In true Rolls-Royce fashion, the hyper luxury automaker has released a champagne chest so owners of the vehicle can one-up their wealthy friends at yacht parties and high-end picnics. The design of the champagne chest takes inspiration from a V12 engine, the brand explains, and is crafted from carbon fibre and aluminum with accents of wood and leather. The chest is activated by the push of a button, elevating up to four hand-blown crystal champagne flutes embossed with the “RR” emblem as well as a bottle cooler and napkins. The oak lid turns into a tray for your help to serve the bubble-filled flutes to your waiting guests. Just as you can customize the colours and materials inside of a Rolls-Royce vehicle, the chests can be colour-matched to suit your taste, too. For those who aren’t into champagne, the chest can be converted into a caviar station that houses two thermal 30-gram tin containers and comes with mother-of-pearl serving spoons. But if you’re the kind of Rolls-Royce owner who isn’t into frills like champagne and caviar, the chest can be configured in a third way to display three porcelain bowls that you can fill with peasant food like Ruffles chips, Heluva Good french onion dip, and honey roasted peanuts. The custom chest retails for approximately US$47,000 plus taxes, and interested buyers can drop by any Rolls-Royce dealership to place an
Origin: Rolls-Royce has fashioned a US$47,000 champagne chest
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Ford adds 270,000 Fusion sedans to recall for unintended rollaways
The first Ford Fusion built in the U.S. waits to be driven off the assembly line at Ford Motor Companys Flat Rock Assembly Plant August 29, 2013 in Flat Rock, Michigan.Bill Pugliano Ford is adding 270,000 vehicles to a recall in North America to fix a gearshift problem that could cause them roll away unexpectedly. The addition covers certain 2013 through 2016 Fusion midsize cars with 2.5-litre engines. It means another 10,282 cars are affected in Canada, on top of the original recall’s 36,887 total. The company is urging drivers to always use the parking brake until repairs are made. Ford says a bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission can degrade, causing the cable to detach. If that happens, a driver could shift into park but the car could be in another gear. Ford has one report of an injury and three property damage reports. Engineers are developing a fix. Last year Ford recalled 550,000 Fusions from 2013 through 2016 and Escape small SUVs from 2013 and 2014 for the same problem with a different cause. Ford says owners will be notified when repairs and parts are ready, and that owners of cars fixed in the previous recall are not affected. The 2018 recall covered cars with a number of different engines, including the
Origin: Ford adds 270,000 Fusion sedans to recall for unintended rollaways
Save up to $20,000 off these three luxury sedans
2019 BMW 7 SeriesHandout / BMW On the last three Fridays of every month, Graeme Fletcher combines manufacturers’ incentives from Unhaggle.com with resale value, dependability and overall ratings to find you the best deal for your money in new cars. This week, we look at deeply discounted luxury sedans with all-wheel-drive. The hot deals are on the 2019 BMW 750i xDrive and Mercedes-Bens S 450 along with the 2018 Lexus LS 500. BMW 7 Series 2019 BMW 7 Series Handout / BMW Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price: $117,750 Manufacturer Incentive*: $20,000 Unhaggle Savings: $1,500 Total Savings: $21,500 Mandatory Fees (Freight, Govt. Fees): $3,215 Total Before Tax: $99,465 — lick here for exclusive local pricing Seldom do you see a discount exceed $20,000, but that’s the case with the 2019 BMW 750i xDrive, as the revamped 2020 model is already sitting on dealer lots. As luxury cars go, the big 7 Series has always been one of the sharper — the secret is it blends a luxurious ride with some decidedly sportier undertones. As such, it can be almost anything to just about any prospective owner. The cabin is marked by its quality and lengthy amenity list. Key is the revamped iDrive infotainment system — it features a 10.2-inch touchscreen that recognizes hand gestures using a 3D camera. Twirling a finger counterclockwise reduces the audio volume; the opposite increases it. The driver can also accept or reject incoming calls with a hand swipe. It works with Apple CarPlay, but sadly not Android Auto. Once too complicated for its own good, iDrive is now much easier to use. The rear environment is as opulent as up front, boasting one of the largest back seats in the business with just about a metre of legroom. Behind is a 515-litre trunk. Blind-spot monitoring, front/rear sonar parking sensors and automatic high beams are standard. The Advanced Driver Assistance package ($2,200) adds lane-departure warning with keep assist, dynamic cruise control with stop/go functionality, park assist and forward cross-traffic alert. Given the 750i’s price tag, this should all be standard. The 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 is good for 445 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque. The upshot is a broad power curve