William Maley

By Chris Doane January 29, 2013 I know I won’t get much, if any, sympathy when I say that, sometimes, there are letdowns when you review cars. Last week, the car I was evaluating was a $100,000, 400hp, German coupe. (Read my review of the 2012 BMW 650i xDrive coupe here) I’ve now stepped directly from that into a Kia Rio. I’ll pause for your laughter. For the price of the super coupe, you can buy 5.4 Kia Rios. You could keep that .4 for spare parts? But don’t let price fool you. Oddly enough, there is something about the way the Kia drives that beats the German car hands down. If you guessed power, speed or luxury, then you’re either not familiar with these cars, or you’re three martinis into “lunch” at the bar. What the much cheaper Kia does have over the German car is steering feel. The coupe from Deutschland has 262 more horse power, yards and yards of leather, but in the Kia, I actually have some sense of what the front wheels are doing via what I feel through the steering wheel. And I’ll take some feel over none any day. If driving is something you enjoy, steering feel is pretty useful information to have when zipping through the corners. Even if driving is nothing more than a task for you, it’s pretty nice to know when the front wheels feel like they’re about to lose traction. While no one would ever mistake the Rio for a sporty, corner carving car, the Rio SX model has a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch wheels, and light, responsive steering that, somehow, make this small, underpowered car a little bit fun to drive. It’s a bit like a go-kart, only with airbags, a trunk and room for five passengers. Well, 4.5 anyway. The main reason I say “a little bit fun to drive” is because of the 1.6L, 138hp four cylinder motor in the Rio. Those hot, 17-inch wheels on this Rio SX might make it look quick, but this hatchback ain’t going anywhere fast. While there is certainly power to be had from this little four-banger, you’ve got to rev the snot out of it to reach that power. Once the tachometer reads 4500-5000rpm, then you approach something that could be considered acceleration. In regular, everyday driving, the lack of power isn’t really an issue. You’ll get through the city, and around the highways, just fine. But in some situations, like passing on even a modest incline, you might think twice. As I attempted to pass an older, slower Nissan on a slight uphill, the pass happened in such slow fashion that I would’ve had time to say hello to the driver, ask if he was hungry, make a sandwich, and pass it over. Wait, did he want Grey Poupon? So we don’t have speed, but that should come as no surprise since this car is intended more for fuel efficiency. The Rio is rated for 28mpg city, 36mpg highway, and we observed a 31mpg average with sporty driving habits and more highway driving than city driving. There is also an “eco” button you can press that reigns in the engine, and transmission shift points, for increased fuel economy. Even though the fuel economy is fairly good, the tank in the Rio is pretty tiny at 11.3 gallons. If you have a long commute, you’ll still be filling up a lot, but at least you’ll only be pumping in 11 gallons each time. If you want to know when that tank is about to run dry, it’s not a good idea to rely on the digital, remaining range readout in the gauge cluster. One moment, the Rio SX told me I could drive another 31 miles before I was out of fuel. Less than 5 minutes of regular driving later, it told me I had no range remaining. Inside the Rio, it’s about what you’d expect in a $18,545 car. A nicely designed, mostly hard plastic interior, but with soft touch material in the right spots and a backup camera. Wait, what? A backup camera in a $18,545 car? Touch-screen nav too? Don’t forget the power fold mirrors. Though, in a car this narrow, I’m not really sure why you’d ever need to fold in the mirrors. Of those features, it’s the backup camera that is almost a necesity due to the massive blind spots the stylish C-pillars create. Without a rear-facing camera, backing out of a parking spot involves more prayer than driving skill. Normally, in cars of this price range, the seats suffer when it comes to comfort. Somehow, the chairs in the Rio manage not to do that. They certainly aren’t heavily padded or bosltered seats, but after three hours of wheeling, I was perfectly comfortable, and ready for three more. Frankly, the best part of the Rio is how fantastic it looks. If you venture back even a few years ago and look at the cars Kia was producing then, you’d never have guessed this company was capable of designing something this good looking. Not only does the exterior design trump the Scion xB, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa, but it certainly holds its’ own against the Chevy Sonic and Ford Fiesta as well. 2012 Kia Rio SX 5-door - $17,700 -Carpeted Floor Mats - $95 -Destination - $750 TOTAL - $18,545 Album: 2012 Kia Rio SX 5-Door 7 images 0 comments View full article

