William Maley

Infiniti has been making the auto show rounds with their Q50 Eau Rouge concept which previews a possible competitor to the likes of BMW's M and Mercedes-Benz's AMG division. According to a source, the Q50 Eau Rouge concept could become a reality. Auto Express learned from a source at the at the Beijing Motor Show that momentum is building for the high performance sedan. “At this stage it would take more to stop the car getting made than to start things. There is a real buzz about it,” said the source. No word on when a production version of the Q50 Eau Rouge could be shown. Source: Auto Express 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

There appears to be three different Chevrolet Cruzes in play; the refreshed 2015 Cruze, the Chinese market Cruze, and the upcoming 2016 Cruze that was recently caught by a spy photographer. Caught undisguised, the 2016 Cruze shares a number of design items with the Chinese-market version that give it a somewhat tidy, if somewhat boring design. The front end wears a nose that is similar to the Sonic with the spilt grille and sculpted hood. The overall profile reminds us of the current Honda Civic. What is still unknown is what will power the next Cruze, but one or more of the engines from the Next-Generation Ecotec family going into production later this year is most likely. We expect to learn about that in the coming year or so. Source: Automobile Magazine 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

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx wants to increase the maximum fine for automakers who fail to recall vehicles in a timely fashion from the current $35 million fine to a much more painful $300 million fine. The increase is part of a new transportation reauthorization bill whose primary focus is to fund maintenance for highways, bridges, and other infrastructures. On a conference call with reporters, Foxx said the fines on automakers need to be “more than a rounding error” to act as a deterrent. The department “wants to make sure there’s an ability to make it count and ensure that there’s enough of an effect across the industry,” Foxx said. The bill also includes giving the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the power to require auto manufacturers to remove automobiles from being sold if a defect is discovered. It would also force rental car companies to repair recalled vehicles before they are rented again. 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

