Interesting article about how automakers boost efficiency without diesel or hybrid technology. And I quote...

"General Motors, Ford Motor, and others are launching big initiatives to get more mileage out of what they sell now: tweaking internal-combustion engines with turbochargers and a technology called gasoline direct injection. The goal is to make fuel-stingy small engines perform like big ones."

It talks about "Turbos,tiny windmills spun by otherwise wasted exhaust; run compressors that blast air into intakes to mix with fuel."

All you 2.7T owners, how does it feel to drive the car of the future already?

 

car of the future they are not. Turbos have been around for years... all car makers at one point or another have had one in their line up... even big rigs are s

I had a buick grand national, and a toyota supra... ive been fortunate to have driven those cars. In my opinion though, i rather not have a turbo or super charged vehicle though... one more thing to worry about breaking down

 

Caddy2audi -- I think you missed the point! It takes years for American automakers to do what others are doing.

As for turbo life -- I guess to should have have spent more time worrying about the turbo on myAudi 200QT while driving 350K miles without any motor or turbo trouble. Geeezzz I mised out on a good worry! I'll have to do it over again, but this thime I'll worry a lot more!

 

As long as they can make the turbos reliable it should be a good move on their part.

 

oh your right... audi invented the wheel, fire, cancer treatments... on and on with audi's inovation and how they dominate everything.

as far as american automakers taking for ever to come up with things... read an automotive history book.... first inhundreds ofthingsthat all carmakers use today.

As far as your turbo goes, Im really glad you had awesome outcome... but turbos are known to be an extra worry.... especially if they breakdown....

thats all..... for now

 

I hardly think it takes "years" for the American manufacturers to do what other's are doing. Real quick, name me what auto manufacturer debuted a Direct Injection 2.0L turbo motor making 260hp in 2006? Would it be GM...yes it would. Many of the technologies you enjoy in your car were invented by the US auto industry.

The main reason it seems like the American manufacturers lag behind is that unlike the rest of the world, the US has enjoyed cheap gas for decades and no restrictive laws on engine displacement. So, the American's stuck with what works, large displacement V6 and V8 engines. From a performance perspective I'll takea "low tech" LS series small block over almost any other engine out there.

 

Do you know anyone who owns a new mustang (2005-08)? Ask them how it feels to fill the tank of gas when you have to hold the fuel nozzle at 2 O'clock position, while filling it. How will you feel when you will be holding the nozzle after paying 25 grand for a car.

American makes cars, but Europeans makes piece of art. Why do all the super cars are made in Europe?? List me the inventions by American car manufacturer and I will list the ones by Germans.

I have owned several American cars, before switching over to Europeans. I believe Saturn is an exception, as they build good quality cars. Sorry, have to completly agree with NH_USA.

 

In Reply to NH_USA

You should check out the 1962 or 63 (i don't remember which) Odsmobile F85 - water cooled turbocharger on a 215 cubic inch aluminum V8 - that car would be 45 years old now, right? Displacement won, of course.

Nocturnal

When did Chevrolet move production of the Corvette to Europe? Twice the car at half the of ANY eurotrash. It's easy when you make 100 cars a year at $250,000 plus; and don't forget teh $20,000 12,000 mile services.

 

you mean to say that Corvette is a supercar?? lol

 

The Vette is supercar performance at an affordable price. While it doesn't match the visceral experience of driving one of the "supercars" like a Ferrari or Porsche, it certainly matches or exceeds the performance. It must be the ultimate in insults to be driving your $250k Scuderia only to spend all day staring at the rear of a $70k Z06.

Also, while enjoy the driving experience in a German car, for the most part they don't match the hard edge performance of an American car. Looks are subjective, so we won't touch that. I just find it funny that the owner of any VW Group product would be questioning American engineering. Christ, even Buicks have superior reliability than any of the Germans with the exception of Porsche.

PS As for holding the fuel nozzle, since I live in Jersey I would never know as we aren't allowed to pump it ourselves.