The Tesla Model 3 PerformanceHandout / Tesla First there was derision. Then mockery turned into admiration. Now a battle is unfolding between two of the most revered names in the automobile world, Porsche and Tesla.The venue of the showdown: Germanys Nurburgring, the race track considered the most challenging in the world.The circuit boasts 73 tight turns (Silverstone in the U.K. has 18), changing elevations and a brutal length of more than 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) winding through leafy forest, earning it the nickname Green Hell.Its here that Porsches new Taycan Turbo S set the record as the fastest four-door electric car last month, clocking in at 7 minutes and 42 seconds. The feat wasnt lost on a rival sitting thousands of miles away in California: Teslas Elon Musk. Always one to relish a good fight, Musk picked up the gauntlet and has dispatched a Model S to the German hinterland to reclaim the bragging rights as king of the electric sedan.Model S on Nürburgring next week Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 5, 2019The car confrontation has all the ingredients of an epic battle between incubent and upstart, infused with social-media feeds that have energized die-hard fans on either side of the Atlantic wondering which of the two cars can shave those vital extra seconds off their lap time. Adding to the frenzy is former Formula One racing champion Nico Rosberg, who chimed in on Twitter to pilot the Tesla, an offer that Musk happily accepted.Musk has a lot riding on the challenge. After Porsche unveiled the Taycan Turbo and Turbo S as its first electric cars last week, Musk teased the brand for its turbo nomenclature, because a turbocharger is only found in a combustion engine. Following the initial ribbing, he found more charitable words in a later tweet, acknowledging that the Taycan does seem like a good car and that the Nurburgring track time is great.But Taycan does seem like a good car. Nürburgring track time is great. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 7, 2019The stakes are equally high for Porsche, which has watched Tesla turn itself into a veritable alternative for customers seeking a high-performance car but with an electric engine, an open flank that the Stuttgart-based manufacturer now hopes to protect with the Taycan.Musk posted on September 6 that a Model S would make an appearance at the track next week. Indeed, a modified Model S has been spotted testing on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, according to Car and Driver, which appeared to show the car on the track as part of a general driving session open to others. The model sported flared fenders and an enlarged opening at the front, probably for extra cooling.When exactly the car might attempt to break the Taycans record remains shrouded in mystery. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on its plans for the Nurburgring.Bolstering Teslas case, the company tweeted on September 11 that a Model S with a new Plaid powertrain beat the record for the fastest four-door sedan at Laguna Seca, a race track near Monterey, California, even though the time hadnt been achieved during a competitive event and wasnt officiated by staff at the track.*~ Some personal news ~*We lapped Laguna Seca @WeatherTechRcwy in 1:36.555 during advanced RD testing of our Model S Plaid powertrain and chassis prototype(That’s a second faster than the record for a four-door sedan) pic.twitter.com/OriccK4KCZ Tesla (@Tesla) September 12, 2019Pushing the round below 10 minutes is the ambition of all Nurburgring daredevils. The track is open to both professional and amateur drivers, and the fastest time with a street-legal sports car was 6 minutes and 44 seconds, performed in a Porsche GT2 RS MR on October 25 last year, according to the circuits web site.Thats an average speed of 185 kilometers an hour for the 20.8-kilometer
Origin: Tesla takes on Porsche at Nurburgring, possibly with new ‘Plaid’ powertrain
Ford recalling more than 23,000 SUVs in Canada for seats that cut
2017 Ford Explorer Ford is recalling some 23,380 Explorer SUVs in Canada because the sharp edges of the front seat frames have been cutting passengers hands as they reach down to adjust it.In North America, a total of roughly 338,300 Explorers from model year 2017 equipped with power seats are affected by the issue.The sharp seat frame edges have led to Ford so far fielding some 31 reports of people cutting their hands as they reached down between the power front seat and the center console, the automaker said September 13.Dealers will add flocked tape to the exposed edge and tab on the inboard side of the power seat frames. Ford told customers that, in the interim, they should use caution and avoid contact with the seat frame edge until the repair is
