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Fuel Cell Futures No Longer a Dream

The knock on fusion power is that “It is the energy source of the future, and it always will be.” It has seemed like the same criticism could be levied against fuel cell vehicles, as their seemingly...

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Articles
Test & Measurement

Powertrain Testing: Coping with Complexity

Despite the good news of falling oil prices worldwide, the pressure remains for automakers to deliver efficient powertrains.

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Propulsion

Frictionless Engine Seals

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies has announced its first major order for its new generation of automotive seals. The frictionless Levitex seals, a subject of a long research and development process, will go into...

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Power

Piston Ring Coating for High-Output GTDI Engines

Mahle claims to deliver improved top piston rings using a new thermal spray coating for gasoline turbocharged direct injected engines. Under development since 2011 at Mahle’s thermal spray...

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Propulsion

Power Struggle Produces ESupercharger

With the bold claim of inventing the “world’s most power-dense variable speed electric motor,” U.K. specialist company Aeristech believes it can help solve a significant challenge facing the use...

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Power

Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer Maps out the Future

Aston Martin is on a straight route towards the introduction of a pure electric model; the replacement of all its current sports cars, starting with the DB11 next year; the addition of a...

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Propulsion

Porsche Unveils New Downsized, Boosted 3.0-L Boxer Six

The words “Porsche” and “turbo” have been synonymous with ultimate high performance since 1972, when the automaker first used boosted engines in the mighty 917/10 Can-Am...

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Propulsion

V-Charging Aims to Add Muscle to Downsized Engines

Engine downsizing can sometimes include a distinct lack of torque at low revs and slow transient response, even when subtle turbocharging techniques are applied. A potential solution to...

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Manufacturing & Prototyping

SsangYong Takes on European Challenge with Tivoli

“Tivoli is the biggest thing to happen to SsangYong,” says Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK.

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Power

Bentley Takes SUV to Super Premium Level

W. O. Bentley would have been intrigued and certainly impressed that the company bearing his name is producing what it claims as the “fastest, most powerful, most luxurious, and most exclusive SUV...

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Technology Report
Automotive

Blizzard Conditions Test FCA's 4WD and AWD Vehicles

With more 4x4 and all-wheel-drive vehicles in its product portfolio than at any other time, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has invested $2.5 million to upgrade a climatic test cell with a 4x4...

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Transportation

Schaeffler's Electric Powertrain Primed for FIA Formula E Racing

The second season of FIA Formula E begins in Beijing, China on October 17, 2015, with the ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport team’s exclusive technology partner ready to demonstrate...

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Power

2016 Pentastar V6 Adds New VVT, Cooled EGR

When the former Chrysler Corp. introduced the Pentastar 3.6-L gasoline V6 in the 2011 model year, it was engineered to replace seven incumbent V6 engines, and along with 3.0-L (for China) and 3.2-L...

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Power

Leading the Attack on Engine Pumping Losses

Powertrain engineers talk about the advantage of having more “knobs to turn” — technologies that work synergistically to reduce fuel consumption and help increase vehicle efficiency. For...

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Power

Driving EVs toward Lower Cost

Market penetration of electric vehicles has been limited by two significant constraints: driving range and purchase cost. These two factors are in fundamental opposition, because the most costly part of a...

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Propulsion

Automakers Vie for Le Mans with Different Solutions

Rulesmakers at the Automobile Club de l’Oest, the sanctioning group that conducts the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car race, issued rules that took effect in 2014 mandating that...

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Automotive

Ford Tests Cylinder Deactivation on Its 1.0-L EcoBoost Triple

If the words “Ford Mondeo powered by 1.0-L 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine” sound a bit incongruent, now consider that the company is researching cylinder deactivation for its...

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Global Vehicles
Transportation

Cadillac ATS-V Bulks up for Track Duty

In developing the Cadillac ATS-V high-performance variant, General Motors’ engineers were faced with an unfamiliar problem; a base car that was a little too light.

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Transportation

Chipping in to Get More From Battery Packs

Electrified vehicle designers are pushing semiconductor technologies to help them extend ranges and reduce the weight of battery packs. Power semiconductor improvements are helping powertrain...

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Technology Report
Automotive

Bosch Developing New Water-Injection System for Production Engines

Bosch powertrain engineers are re-investigating a technology proven in fighter aircraft engines 70 years ago to increase the efficiency of future gasoline engines for...

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Propulsion

Supercharging Advances with Clutches

For boosting an engine, exhaust gas turbochargers offer efficiency in scavenging waste heat and converting it for more power. Their problem is that they often lack advantage in low-speed conditions...

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Articles
Transportation

Future ICEs: What Comes After 2025?

Vehicle engineers and planners have been breathing a bit easier lately, generally confident that the industry will meet the upcoming U.S. CAFE and Euro 6 vehicle CO2 regulations without excessive...

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Automotive

New Technology for Exhausting Jobs

As the Chief Technologist for Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies (FECT) in North America, Andy Pontius leads a product development team of 35 technical specialists. They are the application link for...

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Technology Report
Propulsion

Audi Evolves the Miller Cycle in Its New 2.0-L Spark-Ignition Engine

Audi’s next generation A4 due later this year will be the first model to receive a new 2.0-L engine that takes gasoline spark-ignition technology a step further towards...

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Power

Controlling Engines with Virtual Sensors

The most efficient engines today, gasoline or diesel, are complex machines, with variable valve timing and lift, direct injection, turbocharging, and various flavors of exhaust gas recirculation...

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Automotive

Stability Control Boosts Motorcycle Safety

As happened in cars, electronic safety technology for motorcycles is tracing a course starting with anti-lock brakes, continuing through traction control, and arriving eventually at full electronic stability control.

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Transportation

New XF Moves to Jaguar's Aluminum Architecture

Jaguar's best-selling model, the XF, is moving from a steel body to the aluminum-intensive monocoque architecture used on the XE and XJ. It's one of the latest steps the luxury car maker has...

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Articles
Transportation

Balancing GDI Fuel Economy and Emissions

Increasing concerns about airborne soot, or particulate matter (PM), are translating into vehicle emissions regulations. One of the more stringent of these, the Euro 6c, is scheduled to phase-in...

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Power

Increasing the Pace of Fuel-Cell Expansion

James Batchelor is a fuel cell advocate. As Managing Director of Intelligent Energy’s Motive Div., he is undaunted by the cost and hydrogen infrastructure challenges that have so far bedeviled...

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