William Maley

Audi continues record U.S. sales streak for 68th consecutive month September 01, 2016 | HERNDON, Virginia Second-best sales month in Audi of America history Q3 sets third consecutive sales record with 88 percent increase Strong demand for A4 sedan in tightening car market Audi’s August sales increased 2.5 percent to 19,264 vehicles, the brand’s 68th straight monthly sales record in the U.S. Audi achieved its best-ever August, as well as the second-best sales month, in the brand’s U.S. history. The previous August record was set in 2015 with sales of 18,794 vehicles. Year-to-date sales have risen 3.5 percent to 134,562 vehicles sold. August 2016 sales are second only to December 2015. Demand for Audi SUVs bolstered August sales with a 9.1 percent increase over last August and a 20 percent increase year-to-date. The Q3 posted its third consecutive sales record with 2,238 vehicles sold for the month, an 88 percent increase over August 2015. Sales of the Q7 rose 16 percent from last August to 2,347 vehicles, with an increase of 56 percent year-to-date. Amid lagging consumer demand for cars, the A4 sedan posted a 17 percent increase to 2,965 vehicles for the month and a 12 percent increase year-to-date. The A3 model line posted 3,032 sales for August, including 346 deliveries of the A3 Sportback e-tron. The plug-in hybrid has recorded sales of 2,637 vehicles year-to-date. “August marks the end of a successful summer selling season with key models such as the Q3 drawing more customers to the brand,” said Mark Del Rosso, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Audi of America. “We are certain that our momentum will result in sustained growth this year.” AUDI US SNAPSHOT --MTD-- --YTD-- Model Line Aug '16 Actual Aug '15 Actual Yr/Yr % change Aug '16 YTD Actual Aug '15 YTD Actual Yr/Yr % change A3 3,032 3,188 -4.9% 22,654 24,260 -6.6% A4 2,965 2,541 16.7% 20,496 18,306 12.0% A5 848 1,043 -18.7% 5,926 8,867 -33.2% A6 1,960 2,022 -3.1% 12,110 15,359 -21.2% A7 574 757 -24.2% 4,047 4,882 -17.1% A8 348 441 -21.1% 2,616 3,376 -22.5% allroad 156 202 -22.8% 1,124 1,742 -35.5% Q5 4,419 5,051 -12.5% 31,238 31,417 -0.6% Q7 2,347 2,016 16.4% 19,410 12,480 55.5% Q3 2,238 1,189 88.2% 12,525 8,602 45.6% R8 96 35 174.3% 446 439 1.6% TT 281 309 -9.1% 1,970 333 491.6% Total Audi Sales 19,264 18,794 2.5% 134,562 130,063 3.5% Total CPO Sales 3,868 4,441 -12.9% 30,998 32,844 -5.6%

Jaguar Land Rover North America - Up 46.5% (9,329 Vehicles Sold This Month, 66,441 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Volvo Cars of North America, LLC - Up 30.9% (7,682 Vehicles Sold This Month, 52,892 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Subaru of America, Inc. - Up 14.7% (60,418 Vehicles Sold This Month, 391,969 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) FCA US LLC - Up 3% (196,756 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,531,247 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Audi of America - Up 2.5% (19,264 Vehicles Sold This Month, 134,562 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Mercedes-Benz USA - Up 2.1% (31,909 Vehicles Sold This Month, 245,329 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Hyundai Motor America - 0% (72,015 Vehicles Sold This Month, 521,078 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) American Honda Motor Co. - Down 3.8% (149,571 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,094,725 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Toyota Motor Sales - Down 5% (213,125 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,625,158 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) General Motors Co. - Down 5.2% (256,429 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,962,602 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Nissan North America - Down 6.5% (124,638 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,055,227 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) BMW Group U.S. - Down 7.2% (30,500 Vehicles Sold This Month, 239,631 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Kia Motors America - Down 7.9% (54,248 Vehicles Sold This Month, 442,544 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Ford Motor Company - Down 8.4% (214,482 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,784,009 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Volkswagen of America - Down 9.12% (29,384 Vehicles Sold This Month, 207,156 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Mitsubishi Motors North America - Down 11.5% (7,336 Vehicles Sold This Month, 67,160 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Mazda North American Operations - Down 12.8% (26,109 Vehicles Sold This Month, 199,378 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Maserati North America, Inc. - Down 23.1% (958 Vehicles Sold This Month, 6,971 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Porsche Cars North America, Inc. - Brands: Acura - Down 7% (14,246 Vehicles Sold This Month, 106,914 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Alfa Romeo - Down 62% (37 Vehicles Sold This Month, 376 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Audi - Up 2.5% (19,264 Vehicles Sold This Month, 134,562 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) BMW - Down 8% (25,531 Vehicles Sold This Month, 204,744 