William Maley

Ch-Ch-Changes For The CTS In 2012 William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 19, 2011 2012 Cadillac CTS Gallery Cadillac is adding some changes for the 2012 CTS. Exterior wise, the CTS gets a new grill that uses premium finishes to highlight the grill's use of frame and mesh. Also, the Wreath & Crest logo has been tweaked (again) with brighter colors and raised ridges. The big news comes from the 3.6 DI V6 which now gets 318 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque; up from 304 horses and 273 lb-ft on the current 3.6. The 3.6 also weighs 20.5 lbs less than the current motor and will still get the current EPA rating of 18 city/27 highway mpg. Also new for 2012 is a Touring Package which adds a darker grille and 19-inch wheels on the outside and dark Sapele wood interior trim, steel pedals, sued inserts on the seats, shift knob, and steering wheel inside the cabin. Finally, Bluetooth is standard across the whole CTS range and the CTS coupe will get side blind-zone alert standard. The 2012 CTS arrives onto dealer lots in the summer. Press Release is Below CTS Adds Horsepower, New Grille For 2012 Model Year Cadillac’s new V-6 engine delivers extra 14 hp, same fuel economy as previous V-6 2011-04-19 New grille features premium finishes for mesh and frame, refined Cadillac Wreath & Crest logo CTS adds Touring Package with exclusive grille with dark finish, larger wheels and tires, metal pedals, dark Sapele wood interior and sueded wheel and shifter Bluetooth phone integration now standard on all models, Coupe has available side blind-zone alert DETROIT – Cadillac’s CTS luxury sport Sedan, Coupe and Wagon will add an upgraded V-6 engine, new grille and new Touring Package edition for the 2012 model year. The new 3.6L V-6 will use a lighter, more efficient design to give customers more power at the same fuel economy as the current 3.6L V-6. The new engine delivers an SAE-certified 318 horsepower (237 kW) and 275 lb.-ft. (372 Nm) of torque, compared to the current engine’s 304 horsepower (227 kW) and 273 lb.-ft. (370 Nm) of torque. The EPA fuel economy label will remain 18 city/27 highway mpg. The CTS’s distinctive shield-shaped front grille has been redesigned with new premium finishes that highlight the intricacies of a new frame and mesh combination. The Wreath & Crest logo also has sharper colors and raised ridges between the colors, giving it a three-dimensional quality. The result provides customers a CTS with a more refined appearance. The changes will be carried in all three CTS models – CTS Sport Sedan, Sport Wagon and Coupe. The 2012 models will arrive at dealerships in late summer. Pricing will be announced closer to the start of production. “CTS has established itself as a world-class line of luxury sports cars, but to remain on top, we have to continually make improvements,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing. “The changes for the 2012 model year give customers a fresh take on the CTS’s bold front grille and provide enhanced driving performance without sacrificing fuel economy.” The new grille builds on a design that has helped the CTS family win a spot on Car and Driver’s 10 Best list, Popular Mechanics’ Auto Excellence Awards and Automobile Magazine’s All-Stars list. The new finishes on the grille add more gloss to the mesh and luster to the frame, accentuating the details in the design. The mesh also is pulled flusher to the frame, making these details stand out even more. The new 3.6L V-6 builds on another award-winning design. It’s an evolution of an engine named twice to Ward’s 10 Best Engines list for what the automotive publication called its “laudable low-end torque and effortless power delivery.” The new CTS engine, like its predecessor, provides more horsepower and torque than comparable V-6 offerings in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Lexus ES350. Cadillac engineers were able to improve the current design in several ways. The cylinder heads have larger intake valves and an improved intake port design. These work with a longer-duration intake camshaft to boost power and efficiency by allowing more air to flow into the engine. Engineers also reduced the engine’s weight. An integrated cylinder head/exhaust manifold design saves about 13 pounds (6 kg) per engine compared to the cylinder heads and manifolds of the current engine. The new composite intake manifold saves about 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg) compared to the current aluminum intake. A lighter-weight structural front cover and lighter-weight, high-strength connecting rods bring the total weight savings to 20.5 pounds (9.3 kg), which helps the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and improves the car’s handling and driving balance. In addition to the new engine and grille, Cadillac is adding a new Touring Package for 2012 that enhances key touch-points of the CTS. The Touring Package, available in the 3.0L V-6 and 3.6L V-6 engines, will have an exclusive grille with a dark finish, metal pedals, dark Sapele wood interior trim and sueded seat inserts, steering wheel and shift knob. The Touring Package Sedan and Wagon also will have chrome door handles. The 3.6L version will have 19-inch polished wheels and Recaro 14-way adjustable performance seats. The 3.0L version will have 18-inch wheels with a pearl-nickel finish. Other changes for the 2012 model year on the CTS include standard Bluetooth phone integration on all models and side blind-zone alert technology available on the CTS Coupe.

