Infiniti is planning on launching three EVs, two of which will be based on the Q and QX Inspiration concepts, pictured here.Handout / Infiniti TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. Thirty years ago, Nirvana was evolving, shoulder pads were shrinking, and Nissan wasnt about to let Toyota (and Lexus) steal all of the thunder in the luxury segment.Enter Infiniti. The end result of the so-called Horizon Task Force, a group of Nissan engineers and execs who banded together a few years prior, the luxury division launched in the U.S. in November 1989 with just two models: The Q45 luxury sedan, and the M30 coupe. We Canucks had to wait an extra year to get in on the action, and even then, the M30 was forbidden fruit instead, we got the G20 sedan. Since then, Infiniti has made its mark in the luxury segment with some remarkable products if you were in high school at any point between 2003 and 2007, theres a solid chance youve lusted after a G35 coupe. And even though its easy to dismiss Infiniti simply as an answer to the likes of Audi, BMW, or even Lexus, it does carry history: Remember the Horizon Task Force? A few members of that team were connected to the Prince Motor Company, the Japanese marque that merged with Nissan in 1966 and the one behind such cars as the R380 race car and the Skyline. Yes, the Skyline.But dont take our word for it. On its Pearl anniversary, Infiniti has also given us a sneak-peek into its near-future. Here, then, is a look at what we can expect from Infiniti over the next few years. Spoiler alert: Get ready for more crossovers and electrification.New infotainment, better smartphone integration For 2020, most Infiniti models get an infotainment update. The new system is more responsive, sharper-looking, and has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Handout / Infiniti For 2020, the perhaps biggest news is the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It certainly took Infiniti long enough, but hey, its finally here. This is part of a larger, more cohesive infotainment update across the board; in addition to better smartphone integration, Infinitis InTouch infotainment is now quicker, and boasts sharper graphics and the ability to update itself over-the-air. Its available across the lineup, save for the QX60.The rest of the lineup tweaks are relatively minor in nature the 2.0L turbo-four has been axed on the Q50 and Q60, making the 300-horsepower, 3.0L twin-turbo V6 the base engine on those two. The QX50, meanwhile, gains a handful of active driving assists now standard, and the QX80 gets a new gauge cluster with a seven-inch display, as well as fancy metal speaker grilles.In the U.S., Infiniti will offer Edition 30 variants of its entire lineup. Its essentially a cosmetic package available on Q50 and 60, plus the QX50, 60, and 80, adding black accents and wheels, unique badging and colour options, and a few extra bells and whistles. However, these wont be available in Canada, as we didnt get Infiniti until 1990. Not much sense in offering an Edition 29 now, is there?We’re getting more crossovers next year Infiniti’s QX55, essentially a QX50 with a more rakish roofline, is coming next year. Handout / Infiniti This one was almost inevitable crossover coupes are here to stay, and Infinitis getting in on the action with the QX55. It shares its major underpinnings with the QX50 including the 2.0-litre variable-compression turbo-four as well as various interior appointments and exterior bits, but naturally, wears a more rakish roofline thats actually quite reminiscent of the original FX. Infiniti isnt dishing full details on the QX55 just yet, but count on seeing it in dealers next summer as a 2021 model. Itll be closely followed by a redesigned QX60, but Infiniti is tight-lipped on the exact timing for that one.You guessed it — electrification Infiniti is planning on launching three EVs, two of which will be based on the Q and QX Inspiration concepts, pictured here. Handout / Infiniti Infiniti pioneered a handful of tech and conveniences we take for granted these days the 2003 Q45 was the first mainstream car with a back-up camera, and a few years later, the brand took the 360-degree camera system mainstream. Hell, in 1989, Infiniti was the first to offer loaner cars for whenever yours was in for service.Well, in a way, Infiniti is keeping that pioneering spirit going with its commitment to electrification. Powering cars with electrons is nothing new, but in a nutshell, the Q, Qs, and QX Inspiration concepts will inspire three new EVs two sedans, one crossover thatll enter production by 2023. Well see two distinct flavours: A fully electric EV, as well as a gas-generated variant.Both will use the same platform a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup but the execution will vary slightly. For fully electric variants, a high-capacity battery pack will live on the floor pan, between the motors living on the front and rear axles. The gas-generated variants, however,
Origin: Here’s what we can expect from Infiniti by 2023
Chevrolet stops selling 2020 Camaro V6 cars over ’emissions issue’