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 28, 2013 Today Diamler, Ford, and Nissan announced a new partnership to jointly develop a common fuel cell system for vehicle to be ready as early as 2017. The three companies will work together on a common fuel-cell stack and fuel-cell system. Also, the partnership will participate in the adoption of global specifications and component standards, and studying the joint development of other FCEV components. "We are convinced that fuel cell vehicles will play a central role for zero-emission mobility in the future. Thanks to the high commitment of all three partners we can put fuel cell e-mobility on a broader basis. This means with this cooperation we will make this technology available for many customers around the globe," said Prof. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. Source: Nissan 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 Strategic Cooperation Between Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance Forms Agreement with Ford to Accelerate Commercialization of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Technology Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., have signed a unique three-way agreement for the joint development of common fuel cell system to speed up availability of zero-emission technology and significantly reduce investment costs Collaboration expected to lead to launch of world's first affordable, mass-market fuel cell electric vehicles as early as 2017 Unique collaboration across three continents and three companies will help define global specifications and component standards Sends clear signal to suppliers, policymakers and the industry to encourage the further development of hydrogen infrastructure worldwide YOKOHAMA, Japan - Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., have signed a unique three-way agreement to accelerate the commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) technology. The goal of the collaboration is to jointly develop a common fuel cell electric vehicle system while reducing investment costs associated with the engineering of the technology. Each company will invest equally towards the project. The strategy to maximize design commonality, leverage volume and derive efficiencies through economies of scale will help to launch the world's first affordable, mass-market FCEVs as early as 2017. Together, Daimler, Ford and Nissan have more than 60 years of cumulative experience developing FCEVs. Their FCEVs have logged more than 10 million km in test drives around the world in customers' hands and as part of demonstration projects in diverse conditions. The partners plan to develop a common fuel cell stack and fuel cell system that can be used by each company in the launch of highly differentiated, separately branded FCEVs, which produce no CO2 emissions while driving. The collaboration sends a clear signal to suppliers, policymakers and the industry to encourage further development of hydrogen refueling stations and other infrastructure necessary to allow the vehicles to be mass-marketed. Powered by electricity generated from hydrogen and oxygen, FCEVs emit only water while driving. FCEVs are considered complementary to today's battery-electric vehicles and will help expand the range of zero-emission transportation options available to consumers. "Fuel cell electric vehicles are the obvious next step to complement today's battery electric vehicles as our industry embraces more sustainable transportation," said Mitsuhiko Yama$h!a, Member of the Board of Directors and Executive Vice President of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., supervising Research and Development. "We look forward to a future where we can answer many customer needs by adding FCEVs on top of battery EVs within the zero-emission lineup." "We are convinced that fuel cell vehicles will play a central role for zero-emission mobility in the future. Thanks to the high commitment of all three partners we can put fuel cell e-mobility on a broader basis. This means with this cooperation we will make this technology available for many customers around the globe," said Prof. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. "Working together will significantly help speed this technology to market at a more affordable cost to our customers," said Raj Nair, group vice president, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company. "We will all benefit from this relationship as the resulting solution will be better than any one company working alone." Engineering work on both the fuel cell stack and the fuel cell system will be done jointly by the three companies at several locations around the world. The partners are also studying the joint development of other FCEV components to generate even further synergies. The unique collaboration across three continents and three companies will help define global specifications and component standards, an important prerequisite for achieving higher economies of scale. How a fuel cell electric vehicle works Like today's battery-electric vehicles, FCEVs are more efficient than conventional cars and diversify energy sources beyond petroleum. The electricity for an FCEV is produced on board the vehicle in the fuel cell stack where it is generated following an electro-chemical reaction between hydrogen - stored in a purpose-designed, high-pressure tank in the car - and oxygen from the air. The only by-products are water vapor and heat. View full article

