UPS gives backing to renewable diesel fuel

Delivery giant UPS, which has been in the vanguard of alternative fuels (last year it rolled out a fleet of 1,000 propane-powered delivery vehicles in Oklahoma and Louisiana), today has given its backing to Neste’s renewable diesel.

Volkswagen sees double-digit growth as . . .

Volkswagen Group has reported improved sales and earnings in the first six months of the year in a very challenging environment.

Ford, Nissan also show improved financial results

Declaring its second quarter results, Ford Motor Company shows a pre-tax profit of $2.9 billion, up $269 million from a year ago. Nissan too has impoved its results.

Teksid commits to greater CGI use

Teksid, the foundry arm of Fiat Group, is to boost its production of cylinder blocks and other engine components in compacted graphite iron (CGI).

GM continues “strong earnings growth”

General Motors has reported a strong earnings growth for the second quarter with net income attributable to common stockholders of $1.1 billion, which included a $1.1 billion loss from special items before tax.

Ricardo upgrades anechoic test facility

Ricardo has upgraded its Vehicle Anechoic Test Facility (VATF) at the Shoreham Technical Centre to expand the range of vehicles that can be tested.

VW forms truck and bus supervisory board

Volkswagen Truck & Bus GmbH, the holding company that brings together Volkswagen AG’s truck and bus interests, has formed a parity basis supervisory board.

Sunderland Q30 to bow at Frankfurt

 Visitors to the Frankfurt Motor Show in September will see the first Infiniti Q30 Premium Active Compact that will be built at Nissan’s Sunderland, UK plant next year

Nifco UK seeks third plastics facility

Plastic automotive parts maker Nifco UK, based at Eaglescliffe, near Stockton is to agree a deal with developers to launch the latest phase of the firm’s expansion as it plans to build the firm’s third new factory this decade.

Toyota hybrid sales pass 100,000 mark

Sales of Toyota and Lexus Hybrid models have passed the 100,000 mark for the first time in half-yearly sales. Sales of cars with BMW diesels will also increase.

BorgWarner named as VW turbo supplier

When Volkswagen introduced its high-performance 2-litre diesel, engineers adopted a twin-turbocharger layout; quite different to the simplified in-house single-turbo route taken by Daimler for its OM 471 truck diesel engine.

VW sales dip in “tense” markets

Volkswagen Group delivered slightly fewer vehicles in the first half of 2015 but again topped the five million mark even though some regions were “tense”. 

Are single-regime CVTs the way forward?

Step-less automatic transmissions continue to fascinate the automotive industry.

John Egan: The knight who rescued Jaguar

As Jaguar scales new heights in terms of production, output, quality and technical expertise, a new book depicts how Sir John Egan ‘saved’ the company from extinction and put it on a new footing. He even rescued the name 'Jaguar'.

Ford readies Transit for its next 50 years

Ford will next year add SCR deNOx technology to its heavier Transit van and chassis-cab models to comply with upcoming Euro 6.1 emission requirements applicable to diesel vehicles under 3.5 tonne gvw. Alan Bunting reports 

Ford Transit van is 50 today

Ford is marking the 50^th anniversary of the Transit van with a Press event at its Dunton, Essex, European Research and Development Centre.

Ford gives Mustang carbon fibre wheels

Ford is using carbon fibre for the wheels for the all-new Shelby GT350R track-ready, road-going production Mustang.

Change of technical lead at Cummins

Jennifer Rumsey, vice president of engineering for Cummins' engine business, is replacing Dr. John Wall as chief technical officer as the company begins production of its new ISV5.0 diesel.

Make or buy turbos? Daimler decides

Daimler AG is manufacturing diesel engine turbochargers in-house. It is another ground-breaking development by the vehicle builder on its relentless climb to the sunlit uplands of dominance.

Mercedes-Benz scores record half-year sales

With 898,425 vehicles delivered to customers in the first six months of 2015 (+14.7 per cent), Mercedes-Benz scored the best figures in the company’s history.

FlySafe will assess flywheel failure modes

Ricardo, in collaboration with various industrial and academic partners, has delivered a flywheel safety test environment to develop next-generation flywheel energy storage systems.

UK-built Honda R heads for Japan

Today, in his inaugural speech as Honda Motor Company CEO, Takahiro Hachigo said the new British-built Civic Type R is heading for customers in Japan.

Vauxhall Insignia latest to get ‘Whisper diesel'

Diesel engines have come a long way since the days when they emitted clouds of black smoke and a characteristic combustion sound. But they could be even better.

Demand for Ram diesel is “overwhelming” - FCA

Demand for the EcoDiesel version of the Ram 1500 pick-up truck has been described as “overwhelming”, according to Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA).

Daimler declares OM471 as a “masterpiece”

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its latest generation OM 471 heavy-duty truck engine which it hails as a “masterpiece of engineering”. 

OPOC engine production to begin this year?

Acccording to stock-watcher stock.ourxun.com production of the OPOC opposed-piston engine is expected to begin this year.

Torotrak seeks £13.8m to drive transmissions

Torotrak is asking investors to stump up £13.8 million. But will it be money down the drain?