Worth the Long Wait
Brian Armstead, Canadian Auto Press
There’s an expression that says, “Good things come to those who wait.” As that expression relates to the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, it is certainly true.
I remember several years ago, when I saw the first concept of the Volt, and was duly impressed. It seemed as if Chevy had trumped the competition by bringing the mass produced electric car to market faster that other manufacturers. But as time moved forward, it seemed as if the Volt was taking forever to make it to market, and other carmakers with their own “green” cars were stepping up their game. Ford perfected the Escape and Fusion hybrids, Honda supplemented its hybrid models with the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Nissan made noise with the Altima Hybrid and announcements of its own electric, the Leaf. And VW marched forward with stellar fuel economy from its superb TDI vehicles.
So is the Volt late to the dance? No way. General Motors, parent company for Chevrolet, has taken their time to get the Volt right. We recently had the opportunity to drive a preproduction Volt on a test track in Washington, D.C. The track was the former circuit for the Grand Prix of D.C., which only lasted a year. So while the drive was in a controlled environment, I had the chance to drive it hard to see if the Volt “charged” my emotions.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2011 Chevrolet Volt
Posted in Gallery, Reviews | No Comments »
Finally the Power to Boost Ford’s Family Hauling Style Leader
Lyndon Conrad Bell, Canadian Auto Press
*featured make=’Ford’ model=’Flex’
*relatedNew make=’Honda’ model=’Pilot’
*relatedNew make=’Hyundai’ model=’Veracruz’
*relatedUsed make=’GMC’ model=’Acadia’
*relatedUsed make=’Mazda’ model=’CX-9′
Ford is heavily into stealth mode these days. First came the revived Taurus SHO, with a virtually indistinguishable look from the standard Taurus. Now comes Flex EcoBoost, looking for all the world exactly like the Flex we first met at the New York Auto Show back in 2007.
The 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost immediately lies to rest any claims that the Ford Flex is sluggish. And granted, the 3.5-litre Duratec’s 262 horses have to work pretty hard to move 2,180 kilos (4,800 pounds). The EcoBoost’s 355 horses, on the other hand, move two and a quarter tons pretty well. Ford claims the EcoBoosted Flex gets to 100km/h in a tad over seven seconds, as opposed to 8.7 seconds for the Duratec.
Paired with an upgraded six-speed automatic transmission that now offers paddle shifters to respond to complaints about the two choices the earlier transmission offered (drive and low) the EcoBoosted Flex returns an estimated 14.7 L/100km in the city and 10.7 on the highway, by EPA standards. Driven frugally, one should easily average in the mid 11s.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost
Posted in Gallery, Reviews | No Comments »
Are We Just Better Multi-Taskers?
Canadian Auto Press
It only makes sense, or at least the lawmakers and safety advocates thought so, that enacting laws to prohibit placing calls or texting with wireless devices would help drivers focus on the road ahead and therefore improve safety overall.
It appears, however, that these drivers are either finding other ways to maintain their need for distraction or that using a cell phone and texting while behind the wheel isn’t as dangerous as previously pronounced, if a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) is to be believed. In fact, the study determined that laws currently in effect to ban the use of handheld cellular devices have zero effect on crash rates.
“The laws aren’t reducing crashes, even though we know that such laws have reduced hand-held phone use,” said Adrian Lund, president of HLDI.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Banning Hand-Held Phones while Driving Doesn’t Reduce Accidents
Posted in Gallery, News | 1 Comment »
Is Mercury Ready for Canadian Consumption Again?
Canadian Auto Press
Ford hasn’t marketed its Mercury division in Canada for more than a decade, having left our country in 1999. Yes, while the Grand Marquis, a Mercury-branded version of its fleet-only blue oval Crown Victoria that ironically is still produced in Ford’s St. Thomas, Ontario plant, was available to consumers up until 2008, it was sold under the Ford banner north of the 49th.
