2017 Ford ExplorerHandout Ford mid-June recalled roughly 1.2 million Explorer SUVs in the U.S. and 28,000 in Canada over an issue with the rear suspension that may lead to diminished steering control and, in turn, an increased risk of a collision. On vehicles that see frequent full rear suspension articulation – that is, that regularly exercise the rear suspension across its full range of motion – the suspension’s toe link could fracture, making the truck harder to control. Ford Explorer SUVs from model years 2011 through 2017 built at the company’s Chicago plant may be affected. The automaker also launched a second recall the same day for the same issue, specifically for roughly 12,000 sedans and crossovers sold in parts of Canada. Affected vehicles in that recall include the 2009 through 2015 Lincoln MKS; 2009 through 2017 Ford Flex; and 2010 through 2017 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKT if built in the company’s Chicago or Oakville, Ontario plants and sold in Alberta, Manitoba or Saskatchewan. While the Explorer toe link fracture led only to a single report so far or a truck hitting a curb, the Canadian sedan recall has resulted in at least one crash involving minor injuries. The repair in both recalls will see dealers replace the left- and right-hand rear suspension toe links with new forged units and re-align the
Origin: Ford recalls 28,000 Explorers in Canada over increased crash risk
Canada
BMW’s 3 Series wagon is saying good-bye to Canada next year
Photos leaked mid-June of the wagon variant of the new BMW 3 Series, a good-looking Touring model that unfortunately won’t be headed for Canadian shores. Yes, the 2019 model year will mark your last chance to get a 3 Series station wagon here for a while, apparently. Der 3 has always been a worldwide staple for the brand, even in the face of ever-increasing SUV and crossover sales threatening sedans. And while spy pics of the new 3 Series Touring have been floating around the internet for a while, they’ve always shown a wagon draped in several iterations of camouflage. These images, posted by a member of Germancarforum, are allegedly the “first pictures G21”. Given what we’ve already seen, they’re surely not too far off the real thing. If accurate, the 3 Series Touring will be a bit of a looker. Its front end mimics that of the sedan, with angry headlights and a hood cutline that mercifully vanished during the redesign. The side looks familiar, too, at least until one get to the C-pillar. It might just be our jaundiced eyes, but that wagon liftback glass looks a lot more steeply raked than the old 3er wagon. Combined with taillights seemingly lifted part-and-parcel from the sedan, this is one car we hate to see go but love to watch leave. Twin sewer-cannon exhaust tips look righteous, too. We emailed the folks at BMW Canada, who confirmed our suspicions this über-wagon won’t be coming to our country. “The BMW 3 Series Touring, currently on sale as a model year 2019,” said Rob Dexter of corporate communications, “will not be part of the 2020 BMW 3 Series lineup in Canada.” The decision is understandable, as the Touring likely makes up a very small slice of the sales pie in this country. If you’re looking for a new Drei – German for three – Series Touring, then, best get yourself down to a BMW dealer before the 2019s
Origin: BMW’s 3 Series wagon is saying good-bye to Canada next year
Mexican tariffs will probably impact car costs in Canada
2019 Honda FitHandout / Honda Rhetoric south of the border about tariffs on Mexican imports continues apace. Current plans call for a five-per-cent tariff to be slapped on all goods entering America from Mexico, including cars and trucks. Furthermore, top brass say they want to increase the levy by a further five per cent each month, topping out at 25 per cent in October. What does this have to do with us in Canada? Plenty, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association. They represent Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru and Mitsu, plus the luxury brands of those automakers. And they warn that small cars like the Fit and Yaris could be affected by the tariffs. According to a spokesperson for the association, in a conversation with Automotive News Canada, tariffs can impact Mexican-made cars heading to Canada a couple of different ways. In one case, vehicles could be shipped to Japanese subsidiaries in the U.S. and then re-sold to Japanese automakers in Canada. Otherwise, they’d be shipped through America into our country directly. Either way they get here, one thing’s easy to understand: the tariff cost will almost surely be passed on to consumers. While it’s likely the tariff will be applied to some other calculated number rather than the final MSRP, it could still make for an unpleasant price hike. Adding 25 per cent to the sticker of a base Honda Fit, for example, would add about $4,000 to its $15,590 asking price. A good many light trucks are also assembled in Mexico, vehicles which bear a much higher cost than the Fit. Tacking a 25 per cent surcharge onto a $50,000 pickup jacks the sticker to $62,500. Again, we know these tariffs, should they come into effect, will likely not go right on top of the MSRP. Still, these examples make the stark point that many vehicles could become a heckuva lot more expensive – and that car buying activity will probably stall – until cooler heads
