Second hand Audi passenger cars stand on display at an Audi dealership on May 8, 2018 in Berlin, Germany.Carsten Koall / Getty Images Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam.Here’s what you missed while you were away.Audi dealer sues dad after kid draws on new cars with rockThree-year-olds require constant attention. Don’t give it to them and they’ll find some other, less appropriate outlet for their frenetic energy. Like, for example, ten brand new Audis. A father visiting a Chinese Audi dealership was handed a hefty bill after his three-year-old used a rock to doodle on the paint of a bunch of new cars. The vehicles at that point could no longer be sold “new,” pressing the dealership to sue the father for $37,500. He was able to secure a settlement of $13,000. Next time, just bring the iPad, Dad. We hacked into a Chevy to find out everything it knew about usWhat does your car know about you? That’s the question the Washington Post was seeking answers to when it had a forensic engineer rip open a Chevy Volt’s dashboard and hack into its computers. The clever little car can gather up to 25 gigabytes of data per hour through its various sensors and satellite connections, storing much of it in the onboard drives. The Post’s hacker was able to recover a collection of previously visited locations, a log of phone calls from the previous week and an extensive list of contacts including names, addresses, emails and even photos. GM claims it only gathers data pertaining to vehicle location, performance and driver behaviour, all geared toward improving current and future designs and processes. So, in summation, your car knows quite a bit about you. Find out what you can do about it. Watch a Tesla Model X dominate a Ford Raptor in a tug-of-warIt’s the most anticipated tug-of-war of the decade: the Cybertruck vs the Ford F-150. Yes, it already happened during the Tesla truck’s debut, but that was hardly fair as the Ford chosen was a 2WD model. But, while we wait for the two major brands to get their acts together and give us the “apples to apples” rematch we deserve, there are other tug-based experiments to be observed. YouTubers The Zenigas hooked their Model X to a Ford Raptor to see which would pull which. And, well, the results speak for themselves (scrub to the 4:20 mark in the above video for the actual contest). The GM Oshawa plant completes its final truck after 66 yearsThe final vehicle to be built at GM’s long-running Oshawa assembly plant rolled off production lines this week. Restructuring within the brand led to the announcement of the plant’s closing last year. The factory, which has been in operation since 1953, will pivot from assembly to parts production (namely quarter panels, trunks, doors and hoods) and autonomous car research for the brand. Some 2,300 jobs have been cut from the area, with around 300 employees staying on to operate the new facility. Trucks with mismatched hoods serendipitously find each other on FacebookA perfect story 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/9delVKLIiq 𝐿𝒶𝓁𝑜✭ (@TXLalo214) December 10, 2019It was a match made in Facebook heaven. Two truck owners, each with a mismatched hood; one Facebook group dedicated to truck lovers near Denver, Colorado; and just a touch of luck. That’s all it took to complete Üziel Valles white Chevrolet Silverado. After building out a new front end and getting hung up on a yellow hood, Valles decided to go fishing for the right piece on Facebook. That’s how he found his truck’s inverse doppelganger, a yellow truck with a white hood, and completed the most perfect swap the Internet has seen in a while. The moral of the story is this: when seeking a soulmate, consider starting on
Origin: News Roundup: A toddler ruins 10 new Audis, and we hack a Chevy’s brain
Quick Spin: 2020 Subaru Impreza
2020 Subaru Impreza Hatchback Sport-Tech with EyeSightJil McIntosh LAFAYETTE, Ind. Having redesigned the Impreza into its fifth generation for 2017, Subaru kept the updates to the 2020 version simple its a mild enough refresh that you might miss some of the changes.Theres an updated front bumper and Legacy-style grille, revised taillights for the hatchback, and all but the base trim level get LED fog lamps. All get automatic door locks, a rear seat reminder system, and easier-to-access USB ports. All trim levels with a CVT now get EyeSight, Subarus camera-based suite of active safety features, as well as Subarus SI-Drive throttle mapping system for a sportier drive. Most notable from behind the wheel are tweaks to the springs and dampers for a more comfortable ride, and better steering feel. All models still use Subarus 2.0-litre four-cylinder Boxer engine, meaning the pistons lie flat on either side of the crankshaft, rather than upright as in most four-cylinders. Its rated at 152 horsepower and 145 lb.