William Maley

Bob Lutz Once Considered A Run For Michigan Governor William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com July 7, 2011 Bob Lutz, GM's former Vice Chairman and demigod actually considered a run for Governor of Michigan. Talking with the Detroit Free Press, Lutz said he considered running in 2010 election for Governor of Michigan once he left GM. However, Lutz would pass on the idea. "The endless meetings and events around the state. And then he told me how much I would have to raise and how much I would personally have to spend on it. I said, No way," Lutz told the Detroit Free Press. It's understandable why Lutz decided not to run, but it would have been amusing to seen what Lutz would have done. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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Saab Building Three New Models With Two Chinese Partners William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com July 5, 2011 Saab has some good news to share with everyone. The company has announced they have signed legally binding deals with Pang Da and Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Company. The agreements will still need to be approved by a host of regulatory bodies and government agencies. But that isn't stopping Saab from working together with their new partners. In a press release released this week, Saab announced a new joint venture with Youngman to build three new Saabs. The three cars will be a compact car called the 9-1, a large SUV called the 9-6, and a new luxury sedan called the 9-7. Pang Qingnian, CEO of Youngman, said in the release the 9-6 and 9-7 will be geared more towards the US and Chinese markets while the 9-1 will be for all global markets. Source: Autocar.com Swedish Automobile, Saab Automobile, Pang Da And Youngman Convert Non-Binding MoU On Equity Investment Into Binding Agreement And Agree On Additional New Product Joint Venture Subject To Regulatory Approvals Trollhättan, Sweden: Swedish Automobile N.V. (SWAN) and Saab Automobile AB (Saab Automobile) today announced the signing of final agreements with Pang Da Automobile Trade Co., Ltd. (Pang Da) and Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co., Ltd. (Youngman), thereby converting the non-binding memorandum of understanding relating to the equity investment of Pang Da and Youngman announced on 13 June 2011 into binding agreements subject to regulatory and other third party approvals. Moreover, Saab Automobile announces a conditional agreement with Zhejiang Youngman Passenger Car Group Co., Ltd. (Youngman Passenger Car) on the formation of a Sweden-based joint venture company for the development of three new product Saab models (NPJV). The non-binding MOU announced on 13 June 2011 between SWAN, Saab Automobile, Pang Da and Youngman in terms of which Pang Da and Youngman will make an equity investment in the total aggregate amount of EUR 245 million in SWAN have now been incorporated in binding agreements, while the parties continue working towards execution of binding agreements for a strategic alliance consisting of a tripartite distribution joint venture and a tripartite manufacturing joint venture for Saab-branded and child brand vehicles in China. The agreements are subject to approval from relevant authorities. The agreements allow for the return of Mr. Vladimir Antonov as a shareholder/financier of SWAN and Saab Automobile which the parties expect as soon as the parties at interest have cleared him. The NPJV will be 50 percent owned by Saab Automobile and 50 percent by Youngman Passenger Car, and forms the foundation for an expansion of the Saab product portfolio with three models which until now did not form part of Saab Automobile’s current and future product portfolio. As such the NPJV will focus on developing three completely new Saab vehicles: the Saab '9-1', Saab '9-6' and Saab '9-7'. Within the development process of these three new vehicle lines, Saab Automobile will be responsible for controlling and managing the design, the development and testing process to the start of production and providing other necessary technical and quality control support. For this, Saab Automobile will source existing capabilities and expertise from its state-of-the-art technical development department in Trollhättan. Youngman Passenger Car will be responsible for providing the necessary financial investments in the joint venture. The agreement on NPJV is also subject to approval from relevant authorities, which SWAN, Saab Automobile and Youngman Passenger Car hope to obtain timely. Victor Muller, CEO of SWAN and Saab Automobile said: "I am pleased to announce the signing of binding agreements (subject to obtaining regulatory approvals) with Pang Da and Youngman, as it underlines the confidence of all parties in a successful tripartite partnership. Establishing the New Product Joint Venture is a major step for both Saab Automobile and Youngman Passenger Car and marks the start of an exciting new partnership. This joint venture offers Saab Automobile the opportunity to develop models that were not envisaged nor funded in our original business plan: for instance, we will now be able to develop a small entry level Saab, a car that has long been on the top of our wish list." Mr. Pang Qingnian, CEO of Youngman, added: “The agreement on the New Product Joint Venture brings together the best of both worlds, merging the industrial and financial strength of Youngman Passenger Car with the state-of-the-art technical expertise of Saab Automobile. The Saab '9-6X' and Saab '9-7' will be key to enhancing the prestige of the Saab brand to an even larger group of customers in China and the US, while the entry level Saab '9-1' will appeal to urban motorists around the globe.” Mr. Pang Qinghua, CEO of Pang Da, commented: “I am very happy to have signed binding agreements with our partners, which further feeds my confidence in a successful future for Saab Automobile. We were already impressed with Saab’s current and planned product portfolio to date and with the addition of three new Saab models, the brand will be even better positioned to meet demand in markets around the world and China in particular.”

