Archive for May, 2011

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2011 Land Rover LR4

Monday, May 9th, 2011

Review and photos by
Peter Bleakney, Autos.ca

If you’re looking for a sensible family vehicle, the 2011 Land Rover LR4 will not be, as the Brits say, your cup of tea. However, for those open to owning a piece of British automotive royalty that is just as happy mall-crawling as it is rock-crawling, this tall boy from the UK makes for an intriguing proposition.

2011 Land Rover LR4

2011 Land Rover LR4

Sybaritic pleasure and extreme off-roading capability make strange bedfellows, but that’s what Land Rover is all about. As you may know, this model Landie, which sits below the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport in the marque’s hierarchy, experienced a significant metamorphosis for model year 2010, enough that its moniker gained a digit – the LR3 became the LR4.

First, they addressed the LR3’s tippy on-road demeanour, mitigated with the addition of enlarged anti-roll bars, stiffened dampers and a new steering rack. Visually, new headlight clusters, LED taillights and some exterior cosmetic tweaks gave it more upscale distinction. The LR3 to LR4 transformation also included a completely redone interior, bringing it more in line with big brother Range Rover. (more…)

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2011 Scion xD

Sunday, May 8th, 2011

By Paul Williams, Autos.ca

The Scion brand arrived in Canada in 2010, but the arrival slipped under the radar for a lot of consumers. So much so that most people I encountered while test driving the 2011 Scion xD didn’t know the brand, and couldn’t identify its origin.

2011 Scion xD

2011 Scion xD

If you’re one of those people, here’s the scoop. Scion is a Toyota brand, targeted to younger buyers, and operating in the U.S. since 2003 (if you see a used 2003-2010 Scion for sale, it’s a U.S. car). Three models are offered in Canada, with a fourth set to debut in the near future. Current models are the xD, xB, tC, with the not-yet-released iQ microcar completing the line-up later in 2011.

That’s it for the history lesson; let’s talk xD.

Starting at $17,200, the xD is a front-wheel drive, five-door hatchback that you can actually buy for $17,200 (plus freight and taxes) and feel like you’ve got a well-equipped vehicle. (more…)

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2011 Hyundai Tucson GLS AWD

Saturday, May 7th, 2011

Review and photos by
Greg Wilson, Autos.ca

This Korean-built, compact SUV was totally redesigned in 2010 with dramatically curvy styling which Hyundai describes as “an antidote to boring design,” perhaps a not-so-subtle jab at the boxy styling of some of its competitors. It also reflects Hyundai’s current approach to vehicle styling which has seen dramatic makeovers of its volume sellers, the Sonata, Elantra and Accent.

2011 Hyundai Tucson GLS AWD

2011 Hyundai Tucson GLS AWD

The other big change for 2010 was a new 176-hp 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine that replaced both previous four and six-cylinder powerplants; as well as new six-speed manual and automatic transmissions that replaced five-speed manual and four-speed automatics respectively. Hyundai’s decision to replace the optional 2.7-litre V6 engine with the new (but more powerful) 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine was, and is, a gamble. Ultimately, this was done for reasons of fuel economy and reduced emissions but there are buyers who prefer the smoothness and “torquey-ness” of a V6 engine, and those who just don’t want a four-banger – they will just have to look elsewhere. Still, it should be pointed out that the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester have done just fine with their exclusive four-cylinder engines.

For 2011, the Tucson GL ($24,299), GLS ($26,799) and Limited ($32,249), all come with the standard six-speed automatic transmission with ‘Shiftronic’ manual shifting mode – the six-speed manual has been dropped from the GL. All-wheel drive can be added to the GL and GLS for an extra $2,000, and it is standard on the Limited model.For 2011, the Tucson remains basically the same, but there’s a new entry-level model with a smaller 165-hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, standard five-speed manual transmission, and an attractive starting price of $19,999. (more…)

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2007-2011 Nissan Versa

Friday, May 6th, 2011

By Chris Chase, Autos.ca

Introduced in 2007, the Versa was Nissan’s entry in a class of entry-level cars that included the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent and Chevrolet Aveo. All of those cars were notable in some way, but they were also all small. Not surprising in a category where pricing begins not far off the $10,000 mark, but the Versa’s claim to fame was its size. It was marketed as a subcompact, and yet offered a roomier interior and more refined performance than just about anything it could be compared to price-wise. The Versa was large enough inside that Natural Resources Canada classed it as a mid-sized(!) car for the purposes of its fuel consumption ratings.

2007 Nissan Versa

2007 Nissan Versa

The Versa was sold in four-door sedan and hatchback body styles. Power was provided by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder that generated 122 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. Unusually, three transmissions were offered: a six-speed manual was the base gearbox, and a four-speed automatic and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) were the options.

The 2010 model received the expected mid-model makeover, which included a new grille, wheel designs and updated interior fabrics.In 2009, the sedan’s packaging and pricing were altered to make it a true base model: it was offered only with a new 1.6-litre engine (107 hp/111 lb.-ft.), five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions, and came with very few features (even a radio was extra). (more…)

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2011 Audi TTS coupe

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

By Paul Williams;
photos by Chris Chase, Autos.ca

Back in 2000, the introduction of the Audi TT was something of a revelation. The car absolutely was the darling of automotive media around the world, and accolades for its striking design (both exterior and interior) were legion.

2011 Audi TTS coupe

2011 Audi TTS coupe

But conventional wisdom at the time suggested that the TT design would be its undoing. “After all, where do you go from here?” was the typical question, viewing the TT as a vehicle with nowhere to go in terms of its appearance. Basically, the car was seen by most as, “perfect the way it is,” and some even conjectured that after a run of four-to-five years, the TT would be history.

Happily, the TT lives on, unfettered by its cool original looks. On the contrary, it turns out that conventional wisdom under-estimated Audi, and all you have to do is check out the 2011 TT to see what I mean. The car still turns heads, just as it did a decade ago. (more…)

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2011 Ford Explorer Limited

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

Review and photos by
Chris Chase, Autos.ca

It pays to be careful with the products that bring in the dough. Ford learned its lesson about that with the Five Hundred and Freestyle, the cars that (temporarily) replaced the Taurus in 2007. Those two tanked big-time, and it’s debateable whether the Taurus, which has since been redesigned (again) into a very well-sorted full-size sedan, has ever recovered from that gaffe.

2011 Ford Explorer Limited

2011 Ford Explorer Limited

In Ford’s SUV line-up, the Explorer name commands the same kind of respect that the Taurus once did. It’s popular, but it could be argued that its truckishness kept it from being more popular, especially with drivers who choose a mid-sized SUV with a view to flexible family transportation, rather than for off-road readiness or towing capability. It was with them in mind that Ford decided to move the 2011 Explorer to a unibody platform, in place of the old version’s body-on-frame design.

Initially, the only engine on offer is a 3.5-litre V6 that’s used widely throughout the Ford line. With its 290 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft. of torque, it replaces a 4.0-litre V6 (210 hp; 254 lb.-ft.) and a 4.6-litre V8 (292 hp; 300 lb.-ft.). Despite torque that only matches that of the old V6, Ford says the new Explorer will tow 5,000 pounds (2,267 kg); a 2010 Explorer with the V8 could haul 3,500 pounds (1,588 kg), but could handle up to 7,130 pounds (3,234 kg) when properly equipped. (more…)

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