Autoblog

GM-Isuzu joint venture assembles 1.5-millionth Duramax diesel

Zach Bowman — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

General Motors and Isuzu have officially stitched together 1.5 million Duramax 6.6-liter diesel engines. The joint venture between the two manufacturers started in 1998, and now the DMAX plant employs 517 workers in a 584,000 square-foot facility. GM introduced the Duramax turbo diesel engine to the US market for the 2001 model year, and it can be found trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD as well as the full-size Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans. In its current configuration, the engine yields 397 horsepower and 765 pound-feet of torque at just 1,600 rpm.

Of course, the big oil burner has plenty of tuning potential as well. As you may recall, a Duramax-powered truck recently set the land speed record for towing a vehicle at 142 miles per hour.

GM owns 60 percent of the joint venture, with Isuzu laying claim to the remaining 40 percent. The facility is located in Chicago. You can take a look at the brief press release below for more information on the milestone.

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GM-Isuzu joint venture assembles 1.5-millionth Duramax diesel originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are these the most epic diesel-powered burnouts ever?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Diesel

Here in the States, we generally think of diesel-powered vehicles in one of two ways. First, there are the gigantor pickups with their loud and burly turbodiesel engines. Second, there are the diesel fuel misers, such as Volkswagen's stable of TDI mobiles.

In Europe, though, nearly every car is available with at least one optional diesel engine, and many of those are considered performance models. Of course, there's also a fertile aftermarket community willing to turn any diesel engine into a mouth-breathing torque monster, and all it usually takes is the installation of a massive turbocharger.

Take, for instance, the Mercedes-Benz OM603 and OM606 inline-six-cylinder engines. As you can see in the three videos below, there's plenty of tire-shredding performance hidden inside these otherwise plebeian powerplants, whether housed in the engine bay of a Mercedes or an old Volvo.

Plenty of black and white smoke can be seen in the videos below... which makes us glad we can watch the festivities from a reasonably safe distance.

Continue reading Are these the most epic diesel-powered burnouts ever?

Are these the most epic diesel-powered burnouts ever? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lured in by Opel Ampera tech, BMW seeks deal with GM

Autoblog Staff — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Technology, BMW, GM, Opel, Rumormill, Electric, Diesel

Spiegel Online set the rumormill ablaze with an unconfirmed report that General Motors is seeking some sort of cooperative deal with German automaker BMW. Speigel says The General's interest in BMW is primarily related to the German firm's gasoline and diesel engine technology.

Beyond that, Spiegel reports that Stephen Girsky, GM's board member in charge of strategy, has started discussions with BMW on "far-reaching joint projects." For his part, BMW chairman Dr. Norbert Reithofer previously went on record saying the German automaker was open to the idea of selling engines to other companies so long as such a move - like the recent agreement BMW made with Fisker Automotive - wouldn't strengthen a direct competitor's position or damage BMW's reputation.

In exchange, Spiegel reports that BMW is intrigued by the technology behind the Opel Ampera. This should come as no surprise considering that former Opel exec Frank Weber (pictured) now heads research and development at BMW. Weber is known as the leader of the team that transformed the Chevrolet Volt from a wild-eyed concept to a production vehicle.

Dow Jones says neither General Motors nor BMW were immediately available for comment on this alleged deal.

Lured in by Opel Ampera tech, BMW seeks deal with GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World's largest diesel engine makes 109,000 horsepower

Chris Shunk — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel

Shipping goods from China to the U.S. is big business. And when we say big, we're talking 1,300-foot-long ships that weigh 170,974 tons. The cargo ships in question can carry 11,000 20-foot shipping containers at a breakneck speed of 31 knots.

That's a lot more oomph than the typical 20-knot cruiser, and the reason for the extra push is the world's largest diesel engine. The 109,000-horsepower Wärtsilä-Sulzer RTA96-C, which first set sail in the Emma Mærsk in 2006, weighs in at a rotund 2,300 tons, and it's 44-feet tall and 90-feet long. In other words, the TRA96 is the height of a four-story building, and longer than a Christmas Eve line at Sam's Club. Within that massive exterior rests 14 cylinders that each consume 6.5-ounces of diesel fuel every cycle. And, if you like torque, there's enough twist to rip an M1 tank to shreds, though the massive mill churns at only 102 rpm.

That's a lot of motor to ponder, and we'd be imagining the size of that camshaft, if it had one. This turbocharged two-stroke features common rail tech that utilizes a high-pressure fuel rail to supply fuel to individual solenoid valves. That means improved fuel economy and better performance, which is nothing short of essential in such a massive ship.

