Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., by partnering to build a hybrid system for light trucks, hope to cross one of the auto industry’s biggest hurdles – significantly boosting the fuel economy of large pickups and SUVs.
The two automakers plan to jointly develop hybrid technology for light trucks as U.S. regulators finalize plans to toughen fuel economy requirements for pickups later this decade.
Ford sells the nation’s best-selling large pickup – the F series. Toyota is the world’s biggest marketer of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles for front-wheel based light vehicles, with sales of 3.3 million since introducing the Prius in 1997.
"We expect to create exciting and socially beneficial technologies with Ford, and we can do so because our two companies have enough experience to create a synergy effect in hybrid technology," said Takeshi Uchiyamada, a Toyota executive vice president.
The new hybrid system will be introduced in Ford and Toyota rear-wheel drive SUVs and light trucks later this decade.
It's the first time the automakers have collaborated on product development.
The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding and expect a formal agreement to be signed next year.
By that time, it should be clear how the Obama administration will formalize a proposal to hike corporate average fuel-economy standards to 54.5 mpg by the 2025 model year -- doubling the current requirement.
The new standard requires a 5 percent annual increase in fuel economy for cars starting with the 2017 model year through the 2025 model year. Under current law, automakers’ fleets must improve to 35.5 mpg in the 2016 model year, up from 27.3 mpg now.
Pickups exempt
The plan for 5 percent annual increases could be changed if a midcourse review, planned to begin in 2018, determines that it would adversely affect industry costs and vehicle sales.
The Obama administration's current CAFE proposal, details of which still must be worked out, will exclude full-sized pickups from any increases from the 2017 model year through the 2019 model year.
Beyond 2019, annual increases would begin at a rate still to be determined, until they reach an annual rate of 5 percent a year in the 2022-2025 model years.
Light trucks other than full-sized pickups would have to achieve 3.5 percent annual increases in mileage standards in the 2017-21 model years and 5 percent increases in the 2022-25 model years.
The sharp hike in fleet mpg will force automakers to make vehicles smaller and lighter, offer more hybrids and enhance powertrains to include such technologies as turbochargers and direct injection.
Detroit automakers dominate the full-sized pickup market, with the F series and General Motors' Chevrolet Silverado ranking as the top-selling vehicles in the nation.
Some Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan models also might be considered full-sized pickups under federal criteria to be determined.
Credits for hybrids
Under the current White House plan, which is to be proposed formally in September and become final in July 2012, Detroit automakers would receive credits for meeting CAFE targets by increasing the use of hybrid technology in pickups.
The exemption for full-sized pickups was opposed by some overseas automakers -- notably Volkswagen AG and Daimler AG -- that make SUVs and crossovers that are classified as light trucks but would not be treated the same.
Administration official say one reason for the special treatment of full-sized pickups is that they were "significantly challenged" to meet the 2012-16 mileage targets.
Because of the wide choice of engines, transmissions, drivetrains, bed sizes and towing capacity available, automakers have struggled to meet higher fuel-economy requirements for large pickups without sacrificing consumer preferences.
That challenge is the primary reason Ford and Toyota have decided to pair up, analysts say.
GM has marketed mild-hybrid full-sized pickups and SUVs for several years under a technology partnership with BMW and Chrysler, but sales have been lackluster because of higher sticker prices and reduced performance, such as limited towing capacity.
“To some extent, this agreement allows Ford to cost-effectively catch up and potentially surpass GM, who arguably has a head start on light-truck hybrids and mild hybrids,” Barclays Capital analyst Brian Johnson said in a report today.
Global challenges
Ford and Toyota expect the partnership to reduce costs and bring hybrid technology to the marketplace sooner and at a lower price. The companies plan to develop components as equal partners but integrate the new hybrid system in future trucks and SUVs separately.
"By working together we will be able to serve our customers with the very best affordable, advanced powertrains, delivering even better fuel economy," Ford CEO Alan Mulally said in a statement. "This is the kind of collaborative effort that is required to address the big global challenges of energy independence and environmental sustainability."
The two automakers also agreed to work together on developing next-generation telematics and other in-vehicle Internet-based services.
