William Maley

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 19, 2012 Fiat's U.S. lineup is only made up of one vehicle, the 500 and its variations. That will soon grow to two when the 500L makes its Atlantic crossing next spring. But Fiat U.S. chief Tim Kuniskis revealed to the Detroit Free Press there could be three Fiats. Kuniskis wouldn’t go detail what the third model could be, but he did say that styling will always be their emphasis and that “any car we sell has got to be different.” So, what could be the third vehicle? Well, it could be either the Panda, Punto, or a unknown vehicle. Source: Detroit Free Press View full article

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 18, 2012 It’s hard to believe that the oldest car in Subaru’s lineup is the Forester. Introduced back 2008, the Forester now holds the title of oldest Subaru vehicle in production. Subaru though will be rectifying that within the next year or so. Spy shots of a heavily camouflaged Subaru Forester were released this week showing Subaru is hard at work on the next generation. We can’t tell much about design, but we can tell what the car is riding on. The new Forester will use the new Impreza’s platform, albeit with a bit more ground clearance. Engines will likely be the new 2.5L FB-series flat-four, possibly with direct-injection and a turbocharged four. Inside, the Forester lifts the new Impreza’s interior; from the three-dial HVAC setup and the radio or optional Infotainment system sitiing above. We’ll likely see the new Forester sometime next year as a 2014 model. Source: Car & Driver View full article

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 16, 2012 Photo by Chris Doane Automotive, LLC - May not be used elsewhere without permission of photographer. The last time we saw spy photos of the 2013 Cadillac SRX, it was covered in camouflage and there was talk of a plug-in hybrid version. Fast forward to today and new spy shots show the 2013 SRX with no camouflage and no plug-in hybrid. Our spy shots show the SRX getting a modest update, with the front end getting a new grill and fascia. The SRX will also sport a new interior, with a capacitive-touch center stack, much like the one on the new XTS. And if you're wonder what happened to the plug-in hybrid SRX, that has been shelved. View full article

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 16, 2012 This week, Senators on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee criticized the Energy Department on their handling of the $25 billion Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing initiative. Created in 2007, the Energy Department has only given out less than half of the funds during the four years of existence. Only four companies have gotten their loans; Ford, Nissan, Fisker Automotive, and Tesla. The Energy Department hasn’t given out any loans within two years and that has caused many companies to drop out. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said many companies have expressed deep frustration about not getting a loan answer. She went onto say the program was "virtually dormant.” Energy Secretary Steven Chu defended the handling of the program, "We would like to see private equity invested in these companies," Chu said, adding the government wants to see evidence of private support. Other senators on the committee wonder why the program even exist. When leaving the hearing, Chu told reporters that the department was working with "many qualified applicants" to complete new auto and other green energy loans. When asked if any would be approved before the election, Chu said, "There's no reason not to. The conditions of the program haven't changed." Source: The Detroit News View full article

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 16, 2012 The Volkswagen/Suzuki partnership had so much going for it back in 2009. Two years later, the two are fighting and lobbing cheap shots. Suzuki wants out of it, while Volkswagen wants to work it out. Last November, Suzuki asked for arbitration in London to make Volkswagen return the 19.89% interest it had taken and to pay an unspecified amount of damages. Suzuki in their filing claims that Volkswagen didn’t keep its promise of providing Suzuki with access to technology and that Volkswagen refused several times to settle the matter out of court. Volkswagen however is refuting Suzuki’s claims in the suit. Well, Volkswagen said on Monday the arbitration panel won’t make a decision on the case till 2013. Not good news for either company. Source: Bloomberg View full article

