William Maley

With all the news surrounding Tesla fighters, it seems we have forgotten about the competitors to the Toyota Prius. But luckily Hyundai has been working on such a vehicle to take on the Prius. A fresh set of spy shots have come in of their Prius fighter this week. Now the shots show Hyundai taking some design ideas from the current Prius in terms of exterior styling. We also have the first shots of the interior which boasts a different gauge cluster complete with Eco/Power gauge. Autoblog says recent rumors have Hyundai's new hybrid being based on the next-generation Elantra and use a medium-sized lithium-polymer battery pack that could offer 38 miles of electric power. The gas engine will possibly be a 1.6L four-cylinder. But there is another twist to this story. A source tells Green Car Reports that Hyundai will offer a electric-only version of their Prius fighter sometime after the regular model is launched. A Hyundai spokesman declined to comment on the rumor. Source: Autoblog, Green Car Reports View full article

The Jaguar F-Pace is the first of a new crossover lineup that the British automaker is working on. Autocar has learned from sources that Jaguar is planning a lineup of crossovers that will include coupe-style versions and one that will be around the size of a MINI Countryman. One model that will not be part of this lineup will be a seven-seat crossover. Despite earlier rumors which said there was one the in the works, sources say the seven-seat model wouldn't fit the performance image that Jaguar is trying to create with the upcoming F-Pace crossover. Also in the cards is an all-electric crossover. It is expected that all of the crossovers will use 'Pace' in their names. No word when we'll be seeing these crossovers on the road. Source: Autocar View full article

With the average price of new cars on the rise, the price of used cars follows suit. A new study done by Edmunds finds the average price of a used car has hit a new record high in the second quarter. The average price of a used car has climbed to $18,800, up 7.6 percent when compared to the same time last year. "People are buying more trucks and SUVs, and they're getting them better equipped. More expensive new vehicles means more expensive used vehicles," said Jessica Caldwell, analyst at Edmunds.com. What is causing the uptick in used car prices? The same items which are causing new car prices to go up; better economic outlook, low unemployment, low-interest rates, and low gas prices. But also helping the increase is the amount of off-lease vehicles entering into the used car marketplace. "With inventory finally at a better place, people have a lot more options," Caldwell said. Source: Chicago Tribune via The Detroit News View full article

The next-generation Opel Insignia has been caught for the first time as it ventures out into the real world. We only tell so much from the spy shots since Opel has done a decent job of fitting a fair amount of camouflage to the vehicle. But there is one element we can pull out of the shots. It seems Opel has taken a liking to the Audi A7's styling that they are copying the distinctive roofline for the Insignia. Along with the A7 inspired roofline, Opel is adding around four inches to the overall length to better compete with the Skoda Superb - a Volkswagen Passat sized model. Now this brings up an interesting question for the U.S. market. Buick sells the Insignia as the Regal. As Autoblog reports, the next Opel Insignia will only be sold as a five-door and wagon in Europe. Now will this mean Buick will get the five-door or is Opel working a sedan variant? We can't say. Source: Autoblog View full article

It's even better when you are behind the wheel.

Volkswagen may have put the Phaeton redesign on the back burner to improve profitability. Bloomberg has learned from sources that the German automaker is looking at ways of lowering the costs of materials and production, despite a new version of the Phaeton is ready to go. The Phaeton was never a big seller for Volkswagen. However, the model seemed to find a foothold in Asian markets - notably China and South Korea - in 2010 and 2011. But the fallout of the Chinese automaker and the age of the Phaeton has caused sales to drop. With the possibility of Volkswagen reworking the Phaeton, this could signal a change at the German automaker from the Piech era where profit making seemed to be off the radar, to one that cares about it more. It is surprising VW is sticking with the Phaeton, said Tim Urquhart, a London-based analyst at market researcher IHS Automotive. “And given the current drive to save costs at VW, it is even more lucky to survive.” Source: Bloomberg View full article

The fourth-generation Toyota Prius has made an early debut thanks to spy photographer who caught the vehicle uncovered at a photo shoot. There's a lot of the Mirai hydrogen vehicle in the new Prius' design. Such details include very busy front-end with split opening grille and forked headlights, to a similar side profile and blacked-out C-Pillar. The Prius will be keeping the liftback shape that it has been using since the seconf-generation model. We don't know any details on the next-generation Prius hybrid powertrain, but Green Car Reports says the next Prius will use Toyota's new global modular platform and possibly have all-wheel drive as an option. We'll get our first look at the next-generation Prius next month. Source: Green Car Reports View full article

Hyundai has released a teaser drawing of the next Elantra and it looks nothing like the current model. The drawing shows a model that is heavily influenced by the current Genesis. Such details as a large grille, slim headlights, bold character line, and sloping roofline are apparent here. "The All-new Elantra captures the car’s unique design characteristics that really place this model in a class of its own. The subtle and innovative appearance enhancements reflect Hyundai Motor’s vision for design. Furthermore, this car indicates a move from traditional to modern styling by communicating the new model’s comfort, fashion and sporty feel,” said Hyundai President and Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer. Now Hyundai says the Elantra will debut in November at the L.A. Auto Show. Source: Hyundai Press Release is on Page 2 Sleek All-New Elantra Reveals its Dynamic Impression Style of All-new Elantra places Hyundai Motor compact sedan in a class of its own Appealing active character lines and creatively designed wheel arches August 19, 2015 – Hyundai Motor is excited to provide customers a glimpse of the forthcoming All-new Elantra’s modern looks and unique design ahead of the car’s launch just around the corner. The new model’s dynamic and sleek style received the approval of a recent consumer study, where the Elantra’s striking appearance saw it ranked ahead of key rivals. Designers of the All-new Elantra identified a series of innovative design aspects that give the car an unrivalled status and unique presence. Clever use of active character lines evoke a dynamic, stylish and confident appearance, building on the global popularity of the model. Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer at Hyundai Motor Company said: “The All-new Elantra captures the car’s unique design characteristics that really place this model in a class of its own. The subtle and innovative appearance enhancements reflect Hyundai Motor’s vision for design. Furthermore, this car indicates a move from traditional to modern styling by communicating the new model’s comfort, fashion and sporty feel.” In the newly released exterior rendering, the car’s innovative design points become clear. Noticeably, the large hexagonal grille is paired with slim and sporty headlights for a feeling of energy, while clean and refined surfaces build on the active stance of the All-new Elantra. Additionally, wheel arches with a goal of expressing the car’s dynamic road presence, help to set the new model apart from other compact sedans. View full article

