William Maley

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 11, 2013 The Ford F-150 is a very important model for the blue oval since it's the top seller and one of the key ways Ford makes a profit. With a new model on the horizon, it has been rumored that Ford would be utilizing aluminum in it as way to improve fuel economy and give the F-150 a unique edge. But that decision seems to be causing more problems. The Truth About Cars has learned from a number of sources that Ford has rejected aluminum from Alcoa and other Tier 2 suppliers since it didn't meet internal forming requirements for the “tooling tryout” phase of pre-production. Because of this, Ford has pushed back the launch date of the next F-150 from Memorial Day to late 2014 and shorten the validation process. The problem with using aluminum in vehicles is that it can return to its original form after being struck with a die. This in turn could cause a program to be completely derailed. Now Ford usually will go through two phases of pre-production vehicles before building production vehicles (MP1 and MP2). They have decided to put these vehicles into the sales channel since they are considered saleable units. This also introduces increased risk for bugs and problems for Ford's most important product. Source: The Truth About Cars William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 11, 2013 Despite a drop in sales and the announcement that the current model will be heading out of the door next year, Honda still believes in the Ridgeline pickup. Yesterday, the automaker released a teaser shot of the next-generation due out in 2016. The new Ridgeline's design looks to be becoming more truck. Oddly, the teaser shot reminds of the new Chevrolet Colorado. We don't know much more than that, but expect the slow drip of information to begin shortly. "The next generation Ridgeline will build on Honda's role in creating new value with a new take on advancing form and function in the truck segment. With a clear path forward, Ridgeline will play an even more important role in our future product portfolio and strengthen an already class-leading lineup of light trucks," said Michael Accavitti, senior vice president of automobile operations for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Source: Honda William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 All-new Honda Ridgeline Pickup to Debut Within Two Years 12/10/2013 - TORRANCE, Calif. -Design sketch reveals styling direction for Next-Gen Honda truck -Current Ridgeline production will end mid-2014 -Sales of Ridgeline up 29 percent in 2013 An all-new Honda Ridgeline pickup truck will come to market in less than two years and, today, Honda shared a sketch expressing the new truck's styling direction. Honda also confirmed that production of the current Ridgeline (http://automobiles.honda.com/ridgeline/), built exclusively by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, in Lincoln, Alabama, will conclude in mid-2014. Like the innovative first-generation model that earned 2006 North American Truck of the Year and Motor Trend Truck of the Year honors after its fall 2005 debut, the next-gen Ridgeline is being designed and developed by Honda R&D Americas, Inc. at its Los Angeles and Ohio R&D centers. The Honda Ridgeline broke new ground in the American pickup market with its unique design featuring a spacious five-passenger cabin, smooth ride and handling, and half-ton truck capability. The first truck of its kind to be built on a closed-box unibody platform, the Ridgeline introduced innovative new features to the pickup segment, such as its large In-Bed Trunk® and dual-action tailgate. "The next generation Ridgeline will build on Honda's role in creating new value with a new take on advancing form and function in the truck segment," said Michael Accavitti, senior vice president of automobile operations for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "With a clear path forward, Ridgeline will play an even more important role in our future product portfolio and strengthen an already class-leading lineup of light trucks." Sales of Ridgeline have enjoyed strong momentum in 2013, strengthened recently by the introduction of a new top-of-the-line Special Edition model for 2014, with sales totaling 16,160 units through the first 11 months of the year, an increase of 29 percent. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 11, 2013 With the 2014 Detroit Auto Show just a month away, the finalists for the 2014 North American Car and Truck of Year were announced. General Motors dominated the finalists with two models in the car category (Cadillac CTS and Chevrolet Corvette) and one model in the truck/utility category (Chevrolet Silverado). Mazda takes the last spot in the cars with the new 3. In the truck/utility category, the Acura MDX and Jeep Cherokee join alongside the Silverado. The winners will be announced on January 13th at the Detroit Auto Show Source: NACOTY William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 DETROIT – General Motor dominated the finalists for the 2014 North American Car of the Year, taking two of the three spots. It also took one of the three spots for 2014 North American Truck/Utility of the Year. Forty-eight automotive journalists