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Economies of (drivetrain) scale Emissions challenges continue, but engine and transmission technology is advancing solutions and improving vehicle systems intergration. Searching for real-world responses Prototype testing is constantly changing as electronic technologies help transform equipment; design processes adjust as digital development evolves. Hydraulic brakes on one hand, air brakes on the other Building a better brake system had continued to challenge engineers for more than a century, as a changing world has demanded correspondingly advanced brake technology. Top technologies of 2007 A look back at some of the most significant technological innovations during the past year.

LiDAR: new "eyes" for vehicle autonomy The steadily-evolving sensor tech offers big leaps forward in capability-once cost is reduced. e-Axles speed electrification Creating a practical 'bridge' between today's legacy ICE architectures and the electric future. McLaren earns its Ph.D in handling McLaren Automotive and the University of Cambridge collaborate on a no-compromise semi-active suspension for the 720S supercar. Jaguar's new EV pacesetter The 2019 I-Pace brings benchmark vehicle dynamics to the nascent battery-electric SUV segment. Editorial Connecting SAE with China's mobility future Supplier Eye Supplying the multi-energy platform The Navigator Traversing the autonomous trust gap What We're Driving 2018 Volvo XC40 T5 AWD; 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser; 2018 Toyota Corolla Eaton goes internal with its next-generation EGR solution Driver out, simulation in for AV transmission, driveline engineering Teaming carbon fiber-and embroidery?

Hydrostatic transmissions in conventional envelopes Kubota designed a hydrostatic transmission for a compact tractor to improve operator control and increase efficiency and productivity. Design of a hydraulic free-piston engine Dutch companies Noax and Innas have developed an engine in which nearly all combustion energy is directly converted into hydraulic energy. Optimizing tractive performance Canadian researchers correlate analytical predictions and experimental data to determine that the proper matching of front- and rear-tire sizes, aswell as careful control of inflation pressure and normal load of the tires, is necessary to achieve optimum tractive performance of four-wheel-drive tractors. Actively suspending off-road vehicles The University of Texas Center for Electromechanics evaluated a retrofit electromechanical active suspension that s hows promise of improved cross-country mobility for military vehicles.

Synchronized driving Tight linkage between engine and transmission increases efficiency. Sensing a change Hydraulic engineers are being pressured to design systems that perform more tasks while taking less space. Steel still king Advanced steels and processes offer better performance and lower cost, particularly in powertrain applications.

Engineering the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette The eighth-gen (C8) Corvette is a creative mix of novel and traditional technical solutions - unleashed at a shockingly low base price. Stuck on structural adhesives As the need for lighter materials and enhanced body performance intensifies, structural adhesives flourish as a materials-joining solution. Rethinking ADAS materials New specialized thermoplastics offer greater design freedom to improve sensor performance and packaging, at reduced cost. Inside VW's expanding Silicon Valley lab The pioneering California innovation hub enters its third decade on a new wave of innovation.

Technology report Quest for 'new-car smell' dictates interior-materials changes Doing it again-this time with 10 After a successful decade-long collaboration on 6-speed transaxles, Ford and GM partner again on an all-new 10-speed automatic. Here's a look inside the gearbox and the project. Large-scale additive manufacturing for rapid vehicle prototyping A case study from Oak Ridge National Laboratory bridges the 'powertrain-in-the-loop' development process with vehicle systems implementation using big area additive manufacturing (BAAM). Global Vehicles Steel-intensive Mazda CX-9 sheds mass, debuts novel turbo setup

Fuel cell AUTOnomy General Motors stunned the North American International Auto Show audience with a fuel-cell concept intended to revolutionize the way vehicles are designed, built, and operated. Revving up for diesel With diesel engines having such a large automotive presence in Europe, and such a small one in the U.S., suppliers vie for the diesel of the future. High time for hybrids With two already on the road and at least four others slated for launch within the next couple of years, hybrid vehicles are taking center stage in the automotive industry. Whether the technology becomes a mass-market phenomena or niche-filler is a matter of debate--one that will take place at the SAE 2002 World Congress.