Origin: Mexican tariffs will probably impact car costs in Canada
Ram recalls 6,886 trucks in Canada over driveshafts that could fail
2019 Ram 1500Handout / Ram Ram is recalling close to 7,000 pickups in Canada because their rear driveshafts could detach thanks to a bad weld. Some 6,886 model year 2018 and 2019 Ram 1500 44 trucks are affected, the automaker said. In affected vehicles, a weld in the rear drivehsaft could crack and fail, and the shaft could separate from the pickup. If the truck is in rear-wheel-drive mode when this happens, it could cause an immediate lack of propulsion. Additionally, the broken-off shaft could pose a hazard to other drivers or people nearby. Owners may notice a weird vibration or hear noises prior to the weld separating, though FCA notes only about one per cent of the recalled vehicles are likely actually affected. The automaker came across the issue last summer when it noticed a higher-than-expected number of warranty claims coming in for cracked driveshafts. Affected owners will be notified via mail, and will have their driveshaft replaced for
Origin: Ram recalls 6,886 trucks in Canada over driveshafts that could fail
Buick will bring the Encore GX to Canada for 2020
2020 Buick Encore GXBuick General Motors is cranking out new SUVs and crossovers apace, today showing off the 2020 Buick Encore GX. More than just an extra trim level for the diminutive little scamp already on sale, the GX is a different vehicle altogether. Set to be sized in the sliver of room existing between the existing Encore and Envision, the GX will have a cargo area some 142 litres (5 cubic feet) larger than the former, and about 85 litres (3 cubic feet) smaller than the latter. Said to offer a greater-than-expected level of kit on the safety front, all Encore GX models will come equipped with front pedestrian braking, forward collision alert and lane-keeping. The neato Rear Camera Mirror will be lifted from the Enclave and made available on high-zoot trims of the Encore GX. Does all this sound familiar? It should, as the Chevrolet arm of GM introduced its Trailblazer model just yesterday, and its description sounds a heckuva lot like this new Buick. Absent of any official sizing information from Chevy on that rig, this detail from the Tri-Shield brand gives us a bit of insight as to the Bowtie’s dimensions, as well. It’s not quite badge engineering as in the bad old days—but similarities between the two vehicles are remarkable. Close study of the press photos reveal an ST badge, complete with red accents on the lower part of the bumpers and peppered amongst the grille detail. Could this portend a slightly-hot Encore GX? Or at least one that’s more than lukewarm? The vehicle shown here is riding on Hankook Kinergy GT rubber, tires described as premium grand touring all-seasons. Its interior is very similar to that of the Trailblazer shown yesterday, though with the crucial addition of dual climate control. A button for downhill descent assist pops up here, too, along with a button suggesting the Encore GX’s all-wheel-drive system will have different driving modes. If you want proof as to the importance of crossovers and SUVs in Buick’s lineup, look no further than the one-liner that asserts a full 90 per cent of Canadian Buick sales come from the segment. Product specifications and pricing will be announced when the Encore GX begins arriving at Canadian
Origin: Buick will bring the Encore GX to Canada for 2020
63,000-plus Rams recalled in Canada over tailgates that may unlatch in traffic
2017 Ram 1500Handout Ram is recalling 63,753 trucks in Canada, and more than 410,000 in the U.S., because the tailgates could unlatch themselves in traffic if the power-locking mechanism fails. A component in the mechanism could break after enough time, though only in 1500, 2500 and 3500 trim-level trucks equipped with 8-foot cargo beds and the power-locking option. Specifically, pickups from model years 2015 through 2017 are affected, as well as 2018 models built before March 31, 2018. New 2019 model year trucks are not affected, nor are trucks with manual tailgate locks. Owners of affected vehicles will receive a notification regarding the recall beginning in
Origin: 63,000-plus Rams recalled in Canada over tailgates that may unlatch in traffic
Ford Ranger sales off to a slow start in Canada and the U.S.
