Latest news with #powertrain
Auto Express
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Honda bets big on hybrids with new ‘world-beating' tech
Honda has announced plans to launch no fewer than 13 next-generation hybrid cars by the end of the decade. All will feature what the brand claims will be the 'world's most efficient powertrain' and all will arrive within a four-year timeframe starting in 2027. Honda is still moving forwards with its radical new '0 Series' electric cars, the first of which is due to launch next year, however the recent slowdown in EV sales has caused the brand to reassess some of its predictions. For instance, it no longer believes 30 per cent of its global sales will be from EVs by 2030, as previously thought, leading to some reevaluating of its EV strategy and product plan. But while 'the expansion of the EV market has fallen behind the initial projection', as Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe put it when announcing the brand's new roadmap, 'demand for hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) is growing. Advertisement - Article continues below 'We are forecasting that the demand for HEVs will continue to grow toward 2030, as they contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions, without the issue of needing charging infrastructure.' These new hybrid models will 'play a key role during the transition period' before EVs become a lot more popular. Honda's next-generation e:HEV hybrid powertrain will be an evolution of its two-motor system, which it introduced back in 2014. This sees a petrol engine work together with two electric motors, one used to drive the wheels and another to generate energy for the car's battery. The combustion engine can drive the wheels, mainly on the motorway to maximise efficiency. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Honda plans to make various upgrades to its system, such as expanding the proportion of the rev range where the engine operates most efficiently. The new and improved hybrid setup will be combined with a new, lighter platform and a newly-developed electric AWD drive unit. Put all this together, and Honda says it will be able to improve fuel economy by more than 10% compared to current models. For context, the latest hybrid-powered Honda Civic can officially return up to 56.5mpg, and we managed to average 50.3mpg during our own testing. Honda is also aiming to reduce the cost of its next-generation hybrid powertrains by more than 30%. To demonstrate the renewed importance of hybrids within the company, the new 'H mark' badge that was originally only going to be worn by members of the '0 Series' EV line-up, will now also feature on Honda's most important hybrid models, starting in 2027. Understandably, technical details are thin on the ground at the moment, and so is any information about these 13 new hybrid models. However, we expect that successors to the Jazz supermini and Civic hatchback will be among them, considering the outgoing versions are a few years old now. Our dealer network has 1,000s of great value new cars in stock and available now right across the UK. Find your new car… Find a car with the experts New Kia Sportage breaks cover and it's sleeker than ever New Kia Sportage breaks cover and it's sleeker than ever Full specification and details have been announced for the UK version of Kia's big-selling mid-size SUV Car Deal of the Day: Get the Range Rover look for (a lot) less with the Jaecoo 7 for £244 a month Car Deal of the Day: Get the Range Rover look for (a lot) less with the Jaecoo 7 for £244 a month Jaecoo is another Chinese brand that has recently arrived in the UK, and its 7 SUV has made a bit of a splash. It's our Deal of the Day for 3 June. Car Deal of the Day: The Citroen C5 Aircross is a big car for a very small £208 a month Car Deal of the Day: The Citroen C5 Aircross is a big car for a very small £208 a month Its replacement may be waiting in the wings, but the current Citroen C5 Aircross is still a fine car. It's our Deal of the Day for 2 June.
Top Gear
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Skywell BE11 Driving, Engines & Performance
Driving What is it like to drive? Sinfully underwhelming. It just about manages to go, stop and turn on command, thus doing the bare minimum to qualify as a 'car'. But ask anything more of it and you might as well be asking a dolphin to operate a forklift truck. The BE11's shortcomings boil down to the ride and the powertrain. It gets MacPherson struts on the front axle and multi-link suspension at the rear: that should be an assuring combo, but its behaviour is so basic it makes you wonder if Skywell did any setup work at all beyond just bolting it onto the frame. Advertisement - Page continues below The body doesn't wallow in corners, but you get jiggled laterally and longitudinally. All the time. Undulating roads cause it to pogo along like a merry-go-round. Handling-wise, it's vague and distant, with numb steering and a chassis that simply doesn't want to engage. Judge your speed well (translation: slow right down) and very occasionally the Skywell will corner predictably, but more often than not you'll find yourself tugging at the wheel to correct your trajectory, upsetting the ride (again) in the process. Fluid this is not. Crumbs. And the powertrain? Mildly infuriating, unfortunately. 