-ft. of torque. Transmission choices are a five-speed manual or the aforementioned CVT.All-wheel-drive is standard, of course. Subaru calls it symmetrical, which actually refers to the drivelines mirror-image layout on either side of the cars axis, rather than the amount of torque sent to each wheel. Imprezas with the manual transmission splits power 50/50 between the front and rear, while CVT-equipped cars send a bit more to the front. While many AWD competitors run only the front wheels under most driving conditions and send power to the rear only when needed, Subarus system constantly powers both axles.With the manual, the Impreza sedan starts at $19,995 and the hatchback at $21,995. For the CVT, its $20,995 and $22,995, respectively, which includes the EyeSight system. Apparently, adapting some of its functions to a manual transmission is a complex operation, and so few people buy the stick that the company has held off on the investment needed. I drove the top-line Sport-tech with EyeSight, which comes only with a CVT the sedan version is $30,795, while my hatchback tester was $31,695. Getting AWD and the technology for the price is the big deal here, because the little engine is tepid on acceleration; its also noisy, and the CVT often drones. Many automakers have done a superb job of making CVTs smooth and quiet, but the Imprezas seems rather dated. And the addition of SI-Drive doesnt really help much; it just keeps the engine revs higher, and adds more noise than power. Get past all that, though, and the Impreza is a fine little driver. It handles very well, the ride is bigger-car comfortable, and the brakes are quick and confident.I like the simplicity of the interior, with its large dials, physical buttons to access the infotainment system, and not to mention, the simple touchscreen. It can actually look a little too downscale in the top-of-the-line Sport-Tech, where youre topping $31,000. But on the other hand, you do also get leather seats, a heated steering wheel, a premium sound system, and dual-zone climate control. EyeSight includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, emergency front braking, and an alert if the vehicle ahead of you at the light starts moving but please dont use it as an excuse to check your phone. Because the EyeSight cameras only look ahead, it doesnt include blind-spot monitoring, which comes only on the Sport and Sport-tech trim levels. The verdict overall? The Impreza may be leisurely off the line, but it hands back a smooth ride and great handling, along with an excellent all-wheel system. And even if the interior seems a bit stark, its very comfortable and everythings easy to use. Even if youre looking at a crossover or small SUV, its worth your while to give this hatchback a
Origin: Quick Spin: 2020 Subaru Impreza
Honda celebrates building its 400 millionth motorcycle
1969 Honda CB750.Honda Four hundred million! Thats how many motorcycles and scooters the Honda Motor Company has produced since 1948. Founded, of course, by Soichiro Honda, as a purveyor of piston rings he supplied Toyota, which was just starting to produce cars Honda quickly determined that post-war Japan needed cheap transportation and thus was the Dream Model D born, powered by 98-cc two-stoke motor.Since then, there have been many milestones. There was the construction of the original superbike (the CB750) and the original touring motorcycle (Gold Wing), not to mention stalwarts like the Africa Twin 650 and the industrys first dual-clutch transmission motorcycle (VFR1200).But, by far the most important motorcycle in Hondas repertoire accounting for more than a quarter of that 400 million total, making it the most popular vehicle of all time is the venerable Super Cub. Originally conceived as a 50-cc runabout in 1956, it is the Super Cub that spawned a decade of You meet the nicest people on a Honda, the trend that swept the USA during the 60s.Without the Super Cub propelling upstart Honda ahead of traditional giants like Harley-Davidson and Triumph, there would have been no CB750 or Gold Wing 1000. The Super Cub is quite literally the motorcycle that made Honda. That said, while North America remains a prime market for Hondas large touring motorcycles, it merits barely a mention in the companys overall sales. Honda, for instance, celebrated its 300 millionth motorcycle just five years ago, which means its been selling 20 million yes, 20 million units a year every year since. And India and Indonesia account for half 10 million of that number. All of Europe and North America, meanwhile, accounts for just 620,000 bike sales combined.Honda also celebrated 50 years in Canada this year. Vancouvers Trev Deeley (the first Honda motorcycle distributor in the English-speaking world, by the way) and New Brunswicks Northrup family started importing scooters during the 50s before Honda established its official distribution chain in 1969, concentrating on motorcycles until the 1973 arrival of the original
