WardsAuto Engine, Propulsion & Tech Update
 
















OCTOBER 28, 2024



TEST DRIVES

Electric High: ID. Buzz Pushes VW Microbus Nostalgia

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz, a design nod to the original Microbus, hits dealerships in November after almost 25 years in development.

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WARDS 10 BEST ENGINES & PROPULSION SYSTEMS

30 Years of Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems

Judges have chosen 300 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems winners over the past three decades. Download the entire list through the link at the end of this article.

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FOR WARDS INTELLIGENCE SUBSCRIBERS
Full Hybrids Top 10% of Q3 U.S. Market; BEV Growth Improves; PHEVs Decline
After growth slowed from huge double-digit gains over the past three years to single digits in first-half 2024, sales of battery-electric vehicles posted a 10.5% increase in Q3.
2024 10 BEST ENGINES & PROPULSION SYSTEMS

Kia EV9 GT-Line Electrifies 3-Row SUV

The utility aspects of the Kia EV9 GT-Line are plenty good, but adding a fun-to-drive, performance powertrain is a great cherry on the sundae.

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2024 10 BEST ENGINES & PROPULSION SYSTEMS

Porsche Peppers Cayenne with Plug-In Performance

The combination of a powerful electric motor and a turbo-boosted V-6 give the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid the ability to glide silently on battery power or effortlessly blast to triple digits on gasoline and motor propulsion.

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2024 10 BEST ENGINES & PROPULSION SYSTEMS

Stellantis 3.0L Hurricane 6-Cyl. Packs an ICE Punch

In the 540-hp Hurricane High Output, Stellantis offers up a more powerful, lighter and more fuel-efficient successor to the 395-hp Hemi V-8 featured in previous Ram pickups. And any engine tapped to supplant a Hemi V-8 is something extraordinary.

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2024 Battery Show: Five Takeaways

Takeaways from the 2024 Battery Show include uncertainty over the pace of mobility electrification based on who wins the U.S. presidential election and how few U.S. EVs will qualify for the full federal tax credit.

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TEST DRIVES

New Functionality, Off-Road Capability in 2025 Ford Expedition

Ford obtained over 1,100 hours of customer feedback that they rolled into the fifth-generation Expedition. Tremor trim takes the Expedition farther off-road than ever.

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Valeo Shows Off Advanced Tech, Gears Up for the SDV Future

Automakers remain “all over the map” when it comes to what they expect from suppliers in the software-defined-vehicle transition, Valeo executives say, making modularity, scalability and flexibility the key drivers of the Tier 1’s product portfolio.

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The IC Engine Could Outlast 21st Century

BEV propulsion systems for legacy automakers cost about $13,500 on average, compared to $7,100 for ICE powertrains, so there’s still a lot of work to do.

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