Autoblog Canada http://ca.autoblog.com Autoblog Canada http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Canada http://ca.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[F1 boss Ecclestone staring down bribery charges]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/f1-boss-ecclestone-staring-down-bribery-charges/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/f1-boss-ecclestone-staring-down-bribery-charges/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/f1-boss-ecclestone-staring-down-bribery-charges/#commentsBernie Ecclestone F1 boss suited with hand up

Controversial Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is facing bribery charges from German prosecutors. The long-rumoured indictments stem from the 2006 sale of the racing series from Germany's Bayern LB bank to CVC Capital partners. The charge could result in Ecclestone facing jail time and losing his iron grip on the F1 series.

Ecclestone, 82, is said to be "100 per cent" relaxed about the pending charges, despite the fact that Bayern's former chief risk officer, Gerhard Gribkowsky, is already incarcerated and serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for admitting to taking a bribe worth nearly US$43 million. According to reports, German prosecutors are alleging that Ecclestone was responsible for that money. For his part, Ecclestone has repeatedly asserted his innocence, maintaining that he is a victim of blackmail.

If the case goes to trial, Germany's The Local says Ecclestone is not likely to appear in court until this fall, as much of the case's extensive documentation will need to be translated into English.

Click through to watch a video on the future of Formula One.

Gallery: Infiniti Red Bull RB9






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F1 boss Ecclestone staring down bribery charges originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 17 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bayern lbbernie ecclestonebriberycoercioncvc capital partnersf1formula oneFri, 17 May 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Watch this garbage truck consume a Pontiac Grand Am]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/watch-this-garbage-truck-consume-a-pontiac-grand-am/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/watch-this-garbage-truck-consume-a-pontiac-grand-am/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/watch-this-garbage-truck-consume-a-pontiac-grand-am/#commentsGarbage truck crushes car - video screencap

When an old car or truck offers its dying breath in your driveway and you just don't have the financial or mechanical wherewithal to resuscitate it yet again, you traditionally have to go to the trouble of calling a flatbed or a tow truck to come haul it away. That usually helps to put a few bucks in your wallet and helps recycle some of the vehicle's parts, but the transaction doesn't seem as final or perversely satisfying as the dispatch service that this New Way Cobra Magnum garbage truck offers.

Okay, okay, so this refuse hauler isn't actually designed for this sort of thing, but it's oddly comforting to know that a sanitation truck can compact a hapless Pontiac Grand Am into oblivion. Next time, we won't feel so guilty about slipping that rusty charcoal grille onto the curb next to the cans on garbage day.

Watch the carnage by scrolling to see the video below.

Gallery: Car crash causes over $700,000 damage at Hyundai dealership

Continue reading Watch this garbage truck consume a Pontiac Grand Am

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Watch this garbage truck consume a Pontiac Grand Am originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 15 May 2013 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>garbage trucknew waynew way cobra magnumpontiacpontiac grand amrefusesanitationvideoWed, 15 May 2013 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: 2014 BMW M5 facelift shows up online]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/2014-bmw-m5-facelift-shows-up-online/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/2014-bmw-m5-facelift-shows-up-online/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/2014-bmw-m5-facelift-shows-up-online/#comments2014 BMW M5 leaked image - front three-quarter, blue

Is it that time already? Like its predecessors, the current BMW M5 has been endangering driver's licences since it first went on sale here in 2012, but its design became a known quantity back at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Apparently that also means that the F10 generation has already grown tired enough to the "Must Have Latest Set" who can afford these sorts of super saloons that a facelift is in order.

If these leaked images sourced from Autocar are anything to go by, BMW stylists have used a predictably light hand to rework their hottest 5 Series, with a revised grille that echoes the M6 along with modestly resculpted headlamps. The rear end appears wholly unaltered. Interior changes gleaned from a look at the cabin photos include an updated touchpad-equipped iDrive controller and a new steering wheel cribbed from the M6.

No new word on changes to the 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8 powertrain, but in late April, we heard that BMW was readying new competition packages for the M5 and M6. The packages are said to include 15 more horsepower, revised suspension and steering, along with new wheels and blackened exhaust tips. Given that BMW is known for habitually underrating its cars' horsepower outputs (particularly its M models) we can't help but wonder if its engineers will need to do anything other than wave a magic wand to corral those extra ponies underhood...

Hit the jump for additional images and click here to watch the current M5 monster doing what it does best.

