Archive for September, 2010

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2010 Mini Cooper S Mayfair

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

Review and photos by
Jil McIntosh, CanadianDriver.com

A half-century ago, a revolutionary little car hit the market. The Mini was small, front-wheel drive, had its wheels pushed to the corners to improve stability and make the most of its interior space, and it was inexpensive. The redesigned version by BMW retained all of that – except for the low price-tag, of course. In honour of the birthday, Mini has released a pair of special-edition packages: the 50 Camden, and my tester, the 50 Mayfair, named for London’s famous upscale neighbourhood.

2010 Mini Cooper S Mayfair

2010 Mini Cooper S Mayfair

Available on both the Mini Cooper, and on my turbocharged Cooper S tester, the Mayfair adds $5,000 to the $29,900 price-tag of my vehicle. That gives you a package of “Toffy Lounge” leather and trim, 17-inch alloy wheels with run-flat performance tires, heated sport seats, auxiliary grille-mounted driving lights (which only come on with the high-beam headlights), sunroof, auto-dimming rearview mirror, rain-sensing wipers, Bluetooth, USB port, and the Mayfair 50 badges, which are really what this vehicle’s all about. (more…)

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2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

Review and photos by
Greg Wilson, CanadianDriver.com

For those with a thirst for driving excitement but a limited budget, there are several compact sedans and hatchbacks on the market with tuned suspensions, performance tires, and extra power under the hood, many of them starting under $25,000.

2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V

2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V

Well-known examples include the Toyota Corolla XRS ($22,550), Mazda3 GT ($22,995) Subaru Impreza 2.5i Sport ($24,695), Honda Civic Si sedan ($26,880) and Volkswagen GTI ($29,675), but one that’s often forgotten is the Nissan Sentra SE-R ($21,798), and SE-R Spec V ($23,198). These zippy Sentras have a bigger, more powerful 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that replaces the Sentra’s standard 140-hp 2.0-litre powerplant; the SE-R has 177 horsepower and a CVT with paddle shifters, while the SE-R Spec V has 200 hp and a six-speed manual transmission. (more…)

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2010 Ford F-150 Raptor SVT

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

Review and photos by
Russell Purcell, CanadianDriver.com

The Ford F-150 Raptor carries the F-150 designation for marketing purposes, as well as for the fact that it is a half-ton pick-up. However, the similarities pretty well end there as the truck shares very few components with its F-150 stable mates. If you approach this monster from the front you are immediately struck by its width and aggressive stance. In fact, the Raptor is 18 cm (7 in.) wider than a standard full-size pick-up, moving it into a category that requires it to sport marker lights at each corner (and in the grille) which add to the aggressive look. The distinctive grille is a black-out design, dominated by what has to be the largest Ford emblem ever employed on a consumer vehicle.

2010 Ford F-150 Raptor SVT

2010 Ford F-150 Raptor SVT

An aerodynamically optimized front bumper sits close to the body, and features outboard openings to help direct air flow to the engine compartment and front suspension. There are also functional hood and side air-extractor vents to help this monster breathe, a necessity in the rugged environments where the Raptor was designed to both work and play. (more…)

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2011 BMW 135i Cabriolet

Sunday, September 19th, 2010

Review and photos by
Chris Chase, CanadianDriver.com

One might be the loneliest number, but seven surely makes for one sexy party. At least, I’d bet BMW thinks so, as it rolls out a new transmission for 2011, the seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) that now serves as the extra cost option in 1 Series models powered by the company’s turbocharged six-cylinder engine.

2011 BMW 135i Cabriolet

2011 BMW 135i Cabriolet

In the 2011 BMW line-up, the DCT can be ordered in the Z4 sDrive35i and 35is, as well as the 335is coupe and convertible. Lower-end versions of those cars, as well as all versions of the 3 Series sedan and the 128i, use the six-speed automatic carried over from 2010, while the 5 and 7 Series both use a new eight-speed automatic.

The DCT is the biggest bit of news for BMW’s smallest model, the 1 Series, for 2011. In North America, this little Bimmer is offered as a two-door coupe or convertible with a choice of two engines – a naturally-aspirated 230-hp, 3.0-litre six-cylinder in the 128i and a turbocharged 3.0-litre six making 300 horsepower in the 135i. Note that this motor used to be a twin-turbo but is now a single turbo engine that BMW refers to as a TwinPower turbo setup. Confusing, no? (more…)

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Clean cars help Big Brothers Big Sisters

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Richmond Hill, Ontario – Mini Canada is teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada (BBBSC), with car washes at local Mini retailers on Saturday, September 18 in support of the association.

Mini

In addition, in a bid to rekindle relationships with thousands of volunteers, and to celebrate the power of youth mentoring nationally, BBBSC is teaming up with Mini Canada to invite former Big Brothers and Big Sisters, along with Canadians everywhere, to share their most cherished mentoring adventures. Those who share memories are eligible to win one of five flights for two, courtesy of Wetjet.

