Das Hybrid Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, By Drew Winter The Volkswagen L1 concept is an important car not so much for what it is than what it represents: a dramatic change in how the German auto maker views the midterm future of the automobile.
VW, the largest auto maker in Europe, with aspirations to be No.1 globally, introduced the L1 at the recent Frankfurt auto show. It is a sleek carbon-fiber concept that has an astonishing combined fuel-economy rating of 170 mpg (1.38 L/100 km) and carbon-dioxide emissions of a mere 36 g/km.
Lev III Paints Bleak Future For Diesel Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, Tom Murphy The California Air Resources Board has a lot to do with German auto makers’ sudden interest in hybrids and electric vehicles. German diesels might soon become endangered species if newly proposed emissions standards take effect.
Less Complicated, Lower Cost Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, By David E. Zoia Porsche’s new hybrid system allows gas engine to shut
down while coasting at 86 mph.
News
Magna: More EV Programs to Come Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, David E. Zoia Magna International Inc. says its program to supply key powertrain components for the upcoming Ford Focus electric vehicle due in 2011 marks only the
Mustang Tops Falling Convertible Market Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, Byron Pope It's raining on the U.S. economy, with predictable results on convertible sales deliveries are trending down for the third straight year. But the Ford
Volkswagen Has Big Plans for U.S. Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, Drew Winter Volkswagen AG's upcoming new U.S.-built sedan will be substantially larger than today's Passat, and the plant site that will produce it in Chattanooga,
Ford Coyote V-8 Set for '11 Mustang Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, Byron Pope Ford Motor Co.'s new 5.0L V-8, codenamed will launch next year in the '11 Ford Mustang, a source close to the program tells Ward's. The engine will replace
Automotive Hall of Fame Struggles to Stay Open Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, Tom Murphy The Automotive Hall of fame cele-brates the industry's past, but for now it is struggling with a massive budget shortfall that severely jeopardizes its
Delphi Exits Bankruptcy as Shell of Former Self Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, James M. Amend The former parts maker Delphi Corp. exits bankruptcy as Delphi Holdings LLP a comparatively leaner, more-focused and globally competitive company. The
Editorials & Columnists
Unintended Bad Driving Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, By Drew Winter Racing legend Jackie Stewart says people would rather admit to be being bad lovers than bad drivers. He's probably right. Not only do Americans refuse
Alternatives, Where's Infrastructure? Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, By John McElroy Auto makers are under enormous pressure to reduce the world's dependence on oil and cut carbon-dioxide emissions. But it sure looks like we're reaching
Short Circuit on Memory Lane Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, By Jerry Flint Let's take a drive down memory lane and remember some of the cars of tomorrow. In 1963, there was the Chrysler turbine car, a real beauty. It was powerful,
Suppliers
GM Sees Trouble Ahead for Suppliers Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, BY JAMES M. AMEND The new purchasing chief at gen- eral Motors Co. expects more turmoil in the supply base as production volumes gain steam and says his shrunken organization
Diesel Enables 55-MPG Large Car, Bosch Says Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, Tom Murphy A steady rollout of new diesels, gasoline direct-injection, stop/start systems, high-efficiency alternators and cheaper lithium-ion batteries factor into
Exatec Glazing Path to Future Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, Tom Murphy With weight reduction a top priority for every new-vehicle program, Sabic Innovative Plastics is aggressively marketing polycarbonate glazing as a way
New Wheels
GMC Covers New Terrain Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, BY JAMES M. AMEND A few short years ago, the thought of a GMC Terrain based on the Chevrolet Equinox would have made us cringe with low expectations of badge engineering,
Sports-Car Bloodline, With Room for 4 Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, BY DAVID E. ZOIA The results of the DNA test are in: It's a Porsche. A couple of laps around the 4-mile (6.4-km) Road America race track in Elkhart Lake, WI, and you have
Acura Nails ZDX Execution Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, BY CHRISTIE SCHWEINSBERG It would be easy to slam the styling of American Honda Motor Co. Inc.'s Acura ZDX. After all, the luxury brand's design language has been largely mute.
Articles
Intake Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld
Regarding Jerry Flint's column about culture change at GM (see WAW — Aug. '09, p.32): I remember working at Toyota's Engineering Center in Ann Arbor in the late 1990s as a product engineer and having to prepare for design reviews with the president of the company.
Auto Industry's Global Road to Recovery Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, BY BARBARA McCLELLAN The biggest global economic calamity in the last 80 years has left the international auto industry facing a new world order, the reverberations of which
Europe Faces Uphill Climb Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, BY ERIC MAYNE Heading into 2010, Europe's auto industry finds itself on top of the heap the scrap heap. Auto makers and suppliers are not abandoning the business; just
Honda V-6 Unique and Versatile Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's AutoWorld, BY GARY WITZENBURG How many top-ranked V-6 engines wear two single camshafts atop 4-valve heads? Of our 2009 10 Best Engines, only Honda's 3.5L fits this description. Volkswagen
Das Hybrid 
