William Maley

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 3, 2012 Back in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show, Mazda pulled the covers off the first generation Miata roadster. Since then, Chicago has become the showplace for Mazda to show off special version of Miata and this year will be no different. Mazda will show off the new 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition next week at Chicago. The special edition brings takes the top of the line Grand Touring model further with a new black-only power retractable hard top, 17-inch gunmetal wheels, black exterior accents, black heated leather seats and piano black interior trim. Two new exterior colors – a special white and red, will be offered. Mazda doesn't say whether the powertrain will see an upgrade for special edition, but a six-speed manual and automatic will be offered. The special edition will also come with Premium and Suspension packages will come as standard equipment. That means buyers will get Bluetooth, Sirius satellite radio, Bilstein shocks and a sport-tuned suspension. Only 450 Special Edtion MX-5 Miatas will be built. Press Release is on Page 2 2012 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA SPECIAL EDITION MAKES NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT IN CHICAGO IRVINE, Calif. (February 2, 2012) - Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) will unveil its 2012 MX-5 Miata [4] Special Edition at the upcoming 2012 Chicago Auto Show. The limited-run model features a black-only Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT) - the first time a non-body-colored hard top is available in North America - as well as other exclusivities such as two new exterior colors, new 17-inch black gunmetal alloy wheels, black exterior accents, black heated leather seats and piano black interior finishes. The MX-5 Miata is the world's best-selling two-seat roadster with more than 900,000 produced, and made its global debut at the Chicago Auto Show in 1989. The MX-5 Special Edition continues the sports car's history of being a dynamically-engineered, enthusiast-approved roadster whose price doesn't discriminate and whose luxuries are not stripped. Available with either the six-speed manual transmission with short-throw shifter or six-speed Sport automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, the Special Edition model is based off the Grand Touring model. Both Premium and Suspension packages will be standard on the MX-5 Special Edition and include features such as a Bluetooth® hands-free phone system, SIRIUS® Satellite Radio, Bilstein shocks and a sport-tuned suspension. Also on display at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show will be: Turbo2 - Unveiled at the SEMA Show held in Las Vegas this past November, this concept is the brainchild of The Autobarn, which owns two Mazda dealerships in the Greater Chicago area. Here, a "Zoom-Zoom Concentrated" Mazda2 is outfitted with an extra-strength component in the form of a MAZDASPEED3 MZR 2.3-liter Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) turbo engine. Consider the Turbo2 a subcompact cat that doesn't purr - it growls. Dempsey Racing No. 40 GRAND-AM Road Racing Race Car - Most recently seen Zoom-Zoom-ing across the SPEED Channel's live coverage of the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona last month, the No. 40 car - piloted by Patrick Dempsey, Joe Foster, Charles Espenlaub, Tom Long and Charlie Putman - made its third consecutive Top 10 finish in the annual 24-hour race, besting competitors in a 46-car field which included BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford and Porsche. 1990 Miata - A first-generation Mazda Miata, which made its debut in Chicago in 1989. This vehicle has 3,688 original miles and is the 15th Miata off the line. Star Mazda Championship Open-Wheel Race Car - The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is a major part of the Mazda Road to Indy. Rising motorsports stars from around the world compete for prizes valued at $1.5 million, including a scholarship to move up and compete in the 2013 Firestone Indy Lights series. View full article

For europe, there will be a seven seat model to compete with the other small vans, like the new B-Max

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com Februrary 2, 2012 Volkswagen has announced details of the new Beetle TDI that will make its debut at next week's Chicago Auto Show. The Beetle TDI will use the same 2.0L turbodiesel engine producing 140 HP and 236 lb-ft of torque seen in the Golf and Jetta. Volkswagen says the Beetle TDI will get 29 MPG in the city and 39 MPG on the highway. Two transmissions will be available for the TDI; a six-speed manual or dual-clutch gearbox. The Beetle TDI will also come with more standard equipment than the base gasoline Beetle. The base Beetle TDI comes standard with 17-inch wheels, leatherette seating, Bluetooth connectivity, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, keyless entry and push-button start, eight-speaker stereo and USB input. Next step up is the Beetle TDI with Sunroof which adds a panoramic sunroof and six-disc premium stereo with a touch-screen display. Finally there is the TDI with