William Maley

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 7, 2013 "And the winner of Miss Fleet Queen 2013 is.... the 2013 Chevrolet Impala! There she is, Miss Fleet Queen for 2013." A bit harsh, but sadly it is true. The last generation Impala is known in the automotive world as being a fleet queen. Not many Impalas end up on driveways: Instead you can find them at your nearest rental lot, police station, or used car lot at very low prices. In fact, General Motors said that 70 percent of Impala sales in 2012 were to fleets. This isn't good news when you consider the resale value proposition and legendary status of the nameplate. General Motors knew it was time to try and salvage the Impala nameplate, which brings us face to face with the 2014 Impala. GM hopes the new Impala can very much erase the past of fleet service and start a new chapter as Chevrolet's full-sedan. Can it though? The first thing you can say about the new Impala is that it's a major improvement over the last one. The new model has presence and a style that is distinctly Chevrolet. The front end is very much influenced by the current Camaro. You have a long and very stout front end, with a small grille that is flanked by a set of narrow headlights. The sculpted hood and LED daytime running lights help give an aura of class. Moving to the side, the Impala has two bold character lines; one stretching from the headlights to the rear door handles and the other running along the wheel arch. The back end features a chrome bar with the Impala name stamped and a set of chrome-tipped exhaust ports. The big surprise of the new Impala lies inside. If you were expecting acres of hard plastic, awful wood trim, and just plain blahness, then you will find yourself with your mouth wide open at what Chevrolet has pulled off. The center focus of the interior is the dual brow dashboard that gets stitched leather accents along the top of gauge cluster and along the top edges of the dashboard and door panels. Chrome trim runs along the bottom to provide some contrast and has ambient blue backlighting which adds a nice touch of class. Materials and build quality are excellent. Being a full-size sedan, you expect it to be very spacious for you and your passengers. The Impala delivers that in spades. The driver and front passenger will find power adjustments and heated and cooled seats. The driver also gets a power tilt and telescoping wheel. In the back, you'll find plenty of head and legroom. As for technology, the Impala comes with a 4.2-inch color display in the instrument cluster that displays infotainment and vehicle information in a very clear and easy manner. The big news is the next-generation of Chevrolet's MyLink infotainment system. Housed in a eight-inch display, the second-generation system provides a new interface with large buttons to press, 3D maps, a much improved voice recognition system, and number of changes. Playing around with the system, I found it to be a little bit sluggish. Trying to move around the system or changing a system with touchscreen took longer than expected. Thankfully, Chevrolet provided a set of buttons and knobs below the screen to help control certain functions. Much like Cadillac CUE, I expect MyLink to get better after a update or two. Powering the 2014 Impala is the well-known 3.6L direct-injected V6 engine with 305 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that routes power to the front wheels. If you have read past reviews of mine concerning GM vehicles equipped with the 3.6L, you know that my biggest compliant is that you have to work the engine to get to the power. The Impala is a little bit different. I found that Impala had a bit more power on the low end and was able to accelerate much quicker than its sister car, the Cadillac XTS. Much of this is attributed to Impala's lower curb weight of 3,800 pounds. The six-speed automatic provided smooth and crisp shifts. Fuel economy wise, the EPA rates the 2014 Chevrolet Impala at 19 City/29 Highway/22 Combined. During the week, I averaged 22 MPG in mixed driving. The 2014 Impala mostly follows the book on full-size sedan ride. The suspension does an excellent job of lessening the impact of road imperfections, even with the LTZ's twenty-inch wheels. Chevrolet also borrowed a couple engineers from Buick to help with quietness. There is a large amount of sound deadening, additional door seals, and acoustically treated front and side windows. The Impala is very quiet on most surfaces; the only place it falters is when you're driving concrete parts of freeways. This is mostly down to the tires as I figured out. Where the Impala differs is in relation to how it drives. The steering is somewhat heavy and responsive, something I wasn't expecting in a full-size sedan. The Impala's body is very rigid as well. Pair these two items together and you have a very confident full-size sedan. Driving on a curvy road, the Impala allows you to have some fun. It's no Toyota Avalon in driving fun, but for many the Impala offers the right balance. At the end of my time with the 2014 Chevrolet Impala, I was awestruck. Here was a nameplate that was dragged through the fleet mud for a number of years and General Motors realized it was time to save it. From the design to how it rode, you could see the hard work that was put it to make the new Impala stand out and leave its fleet past well behind. That work seems to be paying off as Consumer Reports named the Impala the best large sedan, and sits right behind the Tesla Model S and BMW 135i in their ratings. Meanwhile in the sales chart, the Impala record a 38 percent increase in July sales. It's a vehicle that GM and Chevrolet should be very proud of. Disclaimer: General Motors Provided the Impala, Insurance, and One Tank of Gas Year - 2014 Make – Chevrolet Model – Impala Trim – LTZ Engine – 3.6L VVT SIDI V6 Driveline – Front-Wheel Drive, Six-Speed Automatic Transmission Horsepower @ RPM – 305 @ 6,800 RPM Torque @ RPM – 264 @ 5,300 RPM Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 19/29/22 Curb Weight – 3,800 lbs Location of Manufacture – Oshawa, Ontario Base Price - $35,770.00 As Tested Price - $39,510.00* (Includes $810.00 destination charge) Options: LTZ Comfort & Convenience Package - $1,035.00 Chevrolet MyLink with Navigation - $795.00 LTZ Premium Audio Package - $700.00 20' Aluminum Wheels - $400.00 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 August 6, 2013 New data from R.L. Polk released today shows that the average age of a vehicle in the U.S. stands at a record high of 11.4 years. That's 0.2 years higher from last year and and nearly two full years higher than in 2007. Passenger cars currently are the oldest vehicles on the road with an average of 11.4 years. Light trucks are not that far behind with an average age of 11.3 years. Interestingly, the volume of vehicles between 6 and 11 years old actually decreased