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 28, 2013 Toyota has regained the world's largest automaker crown for 2012. The automaker was able to bounce back in 2012 after the earthquake and tsunami rocked Japan last year and a large amount of recalls that caused them to lose the largest automaker title in 2011. Toyota and its subsidiaries delivered 9.75 million vehicles last year, ahead of General Motors which delivered 9.29 million vehicles and Volkswagen which delivered 9.09 million vehicles. Toyota sales grew worldwide by 23% in 2012, with Japan seeing the largest increase in sales of 35%. In the U.S., Toyota's market share grew to 14.9% in 2012. Toyota forecasts that will deliver 9.91 million vehicles in 2013. This is due to company forecasting continued growth in the United States and a recovery in China where Japanese automakers saw a drop in sales due to a land dispute between the two countries. Toyota also expects a weakening Yen to help out as well. 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 January 28, 2013 The Nissan Titan hasn't really changed since its introduction back in 2003. Sticking with the same 5.6L V8 engine and the choice of either a extended or crew cab means the Titan hasn't set the sales charts on fire. Sales last year for Titan totaled 21,576, a far cry from the nearly 87,000 sales in 2005, its best year. But with the 2015 Titan, Nissan is hoping the new model will become a contender. Edmunds had the chance to sit down with Pierre Loing, vice president of product and advanced planning and strategy for Nissan North America, Inc. Loing hinted that a new Titan was on the way and is expecting to take a big slice of the truck market. "Reaching 100,000 is certainly possible. We believe there might be a recipe to grab some of this huge segment," said Loing. Loing revealed that the next Titan will have a full engine lineup and variety of cabs, including a regular cab. Loing also said that the pricing for the Titan will be changed as well. Despite the ambitious sales goal, Loing admits that even with the resdesign, it will be tough to bring in buyers. "It is domestic driven. High loyalty to domestic products. So the question is, 'Why bother?' It is still a huge segment. Whether it is through build quality, equipment, some price advantage, you name it, it may work. We will try again." 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

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 27, 2013 Autocar is reporting that Toyota executives are considering building a competitor for the Nissan Juke. The inspiration for this possible contender is a twelve-year old concept. The concept in question is the Toyota RSC (Rugged Sports Coupe) shown at 2001 Chicago Auto Show. While the concept was well received at the time, Toyota didn't really do anything with it. Why are Toyota executives looking at RSC as a possible Juke competitor? Sales. The Nissan Juke has been doing very well in global sales. In the U.S. alone, Nissan moved 36,000 Jukes in 2012. If Toyota decides to go forward with this, expect the vehicle to use either Yaris or Auris (Corolla) platform. The Yaris platform allows Toyota to build a direct competitor to the Juke, while the Auris platform lets Toyota build a somewhat larger vehicle. Using either platform allows Toyota to offer a hybrid model. Source: Autocar 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 January 26, 2013 The pricing of the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee has been leaked and made its way online. The folks at JeepGarage.org say they got their hands on the pricing and spec sheets. At a glance, we think the pricing could be the real deal. Here is the pricing at a glance: Laredo 4X2 – $28,795 Laredo 4X4 – $30,795 Laredo E 4X2 – $30,495 Laredo E 4X4 – $32,495 Limited 4X2 – $35,795 Limited 4X4 – $37,795 Overland 4X2 – $42,995 Overland 4X4 – $45,995 Summit 4X2 – $47,995 Summit 4X4 – $50,995 SRT 4X4 – $62,995 *Note: Pricing doesn't include a $795 destination charge Now if you're wondering about the pricing for the 3.0L EcoDiesel V6, be prepared for sticker shock. The engine will cost $4,500 on the Limited, Overland, and Summit models. . We also don't know if you can get the diesel with 2WD since the pricing only deals with 4WD models. Source: JeepGarage.org 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 January 25, 2013 Today, Volkswagen announced that the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf for the North and South American Market will be built at Volkswagen's plant in Puebla, Mexico. Production