William Maley

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 11, 2013 Alfa Romeo will outsell Fiat in the United States once the brand gets its feet wet and has a range of small to large vehicles, at least that is what one executive is saying. "We think that Alfa Romeo will have a little bit larger volume than Fiat will have," said Peter Grady, head of network development for the Chrysler Group. The first Alfa Romeo that is expected to arrive is the 4C, due out in late 2013. That will be followed by a number of new models including new midsize models and a fullsize sedan. Six Alfa Romeo models are expected to be out by 2016. 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. View full article

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 11, 2013 Chevrolet has cut the price of the 2013 Malibu as part of an effort to entice consumers to look at it and not competitors such as the Toyota Camry. The base price of the base Malibu LS saw its price drop $345 to $22,805 (including shipping), which undercuts the base Camry’s price by $235. The Malibu 2LT and Eco trims dropped $300, while up to $770 was cut from the LT. "We did it in order to try to generate more potential traffic on the car both on the websites as well as dealers but I can't tell you that January itself was a big change just because of that. It recognizes the competitiveness of the segment and ensures that we remain on the shopping list," said Russ Clark, marketing director for the Malibu. When the price drops when into effect in January, Malibu sales increased 7.8%. Source: Bloomberg 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

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 11, 2013 When Ram aired its "So God Made a Farmer" ad during the super bowl, it resonated with many people. Unfortunately for Ram, most would say it was the Dodge Ram ad, not the Ram ad. Even worse was certain media outlets calling it the Dodge Ram ad. "Does it bother me? A little bit. Does it really annoy me? A little bit. When you realize how long our trucks have been Dodge Ram trucks, you can't expect the whole world (to figure it out.) Look how long it took journalists — and we still have journalists that still call it Dodge Ram,” said Ram CEO Fred Diaz. Diaz admits that the rebranding could take a very long time for Ram to fully resonate with people, up to a "generation". "I think it's going to take an entirely new generation of people to be born and grow up with the Ram-only moniker before most of the world starts calling it Ram," Diaz said. Diaz says Chrysler will be sticking with the decision of rebranding Ram. 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

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 11, 2013 Bob Ferguson, Cadillac's global vice president revealed some interesting information about what's coming down the pipeline for the wreath and crest. For starters, Ferguson revealed that the next Cadillac CTS would be unveiled at March's New York Auto Show, confirming what we've been hearing for the past month or so. Furguson also said the CTS would be going on sale sometime in the fall. "It's just gorgeous. We are positioning that car as a step up, so there will be a marketing challenge to reposition that car," Ferguson told the Detroit Free Press just outside of the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention in Orlando. Ferguson also said GM would soon be introducing a coupe version of the ATS. Ferguson didn't say when, but did say it would go on sale sometime in 2014. 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

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 10, 2013 The new 500T offers some of the performance of the hotted up 500 Abarth at a somewhat lower price - if you don't mind having the manual transmission only. Those who wanted the automatic with the turbo were just out of luck. However, Fiat North America's head would like to change that. “The T with an automatic would be great. I want to do it. A lot of people think it’s wrong, like an automatic Abarth.” said Tim Kuniskis, head of Fiat North America. “I need it yesterday. There are so many people [who] want that car.” There's a reasoning behind Kuniskis statements. The chief competitor to the 500, the Mini Cooper, offers the option of an automatic transmission across the range. Yes, that does include the John Cooper Works model. Offering the 500T with the option of automatic transmission would likely bring more sales to the brand. Source: Motor Trend 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