Gallery: 2013 BMW M5

Continue reading 2014 BMW M5 facelift shows up online

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2014 BMW M5 facelift shows up online originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 14 May 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 bmw 5 series2014 bmw m5bmwbmw 5 seriesbmw m5Tue, 14 May 2013 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Jaguar's Callum refutes two XJ bodystyle rumour]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/11/jaguars-callum-refutes-two-xj-bodystyle-rumour/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/11/jaguars-callum-refutes-two-xj-bodystyle-rumour/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/11/jaguars-callum-refutes-two-xj-bodystyle-rumour/#commentsJaguar XJR sedan - front three-quarter view
Not long ago, we relayed word from Edmunds that Jaguar was planning to split its next-generation XJ sedan into two bodystyles - one model that continued the ambitious design approach fostered with the current X351-based model, and another, more upright model to better appeal to China's conservative design sensibilities.

We expressed some cynicism in the idea, noting that such a strategy "might catch more profits for the marque, but it might also represent a setback to design head Ian Callum's vision for a thoroughly modern Jaguar portfolio." Callum has been quite insistent in his belief that Jag needs to be a forward-thinking brand in terms of design, and the two-model strategy seemed to conflict with that idea. We tried to get some comment from Callum at that time, but were unable to reach him.

As it turns out, our cynicism was well-placed. Autocar says that while the next XJ will continue to have two wheelbases, Callum has denied the two-model talk, saying flatly: "I can't see us doing two bodystyles. The cost would be enormous and the message inconsistent. You have to believe in what you produce and to do two bodystyles would undermine that."

Scroll down to watch a Jaguar XJ review.

Gallery: Jaguar XJ41 F-type Prototype






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Jaguar's Callum refutes two XJ bodystyle rumour originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 11 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 jaguar xjdesignian callumjaguarjaguar chinajaguar xjx351Sat, 11 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Cold War classic 1966 Volga GAZ-21 pops into Jay Leno's Garage]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/1966-volga-gaz-21-pops-into-jay-lenos-garage/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/1966-volga-gaz-21-pops-into-jay-lenos-garage/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/1966-volga-gaz-21-pops-into-jay-lenos-garage/#commentsJay Leno in Russian Volga - video screencap

One of the many reasons we love Jay Leno's Garage is the depth of the comedian's collection and his appreciation for the unappreciated. Most men of his financial and social standing with even a passing interest in automobiles would occupy their driveways with six- and seven-figure high performance and luxury cars - they wouldn't even know what something like this 1966 Volga GAZ-21 is, let alone offer it a spot in their garage mahal.

Yet here is Leno, pouring over this ex-KGB staff car in detail and trying on his best labored Russian accent, genuinely fascinated by this small sedan. With a three-on-the-tree, primitive leaf-spring suspension and 95 horsepower from its 2.5-litre four-cylinder, this unrestored sedan - still riding on made-in-USSR tires - doesn't sound terribly exciting on paper, but Jay does a good job of outlining its features and putting it into historical context. He even tells a brief-but-amusing yarn about driving the car through Russian immigrant neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area.

Learn more about this Cold War curiosity by scrolling below to watch the video.

Gallery: 1971 Datsun 510 - Jay Leno's Garage

Continue reading Cold War classic 1966 Volga GAZ-21 pops into Jay Leno's Garage

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Cold War classic 1966 Volga GAZ-21 pops into Jay Leno's Garage originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 02 May 2013 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1966 volga gaz-21jay lenojay lenos garagekgblenovideovolgavolga gaz-21Thu, 02 May 2013 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: GM apologizing for Chevy Trax ad dubbed 'racist']]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/gm-apology-for-racist-chevrolet-trax-ad-video/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/gm-apology-for-racist-chevrolet-trax-ad-video/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/gm-apology-for-racist-chevrolet-trax-ad-video/#commentsControversial Chevrolet Trax ad - screencap

In what can only be described as a growing trend, another automaker finds itself in trouble for an ad that critics are calling offensive. A new television and internet ad for the Chevrolet Trax subcompact crossover is under fire for its soundtrack, which a Chinese newspaper has labeled "racist."

The commercial blends the vehicle with a Flapper-era backdrop and soundtrack, and it's the latter that has General Motors spokeswoman Ryndee Carney issuing an on-the-record apology to Advertising Age: "Our intent was not to offend anyone and we're deeply sorry if anyone was offended... we're reviewing our advertising approval processes to make sure this doesn't happen again." The song in question, performed by Austrian DJ and producer Parov Stelar, refers to "the land of Fu Manchu" a place in which the girls sing "ching, ching, chop-suey." The South China Morning Post was among the first to publish a story criticizing the commercial as racist.