201bhp sounds like plenty but the BE11's motor is entirely pedestrian, even lacking the 0-30mph chops that make most electric cars perky in urban areas. Venture out onto the open road and it's got just enough oomph to get by (0-62mph in 9.6 seconds is slow, but not glacial), but this isn't a car that belongs in the outside lane unless it's mid-way through a traffic jam. More annoying is how easy it is to spin the wheels, especially when you're waiting at a junction with a bit of lock on. You only have to prod the accelerator for the grip to momentarily vanish, making you look like a berk with lead feet. Can't be good for tyre life either. Advertisement - Page continues below Worst of all though is how lazy it is. Press the throttle, pause, then the power comes. Same for the regen: lift off, wait… then the braking force kicks in. What it gives you is always at odds with what you want from it. Ostensibly there are Sport and Comfort modes, but they don't seem to do anything. That's pants. Now you're going to tell me the range is diabolical, aren't you? No, actually. We saw 3.3mi/kWh during our test drive, which points to a theoretical range of more than 280 miles against a claim of 304 from the bigger 86kWh battery. The BE11 had warm weather and gentle country roads on its side, so we'd expect that figure to fall significantly on a longer motorway run or in colder conditions. The bigger issue is the charging speed: both the Standard and Long Range versions are capped at 80kW, so the promise of a 0-80 per cent top-up in 1h 10m and 1h 23m apiece falls well short of what we've become used to from mainstream EVs that'll have you on your way again in half an hour. Plug in at home and a full charge will be an overnight job. Nothing wrong with that – 11kW AC is pretty conventional. Highlights from the range the fastest 150kW Long Range 86kWh 5dr Auto 0-62 9.6s CO2 0 BHP 201.2 MPG Price £39,940 the cheapest 150kW Standard Range 72kWh 5dr Auto 0-62 9.6s CO2 0 BHP 201.2 MPG Price £36,940 the greenest 150kW Long Range 86kWh 5dr Auto 0-62 9.6s CO2 0 BHP 201.2 MPG Price £39,940
Car and Driver
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Honda Planning New Hybrid System for Large Vehicles Later This Decade
Honda announced a next-generation hybrid powertrain that will arrive in 2027, which is intended to be less expensive to produce. A specific hybrid setup is being designed for large vehicles in the North American market, with Honda targeting "powerful driving performance" and "high towing capability." Beginning in 2027, Honda will launch 13 new hybrids globally over four years. It's becoming a trend. Over the past several years, most automakers announced ambitious plans to convert most, if not all, of their lineups to electric power, typically with a deadline of around 2030. Now many automakers are backtracking on these plans, and Honda is the latest to declare a rethinking of its EV transition. In a press briefing in Japan today, Honda said it will launch a next-generation hybrid powertrain in 2027—including a specific system for large vehicles in the United States—and emphasized the importance of hybrids as it scales back its shift toward electric powertrains. Honda's EV goals hadn't been quite as bold as other brands, with the Japanese automaker originally aiming to have EVs represent 30 percent of its global sales by 2030. But even this mark is too high, the automaker now believes. Honda cites "uncertainty in the business environment" and "the slowdown in the expansion of the EV market," which it says has been caused by "changes in environmental regulations" and "changes in trade policies of various countries." Marc Urbano | Car and Driver The hybrid system in the 2025 Honda Civic. While EV adoption hasn't taken off at the rate Honda expected, the company is seeing strong demand for its current hybrid models and will invest even more in this segment. Honda plans to further hone its two-motor hybrid system, which will be paired with a next-generation platform that will focus on reducing weight and a new all-wheel-drive electric drive unit that will feature "highly precise and responsive motor control." Honda aims for these advancements to lead to 10 percent better fuel economy than its current hybrid system. Specifically, Honda says that the North American market will get a new hybrid system meant for larger vehicles, which Honda says will provide "powerful driving performance, high towing capability, and high environmental performance." Honda says this will be fitted to products that show up in the latter portion of this decade, and we think a next-generation Pilot seems like a likely choice. Starting in 2027, Honda plans to launch 13 next-generation hybrid models globally over four years, and these new hybrids will wear the simplified "H mark" logo that was originally intended for Honda's EVs. The H Mark Honda Reveals a New 'H' Logo for EVs Honda also wants to make its hybrids less expensive, with a goal to cut the cost of its next-generation system by over 50 percent versus the system it launched in 2018 and by over 30 percent compared to the system that arrived in its cars in 2023. An expected increase in hybrid sales volume will contribute to this cost reduction, Honda says, as will more efficient production processes and the use of more common parts across models. Honda Honda still plans to launch the radical 0 Saloon EV in 2026. Honda also reemphasized its plans for a new advanced driver-assistance system that will be able to handle operations like acceleration and steering during an entire drive route, including both highways and surface roads. Honda says this new system will arrive in both EVs and hybrids in North America and Japan starting around 2027. Caleb Miller Associate News Editor Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Scania unveils the Super 11 engine - a lighter, more efficient solution for high-performance transport
With a compact footprint, up to 7 percent fuel savings and Scania's signature engineering intelligence, the new Super 11 engine expands the Super powertrain portfolio to meet the needs of weight-sensitive and energy-efficient applications. Scania expands its Super powertrain portfolio with the launch of the Super 11 engine. The Super 11 engine is 85 kg lighter than the Super 13 and delivers up to 7% better fuel efficiency than the 9-litre engine. The engine targets weight-sensitive, energy-efficient transport and offers operators efficiency, performance, and more flexibility without compromising on quality. Super 11 is available in three performance steps: 350, 390, or 430 hp, meets Euro 4, 5, and 6 standards, and shares 85% of its parts with the proven Super 13 engine. SÖDERTÄLJE, Sweden, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Scania's latest innovation, the Super 11 engine, brings a new level of performance and flexibility to the 11-litre segment. Positioned between the established 