from the United States and Canada voted the Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Mazda3 finalists for the 2014 North American Car of the Year. The journalists voted the Acura MDX, Chevrolet Silverado and Jeep Cherokee the finalists for the 2014 North American Truck/Utility of the Year. The awards – first given in 1994 - are unique in North America because - instead of being given by a single publication, web site, radio or television program - they are given by automotive journalists representing all of those outlets in two countries. The awards recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. To be eligible, vehicles must be "all new" or "substantially changed." Early in December jurors sent their ballots to Deloitte & Touche. The accounting firm kept the finalists secret until today. At a news conference at the Automotive Press Association luncheon in Detroit Diane DeFrancis, a partner at Deloitte, handed two sealed envelopes over to Joann Muller, one of the NACTOY judges and the Detroit Bureau Chief of Forbes Media, who made the announcements. Now there will be a second round of voting on the three car and three truck/utility finalists. Those ballots also go to Deloitte officials, who will keep the winners secret until a news conference on Monday, January 13th at the North American International Auto Show. The list of eligible vehicles originally included 28 cars and 18 truck/utilities. In September the jurors voted to focus on 12 cars and 12 truck/utilities and those vehicles were on the ballot. They were: North American Car of the Year BMW 4 Series Cadillac CTSChevrolet Corvette Stingray Chevrolet ImpalaInfiniti Q50 Jaguar F-TypeKia Cadenza Lexus ISMazda3 Mazda6Mercedes-Benz CLA Toyota Corolla North American Truck/Utility of the Year Acura MDXBMW X5 Buick EncoreChevrolet Silverado GMC SierraHyundai Santa Fe LWB Jeep CherokeeKia Sorento Land Rover Range Rover SportNissan Rogue Subaru ForesterToyota Tundra View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 10, 2013 The rumors were flying around only a week ago, but it has been confirmed now. This afternoon in Australia, Holden announced that after sixty-five years of production, the automaker will stop producing vehicles and "transition to a national sales company in Australia and New Zealand" by 2017. The move will affect 2,900 workers at the Elizabeth manufacturing plant and Victoria. It will also affect a number of suppliers in Australia. “We are completely dedicated to strengthening our global operations while meeting the needs of our customers. The decision to end manufacturing in Australia reflects the perfect storm of negative influences the automotive industry faces in the country, including the sustained strength of the Australian dollar, high cost of production, small domestic market and arguably the most competitive and fragmented auto market in the world,” said GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson in a statement. “GM remains committed to the automotive industry in Australia and New Zealand. We recognize the need for change and understand the government’s point of view. Moving forward, our business model will change significantly however, GM Holden will remain an integral part of its communities and an important employer both directly and through our dealers,” said Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux. Holden says they hope to have "significant presence in Australia beyond 2017" with a national sales company, parts distribution, and a global design studio. Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss told members of the Australian Parliament during question period that he had spoken with Devereux and found out the decision had been made in Detroit. "Now this government had indicated right from the very beginning that we wanted Holden to remain manufacturing cars in Australia. "We've wanted, we want to have a strong and active motor vehicle manufacturing industry in Australia," said Truss. Workers were told the news at the end of their shift. Many were angry and honked and screamed as they left for the day. "Ive been waiting for a package anyway," said Rob Williams, a worker to Drive.com.au. Holden follows in the footsteps of Ford who announced earlier in the year that would be shutting down their operations in Australia by 2016. Source: Drive.com.au, News.com.au, General Motors William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 GM to Transition to a National Sales Company in Australia and New Zealand Company to cease manufacturing in Australia by 2017 DETROIT – As part of its ongoing actions to decisively address the performance of its global operations, General Motors today announced it would transition to a national sales company in Australia and New Zealand. The company also said it would discontinue vehicle and engine manufacturing and significantly reduce its engineering operations in Australia by the end of 2017. “We are completely dedicated to strengthening our global operations while meeting the needs of our customers,” said GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson. “The decision to end manufacturing in Australia reflects the perfect storm of negative influences the automotive industry faces in the country, including the