We Hear: Cadillac to Upgrade/Speed-Up CUE System

 

Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system has lots of processing power at its disposal, but no processor could stop the flow of negative reviews for the system, which criticized its laggy nature. Cadillac hopes to fix that problem with a rumored software upgrade.

Cadillac CUE design manager Jeff Massimilla said as much to Wired, which reported the upgrade yesterday afternoon. The report goes on to say that the software upgrade will focus on CUE’s number one issue: the lag between pushing a virtual button or the touch screen and the haptic feedback (which vibrates the screen or touch panel). The update should also smooth out and speed up inputting information or queries.

Cadillac spokespeople were unable to confirm the upgrade, instead saying that “something is in the works for later this year.” Wired‘s coverage says that the upgrade will be performed later this year at Cadillac dealers.

That last part is important to note. We’ve already seen Ford announce big software upgrades for its maligned MyFord Touch system, but those upgrades were performed either by the dealer or the owner. Ford, you’ll recall, sent thousands of USB flash drives to owners with instructions on how to perform the upgrades.

However, Cadillac owners will have the upgrades performed by the dealer only, either during a voluntary visit or during scheduled maintenance. Cadillac says that it’s a philosophy that works for its owners: Caddy drivers generally have strong relationships with their dealers, so it’s not a stretch to ask drivers to come in for the upgrade.

Wired says the upgrade will be available for ATS and XTS models; there’s no word if the upgrade will extend to CUE-equipped SRX models as well.

Thread of the Day: Subaru BRZ Limited or Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec

Written by: Jason Udy [G+] on February 6 2013 2:30 PM

The 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited and 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec represent two different approaches to rear-drive four-cylinder sports coupes. The Subaru BRZ offers a lighter weight package and high-revving naturally aspirated mill, while the Hyundai Genesis Coupe offers forced-induction to compensate for its higher curb weight. Both cars are equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. Since you can order the BRZ Limited and Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec at around $28,000, which rear-drive four-cylinder coupe would you choose?

The BRZ is an all-new model that mates a 200-hp 2.0-liter flat-four with a lightweight chassis, while the refreshed Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec makes up for its significant weight disadvantage with a 274-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four cylinder. The turbocharged engine also has a 124 lb-ft of torque advantage. In our testing, the more powerful Genesis Coupe was quicker to 60 mph (5.7 seconds) and in the quarter-mile (14.2 seconds at 98.4 mph) than the lighter BRZ (6.4 seconds, 14.9 seconds at 95.5 mph, respectively).

The handling differences became more apparent during our $28K High-Performance Two-Door Comparison, where the BRZ proved to be the clear favorite among drivers for its balanced and communicative chassis. In the end, the more powerful Genesis Coupe beat the BRZ around the 1.8-mile road course at Willow Springs by just 1.2 seconds.

The BRZ Limited starts at $28,265 (includes a navigation system, leather/Alcantara seats, rear spoiler), while the Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec starts at $27,395 (19-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, red cloth seats with red leather bolsters). While pricing for both models approaches that of well-equipped V-6 powered domestic coupes, few consumers are likely to cross shop those models. Motor Trend forum member Fallen79 may soon be facing the dilemma of choosing between the Subaru BRZ and Hyundai Genesis Coupe and asked other forum members for opinions. Which rear-drive four-cylinder sport coupe would you choose? Tell us what you think below. And thanks again to Fallen79 for inspiring today’s Thread of the Day.

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We Hear: Toyota Planning Rear-Drive Four-Door Hatch with $20,000 Price

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Written by: Peter Lyon on February 5 2013 4:00 AM

The 2013 Scion FR-S provides rear-drive thrills and serves as a halo car for the Scion brand, but what’s left for enthusiasts who can’t afford the car’s $25,255 price of entry? As early as 2016, Toyota may have an answer that’s nothing like the relatively inexpensive MR2 that was discontinued in the 2000s.

A voice from someone close to Toyota tells us that while the new fun-to-drive car will be positioned as a little brother to the GT86, it will get four seats, five doors, a 1.5-liter engine developing around 150 hp, and be aimed at a global audience no sooner than 2016. The new car will totally redefine the company’s entry-level sporty cars by taking on a new hatchback-style shape, a rear-drive platform and a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine.

With lightweight sports cars a difficult sell in Japan, and young customers on a more global scale wanting hatchback style vehicles with more seats and extra practicality, the car will employ a sleek hatch-style silhouette and be priced around $20,000. A source told us that the hatch will employ a revised version of Toyota’s Rush mini-crossover pictured above but that the new iteration will employ a lower ride height and four-wheel independent suspension; just how much say BMW’s handling department will have in this car’s final settings is still unclear.

Whether such a car will make it from the drawing board all the way to showrooms around the world – or in the U.S. – remains to be seen, but we’re hopeful Toyota can prepare an rear-drive four-door hatch for about the same price as a base Toyota Camry.

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We Hear: 330-HP Ford Focus RS on Sale in 2015, More Power Than Euro-Spec Mustang

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We’ve heard tons of rumors on the new Ford Focus RS; reports have suggested we would see one as early as 2013, while others have claimed a 380-hp coupe version was in the works. This time, we’re hearing the RS will go on sale in select markets in 2015, boasting 330 hp thanks to a turbocharged 2.3-liter I-4, more output than the Euro-spec Mustang may get with the same engine.

Although we already expected the new RS to share its powertrain with the long-rumored 2015 Ford Mustang SVO, Autocar reports that the RS’ power figures will best those of the Mustang at least in Europe, to keep the RS as the halo performance product in Ford’s product range.