So far there are 25 such engines patrolling the world's oceans, and another 86 are on the way. And since these mills can get a shipment from China to LA in four fewer days than their competitors, we wouldn't be surprised to see still more engines on the way.

World's largest diesel engine makes 109,000 horsepower originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: All Audi models to be available with diesel engines by 2015

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Audi, Luxury

2010 Audi A3 TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery

Diesel is slowly making an impression here in the United States and Audi has been paying attention. Parent company Volkswagen has been selling a steady stream of diesels for many years, and the enthusiasm for the oil-burners has filtered up into the luxury segment. By 2015, Audi plans to have a diesel variant available for every volume product in its lineup.

This means we still won't see a production R8 V12 TDI, but it does mean we can look forward to seeing the A4, A6, A8 and Q5 with TDI variants. Currently, the A3 and Q7 are the only US Audis available with diesel engines. You've no doubt seen A3 TDIs rolling past you as you stop for gas, since the diesel version now accounts for nearly half of all A3 sales. 40 percent of Q7s have the diesel engine under the hood, and Audi is having trouble keeping either model in stock.

Automakers face stricter fuel economy targets in the coming years, and one way to improve their lineups' mile-per-gallon figures is by adding diesel versions across the entire range. Audi believes that by 2015, diesels will make up 20 percent of the U.S. sales volume - a vast improvement over the current 5.5 percent.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Audi A3 TDI

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: All Audi models to be available with diesel engines by 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next Range Rover detailed, huge weight loss, 33 mpg!

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:42:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Land Rover, Diesel, Luxury

It's no secret that in recent years Land Rover has been itching to reduce the mass of its products. Even before Ford sold the brand to Tata it had been working on a variety of lighter weight concepts. It looks like the next generation Range Rover will be the first benefactor of those efforts when it debuts in 2012.

The new flagship SUV is expected to cast a similar shadow to the current model, but the roof won't be nearly as tall. This should significantly reduce the frontal area and create less overall aerodynamic drag. Mass will be reduced by using a riveted aluminum chassis with the same type of construction as the Jaguar XJ. Land Rover is apparently targeting a cut of 450 kilograms (992 pounds), with composite materials in the body panels helping to achieve that goal.

The 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 now available in the Jaguar XF and XJ should bring CO2 emissions down from the the current 300+ grams / kilometer to under 200 g/km along with fuel economy of 33 mpg (U.S.) A diesel-hybrid is also expected in the lineup a couple of years after launch.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Next Range Rover detailed, huge weight loss, 33 mpg! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Diesel and electric vehicles two of many options to meet CAFE regulations

Eric Loveday — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Technology, Electric, Diesel

2010 Volkswagen Golf - Click above for high-res image gallery

New CAFE standards set to take affect in 2015 have automakers in a hurried frenzy. Meeting target CAFE numbers of 35.5 miles per gallon within the short five-year time frame is no easy feat. Current standards, set at a fleet average of 27.5 mpg, will quickly become a thing of the past. As automakers push to meet the new requirements, decisions must be made. These decisions could best be regarded as risky bets that could impact an automakers success in the years ahead.

New rules within the CAFE guidelines will require many compact vehicles to achieve even higher numbers than the 35.5 mpg listed above. It's a bit technical, but put simply, the more compact vehicles a company sells, the higher its fleet average must be. This may sound simple, but compact cars may be hard to sell if the technology required to meet the goals adds a significant amount to the vehicle's bottom line.

Automakers are at a crossroads where they must decide which approach will prove to be most beneficial. Should the diesel engine be employed to meet CAFE requirements? Should hybrid powertrains be widely adopted? Automakers must answer these questions and many more. The wrong answer could spell disaster for market share and profits, and the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that new CAFE requirements will increase a vehicle's price by an average of $1,300. Others predict numbers far exceeding these claims, but no matter the numbers, cost is a major concern in the compact class of cars.

Here's a breakdown of some choices automakers should consider; improve gasoline engines to extract up to 20 percent more fuel efficiency, more widespread adoption of diesel engines, aerodynamically design vehicles for improved efficiency, add start/stop features, add more mild hybrids and consider weight saving measures or electrify vehicles. Each option has an associated risk versus cost versus reward factor that must be weighed out precisely for automotive success.