sustained strength of the Australian dollar, high cost of production, small domestic market and arguably the most competitive and fragmented auto market in the world.” As a result of the company’s actions, approximately 2,900 positions will be impacted over the next four years. This will comprise 1,600 from the Elizabeth vehicle manufacturing plant and approximately 1,300 from Holden’s Victorian workforce. Holden will continue to have a significant presence in Australia beyond 2017, comprising a national sales company, a national parts distribution centre and a global design studio. GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux said an important priority over the next four years would be to ensure the best possible transition for workers in South Australia and Victoria. “This has been a difficult decision given Holden’s long and proud history of building vehicles in Australia,” said Devereux. “We are dedicated to working with our teams, unions and the local communities, along with the federal and state governments, to support our people.” The sale and service of Holden vehicles will be unaffected by this announcement and will continue through the extensive network of Holden dealers across Australia and New Zealand. Warranty terms and spare parts availability will remain unchanged. “GM remains committed to the automotive industry in Australia and New Zealand. We recognize the need for change and understand the government’s point of view. Moving forward, our business model will change significantly however, GM Holden will remain an integral part of its communities and an important employer both directly and through our dealers,” Devereux said. Since 2001, the Australian dollar has risen from US$0.50 to as high as US$1.10 and from as low as 47 to as high as 79 on the Trade Weighted Index. The Australian automotive industry is heavily trade exposed. The appreciation of the currency alone means that at the Australian dollar’s peak, making things in Australia was 65 percent more expensive compared to just a decade earlier. With the decision to discontinue vehicle and engine manufacturing in Australia by the end of 2017, GM expects to record pre-tax charges of $400 million to $600 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. The charges would consist of approximately $300 million to $500 million for non-cash asset impairment charges including property, plant and equipment and approximately $100 million for cash payment of exit-related costs including certain employee severance related costs. Additional charges are expected to be incurred through 2017 for incremental future cash payments of employee severance once negotiations of the amount are completed with the employees’ union. The asset impairment charges will be considered special for EBIT-adjusted reporting purposes. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 11, 2013 Whenever you have a conversation that revolves around the Hyundai Equus, two questions pop up: Hyundai is building a luxury sedan? Won't the Hyundai Equus end up having a similar fate as the Volkswagen Phaeton? The second question comes up a lot since the Equus and Phaeton share a lot of commonalities: Both come from automakers with modest lineup Both are/were the most expensive models in the lineup Both came with a number of luxuries and technologies The difference is how long they were sold in the U.S. The Phaeton went on sale in 2002 model year and only lasted four years. Meanwhile, the Equus was introduced in the 2011 model year and is celebrating it's third year on sale. To commemorate this, Hyundai has given the Equus a bit of a nip and tuck for the 2014 model year. But the question remains whether or not the Equus will have a bright or dark future ahead of it. Well, I spent a week with an 2014 Equus Signature and I have a possible answer to that question The Equus exterior design is a very conservative shape. You will not find any shocking or daring design touches on the body. This isn't such a good plan because the majority of players in the flagship marketplace have really stepped in making their sedans stand out. My assumption is that Hyundai wanted to play it safe with the first-generation and will do something a bit different with the next-generation model.What has changed on the 2014 Equus is a number of tweaks to the front end. There is a new grille, bumper, and headlights that make the Equus look fresh. You also have a set of nineteen-inch turbine wheels which add a touch of class. Hyundai made some major improvements to the Equus' interior. The previous interior looked more at home in a midsize sedan than a flagship sedan with a lot of plastic, a small screen for the infotainment system, and switchgear from other Hyundai models. The 2014 Equus really steps up with a redesigned dashboard that features wood and metal trim and an improved center stack.As for infotainment, the Equus Signature comes with a large 9.2-inch screen that is controlled by knob and set of buttons on the center console. The system is very intuitive and only takes a few minutes to learn how to work it, something that cannot be said for the competition's infotainment systems. Hyundai's infotainment software has also seen improvements both in graphics and performance. Up front, driver