Category Archives: engineering

Toyota Recalls FJ Cruiser Models for Defective Safety Belts

In its latest safety problem, Toyota Motor Sales is recalling 209,000 FJ Cruiser trucks because the safety belt retractors can pry loose. These safety belt retractors for the driver and front passenger safety belts are mounted in the rear access doors of the vehicle. Continue reading

Share >
Posted in auto news, engineering, recalls | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Peugeot-Citroen Hybrid Air Most Significant Intro at Geneva?

Struggling PSA Peugeot Citroën showed a light duty version of so-called hybrid-air technology that will be in production by 2016 using the group’s new EMP2 platform that will make its debut on the new Citroen Picasso. It potentially a breakthrough that will help PSA sell more cars globally, reviving its sagging reputation in the process. Continue reading

Share >
Posted in auto news, concept, energy, engineering, new vehicle, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Land Rover Shows a 9-Speed Automatic Trans at Geneva

Land Rover showed the world’s first 9-speed automatic transmission for a light duty vehicle at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The ZF 9HP transmission is said to be specifically designed for transverse applications, and is claimed to be one of the most efficient and technically advanced transmissions ever used in a production vehicle. The first volume production will come later this year in the Range Rover with the 9HP manufactured at ZF’s Gray Court facility in South Carolina. Continue reading

Share >
Posted in auto news, engineering, fuel economy or emissions | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Cuts Powertrain Locations in Efficiency Move

General Motors will close three leased facilities in Wixom, Michigan; Castleton, Indiana, and Torrance, California and consolidate their powertrain engineering activities into a Global Powertrain Engineering center in Pontiac, Michigan. GM R&D’s Propulsion Systems Research lab in Warren, Michigan will also relocate to the Pontiac campus, including its electric motor engineering . Continue reading

Share >
Posted in auto news, engineering, fuel economy or emissions, labor issues | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Recalls More than 1 Million Corolla and Lexus IS Cars

Bad airbags and windshield wipers are forcing the recalls of 752,000 Corolla and Corolla Matrix models and 270,000 Lexus IS cars by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S. The two separate safety recalls are the result of a defective airbag control module … Continue reading

Share >
Posted in auto news, engineering, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment