Automotive News - April 21, 2008 - (Page 22)

22 • APRIL 21, 2008 A U T O M O T I V E N E W S PA C E AWA R D W I N N E R S BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems Kirchheimbolanden, Germany, and Auburn Hills, Mich. For: Turbocharger with R2S Regulated Two-Stage Technology Connecting a high- and lowpressure turbocharger to improve BorgWarner’s regulated two-stage turbo system packages both in a space-saving assembly and uses control systems to regulate the turbo output to boost engine efficiency and cut emissions. PACE Awards honor innovation Automotive News and cosponsors Microsoft, SAP and the Transportation Research Center Inc. present the winners of the 2008 Automotive News PACE Awards. The winners were judged to be the best at creating innovative products and processes. A group of independent judges chose the winners from 23 finalists. The awards were presented Monday, April 14, at the 14th annual PACE Awards ceremony at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit. Gentex Corp. Zeeland, Mich. For: Rear Camera Display Monitor Drivers automatically look to the interior rearview mirror for information before backing up. Gentex has created a video display that appears through the mirror glass for rear-vision camera pictures from blindspot areas. The display appears only when the driver shifts into reverse. A mirror coating was developed to enable the technology. When the display is on, high-brightness light-emitting diodes illuminate through the coating. When the display is off, the mirror surface reflects normally. Magneti Marelli Sistemas Automotivos Industria & Comercio Ltda. Hortolandia, Brazil For: Tetrafuel This engine control system gives cars the ability to use any combination of gasoline, flex fuel, pure ethanol or compressed natural gas. The system uses two sets of fuel injectors and a single engine control unit that can switch fuel types seamlessly. A second innovation is a new digital knock sensor that optimizes ignition timing at each cylinder for the fuel type being used. Continental AG Pisa, Italy, and Auburn Hills, Mich. For: Piezo Direct Injection System for Gasoline Applications Continental’s system delivers an estimated 20 percent savings in fuel, a 40 percent reduction in hydrocarbon emissions and a 12 percent reduction in carbon dioxide, while doubling the rpm range for optimum engine efficiency. PPG Industries Inc. Troy, Mich. For: Green Logic Only about 50 to 80 percent of sprayed paint ends up on vehicle bodies. The rest floats on air in the paint booth and is retrieved in flowing water curtains that surround the painting process. Chemicals in the water known as paint denaturates — also called detackifiers — gather and clump the waste paint. PPG’s advance is the creation of a bio-friendly detackifier. The process cuts system costs by lowering spray booth maintenance expenses, limiting the need for wastewater treatment and reducing the use of pricey, petroleum-based chemicals in painting. Cummins Inc. Columbus, Ind. For: Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel Cummins’ 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel inlinesix achieves 350 hp and delivers 650 pounds-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. The engine is 50 percent quieter than previous models and, by using a special catalyst, meets emissions standards for oxides of nitrogen without needing the addition of urea. Valeo Interior Controls Delphi Corp./Sirius Satellite Radio Kokomo, Ind. For: Sirius Backseat TV Viewers don’t know it, but their ability to watch TV in the back seats of Chrysler vehicles with Sirius Satellite TV relies on one key technology: Backward Compatible Hierarchical Modulation. The innovation, also known as HM, allows video signals to be “squeezed” into the satellite provider’s existing frequencies without disrupting or diminishing existing Sirius audio service. In the end, higherreception performance can be achieved for video signals in a vehicle. Bietigheim, Germany, and Troy, Mich. For: Park 4U Semi-Automatic Parallel Parking Valeo’s system uses ultrasonic sensors, automated low-speed steering and invehicle electronics and software to help drivers parallel-park easily. The moving vehicle senses potential parking spots; when the driver stops and shifts into reverse, the system automatically steers. The system uses both display and audio information to tell the driver when to stop and when to back up or pull forward to adjust to the parking space. COLLABORATOR AWARDS Chrysler LLC Collaborating with: Mahle For: CamInCam variable valve timing camshaft Mahle provides the functionality of a variable dual-overhead-camshaft engine in a single-cam design. First used by Chrysler in 2007 on the Dodge Viper SRT-10 car. Dow Automotive Auburn Hills, Mich. For: Impaxx Dow has created a styrenic polymer foam that is 50 percent lighter than polyurethane and polypropylene parts, uses as much as 30 percent less space and is fully recyclable. The foam can be made in prototype form rapidly and cheaply, and identical parts then can be produced without tooling. The foam lets automakers meet European and North American head, side and frontal impact standards. Applications include headliners, roof pillar trim, door panels, headrests and instrument panels. Webasto AG Stockdorf, Germany For: Low Pressure InjectionCompression Process for Panoramic Polycarbonate Roof Module Webasto created a low-pressure advanced injection-compression molding process to make the world’s largest lightweight opticalquality polycarbonate panels. The panels form a panoramic roof module. Honda Motor Co. Collaborating with: Takata Corp. For: Motorcycle Airbag Takata and Honda have been developing a motorcycle airbag since 1996. Test data showed the system prevented fatal injury impact in a 45mph head-on crash as measured using a crash test dummy. First used in 2006 on the Honda Gold Wing. Xanavi Informatics Corp./Sony Corp. Eaton Corp. Marshall, Mich. For: Crutonite Achieving million-mile durability in heavy-duty engines and 200,000-plus-mile life in gasoline and multifuel engines is a challenge for makers of engine exhaust valves. Eaton created a valve material that uses less strategic metal content (such as price-volatile nickel) than aerospace-type superalloys, yet reaches comparable strength, performance and hightemperature wear and corrosion resistance. The material combines nickel-metal alloys with carbides to provide wear resistance. Zama, Japan For: Around View Monitor Giving drivers a full view of what’s around their vehicle can ease driving tasks such as parking or backing up and can improve safety. The Xanavi and Sony system combines images from front, side and rear cameras to make an easily understood view on an instrument panel screen. The system’s high-resolution cameras and ultrahigh-speed processing give as much as four times the resolution of existing vision systems. Nissan Motor Co. Collaborating with: Sony Corp. and Xanavi Informatics Corp. For: Around View Monitor (see description at far right)

