Thursday 31 March 2016

Schaeffler gives new meaning to “hybrid”

German automotive and industrial parts supplier Schaeffler has developed a new form of transport, a “bio hybrid” which it hails an “innovative micro-mobility concept”.

Friday 25 March 2016

Achates gives opposed pistons a 2018 boost

Achates Power Inc. of San Diego, California, has put a news story from Voice of America of 22 March 2016 on its web site noting that the company, Delphi Automotive and Argonne National Laboratory will have a three-cylinder opposed piston engine in operation by 2018 that is "50 per cent more efficient compared to a downsized, turbocharged direct injection gasoline engine, while reducing the overall cost of the powertrain system”.

Thursday 24 March 2016

Nissan to invest £22 million in UK plant

An investment of £22m investment is being made by Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK (NMMUK) in its Washington, UK facility in a bid to increase production of its Qashqai SUV, the company’s best-selling model.

Volvo opts for turbocompounding

Volvo Trucks North America has launched the group’s MY2017 engines offering customers increased power, performance and fuel efficiency.

Wednesday 23 March 2016

Audi launches 'new' ‘hand-built R8 Spyder…

Audi claims the latest R8 Spyder with a naturally aspirated V10 power unit returns “more technologically accomplished, more powerful and quicker against the clock, even more tightly pinned to corners and even more composed on the straights thanks to a 50 per cent improvement in torsional rigidity”.

As Jaguar is set to revive the XKSS

Anxious not to miss pout on any ‘high end’ sales that may be in the offing, Jaguar is to build the XKSS as a £1 million ultra-exclusive continuation model.

Tuesday 22 March 2016

TVR picks Wales as new production site

 As expected, sports car maker TVR will follow the lead set by Aston Martin and build its new car in a new production facility located in Wales; in this case in the Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone in South Wales.

Monday 21 March 2016

Jeep Wrangler set for diesel and hybrid

The US automotive press is awash with speculation that Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) is planning to reconfigure its Toledo, Ohio, assembly complex next year to build next-generation Jeep Wranglers.

Friday 18 March 2016

Aston Martin and Red Bull unite forces

When Dr. Andy Palmer, chief executive officer of Aston Martin, spoke last May to the Manufacturing Forum at Cranfield University, outlining his next century plan, he had a good idea of what was to come.

Thursday 17 March 2016

R&D consortium strives for ‘advanced diesels’

Ricardo is one of some 16 organisations participating in Project REWARD to develop advanced diesel engines beyond Euro6 for passenger cars and light commercials under 3,500kg, including a new two-stroke diesel for B/C segment cars. 

Wednesday 16 March 2016

Daimler's van sales rise 9 per cent

Mercedes-Benz Vans, which has reported record sales, revenue and EBIT figures for financial year 2015, delivered 321,000 vehicles, a rise of 9 per cent compared with 295,000.

Tuesday 15 March 2016

GKN’s eAxle migrates to C-segment cars

GKN is attempting to increase its return on investment in hybrid technology by pushing its technology to a wider C-segment OEM audience.

Thursday 10 March 2016

Audi lifts secrecy cloak around 4-litre TDI

Following our earlier posting, Audi has now decided to lift the cloak of secrecy that mysteriously surrounded the bore and stroke of its new 4-litre TDI diesel engine.

Audi throws cloak of secrecy over 4-litre TDI

In an amazing move, of which the KGB or the Mafia would be immensely proud, Audi has declined to disclose the bore and stroke of its new 4-litre TDI diesel engine.

Monday 7 March 2016

Ford extends aluminium use in F-Series trucks

Ford loves aluminium - especially when it comes to cutting weight from its F-Series trucks.

Shengrui moves to stop/start 8-speed auto ‘box

A new version of the Shengrui 8AT transmission adds stop/start functionality to the capabilities of this eight-speed automatic transmission, co-developed with Ricardo.

Audi adopts 48V electrical compressor for V8 TDI

Audi claims its ‘new’ 4-litre V8 diesel engine makes the new SQ7 TDI “the most powerful diesel SUV on the market”.