Gallery: 2010 Volkswagen Golf

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Report: Diesel and electric vehicles two of many options to meet CAFE regulations originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge and Cummins reach multi-year contract extension

Chris Shunk — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Chrysler, Dodge, Diesel

2010 Dodge Ram HD - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's tough to sell a heavy-duty pickup truck without a diesel engine offering. Ford uses Navistar, General Motors has worked with Isuzu Motors and Chrysler has Cummins. Of all the automaker diesel offerings, Chrysler's pact with Cummins has lasted the longest (since 1989), and word from Chrysler's official blog is that the two companies will continue to play nicely together into the future. According to a new post on the website, Cummins and Chrysler have agreed to extend their cooperation on a multi-year basis.

Cummins currently builds the 350 horsepower, 650 pound-feet of torque 6.7-liter diesel, which is optional on the Ram 2500 and 3500 and standard on the Ram 4500 and 5500 commercial trucks. Chrysler brags that the very capable powertrain is the only big diesel in the US without a selective catalytic reduction system that requires the owner to add diesel exhaust fluid. The Cummins 6.7 has been able to pass 2010 EPA emissions standards since its 2007 introduction.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Dodge Ram HD

Photos by Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Chrysler Blog]

Dodge and Cummins reach multi-year contract extension originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: Diesel sales still limited in U.S. by buyer perceptions [w/POLL]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Hybrid, Sedan, Truck, Green

2009 BMW 335d - Click above for high-res gallery

Just the other day, Volkswagen revealed that it is having little trouble selling diesel versions of the Jetta here in the United States. Fellow German automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, however, apparently aren't finding the oil-burning road quite so easy to traverse. A new study by PACE might have some answers as to why. It seems that only 35% of those surveyed are willing to consider today's latest clean diesel powerplants, and that figure is made up mostly of expensive luxury car and full-size pickup truck owners. Why? We'd say it's mostly a perception problem.

According to Bryan Krulikowski, the man who authored the PACE study, "While the perceptions of diesel have changed for the better, consideration of clean diesel vehicles is hampered by the high cost of diesel fuel compared to gasoline." Further, "some consumers recall diesels of the past and have not yet experienced or accepted the improved diesel technology available today," he said. As a final nail in the consumer consideration coffin, many new car buyers aren't yet convinced that exhaust aftertreatment systems that rely on urea will be a foolproof way to control emissions.

From where we sit, that's something of a shame. As we've found in our own tests of modern vehicles like the Jetta TDI and BMW 335d, the diesel engine has completely shed its old rough-idling, smoky and stinky ways in favor of smooth running, plateau-like torque curves and class-leading fuel efficiency.

View Poll

Gallery: Review: 2009 BMW 335d

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

STUDY: Diesel sales still limited in U.S. by buyer perceptions [w/POLL] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Navistar suing Ford... again

Chris Shunk — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Ford

Ford and Navistar are once again going to court over the automaker's plans to develop a 4.4L diesel engine inhouse for the F-150. The original lawsuit was thrown out last June, with the judge ordering the two corporations to iron out their differences in mediation. Since no progress has been made outside the legal system, Navistar has refiled its claim. In the suit, Navistar is claiming the light-duty diesel engine violates the agreement once made between the two companies, which states that Navistar be Ford's primary supplier of oil burners. Navistar is also alleging that the 4.4L diesel that Ford's currently developing is in fact International's 4.4L Lion V8 project that cost Navistar $11 million to develop. It's hard to pinpoint how or why Navistar is so sure Ford is using the Lion project 4.4L, considering that the supplier has received no official specs of the engine from Ford.

We're not exactly Dr. Phil, but it appears that Navistar has a bone to pick with Ford. Considering the fact that Ford isn't using its long-time supplier to develop and produce its light-duty diesel engine, the Dearborn, MI automaker is none too pleased with Navistar, either. We think the judge should order Navistar's fugly new International Lonestar to take on a pair of F-450s in a concrete cage match - the winner gets the contract for the F-150 diesel engine.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Navistar suing Ford... again originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford begins production of twin-turbo diesel V8

Stuart Waterman — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 08:03:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford

Ford Motor's new top-of-the-line diesel (photo at right) starting rolling off the production line Friday at the company's Dagenham Diesel Centre in Britain. The new powerplant is a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V8 that puts out about 265 hp (270 ps) and 472 ft-lb. of torque (640 Nm). Up to 25,000 of the new V8s will be produced annually.

Ford says it will announce vehicle applications for the new engine later this year.

Ford's Dagenham operation builds half of all Ford diesels worldwide.

[Source: Ford]

Ford begins production of twin-turbo diesel V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Apr 2006 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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