William Maley

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 13, 2013 The Acura ILX hasn't set the sales charts on fire since it was launched. Since going on sale last May, total sales of the ILX stand at 19,759 vehicles. In that same time, Buick has moved 47,859 Veranos. Acura has announced some changes for the 2014 ILX that will help improve sales. All ILX models will now come equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, heated leather seats, an eight-way power driver's seat, rearview camera, a enhanced sound system with a new subwoofer, and a noise cancellation system. Those who were hoping for some mechanical changes will be disappointed as it appears the ILX lineup will stay pretty much the same. Acura isn't saying if any changes will appear on the ILX Hybrid, only stating in a press release that details of that model will appear at a later time. Source: Acura 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 ACURA ILX LUXURY SPORTS SEDAN ARRIVES WITH HOST OF NEW STANDARD FEATURES, PROVIDING MORE CONTENT AND VALUE 05/13/2013 - TORRANCE, Calif The 2014 Acura ILX luxury sports sedan goes on sale tomorrow with a host of new standard features, further strengthening the gateway vehicle to the Acura brand. Introduced as an all-new model for the 2013 model year, the 2014 Acura ILX offers increased value on a luxury scale with eight new standard features to enhance its curb appeal, interior comfort and overall driving enjoyment. The ILX is the only luxury model on the top ten list of Generation Y car shoppers according to J.D. Power and Associates, and the 2014 ILX gets upgraded 17-inch alloy wheels, while the interior receives new leather seating surfaces and leatherette door liners, an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats and a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera. The ride experience is further enhanced by a new audio-system subwoofer and an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system that are standard features on the 2014 ILX, which starts at a manufacturer's suggested retail price* (MSRP) of $26,900, an increase of just $1,000. Two advanced powertrain choices are available for 2014 ILX, with a standard 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 150 horsepower. Paired with a Sequential SportShift 5-speed automatic transmission, it has an EPA ** city/highway/combined fuel economy rating of 24/35/28 mpg. For a more dynamic driving experience, the ILX can be equipped with a close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission matched to a 2.4-liter engine generating 201 horsepower, and earning an EPA ** city/highway/combined fuel economy rating of 22/31/25 mpg. Information on the 2014 Acura ILX Hybrid will be announced at a later date. The ILX uses 59 percent high strength steel (HSS) in its body structure for enhanced protection and chassis rigidity. The chassis utilizes an advanced, fully independent MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension system and Acura signature Amplitude Reactive Dampers, which offer superior ride comfort and precise handling. In addition, Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) is used for excellent steering feel and improved fuel efficiency. The high-quality, well-appointed interior is smart, spacious and sporty. It offers a number of convenient features including a standard Keyless Access System with smart entry and pushbutton start, along with Pandora® interface and SMS text message function for easy connectivity. As before, a Premium Package and Technology Package are both available. Acura's belief in "Safety Through Innovation" is the foundation for the brand's commitment to leadership in safety, and accordingly the ILX has a wide range of standard active and passive safety features, including Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. It received a 2013 TOP SAFETY PICK rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), attaining a score of GOOD in all four Institute tests, including the rigorous roof-strength test. The Acura ILX is manufactured exclusively at the company's state-of-the-art Greensburg, Indiana plant using U.S. and globally sourced parts. TRIM MSRP* EPA** MPG (city/highway/combined) 2014 ILX 5-Speed Automatic $26,900 24/35/28 2014 ILX 5-Speed Automatic w/ Premium Package $29,200 24/35/28 2014 ILX 5-Speed Automatic w/Technology Package $31,600 24/35/28 2014 ILX 6-Speed Manual with Premium Package $29,200 22/31/25

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 13, 2013 Nissan's CEO has a small request for its U.S. arm: Double sales by 2017. "China was not our biggest, I would say, disappointment. It was mainly the United States. We were expecting a strong year in the United States. It didn't happen," Ghosn told reporters after announcing Nissan's 2012 fiscal results. In 2012, Nissan's sales in the U.S. rose to 1.1 million - up five percent (and a record year as well). However Nissan lost 0.5 percent of market share (7.7 percent) in the U.S., which puts them further away from reaching a market share goal of ten percent. So how will Nissan USA pull off this feat? According to Automotive News, the company will streamline production, increase the number of dealers in certain regions, and boosting marketing efforts with key groups. 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.

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 13, 2013 Despite rising sales of Fiat 500 in the past few months, some Fiat dealers are finding it difficult to break even. "I'm struggling to break even. With the one car in a small (volume) segment, it's a tough go right now," said Gary Brown, owner of a Fiat dealer on Long Island and chairman of the Chrysler Dealer Council. Dealers are very antsy get to new products such as the new 500L later this year as it should help bring more people into Fiat dealers. "The four-door (500L) is really going to be a shot in the arm. It will put a franchise on more people's radar as they are shopping for a small car," Brown said. But the one product lineup Fiat dealers are still wondering about is Alfa Romeo. The 4C sports car is due in the U.S. later this year or early next year. After that, who really knows. Several Fiat dealers told Reuters that Fiat has postponed a meeting discussing new products twice and that a new date hasn't been set. When asked about the meetings, a Fiat spokesman declined to comment. Source: Reuters 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.

