Active rear suspension module of the 2018 Audi A8. (Audi illustration) Audi recently unveiled its all-new A8 flagship which now features a fully active, electromechanical suspension system. A front camera detects road irregularities and signals a predictive adjustment of the active suspension to suit the road conditions. Each wheel is fitted with an electric motor powered by the 48-V main electrical system. Additional components include gears, a rotary...
Honda VP Jeff Conrad introduces the 2018 Accord line in Detroit on July 14, 2017. (Lindsay Brooke photo) Honda unveiled its 10th generation Accord on July 14 in Detroit, showing four-door Sport, Touring and Hybrid versions of its franchise midsize nameplate that has sold over 13 million units since 1977. The all-new model will be available as a sedan only, according...
The Perkins SmartCap can be fitted to any Perkins mechanical or electronic engine to instantly provide engine telematics. (image: Perkins) Perkins launched what it calls the world’s first low-cost engine level telematics device—the Perkins SmartCap—at its Seguin, TX, facility in June. The “smart” oil cap can be fitted to any new and existing Perkins mechanical or electronic engine in minutes and instantly provide engine...
Watch the video at video.sae.org/12297. In an era when "fake news" is a hot topic, much of the media still doesn't understand the difference between "electric" and "electrified" vehicles. In this episode of SAE Eye on Engineering, Editor-In-Chief Lindsay Brooke looks at Volvo's electrification strategy. SAE Eye on Engineering can be viewed at video.sae.org/12297. It also airs in audio-only form Monday mornings on WJR 760...
The X-Class is the first-ever pickup truck for the Mercedes-Benz brand; derived from partner Nissan-Renault's Navara (Frontier) midsize pickup (all images: Daimler). First X-Class models to be built in late 2017 in Nissan's Barcelona, Spain, assembly plant. Mercedes stressed ruggedness of the X-Class underpinnings balanced by attention to on-road ride quality. A pair of 4-cyl. diesels and a small gasoline...
GM brake engineer and materials expert Jim Webster spearheaded the FNC treatment process as applied to grey-iron brake rotors. General Motors is on a mission to banish corrosion from its brake rotors, while at the same time doubling rotor service life. By 2016 the automaker plans to have highly corrosion-resistant rotors on 80% of its U.S. market vehicles, a move that...
Bedding In Brake Rotors Anytime you install new brake rotors, brake pads, or both, it's advantageous to bed in your new brakes. Bedding in your brakes is just an industry term to explain breaking in your new brakes. Bedding in your brakes helps transfer an even layer of brake pad material onto the brake rotor which assists in smoother brake...
The 10 Most Expensive Car Repairs Nothing blows a budget faster than a car repair. Getting items fixed or replaced on any make or model of car is expensive and can set people back financially. Unless a part is under warranty, motorists are forced to shell out big bucks themselves to keep their car running properly and safely. And some...
10 Things You Likely Didn’t Know About Tesla Motors No other car manufacturer is generating as much attention right now as Tesla Motors, Inc. The company, based in Silicon Valley, aims to combine performance with green technology and make affordable battery powered sports cars available to the masses. In 2008, Tesla turned heads when it launched the Tesla Roadster...
10 Cars That Won’t Exist After 2017 It’s the end of the road for some awesome and popular vehicles in 2017. A number of bestselling and well-known name plates in the automotive industry are being discontinued in the New Year, as automotive manufacturers concentrate on new vehicle models and invest money in new technologies – namely fully electric and self-driving...
