William Maley

For the past few months, we have been hearing about some key changes to the Mazda MX-5 Miata; more power from the four-cylinder engine, new safety features, and a telescoping steering wheel. Mazda has been using the "can't comment at this time" when asked about these changes. Today, the Japanese automaker finally confirmed the changes. Under the hood lies a reworked 2.0L Skyactiv-G producing 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque - up 26 and 3 respectively. A higher redline of 7,500 rpm complements the added power. To pull this off, Mazda made a number of changes to the engine which include, Lighter pistons and connecting rods Reconfigured intake ports New fuel injectors New exhaust system Mazda has also fitted a higher final drive ratio (3.583 vs. 3.454), which should make it slightly quicker off the line. There is also more safety tech for the 2019 MX-5 Miata. All models get a backup camera as standard and higher trim levels boast traffic sign recognition and Smart City Brake Support. Other changes for the 2019 MX-5 include, Optional brown canvas soft top Redesigned 17-inch wheels Telescoping steering wheel Mazda hasn't announced pricing on the 2019 MX-5 Miata, but does say it will arrive at dealers later this fall. Source: Mazda View full article

Since 2014, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne proclaimed that Jeep needed a three-row luxury SUV to better compete with the likes of the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. But this SUV, known as the Grand Wagoneer hasn't materialized. Numerous delays and debates about the design has caused the launch to be pushed time and time again. These delays have a number of dealers concerned that Jeep may miss its opportunity with this new model. "I think our window of opportunity is closing. We could have killed with [the Grand Wagoneer] if it had been available when they first told us about it, but it's a much tougher sell with interest rates and gas prices going up," said an unnamed FCA dealer to Automotive News. John Murphy, research analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said last week at a meeting of the Automotive Press Association that the "Goldilocks" era in auto retailing was coming to a close. Murphy said the next five years would be tough on auto sales due to a number of factors, especially for those trying to sell high-end models. Higher interest rates Increasing gas prices Raw materials becoming more expensive Increasing competition in the light-truck sector The current plan is to launch the Grand Wagoneer in 2019, but production could be pushed back till late in the year or even into 2020. This is due to FCA's plan to keep building the current Ram 1500 at their Warren Truck Plant until the end of year. But depending on demand, this could extend production into 2019, pushing back the time needed to retool the plant for the Grand Wagoneer. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Dolder, Falco and Reese Partners LLC, the company behind an aftermarket device called the Autopilot Buddy. Autopilot Buddy is a small, weighted device that clips onto either side of the wheel to place minor amounts of torque. This fools the Autopilot system into thinking that a driver has their hands on the wheel. The company markets the device as "nag reduction device", reducing the amount of warnings to tell driver to keep their hands on the wheel. The company has a disclaimer on Autopilot Buddy that states, This would be ok if a video demonstrating the product didn't appear to be on a public road of sorts. “A product intended to circumvent motor vehicle safety and driver attentiveness is unacceptable. By preventing the safety system from warning the driver to return their hands to the wheel, this product disables an important safeguard, and could put customers and other road users at risk,” said NHTSA Deputy Administrator Heidi King in a statement. NHTSA has given Dolder, Falco and Reese Partners LLC till June 29th to respond and certify to NHTSA "that all U.S. marketing, sales, and distribution of the Autopilot Buddy has ended." Source: Roadshow, NHTSA View full article