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 9, 2013 Holden has pulled back the curtain for the new VF Commodore this morning in Australia. The VF Commodore according to Holden "the most technologically-advanced car ever created in Australia". This is an important car for Holden since sales of the Commodore and other big sedans in Australia have been on the decline. The VF Commodore retires the “geometrical” design theme used on the VE Commodore and uses the “scultptural” design theme. Up front, the VF Commodore has a higher, wider front grille, subtle central power bulge, and a new lower bumper ornamentation. Stepping around to the back, the VF Commodore has a redesigned trunk lid to improve aerodynamics and new taillights. Inside, Holden addressed one of the main concerns on the VE Commodore; a poor feeling interior. The VF's interior comes with a more luxurious design and higher quality materials. There is also a lot interior pieces and tech from other GM models such as the MyLink infotainment system. Under the skin, the VF Commodore uses a lighter body that that includes a aluminium hood and trunk lid. The body is also more aerodynamic which helps improve fuel economy. Holden is keeping mum on the powertrains, but its safe to assume that a lineup of V6 and V8 engines will be there. Other tricks the VF Commodore comes with includes a self parking system, blind-spot warning, forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, head-up display, and other features. More information of the VF Commodore will be announced next month. The VF Commodore will make its North American appearance as the Chevrolet SS next week. Source: Holden Album: Holden VF Commodore 17 images 0 comments 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 Holden's New VF Commodore Breaks Cover Australian Designed, Engineered and Manufactured – New Commodore Ushers in Technology Revolution The most technologically-advanced car ever created in Australia has broken cover. Unveiled at an exclusive event in Melbourne’s stylish Docklands, Holden’s new VF Commodore also spearheads a new export campaign to the USA in the form of the Chevrolet SS Sports Sedan. It brings in a host of new technologies that make it not only the best Commodore ever, but also one that is safer, more user-friendly and more fuel efficient. It also brings new levels of luxury and refinement to the large car segment, with a sumptuous new interior to match its upmarket exterior. “The VF Commodore really is a class above,” said Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux. “No other car created in Australia is as technologically advanced, and we’re very proud that not only was the VF designed and engineered here, but it will also be exported to the USA for GM’s biggest global brand, Chevrolet.” The VF Commodore, which will be built at Holden Vehicle Operations in the Adelaide suburb of Elizabeth, South Australia, highlights Holden’s advanced global design capability and promises a driving experience on a par with top-marque competitors. It will also be more fuel efficient. Thanks in part to the Federal Government’s grant of $39.8 million through the Green Car Innovation Fund, it features lightweight aluminium panels along with other fuel saving features such as electric power steering. It is also more aerodynamic than the VE Commodore it will replace. Among its many new technology features are some significant safety and driver friendly elements. Key convenience features include Auto Park Assist on all models, where the driver operates the pedals but the car effectively parks itself. Unlike many similar systems, it also allows drivers to choose between a parallel or 90 degree angle park. It also gets the latest version of Holden’s innovative MyLink infotainment system and keyless entry and start. Safety features include Reverse Traffic Alert, which warns of vehicles passing when reversing out of spaces, Blind Spot Alert, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning and a Head-Up Display, which projects vital safety information such as the car’s speed directly onto the windscreen. The new Calais V-Series sedan, on which the show car is based, will headline an extensively upgraded VF Commodore model range that goes on sale mid-year. “Our aim with the new VF Commodore was to create a car that challenged some of the broader perceptions people have about the traditional Australian-made large car,” said Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux. “We have created a car that not only serves the loyal buyers who continue to make Commodore one of the most popular cars in Australia, but also a new breed of discerning customer who wants higher levels of luxury and technology in their car. “When it goes on sale, it will offer levels of quality and sophistication to rival some of the best cars in the world.” The VF Commodore was designed and engineered at Holden’s headquarters in Port Melbourne, Victoria. Holden’s Director of Design, Andrew Smith, said the VF exterior design was a precise, contemporary execution that held true to the dynamic poise of its predecessor. “We’ve taken a powerful existing form and brought it up to another level, with the feeling now about projecting a real sense of quality and technological aptitude,” he said. “The styling is characterised by sculpted forms and richer detailing. There’s more gleam and polish at every point and careful attention to detail everywhere you look, from the vibrant front fascias and projector headlamp treatments through to the all-new rear end graphics. “And the key interior elements are entirely new: instrument panel, console, cockpit, seats, steering wheel, switches, shifters, textures, you name it, no detail has escaped attention. “Our designers set out with deliberate intent to exceed expectations by creating a cabin with premium large car ambience – a wow factor, if you like – that’s characterised by a fresh sense of luxury, comfort and convenience. “It’s a carefully cohesive design which echoes the detailed aesthetic of the exterior and places emphasis on rich, tactile materials and technical refinement. The ergonomic integration is excellent yet it retains a completely intuitive Holden feel”. “These vehicles reflect the truly international nature of our business and they can certainly hold their own anywhere in the world”. Holden’s range-topping V-Series Calais spearheads a strategy aimed at extending its upmarket luxury car appeal to a broader band of buyers. VF’s polished good looks owe much to great bone structure. The brilliant silhouette and athletic, wide track stance that made the award-winning 2006 VE Commodore an automotive style icon now reinforce a street-smart new look that’s fresher, more sophisticated and aerodynamically advanced. The Calais V’s streamlined exterior is also more aerodynamically efficient than the model it replaces. Given improved fuel economy as a major VF program target, Holden designers and engineers made extensive use of virtual modelling and wind tunnel technology to create a slippery new shape. The cabin design was driven by the requirement to integrate a raft of advanced driver assistance and infotainment technologies and to meet demanding GM global benchmarks. Given the opportunity to make extensive changes, the Holden interior design team went for it full-on. Their aim was to define new targets for perception of quality and interior harmony, using ‘best of the best’ benchmarking data. The result is a significant step forward in terms of craftsmanship, custom-tailored materials, fit and finish, ergonomic layout and all-round driving comfort. Interior themes All-new instrument panel with integrated centre stack and cowled instrument dials combines infotainment, climate and other controls into a contemporary piece of modern electronics Stylish new seat designs feature new structures and luxury comfort profiles Quality, layered trim finishes in smooth soft-feel leather and suede with perforated leather inserts are accented by twin-needle stitching Strokes of bright and galvano silver chrome and metallic embellishments gleam against jet black and light titanium background hues Ice blue ambient lighting illuminates a re-designed centre console with versatile small item storage solutions and maxi cup holders Ergonomic improvements include a new steering wheel design and a console-mounted electric park brake button (goodbye handbrake lever). Power window switches are relocated to the armrests, the boot release control to the driver’s door VF’s evolutionary exterior design is a dynamic, mature execution – more sculptural and highly refined, with exceptional finishes, richer detailing, bright and jewelled accents. Exterior themes Up front: the higher, wider front end features complex hood surfacing with a subtle central power bulge; raking spears point focus at prominent signature trapezoidal grilles Jewelled halogen projector headlamps incorporate a ‘curved blade’ park lamp effect Lower air intakes are flanked by LED daytime running lamps and fog lamps New front fenders complement the flared, aero-sculpted wheel arches In profile: all potency and forward movement with an upper decklid line that kicks into a slim integrated spoiler; chrome fender vents, larger, multi-spoke, machine-faced wheels At the rear: a wider, more planted stance. Streamlined, uncluttered graphics are dominated by intricately jewelled new tail lamps that extend into the decklid View full article

Have a gallery of the VF Commodore up now. Story will be coming soon.