Chevrolet issued a voluntary stop-sale at the beginning of November on 2020 Camaro muscle cars equipped with the 3.6-litre V6 while it investigates what it calls a potential emissions system issue.While the automaker has not disclosed specifically what the issue is, blog GM Authority surmised it may be linked to an evaporative emissions canister that exceeds emissions standards in the U.S.Other details were still slim after the weekend, but for now any new Camaros with those engines will be sitting on dealership lots and not going
Origin: Chevrolet stops selling 2020 Camaro V6 cars over ’emissions issue’
Scooter tweet earns Alberta gov’t spokesperson backlash
A wave of backlash compelled an Alberta governmental spokesperson to take down an early November video of her grandfathers mobility scooter, given to him after he lost his license, driving down a residential sidewalk in Calgary.Samantha Peck is the Press Secretary to Albertas Associate Minister of Natural Gas, and in a now-deleted November 1 Twitter post, shared what she thought was an uplifting message about her grandfather, who had lost his drivers license two years ago following a car accident.The loss of his independence had devastated him, she wrote. This week, my dad surprised him with an enclosed electric scooter so he can travel around. No license needed, concluding with a heart emoji.However, the video, apparently shot from the left side of a car driving on the street, received so much backlash she felt compelled to delete it.A barrage of Twitter users took issue with the idea of someone having been determined unfit to drive a motor vehicle instead taking to sidewalks in something that looks very much like a small car. Others noted it might be awkward navigating around other pedestrians for example, wheelchair users in the motorized device, or called out the filming-while-driving in the video.The scooter is built by Toronto company Daymak specifically, it seems to be a Boomerbuggy X. With a top speed of 13 km/h, its hardly quick, but its still about three times faster than walking.At 41 inches wide, its not much wider than a standard wheelchair, but does have features more like a car, including a heater, air conditioning, lights, a horn, turn signals and even a backup camera.However, Twitter users coming to Pecks defense noted Alberta winters get cold really cold and an elderly person might not be able to withstand those conditions in an open scooter. The Boomerbuggy X arguably provides a level of safety in winter other scooters cant.👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼 people’s inability to understand situations without explicitly being spoon fed the context is astounding. https://t.co/B0PEJz5ghx Samantha Peck (@samanthajaypeck) November 4, 2019Others noted the video was taken in the suburbs of Calgary, Alberta, which, having seen snow for two months already, were likely to have been barren of pedestrians anyway.Who do you think is in the right on this issue? It is, really, just a scooter, after all, one designed for sidewalks does it really pose a risk to other users? Or is there an issue with someone unfit to drive cruising toward pedestrians at 13 km/h?Take Our Poll
Origin: Scooter tweet earns Alberta gov’t spokesperson backlash
First Drive: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Z51
Ann Arbor, Michigan I have been behind the wheel of the new mid-engine Corvette. Youll note I didnt say I have driven the new Vette. For even though I actually steered the wheel, pressed the gas pedal and stomped on the brake, I didnt actually drive the supercar, at least not like it wants hell, needs to be driven. Indeed, my 45-minute meander through suburban Detroit was little more than a whistle wetter.Nonetheless, I got a hint of what the C8 will be like, enough, in fact, that I can at least tell you what a mid-engine Corvette will feel like on your everyday commute. So, without further adoIt’s the real dealNo. I didnt clip even a single apex in anger. Or even mow through the gears with bad intentions. But I can still say this is a Corvette apart. It as you might expect feels different, just like a mid-engine supercar does when youre driving responsibly. The steering is lighter than in front-engine Vettes, the connection between driver and front wheels a little more direct. Theres very much a sense you are sitting right over the very centre of the car; thats because your butt is very close to its centre of mass. Thats fairly easy to imagine, with the massive LT2 small-block thrumming right behind your ear youve very aware just how close you are to the heaviest single component in the entire car. But theres more to it than that. Theres the fact that mid-engine cars have a much smaller polar moment of inertia. Not as immediately obvious a concept as mass centralization, polar moment of inertia is a measure of how far the weight of the engine and other components are from the cars centre. The engine in a C7, for instance, is all the way up front, and the axle/transmission all the way in the back. In other words, the weight of the driveline is concentrated at the extreme ends of the chassis. Imagine