Origin: Ford recalling more than 23,000 SUVs in Canada for seats that cut
The 2020 Toyota Prius finally offers AWD, Apple CarPlay
The 2020 Toyota Prius is finally here, and it boasts a ton of tech to go along with its brand-new electric drive system.The styling hasnt been changed at all, unfortunately, but when it comes to the Prius the only things that ever mattered anyway were fuel economy figures, which have unfortunately not been released for Canada yet.However, in the U.S. the EPA estimates 58 mpg city, 53 highway and 56 combined, which is about 4.0 L/100 km city, 4.4 highway and 4.2 combined. Pricing for the 2020 Prius in Canada starts at $28,550, which gets you front-wheel drive, a 7-inch display, Toyota Connected Services by Toyota, and Apple CarPlay compatibility. For $1,000 more, you can spec the AWD-e version, which has an electric motor powering the rear wheels for extra traction, mileage and emissions. You also get fog lights with the AWD-e version, which immediately turns it into a rally car.The Technology trim will set you back $32,590, but adds integrated Sirius XM Satellite Radio, heated steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror, wireless phone charging pad, an eight-way power-adjustable drivers seat and a host of safety features. These features are also available on the $33,450 AWD-e Technology, and include Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and rain-sensing wipers. The AWD-e Technology adds an 11.6-inch high-definition touchscreen with embedded navigation, and fog lamps.The top of the heap is the Advanced AWD-e trim, which adds auto-levelling headlamps, heads-up display, adaptive front lighting, integrated garage door opener and intelligent clearance sonar with intelligent parking
Origin: The 2020 Toyota Prius finally offers AWD, Apple CarPlay
Electric SUV megatest: Mercedes EQC vs luxury rivals
Tuesday, 8.43am, Milton Keynes Coachway: Britain’s latest and most powerful electric car charging station, installed by Ionity in a corner of Milton Keynes’ park and ride bus station, consists of four charging bays. And right now, it just so happens that we’ve got four EVs with batteries to brim ahead of an Autocar group test with a twist. What luck. Pretty soon, the brand-new Mercedes-Benz EQC that I’ve brought along – the newest boy in the electric luxury car class – is joined by fairly recent arrival the Audi E-tron, electric SUV old boy the Tesla Model X and current class favourite the Jaguar I-Pace. With the hum of flowing current and cooling fans that duly ensues, it’s as if we’re in some giant, open-air computer server cupboard. Plugged in and topped up, the Tesla makes the grandest promises – 287 miles of battery range advertised, compared with only 226 miles for both the Audi and Jaguar, joint least. Will any of those advertised range figures be enough to complete our planned convoy road trip to the Severn Estuary and back, though? And over the next 250 miles and 36 hours, which of these cars will prove itself to be the most practical, usable and all-round convincing electric luxury car in a newly metal-swollen niche of the market? Today, we’re heading to the Severn Bridge to overnight, via some dependably good roads for photography and driving, as a test of real-world, mixed-route energy efficiency and range. Tomorrow, we’ll turn around and head back, testing the current reliability and scope of the UK’s rapid charging network, as well as the various respective capacities of our cars to access and navigate it. Much as it would make life simple to say, here and now, that the first car to return to the point from which we’re about to depart will be our winner, I suspect the truth won’t be quite so straightforward. 10:52am, A34, near Oxford: It’s a good car, this Mercedes – quicker and more engaging than I reckoned a few months ago after driving it abroad – and yet classy, comfortable, spacious, rich and quiet. Right now, it’s wafting serenely around the Oxford bypass as part of a four-car convoy that few will hear coming, but that plenty will notice passing. Not that those onlookers will all have nice things to say about the sight of the Mercedes. Photographer Olgun Kordal had it about right when he described the EQC as looking like a GLC “that has been left in the oven too long”. Shame. The Audi is considerably smarter to my eyes, the Tesla marginally less so, with its bulbous proportions and its slightly incongruous sloping roofline. But it’s the Jaguar that’s the bedroom wall material. Chucking it in among its direct competition only serves to underline what