While 330 horses seems like a lot of power to squeeze out of a front-drive car, the previous RS’ Revoknuckle front suspension may allow the new hot hatch to effectively put its power down without (much) torque steer. Other features for the new RS include a limited-slip differential, bigger brakes, tires, and a sportier cabin. Like the ST, the RS will also feature a sweet soundtrack via Ford’s Sound Symposer and a four-door hatchback body style. Don’t expect an all-wheel drive system, and it’s not yet clear if the car will reach the U.S.

The new RS will be more powerful than the previous RS, which relied on a Volvo-sourced 2.5-liter inline-five to push 305 hp to the front wheels. Although the Focus RS is still not as fast as the 345-hp Focus RS500, which reportedly hit 62 mph in 5.6 seconds, 330 horses should be more than enough to get the adrenaline pumping.

Should Ford add a Focus RS to the U.S. lineup, or are the Fiesta ST, Focus ST, and Mustang models enough for performance-car enthusiasts?

2013 Volkswagen GTI Ends Production With Wolfsburg, Driver’s Editions – 2013 Chicago

To commemorate the end of the Volkswagen GTI’s sixth generation, two special-edition hot hatches debut at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show: the 2013 GTI Wolfsburg Edition and the 2013 GTI Driver’s Edition. Both GTIs will be limited to just the four-door body style and three paint colors: Candy White, Carbon Steel Gray, and Deep Black.

Based on the standard Volkswagen GTI, the GTI Wolfsburg Edition adds 18-inch “Laguna” alloy wheels, a retro golf ball shifter knob, and red-stitched floormats. The production run is limited to 2000 examples and will go on sale the first quarter of 2013. Cars with the six-speed manual transmission start at $25,890 (including destination), while the six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic adds $1100 to the base price.

Read more about the GTI: 2014 Volkswagen GTI Concept from 2012 Paris Motor Show

GTI Driver’s Edition models are based on the GTI Sunroof and Navigation trim and feature the same 18-inch “Laguna” alloy wheels, retro golf ball shifter knob, and red-stitched floormats. 18-inch “Laguna” alloy wheels, retro golf ball shifter knob, and red-stitched floormats as the Wolfsburg Edition, as well as partial leather seating surfaces. Also included with the GTI Driver’s Edition is a certificate of authenticity, a special package of GTI gear that includes a hat, keychain, and parking sign. The GTI Driver’s Edition will arrive during the second quarter of 2013 with manual transmission cars starting at $30,490 and DSG models starting $31,590. A run of 3000 GTI Driver’s Edition models is planned.

After the next-generation Volkswagen Golf starts production in Mexico, a GTI model is expected to be unveiled with more power than the current car, lighter curb weight, and new safety technology.

Gallery shows the 2013 Volkswagen GTI Driver’s Edition along with the 2014 Volkswagen GTI

2014 Volkswagen Beetle GSR Debuts at 2013 Chicago Auto Show With Beetle R-Line

From the auto show floor: Though it bears a golden hue in the official photos, the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle GSR is actually canary yellow in person. This is unfortunate because the car looks far better in the darker shade. Not coincidentally, the new GSR was announced 40 years after the original GSR came out.

To help sustain interest in the boldly styled two-door, Volkswagen is revealing two special-edition Beetles at the 2013 Chicago auto show: the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle GSR and 2014 Beetle Convertible R-Line. The 2014 Volkswagen Beetle GSR pays homage to the 1970s Beetle GSR (Gelb Schwarzer Renner or “Yellow Black Racer”). Like the original GSR, the 2014 model will feature a black and yellow theme and will be limited to just 3500 examples worldwide.

The original Beetle GSR had a yellow body shell with a matte black hood, trunklid, and bumpers as well as black trim strips beneath the side windows and on the black rocker panels. For the 2014 model, yellow body and R-Line bumpers are contrasted with a mostly black hood and black trunklid, roof, and side mirrors. Rocker panels feature black and yellow striping with GSR graphics. A large rear wing and new 19-inch “Tornado” alloy wheels complete the look.

Inside, the GSR features black leather seats and leather steering wheel with yellow stitching. An R-Line dash pad, GSR shifter, leather handbrake, and black floormats with yellow embroidery are among the upgrades, and the GSR includes a boost gauge and stopwatch, too. On the steering wheel, a special-edition number badge displays the build number.

While the original Beetle GSR got by with just 50 hp, the 2014 Beetle GSR’s turbocharged 2.0-liter gets a 10-hp bump over other Beetle Turbos to 210. The 207 lb-ft of torque rating is unchanged, and peaks at 1700 rpm. Volkswagen claims the new Beetle GSR will accelerate to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and considering we’ve tested the Beetle Turbo in coupe and convertible form accelerating from 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds with a dual-clutch transmission, that 6.6-second estimate is likely conservative. The 210-hp turbocharged mill continues to be mated to either the six-speed manual or dual-clutch transmissions and will be fitted to the 2013 Beetle Turbo and Jetta GLI.

Based on the Beetle Turbo with Sunroof and Sound model, the GSR features a Fender audio system, push-button start, HID headlights with LED daytime running lights, and heated front seats. Expect about half of the allotment to come to the U.S. when it goes on sale in the fall as a 2014 model.

Volkswagen also announced the 2014 Beetle Convertible R-Line for the U.S. market, which joins the CC R-Line, Beetle R-Line coupe, and the recently introduced Tiguan R-Line and Touareg R-Line. Beetle Convertible R-Line models feature 19-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, an R-Line badge on the grille, HID headlights, and LED daytime running lights. Inside, the R-Line model gets aluminum pedals, Fender audio, navigation, and leather seating as well as a flat-bottom leather steering wheel and stainless scuff plates with R-Line badging.