a broom with a weight dangling at each end. Now try to spin it. Not easy, right? Now move both weights to the centre of the broom and try to spin it again? Much easier, no?Thats what putting an engine amidships does for a supercars polar moment of inertia. And you can feel it even driving at moderate speeds, the new C8 lighter and more responsive than its 1,530 kilograms suggests. How this translates onto the racetrack we will report on in the future, but it certainly feels like theres plenty of potential.This new Corvette feels super sophisticatedAlmost too sophisticated. Indeed, the ride in Tour mode is the most compliant I have ever tested in a mid-engine car even compared to the McLaren GT, which the automaker claims to have tailored for more moderate driving. It could be too compliant, the ride from Chevrolets revised magneto-rheological suspension so positively cushy that Corvettes traditional clientele might not find it pardon the sexist reference manly enough. Dont worry, guys; flip the really nifty mode selector to Sport or Race and the new Vette will rattle your fillings just like God and Zora Arkus-Duntov meant. And just in case youre actually weak of arm yet still long for that manly ride, there are not just one but two custom modes that allow you to customize suspension compliance, steering weight and throttle response individually. Eventually, what will decide the new C8s worth is how adroitly it can navigate through hairpins and sweepers, but right now the biggest surprise is how gently the car coddles posteriors.Critics be damned, the interior is Tony the Tiger Greeeeat!There been some criticism of the C8s cabin layout. Well, having lived with it albeit for 45 short minutes I can tell you few of them are valid. Oh, the actual gauge set is a little underwhelming and GM would do well to spruce it up, but that square steering wheel works wonders for being able to see the entire gauge set without craning your neck sideways. It also does nothing to reduce steering feel, so good one, GM.As for that long line of buttons that has so many on the blogosphere upset, its totally ergonomic. First, it really does make the view from the drivers seat feel like a cockpit more so, even, than supercars from more prestigious brands. Said buttons are also easy to decipher and manipulate. What more could you ask for?Ditto the infotainment touchscreen. Ideally placed for actuation, it also feels almost built into the dash although it is a separate piece compared with the perched-on-top items that look so cheap on higher-end Mercedes and BMWs. Throw in a very stylish mode control mouse and you have a pretty nifty centre console.As for the general decor, its still not quite up to the standards of a Ferrari, or even an Audi. But the leather quality, the panel gaps and the general ambiance is so far advanced from Corvettes previous that one wonders, considering that there has not been a giant price increase, why the hell these improvements werent instituted before. All in all, a massive step forward.A little more drama perhapsWith 495 horses and 470 pound feet of torque, theres a certainly bit
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Z51
Octobers pureEV figures up 150 on last year
October’s pure-EV figures up 150% on last year October 2019 was the third best month ever for pure electric sales Pure-electric vehicle registrations in the UK achieved their third best month ever in October 2019 – and the highest total outside of a new registration plate month – according to the latest statistics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Pure-EV figures are up 152% compared to October 2018, and the fuel type is 133% ahead of the first ten months of 2018. More than 28,000 pure-electric models have been registered so far in 2019; over 54,000 plug-in vehicles when PHEVs are included in the figures. Combined sales of electric cars – pure-EVs and plug-in hybrids – are 10% up on 2018 year-to-date, showcasing how well pure-electric models have performed this year, and the relative lack of registrations for PHEVs. Plug-in cars account for 2.7% of all models registered in 2019 so far, with pure-EVs accounting for a little over a half of that figure. With new registration plates out in March and September, the two months traditionally record the greatest number of new cars sold across all fuel types. As such, for October 2019’s pure-electric registrations to be the next highest total after September’s figure of more than 7,700 and over 3,900 sales in March earlier this year, it represents a real show of strength for what is a fast-growing market. Where 2018’s total combined electric vehicle market share – EV and PHEV – ended up on 2.5%, pure-electric models are approaching that figure on its own. The combined figure for 2019 to date is 2.7%, and the last 12 months show a share of 2.9%. Average registrations for 2019 now stand at more than 2,800 for pure-EVs and a little over 2,600 for PHEVs. A combined figure of approaching 5,500 registrations a month for 2019 is around 500 units a month ahead of 2018’s total, and 2019’s figures are accelerating as the year goes on.