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 15, 2012 Next year at the Detroit Auto Show, Chrysler will unveil the new Jeep Liberty, and when the new Liberty appears, it will have a new downsized version of Chrysler 3.6L Pentastar V6. Automotive News reports Chrysler will offer a downsized 3.2-liter V6 in the Liberty mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission sourced from ZF according to two sources. "You should not underestimate the weight of transmissions" to improve fuel efficiency. If we had known the eight-speed [automatic transmission] was coming, we would have made the [3.6-liter] Pentastar a 3.2-liter" engine," said Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne to Automotive News at the Geneva Motor Show. The current Liberty is equipped with a 3.7L SOHC V6 that produces 210 HP and 235 lb-ft of torque going through a four-speed automatic transmission. That combo gives the Liberty EPA ratings of 16 City/22 Highway for the rear-drive model, and 15 City/21 Highway for the four-wheel drive model. The question now is, where else will the 3.2L appear in the Chrysler lineup? Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 15, 2012 Despite having one of the freshest lineups in the industry, Buick has seen its sales slip. Since last fall, the brand hasn't posted a year-over-year increase. The news is even worse when in February, Buick posted a 17% drop in sales to 24,231 vehicles. To help get the brand out the slump, Buick has announced a new 24-Month lease offer called Experience Buick. Experience Buick includes scheduled maintenance, Sirius XM satellite radio and OnStar as part of the 24 month lease for all Buick cars. Usually, OnStar and Sirius XM are included for three to six months, while maintenance is left up to the owner. The maintenance covers 24,000 miles of basic maintenance that includes oil changes and tire rotations but not wear and tear items. Press Release is on Page 2 ExperienceBuickGivesCustomersAll-InclusiveLuxury New24-monthleasesdeliverconvenience,peaceofmindandentertainment DETROIT – Buick is announcing a new initiative that supports the brand’s mission to redefine itself as a modern luxury automaker and leader in customer satisfaction. Experience Buick offers the security and convenience of a 24-month lease that includes routine maintenance, an OnStarDirectionsandConnections plan and SiriusXM radio, all bundled into one simple monthly payment. Buick sales have increased two years in a row with four all-new or significantly revised products introduced during the same period. At the same time, many Buick dealerships across the country are in the processofmakeovers. Experience Buick is available on all models – the EnclaveluxurycrossoverSUV and the LaCrosse, Regal and Veranoluxurysedans. “New drivers continue to find the Buick brand,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick and GMC Sales and Service. “The vehicle lineup has never been stronger, and our dealer network continues to modernize its facilities. The Experience Buick program represents the next step in the brand’s reinvention by providing buyers two full years of all-inclusive, worry-free driving.” Also included in every Experience Buick lease is a bumper-to-bumper warranty for the duration of the lease and beyond – four years or 50,000 miles (whichever comes first). Routine maintenance includes services like oil changes and tire rotations. Experience Buick should help build lasting relationships between customers and dealerships, according to DMEautomotive, a marketing solutions and research provider in Daytona Beach, Fla. “Programs like this are a strong strategy for raising customer retention rates,” said Doug Van Sach, DMEautomotive vice president of Strategy & Analytics and author of “The Changing Service Loyalty Landscape” white paper. “By removing cost from the decision about where to service a vehicle, Buick is creating the opportunity for dealers to establish a service relationship with their customers based on expertise and workmanship rather than on discounts and promotions.” “Because the leases are all-inclusive, younger buyers, who are more price sensitive, will be inclined to return to a dealership for their service needs,” Van Sach said. The Experience Buick lease is offered through Ally Financial. View full article

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 15, 2012 The hopes and dreams of having a small diesel Indian pickup in the U.S. are now put to rest. A British arbitration panel ruled in favor of Mahindra, the pickup truck maker in question in a lawsuit with their U.S. distributor, Global Vehicles. The panel said in their verdict the contract between the two companies had expired and that Mahindra had not violated the terms of the contract or any U.S. laws. This verdict ends a six year saga between the two companies which began back in 2006 when the two announced that Global Vehicles would distribute Mahindra’s T20 and T40 compact diesel pickups in America. Four years later, the deal began to unravel. Mahindra said Global Vehicles let their contract expire, thus Mahindra went looking for other importers. Global Vehicles said it was Mahindra who ended the contract. From there, it went into arbitration. Global Vehicles has been told by the panel to pay all of the court costs. In a separate case, a group of dealers that had signed up to sell Mahindra pickups sued the Indian company in U.S. District Court, but the case was thrown out due to Global Vehicles not being the agent to Mahindra in the U.S. Source: Pickup Trucks View full article

