| How High Is High For Automotive Steels? |
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May 19, 2013 - 12:51 AM - by seftonm
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 Now, in addition to safety, advanced high-strength steel grades need to contribute to mass reduction so that car companies can improve corporate fleet fuel-economy by about 4% per year until 2025.
Ronald P. Krupitzer - METALFORMINGMAGAZINE - May 01, 2013
Impressive how far the materials have come. --Ed.
It was quite surprising the other day when an engineer mentioned to me that he was studying the use of an 1800-MPa tensile-strength steel for a part. Back in the 1970s when automotive steels were primarily mild steel with yield strengths of 170 MPa and tensile strengths of 275 MPa,... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 20 Views
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| Opel’s Latest Direct Injected and Boosted 1.6L Is the Astra’s Mainstay |
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May 18, 2013 - 6:34 PM - by xcel
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 Strong engine with decent fuel economy for us. Will it be enough in the land of $7.00 per gallon gasoline?
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 18, 2013
2014 Opel Astra 5-door – Good looking enough and equipped with a very powerful 1.6L engine. I do wonder if they have fixed the rear seat legroom problem however?
The latest Turbo charged and Direct Injection 170 hp 1.6L debuts in Opel’s Astra, its best seller. This next generation 1.6L engine provides 22% more torque than its outgoing predecessor.
At the same time, the 1.6L SIDI Turbo is up to 14 percent more efficient. The five-door hatch, sedan and Sports... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 108 Views
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| Meet the New Google Maps |
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May 18, 2013 - 8:23 AM - by xcel
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Improved yet again although it may be a little heavy on the social media front.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 18, 2013
Google is relaunching its killer app in a new and more comprehensive way. Google Maps are now tailored to you as through every search and click you make. Whatever you're trying to find or wherever you're trying to go, you'll always have a map highlighting the things that matter most.
Discover more with every click
The entire map is now interactive. Clicking anywhere will focus the map on that location and show you helpful... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 241 Views
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| What Has 887 HP, AWD, Hits 60 in < 3 sec and Is As Green as a Prius? |
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May 18, 2013 - 7:32 AM - by xcel
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The Porsche 918 Spyder Racing Plug-in Hybrid.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 18, 2013
2014 Porsche 918 Spyder PHEV – If you have to ask the price, you have asked the wrong question.
The 918 Spyder is the epitome of racing technology made for the street. Well sort of anyway.
According to Porsche, the car was designed from a clean sheet to be a Race Car first yet provide a green side with good performance including reaching 60 in under 7-seconds and a top speed of 93 mph on only the electric motors. The 618 hp V8 plus its 154 hp electric motor at the back and 127 hp electric up front all together allow a top speed of 211 mph.
... [Read More]
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3 Replies | 322 Views
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| Linear-Logic's ScanGauge-II Is 7 Years Young |
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May 17, 2013 - 1:45 PM - by xcel
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An OBD-II_reader reaches a milestone.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 17, 2013
First let’s talk a little about the ScanGaugeD for the big diesels.
Unlike our gas powered automobiles, OBDII is not the standard for large diesel powered vehicles including diesel RVs and over-the-road long-haul trucks. These vehicles rely on the J1939 and J1708 protocols and the new ScanGaugeD was built just for them.
Unwrapping the ScanGaugeD, owners will find a dual connector cable designed to accommodate both the 9-pin J1939 port as well as the 6-pin J1708 protocol port.
And like the ScanGauge-II many here are familiar with, the ScanGaugeD allows you to monitor vital systems... [Read More]
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13 Replies | 496 Views
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| Nissan LEAF Level3 Fast Charging at "Nissan of Downtown LA" |
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May 17, 2013 - 11:08 AM - by xcel
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A few more of these and the EV world could expand exponentially.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 17, 2013
“There are no free gas stations anywhere but you can come here and charge fast for free.”
The first consumer available BEV was certainly not the LEAF as you have to consider what was being worked on prior to the 1900’s! In 1890, William Morrison of Des Moines, IA built the first US four wheeled battery electric vehicle in order to demonstrate his lead battery.
Anyone remember the The... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 209 Views
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| Want Your Car To “Tune In” To Your Wants and Desires? |
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May 17, 2013 - 10:08 AM - by xcel
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Visteon may soon offer a solution to do just that.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 17, 2013
Meet your infotendant who will provide the guided tour of what you would like your future car to do without you doing it 
How would you like your vehicle to suggest a different route to or from work when there are unexpected delays on your regular daily grind? What if your vehicle's cabin temperature adjusted automatically based on your preferences and the outside... [Read More]
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3 Replies | 230 Views
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| Hyundai and DOE Partner For FCVs Promotion and Development |
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May 17, 2013 - 9:11 AM - by xcel
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The future of the automobile may be closer than we may think?
