By Nauman Farooq
*featured make=’Porsche’ model=’Panamera 4S’
*relatedNew make=’Aston Martin ‘ model=’Rapide’
*relatedNew make=’Maserati’ model=’Quattroporte’
*relatedUsed make=’BMW’ model=’7-Series’
*relatedUsed make=’Ford’ model=’Shelby GT500′
This is the Panamera, Porsche’s first ever production model to have four doors. While Porsche had experimented with such concepts back in the 1970’s and the 1990’s, they never got past the prototype stage.
The problem with those earlier concepts was perhaps because they were nothing more than stretched 911’s to accommodate extra doors. The Panamera is a new car, from the ground up. Nothing about its platform has come from anything they currently make (although some technical bits are shared). This clean sheet design allowed Porsche to mould the platform to their exacting requirements. So everything from the position of the engine in the chassis to the positioning of the rear seats was done specifically for this car.
The end result is simply amazing, not that you can tell that by just looking at it. Let’s face it; this is not a pretty car. No matter which angle you look at it from, it’s not going to win your heart. The rear end especially is quite bulbous. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Porsche Panamera 4S
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Tiny ForTwo a novelty turned protector after crossing Arctic Circle in mid-winter
By Michael Bettencourt
Inuvik, NWT – The ‘Inuvik or bust’ message scrawled into the slush-covered rear of our tiny Smart Fortwo somewhere north of Whitehorse was not meant to be taken literally. But in the midst of a 2,610 km trek to Inuvik, the furthest north one can drive in Canada and likely North America year round, it seemed like only one would prevent the other.
And it almost did.
But first, think of a checklist of things you’d want in a vehicle for a long road trip up north in the middle of winter: all-wheel drive or 4×4 traction to help get through deep snow, high ground clearance (ditto), and plenty of cargo room for extra food, emergency supplies, and warm weather gear would all be high on the list. Our two-seat Smart, a city commuter more used to battling parking police than high polar winds, had none of these. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Smart trip north to Inuvik 2010
Posted in Gallery, Most Popular Articles, News, Reviews | 3 Comments »
Practical Performer is Real-World Attainable
Chris “Emmy” Jackson, Canadian Auto Press
*featured make=’Nissan’ model=’Sentra SE-R’
*relatedNew make=’Honda’ model=’Civic’
*relatedNew make=’Mitsubishi’ model=’Lancer’
*relatedUsed make=’Ford’ model=’Focus’
*relatedUsed make=’Chevrolet’ model=’Cobalt’
Car writers live a charmed life, and I’m not nearly as privileged as some. Having access to the most outrageously expensive cars on the planet makes it easy to lose sight of the “real world,” from an automotive standpoint at least. Even though I rarely find myself in supercars like Porsches and Bentleys, a regular diet of Lexus and Mercedes products has a way of making everything else seem inadequate by comparison. Out here in the real world, on the other hand, the Nissan Sentra SE-R is probably the nicest car a lot of people will ever drive.
Frankly, if that turns out to be the case, you’re not doing too badly. The current SE-R has had a somewhat subdued life since its introduction in 2007, but it offers entertaining performance in a practical package, just like the first Sentra SE-R did back in 1991. Nissan has tweaked the styling and interior appointments for 2010, making the Sentra SE-R an even better deal for anyone in the market for an under-$22,000 sport sedan.
The Sentra’s junior-Altima looks carry Nissan’s distinctive slab sides and arched roof. Standard models get a new grille that bears a stronger resemblance to that of Nissan’s larger sedans, while the SE-R keeps its honeycomb-style grille and standard body-side cladding. Smoked taillights, seventeen-inch wheels and a stubby trunk lid spoiler help to set the SE-R apart from the standard Sentra. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R
Posted in Gallery, Reviews | 1 Comment »
Mercury Gets Ford’s Best Tech
Chris “Emmy” Jackson, American Auto Press
*featured make=’Mercury’ model=’Milan Hybrid’
*relatedNew make=’Honda’ model=’Civic Hybrid’
*relatedNew make=’Ford’ model=’Fusion Hybrid’
*relatedUsed make=’Toyota’ model=’Prius’
*relatedUsed make=’Toyota’ model=’Camry Hybrid’
With the industry tightening belts and nameplates being retired left and right, it comes as a bit of a surprise to see that Mercury’s still around (of course, it isn’t around anymore here in Canada, but we thought you’d be interested in finding out what’s going on south of the 49th and maybe provoking a thought or two about the brand returning here with the Milan Hybrid as its flagship – Ed.). That’s not to say that the brand has no right to live; thousands of loyal Mercury buyers (yes, we’re sure there are even a few hundred Canadian Mercury owners still driving around in their old Grand Marquis’ right now – Ed.) would certainly argue that it’s got a place on the automotive landscape. Still, Mercury has been high on the automotive dead pool lists for over a decade now, and parent company Ford’s repeated reassurances that it has a plan for the marque are beginning to ring hollow in the face of a complete lack of unique product.
