NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Renewable Diesel Offers Low-Carbon Lifeline

For Wards Intelligence Subscribers
Cleaning up emissions from heavy-duty trucking could come from renewable fuels made from soy or other feedstock. Some major refineries are coming online in the next two years to fill those fuel tanks with renewable diesel.

From Cadillac to VW, 2021 Wards 10 Best UX List Is Complete

Wards 10 Best UX
Six Wards judges selected the winners after evaluating 33 eligible vehicles with all-new or significantly upgraded UX features. Ford wins two triple crowns, as the F-150 and Mach-E also earned honors for 10 Best Interiors and 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems.

Supply Disruptions Causing Global Production in 2021 to Fall Dangerously Close to Pandemic-Impacted 2020 Totals

For Wards Intelligence Subscribers
Europe and North America are heading toward year-over-year declines in 2021, while China, though forecast for an increase, is ending the year with a resurgence in losses related to the semiconductor shortage.

Battery Packs Get Sharper Focus as Automakers Aim for Better BEV Performance

Industry insiders see battery packs getting lighter and playing a bigger role in the structural rigidity of the vehicle as automakers push for longer ranges, faster charging and lower costs for next-gen battery-electric vehicles on the way by the middle of the decade.

Neck-Snapping Good Time in Winning Ford Mustang Mach-E

Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems
Go ahead, mash the accelerator in the Mach-E, a 2021 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion System winner. You’ll be glad there’s a head restraint to prevent whiplash. And did we mention how the Mach-E is outselling several midsize luxury rivals powered by gas engines?

BMW 330e Sedan Stands Out Among PHEVs

Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems
The 330e takes a great 4-cyl. turbo and adds an electric motor that kicks in an extra 107 hp and 77 lb.-ft. of torque to deliver a first-rate drive experience, while approaching 40 mpg during our real-world testing in metro Detroit.

Stellantis, LG, Samsung Gigafactories; Tesla Embraces LFP; Supercharger Network to Triple

For Wards Intelligence Subscribers
The European/American automaker announces it will partner with two titans of Li-ion cell-making for batteries for North American-built BEVs.

2022 Toyota Tundra First Drive: Improvements Everywhere

Test Drive
The all-new Tundra comes with two turbo V-6 powertrain options, a new multi-link rear coil suspension for better handling and a work-focused interior. There’s plenty to like about the new Tundra, even if the updates seem incremental in a rapidly evolving truck segment.