William Maley

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 12, 2012 Honda is looking towards America to help out with the development of future vehicles. Honda cites two reasons for this move. One is due to the rising Japanese Yen which is making the price of development much higher. Also, Honda is under growing pressure from other automaker including Nissan and Hyundai with their new vehicles. "Our U.S. r&d team is taking the next step in our growth toward an even larger responsibility for meeting the needs of our customers in North America," said Honda's North American R&D chief Erik Berkman at an a summit in Traverse City, Michigan. Honda's North America r&d will be taking over taking over the next-generation Civic and will be the lead on the Acura NSX. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 11, 2012 Some new spy shots of a refreshed version of the Opel Insignia OPC have been caught. Starting up front, the Insignia OPC appears to get a new bumper, small air intakes, and a new grille. Around back, there are minimal changes. The only thing of note is a set of restyled taillights. Inside, there appears to be a larger screen for infotainment and navigation and a restyled center console. Now, we wondering if the Buick Regal GS will see any of these changes. Both vehicles share many items, except the drivetrain. Source: Autoblog William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 10, 2012 Suzuki's presence in the U.S. is, um lackluster. However in other parts of the world, Suzuki is a major player. So whenever the company shows off a new vehicle or concept, that means its not for the U.S. However, a vehicle that will make its premiere at the Paris Motor Show could be arriving to the U.S. Suzuki has released two teaser images of the S-Cross concept, a small crossover. Suzuki says that the S-Cross has a "Emotion x Quality x Aerodynamics" design that uses "distinctive dynamic lines that start on the front bumper, sweep across the doors, and continue to the rear of the body." The S-Cross makes its appearance at the Paris Motor Show next month. William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 S-CROSS: C-SEGMENT CROSSOVER CONCEPT CAR TO DEBUT AT 2012 PARIS MOTOR SHOW The S-Cross, a concept car heralding a C-segment crossover model from Suzuki will be making its world debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show from 27 September to 14 October*. Suzuki's crossover concept S-Cross embodies an "Emotion x Quality x Aerodynamics" design theme, which is typified by distinctive dynamic lines that start on the front bumper, sweep across the doors, and continue to the rear of the body. Design elements which suggest stability and solidity also help create a cutting-edge crossover look. Further information about the S-Cross and other Suzuki activities can be obtained at the Suzuki Press Conference, scheduled for 7.30 a.m. on 27 September in Hall 5.2 – Aisle B – Stand 509. Suzuki will also be presenting its Alto, Splash, Swift, Swift Sport, SX4, Jimny, and Grand Vitara models. *The 2012 Paris Motor Show will be open to the press on 27 and 28 September and then to the general public from 29 September to 14 October. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 9, 2012 Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors have been making great strides in quality. J.D. Power and Associates' recent Vehicle Dependability Study saw Buick, Ford, and Lincoln above the industry average. Also, Cadillac, GMC, Chevrolet, and Ram trucks all ranked above average in J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study. However, there is still many people who view these three as inferior vehicles. A new poll from Harris Interactive says that out of 2,634 U.S. adults, 35% said they find the quality of american vehicles to be inferior to imports. The poll also found that 24% of adults find imports to be inferior and 42% find quality to be the same. Part of this comes from certain studies which place most american vehicles below the industry average. Also, the wording Harris used in the question has us wondering. The company asked people what they thought about the quality "American made vehicles" - which would lead many, but not all, people to assume Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors. Source: Kicking Tires William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

That red car is the Alfa Romeo 159, what the Giulia will be replacing

