William Maley

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 23, 2012 Question: What is the second oldest nameplate in Kia's lineup? If you said the Sportage, you would be wrong. That happens to be the oldest nameplate. The answer is a tie between Kia's smallest and largest sedans: the Rio and Optima. For the time being we're going to focusing on the latter. Introduced back in 2000, the Optima was met with... well.. zero fanfare. If you told someone that you just bought a Kia Optima, they would look at quizzically and say "A What!" The only way you would know the Optima existed beside passing you're nearest Kia dealership was when you picked up one from car rental place for your vacation. In fact, in 2011, the 2000 - 2006 Kia Optima was the subject of a about a ficticious car company that tried to come up with the most nondescript, boring car they could. The result was a car called the Mediocrity, a very thinly disguised 2001 Optima. But in that same year, Kia unveiled the new Optima. The sleek styling and commercial campaign made everyone stand up and take notice. Also, it put Subaru on notice as to who they’re dealing with.Has this coming out work for the new Optima? And more importantly, Can the Optima vie for the title of the best midsize sedan? Next: The Outside Story Exterior Compared to the past two generations of the Optima, the new one is definitely a looker. The overall look carries a lot of influences from European automakers, especially Audi and BMW. This shouldn't come as a surprise when Kia's design chief, Peter Schreyer, worked at Audi before going to Kia. Starting with the low-slung front end, the most prominent design piece is the large, wide grille. Flanking on either side of the grille is a set of headlights extending into the front fenders. The Optima's side profile features door panels that are scalloped along the bottom and a chrome strip running along the greenhouse. The back end is very short and features a trunk lid that is scalloped where the license plate and Optima nameplate reside. A set of chrome-tipped exhausts and seventeen-inch alloy wheels finish off the look. Next: Step Inside Interior The Optima's interior doesn't have the same flair as the exterior, but there is some European influences making their way inside. The driver-oriented dash is a mix of soft- and hard-touch plastics, and French-stitched material in the places you would expect. The center console is trimmed with a metal bezel and wood trim. This Optima EX came equipped with the premium package which gains you heated and cooled power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a load of other features. Build and material quality are very good for the class. For entertainment, the Optima came equipped with a five-inch touch screen for Navigation and AM/FM/SiriusXM /CD/USB/Aux/Bluetooth running through an excellent eight-speaker Infinity sound system that is part of the premium package. The screen is very responsive to input, easy to read, and is very bright. At night, the glow of the Nav screen is distracting even at the lowest brightness setting. Controls for the audio, climate control, and navigation reside underneath the screen, with the layout being very logical and easy to reach. Rear seat passengers won't find much to complain about the Optima's legroom. Taller passengers will notice the sharply raked rear window as it cuts into their headroom. Trunk space measures out to 15.4 cubic feet, which puts the Optima in the middle of the midsize sedan class. Next: Under the Hood Powertrain The Optima comes in three different engine flavors: a 2.4 Gasoline-Direct-Injection inline-four, a 2.0L turbo-four, and a hybrid model. Ours came equipped with the 2.4L GDI inline-four producing 200 HP and 186 lb-ft of torque sending power to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic. During the Interactive Review, I described the engine as being "smooth" and "peppy” and feel it still holds true. The 2.4L provides better than expected power for a 4-cylinder. Leaving from a stop or merging on to the freeway, the 2.4 delivers its power fast and smoothly. The six-speed automatic provides smooth shifts and seems to always put you in the right gear for the situation. Fuel economy for the 2.4L GDI is rated at 24 City/35 Highway/28 Combined. My average for the week with Optima EX was around 27.2 MPG, the majority of driving taking place on suburban and rural roads. Next: Driving Around Ride & Drive The Optima's ride can be classified as sporty. The suspension is comprised of a set of MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup with coil springs around back. This combination makes the Optima really fun to drive on curvy roads. The sportier setup comes with a stiffer ride, but not so much that you’ll need to see the dentist after. The Optima is well sound insulated with engine and road noise muted to a minimum. As