Sunroof, Sound and Navigation which adds 5-inch touch-screen navigation system and a Fender premium stereo with subwoofer. Related Volkswagen Debuting A Beetle Diesel At Chicago Press Release is on Page 2 VOLKSWAGEN TO DEBUT THE FUEL-EFFICENT BEETLE TDI® AT THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW The Beetle coupe range is rounded out by the thrifty TDI Clean Diesel model • The most fuel-efficient 21st Century Beetle, with predicted fuel economy of 29 mpg city, 39 mpg highway • Beetle TDI goes on sale this summer as a 2013 model • The first Beetle TDI Clean Diesel model since 2006 • Available in three well-appointed trim levels • Choice of six-speed manual or dual-clutch DSG® transmissions Herndon, VA, Feb 2, 2012 - The Volkswagen Beetle 2.5L and Turbo were launched to great acclaim from both consumers and the media in 2011. At the Chicago Auto Show, VW will unveil the third model in the Beetle lineup: the fuel-efficient TDI Clean Diesel model, which has manufacturer fuel economy estimates of 39 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg in the city. The Beetle TDI, the only Clean Diesel offering in the compact coupe category, will go on sale this summer as a 2013 model. Pricing will be announced closer to launch. Engine and Transmission The biggest difference between the TDI and other Beetle models lies, obviously, under the hood. The Beetle TDI uses the company’s 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection Clean Diesel engine that makes 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. Volkswagen pioneered the use of turbocharging and direct injection in diesel engines and continues to lead the industry in this technology. This isn’t the first Beetle to be sold in the U.S. market with a diesel engine. From 1998 until 2006, the New Beetle was fitted with a 1.9-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine. Since then, this engine has been heavily revised to accommodate increasing demand for improvements in exhaust emissions and acoustics. One of the most fundamental improvements was converting the fuel-injection system to a common-rail design, as well as increasing the capacity by 72 cc thanks to a 1.5-mm wider bore. The current engine features a cast-iron cylinder block and an aluminum-alloy cylinder head. It also utilizes some subtle design elements that contribute to longevity and the reduction of noise, vibration, and harshness. The forged steel crankshaft, for instance, uses just four counterweights, instead of eight, to reduce bearing load and noise emissions. The pistons incorporate annular channels into which oil is sprayed for cooling the piston-ring zone. A pair of counter-rotating balancer shafts is situated below the crankshaft in the oil pan. Dual overhead camshafts are driven via a toothed belt that also powers the coolant pump and the high-pressure fuel-injection pump. The cams themselves are linked by means of spur gears that have an integrated backlash adjuster that helps to ensure quiet operation. Each cylinder has two intake and two exhaust valves. The TDI engine’s intake manifold uses flap valves that are powered by a step motor that is in turn activated by the Engine Control Module (ECM). At idle and low engine speeds, the flap valves are closed in order to cause high swirl into the combustion chamber, which results in optimal mixture. During regular driving, the flap valves are adjusted continuously according to load and engine speed to ensure optimum air movement; above 3000 rpm, the valves open fully for maximum filling of the combustion chamber. The engine’s turbocharger features adjustable guide vanes that maintain the best aspect ratio for low- and high-speed performance. In order to meet current tailpipe emissions standards in all 50 states, the engine makes use of both high- and low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation over all engine speeds, as well as an exhaust system that has a particulate filter and no fewer than three catalytic convertors: for oxidation, oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and hydrogen sulfide. The engine is mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or VW’s innovative, dual-clutch DSG six-speed automatic. DSG combines the comfort and ease-of-use of an automatic, with the responsiveness and economy of a manual. The six-speed, transversely-mounted DSG unit features two wet clutches with hydraulic pressure regulation. One clutch controls the 'odd' gears—first, third, fifth and reverse—while the other operates the even gears. Essentially it is two gearboxes in one. With DSG, the set-up allows the next-higher gear to be engaged but remain on standby until it is actually selected. In other words, if the Beetle is being driven in third gear, fourth is selected but not yet activated. As soon as the ideal shift point is reached, the clutch on the third-gear side opens, the other clutch closes and fourth gear engages under accurate electronic supervision. Since the opening and closing actions of the two clutches overlap, a smooth gearshift results and the entire shift process is completed in less than four-hundredths of a second. In addition to its fully automatic shift mode, DSG has a Tiptronic® function to permit manual gear selection. Design