The holiday road trip: A time where the family fills up the vehicle with presents and luggage to head out and enjoy time with relatives and friends. But for many, the trip becomes a miserable experience with kids arguing and getting into fights over the stupidest things, while the parents begin yelling at their kids to stop it or we’re pulling to the side of the road. Such was the case of many holiday trips I took as a child. So this past Christmas, my parents asked if I would be willing to drive everyone up to Northern Michigan. I said yes and began to figure out which vehicle would be able to carry all our stuff, getting through the white Christmas, and keep the peace with everyone. So I decided to call in 2014 Infiniti QX80 as I thought it would be to fulfill those needs listed. Was it able to? Let's get something out of the way with the 2014 Infiniti QX80, it’s a vehicle you cannot miss it. With a design that looks like it came out an amine and a abundance of chrome that can give the Cadillac Escalade a formidable challenge on bling-ness. But the overall design is a bit ungainly. Infiniti’s designers tried their best to fit the current design theme of the flowing curves onto this large vehicle and the results aren’t pretty. The addition of the silver paint on my tester didn’t help the design at all. I will say the design did grow on me during the week, but I think a black or a dark blue would help out immensely. Moving inside, the QX80 story gets a bit better. The first thing about the interior is that it is cavernous. Front seat passengers get a set of plush leather seats with power adjustments and heat/cooling. The second row was outfitted with a pair of captain chairs with heat. Passengers sitting back here were very comfortable thanks to immense amount head and legroom. They were also impressed that the vehicle had the optional DVD system with screens in the back. There is a third row, but its best reserved for small kids as legroom is verging on non-existent. The third-row also highlights a big problem with the QX80: Cargo Space. If the third row is up, you only get a paltry 16.6 Cubic Feet. The Nissan Versa Note I had a week after had 2.2 cubic feet more space. A subcompact hatchback having more space than a full-size SUV; anyone else seeing a problem here? Thankfully, space does increase when you fold the third row. As for interior appointments, the QX80 is top notch with real wood and aluminum trim, and padded surfaces throughout. Build quality is very impressive. Standard equipment was Infiniti’s infotainment system with navigation. The system is very easy to use thanks to understandable interface and a set of physical buttons to get you directly to different parts of the system. However the interface is starting to look a bit dated when compared to the competition. I hope Infiniti has something up their sleeve in the coming year or so. For powertrain, ride, and final thoughts, see the next page. Powering this massive beast is Infiniti’s 5.6L V8 engine with 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed automatic transmission is the only choice, but there is a choice between two-wheel and Infiniti’s All-Mode 4WD system. My tester came with the latter. This V8 engine had no problem of moving the QX80’s curb weight of 5,878 pounds. In fact, you didn’t think it weighed that much thanks to the engine’s low-end punch and the seven-speed delivering smooth and responsive shifts. I had to keep telling myself this is an SUV, not a muscle car. With all of that performance, you’ll pay dearly for gas. The EPA rates the 2014 QX80 4WD at 14 City/20 Highway/16 Combined. My average for the week was 15 MPG. One other place where the QX80 shined was in the ride and handling department. The QX80 was a perfect choice as a long-distance cruiser (aside from the fuel economy). The fully independent suspension setup did an impressive job of making even some of the worst roads in Northern Michigan feel like nothing. This is impressive when you take into account the QX80 was fitted with the optional twenty-two inch wheels. Wind, road, and engine noise are kept to a whisper, something needed for a long-distance runner. More surprising was how the QX80 handled. I was expecting the QX80 to handle like a boat in choppy waters; flopping all over the place. That was not the case in the QX80 as lean and body roll were kept to minimum. This is thanks to a optional Hydraulic Body Motion Control System which varies suspension travel to keep the vehicle level. I wished the same could be said for the steering which is light and somewhat numb on feel. One other note I should mention on the QX80. For how big the QX80 is, it happens to be very agile. Even in some tight parking spots, the QX80 was able to get in without doing the whole pull in forward, then back up, and repeat dance. After coming home from the holidays with the QX80, I would say it made the trip very painless. A comfortable ride, luxury goodies galore, and quietness made this a perfect vehicle to keep the peace and make everyone happy. If you've got the coin and are willing to live with that design, then Infiniti has an SUV for you. Cheers: Able To Keep The Peace, Luxury Appointments, V8 Performance, Dual Personality of Suspension Jeers: Drinks Gas Like Its Going Out Of Style, Cargo Space, Exterior Design, Dated Infotainment System Disclaimer: Infiniti Provided the QX80, Insurance, and One Tank of Gas Year: 2014 Make: Infiniti Model: QX80 Trim: N/A Engine: 5.6L V8 Driveline: Seven-Speed Automatic Transmission, Four-Wheel Drive Horsepower @ RPM: 400 @ 5,800 Torque @ RPM: 413 @ 4,000 Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 14/20/16 Curb Weight: 5,878 lbs Location of Manufacture: Yukuhashi, Japan Base Price: $64,450.00 As Tested Price: $79,095.00 (Includes $995.00 Destination Charge) Options: Deluxe Touring Package - $4,650.00 Technology Package - $3,250.00 Theater Package - $3,100.00 Wheel & Tire Package - $2,450.00 Cargo Mat, Net, & First Aid - $200.00 William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

Ah yeah.. Found him last week via Spotify and been jamming to it ever since

This is what I said on twitter about this:

From the 'this isn't April Fools Day' file, Mercedes-Benz is considering splitting its SUV lineup into two parts; those with off-road capabilities and those without. According to Automotive News, the company is planning to this after they launch a production version of the Concept Coupé SUV which will compete with the BMW X6. The new model is expected to arrive sometime next year. "The Concept Coupe SUV previews a four-door, coupe-styled model that will appeal to customers who want a sportily designed vehicle with a high seating position, " said Thomas Weber, Mercedes-Benz's r&d chief. Weber also hinted that a coupe-styled version of the new GLA-Class crossover. 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

Two U.S. Senators are calling on the U.S. Department of Transportation to urge owners of General Motors vehicles involved in the ignition switch recall to stop driving them until they are fixed. Senators Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx urging him to ask owners to stop driving their vehicles. "GM has indicated that it could take until October, 2014, before it can complete all the needed repairs. Every day that unrepaired vehicles remain on the road increases the risk of more injuries, deaths and damage," the two senators wrote. But there comes a problem with this. Earlier this month, GM began to send out the replacement parts to dealers to fix the affected vehicles. However with 2.6 million vehicles that need to be repaired, it will take months for the company to fix them. 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