The ad, known as The Original Reborn, has been running here in Canada - the only North American market where the vehicle is on sale - and AdAge also reports that it has been featured on the automaker's European websites. Since the controversy erupted, Chevrolet has since substituted a new version of the ad that omits the lyrics, but you can view the original by scrolling below.

Controversial ads are nothing new for this industry, but there has been a bumper crop of them lately, including a recent Hyundai suicide-themed spot and a series of Indian-market Ford print ads featuring celebrity caricatures making light of S&M-tinged kidnappings.

Click here to watch all three controversial ad campaigns in the videos below.

Gallery: Ford Figo Sexist Print Ads

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GM apologizing for Chevy Trax ad dubbed 'racist' originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 02 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 chevy traxbanned adschevychevy traxcontroversial adsoriginal rebornparov stelarvideoThu, 02 May 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: 2014 Toyota 4Runner revealed at Stagecoach Music Festival [w/video]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/29/2014-toyota-4runner-revealed-at-stagecoach-music-festival/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/29/2014-toyota-4runner-revealed-at-stagecoach-music-festival/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/29/2014-toyota-4runner-revealed-at-stagecoach-music-festival/#comments2014 Toyota 4Runner

Toyota has just pulled the sheet off its updated 2014 4Runner at the 2013 Stagecoach Music Festival near Palm Springs, California. Toyota is the title sponsor at the festival, and claims that this is the first-ever global reveal of a new automobile at a major music festival. We're also guessing this is the first time that the 4Runner has seen duty inside what looks like a vintage circus act's cage.

We can see from the photos that the body-on-frame SUV has received a freshened look with new smoked light fixtures front and rear, along with a boldly reworked front fascia and grille. The profile view seems largely unchanged, though there are new wheel patterns on offer.

The 4Runner will continue to be offered in three trims, including SR5, more luxurious Limited, and off-road-ready Trail specification. Both 4x2 and both part- and full-time 4x4 models will continue to be available, all will be powered by the same 4.0-litre 270-horsepower V6 and five-speed automatic as last year.

Other changes for the 2014 model year include a retouched interior featuring new Optitron gauges, a multi-information display, and changes in trim. On the entertainment front, there are new head units with Toyota's Entune infotainment technology and an in-glass antenna replacing the previous mast unit. The optional navigation unit features a 18 cm (seven-inch) screen.

Check out our gallery above and the official press release below for the full scoop, then be sure to watch the video showing the new 4Runner.

Gallery: 2013 Toyota Tacoma: Quick Spin





Continue reading 2014 Toyota 4Runner revealed at Stagecoach Music Festival [w/video]

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2014 Toyota 4Runner revealed at Stagecoach Music Festival [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 toyota 4runner4runner4runner suvsbreakingstagecoachstagecoach music festivaltoyotatoyota 4runnervideoMon, 29 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumormill: Bentley poised to join four-door coupe game?]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/bentley-continental-luxury-coupe-sedan/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/bentley-continental-luxury-coupe-sedan/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/bentley-continental-luxury-coupe-sedan/#commentsBentley Continental GT - front dead-on view

Bentley may be all hot and bothered with plans for its finally approved ultra-lux SUV, but the marque's attentions may not solely be limited to a two-box range expansion. That's according to AutoExpress, which quotes company CEO Wolfgang Schreiber as being interested in launching a 'four-door coupe' variant of its popular Continental range (pictured). According to Schrieber, "I definitely wouldn't say no to the idea... with the new Flying Spur, we have a model that supports the Mulsanne, and a coupe with four doors could sit below that."

The more rakish sedan isn't tipped to launch before 2016 - the brand will be too busy launching the Flying Spur and furthering work on the as-yet-unnamed SUV to pull ahead the project. The plan would appear to make a lot of sense, as the additional bodystyle on the back of the Continental platform would likely command more money than the rest of the line (see also: Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe) while basically just being a new top hat on an existing architecture. This isn't the first time AutoExpress has promulgated this Bentley 4DC idea, however. Back in 2010, it offered a similar report, but at that point, it anticipated the model would be cheaper than the Continental, suggesting it would be based on a platform shared with the Audi A7.

AutoExpress notes the additional model would help Bentley achieve its ambitious sales targets to drive from last year's 8,510 units sold to 15,000 by 2018, though most of that volume still figures to come from the new utility vehicle.

Scroll down to watch the new 2014 Bentley Continental GT with its W12 engine in action.

