TRANSMISSIONS

MPG Leader Mazda Does it Without Hybrids or EVs

December 18, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

The Mazda brand has once again achieved the top miles per gallon (mpg) rating amongst all manufacturers in the US, reaching a fleet-wide average of 29.4 mpg for 2014, according to a report published by the EPA this week.

2016 Mazda CX-5

2016 Mazda CX-5.

SKYACTIV Technology Leads the Way

For the third consecutive year, Mazda beat out all comers and did so without the usual hybrid and electric vehicle models other manufacturers rely upon to achieve higher numbers. Instead, the company has been working diligently to improve its engines and transmissions, what it calls “SKYACTIV Technology”. The technology also extends to vehicle platforms as extensive lightweighting and sleek designs are employed.

“At Mazda, driving matters and so does fuel economy,“ said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations. “Using SKYACTIV Technology, Mazda has been able to achieve class-leading fuel efficiency in nearly every segment it competes in. This achievement verifies that Mazda has evolved to offer what others can’t, vehicles that are of high-quality, great looking, fun-to-drive and fuel efficient.“

Besides exceptional fuel efficiency, the EPA noted that Mazda is the leader in CO2 emissions, specifically the manufacturer offering the lowest output of all. With a rating of 302 g/mile, the automaker easily outpaced the next two brands, Subaru and Hyundai.

2016 Mazda CX-3

2016 Mazda CX-3.

New Product Offerings

Mazda’s success can be attributed to a host of new products released in recent years, including its compact Mazda3 and midsize Mazda6 car lines, its MX-5 Miata roadster, and a pair of crossover SUVs: the tiny CX-3 and the compact CX-5. Yet another model, the next-generation CX-9 arrives in 2016 and comes outfitted with a turbocharged, 2.5-liter engine, replacing the current V-6. The automaker expects the new CX-9 to deliver “great performance…and excellent fuel economy.”

Granted, Mazda is more of a niche player as it doesn’t match the product offers of the top brands, including Chevrolet, Toyota, Ford, Nissan, and Honda. The first four brands along with Fiat Chrysler are heavily reliant on larger SUVs and trucks, vehicles that skew mpg numbers accordingly.

Other Manufacturers Represented

Subaru, another niche manufacturer, came in second with a fleet-wide average of 27.6 mpg. This automaker relies on all-wheel drive models nearly exclusively, with only the rear-wheel drive BRZ lacking such a system. Subaru offers only one hybrid model: the XV Crosstrek.

Hyundai, with a fleet average of 27.5 mpg is another manufacturer with just one hybrid model: the Sonata Hybrid. This Korean manufacturer has no trucks and also has a relatively low presence in the utility vehicle segment. But it also has larger models such as the Genesis and Equus sedans that neither Mazda nor Subaru offer.

2016 Scion iA.

The Mazda-supplied 2016 Scion iA.

Among the largest manufacturers, Honda (inclusive of Acura) achieved a 27.3 mpg average. All three major US manufacturers brought up the rear with Ford and GM averaging 22.8 mpg and Fiat Chrysler coming in last at 20.8 mpg. These manufacturers dominate the full-size truck segment; FCA also lacks a hybrid or an electric vehicle (other than the California Fiat 500e) to help lift its numbers. FCA also finished dead last in CO2 output.

Incrementally Rising EPA Requirements

All manufacturers have a long way to go before reaching the 54.5 mpg corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) requirement for 2025. In fact, incremental year over year increases are mandated, therefore greater use of alternative fuels and power sources are likely, including for Mazda.

Beginning in 2016, Mazda will discontinue its last V-6 engine even as competitors continue to rely upon both V6s and V8s for some models. However, Mazda hasn’t announced what products will eventually get hybrids, but when it does the automaker will rely upon Toyota’s green technologies to achieve its goals according to Green Car Reports.

Pentastar Engine Family Passes 5 Million Milestone

May 28, 2015 by admin Leave a Comment

Pentastar is the name of Fiat Chrsyler’s modern V-6 engine family. The engines are found in more than a dozen models, and power a variety of vehicles. To date, more than 5 million of these engines have been deployed worldwide.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee was the first FCA model with a Pentastar engine.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced on Wednesday that its family of V-6 Pentastar engines just surpassed a significant milestone. Notably, five million of its popular V-6 engines have been placed under the hood of an assortment of Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep vehicles, and demand for these modern power plants continues to grow.

Three Engine Displacements

First introduced in 2011 to power the Jeep Grand Cherokee, FCA has since expanded the engine line to include power plants displacing at 3.2- and 3.0-liters each. The smallest of this intrepid trio is produced for the Chinese market only.

