Nissan “disappointed” over diesel emissions

NISSAN has maintained its innocence after being found guilty of cheating emissions on cars made in its Sunderland, UK facility

Cummins distances itself from FCA fall-out

As shares in Renault fell sharply late last week following reports that French prosecutors are investigating the carmaker over possible diesel emissions claims, Cummins Inc. has become the latest manufacturer to distance itself from the vehicle emissions scandal.

Hydrogen fuel cells: yes or no?

Whose voice should we listen to: the lone voice in the wilderness or vehicle makers preparing to peddle their wares in years to come?

Nissan ‘more confident’ over future of UK plant

FEARS that Nissan’s Qashqai flagship model could leave the car-maker’s UK plant in the north-easy may have been eased after the company’s boss said he was “confident” the UK will remain a competitive place to do business.

R&D consortium strives for ‘advanced diesels’

Ricardo is one of some 16 organisations participating in Project REWARD to develop advanced diesel engines beyond Euro6 for passenger cars and light commercials under 3,500kg, including a new two-stroke diesel for B/C segment cars. 

‘Defeat device’ all-clear for Renault, as…

Tests conducted so far on a number of Renault vehicles have not revealed the presence of any ‘defeat devices’.

Master achieves record output in 2015

According to Renault sources, the company's Sandouville plant in France built 93,000 New Trafic and vehicles for Renault and its partner GM in 2015.

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).

For Vito read Metris in North America

Mercedes-Benz has responded to offerings by Fiat and Ford in the US van market with the launch of its Metris, the US-version of the Vito.

Volvo to launch three-cylinder in 2017

 Volvo is set to launch a 1.5-litre three-cylinder gasoline engine in 2017 using components from its 2-litre four-cylinder unit.

Renault probes two-cylinder two-stroke diesel

Some thermodynamic cycles attract powertrain engineers as habitually, they revisit the past in a bid to create the future.

Production of new Smarts gets under way

Production is now under way of the next generation Smart fortwo and the Smart forfour in readiness for the vehicles going on sale in November.

The two new vehicles are built on a new four-wheel-drive architecture that has involved teams from Daimler and Renault which have been working together for the last four years.

The Smart fortwo is being built at Smart's plant in Hambach whereas the forfour and the Renault Twingo are being assembled at the French company's plant in Novo Mesto in Slovenia.

Meanwhile, production of the jointly developed 2-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine has begun at a joint Daimler-Nissan plant, namely the Infiniti Decherd Plant in Decherd, Tennessee.

Interestingly, this new engine will appear, according to sources, in Infinity Q50 vehicles as well as the Mercedes C-Class, which may open a few eyes!

And Daimler’s Vito makes it three

An interesting situation will materialise when three Renault-powered vans line up in Europe’s marketplace.

Renault’s 1.6-litre diesel already powers both the Renault Trafic and the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro in front-wheel drive configuration.

Renault to make parts for Nissan Micra

In late 2016, Renault’s Le Mans plant will begin making chassis components for the next-generation Nissan Micra.

This programme will increase the plant’s workload by about eight per cent and draw an investment budget totalling €7 million.

Ricardo to aid Tenneco with DPF support

Ricardo has been selected by Tenneco (Suzhou) Emission Systems Co. Ltd.  to provide diesel particulate filter (DPF) control software and development support.

Ricardo is a leading developer of next-generation fuel-efficient and clean technologies, and is no stranger to working within the Chinese market and has a well-equipped engineering facility and team in Shanghai.

Renault to supply light CV to Fiat from 2016

Renault and Fiat have signed an agreement whereby Renault will supply Fiat with a light commercial vehicle based on a Renault platform.

The styling of the Fiat vehicle will be developed by Fiat and will feature unique and distinctive elements on the model, branded Fiat Professional.

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.

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).

€190 million for new Vito production

Daimler has invested €190 million to upgrade its van plant in Vitoria, Spain to produce the next generation Vito.

Following the summer shutdown, production will begin of the next generation Mercedes-Benz Vito at the facility, which has also just seen another model changeover for the new Mercedes-Benz V-Class factory. The new MPV goes on sale in June.

Mercedes launches AMTs for Atego range

Mercedes-Benz is to launch its new Atego light- and medium-duty truck series at the IFAT 2014 exhibition in Munich, Germany this month.

For the first time, the company will introduce an automated mechanical transmission (AMT) in lightweight trucks.