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Kia Disavows Suggestive Cartoon Ads William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 28, 2011 Gallery: Mona's Kia Sportage Ads Advertising in the US is pretty tame compared to the rest of world where most things are fair game. At a recent festival in Cannes, one of the advertisers at that award ceremonies, Brazilian agency Moma decided to amp up their creative juices and come out with a new ad to display around the festival. Mona works with Kia on their adverting in South America and wanted to show off the Sportage's Dual Zone Climate Control system. What they came up with is a very creative and suggestive ad. The ad shows a fairy tale/story book cartoon on the left and and a hotter version on the right. Kia Motors America isn't impressed with Mona's effort. The company released a press release this week saying they had no relationship with the ad agency and didn't approve of the print ads. Kia also apologized to anyone who may have been offended by the ad. Source: Auto Guide, Kia Motors America Kia Motors America Statement Regarding Inappropriate Advertising Material From Brazil IRVINE, Calif., June 24, 2011 - Kia Motors America (KMA) has become aware of an offensive piece of advertising material that was created by an ad agency in Brazil that KMA has no business relationship with and has never worked with. This ad was not created in the U.S. by Kia Motors America or any of its marketing partners and does not reflect the opinions or values of KMA or Kia Motors Corporation. The ad is undoubtedly inappropriate, and on behalf of Kia Motors we apologize to those who have been offended by it. We can guarantee this advertisement has never and will never be used in any form in the United States, and our global headquarters in Seoul, South Korea is addressing the issue with the independent Brazilian distributor.

Rumorpile - 2-Door Cruze Coming Soon To Orion Assembly? William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 27, 2011 General Motors is very happy with the Chevrolet Cruze. The compact sedan became America’s best-selling compact for the month of May and the Lordstown, OH Assembly pant has been at full capacity trying to get vehicles out the door. With all of this good news, rumors have began coming up about GM adding another body to the Cruze lineup. Sources say that GM is looking at whether to add Cruze Coupe to help boost the appeal of the vehicle. GM's North America President, Mark Reuss has been dropping hints about a possible coupe. Also, the car is run in different racing series around Europe. So, where would the Cruze Coupe be built? Well, sources say GM's Orion Assembly could be the place. Why? Because the plant has been equipped to build multiple models. Orion is readying itself for Sonic production in the third quarter, followed by the production of the Buick Verano. With the Verano and Cruze sharing the same platfrom (Delta II) and Lordstown running at full capacity, this makes some sense. Source: The Detroit Bureau

Jeep's CEO Wants A Pickup, But Does Chrysler? William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 24, 2011 If there is one question that reporters ask Chrysler every single time, it would be this: When is Jeep going to build another pickup truck? The last pickup Jeep built was the Comanche from 1986 - 1992. Since then, people have clamoring Jeep for another pickup. Now, Jeep CEO, Mike Manley wants a pickup truck for the brand. Speaking with reporters, Manley said he is "incredibly interested" in a pickup. “There’s clear interest in the U.S. for a pickup. It could [also] give us potential for some of our international markets even though the pickup market is slightly different outside of the U.S.” But Manley says a Jeep pickup could be awhile, “One of the things as a company that we’ve had to be very disciplined in is where we’re putting our resources. We’re still in recovery mode and have to be very careful with our investments. We have so much going on. Our resources are fully dedicated to small vehicles, [new transmissions] and working with Fiat. There are none left to work on the Jeep pickup [at this time].” Manley also brought up Chrysler and trying to make a case for a Jeep pickup, “There’s an opportunity but whether the business case makes sense or not is the issue. Mainly because of manufacturing location and [import/export] duties around the world.” Manley did say the Jeep pickup remains a personal priority. Source: PickupTrucks.com

Alfa Romeo To Premier Their US Lineup At The 2013 Detroit Show? William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 23, 2011 Alfa Romeo has a long track record of making promises to return to the US, but those promises have been broken. Now, if a report from Germany's AutoBild is to be believed, Alfa Romeo will make it's first US appearance at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. AutoBild says that five models will be shown at the show; the 4C sports car shown at Geneva will become the brand's flagship, while the midsize Giulia, compact Giulietta, subcompact MiTo and a Jeep-based crossover will also be shown. Will this happen or will it become another broken promise? We shall see. Source: AutoBild

