William Maley

I think a Jaguar executive said they don't need to sell a lot to be profitable. But they are also expanding their key products such as the XE and F-Pace.

That is the first time I have heard that (the scary front end). Inside is very cozy. Perfect for the cold weather I was driving the K900 in.

A new BMW M3/M4 is here and the competitors are coming out of the woodwork. Cadillac has shown off the ATS-V; Lexus is selling the RC-F; and Mercedes-Benz has the C63. Now a report from Autocar says Jaguar is working on their entrant. Sources tell the publication that the hot XE - possibly named XE-R - will use the V8 from F-Type Convertible with 495 horsepower. This will come paired with an eight-speed automatic that will be tuned to deliver more aggressive shifts. Interestingly, sources say the V8 was easier to fit than the current lineup of engines for the XE, including the new Ingenium four-cylinder engine. No word if Jaguar plans on using any lightweight materials, but the report does say the XE-R will use revised dampers found found on the XE S. A time frame for this hot XE wasn't given, but a source says it could be awhile since there are more important projects ongoing - such as the F-Pace Crossover. Source: Autocar View full article

I’m going to list out some auto manufacturers and I want you to tell me which one doesn’t belong. Ready? Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Kia, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz. If you said Kia, then you'd be correct. Why is Kia on this list? For a very good reason. Like its sister car company Hyundai, Kia has introduced a luxury flagship. Called the K900, this is the automaker’s attempt to take on the old guard in the luxury flagship class. It may seem like a joke; Kia taking on the likes of the Audi A8, BMW 7-Series, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. But after spending a week in one, I think Kia has a very legitimate chance in this market. Before we fully dive into the vehicle itself, let’s talk about the K900 name. As someone pointed out, the name sounds like it should be on adventure with Doctor Who. In other markets, the K900 is called K9 or Quoris. Either one of those names would be much better than the one we got. The K900’s look reminds me of the Cadenza full-size sedan. Park the models next to each other and aside from a few design items, it is hard to tell them apart. Both models have a rounded front end with the tiger-mouth grille and large headlights - the K900 boasts active LED headlights. Other similarities include similar side profiles - multi-spoke 19-inch wheels and faux air vents on the fenders give away the K900 - and rear ends. Usually I like Kia’s designs, but I kind of wished they went a little bit further to make the K900 stand out. That said, if you were to ask me if I would go for the K900 or its sister car, the Hyundai Equus, I would pick the K900 every time. At least Kia has done a bit more work to make the K900’s interior feel a bit more special. Acres of Nappa leather lined the dash and door panels, along with wood trim. Driver and passenger get a set power-adjustable seats with memory and ventilation to provide luxury accommodations. Back seat passengers get acres of head and legroom. If you opt for the VIP package like on my tester, rear-seat passengers will find power adjustments which allows them to recline the seat. You won’t find an ottoman pop-out from the bottom of the seat, which is ok because the K900 isn’t quite long enough to pull that off. Other parts of the VIP package include four-zone climate control, ventilated seats for the rear, and power-closing rear doors. Everybody will be fighting for a space in the back, not the front.On the technology front, the K900 gets a 12.3-inch TFT screen which acts as the gauge cluster. The screen is very vibrant and allows you to customize the layout to fit your needs. A 9.2-inch screen in the center stack displays navigation, infotainment, climate, and Kia’s UVO e-services. At first, I thought the touchscreen was broken as it wasn’t responding to anything I touched. A moment later, I realized that the system was controlled by a BMW-like controller in the center console. Cue self-inflicted dope slap. It takes a few moments to figure how to work the controller and buttons that surround it, but once you figure it out, it becomes second nature. For thoughts on power and ride, see page 2 Power comes from a 5.0L V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with an eight-speed automatic. The engine is a smooth operator providing adequate power from idle to redline. More importantly is how quiet and refined the engine goes about its business. You only notice a slight murmur coming from under the hood when accelerating, meaning it's quite easy to go well above the posted speed limit without noticing. The eight-speed automatic provides silky-smooth shifts. Fuel economy is slightly disappointing with the EPA rating the K900 at 15 City/23 Highway/18 Combined. My week saw an average of 17 MPG. The best word to describe the K900’s ride is wafting. The coil suspension is tuned in such a way that many road imperfections and bumps are soaked up. Helping matters is a lot of sound deadening material and laminated glass throughout which blots the noises of the outside world, making this a perfect long-distance traveler. Don’t expect the K900 to give the old guard a run for their money in the athletics though. The K900 doesn’t liked being pushed at all as it leans through the corners and the steering is quite numb. There is a ‘Sport’ mode which changes the instrument cluster to be more like a race car and tries to give the steering a bit more weight. But it only shows how K900 wasn’t built to be sporty at all. It’s better to leave the K900 in either normal or Eco and drive it like a relaxed cruiser.It may seem bit crazy and very daring that Kia is selling a luxury flagship twenty years after their first vehicle arrived in the U.S. But if the recent trend of Kia’s product lineup and Hyundai Equus is anything to go by, the K900 has a real shot. Kia did their homework when working on this flagship and it shows. The K900 has many attributes that a lot luxury buyers want, for a price that will shock a lot of people. Yes, the K900 does have a Kia badge which may cause some to turn their nose up at, and there are a few items I think Kia needs to fix. But if you’re willing to take a chance on the Kia K900, what you’ll end up with is an excellent luxury flagship, and a bit of leftover change. Disclaimer: Kia Provided the K900 V8, Insurance, and One Tank of Gas Year: 2015 Make: Kia Model: K900 Trim: V8 Engine: 5.0L Direct-Injected V8 Driveline: Eight-Speed Automatic, Rear-Wheel Drive Horsepower @ RPM: 420 @ 6,400 Torque @ RPM: 376 @ 5,000 Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 15/23/18 Curb Weight: 4,555 lbs Location of Manufacture: Gwangmyeong, South Korea Base Price: $59,500 As Tested Price: $66,400 (Includes $900.00 Destination Charge) Options: VIP Package - $6,000 View full article