Gallery: 2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible: Detroit 2013







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Bentley poised to join four-door coupe game? originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley continental gtbentley four-door coupefour door coupefour-door coupewolfgang schreiberWed, 24 Apr 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 2013 BMW X1]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/2013-bmw-x1-review/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/2013-bmw-x1-review/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/2013-bmw-x1-review/#commentsA Tasty Bit Of Old School For The New School

2013 BMW X1

Against the backdrop of fervent hand-wringing from brand purists, BMW is on the cusp of finally offering front-wheel-drive vehicles. While that's a shock to the constitution, many are pointing to the company's fine-handling Mini offerings as an article of faith that they can get this drivetrain paradigm shift right. That may be true, but there's an even more important lesson that Mini has taught the decision-makers in Munich: how to make real money on small cars.

Before Mini came along, BMW - along with seemingly every other premium European automaker - never really figured out how to coax big dollars out of North American wallets without developing cars that had large footprints, at least those other than sports cars. While the automaker really got rolling in North America on the strength of little bantamweights like the 2002, it veered away from small cars sometime in the '80s. BMW subsequently crashed and burned with the cut-and-shut 318ti built off its E36 3 Series and, good as it is, the 1 Series hasn't given the company meaty volume or profits, either. Among other brands, the Audi A3 has never rung up big numbers, and the less said about the painful sales figures of the Volvo C30, the better. But Mini has beat the odds, blazing a more affordable and evidently compelling trail. As of late, the company's Countryman softroader has been a massive hit worldwide. No surprise then that BMW has brought its X1 to North Americans. Here in Canada, X1s can be seen dotting the roadscape, but BMW has just brought their smallest 'X' vehicle stateside in an effort to balloon sales.

The X1 originally went on sale in Europe in 2010, and after a solid launch on its home continent, the little crossover was introduced in small-car-friendly Canada for 2012, only going on sale in the US fresh off a minor facelift for 2013. To be clear, the X1 shares no design DNA with the even-smaller Countryman. Their engineers don't even use the same washroom - whereas the Mini is based on a front-drive chassis, the X1's architecture is a variant of the aforementioned rear-wheel-drive 1 Series, itself derived from the old E90 3 Series. Exactly none of this is bad news.

Continue reading 2013 BMW X1

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2013 BMW X1 originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 bmw x1bmwbmw x1reviewreviewsxdrive28iTue, 23 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shanghai: Cadillac still planning for big things in China]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/cadillac-still-planning-for-big-things-in-china/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/cadillac-still-planning-for-big-things-in-china/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/cadillac-still-planning-for-big-things-in-china/#comments

Despite some hiccups, China remains the auto industry's great hope for new vehicle sales, with significant sales gains and a huge upside. Nowhere is that hope more fervent than at General Motors, which offers eight different marques in the Asian nation. China has been GM's single biggest market the last three years running, and is unlikely to give up that title anytime soon. Yet its premiere brand, Cadillac, has remained essentially stagnant, selling just 30,000 units in China last year. That's in a segment where sales of luxury vehicles has outpaced that of the larger Chinese market. So what gives?

According to Cadillac officials Autoblog spoke with in China this week at the Shanghai Motor Show, it's been a problem of product - they haven't had the right ones. Displacement taxation issues, import tariffs and currency fluctuations have all conspired to make the brand's products less appealing than they might otherwise have been. But GM is stepping on the gas with Cadillac, and executives are eyeballing 100,000 sales by 2016 - more than triple the Wreath and Crest's current volume. And the expectations for the brand only get more ambitious from there - they're shooting for 10 per cent of the luxury market by 2020. Bob Socia, President of GM China, promises that there will be a new Caddy launched in the market each year from now through 2016 and most will be built in China. Characterizing the company's efforts to revive the brand's fortunes as a "relaunch" of sorts, the brand also figures to gain dealers as GM expands its sales outlet footprint westward.

New products like a made-in-China XTS sedan (with a market-specific 2.0-litre four-cylinder to avoid heavy displacement taxes) will help, and Socia hinted that the ATS sport sedan could be next in line for in-country production. The SRX crossover - currently the brand's best-selling model in China - will also likely get a long look for future local production with the next-generation model is introduced. In the meantime, Cadillac unveiled the Escalade ESV Hybrid (shown above) as its latest model addition to capitalize on the market's white-hot luxury SUV segment.

In addition to new products, GM China is also investing in developing market-specific technology at its facilities in Shanghai. Much of that will come in the form of apps for its infotainment systems like Cadillac's CUE, including connectivity for popular social media utilities like Weibo, which executives described as China's Twitter.

