William Maley

PSA Group is slowing making end roads into U.S. as part of their 10-year plan. We have already reported on their carsharing service, TravelCar that will be launching in select markets this month. Now, the French automaker has taken the next step by announcing former Nissan and TrueCar executive Larry Dominique as a Senior Vice President of PSA North America. Automotive News reports Dominique's role will first deal with the car-sharing aspects before starting to make progress on one or all of the brands in the U.S. “This is a market that, as a full-line automaker, you need to be part of. But this is a 10-year project. It’s not about jumping in and creating market share as quickly as possible.” said Dominique. “Positioning a brand in the U.S. marketplace -- which is very crowded today -- is going to take patience, analysis and data. And it’s going to take careful execution. That’s why we’re not rushing into this. There are a lot of unanswered questions facing Dominique such as which brands will be sold in the U.S. and how will the vehicles be sold - dealer network or some other way. “It’s going to be a significant amount of money to re-enter the market. But we haven’t set a number. If we can find more efficient ways to market and sell our vehicles -- whether it’s in a traditional partnership with investors or not -- those are things that can heavily influence the cost of coming to market,” said Dominique. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article

Nope. Only the 5.3 is available on the Suburban. If you really want the 6.2L, GMC will be glad to sell you a Yukon XL Denali.

We have been waiting for quite a while for Honda to reveal the production Civic Si and this morning, they did just that. The 2017 Honda Civic Si may not look completely bonkers like the Type R, but we're not complaining about it. The subtitle changes such as the blacked-out grille, 18-inch wheels, center-mounted exhaust, and rear spoiler help the Si stand out from other Civic models without going completely mad. Move inside and the Civic Si comes well equipped with sport bucket seats, red digital gauge cluster, faux carbon fiber trim, automatic climate control, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Under the hood is a tweaked version of the Civic's turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder producing 205 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. This is somewhat weak sauce when compared to the likes of the Volkswagen GTI (220) and Ford Focus ST (252). Honda does say those numbers do arrive at lower rpms (5700 for horsepower, 2500 to 5000 for torque). A six-speed manual is the only transmission on offer. For the chassis, Honda has fitted a set of adaptive dampers, stiffer springs and anti-roll bars, larger brakes, and a honest-to-goodness mechanical limited-slip differential. The Civic Si will be available as a sedan and coupe, and carry a base price in the mid-$20,000 range. At least you won't have to wait long as the Si arrives at dealers next month. Source: Honda Press Release is on Page 2 Honda Reveals 2017 Civic Si Coupe and Sedan in Dynamic Global Debut Video Apr 6, 2017 - TORRANCE, Calif. First ever turbocharged Civic Si is most agile, best-handling Si yet Standard features include Apple Carplay™ and Android Auto™ Production reveal of Civic Si Coupe and Sedan variants on YouTube The all-new Honda Civic Si Coupe and Civic Si Sedan debuted today in a global reveal video broadcast on Honda's YouTube channel at honda.us/2017CivicSiReveal. The exciting and dynamic video features the stylish, personal two-door coupe and sleek, accommodating four-door sedan - both sporty Si variants are designed for the everyday enthusiast. The new Civic Si Sedan and Coupe will go on-sale next month with an MSRP in the mid-$20,000 range. "The 2017 Honda Civic Si is our first turbocharged Si and sets a new sporty compact benchmark in terms of agility and precise handling while building toward the launch of the Type R as the final chapter in our epic 10th-generation Civic story," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president automobile division, American Honda. Powertrain and chassis Powering the Civic Si is a high-performance, high-torque 1.5-liter, directed-injected and turbocharged DOHC in-line 4-cylinder engine with dual variable cam timing (dual VTC). Mated to a short-throw, 6-speed manual transmission, the powertrain provides a thrilling new driving experience with more low-end grunt and increased torque output across the engine's full rev range compared to the previous Si. Peak horsepower of 205 horsepower1 arrives 1300 rpm lower in