Slowly raises hand...

BMW Brings Back The 4-Cylinder With The Z4 sDrive28i New 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder offers performance of a six Woodcliff Lake, NJ – Embargo: April 18, 2011 1:00PM EDT… Following the announcement in February of the return of a 4-cylinder engine to the US BMW line-up, BMW today announced that the new 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-Cylinder will first power the Z4 sDrive28i that will arrive in BMW Centers this fall. Like the company’s latest TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter turbo inline-6, the new 2.0-liter engine will combine highpressure direct-injection and BMW’s VALVETRONIC intake control (hence the name: TwinPower) with a forced induction system consisting of a single twin-scroll turbocharger. With 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, it offers more power and torque than BMW’s normally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-6 that it replaces in the Z4 sDrive30i. The maximum output of 240 horsepower is achieved at 5,000 rpm, 1,500 rpm lower than in the normally-aspirated 3.0-liter inline six. The peak torque of 260 lb-ft, comes on stream at just 1,250 rpm. Not only is that 30% more torque than the aforementioned inline-6, it also peaks 1,500 rpm earlier. The vigorous power comes on early and climbs steadily all the way to redline. The 4-cylinder engine with its all-aluminum crankcase is lighter and more compact than a 6-cylinder engine of equivalent power. The turbocharger is a twin-scroll system. The exhaust streams leaving the two pairs of cylinders are kept completely separate as they flow through the exhaust manifold and the turbocharger, taking a spiral path to the turbine wheel. This configuration results in very low exhaust back pressure at low engine rpm, and allows the energy of the exhaust gas pulses to be optimally managed and translated into powerful rotation of the turbine blades, without a delay in throttle response. The patented BMW VALVETRONIC system with seamlessly variable intake valve lift control dispenses with the throttle valve system typical of conventional engines. Instead, combustion air mass is controlled inside the engine, resulting in much faster response. Pumping losses are kept to a minimum, making the engine more efficient. The High Precision Injection direct-injection system also helps to improve efficiency. Centrally positioned between the valves, solenoid injectors with a maximum injection pressure of 200 bar (2,900 psi) precisely control the supply of fuel. The fuel is injected very close to the spark plug, resulting in clean and homogeneous combustion. The cooling effect of the injected fuel also allows for a higher compression ratio than might otherwise be possible. This results in further efficiency improvements. In the Z4 sDrive28i, we expect a fuel efficiency gain of approximately 20% over the naturally aspirated engine it replaces when combined with the 8 speed automatic transmission. Detailed performance and efficiency specifications will follow at a later date, but this is clearly a new chapter in the story of BMW EfficientDynamics.