The latest Beetle is more dramatic, with a stronger masculine design than the New Beetle that was sold between 1998 and 2010. The car breaks free of the design geometry defined by three semi-circles—front fender, rear fender, and domed roof above it. The roof profile actually runs distinctly lower and can be considered a development of the Ragster concept car shown in Detroit in 2005. The 2012 Beetle is 71.2 inches wide (3.3 inches wider), 58.5 inches tall (0.5 inches lower) and 168.4 inches long (7.3 inches longer). The new focal point is the C-pillar. The development team also increased the car’s track widths and wheelbase. The changed proportions give the Beetle a powerful and dynamic appearance. The TDI differs externally from the 2.5 and Turbo in having unique 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, TDI badging, and a chrome trim line that caps the top of the door’s sheetmetal. Inside, the car is distinctively styled, with colors and shapes that harken back to the original Beetle’s interior. Three round gauges are arranged in front of the driver (tachometer, speedometer, fuel gauge), providing key information at a glance. A multifunction display is integrated in the speedometer, which is housed in the central position in the binnacle. All TDIs gain a supplementary instrument pod that has oil temperature and turbo boost gauges and a stopwatch. Similar to the original Beetle, the car has an extra glovebox integrated into the dashboard—the kaeferfach or “Beetle bin”. The lid folds upward, while the standard glove box opens downward. Even though the “cathedral ceiling” dome roof of the New Beetle has been replaced with a sleek and sporty roofline, front and rear passenger headroom remains plentiful. The longer roof section results in 0.4 inches more rear-seat headroom. Front legroom is improved, too, by 1.9 inches, and front shoulder room grows by 2.5 inches. Overall, the interior volume has increased from 81 to 85 cubic feet. The trunk is significantly larger, offering 15.4 cubic feet of space, compared with the New Beetle’s 12.0 cubic feet; with the seats folded, the capacity increases to 29.9 cubic feet. A split-folding rear seat and a wide opening trunk lid ease loading and unloading. Suspension Beetle TDI models are fitted with a strut-type front suspension with a lower control arm and a 22-mm-diameter anti-roll bar. At the back, there’s a torsion beam arrangement that has coil springs and telescopic dampers. Like the Beetle Turbo, the TDI uses rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assistance. All Beetle models have standard anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake pressure distribution (EBD). The Beetle TDI has 11.3-inch-diameter vented front discs and 10.7-inch-diameter rear disc brakes. Safety and Security The starting point in the Beetle’s safety armory is a very rigid body structure that uses ultra-high-strength, hot-formed steels in the crash-load paths and seamless laser welds. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is standard, as are driver and front passenger airbags and Side Curtain Protection® airbags in front and rear. The Beetle includes Volkswagen’s advanced Intelligent Crash Response System that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collision. The Beetle TDI is also covered under the no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program®. All scheduled maintenance is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty—three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Additionally, all current Volkswagen vehicles use synthetic oil, which, when combined with state-of-the-art German engineering, eliminates the need for a 5000-mile oil change, and allows owners to go farther between scheduled oil changes. Model Lineup There are three Beetle TDI Clean Diesel trim lines: TDI; TDI with Sunroof; and TDI with Sunroof, Sound, and Navigation. All three are very well equipped, with standard features such as power windows with one-touch up/down; cruise control; V-Tex Leatherette seating; the kaeferfach secondary glovebox; Bluetooth®; a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with audio controls; three auxiliary gauges; Keyless entry with push-button start; and a Media Device Interface with iPod® cable. TDI The base TDI comes with standard 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, all the equipment listed above, and an interior and exterior chrome package. The standard RCD310 audio system has an AM/FM radio, CD player, Bluetooth®, and eight speakers. TDI with Sunroof This version takes the TDI’s standard equipment and adds a panoramic tilt/slide sunroof that is fully 80 percent larger than the one fitted to the New Beetle. The insulating glass blocks 99 percent of UV radiation and 92 percent of heat energy. The model’s Premium VIII audio system has a full-color touchscreen display, a six-disc CD changer, and an SD card reader. TDI with Sunroof, Sound and Navigation The topline TDI features the RNS 315 navigation system that has a five-inch touchscreen display. The Fender® Premium audio system that offers concert quality sound is also standard. This has an additional subwoofer, proprietary Panasonic® speaker technology that covers the cabin with directional sound, and 400 watts of output power. 