Origin: Honda celebrates building its 400 millionth motorcycle
Car Comparison: 2019 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack 392 vs. 2019 Ford Mustang GT
Brian Harper: Were banging our heads against the wall, kid. Tilting at windmills. Spitting into the wind. Trying to objectively analyze two legendary muscle cars (actually, pony cars back in my youth) when their respective fan bases have long ago made up their collective minds is just going to get us in trouble. But we gotta try, dont we? Ford Mustang versus Dodge Challenger. Off and on rivals going back 50 years. Not the ultimate versions of each, maybe not even the most livable for the street, but traditional V8 power and six-speed manual transmissions, the cars augmented by optional performance upgrades that give them superior handling and grip. Stripping it down to the basics, its a fight between tradition and evolution. Whats it going to be?Nick Tragianis: Well, the Mustang GT certainly makes a compelling case for evolution. Starting with a 5.0-litre V8 under the hood making 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, and of course, hooked up to a six-speed manual and riding on independent suspension at all four corners, its without a doubt the closest the Mustangs ever been to sports car territory, Shelby GT350 (and GT350R) notwithstanding. It pulls hard, sounds incredible and, most importantly, it can boogie around corners.The key ingredient to this formula is what Ford calls the Performance Package Level Two, or as its known to enthusiasts, the PP2. It adds a laundry list of track-spec trinkets, such as beefier springs and sway bars, more chassis bracing, magnetic dampers, a Torsen limited-slip differential, super-sticky (and wide) Pirelli summer tires, and more. Much more. Too much to list, in fact. All you need to know is, the PP2 is magical. The grip is absolutely unreal, though it makes the Mustang somewhat twitchy near the limit and ride quality suffers. I think this package is a requirement, but something tells me youre not one to agree, old dude. BH: Its a qualified agreement, kid. I love almost everything about PP2, except those meaty P305/30ZR19 Michelin Pilot Sport tires. Ungodly grip in the dry, yes, but with next to no tread, and thus a very limited lifespan. I had to wait to pick up the tester because new tires were being installed, and the car had just 6,000 kilometres on the odo! And unless youve found a perfect stretch of unsullied tarmac, the GT tramlines over every uneven surface. Both hands on the steering wheel here.Interestingly, the Challenger Scat Pack fitted with the Widebody had similar 305-width rubber P305/35ZR20 Pirellis and was nowhere near as frenetic on real roads, though that is clearly not its forte. The big Dodge is definitely Old School muscle car, with blistering straight-line acceleration courtesy of its 485-horsepower, 6.4L V8. Its perfect for the quarter-mile, equipped with line lock, launch assist and an improved launch control setup (hold time is increased to 10 seconds from five for optimal launch and consistent straight-line acceleration). Oh yeah, larger six-piston Brembo front brakes and a stiffer suspension. Still, you feel the difference in the two cars weights the Mustang is 220 kilograms lighter especially on a serious set of twisties (or a track). I have to say, though, the Mustang is no slouch over 1,320 feet, either, not with its own line lock and Drag Strip mode. NT: And therein lies the biggest difference between the two. The Mustang is definitely the better car, if you will the steering, clutch, and shifter action are more precise and nowhere near as heavy as the Challenger. You can pretty much tailor the Mustang to however youre feeling on any particular day with its adjustable drive modes and optional active exhaust system which, by the way, should be standard. And inside, the Mustang may as well be in a completely different league: Your butts positioned far lower to the ground, and the eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system and fully digital instrument cluster add a sense of modernity. There are a few quibbles, though: The optional Recaro seats, particularly on the passenger side, arent friendly to shorter passengers, and forking over the extra $1,800 