"This agreement brings together the capability of two global leaders in hybrid vehicles and hybrid technology to develop a better solution more quickly and affordably for our customers," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's vice president of product development.
The companies did not release financial details or identify which vehicles will be involved.
But investors seemed to welcome the news, pushing Ford shares higher in New York Stock Exchange trading today while shares in other automakers slumped. Ford shares closed up 1 cent at 10.01. GM shares fell 44 cents, or 2 percent, to close at $21.72.
The Ford and Toyota product development teams first met in April, Kuzak said.
The next step of the project is a feasibility study, which will begin soon, to determine the scope of the collaboration, he said.
Uchiyamada, speaking through a translator, said both companies are eager to start. While they "would like to know the timing now," they must take the appropriate steps before full development can begin.
They play to begin development work next year.
Ford and Toyota previously collaborated in 2004 when the two companies agreed to a patent-sharing deal where Toyota licensed some of its hybrid technology to Ford.
Ford used the licensed technology in the Escape Hybrid and the now-defunct Mercury Mariner Hybrid. In return, Toyota obtained the use of Ford's diesel and direct-injection engine technology.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Make better use of higher-octane fuel, stop-start
As the industry pushes for better fuel economy, it's strange that two known mileage boosters -- higher-octane gasoline and stop-start technology -- aren't being exploited to their full potential.
There are obstacles to getting the full benefit from either, but those obstacles should be surmountable.
-- Octane: Higher octane improves combustion by allowing a higher compression ratio. But powertrain engineers can't squeeze the most compression out of regular gasoline because octane levels at the pump fluctuate. (That's why the pad you push to select a grade of gasoline at the pump hedges by saying "minimum octane rating.")
Greg Johnson, Lincoln brand powertrain manager, puts it this way: "We're limited by what is the mean octane rating of the fuel we're developing for."
Fuel-saving technologies such as turbocharging would be more productive if regular gasoline consistently had octane levels at the high end of its range, according to Stephen Ross, combustion technical leader at Ford Motor Co.
As the industry aims for 54.5 mpg corporate average fuel economy by 2025, the feds need to bring automakers and oil companies together to achieve consistent octane levels.
-- Stop-start: The problem here is regulatory: The EPA test for calculating CAFE doesn't measure stop-start benefits, and that has slowed penetration of stop-start systems. A stop-start system shuts off the engine when a car is stopped and restarts it when the driver releases the brake pedal.
Stop-start boosts fuel economy 8 to 10 percent, according to Mike Omotoso, senior manager for global powertrains at J.D. Power and Associates.
Brett Smith, co-director of the manufacturing, engineering and technology group at the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich., says the federal government has said it intends to give a credit for stop-start systems in the 2017-25 rules.
That makes sense. After all, automakers get credits for using greener air-conditioning systems. Why not add a few mpg to the CAFE score of a vehicle with stop-start?
There are obstacles to getting the full benefit from either, but those obstacles should be surmountable.
-- Octane: Higher octane improves combustion by allowing a higher compression ratio. But powertrain engineers can't squeeze the most compression out of regular gasoline because octane levels at the pump fluctuate. (That's why the pad you push to select a grade of gasoline at the pump hedges by saying "minimum octane rating.")
Greg Johnson, Lincoln brand powertrain manager, puts it this way: "We're limited by what is the mean octane rating of the fuel we're developing for."
Fuel-saving technologies such as turbocharging would be more productive if regular gasoline consistently had octane levels at the high end of its range, according to Stephen Ross, combustion technical leader at Ford Motor Co.
As the industry aims for 54.5 mpg corporate average fuel economy by 2025, the feds need to bring automakers and oil companies together to achieve consistent octane levels.
-- Stop-start: The problem here is regulatory: The EPA test for calculating CAFE doesn't measure stop-start benefits, and that has slowed penetration of stop-start systems. A stop-start system shuts off the engine when a car is stopped and restarts it when the driver releases the brake pedal.
Stop-start boosts fuel economy 8 to 10 percent, according to Mike Omotoso, senior manager for global powertrains at J.D. Power and Associates.
Brett Smith, co-director of the manufacturing, engineering and technology group at the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich., says the federal government has said it intends to give a credit for stop-start systems in the 2017-25 rules.
