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New Ricardo Book Describes Key Issues in Vehicle Systems Integration

2 November 2000

New Ricardo Book Describes Key Issues in Vehicle Systems Integration

    BELLEVILLE, Mich., Nov. 2 Ricardo plc, parent company of
Ricardo, Inc., a Belleville, Mich. engineering services company, has announced
the publication of a new book, "Vehicle Systems Integration -- The Way Ahead."
The book contains all of the papers presented at Ricardo's June 2000
International Conference in Brighton, U.K., plus edited transcripts of a
number of executive presentations that have not been previously released.
    Over 200 delegates from leading vehicle manufacturers and suppliers
attended the three-day Brighton summit in June.  Under the general theme of
vehicle systems integration, the conference tackled four key issues facing the
industry: engines and aftertreatment; control systems development and
calibration; powertrain system and integration for performance and economy;
and integrated powertrain systems modeling and control.
    Jeremy Holt, President and CEO of Ricardo, Inc., described the book as a
"milestone."
    "We're delighted to make this book available to the industry," Holt said.
"Senior engineers will find it full of valuable insights to the most advanced
powertrain research and application work to date.  Powertrain design
responsibility is increasingly falling to the Tier 1 suppliers.  This has led
to fundamental new approaches to conventional powertrain engineering.  Because
of our long history in powertrain technology, more than 80 years, Ricardo is
at the center of these developments."
    The book contains presentations by conference speakers that include Sivert
Hiljemark, managing director of the engine division at Volvo; Yves Boccadoro,
managing director of the engine division at Renault; Graham Hoare, the former
chief engineer for transmission & driveline development at BMW (Hoare is now
at Land Rover); Roger Deckers, general manager of powertrain design at PSA;
and Ron Lee, Chief Engineer for powertrain at Jaguar.
    Underlining the main theme from the conference, the book highlights the
growing importance of vehicle systems integration, and in particular
powertrain development, in meeting the environmental and technical challenges
facing the industry in the second century of the automobile.
    The book is published by Professional Engineering Publishing Limited of
the UK.  Vehicle Systems Integration -- The Way Ahead (ISBN 1 86058 262 1) is
available directly from PEP at +44 (0) 1284 724 384 or via its Web site at
http://www.pepublishing.com .  The book is priced at 152 pounds.
    Ricardo, Inc., is the U.S. subsidiary of Ricardo plc, founded in the early
1900s, with its world headquarters in the United Kingdom.  Ricardo is one of
the world's foremost independent automotive and powertrain engineering
consultancies.  Ricardo is a leading engineering technology provider,
supplying research, design and development services to the world's automotive
manufacturers and their suppliers.