and passenger are coddled in leather seats that provide a number of power adjustments, plus heat and cooling. For the back seat passengers, there is loads of head and legroom. The rear seats also recline, increasing the comfort quotient by a wide margin. Rear seat passengers also get a set of controls for the climate, audio, and seat adjustments in the rear armrest. For impressions on the powertrain and ride, see page 2. Click pictures to enlarge Powering the Equus is Hyundai's 5.0L Tau V8 engine. This V8 produces 429 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic gets the power from the engine to the rear wheels. The V8 really has the grunt to get this large sedan moving. Stepping on the accelerator releases an almost instantaneous rush of power. More impressive is how quiet and refined the V8 engine is. Even when you mash the pedal, the V8 emits a low rumble. The eight-speed automatic provides velvety-smooth and quick shifts. One minute, the transmission is upshifting to keep the V8 quietly humming. The next minute when I hit the pedal, the transmission is downshifting to get the power to the road. EPA fuel economy is rated at 15 City/23 Highway/18 Combined. During my week, I saw an average of 18.2 MPG. The Equus provided one of the smoothest rides I have ever experienced thanks to a revised air suspension system with three different modes (Normal, Sport, and Snow). The system does an excellent job making sure potholes, bumps, and other road imperfections don't make their way inside. Also not making an appearance is noise from the road and wind. Hyundai made sure to insulate the Equus with double-pane glass and sound deadening material throughout. This is a perfect car to eat up miles on the highway or a long country road.What the Equus isn't so good at is being a fun to drive vehicle. Even though there is sport mode which firms up the air suspension, it really doesn't lessen the body roll. The steering isn't setup for the task either. Turning the wheel felt very rubber-bandy, not smooth as I was expecting. The steering has barely any feel or weight in the steering, but then again this is a big luxury sedan, not a sports car. I could imagine the Equus yelling out to me "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?!"when driving on a curvy road. If you want a big luxury sedan that's fun to drive, look to the Germans. Much like I said in my first drive, the 2014 Hyundai Equus Signature nails the basics of a flagship luxury sedan, and adds a lot value to boot. There is three years of no-cost maintenance with someone picking up the Equus to have it serviced at the dealer and three years of Hyundai's BlueLink Assurance Connected Care. All for an as-tested price of $61,920 with destination. There are a couple of areas Hyundai does need to improve on the Equus; the steering and exterior design. But the question remains on the future of the Equus, is in it for the long haul or not? Well, Hyundai has made the right decisions on the pricing, features, and a few other details. Hyundai is also being realistic how many Equus they sell every year. They know it will be a small number of people who want a luxury car at a bargain price. Looking into my crystal ball, I see the Equus having a nice future ahead of it. Disclaimer: Hyundai Provided the Equus, Insurance, and One Tank of Gas Year: 2014 Make: Hyundai Model: Equus Trim: Signature Engine: 5.0L GDI DOHC 32-valve Tau V8 Driveline: Rear-Wheel Drive, Eight-Speed Automatic Horsepower @ RPM: 429 @ 6,400 Torque @ RPM: 376 @ 5,000 Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 15/23/18 Curb Weight: N/A Location of Manufacture: Ulsan, South Korea Base Price: $61,000 As Tested Price: $61,920 (Includes $920 Destination Charge) Options: N/A William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 10, 2013 The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray comes with the choice of two different transmissions; a seven-speed manual and six-speed automatic. But a leaked paper from the Society of Automotive Engineers publication says that an eight-speed automatic will be coming to the Stingray. This paper, which has been pulled, was written by engineers at GM who worked on the project. The eight-speed, named 8L90, will feature shorter first gear ratio to improve acceleration, better fuel economy thanks to a greater spread of gear ratios, and the ability to handle up to 738 pound-feet of torque. A spokesman confirmed to Edmunds that an eight-speed is coming. No mention of a date though. Source: Automobile Magazine, Edmunds William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 10, 2013 January 15, 2014 will be an important day at General Motors. Current CEO Dan Akerson will retire and Mary Barra, the executive vice president for global product development, purchasing, and supply chain will become the company's CEO. This announcement just comes a day after the U.S. Treasury said it had sold all of its shares in GM. Akerson planned to stepped down from the automaker sometime in 2014, but pulled ahead his succession plan after finding out his wife was diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer. “I will leave with great satisfaction in what we have accomplished, great optimism over what is ahead and great pride that we