Powertrain

Impact of biodiesel impurities on catalysts studied Long-term operation with B20 at the current specification limits for alkali and alkaline earth metal impurities can adversely impact the performance of DOC, DPF, and SCR systems. Read full story

2012 NAIAS: GM's new Ecotec 2.0-L turbo unit debuts in Cadillac ATS Cadillac's new compact luxury sport sedan aims to beat BMW's 3-Series with an all-new turbo DI 2.0-L among its three engine choices. Read full story

2012 NAIAS: Ford’s 2013 Fusion is a tech blockbuster With its 2013 Fusion, Ford is bringing a battleship to the gunfight that is the North American midsize passenger car segment. Read full story

Dart nameplate returns as Dodge C-size entry Adapted from Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform, the Dart's body and aero package is designed for class-leading Cd. Three four-cylinder engines are offered, a 1.4-L Fiat turbo Multi-Air, and two naturally aspirated Tiger Shark engines, which are versions of the Chrysler “world” engine modified for lower NVH and more torque at low rpm. Read full story

New standard a major milestone for biofuels The aviation industry is now deploying biofuels on commercial flights after years of demonstration test flights, but high costs will keep bookings few and far between for a few more years. Read full story

GM beefs up Volt against potential battery fires Structural reinforcements to better protect the battery pack in side impacts and improvements to the pack’s liquid cooling system are the “fix” that General Motors engineers have developed to prevent a real-world occurrence of a post-crash fire in the Chevrolet Volt produced during testing by the U.S. NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Read full story