William Maley

That blue makes the Optima really stand out.. I like it a lot

Suzuki Announces Two Revals For New York William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGear.com March 25, 2011 Suzuki's has announced two global reveals for the New York Auto Show in April. One of the reveals will be an updated Suzuki Kizashi. Suzuki says the updates will take the “Kizashi to the next level.” Its possible the update will bring a turbocharged engine which would help one of the big problems with current car, not having a powerful engine. Suzuki will also premiere a second model, but no one knows what it could be. Our guess, either a production version of the Swift or a concept of the Grand Vitara. Source: Left Lane News

RWD Sedan And A Range Of Sporty Models For Kia William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 24, 2011 Kia has ambitious plans in their lineup for the future including a new RWD flagship and a series of sporty models. The RWD flagship, possibly named K9 will be the first use of sister brand Hyundai's RWD architecture for Kia. Kia will borrow Hyundai's 4.6-Liter Tau V8 and ZF's eight speed transmission. The K9 could make its first appearance in 2012. As for sporty models, the first model that could receive an injection of sportiness is the new Kia Rio. Benny Oeyen, marketing and product planning chief for Kia said, "I can imagine a sporty Kia in Europe; we have to develop the brand." Also in the pipeline is a RWD sports car concept to be shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show this year. No word yet on what the concept will look like. Source: Car Magazine, 2 Source: Autocar

Agreed. The only way Cadillac should go into Europe is with the understanding they will not sell as many vehicles as the main office is expecting. Also, where are diesel engines?

If they did, no one has found the patent filing. Chrysler's Eight Speed transmissions are coming from ZF so they will have them sooner than GM. I don't know if their Dual-Clutch are coming from there as well.

Patent Reveals 7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission From GM William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 23, 2011 Last Summer, GM announced that it would be working with their partner in China, SAIC to build a new dry dual-clutch automatic transmission. Now, a patent filled by GM has been uncovered. The patent shows a seven speed dual-clutch transmission for front wheel drive vehicles. It's unknown what vehicles the transmission will be put into, but small cars like the Chevrolet Cruze and Buick Verano are contenders. Source: Motor Trend Source: Free Patents Online

Putting out a diesel is not difficult. Putting out a class leading diesel is. But... just dropping in the Opel 2.0 CDTI Bi-turbo engine is a start. 190hp @ 4000 rpm, 300 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm is "good enough", especially for the ATS. They do need a Diesel V6 though... something that has been missing since the Opel Signum got axed a few years back. They really needed that 2.9 liter they developed for the '08 CTS but never deployed. Here's to hoping GM is working on something like the 2.9

Third Time's The Charm? Cadillac Returns To Europe William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 22, 2011 Cadillac and Europe haven't been the best of friends. The past two times Cadillac has sold vehicles in Europe, sales have come up short and the lineup offered didn't exactly meet Europe's demands. Now, Cadillac is hoping its third try into the European market is a success. “The only thing you can do is try, try and try again with Cadillac in Europe,” said GM CEO Dan Akerson. The CTS will take the lead while the upcoming XTS and ATS will follow afterward. The big question is will Cadillac offer a diesel engine option? Jeff Lux, Opel Vauxhall’s powertrain boss said, “We can’t do everything all at once.” No word yet on when Cadillac will make a return. Source: Autocar

I kind of see what you're saying.. We need to use up the stockpile of portholes we have

