Mini Monster Truck
Europe's "it" car, the smart, is finally headed to the United States in 2008. While the petite models (the fortwo, for example, is 8.24 feet long) are already conversation pieces, we got much more talkative about this off-road hybrid. The forfun2 concept's engine (an OM 352 six-cylinder diesel), chassis, and transmission are borrowed from a Unimog, and it has 56-inch rubber and about 25 inches of ground clearance, making its overall height around 12 feet. It has specially tuned off-road shocks and air suspension.
"Diesel will be good for America, and biodiesel makes diesel better."
-Loren Beard, senior manager for fuels at DaimlerChrysler, at a conference hosted by the National Diesel Board.
 Bosch has been swearing by...  Bosch has been swearing by the idle-hands theory lately-or we at least assume so since the company has been busy producing a special common rail injection system for the new long-distance race car, the Peugeot 908. We told you about the V-12 car in the last issue of Diesel Power, and we're learning more about its state-of-the-art diesel technology developed by Bosch, which uses high-pressure pumps, piezo inline injectors, and a central control unit. The high-performance 908 will hit the racing circuit in 2007, which will include 24 Hours at Le Mans. |  Meanwhile, Bosch has also...  Meanwhile, Bosch has also been responsible for the 29,000 psi common rail system that will make an appearance in a non-race vehicle, the 6.0L V-12 Audi Q7. It will produce 500 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque (mmm, torquey); inspiration for that came from Audi's R10 Le Mans race car. As usual, if you live in the U.S., stop the overproduction of saliva now. We likely won't get to see it here. |  GM's New Warranty For '07...  GM's New Warranty
For '07 models, General Motors has expanded its warranty coverage to 100,000 miles or five years in Canada and North America. The transferable powertrain limited warranty will not have a deductible. Also watch for expanded roadside assistance and courtesy rides. Meanwhile, pricing for the Silverado and Sierra Classic pickups should be pretty identical to '06 models. |
 '08 Power Stroke The all-new...  '08 Power Stroke
The all-new 6.4L Power Stroke that'll be available for the '08 Ford Super Duty (on sale January 1, 2007) will be cleaner than its predecessor and make at least 350 hp at 3,000 rpm and 650 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm via a high-pressure common rail fuel system, piezo electronic fuel injectors, and advanced diesel particulate filtering. |  (continue)It can be paired...  (continue)It can be paired to a six-speed manual with Overdrive or the TorqShift five-speed automatic; both utilize a new mounting system, which should cure the vibration issues once familiar to the diesel truck.Also, are you keeping up on the 26 years of Henry Ford Technology Award recipients? Of course you are. Then know that the team behind the Super Duty's diesel particulate filter scored a prize. |  California Makes The Low,Low-Sulfur...  California Makes The Low,Low-Sulfur Switch
It's official: Retail pumps in California have moved from low-sulfur to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The California Air Resources Board is the org that demanded this happen years before the EPA's national deadline of December 1, 2010. While many other pumps outside of California will probably jump the gun too, Cali was actually prepared for an easy transition on account of the ULSD already being produced and because of big rigs featuring much cleaner emissions-control technology for 2007. |
FYI:
Chevron and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory have formed a strategic research alliance to advance the development of renewable transportation fuels. (Translation: For the next five years, researchers will collaborate on new technologies for biofuels, such as converting forestry and agricultural waste into renewable diesel and ethanol.)