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 9, 2012 The updated Ford Fiesta has been caught once again while doing some testing and it gives us our best look at what to expect. The front end has a vibe of the upcoming 2013 Ford Fusion, with its Aston Martin-esk fascia and similar styling on the headlights. Around the back is a new lip spoiler on the trunk and the taillights getting the Fusion treatment. The current Fiesta's engine; a 1.6L inline-4 making 120 HP and 112 lb-ft of torque will be replaced with a 1.0L turbocharged inline-3, producing around 125 HP and 147 lb-ft of torque. The new Fiesta is expected to come out at this year's LA Auto Show. Source: Motor Trend William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 9, 2012 When we last checked in on the Alfa Romeo Giulia, it was being delayed due to the engines not being ready in time. Before this, it was due to design and manufacturing issues. Now, Autocar has some information on what we can expect with the new Giulia. To be launched sometime in 2014, the Giulia will be a part of a revival plan that includes the 4C and Spider. The Giulia will utilize an updated version of the Dodge Dart's platform. Those updates include a longer-wheelbase and a new independent rear suspension. Powertrains are expected to include turbocharged gas four-cylinders, diesels, and Chrysler's Pentastar V6. All-wheel-drive is also in the cards. No one at the moment knows what the Giulia will look like, only that the design is expected to be finalized sometime in the fall and a concept to appear next year. Source: Autocar William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 8, 2012 Last week, we reported on the departure of GM's global marketing chief, Joel Ewanick. The reason given out at the time was Ewanick not meeting up to expectations. A day after his departure, a report from Bloomberg said Ewanick's departure was due to a review of a recent sponsorship agreement that didn't meet company policy. A week later, a new report from Bloomberg sheds some more light on why Ewanick was kicked out. The recent sponsorship agreement in question was a partnership between Chevrolet and U.K. soccer team Manchester United. The agreement, lasting till 2021, would have GM shelling out $18.6 million for this and next year, rising to roughly $70 million in 2014, and increasing 2.1% after that. Total cost of the deal: $559 million. This would have been ok if Ewanick hadn't spread the cost out to other marketing budgets and disclosing a price that was much less than the $559 million. A source tells Bloomberg that a whistle-blower came forward questioning certain aspects of the agreement between GM and Manchester United. An internal investigation was launched and found that the total cost was much higher and hidden in other budgets. Ewanick denied he was hiding anything about the deal during the investigation, but that soon unraveled. Ewanick's resignation was announced on July 29th. Source: Bloomberg William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 8, 2012 Buick has announcing pricing for the new Verano Turbo which will be arriving at dealers in November. The Turbo will start at $29,990 (includes $885 for destination). For that price, you get a 2.0L turbo-four delivering 250 HP and 260 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic is standard, with a six-speed manual being a no-cost option. Also included are Buick's IntelliLink system, Bose audio system, heated leather seats, a rearview camera, blind spot alert, and cross-traffic alert. Optional equipment includes a sunroof and navigation. William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 2013 Buick Verano Turbo Priced at $29,990 DETROIT – The 2013 Buick Verano Turboluxury sedan will be priced at $29,990, including a destination charge of $885. The turbocharged Verano uses an Ecotec 2.0L four-cylinder engine with direct injection and continuously variable valve timing to produce an SAE-certified 250 horsepower (187 kW) at 5300 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) of torque at 2000 rpm. When the Verano Turbo arrives at dealerships this fall, buyers will get both performance and fuel efficiency with 0-60 mph acceleration in an estimated 6.2 seconds and EPA-estimated 20/31 mpg ratings with a six-speed manual transmission available as a no-cost option. Fuel economy ratings for the standard six-speed automatic will be announced closer to production. Verano Turbo will offer more power and better fuel efficiency than the competition. A 2012 Lexus IS250 is rated at 204 horsepower, with fuel efficiency estimates of 19/28 mpg with a manual transmission. In addition to its 2.0L engine, dual exhaust, sport pedals and rear spoiler, standard equipment for the Verano Turbo includes IntelliLink connectivity, a Bose 9-speaker audio system, leather-appointed upholstery, push-button start, rear park assist and rearview camera, radar-based side blind zone alert and rear cross-traffic alert, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. A power sunroof and navigation are optional. “Buick Verano continues to build momentum in the marketplace with eight straight months of sales increases since