Friday 30 September 2016

INFINITI claims ground-breaking turbo

INFINITI claims its new variable compression turbocharger due in 2018 amounts to ground-breaking new engine technology.

Audi launches aluminium five-cylinder engine

The new Audi RS 3 at the Paris Motor Show is said to be the most powerful five-cylinder engine used a series production Audi.

Thursday 29 September 2016

GM ditches piezos, opts for solenoids

Those expecting General Motors to jump through the hoop in launching the company down the compacted graphite iron (CGI) route with its redesigned Duramax 6.6L V-8 turbo-diesel will go to bed tonight disappointed. And others might see a step from piezo as a backwards move.

Volkswagen seeks one million EV target by 2025

Volkswagen has unveiled I.D., a highly automated electric able to cover a distance of 400 to 600 km on a single battery charge.

Latest ‘Disco’ receives Ingenium I4 diesel

The latest generation of Land Rover Discovery, D5, continues to make use of Ford Motor Company’s 3-litre V6 diesel engine made at Dagenham, heralding continued production of that engine for some time to come.

Tuesday 27 September 2016

Audi diesel powers Bentley's Bentayga SUV

Bentley Motors has announces plans to install a diesel engine in its Bentayga luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV).

Sunday 25 September 2016

Texas awaits next Duramax engine

Observers of the US diesel engine scene are waiting for this week's Texas State Fair which opens 30 September to see how General Motors achieves 445 bhp from its 6.6-litre V8 Duramax.

Friday 23 September 2016

MG car production goes ‘home’

Cynics among us knew it would happen before long. That it took so long is indeed a surprise.

Navistar: Time to step up to the plate and deliver

Is it just conceivable, when the dust of document signing has settled and top-level Volkswagen Truck & Bus Group (T&B Group) engineers and managers sit round the table with their counterparts at Navistar International Corporation that the conversation will move to the detail of not only customising the MAN engines that Navistar builds under license, but manufacturing other VW group diesel engines in North America.

Thursday 22 September 2016

McLaren denies Apple takeover bid

Formula 1 team owner McLaren has played down a report that Apple has made a buyout or investment approach for the supercar maker.

Wednesday 21 September 2016

Is platooning just around the corner?

 Bosch claims platooning, which allows multiple commercial vehicles to connect and run in an autonomous road train, will increase truck safety and reliability. Platooning is part of Bosch's drive to improve vehicle fuel efficiency.

Tuesday 20 September 2016

VW achieves 550 PS from 2-litre TSI engine

A specially-tuned Volkswagen Beetle has set a new speed record powered by a turbocharged 2-litre gasoline engine giving 550 PS.

Researchers remotely hack into Tesla Model S

It is reported that Chinese researchers have managed to control the brakes, lights and mirrors within a Tesla Model S from while the car is moving and up to 20 kilometres (12 miles) away.

Monday 19 September 2016

Next Jaguar XE reinforces ally ‘road map’

The message in Jaguar’s ‘Road Map’ always claimed that the XE saloon could be built at the firm’s Land Rover plant in Solihull or Jaguar’s ‘home plant’ of Castle Bromwich. In the event, Solihull became the XE’s first port of call but with the option production could be moved to Castle Bromwich should the need arise.

Sunday 18 September 2016

Opoc engine moves closer to production

The developers of the opposed-piston two-stroke diesel engine claim the engine is moving closer to production. But details, as ever, remain elusive.

Friday 9 September 2016

Mahle fits eSupercharge 1.2-litre to VW Golf

Mahle Powertrain’s Northampton (UK) engineering team has replaced the standard 2-litre turbocharged engine in its donor VW Golf GTi, with the latest development of its 1.2-litre downsizing engine.

VW says ‘new’ Crafter is “without compromise”

Volkswagen claims its ‘new’ Crafter light commercial has been designed ‘without compromise’. It will be available up to 5.5 tonnes.

Nissan raises output nearly 10-fold in 30 years

When UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher opened Nissan’s first European plant 30 years ago yesterday, the car maker had 470 staff and produced 5,000 vehicles at a rate of 12 an hour.

Thursday 8 September 2016

Torotrak verifies V-Charge performance

Torotrak Group claims it has verified its previous claims for V-Charge, a variable drive mechanical supercharger, using a Ford three-cylinder EcoBoost engine.

VW enters electric vehicle deal with JAC

Volkswagen AG and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co., Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to secure long-term cooperation in the joint development of all-electric vehicles in China.

Wednesday 7 September 2016

Torque converters now becoming lighter

Component supplier Schaeffler claims its iTC torque converter represents a new generation of lighter-weight torque converters that are help reduce vibrations.

Milestone

Auto Industry Newsletter has achieved a milestone. Over a quarter of a million page views have been recorded since its launch.

Land Rover’s extreme seat-folding test

World-renowned British adventurer and well-known Land Rover owner Bear Grylls took to the skies to put the New Discovery’s Intelligent Seat Fold technology to the ultimate test.

Tuesday 6 September 2016

OX ‘flat-pack’ truck seeks funding

A ‘flat-pack’ truck has been developed to provide low-cost all-terrain mobility for remote parts of Africa and the developing world.

Kia applies 8-speed auto box to FWD

Kia Motors has a new eight-speed automatic transmission (8AT), engineered for use in front-wheel drive vehicles, but based on RWD experience.

New Land Rover Discovery set for Paris

Land Rover will unveil its new Discovery on 28 September 2016 ahead of the Paris Motor Show.

Clarke confirms Navistar/VW tie-up

Navistar International Corporation has confirmed a wide-ranging strategic alliance with Volkswagen Truck & Bus that brings in $256 million.

Sunday 4 September 2016

Spectris gobbles up Millbrook in £122 million deal

Rutland Partners only wanted the former General Motors/Vauxhall Motors’ proving ground at Millbrook for one thing, and one thing only – to make money.

Saturday 3 September 2016

Freightliner rolls out ‘efficient’ 2018 Cascadia

January 2017 sees the next generation Freightliner Cascadia take to the roads in North America.

Daimler launches SOP of GLA SUV in Brazil plant

Five months after its Brazil plant opening, Mercedes-Benz has launched SOP of a second model at its new passenger-car plant in Iracemápolis - the GLA.

Friday 2 September 2016

Peterbilt opts for Cummins/Westport gas engine

Peterbilt Motors has decided to introduce the Cummins Westport ISL-G Near Zero NOx emissions natural gas engine for line-haul, vocational and refuse applications. Launch ismset for the year-end and early 2017.

MG boosts engine test capability

MG Motor UK has invested £1.2 million at its Longbridge site, Birmingham, UK, to install addition test equipment and reduce the need for outsourcing.

Thursday 1 September 2016

GM/US Army to probe fuel cell military vehicles

Next Month, General Motors and the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) will reveal a fuel cell electric vehicle; as Nikola Motor also opts for fuel cells but for Class 8 trucks.