Automotive
The Lead
3 Million Mile Motor
June 19, 2013 10:33 am | by Laura Venezia, Volvo Cars of North America | News | Comments
When he drove off the lot in 1966, Gordon began a movement. That movement continues to grow through the collective experience and passion of current Volvo owners. As Gordon approaches the milestone, Volvo Cars of North America (VCNA) is bringing the nation along for the journey with a special campaign in the months ahead.
Crash-Testing Lithium-Ion Batteries
June 4, 2013 1:09 pm | by Jennifer Chu, MIT | News | Comments
Lithium-ion batteries are lightweight, fully rechargeable, and can pack a lot of energy into a...
Is It Possible to Bring Manufacturing Back to the U.S.?
May 17, 2013 9:33 am | by David Mantey, Executive Editor, PD&D | News | Comments
Several factors come into play when manufacturers make the decision to move or reshore (see...
Custom-Designed, Gas-Powered Bicycle
May 13, 2013 12:18 pm | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | News | Comments
In the quiet reaches of Wisconsin, just north of Green Bay, Sunny Hill Cycles is turning heads...
Traffic Returns to Wash. Bridge that Collapsed
June 19, 2013 10:37 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsCars and trucks are rolling again across the Interstate 5 Skagit River bridge, restoring the traffic flow on the main route between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. A temporary span opened Wednesday morning, replacing a section of the bridge that collapsed May 23 when it was struck by a truck with an oversize load.
Photos of the Day: 1966 Volvo P1800, Millions of Miles Later
June 19, 2013 10:35 am | by Volvo Cars of North America | News | CommentsIn a journey that has lasted nearly half a century, spanned the globe and elicited awe from generations of car lovers, Long Island's Irv Gordon has a phenomenal achievement in his sight: driving 3,000,000 miles in the same car - a shiny, red 1966 Volvo P1800.
Chrysler Group and NHTSA Resolve Recall Request
June 19, 2013 9:52 am | by Chrysler Group | News | CommentsChrysler Group and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have resolved their differences with respect to NHTSA’s request to recall 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-07 Jeep Liberty vehicles.
U.S. Safety Agency Investigating Suzuki Small SUVs
June 18, 2013 5:11 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsU.S. safety regulators said Tuesday that they are investigating problems with air-bag sensors in the seats of some small Suzuki SUVs. The probe covers 205,000 vehicles including Grand Vitaras from the 2006 through 2011 model years and SX4s from 2007 through 2011. The National Highway Traffic...
Chrysler Expected to Formally Refuse Jeep Recall
June 18, 2013 10:05 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsIn one of the biggest-ever showdowns between an automaker and the government, Chrysler on Tuesday is expected to file papers explaining its refusal to recall 2.7 million older Jeep SUVs that are at risk of catching fire in rear-end collisions.
Company Recalls 165,000 Baby Recliners
June 17, 2013 12:11 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA children's product maker is recalling about 165,000 baby recliners linked to at least five infant deaths and dozens of reports of children falling or hanging over the side of the seats. Baby Matters of Berwyn, Pa., announced the recall of its Nap Nanny and Nap Nanny Chill infant recliners.
Making Alternative Fuels Cheaper
June 17, 2013 12:51 am | by Anne Trafton, MIT | News | CommentsMIT chemical engineers have devised a cheaper way to synthesize a key biofuel component, which could make its industrial production much more cost-effective. The compound, known as gamma-valerolactone (GVL), is attractive because of its versatility, says Yuriy Román, an assistant professor of chemical engineering and leader of the research team.
GM Recalling 193,652 SUVs for Fire Risk
June 15, 2013 10:56 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsGeneral Motors is recalling more than 193,652 SUVs from the 2006 and 2007 model years because a circuit board in the driver's door could short and cause a fire. The vehicles involved are the Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Ruick Rainier, Saab 9-7x and Isuzu Ascender from the 2006 and 2007 model...
Robust 4-way Adjustable Direction Switch
June 14, 2013 12:20 pm | by PD&D Staff | C&K Components | Product Releases | CommentsC&K Components has developed a new series of 4-way adjustable direction switches for automotive and industrial mirror control applications. The CS-41001E Series features customizable wire harnesses and connectors to ease the assembly process.
Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Selected by Pininfarina to Design New Concept Car
June 13, 2013 4:00 pm | by Dassault Systèmes | News | CommentsDassault Systèmes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, has announced that leading Italian design house Pininfarina, has selected Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE CATIA for Creative Designers application, to design and manufacture a new concept car in honor of its honorary chairman, Sergio Pininfarina.
A Supply Chain with No Weak Links
June 13, 2013 11:40 am | by Rowmark | Articles | CommentsThe ability to be responsive – the ability to adjust to these client demands – is contingent not only on your own business, but the companies you partner with. Clearly, intangibles such as these should be considered when choosing a supplier.
Driverless Car Navigates Course
June 13, 2013 9:15 am | by Reuters | Videos | CommentsResearchers at Carnegie Mellon University are putting the finishing touches on their version of a driverless car that, they say, lays the groundwork for computers to replace humans in the driver seat within a decade.