Dodge Adds Some Athleticism To The Avenger R/T 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T Gallery New 2012 Avenger R/T Model Makes its Worldwide Debut at the 2011 New York International Auto Show Stiffened suspension, best-in-class horsepower, center-mounted tachometer and performance-inspired design give the 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T a performance edge Avenger R/T rounds out Dodge brand’s entire lineup of R/T performance models Road & Track name has been the performance moniker for Dodge since the muscle car era of the 1960’s Auburn Hills, Mich. , Apr 18, 2011 - Chrysler Group LLC today announced the new 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T will make its worldwide auto show debut at the 2011 New York International Auto Show, starting with media days on April 20. Consumers who visit the auto show can check out the new Avenger R/T model April 22 through May 1, 2011. With exceptional V-6 fuel economy, the new Dodge Avenger is the perfect sedan for the customer who wants an enthusiastic driving performance at a great value. With a stiffened suspension, best-in-class 283 horsepower engine, center-mounted tachometer and performance-inspired interior and exterior design, the 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T ups the driving fun factor. “The Avenger R/T makes driving a mid-size car a really fun, engaging experience,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge Brand — Chrysler Group LLC. “The Avenger R/T offers performance design cues both inside and out, as well as unique handling characteristics and a sport-tuned suspension. It’s a vehicle that is ready to earn its stripes as part of the Dodge performance family of vehicles.” In 2011, Dodge introduced the new Dodge Avenger mid-sized sedan. With more standard features than other vehicles in the segment – an all-new interior, a new powertrain, including one of Ward’s “10 Best Engines,” the best-in-class 283 horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transaxle, a significantly updated suspension that results in exceptional driving dynamics and an updated design – the Dodge Avenger is a vehicle packed with value and a style all its own. The new for 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T model builds on all the improvements made to the 2011 model giving mid-size sedan customers an unmatched driving experience along with Dodge attitude. Dodge engineers amplified the driving experience by giving the Dodge Avenger R/T a superlative powertrain and performance-tuned suspension. The 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T is powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transaxle, which has an EPA fuel economy rating of 19 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. To make it stay true to the Dodge R/T DNA, engineers tuned the Avenger’s suspension specifically to the R/T model. They increased roll stiffness by 18 percent, and spring rates by 17 percent in the front and more than 12 percent in the rear. Front strut damping rates are increased 15 percent, rear strut damping rates are increased almost 20 percent and the rear stabilizer bar diameter is 2 mm larger, increased from 19 mm to 21 mm. The suspension changes result in a spirited, performance sedan driving experience. With best-in-class 283 horsepower, and still delivering 29 miles per gallon on the highway, the Avenger R/T is unmatched in its class. The Dodge Avenger R/T model exterior has unique exterior design elements, including a unique body-color grille with the Dodge badge, menacing black headlamp background, the “war paint” R/T decal on the front quarter panel and unique 18-in. painted aluminum wheels. The performance elements carry through to the rear of the vehicle with a spoiler and the “R/T” badge. The interior of the 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T sports distinctive Aunde fabric with Z stripe fabric inserts, red stitching and aggressive leather-trimmed bolsters that hold drivers and passengers firmly in their seats when they put the Avenger to the test. The front seats are heated and sport an “R/T” graphic stitched in red on the front headrests. Drivers will notice a cockpit unlike other Avenger models. It features a unique gauge cluster with a center-mounted tachometer with the “R/T” graphic and SRT-inspired brake and accelerator pedal pads. The steering wheel is wrapped in perforated leather with red accent stitching. A Boston Acoustic sound system compliments the standard 276-watt touchscreen entertainment center with a 30-gigabyte hard drive. The excellent sound system and remote start are some of the many standard features on the Avenger R/T model.

Busy going through Series 2 & 3 now...

Or the 40 year old wiring..

