jim Irwin • May 13, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Industry Still Can’t Put Finger on Best User Experience
By the time young consumers who have grown up with tablets and smartphones are approaching retirement age, perhaps technology will have advanced to the point physical connections will be unnecessary.
By Tom Murphy • May 10, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Enhancing Interior Reality, Virtually
Technologies such as immersive environments, virtual reality, computer design and Industry 4.0 are transforming the way designers and engineers create the latest automotive interiors.
By Bob Gritzinger • May 10, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Autonomous Cars Will Simplify Design, Experts Say
“We know autonomous driving is coming,” Continental’s Michael Schoenherr says. “You’re going to see an evolution of the technology that brings us to that point.”
By Joseph Szczesny • May 9, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Autonomous Vehicles to Bring About Materials Revolution
Smart surfaces that can detect heat, pressure and moisture, as well as 3D printed parts, are some examples of what may be found in forthcoming autonomous vehicles.
By Christie Schweinsberg • May 9, 2019 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Recalibrating How Interior Designers Think
The automaker is turning its Global Strategic Design studio into a playground, says Chief Designer Dennis Sartorello, who believes that’s the best way to create interiors that meet customers’ quickly evolving mobility needs.
By David Zoia • May 9, 2019
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