Downsizing

Honda is reportedly using its upcoming 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the base choice in the next-gen Civic. It's possible that they could both be fully unveiled by the end of 2015.

Engine downsizing is considered an effective method to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency. The basic concept is simple: replace a larger engine with something that displaces less and, typically, packs a turbocharger to make up for any lost power. One impediment to engine downsizing is low-speed preignition (LSPI). Preignition occurs when the combustion chambers ignites prior to the spark event. This causes advanced combustion timing which can lead to heavy engine knock and catastrophic

2011 Bentley Continental GT – Click above for high-res image gallery

2010 Mini Cooper 50 Camden Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

Affordability as the watchword Tuesday as automotive engineers at the SAE World Congress discussed how to meet the new 2016 corporate average fuel economy standards. Automakers will have to get their fleets to an average of 34.1 miles per gallon (35.5 equivalent with other factors for the EPA CO2 limits). Most automakers are already well on their way to this level with their next-generation designs. However, to do it they will

PSA Peugeot Citroën has announced that it will spend €175 Million to tool up one of its engine plants to build a new turbocharged inline three-cylinder engine. The Douvrin engine plant will have a capacity of 320,000 units per year starting in early in 2013. The 1.2-liter engines will join a normally aspirated version that debuts one year earlier.

PSA Peugeot Citroën have announced that it will spend €175 Million to tool up one of its engine plants to build a new turbocharged inline-three cylinder engine. The Douvrin engine plant will have a capacity of 320,000 powerplants per year starting in early in 2013. The 1.2-liter engines will join a normally aspirated version that debuts one year earlier.

In addition to the upcoming hybrid versions of the Panamera and Cayenne as well as an electric version of the 911, Porsche is believed to be preparing a low CO2 version of its next-generation Boxster. The new, lower-power variant would be meant to help Porsche meet upcoming European CO2 emissions limits.

Fiat 500 Multiair concept - Click image for gallery

The next generation of BMW's 3-series looks like it will get some major revisions when it arrives in about two years. The new model is expected to be the first in the range to get new turbocharged three cylinder engines in both gas and diesel variants. The three-cylinder engines will likely be 1.5-liter units that are essentially half of the latest generation's inline sixes.

The next generation BMW 3-series is set to get some major revisions when it arrives in two year's time. The new model is expected to be the first in the range to get a line of turbocharged three-cylinder engines in both gas and diesel variants, and will likely be 1.5-liter units -- essentially halved versions of the latest generation inline-sixes.

French manufacturer Renault had been recently attacked in France for excessive delocalization, so it doesn't exactly come as a surprise that the marque is going to build its all-new diesels close to home. Specifically, in Cléon, in the Northwest of France. The new engine, a 1.6-liter, is set to replace the current 1.9 dCi that produces 130 HP, starting in 2011, for both Renault and Nissan cars. Renault claims the new dCi engine produces 30 g/km less CO2 emissions and gets 20 pe

In 2002, General Motors had 177,000 employees in North America. By the end of 2008, that number had shrunk to 93,000, or 49% fewer employees than it had just six years earlier. GM plans to further cut its white collar workforce by 3,400 by May of this year, and the General is looking to cut 10,000 white-collar posts globally by the end of 2009. That will make nearly 100,000 GM jobs lost; enough people to fill the University of Michigan football stadium.

A lot is lost in the transition from a Hummer to a smart. We tend to focus on the benefits: the lost fuel bills and reduced vehicular emissions, and that's not going to change any time soon, we being AutoblogGreen and all. Some people, though, are finding that they miss their larger fuel-guzzlers more than they had initially expected. It's easy to hate a car when pulling up to the gas pump and dumping a hundred bucks or more into the tank every week, and it's also likely pretty easy to forget th