That makes sense. After all, automakers get credits for using greener air-conditioning systems. Why not add a few mpg to the CAFE score of a vehicle with stop-start?
Friday, August 19, 2011
Ford F150 Heritage problems with lighting system.
We just purchased a used Ford F150 pickup for our nephew. The lights were all working and then all of a sudden the blinkers and brake lights quit. My husband bought a manual and it suggested changing out some little plug located under steering column on the right side. I can’t remember what they are called but it was 2 square plug ins.
Replaced these, lights worked perfect and then went out again on the way to school. Please help. What would you suggest we try?
Replaced these, lights worked perfect and then went out again on the way to school. Please help. What would you suggest we try?
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Hyundai dealers to inspect, repair Sonatas prone to wandering
Hyundai Motor America said its U.S. dealers will fix a steering problem found in some 2011 Sonata mid-sized sedans after more than 4,000 owners complained about the car's steering system.
Drivers have complained that the 2011 Sonata is prone to drifting or pulling to the left while being driven.
The company suspects that about 41,000 Sonatas with 18-inch wheels could be affected by the problem, Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainor said. He said the fix is a service campaign, not a recall.
Hyundai said it has received or tracked about 4,000 complaints -- representing about 3 percent of the nearly 150,000 Sonatas built from September 2010 through April 2011, Trainor said. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 198 complaints about the 2011 Sonata's steering, many of which described vehicle tracking problems seemingly similar to the one being addressed in this campaign.
Consumers can set up an appointment with a dealer to inspect the Sonata's wheel alignment and tracking, Trainor said. If necessary, the dealer will install new front suspension struts and perform a wheel alignment, both for free.
Last year, Hyundai recalled about 138,000 2011 Sonatas for a different steering problem. The recall followed a probe by U.S. safety regulators into customer complaints that a steering shaft could potentially become detached from the steering wheel.
Drivers have complained that the 2011 Sonata is prone to drifting or pulling to the left while being driven.
The company suspects that about 41,000 Sonatas with 18-inch wheels could be affected by the problem, Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainor said. He said the fix is a service campaign, not a recall.
Hyundai said it has received or tracked about 4,000 complaints -- representing about 3 percent of the nearly 150,000 Sonatas built from September 2010 through April 2011, Trainor said. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 198 complaints about the 2011 Sonata's steering, many of which described vehicle tracking problems seemingly similar to the one being addressed in this campaign.
Consumers can set up an appointment with a dealer to inspect the Sonata's wheel alignment and tracking, Trainor said. If necessary, the dealer will install new front suspension struts and perform a wheel alignment, both for free.
Last year, Hyundai recalled about 138,000 2011 Sonatas for a different steering problem. The recall followed a probe by U.S. safety regulators into customer complaints that a steering shaft could potentially become detached from the steering wheel.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Toyota will debut ultra-frugal plug-in Prius
Toyota Motor Corp. will unveil an ultra-frugal, plug-in hybrid version of its Prius compact car at the IAA in Frankfurt next month.
The car will be the cleanest and most technically advanced Prius built to date, Toyota said on Monday.
According to the automaker, the plug-in Prius has a fuel consumption rating of 2.2 liters/100km (106.9 mpg US/128.4 mpg UK).
It will have CO2 emissions of 49 grams per kilometer, almost half the emissions of the standard Prius, and will be the first Toyota EV to use a new compact lithium-ion battery that offers a driving range of 20km in electric mode, a significant improvement over the 2km range offered by the current model.
Previous Toyota electric vehicles have used nickel-metal hydride batteries.
The Prius plug-in hybrid has the same 1.8-liter gasoline engine and electric motor setup as the hybrid Prius. Toyota said the battery can be charged in 90 minutes using a domestic mains connection.
Next summer, the Prius will join an expanded Toyota hybrid range in Europe that will include the Auris hybrid, the new seven-seat Prius+ and the Yaris hybrid.
The car will be the cleanest and most technically advanced Prius built to date, Toyota said on Monday.
According to the automaker, the plug-in Prius has a fuel consumption rating of 2.2 liters/100km (106.9 mpg US/128.4 mpg UK).