launch,” said Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick marketing. “The new Verano Turbo increases the performance of an already capable luxury sedan while continuing to offer customers the smart, purposeful technology they expect.” Verano sales began in late November, 2011 with a 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission and standard voice-activated IntelliLink. For 2013, a rearview camera is standard across all Verano models. With the arrival of this new model, Buick will offer three different models with turbocharged engines and optional six-speed manual transmissions, including the Regal Turbo and Regal GSluxury sport sedans. The 2013 Buick Encoreluxury crossover, on sale early next year, will feature a standard turbocharged engine. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 7, 2012 Hyundai surprised all when they showed off two new Santa Fe models at the New York Auto Show this year - the SWB Santa Fe Sport and LWB Santa Fe. Now, Hyundai has announced pricing for the Santa Fe Sport. The Santa Fe Sport starts at $24,450 (excludes a $825 destination charge) and that gets you a 2.4L DI four-cylinder producing 190 HP and front-wheel drive. A 2.0L turbo-four producing 264 HP starts at $27,700 (excludes a $825 destination charge). All wheel drive is a $1750 option. As for the new Santa Fe, Hyundai will release pricing later on in the year. Source: Inside Line William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 7, 2012 Mitsubishi, a brand that was riding high in the early to mid-nineties with vehicles like the Eclipse, Galant, Montero, and Diamante has fallen into obscurity very rapidly. In the same time frame, the crossover utility vehicle has become the ubiquitous go-to car for many American shoppers. As arguably one of the mostly hotly competitive sales segments, Mitsubishi's challenge is to make a stand out vehicle for shoppers drowning in a sea of model names. To overcome this challenge, Mitsubishi has brought not one, but two distinct crossovers; the Outlander and Outlander Sport. But, does standing out help or hurt a crossover like the Outlander or Outlander Sport. To find out, a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC was dropped off for a week long evaluation. Next: The Outside Story Exterior Mitsubishi’s most well known model in production is arguably the Lancer Evolution. As such, you can hardly blame Mitsubishi for taking that look and injecting it into the rest of their lineup. The GT’s front end appears to be directly lifted from the Evolution, with its large, bold grille and chrome bar running around the perimeter. A set of projector headlights and fog lights sit on either side. On the side, flared wheel arches conceal a set of eighteen-inch alloy wheels, standard on the GT. The back end has angled d-pillars and chrome-like taillights. Another design consideration Mitsubishi made with the Outlander GT was practicality. That’s very evident with the spilt opening tailgate. The rear window flips up while the tailgate base flops down. In most cases, this design would make it harder to get items into the back of a vehicle. But Mitsubishi designers made the base as short as possible to make it a non-issue. Visually, the Outlander is an interesting mix of Lancer Evolution DNA blended with the practicality of a crossover. Next: Welcome to the Interior Interior At first glance, the Outlander GT scores very high with its interior. The design is very bold with a curved dash, and the use black and silver trim throughout. However, look and touch the interior a little bit closer and you realize there was some cost cutting. Opening the door to enter or exit the Outlander GT, you’ll notice the hollowness and tinny noise of the doors. This would be ok for a vehicle built in the 1980s, not for a vehicle built in 2012. Materials used throughout the vehicle range from ok stitched leather-like material to hollow, cheap plastics that are used in most parts of the dashboard. Build quality is mostly good, with no outrageous panel gaps or missing pieces. Our Outlander GT tester was equipped with a Navigation package that brought forth a five-inch touchscreen with a 40 GB hard drive for music storage and a backup camera. The interface and graphics felt a full decade behind the times and moving around was a pain due to the small buttons on either of the screen. Sound quality was a positive thanks to the 710-Watt Rockford Fosgate audio system which comes as part of the optional Premium package. Another disappointment was there was no standard Bluetooth or a USB/Aux jack in our test Outlander. Bluetooth is prewired and the buttons to use the system are on the steering wheel. Also, the only aux jacks in the vehicle were RCA jacks. The only way to get USB and Bluetooth is to order the FUSE Hands-free Link System. With