a stellar job was done on the I-Pace’s design and how much more interesting an object it is to behold than pretty much anything else like it. Well, can’t sit here and admire it all day. As we peel off west towards Wantage, onto smaller and more testing A- and B-roads, I flag down a colleague and swap into the I-Pace. And how great to be reminded what a treat this car is to drive. As well as feeling a good deal lighter, tauter handling, more immediate and more agile than the EQC, it’s got wonderfully tactile and supremely well-weighted steering. And it rides uncommonly well, with a decent sense of cushioning even on 22in rims, and a present but entirely tolerable amount of road noise. For performance, it’s right up there: the EQC’s torque might allow it to pick up more briskly from roundabout pace, but the Jaguar’s almost as quick from low speed. Holding up on some local country roads we know well gives a chance to hop into all four cars for back-to-back comparisons of the driving experiences they offer – as well as to take some action photographs. My suspicions about the Audi E-tron prove correct: it weighs marginally less than the EQC and yet it feels bigger and heavier because its softer all-corner air suspension and steering are plainly tuned more for comfort and isolation than for handling dynamism. The E-tron is very good at smothering bumps, filtering surface coarseness and making you relax at the wheel. As everyone in the road trip party agrees, though, it’s not nearly as engaging as either the EQC or the I-Pace. Ask the same party to choose the car they’d drive every day, and without a second thought for where or how, and the result’s equally unanimous: Jaguar, please. 3:32, westbound M4, near Swindon: Our little electric caravan is doing just fine, although since it hasn’t yet been running for a full hundred miles, so it should be. After a few hours, for photos and a bite of lunch, we’re on our way west, taking in our first few motorway miles of the trip and homing in on our final destination for the day: the Alveston House Hotel just north of Bristol. My first few miles of the trip in the Tesla have just been followed by another few miles in the Audi – and you couldn’t have picked a pair
Origin: Electric SUV megatest: Mercedes EQC vs luxury rivals
Cadillac reveals its 2020 CT4 sedan on Instagram
Underscoring its assertion a brand neednt live on SUVs alone, Cadillac today introduced the new 2020 CT4 sedan. This means there will be a trio of sedans in the companys showroom, with this machine being the smallest of the three.Built on rear-drive architecture, the way nature and Alfred Sloan intended, the Cadillac CT4 will offer a selection of turbocharged engines.A 2.0-litre turbo is the standard engine, cranking out 237 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic.Further up the options sheet is a 2.7-litre turbo, whose estimated power is a sprightly 309 ponies and 348 lb.-ft. of twist in the Premium Luxury model. Alert readers will note this engine is related to the 325-horsepower engine found in the CT4-V. Ten cogs inhabit the automatic lashed to this mill. The CT4s profile is decidedly rear-wheel-drive, with a good dash-to-axle ratio creating a long proboscis. We developed CT4 to appeal to youthful buyers in the luxury market who may be new to the Cadillac brand, said Andrew Smith, executive director of global Cadillac design.Three trims, in addition to the V, will be offered at launch: Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport. The latter will have darker accents and performance-inspired details like unique fascias while the others are going to ladle on the chrome in varying amounts.Sport and V-Series models will have Brembo-branded front brakes, while rear-drive Vs will have GMs trick Magnetic Ride Control. All-wheel-drive will be available in Canada on all models. Available Continental self-sealing tires are said to be a segment-first, and the company says Super Cruise is going to be available in the 2020 calendar year.CT4s interior will look familiar to anyone whos been inside a Cadillac in the last year, with a tablet-style 8-inch infotainment system that is appended by twin physical knobs (thank you, Cadillac) and two rows of buttons for ventilation and other controls. These PR photos show a set of analog gauges bookending a TFT screen as in the XT5 and XT6. It would be nice for Cadillac to offer something like Audis Virtual Cockpit, something which may happen with the arrival of Super Cruise.The 2020 CT4 will be available for ordering later this
Origin: Cadillac reveals its 2020 CT4 sedan on Instagram
Jeep Gladiators see stop-sale because driveshafts could fracture
