By John Roach, contributor
General Motors and Chrysler are in the throes of bankruptcy. And although Ford isn't bankrupt, it's limping over its crippled competitors in search of skittish consumers. But most ways you look at it, the U.S. auto industry is on the ropes. Can technology save the day?
Industry analysts say a stronger economy and easier credit are the keys to luring consumers back into showrooms. But once they are there, new automotive technologies could help seal the deal. Click on the \"Next\" button above to learn more about the six technology trends that could help turn around the U.S. auto industry.";
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Ford is putting some of its hopes for the future in its EcoBoost technology, which is a direct-injection, dual- turbocharged engine. Direct injection means the fuel is put directly into each cylinder of the engine to boost fuel economy and power. The turbochargers take waste energy from the exhaust and recycle it for even more power.
The result is the ability to put smaller, fuel-efficient engines in the types of big, roomy cars that Americans love. For example, the seven-seater 2010 Flex, shown here, gets 24 miles per gallon on the highway. \"It is not a small vehicle ... but it is going to get very good fuel economy,\" says Daniel Hall, vice president of the market research firm AutoPacific. ";
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When it comes to looking for a technological fix for the ailing U.S. auto industry, IHS Global Insight analyst Paul Lacy says, \"There isn't a silver bullet.\"
Rather, a combination of fuel-saving technologies may make new cars of all sizes more attractive. For example, General Motor's 2010 Chevrolet Equinox crossover sport utility vehicle, shown here, features a direct-injection engine, electric power steering, and an aerodynamically designed windshield that can add up to 32 miles per gallon on the highway. ";
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Outside of an economic rebound, one thing that gets people into showrooms is a car that evokes passion, notes Hall of AutoPacific. \"There's no doubt the new Camaro will do that. It's a flashy vehicle,\" he says.
GM's 2010 Chevy Camaro is winning over critics with its looks, of course, but also with the technology under the hood. The base model has a direct fuel injection V-6 engine that puts out 304 horsepower. \"It's a muscle car that gets 27 miles per gallon on the highway. That's new,\" Hall says. The automatic V-8 version puts out 400 horsepower and gets 25 miles per gallon. Sales could prove a boost to the company's bottom line.";
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Despite a federally legislated trend toward more fuel-efficient cars, Lacy says that auto manufacturers may keep America's love affair with the SUV alive by using more aerodynamic designs and lightweight materials such as aluminum. For example, the hybrid battery pack in the 2008 GMC Yukon hybrid SUV, added about 400 pounds to the car.
GM shaved those pounds by replacing some of the steel panels with lighter aluminum, Lacy noted. \"So it was a wash in terms of overall weight. And more of that will happen. It won't necessarily be every vehicle, but wherever there will be a significant increase in weight they'll look to offset it.\" ";
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Ever since the Toyota Prius was introduced worldwide in 2001, carmakers and consumers have been abuzz over hybrid technology. In the coming years, automakers will introduce a variety of engine technologies that use electrical power to give their cars more miles per gallon of gasoline. Rides such as the Prius charge up their batteries when drivers apply the brakes. The next advance is a generation of plug-in hybrids that can be recharged directly from the power grid.
The Chevrolet Volt (shown here), planned for release in late 2010, gets enough juice from the grid charge for the first 40 miles. Gasoline then takes over, extending the range of the vehicle. The Volt is due to go on the market in late 2010. Reality check: AutoPacific's Hall says hybrid sales aren't expected to be large enough to carry the industry out of the doldrums anytime soon.";
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Someday, all cars might be fully electric, but such technology is unlikely to create a turnaround in the U.S. auto industry, according to IHS Global Insight analyst Lacy. Although California-based Tesla has won critical acclaim for its all-electric Roadster and recently unveiled the Model S sedan, shown here, for production in 2011, technological hurdles such as efficient, inexpensive batteries have raised obstacles for for mass production and consumption of electric vehicles.
\"The future is obviously going in that direction, without a doubt,\" Lacy says. \"I just don't think we're going to have this massive shift to electric vehicles within the next five or eight years. It is going to take longer than that.\"";
// END editorial data