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Increasing the hydroforming knowledge base Tube hydroforming has become a viable economic alternative to various stamping and welding processes in automotive applications. Controlling two-stroke engine emissions With the constant rich operation of two-stroke engines, common design criteria for three-way catalysts fail. DaimlerChrysler technical symposium A year after the merger that created the new corporation, engineers from both groups came together to present a unified technical symposium to review the future direction of the new organization. Here are some highlights of the more significant technical developments. Vertical complex-shape headlamp reflectors Another improvement in lighting technology gives designers increased flexibility in vehicle appearance with no loss in lighting performance. Advances in static and dynamic exhaust system seating Major redesign, combined with minor improvements in simple details, returns significant benefits in sealing.

Cadillac CTS GM's all-new global sports sedan makes no excuses in chassis dynamics, body integrity, powertrain performance, premium materials, and overall craftsmanship. Taking control of hybrids Software must monitor and manage many parameters while coordinating the complex operations of the engine, electric motors, and batteries. LIghter, faster, lower cost Ducati's top engineer brought a "maniacal" approach to developing the 1098 superbike. Diesels' brave new year Lean-NOx catalysts, closed-loop cylinder pressure sensing, and homogenous combustion are making "50-states" diesels a reailty. Behind the curtain AEI takes an in-depth look at how the designers and engineers at General Motors took the company's trio of new crossover SUVs from sketchbook to road. Engineering from everywhere With future growth in car and truck sales coming mainly from emerging markets, companies are realigning their engineering operations accordingly.

Body control electronics shapes up The electronics revolution is advancing unabated in vehicle and body control, but the addition of features ranging from electronic power steering to tire pressure monitoring poses numerous challenges for electronics engineers. Telematics comes back on line Interfaces will play a huge role in expected growth. Cadillac XLR The new luxury roadster, designed to go head-to-head with models from Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and Lexus, uses an all-new 4.6-L Northstar V8 and innovative features such as adaptive cruise control, Magnetic Ride Control, and keyless access. 2005 Ford GT The company's image vehicle helped develop engineering skills in the race to production. Chrysler Pacifica Safety and infotainment features abound in the upscale 2004 sports tourer. 5 Series changes shape BMW adopted an aluminum/steel hybrid body in the interests of light weight and even weight distribution, and worked with ZF Lenksysteme to introduce active steering.

Like a rolling home Suppliers are helping automakers engineer vehicles that allow passengers to bring along the comforts of home. Focusing on distraction An explosion of new features, functions poses challenges for safety. Performance goes green With record-high fuel prices and CO2 concerns providing the impetus, automakers are developing more fun-to-drive cars with an eye towards efficiency. GM re-engineers pickips More refined ride, higher-quality interiors, and greater efficiency are some of the highlights of the 2007 models. Jeep takes on tough terrain For 2007, the brand's iconic Wrangler is engineered to be more rugged off-road and more refined on it. Audi updates TT theme The second-generation rendition is bigger, more powerful, and uses a subtle metals mix and match. Vantage: as Aston to the core A common platform strategy is a vital element of the company's design and manufacturing flexibility.

Trends in advanced chassis control Motorola vehicle system developers examine the state-of-the-art microprocessor and other electronic technologies driving the development of advanced braking, steering, suspension control, and collision warning/avoidance systems. Wheel design and engineering Consumer demand is driving the automakers' move to large-diameter, shiny, alloy wheels. Telematics and the digital car As development of new telematics products and services gain speed, OEMS, suppliers, and other players in the automotive industry are using simulators as a tool to gain greater understanding of driver distraction. NisSun Rising Nissan is back, according to President and COO Carlo Hosn, thanks to a revised product development structure that makes better use of employees and technology. Back to the future for Ford manufacturing The Vice President of Vehicle Operations said the company's goal is raw materials to finished goods in one day.

Bouncing back The economic slowdown of the past year or so tooks its toll on the U.S. automotive industry, with U.S. OEMs suffering the brunt of lost sales. This four-section article explores some of the issues shaping the U.S. auto industry and some of the technologies U.S. OEMs and suppliers are using to combat their emboldened overseas competitors. Powering the future It's anyone's guess as to what type of power source will ultimately drive the majority of future vehicles in North America, but one thing is certain: advancements in various powertrain technologies from industry players are ready to make today's and tomorrow's cars more environmentally--and customer--friendly. Inside North American vehicles Vehicle interiors are incorporating more and more electronics, telematics, and other advanced technologies, challenging engineers and desginers to make them simple, safe, comfortable, and appealing.