will begin sometime in the first quarter of 2014 and will help provide additional capacity for Volkswagen's Wolfsburg and Zwickau plants. The move is part of Volkswagen's plan to sell 800,000 vehicles in the U.S. by 2018. Volkswagen's North America chief Jonathan Browning said the move will help the German automaker make “further strides towards the goal of building more than 75 percent of the cars Volkswagen of America sells in the North American region.” The seventh-generation Golf arrives in the U.S. in the first half of 2014. Source: Volkswagen 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 VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCES PRODUCTION OF THE GOLF IN MEXICO - The next-generation Golf will be manufactured in Puebla, Mexico, for North and South American markets Puebla, Mexico / Herndon, VA - Volkswagen announced today that it will begin to produce the next-generation Golf at its Volkswagen de México manufacturing facility in Puebla, Mexico. Production of the seventh-generation Golf will commence at the company’s plant in Mexico in the first quarter of 2014. Localization has become increasingly important in automotive manufacturing as a way to safeguard against currency fluctuations and to be closer to the market in which the manufacturer sells. Golf models made at Volkswagen de México’s plant will be supplied to the North and South American markets. “The Puebla, Mexico plant offers an excellent economic basis for Volkswagen production operations and is a well-established automotive manufacturing facility with a record of efficiency and high quality,” said Hubert Waltl, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand with responsibility for Production. “With its existing infrastructure, competitive cost structures and free trade agreements, Mexico is the ideal location to produce the Golf for the American market.” The decision to produce the Golf in Mexico builds on Volkswagen’s strategy for the North American market. Investments of more than $5 billion are planned in the U.S. and Mexico in the next three years, thereby laying the foundation for further growth in the North American market. Key investments are the opening of new plants in Silao, Mexico, for the 1.8- and 2.0-liter turbocharged EA888 engines and the planned Audi production facility in San José Chiapa, Mexico. “Producing the Golf in Puebla, Mexico signals a continued commitment to the North American market and allows Volkswagen to make further strides towards the goal of building more than 75 percent of the cars Volkswagen of America sells in the NAFTA region,” said Jonathan Browning, President, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “For more than 40 years, Puebla has been manufacturing quality Volkswagens for the U.S. and markets around the world and we are thrilled that the next-generation Golf will be added to the production line.” The Volkswagen Golf, the company’s best-selling vehicle globally, was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September 2012. This seventh-generation version of one of the world’s most popular cars offers more features, improved safety, and more performance than the outgoing vehicle and is actually lighter than its predecessor. The Golf’s unmistakeable state-of-the art styling is evolutionary and timeless, and provides clear lineage to previous Golfs. The new Golf design is more sophisticated and longer lived than any other compact in the world. The Golf is slated to go on sale in the United States in the first half of 2014. View full article

That was canned. The rumored four-door Jetta coupe is the successor to that.. I think

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 24, 2013 Subaru looks to be joining the hybrid fray by readying a vehicle with a new hybrid powertrain for this year's New York Auto Show. Kenichi Yamamoto, director of product management and coordination at Subaru of America told The Detroit Bureau that Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries is getting a hybrid model ready. Yamamoto explained the Japanese market's interest in hybrid vehicles has been on the rise, with most coming from Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. Details are scarce on Subaru's hybrid model. Officials say the model could debut in the spring. Subaru has previewed a hybrid powertrain with the 2011 Advanced Tourer Concept, which use a turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder boxer engine mated to an in-house hybrid drivetrain. Source: The Detroit Bureau 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 January 24, 2013 Today, BMW and Toyota have signed binding agreements on jointly developing hydrogen fuel cell powertrains, a sports car platform, lightweight materials, and a lithium-air battery. The binding agreements finalize a technology partnership that was announced in December 2011. On the fuel cell front, BMW and Toyota will combine their existing resources and knowledge to develop a complete fuel-cell vehicle system; including a fuel stack, hydrogen