the rev range, and the increased peak torque of 192 lb-ft2 (+18 lb-ft) is produced 2300 rpm earlier and sustained over 70 percent of the rev range. Allowing full utilization of the powertrain, the 2017 Civic Si is significantly lighter than the previous generation model and features a more rigid body including highly upgraded chassis and drive components. These upgrades include a dual-pinion adaptive electric power steering system with variable ratios, sport-tuned suspension, an adaptive damper system, a helical limited-slip differential, larger 12.3-inch front brake rotors and wider 235/40 R18 tires with a performance tire option. In addition to adaptive dampers, suspension upgrades include stiffer spring rates, more rigid stabilizer bars (+30 percent front, +60 percent rear), solid front and rear compliance bushings, and ultra-rigid front upper control arms shared with the Civic Type R. Allowing the driver to choose vehicle power and chassis dynamic characteristics according to their tastes and the driving environment, the 2017 Civic Si now features two driving mode options: Normal and Sport. From the more comfort-oriented yet well controlled default Normal Mode, the Sport Mode adjusts the suspension damping characteristics plus steering and throttle response for a more taut and direct driving experience. Sporty design and styling Upping the sporty style quotient from the standard Civic Sedan and Coupe, the Si models feature an aggressive black "wing" front fascia with larger side air intake features, 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels with a model-exclusive two-tone finish, wearing 235mm-wide, low-profile tires, and a chrome center-mounted polygonal exhaust finisher. At the rear, the Si Sedan includes larger side vent features and a deck lid spoiler incorporating a LED brake light. The Si Coupe continues the Civic Coupe's distinctive full-width light bar and adds a prominent raised spoiler. The Civic Si interior features Si-exclusive bolstered front sport seats with red stitching, including stitched Si logos. The red sport stitching carries through to the doors, steering wheel and leather shift boot with aluminum shift knob. The Si interior also features a red driver's TFT meter and audio system illumination, aluminum sport pedals and Dry Metal Carbon instrument panel trim. Interior Comfort, Convenience and Connectivity The new Civic Si variants offers premium comfort and convenience features building off of the EX-T Civic Sedan and EX-T Civic Coupe, including: Electronic parking brake Walk away door locking Dual-zone automatic climate control Heated front seats Rain-sensing wipers Accommodating modern connectivity needs, the new Civic Si also includes a 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen that serves as the nerve center for control of audio, HVAC and other functions. The Display Audio is integrated with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ platforms, providing seamless integration of smartphone features and functions, including app-based navigation, streaming audio, voice-controlled search capabilities, and access to a host of Apple- or Google-approved smartphone apps. All Si models feature a 450-watt, 10-speaker AM/FM/CD sound system with SiriusXM® Radio, HD Radio™ and Pandora® capability. Safety The 2017 Civic Si Coupe and Sedan are designed to provide a high level of collision safety performance in a wide variety of collision scenarios, including offset and oblique-angle frontal collisions as well as side and rear impacts. The Civic's safety performance starts with its class-leading forward visibility and precise, stable and predictable steering, handling and braking performance. Standard four-channel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)4 with traction control and Agile Handling Assist further enhance dynamic stability and emergency maneuvering and braking performance. The Civic Si targets the highest NCAP 5-star Overall Vehicle Score. View full article