Should Preemptive Legislation be Considered Before a New Tech Takes Off?
June 12, 2013 12:34 pm | by Chris Warner, Executive Editor, ECN | Blogs | CommentsLately it seems that every time I scroll through the news that lands in my inbox, and read a tech blog or a mainstream publication’s tech section, the march of technology seems so dizzying either because of all the disruptive potential or because of how frequently I learn about new advances. All of a sudden, preemptive legislation doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Perhaps we need to get ahead of our advances.
High-Voltage Battery Simulator & Test Systems
June 11, 2013 3:57 pm | by Randall Beattie, President of SAKOR Technologies | Sakor Technologies, Inc. | Articles | CommentsHigh voltage battery simulator and test systems are essential for conducting testing of the high voltage DC power systems that are such a critical element of electric (EV) and hybrid/electric (HEV) vehicles. To accurately test a high voltage hybrid or electric drivetrain, you need to be able to provide precise, repeatable high-voltage DC power.
Chrysler Recalls 15,000 Darts
June 11, 2013 10:47 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsChrysler is recalling about 15,000 new Dodge Dart compact cars worldwide because the engines can stall in cold weather. The recall affects 2013 model year cars with 1.4-liter four-cylinder engines and dual-clutch automatic transmissions.
Brazil Govt to Perform Crash Tests After AP Report
June 11, 2013 9:37 am | by Bradley Brooks, Associated Press | News | CommentsAfter a decade of spiking fatalities from passenger car wrecks, the Brazilian government said Monday it plans to build its first auto crash test facility in an effort to improve the poor safety record of vehicles built and sold in the world's fourth-largest automobile market.
Photos of the Day: Cadet-Designed Trailer
June 10, 2013 9:48 am | by Don Branum, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs | News | CommentsThe project, a solar- and wind-powered all-terrain trailer, or SWATT, hooks up to a cadet-built electric dune buggy made last year and can provide a full charge of energy and the vehicle to other appliances. The trailer has roughly 200 cubic feet of space. Inside sits an 18-kilowatt-hour battery array that can power the vehicle or any device that can plug into a 110-volt wall outlet.
Cadet-Designed Trailer Could Power Future Austere Deployments
June 10, 2013 9:46 am | by Don Branum, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs | News | CommentsA cadet capstone project designed to build upon cadets' research in 2012 could have broad-ranging applications from powering austere bases to supplementing stateside bases' power grids, instructors in the computer and electrical engineering department here said recently.
Stripped-Down Harley Rebounds from Recession
June 9, 2013 11:39 am | by M.L. Johnson, Associated Press | News | CommentsSome motorcycle enthusiasts feared Keith Wandell might be the outsider who drove Harley-Davidson into the ground. Instead, he may be remembered as the guy who kept the motorcycle maker on the road. Wandell grabbed the handlebars at the motorcycle maker in the heart of the economic crisis in 2009. Harley lost $55 million that year, as buying a motorcycle stopped being an option for many consumers.
American Auto Industry Seeking to Hire
June 9, 2013 9:47 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsThe auto industry is about to go on a hiring spree as car makers and parts suppliers race to find engineers, technicians and factory workers to build the next generation of vehicles. The new employees will be part of a larger, busier workforce. From coast to coast, the industry is in top gear. Factories are operating at about 95 percent of capacity, and many are already running three shifts.
Yes, Manufacturing is Back in the U.S.
June 7, 2013 3:24 pm | by Harry Moser | Blogs | CommentsDavid Mantey recently published the article “Is It Possible to Bring Manufacturing Back to the U.S.?” The article offers some good insight on the reshoring debate, as well as some common misinterpretation of the subject. In response to the question the article’s title poses: Yes, manufacturing is already coming back to the U.S.
Speed Thrills: Dana’s Engineers Team Up to Accelerate Product Design with Simulation Lifecycle Management
June 7, 2013 3:00 pm | by Dana Power Technologies Group | Articles | CommentsThe recent revival of the U.S. automotive industry is a success story on many levels. Bridge loans granted by the government enabled some automakers to restructure. An improving economic climate released pent-up demand for new cars—and this time Detroit was ready with fuel-efficient, eye-catching models that brought buyers back to the showrooms.
Sporty New Corolla Revealed
June 7, 2013 10:33 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsToyota is offering two engines in the latest version, a 1.8-liter, 132 horsepower four-cylinder that carries over from the current model, and the same engine with new valve technology that adds eight horsepower to reach 140. The newer engine comes only on the Eco version.
Is Big Data Turning Government Into 'Big Brother?'
June 7, 2013 10:20 am | by Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe revelations that the National Security Agency is perusing millions of U.S. customer phone records at Verizon Communications and snooping on the digital communications stored by nine major Internet services illustrate how aggressively personal data is being collected and analyzed.
Car Made Almost Entirely Out of Wood
June 6, 2013 1:47 pm | by The Associated Press | Videos | CommentsFirst it was a bike, then a motorcycle. Now, a Hungarian man has created a car made almost entirely out of wood. Istvan Puskas toiled away for four months until all the pieces came together. The frame, axles, gearbox, and even the gas tank are made from wood.