for these means you lose out on power adjustability, and heating and ventilation. Overall fit-and-finish, too, while reasonably good overall, feels a bit cheap in some areas.But its almost as though the Mustang feels too complicated, too modern for its own good. This is where the Challenger truly comes into its own, indulging the old-school crowd these days far better than the Mustang or Camaro. It seems to be working the design might be more than a decade old, but the Challenger still turns heads and it even outsells the Camaro. But its very much a one-trick pony; the Challenger takes a corner just fine, but whether youre peeling off with the go-fast pedal pinned and slamming through the gears, or just eating up the highway at 120 km/h, the Challenger is happiest going in a straight line. <img
Origin: Car Comparison: 2019 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack 392 vs. 2019 Ford Mustang GT
Tesla reportedly offering a Model 3 acceleration boost for a small fee
The Tesla Model 3 PerformanceHandout / Tesla Teslas latest over-the-air update adds more performance to the sporty dual-motor Model 3, suggest new reports from owners.The update is available only on the dual-motor Model 3, according to Road Show, and can boost the cars acceleration off the line, leading to a new zero-to-60-mph (96 km/h) time of just 3.9 seconds. Thats 0.5 seconds faster than it used to be, and slots the vehicle just under the Model 3 Performances acceleration time of 3.3 seconds to 60 (96 km/h).There is a caveat to this boost in performance, however. The upgrade will cost US$2,000. Thats a lot of cheddar for a small boost in performance. If you were competing in real drag racing, half-a-second can mean winning or losing the race. But does it really matter when the vehicle is your daily driver? Is that significant an amount of money worth it for just a half-a-second better acceleration time? Users took to Reddit to describe their experiences, and they all seem to be pretty positive. The upgrade is described as noticeable, and worth it. People have even taken to calling updated vehicles 3D+.Tesla has not commented on the upgrade as of yet, but hopefully it will give some insight as to why the upgrade isnt free, and what exact changes were made to give the car its performance
Origin: Tesla reportedly offering a Model 3 acceleration boost for a small fee
New 2020 McLaren Speedtail hits 250mph in final tests
The new McLaren Speedtail has concluded its final testing phase with a series of 250mph runs at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. A development prototype, named XP2, was taken to its top speed more than 30 times on the Johnny Bohmer Proving Ground’s three-mile runway, confirming its status as the fastest car McLaren has yet built. That title was originally held by the firm’s iconic F1 hypercar, which achieved a 231mph top speed following its launch in 1994. McLaren’s chief test driver Kenny Brack was at the wheel of XP2 for the high-speed runs, which followed previous tests at locations including Idiada in Spain and Papenburg in Germany. The company calls the £1.75m Speedtail “a showcase for the brand’s expertise in lightweight engineering”, and notes that it is more aerodynamically efficient than any of its previous models. The hypercar is McLaren’s first series-production hybrid model since the 789bhp P1, and its first three-seater since the F1. At 5137mm long, it is also the longest production car to come out of Woking. McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt said: “The Speedtail is a truly extraordinary car that epitomises McLaren’s pioneering spirit and perfectly illustrates our determination to continue to set new benchmarks for supercar and hypercar performance.” At its unveiling in 2018, McLaren said the Speedtail will be a true driver’s car. It has been designed as a ‘hyper-GT’, and is said to balance “a mature, stiff ride with comfort and speed”. Exact details of the Speedtail’s 1055bhp petrol-electric powertrain remain under wraps, but McLaren claims the battery pack has a power density of 5.2kW/kg, giving it “the best power-to-weight ratio of any automotive high-voltage battery system”. With testing now complete, the Speedtail has now officially entered production at McLaren’s Woking factory, with deliveries of the 106 cars already sold set to begin in February
Origin: New 2020 McLaren Speedtail hits 250mph in final tests
Ford recalls more than 56,000 trucks in Canada over fire risk
