Variable displacement oil pump helps Chevrolet Cruze hit 40 mpg

Filed under: MPG , Chevrolet Back when a greenhouse was a structure used to grow plants in cold weather, an oil pump was just a non-descript but necessary device to keep metal engine parts well lubricated. As engineers work to meet the 35.5 mile per gallon Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard, the lowly oil pump has become one of many places where they can find incremental improvements in efficiency.

Ford F-150 engines for 2011 announced, includes EcoBoost V6

Filed under: Flex-Fuel , MPG , Ford The Ford F-150 is getting a lineup of four all-new engines for the 2011 model year that includes two V6s and two V8s. According to Ford , the entire new engine family will be more fuel efficient than the outgoing 4.6-liter and 5.4-liter V8s by at least 20 percent. The same 3.7-liter V6 and 5.0-liter V8 found in the 2011 Mustang will be available at launch this fall in the F-150, as will the 6.2-liter V8 from the 2011 Super Duty truck

Should the Chevy Volt have direct mechanical drive of the wheels…or not?

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , MPG , Chevrolet 2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery Engineering products that are meant to be sold to consumers is a process that is invariably about compromise. If you are building a one-off product for a single client, you can optimize it directly for their needs. But when it comes mass production for customers with widely divergent requirements, engineers have to make judgment calls

2011 Chevrolet Volt has knock sensor, can run on regular gas

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Chevrolet 2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery When General Motors announced pricing for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt last week, one new technical detail grabbed some attention. Vehicle line director Tony Posawatz was apparently the first exec to mention to the press that the range-extending engine in the Volt had been calibrated to run on premium gasoline .

PICC’s latest converted plug-in Prius boasts 40-mile electric range, 245 mpg

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Toyota , Green Daily Plug-in Conversions Corporation (PICC) is well known for its over-the-top Toyota Prius conversions. From its conversion kit that allows the Prius to scoot past 70 miles per hour under electric power alone to its tweaks that bestow the Prius with a boost in electric range , PICC has always found a way to breathe new life into the Prius hybrid . PICC founder Kim Adelman is constantly looking for ways to eke out more green performance from Toyota’s iconic hybrid.

Chevrolet Volt will not have direct engine drive, electric only

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Chevrolet , GM , Opel Opel Ampera - Click above for high-res image gallery General Motors recently started letting European journalists behind the wheel of prototype versions of the Opel / Vauxhall Ampera which is the re-nosed version of the Chevrolet Volt . While those of us on this side of the pond that have driven the Volt have been restricted to driving around cone courses in parking lots, Europeans are driving on public roads and at high speeds. The cars being driven Europe have the same “65 percent” calibration level that we drove

Ford reveals refreshed 2011 Mondeo with 237 hp 2.0L Ecoboost

Filed under: MPG , Ford 2011 Ford Mondeo - Click above for high-res image gallery Ford of Europe has just dropped the first official photos of the refreshed 2011 Mondeo along with some details on the updated mechanical bits.

BMW experimenting with electronic noise canceling tech on diesels

BMW sound engineer Manuel Reichle and the 635d - Click above for high-res image gallery When considering how to go about improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions, we typically think of smaller engines, alternative fuels and electrification. One area that doesn’t typically come to mind is that of sound design and acoustics. While the noises produced by a vehicle don’t directly affect fuel efficiency, soundtracks are important because they are often a prime determinant in whether a given powertrain solution is acceptable to drivers and passengers

IBM wants to control your car at stoplights - 1984, here we come

Filed under: Emerging Technologies , USA No one is saying start-stop technology like the kind found in electric and hybrid vehicles isn’t a great idea. We just told you about how BMW’s 320d EfficientDynamics model is able to squeeze over 1000 miles out of a tank of diesel in part due to start-stop tech, for example

FEV’s Extremely Downsized Engine is a 0.7-liter mill with amazing 134 hp/L output

Filed under: Emerging Technologies , MPG , Green Daily It seems as though engine downsizing is the catch phrase of the last few years. Take an engine, shrink it and drop a turbo in and ba da bing, you’ve got a more efficient and sometimes even more powerful solution

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