Global Viewpoints The latest strategies are investigated for vehicle development by automakers and major suppliers. Sports cars embrace array of green technology IMSA Tudor United SportsCar Championship promotes a variety of green technologies to link racing to the road. More gears, more challenges Many strategies, as well as key software and hardware aspects related to controllers, networks, sensors, and actuators, must be considered to keep automatic transmissions shifting smoothly as more gears are added to improve fuel economy. Advancing structural composites Industry experts address the opportunities and challenges involved with moving toward composite-intensive vehicles, including Nissan's effort to produce a high-volume, fully recyclable composite liftgate with low metal content.

Tying it all together Networks link control modules to bring more features and functions to the job site. Collaboration tools spread a wide net PLM suppliers are offering new tools that aid collaboration, expanding on core offerings in PDM, CAD, and CAE. The drive toward a hybrid transmission In-wheel hydraulic motors, hydraulic transformers, and a common pressure rail with accumulators put new meaning in the word drivetrain. A deep dive into metallurgical failure Even with the best engineering processes and quality planning, deviations can occur with the incoming material, things can go wrong during the manufacturing process, and service conditions can be different than expected. Standards and 'coopetition' In the heavy-duty vehicle arena, adoption of standards for networking benefits everyone.

Body assembly Automakers cut sheet metal and weld bodies as precisely as possible to lay the foundation for good overall vehicle quality. Handling the ride Delivering a balance between ride and handling has traditionally been a challenge for suspension designers, but suppliers of different technologies are showing how compromise may not be the only solution. Brilliant displays Liquid crystal displays and light-emitting diodes are helping to enable bright, reconfigurable screens. Performance from within Automakers gild profit margins and polish reputations with in-house high-performance divisions. Hybridized SUVs A redesigned hybrid drivetrain gives Toyota's V6-powered SUVs--the Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX 400h--V8-like performance and compact-class fuel economy while achieving the most stringent SULEV emissions standard. Automatic upgrade Toyota's hybrid system gets a transmission overhaul for SUVs.

On the verge of the Digital Age Increasingly connected electrohydraulic systems and machine controls allow the high degree of controllability that's essential for automated operations. Miserly power systems Engineers push engine, transmission technologies to turn off fuel usage. All options on the table Powertrain developers who spoke at SAE COMVEC are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to trim emissions. Cab air quality: A critical component of operator comfort Focus on defining cab air quality, measuring it, and designing the needed performance into cabin designs and HVAC systems is intensifying. Expanding fast charging faster Tritium works to accelerate installation of DC fast-charging infrastructure to keep up with growing demand for commercial EVs.

Driving the pace of change Engineers speak out on software's impact on the automotive industry in online survey. Inside ZF's nine-speed transaxle for 2012 AEI travels to Friedrichshafen for an exclusive look at the development and technology behind the 9HP--the industry's first nine-speed transaxle slated for MY2013 production. Technology crosses industry borders Between the commercial- and military vehicle markets, knowledge sharing and tech transfer benefits both in areas such as vehicle electrification and altenative fuels. Cutting the cost of carbon Automakers streamline production to reduce the price premium for lightweight carbon fiber.

Chrysler's new Tigershark I4s aim for refinement, efficiency Developed in record time, the 2.0- and 2.4-L debut in the 2013 Dodge Dart. The 2.4-L features the first global application of MultiAir II technology. Honda unveils next-gen motorcycle powertrains New engines designed for low-speed torque, fuel efficiency, and riding 'character' are coupled with new DCT and CVT transmissions. Alternative fuels on bumpy road The price of conventional fuels is just one variable that makes it hard to know when fuel-cell, biofuel, and natural-gas technologies will come into their own. Regen braking gets a boost Researchers from Hyundai Mobis detail the development of smart booster brake systems for regenerative brake cooperative control. Efficient & effective leadership Frank O. Klegon, a 30-year SAE member and former product development VP at Chrysler, brings 'customer first' approach to term as SAE International's chief elective officer.

Tech Highlights: 2002 Mondial de L'Automobile European editor Stuart Birch gives a run down of some of the significant vehicle and technology debuts at the Paris Motor Show, beginning with the French automakers. Supply-chain trends With increased responsibility for modules and warranties, automotive suppliers are finding innovative ways to manage their supply chains. Sports car racing technology Le Mans series race car engineering reach a high-water mark in 2002, but will likely recede in 2003. Innovation at DaimlerChrysler Chairman and CEO Jurgen Schrempp believes that in the next 15 years, car technology and design will move ahead more rapidly than at any time in the past half century--and that almost everything except the basic four-wheel layout could change. Escape Hybrid is a showstopper Ford in 2003 will launch the world's first production hybrid-electric SUV, which will be the subject of much discussion at this month's 2002 SAE International Truck & Bus Meeting & Exhibition.

