GM Announces New Ecotec Small Engine Family

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GM’s Ecotec engines have been around since 2000 or so, and have been used to power everything from the Chevy Cavalier through the 2011 Saab 9-5. Currently available in displacements ranging from 1.4 liters (as used in the 2011 Chevy Cruze and upcoming 2012 Chevy Sonic) through 2.4 liters (as used in the 2012 Chevy Malibu and 2012 GMC Terrain, among others) the Ecotec family accounts for a significant portion of GM’s current engine production.

Since downsizing engines for improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions is the easiest way for manufacturers to comply with ever-tightening regulations, GM has announced an all-new global family of Ecotec engines, set to begin production in mid-decade. While the new Ecotec engines will feature performance-and-gas-mileage-boosting-technology such as gasoline direct injection, turbocharging and multi-fuel capability, they’ll also be quite a bit smaller than today’s Ecotec engines.

Displacements will range from 1.0 liter to 1.5 liters, and GM envisions production of over 2 million engines a year by the end of the decade. To reduce production costs and simplify global assembly, the engines will use a modular approach with interchangeable components.

GM isn’t saying where the new engines will be used, only that the engines will span “multiple vehicle architectures in various regions.” 

GM’s Jim Federico, vehicle line executive for global small cars and electric vehicles, summed up the need for the new engines by saying, “We are working aggressively on vehicle electrification and other technologies, but the most immediate progress will come from continually improving the internal combustion engine.”

The new Ecotec engines will be developed jointly between GM, the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC), Shanghai General Motors and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center.

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Hyundai Ups The Ante, Announces Ten-Speed Automatic Transmission

Newsletter Stay up to date on car reviews, buying guides, articles and more For the 2012 model year, Hyundai is launching an eight-speed automatic transmission in its Genesis and Equus luxury sedans. The transmission, developed by Hyundai in-house, promises to improve acceleration, boost fuel economy and deliver a smoother ride than more traditional six-speed transmissions.

If eight speeds are good, then ten speeds must be better, so Hyundai has begun development of a ten-speed automatic transmission for future version of its Genesis and Equus luxury cars. Automotive News (subscription required) reports that the ten-speed transmissions could debut in Hyundai's luxury cars as early as 2014.

The benefits of added gear ratios are easy to see; they yield more seamless acceleration while boosting fuel economy and reducing emissions. As Nelson Ireson points out on Motor Authority, however, the transmission wars will ultimately yield diminishing returns, and there’s no real evidence that a ten-speed gearbox will yield a noticeably smoother ride than an eight or nine-speed transmission. Sometimes, more isn't better, it's just more.

Hyundai’s announcement also verifies that the Korean automaker will continue in-house powertrain development, instead of farming the business out to third-party suppliers. Doing so allows Hyundai to keep tighter reins on both quality and production costs, two areas where Hyundai has excelled in recent years.

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Subaru Announces Motion-V Plan, Promises Three New Models

 

However, cleaner running vehicles is just one pillar of the all-encompassing plan that will also see the launch of safer, more advanced, and more refined vehicles.

Over the next five years, Subaru hopes to reduce the fuel consumption of its cars and in the process address one of its biggest complaints.

We’ve already seen this with the latest generation 2012 Subaru Impreza, which despite maintaining its standard all-wheel drive returns an impressive gas mileage of 27/36 mpg city/highway.

Some of the fuel saving methods Subaru will be employing for its other models will include downsizing its engines but adding turbocharging and direct injection to maintain power levels, installing more efficient CVTs, and designing lighter vehicle structures through the increased use of high-strength steels and advanced composite materials.

This latter element should ensure that the vehicles offer greater crash safety as well as improved ride and handling.

Also improving safety will be camera-based predictive and preventative technology, which will include things like pre-crash braking control, adaptive cruise control, vehicle sway warning, and wrong operation avoidance.

Additionally, we’ll also see the launch of Subaru’s first hybrid vehicle in 2013, initially in Japan but in the U.S. by the end of that same year. It will be based on an existing model, most likely the Forrester, and will feature Subaru’s own proprietary hybrid design rather than technology borrowed from Toyota.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Subaru has promised to launch three new models under the Motion-V plan, one of which will be the highly anticipated BRZ sports car.

All in all, things are looking very exciting for the Japanese automaker.

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Subaru Announces Motion-V Plan, Promises Three New Models

Newsletter Stay up to date on car reviews, buying guides, articles and more Subaru is about to embark on a new strategy dubbed “Motion-V” that will see the automaker’s fuel consumption and emissions cut 30 percent by the middle of the decade.