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Buick - Down 2.7% (21,678 Vehicles Sold This Month, 148,845 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Cadillac - Up 3.9% (16,346 Vehicles Sold This Month, 103,918 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Chevrolet - Down 3.9% (175,965 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,361,675 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Chrysler - Down 22% (18,753 Vehicles Sold This Month, 168,774 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Dodge - Up 5% (44,340 Vehicles Sold This Month, 356,660 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Fiat - Down 21% (2,732 Vehicles Sold This Month, 22,015 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Ford - Down 9% (205,239 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,712,371 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Genesis - 0% (1,497 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,497 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) GMC - Down 14% (42,440 Vehicles Sold This Month, 348,164 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Honda - Down 3.5% (135,325 Vehicles Sold This Month, 987,811 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Hyundai - Down 2.1% (70,518 Vehicles Sold This Month, 519,581 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Infiniti - Down 1.8% (10,439 Vehicles Sold This Month, 85,362 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Jaguar - Up 188.5% (3,298 Vehicles Sold This Month, 17,687 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Jeep - Up 12% (86,468 Vehicles Sold This Month, 639,393 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Kia - Down 7.9% (54,248 Vehicles Sold This Month, 442,544 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Land Rover - Up 15.4% (6,031 Vehicles Sold This Month, 48,754 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Lexus - Down 7.6% (30,938 Vehicles Sold This Month, 210,392 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Lincoln - Up 7% (9,243 Vehicles Sold This Month, 71,638 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Maserati - Down 23.1% (958 Vehicles Sold This Month, 6,971 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Mazda - Down 12.8% (26,109 Vehicles Sold This Month, 199,378 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Mercedes-Benz - Up 0.1% (28,404 Vehicles Sold This Month, 219,704 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) MINI - Down 2.7% (4,969 Vehicles Sold This Month, 34,887 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Mitsubishi - Down 11.5% (7,336 Vehicles Sold This Month, 67,160 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Nissan - Down 6.9% (114,199 Vehicles Sold This Month, 969,865 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Porsche - Ram - Up 2% (44,426 Vehicles Sold This Month, 344,029 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) smart - Down 42.8% (353 Vehicles Sold This Month, 3,439 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Sprinter - Down 39.5% (3,152 Vehicles Sold This Month, 22,186 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Subaru - Up 14.7% (60,418 Vehicles Sold This Month, 391,969 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Toyota - Down 4.6% (182,187 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,414,766 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Volkswagen - Down 9.12% (29,384 Vehicles Sold This Month, 207,156 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Volvo - Up 30.9% (7,682 Vehicles Sold This Month, 52,892 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) View full article

Chevrolet Retail Share Up in August and 7 Out of 8 Months This Year Record ATPs reflect retail strength and strong mix Disciplined incentive spending significantly below industry average Inventories low but growing on all-new Buick Envision, GMC Acadia and Cadillac XT5 Cadillac gains retail share DETROIT – Despite very tight dealer inventories, General Motors (NYSE: GM) sold 212,915 vehicles to individual or “retail” customers in August, down about 5 percent from last year, but in line with the industry’s retail performance for the month. Based on initial estimates, Chevrolet’s retail market share rose 0.4 percentage points in August to 11.0 percent. Chevrolet has gained retail market share in seven out of eight months this year, and remains the industry’s fastest growing full-line brand. GM’s total sales in August were down about 5 percent year over year to 256,429 vehicles. Year to date, GM’s performance is reflecting a very strong retail business. Retail share up 0.5 percentage points Average transaction prices up more than $2,500 Disciplined incentive spending, in line with 2015 Daily rental deliveries down 34 percent Disciplined inventory levels and growing availability of key launch products Through the first eight months of the year, GM retail sales are up 1 percent, which continues to be the largest retail share gain of any full-line automaker. Year to date, Chevrolet retail sales are up more than 2 percent and the brand’s retail share has grown 0.5 percentage points. Year to date, Buick retail deliveries have grown 3 percent and Buick has gained 0.1 percentage points of retail share. “Despite tighter dealer inventories, we