Chevrolet has gone a bit crazy with the special editions over the past couple of years with Rally, Redline, and Midnight. Now there is another one in the form of the RST (Rally Sport Truck) for the 2018 Tahoe and Suburban. But this special edition stands out for one reason. Before we get to that reason, let's dive into what the RST package nets you. There is no sign of chrome trim anywhere on the RST. Instead, Chevrolet is using body-color for the door handles and grille surround, and gloss black for other trim pieces. A set of 22-inch alloy wheels come wrapped in Bridgestone Dueler tires. Optional is a Borla exhaust that adds an additional 10 horsepower and more aggressive engine note, along with a set of 6-piston Brembo brakes. You have waited long enough for us to reveal the reason what the RST is special and here it is. Chevrolet will be offering a performance package that brings a 6.2L V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. This is coupled to a new ten-speed automatic which can send the Tahoe to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. GM's highly praised Magnetic Ride Control suspension also comes with this package. The bad news? You can only get this package on the Tahoe. The RST package will arrive at Chevrolet dealers this fall. Source: Chevrolet Press Release is on Page 2 RST SPECIAL EDITION BRINGS STREET LOOK AND POWER TO THE NEW CHEVROLET TAHOE AND SUBURBAN Tahoe RST available with 6.2L V-8, 10-speed automatic transmission and Magnetic Ride Control DETROIT — Today, Chevy introduced a new special edition for the Tahoe and Suburban: the street-performance Rally Sport Truck, or RST. The Tahoe RST will also be available with a new Performance Package that includes a 420-hp, 6.2L V-8 engine; Magnetic Ride Control with performance calibration; and an all-new Hydra-Matic 10L80 10-speed automatic transmission. “Chevrolet has continually invested in Tahoe and Suburban, developing models with varying combinations of capability, technology and performance to meet the needs of different customers,” said Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet Truck Marketing director. “The RST is designed for customers who want a street performance look without sacrificing capability or refinement, along with the option of increased performance as well.” RST will be available on Tahoe and Suburban models in the fall of 2017. Inspired by aftermarket trends, virtually all chrome trim has been eliminated for a street performance appearance. Changes include body-color grille surround and door handles; gloss-black grille and mirror caps; black roof rails, window trim, badging and Chevy bowties. RST also includes exclusive 22-inch wheels wrapped in Bridgestone P285/45R 22 tires. Available upgrades for Tahoe and Suburban RST include a Borla performance exhaust system that offers a 28 percent improvement in exhaust flow, for a 7-10-horsepower gain at the rear wheels. An available brake package features massive front red Brembo six-piston, fixed aluminum calipers with brake pads clamping on larger-than-stock 410 x 32mm (16.1 inch x 1.3 inch) Duralife rotors coupled with a 84 percent increase in brake pad area and a 42 percent increase in rotor area to increase system thermal capacity. Duralife™ rotors feature a hardened surface to reduce corrosion and provide quieter braking with less vibration. The Tahoe RST will also be offered with an exclusive Performance Package that includes Magnetic Ride Control with performance calibration, 6.2L V-8 and the new 10L80 10-speed automatic transmission. This is the first time Tahoe will offer the 6.2L V-8, which delivers an estimated 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The engine features three state-of-the-art technologies — direct injection, Active Fuel Management and continuously variable valve timing — to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions. The 6.2L V-8 will be paired with an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission. With smaller steps between each ratio, the transmission maximizes engine power under acceleration. With a wide 7.39 overall gear ratio spread and lower numerical top gear ratio, the transmission also improves efficiency by reducing engine revolutions at highway speeds. Based on preliminary estimates, the Tahoe RST Performance Package will offer a towing capacity of 8,400 pounds and the truck will be cable of 0-60 mph acceleration in less than 6 seconds. Full performance metrics will be announced closer to launch. Magnetic Ride Control is an active suspension that “reads” the road every millisecond, triggering damping changes in the electronically controlled shock absorbers in as few as 5 milliseconds. As a result, the suspension delivers both improved body-motion control during cornering and a more comfortable ride while cruising. The new performance calibration included in the Tahoe RST Performance Package increases body control for even higher levels of responsiveness and comfort. “When you want to hustle, it is incredibly fast, with significantly higher levels of acceleration, braking and road-holding grip,” said Eric Stanczak, chief engineer for Chevrolet full-size trucks. “When you want to relax, it is very refined, with exceptional ride comfort and interior quietness.” View full article