The problem was that other than the second to last model sold here, the Ford of Europe-designed Mercury Cougar with its unique angular design that still looks sharp today, the rest of Mercury’s lineup was little more than slightly revised versions of Ford models. This issue persists today, although since greater visual separation between Ford and Mercury brands is now evident there’s a fairly good argument that cars like the Mercury Milan, a classier Ford Fusion, and the Mariner, an upscale Ford Escape, would do well in our market. The only other vehicle offered, other than the aforementioned Grand Marquis, is the Explorer-based Mountaineer, and hybrid versions of its Mariner and Milan.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Ford’s Mercury Division to get a Compact Model?
Posted in Gallery, News | No Comments »
10 Questions with Bullrun’s Father and Daughter Team
Michael Schlee
It is now less then a week away from The Bullrun Survival Guide Special on Speed TV February 12th. In less then two weeks time, on February 18th, Bullrun Season 3 will debut on Speed TV. If you are not already excited for the next season of Bullrun, you should be. It promises to be a fast-paced adrenaline fueled roller coaster ride pitting 12 teams of gear heads against each for the chance at $200 000.
Those unfamiliar with the show’s concept should click here.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bullrun, Cuda, Hemi, Hemicuda, Michael Schlee, Mopar, reality tv, Season 3, speed tv
Posted in Gallery, Most Popular Articles, News, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
An Entirely New Kind of Jaguar Sedan
Lyndon Conrad Bell, Canadian Auto Press
*featured make=’Jaguar’ model=’XFR’
*relatedNew make=’BMW’ model=’M5′
*relatedNew make=’Mercedes-Benz’ model=’E63′
*relatedUsed make=’Audi’ model=’RS6′
*relatedUsed make=’Cadillac’ model=’CTS-V’
Regular followers of my musings know I’ve made no secret of my passion for Jaguar cars. They also know I’ve felt the cars were underpowered for the segment they’re crafted to compete in. I mean come on, how can you be proud of the fact that your Jaguar makes 300 horsepower, when a Nissan Z makes 330?
Fortunately, the powers that be in Coventry are good listeners, because for 2010 they’ve done something about it – in a major way. Witness the 2010 Jaguar XFR, proudly cradled beneath that vented bonnet (hood to those who don’t speak English) is a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 delivering 510 horsepower and 460 foot-pounds of torque.
The engine features direct fuel injection, lightweight pistons, and the aforementioned supercharger. Output is routed to the street via a six-speed automatic transmission that employs a sport mode. This gives you the ability to allow the transmission to do what’s best in terms of selecting the right gear for a given situation, or use the paddles on the wheel to do so yourself.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2010 Jaguar XFR
Posted in Gallery, Reviews | No Comments »
Hyundai Draws on X-Factor for Stylish New Cute Ute
Chris “Emmy” Jackson, Canadian Auto Press
*featured make=’Hyundai’ model=’Tucson’
*relatedNew make=’Kia’ model=’Sportage’
*relatedNew make=’Ford’ model=’Escape’
*relatedUsed make=’Jeep’ model=’Patriot’
*relatedUsed make=’Nissan’ model=’Rogue’
All new for 2010, Hyundai’s Tucson compact SUV has an entirely new outlook on life. This formerly somewhat dowdy do-all’s latest makeover adds confident, dramatic lines with a silhouette that speaks of urban freeways rather than country back roads. Under the hood, a new engine offers a significant boost in fuel economy as well. It seems like a familiar tactic, though not one that’s been commonly seen at this price point. Then again, if luxury SUVs like BMW’s X3 and Audi’s Q5 are going sporty and carlike, why not the affordable ones as well?
Aimed primarily at “soft-roaders” like the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue, the new Tucson features extroverted styling that enables it to stand out in the crowded compact crossover/SUV class. Improved economy and comfort are the biggest news. The Tucson is also the lightest vehicle in its segment, which provides a number of performance and efficiency benefits.