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 17, 2013
Hyundai’s ix35 FCV, the world’s first production FCV (Hyundai Begins Limited Production of the ix35 Fuel Cell CUV), is based on the Tucson and the company plans to build 1,000 examples by 2015 for lease to public and private fleets, primarily in Europe. When the next-generation Tucson arrives, Hyundai will target an annual output of approximately 10,000 FCV variants. It can produce them but whether there are 10,000 customers and an infrastructure to support the H2 revolution remains a... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 313 Views
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| Mitsubishi’s All-Electric Ready to Tackle the “Race to the Clouds” |
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May 17, 2013 - 7:13 AM - by xcel
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Race to the Clouds_EV style.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 17, 2013
Rhys Millen set a blazing record of 09:46.164 in 2012 in the specially prepared Hyundai Genesis Coupe last year.
Yesterday Mitsubishi announced that it will enter a pair of all-new MiEV Evolution II all-electric 4WD prototype racecars in the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) to be held on June 30, 2013.
This is not your standard every day iMiEV of course. For 2013, Mitsubishi’s MiEV Evolution II is all-new with a laser focus on taking the win in the legendary hair... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 208 Views
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| Since We Are Talking Aerodynamics, What’s New with Audi’s R18 e-tron quattro? |
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May 16, 2013 - 12:00 PM - by xcel
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 Audi is prepped for the Le Mans 24 hours with its most aerodynamically optimized race car yet.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 16, 2013
2013 Audi R18 e-tron quattro – A turbo diesel hybrid race car that is currently dominating the 2013 FIA WEC racing season.
Over a period of 14 years, Audi has won the Le Mans 24 Hours eleven times by delivering top performances through its drivers, and continuous improvement in race car aerodynamics. The aero updates are a major reason for lap times getting faster despite the FIA WEC regs reducing engine output year after year.
Consider Audi’s first prototype concept, the open cockpit R8R from 1999.... [Read More]
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7 Replies | 515 Views
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| GMs Neat PR on Truck Aerodynamics: Worth the Read |
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May 16, 2013 - 10:30 AM - by xcel
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GM’s aerodynamicists are some of the best in the business.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 16, 2013
A 2014 GMC Sierra pickup undergoes testing in the GM Aerodynamics testing.
Pickup Aerodynamics 101: Busting the Myths
Early this morning GM highlighted its upcoming Silverado/Sierra pickup truck lineup stating that the full size trucks have spent more development time in a wind tunnel than any GM pickup in history.
The Details
GM aerodynamicists including Diane Bloch examined every millimeter of the truck to find areas to reduce drag while debunking some popular myths along the way.... [Read More]
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13 Replies | 616 Views
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| New Hyundai’s With Blue Link Now Include Three Years of Assurance Connected Care Free |
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May 16, 2013 - 9:48 AM - by xcel
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The most comprehensive protection plan available is now free!
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 16, 2013
BlueLink – It has always been a lot more than an infotainment add-on and starting today, it is free for first three years.
Today is the beginning for a new era for future owners of Hyundai automobiles as all new Blue Link-equipped Hyundai vehicles will be sold with three years of complimentary Assurance Connected Care service.
Announced at the 2013 New York International Auto Show in March, (Hyundai Ups Its “Assurance... [Read More]
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2 Replies | 426 Views
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| 2013 Dodge Dart Receives New Special Editions + a Wee Bit about Fuel Economy |
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May 15, 2013 - 12:14 PM - by xcel
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I know not how a potential consumer can analyze all of the various trims and features available in the Dart today and they will now have even more options to choose from.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 15, 2013
New 2013 Dodge Dart SXT Special Edition with the Rallye Appearance package is in the news.
Dodge this morning announced they will be offering two new 2013 Dodge Dart “Special Edition” packages and a new Rallye Appearance Group. These new packages, available on SXT and Limited models, include features exclusive to the segment.
The... [Read More]
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5 Replies | 492 Views
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| Star Wars X-47B “Attack of the Drones” – Coming soon to an Aircraft Carrier near You |
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May 15, 2013 - 9:25 AM - by xcel
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The Northrop Grumman X-47B Stealth Drone successfully launches from the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 15, 2013
In action and at an enemies peril.
The X-47B is a tailless, strike fighter-sized unmanned aircraft under development by Northrop Grumman as part of the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. Under a contract awarded in 2007, the company designed, produced and is currently flight testing two X-47B aircraft. The UCAS-D program will also mature relevant carrier landing and integration... [Read More]
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8 Replies | 376 Views
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| 25,000 US LEAF Owners And Rising |
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May 15, 2013 - 8:02 AM - by xcel
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Lower prices for the hyper efficient 5-passenger LEAF help sales immensely.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 15, 2013
The LEAF - $28,800 USD not including TTL, destination, handling, or any of the numerous government incentives while providing an EPA estimated 75 mile range.
Now in its third model year, the Nissan LEAF Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) features an extensive list of improvements for 2013. Chief being that the 2013 LEAF is now assembled in the U.S. at Nissan's Smyrna, Tenn. assembly plant, with battery production taking place right next door in the country's largest Li-Ion automotive battery plant.
... [Read More]
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6 Replies | 442 Views
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