an as tested price of $33,605, it is not unreasonable to expect all of these features to be included. As for comfort, the Outlander is a mixed bag depending on where you end up sitting. The front seats are soft, come heated, and provide a surprising amount of bolstering. The driver gets six-way adjustment and lumbar. The second row provides adjustment for recline and whether you want more legroom or cargo space. There is a third-row seat, but that is realistically for emergencies when you have to seat small kids. Trying to fit my 5’7 frame into the back seat was easier than expected. However, I wasn’t comfortable at all. Especially considering my knees were up to my nose. Next: A Peek Under the Hood Powertrain The Outlander comes with the choice of either a four-cylinder or V6 motor. Our Outlander GT was equipped with the 3.0L MIVEC V6 producing 230 HP and 215 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent through a six-speed automatic to all four wheels courtesy of Mitsubishi’s S-AWC system. Compared to its rivals, the Outlander GT is a bit down on power. That’s very evident when leaving a stop or making a pass as the V6 has to dig deep in RPMs to get the power. However the 3.0L V6 is very smooth, albeit a bit noisy. The six-speed automatic does its best to keep you in the power and delivers very smooth shifts. Mitsubishi also fitted magnesium paddle shifters from the Evolution to have a bit of fun. While very cool and fun to use while driving, I don’t see many owners using them at all. And we get to final piece of the Outlander GT’s powertrain, the S-AWC system. S-AWC or Super All Wheel Control is one of Mitsubishi’s AWD systems that use a central differential to send power to whichever wheel to help improve traction. Also, S-AWC comes with a knob in the Outlander GT that changes the settings for the system for whatever weather conditions you find yourself in. The system has three settings; Tarmac, Snow, and Lock. The lock setting locks the central differential and provides increased traction for the worst conditions. This means the Outlander can actually go off-road unlike other crossovers. Fuel economy on the 3.0L is 19 City/25 Highway/21 Combined. My average for the week was a surprising 23.5 MPG. Next: Time to Drive Ride & Drive The Outlander GT was a bit of surprise on how much fun it was. The suspension is very firm and the steering is nicely weighted for enthusiastic driving. Combine those two items with the S-AWC system and six-speed automatic, and you have a very capable and fun crossover. However, that firm ride does mean you will feel every single bump and distortion out on the road. Also, those looking for quiet ride should look away from the Outlander GT. There is too much tire noise at any speed and an abundance of wind noise when on the freeway. Engine noise is minimal. Next: And the Verdict... Verdict Style over substance? That was how I was going to start the verdict of the Mitsubishi Outlander GT, but then I thought about and changed it to this: style with a little bit of substance over substance? Why? Well, besides having a distinct exterior and interior design, the Outlander GT does bring forth some very good items. Those include the S-AWC system, comfortable seating (except for the third row), and a fun drive. However, you need much more than style and some substance to make a vehicle standout in its class. And in the case of the Outlander GT, it falls flat. Certain things like the stiff ride can be fixed by ordering a different model than the GT. But other items like the interior quality and engine make the Outlander feel old and outclassed. Mitsubishi has shown a new Outlander at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year. Underneath the Outlander’s new sheetmetal lies a new vehicle architecture and will have the choice between gas and plug-in hybrid power. The new Outlander also gets revised interior and new safety equipment. The question is will the new Outlander be able to fix the problems of the current one? Cheers: Exterior and Interior Styling S-AWC System Seating Steering Interior Build Quality Jeers: Quality of materials Firm Ride on Streets and Expressway V6 Engine (Power) Navigation Unit (outdated interface) No Standard Bluetooth/Aux Jack For The Price Disclaimer: Mitsubishi provided the vehicle, insurance, and one tank of gas. Year - 2012 Make – Mitsubishi Model – Outlander Trim – GT S-AWC Engine – 3.0 SOHC MIVEC V6 Driveline – All Wheel Drive, Six Speed Automatic Horsepower @ RPM – 230 @ 6250 Torque @ RPM - 215 @ 3750 Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 19/25/21 Curb Weight – 3780 lbs Location of Manufacture – Mizushima, Japan Base Price - $27,895.00 As Tested Price - $33,605.00 (Includes $810.00 Destination Charge) William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article