tank, motor and battery, by 2020. The two companies will also look into the infrastructure needed for hydrogen. Also planned is research into lithium-air batteries which promise five times the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, and lightweight materials - such as carbon fiber - for car bodies. But the one part of the BMW/Toyota agreement that has everyone buzzing is the joint platform for a sportscar. The new platform will be for a mid-size sportscar. The two will do a feasibility study that will be completed by the end of this year. “It is just over a year since we signed our collaborative MoU, and with each day as our relationship strengthens, we feel acutely that we are making steadfast progress. Now, we are entering the phase that promises the fruit. While placing importance on what we learn from the joint development, we will work hard together in reaching our common goal of making ever-better cars,” said Toyota president Akio Toyoda in a statement. Source: BMW, Toyota 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 BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation Deepen Collaboration by Signing Binding Agreements Fuel Cell System, Sports Vehicle, Lightweight Technology and Lithium-air Battery Collaboration to Commence Munich, Germany - January 24, 2013... BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) are pursuing their successful strategic long-term cooperation in the field of sustainable mobility today by signing binding agreements aimed at long-term collaboration between the two companies for the joint development of a fuel cell system, joint development of architecture and components for a sports vehicle, and joint research and development of lightweight technologies. These agreements follow a memorandum of understanding signed in June 2012. Furthermore, BMW Group and TMC also today signed a binding agreement to commence collaborative research on lithium-air batteries, a post-lithium-battery solution. This agreement marks the second phase of collaborative research into next-generation lithium-ion battery cells that commenced in March 2012. The main points of the agreements are: 1. Fuel cell system - The companies are convinced that fuel cell technology is one of the solutions necessary to achieve zero emissions. BMW Group and TMC are to share their technologies and to jointly develop a fundamental fuel-cell vehicle system, including not only a fuel cell stack and system, but also a hydrogen tank, motor and battery, aiming for completion in 2020. - The companies are to collaborate in jointly developing codes and standards for the hydrogen infrastructure which are necessary for the popularization of fuel cell vehicles. 2. Sports vehicle - The companies agreed to set-up a feasibility study to define a joint platform concept for a mid-size sports vehicle that is to be completed by the end of 2013. The two companies aim to combine each other’s technology and knowledge at a high level to maximise customer satisfaction. Both companies are to share the vision to further collaborate in the field of sports vehicle development. 3. Lightweight technology The companies are to jointly develop lightweight technologies for vehicle bodies using cutting-edge materials such as reinforced composites, with an eye to utilize these technologies in cooperation on the joint development of a sports-vehicle platform as well as other BMW and TMC vehicles. 4. Post-lithium-battery technology The companies are to begin joint research with a goal to develop a lithium-air battery with energy density greatly exceeding that of current lithium-ion batteries. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG said: “TMC and the BMW Group share the same strategic vision of future sustainable mobility. In light of the technological changes ahead, the entire automotive industry faces tremendous challenges, which we also regard as an opportunity. This collaboration is an important building block in keeping both companies on a successful course in the future.” Akio Toyoda, President of TMC said: “It is just over a year since we signed our collaborative MoU, and with each day as our relationship strengthens, we feel acutely that we are making steadfast progress. Now, we are entering the phase that promises the fruit. While placing importance on what we learn from the joint development, we will work hard together in reaching our common goal of making ever-better cars.” BMW Group and TMC first agreed to form a medium-to-long-term collaborative relationship for developing next-generation environment-friendly vehicles and technologies in December 2011, at which time the two companies also signed a contract under which BMW Group is to supply highly efficient diesel engines to Toyota Motor Europe. BMW Group and TMC - as long-term strategic partners - have since continued their joint efforts to realize sustainable mobility for the future. View full article

I have no idea with that.. Thanks. I'm working on improving my reviews. No manual is offered.

