William Maley

Google and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles made waves earlier this year when it was announced the two would build 100 autonomous prototypes based on the all new Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid. Now the two could be working together on a ride-sharing service using autonomous vehicles. Bloomberg has learned from sources that Google will deploy a semi-autonomous vehicle, most likely the Pacifica possibly towards the end of 2017 for this new service. The sources go on to say that Google will need more than 100 vehicles that FCA agreed to in their original deal. This comes on the heels of Google's announcement today that it will be spinning off their autonomous vehicle project into a new holding company called Waymo. During the press conference, CEO John Krafcik said the goal of this new company isn't to make better cars but “making better drivers." "We've completed the first versions of these cars and will get them on the road in the near future," said Krafcik when asked about the Pacificas. “FCA has been a wonderful partner.” Source: Bloomberg Pic Credit: William Maley for Cheers & Gears View full article

The past few years have seen a number of start-ups tackling an issue that has been a thorn in the side of consumers, buying a used car. Companies such as Beepi, Carvana, Shift, and Vroom have their own take on selling used vehicles, but the goal is the same - make it less of a hassle to buy a car by selling directly to a consumer through the internet at a lower price. But one of these companies has folded most of their operations. Beepi, one of the first companies to launch back in 2014 folded most of its operations last week and announced yesterday that it would be merging Fair.com, a soon to launch online vehicle retail platform. As a result, 180 people lost their jobs while the remaining 80 employees and Beepi CEO Ale Resnik will move over to Fair.com. "It's disappointing. We were collectively working to make a massive industry better. I was in support of what they were trying to do -- to bring more visibility to us all," said Gaurav Mishra, chief marketing officer for Vroom Inc. to Automotive News. Beepi's business model worked like this; a consumer would contact Beepi about selling their vehicle. The company would send out a team member to inspect the vehicle. If it meets their criteria, pictures of the vehicle would be taken and would be posted online. If someone decides to buy the vehicle, Beepi will deliver the vehicle with a bow. If the vehicle didn't sell within 30 days, Beepi would offer to buy them. Seems like a good business plan except for one thing, a buyer couldn't test drive the vehicle. Alan Haig, president of buy-sell advisory firm Haig Partners said one of the big issues for these companies is that a customer cannot kick the tires. A study done by Auto Trader back in 2015 backs this up with 90 percent of shoppers would not buy a vehicle without doing a test drive. "Eighty-eight percent of consumers say they will not buy a car without test driving it first. (Beepi) spent millions of dollars on TV and radio trying to convince consumers that buying without ever seeing a car is the future. We, on the other hand, provide customers with an amazing test drive delivered to your door experience," said Shift CEO George Arison in an email to employees and obtained by USA Today. This email also revealed that Beepi reached out to Shift about possibly buying them. Beepi also lost one of their major backers earlier this year. TechCrunch believes that SAIC which was revealed to be an investor last year decided to pull out. It is unknown as to why SAIC decided to leave. "There are plenty of companies out there claiming to be on the cusp of 'obsoleting' the traditional car-buying process, but it’s easier said than done, and nobody has accomplished it despite a lot of time and money spent trying," said Karl Brauer, an analyst with Kelly Blue Book. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), TechCrunch, USA Today View full article

Toyota and Subaru have been quiet on whether or not there would be a second-generation to the 86/BRZ coupe. But Toyota has broken the silence, telling Autocar there would be a second-generation model. “The GT86 will carry on. The car serves a big purpose. We are not getting out of that business. Sporty cars go through their phases. It’s our intention to continue with that car,” said Toyota Europe boss Karl Schlicht. Like the current model, it is expected that Toyota and Subaru will once again team up on developing the next-generation model. Schlicht did admit that there is no firm confirmation of Subaru coming back to this partnership. “Will it be with Subaru? I don’t know. But for the concept to carry on, with the low engine, we’d have to do that. There are a lot of reasons to continue with Subaru.” Autocar says the next-generation 86 could arrive in late 2018 or 2019. Source: Autocar View full article

Porsche now finds itself under the spotlight of German regulators for possibly using a defeat device on their gas models. German publication Wirtschafts Woche reports that Germany’s Transport Ministry and Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) were tipped off by people close to Porsche about possible cheating on emissions tests. According to the story, some Porsche vehicles have software that can detect when they are on a dynamometer (or rolling road) based on whether or not there the steering wheel was turned. If this sounds familiar, that's because Audi is accused using something similar on some of their models. Porsche has responded to the questions about this and said the software is used detect steering movements is to improve the overall driving experience and not to fool emission tests. In a statement to Bloomberg, Porsche said it is cooperating with the investigation. Source: Wirtschafts Woche, Bloomberg View full article

