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For years, chassis development teams looked at pretty conventional solutions to improve vehicle handling dynamics, whether it be adding structural members, reconfiguring axle designs or incorporating active suspension technologies. It [...]

The maximum efficiency of the internal combustion engine has yet to reach its full potential, according to experts at Bosch Automotive Group (bosch.com). 'In a few years, a standard series [...]

When it comes to most high-volume vehicle applications, brake systems have become more of a commodity than a specialty. It's almost as if it is about checking the box on [...]

If you thought a vehicle's GPS navigation system was only good for helping to avoid traffic congestion or keeping you on the correct path, you only know half the story. [...]

Tucked away on the neatly manicured grounds of the University of Michigan campus is a nondescript red brick building. In this building, however, students and faculty are hard at work [...]

The blinking LEDs, blinding xenon headlamps and shiny metal structural parts on display at the Taipei International Auto Parts & Accessories and Electronics show would make anyone think things here [...]

'I am very much influenced by the American approach to management, which is more positive and motivational.' Those are words you wouldn't expect to hear from someone who leads global [...]

Although it seems that some designers come out of the cradle grasping a marker, it wasn't until her high school years when Crystal Windham knew she wanted to take pen [...]

For the past several years, automakers have been reducing product development and engineering costs through the reuse of parts and platforms. In several cases, this has resulted in products that [...]

It's been four years since Steve Mattin became the senior vice president of Design at Volvo, and while the brand has introduced several new or refreshed products under his direction-C30, [...]

It was back during her middle school years when Denise Gray found the inspiration that would eventually lead her to her current post as director of energy storage systems at [...]

Is it possible to develop a machine vision system that can think for itself? One that can recognize potential errors before they happen and never repeat the same mistakes? A [...]

As OEMs accelerate their migration to fuel-efficient, smaller-displacement engines, the pressure on powertrain engineers is reaching a fevered pitch. Both GM and Ford have publicly announced plans to increase their [...]

On their third try, Oliver Riedel, director of Process Integration and Information Management at Volkswagen, and his colleagues were going to get it right and get it fast. The selection [...]

'I always knew from an early age that I wanted to be involved in the auto industry in some way,' says Scot Drake, who spent his formative years in the [...]

In order to improve ride and handling, a common customer complaint of the first generation FX, engineers a Infiniti revamped the FM (front midship) platform by increasing the wheelbase 1.4 [...]

Richard Gresens has always been fascinated with speed and movement. He spent most of his formative years in his hometown of Milwaukee hanging out at the train station during the [...]

Wirth Research (www.wirthresearch.com; Oxfordshire, England) began in 2002 as a fledgling group of engineers focused on R & D activities for a small number of race car programs. Back then, [...]

His imminent departure doesn't mean Pfeiffer's influence won't be felt for years to come. In fact, quite the contrary. Having led Mercedes design through some of its most challenging times [...]

If Mitsubishi's Concept-RA coupe--which debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show--seems to bring to mind a Hot Wheels car, that's not entirely an accident. Its exterior was penned [...]

What's going to be the next consumer electronic device that's going to change the way consumers interact with information in their vehicles? The future of in-vehicle electronics will only get [...]

Each year thousands of new gadgets are introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. What's important to note is that not only is the show scoured by [...]

'I wanted to be an architect, but I remember talking to someone early on and they said there's not too much money in architecture,' recalls Michael Simcoe of his decision [...]

When Frank Weber started his career at General Motors as a product engineer at Opel in Germany in 1991, he had no idea he would one day hold the keys [...]

When you visit the design studios of some vehicle manufacturers during the summer, you'll notice that there are no fewer black-on-black outfits, but more faces that are decidedly ... young. [...]

Erik Buell, founder and Chief Technical Officer of the motorcycle company that bears his name, has never been one to stand still. His diligent team of engineers and designers have [...]

Development of the Caliber SRT-4's turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine didn't go as smoothly as some might have imagined, according to Pete Gladysz, senior manager of powertrain for Chrysler's Street and [...]

Product development for the U.S. military isn't what it is in the auto industry. Consider this: General Dynamics Land Systems (www.gdls.com) obtained the development contract for the U.S. Marine Corps' [...]

Greek philosopher and mathematician Archimedes may have lived in ancient Greek times (circa 287-212 BC), but his lessons on the use of levers and pulleys have stood the test of [...]

Contrary to popular belief, the coupe segment is not dead. Honda, which will soon be releasing the new 2008 Accord coupe, expects the segment to grow 37% by 2011. And [...]

Although BMW has made big changes to the 7-Series and 3-Series models, the 5-Series has not gotten the same sort of attention. Think of it as the middle child. What [...]

Good design also requires out-of-the box thinking and a commitment to invest in the creative spirit that provides the impetus that generates good, profitable ideas. This mindset is one that [...]

The F2007 is the 53rd single-seater to be built by Ferrari's Scuderia since its inception in 1929, and is arguably the most exotic in terms of both aerodynamics and materials. [...]

When it came time for Chrysler to develop the V10 engine to power the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10, the automaker turned to McLaren Performance Technologies (Livonia, MI; http://www.mclarenperformance.com) and Ricardo [...]

Passive safety has reached its pinnacle. Making driving accident-free is paramount. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The next breakthroughs in automotive safety will come in the realm of active safety features, [...]

To claim that GM's small-block engine has earned a place in history would be an understatement. Since its debut in 1955, the small block--dubbed the 'mouse motor' because of its [...]

Flanders, which covers the northern part of Belgium, is home to several key auto assembly plants, including those owned by Volvo, Ford and Volkswagen. Like the rest of the industrialized [...]

Jully Burau, chief engineer for the General Motors full-size truck program, vividly remembers when GM's senior executives pushed the team: it was the exact same week her team was told [...]

Mugello, Valencia, Imola, Le Mans, Laguna Seca--mention these locales to any motorcycle aficionado and you're likely to see tears well up in their eyes. These are among the storied places [...]

Did you know that your cellular phone is making it easier for auto makers and suppliers to produce better quality products, while reducing warranty costs? As cell phones get smaller [...]

Conventional thinking would have it that the world's most successful small car plant would be located either in Asia, Eastern Europe or South America. It's not. Convention also would dictate [...]

As families begin thinking about summer vacation, auto show planners are getting ready for a long-deserved break as the domestic circuit wrapped up another season with the New York Auto [...]

While Leno and his ilk are hamming it up about the rising cost of fuel, the folks at General Motors may not find comments like these humorous, especially since they [...]

Having been the butt of many jokes when it comes to product quality, Chrysler is on a mission to prove to the world that it can build reliable cars and [...]

Rarely does the future of an industrial giant ride on the success of a single product line, but that just might be the case at General Motors, as the struggling [...]

Traffic congestion caused 3.7-billion hours of travel delays, wasting 2.3-billion gallons of gasoline and $63 billion in 2003, according to the 2005 Urban Mobility Report issued by the Texas Transportation [...]