William Maley

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 27, 2013 General Motors' rollout of their new pickups has hit a few bumps. There was story that GM was cutting back on orders of pickups equipped with the 5.3L V8 due to supplier issues and the concern of dealers not being able to move as many trucks because of GM's decision to not pile on incentives. Well here's another bump in the road. Automotive News is reporting that GM has cut back production on regular and double cab version of the trucks due to a supplier issue. GM's plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana has cut production from 1,500 trucks a day to 1,300 due to a supplier not being able to deliver enough axles. "We've been slowed down for several weeks because we can't get enough axles," said Rich LeTourneau, shop chairman for UAW Local 2209. People familiar with the situation tell Automotive News that problem is more to deal with supply than quality. The plant that supplies the axles to the Fort Wayne plant also supplies the Arlington, TX plant where the full-size SUVs are built. GM has apparently put the SUVs on high priority with axles as the company wants to have a decent stock as the plant transitions over to building the next-gen models. "GM is moving to take care of Arlington's current needs, which are greater than expected, so there has been some short-term sacrifice" of pickup production at Fort Wayne, a source said. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) 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

Umm, A3 will competing with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLA and BMW 2-Series. Also, the A3 just undercuts the base CLA250 when you factor in the destination charge - $30,875 for the A3 vs. $30,825 for the CLA250.

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 25, 2013 It appears we have the start of entry-level luxury car wars as Audi has announced pricing for the upcoming 2015 A3 sedan. The compact sedan will cost $30,875* (includes a $895 destination charge) when it arrives at dealers next spring. The A3 sedan will come a 1.8L TFSI four-cylinder with 170 horsepower and a six-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters. Front-wheel drive will be standard, while quattro all-wheel drive is an option. Standard equipment for the A3 sedan includes panoramic glass sunroof, leather seating surfaces, Bluetooth, and bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights. The option list includes such items as Audi drive select, LED daytime running lights and taillights, MMI multimedia system, 4G LTE connectivity, and Bang & Olufsen sound system. Coming down the road for the A3 later this year is a diesel engine and cabriolet. In 2015, the hotted up S3 sedan with a 2.0L TFSI engine will arrive. Source: Audi 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 AUDI ANNOUNCES PRICING FOR ITS ALL-NEW 2015 A3 SEDAN - The A3 sedan brings a new level of standard features, craftsmanship and attention to detail to the fast growing entry premium market - An all-new A3 family from Audi will be rolled out over the next 18 months Audi today announced base pricing for its all-new 2015 A3 sedan. This compact powerhouse represents the entry level to the Audi brand of luxury vehicles with no compromises – it will offer a combination of standard features including a panoramic glass sunroof, leather seating surfaces, and bi-xenon headlights, all at a base MSRP starting at $29,900 . "The Audi A3 sedan raises the bar in this premium compact segment" said Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America. "It will add to our momentum in the U.S. marketplace by bringing a new level of technology, craftsmanship and performance to the market." The A3 sedan plays a pivotal role in the soon to be expanding Audi A3 family. It will be joined later in 2014 by the recently announced Audi A3 Cabriolet, A3 TDI clean diesel, the high-performance S3 sedan and in early 2015, the A3 Sportback e-tron® gasoline electric hybrid (PHEV). Even the base model of the all-new premium Audi A3 comes equipped with standard features that include Audi signature LED DRLs and taillights, Bluetooth® technology, Audi pre sense® basic and a panoramic glass sunroof. The A3 also marks the first time that a vehicle in this segment will offer MMI® technology, Audi drive select, 4G LTE connectivity and Bang & Olufsen® audio. Delivering the same prestige and high-quality materials found in the brand's flagship A8 model. The A3 will also feature standard leather seating surfaces and exceptional ergonomics. The A3 sedan will offer versatile powertrains for a wide variety of entry-luxury customer tastes, including a 1.8 TFSI®, 2.0 TFSI®, 2.0 TDI® clean diesel, and a high-output 2.0 TFSI® offered in the S3. For superior traction and handling the A3 will also offer the legendary Audi quattro® all-wheel drive which distributes power to the wheels that need it most. All engines are mated to the standard 6-speed S tronic® transmission, which provides the driver immense shifting flexibility and driving pleasure with smooth, dynamic acceleration and virtually no interruption to the power flow. The A3 will feature an all-new design and has been specifically tailored to meet the sedan preferences of the American market. The signature Singleframe® grille and available full-LED headlights, another first for the A-segment, are some of the notable design changes included in the all-new Audi A3 sedan. View full article