William Maley

In light of GM's massive 1.6 million vehicle recall and Toyota's massive $1.2 billion settlement over the unattended acceleration problem, two U.S. Senators introduced legislation to require automakers to provide more information concerning incidents that involve the loss of human life. Senators Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut introduced the Early Warning Reporting System Improvement Act yesterday. The bill would require automobile and equipment manufacturers to submit accident reports or other documents automatically to NHTSA’s Early Warning Reporting database. NHTSA cannot access this information unless they request them. The bill would also require NHTSA to make information it gets from automakers available in a searchable, user-friendly format so drivers and experts can look and evaluate potential defects. “A massive information breakdown at NHTSA has led to deadly vehicle breakdowns on our roads. The Department of Transportation has the authority to require critical safety information be made publicly available, but it has never used its authority. We need the Early Warning Reporting system to provide actual early warnings to ensure the public is informed and possible defects are fully investigated,” said Markey. Safety experts say this is a good start, but more needs to be done. “In light of the problems revealed with Toyota unintended acceleration and Cobalt air bags, we know EWR is broken and needs to be fixed. Auto companies have run millions of defective vehicles through loopholes in EWR, including not having to submit documents on deaths caused by defects when they first learn of them.” said Clarence Ditlow, executive director for the Center for Auto Safety. 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

Despite GM's recall of over 1.6 million vehicles due to faulty ignition switches, two new lawsuits allege that the company hasn't recalled them all. Bloomberg reports that one lawsuit has been filed in San Francisco's federal court states that faulty ignition switch problem is present in the 2010 Cobalt, a model that isn't in the current recall by GM. Another lawsuit filed in Alabama states that GM knew of defects with Cobalts built before April 2009 due in part to technical service bulletins issued to dealers. The TSBs stated that keys may "stick" or "bind" in the switch of non-recalled Cobalts and other vehicles. “We will not comment specifically on the suit or pending litigation. We are recalling all of the vehicles that were manufactured with the specific ignition switch involved in this condition,” said General Motors in a statement. 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

The elephant in the room with diesel hot hatches is the Volkswagen GTD, but another automaker wants to give it a run for its money. Auto Express reports that Ford is planning a Focus ST with a diesel heart. Mark Fields, Ford’s chief operating officer made the announcement at a dinner during the Geneva Motor Show. The Focus ST Diesel will utilize a 2.0L four-cylinder diesel with 182 horsepower. The engine can hit 60 MPH in eight seconds or so. The diesel model will feature the same suspension and steering tune as the standard ST. No word on a release date, but the model will be for Europe only. 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

With Holden's operations in Australia coming to a close in 2017, questions have arisen of what will happen to Holden Special Vehicles. Motoring.com.au reports that HSV's future might lie with Chevrolet. Motoring.com.au had the chance to speak with Ryan Walkinshaw, Chairman of the Walkinshaw Group which runs HSV. He explained that the group is considering working their magic on Chevrolet vehicles. But he goes onto say that General Motors has the final say on this. “We think something like that (CSV) could work. It depends on what products are available. It’s going to depend on the discussions with GM going forward. There’s a lot of factors we have to take into account. But I think we are pretty confident in what we do," said Walkinshaw. “We know we could deliver some pretty good products outside what we do with Commodore in Australia and we have proven that plenty of times before with our history and with what we are doing currently for other manufacturers.” Now if this comes to fruition, the question of where these vehicles will be built arises. Walkinshaw says the company would like to stay with its manufacturing base in Clayton, but is willing to move to where the vehicles are being built. “Ideally, it would be a nice simple transition to just get the cars off the ship part-finished and us to finish them off here. It would also keep us as a company that genuinely makes Australian cars and makes them in Australia, which would be great,"said Walkinshaw. “But if the opportunity arises and we have no other option then we are happy to look at manufacturing abroad and importing them as well.” Source: Motoring.com.au 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 US House Energy and Commerce Committee announced late this week that they have scheduled a hearing on the General Motors Ignition Switch recall on April 1st. Testifying in the hearing will be GM CEO Mary Barra and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration head David Friedman. The hearing will look into the timing and response of GM and NHTSA over the problem and recall. "We look forward to hearing from both Mary Barra and Administrator Friedman. Their testimony is critical to understanding what the company and NHTSA knew about the safety problems, when they knew it, and what was done about it," said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA) in a statement. Now the House Energy and Commerce Committee admits that the two people being called to testify didn't know about the problems till they came to their posts. Source: US House Energy and Commerce Committee Press Release is on Page 2 GM CEO Mary Barra and Lead Federal Vehicle Safety Official Expected to Testify April 1 March 20, 2014 WASHINGTON, DC – Bipartisan House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders today announced that General Motors Company CEO Mary Barra will testify at an Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. The committee has also invited National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Acting Administrator David Friedman to testify on the same day. "We look forward to hearing from both Mary Barra and Administrator Friedman. Their testimony is critical to understanding what the company and NHTSA knew about the safety problems, when they knew it, and what was done about it," said full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA). "The problems originated long before Barra and Friedman took the helms of their respective organizations, but their actions and input now, as our investigation proceeds, will be essential to getting answers about what went wrong. We want to know if this tragedy could have been prevented and what can be done to ensure the loss of life due to safety failures like this don't happen again." "I look forward to this hearing so we can find out from GM and NHTSA how this happened and why these dangerous vehicles were not fixed in a timely fashion," said full committee Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO). Additional hearing details, the Majority Memorandum, a witness list, and witness testimony will be available here as they are posted. BACKGROUND: The committee has opened a bipartisan investigation into the General Motors Company's (GM) and NHTSA's response to consumer complaints related to stalling, airbag non-deployment, and ignition switch problems. GM announced a recall in February covering over 1.6 million vehicles worldwide to correct the problems, but reports indicate drivers first complained of the safety defects over 10 years ago. The company has stated that the defects may have been linked to 31 frontal crashes and a dozen fatalities. Committee staff has now been briefed by both NHTSA and GM on the recalls, and currently awaits production of the documents and information requested last week. View full article