Chevrolet Colorado Show Truck Revealed William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 21, 2011 Chevrolet Colorado Show Truck Gallery GM has pulled the covers off the Chevrolet Colorado Show Truck before making its official debut at the 32nd Bangkok International Motor Show starting March 25th. The Colorado show truck's design carries traits seen on other Chevrolet models like the Equinox. The front end features a two-tier grille with wraparound headlights, LED running lamps, and a extractor vent on the hood. An aerodynamic "cab collar" design ties the cab and bed together. The bed has a hard tonneau cover, helping improve fuel economy and security. 20-inch aluminum wheels and Cooper 285/50R20 Zeon LTZ all-terrain tires finish off the exterior. Inside, the Colorado show truck uses a twin cockpit design. The dash and instrument panel flow into the doors and a set of motorcycle-inspired, three-dimensional gauges give out a sporty appearance. Leather seats, dark wood trim with chrome highlights, and soft touch surfaces help give the Colorado a more upscale feel. Also, a number of storage compartments are throughout the truck to keep items secure. Other features in the truck include a dual-zone climate control system and a 7-inch LCD screen for audio, navigation, hands-free phone and web access. The Colorado show truck rides on a body-on-frame platform. The engine is a 2.8-liter diesel going through an AWD system. No specs on the horsepower or torque of the diesel engine at this time. Rumor has it that GM will be building a version of the new Colorado for the US and Canada that meets emissions and regulations within a couple years. When asked about this, Chevrolet spokesman Mike Albano said, "We are not naming any specific markets outside of Thailand at this time, but we can say that this truck will be sold in several global markets. It will be the first truly global truck offering by GM. I can say, aside from Thailand we have plans to sell the truck in other key [southeast Asian] markets like Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines." Source: PickupTrucks.com Related: GM Teases Us With The New Chevrolet Colorado Related: GM comes to its senses: US to get NG Canyon, Colorado Press Release is below Chevrolet Unveils Colorado Show Truck Boldly styled show truck previews next-generation midsize pickup 2011-03-21 BANGKOK, Thailand - Chevrolet today revealed the Colorado Show Truck in advance of the Bangkok International Auto Show, where it is making its global public debut. The concept previews the next-generation Colorado midsize pickup truck, which will build on Chevrolet’s strong truck DNA and award-winning heritage. The Colorado goes on sale in Thailand later this year. “Thailand is the world’s-largest market for midsize pickups, so this was the perfect location in which to unveil our new Colorado,” said Susan Docherty, vice president, GMIO Sales, Marketing and Aftersales. “Trucks have been part of Chevrolet’s core for nearly all of its 100-year history. The Colorado reinforces that heritage with expressive design, refinement and uncompromising capability.” The show truck features an extended-cab body atop a high-stance AWD chassis and rides on large, 20-inch wheels and off-road tires. Power comes from an efficient 2.8L turbo-diesel engine, which produces a broad torque band for excellent cargo and towing capability. “Although this is a show vehicle, the basic proportions and form convey the vision for the next-generation Colorado that we will bring to market,” said Brad Merkel, GM's global vehicle line executive. “It reflects a stylized version of the new truck, one that takes into account rugged dependable truck capabilities for commercial use as well as sophisticated refinement for personal-use needs.” While the new Colorado was developed within GM’s global product development organization, engineers took careful steps to ensure it would meet local market needs. Roberto Rempel, GM's global vehicle chief engineer, lived in Thailand for several months during the truck’s development, immersing himself in the market and observing how the Thai people use their trucks and the road conditions they experience. “Pickups are instrumental in the vibrant Thai economy and owners take great pride in their trucks, which are used for both work and personal driving,” he said. “These customers ask a lot of their trucks, so the powertrains and chassis must be very robust to earn their trust – and that’s exactly what we’ve delivered.” Design details The Colorado show truck’s purposeful design conveys strength through bodywork that appears tightly wrapped over the chassis and a wide, confident stance. In the front, Chevrolet’s internationally recognized gold bowtie and dual-port grille are framed by large headlamps that flow into the front fenders, and an extractor vent on the hood. “Around the globe, pickup trucks are associated with strength, capability and function – and that’s exactly what the Colorado show truck embodies,” said Ed Welburn, GM vice president of Global Design. “Its broad-shouldered proportions are derived from nearly a century of Chevrolet truck heritage.” Pepperdust Metallic exterior paint is accented with polished aluminum details in the fascias, as well as integrated side steps and black-masked projector-style headlamps with LED lighting elements. At the rear is a full-width LED-lit taillamp, which creates a striking appearance when illuminated. Additional exterior details include: * A streamlined “cab collar” design with a body-color hard tonneau cover on the bed * Gray accents on the side, front and rear lower moldings * 20-inch aluminum wheels featuring a “liquid metal” finish, with Stone Gray color wheel ports * Cooper 285/50R20 ZEON LTZ tires * Outside mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators. Inside, there’s another signature Chevrolet cue: a dual-cockpit instrument panel design. It flows into the doors, with continuous lines that create a floating, wraparound effect, amplifying the Colorado’s feeling of spaciousness. Ice-blue lighting and high-quality, “double-faced” leather-trimmed seats add sophistication and refinement. “The interior is designed to deliver a premium and inviting environment, with a greater feeling of spaciousness than is typically found in midsize trucks,” said Welburn. “There’s also great attention to detail in the execution of the features you see and feel.” A brace of motorcycle-inspired, three-dimensional gauges stand out on the instrument panel, projecting a sporty appearance. Contrasting trim used with the light-colored leather seating, dark wood trim accented with chrome and low-gloss and soft-touch materials are used throughout for a premium feel. A number of storage compartments are located throughout the interior, including a covered center bin for concealment of valuable items, and a large, dual glovebox. Additional features include a dual-zone, digital climate control system and the latest in “infotainment” technology. The show truck highlights an ergonomically positioned 7-inch LCD display in the center stack, for easy viewing and intuitive control of Web access, navigation, music and hands-free phone features.

The red that Cadillac uses on the CTS-Vs looks so good. Makes the design of the vehicle pop with it. Is it a Six Speed Manual or Automatic?

What ever happened to personal responsibility? Or did that just thrown out of window a long time ago and its blame someone else