Automotive News - November 3, 2008 - (Page 22B)

22B • NOVEMBER 3, 2008 INSIGHT R&d chiefs shift gears for an electric future The internal combustion engine is under siege. Electrification is on the rise. Carmakers are touting hybrids that combine electric motors with some form of internal combustion engine. They also are turning to plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles in their drive to improve fuel economy and cut carbon dioxide emissions. For the executives charged with directing their companies’ r&d and product development, this is the most turbulent era in nearly a century. Which powertrain should they back? In the long term, which will their customers want? In the meantime, what can they do to improve fuel economy and slash CO2 emissions? Where should they place their bets? Automotive News posed six questions to six carmaker executives: two each in Europe, North America and Asia. The interviewees: Frank Klegon, executive vice president of product development, Chrysler LLC. Gerhard Schmidt, vice president of research and advanced engineering, Ford Motor Co. Masaaki Kato, president, Honda R&D Co. Lee Hyun-soon, president, Hyundai-Kia corporate r&d division. Magnus Jonsson, Volvo’s senior vice president for r&d. Wolfgang Hatz, head of powertrain development, Volkswagen group. Kato spoke through an interpreter. Lee provided written answers. Here are selected answers to each question. The interviews were conducted by Asia Editor Hans Greimel, Correspondent Gary Anglebrandt, Industry Editor James B. Treece and Automotive News Europe News Editor Douglas A. Bolduc. How has the push to electrify the powertrain changed your agenda in the past year? VW’s Hatz: My boss (VW group CEO Martin Winterkorn) called me and said, “I know you are on holiday, but I want to fly to Japan” to visit battery makers. I cut short my summer holiday in August to do this. During the trip, we went into detail on how they produce the battery and the chemistry of the battery. Today I have a much better understanding of what is possible and what is not possible. “ For us, the next generation is almost today because of the pressures on fuel costs. We are fortunate to deliver it next year with EcoBoost, which is direct injection and turbocharged and will give you a 10 to 20 percent fuel economy improvement. GERHARD SCHMIDT Ford ” “ In most of the ways to reduce weight. In the short term, the simplest method is to expand the usage of existing, tried-and-tested powertrain technology. Ford’s Schmidt: For us, the next generation is almost today because of the pressures on fuel costs. We are fortunate to deliver it next year with EcoBoost, which is direct injection and turbocharged and will give you a 10 to 20 percent fuel economy improvement. What is the fastest way? We’re rolling out EcoBoost to nearly all of our nameplates. We launch it early next year, and we’ll have a half-million in North America and 750,000 globally by 2013. Honda’s Kato: Earlier this year at the G-8 summit in Hokkaido (Japan), they said the total CO2 emissions in the year 2050 should be half the level today. In order to achieve that, we could make the efficiency of today’s cars twice as good. But simply doing this wouldn’t be the solution because of the volume of the cars in the mar- world, the market is for smaller-sized cars. So improving the efficiency of smaller cars will be more important. ket. By 2050, there will be even more cars, especially in emerging markets. Just halving the emissions from one car won’t work. In most of the world, the market is for smaller-sized cars. So improving the efficiency of smaller cars will be more important. It makes more sense to improve the performance of small cars. Other manufacturers are also making efforts to make cars smaller. VW’s Hatz: We have rolled out our TFSI and TSI technology on gasoline engines. We have had the 1.4liter engine on the market for more than a year. Very soon we will have TFSI engines that are below 1.4 liters. For us, downsizing isn’t something for the future. It is already happening. Last year, we introduced our new four-cylinder TDI engine. Very soon we will have an even smaller diesel engine, one that is below 2.0 liters. It will be about 1.6 liters. The next step is already prepared. We will have a see R&D, Page 22D MASAAKI KATO Honda ” What are the fastest and simplest ways to reduce fuel use and cut CO2 in next-generation models? What strategy is your company follow- ing? Hyundai-Kia’s Lee: First, improve the efficiency of the powertrain itself and, secondly, come up with more http://WWW.ANX.COM http://WWW.ANX.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - November 3, 2008

Credit? Come and get it, industry groups say GM's product delays signal dire health Ford sticks with small-car plans Mitsubishi CEO: Let's halt Galant production in U.S. A dealer â and his reputation â on the ballot Help vehicles shed pounds American Axle posts loss UAW hires bailout adviser Ford to spend $200 million to upgrade 2 Ky. plants No off-lease cars? Certified will find others Arlena Sawyers China's stock market plunge has spooked car shoppers Advantage, Ford: Mulally likes owning Ford Credit Supplier execs join innovation panel at congress Quietly, Mini seeks 500 drivers to lease electric car for a year Reynolds bolsters document business Winterkorn: Audi needs to build in U.S. The great revenue drop of 2008 Bidders bet they can rebuild Heard 1 size fits all NADA: Give us tax incentives, dealer loan guarantees Campaigns' climate, energy plans hit economic wall Detroit 3 need and deserve U.S. help now Chrysler needs a buyer, but not GM Dealers pay fair share of taxes Washington hurts, not helps, electrics Compressed natural gas is the best fuel New ads aim to raise Suzuki's low profile Suzuki's new ad strategist: This brand has soul Fuel efficiency is coming â it just takes time Electrics edge closer by 2010 Tougher CAFE standards loom R&d chiefs shift gears for an electric future Japan carmakers lead charge into electrics Buffett backs BYD's sketchy plan for U.S. electric car Q&A: BYD envisions 2010 exports to U.S., Europe Girding the power grid for an electric fleet Hype powers plug-in vehicles Coachbuilders see salvation in electric cars Electric vehicles are charging into Europe Expect stop-start's big start to arrive in 2010 Flexibility will help Honda survive the storm Nardelli: Bailout not perfect â but needed Audi goes high-tech to boost service Acura offers quick service to win business Toyota's fashion fan Picture this Hondaâs N.A. operating profit falls 80.6% in quarter Aug. RV shipments fall 44% VW drops hints about car for new Tenn. plant Mexico sales fall 10.7% in September Honda to boost CR-V, end Civic output in Ohio Ford and GM jockey for steel discounts Dealers Ford Credit seeks to tap $700 billion package GM will end a used-car incentive early Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda recast fiscal 2009 forecasts Metaldyne to bondholders: Take 30% or Chap. 11 looms Detroit 3 ties hurt profits of dealer groups GM takeover would eviscerate Chrysler ranks, model lineup Mitsubishi plans electric hauler To match Toyota, Nissan offers 0% loans Sticker, sticker at the mall, what's the cheapest of them all? The Versa Waiting is what it's all about, Alfa Buy Chrysler? GM should sell Buick to SAIC Pickups pumped up by pump price plunge Chrysler hybrids, we hardly new ye Ghosn: Your best partner is a president in your pocket Sonic wins, but Mercedes wants last word

Automotive News - November 3, 2008

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