William Maley

Previous Page Next Page Ever since Kia unveiled a turbocharged version of the Soul in Paris back in September, we have been waiting for the South Korean to make the announcement for U.S.-spec Soul Turbo. Today, Kia has introduced the 2017 Soul! - we'll be referring to it as the Exclaim in this story - with turbo power. As before, the Exclaim sits on top of the Soul's hierarchy and swaps the 2.0L four-cylinder for an all new 1.6L turbo-four with 201 horsepower and 196 pound-feet of torque. This comes paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Other changes the Exclaim gets for 2017 includes a chrome grille surround, body accents finished in red, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a dual chrome twin-tip exhaust. Standard equipment includes push-button start, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8.0-inch touchscreen with UVO3, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, and a couple of USB ports. Options include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 315-watt Harman/Kardon audio system. “We wanted to provide loyal Soul lovers and new buyers a sportier option. The 2017 Soul Exclaim with its turbocharged engine gives the car’s fans another wonderful choice from an already wonderful line-up,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning KMA. No word on pricing or when the 2017 Soul Exclaim will go on sale. Source: Kia Press Release is on Page 2 New Soul Exclaim Adds 1.6-liter Turbocharged GDI Engine with 40 More Horsepower, 45 More lb.-ft. of Torque and More to Love More power makes Kia’s funky urban runabout more fun than ever More power and improved fuel economy Other love-inducing additions include specialized trim and upscale, sportier features SAN FRANCISCO, November 8, 2016—It’s hard to make something great even better, but Kia did when it added a 201-horsepower turbocharged engine to one of its best-selling, most-iconic and most beloved vehicles. Fans of the Soul had long lobbied for a little more zip in their favorite ride and the 2017 Soul Exclaim didn’t disappoint when it was revealed to media today. “We wanted to provide loyal Soul lovers and new buyers a sportier option,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. “The 2017 Soul Exclaim with its turbocharged engine gives the car’s fans another wonderful choice from an already wonderful line-up.” Though the 1.6-liter turbo engine adds 40 horsepower, fuel economy is 28 miles-per-gallon, city and highway combined1—slightly better than the combined mileage of the 2.0-liter normally-aspirated 161-hp engine in the Soul Plus and in the Soul Base 1.6-liter, which produces 130 horsepower. Performance in the turbocharged Exclaim is further enhanced by the addition of a new 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which, via quicker and smoother shift points and no shift shock, makes for more dynamic acceleration and contributes to a more engaging driving experience. In addition to the turbo engine, the Exclaim includes specialized trim and sportier features, including: exclusive 18-inch wheels; red-accented body trim; chrome grille surround, unique Soul tailgate badge; and, for the first time on Soul, dual chrome twin-tip exhaust. The Exclaim also gets a standard leather-wrapped, D-shaped steering wheel, pushbutton start with smart key and UVO32 with e-Services with integrated Android Auto™3 and Apple CarPlay ™4 . A thumping 315-watt Harman Kardon® 5 premium audio system with eight speakers, including a center channel and subwoofer, navigation and 8-inch touchscreen display is also available. Other new options for the 2017 model year are convenience systems such as Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Detection are also available6. The 2017 Soul is available in three trim levels: Base with manual or automatic 6-speed transmission; Soul Plus with the 6-speed automatic; and the Exclaim turbo with the new 7-speed DCT. There are also two new exterior colors. Redesigned headlights and fog lights, along with front and rear fascias lend a more aggressive appearance while two dedicated USB charge ports and an available 8-way power passenger seat add convenience and comfort. Previous Page Next Page View full article

Volkswagen's brand chief Herbert Diess revealed in an interview this past weekend that the modular MQB platform with some minor tweaks will underpin the next two generations of their vehicles. "The MQB has high technical substance, so we can use it for the next two vehicle generations without further major investments," Diess told German newspaper Boersen-Zeitung. This move is in an effort to save a bit of cash due to the fallout of the diesel emission scandal. Diess didn't say what kind of tweaks would be done. MQB currently underpins a number of Volkswagen vehicles in the world. In the U.S., the entire Volkswagen Golf lineup and upcoming Atlas crossover. Source: Reuters View full article