Continue reading Cadillac still planning for big things in China

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Cadillac still planning for big things in China originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 shanghai motor showbob sociacadillaccadillac atscadillac chinacadillac escaladecadillac xtsgeneral motorsgmgm chinashanghaishanghai motor showweiboSat, 20 Apr 2013 16:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Jaguar planning two different bodystyles for next XJ?]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/jaguar-planning-two-bodystyles-for-next-xj/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/jaguar-planning-two-bodystyles-for-next-xj/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/jaguar-planning-two-bodystyles-for-next-xj/#comments2014 Jaguar XJR

As we alluded to in today's F-Type first drive, Jaguar hasn't been selling its wares in China for very long, and as a result, buyers there usually don't have the same appreciation for the brand's history. So you might reasonably think that the company's recent radical styling shift (kicked off by the 2008 XF) wouldn't be as jarring to the nation's buying populace, since they really didn't have the automaker's more traditionally styled models from years past to compare them against.

Yet while Jaguar and its sister marque, Land Rover, continue to pick up steam in China's developing market, that apparently isn't necessarily the case. Local buyers there tend to have more conservative tastes when it comes to styling, preferring more upright dimensions, big back seats and larger quantities of traditional luxury materials (think: chrome and wood) than other markets currently find desirable. Thus, the very bold current-generation XJ sedan may be leaving some sales on the table.

According to Edmunds, Jag doesn't want to risk that, and as such, it is preparing two bodystyles for the next-generation XJ - one with the rakish "four-door coupe" styling of the current model, and a more "old-school" three-box sedan designed to appeal to a wider swath of Chinese buyers.

Given that Jaguar's small size means that nearly every model it generates must play worldwide today (with exceptions made for variants like the XF Sportbrake, which hasn't been engineered to global crash standards), it's reasonable to question whether Jag might offer both XJ bodystyles here in North America - perhaps in a tiered scheme like the Audi A8 and A7. That strategy might catch more profits for the marque, but it might also represent a setback to design head Ian Callum's vision for a thoroughly modern Jaguar portfolio.

Click here to watch the current Jaguar XJ playing in the snow with its new AWD system.


Gallery: 2014 Jaguar XJR New York Auto Show 2013

Continue reading Jaguar planning two different bodystyles for next XJ?

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Jaguar planning two different bodystyles for next XJ? originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 jaguar xjchinaian callumjaguarjaguar xjWed, 17 Apr 2013 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[First Drive: 2014 Jaguar F-Type]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/2014-jaguar-f-type-first-drive-review/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/2014-jaguar-f-type-first-drive-review/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/2014-jaguar-f-type-first-drive-review/#commentsStepping Into The Lion's Den With A Big-Hearted Cat

2014 Jaguar F-Type - front three-quarter view, charcoal

If you're like me - and our demographics suggests you are - you've probably never seen a new Jaguar sportscar at your local showroom. I'm 36, and it hasn't happened in my lifetime... and not by a little bit. Oh, there have been a string of XK coupes and convertibles, and as of late, there have even been some genuine high-performance specials - namely the R, R-S and R-S GT models - but their basis has always been the 2+2 grand tourer shell, not a lighter and smaller footprint with more intrinsic sporting intent. The truth is that it's been a half-century since Jaguar introduced a proper new sportscar. Today, most people know the brand strictly as a purveyor of wood- and hide-lined luxury sedans.

In fact, if you're not an enthusiast with some appreciation for the marque's history, it's a bit odd to hear Jaguar executives proclaim that they are a sportscar company and always have been. By their reckoning, the 2014 F-Type seen here is in fact a return to form, a Rip Van Winkled brand pillar reanimated and reimagined to take centre stage. It's a sentiment that must be particularly odd for car shoppers in developing markets like China, where Jaguar hasn't even been selling cars for very long. Yet because the original 1961 E-Type is perhaps the most gorgeous car ever to lay ply on the world's roads, we're prepared to cut them some slack.

Given a desire to project its lengthy and distinguished (if distant) sportscar history into the present, we couldn't really have blamed Jaguar if they decided to just update the E-Type's visuals and pull what's underneath into modernity, à la Ford GT. (In fact, there's already a well-respected British outfit, Eagle, commanding big dollars for doing largely the same thing). There's also a middle 'homage' path - think 1956 BMW 507 begets 2000 Z8 roadster. Yet Jaguar hasn't taken the easy way out and created a doppelganger or even a historical pastiche. Yes, if you look hard enough, you'll find subtle nods to the E-Type, but they aren't immediately obvious. In fact, Jaguar has embarked on nothing short of a radical design overhaul of its entire lineup over the last half-decade or so (beginning with 2008's XF sedan) in an effort to upend its image as traditional luxury transport for the world's elderly elite.