Finding the right niche As technology, politics, and OEMs struggle to achieve environmental cohesion, small and niche companies are determined to ride out the maelstrom with their ability to adapt, react, succeed, and survive. Jaguar and Land Rover shift Access to technology and engineering takes center stage as the two brands transition from one giant parent to another as Tata takes over from Ford. Aston Martin bonds The company is developing closer ties with Tier 1 suppliers in its new role as an independent. Bentley has secret CO2 plans The company wants to combine luxury and high-performance hallmarks with massive cuts in emissions. Lotus small and manueverable The engineering arm's technology menu--including lightweight, small engines, and high performance--is being sampled across the world. Porsche looks to the future Gasoline hybrid technology, convergence potential, and diesels could be in store for the company.

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.

Teardown Titan Munro & Associates is leading competitive analysis into the EV age - and spreading the gospel with a global YouTube fan base. Lightweight steel on a (cold) roll A newly developed high-strength steel for cold stamping aims to beat aluminum for EV battery enclosures and other vehicle applications. How EVs and their electronics stick together New adhesives play an increasingly vital role in vehicle structures, battery packs, and in protecting sensitive electronic components from extreme thermal cycling and contaminants. Editorial Farewell and thanks, Mr.

Tesla casts a new strategy for lightweight structures The EV maker boldly invests in the world's largest aluminum die-casting machine to manufacture entire rear underbody structures. Steel the Real Deal Steel's infinite recyclability will help it remain the auto industry's material of choice, insists Tata Steel Europe's CCO. Tesla's Cybertruck is audaciously austenitic A proprietary 301-series stainless steel gives Tesla's first pickup truck unique sales attributes while saving tooling cost. Lightweight design beyond CAD New computational tools enable an integrated data-fusion approach to complex, mixed-materials engineering. An expert from nTopology explains. Editorial Impressions of a rocket launch SAE Standards News New Cooperative Driving Automation standard provides clarity to support advancement of full automation Supplier Eye Now comes product-cadence chaos What We're Driving Can CHAdeMO 3.0 standardize global EV quick-charging?

Weaving a new future for composites In a shift perhaps as prolific as steel to aluminum, woven plastics may finally bring the magic of composites to cost-effective mass-production. New composites target EV applications No longer a low-volume play, the latest composite materials offer EV developers new options for lightweighting, thermal management and structures. Acura TLX is Honda's new body-build benchmark All-new for 2021, Acura's midsize sport sedan gets an exclusive platform to go with its structural, materials and dynamic advancements. Body development leader Jeremy Lucas explains. Schaeffler builds an e-motor powerhouse Armed with state-of-the-art manufacturing and a history of innovation, Schaeffler Group is attacking the e-mobility space, says Daniel Sayre.

Superlight superbike: 2021 Ducati Superleggera V4 Ducati pioneers the first street-legal production motorcycle with a full carbon-fiber chassis, as well as advanced aerodynamics. CFRP technical resources New 2020 SAE Technical papers detail current carbon-composite material developments. Virtual and physical testing of Third-Generation High Strength Steel Evaluating a new high-strength steel's ability to improve an existing stamped-steel production part. Static testing of EV components Firing nails into your latest Li-ion battery pack is but one of many regimens in the comprehensive testing of new electric vehicles.

Software transforms vehicle development Software-defined vehicles are driving major changes in hardware and control architectures. Model-based analysis of e-motor designs Observing the magnetic field distribution, electromagnetic torque, and iron loss distribution allows engineers to optimize specific performance with minimal weight and material costs. NVH simulation meets realism New toolsets help reduce development time and bring sound and vibration data into the real world. Metamaterials R&D targets NVH abatement Nissan readies its lightweight acoustic solution for 2022 production - will Hyundai follow?

