Power and Propulsion
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Technology Report
Propulsion

Magna Shows off Electric Offroad Powertrain, In-Cabin Tech

If a mid-20th century engineer could time travel and see Magna’s electric off-road powertrains, they might ask “why is the rear differential so gigantic?” But that’s no...

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Technology Report
Power

Mazda’s Revived Rotary Engine Starts Production

Mazda, the automaker with the longest and richest history of using the Wankel rotary engine announced on June 22, 2023 that it resumed mass production of rotary engines for a new variant...

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Original Equipment
Manned Systems

Mercedes-Benz Details All-New Platform for EV Vans

Mercedes-Benz has revealed its electrification strategy for its commercial and private van lineup. SAE Media was in attendance for the company’s online presentation in May that...

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Technical Innovation
Motion Control

ZF Premieres AxTrax 2 Electric Axle Platform at ACT Expo

ZF unveiled its all-new AxTrax 2 electric axle platform at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Anaheim, California. The fully integrated and modular e-powertrain...

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Road Ready
Power

Dodge Ready with a Sting for the Compact-SUV Market

If you accept that the oddball and odd-sized Journey never was a legit rival for the likes of the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape — and it wasn’t — Stellantis’ Dodge...

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News
Connectivity

SAE Launches New Standards Document to Rate Power of Electrified Vehicles

In late February 2023, SAE International announced the release of a standards document to provide a common testing procedure to rate the maximum power of...

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Q&A
Electronics & Computers

Gearing Dana for the EV Future

As Dana Inc. transitions further into electrified systems, it pays to have a Mechatronics engineer leading the company’s technology charge. Giulio Ornella, Dana’s VP of Global Engineering, has been...

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News
Manned Systems

EV Startup Prepares to Enter Commercial Market with Novel EAxle

Startup commercial electric vehicle manufacturer Harbinger is on a torrid work pace. Design, CAE simulation, supplier sourcing, test vehicle builds and other engineering...

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News
Connectivity

Hyundai Puts the N in Performance

Just a decade ago, the idea of Hyundai challenging the industry’s established performance brands would have elicited snickers from many executives and engineers. Hyundai’s best effort in the sports...

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News
Power

Making the Torque-Transfer Transition

A reckoning has arrived at suppliers whose product portfolios, engineering resources, and R&D activities are not aligned with the EV horizon. The challenge of pivoting their focus to...

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News
Power

SAE WCX 2022: Driveline Flexibility Is Key for Electrification

The electrification of light-vehicle powertrains is now not just probable, it is inevitable. OEMs and suppliers around the world are looking at all possible means to reduce...

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Road Ready
Power

Ford Engineered the 2022 Bronco to Give Jeep the Willies

Ford engineers refused to utter a single bad word about Jeep Wrangler during the course of the week-long 2022 Bronco media drive event in Austin, Texas. In fact, some among that...

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Road Ready
Power

2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Grows All Around

When engineering an upscale, 3-row Jeep SUV, the development spider charts must get pretty crowded. You’ll need lots of in-cabin technology and thoughtful features for the third-row family...

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News
Propulsion

Toyota Takes Corolla to the ‘Truck’ Side

With a globally revered nameplate in the Corolla sedan – but global buyers gravitating to SUVs – Toyota arrived at the marketing solution that’s been rumored for some time, revealing...

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News
Propulsion

Bosch’s EV Efficiency Upgrade: Continuously Variable Transmissions

As electric vehicles (EVs) move from niche offerings to mainstream roles in the product portfolios of the world’s traditional automakers, research and development to...

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Road Ready
Electronics & Computers

Raptor 4-Door-Only for 2021; R Version Coming Next Year

Ford has unveiled its new Raptor, the third generation of the high-speed, off-road version of the F-150 pickup truck. Available only in a four-door SuperCrew configuration, the...

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News
Manned Systems

When a Van Beats a Pickup

As a utilitarian tool, the 2021 Great American Pickup truck has some fundamental flaws. Its open bed jeopardizes any cargo that’s valuable (exposing your payload to the world) or not waterproof. Worse,...

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What We’re Driving
Power

2021 Nissan Kicks SV

Since its U.S. launch for the ’18 model year, the positioning of the Kicks has puzzled me. Though Nissan was anxious to bill it a “crossover,” I think most would call it a “car.” Nissan hardly is alone in...

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News
Power

CES 2021: Magna Execs Warn of Impending EV Complexities

The industry’s transition to electrified, and ultimately fully electric, vehicles is bringing far greater complexity in product development and technology-management overall,...

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Road Ready
Propulsion

Volkswagen Unveils New-Generation Golf R

Although the memorable 6-cylinder character of the original R32 has given way to turbocharged 4-cylinder propulsion in recent years, Volkswagen continues to deliver V6-type power for the...

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News
Manned Systems

Top Transmission Engineers Project Big Future for E-Axles, Advanced Motors

A panel of high-ranking transmission and driveline engineers projected outsized adoption for electric-axle (e-axle) technology, as well as significant expansion...

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What We’re Driving
Power

What We’re Driving: 2020 Mazda3 Premium AWD

Before I started a drive in the 2020 Mazda3, I had to toggle the drive-select to “sport.” And release the parking brake. Each and every time. At least the two switches are in proximity...

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What We’re Driving
Imaging

What We’re Driving: 2020 Kia Telluride

The 2020 Kia Telluride is one of the classic lightning-in-a-bottle models an automaker enjoys maybe once every couple of decades. Assertive-but-not-obnoxious styling combine with a vast cabin...

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News
Manned Systems

2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave

The aftermarket driven by Jeep Wrangler is reportedly north of $1 billion and I like to think that my dad had something to do with kickstarting that phenomena. After purchasing a new 1947 Willys CJ2A...

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News
Power

What We’re Driving: 2020 Ford Expedition

I’m dubious of “off-road” option packages. Decals, chunky-tread tires and tow hooks usually are more about enhancing a vehicle’s profit margin than its performance, off-road or on. So...

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News
Propulsion

Millbrook’s New California EV Testing Facility

The new 25,000 ft2 California test facility run by Millbrook Revolutionary Engineering (MRE) seemed huge to Matt Harris when he first set foot in the building in spring 2019....

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Technology Report
Power

The Ford Raptor’s Front Drivetrain Is Pulling for You

The second-generation of Ford’s F-150 Raptor, which launched in 2016 for MY17, is available with an exclusive set of front drivetrain hardware that endows it with exceptional...

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Road Ready
Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Ford’s Max Mustang Brings ‘World Class’ into the Sports Coupe Conversation

There’s the old saw about a something being better than the sum of its parts. That phrase applies to the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 – despite most...

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News
Test & Measurement

Jeep Debuts Desert Rated Badge with Gladiator Mojave

Jeep’s renowned Trail Rated designation for low-speed off-roading prowess is getting a high-speed counterpart, with the new Desert Rated moniker’s debut for the 2021 Jeep...

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