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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 2, 2012 Fiat has pulled back the curtain on the new 500L, which will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The 500L meaures 162.9 inches long, a 70 inches wide, and 65.3 inches tall. Fiat says the 500L combines a driving experience of a SUV with the fuel efficiency of B-segment vehicle. As we reported earlier this week, Fiat will offer two models of the 500L; a five-seat and seven-seat version. The 500L will go into production in the last quarter for the European market. Fiat hasn't said when the U.S. will be getting the 500L. Press Release is on Page 2 Fiat 500L to Debut at Geneva Motor Show Auburn Hills, Mich. , Feb 2, 2012 - The FIAT brand released the first images of the Fiat 500L, an all-new model that expands the appeal of the brand’s iconic Fiat 500. With its Italian design and city-friendly functionality, FIAT’s new five-passenger model expands the brand’s style and efficiency in the growing B-segment. Making its formal introduction at the Geneva Motor Show on March 6th, the new Fiat 500L — the L stands for ‘Large’ — will follow the U.S. introduction of the high-performance Fiat 500 Abarth this spring and a full-electric version of the Fiat 500. The Fiat 500L will be produced at the FIAT plant in Kragujevac, Serbia, and will arrive in the United States in 2013. About the 2012 Fiat 500 models Building on the attributes that made the original version an icon more than 50 years ago – the 2012 Fiat 500 models provide an entirely new generation of drivers with the best of Italian motoring: craftsmanship, style and safety, combined with fun-to-drive small-car efficiency. The 2012 Fiat 500 offers high levels of safety, fuel economy, quality and advanced technology. With its city-friendly four-passenger size, engaging driving dynamics, all-new fuel-efficient 1.4-liter MultiAir® engine with eco:Drive™ Application, seven standard air bags and available TomTom® Navigation with standard BLUE&ME™ Handsfree Communication technology, the new Fiat 500 offers a unique driving and ownership experience. This package is further enhanced with new quality and refinement adaptations for the U.S. market, plus a “Top Safety Pick” for 2011 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Expanding on the qualities that have made the original Fiat 500 (Cinquecento) a timeless and efficient automobile, the new 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio (500c) adds open-air freedom and even more driving enjoyment. And with its cleverly designed multi-position power-retractable cloth top and iconic body-side silhouette, the new Fiat 500c delivers style with class-leading interior sound quality. Offering even more exclusivity and style, the limited-edition 2012 Fiat 500 and 500c by Gucci models arrived at FIAT Studios nationwide in December. For more information, visit www.fiatusa.com/gucci. The high-performance Fiat 500 Abarth will arrive into the U.S. market in the first-half of 2012. View full article

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 2, 2012 Automakers go to great lengths to camoflaging upcoming vehicles and spy photographers do the same to capture images of those vehicles. But once in a blue moon, someone captures a upcoming vehicle sans camoflage. In this case, it was being at the right place at the right time. A group of cyclists were out for a ride on Spanish island of Lanzarote, located in the Canary Islands. They had a video camera running along their ride and caught something very interesting. They caught the new Mercdes-Benz A-Class sans camoflage. The new A-Class closely resembles the concept version shown at last year's Shanghai Motor Show, living up to the promise Mercedes-Benz's design director Gordon Wagener said to the press during the show. The new A-Class makes its world debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show. Source: Autoblog.nl via Motor Authority View full article

Exactly.. Porsche's best selling car is the Cayenne. and call it the Caballero Okay, maybe I should have added by Lamborghini standards..

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 2, 2012 Back in the eighties, Lamborghini built a SUV called the LM002. Originally planned to be built for the U.S. Military, Lamborghini scrapped that idea and made the LM002 into a luxury palace on wheels. Now, a new successor to LM002 could be on its way. Earlier this week, Italian auto magazine Quattroruote showed renderings of a Lamborghini SUV. The renderings show the SUV sharing many cues from the Aventador. The magazine said the new SUV would use the Porsche Cayenne’s platform. Power could come from V10 from the Gallardo and a hybrid producing 700 HP is also on the table. When asked for comment by Autocar, a Lamborghini spokesperson said the report was speculative. Yesterday, A senior source at Lamborghini's parent company Audi told Autoweek that Lamborghini is working on a new SUV. "I can't comment in detail but the speculation in the press is largely correct," the source said. The new SUV is rumored to be shown at the Beijing Auto Show in April and go into production sometime in 2016. Source: Autoweek View full article