LIQUI MOLY’s Diesel Particulate Filter Cleaner Kit Bags AIA “Best New Product” Award
There are barely any notable innovations in the field of automotive chemistry but LIQUI MOLY’s Diesel particulate Filter Cleaner Kit is one that bagged the Auto International Association’s (AIA) “2013 Best New Product for Import Cars” award at the recently held Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas, the globe’s grandest annual aftermarket trade fair. “This is the Academy Award for the automotive aftermarket,” explained David Pollack, LIQUI MOLY Marketing Manager, North America. “This distinction is a great honor for us. And it reflects that new technologies also offer new business opportunities.” LIQUI MOLY’s has an extensive range of products for diesel cars that were showcased during the AAPEX show. Contemporary diesel vehicles are equipped with a diesel particulate filter designed to filter out soot. However, though the filter helps reduce emission issues, the filter itself can possibly create a few problems. When utilized for regular short trips or when the diesel fuel does not have optimum quality, it can instantly clog up. This continually affects the vehicle’s performance until it stops running. LIQUI MOLY developed the Diesel Particulate Filter Cleaner Kit as an effective and economical substitute for garages so that car owners need not waste money on replacement of filters. Designed to clean the filter effectively without removing it from the car, the kit reduces the time needed for the entire procedure. It takes only 30 to 60 minutes to clean the filter using the kit. “This saves vehicle owners a great deal of money and provides garages with an attractive, additional service that can be kept in house instead of losing the opportunity to the dealership,” added David Pollack. After cleaning, the driver immediately experiences a dramatic improvement in the car’s performance. “This also makes our kit an excellent way to help retain customer loyalty.” With the innovative concept offered by the kit, the AIA chose it as the best innovation of the year. “Winning an award like this reflects the importance LIQUI MOLY places on developing new products “, confirmed David Pollack. “This award is affirmation for us to continue to be an innovator in the aftermarket.”
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Subaru and Toyota Plan Launch of Downsized Turbos to Improve Fuel Economy
Subaru and Toyota Motor Corp. has recently discussed plans at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show to launch downsized turbos to improve thefuel economy without affecting the performance—or to improve power without compromising fuel economy. The first models equipped with these turbos will debut in 2014, with more to follow. “Toyota, which has no turbos in its lineup, will use turbocharged engines across its portfolio, with possible displacements spanning the 1.0- to 1.5-liter range,” said Satoshi Ogiso, managing officer in charge of global product planning, chassis and drivetrain engineering. The company’s first turbo since the 1980s is anticipated to arrive in 2014. “It will be a 2.0-liter powerplant offered in the Lexus compact crossover to be styled after the LF-NX. In the near future we will use downsized turbochargers, also in the Toyota lineup,” Ogiso added. Toyota cars will be equipped with turbocharged engines in a few years. The vehicles will utilize the technology to boost fuel economy, while Lexus will depend on it more for enhancing lowend torque from engines with small displacements. “A 1.4-liter turbo standing in for a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine can deliver a 5 percent increase in fuel economy,” Ogiso estimated. “Fuel economy gains are bigger when turbo engines are combined with manual transmissions than with automatics.” In spring next year, Subaru will roll out its first-ever 1.6-liter directinjection downsized turbo engine to be offered on Levorg compact wagon. Set to go on sale in Japan, the engine substitutes for a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine. Subaru Executive Vice President for Global Engineering Naoto Muto, claimed that while the 1.6-liter turbo has better fuel efficiency than the 2.0-liter, it generates power equivalent to that of a 2.5-liter engine. “Subaru is studying a possible use in the United States, but nothing has been decided. Subaru engineers are looking at expanding turbos to sub for bigger engines,” Muto said. He also revealed that they might follow General Motors’s (GM) example of substituting a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a smaller and lighter 2.5-liter unit.