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - April 21, 2008

Automotive News - April 21, 2008 Reorganization plan gives more muscle to 4 sales-channel execs Hummer plummets, Saturn soars in sales per franchise Chrysler-Nissan: Loads of partnership potential LIFESTYLE PICKUPS Strike averted Friday at GM transmission plant Hyundai to phase out Tiburon Veteran lobbyist looks back on decades-long mpg battle Autonews.com offers news customization GM offers free digital marketing package to dealers Lithia extends vehicle repair warranty to 3 years/50,000 miles With new products, is there life in Saturn? Ford plans $100M-plus F-150 launch Ford broadens its diesel strategy GM pitches its management system to dealers Supplier to help Mahindra offer diesel hybrid Transplants top 40% of N.A. output in March Geely chief: 'We are still an ant' Honda could import cars from China GM redirects efforts to serve emerging markets Beijing showstoppers New Challenger is appetizer for full line in 2009 Last week, I got a glimpse of the future Service contracts: Federal oversight is needed Delphi mess drags on Can't we stop importing oil? Ryan revolutionized this business An editorial glass ceiling? Driving on hydrogen — pros and cons BMW should build even more here Not what New York ordered Magna exec: More suppliers will fail Canada sales off 0.4% in March Bosch pushes crash avoidance Chrysler plans hybrid Dodge Ram Honda engineer is honored by SAE for safety efforts Panel: Diesels may hit 20% of U.S. market by 2020 Automotive News PACE Awards: Night of black ties, trophies, praise PACE Awards honor innovation Truck sales drop 31% in March Honda's new Pilot is bigger, more upscale In China, GM looks to fresh vehicles in 2009 U.S. economic woes hurt shareholder values Judge refuses to toss GMC franchise-award case Dealers Farley: Ford's marketing team is ready to roll Landry: Chrysler's consolidation will spawn service-only stores Profits up at Johnson Controls Hyundai to fix airbag problem GM to build $200 million Brazil plant Convis is CEO of Dana Holding Denso names Katoh CEO Stephen Feinberg speaks! Hogan eyes CEO spot in startup Chrysler reviving its global dreams? How I saved Delphi: A work in progress Tesla Motors' lawsuit: Designer Fisker ripped us off Concert in the key of C-3PO

Automotive News - April 21, 2008

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