9-litre and 13-litre engine platforms, the Super 11 offers up to seven percent improved fuel efficiency compared with Scania's current 9-litre engine, and is 85 kg lighter than the Super 13 engine. This allows transport operators to increase their payloads in weight-critical operations without compromising on power, fuel efficiency or reliability. "This engine opens new possibilities for energy-efficient and cost-effective transport. It's lighter, leaner and more flexible, yet it still carries the strength and reliability for which Scania is known. It's a smart choice for operators who need to balance performance, payload and sustainability in their daily work," says Ayyoob Zarmehri, Product Manager, Trucks Sales and Marketing at Scania. Engineered with fuel economy and durability in focus Available in three performance steps – 350 hp (1,800 Nm), 390 hp (2,000 Nm) and 430 hp (2,200 Nm) – the Super 11 complies with Euro 4, 5 and 6 emission standards. It delivers performance across a wide range of transport applications, from urban logistics to regional haulage. The Super 11 also benefits from sharing 85 percent of its components with the tried and tested Super 13 engine, maintaining Scania's engineering DNA while being tailored to a different operational fit. Maintenance intervals are up to 30 percent longer than Scania's 9-litre engines when using LDF-5 engine oil, which helps operators increase uptime and reduce overall service costs. Innovative technology beneath the surface The Super 11 features various key improvements that are the result of years of testing of technical innovations. The new engine is equipped with Scania's own cam phaser technology for variable valve timing, enabling real-time engine thermal management and improved combustion performance. This is combined with new engine software and balance shafts for reduced vibration and a robust engine brake, which offers up to 344 kW through Scania's Variable Valve Brake (VVB) system. It all adds up to an engine that delivers a smoother, more comfortable driving experience. Scania's patented turbo dosing system also improves AdBlue usage and further enhances engine efficiency. Cleaner operation from day one The impressive fuel efficiency savings and lighter weight are already compelling arguments for the new engine's sustainability credentials, but a further element is that the Super 11 is compatible with both HVO and FAME. This enables operators to lower their emissions footprint without investing in new infrastructure. It is a solution that supports both operational goals and long-term sustainability targets. One engine, multiple applications Compact, lightweight and powerful, the Super 11 is designed for a wide range of transport operations, including: Tipper and bulk transport Fuel and volume goods transport Refuse collection and temperature-controlled transport General cargo Hooklift and Flatbed with crane Recovery and fire engines "The Super 11 engine represents the next generation of intelligent transport. It combines the best of Scania's engineering with the efficiency and adaptability that today's operators demand. Whether in the city or out on longer routes, this engine is built to perform – mile after mile," says Ayyoob Zarmehri. The Super 11 engine will be available for purchase from June 2025. Read more and explore the engine further at For further information, please contact: Elin Wengström Head of Product Affairs, Scania TrucksPhone: +46 73 868 30 65E-mail: This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: 25073-009 11-litre Engine 16x7 25086-006 Scania 430 25074-002 Ayyoob Zarmehri 25047-004 11-litre Engine 25047-006 11-litre Engine 25047-005 11-litre Engine 25073-009 11-litre Engine 25073-010 11-litre Engine 25073-014 11-litre Engine 25073-015 11-litre Engine View original content: SOURCE Scania Sign in to access your portfolio
Top Gear
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
The 1,144bhp ‘Carbon Fibre Edition' Hummer EV will hit 60mph in just 2.8s
First Look Gargantuan pickup gets more power for 2026, plus rear-wheel steering as part of a wider model update Skip 5 photos in the image carousel and continue reading The Hummer EV pickup is, quite simply, a 4.1-tonne warehouse that hits 60mph in three seconds. Flat. But GMC clearly thinks that's too slow, so it's introducing a limited-run 'Carbon Fibre Edition' (CFE) that in the Pickup version trims this down to 2.8s. Two point eight . It's part of a full 2026 model year update for the big lug, which includes better software optimisation for the tri-motor powertrain to uncork a massive 1,144bhp - up from 1,000bhp - for the Pickup. GMC has confirmed the SUV version will also get the CFE option, though it's unclear if that warehouse's 830bhp output and 3.5s 0-60mph time will change. Advertisement - Page continues below Alongside the extra pace, the CFE rings in a few cosmetic changes. Unsurprisingly, these changes include carbon fibre bits, like the mirror caps and skid plate inserts, along with 22in black wheels wrapped around new all-terrain tyres, and darker exterior accents. The other big change GMC has introduced across the Humvee range is the 'King Crab' mode. It's a piece of software that enables rear-wheel steering, improving on the standard 4WD setup by turning the back wheels faster than the front ones. It means better manoeuvrability and agility in tight spaces when you're climbing rocks, wading through currents or attempting to just park the thing. You might like Better still, GMC says the King Crab software will be available in due course as an over-the-air update for all Hummer EVs built thus far. Excellent news. Other small updates include bidirectional charging, enabling it to power both your home during a blackout, or another car during… a car-out. It'll also gain GMC's next generation of Super Cruise semi-autonomous driver assistance, and tweaked dampers for a better ride. Advertisement - Page continues below Prices are expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks, before production starts later this summer. Looking for more from the USA? Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