somewhat, but the volume of light vehicles 12 years and older jumped by 20 percent. “Cars are just lasting longer,” said Mark Seng, a Polk vice president. Seng explained that newer cars are better built and provide much more quality. Also, many people are keeping their vehicles to avoid monthly payments. Polk expects the average age of vehicles to stay at current levels for the next five years, despite the rise in vehicle sales. Source: The Detroit News 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 August 6, 2013 Despite piling on incentives to move Chevrolet Volts off dealer lots a couple months ago, sales rose to a meager 0.1 percent to 11,643 vehicles through July. Add in the fact that the Nissan Leaf dropped it price earlier and is currently experiencing a rise in sales and the inevitable was bound to happen. Today, General Motors announced a $5,000 price cut to the 2014 Volt. That means the starting price is now $34,995 (including $810 in destination). Factor in the $7,500 federal tax credit and you're looking at a price of $27,495. “The lower price and cost savings from driving on electricity provide Volt owners an unmatched balance of technology, capability and cost of ownership. The 2014 Volt will offer the same impressive list of features, but for $5,000 less," said Don Johnson, Chevy’s US VP of sales. Source: 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 2014 Chevrolet Volt Now Offers Even Greater Value Pricing for the 2014 model will start at $34,995 2013-08-06 DETROIT – The Chevrolet Volt, already recognized for having the most satisfied owners will soon come with another people pleaser: a lower price. The 2014 model will start at $34,995, including an $810 destination fee (excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees). If consumers include federal tax credits ranging from $0-$7,500 (depending on individual tax liability), pricing could start at $27,495. Individual tax situations differ, so consult a tax professional prior to claiming any credits to confirm eligibility for vehicle tax benefits. “The lower price and cost savings from driving on electricity provide Volt owners an unmatched balance of technology, capability and cost of ownership,” said Don Johnson, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet sales and service. “The 2014 Volt will offer the same impressive list of features, but for $5,000 less. “We have made great strides in reducing costs as we gain experience with electric vehicles and their components,” Johnson said. “In fact, the Volt has seen an increase in battery range and the addition of creature comforts, such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and MyLink, since its launch in 2010.” Volt owners who charge regularly typically drive 900 miles between fill-ups and visit the gas station about once a month. The 2014 Volt will continue to provide owners with impressive fuel economy of 98 MPGe (electric) and 35 city/40 highway on gasoline power without any need to change their daily driving habits while saving $900 in annual fuel costs. Today’s Volt owners have logged 364 million miles, including 225 million electric miles. The Volt’s lower price also changes the comparative set of vehicles on popular auto information sites like kbb.com, Edmunds.com and cars.com, where visitors to these sites can search for a new vehicle by type and/or prices. The Volt’s lower price will broaden its exposure to price-sensitive prospective buyers using these sites to search for a plug-in electric vehicle or a gas-powered alternative sedan. The Volt continues to be the best selling plug-in vehicle in America and is attracting new buyers to the Chevrolet brand. More than 70 percent of Volt buyers are new to General Motors. Not surprisingly, the Toyota Prius is the most frequently traded-in vehicle for a Volt. California continues to be Volt’s largest market. The 2014 Volt will continue to offer a low emissions package that earns the Volt a coveted “sticker” for single-occupancy HOV lane access in California and New York. The Chevrolet Volt allows gas-free driving for an EPA-estimated 38 miles (61 km), depending on terrain, driving techniques and temperature. The range-extending engine gives the Volt up to 380 total miles (615 km) of total driving range. The 2014 Volt will start to be available in dealer showrooms late this summer. Chevrolet will introduce two new colors – Ashen Gray Metallic and Brownstowne Metallic for the 2014 model year – and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 6, 2013 The Chevrolet Trailblazer could be coming to the U.S. if a recent report proves to be accurate. Edmunds learned from an internal source that a version of the Trailblazer could be going on sale in the U.S. in 2014. It's not clear if the vehicle will retain the name or be built in the U.S. The Trailblazer made its debut at 2012 Bangkok Auto Show and went on sale last year in a number of markets, including Thailand and Brazil. The model uses the same body-on-frame architecture with the midsize Chevrolet Colorado and comes with a variety of engines and the choice of two-wheel or four-wheel drive. Chevrolet has gone on record time and time again that the Trailblazer will not be sold in the U.S. "We have no plans to add another SUV/crossover to the portfolio. We are pleased with the way Equinox, Traverse and Tahoe/Suburban are performing in the marketplace," said Chevrolet spokesman Mike Albano in a email. Source: 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

I don't think that will happen, considering the C30's history. (Although I think the pricetag and lack of advertising were major causes). A small crossover I could see.

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 5, 2013 Some surprising news coming from General Motors today. The Detroit Free Press reports that Cadillac's vice president of global strategic development, Don Butler resigned his post today. In a email, Butler explained that his departure is “a personal decision.” “As I've told others, I just need to take a step back to recalibrate, reassess my priorities. I know it’s time for a change but I don't know what’s next. I'm trusting that God will provide,” Butler went onto to say. Butler's exit comes at at an inopportune time for GM as it tries to capitalize on the recent success of Cadillac in the U.S. by expanding it to other regions. One key area is China where Cadillac wants to triple sales by 2015. Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell says Butler's departure isn't 'house cleaning.' “In fact Bob and other leaders asked him to stay on. Don's here in the office today — and told our team that his decision is purely on a personal level. After three years of putting everything into Cadillac, he is stepping away for some personal time, and to consider new avenues in his life,” Caldwell said. Source: Detroit Free Press 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