that never leaves the driver wanting. It works with an eight-speed automatic and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Under normal circumstances the systems sends 40 per cent of the power to the front wheels and 60 to the rear. The split varies according to road conditions, and also uses the stability control system to quell under- and oversteer. It’s one of the better systems around. The combination sees the 750i xDrive run from rest to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, complete the 80-to-120 km/h passing move in 3.1 seconds, and it’s rated to deliver an average fuel economy of 11.5 L/100 kilometres. BMW’s self-leveling air suspension and adaptive dampers are standard. The air suspension adjusts the ride height to suit the drive, while the adaptive dampers control body roll and the steering obeys input with unerring accuracy. The result is a sharp-handling car that is not out of place on a racetrack, yet it is supremely comfortable when cruising the highway. The BMW 750i xDrive arrives with a staggering $21,500 combined Unhaggle discount and a sticker of $99,465. Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Handout / Mercedes-Benz Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price: $108,100 Manufacturer Incentive*: $10,000 Unhaggle Savings: $1,500 Total Savings: $11,500 Mandatory Fees (Freight, Govt. Fees): $2,810 Total Before Tax: $99,410 — lick here for exclusive local pricing After last year’s refresh and the introduction of the new S 450 model featured here, the 2019 S-Class remains unchanged. The cabin is slick with everything from heated 16-way front seats, and a choice of 64 colours for the cabin’s ambient lighting, to a 13-speaker, 590-watt Burmester sound system. The highlights are two 12.3-inch screens for the instrumentation and infotainment system housed beneath a single pane of glass. The COMAND infotainment is operated through a central controller with a rotary knob and one-touch keys for major functions, including navigation. It also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Move rearward and the short-wheelbase S-Class has 947-millimetres of rear seat legroom and a 464-litre trunk. While blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic high-beams and rain-sensing wipers, among other safety features, are standard, the S 450 requires the Intelligent Drive package ($2,300) to get adaptive cruise control, active/evasive steering assist, congestion emergency braking, active lane keep assist and active blind-spot monitoring among other things. The package gives the S 450 a Level 2 self-driving capability. Again, this should be standard fare considering the price tag. The S 450 is powered by a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 that makes 362 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque, anywhere between 1,600 and 4,000 rpm. The early entry of peak
Origin: Save up to $20,000 off these three luxury sedans
Volkswagen’s sub-£18,000 electric car set for Frankfurt reveal
Volkswagen is set to unveil the concept version of its entry-level electric ID ‘people’s car’ at this year’s Frankfurt motor show. The firm will use the event to showcase the production version of the ID 3, its first bespoke electric car on its new MEB architecture. But the firm will also showcase a new ID concept there. Volkswagen confirmed the nomenclature for its ID range at the pre-booking launch of the ID 3, which sales boss Jurgen Stackmann noting that calling the first Golf-sized model the 3 allowed for the range to be expanded with both smaller and larger models. Speaking about the prospect of entry-level ID models, Stackmann said: “The commitment is that we start in the compact class, and the cars coming next are compact class cars. Frankfurt will be the reveal of the ID 3, and an idea of what’s coming next – and that’s clearly compact, because that’s what Volkswagen does.” With the Golf-sized model taking the ID 3 tag, the Polo-sized entry level car will be called the ID 1, leaving room for an ID 2 compact crossover SUV. Stackmann noted that the larger ID models, based on the already seen Crozz, Buzz, Vizzion and Roomzz concepts, would be the next cars to reach production, but emphasised the firm’s commitment to making genuinely affordable electric cars. “In the long term we clearly need to scale down and be more aggressive on prices,” said Stackmann. “That will be a scale of industrialisation, and it will take some time until we bring it into classes.” Autocar first reported in February that Volkswagen bosses had confirmed that the brand would launch a mass-market, affordable electric car costing under £18,000. Said to be part of a modern-day ‘people’s car’ project, the compact crossover utility vehicle was confirmed by product strategy head Michael Jost. It will arrive by 2023, or 2024 “at the latest”. The compact five-seater will have a raised ride height and exterior dimensions similar to the existing combustion-engined T-Roc, forming part of Volkswagen’s upcoming line-up of I.D. battery-powered models that will kick off with the launch of the ID 3 hatchback in 2020. Previously, Volkswagen chairman Herbert Diess indicated the cost could