Posted on 08/29/2012 12:37:17 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
I've been closely following recent technology advances in automobiles for the last 2-3 years. Some very interesting technologies are beginning to make it into regular production vehicles that ordinary people can buy. The first is direct injection for gasoline engines. The second "big deal" is the dual-clutch transmission. These are cutting edge technologies for cars right now.
Guess what? There is no Japanese brand car available with both of these technologies. In fact, both Honda and Toyota seem to be ignoring dual clutch transmission entirely. It appears to me Toyota is coasting on its reputation right now and isn't doing anything. Honda appears to be doing the same thing.
Ford has been doing some amazing things with engines lately. They really made people take notice with their latest diesel truck engine which uses a multi-stage turbo designed by Honeywell. They are also using GETRAG designed dual clutch transmissions in passenger cars now, along with direct injection.
VW/Audi is (naturally) right up there in front with cutting edge technologies.
GM appears to be selling out. It looks like they are content to end up being a name only and hiring other companies to do all their manufacturing for them. I don't expect to see them go away anytime soon. But it looks like they are going to end up like Sears or Walmart and just be a brand name only which is built AND DESIGNED by the lowest bidder.
What engines and transmissions is GM purchasing? http://gmpowertrain.com/Libraries/Product_information/9FP_2012_95_Information_Guide_1011.sflb.ashx?download=true
Do you really believe that, or are you parroting something a salesman told you?
I’ll have to ponder that while I’m driving my 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid...I bought it because Lexus was the only other hybrid SUV at the time, and I didn’t want a Lexus.
True but not an even playing field.
Make that 98 Civic pass the current safety and emissions levels.
I googled both. It’s fascinating. The dual clutch uses one clutch for some gears and another for others. This allows the transmission to engage in third gear while you are in second, and then it releases the clutch attached to second gear while simultaneously engaging the clutch for third gear.
Regarding direct injection:
Normal fuel injection injects the fuel into the air on it’s way to the combustion chamber, so a “fuel/air mix” enters the chamber. In “direct injection”, only air enters the chamber and a fuel injector that is IN the combustion chamber adds fuel to the air right there, sometimes in multiple high pressure spurts for each combustion.
It is claimed to get 15% improved fuel economy but has some drawbacks.
isuzu
suzuki
daewoo
opel
and the downward spiral will continue as they ramp up production in china
The Japanese brands usually focus on reliability, the bleeding edge is the opposite of reliable, let the early adopters figure out the problems, add it to your cars when the kinks are worked out.
If you know how the system works, you should be able to deduce for yourself that is can’t be anything BUT far more efficient.
Why don’t you read up on it and figure out for yourself how it works? Then get back to me with your doubts. I can’t debate with you intelligently when you don’t know anything about what it is you wish to debate.
HAHA
boy did you get suckered.
It’s not really debatable. There are drawbacks to direct injection, but one of its pluses is that it is more efficient. It’s why it is even being considered. It’s the whole point.
Here’s a side by side of a Ford (dct) and a similar Hyundai and Honda (automatics). Now if the dct was “much more efficient” wouldn’t it get better FE?
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=31185&id=31216&id=31189
I have been looking at building a high end 67 Camaro but with modern engine and transmission. The 6l80 6 speed tranny has the dual clutching and there is supposed to be a 8l80 (that is, 8 speeds). first gear is hugely lower than anything available before, almost like having continuous variable transmission.
Thank all of you for the explanations. :-)
In the diagrams that I had seen of fuel injection, they showed that the injection happened in the cylinder. Diagrams must have been simplistic.
I can see where “direct injection” has advantages.
In the early days of entry into the auto market, the Japanese were cutting edge.
They would put cars in the field and then when they failed, do exhaustive research and took corrective action.
Back then, their efforts were driven by their engineers.
Now, they have become corporate copies of the American brands they once displaced. Guidance now often comes from the accounting and finance departments and therefore, the “let the other innovate” syndrome you accurately describe.
I saw this first hand when, during the 80’s, i worked for one of the top Japanese companies, which happened to be a leader in the area of international patents on technology and processes.
When I left the company in 1989, the preponderance of engineers who had been the Japanese presence here was being rapidly replaced by accountants, and close customer contact sales supplanted by mass marketing.
I think VW’s new Diesel technology is amazing. The new Touareg TDI gets 28 mpg with an almost amazing 406 foot pounds of torque. It can tow 7,700 lbs.
Better yet, it is essentially the same car as the Porsche Cayenne. The Cayenne will have the exact same TDI engine this year.
Having said that, I own a Toyota. And while my Toyota truck isn’t “leading” in new technology, the darn thing is reliable and tough.
The fact that Yatta had children.. or that they're all fruit loops.
Different strokes for different folks. I'd rather have $50 than every extraneous dash and cabin option known to the combined marketing departments of Toyota, Honda and BMW.
Nissan is putting CVTs (continuously variable transmissions) in its new cars. A good balance of power and fuel economy. I don’t buy UAW products out of principle, however I’ll admit they are starting to come around. Too little, too late, too many of my tax dollars already confiscated.
Gets me to work and back, but I am sure I paid too much. Meh. More important things going on in my life these days.
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