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 10, 2013 While the midsize sedan market as a whole remains the single largest segment in the U.S., sales of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are shrinking due to the rise of crossovers. "While the segment is still growing year-over-year, it's nowhere near what it was growing last year as the industry was launching a lot of new midsize cars," said Bill Fay, the U.S. head of the Toyota brand. The rise of crossovers are being fueled by their practicalness, ability to get in and out much easier, and improved fuel economy. The price gap between midsize sedans and crossovers has also narrowed. Kelly Blue Book says a crossover costs $1,300 more on average than a midsize sedan. To put it another way, the difference in monthly payments between a midsize sedan and a crossover is less than $20. "Fundamentally, both serve the family market. Midsize cars have gotten smaller and more expensive, because of a variety of factors. People are switching to crossovers, because they satisfy the family needs very well," said Mustafa Mohatarem, General Motors Co's chief economist. Source: Reuters 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.

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 9, 2013 Another company that was a part of the $25 billion Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing loan program has suspended operations. Vehicle Production Group or VPG Autos has suspended production of their wheelchair-accessible MV-1 van and laid off nearly all of its 100 employees back in February. This news is only coming to light this week thanks to comments by former VPG Autos CEO John Walsh to USA Today. Walsh explained that VPG Autos stopped operations in February because the company's finances dipped below the minimum amount required as a condition of the ATMV loan. The Department of Energy stepped in and froze the assets of VPG Autos, telling the company they needed to raise funds to get back to building vehicles. VPG Autos was unable to pull this off. "They wanted us to get the remaining capital raised, and we couldn't get it done," said Walsh. The Department of Energy and VPG Autos are currently examining all options including selling the company. Source: The Detroit News, USA Today 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.

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 9, 2013 (Author’s Note: I’ll be mostly covering powertrain changes and a few other changes from the last CX-5 I drove. Those looking for a more in-depth review can click here for my 2013 CX-5 review. -WM) When I drove the 2013 Mazda CX-5 last summer, I had many praises for it. I loved the exterior styling, the way it drove, and impressive fuel economy to name a few. One part of the CX-5 I didn’t like was the 2.0L SKYACTIV-G engine. While the 2.0L was chock full of technologies and interesting ideas, it was simply not enough engine for this size crossover.. Mazda has heard those complaints and addressed a solution at the 2012 L.A. Auto Show by introducing a larger 2.5L SKYACTIV-G four-cylinder which brought forth more power. This new engine would appear in the 2014 Mazda6 and CX-5. A revisit it seem was in order and a few weeks ago, a 2014 CX-5 Grand Touring landed on my doorstep with the new 2.5L engine. The new 2.5L SKYACTIV-G engine produces 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque, increases of 29 and 35 respectively when compared with the 2.0L SKYACTIV-G. A six-speed automatic is your only transmission. Also, you can only get the 2.5L on the Touring and Grand Touring models. Those opting for the base Sport model stick with the 2.0L. The 2.5L also takes a slight hit in fuel economy. The EPA rates the 2.5L at 25 City/32 Highway/27 Combined compared to the 2.0L’s 26 City/32 Highway/29 Combined. The 2.5L really makes the CX-5 come alive. Whether you’re leaving from a stop or needing to make a pass, the engine doesn’t come under any strain. Plus, the 2.5L has the low end punch that was missing from the 2.0L. The six-speed automatic is the same as the last CX-5 I drove: very quick on upshifts, stumbling somewhat on the downshifts. Fuel economy was also very good on the 2.5L. My week’s average was 26.7 MPG. Despite the 2.5L adding about 100 lbs to CX-5’s curb weight, the excellent ride and handling characteristics are still there. The suspension copes very well when push, providing excellent stability and keeping body roll in control. Steering has the right weight and provides surprising feel. Drive it day to day and the CX-5 is composed and comfortable on most road surfaces. One other new feature that should be talked about is Mazda's Smart City Brake Support. Optional on the Touring and Grand Touring models, Smart City Brake Support uses a laser sensor mounted in windshield to detect an impending low speed collision. If the driver doesn’t react quickly, the system will intervene and brake the CX-5 to minimize or eliminate a crash. Sadly I didn’t get chance to try out the system. I did have some problems with the CX-5 though. The first comes from the Bluetooth system. Pairing my phone with the headunit took upwards of thirty seconds. This is pretty poor considering the competition can do it in about ten seconds or less. The other problem comes with the Grand Touring trim level. Aside from adding leather seats, automatic climate control, and nineteen-inch alloy wheels; you option up a mid-level Touring model to be almost the same as a Grand Touring for less money. Unless Mazda has a killer feature that they are saving for Grand Touring down the road, I would go with the touring. Otherwise, the new 2.5L SKYACTIV-G breaths new life into the Mazda CX-5 and makes it, at least in my opinion, one of the best crossovers on the market. Disclaimer: Mazda provided the vehicle, insurance, and one tank of gasoline. Year - 2014 Make – Mazda Model – CX-5 Trim – Grand Touring FWD Engine – 2.5L SKYACTIV-G Four-Cylinder Driveline – Front-Wheel Drive, Six-Speed Automatic Horsepower @ RPM – 184 @ 5,700 RPM Torque @ RPM – 185 @ 3,250 RPM Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 25/32/27 Curb Weight – 3,375 lbs Location of Manufacture – Hiroshima, Japan Base Price - $27,620.00 As Tested Price - $30,340.00* (Includes $795.00 destination charge) Options: Grand Touring Tech Package - $1,625 Retractable Cargo Cover - $200 Rear Bumper Guard - $100 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.