Drivetrain tech

Three years ago, when the price of gasoline shot past $4 a gallon, Detroit's automakers were trapped.

They couldn't give away the boatload of trucks that had long been the bread and butter--and profit generators--of the Detroit 3. With gasoline prices rising and with scant offerings in the small-vehicle segment, Detroit's sales plunged even before the financial crisis invaded in September 2008.

Last week, oil passed $100 a barrel, and gasoline prices rose to $3.50 a gallon in some markets. This time the Detroit 3 are in a better position to make money and not give … Read more

As with the recently revealed 2012 Honda Civic, you'll have to look closely to see the changes to the 2012 Mazda Mazda3's front and rear ends. However, also as with the Civic, a peek under the hood reveals a number of pretty big changes. At the core of this list of changes are Mazda's new Skyactiv-G engine and Skyactiv-Drive automatic transmission, new technologies intended to increase fuel economy.

Specs are still sparse, as Mazda is keeping most of its cards close to the vest until the next Mazda3 makes its bow at the 2011 Canadian International AutoShow. … Read more

Early in the Toyota Prius' history, U.S. owners noticed it lacked the EV mode switch included in the Japanese market car. Thus was born the first Prius hack, restoring that button's functionality in the U.S. cars. Then, in 2004, CalCars took Prius hacking even further, adding the capability of charging up the battery pack from the grid. CalCars boasts that this hacked Prius gets 100 mpg.

That Toyota is now promising the public a plug-in Prius as a 2012 model should only beg the question of what took so long. As with most car companies, Toyota moves … Read more

Today's cars so are full to the brim with high-tech gizmos and gadgets that it's easy to see how some users can get overwhelmed with the sheer complexity of it all. We receive e-mails and comments regularly asking what features should one look for in a new car and why.

With that in mind, we've assembled a list of the must-have car tech features for your perusal. From dashboard technologies to safety features to power train and handling considerations, there's something for everyone in this list. And while you may not check every single box with … Read more

DETROIT--General Motors CEO Dan Akerson is accelerating his company's push into electrified vehicles with plans to expand the Chevrolet Volt technology into a minivan within a few years and with another hike in his plan for Volt output.

Akerson told the Automotive News World Congress that he expects GM to roll out "several different variants" of the Volt, including an MPV. A plug-in hybrid version of the Cadillac SRX luxury crossover also is likely by 2012 or 2013, he said.

In several public appearances in conjunction with the Detroit auto show, Akerson espoused his view that the … Read more

DETROIT--People in the auto industry are opening up a new chapter in its history by transitioning to electric vehicles but they're writing the book as they go along.

The technology to make fun-to-drive, well connected plug-in vehicles is already here. Now, auto and utility companies are grappling with how to make these electric vehicles a commercial success, speakers at the Business of Plugging In conference said here today.

Rather than see predictable and steady demand in the next few years, automakers should expect sales to spike and dip with the cost of gasoline and government incentives, said auto industry … Read more

Subaru fans rejoice. Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (parent company of Subaru) has pulled the wraps off of its new-generation four-cylinder boxer engines. OK, it's not that exciting, but if you're already a fan of Subaru's quirky engine configuration, the promise of more power and more efficiency for new models should at least get you grinning.

The boxer engine (or flat engine), for those unfamiliar, features a four-cylinder, horizontally opposed configuration with a pair of pistons punching out toward either side of a central crankshaft--like the fists of boxers. This third generation boxer engine incorporates new improvements in … Read more

AMP Electric Vehicles has announced that it's developing a mainstream SUV prototype for an automaker, but it didn't say which one. The obvious guess is GM since the Cincinnati-based start-up has developed conversion processes for a handful of GM vehicles, including the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, the 2007-2009 Saturn Solstice, and Pontiac Sky. However, a GM spokesperson indicated that the company does not have any agreement with AMP.

AMP purchases cars from dealerships for customers (or customers can bring their own) and converts the vehicle to operate with an electric drivetrain. Using a custom lithium ion battery pack and … Read more

Once again, European drivers will have access to cars with better gas mileage than their U.S. counterparts.

Peugeot announced Tuesday that its 3008 Hybrid4 diesel hybrid car will be available in Europe in spring 2011 and will get roughly the equivalent of 62 miles to the gallon.

Many have been skeptical of a diesel hybrid, since a diesel engine's high torque does not lend itself easily to incorporation with an electric motor. Peugeot tackled that issue by giving the car two separate power trains that can operate solo or in tandem. The two systems are controlled together electronically, … Read more