Funny you mention the UAW, Bloomberg has an article talking about that exact thing. Bloomberg: Detroit Carmakers Consider Imports to Gain Leverage

Last week, we introduced to the Scion iA. This model is part of a two-prong attack for Scion to get themselves out of the dark hole they currently find themselves in. The second prong to this attack is the Scion iM. Like the Scion iA, Scion turned to another maker - in this case Toyota - to see about using a current model to help revitalize their lineup. What they got was the European-market Toyota Auris hatchback as a replacement for the boxy xB. We came away impressed with the iA, will the iM be the same? The only real difference between the Auris sold around the world and the iM that will be sold in the states is the change from Toyota to Scion badging. Otherwise, the iM is one of the best-looking vehicles that Scion, let alone Toyota has brought out in a while. Such details as a narrow grille, 17-inch wheels with a black outline, and distinctive side sculpting give the iM a sleek look in a class that tends to play it safe. Moving inside, the iM isn’t going to set the world on fire in terms of looks. The dashboard is a simple design with a mix of hard and soft touch materials. Scion did a couple of things to the interior to make it look somewhat premium. Along the bottom edge of the dashboard on the passenger side and center stack, there is a piece of soft-touch plastic with stitching. Also, the center stack is finished with piano black plastic. Interior space is average for the class with the iM offering 90.4 cubic feet of passenger volume and 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space. What that means is that you and a few your friends will be comfortable no matter where they sit and be able to carry all of their stuff. You’ll also be able to expand that space with a set of 60/40 split folding seats. Standard equipment is quite generous on the iM with automatic climate control, heated outside mirrors, 4.2-inch TFT screen in the instrument cluster, six-speaker audio system, and a 7-inch touchscreen. The touchscreen is easy to use thanks to a simple interface and clear graphics, but Toyota’s infotainment system could use an update to make it slightly modern. Power comes from the Corolla Eco’s 1.8L four-cylinder 137 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. There is a choice of either a six-speed manual or a CVT. For fuel economy, the iM is rated at 27 City/36 Highway/31 Combined for the manual, and 28 City/37 Highway/32 Combined for the CVT. The 1.8L has to be worked to get to its power zone. Now this would be great if the engine wanting to be worked with a nice engine note. This isn't happening in the iM as the engine sounds very unpleasant, telling you that you don't want to push the engine at all. Not helping matters is the standard six-speed manual transmission which has long throws and doesn’t feel precise when you put it into gear. Some people we talked to after the event said the CVT was the better as it seems more in tune with the engine’s behavior. We should state here that the particular iM we drove was equipped with some TRD parts - lowering springs and strut bar. This means we have some different ride impressions of this iM than other iMs available at the event. We’ll have some thoughts on the ride of the standard iM when we get one in for review in the future. On some back roads, the iM felt planted and showed little sign of body roll. However, the iM’s steering felt rubbery and didn’t have much feel. But for most owners, this isn’t such a big deal. In city and highway driving, the iM did a mostly decent job of dealing with bumps and imperfections. Some bumps did make it into the cabin, mostly due to the TRD suspension components fitted on our iM. Road and wind noise were about average for the class. The iM follows Scion’s ‘Mono spec’ mantra. That means every iA will come equipped with automatic climate control, 7-inch touchscreen, 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, and a number of other features. The only real choices for a buyer are color, transmission, and if they want to spring for navigation. Pricing for the Scion iM starts at $19,255 for the manual, and $19,995 for the CVT. The prices put the iM in a good spot as many competitors such as the Mazda and Ford Focus are a bit more to match the iM in terms of features. After spending some time with the iM, we came away somewhat mixed. While Scion has done a lot in terms of filling the iM with a lot a value, the powertrain doesn’t seem quite in tune with the vehicle. Now a lot this comes down to the manual transmission which isn’t a good fit. Pair this with the TRD parts which tended to make the ride a little bit worse, and it has left us confused about our feelings. We’ll admit that Scion is on the right track with iM with trying to reach a more mainstream audience, but we need some more drive time with it before we say whether or not it's a good fit for Scion. Disclaimer: Scion Invited Cheers & Gears to a Two-Day Driving Event In Grand Rapids Year: 2016 Make: Scion Model: iM Trim: N/A Engine: 1.8L DOHC, VALVEMATIC, 16-Valve Four-Cylinder Driveline: Front-Wheel Drive; Six-Speed Manual, CVT Horsepower @ RPM: 137 @ 6100 Torque @ RPM: 126 @ 4000 Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 27/36/31 (Manual), 28/37/32 (Automatic) Curb Weight: 2,943 lbs (Manual), 3,031 lbs (Automatic) Prices: $19,255 (Manual), $19,995 (Automatic) - Prices includes a $795 Destination Charge On Sale: September 1st View full article