Autoblog

Official: Ford 6.7-liter PowerStroke gets 800 lb-ft as of next week, upgrades available

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, GM, Diesel

2011 Ford Super Duty pickup - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford has made it official: beginning with next week's production, the 6.7-liter PowerStroke turbo diesel in the 2011 Ford Super Duty pickup will be upgraded to 400 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque. That's a bump of 10 hp and a jump of 65 lb-ft, enough to leapfrog General Motors' 6.6-liter Duramax by 3 hp and 35 lb-ft. Or, to put more bluntly, enough to run over the Duramax on its way to the top of the heavy duty engine heap.

Further, at the end of August, the Super Duty's frame will be strengthened, upping its payload rating by 550 pounds (to 7,070), which will also increase its fifth-wheel tow rating by 1,000 pounds to 22,600.

Although not much can be done for your tow rating if you bought a Super Duty as soon as it hit the showroom, you can get the power upgrade from your suddenly feeble 635 torques. For one year starting on August 31, 2010, will be able to take their pickups into Ford dealers and get their engines tweaked to the new standard. Since there's no hardware involved, Ford says it should take just 20 minutes to get the reflash job done - learn more with the official press release after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty

Photos by Rex Roy / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Sources: Ford, Detroit News]

Continue reading Official: Ford 6.7-liter PowerStroke gets 800 lb-ft as of next week, upgrades available

Official: Ford 6.7-liter PowerStroke gets 800 lb-ft as of next week, upgrades available originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All Torque, No Action: Audi reportedly cancels R8 TDI

Noah Joseph — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars, Audi, Diesel

Audi R8 TDI Le Mans concept - Click above for a hi-res image gallery

If anyone could have done a diesel supercar, it would have been Audi. After achieving utter domination in Le Mans racing with its R10 TDI, the German automaker unveiled two successive turbodiesel concept versions of the R8 supercar at the Detroit show and then at the Geneva salon in 2008. But after whetting our appetites for an oil-burning supercar with instant power delivery and endless reserves of torque, Audi has reportedly canceled development of its R8 TDI program.

Apparently, the R8 was not originally designed to accommodate the company's enormous V12 turbodiesel engine, and re-engineering the car was proving far too costly for Audi to justify under these financial circumstances, especially when the American market, which accounts for 1/3rd of R8 sales, is marred by diesel prices that are higher than gas. Fortunately Audi's already given us the 5.2-liter V10 FSI and has the convertible version in the works, but a diesel R8 just isn't in the cards.

Gallery: Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept

Gallery: Audi R8 TDI Le Mans

[Source: Auto Express]

All Torque, No Action: Audi reportedly cancels R8 TDI originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 May 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Next Bentley Arnage to feature Audi turbo-diesel

Noah Joseph — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Green, Audi, Bentley, Rumormill

Bentley Arnage Final Series - Click above for high-res gallery

Bentley has long been rumored to be considering the use of diesel engines. The torquey oil-burners would enable Crewe to continue offering the kind of freight-train muscle for which it has become known while living up to the mandate of offering improved fuel economy, and, with the latest developments in particulate filter technology, reduce carbon emissions, as well. The company's marriage to Audi, which has carved out a nice niche for itself in diesel propulsion, seems to be a match made in motor heaven, and now reports suggest that, at long last, the marriage is set to be consummated with the next Arnage sedan.

According to the latest output from the ever-churning rumor-mill, the replacement for the aging Arnage will employ a version of the V12 turbo-diesel used in the current Audi Q7 TDI. With 500 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, the twelve-cylinder oil-burner would prove an ideal power-plant for the big saloon, and could get an even higher output version to join the half-century-old 6 ¾-liter V8 found in 530-horsepower trim in the current Brooklands, all while Bentley continues to toy with ethanol-burning variants of its W12 as previewed in the Continental Supersports show car unveiled just days ago at the Geneva Motor Show and Her Majesty's State Limousine.

Gallery: Bentley Arnage Final Series

[Source: 4wheelsnews]

REPORT: Next Bentley Arnage to feature Audi turbo-diesel originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For Eur-eyes Only: Volvo releases new five-cylinder diesel in S80

Noah Joseph — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Green, Volvo, UK

Click above to view the Volvo D5 engine in all its high-resolution wonder

By now, Volvo has been almost completely integrated into the Ford empire, but with its parent company looking to offload the Swedish subsidiary, Volvo's going to have to demonstrate its worth as a standalone automaker. Developing its own engines is a good place to start, and Volvo has just unveiled its own unique diesel powerplant.

