Monthly Archives: September 2014

French carmakers use Paris to show progress in low-CO2 cars

French automakers are putting a big emphasis on fuel efficiency at the Paris auto show this year. Already considered among Europe’s best at making frugal, low-emission powertrains, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and Renault aim to maintain their standing – and they are using money from the French government to do so.

Sister companies Peugeot and Citroen both will unveil concepts that use lightweight materials and a compressed-air hybrid drivetrain to deliver consumption figures as low as of 2 liters of gasoline per 100km (U.K. 141 mpg; U.S. 117 mpg). Renault, meanwhile, will show a lightweight new plug-in hybrid concept that offers consumption as low as 1 liter per 100km (U.K. 282 mpg; U.S. 235 mpg).

Groundbreaking in Turkmenistan for first full-scale major Haldor Topsøe TIGAS synthetic gasoline plant

In August, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in Ovadan-Depe near the capital of Ashgabad in Turkmenistan to launch the construction of a major plant focused on the conversion of natural gas into synthetic gasoline.

The plant will be based on Haldor Topsøe’s TIGAS (Topsøe Improved Gasoline Synthesis) technology and will become the first full-scale large commercial facility using this technology.

New 2015 Ford Mustang Plays Fake Engine Sounds

New 2015 Ford Mustang Plays Fake Engine Sounds

By Matt Cantor,

The purr of the engine in some 2015 Ford Mustangs may sound great, but it’s not entirely real.

labor, tech problems stalling VW push for global top sales spot

labor, tech problems stalling VW push for global top sales spot

In an era of automation, robotics and spotless factory floors, you don’t expect to see car workers dragging metal along a production line. But at Volkswagen’s main Wolfsburg plant earlier this year, workers had to resort to handing metal sheets to robots working on the e-Golf, according to witnesses.

Infiniti’s new London studio ignites brand’s Aston Martin aspirations

Infiniti's new London studio ignites brand's Aston Martin aspirations

Infiniti executives think that its brand new London design studio will help it create models that appeal to customers purchasing some of Britain’s most exclusive vehicles.