High Mileage Compacts Are Rising While Hybrids Fall William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 21, 2011 With the price of gas being on the high side for the past few months, you would think hybrids would be flying off dealer lots. In fact, its the opposite. In July 2009, hybrids reached a peak of 3.6% for total US sales. Since then, hybrid sales have been declining. Last month, hybrids made up 1.6% of total US sales. Part of the reason is due to earthquake in Japan back in March, but doesn't account for all of the drop. Most of the drop can be accounted for people going towards compact cars with high gas mileage. Sales of the new Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, and Hyundai Elantra have been going through the roof this year, while hybrids saw a drop. "Even with the fuel savings, it doesn't make sense to buy a hybrid" for many buyers. This year, we had $4 gas (in many cities) but we saw the introduction of compacts that get 40 mpg. All of these cars are considerably cheaper than hybrids," says Power Senior Manager Mike Omotoso. Source: USA Today

Ford To Invest A Billion Dollars Into Lincoln William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 21, 2011 Last week, we reported on a meeting with Lincoln dealers talking about the future of the brand. Since then, more information has come out about the meeting. Ford will be pouring $1 billion into Lincoln to help develop new vehicles for the struggling brand. Ford President of the Americas Mark Fields said at the meeting that the automaker see this as their "last chance" to get the struggling brand back onto its feet. Last year, Lincoln sold only 85,828 vehicles in the US. BMW sold more 3-Series in the same year, around 100,910 vehicles. Ford expects sales for Lincoln to drop again for 2011, with sales estimated to be around 78,000. However, Ford expects Lincoln to be selling 162,000 by 2015. Ford says it has seven new Lincolns on the way, which they hope will up sales over the next few years. Source: Left Lane News

GM To Idle Two Truck Plants, Cut Down On Inventory William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 20, 2011 Back in early May, we reported on GM looking at cut in production of their pickup trucks. The reason why was due to increasing size of their unsold inventory, which stood at 275,000 at that time. A month later, the pickup inventory has increased by 13,000 to a total of 288,000. To help combat the large inventory, GM idle two of their truck plants for two weeks beginning on July 4th. The two plants are Flint Assembly in Flint, MI and Fort Wayne Assembly in Roanoke, IN. “GM is rightly being quite careful about building products into the summer months and not getting caught with an excess amount of prior model year inventories. They’re going to be careful not to build too much of the older model year vehicles and have to discount them heavily in the face of having newer model year vehicles on the same lot,” said Michael Robinet, an analyst at IHS Automotive. GM hopes with this move, the inventory will begin to go down. Source: Bloomburg

Opel Making A Comeback In America? William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 18, 2011 Opel hasn't had an easy time since GM's bankruptcy. The company has been losing money and sales since GM exited bankruptcy in 2009. Last week, rumors came out about GM possibly selling the company to either the Chinese or a German auto company. This week, there is talk about bringing over an Opel-branded small car to the US. In a interview with German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, Opel's labor chief Klaus Franz purposed the idea of selling a small car in America. "In the cities of the East and West coast, I do see demand for this vehicle," said Franz. The proposed vehicle will be smaller than Opel's current small car, the Corsa. It will be a three-door hatchback and possibly be named either the Junior or Allegra. Production could begin sometime in 2013. Franz believes the Opel nameplate carries a positive reputation among American consumers since Opel imported vehicles into the US from the 60's through the 70's. GM hasn't made any comment on Franz's comments. Source: Auto Motor und Sport