had a solid retail performance in August led by Chevrolet, which gained retail share in eight different segments,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “Our retail strength is reflected in our record ATPs in August, which were up more than $1,600 from last month and nearly $5,800 above the industry average while our incentive spending was below the industry average and well below our domestic competitors.” In addition, GM continues to take advantage of a strong, stable U.S. economy and industry. “All the economic factors continue to point toward a strong second half of the year and another potential record year for the industry,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM’s chief economist. “We think the industry is well positioned for a sustainable high level of customer demand.” August Retail Sales and Business Highlights vs. 2015 (except as noted) Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze, Trax, Silverado, Colorado, Spark, Tahoe and Suburban, and Corvette all gained retail share in their respective segments Colorado, Suburban, Tahoe and Trax were up 35 percent, 42 percent, 29 percent and 17 percent, respectively Cruze, Malibu, Corvette and Volt were up 18 percent, 9 percent, 16 percent and 52 percent, respectively Year to date, Chevrolet posted its best retail sales performance since 2007 Year to date, Malibu had its best performance since 1981 Corvette had its best August since 2008 Tahoe and Suburban had their best August since 2008 Colorado had its best August ever Crew Cab Silverado had its best August ever HD Silverado had its best August since 2007 GMC Canyon, Yukon and Yukon XL were up 39 percent, 43 percent and 66 percent, respectively The brand had its highest monthly ATP on record at $45,000 Denali penetration reached more than 28 percent, the highest on record Sierra had its best year to date sales since 2006 Canyon had its best August ever Yukon and Yukon XL had their best August since 2007 Yukon had its 12th consecutive month of year over year growth Buick Buick dealers delivered 1,531 Envisions, in line with plan All-new Lacrosse began shipping to dealers in late August Year to date, Encore up 21 percent Six out of 10 Cascada buyers and more than half of Encore buyers are new to GM Cadillac Escalade was up 8 percent Cadillac dealers delivered 4,839 XT5s CT6 had its best month since launch Average Transaction Prices (ATP)/Incentives (J.D. Power PIN estimates) GM’s ATPs, which reflect retail transaction prices after sales incentives, were $36,730, nearly $5,800 above the industry average and more than $2,500 above last August’s performance GM’s incentive spending as a percentage of ATP was 11.1 percent, below the industry average of 11.5 percent and well below other domestic and select Asian competitors. Fleet and Commercial GM’s fleet mix in August was 17 percent of total sales, below the company’s full-year guidance of 20 percent and 19 percent year to date According to plan, daily rental sales were 10 percent of GM’s total sales for August and 10 percent year to date with deliveries up 4 percent in August Large vans were up 18 percent for August Sales to small business are up 3 percent year to date Industry Sales GM estimates that the seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles in August was approximately 17.2 million units. On a calendar year-to-date basis, GM estimates the light-vehicle SAAR was 17.3 million units

LINCOLN, FORD VAN SALES UP IN AUGUST; TOTAL U.S. SALES DOWN 8 PERCENT ON LOWER INDUSTRY VOLUMES Lincoln sales increase 7 percent in August on gains from new Lincoln MKZ and Lincoln MKX with 9,243 sold; Lincoln retail sales up 10 percent Ford van sales total 20,355 vehicles for the month – best-ever August sales; Ford Transit sales gained 17 percent, with 11,993 vans sold Ford F-Series sales down 6 percent, with 66,946 trucks sold; August marks F-Series’ best retail month of the year Total U.S. company sales of 214,482 vehicles decline 8 percent; retail down 8 percent and fleet down 10 percent DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 1, 2016 – Lincoln sales rose 7 percent in the U.S. in August versus a year ago with 9,243 vehicles sold, while Ford Motor Company vans reached best-ever August sales with 20,355 vehicles sold. Overall U.S. company sales totaled 214,482 vehicles, an 8 percent decline. Retail sales totaled 168,543 vehicles for the month – an 8 percent decrease. Fleet sales of 45,939 vehicles, including daily rental, commercial and government segments, were down 10 percent. Lincoln’s retail sales grew 10 percent, thanks to a 55 percent retail increase in Lincoln MKX sales and an 8 percent uptick in MKZ retail sales. “Strong sales of high-end Lincoln vehicles and Ford SUVs also helped us continue outpacing the industry in average transaction pricing, which increased $1,200 versus a year ago,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “Vans continue to be a bright spot for Ford – a consistent growth story for us this year.” August’s record van sales were up 13 percent versus a year ago, driven largely by Ford Transit gaining 17 percent, with 11,993 vehicles sold. Total truck sales were down 2 percent, with 88,372 vehicles sold. Ford F-Series sales of 66,946 trucks mark a 6 percent decline – and F-Series’ best retail month of the year.

