Vehicle reviews, car news, live auto show coverage and unique car topics blogged about on MSN Autos Canada.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

Well, the waiting is over. Toyota has taken the wraps off its all-new 2014 Corolla early and at least in certain trims levels and angles, the car is much better looking than we were expecting. The car benefits from a 10-cm stretch in overall length and an equal increase in wheelbase, but thankfully Toyota worked to keep its curb-weight down to just over 1,300 kg.

The sporty S package gets a deeper front grille, 17-inch wheels and foglights, but remains mechanically identical to the rest. That means a 132-horsepower 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine powering the front wheels. Transmission choices are eight a six-speed manual or all-new  'intelligent' CVT that replaces the ancient four-speed automatic of old. There's also a new LE Eco model, which - bizarrely - gets a more powerful version of the same engine (140-hp vs. 132), along with aerodynamic tweaks and low-rolling-resistance tires.

he interior looks to be a complete revelation from the previous generation thanks to more expensive materials and a design that didn't originate in the late '90s. Standard features like Bluetooth handsfree and eight airbags will certainly help in this incredibly tight and competitive market...

We'll have a first-drive article up on the main MSN Autos Canada site reasonably soon, which should give more details regarding how the car drives, along with pricing and fuel-economy expectations.

But just glancing at the pictures, do you think Toyota's done enough with the latest Corolla? Can it start taking bigger chunks of sales away from the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and Mazda3? Let us know in the comments.

By Jeremy Sinek for MSN Autos

I just got back from AJAC’s second annual Eco Run. The event debuted last year with a run from Brighton to London, Ontario (yes, the play on England’s famous London-to-Brighton run was intentional). This year, the green-machine eco-driving showcase took a meandering course from Ottawa to Montreal. It provided a first chance to drive several new models of interest to those who care more about L/100-km than 0-100-km/h numbers.

No fewer than 22 samples of new “green and lean” technologies took part — an eclectic, partly-electric selection that ranged from pure electrics, through plug-in hybrids, conventional hybrids and diesels, to conventional gas-engined vehicles maximised for minimal consumption. Likewise the vehicle types were wildly varied, from a Smart Electric Drive to a Dodge Ram HFE, with small hatchbacks, family cars, luxury sedans and compact and midsize SUVs in-between.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

Remember a few years back when all the cars in the sport-compact scene were stuffing as many glowing lights into parts of the body as possible? The appearance on some was more UFO-like than superstar, but for the most part seems to have disappeared almost entirely.

Well, apparently Mercedes-Benz is looking to join the party, albeit very late, with a new accessory: the Illuminated Star. Basically, owners of new 'Benz models with upright grilles and large three-pointed star logos can have them glow when it's dark out. It uses the same LED technology found in the car-maker's headlights and driving lights and turns on when the vehicle is unlocked

Currently, the accessory can be fitted to latest-generation GL-Class or M-Class, the upcoming 2014 E-Class or any year CLS, but the company says it'll roll out to other models soon enough.

Although we can't find the price for it in Canada, given the general cost of adding accessories to luxury German metal, we'd bet it won't be inexpensive.

If you were ordering a new Mercedes-Benz, would you consider one? Or retrofit onto a vehicle you currently own? What other glowing parts should 'Benz — or other manufacturers — offer as well? Let us know in the comments. 

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

I'm sure I'm not the only one who cursed slightly when Mini introduced its Countryman - and subsequent Paceman - five-door crossovers. Raised ride height? Inflated styling? All-wheel-drive? In a vehicle that made its reputation on one of the smallest, best-handling FRONT-wheel-drive cars in history? Argh.

The even funnier part? Despite the larger packaging and all of its penalties, only the top-end S and John Cooper Works used the new system; base Cooper models still only delivered power to the front wheels alone.

Not anymore. For 2014, Mini will finally offer its ALL4 system on both the Cooper Countryman and Cooper Pacemen, which retain the 122-horsepower 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine. A six-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed automatic help give 0-100 km/h times of under 12 seconds, while fuel economy averages of 6.9 L/100 km in the European cycle are had with the former and 7.5 with the latter.

For customers outside of North America, the ALL4 system will also be available on the turbo-diesel-powered Cooper Countryman D and sportier SD, which won't be coming to Canada.

Current Canadian pricing for Cooper Countryman starts at $25,500 while a Cooper Countryman S ALL4 is $29,900, so figure the regular Cooper ALL4 to be a relatively inexpensive option. Paceman pricing is higher in every trim level by $1,300 over the Countryman, so you can do the math on the premium for choosing a three-door instead of a five.

Since there aren't many Minis on the road in my area already, the number of Countryman/Paceman spottings has been seriously low. For people in busier portions of the country where Minis are thick on the ground, do you see many of the 'tall' Minis, and if so, would you consider one now that ALL4 is available across the range?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada

Potentially going against the wishes of his boss, parent Nissan head Carlos Ghosn, the president of Infiniti is scaling back the luxury brand’s aggressive sales goals and putting a hold on the launch of future electric vehicles.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

You've gotta love golden anniversaries... anyone who can stay married and still be in love after 50 years is an amazing accomplishment.

Same goes, kinda, for cars. If a car has been around for 50 years, it's worth celebrating. The latest to persevere through five decades is the Porsche 911, which was first shown at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1963 and has existed in one for or another ever since.