for the steering, I found it to be direct but lacking feedback. The steering feels heavier than most other family mid-sizers and took some getting used to, but by the end of our time together, I learned to appreciate it. Visibility is a mixed bag for the Optima: Front and side views are good but visibility towards the rear suffers from the sloping roofline and large c-pillar. Thankfully, our Optima had a back-up camera as part of the Premium package which made backing-up much easier. Next: And the Verdict.. Verdict The Kia Optima is the automotive equivalent of a Cinderella story. Once a vehicle that no one seemed to know that existed or cared about, the Optima shines brightly in the crowded midsize sedan class. In fact, the Kia Optima happens to be outselling the Subaru Legacy by 3 to 1 so far this year (73,158 Optimas vs. 24,272 Legacys). So while Subaru may have the funny commercial, Kia gets the last laugh. The Optima does have a couple of Jeers listed below, but the Cheers more than outweigh them. And consider this: for $28,300 (the as-tested price), you're getting a quality-built sedan with a set of equipment that would embarrass cars costing twice as much while delivering a sporty ride and impressive fuel economy for its class. If you're seriously looking in the midsize sedan segment, don't be afraid to check out the Optima. Otherwise, you might be missing out on what could be the best midsize sedan on sale today. Cheers: Value for money Sporty Ride Engine Performance Fuel Economy Exterior & Interior Design Jeers: Rear Visibility Rear Headroom for taller passengers Nav screen a tad bright during night driving Disclaimer: Kia provided the vehicle, insurance, and one tank of gas for this review. Year - 2012 Make - Kia Model – Optima Trim – EX Engine – 2.4L GDI inline-four Driveline – Front Wheel Drive, Six Speed Automatic Horsepower @ RPM - 200 @ 6300 Torque @ RPM - 186 @ 4250 Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 24/25/28 Curb Weight – 3223 lbs Location of Manufacture – Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, West Point, GA Base Price - $23,200.00 As Tested Price - $28,300.00 (Includes $750.00 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

Hmm, design and driving wise.. Quest by a mile. As for carrying cargo.. Odyssey. The reason is I can remove all of the seats from the Odyssey, thus giving me a large amount of cargo space. With the Quest, you cannot remove any of the seats. You can only fold them which means less cargo space.

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've been busy working on some other items. I will have some more pictures tomorrow.. If you mean the shifter right next to the HVAC and Radio controls then yes. Fit and Finish is very good. For a van, wind and road noise is kept to a minimum. It won't rival Buick for quietness though. Yes, but the Quest does have a blind spot warning mounted in the side view mirrors that alert you when a car is in your blind spot. The rear is a bit tough as well, thankfully Nissan has fitted a backup camera as standard equipment. Uh, What?

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 20, 2012 Automakers are taking notice of the red hot sales of the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ. And if rumors play true, Nissan could be working on a competitor. According to Motor Trend, Nissan is hard at work on a sports coupe to compete with the FR-S and BRZ. However, the coupe will not use a RWD platform. Instead the coupe will utilize a FWD platform with an AWD variant, most likely from the Juke. Also coming from the Juke will be the 1.6L, turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 190 HP. The coupe would be primarily for China, with Japan and Europe being secondary. The U.S. is under consideration. 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 July 20, 2012 Back in January, Drew got his hands on a 2012 GMC Terrain SLT-2 AWD with the 3.0L V6. Seven months later, I have almost the same GMC Terrain, right down to the black paint. However, Drew has driven the Terrain and its platform mate, the Chevrolet Equinox before. This would be my first go with it. After a week, what would I think about the Terrain? Has anything changed since the Terrain's last visit to C&G Garage? Only a few items of note. In the infotainment department, the Terrain dropped its base radio and replaced it with a large, seven-inch touchscreen radio. Also, GMC's Intellilink which provides smartphone integration, and the ability to stream Pandora and Stitcher Internet Radio is now on the option list. Also on the options list (only for the SLT-2 model though) is lane departure warning and forward collision alert. The Outside & Inside Story Exterior The Terrain definitely fits the "Professional Grade" persona that GMC puts out there. The front end features a large, bold chrome grill that lets everyone know what