Category Archives: engineering

Porsche Buys Climatic Wind Tunnel From Modine

Modine Europe in 2004 built the wind tunnel in Filderstadt-Bonlanden, which is near Weissach. Porsche claims it still has up-to-date equipment and is suitable for both sports cars and the increasing variety of sport utility vehicles and sedans that Porsche is now selling in record numbers. Porsche will keep on two wind tunnel experts who have been working at the facility to date. Continue reading

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Volt Camouflage Designed to hide Freshened Sheet Metal

The camouflage package on the next-generation Volt was started six months in advance of early development. The tricks are constantly updated to keep spy photographers – Jim Dunne, who graciously contributes to AutoInformed – and the curious guessing. Continue reading

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Automakers Flub Launch of High Tech Vehicles, IQS Shows

The latest IQS or quality data revealed today at the Automotive Press Association meeting in Detroit shows that the number of problems experienced by new-vehicle owners has increased from the previous year, as automakers continue to have severe problems with complicated technologies now being deployed in new vehicles. Continue reading

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Honda Fuel Cell Concept Debuts at Los Angeles Auto Show

Honda’s next generation fuel cell-electric vehicle has what is for the moment the world’s first fuel-cell powertrain packaged completely in the engine room of the vehicle. This not only allows more interior space, but it gives the Japanese automaker some flexibility in the use of fuel cell technology in different vehicle types. Continue reading

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Panasonic Exec Indicted in Toyota Price Fixing Scam

A federal grand jury in Detroit has indicted a Panasonic Automotive Systems executive for his role in an international conspiracy to fix prices of switches and steering angle sensors sold to Toyota. Continue reading

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2014 Toyota Corolla Ups Ante in Compact Car Game

Toyota Motor coming off two straight months knocking Ford Motor out of its traditional Number Two sales position in the U.S. market is introducing an all-new Corolla model. Not only will this present formidable competition for the Ford Focus, but it will also challenge Honda Civic, Nissan Altima, Mazda3 as well as the rest of compact cars in this high volume segment. Continue reading

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UMD Researchers Get $1 Million for EV Battery Research

Lithium-ion batteries are problematic in electric vehicles due to short driving range, high cost, and low safety and reliability. Continue reading

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Autonomous Vehicles by 2020. Legal Issues Slow Use

The classic ‘who pays’ problem is the core issue. Automakers might assume responsibility for their vehicles, but it is improbable that they will assume responsibility for safely operating them. There remain significant technical barriers as well. Computing power, glitch free software development, high-end image processing and sensor cost and coordination are all issues. Continue reading

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Auto Research Labs Help keep Young Minds in Detroit

“Detroit is the place to be,” said Snyder. The governor went on to say that a lot of it (the so-called brain drain) has to do with a “marketing” and “perception” problem. That problem disappears when people actual visit southeastern Michigan. In addition, Snyder noted there is a looming housing shortage in Detroit due to the young moving in. Continue reading

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VW to Introduce New Diesel Engine in U.S. in mid-2014

Volkswagen Group of America today confirmed the timing of the company’s newest diesel engine, the so-called EA288 will power the 2015 Golf, Beetle, Passat, Jetta, due in dealer showrooms during the second half of 2014. Continue reading

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Milestones – First Asphalt Road

On this day in 1870, a U.S. professor who had emigrated from Belgium applied an asphalt sheet to William Street in Newark, New Jersey as a test. It worked. Edward de Smedt, the inventor of asphalt mix, proved the value of his invention in combating the ubiquitous mud or dusty roads of the day. Continue reading

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GM and Honda Target 2020 for Viable Fuel Cell EVs

The light duty fuel cell vehicle (FCV) has shown promise for decades, but the problem remains that it is space age technology at NASA levels of cost. Not surprisingly, automakers have varying levels of interest fuel cells that always appear to be just a decade or so from commercialization, but interest is rising. Continue reading

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Toyota Leads in U.S. Patents During 2012

The 1,491 patents issued to Toyota companies demonstrates the intellectual property rights that the U.S routinely grants offshore companies, rights saw critics that often do not exist in the countries trading with the U.S. Continue reading

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Supreme Court Dismisses Ethanol Waiver Case

The United States Supreme Court today dismissed a petition by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers or AFPM challenging an EPA regulation that allows for 15% ethanol in gasoline. Continue reading

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Honda Begins Leasing Walking Assist EV in Japan

Test walks by AutoInformed of an earlier model at the Society of Automotive Engineers Convention revealed a surprisingly good EV once you let the device take over. Continue reading

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