be as low as €20,000, or just £17,400 in the UK. Jost also confirmed that price point, while saying “we build cool electric cars that are fun to drive, beautifully designed and fully networked”. The keen pricing for what will be the fifth I.D. model after the ID 3 and production versions of the Crozz, Buzz and Vizzion concepts is a crucial component in a broader plan at Volkswagen to create a contemporary, new electric-powered people’s car in a move aimed at mirroring the success of the original Beetle and its indirect successor – the Golf. Diess, the architect of Volkswagen’s electric car strategy, recently claimed engineers are working on a car conceived to be priced at half that of the Tesla Model 3 without naming the secret new electric-powered crossover, suggesting it would be on sale within four years. Autocar has been told the idea behind the new ID model is to create a car with classless design appeal, outstanding interior space within a compact footprint and the sort of affordability to allow it to appeal to a wide number of car buyers in all of Volkswagen’s existing markets. As with Volkswagen’s other ID models, it is based around the company’s new MEB (Modularen Electrik Baukasten – modular electric architecture) platform with a front-mounted electric motor together with a battery of sufficient capacity to provide a range well over the claimed 186 miles of today’s e-Golf. To keep the price down, it will likely be offered exclusively in front-wheel drive guise, with a series of connectivity options set to be offered as optional equipment. Together with the primary Volkswagen version, the new zero-emission crossover five-door has been conceived to sire similar models from Audi, Seat and Skoda. Production will take place at Volkswagen’s Emden manufacturing plant in Germany, a site which currently produces the Passat and Arteon, with capacity set to top 300,000 units a year. Insiders at Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg headquarters suggest plans are to switch production of the next-generation Passat and Arteon to Skoda’s Kvasiny plant run in the Czech Republic, which currently produces the Superb, or possibly even a brand-new greenfield site in Bulgaria. The decision to use the Emden plant for the production of the junior ID models means Volkswagen will have installed capacity for well over 1 million electric vehicles by 2022, with its existing Zwickau and Hannover commercial vehicle plants in Germany, as well as joint venture factories operated with SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) in Shanghai and FAW (First Automobile Works) in Foshan, China accounting for the production of China-only models. At this stage, there is no indication whether the new entry-level ID model will be produced in other factories, though
Origin: Volkswagen’s sub-£18,000 electric car set for Frankfurt reveal
Novice driver has $460,000 McLaren impounded for doing nearly twice speed limit
A McLaren 720S pulled over early May for speeding in Squamish, B.C.RCMP handout Police impounded a costly set of wheels on British Columbia’s Sea to Sky Highway, near Squamish, over the weekend. RCMP say a novice driver in his early 20s in a 2018 McLaren 720S was clocked doing 151 km/h in an 80-km/h zone near Porteau Cove on Saturday. Police say they also found evidence the car had been seized before for the same offence. RCMP Cpl. Mike Halskov says the fine is almost $1,000, which includes an excessive speed ticket for $483 and a driving-while-distracted ticket for $368, as well as six demerit points. Police say the vehicle is valued at approximately $462,000 and costs about $15,000 a year to insure. The driver, whose green N’ sticker was displayed in the car’s window, could be stuck with more fines and a steeper insurance rate by the ICBC, the provincial insurance regulator. It was one of five vehicles impounded by RCMP Traffic Services out of Squamish on the weekend, which included a motorcycle that was going 135 km/h in an 80 km/h
Origin: Novice driver has $460,000 McLaren impounded for doing nearly twice speed limit
New Ford Focus ST priced from under £30,000 in UK
The new Ford Focus ST will be available from £29,495 in the UK, with first customer deliveries due to begin next month. Sources say that the entry-level variant will be the ST hatch in 187bhp 2.0-litre Ecoblue guise, the most powerful diesel powertrain ever available with the Focus. In estate form, the diesel ST starts from £30,595. The 276bhp 2.3-litre Ecoboost petrol-powered variant will be available from £31,995, rising to £33,095 for the estate version. The 2019 Focus will no longer be available in ST-2 and ST-3 forms, but high-spec ST-Line trim can be paired with a 1.5-litre Ecoboost petrol engine producing 180bhp, from £23,500. Ford says the latest iteration of its Volkswagen Golf GTI rival will offer “the most responsive and agile Focus ST driving experience ever, on road and track”, thanks to the model’s new C2 platform and a host of new technology derived from halo models such as the Ford GT supercar and the Mustang. It is the first front-wheel-drive Ford to get an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD), intended to enhance