you're driving. A pair of large, square headlights and a uniquely sculpted hood complete the front. The side profile features prominent front and rear fenders, body cladding running along the bottom of the doors, and a set of five-spoke, eighteen-inch chrome wheels. The back end has a set of taillights that flank a large chrome bar hiding the release for the hatch and a rear-view camera. Also featured on the rear are twin exhaust pipes. However, the designers pumped up the fake testosterone too much and the end result looks like it is trying too hard to fit the Professional Grade persona. Given the choice between the Terrain and the Chevrolet Equinox, I would choose the Equinox every time. Interior Stepping into the Terrain's interior, I was amazed as to how much interior space there was for passengers. Front seat passengers get a pair of heated leather seats, with the driver getting eight-way power-adjustments. Back seat passengers will have nothing to complain about with Terrain as head and legroom are well above average. Also, back seat passengers can also recline and move the seat backwards and forward. Cargo space for the Terrain measures at 31.6 cu.ft. with the seats up and 63.9 cu.ft. with the seats down. As for the Dash, build quality and materials are good. The center stack is laid out well and most of the controls are in easy reach. The only set of controls that I would move is for the trip computer. The buttons are set too low in the stack for easy reach. I would put them onto a stalk on the steering wheel column like other GM vehicles. The Terrain comes with a variety of infotainment options, ranging from a standard seven-inch touchscreen radio that provides AM/FM/SiriusXM/CD and USB input to a Naviagtion system with a 10 GB hard drive for music. This particular Terrain came with GMC's Intellilink system. Like the Chevrolet Malibu Eco and Buick Verano, I had a couple of problems (iPod playback at Alvin & Chipmunks speed on certain tracks and Pandora playing without sound). Powertrain, Ride, Safety, and Verdict Drivertrain The Terrain comes with the choices of a 2.4L direct-injection four-cylinder or a 3.0L direct-injection V6 engine, and front-wheel or all-wheel-drive. This Terrain is equipped with the 3.0L DI V6 producing 264 horsepower and 222 lf-ft of torque and all-wheel drive. No matter which engine or drive configuration you choose, the only transmission available is a 6-speed automatic. The 3.0L V6 makes its 222 lb-ft of torque at a high 5100 RPM leaving the crossover's transmission constantly on the hunt for the right gear. Making a pass requires a lot of planning. Fuel economy for the V6-AWD is 16mpg city and 23mpg highway, which shockingly, is identical to the more powerful, larger, and heavier GMC Acadia V6 AWD. Somehow, I was able to coax out 21 MPG for my average. If you want/need V6 power in your Terrain, wait for the 2013 models with the 3.6L DI V6 to begin rolling out. Ride & Drive Driving the Terrain is very a pleasant experience. The suspension does a good job of providing a comfortable ride and isolating road imperfections. Also, the suspension does a good job of keeping the Terrain stable in cornering and emergency maneuvers. As for the steering, it is weighted just right. Noise from the engine and the road is kept to a minimum thanks in part to triple door seals, double pane glass, and other sound deadening materials. Safety This particular Terrain was equipped with the optional lane departure warning and forward collision alert. Using a camera mounted in the rear-view window, the two systems warn you if you're drifting into another lane or are about to run into the back of a vehicle. In theory, both systems should work very well. In practice, one out of two isn't bad. The lane departure warning is more a nuisance than a help, just a warning light and audible beep. Also, a study from HLDI found out vehicles equipped with lane departure warning were in more accidents than vehicles without the system. The forward collision alert is a good system, flashing a big, red light on the dash and beeping. The system also prepares the braking system for the driver to hit the brakes quickly. One item I do have to give GMC kudos for is the dual mirrors for the side-view mirrors, which helps minimize the Terrain's blind spots. Verdict The GMC Terrain is one of the best CUVs on sale today. Despite my dislike for the exterior styling, most of the overall package is just right for most crossover buyers. There is an Achilles heel though to the Terrain and that is the optional 3.0L V6. The power isn't quite where you want it in certain situations, the six-speed automatic hunts for gears, and fuel economy makes you think you're driving a larger vehicle. This is a case of right car, wrong engine. For most buyers, the 2.4L Ecotec four is all you need. For those who need V6 power, wait till the 2013 Terrain comes with the 3.6L V6. You'll sacrifice nothing in fuel economy but gain more horsepower and torque. Disclaimer: General Motors provided the vehicle, insurance, and one tank of gas for this review. Year - 2012 Make - GMC Model - Terrain Trim – SLT-2 Engine – 3.0L DI V6 Driveline – All Wheel Drive, Six Speed Automatic Horsepower @ RPM - 264 @ 6950 Torque @ RPM - 222 @ 5100 Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 16/23/19 Curb Weight – 3798 lbs Location of Manufacture – CAMI Assembly, Ingersol, Ontario Base Price - $33,010.00 As Tested Price - $36,495.00 (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