FCA US Reports August 2016 U.S. Sales Increased 3 Percent Jeep® brand posts 12 percent sales increase in August compared with same month a year ago Five Jeep brand models up in August, led by 41 percent increase in Jeep Cherokee sales Dodge brand up 5 percent; six Dodge brand vehicles log year-over-year sales gains in August Ram Truck brand up 2 percent; Ram ProMaster and Ram ProMaster City vans each post double-digit percentage sales gains September 1, 2016 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC today reported U.S. sales of 196,756 units, a 3 percent increase compared with sales in August 2015 (190,887 units). FCA US retail sales were 150,153 units in August, while fleet sales were 46,603 units. Retail sales represented 76 percent of total sales, while fleet sales were 24 percent. The Jeep®, Dodge and Ram Truck brands each posted year-over-year sales gains in August, led by the Jeep brand’s 12 percent increase. Five of the six Jeep brand vehicles recorded sales increases in August, with the Jeep Cherokee turning in the largest percentage year-over-year gain. The Dodge brand delivered higher year-over-year sales as the Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Journey, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Durango and Dodge Viper all recorded sales gains in August, helping to propel the brand to a 5 percent increase. Likewise, the Ram Truck brand was up with the Ram ProMaster and Ram ProMaster City vans each recording year-over-year sales increases for the month. Jeep Brand Jeep brand sales were up 12 percent in August compared with the same month a year ago. The Jeep Cherokee – the most capable mid-size SUV – posted a 41 percent sales gain, the largest percentage increase of any Jeep brand model in August. The Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass all turned in double-digit percentage increases for the month. Dodge Brand Dodge brand sales were up 5 percent in August compared with the same month a year ago, as Dodge cars and trucks had a strong sales month. The Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger each posted year-over-year sales gains in August. Charger sales were up 24 percent, while the Challenger turned in a 5 percent sales gain in August. Sales of the Dodge Durango full-size SUV, the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan, the Dodge Journey crossover and the Dodge Viper were all up in August as well. The Dodge brand last month used the famed Woodward Dream Cruise to debut its new 2017 Challenger T/A and Charger Daytona – two performance-upgraded models infused with heritage style. Production for both models will begin this fall with Charger Daytona models available for order in September, followed by Challenger T/A models this October. Ram Truck Brand Ram Truck brand sales, which include the Ram pickup, Ram ProMaster and Ram ProMaster City, were up 2 percent in August versus the same month a year ago. Both the ProMaster and ProMaster City vans turned in double-digit percentage sales gains in August, led by the ProMaster City’s 32 percent increase. The ProMaster City – America’s most efficient work van – is the newest addition to the brand’s