Continue reading 2014 Jaguar F-Type

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2014 Jaguar F-Type originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 f type2014 f-type2014 jaguar f-typef typefeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveftypejaguarjaguar f-typeWed, 17 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: BMW planning Zhi Nuo Chinese sub-brand, may export models]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/13/bmw-planning-zhi-nuo-chinese-sub-brand-may-export-models/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/13/bmw-planning-zhi-nuo-chinese-sub-brand-may-export-models/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/13/bmw-planning-zhi-nuo-chinese-sub-brand-may-export-models/#comments2012 BMW X1 - front three-quarter view

Automakers continue to pour big money into the developing market that is China, and new sub-brands born of joint ventures with domestic partners crop up on what seems like a weekly basis. The latest? According to reports, BMW and its Chinese ally Brilliance are forming a new sub-brand called Zhi Nuo ("The Promise") that will likely rely on existing or older BMW products as a basis for new models.

Previous reports had indicated that the sub-brand could build its offerings based on an older 3 Series model (presumably the E90 series), but newer rumours have the X1 crossover (shown) factoring in. The Zhi Nuo brand could receive its official unveiling as soon as late this month at the Shanghai Motor Show.

Perhaps most interestingly, Automotive News Europe reports that the automaker's ambitions for Zhi Nuo may extend beyond China's borders. It's not clear what markets BMW may be eying, but executives admit the company hasn't ruled out Europe.

Scroll down to watch a video showing BMW engine production in a Chinese factory.

Gallery: BMW X4 Concept Photos






Continue reading BMW planning Zhi Nuo Chinese sub-brand, may export models

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BMW planning Zhi Nuo Chinese sub-brand, may export models originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 13 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3 seriesauto plantauto plantsbmwbmw chinabrilliancebrilliance automotivechinachinesechinese carchinese carse90manufacturingplantproductionx1zhi nuoSat, 13 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LaFerrari 3D model adds depth to Maranello's new supercar]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/laferrari-3d-model-adds-depth-to-maranellos-new-supercar/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/laferrari-3d-model-adds-depth-to-maranellos-new-supercar/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/laferrari-3d-model-adds-depth-to-maranellos-new-supercar/#commentsLaFerrari 3D rendering

At its recent Geneva Motor Show unveiling, we couldn't help but spend a good long time gawking at the new LaFerrari supercar. It isn't just that it's the newest top-line Ferrari, or even that it picks up where the Enzo left off - it's just that there's so much to look at, from the ductwork in its long nose to the delicate artistry of its sideview mirrors. There's so much aerodynamic wizardry at play on every surface that you just want to pick it up in your hand and take a closer look every which way - even underneath.

Sadly that's not possible, but we may just have the next best thing. Autoblog reader Giorgio has come up with this clever interactive 3D model of the LaFerrari, and we think it's neat enough that you might want to take a look - check it out by scrolling below. And don't forget - we love featuring what our car-crazed readers are up to, including here or on our Facebook page, so keep those tips coming.

Click through to look at the 3D model, and to watch Ferrari's LaFerrari launch video.

Gallery: Ferrari LaFerrari: Geneva 2013






Continue reading LaFerrari 3D model adds depth to Maranello's new supercar

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LaFerrari 3D model adds depth to Maranello's new supercar originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 ferrari laferrari3d3d renderingautoshow2013ferrariferrari laferrariFerrari LaFerrari 2013la ferrarilaferrarisupercarsupercarsMon, 08 Apr 2013 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Breaking: Fisker PR team and many other employees face layoffs today [UPDATE]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/fisker-pr-team-and-many-other-employees-face-layoff-this-morning/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/fisker-pr-team-and-many-other-employees-face-layoff-this-morning/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/fisker-pr-team-and-many-other-employees-face-layoff-this-morning/#comments

The entirety of the public relations team at Fisker is about to be laid off. That's according to an email Autoblog received this morning from a credible source stating that the entire PR team, along with a large number of other Fisker employees will be furloughed at 8:00AM PST this morning.

The luxury plug-in-hybrid car startup launched with a splash with the sexy Karma sedan just a few years ago, but since then it has struggled to collect government financing, it has been battered by natural disasters, supplier solvency issues and the recent departure of its namesake, designer and founder Henrik Fisker. The company has been in talks with possible investors, but thus far that has amounted to nothing, and officials are said to be in discussions with bankruptcy experts.

UPDATE: Calling it a "necessary strategic step to... maximize the value of Fisker's core assets," Fisker has confirmed it has laid off 75 percent of its employees. Read more in the official statement by scrolling down and in the Automotive News story linked below.