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 20, 2012 Honda has revealed their new HondaLink infotainment system which will be appearing in the 2013 Accord and Fit EV. As we reported last month, HondaLink will use will feature Aha Radio, a cloud-based digital content service that uses data from a smartphone to provide a variety of music, news, podcasts, other traditional audio content, and reading of facebook and twitter updates. (Because everyone wants to hear an update on someone's relationship status or what they're for lunch today. (Steps off soapbox)) Also, HondaLink will provide Pandora Internet Radio and voice-to-text messaging that was first introduced on the 2012 CR-V. There is another version of HondaLink called HondaLink EV that will allow the driver to check driving range and locate EV charging stations, as well as remotely initiate charging, view the state of charge and activate the air-conditioning and heater. HondaLink EV will be on the Fit EV and the upcoming Accord Plug-In Hybrid. 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 New Cloud-Based HondaLink™ Connected Car System Helps Drivers Put Away Their Phones While Maintaining Intuitive Access to Their Favorite Media HondaLink™ provides first-ever OEM application of Aha™, delivering robust digital content via preset smartphone app July 18, 2012 TORRANCE Honda today unveiled HondaLink™, a new in-vehicle connectivity system that will debut this fall on the all-new, ninth-generation 2013 Honda Accord. Featuring the first automotive OEM application of Aha™ by Harman, HondaLink will provide a personalized experience connecting drivers to thousands of cloud-based news, information and entertainment feeds from around the world, using an intuitive, audio-system based interface. "HondaLink will enable customers to put away their phone and still stay connected to the people, music and media they love," said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of product planning for American Honda. "By creating an intuitive and customizable user interface, HondaLink allows drivers to access digital content as easily as choosing a radio station." Honda's intuitive new HondaLink smartphone application allows owners to preset content on their phone. Once in the car, consumers can enjoy personalized content accessible via voice recognition, steering-wheel mounted controls and in-dash audio system controls. With a tethered smartphone serving as a conduit to a wealth of cloud-based media, HondaLink creates a unique, connected driving experience. "Honda's strategy is about leveraging the cloud to bring a wealth of new information and services to Honda owners," said Charles Koch, American Honda manager of new business development. "This is the next evolution of the connected car and the connected customer." Through the Aha service, for example, HondaLink users can listen to Facebook and Twitter audio newsfeeds, podcasts from NPR, location-based personalized restaurant listings from Yelp!, and access internet music services such as Slacker. The service is free and instantly accessible from the cloud. Aha delivers a user-friendly experience requiring infrequent smartphone software updates, with in-vehicle content and channel access updating simply and automatically throughout the vehicle life. And content available from HondaLink will grow as the system continues to expand its services for Honda owners. HondaLink will also incorporate Pandora internet radio and voice-to-text SMS text services with pre-programmed responses, which Honda introduced on the 2012 CR-V. HondaLink EV The HondaLink family also includes HondaLink EV, specifically designed for the all-new Fit EV all-electric vehicle and the upcoming Accord Plug-In Hybrid. Owners of these electric vehicles will have access to unique applications designed specifically to maintain connectivity to their vehicle. The HondaLink EV application will allow the user to remotely view the state of charge, initiate charging, and activate the air conditioning and heater to pre-condition the vehicle while connected to the grid to maximize battery range on start-up. HondaLink EV will launch with the Fit EV, which will be available for lease in California and Oregon beginning on July 20, 2012. View full article