Official: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic Gets A $14,495 Pricetag William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 17, 2011 General Motors has announced pricing for the new Chevrolet Sonic subcompact. The Sonic sedan begins at $14,495 while the five-door hatchback starts at $15,395. For that price, you get a 1.8L four-cylinder engine with 138 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque, a five-speed manual transmission, 10 air bags, remote keyless entry and power door locks. A automatic transmission is available for extra $1,070. If you want a bit more power under the hood, there is a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque and comes with a six speed manual. That will set you back $700, but is only available on the Sonic LT and Sonic LTZ. “Sonic shares the spirit of Chevrolets like the Corvette by delivering athletic and agile performance. Today's customers have high expectations for small cars. Sonic comes with an unexpected level of standard equipment so that every customer will have comforts and amenities they desire,” said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. Chevrolet Announces Sonic Price Will Start at $14,495 2011-06-17 Offers more standard safety equipment than any vehicle in its class with 10 airbags and the security and convenience of OnStar Available 1.4L Turbo expected to achieve best-in-class acceleration and 40 mpg hwy DETROIT – The suggested retail price of the all-new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic begins at $14,495 including destination but excludes tax, title, license and dealer fees. Sonic comes with the most standard safety equipment in the sub-compact class, including 10 air bags. Air conditioning, power door locks, remote keyless entry and 15" alloy wheels also are standard. The Sonic, the only sub-compact built in the United States, is expected to deliver 40 mpg highway with class-leading acceleration when paired with the 1.4L Turbo and six-speed manual transmission. The Sonic is offered in two body styles: a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback. Each delivers outstanding rear-seat roominess and cargo space. “Sonic shares the spirit of Chevrolets like the Corvette by delivering athletic and agile performance,” said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. “Today's customers have high expectations for small cars. Sonic comes with an unexpected level of standard equipment so that every customer will have comforts and amenities they desire.” The 2012 Sonic will be for retail sale this fall in three models with two body styles: Sonic LS starting at $14,495 sedan, $15,395 hatchback, including: Standard 1.8L Ecotec engine and five-speed manual transmission Class-exclusive standard 15-inch alloy wheels The most standard safety features in the segment, with 10 air bags, StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing, traction control, anti-lock brakes, collapsible pedal system and power rear-door child safety locks Standard OnStar, with a six-month subscription including Turn-by-Turn navigation Standard convenience features, including air conditioning, power door locks with remote keyless entry and tilt/telescoping steering wheel Sonic LT starting at $15,695 sedan, $16,495 hatchback, including: Six-speaker premium sound system with CD player, XM Radio with three-month trial subscription Power windows with driver's express up/down Power, heated side mirrors Sonic LTZ starting at $17,295 sedan, $17,995 hatchback, including: Connectivity package with a USB port, Bluetooth for select phones and music, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls Heated leatherette front seats Cruise control Fog lamps Standard 17-inch alloy wheels Major available upgrades on Sonic include: Six-speed automatic transmission (with 1.8L engine) - $1,070 1.4L Turbo with six-speed manual transmission (available on LT and LTZ) - $700

Replacement For Dodge Caliber To Debut At Detroit Auto Show William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 16, 2011 If there is one vehicle that Chrysler would like people to forget that doesn't start with the letter S would be the Dodge Caliber. The replacement for Neon was unloved by the public due to its poor quality and cheap materials. Back in 2009, Chrysler held a 10-Hour press conference talking about what will happen within the next few years. One of the slides showed Dodge's lineup for the next few years and in that slide was a note about a new compact car due out in 2012. According to Wards Auto this week, the new compact Dodge has been confirmed to be shown at the Detroit Auto Show next year. Expect the car to be based on Fiat's C-Evo platform with larger dimensions for the US. Source: Autoblog

The weight plays a big factor - Camry V6 Curb Weight - 3483 lbs Regal Turbo Curb Weight - 3671 lbs Regal GS Curb Weight - 3710 lbs

Buick Regal GS Gets Rated Buick Released the Horsepower and Torque ratings for the upcoming Regal GS. How does 270 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque sound? Buick Regal GS Gets Rated