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 24, 2013 Car Magazine is reporting that the next-generation GLK, due out in 2016, will spawn a three-door coupe model to compete with the new Porsche Macan. Internally known as the GLC, the model will share a sleek and stylish body as the GLK. Both models will also premiere a new, rear-wheel drive platform, codenamed MRA. The GLC will come with a variety of engines, including a variety of gas and diesels. There is also talk of a AMG version. Source: Car Magazine Related Story: Mercedes-Benz Considering An X6 Rival? 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 January 24, 2013 The letter R in the automotive world means an automaker has added a bit of spice to one of their vehicles. Examples include Acura Integra Type R and Volkswagen Golf R32 and R. The best example of the letter R being used by an automaker is Volvo. A brand known for safety and button-down styling would surprise the world when it introduced the 850 T-5 R sedan and wagon in 1995. Draped in some very wild colors, the 850 T-5 R was for its time one of fastest vehicles on the planet thanks to some major tweaks to the powertrain and suspension. Volvo would follow up with the 1999 V70R and the 2003 - 2006 S60R and V70R models, all of them proving improved performance over the base models. But since the S60R and V70R models left the Volvo lineup, there hasn’t quite been the craziness the R models brought forth. Instead Volvo fell back into its safety ritual, but with more distinctive designs. Two key things would happen to Volvo within the past couple of years to bring them back into the crazy fold. First would be Volvo strengthening and expanding its partnership with its racing and performance partner Polestar. Second would be the introduction of the R-Design trim for the S60 and XC60. R-Design brings some tweaks to exterior, engine, and chassis. That brings us to the 2013 Volvo S60 T6 AWD R-Design. Does it show signs that craziness has entered Volvo once more? Subtlety? Where?! Volvo’s have been known to be very understated in their designs and the S60 R-Design is no exception to that rule, if you don’t decide to get your R-Design in what Volvo calls Rebel Blue. While I did like the bold color choice, some people weren’t so impressed with it. If you want to be fully understated with your S60 R-Design, go with another color. Aside from the color, there’s a lot to appreciate about the S60’s design. The new S60 is an evolution of the first-generation model with some coupe cues in the form of a short rear overhang and sloping roof. Volvo has also fitted a unique set of headlights with LEDs sitting right beside it. The R-Design package layers on a lower front spoiler, eighteen-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, rear diffuser with dual-exhaust pipes, and a little R-Design badge on the front denoting its status. A Lesson in Simplicity The S60 R-Design’s interior is one of simplicity. The dashboard is very clean in its design with a mixture of a soft-touch materials, metal accents around the vents and door pulls, and a unique metal center stack. Its a very handsome and and well-built interior. The front seats, draped in black leather, were some of the most comfortable seats I have sat in all year. Providing eight-way adjustments, heat, and the right amount of bolstering, the seats had the right of comfort and support for enthusiastic or long drives. Backseat passengers will appreciate the amount of headroom. Legroom can vary from good to none depending on how far the front seat is set. Simplicity is a good word to describe the infotainment system. Instead of going with a controller like BMW, Mercedes and Audi, or a touchscreen with capacitive touch buttons like Cadillac and Lincoln, Volvo went with using a center stack full of buttons and knobs for to move around and control the system which appears on a seven-inch non-touch color screen. Some will complain that the center stack has way too many buttons and is a distraction to see which button you need to press. I would agree that when you're first using it, but after a while, it becomes second nature. While its very easy to use the system, I found that doing certain functions like moving around the map was a pain in the butt. I hope Volvo keeps the idea of simplicity when working on the next generation of their infotainment system, but maybe adds a joystiq or something that makes certain functions easier to do. Those Crazy Swedes Under the S60 T6 AWD R-Design is Volvo’s T6 engine; a turbocharged straight-six. In the normal S60 T6, you’re looking at 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. In the R-Design model, you’re looking at 325 horsepower (@ 5,400 RPM) and 354 lb-ft of torque (@ 3,200 - 3,600 RPM). This is in part due to Polestar which increased the boost of the turbocharger and installed a new module which changes ignition, fuel mapping and throttle response. Power is sent to a six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission down to a Haldex-built AWD system. The engine has a Jekyll and Hyde personality. If you go about and drive the S60 R-Design normally, the engine is able to keep up with traffic very well with nary a hint of its performance cred. However if you decide to slam the pedal to the floor