2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon Jeep is issuing a stop-sale and recall on its new Gladiator trucks because a small percentage could see their driveshafts fracture due to an assembly error.Roughly five per cent of the nearly 3,500 new Gladiators built between Dec. 15, 2018 and June 25 may be affected by an issue wherein they were assembled without grease in the monoblock joint portion of the driveshaft.That CV joint in the center of the driveshaft could, without grease, overheat and seize, which could then fracture the rear driveshaft, causing a loss of forward power and possibly falling onto the road.Jeep hasnt connected any collisions or incidents to the issue, but says it has received six related warranty claims.Owners will be notified if their truck is affected beginning mid-October, but until then should be mindful if they hear any vibration in their Gladiators
Origin: Jeep Gladiators see stop-sale because driveshafts could fracture
First Drive: 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel
2020 Ram 1500 EcoDieselDerek McNaughton / Driving DULUTH, Minn. The market for diesel engines in this country went entirely limp in 2015, when it became clear certain automakers had been gaming the emissions systems on their vehicles to produce cleaner results than those vehicles actually produced. For all of diesels promise and capability, any hope for the technology vanished in the ensuing hysteria over the egregious emissions cheating that took place. The same dark cloud didnt choke the appetite for half-ton diesel pickups to the same degree. While Ram has a had a small-displacement diesel in its 1500 pickup since 2014 interrupted by an EPA investigation in 2016 FCA says demand has remained relatively constant, with a take rate hovering around 18 per cent for its 44 trucks.Near the tail end of the dieselgate scandal last year, Ford released a 3.0-litre diesel in its ubiquitous F-150 with 440 lb.-ft. of torque. GM has now launched its diesel too, a 3.0L straight-six in the Silverado and Sierra with 460 lb.-ft., and its keeping the 2.8L diesel in the midsize Canyon and Colorado. While Nissan is putting the brakes on the brilliant Cummins diesel as it gears up for a new Titan, the Big Three continue to rightly embrace diesel.Thats because automakers and truck owners alike have realized diesel has true merit in a pickup, the efficiency and torque offering an unsurpassed solution to the problem of quickly moving such a large and not-terribly-aerodynamic mass down the road. Producing levels of power that would be impossible to replicate without tons of gasoline or electricity, small diesels in light duty trucks simply make a lot of common sense, especially so if the particulates and NOx coming out the tailpipe can be tightly controlled.And so Ram is soldiering on with a new EcoDiesel in the Ram 1500, trumpeting the engines best-in-class torque, towing and efficiency. Indeed, rated at 260 horsepower and 480 lb.-ft. of torque, Rams third-generation EcoDiesel is now the most powerful diesel half ton pickup, able to tow a maximum 12,560 pounds in 2WD versions and about 12,100 for 4WD trucks. For the first time, the diesel will also be an option on all Ram models in the line up, including the off-roadish Rebel and street-wise Sport. And what a sweetheart an engine this is. Light the oil-burning V6 via the push-button start and the muted growl under the bulged hood sounds not much different than a small gasoline V8. The uninitiated would not know the difference, the typical racket of the diesel significantly quelled. While the previous engine was respectfully quiet, too, the new one lowers the noise even more, shaving 3 decibels off what was already a cricket-like ride.Of course theres some diesel clatter under acceleration, as there should be. But in steady state highway cruising, its easy to forget theres a diesel up front, the noise lowered in part by pistons that reduce piston slap by offsetting the crank-pin-hole ever so slightly. This, in a truck that for 2019 was made significantly quieter, in addition to receiving a number of welcome design features along with the absolute best interior of any truck on the market. The 60-40 split folding tailgate is pure genius, too.There is also no coarseness whatsoever to this new engine, just a fountain of torque that trails off as speed builds up. While horsepower climbs to 260 at 3,600 rpm, peak torque arrives earlier, now at 1,600 rpm, making towing and offloading that much easier. The only thing to detract from all the pleasure is a delayed throttle response a slow tip in held back by a need to avoid dumping too much fuel into the engine in order to control emissions, as well as some