FCA says that its Pentastar engine family represents its most advanced six-cylinder engines yet. Pentastar incorporates a number of technologies, which enable the engine to squeeze out more power from each footprint and do so efficiently and in an environmentally responsible way. Some 14 vehicles across four FCA brands offer Pentastar engines.

“The success of the Pentastar V-6 engine family continues to be a testament to our powertrain engineering prowess,” said Bob Lee, Vice President – Engine, Powertrain and Electrified Propulsion, and Systems Engineering, FCA – North America. “This engine delivers world-class performance in multiple displacements and vehicle applications around the globe. We’re extremely proud of how this engine family has evolved to provide our customers with a wide range of performance capabilities.”

The base engine for the Dodge Charger is a Pentastar engine.

Three Engine Plants

It takes three engine plants to handle Pentastar demand. All three plants — Trenton Engine Complex, Saltillo South Engine Plant (Mexico) and Mack Avenue Engine Plant — produce the original and the largest of the three engines. The Trenton facility also produces the smallest engine, while the Mack Avenue plant builds the middle engine.

Pentastar has enabled FCA to claim horsepower leadership in a number of categories. For instance, the 283-horsepower achieved by the full-size Ram ProMaster van is the best in its class. Further, the 295-horsepower output of the Chrysler 200 is tops amongst midsize sedans. Moreover, the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans also achieve 283-horsepower, besting competing vehicles such as the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna and the Kia Sedona.

Old Engines Expunged

When Chrysler began development of its Pentastar family, it sought to replace as many as seven V-6 engines of varying ages and sophistication found across its product lines. That meant accommodating a variety of drive systems — front- rear-, all- and four-wheel drive as well as both manual and automatic applications. Notably, the Pentastar family is paired with 6-speed manual as well as 6-, 8- and 9-speed automatic transmissions.

Regardless of displacement, there are commonalities across the Pentastar family line. For instance, the engine family features a 60-degree, deep-skirt, die-cast-aluminum cylinder block with six-bolt main caps designed to offer matchless rigidity for noise, vibration and harshness mitigation.

A Pentastar V-6 engine in the Chrysler 300.

Other features include: variable valve timing, contoured composite cylinder-head covers, select-fit pistons with polymer-graphite-coated piston skirts, and a special “silent time” drive chain with inverted teeth in a bid to minimize sprocket noise, vibration and harshness.

FCA also likes to point out the engine family’s specially designed exhaust manifold. This unit is integrated with the cylinder head for outstanding effectualness. And not to be left out is the intake manifold, what benefits from low-rumble tuning.

Pentastar Family Usage

Can you name the 14 vehicles that offer Pentastar engine? Hint: it is found in midsize and larger models.

In an case, you can find Pentastar in the Chrysler 200, 300 and Town & Country; the Dodge Durango, Charger, Challenger, Journey and Grand Caravan; the Jeep Wrangler, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee; and in the Ram 1500, C/V Tradesman and ProMaster.

See Also — Premium Value: Chrysler 300 Limited

Toyota and Mazda Collaboration Will Lift Both Automakers

May 14, 2015 by admin 2 Comments

And so it begins. Giant Toyota and wee Mazda announced a collaborative agreement this week that will benefit both companies. The agreement allows each automaker to leverage products and technologies from the other, a partnership that does not include Toyota taking a financial stake in its much smaller competitor.

What the agreement effectively does is to expand an earlier arrangement whereby Mazda is supplying Toyota with a small car based on its Mazda 2 subcompact platform. That vehicle, the 2016 Scion iA, debuts this fall. In exchange, Mazda can now tap Toyota’s plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology.

Symbiotic Task Force

The two companies will establish a joint committee to determine how each automaker can make use of the other’s chief assets. The collaboration will be broad and involve a number of disciplines, including various environmental initiatives and advanced safety technologies.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda and Mazda, President and CEO Masamichi Kogai, held a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday to announce the accord.

Toyoda pointed to two strong Mazda initiatives that have helped this small car manufacturer succeed in an ultra-competitive global market: its SKYACTIV Technologies and KODO―Soul of Motion design. Both present an enticing edge that Toyota does not have and can most certainly benefit from moving forward.

Said Toyoda, “Mazda has proven that it always thinks of what is coming next for vehicles and technology, while still managing to stay true to its basic carmaking roots. In this way, Mazda very much practices what Toyota holds dear: making ever-better cars.”

One of the earlier collaborations between the two automakers
has turned the Mazda 2 into a 2016 Scion iA.