2018 Ford F-250 Super DutyDerek McNaughton / Driving Ford is recalling more than 56,000 Super Duty trucks in Canada because, in a collision, the seat belt pretensioners might spark and cause a fire, the automaker said mid-December.Some 56,112 examples of Super Duties built between October 2015 and October 2019 are affected in Canada, part of a total 547,538 trucks recalled across North America altogether. In some of these trucks, the front seat belt pretensioner could throw off excessive sparks during a collision, possibly igniting the vehicles carpeting or carpet insulation around the B-pillar. Ford has, in fact, already received one report of a post-collision interior fire happening in just this way.Dealers will correct the issue by adding a foil tape over the carpeting and insulation in the area that could
Origin: Ford recalls more than 56,000 trucks in Canada over fire risk
BMW’s 2021 electric ix3 will boast 286 hp and 354-km range
BMW iX3 conceptHandout / BMW BMWs upcoming ix3 electric crossover will offer 286 horsepower and an estimated 354 km of battery range per charge when it goes on sale in Canada in 2020, the automaker said mid-December.The SUV will be the first in a long line of new EVs launched by the brand next decade, and will essentially be an electric version of its X3 crossover.Powering the iX3 will be BMWs fifth-generation electric powertrain technology, fed by a 74-kWh lithium-ion battery pack; the electric motors should deliver about 286 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque.The battery, transmission and motor are all built into one housing to keep the unit compact. The motor powers the rear wheels only, but an all-wheel-drive variant will likely drop later on. Range will likely be rated by the EPA at about 220 miles per charge (354 km). BMW says it will purchase the lithium and cobalt for the batteries directly from mining companies instead of third parties, and that the components that power the iX3 will be produced in-house as well. The motors will also be produced without the use of rare-earth metals.While BMW has been experimenting with grille designs, the iX3 will feature a classic double-kidney-bean grille befitting of a traditional BMW, even if thats what it aint. The brand even developed sensors that can see through chrome just so it could throw the trademark-style grille on the fascia. The iX3 will begin production in 2020 in China, where it will be assembled under contract by state-owned automaker Brilliance; thisll make it the first North-American-market BMW to wear a made in China label.That launch date also puts it ahead of the Mercedes-Benz EQC in making it to market in North
Origin: BMW’s 2021 electric ix3 will boast 286 hp and 354-km range
Reader Review: 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Jeff Griffiths with the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid in Calgary.Brendan Miller/Postmedia Toyotas 2020 Corolla is all new from top to bottom and front to back. Now in its 12th generation, the Corolla platform first launched way back in 1966. Since then, the car has been a perennial best-seller for Toyota with more than 45 million examples sold worldwide.While overall design of the compact sedan has been revised and driving dynamics have been improved thanks to Toyotas New Global Architecture (TNGA) underpinnings, the big news for 2020 is the fact that for the first time ever Toyota is offering the Corolla as a hybrid. Theyve taken the Hybrid Synergy Drive system from the Prius and placed it in the Corolla to give the model maximum fuel economy.So, does it live up to its miserly expectations?Calgary driver Jeff Griffiths says he spent $10.26 on gasoline for the week he spent driving the compact sedan. Which is, frankly, quite amazing, he explains of the money invested to add 325 kilometres to the odometer. In the Corolla Hybrid, a 1.8-litre four-cylinder internal combustion engine is paired with two motor/generators. Combined output of all three is 121 horsepower, and that power is put to the front wheels and ultimately to the road through a continuously variable transmission. Electrical power is stored in a nickel-metal hydride battery that lives under the rear seat and takes up very little real estate. Plus, the batterys location lowers the Corolla Hybrids centre of gravity, something the automaker claims helps to improve overall agility.Ive driven a Toyota before, Griffiths says, adding, Back in the Seventies, I had a Land Cruiser and it was indestructible. My opinion of the company is theyre one of the best automakers on the planet theyre all about quality.While certainly aware of the nameplate, Griffiths had never before driven a Corolla. Of his first impression of the 2020 Corolla Hybrid, he says the car was bigger than hed expected it would be.He adds, One of the most striking things about the car is the bucket nose on the front end, it certainly makes the car