It will have CO2 emissions of 49 grams per kilometer, almost half the emissions of the standard Prius, and will be the first Toyota EV to use a new compact lithium-ion battery that offers a driving range of 20km in electric mode, a significant improvement over the 2km range offered by the current model.
Previous Toyota electric vehicles have used nickel-metal hydride batteries.
The Prius plug-in hybrid has the same 1.8-liter gasoline engine and electric motor setup as the hybrid Prius. Toyota said the battery can be charged in 90 minutes using a domestic mains connection.
Next summer, the Prius will join an expanded Toyota hybrid range in Europe that will include the Auris hybrid, the new seven-seat Prius+ and the Yaris hybrid.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Chrysler takes Ram to Wal-Mart
Chrysler Group's Ram truck brand plans on expanding its experiential advertising into Wal-Mart stores across the country this fall, executives said during a Web chat with journalists this morning.
The promotion will be in "thousands of Wal-Mart stores" and will integrate another of Ram's partners, Mossy Oak camouflage, said Marissa Hunter, head of Ram advertising, during the chat.
"We recognize the alignment between truck buyers, the hunting/fishing lifestyle and Wal-Mart," Hunter said. "We are working on promotion that brings all three together."
Hunter declined to comment on further details of the program. A Wal-Mart spokesman was unavailable for immediate comment.
Ram also announced today that it will launch two new commercials for its "Code of the West" advertising campaign.
The campaign — created by the Richards Group, a Dallas advertising and marketing agency — and was rolled out earlier this summer.
Actor Sam Elliott will still lend his voice to the advertisements as Ram continues to build its brand identity. It was spun off from Dodge in 2009.
Hunter said: "The role of these spots is twofold. First, continue to create overall awareness about the capability of the full Ram lineup. Second, do so in a manner that inspires consumers to think differently about the Ram Truck brand."
Through the first seven months of 2011, Ram brand U.S. sales were up 25 percent. Fred Diaz, CEO of the Ram brand and Chrysler de Mexico, said during the chat that he expects sales to continue to grow for the rest of the year.
He said: "The fourth quarter always represents a key selling season opportunity for commercial business which historically increases commercial sales by up to 50 percent."
The promotion will be in "thousands of Wal-Mart stores" and will integrate another of Ram's partners, Mossy Oak camouflage, said Marissa Hunter, head of Ram advertising, during the chat.
"We recognize the alignment between truck buyers, the hunting/fishing lifestyle and Wal-Mart," Hunter said. "We are working on promotion that brings all three together."
Hunter declined to comment on further details of the program. A Wal-Mart spokesman was unavailable for immediate comment.
Ram also announced today that it will launch two new commercials for its "Code of the West" advertising campaign.
The campaign — created by the Richards Group, a Dallas advertising and marketing agency — and was rolled out earlier this summer.
Actor Sam Elliott will still lend his voice to the advertisements as Ram continues to build its brand identity. It was spun off from Dodge in 2009.
Hunter said: "The role of these spots is twofold. First, continue to create overall awareness about the capability of the full Ram lineup. Second, do so in a manner that inspires consumers to think differently about the Ram Truck brand."
Through the first seven months of 2011, Ram brand U.S. sales were up 25 percent. Fred Diaz, CEO of the Ram brand and Chrysler de Mexico, said during the chat that he expects sales to continue to grow for the rest of the year.
He said: "The fourth quarter always represents a key selling season opportunity for commercial business which historically increases commercial sales by up to 50 percent."
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Noise from front suspension
Vehicle Involved: Saturn SKY 2007
Repair Procedure: Noise from the front suspension system occurs most likely while the vehicle is being driven over small bumps, or on rough road surfaces. The noise is more noticeable in cold weather, and is caused by faulty sway bar bushings rubbing against the bar or clamps.
Replace the sway bar bushings and install new design clamps, to correct the problem. Test drive the vehicle to verify the repair is complete.
TSB No. RCB 11-06
Repair Procedure: Noise from the front suspension system occurs most likely while the vehicle is being driven over small bumps, or on rough road surfaces. The noise is more noticeable in cold weather, and is caused by faulty sway bar bushings rubbing against the bar or clamps.
Replace the sway bar bushings and install new design clamps, to correct the problem. Test drive the vehicle to verify the repair is complete.
TSB No. RCB 11-06
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