are restoring General Motors as America’s standard bearer in the global auto industry,” Akerson said in a statement. Barra was one of the people in the running to become the next CEO at GM, Other people in consideration were Vice Chairman Steve Girsky, Chief Financial Officer Dan Ammann, and North American President Mark Reuss. Many people who keep a close eye on the automotive industry throught Reuss would be the one. Barra has been with GM since 1980 and has held a number of positions during that time including executive director of competitive operations engineering, plant manager at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, and vice president of global manufacturing engineering. “With an amazing portfolio of cars and trucks and the strongest financial performance in our recent history, this is an exciting time at today’s GM. I’m honored to lead the best team in the business and to keep our momentum at full speed,” said Barra. Along with the appointment of Barra to CEO, General Motors has also made a few other changes to the executive lineup. Dan Ammann, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer has been named company president. His responsibilities include managing the company’s regional operations around the world. Mark Reuss, Executive Vice President and North American President will take Mary Barra's former position of Executive Vice President, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. Alan Batey, Senior Vice President of Global Chevrolet and U.S. Sales and Marketing will become the new North American President. Steve Girsky, Vice Chairman for Corporate Strategy, Business Development and Global Product Planning will move into a senior advisor role before stepping down from GM next April. He will remain apart of GM's Board of Directors. Source: General Motors, The Detroit News William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 Dan Akerson to Retire as GM CEO in January 2014 Mary Barra to Become Next CEO; Dan Ammann Named President DETROIT – General Motors today announced that Dan Akerson, who guided today’s GM to record profits and dramatic improvement in vehicle quality while closing the chapter on government ownership in the company, will step down as chairman and CEO on Jan. 15, 2014. Mary Barra, 51, executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain, was elected by the Board of Directors to become the next CEO of the company. Barra will also join the GM Board. Akerson, 65, pulled ahead his succession plan by several months after his wife was recently diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer. The Board also named Theodore (Tim) Solso to succeed Akerson as Chairman. Solso, 66, is the former chairman and CEO of Cummins, Inc., and has been a member of the GM Board since June 2012. “I will leave with great satisfaction in what we have accomplished, great optimism over what is ahead and great pride that we are restoring General Motors as America’s standard bearer in the global auto industry,” Akerson said in a message to employees. With 33 years of experience at GM, Barra has risen through a series of manufacturing, engineering, and senior staff positions. She is a leader in the company’s ongoing turnaround, revitalizing GM’s product development process resulting in the launch of critically acclaimed new products while delivering record product quality ratings and higher customer satisfaction. “With an amazing portfolio of cars and trucks and the strongest financial performance in our recent history, this is an exciting time at today’s GM,” said Barra. “I’m honored to lead the best team in the business and to keep our momentum at full speed.” Dan Ammann, 41, executive vice president and chief financial officer, was named company president and will assume responsibility for managing the company’s regional operations around the world. The global Chevrolet and Cadillac brand organizations and GM Financial will also report to Ammann. Ammann joined GM in 2010 where his first assignment was to manage GM’s initial public offering. As CFO, he has led a transformation of GM’s finance operations into a world-class organization. He also led the strategy to rebuild the company’s captive finance capability through the successful establishment and growth of GM Financial. “We have a significant opportunity to further integrate and optimize our operations to deliver even better results,” said Ammann. “While we have made good progress, we still have much work ahead of us to realize GM’s full potential.” Ammann will retain CFO responsibilities at least through the release of the company’s fourth quarter and full-year 2013 results in early February 2014. His replacement as CFO will be named later. Mark Reuss, 50, executive vice president and president, North America, will replace Barra as executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. Under Reuss’ watch, GM’s North America region has produced consistent profits and improved margins during a product renaissance that includes the launch of award-winning cars and trucks such as the Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Corvette, Impala and Silverado pickup. “The driver’s seat of designing and engineering the strongest product line up in GM’s history is the best seat