Today at a media briefing, General Motors unveiled their next-generation EcoTec engine family. The family will go into production later this year and promises to be more refined and efficient than before. The engine family is made up of eleven different three and four-cylinder engines ranging in displacement of 1.0 to 1.5 liters. Both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged engines will be on offer and the engines have been designed with hybrid and alternate fuel configurations in the future. Power will range from 75 to 165 horsepower and 70 to 184 pound-feet or torque. "The new Ecotec architecture represents the most advanced and efficient family of small-car gas engines in GM's history. Along with performance and efficiency targets, we've also aimed for segment-leading refinement with low noise and vibration - and we've hit the bulls-eye," said Tom Sutter, GM's global chief engineer. The first vehicles to get the latest EcoTec engines will be the Opel Adam and the Chinese-Market Chevrolet Cruze. The Adam will get a new turbocharged 1.0L three-cylinder that is 20 percent more efficient than the 1.6L four-cylinder it replaces. Meanwhile, the Chinese-Market Cruze replaces the 1.6L four-cylinder with a new turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder with 148 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. GM plans to roll out the engine lineup to twenty-seven different vehicles globally. Oddly, GM hasn't announced any plans for the U.S. for the new EcoTec family. We'll likely hear about that later this year. Source: General Motors Press Release is on Page 2 New Modular Ecotec Engines are More Adaptable, Efficient Modular architecture streamlines powertrain portfolio, reduces manufacturing complexity Global design and manufacturing processes enhance adaptability, with 11 engine variants ranging from 1.0L to 1.5L Up to 2.5 million annual production at five global plants by 2017 DETROIT – A new generation of Ecotec small-displacement engines streamlines General Motors’ global powertrain portfolio with a modular architecture that broadens its adaptability to global markets and reduces manufacturing complexity – while offering customers leading-edge efficiency, refinement and durability. The new engines were developed for GM’s global vehicle portfolio and will power many of the company’s highest-volume small cars and compact crossovers – including the next-generation Chevrolet Cruze specifically tailored for China, which launches in 2014 as a 2015 model. By 2017, more than 2.5 million new Ecotec engines are projected to be built annually in at least five manufacturing locations around the globe: Flint, Mich. (U.S.); Shenyang, China; Szentgotthárd, Hungary; Toluca, Mexico; and Changwon, South Korea. The Flint facility alone represents an investment of more than $200 million in technology and tooling to support the engines’ production. “Transportation solutions vary around the world and GM is committed to developing engines matched to the needs of the regions where they’re sold,” said Steve Kiefer, GM vice president, Global Powertrain Engineering. “The new engine family is designed to achieve segment-leading refinement and efficiency, and will make its way into five GM brands and 27 models by the 2017 model year.” The new Ecotec portfolio will include 11 engines, with three- and four-cylinder variants ranging from 1.0L to 1.5L – including turbocharged versions – and power ratings ranging from 75 horsepower (56 kW) to 165 horsepower (123 kW), and torque ranging from 70 lb-ft (95 Nm) to 184 lb-ft (250 Nm). The architecture is also designed to support hybrid propulsion systems and alternative fuels. The first production applications include a 1.0L turbocharged three-cylinder for the Opel ADAM in Europe, and 1.4L turbocharged and 1.5L naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines for the 2015 next-generation Chevrolet Cruze in China. The turbocharged variants enable the engines to deliver the power and torque of larger-displacement engines with the efficiency of smaller engines. For example, the turbocharged 1.0L three-cylinder used in the Opel ADAM makes as much power as the naturally aspirated 1.6L four-cylinder it replaces – with an estimated 20-percent improvement in efficiency. In fact, the new Ecotec family is on the leading edge of efficiency, with the new 1.4L turbo up to five percent more efficient than the 1.4L turbo engine it will replace. The new Ecotec engines also deliver segment-challenging refinement. Noise intensity is up to 50-percent quieter than Volkswagen’s EA211 1.4L four-cylinder and up to 25-percent quieter than Ford’s 1.0L turbo three-cylinder. Clean-sheet design The new Ecotec engines represent a clean-sheet design and engineering process, leveraging the diverse experience of GM’s global resources. Technologies such as central direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing, turbocharging and variable intake manifold airflow help achieve efficiency goals with broad power bands, for an optimal balance of strong performance and lower fuel consumption. “The new Ecotec architecture represents the most advanced and efficient family of small-car gas engines in GM’s history,” said Tom Sutter, global chief engineer. “Along with performance and efficiency targets, we’ve also aimed for segment-leading refinement with low noise and vibration – and we’ve hit the bulls-eye.” Modularity in parts – such as four-cylinder and three-cylinder blocks – that share bore spacing, bore diameter, liners and other dimensions, reduces complexity while increasing the flexibility to quickly adapt the architecture for new applications. The new Ecotec engines are calibrated to run on regular unleaded gas – even the high-output turbo variants. The new 1.4L turbo for the 2015 next-generation Chevrolet Cruze in China is estimated at 148 horsepower (110 kW) and 173 lb-ft of torque (235 Nm). The 1.5L is rated at an estimated 113 horsepower (84 kW) and 108 lb-ft of torque (146 Nm). In China, Cruze models with the 1.4L turbo engine will also feature an all-new dual-clutch gearbox. View full article