Toyota Saves the Day

Not mentioned by Toyota’s president is that the provision essentially seals Mazda’s fate. Certainly, ever since the Ford Motor Company severed its three-decade relationship with one of Japan’s smaller automakers, the company has lacked the financial resources, especially the economies of scale, it once had.

For example, the earliest Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute models shared the same bones. Although the Tribute’s replacement, the CX-5, is a superior model, the cash outlay for the compact crossover utility vehicle has been enormous.

Quite frankly, Mazda working alone does not have the resources to keep pace with the big guys. But Mazda and Toyota working cooperatively essentially provides the former with a savior. You can now scratch Mazda off your list of vulnerable automakers.

Speaking on behalf of Mazda, Kogoi said, “Toyota is a company that has shown steadfast resolve in acting responsibly on global environmental issues and the future of manufacturing as a whole. I also have tremendous respect for Toyota’s dedication in its pursuit of ever-better cars through ongoing innovation.”

Toyota will supply Mazda with hybrid technology.
Perhaps a Mazda diesel is in the offing for this Camry.

Hydrogen and Hybrid Technologies

No doubt, Toyota and its 10.2 million per year car building efforts will energize Mazda and its 1.2 million annual output. The two companies are competitors, but the move will enable each one to plug specific product holes.

For Mazda, the company will gain access to Toyota’s hydrogen vehicle technologies and expand its PHEV offerings. It isn’t quite clear how this arrangement will work, but look for a PHEV Mazda CX-5 or Mazda 6 in the future. Most likely both. Rebadging the hydrogen Toyota Mirai as a Mazda doesn’t seem likely, although that chassis might someday power a future Mazda product.

Toyota gains access to Mazda’s SKYACTIV technologies, represented by fuel-efficient gasoline and diesel engines, advanced transmissions and lightweight bodies. Of special interest could be Mazda’s diesel engines, one of the weakest areas for Toyota.

Toyota does have diesel technology, but readying those engines for the American market would be a costly undertaking. Mazda has a twin-turbo 2.2-liter diesel engine in the wings, one that meets both European and US emissions standards. The engine is suitable for the midsize Mazda 6 sedan and might also be made available with the Toyota Camry.

As for the Camry, not everyone wants a hybrid and the Mazda diesel would give Toyota something that does not involve vehicle electrification. And if certain KODO design elements transfer to the Camry and other Toyota models, the world’s largest automaker may suddenly gain a much-need styling edge.

Collaboration Gauntlet Thrown Down

FCA collaboration or suitor

Sergio Marchionne is actively campaigning
to win a suitor for FCA.

The Toyota-Mazda arrangement may prove to be the most comprehensive one amongst automotive manufacturers yet. Beyond outright mergers, acquisitions and stake holding, most relationships today are based on special projects involving complex technologies.

For example, Honda and General Motors are collaborating on hydrogen technology. Mitsubishi and Nissan are working on supplying the former with a midsize sedan for the US market. Daimler, Ford and Renault-Nissan are working on fuel-cell technologies with the first models expected to arrive in 2017. Every manufacturer is working with someone else to share technologies and to mitigate costs.

And beating the drum for ever broadening industry cooperation has been none other than Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) CEO, Sergio Marchionne. Just this week Marchionne met with Tesla and Apple CEOs, raising speculation that a Silicon Valley partnership may be in the offing. Marchionne has made it known that FCA is looking for a suitor. He has also stated that the global market can only support six major players.

In any case, the Toyota-Mazda joint effort will likely encourage other automakers to boost their efforts. Importantly, the timing for Mazda couldn’t be better as the next economic turn down is approaching, what most certainly will shake out some of the weaker players.

See Also — Auto Industry Buzzword: Collaboration

Lower Fuel Prices Will Have No Effect on Big Three Innovation

December 9, 2014 by admin 1 Comment

GM, Ford and Chrysler Embrace Fuel Saving Innovation.

Fuel prices are continuing to fall, dropping below $2.50 per gallon for regular grade gasoline in some areas. That’s just the kind of move that has some shoppers looking at larger and less efficient vehicles, perhaps advancing certain auto trends not yet foreseen. The drop in fuel prices, expected to last for several years, won’t stop car manufacturers from innovating, however. Instead, there are a number of changes underfoot that will continue even if gas prices continue to trend downward.

Updated Engines for Chrysler

Ram 1500 innovation.

This small diesel powers select Ram 1500 models.

Of all the major manufacturers, the Chrysler Group has the heaviest exposure to larger vehicles. That’s good for profits, but it is bad in helping the company reach mandated corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) ratings. The problem becomes magnified in each succeeding year up to 2025, when manufacturers must find a way to produce and sell passenger vehicles averaging 54.5 miles per gallon.