commercial vehicle lineup and contributes to the expanding, purpose-built van segment with a number of best-in-class, functional elements tied directly to commercial customer demand. Sales of the Ram pickup truck were flat in August. FIAT Brand FIAT brand sales, which include the Fiat 500, Fiat 500L, Fiat 500X and Fiat 124 Spider, were down 21 percent in August. In its second month on sale, the all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider logged 460 sales in August. Last sold in the U.S. in 1985, the 124 Spider brings classic Italian styling and proven performance to a new generation of buyers. The all-new 124 Spider delivers the ultimate Italian roadster experience with driving excitement, technology and safety combined with iconic design. Chrysler Brand Chrysler brand sales were down 22 percent in August compared with the same month a year ago. Sales of the Chrysler 300 full-size sedan were up 22 percent compared with the same month a year ago. The all-new Chrysler Pacifica logged 7,459 in sales in August. The Pacifica reinvents the minivan segment with its unprecedented level of functionality, versatility and technology. With nearly 40 innovations not offered by any others in its class, the Pacifica is the new benchmark in the segment that Chrysler invented more than 30 years ago. FCA US LLC Sales Summary August 2016 Reflects Restated Sales Month Sales Vol % CYTD Sales Vol % Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Compass 8,867 6,891 29% 69,462 40,418 72% Patriot 11,789 10,690 10% 86,632 80,328 8% Wrangler 15,290 18,264 -16% 135,338 139,536 -3% Cherokee 23,932 17,014 41% 142,498 139,582 2% Grand Cherokee 18,409 16,477 12% 134,135 125,653 7% Renegade 8,181 7,941 3% 71,328 27,861 156% JEEP BRAND 86,468 77,277 12% 639,393 553,378 16% 200 4,210 12,538 -66% 45,983 128,673 -64% 300 5,275 4,339 22% 39,291 33,069 19% Town & Country 1,809 7,255 -75% 56,607 53,469 6% Pacifica 7,459 0 New 26,893 0 New CHRYSLER BRAND 18,753 24,132 -22% 168,774 215,211 -22% Dart 2,898 6,343 -54% 34,540 61,102 -43% Avenger 0 45 -100% 0 1,197 -100% Charger 8,614 6,964 24% 67,402 67,802 -1% Challenger 5,262 5,014 5% 45,489 47,346 -4% Viper 58 37 57% 406 456 -11% Journey 11,732 8,351 40% 66,415 70,359 -6% Caravan 10,572 10,330 2% 93,349 56,218 66% Durango 5,204 5,111 2% 49,059 41,416 18% DODGE BRAND 44,340 42,195 5% 356,660 345,896 3% Ram P/U 40,202 40,341 0% 308,970 295,243 5% Cargo Van 0 29 -100% 21 2,144 -99% ProMaster Van 3,234 2,587 25% 23,206 16,812 38% ProMaster City 990 752 32% 11,832 4,434 167% RAM BRAND 44,426 43,709 2% 344,029 318,633 8% Alfa 4C 37 97 -62% 376 451 -17% ALFA BRAND 37 97 -62% 376 451 -17% 500 1,243 2,102 -41% 10,095 17,982 -44% 500L 131 314 -58% 2,687 6,334 -58% 500X 898 1,061 -15% 8,348 2,279 266% Spider 460 0 New 885 0 New FIAT BRAND 2,732 3,477 -21% 22,015 26,595 -17% TOTAL FCA US LLC 196,756 190,887 3% 1,531,247 1,460,164 5% Total Car & MPV 48,028 55,378 -13% 424,003 474,099 -11% Total UV's 104,302 91,800 14% 763,215 667,432 14% Total Truck & LCV 44,426 43,709 2% 344,029 318,633 8%

I don't think you want an SS version of the Trailblazer since its basically a Colorado SUV that has been tuned for off-roading.