time for the turbo to spool and the eight-speed TorqueFlite transmission to find the right gear. Some drivers might not even notice the delay, but others will. The transmission is quick at finding the right gear, and the rotary shift is easy to operate, but I still want an easier way to shift gears on occasion.Out on the highway is where the true gold of this diesel reveals itself. FCA has not released official fuel economy figures yet, but it wasnt difficult to achieve 8.2 L/100 kilometres at 120 km/h, a figure that dropped to 7.9 on occasion in steady 100 km/h driving. Most Hyundai Elantras and Honda Civics do not average so little overall, so for a big boxy truck, those numbers are why people who regularly drive long distances so love their diesels. And Ram engineers say this new engine is more efficient than the last; we averaged 8.4 highway on a long-term test and 9.3 overall. A $5,800 option over the standard 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 eTorque engine on Tradesman and Big Horn, and a $3,900 option over the standard 5.7-litre HEMI V8 on the Sport, Rebel, Laramie, Longhorn, and Limited trucks, the new EcoDiesel is not, however, all about economics. Quite simply, its for people who regularly tow or drive long distances. We pulled a 6,000-pound boat
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel
These are the top ten cars owners keep the longest: study
Rain or shine, cars like the Corvette Stingray form some of the strongest bonds among fellow gear heads and friends. In today’s era of breakneck-speed technological development, it’s rare for people to hold onto anything mechanized for longer than a few years. Imagine using a cell phone from ten years ago? But according to a study performed by online used car search engine iSeeCars, there are many who keep their vehicles for a good number of years before selling them. Mostly Toyota owners—The research looked at over 5 million vehicles sold by their original owners to come up with a list of the top ten longest-kept vehicles. The ranking includes five sports cars – more than any other type of vehicle – including the second-place Chevrolet Corvette, third-place Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and fourth-ranked Audi TT, all of which were kept by their original owners for an average of just over 10 years. The Ford Mustang and Porsche 911 also make the list in sixth and eighth place, respectively, at right around 10 years of average ownership. The top spot goes to one of Toyota’s most trusted nameplates, the Land Cruiser. The average length of ownership for that popular SUV is 11.4 years, almost a full year longer than the second-place ‘Vette. Three other SUVs landed on the list: Ford Expedition, Toyota 4Runner and Toyota Sequoia. The fourth Toyota to make the cut was also the only sedan. The brand’s North American flagship full-size car, the Toyota Avalon, snuck into the tenth spot with an average of 9.7 years. Are you bringing the ownership period average up or down? Let us know how long you owned your last car in the
Origin: These are the top ten cars owners keep the longest: study
Eclectic weekend for carnuts in B.C.
Boxy and beautiful, this 1967 Plymouth GTX with a four-speed was seen at the Langley Good Times Cruise-In last weekend.Cam Hutchins This weekend has a very eclectic range of events that includes racing, swap meets, car shows and even a couple of toy runs. The must attend in my mind is at Mission Raceway tomorrow, with road racing all day then crazy nighttime drags in the evening. You could even do the toy run in the morning and then head to the trackIf you have never been to the track, or you have not been to the track this year, this is the day to go. The Confederation of Autosport Car Clubs puts on a really great day of road racing with all sorts of cars from Formula Fords to Miatas, Mustangs, RX7s, Lotus, CRXs, Civics and even purpose-built NASCAR type racecars. There is something for everyone, as some of the cars look completely stock, just like the ones you remember driving beside you in rush hour. Then if the day cant get better, stick around for the night races on the drag strip. Not many stock-looking cars on this track, but lots of muscle. And noise! I have not been to a night drag in a long time so am really looking forward to it. Longtime friend Bert Worrall will be checking out his new rear-end set-up on his crowd-pleasing Orange Dodge Dart.Sunday start at the Model A Swap meet to get some parts or ideas for your next build, then head to The Greater Vancouver Street Machines Car Club Car show at the Jolly Mac Pub in North Surrey. The car show is always good and so is the food.Street machines or BMWs? The