cornering stability. Rev-matching technology is available with the six-speed manual gearbox. A seven-speed automatic is also available. Selectable drive modes are another first for the Focus ST. They comprise Slippery/Wet, Normal and Sport, plus a Track mode for versions equipped with the Performance pack. The drive modes adjust various parameters, including the ST’s electric steering, which is Ford’s fastest yet and 15% faster than a standard Focus’s. There is also continuously controlled damping (CCD), standard on five-door petrol variants, which monitors suspension, steering and braking inputs to adjust damping responses every two milliseconds and promises “ultimate refinement”. Leo Roeks, Ford Performance boss in Europe, said: “Technologies like eLSD and CCD make the Focus ST the most ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ yet, able to switch from refined tourer to focused performance car at the push of a button. “We’ve incorporated learnings from programmes including the Ford GT and Focus RS to develop a mid-size performance car with a degree of flexibility that’s unique in its segment.” Ford’s 2.3-litre Ecoboost petrol engine is the most powerful yet offered in an ST. In the 276bhp range-topping variant, it produces 310lb ft from 3000rpm to 4000rpmm, and is claimed to be the most free-revving Focus ST engine yet. The benchmark sprint of 0-62mph is said to take less than 6.0sec, making it at least 0.5sec quicker than the outgoing equivalent model. Anti-lag technology, developed for the GT supercar originally, is intended to provide immediate power delivery in Sport and Track drive modes. The tech keeps the throttle open slightly when the driver comes off the accelerator, easing the reversal of airflow and allowing boost pressure to build faster on demand. Meanwhile, the diesel ST delivers peak power at 3500rpm and 295lb ft between 2000rpm and 3000rpm. The model produces 10% more power than and over twice as much torque as the original ST170. Ford says the ST’s six-speed manual transmission aids “more urgent gearchanges and… a sportier feel”, thanks to a shift-throw reduction of 7% compared with the standard Focus. Revmatching technology, first seen on the Mustang, is also introduced as part of the optional Performance pack for Ecoboost manual models. While the petrol-powered Focus ST receives Ford’s new electronic limited-slip differential, the diesel Focus gets torque vectoring control technology, which reduces understeer by applying brake force to the inside front wheel when cornering. Exterior tweaks over the standard model are subtle: there are unique alloy wheels, a revised grille for increased cooling and changes to the low wing and air curtains to improve aerodynamics. At the rear, there is a spoiler and twin tailpipes. The Performance pack adds red brake calipers. Inside, the Focus ST receives Recaro front seats, a sports steering wheel and a host of ST-embossed features, and engine and exhaust noise is amplified in Sport and Track modes. Equipment upgrades over the ST-Line X include a rear-view parking camera, adaptive cruise control, a Bang and Olufsen sound system and heated steering
Origin: New Ford Focus ST priced from under £30,000 in UK
GM recalls more than 40,000 trucks in Canada for engine fire risk
2017 Chevrolet Silverado HDHandout General Motors is recalling over 368,000 pickups and other trucks worldwide, including more than 40,000 in Canada, after 19 reports of fires caused by engine block heater cords. The recall covers certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 trucks, as well as the 2017 through 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500. All have GM’s 6.6-litre diesel engines and an optional engine block heater used to keep the block warm in extremely cold temperatures. GM is asking customers not to use engine block heaters until further notice. The company said early May the electric heater cord or the terminals connecting the cord to the heater could short-circuit and fail. That can cause fires. No injuries have been reported. GM is still trying to find the cause of the problem and develop a fix. The company began investigating the problem in December and found that a fire can occur if a block-heater coolant leak develops and the coolant comes in contact with the cable terminals, or if the cable itself is damaged. About 324,000 U.S. trucks are covered by the recall, and about 40,319 in Canada. GM began notifying dealers on April 26 and told them to stop selling the trucks until repairs are made. No date has been set yet to notify
Origin: GM recalls more than 40,000 trucks in Canada for engine fire risk
This perfect 1994 Mazda RX-7 sold for US$70,000