Please do not adjust your monitor. What you are seeing is a real vehicle. Today, Holden announced five new and refreshed models that would be appearing within the next year. The big news is the GMC Acadia will be sold as a Holden starting with the 2018 model year. The model will be offered exclusively with the 3.6L V6 and the choice of either front or all-wheel drive. Why is Holden waiting till 2018 to start selling the Acadia? Holden will be doing a development program to ready the vehicle for Australian roads. The company recently did this with the updated Colorado and reviewers in Australia said it was an improvement over the old model. “SUVs are the fastest-growing segment of the market and we’re currently under-represented, but that’s changing, fastI ’m particularly excited, however, to reveal further details around our SUV strategy, headlined by the all-new, seven-seat Acadia. Alongside Trax, Trailblazer and another all-new global SUV that we’ll add to our portfolio soon, Holden will introduce four new SUVs by 2018. This puts us in a great position in the fastest-growing segment of the market,” said Holden managing director Mark Bernhard. The other four models are, Trailblazer (Updated and renamed Colorado7) Next-generation Astra Updated Berlina (Chevrolet Spark) Updated Trax Holden plans on launching each of the four models every month starting in October with the Trailblazer. Source: Holden Press Release is on Page 2 Holden’s New Vehicle Onslaught Continues with Reveal Of Astra, Barina, Trailblazer, Trax and All-New Acadia SUV Holden reveals five new vehicles, including the seven-seat Acadia SUV and Astra small car at exclusive business briefing event in Melbourne overnight Acadia and Astra joined by Barina small car, Trax small SUV and Trailblazer SUV Acadia to launch in 2018, joins Trax and new Trailblazer, along with another all-new, yet-to-be-revealed global SUV in a complete overhaul of Holden’s SUV range From September 1, Holden to launch five new cars over the next five months At an exclusive business briefing event held overnight at Holden’s GM Australia Design Studios in Melbourne, the company hosted the surprise premiere of five new vehicles, headlined by the reveal of the all-new, seven-seat Acadia SUV due in showrooms in 2018. Alongside the US-sourced Acadia, Holden revealed the all-new Astra hatch, Barina small car, Trax small SUV and Trailblazer full-size SUV to represent the next wave in Holden’s ongoing product revolution, with a particular focus on the critical and growing SUV segment. Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mark Bernhard, said Holden was now well underway in delivering on its 2015 commitment to deliver 24 new models by the end 2020. “From the September 1 launch of Colorado, Holden will launch five new vehicles over the next five months to accelerate our showroom revolution. This level of launch activity hasn’t happened at this company for nearly 15 years and signals our intent loud and clear. “We’ve already talked a lot about the all-new Astra hatch, the reigning 2016 European Car of the Year, joining our showrooms later this year and the new Barina is a beautiful offering to join the Spark in rejuvenating our small-car portfolio. “I’m particularly excited, however, to reveal further details around our SUV strategy, headlined by the all-new, seven-seat Acadia. Alongside Trax, Trailblazer and another all-new global SUV that we’ll add to our portfolio soon, Holden will introduce four new SUVs by 2018. This puts us in a great position in the fastest-growing segment of the market. “The vehicles we’ve revealed reinforce our commitment to introduce the finest global vehicles for Australian customers. The Acadia will be sourced from the US, the Astra from Europe, and the Barina, Trax and Trailblazer from Asia. Holden is in a unique position where we can provide our customers with the best of the best from around the GM world,” said Mr Bernhard. Pricing and specification of Holden’s new models will be released closer to launch. Trailblazer: on-sale October 2016 Astra: on-sale November 2016 Barina: on-sale November 2016 Trax: on-sale January 2017 Acadia: on-sale 2018 View full article

Don't give ocn any ideas

Last week, I spent the morning with Nissan to check out the redesigned Armada SUV, refreshed Pathfinder crossover, and the all-new Titan half-ton pickup. Nissan says this year is the year of the truck. Considering last year was the year of the sedan and the mixed reaction we had to it, we’re somewhat worried how this ‘year of the truck’ would land. A brief note before we dive into our impressions of the three vehicles. I only got about 30 minutes with each vehicle, so I can’t give you a definitive opinion. What I can do is give my first thoughts on them. Let’s dive in. 2017 Nissan Pathfinder Nissan worked on making the 2017 Pathfinder look a bit more SUV-like. The front end gets a new hood and bumper to make it look somewhat wider. Around back, the tailgate and taillights have been reshaped. Here is the thing, you’ll have to look closely to spot the changes. If you were to park a 2016 and 2017 Pathfinder next to each other and ask someone to point out the differences, the only thing they would likely spot is the new grille. The Pathfinder’s interior hasn’t changed much and that isn’t a bad thing. Materials used in the Platinum are