Since 1999, ultra-lightweight design has been playing a central role with Audi’s Le Mans prototypes (LMP). Audi said that materials, such as CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic), harbor major potential for optimizing weight. “In the space of 15 years, we’ve also achieved major progress in the area of ultra-lightweight design,” stresses Head of Audi Motorsport
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Peugeot’s Onyx Concept Car will lead a full line-up of performance Peugeot vehicles at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, with its first public dynamic demonstration. With most concept cars usually being modeled for static appreciation, Peugeot said the Onyx breaks the traditional mold with superb authenticity, innovative use of materials in its construction and
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Volvo’s V60 Plug-in Hybrid, the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid, is proving successful sales-wise. Volvo Car Group (Volvo) is now ramping up production by 90 percent. It is doing so earlier than anticipated to keep up with the demand. The increased demand, especially in Holland, Belgium and Italy, means that the Plug-in Hybrid production at
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Mercedes-Benz is on the eve of launching a new generation of its new flagship sedan, the S-Class, and has announced this new generation will be available in different hybrid versions. As with every generation before it, customers expect the new S-Class to set standards across the board to retain its accolade as “the best automobile
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Among gas-electric hybrid powertrains, there are those like the Prius uses that tilt the balance of mpg vs. speed toward maximum economy, and then there are others such as by German makers and the Infiniti M35h, that offer somewhat better mileage and equal or better performance also. On that note, Porsche, which already offers the
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Volvo Car Group started production of the first engine variants in its new, high-efficiency four-cylinder engine family. The development and production take place in-house at Volvo Car Group and form a vital part of the company’s strategy for independence. The strategy of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and driveline electrification is the path that Volvo
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General Motors has posted a video showing yet another potential advantage offered by the pending 2013 Chevrolet Cruze turbo diesel over the Volkswagen Jetta TDI. At least that’s the hope, because the competitive advantages appear to possibly be mixed with disadvantages as well, such as a starting price higher by $730, and city mpg lower
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Imagine: It’s the year 2025, and the global automotive landscape has shifted significantly toward reliance upon “alterative powertrains and alternative fuels.” This could be true if projections by LMC Automotive, a strategic partner of J.D. Power come to pass. According to the forecast, 36 percent of an estimated 110 million passenger vehicles sold by then
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During the 34th International Vienna Motor Symposium last Friday, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, gave a forecast of the company’s future drive system technologies. Areas of work being focused on by Volkswagen include the development of a high-performance diesel engine delivering 100 kilowatts per liter of displacement
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Clean diesel car registrations increased by 24.3 percent in the U.S. from 2010 through 2012 following similar trends of double-digit diesel car sale increases throughout the country, according to new data compiled for the Diesel Technology Forum. Data also revealed South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi are the fastest growing states for hybrid car registrations.
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