The WardsAuto Engine & Technology Update

FEBRUARY 13, 2017

Trump Potential Wild Card in GM-Honda Fuel-Cell JV

The $85 million deal bolsters a nearly 4-year-old fuel-cell R&D partnership between the two automakers. Production will occur at an existing GM manufacturing facility in Brownstown, MI.

What to Do Behind Wheel of Self-Driving Car? Harman Has Answers

Instead of bumper-to-bumper traffic, occupants can see a pristine beach or mountain landscape outside the car and fall asleep while the audio system recreates surf and chirping birds through a 360-degree sound field.

Toyota: Driver’s Training Should Educate on Autonomous Tech

Guardian-type autonomous systems that protect drivers by intervention should spur acceptance of true autonomous technology where vehicles operate on their own without restrictions.

2017 Wards 10 Best Engines Acceptance Speeches

Videos
Automakers received their 2017 Wards 10 Best Engines trophies at a special ceremony in Detroit during the North American International Auto Show in January. Click for the 10 Best Engines home page, where all 10 acceptance speeches can be viewed.

Powertrain Gains for ’17 Ford F-150

Test Drive
Ford kicks off a 2-year midcycle makeover of its best-selling F-150 light-duty pickup with a heavily revised 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 and an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission. A diesel and a new base V-6 are on tap for the ’18 model year.

Euro NCAP Testing Saving Lives, Backers Say

Thatcham Research, which conducts U.K. crash tests for Euro NCAP, estimates that advances driven by rigorous testing have helped deliver a 63% reduction in car occupants killed and seriously injured annually since 1997.

Geneva Auto Show to Feature Advanced 48V Sports Car

Alternative-fuel specialist nanoFlowcell says its variably controllable mobile-flow cell supplies constant electrical energy to the four low-voltage electric motors that generate race-car-grade power.

FreeValve Camless Engine Promises Efficiency Gains

Lightweight, low-cost and generating low friction, FreeValve engine concept functions without camshafts and allows valves to open and close almost instantaneously. The production-intent engine has been installed in a Qoros 3 concept car.

Honda Aims to Make Infotainment More User Friendly

Voice recognition is simplified and faster, while the display audio system has smartphone-like functionality.

Audi: Dealers Should Embrace EV Movement

The U.S. importer plans to introduce three new battery-electric vehicles in the U.S. by 2020 and President Scott Keogh knows the brand will need its dealer body behind the effort if it is to be successful.

New EU Guidance Meant to Prevent Dieselgate Repeat

In its ongoing revamp of testing procedures that followed the Volkswagen emissions-cheating scandal, the EU is replacing laboratory tests with onboard portable emissions-measurement devices allowing on-road testing.

Two Tidbits From CES

IdeaXchange
It was comforting for me to hear several experts predict hack-proof cars are right around the corner. And it was eye-opening to hear the cost of electric-vehicle batteries are coming down far faster than anyone expected.

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