Chrysler needs to move away from V-8 engines or at least offer powerful, smaller engines that can step in as well. At present it has a pair of V-6 engines that are likely to play a much larger role in helping Chrysler reach its goals. Specifically, Pentastar family engines displacing at 3.2 and 3.6 liters will receive important innovations.

Those upgrades will bring in a host of technologies such as turbocharging and direct injection notes AllPar.com. Ford makes use of these technologies in its EcoBoost engines, enabling it to provide smaller and more efficient engines with no loss in overall power. Currently, both Pentastar engines are naturally aspirated; making new technologies available will mean supplementing its current V-8 line of HEMI engines. Eventually, those larger engines might be dropped as the CAFE mandates are raised.

Continuously Variable Transmission for Ford

CVT innovation.

Toyota pairs its 1.8-liter engine with a CVT.

Just as Toyota added a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to the Corolla line beginning in 2014 and has enjoyed a nice boost in fuel economy, Ford may do likewise with some of its own models reports Automotive News. Much attention has been directed Ford’s way with the upcoming release of 9- and 10-speed transmissions. Those transmissions, however, will be paired with its larger engines.

A CVT could find its way in such cars as the Ford Focus and Fiesta. Certain versions of those models already get at least 40 mpg on the highway and a CVT could advance those numbers. CVT technology has been used by Nissan for more than 20 years, but other automakers have had mixed results, in part because of consumer hesitancy.

For instance, CVTs don’t use gear points as do standard automatic transmissions and cause a rubber band effect when pressing on the accelerator that returns a pulling sensation. Engines tend to sound louder and the resultant transmission lag annoys some people. Toyota has found a way to limit that sensation and that could be something Ford has figured out too.

GM Does Diesels

As gas prices fall, diesel prices drop too. Still, diesel fuel now carries a mark up of about 20 percent even as such engines are 30 to 35 percent more fuel efficient than comparable gas engines.

Chevrolet Cruze innovation

GM continues to use diesels in smaller vehicles including Cruze.

GM has long been committed to diesels with its heavy-duty pickup trucks. It also offers a diesel variant for the Chevrolet Cruze. Come 2015 and you will see an expanded diesel application in its midsize pickup trucks — Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. But it may not stop there.

Indeed, ever since the Ram 1500 received a 3.0-liter six cylinder diesel option, competing automakers have been studying doing likewise. GM, along with its Isuzu partner, jointly manage DMAX — a company that produces the 6.6-liter turbo diesel V-8 engine found in heavy-duty Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks. A 2.8-liter turbo diesel four will power the midsize trucks; a 2.5-liter turbo diesel four is available in other markets, such as in Thailand.

What GM needs is a V-6 diesel motor and it once has access to one when it shared ownership of VM Motori with Fiat. In Oct. 2013, Fiat acquired GM’s 50 percent share in the company, effectively shutting GM out of the market. Still, GM likely has a V-6 turbo diesel on its drawing board, perhaps based on the smaller fours and measuring about 3.8 liters. Expect GM to green light production if diesel demand increases, but perhaps not until fuel prices are raised across the board again.

Big Three Innovation

Although engines and transmissions will play a significant role in improving fuel economy, further innovations will come through vehicle lightweighting. We’re seeing some of that right now in the aluminum-bodied 2015 Ford F-150. Ford’s competitors — domestic and foreign — are responding by choosing high-strength, but lighter weight steel, carbon fiber and are pursuing other fuel saving initiatives. These efforts will continue even as uel prices are sinking, what is likely to prove a temporary pull back as automakers prepare for much higher CAFE standards.

J.D. Power: Powertrain Problems Impact Quality

February 14, 2014 by admin 2 Comments

The results of the J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) are in. And those findings offer some surprises as well as a warning to automotive manufacturers.

J.D. Power 2014 VDS

For the first time in 15 years vehicle dependability has fallen, as owners of surveyed 2011 models reported a 6 percent increase in problems per vehicle. The J.D. Power Dependability Study measures owner satisfaction for the third year of vehicle ownership, a strong indicator of the longer term quality for any vehicle.

J.D. Power found that overall dependability averages came in at 133 PP100, up from 126 PP100 in 2013. Thus, there were 133 problems per 100 vehicles, the first time since the 1998 study that the number of reported problems increased.

Three factors contributed to the rise led by the powertrain (engine and transmission); audio, entertainment and navigation; and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

Smaller Engines, Bigger Problems

The largest increase involved four-cylinder engines, often the motor of choice for today’s new cars. Owners complained about a lack of power as well as engine hesitation and rough transmission shifts. Manufacturers have been making use of smaller engines in recent years to meet increasingly stringent fuel economy mandates.