Gallery: 2012 Fisker Karma

Continue reading Fisker PR team and many other employees face layoffs today [UPDATE]

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Fisker PR team and many other employees face layoffs today [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingfiredfiskerfisker karmafisker layoffshenrik fiskerkarmalayoffFri, 05 Apr 2013 17:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Over $20,000 in 'irreplaceable' trophies stolen from Goodwood]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/over-20-000-in-irreplaceable-trophies-stolen-from-goodwood/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/over-20-000-in-irreplaceable-trophies-stolen-from-goodwood/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/over-20-000-in-irreplaceable-trophies-stolen-from-goodwood/#commentsGoodwood Estate map

A band of thieves is being blamed for a brazen nighttime theft of 33 historic trophies from the Goodwood estate, where the Festival of Speed and Revival are held. According to the Telegraph, at least four burglars drove up to the Earl Of March's 12,000-acre estate on Monday night in a Range Rover, whereupon they broke a window at the Kennels Clubhouse (above, upper left) and smashed four cabinets to gain access to the trophy collection.

The trophies are valued at £15,000 - over CAD$23,400 - but are essentially priceless because they cannot be duplicated and some have significant historic and sentimental value. One of the stolen pieces includes the Mobil Oil Trophy, awarded in 1931 to the Earl's grandfather for a race at Brooklands.

An estate spokesperson fears the trophies may be sold for scrap, as they figure to be very difficult to sell. A reward has been set up for the return of the trophies and local police are asking for help from anyone who may know anything about the burglary.


Gallery: 2012 Goodwood Revival

Continue reading Over $20,000 in 'irreplaceable' trophies stolen from Goodwood

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Over $20,000 in 'irreplaceable' trophies stolen from Goodwood originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earl of marchgoodwoodgoodwood festival of speedgoodwood revivalgoodwood theftkennels clubhousesussextrophytrophy theftFri, 05 Apr 2013 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Volkswagen's De Silva says next Scirocco will be 'completely different']]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/02/volkswagens-de-silva-says-next-scirocco-will-be-completely-dif/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/02/volkswagens-de-silva-says-next-scirocco-will-be-completely-dif/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/02/volkswagens-de-silva-says-next-scirocco-will-be-completely-dif/#commentsVolkswagen Scirocco GTS - front three-quarter view, lights on

From our perspective, the reborn Volkswagen Scirocco is a handsome (if squat) little thing. Yet design-wise, it's always struck us as uncomfortably close to the Golf three-door hatchback with which it shares its basic underpinnings. That aesthetic kinship may be part of the reason why Volkswagen has steadfastly refused to import the Scirocco to North America, seeing as how the Golf doesn't regularly set the company's sales charts alight, and it's less expensive.

But that visual similarity might be about to change, says Walter De Silva, who recently told Australia's Car Advice that, "It must be completely different... we don't want to repeat the bodystyle of the Scirocco, we want to change that." Further, the Volkswagen Group's design boss says that the next-generation car isn't terribly far along in development yet - "at the moment, it's only a studio [project]... it's not defined." It's probably just as well, as the new seventh-generation Golf arguably borrows some of its design from the current Scirocco anyway.

So we should expect a much bolder, more differentiated design, right? Well, yes, no and maybe. Back in September, De Silva himself was quoted as saying that the era of flamboyant styling has passed, and that future VW designs will be simpler to better reflect the times and preserve resale value. So... how different could it be?

Hit the jump for additional VW Scirocco photos and video footage.


Gallery: Volkswagen Scirocco

Continue reading Volkswagen's De Silva says next Scirocco will be 'completely different'

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Volkswagen's De Silva says next Scirocco will be 'completely different' originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2016 volkswagen sciroccodesignvolkswagenvolkswagen sciroccovwwalter de silvawalter desilvaTue, 02 Apr 2013 14:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Large car market withering away... will it survive?]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/30/large-car-market-withering-away-will-it-survive/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/30/large-car-market-withering-away-will-it-survive/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/30/large-car-market-withering-away-will-it-survive/#comments1963 Chevrolet Impala bench seat with period famale model

To look at automakers' lineups these days, it would appear that America's large car market is enjoying something of a resurgence. After all, Chevrolet has invested in a new Impala, Toyota has its new Avalon, Hyundai fielded an all-new Azera for 2012, and Nissan is presently working on a next-generation Maxima.

Yet, according to the industry forecasters at Polk, the market for mainstream big sedans is cratering. According to Polk's data, the large mainstream sedan segment has plunged from a 5.8-per cent share of the US car market in 2008 to just 3.5 per cent in 2012. That sales drop is enough to put this most American of car bodystyles behind the minivan segment, a market whose own sales slide has been comparatively well documented.

