Alignment Specs: 1999-2006 Honda Insight Hybrid
You may not see many Honda Insights in your alignment bay, but don’t let the strange styling and hybrid badge scare you away from doing any chassis repairs.
Ford Wins International Engine of the Year Awards 2012 in Dominant Style
The small but powerful 999cc, three-cylinder turbo unit wins Ford its first ever Engine of the Year Award
Tech Talk – Engine Innovations to Reach Government Fuel Standards
In recent years, the primary driving force behind engine innovation has been the never-ending quest for better fuel economy with little or no sacrifice in performance. Government regulations and rising fuel prices are forcing automakers to develop new technologies and powertrains that squeeze more power out of every drop of fuel while producing less pollution and greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide) emissions.
Cadillac Announces an Electrified Coupe
Cadillac ELR, the luxury brand’s upcoming extended range electric car, will share Volt’s powertrain. The ELR will launch as a 2014 model year vehicle, but production will not begin until very late 2013 calendar year, meaning this will be a late arrival for the 2014 model year.
Honda Civic Hybrid Service
Technical Editor Larry Carley discusses servicing the Honda Civic Hybrid, now in its third generation, with more than 200,000 cars sold to date since its introduction to the U.S. market in 2002 as a model year 2003, and highlights repair opportunities in diagnosing battery problems and various maintenance items.
DENSO’s New Inline E-Compressor to Debut on Ford EVs
DENSO’s new inline electric (e) compressor will make its global debut on Ford’s Focus Electric, which began production this past December with retail production ramping up the first half of the year. The inline e-compressor also will appear on the Fusion and C-MAX Hybrids and Energi Plug-in Hybrids, due to hit North American roads in 2012.
Driving Technology: The Quest for Improved Battery Output
The search is on for new materials to boost battery energy storage and output.
Driving Technology: Curbing the Possibility of a Volt Electrical Fire
In early January, General Motors announced enhancements to the vehicle structure and battery coolant system in the Chevrolet Volt would further protect the battery from the possibility of an electrical fire occurring days or weeks after a severe crash. The enhancements come in response to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) preliminary evaluation to examine post-severe crash battery performance.
Global Auto Execs Don’t Expect EV Sales to Spark for More Than a Decade, Says KPMG
Despite continued heavy investment by automakers in electric propulsion technologies, global automotive executives reportedly don’t expect electric car sales to exceed 15 percent of annual global auto sales before 2025. That’s according to the 13th annual global automotive survey conducted by KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm.
Report Card — ‘Defender’ of the Land
According to Land Rover designers, replacing the iconic Defender is one of the biggest challenges in the automotive design world
Cadillac Ciel Concept Celebrates the Journey
The spacious and elegant concept car Ciel is powered by a twin-turbocharged version of the 3.6-liter Direct Injection V-6 engine, paired with a hybrid system using lithium-ion battery technology. The Ciel – pronounced “C-L,” the French translation for sky – is a four-seat convertible that opens a new chapter in Cadillac’s design and product ascent, pushing the brand’s Art & Science philosophy into a new stratum.
Launching the Ford Evos Concept
Making its global debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the Ford Evos Concept represents the ultimate expression of Ford’s new global design language, and explores key future powertrain and vehicle technologies. Created as a bespoke concept vehicle, the fastback introduces Ford’s first truly global design language as the momentum of the company’s One Ford product plan continues to build.