Just because all of Mercury’s current products are better-equipped virtual clones of Ford models doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to see here, however. For 2010, Mercury is fielding a cutting-edge hybrid-electric family sedan that offers seamless performance and achieves the best mileage in its class. Is there a spark of life in the Mercury brand still? Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid
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Understated Elegance
Arv Voss, Canadian Auto Press
*featured make=’Audi’ model=’A5′
*relatedNew make=’Infiniti’ model=’G37′
*relatedNew make=’Mercedes-Benz’ model=’E-Class Coupe’
*relatedUsed make=’BMW’ model=’3-Series Coupe’
*relatedUsed make=’Ford’ model=’Mustang’
With the introduction of the A5 and S5 Cabriolet, Audi replaces both the A4 and S4 Cabriolet models. The 2010 A5 Cabriolet will be offered in two distinctive levels: the A5 Cabriolet 2.0T Tiptronic quattro that begins at $56,300 and the S5 that leaves the gate starting at $68,300. Both models feature an innovative cloth acoustic roof that stows in a class-leading 15 seconds at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour. The top is lighter than a retractable hard top and not only improves driving dynamics, but lowers the centre of gravity and increases fuel efficiency.
The A5 and S5 Cabriolet feature the latest safety features expected from a modern German luxury four-seat convertible, including active roll bars, front airbags, knee airbags, seat-mounted side head/chest airbags, and electronic stability control. Several innovations are featured, including rear passenger reading lights built into the cloth roof and 50/50 flat-folding rear seats. The new Cabriolets also come with available neck-level heating built into the front seats, enabling a longer top-down motoring season. Front seatbelt presenters put the belts well within reach as a convenience and safety feature, while ensuring effortless entry or exit. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet
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On a Power Trip
Brian Armstead, Canadian Auto Press
*featured make=’Cadillac’ model=’CTS-V’
*relatedNew make=’Lexus’ model=’IS F’
*relatedNew make=’Mercedes-Benz’ model=’C63 AMG’
*relatedUsed make=’BMW’ model=’M3′
*relatedUsed make=’Chrysler’ model=’300C SRT8′
There’s an old adage that says “power corrupts,” and history has shown us examples of this across many spectrums. Give a Governor the keys to the White House, and interns may run amok. Give a despot the throne in some nations, and the results can be very detrimental to the population.
So if power corrupts, what was Cadillac thinking when they gave the already potent CTS a huge increase in output and displacement and called it the CTS-V? Well, power, of course! In this case the power to run supreme with the established big dogs from Mercedes’ AMG and BMW’s M. Long have the Germans reigned supreme in the wars for supremacy in the luxury performance sedan class. For me, I am marking this day in time, because on this day I drove the 2010 CTS-V and had my vision of German superiority absolutely shattered.
The essence of the CTS-V can be determined by pressing the “start” button on the dash. No need to listen carefully, as the rumble of thunder is just that – 6.2 litres of supercharged American V8 performance is ready to explode, rendering the luxury sound deadening in the CTS-V virtually useless. But this is the beauty of the CTS-V. You want to hear every stroke of the sweet engine. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2010 Cadillac CTS-V
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By Nauman Farooq
Good news from General Motors of Canada at the start of the 2010 Toronto International Auto Show. The new Buick Regal sedan will eventually be built at GM’s Oshawa plant. Eventually because the first run of production cars will be coming from GM’s Opel facility in Germany.
However, starting spring of next year, the Oshawa plant, which currently makes the Impala and the Camaro (the upcoming Camaro convertible will also be built here), will be adding the Regal to their line-up, which is great news for the local work-force.
What will the car be like to actually drive? That we have to wait and see, but since it is very heavily based on the European Opel Insignia, chances are even with the changes to North American spec, the two will be very similar, which is great news, because the Insignia is very well received by all the European motoring press.
The first models on sale will get the 2.4-liter, direct-injection, four-cylinder engine, which produces 182 hp and 172 lb/ft of torque.
A six-speed automatic transmission will send power to the front wheels. No all-wheel drive model has been officially announced as of yet.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Buick Regal
Posted in Gallery, News, Reviews, Toronto 2010 | 1 Comment »
The Odyssey Lives On
Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press
*featured make=’Honda’ model=’Odyssey’
*relatedNew make= ‘Chrysler’ model=’Town & Country’
*relatedNew make=’Toyota’ model=’Sienna’
*relatedUsed make=’Mazda’ model=’Mazda5′
*relatedUsed make=’Kia’ model=’Sedona’
A colleague of mine said a funny thing the other day. After having driven a really cool sports sedan in the not so distant past, I rolled into work in a 2010 Honda Odyssey Touring minivan. Despite this sports sedan having had a great exhaust note, tons of power and pretty cool features, all characteristics that would whet the palette of diehard car nuts like he and I, his reaction to the sedan pails in comparison to the Odyssey. His words were, and I quote, “Oh man, this is the sweetest van ever. If I won the lottery, this is what I would buy for my wife.” Why did I find that so funny? Well, first of all, he would buy it for his wife and not for himself, despite its sweetness. The stereotype lives on… Second of all, with all the money one could potentially win, he would pick the Odyssey as his wife’s chariot.
Ok, I know it sounds like I’m pooh-poohing the Odyssey, but I’m really not. After contemplating his words, I started to understand why the appeal for this particular vehicle was so strong. I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t just a stereotyping thing, because this is the kind of vehicle that women (and men) with kids would want! I’m a woman, but without kids, so the sports sedan would be my first choice. But ask me again in a few years and I’m sure I’ll be dying to get into something without body-hugging seats and a neighbour-waking exhaust, not to mention something with easier access to the back seats when in tight shopping mall parking stalls.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2010 Honda Odyssey Touring
Posted in Gallery, Reviews | 1 Comment »
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 | 2 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.
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Tags: 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost
Posted in Gallery, Reviews | 2 Comments »