Click through to read on, and check out a video showing how small cars are getting safer through crash testing.

Gallery: 2014 Chevrolet SS Daytona

Continue reading Large car market withering away... will it survive?

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Large car market withering away... will it survive? originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotive economyautomotive trendscar buyingcar marketcar salescar trendseconomyfull sizelarge carsedanSat, 30 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New York: 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage bound for Canada [w/video]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/2014-mitsubishi-mirage-arrives-in-us-this-fall/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/2014-mitsubishi-mirage-arrives-in-us-this-fall/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/2014-mitsubishi-mirage-arrives-in-us-this-fall/#comments2014 Mitsubishi Mirage

Canada's Mitsubishi dealers have been painfully starved of fresh product for ages now, with their most recent new model, the bubble-shaped i electric car, already requiring a serious sales jumpstart. We've known for a while that help is on the way in the form of an all-new Outlander crossover, but we've basically only had loose confirmations to go on that the Japanese automaker would eventually reintroduce its Mirage subcompact to the North American market. Those rumors have turned to reality, as Mitsubishi has confirmed that the five-door economy car will be sold in Canada.

Every subcompact player needs a trump suit, from Ford's tech-rich Fiesta to Honda's impossibly space-efficient Fit, and the Mirage's calling card figures to be its fuel economy. Mitsubishi says it expects its 2014 Mirage to achieve 6.4 L/100km (37 mpg) in the city and 5.3 L/100km (44 mpg) on the highway (combined rating of 5.8 L/100km (40 mpg)) when equipped with a continuously variable transmission. Those figures are good enough, Mitsu says, to earn it the title of the most fuel-efficient gasoline vehicle sold in North America that isn't a hybrid.

Of course, Mitsubishi isn't outlining any additional specs at the moment - not even engine configuration. We're expecting the company's 1.2 litre three-cylinder, which in European spec delivers a modest 79 horsepower and 78 pound-feet of torque. The Continent's Mirage weighs under 862 kg (1,900 pounds), but the normally aspirated triple still makes for leisurely acceleration of 11.7 seconds to 100 km/h (62 miles per hour). It will be interesting to see if Mitsubishi makes some powertrain alterations to better suit Canadian expectations.

With no performance stats on offer other than fuel economy, interested parties will need to find succor in confirmation that the model will come with features including automatic climate control, power windows and a four-speaker stereo with USB port. Options will also include navigation with rearview camera, LED interior illumination and park assist. No pricing has been released at this time.

To watch the new Mirage in video action and to read the short press release, scroll down.

Gallery: 2013 Mitsubishi Mirage

Continue reading 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage bound for Canada [w/video]

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2014 Mitsubishi Mirage bound for Canada [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 new york auto show2014 mitsubishi mirageautoshow2013mitsubishimitsubishi miragenew yorknew york auto showFri, 29 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Volkswagen Routan axed after poor sales, trend towards crossovers and SUVs]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/volkswagen-routan-dead-pour-out-a-sippy-cup-for-your-little-hom/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/volkswagen-routan-dead-pour-out-a-sippy-cup-for-your-little-hom/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/volkswagen-routan-dead-pour-out-a-sippy-cup-for-your-little-hom/#comments2010 Volkswagen Routan - front three-quarter dynamic view

America's minivan wolfpack has just gotten smaller by one. According to Automotive News, Volkswagen officials have confirmed what we've suspected for some time - the Routan is dead. Essentially a lightly reworked version of the Dodge Grand Caravan, the Routan actually hasn't been rolling off of Chrysler's Windsor, Ontario production line at all this year, but VW had yet to confirm its discontinuation. However, Jonathan Browning, CEO of VW America, has reportedly admitted that the Routan is being axed, with remaining units expected to be funneled into corporate functions for "internal purposes."

So, is volume-crazy Volkswagen prepared to pass on large family vehicle sales? Probably not - the German automaker has signaled that it plans to build a three-row crossover in North America soon, and we wouldn't be surprised if it looks an awful lot like the Crossblue Concept from January's Detroit Auto Show - minus the fancy plug-in diesel powertrain.

Scroll down to watch a video review of the ill-fated Routan.

Gallery: 2011 Volkswagen Routan

Continue reading Volkswagen Routan axed after poor sales, trend towards crossovers and SUVs

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Volkswagen Routan axed after poor sales, trend towards crossovers and SUVs originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 volkswagen routancaravanchrysler windsorchyrsler windsor plantcrossbluedodgedodge caravanminivanvolkswagenvolkswagen crossbluevwThu, 28 Mar 2013 14:30:00 EST