for the most part very good for the class. There is plenty of soft-touch materials on the door panels and console. But Nissan loses some points for the materials used for the dashboard and the surround for center stack. It might look like something soft. But it is hard when pressed. This would be ok if it was the SL and lower trims, not in the top Platinum trim. The center stack is very easy to understand thanks to a simple layout and the use of buttons and knobs. Glad to see Nissan has added their latest version of NissanConnect to the Pathfinder. I really liked this system when I drove the Murano and Maxima last year with a modern interface and being very easy to use. Second-row seating is towards the top of the class with a large amount of head and legroom. Also, the second-row seat is very flexible. The seat can tip forward to allow for easy access to the third row. If you’re wondering, the third row is best reserved for small kids. The 3.5L V6 has been tweaked to produce 284 horsepower (up 24) and 259 pound-feet of torque (up 19). The improvements in power do make a big difference. Compared to the last Pathfinder I drove back in 2013, the updated V6 feels a bit more energetic to get up to speed. Although, the V6 does sound somewhat unrefined when you step on it. Nissan made some changes to the chassis to improve body control and ride. Such changes include revised spring rates, stiffer shocks, and improved steering system. The changes make the Pathfinder feel more stable on stable on the road, especially in corners. At the event, Nissan announced pricing for the 2017 Pathfinder. The base S two-wheel drive begins at $30,890 and climbs to $44,460 for the Platinum 4WD. (Prices include a $900 destination charge) Nissan has made some noticeable improvements for the Pathfinder. But even with these improvements, I can’t think of a reason of why I would pick the Pathfinder over the Kia Sorento, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, and Mazda CX-9. The Pathfinder is good, but competitors at the moment do it better. 2017 Nissan Armada There isn’t really much difference between the new Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX80 aside from different front ends. Both are very polarizing in terms of their overall looks, but I would say the Armada is slightly more tasteful. The interior is a huge improvement over the old Armada. A new dashboard, noticeable improvements in terms of materials, and bits of style strewed about make for a pleasant experience. Yes, there are a fair amount of interior bits from the QX80 in the Armada’s interior, but it doesn’t feel out of place. Most Armadas will feature seating for eight people. The Platinum which was the model I drove features seating for seven (captain chairs in the second row). Sitting in the second row is quite comfortable with a large amount of head and legroom. The Platinum’s second row also features a removable center console that adds more storage. The third-row seat is best left for small kids. Adults will complain that they don’t have any legroom. The standard equipment list is quite generous with all models featuring push-button start, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and navigation. Speaking about the navigation, I think Nissan made a massive oversight. Unlike the Pathfinder which boasts the latest generation of Nissan Connect, the Armada features a system from the late-oughts. The graphics look quite dated and it doesn’t feature any of Nissan’s latest technologies such as the NissanConnect telematic services. Power comes from a new 5.6L Endurance V8 with 390 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. The V8 has more than enough grunt to leave a stop light in decent time and makes a passing a breeze. It doesn’t hurt the V8 has a nice growl during acceleration. The automatic seems quite smart with shift points and gear changes are very smooth. One item we’ll be looking at closely whenever we get in an Armada for testing is fuel economy. The Armada Platinum AWD is rated at 13 City/18 Highway/15 Combined. The last Armada we drove in 2014 only got an average of 12 mpg. The ride is very pleasant with bumps being smothered. This is impressive when you consider the Platinum is riding on 20-inch wheels. Nissan also worked on the Armada very quiet. On the freeway, barely any wind noise came in. Some road noise made its way inside, but that is likely due to the large wheels. Somewhat surprising is how the Armada felt in the corners. There was little body roll which is impressive for a seven-seat SUV. Not so impressive is the steering; it feels quite light when turning and there isn’t any feel. The Armada starts at $45,395 for the base SV 2WD and climbs to $60,985 for the Platinum AWD Think of the 2017 Nissan Armada as an Infiniti QX80 with a significant price cut. There are a lot of improvements for this SUV that might make it an interesting alternative to the Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon and Ford Expedition. 