2018 was going to be the year that Ram Trucks would introduce redesigned versions of their light and heavy-duty trucks using a new platform known as DT. But it seems the light-duty truck will be the only one riding on this new platform as the redesign for heavy-duty model has been pushed back. Sources tell Automotive News that Ram will be refreshing the current heavy-duty truck for 2018. It is unknown when Ram will actually introduce the redesigned version using the new platform. Why is Ram switching to a refresh of the current heavy-duty truck? It comes down to money. At the moment, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has nearly $7 billion in net debt at the end of third quarter. CEO Sergio Marchionne is trying to reduce this massive debt before he retires in 2018. This means a number of projects FCA is working on have been delayed in an effort to conserve cash. This is the case for Ram and their heavy-duty trucks. Currently, FCA only has one plant building heavy-duty trucks in Saltillo, Mexico. By taking the plant offline for a few months for retooling to build the redesigned truck, this could cause a shortage of the current-generation trucks for dealers. Going with a refresh allows Ram to continue an uninterrupted supply of trucks. But there comes a problem for Ram going with a refresh. Both Ford and General Motors have introduced revised versions of their heavy-duty trucks that boast better towing numbers and fuel economy. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) Pic Credit: William Maley for Cheers & Gears View full article

The last time I drove a Fiat 500C Abarth, it with six-speed automatic. I found it to be quite a cheeky vehicle with an exhaust note that makes you think you’re driving something a bit more powerful and a look that helped it stand out. But I couldn’t help but wonder how the Abarth is with the manual transmission. About a couple of months ago, I slipped behind the wheel of another 500C Abarth, this time with the manual. The end result was a bit of a letdown. The manual transmission in question is a five-speed and it isn’t any fun to use. The throw is somewhat long and imprecise. A few times, I found myself going into the wrong gear because I couldn’t tell where I was in the gear pattern. Not helping matters is the clutch which not only has a long travel, but it isn’t easy to find the takeoff point. This is one of those vehicles where the automatic makes more sense. The turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder produces 160 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. The engine is quite the performer with power coming on strong at low rpm. Engage the Sport mode and the engine becomes more spritely. Some reviews criticize the 500 Abarth’s suspension for being a bit too soft for a performance model. I really don’t see that as I think the Abarth strikes a good balance between handling and ride comfort. Yes, the Abarth will show a little bit more body roll in the corners. But it doesn’t detract from the quick direction change the vehicle is able to pull off thanks to its short wheelbase. The ride is slightly bouncy over bumps, but it isn’t to the point of annoyance. One area that the Abarth could use some improvement is in the steering. A little bit more road feel and weight would not be a bad thing for a performance hatch. If you happen to be a shrinking violet, then pass on getting the yellow paint like on my tester. The level of ‘LOOK AT ME’ is turned up to 11. Fiat will say the 500C is a convertible, but it is more of a targa - the roof rails and pillars stay up, and the canvas roof folds. But I do like that you can open or close it at speed. Visibility must have a different meaning in Italian than English since the view from the rear is almost nonexistent with the top up or down. The interior hasn’t changed much which is both good and bad. The good is the retro styling that adds a bit of charm. The bad are how the front seats feel like you're sitting on a stool. If there was a height adjustment for the seats or a telescoping adjustment for the steering wheel, this would ok. But since there isn’t, you’ll find yourself in a somewhat awkward seating position. As for pricing, the 500C Abarth with the manual begins at $26,695. With options, the as-tested price came to $31,695. The automatic if you wondering adds $1,350 to the price. But there is some good news over the horizon. Fiat will be cutting prices on a number of their models for 2017, with the biggest ones coming to the 500C. It might be worth waiting for the 2017 model since a lower price could make it slightly easier to convince yourself that you can live with something that is quite small, but packs a lot of character. But be sure to go with the automatic. Disclaimer: Fiat Provided the 500C Abarth, Insurance, and One Tank of Gas Year: 2016 Make: Fiat Model: 500C Trim: Abarth Engine: Turbocharged 1.4L 16-Valve MultiAir Four-Cylinder Driveline: Five-Speed Manual, Front-Wheel Drive Horsepower @ RPM: 160 @ 5,500 Torque @ RPM: 170 @ 2,500-4,000 Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 28/34/30 Curb Weight: 2,545 lbs Location of Manufacture: Toluca, Mexico Base Price: $26,695 As Tested Price: $31,965 (Includes $995 Destination Charge) Options: 17-inch Forged Aluminum Hyper Black Wheels - $1,400.00 Popular Equipment Package - $975.00 Beats Audio Package - $700.00 Giallo Moderna Perla (Modern Pearl Yellow) - $500.00 Nero (Black) Mirror Cap with Body Side Stripe - $450.00 Nero (Black) Trimmed Lights - $250.00 View full article

Sorry everyone. But considering the behavior of certain members, I am locking the thread for the time being.