Transit rolls in Claycomo; F-150 next

Ford Motor Company has begun production of the 2015 Transit van at its Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri.

Transit will replace the venerable Ford E-series van, first sold in 1961 as the Ford Econoline. Ford will continue making E-series vans during the 2014 calendar year as Transit production ramps up.

More three-cylinder downsizing at VW

The first fuel-thrifty Volkswagen 1-litre, three-cylinder direct injection turbo engine will make its debut in the second half of the year in the new Polo TSI BlueMotion.

The engine will deliver 66kW/90PS and offer drivers fuel consumption of 4.1 l/100 km and a CO₂ figure of 94g/km. Its predecessor, delivering an identical 90PS, consumed 4.9 l/100 km (equating to 113 g/km CO₂).

Daimler, Nissan launch 300,000/y Mexico JV

Start-of-production (SOP) is planned in Mexico for 2017 at a Renault-Nissan/Daimler AG plant that will make 300,000 premium compact vehicles a year.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn and Daimler chief executive officer Dieter Zetsche have announced their 50:50 joint venture that will see construction and operation of the new plant in Aguascalientes in north-central Mexico.

Ford Edges in new use for CGI engine blocks

Production volumes of Ford’s new 2.7-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 gasoline engine look set to blossom following the company’s unveiling this week of the all-new, second-generation Edge crossover vehicle at its Dearborn, Michigan headquarters.

Earlier this year, Ford unveiled its new V6 EcoBoost gasoline engine, the most striking feature of which is the use of compacted graphite iron (CGI) material for the vee cylinder block.

GKN uses speed to attract talent

GKN is making its debut in the hill climb at the world-renowned Festival of Speed with a record-breaking electric race car

The company is hoping its efforts will act as an engaging introduction into the challenges of automotive engineering. 

Vauxhall overturns bleak prospects

Five years ago, the future looked bleak for Vauxhall's light commercial vehicle plant in Luton.

Now the future is guaranteed for 10 years when the next generation model goes into production there at the end of the three-week August shut-down.

Vauxhall invests £185 million in Vivaro

Vauxhall claims to have invested £185 million, including £76 million in manufacturing facilities and £90 million in vendor tooling and special equipment for its all-new Vivaro.

The van, according to the company, secures 1,200 jobs at the UK’s last van manufacturing plant after workers won a 10-year contract and the £185 million investment.

M&M to build plant in Brazil?

Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is planning to build a new plant in Brazil.

The executive director and president of M&M's auto business, Pawan Goenka, is reported as saying the plan has been motivated by the benefits derived from avoiding import tariffs.

Disco Sport demands 250 new jobs

Over 250 new jobs have been created as Land Rover’s Discovery Sport is the latest model to be produced at JaguarLandRover's Halewood plant.

The additional jobs announced to support Jaguar Land Rover's newest model will see the Halewood workforce reach 4,750 - more than treble the number employed there in 2010.

Peugeot cuts models by half

Peugeot is to halve its model line-up over the next few years, reducing today's 26 different offerings to just 13.

It is part of the brand's ‘Move Upmarket' strategy and a determination to move into what it calls "profitable channels of distribution".

Ricardo lights up US racing

Ricardo has secured a multi-year contract extension as sole source of racing transmissions for the US Indy Lights series

The Indy Lights series consists of ten rounds of highly competitive racing around famous North American circuits as the feeder series for the world-famous Verizon IndyCar Series championship.

VDL Nedcar ready for Mini Hatch

Production workers at VDL Nedcar’s facility are currently on summer shutdown, but when they return manufacture of the Mini Hatch will begin.

VDL Nedcar in will re-open the factory in Born in mid-July.

First Trafic vans from Sandouville

For the first time in its history, since it was opened in 1964, Renault’s Sandouville plant is about to start building light commercial vehicles (LCVs).

The plant will produce New Trafic (to be launched this summer) and the high-roof version of the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro, previously built in Spain (Nissan plant in Barcelona) and the UK (General Motors plant in Luton).

E-van takes a leaf out of Leaf

The zero-emission e-NV200 van Nissan will build at its plant in Barcelona, Spain will incorporate key features of the Leaf hatchback, made at its Sunderland, UK plant.

The small commercial vehicle will be the Japanese firm’s second all-electric model and will use the Leaf’s drivetrain and be powered by lithium-ion battery cells made at Sunderland.

US to have 3.3 million ZEVs by 2025?

Eight US states have just released a Multi-State Action Plan to guide efforts to put 3.3 million zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) on their roads by 2025.

Last October, governors from eight states – California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont – announced their “ground-breaking” initiative to put over three million zero-emission vehicles on the roads in their states within a dozen years.

G&W set to reveal its secrets

Grainger & Worrall (G&W), perhaps the world’s leading specialist in casting compacted graphite iron (CGI) prototype engine components, is to open its doors to motorsport professionals from across the UK on 18 June.

The Bridgnorth, Shropshire company is to host the Motorsport Industry Association’s (MIA) Summer Open Day.

Prius production set for Brazil?

Toyota may add production of the Prius hybrid to its facility at Sao Bernardo do Campo in Sao Paolo (Brazil), according to South American news reports.

The facility currently builds components to supply Toyota's main assembly plants in Sorocaba and Indiatuba, Brazil.

Ford to launch adaptive steering in 2015

Ford Motor Company is to market a new generation of steering technology that will help make vehicles easier to manoeuvre at low speeds and in tight spaces.

At higher speeds, the new technology will help make the vehicle more agile and fun to drive.