William Maley

When Volkswagen admitted that it used illegal software in their diesel vehicles to cheat emission tests, questions arose as to whether or not any other automakers did something similar. The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KPA) decided to investigate this and put 60 vehicles from various manufacturers, including Volkswagen, to the test. Their results revealed that Volkswagen was the only one automaker to cheat. These results will be published in a report later this month, but German business paper Handelsblatt learned about the investigation and results from various sources and spilled the beans on it. The KPA investigation started a few days after Volkswagen admitted to cheating emission tests. The authority brought in 60 different vehicles to conduct extensive emission testing in the lab and on the road. The testing was done in secrecy to prevent possible tampering from OEMs. The results of the investigation concluded that Volkswagen was the only automaker to cheat emission tests in Germany. KPA's investigation also revealed there were “strange irregularities” in terms of emissions with other OEM's vehicles. But a source says the emission levels were in the legal limit. Handelsblatt says the results of each vehicle involved in the testing have been sent to their respective automakers. Source: Handelsblatt View full article

Thanks to a spy photographer, we got our first look at the upcoming Alfa Romeo Stelvio crossover. The front end gives away this camouflaged vehicle is an Alfa as it has a rounded triangle grille. The headlights are slightly covered up, but we think they could be the same slim units as found in the Giulia. The box on the rear end looks to be trying the hide the shape of the rear tailgate. Under the skin, the Stelvio is expected to use a modified version of the Giulia's platform. Power will come from a range of gas and diesel engines. The Stelvio is expected to debut sometime later this year. Source: Motor Authority View full article

The good news is that consumers are visiting the gas station less. The bad news is that consumers are spending more at the pump. Wait, those two sentences contradict each other. Which one is true? According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), both of these sentences are correct. Let us explain. As new fuel economy and emission regulations come into effect, automakers are trying to figure out ways to make that gallon of gas go farther. One method that a number of automakers are using is turbochargers. They allow automakers to use smaller displacement engines to improve fuel economy and retain the power of larger engines. The EIA says the market share of turbo engines has climbed from 3.3 percent in 2009 to 17.6 percent in 2014. But the problem is that many turbo engines require premium fuel to operate at their full potential, which costs more than regular and midgrade fuel. Yes, you can fill them with regular and not have the issue of knock - premature fuel detonation due to increased cylinder pressure. But you lose some of the power that the turbo is providing. The EIA says that only 12.5 percent of vehicles recommended premium fuel in 2010. This increased to 14.2 percent in 2013. With turbo engines projected to be in 83.3 percent of new vehicles by 2025, expect to pay more at the pump despite going there less. Source: Energy Information Administration View full article

Mercedes-Benz wants to try and fill every little niche in the automotive marketplace. Case in point is doing a four-door coupe for the next-generation S-Class. Expected to arrive sometime after the next-generation S-Class, due in 2020 or 2021, the S-Class four-door coupe will wear the SEC nameplate. This name hasn't been seen since 1993 when it was used for Mercedes' flagship coupe. Sources tell Car the SEC will use the mid-section of the long-wheelbase of the S-Class sedan paired with the front and rear end of the coupe. Expect alterations to make the various bits look coherent. The obvious question is WHY?! The S-Class lineup is doing quite well for Mercedes in terms of sales. The past several years have seen over 100,000 S-Class models sold. The German automaker believes they can add more sales with another variant. Source: Car Magazine View full article