However, cleaner running vehicles is just one pillar of the all-encompassing plan that will also see the launch of safer, more advanced, and more refined vehicles.

Over the next five years, Subaru hopes to reduce the fuel consumption of its cars and in the process address one of its biggest complaints.

We’ve already seen this with the latest generation 2012 Subaru Impreza, which despite maintaining its standard all-wheel drive returns an impressive gas mileage of 27/36 mpg city/highway.

Some of the fuel saving methods Subaru will be employing for its other models will include downsizing its engines but adding turbocharging and direct injection to maintain power levels, installing more efficient CVTs, and designing lighter vehicle structures through the increased use of high-strength steels and advanced composite materials.

This latter element should ensure that the vehicles offer greater crash safety as well as improved ride and handling.

Also improving safety will be camera-based predictive and preventative technology, which will include things like pre-crash braking control, adaptive cruise control, vehicle sway warning, and wrong operation avoidance.

Additionally, we’ll also see the launch of Subaru’s first hybrid vehicle in 2013, initially in Japan but in the U.S. by the end of that same year. It will be based on an existing model, most likely the Forrester, and will feature Subaru’s own proprietary hybrid design rather than technology borrowed from Toyota.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Subaru has promised to launch three new models under the Motion-V plan, one of which will be the highly anticipated BRZ sports car.

All in all, things are looking very exciting for the Japanese automaker.

View the original article here

Subaru Announces Motion-V Plan, Promises Three New Models

Newsletter Stay up to date on car reviews, buying guides, articles and more Subaru is about to embark on a new strategy dubbed “Motion-V” that will see the automaker’s fuel consumption and emissions cut 30 percent by the middle of the decade.

However, cleaner running vehicles is just one pillar of the all-encompassing plan that will also see the launch of safer, more advanced, and more refined vehicles.

Over the next five years, Subaru hopes to reduce the fuel consumption of its cars and in the process address one of its biggest complaints.

We’ve already seen this with the latest generation 2012 Subaru Impreza, which despite maintaining its standard all-wheel drive returns an impressive gas mileage of 27/36 mpg city/highway.

Some of the fuel saving methods Subaru will be employing for its other models will include downsizing its engines but adding turbocharging and direct injection to maintain power levels, installing more efficient CVTs, and designing lighter vehicle structures through the increased use of high-strength steels and advanced composite materials.

This latter element should ensure that the vehicles offer greater crash safety as well as improved ride and handling.

Also improving safety will be camera-based predictive and preventative technology, which will include things like pre-crash braking control, adaptive cruise control, vehicle sway warning, and wrong operation avoidance.

Additionally, we’ll also see the launch of Subaru’s first hybrid vehicle in 2013, initially in Japan but in the U.S. by the end of that same year. It will be based on an existing model, most likely the Forrester, and will feature Subaru’s own proprietary hybrid design rather than technology borrowed from Toyota.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Subaru has promised to launch three new models under the Motion-V plan, one of which will be the highly anticipated BRZ sports car.

All in all, things are looking very exciting for the Japanese automaker.

View the original article here

Hyundai Ups The Ante, Announces Ten-Speed Automatic Transmission

Newsletter Stay up to date on car reviews, buying guides, articles and more For the 2012 model year, Hyundai is launching an eight-speed automatic transmission in its Genesis and Equus luxury sedans. The transmission, developed by Hyundai in-house, promises to improve acceleration, boost fuel economy and deliver a smoother ride than more traditional six-speed transmissions.

If eight speeds are good, then ten speeds must be better, so Hyundai has begun development of a ten-speed automatic transmission for future version of its Genesis and Equus luxury cars. Automotive News (subscription required) reports that the ten-speed transmissions could debut in Hyundai's luxury cars as early as 2014.

The benefits of added gear ratios are easy to see; they yield more seamless acceleration while boosting fuel economy and reducing emissions. As Nelson Ireson points out on Motor Authority, however, the transmission wars will ultimately yield diminishing returns, and there’s no real evidence that a ten-speed gearbox will yield a noticeably smoother ride than an eight or nine-speed transmission. Sometimes, more isn't better, it's just more.

Hyundai’s announcement also verifies that the Korean automaker will continue in-house powertrain development, instead of farming the business out to third-party suppliers. Doing so allows Hyundai to keep tighter reins on both quality and production costs, two areas where Hyundai has excelled in recent years.