On Saturday, September 18, select retailers in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario will be hosting the car washes. (more…)

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2003-2009 Land Rover Range Rover

Friday, September 17th, 2010

By Chris Chase, CanadianDriver.com

The Range Rover is arguably Land Rover’s best-known model and the one that best represents the company’s reputation as a builder of high-end SUVs. The first generation vehicle was introduced in 1970; the second-generation wouldn’t appear until 1995. It was a relatively quick turnaround, then, when the Range Rover was redesigned again for a 2002 introduction in some parts of the world, wearing modern styling that still managed to echo that of the original 1970 model.

2006 Land Rover Range Rover

2006 Land Rover Range Rover

The powertrains were modern, too: the sole engine in 2003-2005 Range Rovers was a BMW 4.4-litre V8 (known to Bimmerphiles as the M62) that made 282 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque; the only transmission available was a ZF-built five-speed automatic. (more…)

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2005-2009 Toyota Avalon

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

By Chris Chase, CanadianDriver.com

Before Lexus came along, the most luxurious vehicle that Toyota built was the Cressida, a rear-drive, six-cylinder sedan that was positioned upscale of the family-focused Camry. It stuck around until 1992, three years after Toyota introduced its dedicated luxury brand (Lexus), and when the Cressida was discontinued, it was easy to assume that meant the end of Toyota’s high-end aspirations for its base brand.

2005 Toyota Avalon

2005 Toyota Avalon

In 1995, however, Toyota introduced the Avalon, a spiritual successor to the Cressida, and a car that has often overlapped Lexus, being larger and at times more expensive than cars like the Lexus ES and IS.

Despite relatively slow sales, historically, Toyota sees the Avalon filling a niche in its portfolio, which is why it’s now into its fourth generation as a 2011 model. Let’s go back a few years, though, and take a look at the third generation model and how it’s held up as a used vehicle choice. (more…)

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2006-2010 Mazda5

Sunday, September 12th, 2010

By Chris Chase, CanadianDriver.com

In Europe, MPVs – short for multi-purpose vehicles – are a big deal. Think of an MPV as The Continent’s answer to the minivans we know here: three rows of seats to accommodate the entire family, but usually with four-cylinder engines (many of them diesels) and sized to fit comfortably on tighter European roads.

2006 Mazda5

2006 Mazda5

In North America, Mazda sold a minivan named the MPV, so it’s a little ironic, maybe, that the same company was the first to bring one of these Euro-friendly MPV-type vehicles to Canada and the United States, in the form of the Mazda5. Mazda wasn’t the only player in this new field for long: Kia rolled out its Rondo in 2007. Similarly-sized, it also had three rows of seats (but seated seven instead of the Mazda5’s six) but used swing-out rear doors where the Mazda had van-style sliders.

In Europe, where Mazda gives its cars real names instead of the numerals it uses here, the 5 is called the Premacy. (more…)

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2006-2010 Volkswagen Jetta

Saturday, September 11th, 2010

By Chris Chase; photos by Greg Wilson,
CanadianDriver.com

The fifth-generation Volkswagen Jetta – known among enthusiasts as the MKV (say “Mark five”) – was a bit of a throwback when it was introduced in 2005 as a 2006 model, being closer in proportion to the second- and third-generation models, with its long hood, high decklid and, inside, a huge trunk.

2007 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

2007 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Critics, though, thought it looked too much like a Corolla, which, admittedly, it did.

Regardless, it was still a Volkswagen, which meant it was a nicely-built car praised primarily for a driving feel and interior quality a step above economy cars like the Corolla; the Jetta continued to be positioned upmarket from other compacts, and priced higher too.

The 2006 Jetta’s base engine was a 2.5-litre five-cylinder making 150 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of torque. Transmission choices in the then-new Jetta were a five-speed manual and an optional six-speed automatic. (more…)

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2010 Land Rover LR2

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Review and photos by
Jil McIntosh, CanadianDriver.com

The old saying goes that familiarity breeds contempt. That may be so in some circumstances, but in my case, familiarity has bred content. I’d never really been on Land Rover’s radar, and so only viewed these chunky – and to my eye, clunky – vehicles at auto shows, or the few times I saw one on the road. Having spent some seat time in them, including the smallest of the bunch, the 2010 LR2, I’ve come to appreciate the brand, which combines rough-and-ready off-road ability with some seriously luxurious interior touches.

2010 Land Rover LR2

2010 Land Rover LR2

Whether I’d actually buy one might be more up in the air: they also have a well-earned reputation for gremlins, and indeed, my LR2 was the first Land Rover I’d driven where everything worked for the full week – rather ironic, given that it was also my least-expensive tester. Still, if you have faith in the warranty, this is a sweet machine among compact sport utility vehicles. (more…)

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