Ed Welburn, General Motors' Chief Designer and one of the key people around the recent revitalization of GM's design has announced he will retire from the company on July 1st. Taking his place as chief designer will be Michael Simcoe who currently heads GM International Design. Welburn is GM's sixth design chief in GM's 108-year-history, following in the footsteps of people Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell. Welburn also holds the distinction of being the first African American to lead design for an automaker. Welburn's story of becoming the head of GM design starts in the early sixties when he saw the Cadillac Cyclone Motorama concept at an auto show and writing to GM about careers in design. He would join GM as a design intern in 1971 before becoming an employee in Buick's design studio a couple years later. Welburn would move to Oldsmobile in 1975 and become its chief designer in 1989, working on such projects as the Cutlass Supreme and Cutlass Ciera. In 1996, he became the chief designer for Saturn and then head of GM's advanced design center. Welburn would be named head of GM design in 2003. Two years later, a new position was created for him that would have him oversee GM's global design. “GM Design is among the most respected and sought-after organizations in the industry because of Ed’s leadership. He nurtured a creative, inclusive and customer-focused culture among our designers that has strengthened our global brands,” said Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO in a statement. The list of vehicles Welburn played a role in is quite long. Some of the most recent vehicles include the Corvette Stingray, Chevrolet Volt, Buick Avista concept, Cadillac El Miraj, and 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. But one vehicle Welburn says is the most important to him was the Oldsmobile Aerotech, an experimental vehicle from the mid-eighties that would earn two world speed records. "That was a big part of my development as a leader. Because for the first time, I wasn't just sketching. I was working with engineers, with marketing. I was working all day in the studios and all night in the wind tunnel. That was the project that I really learned design cannot be an island," Welburn told Automotive News earlier this month. Michael Simcoe joined General Motors in 1983 as a designer for Holden. In 1995, Simcoe was named director of Design for GM Asia Pacific and then executive director of Asia Pacific Design in 2003. A year later, Simcoe would be named executive director of North American Exterior Design. Simcoe's achievements include leading the team behind the Avenir concept. Source: General Motors Press Release is on Page 2 GM Design Chief Ed Welburn To Retire July 1 Michael Simcoe named new vice president, GM Global Design WARREN, Mich. – Ed Welburn, vice president of General Motors Global Design, told employees today he will retire effective July 1, following a 44-year career with the company. Michael Simcoe, a 33-year veteran of GM Design and vice president of GM International Design, based in Australia and Korea, has been selected to succeed Welburn. He will be the company’s seventh design leader and begins transitioning into his new role on May 1. His replacement has not been named. Welburn, 65, has been celebrated inside and outside the industry for his extraordinary achievements. He has led GM Design since 2003, and globally since 2005, the first African American from any automaker to do so. “GM Design is among the most respected and sought-after organizations in the industry because of Ed’s leadership. He nurtured a creative, inclusive and customer-focused culture among our designers that has strengthened our global brands,” said Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO. Under Welburn’s leadership, GM built a network of 10 GM design centers in seven countries. His team of more than 2,500 creative men and women – based in the U.S., Germany, South Korea, China, Australia, Brazil and India – collaborate on the design development of every GM concept and production car, truck and crossover globally. Mark Reuss, executive vice president, Global Product Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, announced Simcoe’s promotion and commended Welburn. “Given his deep global experience and passion for breakthrough design, Michael is the right person to lead GM Global Design,” said Reuss. “He is known for his ability to take diverse ideas and mold them into great products that surprise and delight our customers.” Reuss recognized Welburn for his creative imprint on four decades of iconic vehicles and his leadership in identifying and developing world-class talent. “Ed’s team turns out one award-winning product after another … and his strong bench will keep GM Design on top for years to come,” Reuss said. Simcoe has been in his current role since 2014, overseeing GM’s production and advanced studios in Korea, Australia, and India. He is known for applying global design excellence and creativity to the company’s distinct brands. He joined GM in 1983 as a designer at Holden in Australia, and is Holden’s brand champion. In 1995, he became director of Design for GM Asia Pacific and in 2003, was named executive director of Asia Pacific Design and led the development of the new GM Korea design operations under Welburn’s leadership. The following year, he became executive director of North American Exterior Design, responsible for critical and commercial successes like the GMC Terrain, Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Camaro and Equinox and Cadillac CTS. More recently, he led the team responsible for the award-winning Buick Avenir Concept. Last month, he introduced the Chevrolet Colorado Xtreme and Trailblazer Premier show cars at the Bangkok International Motor Show. View full article

This isn't Alfa Romeo. Jeep at least has a much better track record.