View the original article here

Hyundai Ups The Ante, Announces Ten-Speed Automatic Transmission

Newsletter Stay up to date on car reviews, buying guides, articles and more For the 2012 model year, Hyundai is launching an eight-speed automatic transmission in its Genesis and Equus luxury sedans. The transmission, developed by Hyundai in-house, promises to improve acceleration, boost fuel economy and deliver a smoother ride than more traditional six-speed transmissions.

If eight speeds are good, then ten speeds must be better, so Hyundai has begun development of a ten-speed automatic transmission for future version of its Genesis and Equus luxury cars. Automotive News (subscription required) reports that the ten-speed transmissions could debut in Hyundai's luxury cars as early as 2014.

The benefits of added gear ratios are easy to see; they yield more seamless acceleration while boosting fuel economy and reducing emissions. As Nelson Ireson points out on Motor Authority, however, the transmission wars will ultimately yield diminishing returns, and there’s no real evidence that a ten-speed gearbox will yield a noticeably smoother ride than an eight or nine-speed transmission. Sometimes, more isn't better, it's just more.

Hyundai’s announcement also verifies that the Korean automaker will continue in-house powertrain development, instead of farming the business out to third-party suppliers. Doing so allows Hyundai to keep tighter reins on both quality and production costs, two areas where Hyundai has excelled in recent years.

View the original article here

ZF announces new nine-speed gearbox for front-transverse drive applications

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Nissan announces employee pricing, payment delays for southern storm victims

Monday, May 23rd, 2011 @ 9:35 a.m.

Nissan’s world headquarters may be based in Japan, but the automaker’s U.S. operations have called Franklin, Tennessee home for several years now. Nissan has grown to become an integral part of the southeastern U.S. over the last six years, and is now giving back to the storm victims of the region.

Nissan has announced it will be extending employee pricing to residents of Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas and Kentucky who were affected by the region’s recent storms. Additionally, those impacted by the storms will be able to delay vehicle payments by up to three months without any financial penalties.

“Because of Nissan’s strong presence in the southeastern U.S., we’ve seen up-close the impact of recent devastating weather, which has left many area residents without personal transportation,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Nissan North America. “We want to do our part to assist our neighbors, and are offering employee pricing to disaster victims as one way to help them return to normal.”

Nissan says employee pricing offers up to $1,500 off dealer invoice, plus all applicable incentives.

Earlier this month Nissan donated $115,000 to American Red Cross to aid in the organization’s southern storm relief efforts.

View the original article here

Porsche announces GT3 R Hybrid Version 2.0

Thursday, Mar 17th, 2011 @ 12:18 p.m.

Porsche has announced it will be returning to this year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race with an updated version of its GT3 R Hybrid racecar. The Nürburgring 24 hour race will be held on June 25.

Version 2.0 of the GT3 R Hybrid is largely based on the 2010 model, but now features an optimized hybrid system. Porsche engineers managed to shave 20 percent of the hybrid system’s original weight, reducing the vehicle’s curb weight from 1350kg to 1300kg.

Power is provided by a 470-horsepower 4.0L flat-six as well as two electric motors on the car’s front axle. Compared to the original GT3 R Hybrid, version 2.0 delivers almost 200 horsepower more, albeit for just a few brief moments.

Although the new model is much improved over last year’s racecar, Porsche expects similar lap times. However, the new car will run those same lap times on less fuel, extending time between pit stops.

View the original article here

Saab announces joint-venture with ZF

Friday, Mar 18th, 2011 @ 1:11 p.m.

Saab has established a new subsidy with ZF that will build advanced front sub-frames and complete rear axles for future Saab vehicles. Dubbed ZF Sverige AB, the new joint-venture will setup shop just two miles from Saab’s Trollhättan plant.

Per the terms of the agreement, the plant will be run by ZF. Sub-frame stampings will be produced at Saab’s Trollhättan plant and then sent down the road to the ZF facility where they will be welded together and fitted with chassis mountings. Suspension and brake components will also be fitted to the rear sub-frames to form complete rear axle assemblies. The finished units will then be shipped back to the Trollhättan for final assembly. The ZF Sverige plant is expected to employ about 50 workers.

“This is a significant step in the development of our engineering capabilities,” said Mats Fägerhag, Saab Automobile’s Vice President Vehicle Product Development. “It gives us close access to ZF’s world-class engineering expertise, which will become an integral part of our product development program. It is a win/win situation for us from both a business and an engineering perspective.”

Although no grand opening date was announced, the next-generation Saab 9-3 will be the first model to source parts from the ZF plant. The all-new 9-3 is expected to launch during the second half of 2012.

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