Did A Chevrolet Volt Cause A Garage Fire? William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 16, 2011 A Chevrolet Volt is under suspicion as the cause of a garage fire in Barkhamsted, Connecticut. The fire which engulfed a garage took 50 firefighters to put out. "I walked outside and looked in the garage door and it was flaming. I grabbed a pocketbook so I'd have a cellphone and a driver's license and a jacket and a pair of slacks. I had no shoes, my feet were freezing," said Dee Connors, owner. Investigators are now working on what caused the fire. Along with the Volt, investigators are also looking at the other electric vehicle in the garage and the 40-year old wiring in the house. GM said in a official statement they will be cooperating with the investigation. Source: Left Lane News

Dodge Teases The Next Generation Viper William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 15, 2011 Dodge is busy at work on the next generation Viper due out in 2012. This will be the first Viper that includes stability control as mandated by US government. Dodge has released a teaser pic of a last generation Viper sliding along some snow which puts a grin on our faces. Not much is known about the next generation viper. It's rumored to have between 600 to 700 HP coming from a V10 or a forced induction V8. Either way, the Viper will be coming out in 2012 as a 2013 model and ready for the “Super Car Olympics” Press Release is Below Next-Gen Dodge Viper Training For ‘Super Car Olympics’ Auburn Hills, Mich. , Apr 15, 2011 - The long, cold and snowy winter presented a perfect environment for the ultimate American-built sports car and icon of the Dodge brand’s performance car lineup to prepare for its imminent return. Using a 2010 chassis as a test subject, SRT engineers expanded the development scope for the next generation Dodge Viper to include stability control tuning for the first time. The development comes just in time for the next “Super Car Olympics,” sure to take place late in 2012 when the all-new performance icon returns.

If they build it, I will come..

Operation Cut $10k Out Of The Volt Is 'On Track' William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 14, 2011 Remember when there was news about GM CEO Dan Akerson asking engineers to cut $10,000 out of the Chevrolet Volt. Well it looks like its happening, but for the next and third generation Volts. Alan Taub, GM vice president for global research and development said in an interview at the SAE World Congress that GM is on track for cutting costs. "We have a cost reduction plan all the way through 2020 and Generation 3. In fact, we've been challenged by our new leadership team to pull those earlier in time, and we're on track to meet our new cost reduction targets." When asked about if the cuts will be around $10,000, Taub dodged the question. "We're on track to meet our cost reductions," he said. Taub also says the next generation will be improved in many ways. "It's got a lot of improvements. It's not just cost. It's got a lot of improvement on efficiency, on batteries." Source: The Detroit News