To be fair, Vans aren't designed to be sexiest machines on earth. They are designed with a purpose to used for work.

Previously, the market for vans was stagnate. Old models paired with poor optimism in the business world made vans appealing as cold liver and onions. But Bloomberg reports that vans are making a comeback. Data from Edmunds shows that van sales by unit have more than double in the past five years, outpacing the pace set by the auto industry overall. More surprising is that in the first quarter, sales of vans climbed another third. If this growth trend continues, its expected that 475,000 vans will be sold in the year. So what is causing this explosion in van sales? Two factors. First are new vans arriving in showrooms. Ford. Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Ram have introduced new vans that are more efficient and boast more space. "The big trend that we’ve seen is customers being able to right-size their vehicle for the job that they need. We had a show where we had the Mustang GT500 and the conversion van, and the van actually drew as much attention,” said Yaro Hetman, the brand manager for the Transit. Secondly is the resurgent of specific jobs; skill trades, deliveries, and transportation. The National Federation of Independent Business says the optimism in business has been growing in the past few years. With this increased optimism, comes sales. Source: Bloomberg View full article

This morning, Volvo announced that it will be building its first pant in North America. Berkeley County, South Carolina has been chosen as the place where the Swedish automaker will invest up to $500 million for a new facility that is expected to go online in 2018. The new plant will employ up 2,000 people when the plant opens and 8,000 people in the longer term. Why did Volvo pick South Carolina? The automaker explained that the state offered an existing infrastructure and manufacturing base, along with an easy access to international ports. That last point is key as the plant will be building vehicles for both export and local consumption. “We’re excited to build our first American factory in South Carolina and we look forward to helping grow the local community and economy. We were impressed with the friendliness, work ethic and passion of the people in the Charleston area,” said Lex Kerssemakers, President and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America. Volvo hasn't said what vehicles will be built at the plant at this time. Source: Volvo Press Release is on Page 2 Volvo Cars selects South Carolina for its first American factory (ROCKLEIGH, NJ – May 11, 2015) Volvo Cars has chosen Berkeley County, South Carolina as the location of its first American factory, investing up to $500 Million in a facility with a capacity to initially produce up to 100,000 cars per year. The Berkeley County factory, located outside of Charleston, will make latest generation Volvo models for sale in the United States and for export. Construction will begin in early autumn 2015, with the first vehicles expected to roll off the assembly line in 2018. Once completed, Volvo Cars will be able to manufacture vehicles on three continents, underscoring its position as a truly global car maker. It already operates two plants in Europe and two in China. The new US plant forms part of an ambitious medium term expansion plan to double global sales, boost market share and lift profitability. “This new global industrial footprint and a complete product renewal forms the foundation for our growth and profitability targets,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Car Corporation. Volvo began importing cars to the US in 1955. With the development of an American factory, the company crosses an important threshold from an automotive importer to a domestic manufacturer. “We’re excited to build our first American factory in South Carolina and we look forward to helping grow the local community and economy.” said Lex Kerssemakers, President and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America, “We were impressed with the friendliness, work ethic and passion of the people in the Charleston area.” The decision to choose Berkeley County was taken as a result of its easy access to international ports and infrastructure, a well-trained labor force, attractive investment environment and experience in the high tech manufacturing sector. Volvo Cars estimates that the factory will employ up to 2,000 people over the next decade and up to 4,000 people in the longer term. An economic impact analysis compiled by Dr. Frank Hefner at the College of Charleston estimates that, for an initial 2,000 direct jobs, more than 8,000 total jobs would be created as a result. The plant would contribute approximately $4.8 billion in total economic output on an annual basis. “This is a landmark moment and truly a great day in South Carolina as we welcome Volvo Cars’ first American manufacturing plant to our state,” said Nikki Haley, Governor of South Carolina, “Volvo’s presence and commitment to the community will be felt for decades to come. We are proud to have this global leader in car manufacturing join and strengthen South Carolina’s automotive industry.” readySC™, a division of the S.C. Technical College System, is assisting with the recruitment and training for positions at the new plant. All information on hiring will be posted as available at the readySC portal, readysc.org/volvo/. Potential suppliers or vendors interested in doing business with the company should contact the South Carolina Department of Commerce’s Buy South Carolina program by emailing [email protected]. View full article