Buick Regal GS Gets Rated William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 15, 2011 The time has come; Buick has released the final numbers for the Regal GS due out later this year and they are impressive. The Regal GS is rated at 270 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque. That will propel the European-derived sedan from 0-60 in 6.7 seconds according to GM. “The Regal GS 2.0L turbo delivers the highest specific output of any production engine GM has ever offered, and at 135 hp per liter is the most power dense engine ever certified by SAE. We’ve been combining direct injection and variable valve timing with boosted engines since 2006, and there’s no question the Regal GS turbo has the responsiveness and acceleration of some V-6s, while delivering the fuel economy you’d expect of a four-cylinder,” said Mike Anderson, Ecotec global chief engineer and program manager. GM claims that the peak torque of the engine is achieved at 2400 RPMs, while 95% of torque is available from 2300 RPM to 4900 RPM. A six-speed manual will be the only available transmission at launch, but Buick is promising a six-speed automatic later on. With the manual, the car is expected to get an estimated 28 MPG highway. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFScQw5GTqQ&feature=player_embedded Buick Regal GS Cranks 270 HP and 295 Lb-Ft of Torque Exclusive Ecotec 2.0L turbocharged engine delivers more launch force than imports 2011-06-15 DETROIT – The 2012 Buick Regal GS, which arrives at dealerships this fall, has been SAE-certified to deliver 270 horsepower (201kW) and 295 lb.-ft. of torque (400Nm) for an estimated 0-60 mph performance of 6.7 seconds. Regal GS’s exclusive Ecotec 2.0L direct-injected turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers more torque than Acura TSX V-6, Audi A4 Sport, Lexus IS 250 and Volvo S60 T5. Torque is the twisting force that gets a vehicle moving and what the driver feels when accelerating. “The Regal GS 2.0L turbo delivers the highest specific output of any production engine GM has ever offered, and at 135 hp per liter is the most power dense engine ever certified by SAE,” said Mike Anderson, Ecotec global chief engineer and program manager. “We’ve been combining direct injection and variable valve timing with boosted engines since 2006, and there’s no question the Regal GS turbo has the responsiveness and acceleration of some V-6s, while delivering the fuel economy you’d expect of a four-cylinder.” Ecotec 2.0L turbo highlights include direct injection, continuously variable valve timing, forged steel crankshaft, twin scroll design turbocharger and an efficient intercooler system. The peak torque of 295 lb-ft is achieved at a relatively low 2400 rpm. There is 95 percent of peak torque available between 2300 and 4900 rpm. The GS’s engine is mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission, and gets an estimated fuel economy of 28 mpg on the highway. A six-speed automatic transmission will be available later. The entire GS powertrain is covered by a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Further reinforcing Regal GS’s performance appeal is its Interactive Drive Control System chassis technology, which delivers enhanced vehicle stability. The driver selects among three operating modes that change the suspension settings, and steering sensitivity through the variable-effort steering system. “GS” mode optimizes the car for dynamic driving, tightening the suspension and steering response. “Standard,” or the default mode, is the setting for all-around use. “Sport” mode provides a level of performance between standard and GS modes. Regal GS also features a four-wheel-independent suspension, with a unique High Performance Strut (HiPerStrut) front suspension design. The HiPerStrut system helps reduce torque steer and maintain negative camber during cornering to keep the all-important tire contact patch on the pavement. The driver experiences improved grip and increased cornering power, along with crisper handling, steering precision and feedback. The four-link independent rear suspension is designed to minimize unwanted toe and camber effects during spirited driving maneuvers, enhancing vehicle stability and tire grip. Both front and rear dampers incorporate active Computer Damping Control, continuously changing damper characteristics in real time to maintain optimal vehicle ride comfort over varying road surfaces and profiles. More aggressive, performance-oriented damping characteristics can also be selected by the driver when choosing “Sport” or “GS” mode. Braking power comes from a large diameter four-wheel disc brake system featuring big, four-piston Brembo front calipers for optimal feel and modulation. A standard, four-channel anti-lock brake system is tuned to reduce stopping distances over varied road surfaces and conditions. The Regal GS also features standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control with integrated, full-speed traction control. The GS cuts a sportier stance, too, with a lower ride height than other Regal models and aggressive 19-inch, 5-Twin Spoke alloy wheels and all-season tires (20-inch, 5-Twin Spoke polished alloy wheels with performance tires are optional). “The 2012 Regal GS is well balanced with dynamic ride and handling, powerful brakes, great acceleration and excellent fuel economy,” said Robert Casparian, Regal product marketing manager. “And the fact that one can get such great performance in a gorgeous sport sedan makes it even more attractive.”

Opel/Vauxhall Working On A Insignia Crossover William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 15, 2011 Opel and Vauxhall are busy working on a new flagship, but it's not what you're thinking. Opel CEO, Karl-Friedrich Stracke said the company is working on new SUV that will become the brand's flagship. The vehicle will be based on the Epsilon II platform (Same one as the Insignia), come with the choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive, and have seven seats. It will be competing with the upcoming Citroen DS5 Crossover and it's Peugeot platform mate. The crossover is expected to come out sometime in 2015. Source: Auto Express

I think you mean July. Thank you, it has been fixed.

2012 Chevrolet Corvette Lineup See Their Prices Go Up William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 14, 2011 If you have your heart set on new 2012 Chevrolet Corvette, you might want to make sure you have enough money. Corvette Blogger recently went through GM's RPO for the 2012 Corvette and found out prices are going up. The MSRP for most Corvette models goes up anywhere from $480-$1,150. Only one model, the Corvette ZR1 sees a drop in it's MSRP. Yes, its only $75, but hey its still a drop. In addition, prices for the Equipment Group packages are on the up. The 2LT coupe will rise $1,195 to $2,095 while the 3LT coupe jumps from $4,205 to $5,995. The 4LT coupe steps up its price from $7,705 to $9,495. Wanting a Corvette convertible, the 2LT convertible sees a small drop in its price from $3,190 to $2,095. The 3LT and 4LT convertible see their prices go up. Source: Corvette Blogger