BMW Car Club is hosting a car show in North Van so if you dont want to drive to the suburbs check out the Bimmers on the lawn at Waterfront Park.Somewhere that did not have a lot of BMWs was last weekends Langley Good Times Cruise in Aldergrove. But there were well over 1,000 cars that were displayed along Fraser Highway from 264th to 272th. Eight amazing blocks of awesome cars lined either side of the highway and even some in the middle of the road.My parents drove a full-sized station wagon with a 429 so I have a soft spot for the big block Fords and one car at the show grabbed me and will stay in my heart forever. A 1971 Ford Torino with a shaker hood scoop, rear window louvers and a four-speed manual transmission!The other car that caught my eye was the 1976 Chevy Nova SS with you guessed ita manual transmission. Probably a four-speed but may have been a five.And so not to leave the other member of the Big Three out, there was a very nice 1967 Plymouth GTX, the epitome of in the box styling. It was like taking a block of clay, removing the material above the hood and trunk and calling it a design. The very boxy 1967 GTX seemed to be so far away from the sexy models Mopar would turn out in the next few years but this is one sexy beast. White with very understated red stripe and a pair of little tiny hood scoops this car was just perfect.It was good to see lots of kids enjoying the show and lets keep this rolling by taking a kid to a show this weekend. There are not many left in 2019!SHOWSSEPT. 13-15What: Route 99 Cruz-InWhere: LillooetWhen: Friday 5p.m. Poker Run; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. car show, Lillooet Recreation Centre; Sunday racing at Lillooet Airport starts at 9:30 a.m.Info: 250-256-1655, horsinaround@telus.net or gina.doyle@hotmail.caWebsite: route99.caSEPT. 14What: Vancouver Classic Car Toy RunWhere: Meet at 2916 Springer St., Port MoodyWhen: Gather at 9 a.m., starts at 10 a.m.Admission: Donation of cash, gift card or new unwrapped toy to benefit the Lower Mainland Christmas BureauInfo: 604-970-9048 or cmckee@sutton.comWebsite: lmcb.caSEPT. 14-15What: Port Alberni Toy Run for MotorcyclesWhere: Starts at Little Qualicum Falls and ends at Glenwood CentreWhen: Saturday 10 a.m. toy run gathering and noon start time; Sunday poker runAdmission: Donation of a new unwrapped toy or a cash donation. Dance tickets are $25.Info: 250-731-4728 or patoyrun@gmail.comWebsite: portalbernitoyrun.caSEPT. 15What: Jolly Macs Pub Liquor Store Show ShineWhere: Jolly Macs Pub, 14817 108th Ave, SurreyWhen: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Admission: FreeRegistration: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. $10 and open to all VehiclesInfo: 604-584-4262, 604-329-5374, ssilas@shaw.ca or jollymac@shaw.caWebsite: jollymacs.comWhat: Model A Ford Swap MeetWhere: 19759 28th Ave., LangleyWhen: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.Info: info@pacificmodelaclub.com or 4dModelA@gmail.comWebsite lionsgatemodelaclub.com orWhat: BMW Car Club Concours ShowWhere: Waterfront Park, 200 block Esplanade, North VancouverWhen: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Admission: FreeInfo: 604-368-5288 or kevingc@shaw.caWebsite: bmwccbc.org/eventsWhat: Smith Chevrolet Show ShineWhere: Smith Chevrolet, 950 Notre Dame Dr., KamloopsWhen: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Admission: Donations acceptedRegistration: Gates open at 7:30 a.m. $20 donation to Kamloops Hospice. GM vehicles onlyInfo: 250-372-2551 or showshine@smithgm.comWebsite: smithgm.comWhat: Vancouver Island Mustang Association Christmas Toy RunWhere:
Origin: Eclectic weekend for carnuts in B.C.
The 2020 Kia Forte range to start at $17,695 in Canada
The 2020 Kia Forte5Kia The 2020 Kia Forte range will start at $17,695 when it hits dealerships this fall, with the new Forte5 hatchback starting just above that at $22,245.Prices for the sedan are up slightly over the 2019 model, which began at $17,195 for the base trim, $500 less than the 2020 LX with manual transmission. The base price of the Forte5 has stayed the same.The sedan comes in LX trim and premium EX trims, the latter starting at $22,595; while the Forte 5 ditches the low-cost LX offerings.Kias offering a new sporty GT trim on both Forte and Forte5 for 2020, which includes a 1.6-litre 201-turbo, a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters and tuned springs and dampers out back. The Forte GT sedan starts at $28,995 and the Forte5 GT at $27,395, with a $29,995 Forte5 GT Limited topping out the models range (before
Origin: The 2020 Kia Forte range to start at $17,695 in Canada
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