The WardsAuto Engine & Technology Update

DECEMBER 5, 2016

48V Hybrid Application First of Many for Continental, Execs Say

The German supplier says 48V electrical architectures, which increase the onboard energy available to enhance powertrain performance or power the rapidly expanding list of comfort and convenience features, should be in place on 25 million new vehicles produced annually worldwide by 2030.

Say Hello to the Electric Model T

Test Drive
Fast, smartly designed and offering a range of 238 miles, the Chevy Bolt makes every other electric car aimed at mainstream buyers obsolete.

See Sales and Powertrain Forecasts, Lightweighting Update and More
See our latest U.S. sales and powertrain forecasts, an update on lightweighting advancements, and an address from Paul Traub, senior economist for the Federal Reserve. Plus, our quarterly WardsAuto Barometer presenting our perspective on automaker performance for the next quarter and beyond. Network with your peers, and meet the WardsAuto analysts and editors. Limited seating remains – REGISTER NOW!

CR-V Better in Almost Every Way

Test Drive
The fifth generation of the U.S. auto industry’s best-selling utility vehicle is improved in almost every measure, minus a somewhat undersized engine.

FCA EcoDiesel Quiet in Center of Storm

2016 Story Behind 10 Best Engines
Despite controversy over passenger-car diesels, FCA’s V-6 EcoDiesel is carving out a solid niche in light-duty pickups.

Plug-In Pacifica Goes the Distance, And Then Some

Test Drive
FCA introduces the first-ever electrified minivan for North America, the ’17 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The plug-in hybrid model combines twin electric motors and an Atkinson-cycle V-6 to produce 33 miles of EV range and an estimated 84 mpg-e.

Rogue Hybrid Almost No-Sacrifice CUV

Test Drive
Hybrid CUVs that offer better city-cycle fuel economy finally are becoming a thing, with the Nissan Rogue Hybrid going on sale in late December.

2017 Wards 10 Best Engines: Less Is More With Four

Video
Fun-to-drive is a key 10 Best Engines measure when it comes to small-displacement, high-performance four-bangers.

Ground Broken, Plans Detailed for Autonomous-Vehicle Test Track

The first of three test tracks to be built on the grounds of a one-time World War II bomber plant, a 2.5-mile highway loop, is expected to be in operation by the end of 2017.

Shift to CVT Gearboxes Coming Up on 30th Anniversary

Other automakers and suppliers have followed Nissan’s lead, first with CVTs and then with dual-clutch transmissions and higher-gear automatics.

Ford German Lab Brings Global Weather Under One Roof

Ford’s Environmental Test Center, now under construction in Cologne, Germany, will simulate a range of the world’s most demanding weather conditions – from Arctic frost and desert heat to rainforest humidity.

Lexus Looks to Spiders to Create Concept Car Seat

The back rest’s spider’s-netting construction used in the seat-frame upholstery is made from an environmentally friendly synthetic spider silk material instead of standard petroleum-derived materials.

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