Replacing the existing D5 diesel, the new variant continues the five-cylinder tradition, but that's where the similarities end. The new mill displaces 2.4 liters, supplemented by twin sequential turbochargers, ceramic glow-plugs and piezoelectric fuel injectors. The new tech helps the D5 generate 205 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of twist, but more importantly, the engine now meets the stringent Euro 5 emissions standard with only 164g of CO2 per kilometer, while returning an impressive 45.6 mpg. The engine will be available in the British market S80 sedan in a few months, but unfortunately it isn't earmarked to cross the Atlantic. All we can do is look at the photos in the gallery and read the details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Volvo D5 diesel engine

Continue reading For Eur-eyes Only: Volvo releases new five-cylinder diesel in S80

For Eur-eyes Only: Volvo releases new five-cylinder diesel in S80 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes unveils new range of diesel four-cylinders

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:35:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Green, Mercedes-Benz

Click above for a high-res gallery of the new M-B four-pot diesels.

With lots of AMG goodness on the road and in the pipeline, something's got to balance out Mercedes-Benz' carbon footprint. So M-B announced today that it's releasing a new range of four-cylinder diesel mills that balances emissions, fuel economy and performance. The top-of-the-line 2.1-liter oilburner is producing 204 hp and 368 lb.-ft. of torque, or around 20-percent more than its predecessor, while returning better mileage and reducing emissions by over 10-percent. When fitted in the new C-class (250CDI) it's able to make the run to 60 in 7.7 seconds while getting 46 mpg.

The other upcoming C-class models will include the 220 CDI and 200 CDI, producing 170 hp and 136 hp respectively. The boost in performance and fuel efficiency comes from the use of new twin-stage turbochargers, more efficient exhaust recirculation, intercoolers, injection systems and a revised common-rail setup.

All the details are available in Mercedes' press release posted below the fold.

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz Four Cylinder diesels

Continue reading Mercedes unveils new range of diesel four-cylinders

Mercedes unveils new range of diesel four-cylinders originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW has a plan for diesels in the U.S.

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, LA Auto Show, Sedan, Green, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz

Matt Davis, the European Editor over at Winding Road, was able to get the low down on BMW's strategy to offer diesels here in the Land of the Brave.

During an event to give U.S. journos a taste of Bimmer's 335d Touring, equipped with a 3-liter bi-turbo diesel, the folks at Winding Road opined the fact that North American consumers would never be able to enjoy a BMW diesel stateside. That may all change when BMW announces their plans for diesels in the U.S., in addition to debuting the hydrogen-powered 7-series and new X5, at the L.A. Auto Show later this month. The soon-to-be-released oil burner in question is the 535d, which currently meets all manner of state and federal acronymed organizations, however, when 2009 rolls along and California enacts a 30-percent reduction in emissions, BMW will have to bust hump to make their diesels as clean as can be.

This move is due in no small part to their cross-town rival, Mercedes-Benz, beginning to offer the Bluetec line of diesels on U.S. soil and Audi's plans on introducing a new TDI engine at the Detroit Auto Show (sorry, NAIAS). However, just like MB, BMW will have to offer some form of urea injection, beyond what it currently employs.

[Source: Winding Road]

BMW has a plan for diesels in the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru's diesel boxer

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 11:54:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Technology, Paris Motor Show, Subaru

The design of the horizontally-opposed engine has a myriad of benefits. One of the most common is its compact design, which allows the center of gravity to be lower in the host vehicle. Additionally, since the boxer's pistons cancel out much of the vibration, the rotational balance is second to none. Both of these advantages will lend themselves to the advent of the first boxer diesel, which will find a home within a variety of Subaru models in Europe and possible even here in the States.

Hiroyuki Ikeda, Subaru Europe's President, announced at the Paris Motor Show that the development of the H4 turbo-diesel boxer is almost complete. The design, pictured above, reveals two interesting tidbits: first, the turbo, which is traditionally housed towards the passenger side firewall on most Subarus, will be moved south of the crankshaft to retain the boxer's low center of gravity. Second, the new DOHC diesel will be outfitted with a timing chain, currently only seen on Subaru's H6 engines, and will be the first H4 so equipped.

If one of Subie's diesels does make it to this continent, expect it to reside under the hood of the new Forester.

[Source: GizMag via Straightline]

Subaru's diesel boxer originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 Sep 2006 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cummins to supply light-duty diesels to - who?

John Neff — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 17:08:00 EST

Filed under: Daimler, Dodge

Cummins Inc. has inked a deal with an unnamed automaker to supply high-performance light-duty diesel engines to be used in various truck and SUV applications. These engines will be a new foray into the mass market for the diesel engine manufacturer, which is best known for powering big rigs across the U.S.

Cummins says the project resulted from a 9-year partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop high-performance, fuel-efficient, clean diesel engines that provide an average fuel savings of 30 percent over comparable gas engines. Cummins has not yet picked a site to construct a manufacturing facility for the engines, but does have a short list.

While the automaker in question prefers to remain anonymous for competitive reasons, our sources tell us that it's likely DaimlerChrysler. DCX would make sense considering Cummins already supplies Dodge Ram heavy-duty pickups with its 5.9-liter HO turbo diesel. Our sources also say that the engines, which will use a V layout and not be inline, will go into the Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango.

Thanks to John and Mike for the tip!

[Source: Cummins]

Cummins to supply light-duty diesels to - who? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 17:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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