To celebrate, Porsche will be offering special anniversary models with 'just' the right amount of modifications to make them desirable without going gaudy. Based on the wider body normally reserved for all-wheel-drive Carrera4 models, the rear-drive special will use a 3.8-litre flat-six with Porsche's Powerkit already installed for a total of 430 horsepower. Every car gets active suspension (PASM) along with 20-inch wheels 'inspired' by the legendary Fuchs alloys Porsche fitted to its earlier models. Also, chrome trim up front and some neat details on the rear engine cover and rear lights hearken back to the original '63.

Interior upgrades are limited to fabric panels in the leather seats, along with a brushed aluminum Porsche Exclusive gearshift knob or gear selector, depending on whether the car has the seven-speed manual or optional seven-speed PDK fitted. Porsche says it'll do the 0-100 km/h run in just four seconds flat with the PDK and has a top speed of over 300 km/h.

Porsche is building 1963 of its Anniversary models (get it?) and 50 have been set aside for Canada. With an MSRP starting at $141,600, this 911 won't be inexpensive to buy, but would guess it'll sell out very quickly. The cars will start arriving in Canada this fall after being revealed to the public at the Frankfurt auto show this September.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada

Similar to the “emergency refresh” the Honda Civic went through for 2013 only one model year after an all-new version was launched, the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu is receiving significant design, equipment and powertrain changes one year after an all-new version was debuted for 2013.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

In an effort to bring some positive attention to people who aren't traditional IndyCar fans, the series is experimenting this year with double-header races at three venues this season. The first, the Detroit Grand Prix, held on Belle Isle out in Lake Michigan, is this weekend, while the other two - Toronto and Houston - will be in July and October respectively.

Double-race weekends are popular enough in touring-car or sedan racing, or even lower ranks of open-wheelers, but this is the first time a headlining series has given it a shot. Essentially, rather than it being the traditional practice/qualify/race on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, both practice and qualifying will be on Friday, with a full 70-lap race for full points on Saturday and then another 70-lap race for full points on Sunday.

That's the ideal scenario. But what happens if - well, given the teeny size of Belle Isle we'll say when - a few people clout the wall so hard the racecars are so bent-out-of-shape that they can't make the green flag on Sunday? Last year's event saw large chunks of asphalt come loose as the race weekend went on, leaving Canadian James Hinchcliffe watching from the sidelines after a huge piece got caught in one of his car's suspension pieces, which threw him into the wall... Teams already complain about the difficulty of repairing and re-prepping cars when they have back-to-back race weekends; trying to do all that within less than 24 hours will be an enormous feat. 

Other questions come to mind too. Although the intent is to give the fans more meaningful action for their ticket price, perhaps knowing that there's a whole other race the next day will see drivers taking fewer risks on Saturday? Maybe the first race will be a complete snooze-fest because everyone wants to save their equipment for Sunday? I'm sure everyone would prefer just one fantastic race rather than a couple compromised ones.

Will you be watching the IndyCar races this weekend? Knowing that double-points are on the line does it make you more likely to tune in? Think the whole thing is a disaster waiting to happen? Let us know in the comments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada

BMW revealed images and details of its forthcoming all-new, third-generation X5 mid-size crossover that will arrive in Canadian showrooms this fall. As an already very successful (and profitable) model for the German automaker, most of the changes can be filed under “evolutionary”. But a new feature called Traffic Jam Assistant brings the BMW one step closer to automated driving.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

We've discussed the relative importance of GMC products in Canada before, but essentially, that division does buckets more business relative to sister Chevrolet than down in the US. Sierra outsells Silverado by a wide margin in Canada while south of the border, about nine Chevy's are sold to every GMC.

That helps explain why details about the new 2014 Sierra Denali, GMC's full-lux pickup, are pretty important. Perhaps the most intriguing are the estimated power levels from the 6.2-litre V8, which GM says 420 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. And much like the 2014 Corvette Stingray, there's a very good chance that those will be raised even higher after going through its official SAE testing. These new-generation pushrod V8s all feature direct injection and variable valve timing to reach these high levels, along with active fuel management that can shut off half of the engine's cylinders when they aren't needed.

Perhaps the most interesting thing is that for the first time the Denali will share its engines with the rest of the Sierra line. That means 'base' Denali models will also use the 355-horsepower 5.3-litre V8 with the 6.2 as an option. Previously, Sierra Denalis were the only vehicles outside of Cadillac that had access to the old 6.2, which meant there were genuine performance reasons to buy one rather than just the interior and exterior upgrades.

For 2014, the Sierra Denali gets things like projector headlights, a unique chrome grille, chrome exhaust tip and 20-inch wheels, along with Denali badges all over the place. The interior gets heated-and-cooled leather seats, plus more badges on the heated steering wheel, sill plate, seats and the "real" aluminum trim. Tech geeks will appreciate the exclusive eight-inch gauge-cluster-mounted screen that's completely customizable, in addition to the eight-inch Colour Touch radio with standard navigation.

Options are limited to an off-road package with Rancho shocks, hill-decent control and more, and a driver alert package with lane-departure warning, forward collision alert and the vibrating 'safety' seat system found in the Cadillac XTS.

With increased competiton from high-lux pickup rivals from Ford, Ram, Toyota and now Chevrolet with its new High Country trim, has GMC done enough to keep the Denali's appeal? Do you agree with Denali using the same engines as regular Sierras or should it have an exclusive powerplant to help explain some of the additional cost? Let us know in the comments.