Secrets Behind the New Ford Power Stroke Diesel | Ray Skillman Ford & Southside Hyundai Greenwood IN

Secret #1: Ford engineered its own powertrain for the 2015 Super Duty^®

Secret #2: The 6.7-liter Power Stroke^® V8 makes more horsepower and torque than the previous model

Secret #3: First rule of the Power Stroke? There are no secrets

The design of the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8™ is something you would think would be cloaked in darkness, even within the walls of the Blue Oval. ™ Not so – Ford is proud of what it accomplished with the second-generation diesel model optional in the 2015 Super Duty, and admitted building an efficient engine* required a lot of openness. “Keeping everything in-house gives a competitive advantage because there are no go-betweens,” explained David Ives, Ford Power Stroke Technical Specialist. “The engine guy can just walk over to the transmission guy and they can work together to find the best solutions, breaking down barriers.”

The upgrades to the Power Stroke resulted in 440 horsepower – the previous 6.7-liter Power Stroke made 400 – and 860 lb.-ft. of torque – up from 800. This pertains to all Super Duty models, from F-250 to F-450. That’s what happens when you engineer a work truck to be a work truck, and as a team. Ford is the only manufacturer that develops and builds its own powertrains in this class. And there are innovations galore: a compacted graphite iron engine block and reverse-flow layout. About that no-secret rule? “Strong communication built a better diesel truck,” David added.

“The designers of the original 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel predicted that it would eventually need to be upgraded for higher output,” said David. “They designed it in a way that made it easier to add a larger turbocharger, increasing airflow and creating more power for dramatically improved performance, yet we haven’t lost any efficiency.”

So, looks like the cat is out of the bag: This purpose-built truck has been improved from (cylinder) head to tow.

*Based on Ford simulated city-suburban drive-cycle tests of comparably equipped 2015 Ford and 2011-2013 competitive models, consistent with SAE Standard J1321.

Tori Tellem,

 

10/5/2014

 Hyundai To Launch New Crossover Vehicle, Plug-In Hybrid Sedan, RWD Small Sedan

 
  
Hyundai has some big plans for the future, including getting more involved in the crossover segment.

They also have a plug-in hybrid Sonata in the pipeline, and are also rumored to be considering a compact rear-wheel drive sports sedan.

2016 Hyundai Tucson

The next major launch for the Koreans will be the redesigned 2016 Tucson compact crossover, which should arrive in the spring of 2015.

While the new model will ride on the same platform as the current model, it will have an improved suspension, as well as more high-strength steel used in the construction.

Hyundai has high hopes for this model, with the expectation being that it will hit 90,000 sales annually. That would be a major increase over the 41,906 units sold in the US in 2013.

Also expected to remain in place are the 2.0- and 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engines in the current model. There is also a chance that 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbo found in the 2015 Sonata Eco.

The current Tucson is smaller than its rivals – Honda CR-V and Ford Escape – in the segment, so don’t be surprised if it stretches out a little.

Sub-Tucson Crossover Vehicle

Hyundai Motor America CEO Dave Zuchowski has also been quotes as saying that the company is interested in perhaps getting into the subcompact crossover segment, but that no decision has been made yet.

Hyundai did show off an ix25 crossover concept at the Beijing auto show, with many feeling that the model on display might eventually be released to compete with the upcoming Honda HR-V and Chevrolet Trax.

2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid Car

The new 2015 Sonata was rolled out without a redesigned hybrid model, but that will be rectified when an all-new Sonata Hybrid arrives next year as a 2016 model.

The expectations are that it will use a powertrain similar to the current version, which is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine mated to a 35-kilowatt electric motor.

One area of improvement should come in the fuel economy ratings, where it’s expected that the current 36/40 mpg city/highway will be better when the 2016 model does hit the streets.

A plug-in Sonata Hybrid will also be offered by Hyundai, with a more powerful battery pack sure to be found in this model, as that would be required to increase the expected driving range.

The plug-in model likely won’t appear in showrooms until the early part of 2016.

There is also the possibility of yet another plug-in model on the same drivetrain the following year, with a crossover model the most likely to get the electric treatment.

Small RWD Sporty Sedan

As of now, the Equus and the Genesis sedan are the only two rear-wheel drive models in the Hyundai stable.

That is expected to increase by one when Hyundai delivers a small sports sedan that would rival the BMW 3 series, with delivery due sometime in 2017.

Rumor has it that the platform used in the new car would eventually underpin the Genesis Coupe.

This future model is still very much in the planning stage, though, so little is known about how it would fit into a segment that is already pretty full.

The feeling is that the new sports sedan, codenamed the IK, would have a base price point in the $30,000 range and would come with a pair of engine options: an aspirated V6 and a turbocharged 4-cylinder.

Other news has it that a new version of the Accent could be delivered in 2016 as a 2017 model. The new Elantra, which was slated for a late 2015 release, may be pushed back to 2016.

Stay tuned for more news about Hyundai Motor Copany!