noticeable.Getting into the drivers seat, Griffiths was immediately impressed by the fit and finish. It feels like they cared when they put it together. Everythings soft that needs to be soft and there are no hard edges sticking out anywhere its very refined looking.With the door closed, it took Griffiths only a few moments to make a couple of small adjustments to the seat and mirrors. Ergonomically, he says, the car fit him nicely and the switchgear was all where hed expected it to be.Basically, I was just able to get in the car and drive, and thats a good thing in my opinion, he says. I didnt need a course to drive it, but it does take a few minutes to learn the various menus in the touchscreen and what they all do. When he was ready to roll, Griffiths hit the start button.And, nothing happened, he chuckles. The engine doesnt start, but everything lights up and the electronics take over. Thats a bit of a different feeling because thats all new to me Id never driven a hybrid or electric vehicle before.You hit the accelerator pedal and off you go. With very little road noise and no engine noise you at first feel like youre floating along.When you demand more power, the gas engine kicks in when it needs to. Its got all kinds of poop when you get the electric motors and the gasoline engine going, itll really get up and dance.For the most part, Griffiths kept the Corolla in the city. He commuted and ran errands, but he did get out on a country road to judge how well it would handle some curves.Its a confident, sure-footed car, he says. And the brakes were very efficient. When you lift off the throttle, thanks to the regenerative braking system, the car felt like it was being slowed by engine braking.While Griffiths says he experimented driving in different modes, including Eco and Sport, he couldnt feel too much difference, and wondered what part of the driving dynamic might have changed.He says the trunk has plenty of room and he didnt have any difficulty lifting objects in or out of the cargo space. The rear seat offers a 60/40 folding back and that further increases carrying capacity.His two adult sons, 5-feet 8-inches and 6-feet tall, each found room in the back seat and thought it comfortable for a short ride.The Corolla Hybrid, he thinks, would best suit someone using the car to commute on a daily basis or to have as a second vehicle. It was easy to drive, and offered worry free, fuss free, economical convenience.While I personally might not have found the car that exciting to drive, he says, It is really, really good at what it does. DRIVER’S JOURNALDay OnePicked up the car first thing in the morning. First impression: quiet. On the drive into downtown Calgary it was difficult to tell if the engine was running. Very smooth. Driving home in the evening; feels isolated theres very little feedback to the driver. It
Origin: Reader Review: 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Watch: Tesla Model X and Ford Raptor engage in tug-of-war
YouTubers The Zunigas couldnt wait for Tesla and Ford to settle their tug-of-war beef, so they decided to stage a rematch of their own. In case you missed the Cybertruck reveal and all the memes that followed, Elon played a video clip of a Cybertruck skipping away with an F-150 in a tug-of-war like it was child dragging a reluctant puppy to the park.But skeptics, some at Ford included, pointed out the truck chosen was a two-wheel-drive F-150 and therefore not the best comparison.Enter The Zunigas guys, who happen to own a Ford F-150 Raptor with a twin-turbo V6 tuned to around 600 horsepower and a Tesla Model X, the most powerful SUV made by the brand and arguably the closest thing to a Cybertruck available. Heres the thing, if Elon wants a real challenge, he shouldve gone up against a Raptor, a big boy car, says Jose, on Team Ford, at the beginning of the video, going on to call the Tesla a Mom car and predicting that hed jack up its chassis with his truck. But when the electric Mom car was strapped to the big boy Raptor and the throttles buried, thats not exactly what happened. (Heads up, skip to the 3:00-minute mark to hear the trash talk, or to about 4:20 for the actual contest.)The Tesla comes out strong and doesnt let up, pulling the Raptor back a good distance before both drivers let up. But all may not be equal where rubber hits the road, with the Tesla wearing what some might call more appropriate tires designed for pavement, while the Raptors shoes are (likely) for off-road terrain. Is this the inevitable outcome of the Cybertruck vs F-150 rematch, or just another mismatched comparison? Give us your take
Origin: Watch: Tesla Model X and Ford Raptor engage in tug-of-war
All about car 