Airing on the side of innovation Lucid Motors' home-grown innovations are leading the pace in electrification. Top engineers tell how and why they're building a benchmark with the new Air EV. Keeping combustion in the conversation The world needs ICEs to stick around - here's how. Engineering a 'Maverick' hybrid transmission Ford Powertrain engineers marry their new in-house electric machine with the proven HF45 transmission - under aggressive vehicle program timing. Driving electrified powertrain systems design Drive System Design punches beyond its weight class in meeting customer needs for electrified powertrain systems engineering services. DSD's North American chief Jon Brentnall explains.

Editorial Automated driving's continuing mission: One step forward… The Navigator Are robotaxis ready for prime time? AV Simulation Faces a Long and Winding Road There are many divergent-but-related ideas about how best to leverage simulation to 'teach' and test automated vehicles. Global AV simulation experts continue to attack the technology's persistent obstacles. DOT's 'Framework' for AV Development The U.S. Department of Transportation establishes structure to advance collaborative AV testing. The Chaos of Automotive Data Privacy Regulators and other privacy advocates believe vehicle-related data collection and brokering is in overdrive. One expert believes a day of reckoning is coming. Simulation Developer rFpro Mimics Vehicle Sensors 'Ray-tracing' software enables the training of ADAS systems entirely by simulation. Eight of the top 10 OEMs are using it. New Tools & Technologies

CO2 changing focus The global economic crisis could trigger novel engineering solutions and the need for comprehensive testing. ZEVs, fuel cells, and high-tech engines Only 10% of cars on Europe's roads by 2020 may be zero-emissions vehicles, but Mercedes-Benz is supporting future ZEV and other advanced technologies with an undiminished R&D budget. Warning signs Design and engineering lead-time tightening may be strangling innovative thinking, says Royal College of Art's Harrow. The decade ahead Renault anticipates that a majority of its powertrains will be downsized to the 0.9- to 1.2-L range and that electric cars will appeal to 30% of the buying public. Automatic for the people Automatic-shifting dual-clutch transmissions are poised to grab share from traditional transmissions thanks to their combination of efficiency and convenience.

A soft touch Control functions are undergoing a sweeping change as electronics take charge of hydraulic functions, helping to spark substantial growth in software and a shift to distributed intelligence. An engine of one's own How JCB and Ricardo engineered a change in motive power. Gators go robotic John Deere sees opportunities on the battlefield and in the corn field for its intelligent vehicle program. Pyrolytic carbon wet friction materials The characteristics of carbon fabric may provide significant performance advantages in off-highway wet brake and clutch applications. Introducing Greg Henderson, SAE President for 2006 The Lockheed Martin executive steps up to take SAE into its next 100 years.

Drivetrains: Challenging the design philosophy A researcher from the Southwest Research Institute focuses on one of the most immediate and dramatic changes of powertrain design: the introduction of CVTs. Elastohydrodynamic lubricants for CVTs In metal-to-metal continously variable transmissions, EHLs momentarily become part of the machinery, allowing for a much higher traction coefficient than is possible with hydrodynamic fluids. Hybrid vehicle dynamics Toyota engineers combined electronic control of the Estima minivan's breaking and driving functions to create its new Vehicle Dynamics Management system, resulting in improved environmental and vehicle performance. Jeep Commander 2 Chrysler Group engineers provide an inside look at one of the pioneering methanol fuel reforming fuel-cell concept vehicles. Improving SUV fuel economy Delphi is pursuing a strategy of engine shutdown and adding torque from an electric motor with its new 42-V integrated starter-generator.

Off-highway CVTs A continuously variable transmission can improve the fuel efficiency of heavy-duty diesels by matching the engine's torque/speed to the applied load through the smooth torque multiplication of the transmission. Hydraulics for economics The design of a digitally controlled hydraulic fan drive from Denison Hydraulics is said to help diesel engines run leaner and cleaner. Telematics boosts productivity Advances in electronic technology enables equipment owners and operators to monitor not only usage, but location of equipment. A dumper on tracks Industrial vehicles featuring composite rubber-tracked drive systems have become increasingly popular over the past 10 years, carving out a respectable niche in many specialized industries.