AEI Best Engineered Vehicle 2010- Ford Taurus The readers and editors have selected the most significant vehicle of the year. Ford attacks premium sedan segment with all the technology it can muster. Focused on fuel economy Technology is only part of the solution for reducing vehicle energy consumption. In part 2 of AEI's Fuel Efficiency series, vehicle engineers explain why driver behavior is also a key factor. No stopping safety system advances Engineers are focusing on active systems intergration, especially with radars and cameras, more centralized processing, and silicon germanium for 77- GHz systems. Shedding pounds on a magnesium diet Tough CAFE standards are pushing automakers to consider using more lightweight magnesium rather than aluminum, steel, or plastics.

Chevrolet Volt When General Motors management approved its 2011 E-REV for production, the bateries- and other technologies- did not exist. Ford Explorer New engines, more extensive use of lightweight metals, and a patented shift-on-the-fly terrain management system highlight the next-generation model as the former frame-based SUV re-emerges for 2011 as a unibody crossover SUV. Honda Odyssey Engineers tried to strike a balance between practicality and sportiness in their 2011 minivan- and succeeded. Jeep Grand Cherokee Chrysler engineers wanted to maintain or enhance off-road capability while significantly boosting refinement. Telematics takeoff comes with many questions Connections for infotainment and app delivery, and design for safe use to head off limiting regulations, are among issues still being debated.

Small car, big project Vehicle Line Executive for the Fiat 500, Joe Grace, talks about bringing the iconic car to North America and the collaboration between engineers in Turin and Detroit that helped make it happen. Girding the grid for EVs Public electric utilities such as Detroit Edison have a virtual role to play in cultivating the electric vehicle market. Progress, new innovations spur GM;s fuel-cell development Fuel-cell program Executive Director Charlie Freese reveals the ongoing technical progress aimed at making FCVs part of GM's production vehicle portfolio later this decade. Planning the future of PLM and 3-D virtual tools The product-development revolution that began with CATIA is only beginning, says Dassault Systemes' CEO Bernard Charles.

What drives Jaguar Land Rover Group Engineering Director, Bob Joyce, reveals how his company's own- and the auto industry's- overarching strategic engineering and business priorities can be met now and in the future. PSA puts weight behind hybrids With their race and rally expertise, company leaders such as Christian Chehab, General Manager of Transmissions and Hybrid Projects, understand the importance of developing technologies to reach the environmental podium. Lotus prepares to blossom again As the company moves ahead with its five-year model plan, CEO Dany Bahar pledges quality, pragmatism, radical weight saving, and added DNA. Multimaterial collaboration Composites and aluminum are at the heart of Audi and lamborghini's multimaterial approach to R&D, production. Taking control of electrification Control systems are key components not only for battery packs in electrified powertrains but also havea big role to play in power consumption throughout the vehicle.

Top new engines AEI editors highlight the most significant powerplants of the new year and beyond. Ferrari V8 The new 4.5-L engine for the 458 Italia challenges turbo units on power and specific output. Ford V6 Significant changes to the Duratec 37 for the 2011 Mustang result in Camaro-beating power with 30-mpg efficiency. Hyundai 2.4 Theta II GDI The company revs output of its four-cylinder family with its first application of gasoline direct injection. Porsche Turbo flat six Direct injection and special dry-sump lubrication boost power and torque of the latest 911 Turbo powerhouse. Toyota V10 Nine years in development by Toyota and Yamaha, the 9000-rpm engine for Lexus' new LFA supercar boasts an abundance of titanium and a unique counterbalancer system.

Safe and sane Driver distraction, demand for connectivity, and infotainment raise new challenges in combining consumer technologies and cars. Thin on the inside Seat suppliers apply ingenuity to reduce the weight of traditional steel seat frames while trimming away foam to make smaller cars roomier. Early simulation enhances product development While simulating before design may seem to upend the traditional view of product development, many companies are realizing the benefits.

The Lexus rises again Kiyotaka Ise is leading the effort to redefine the Toyota luxury brand with 'Lexus emotionality.' Hyundai powers ahead Dr. Woong-Chul Yang, Vice Chairman, Hyundai Motor, and the head of Hyundai-Kia R&D, explains how his company is striving to be the most-loved, but not necessarily the biggest car company-with the help of technology and powertrain leadership from Seong-Hyon Park, Hyundai's President of Powertrain. Next-generation lithium batteries step forward Developmental solid-state lithium-ion and lithium-air batteries could one day provide ample EV power.