A beautifully preserved 1994 Mazda RX-7 sold this week on Bring-a-Trailer for a whopping US$70,000, marking a new record for the highest prices among third-gen RX-7s. The FD-generation RX-7 is considered by many to be one of the last truly gorgeous sports cars. This example is equipped with the Touring package, featuring fog lights, a rear windshield wiper, and a sunroof. Cruise control and air conditioning are also included, because creature comforts matter. Powering this RX-7 is Mazda’s venerable twin-turbocharged 1.3-litre Wankel rotary engine, but it hasn’t spun much — just 4,600 miles (or 7,400 kilometres) have been clocked since the car was built, making it an extremely rare find. The powerplant makes 255 horsepower and 217 lb.-ft. of torque, sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The rotary engine is known for revving high and its wonderful sounds, but it’s also a tad less reliable than a standard piston engine. This remarkably well-preserved RX-7 features absolutely no modifications — not even different wheels — which is surprising and rare, considering these cars were also popular among tuners. The beautiful Montego Blue Metallic paintwork sets off the RX-7’s elegant lines and voluptuous curves perfectly, and works to hide the pop-up headlights even more. All we wish is for the new owner to not keep it in a museum-like state for the rest of its life, but to (occasionally) take it on spirited drives, just like Mazda
Origin: This perfect 1994 Mazda RX-7 sold for US$70,000
Polestar 2 will cost $69,000 for Canadians
The Polestar 2 features a 440-kilometre full-charge range and a price of $69,000 for a fully loaded model.Polestar We now know how much the Polestar 2 will retail for when it is available in Canada next summer: $69,000. The five-door fastback from the Volvo-offshoot automaker features an all-wheel drive electric powertrain producing 300 kW (408 hp) and 660 Nm (487 lb.-ft.), translating into a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of less than five seconds, according to the company. Full-charge range of the 78-kWh battery is said to be 440 kilometres. The first models available in Canada will come fully loaded at that $69K price, which means early adopters won’t have to pay extra to get the Performance Pack, which adds Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes and 20-inch forged wheels. A base model will become available in following model years, likely close to $50,000 if the pricing and product strategy follow European (39,000 euros) and American (US$44,000) estimates. Polestar 2 is the first car in the world to embed Google’s Android platform as the basis of its infotainment system—operated via voice control and an 11-inch touchscreen display—and also brings embedded Google services to a car for the first time, including Google Maps with support for electric vehicle ownership, Google Assistant and the Google Play Store. Other tech-forward features include Pixel LED headlights, frameless side mirrors and the unique illuminated Polestar logo, which is reflected onto the car’s panoramic glass roof. The Polestar 2 made its first public appearance at last month’s Geneva International Motor Show in March, and has embarked on global roadshow in Europe, North America and China throughout the remainder of the year. Pre-orders for the Chinese-built EV are open at polestar.com/en-ca and require a $1,500 down
Origin: Polestar 2 will cost $69,000 for Canadians
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante is a $443,000 hair dryer
2020 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera VolanteAston Martin Aston Martin has dropped the top of its massive grand tourer, as the DBS Superleggera Volante joins the lineup. Volante’ is just Aston Martin’s fancy way of saying convertible’ — which, really, means you can have some wind in your hair while rocketing from coast-to-coast. The DBS Superleggera Volante has to be one of the best-looking convertibles out there, and thanks to the rear end treatment, it looks like it may actually create a truly airy, open-cabin feel, unlike many modern supercar-based convertibles. That roof takes just 16 seconds to fully close. Part of what makes the silhouette look so good is that the top measures just 10.2 inches once fully stowed. The top itself is available in no less than eight colours, and a carbon fibre finish is available for the windshield frame and tonneau cover. Powering one of the world’s most expensive hair dryers is a sonorous, twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 that makes 715 horsepower and 664 lb.-ft. of torque. Coupled to an eight-speed automatic, the Volante rockets from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds, before topping out at 340 km/h. This makes it the fastest convertible to ever come out of Aston’s factory. The speed is an impressive feat considering the DBS Superleggera’s weight — the name itself means super light’ in Italian — set at 4,107 pounds dry, some 375 more than the coupe. The zero-to-100 km/h run is only affected by a barely noticeable two-tenths of a second. Helping the car stick to the ground is a new aerodynamic package providing up to 390 pounds of downforce, only 6.6 less than the coupe. The front spoiler and air dam work together with side strakes that are deeper than the coupe’s, along with a double rear diffuser dubbed Aeroblade II’. Of course, this won’t be cheap. Aston Martin has priced the Volante at a whopping US$329,100 — about $443,000 here. Canadian availability will hopefully be announced
Origin: Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante is a $443,000 hair dryer
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