Ferrari has been able to be exempt from certain regulations concerning emissions and fuel economy since they sell less than 10,000 vehicles per year. But the Italian sports car builder is getting close to that amount as they have commited to ship 8,000 vehicles this year and raise that to 9,000 by 2019. What do you do in this case? Begin to add hybrid bits to your vehicles. Reuters reports that Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne announced during a conference call with investors that all of their vehicles sold from 2019 will have some sort of hybrid tech. This would allow Ferrari to grow and sell more vehicles. "Although I neither commit to this nor do I give any sort of certification of it being our objective, it is possible that the (annual sales) number could be well in excess of 10,000 cars in 2025," said Marchionne. Marchionne also mentioned that the company would undergo a "fundamental shift" in the way it manufacturers its cars. This would include building models with a focus on luxury. Source: Reuters View full article

It is no secret that the MINI Paceman wasn't a great seller and that production will be ending this year. But it seems there is a successor under consideration, a spiritual one. Auto Express spoke with BMW Group design chief Adrian van Hooydonk who revealed that the company is looking at an adding another variant of the Countryman with a coupe-like roofline. “Part of the issue was the three doors. We have looked into a lot of things, but all of our [BMW] SUV coupes are five-door vehicles. As much as people probably drive the cars with only one or two people, they like the comfort of an extra set of doors. They want to carry extra stuff – throw a bag in the rear or take someone,” said van Hooydonk. It is unknown whether or not it will be part of the Countryman lineup or be a separate model. But it will use the UKL1 platform that underpins MINI's current models and feature a range of three and four-cylinder gas and diesel engines if given the go-ahead. Source: Auto Express View full article

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is going to be milking the LX platform for all its worth till at least 2020. Automotive News has learned from two sources that FCA won't redesign the Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, and Charger until 2021 when they will transition onto the Giorgio RWD platform. This information confirms hazy details mentioned in a contract highlighter for Unifor members in Canada. The highlighter mentions a $242 million investment into the plant at Brampton, Ontario - home of LX production - to rebuild its paint shop. Originally, the plan was to have the next-generation 300, Challenger, Charger out by 2019. Now with plans moved to 2021, FCA will be doing another refresh in 2018. The sources also mention that one of three vehicles will be discontinued in 2021, most likely the 300. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) Pic Credit: William Maley for Cheers & Gears View full article

If you thought this tangled web of deceit and lies that is the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal could not go any further, then you would be wrong. German newspaper, Bild am Sonntag reports that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) found illegal software on certain Audi models that would reduce CO2 emissions during lab tests. The software monitored the position of the steering wheel and would activate a special program in the automatic transmission if the wheel didn't move more than 15 degrees - signifying it was in the lab. CARB technicians, taking the lessons of the Volkswagen investigation, began turning the wheel during the lab test to simulate being driven on the road, thus revealing the cheat. Bild doesn't say where they got this information from. but the Wall Street Journal was able to confirm this through two sources, saying this was discovered four months back. Another source revealed this cheat was discussed between Audi, Volkswagen, and CARB officials "some months ago". What makes this cheat different than the one used on the 2.0L and 3.0L TDI engines is that this software was used on vehicles running gas or diesel. The transmission in question (known internally as AL 551) was used in a number of Audi vehicles such as the A6, A8, and Q5. Reuters says the software in question was used until May 2016, before CARB discovered it in an older Audi model. This defeat device was also mentioned during an annual test drive of new vehicles in South Africa, known as 'Summer Drive" back in February 2013. Minutes of a meeting during the drive obtained by the Wall Street Journal reveals that Axel Eiser, the head of Audi’s powertrain division saying, The shifting program needs to be configured so that it runs at 100% on the treadmill but only 0.01% with the customer.” These new allegations could put Audi and Volkswagen into a tougher spot in the U.S. Stay tuned. Source: Bild am Sonntag, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal (Subscription Required) View full article

AMG, the division known for building some of the maddest Mercedes-Benz performance models has something very special planned for their 50th anniversary next year. Autocar reports that AMG will be showing off a new performance sedan 'Vision' concept at an event. This concept will preview a production model possibly named GT 4 that is expected to debut in 2019. The GT 4 will be AMG's third dedicated production model – following the SLS and GT. It will target the likes of the Porsche Panamera and Bentley Continental Flying Spur. Codenamed 'X290', the GT 4 will differ from the GT as it will use a new modular platform from Mercedes-Benz, not a bespoke one found in the GT. However, various design cues of the GT will make its way to the new sedan. Power will come from a 4.0L BiTurbo V8 recently introduced in the E63. It will come in two states of tune and feature a tweaked version of the 4Matic all-wheel drive system. AMG is also considering whether or not the GT 4 should use a new integrated starter generator (ISG) that would not only give a quick boost of performance (around 20 horsepower), but also allow the vehicle to have a stop/start system to improve fuel economy. Source: Autocar View full article