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 15, 2012 It only seems like a year ago when we got our hands on some spy shots of a GMC Terrain Denali mule running around metro Detroit. Well fast forward to today and General Motors is unveiling the Terrain Denali, almost a month before the New York Auto Show. The big news for the Terrain Denali comes in the powerplants. The stalwart 2.4L four-cylinder sticks around as the base. But the optional 3.0L V6 bids adieu and in its place is the 3.6L DI V6 producing 301 HP and 272 lb-ft of torque. GM says the 3.6 will deliver the same fuel economy as the 3.0L while providing more power. And the 3.6L will not be a Denali only option. GM confirms the 3.6L will make its way to the Terrain and Chevrolet Equinox. The Terrain Denali also gets new dual-flow dampers which provides provides a smoother ride and improved handling. Like all other Denalis, the Terrain Denali gets cosmetic changes for both the exterior and interior. For the exterior, the changes include, Signature chrome grille Satin chrome accents Body color front and rear fascias Body color rocker panels with satin chrome molding New headlamp and taillamp designs Dual chrome finish exhaust outlets (single outlet on 2.4L) 18-Inch Wheels on the 2.4L, 19-Inch Wheels on the 3.6L Step inside and you’re greeted with, Soft-touch instrument panel with French stitching Soft-touch Jet Black leather with Red accent stitching Leather-wrapped steering wheel with smoked mahogany wood accents Embossed Denali logos on front seatbacks Smoked mahogany wood trim accents Denali illuminated front sill plates Eight-way power driver and passenger seat GMC’s Intellilink Infotainment System The Terrain also fitted with a standard forward collision alert and lane departure warning that uses an industry first single-camera crash-avoidance system to warn drivers when a collision is imminent or the vehicle crosses a lane marker. Also, standard is side blind zone and rear cross traffic alert. General Motors will announce pricing and sale date later on in the year. Press Release is on Page 2 2013 GMC Terrain Denali Debuts with New 3.6L V-6 Offers distinctive style along with new technology and safety features NEW YORK – GMC is expanding its exclusive Denali sub-brand with the debut of the 2013 Terrain Denali, bringing a new level of style and power to the luxury small SUV. “Denali is growing fast,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of GMC Marketing. “With seven different models, sales for this brand within a brand increased 79 percent from 2010 to 2011. With this in mind, the decision to create a more-upscale Terrain was an easy one.” More power, same efficiency With the introduction of the Terrain Denali, GMC also announced a new 3.6-liter V-6 engine with direct injection and continuously variable valve timing will replace the current 3.0-liter V-6 engine in Terrain lineup for the 2013 model year. SAE certified at 301 horsepower (224 kW) and 272 lb.-ft. (369 Nm) of torque, this engine makes more power and torque, but is expected to deliver fuel economy equal to its predecessor. The new V-6 uses lightweight components that contribute to the Terrain’s fuel efficiency while boosting its horsepower. An integrated cylinder head/exhaust manifold design saves about 13 pounds compared to a non-integrated design, while a composite intake manifold saves about 5.5 pounds vs. an aluminum intake. Additionally, a lightweight structural front cover and high-strength connecting rods save additional weight. Terrain’s standard Ecotec 2.4-liter I-4 with direct injection and continuously variable valve timing is also available for buyers looking to combine Denali’s high-end appointments with a best-in-class 32 highway mpg (2WD model). Front-wheel drive is standard on Terrain Denali, with all-wheel drive available for both engines. New dual-flow dampers are exclusive to the Terrain Denali’s suspension system. This technology provides a smoother ride and improved handling by controlling suspension dampening across a broader range of driving conditions. Signature design cues Inside and out, the 2013 Terrain Denali features high-end details. Models with the 2.4L engine feature 18-inch wheels, while the V-6 engine is paired with 19-inch wheels. Other Denali-specific exterior features include: Signature chrome grille Satin chrome accents Body color front and rear fascias Body color rocker panels with satin chrome molding New headlamp and taillamp designs Dual chrome finish exhaust outlets (single outlet on 2.4L) Terrain Denali’s cabin updates are highlighted by soft-touch Jet Black leather, which lines the seats and door inserts. Contrast stitching and red accent lighting contribute to an inviting interior. Other Denali-exclusive interior details include: Soft-touch instrument panel with French stitching Leather-wrapped steering wheel with smoked mahogany wood accents Embossed Denali logos on front seatbacks Smoked mahogany wood trim accents Denali illuminated front sill plates Eight-way power driver and passenger seat Class-leading technology Terrain Denali comes standard with many of GMC’s leading technologies, including a color touch radio with IntelliLink. This new infotainment system features a reconfigurable home screen; intuitive voice commands; Bluetooth smartphone integration; control of streaming internet radio apps such as Pandora and Stitcher; and iPod controls with Gracenote music database technology. Forward collision alert and lane departure warning are standard on Terrain Denali. They use the industry’s first single-camera crash-avoidance system to visually and audibly warn drivers when a collision is imminent or the vehicle crosses a lane marker. In addition, side blind zone and rear cross traffic alert help avoid collisions by using radar to watch spots the driver may not be able to see – and provide visible and audible warnings. Convenience features, such as a programmable power liftgate, are standard on Terrain Denali. At the touch of a button, owners can access the vehicle’s 63.9 cubic feet of cargo space (behind the first row), while a memory function stops the liftgate at a chosen height to help shorter drivers or accommodate low garage heights. Available technologies include color touch navigation and a rear-seat entertainment system. As with every new GMC, the Terrain Denali comes with six free months of OnStar’s Directions and Connections plan. It includes Automatic Crash Response, Turn-by-Turn Navigation, roadside assistance, emergency services link, stolen vehicle assistance and remote door unlock. Pricing and availability of the 2013 Terrain Denali and Terrain 3.6L V-6 models will be announced closer to the on-sale date in the third quarter of 2012. View full article