The Tucson is still petite, but it’s grown for 2010, gaining an inch (2.5 cm) of width and three inches (7.6 cm) in length. The styling is pulled almost entirely from the “ix-onic” concept truck… or perhaps vice versa, as Hyundai often uses concept vehicles to tease upcoming production cars. Whatever the origin, this is a striking little sport-ute. The Tucson’s new face is dominated by a narrower, hexagonal grille with strong upper and lower elements and recurring X shapes. Diamond-shaped door handle cutouts distinguish the sides, and a steep rake to the rear hatchback cuts cargo space but provides a racy look. Up-level Tucsons are set apart by two-tone cladding, while piano-black and chrome accents, mirror-mounted turn signal repeaters and fog lights are used on the Limited model. In full-dress trim, the Tucson is a very handsome little SUV indeed.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2010 Hyundai Tucson
Posted in Gallery, Reviews | No Comments »
Land Rover’s Largest Gets Premium Treatment
Lyndon Conrad Bell, Canadian Auto Press
*featured make=’Land Rover’ model=’LR4′
*relatedNew make=’Lexus’ model=’GX’
*relatedNew make=’Mercedes-Benz’ model=’M-Class’
*relatedUsed make=’BMW’ model=’X5′
*relatedUsed make=’Volvo’ model=’XC90′
Fording a body of water is de rigueur on any Land Rover demonstration drive. So every time we passed one, I asked my Land Rover guide Chris Tefke, “Is this it?” And repeatedly, in the ethereally calm manner I believe must be a required personality trait of the profession, (you’d get a Buckingham Palace guard to lose their cool before you’d see a Land Rover guide raise his voice) Chris replied, “No Lyndon, it isn’t.”
After about three such incidents I quip, “Oh, I get it, since Ford sold you guys, you don’t ford anymore – is that it?”
As unflappable as their guides, the 2010 Land Rover lineup is exceptionally smooth as well. New engines, all-new interiors and tasteful exterior revisions simultaneously freshen the lineup and infuse the luxurious go-anywhere SUVs with significant horsepower upgrades.
In fact, because of an all-new engine, an all-new interior and significant updates to its external appearance, the Land Rover LR3 evolves into the LR4 for 2010.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2010 Land Rover LR4
Posted in Gallery, Reviews | No Comments »
A Quick Discussion with Bullrun Season 3’s Team Challenger
Michael Schlee
The new season of Speed TV’s hit reality television show Bullrun is now less then weeks away. The brain child of Andrew Duncan and David Green, Bullrun features 12 teams of competitors driving across the USA racing through checkpoints and challenges. The goal? $200 000.
Those familiar with the show know how intense and entertaining it can be. This season promise to be even more so. Recently I had the chance to ask Jonathon Bowen, driver for Team Challenger, 10 questions. Along side his co-driver Julian Muniz, Jonathan is piloting a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T in the 3rd Season of Bullrun. With Hemi power on their side, Team Challenger is poised for the competition.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bullrun, Challenger, Dodge, dodge challenger, Michael Schlee, reality tv, speed tv, team challenger
Posted in Gallery, Most Popular Articles, News, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
A Baja Pre-Runner for the Real World
Lyndon Conrad Bell, Canadian Auto Press
*featured make=’Ford’ model=’F-150′
*relatedNew make=’Chevrolet’ model=’Silverado’
*relatedNew make=’Dodge’ model=’Ram’
*relatedUsed make=’Nissan’ model=’Titan’
*relatedUsed make=’Toyota’ model=’Tundra’
When Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) turns its attention to one of the company’s vehicles, that ride inevitably runs faster, jumps higher and provides way more thrills per mile than the vehicle it’s based on. And, in many cases, more than any other vehicle in its competitive set too.
So, what happened when the SVT drew a bead on the new F-150?
Well, let’s just call it focused mayhem.
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is the Special Vehicle Team’s take on the pre-runner pickups desert racing teams use to scout the course ahead of unleashing their outrageously expensive Trophy Truck racers. A pre-runner has to be able to negotiate the same terrain as those racing trucks, at greatly elevated speeds like those racing trucks, and they can’t break down in the process, again, like those racing trucks.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
Posted in Gallery, Most Popular Articles, Reviews | No Comments »