Usually the rule with vehicles is that the older they get, the heavier and bigger they become. The Ford Taurus mostly follows this rule. Outside the car is big and heavy, while the interior isn't. It can be best described as a rolling sensory deprivation tank. However a new report from Edmunds says the next-generation Taurus plans to rectify that. A source tells Edmunds that Ford plans a major weight-loss plan for the Taurus. It begins with a modified Fusion platform that will be extended and widened for the Taurus. "The problem with today's Taurus is that it is overweight and even the high performance SHO is not really competitive. With all the power from the (365-horsepower) V6 EcoBoost, it is pretty hard to overcome the amount of mass that the SHO has to move." The Taurus SHO "actually weighs about as much as the stretched Audi A8 L. Of course, Audi uses an extensive amount of aluminum, but it is a much bigger car," the source said. Another item that Edmunds reported was the Taurus getting a nine-speed automatic transmission to help with fuel economy. 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

We've been hearing for awhile rumors of a Infiniti flagship. Most recently, reports have pointed towards a model that would compete with the likes of the Porsche Panamera. Now a new report from Motor Trend is spilling a lot information out on this possible flagship. The report says the new flagship will likely be a four-door version of Infiniti's Essence concept wearing either the Q80 or Q90 nameplate. Engines will include a new 3.0L turbo V6 hybrid with 550 horsepower and a 3.7L twin-turbo V6 hybrid with 700 horsepower. Both engines will feed power to a standard all-wheel drive system. “We are not planning to create a Mercedes S-Class competitor. Our goal is to launch a revised four-door version of the Essence,” a source said. The new flagship is expected to arrive in 2017 or 2018 with a pricetag of $100,000. Source: Motor Trend 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

Well I have an XTS VSport coming in for review tommrow.. Can't wait to see how Twin-Turbo V6 fares in the XTS.

For almost a decade, Cadillac has been using a three-letter naming system which is (insert letter here) followed by T and S. Small sedans such as the ATS start towards the beginning of the alphabet while larger sedans such as the XTS go towards the end. However, not all of Cadillac's vehicles follow this. For example, the SRX crossover and Escalade. Many complain that Cadillac's nomenclature is confusing and will only get worse when more models are added. Cadillac's marketing chief Uwe Ellinghaus is one of them. "There's no doubt with an expanding product portfolio we need to revise our entire nomenclature," Ellinghaus told reporters at Geneva. How Cadillac plans to change their nomenclature wasn't hinted at by Ellinghaus. The only thing he said is that it would not copy BMW or Mercedes-Benz. "I'm on the case. We are aware that this is currently a weakness of the Cadillac brand." 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

A few years ago, Rolls-Royce introduced an all electric Phantom concept named the 102EX. The concept was shown to customers to gage reaction as to whether or not Rolls should not continue this project. Customers weren't interested and Rolls stopped work on the project. That doesn't mean Rolls isn't looking into other ways to be more environmentally-friendly. Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös tells Auto Express the company is considering a plug-in hybrid powertrain for its vehicles in the next few years. “It will be essential in two years, maybe not from customer demand but through legal regulation on emissions,” said Müller-Ötvös. Most likely Rolls-Royce will borrow the technology from its parent company BMW who is currently working on a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the X5. Its unclear whether or not Rolls-Royce will put this powertrain in the Phantom or Ghost. 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