One of the more significant problems reported had to do with push button ignition systems that were new or redesigned for the 2011 model year. Owners complained that engines sometimes would not turn over even as they pressed on the brake pedal while pushing the button.

Infotainment System Woes

Kia Rio infotainment system. — A Kia infotainment system.

Perhaps not so surprising were problems owners had with infotainment systems, technologies that include audio and entertainment, and are often married to navigation systems. Complaints that these systems do not recognize voice commands were common, representing the largest problem increase in the 2014 VDS. Navigation systems that gave inaccurate directions and dropped Bluetooth connections were among the other problems reported.

Vehicle HVAC systems were another problem area with owners complaining that air conditioners dont get cold enough, fast enough.

Brand Loyalty

J.D. Power sees a high correlation between customer satisfaction and dependability when it comes to owner loyalty. For customers that report no problems with their vehicles, 56 percent are likely to return to that brand for their next purchase. For customers that do report a problem, only 42 percent will stick with the brand.

Leading the VDS pack was Lexus with a score of 68 PP100 or 68 problems per 100 reported. In a distant second place was Mercedes-Benz at 104 PP100 followed by Cadillac at 107 PP100.

Buick scored the highest amongst non-luxury or mainstream brands with a score of 112 PP100 followed by Honda and Toyota at 114 PP100. Notably, GM with its Cadillac, Buick, GMC, and Chevrolet brands earned more dependability awards than any other manufacturer, garnering eight first-place finishes in their respective categories.

J.D. Power Segment Award Winners

The award winners were announced by segment and included the following 2011 model year vehicles: Honda CR-V, Acura RDX, Chevrolet Volt, Lexus ES 350, Scion xB, MINI Cooper, GMC Yukon, Buick Lucerne, and the GMC Sierra 2500HD. Notably, the Buick Lucerne is no longer produced.

Also, the GMC Sierra 1500, Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac DTS, Lexus LS, Honda Crosstour and the Toyota Camry pulled down segment honors. Like the Lucerne, the Cadillac DTS is also no longer produced.

Other segment winners included the Honda Ridgeline, Lexus RX, Lexus GS, Chevrolet Camaro, Toyota Sienna, Honda Element and the Honda Fit. Honda has since discontinued the Element.

Towards Making Improvements

Certainly, automotive manufacturers will carefully scrutinize J.D. Power data to determine where their respective brands and vehicles stand. And the manufacturer that comes up with an understandable and responsive infotainment system may achieve significant gains in future quality studies while also addressing powertrain and HVAC concerns.

Ford, GM Collaborate Again On Transmissions

April 21, 2013 by admin 3 Comments

Making competition pay off for two rivals.

The Ford Motor Company and the General Motors Company are industry adversaries, but not always. In the mid-2000s, the two companies collaborated on transmissions, enabling both companies to produce the six-speed gearboxes now widely used by the two car manufacturers.

New Transmissions

GM and Ford will once again be putting their differences to the side to collaborate on a new generation of transmissions. On Monday, the two companies announced that new 9- and 10-speed automatic transmissions will be jointly developed, and used in a variety of vehicles including pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, crossover utility vehicles and cars.

Both companies will benefit from sharing the costs associated with building advanced technologies enabling each automaker to field vehicles that are more fuel efficient and perform better. At present, no car manufacturer offers more gears than eight, enabling both companies to raise that standard.

Said Jim Lanzon, GM vice president of global transmission engineering. “We expect these new transmissions to raise the standard of technology, performance and quality for our customers while helping drive fuel economy improvements into both companies’ future product portfolios.”

Maintaining Control

Although the transmissions will include identical hardware, each company will use its own control software. That software enables manufacturers to achieve the performance goals established for the respective model.

Ford GM collaborate and GM both issued press releases announcing the collaboration, with each company citing the success of previous projects including the now current six-speed transmissions. Said Joe Bakaj, Ford vice president of powertrain engineering, “Our front-wheel-drive transmissions have exceeded expectations and there is every reason to believe we will have the same success with these all-new transmissions.”

Let’s Collaborate

The current crop of transmissions can be found in the Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Escape, Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Edge and Chevrolet Traverse among other models.

Each manufacturer will handle production at its own plants and, of course, the Ford v. Chevy battle will continue despite these commonalities.

Antitrust Record

GM and Ford collaborating to this degree would have been unthinkable a generation ago. Back then, it wasn’t so much that the two companies wouldn’t have worked together if possible, rather the US Justice Department might have stepped in and blocked it over antitrust concerns. However, with the auto industry now vastly changed as foreign makes have turned a toehold into a stronghold, those antitrust concerns have largely disappeared.