Origin: Octobers pureEV figures up 150 on last year
New Jaguar F-Type: 2020 restyling shown with less disguise
Jaguar is in the process of testing an updated F-Type due for reveal next year, and new shots give us the closest look yet at the external and internal changes for the new model. The photographs, taken near Jaguar Land Rover’s Gaydon technical HQ, show two prototypes are shedding camouflage as testing ramps up. We can now see the restyled front end more clearly, with a new clamshell bonnet, slim, angular LED headlights mounted lower down the nose and a more prominent grille. A look at the rear shows it retains the same vertical bootlid, but with new wraparound tail-lights and a reshaped bumper. A quick glimpse at the cabin doesn’t reveal much, but it looks like the infotainment has moved on a generation, while the rotary dial climate display remains. It’s expected that much of the more advanced technology and infotainment features from the I-Pace and the 2019 XE will make its way into the F-Type. That means new digital dials, a larger and more feature-laden touchscreen, and substantial upgrades to the materials. Jaguar Land Rover is now phasing out its long-running supercharged V6 in favour of a new turbocharged and hybridised straight six, and the F-Type will benefit from this more efficient powertrain. The turbocharged four-cylinder and supercharged V8 engines should be carried over to the new car with limited changes, however. Indeed, this prototype registers as a 5.0-litre V8, putting paid to rumours JLR would bring in a BMW-sourced 4.4-litre unit. What remains unclear is whether the new F-Type will retain a manual gearbox option. The current V6 is still offered with one in the UK, although it has reportedly been removed from sale in the US. Regardless, manuals account for a tiny fraction of overall F-Type sales. Jaguar’s priorities for 2019 are the roll-out of the new XE and the launch of a similarly updated XF and F-Pace. However, we could see the revised F-Type early on in 2020, with an on-sale date not soon after
Origin: New Jaguar F-Type: 2020 restyling shown with less disguise
Hyundai teases more awesome cars for SEMA
Hyundai is starting to pick up a reputation for bringing concepts to SEMA which don’t take themselves too seriously, and this year theyve brought a couple vehicles that put fun above all else.The VelosterRaptor N was created in partnership with Bisimoto Engineering, a renowned tuning firm famous for turning the boost up on various vehicles, and this project is no different.Thanks to upgraded turbocharger internals, a high-performance intercooler, a high-flow intake, a water-methanol kit, optimized ECU, mass airflow modifications and a sports exhaust, the VelosterRaptor N makes over 320 horsepower.Apparently, the parts installed are customer-friendly and easy to install, which means this Type R Killer is a vehicle you could potentially build in your own garage.Hyundai is also bringing a tricked-out Kona to the show, built by Rockstar Performance Garage. To fit the King suspension, the Kona had to be extensively modified; 16-inch Motegi wheels with 30-inch Mickey Thompson tires have been fitted. The body has been coated in Bulletliner, and up front theres a small bumper bar with fog lights.Apart from the aesthetic upgrades, a Magnaflow exhaust and a billet intake from KN were installed, along with a Race Chip tune and high-performance brakes.Although theyre just renders for now, the real vehicles will be on display at SEMA in Las
Origin: Hyundai teases more awesome cars for SEMA
5 things we learned driving the Japan-only Nissan Note e-Power
Nissan Note e-PowerDavid Booth / Driving TOKYO It may seem odd that Nissan one of the largest purveyors of battery-powered electric vehicles, having moved almost half a million Leaf hatchbacks these last 10 years doesnt offer even a single hybrid model.In Canada, that is. In Japan, on the other hand, the companys e-Power models are very popular, the unique electrified powertrain responsible, says the company, for taking the companys Note hatchback from a lowly 14th spot on the compact segments sales chart all the way to number one. More importantly, of the 140,000 or so Notes that Nissan sells annually in the Land of the Rising sun, fully two-thirds of them are hybrids.So, why cant we buy e-Power powertrain in Canada? To find out, we drove an electrified 2019 Note around a post-Typhoon-Hagibis-but-still-drenched Tokyo. Heres what we found out.Nissan marches to the tune of a different e-drummerNissans e-Power system is whats referred to as a series