Powertrain

Powertrain outlook for Europe Neil Pattison, Cummins' Director of On-Highway Engine Business for EMEA & CIS, discusses Euro 6, natural gas, and hybridization at the recent IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hanover. Read full story

Land speed record for biofueled Utah State racecar A biofueled racecar built in 10 weeks by Utah State University students established a land speed record during the World of Speed event at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. Read full story

Drivetrain efficiency of heavy-duty vehicles targeted Government/industry team to study parasitic losses derived from waste energy expended in the agitation of the lubricating oil and surface-to-surface component friction, which together can account for more than a tenth of overall vehicle energy losses. Read full story

New heavy-duty Ram trucks feature Cummins diesel upgrades Highlights include oil change intervals doubled to 15,000 mi (24,000 km), introduction of urea injection with selective catalyst reduction NOx controls, and class-leading diesel torque. A dual radiator configuration and two transmission oil heat exchangers are in new front-end cooling module. Read full story

Scalable transmissions based on NuVinci CVP technology coming this decade Development of high-efficiency transmissions appropriate for light-passenger, off-highway, and commercial vehicles is the basis for strategic alliances involving Allison Transmission, Dana, and Fallbrook Technologies. Read full story

A different riff on your basic two-seat electric car Markus Lienkamp, Chair of Automotive Engineering at the Technical University of Munich, says that "electromobility" is impeded at the moment by range anxiety, prohibitive costs, and inconvenient charging. That’s why Lienkamp is leading the Visio.M project, a German government-supported R&D effort to produce a low-cost, high-utility electric car that might attract the interest of the middle European mass market. Read full story

Continental develops electronics for engine and EV efficiency Its Engine Management System 3 is described as a platform for new generation engine and drive controls as well as for hybrid applications, able to look after fuel injection and ignition functions but also coordinate EV motors while monitoring their battery charge state. Read full story

Ford emphasizes technology and new models for Europe New multidiscipline technologies, pursuit of enhanced quality, and aggressive engineering solutions to downsizing and environmental challenges are the stuff of Ford under the stewardship of CEO Alan Mulally, and that was the message he took to Europe. Read full story

GM and Ford join forces on AT development GM and Ford will again collaborate on transmission development, building on their great success with the GMF (6T70/75) and 6F 6-speed automatics. Read full story