or throw the transmission into either sport or manual mode, the engine will throw you back into your seat and climb in speed at a very alarming rate. Plus, you get this amazing growl from the exhaust. The six-speed automatic does an amazing job of proving smooth and unobtrusive shifts whether I had my foot to the floor or moving along at a normal pace. I did wish the R-Design came with some paddles to have more fun with the engine. I did have an odd problem with this S60 R-Design’s gas pedal. If I put my foot on the pedal normally, about a quarter-way down, I found that I would going into hyperspace speed. But if maybe go an eighth of the way down on the pedal, the car accelerates normally. I’m not whether this is a programming issue or not, but reading through some other reviews of this car don’t mention this problem, so its just an issue with this particular vehicle. The Haldex-built AWD system was non-intrusive and provided a feeling of sure-footedness no matter the conditions outside. Combined with Volvo’s Corner Traction Control system, the AWD system made the vehicle feel small and nimble when going through corners. Fuel economy wise, S60 T6 R-Design is right in the middle of the pack in the compact luxury car class with the EPA rating it 18 City/25 Highway/21 Combined. For the week, I averaged 21.2 MPG with mostly suburban driving. A word of warning though; if you decide to stick your foot in the S60 T6 R-Design more often than not, be prepared to see your average MPG drop into the mid-teens. The R-Design’s suspension is mostly the same as the normal S60. There are MacPherson struts up front and a independent rear suspension setup with stabilizer bars at either end. For the R-Design model, Volvo adds a 15 millimeter drop to the suspension, stiffer springs and bushings, strut tower brace, and Mono-tube shocks in the rear. These changes give the S60 R-Design almost the same handling characteristics as those from Germany. As for driving on a day to day basis, the R-Design suspension was able to cope with road imperfections very well. The steering comes in the form of a rack and pinion setup with variable power assist. The steering hits the right balance of weight and feel whether you're attacking your favorite road or doing the daily drive. It gives the Germans and even the Cadillac ATS a run for their money. It's A Volvo After All Being a Volvo of course, the S60 R-Design is filled to the brim with safety technologies. Along with the AWD system and Corner Traction Control, the R-Design is fitted airbags all around the vehicle, Volvo’s Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) and Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), a rearview camera, and City Safety which uses a sensor mounted at the top of the windshield to monitor traffic ahead of you and put the brakes on if the vehicle senses an impending collision. One feature I wished was standard on the S60 R-Design was Volvo’s BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) which can tell you if a vehicle is in your blind spot. This would be really helpful since rear visibility is terrible thanks to some thick C-Pillars. BLIS is a $700 option on the R-Design, but I do hope Volvo makes it standard sometime in the S60’s lifecycle. Welcome To Crazy Town The 2013 Volvo S60 T6 AWD R-Design shows signs of craziness returning to Volvo. The evidence for this includes the wild blue paint, body modifications that are subtle, the two-sidedness of the powertrain, and a very impressive chassis setup. While Volvo might not have the same cachet as a BMW or an Audi, the S60 R-Design can match them in other areas. If you’re the person who doesn't like to follow the leader, the S60 R-Design is worth a look. Disclaimer: Volvo Cars of North America provided the S60 R-Design, Insurance, and one tank of gas. Album: 2013 Volvo S60 T6 AWD R-Design Year - 2013 Make – Volvo Model – S60 Trim – T6 AWD R-Design Engine – 3.0L Turbocharged Inline-Six Driveline – All-Wheel Drive, Six-Speed Automatic Horsepower @ RPM – 325 @ 5400 RPM Torque @ RPM – 354 @ 3000 RPM Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 18/25/21 Curb Weight – 3,835 lbs Location of Manufacture – Ghent, Belgum Base Price - $43,900.00 As Tested Price - $48,195.00 (Includes $895.00 destination charge) Options: S60 Platinum Package - $2,700.00 Climate Package - $700.00 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

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 23, 2013 Chevrolet appears to be taking some notes from SRT's playbook on how to sell the Corvette Stingray. According to Automotive News, General Motors told Chevrolet dealers that if they had sold four or more Corvettes in 2012, they would be able to sell the Stingray. This move will effect hundreds of Chevrolet dealers. "I don't anticipate getting the new Corvette this year, and many smaller dealers like me won't get it either," says Byron Hansen, a Chevrolet dealer in Brigham City, Utah. Dealers who did not hit the sales mark last year are very disappointed, since they used the Corvette as a way to bring people in. "Being a Chevy dealer and not being able to sell Corvette -- that makes me sad," says Jim Stutzman, owner of Jim Stutzman Chevrolet-Cadillac in Winchester, Va. 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