Touring the Lexus Display at CIAS
By Michael Schlee
The theme this year at CIAS for Lexus is Hybrid. The GS, LS and RX hybrids are all on display. Another hybrid, the HS250h concept, is the main attraction.
Photo: Michael Schlee
Even the race car Lexus has brought to the show is a hybrid. It is the GS450h recently raced at the Targa Newfoundland Rally.
Touring the Mercedes-Benz Display at CIAS
By Michael Schlee
Mercedes-Benz has one of the larger displays at CIAS this year. Showing off on turn tables are the new GLK and monstrous SL65 AMG Black Series.
Photo: Isaac Adams-Hands
There is a ‘fancy’ section (with fancy wood flooring) in the back left corner of the display. This area features the rare SLR 722 and Maybach. BlueTec diesel cars and SUVs were out in full force as well. Aside from the cars, Mercedes has a full allotment of merchandise for sale in their booth which features a Café on the roof.
By Mike Goetz
When introduced to the press-day crowd at the Toronto auto show, the new Audi R8 5.2 at centre stage had its throttle blipped several times — and it was good.
The 5.2-litre V10 not only sounds good, it should go “real good” too, owing to the 525 horses on tap. Audi estimates the car will sprint to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, and top out at 316 km/h.
Photo: Isaac Adams-Hands
The 5.2 further distinguishes itself from its R8 sibling with bigger air intakes up front, wider side-pods, and a special rear end design. The R8 V10 was developed from Audi’s experience at Le Mans; it embodies racing technology, such as dry sump lubrication and FSI gasoline direct injection.
Audi is using this new engine in a new R8 racing car, which the automaker intends to sell to racing teams, for competition in the GT3 category of the American and European Le Mans racing series.
By Mike Gotez
Last year Audi launched the all-new A4 — longer and wider than its predecessor. The new car is no slouch, when powered by either its standard 2.0-litre I4 turbo (211 hp) or optional 3.2-litre V6 (265 hp).
But more poke and sizzle can be had by moving up to the just-introduced S4, which made its Canadian debut at the Toronto show.
Photo: Isaac Adams-Hands
The previous S4 was packing a V8. But the new S4 gets the all-new 3.0-litre V6, which features Audi’s direct injection system (TFSI), plus supercharging. Net result: 333 hp, 324 lb-ft of torque, and a 0-100 km/h time of just 5.2 seconds. Fuel consumption is down to 9.7 litres — a 26 percent improvement over the V8 model.
Optional is a seven-speed S Tronic automatic and a special differential. The latter works in concert with the Quattro all-wheel drive system, to automatically boost torque and wheel speed to the necessary corner, to control understeer. The package is rounded out with cosmetic upgrades and bigger wheels and bigger brakes.
S4 can be had both in sedan and Avant (wagon) formats, and expect sticker prices to start around $60,000, when it shows up at Canadian dealers this summer.
Touring the Audi Display at CIAS
By Michael Schlee
Sports Cars! That is the theme for the Audi booth this year. Wandering around the display you will notice quite a few rare and high price beasts.
Photo: Michael Schlee
There is the new 2010 Audi S4 and the 2010 R8 5.2 V10 FSI. However, for something extra special, walk to the back of the display and check out the Group B Audi Quattro race car. This car was recently resurrected and raced by Frank Sprongl at the Targa Newfoundland Rally. For those not into sports cars, there is also the new Q5 CUV and A3 TDI.
Mako Shark and Manta Ray Make an Appearance at CIAS
By Michael Schlee
Photo: Michael Schlee
Two of the Corvette’s most storied concept cars are making an appearance this year at the Canadian International Auto Show; the 1961 Mako Shark and the 1965 Manta Ray.
The Corvette Club of Ontario is running a display honouring….guess what….the Corvette.
By Michael Schlee
Photo: Michael Schlee
Along with many of the clubs personal classics, GM has been kind enough to lend a few Corvettes from their heritage museum. This includes an original 1953 Corvette, a 1997 Corvette featuring serial #00001 and two historic concepts.
Canadian International AutoShow a showcase for innovation
By Joe Knycha
It has been said that the only constant is change, and that nothing ever stays the same.
If that’s the case, it was inevitable that the bubble from which the global economic crisis has emerged was destined to burst eventually.
But who foresaw this?
The collapse of the house of cards that was Wall Street has within months confounded the global economy and thrown the experts into a state of uncertainty and confusion.
Photo: Tracey Savein
Related Link: Enhance the AutoShow experience
With the modern world so interconnected and tightly tied to trade, what might in earlier times have been more or less localized to North America has hobbled the economies of the world. Coupled with a sudden credit freeze that has stopped industries and commerce almost dead in their tracks, no one is immune to the effects of this perfect economic storm.
Automotive, an industry that actually builds wealth through the production of goods as opposed to ones that provide only services and low-paying ‘McJobs,’ is more global than most and therefore more profoundly affected by the crisis.
As consumers’ beliefs and desires change, and they demand something other than what has been the status quo, automakers are eager to rise to the challenge.
To see first-hand how the auto industry is adapting to these new realities – described in this year’s Canadian International AutoShow theme as “The New Era” — one need only take a stroll through this year’s displays.
CIAS 2008
Creative solutions abound to meet an entirely new set of criteria: new engine technologies, the next generation of hybrids, advanced fuel cells and electric plug-ins are all on offer this year, heralding a period of accelerated innovation and ingenuity as the industry finds new footing in the shifting sands of global economics.
“We have entered a new automotive era that will be characterized by innovation, experimentation and the introduction of new technologies at a breathtaking pace,” says AutoShow general manager Tom Tonks. “The future of the automobile is up for grabs, and it all starts here.” The show has a 36-year tradition of celebrating Canada’s love of the automobile, providing a showcase for what’s new and what’s next.
“That will never be truer than in 2009,” Tonks says. “New concepts will leap off the drawing board onto the turntable, providing a stunning glimpse of where the industry is headed.” Car companies have been invited by the AutoShow to “embrace, leverage and define the New Era” for the benefit of the more than 300,000 visitors expected to pour through the turnstiles this year, February 13-22.
Many people have unfairly criticized the automobile industry over the years for being part of the problem, said Tonks, adding that this year’s AutoShow will reveal the industry instead, “to be part of the solution.”
Doors open to the public at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 13.
A plan, sensible shoes and layered clothing are recommended
The Canadian International Auto Show (CIAS) represents more than the country’s largest annual gathering of new cars, SUVs, crossovers and light-duty trucks. It is also Canada’s largest trade show and as such, is the consumer’s best opportunity to witness the sweeping changes taking place in the world’s largest and most dynamic industry.
Virtually every major production vehicle available in Canada is on display, some for the first time, as well as concept vehicles and styling exercises from the industry’s most creative designers, plus hot-rodded and ‘tuned’ cars of all descriptions and, of course, classic renderings that can legitimately be called art on wheels.
Photo: Isaac Adams-Hands
The AutoShow is a great opportunity to shop for your next new or replacement vehicle or merely to browse and see what’s on offer for 2009 and beyond. Even if your AutoShow ambitions go no further than to feast on the great quantities of eye candy that’s to be seen everywhere one looks, a little planning and forethought will help you get from the show all that it has to offer. (more…)