2012 Camaro: 45th Anniversary Edition Boosts Power, Comfort Sports car brings new, more powerful V-6, sport suspension and new technologies Camaro 45th Anniversary Gallery 2011-04-13 DETROIT – Chevrolet Camaro, America’s most popular sports car, extends its momentum with enhancements for the 2012 model year. Highlights include an improved version of its standard 3.6L direct injection V-6 engine, a new FE4 performance suspension package for SS coupes and several interior and technology improvements, such as a revised instrument panel design, new steering wheel and rear camera system. The enhancements arrive in time for Camaro’s 45th birthday, which will be celebrated with this summer’s release of the 45th Anniversary Special Edition Camaro. Continuing the tradition of Camaro anniversary models, the 45th Anniversary Special Edition carries all the upgrades for 2012, with additional unique design elements, inside and out. “The appeal of Camaro design and performance has powered it to the top of its segment,” said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. “For 2012, we’re capitalizing on that momentum with enhancements to Camaro’s performance and comfort.” Also coming in early 2012 is the high-performance Camaro ZL1, the most technologically advanced car ever developed in its segment. Class-leading 3.6L V-6 engine Camaro’s new 3.6L direct injection V-6 – the LFX engine – goes into production this summer. It delivers an SAE-certified 323 horsepower (241 kW) at 6,800 rpm – an increase of 11 horsepower (8 kW) over the 2011 engine, with no compromise in fuel economy. The LFX delivers the most standard power in the regular sports car segment. It is also 20.5 pounds (9.3 kg) lighter than its predecessor, which promotes a more balanced driving experience. EPA-estimated highway fuel economy for the ’12 Camaro is 30 mpg (2LS model). Compared to the 3.6L V-6 in 2011 models, the new LFX engine features: * New cylinder head design with integrated exhaust manifold * Improved intake port design and larger intake valves within the cylinder heads * Longer-duration intake camshafts * Composite intake manifold * New fuel pump and isolated fuel rail * New, optimized-flow fuel injectors * Structural front cover and cylinder block enhancements * Stronger and lighter-weight connecting rods * Camshaft cap and throttle body design enhancements. Direct injection is the key technology enabling the engine’s combination of power and efficiency. It optimizes fuel delivery to the combustion chamber by introducing fuel closer to the combustion chamber. The result is better efficiency in the combustion process leading to increased fuel efficiency at part and full throttle. It also uses a new fuel pump for the direct injection system, along with a new, isolated fuel rail. The new fuel pump is quieter, while the isolated fuel rail further reduces fuel system noise. FE4 suspension enhances performance The new FE4 suspension debuts as a performance improvement for the Camaro SS coupe in 2012, focusing on more refined handling. “Our objective was to create a more precise sport suspension for the SS coupe, with greater road-holding capability,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. ”We applied lessons learned from extensive track testing to better refine the suspension geometry for flatter cornering, a more neutral balance during hard turns, and minimized understeer at the limit.” Elements of the FE4 package include: * Retuned front and rear dampers * New solid front (23 mm) and rear (24 mm) stabilizer bars * Twenty-inch aluminum wheels and P245/45R20 front/P275/40R20 rear tires (SS). More than just new components, the new FE4 performance suspension incorporates learning from the ongoing development of the high-performance Camaro ZL1. In particular, the suspension geometry has been adjusted, including reshaped stabilizer bars that are repositioned outboard of the shock mounts. This results in more effective body control and more precise response in performance driving. Interior, exterior and technology updates The 2012 model year brings appearance, ergonomic and technology upgrades inside for Camaro drivers and passengers. The interior updates include a revised instrument panel appearance, with new instrument graphics and trim, as well as a new steering wheel design and a power lift feature for the front passenger seat. The steering wheel features a fresh new look and ergonomic improvements intended to support performance driving. Also new for Camaro in 2012 is a Rear Vision Package, which adds a rearview camera system and an auto-dimming mirror to the existing Rear Park Assist feature. The rearview camera system complements the rear parking assist by providing a video display of the area behind the car, with the video image appearing in the car’s inside rearview mirror. On the exterior for 2012, a new rear spoiler will be added as a standard feature for Camaro; and the taillamps that had been a part of the RS appearance package option are also being made standard. Additionally, a new, body-color “sharkfin” antenna joins the RS package. Crystal Red Tintcoat replaces Red Jewel as an exterior color. 45th Anniversary package details Launching this summer, the 45th Anniversary Special Edition commemorates both Camaro’s lineage and its 21st-century revival. Camaro fans will get their first look at the 45th Anniversary Special Edition at the Camaro5 Fest II, April 15 in Arizona. The anniversary package will be offered on Camaro’s top two trim levels (2LT and 2SS) for both coupe and convertible body styles. The exterior signature of the 45th Anniversary Special Edition is its unique rally stripe, in red and silver, that contrasts the Carbon Flash Metallic paint. The package also includes: * Unique 45th Anniversary hood and deck stripes; badges located beneath the front fender emblems * New-design 20-inch wheels in dark silver * Fog lamp and taillamp bezels finished in dark silver * RS-style taillamp lenses * Standard rear spoiler and HID headlamps * Body-color roof molding * Jet Black interior with leather-trimmed seats featuring the 45th Anniversary logo * White instrument panel and door trim inserts with the 45th Anniversary logo on the instrument panel * Red, white and blue stitching on the seats, steering wheel, shift knob/boot, door armrests and console lid * 45th Anniversary logo on the steering wheel and sill plates.