hybrid powertrain. Thats as compared to the more common as in, the Toyota Prius parallel hybrid. So, while in a Prius, both gasoline engine and electric motor can both drive the wheels hence working in parallel the little 1.2-litre three-cylinder in the Note only generates electricity, either charging the on-board 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery or sending electrons directly to the electric motor. Essentially, its an electric car with a gasoline-powered generator on board to keep the small-ish battery topped up. Or, another way to look at it might be as a Chevy Volt which also used its gas engine as a generator without the larger battery. The Note e-Power never needs to be plugged inWithout a large, EV-like battery, the Note gets most of its electricity from its gasoline engine. Oh, it can go a couple of clicks on that smallish battery alone and, like all hybrids, can recharge the battery via regenerative braking. But for all intents and purposes, the primary energy source for its electric is that little 1.2L has engine. In other words, the gas engine, like say a Toyota Prius, is always on.Where the two differ and why Nissan says e-Power is more efficient than Toyotas Hybrid Synergy Drive is that because the gas engine is a generator (and again, not connected to the wheels), it operates at a fairly constant speed (usually between 2,000 and 3,500 rpm). Gas engines, as engineers and gearheads know, are always most efficient when operating at a steady speed one of the reasons why fuel economy is always better on the highway so Nissans decision to go with the series hybrid layout is theoretically more efficient.And it is. Notes are rated by Japans JC08 test cycle for to be able to travel 34 kilometres on a single litre of fuel. In Canadian terms, thats about 3.0 L/100 kilometres more frugal than the Prius. Of course, Japans testing regime isnt quite as tough as ours, but its probably not a stretch to say that the Note would still be more efficient in Canadian use.It drives like an electric carThere should be no surprise that Note e-Power drives like an electric car: It is, after all, an electric car, the only thing driving its front wheels being the little 80 kW electric motor. So, unlike a parallel hybrid again, the Toyota Prius is the most popular example the onboard gas engine doesnt really change engine speed when you push the throttle. Oh, mash it hard and the revs will climb, but thats just the little engine trying to generate more electricity, not power the wheels. What I am trying to say is theres neither a direct connection between throttle and wheels, nor a connection between the speed youre travelling and the noise from the engine compartment. Throttle response, meanwhile, is typical EV. Though the Note only boasts 80 kW 107 horsepower it feels pretty peppy off the line all the electric motor torque at zero rpm generating instant git-up-and-go. Nissan showed us some charts they claim reveals that the Note feels sportier than Competitor As 2.0-litre turbo-four, but while the little runabout reacts quickly, ultimately its not a sports car. Pushed much beyond 100 km/h, and the Note starts to lose its verve. That, of course should be expected; after all, it does boast about the same power as Nissan’s own Micra. And not matter how adroitly Nissan positions the Micra as a racecar, these are but econoboxes.The pricing isn’t stupidThe cheapest you can buy an e-Powered Note in Japan is 1,937,100 Yen, or just a tad under $24,000 in Canadian loonies. That compares to 1,447,600 Yen for the base gas-powered version, an increase of roughly $5,874 or 34 per cent. For that jump, one gets brisker initial acceleration (but less passing ability above 100 km/h) and a roughly 50 per cent reduction in fuel consumption. Im not sure how well the long-term affordability equation works as far as I can see, Japanese gas is roughly the same price as ours but whatever the exact long-term overall cost equation, the electrified Note doesnt seem
Origin: 5 things we learned driving the Japan-only Nissan Note e-Power
News Roundup: A murdered Dodge Charger, a resurrected Hellcat and a Raptor-rivaling Chevy