As strict emission standards are coming into effect, Jaguar's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) is looking forward and considering their options as to how to do performance vehicles in the future. Speaking with CarAdvice, Jaguar’s director of public relations Richard Agnew said SVO will turning its focus to other, smaller engines in the near future. “We can’t possibly say that SVO has to be V8, with the way the world is changing and also the way engine technology is changing as well,” said Agnew. “Who would’ve thought that 400 horsepower [298kW] out of a four cylinder is possible? So it doesn’t have to be a V8. What it needs to be, though, is have enough over the derivative below it so it does have the credentials to wear the SVR badge.” A number of manufacturers such as BMW have dropped V8 engines in some of their vehicles to make way for turbo six-cylinders, Mercedes' AMG division show that V8s still have a place and hints at a possible direction for future SVR vehicles. “You see AMG designing a new V8 and I think you look at the C-Class AMG and versus the [bMW] M and I think they would disappointed they went to a six and AMG have 100hp on them… that new [Mercedes] V8 they’ve got is a state-of-the-art biturbo with super-low emissions, it’s a great engine,” said Agnew. But Agnew admits that SVO could look into electrification for future models. "We stated we are going to have an electric car. One thing about electric cars is that their performance is, dare I say, 'electric', and I think they are some of the game changers in terms of torque delivery and power delivery. In the future, when we have electric cars ,what will an SVR version of it be? It will be bloody quick, but it's too early to say [more]." At the moment, Jaguar only has one SVR model; the 2017 F-Type SVR Coupe and Convertible with 575 horsepower coming from a supercharged V8. Source: CarAdvice View full article

2016 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5, with the EyeSight, Moonroof, Keyless Entry, and Navigation Package - $34,335

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Trackhawk has been one of the worst-kept secrets in the automotive industry in a few years. As we learned back in January, Jeep CEO Mike Manley confirmed the existence of it in a video interview (which we have below). Manley has confirmed the Trackhawk again in an interview with Australian outlet, Wheels. “We talked about launching a higher performance vehicle which we’ll do next year which will feature the Hellcat engine,” said Manley at the New York Auto Sales. Manley wouldn't say whether or not if the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk would have the full 707 horsepower of the Hellcat V8. As we reported in the rumorpile last year, engineers were having issues with the driveline not being able to handle the Hellcat's torque. There was talk of dropping the all-wheel drive system or using a detuned version of the Hellcat. Source: Wheels View full article

We had a feeling this was coming. The Detroit News reports that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will be cutting a shift at the Sterling Heights Assembly plant - home of the Chrysler 200 - and laying off 1,420 workers at the plant and a supporting stamping plant. In a statement, FCA explained the cut is “to better align production with demand,” and “a direct result of shifting demand toward trucks and SUVs.” “Our truck and SUV plants are running six days a week about 20 hours a day,” the company said. “And while 1,300 people will be impacted by layoffs (at Sterling Heights Assembly), we have been able to add 11,000 hourly jobs in Michigan since 2009 to keep up with that demand.” Since February, FCA has put Sterling Heights Assembly on a temporary shutdown to in an effort to reduce the stockpile of 200s sitting on dealer lots. FCA says the layoffs will start on July 5th and the affected workers will be placed in full-time positions in other plants “as they become available within the Detroit labor market based on seniority.” Source: The Detroit News View full article

Volkswagen has already missed one deadline set by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer on reaching a deal with the U.S. Government over the diesel emission scandal. Breyer has given them a second deadline of April 21st. Now the administrator of the EPA worries they could miss the second one. Speaking to reporters at a breakfast, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said she has concerns about the two groups being able to reach a deal before the deadline. "I wouldn't take any single signal as the direction of those negotiations or where any final agreement - if we reach one - will end up," said McCarthy. If an agreement isn't reached by April 21st, Breyer has said he would consider bringing this to trial over the summer. Source: Reuters View full article

I saw that yesterday via Twitter, here is the link. I'm not sure if I fully believe at the moment because there isn't that much information or corroborating evidence to support this. Also, there was a rumor flying around last week about Cadillac doing an ultra-lux sedan and SUV sometime in the next decade which has slightly more information, but again I'm not sure if this is true either. I'm waiting for some more evidence or hints before I'm ready to call the CT8 dead.