to have,” said Reuss. “We’re going to keep the pedal down on GM’s product resurgence and keep winning new customers.” Alan Batey, currently senior vice president, Global Chevrolet and U.S. Sales and Marketing, will replace Reuss and is named Executive Vice President and President, North America. Batey, 50, joined GM’s Vauxhall operation in 1979 and held several sales, service and marketing positions around the world. In his current position, he has developed the Chevrolet brand’s Find New Roads advertising campaign and has overseen a sweeping upgrade of retail sales and service operations at hundreds of U.S. dealerships. “North America is the foundation of the GM turnaround story and I’m honored to help continue what Mark started,” said Batey. “We remain committed to delivering the world’s best retail experience to match the world’s best cars and trucks.” The company also announced that Steve Girsky, 51, vice chairman, Corporate Strategy, Business Development and Global Product Planning, will move to a senior advisor role until leaving the company in April 2014. He will remain on the GM Board of Directors. Girsky led GM’s turnaround plan for Europe that has put that region’s operations back on a path to profitability. He has also put GM’s OnStar unit at the forefront of in-vehicle connectivity and helped create GM Ventures to speed the commercialization of new technologies in GM vehicles. “I share Dan’s pride for what the company has accomplished and his sense of optimism for a bright future,” said Girsky. “This team is united in its commitment to building on the foundation that we have established.” Under Akerson’s leadership, GM made swift progress as the company transformed from being majority owned by U.S. Treasury to being publicly traded and investment grade rated. “My goals as CEO were to put the customer at the center of every decision we make, to position GM for long term success and to make GM a company that America can be proud of again,” Akerson said. “We are well down that path, and I’m certain that our new team will keep us moving in that direction.” Akerson was named GM Chairman and CEO on September 1, 2010. He joined GM in 2009 as a member of its Board of Directors. Since the company’s November 2010 Initial Public Offering, GM has recorded 15 consecutive quarters of profitability, has earned this year the best overall initial vehicle quality scores of any auto manufacturer, and has re-invested nearly $9 billion and created or retained more than 25,000 jobs at its U.S plants. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 10, 2013 Lexus is the latest automaker to issue a teaser for what they have in store for next month's Detroit Auto Show. The automaker released a short press release and a picture of a front fender with the F badge, Lexus' performance brand. automaker calls the new F model an "all-new performance model engineered from scratch." What could it be? Well previous rumors have pointed towards Lexus introducing a high-performance version of their new RC-F coupe. Also a possibility is a new IS-F. Source: Lexus William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 The Next Lexus F Amplifies Exhilaration with Entirely New Model Debut at the North American International Auto Show All-New Performance Model Engineered From Scratch Advanced Expression of Design and Performance – Not Bolted On, But Engineered Within Lexus Introduces #AsphaltUp to Complement Uncompromising Design Process TORRANCE, Calif. (Dec. 9, 2013) – Designed from the asphalt up, to strike at the heart, the newest Lexus F model will debut at the January 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Engineered from scratch, one performance layer at a time, the newest F model promises a bold, gritty, experience synonymous with the famed Lexus F heritage. The Lexus press conference will be shown live online at www.lexus-int.com/. Follow the hashtag #AsphaltUp for more developments. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 9, 2013 'Government Motors' is no more. Today, the U.S. Treasury sold its remaining shares of General Motors, ending a four-year ownership of the automaker. The Treasury says it recouped $39 billion of its original $49.5 billion investment into GM. “The U.S. Treasury’s ownership exit closes just one chapter in GM’s ongoing turnaround story. We will always be grateful for the second chance extended to us and we are doing our best to make the most of it. Today is not dramatically different from the hundreds of preceding days during which we have worked to make GM a company our country can be proud of again,"said GM CEO Dan Akerson in a statement. “Continued investments, innovation, and job creation are just some of the “returns” of a healthy GM and domestic auto industry. Our work continues uninterrupted, and we will keep our sights squarely on our customers and transforming the way we do business.” GM's North American President, Mark Reuss told reporters that this could help bring more customers into the showroom and help improve the company's image. “I think probably some people will begin to consider us right away, maybe the next day.” Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), General Motors William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article