2017 Nissan Titan Finally! Nissan has brought out the half-ton Titan. There isn’t any difference in terms of looks between the standard Titan and the Titan XD. The only real difference comes in size: Titan is about 14.7 inches shorter in terms of overall length and its wheelbase is about a foot shorter. Still looks like an older F-150 to me in the front. Everywhere else, the Titan does have some unique touches such black and silver wheels for the Pro-4X, and a large chrome bar on the tailgate of the top Platinum Reserve. The Titan will be offered in regular and king (Nissan-speak for extended) cabs. Sadly, Nissan didn’t have a regular cab Titan to look at in person. The interior might not be anything special in terms of looks, but build and material quality are excellent. Dash layout is a bit button-heavy, but most controls are arranged in a logical fashion. All Titans feature a touchscreen infotainment system, either 5 or 7-inches. The trucks available for us to drive came with a larger 7-inch screen. I’m not a fan of the NissanConnect system used in the Titan and Titan XD for a number of reasons: the interface is looking somewhat old despite being one of the newer systems on the market and having issues with devices plugged in via USB. One area that the Titan shares with the XD is comfort. The front bucket seats provide excellent levels of comfort and support. The backseat is quite spacious with plenty of head and legroom for most passengers. A storage bin under the back seats provides a handy space for storing tool and other random bits. A clever trick that the bins offer is the ability for the lid to flip out and provide a flat surface for carrying large items in the back. Powering the Titan for the time-being is a 5.6L Endurance V8 with 390 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. A V6 is coming, but Nissan isn’t talking details about it at the moment. The V8 moves the Titan with authority, although it takes a moment for the throttle to realize that your foot is on the gas before anything happens. Provides a nice growl during acceleration and doesn’t show any signs of harshness. The seven-speed automatic provides smooth gear changes, although it does take its sweet time to downshift in certain maneuvers such as passing. During the short drive loop, the Titan provided a smooth and relaxing ride. One area that Nissan might want to do some more work is in noise isolation. I found a fair amount of road noise coming into the cabin. Handling is quite surprising for a truck. The Titan felt planted around corners and showed no sign of body roll. Steering is where the Titan really shined as it felt connected to the road and had the right amount of heft. This is due to Nissan using a rack-and-pinion setup, not a recirculating ball steering system in the XD. Pricing for the Titan starts at $35,975 for the base S 2WD Crew to $56,595 for the Platinum Reserve 4WD. Prices for the crew cabs are on the high side and that is making us wonder how much the regular and king cabs will start at. Nissan is making progress with the 2017 Titan in a number of key areas. But we have to wonder if the slow rollout that Nissan is doing with the Titan is actually hurting them. Consider that when other truck manufacturers launch a pickup, they have a number of cab and bed variants ready to go, along with a range of engines. The Titan only has one cab, bed, and engine at the moment. The regular cab goes on sale this fall, but the King Cab and V6 aren’t due till later. This could put Nissan and the Titan in a difficult spot. Author's Note: Cheers & Gears would like to thank Nissan for inviting us to this first drive event. View full article

It slices! It dices! No, we're not trying to sell you a set of knives. This is the best way to describe Volkswagen's strategy for the U.S.; price cuts. Bloomberg reports that Volkswagen will be changing their strategy in the U.S. to become more mass-market in the U.S. This will mean a wider product range and lower prices. The hope is the strategy can reverse a downward spiral in U.S. sales that has been taking place before the diesel scandal broke. Volkswagen for many hasn't been able to crack the U.S. market. Despite becoming the world's largest automaker in terms of sales this year and making up 10 percent of total automobile sales in Europe, Volkswagen has been a blip in the U.S. In the past ten years, Volkswagen has never gotten up to 5 percent of U.S. (At the moment, Volkswagen only makes up 1.7 percent of total U.S. auto sales). The German automaker has tried making the Jetta cheaper and making a Passat for the U.S., which hasn't gotten them anywhere. It doesn't help that Volkswagen has missed the boat with growing demand for crossovers in the U.S. “Volkswagen is facing an uphill battle to revive the brand in the U.S. Volkswagen is struggling with the loser image of the past, and now in the present the brand is burned. They need a good story that assures people it’s really a new start. Just adding another SUV won’t do it,” said Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, director of the Center for Automotive Research at the University of Duisburg-Essen. We don't think going for a mass-market plan is a good idea either at the moment. But who knows, it could be the thing that saves VW. Source: Bloomberg View full article

It's not just that. I have a lot of things on my plate at the moment and don't feel like there is way out for the time being. All I can do for the time being is put my head down and do the best I can with what I have in front of me. Also, we all have days where we just lose it and do some stupid things. Unfortunately, I think that is what happened in the Escala thread that I had to lock down.