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.Owner crushes classic Charger, blames no-show buyersA man who ran out of patience with people saying they wanted to buy his 1970 Dodge Charger 500 but then not showing up to a make serious offer has gone to the extreme to put it to a stop. He had the classic car crushed and filmed it. The video, now trending on various Mopar and classic car Facebook pages, shows the forks of a large machine coming down repeatedly on the Charger while the owner looks on in apparent ecstasy, shouting “that’s what you guys f***ing get…everybody wants to be a car guy until it’s time to do car guy shit!” Nice work, man — you sure showed them! We guess?Texas tuner turns Chevy truck into Ford Raptor rivalChevrolet people tired of Ford people rubbing the off-road prowess of the F-150 Raptor in their faces now have a little something to rub back with. The Jackal is Texas-based truck tuner PaxPower’s take on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, with more power, more lift, more flare, more shock absorption and more more. The tuning kits come in three trims (read about them here) and start at US$15,000, plus the Chevy. YouTubers rebuild burnt-to-crisp Hellcat for US$39,000, but is it safe?The family of volunteers at YouTube’s D.I.Y. Gang managed to spend less than US$40,000 in parts (not to mention the many, many man-hours of labour) rebuilding a totally burnt-out Dodge Challenger Hellcat. You can and should watch the whole thing come together in 14 minutes in this time-lapse video, which includes a test drive with two gleeful screaming children in the back, but you maybe shouldn’t try it at home. Why? Because, despite the car looking and sounding great and moving well, there’s no telling how badly the metals were damaged by the extreme heat of the fire. The value of older classic cars is dipping, while some newer classics soarWhat do older classic cars and real estate in large Canadian cities have in common? This isn’t the setup to a dad joke, but a real question posed by our writer Alyn Edwards, and one it turns out may have kind of a sad answer. Because the commonality between the two “assets” is that, today, some are experiencing a downturn in demand and therefore value. Much like that house on your block that’s been for sale for over a year now, many classic cars are sitting idle with sticker prices nobody is willing to pay. For proof, look no further than the Charger crushed by its owner at the top of this list! Ford to offer full over-the-air updates with Sync upgrade“Have you downloaded the latest update?” That’s the new familiar refrain replacing the classic “have you tried turning it on and off again?” at IT departments around the world, thanks to over-the-air updates that keep software on devices like computers and smartphones running smoothly. Now, Ford is capitalizing on the tech evolution with its Sync system that will update everything from infotainment to the comfort systems to the brakes and engine, fixing issues as your vehicle sits idle. The move will position Ford at the forefront of the legacy automakers in terms of automatic updates — but still a ways behind
Origin: News Roundup: A murdered Dodge Charger, a resurrected Hellcat and a Raptor-rivaling Chevy
Halifax police taking delivery of Canadian armored truck in 2020
The Halifax Regional Police will take delivery of a new armored vehicle come spring of 2020, a decision thats stirred up some controversy, Global News reports.The Terradyne Gurkha MPV will cost the municipality $368,000; that sounds like a lot of money, but its a lot less than the $500,000 the city had budgeted for.The contract was awarded to southern-Ontario-based Terradyne Armored Vehicles Inc. on September 23, according to Brendan Elliott, a spokesperson for the municipality. According to HRP, the vehicle will provide a level of safety for the officers and the public, while helping them address the climbing number of issues they encounter. It has also stated the vehicle would not be equipped with weaponry or aggressive equipment.Critics of the vehicle say it makes local law enforcement too militaristic, particularly in the context of being used to police marginalized and minority groups around the city.This isnt the first time armored vehicles have been used by smaller police departments, and the results have been mixed.Fredericton Police Force unveil their armored vehicle in April 2018, and Frederictons Emergency Response Team have used it a few times. The vehicle was also deployed in August of 2018 during the fatal shooting of two Fredericton police officers.The New Glasgow, N.S. police force decided they didnt need their armored vehicle after owning it four years. The 10-ton vehicle with rotating turret was provided to the town free of charge as surplus from the Canadian military, but the police chief said We really have not had any use for that since weve had
Origin: Halifax police taking delivery of Canadian armored truck in 2020
All about car 