Although its F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in Canada, Ford isn’t having quite as much luck with the midsize Ranger. All-new in Canada for 2019, the Ranger sold only 755 copies in the first three months of 2019—beating out only the SUV-based Honda Ridgeline in sales, and by only 23 trucks at that. All-new models usually do well in their first year, and with the nameplate’s history and its previous popularity, it was expected the Ranger would clean up on its introduction. Instead, the Toyota Tacoma rang up the highest sales numbers in the first quarter of 2019, with 2,640 copies sold. The Chevrolet Colorado was second at 1,788, while its GMC Canyon mechanical twin racked up 1,288 sales. Even the Frontier, the oldest design on the market, outdid the Ranger with 959 sold. While Ranger sales are also slow in the U.S., it’s doing slightly better there. According to Car and Driver, Ford sold 15,169 units in the first three months, outselling the GMC Canyon at 9,374 copies, and the Ridgeline at 9,606 units. But it couldn’t touch the Tacoma at 78,558, or the Colorado at 45,149 units. The Frontier also outsold the Ranger, with 24,479 copies. Ford reported Ranger production ramped up early, according to Car and Driver, and says trucks are spending just 20 days on U.S. dealer lots, much shorter than average. However, it’s also possible the supply isn’t yet getting from the factory to dealers as quickly as it should. In Canada, Ranger sales were 201 units in January, dropping to 173 in February and staying flat in March. However, sales climbed to 381 units in April, which could indicate that either supply, or customer demand, or both are picking up—although Ranger’s April sales still trailed all but the Ridgeline, with Tacoma leading the pack at 1,055 sold for the
Origin: Ford Ranger sales off to a slow start in Canada and the U.S.
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
Be nice to your driver: Uber Canada to ban riders who act badly
Uber has not yet decided the minimum rating passengers must attain or how many chances they’ll get to change their behaviour.Getty Images Uber Canada will start banishing riders from its platform if they get consistently low ratings from drivers, the ride-sharing company announced Friday. Uber already removes drivers with consistently low ratings on the app, which uses a five-star rating system to build trust in the absence of formal training standards. Drivers also rate passengers, but the new system marks the first time that Canadian riders will face consequences for failing to meet a certain threshold. Previously, passengers could be banned for bad behaviour such as smoking in the car, vomiting from excessive drinking, having sex with a fellow rider, aggressive comments, unwanted touching or contacting a driver after a ride is over. Under the new system, which will roll out in Toronto in May and the rest of Canada in the weeks following, Uber will notify riders with bad ratings and give them multiple chances to improve their behaviour. If low ratings persist despite repeated warnings, Uber will deactivate the riders’ accounts for up to six months. Uber has not yet decided the minimum rating passengers must attain or how many chances they’ll get to change their behaviour, Uber Canada’s public affairs director Adam Blinick said in an interview. “Should we see consistent behaviour that makes the platform a less respectful place for drivers, a less safe place for drivers, riders could lose access to the platform,” Blinick said. The initiative is part of a handful of changes Uber hopes will improve safety. It will introduce speed notifications that will flash in real-time on a driver’s app screen should they exceed the posted limit. It will also pilot “ride check,” a technology that detects a sudden stop such as a collision. If a possible collision is suspected, a pop-up screen will ask both the rider and driver if they’ve been involved in a crash and enable them to call 911 easily. Uber will also require people to have a minimum two-year driving history, up from one year, to become Uber drivers. Existing rules also require drivers to be at least 21 years old and pass criminal background and driver abstract checks. Blinick said these measures are proactive and not in response to specific incidents, adding the “work on safety is never done.” Uber is facing pressure from governments around the world to improve safety after a series of high-profile incidents including sexual assault. In Toronto, it’s facing calls for stricter driver training rules after a 2018 incident where a 28-year-old passenger was killed in a collision after an Uber driver pulled over on the highway to check directions to the
Origin: Be nice to your driver: Uber Canada to ban riders who act badly
Will Toyota bring the 2.0-litre turbo Supra to Canada?
2020 Toyota SupraDerek McNaughton / Driving Up until now, the 2020 Toyota Supra has come with a single engine option in North American markets: a 335-horsepower 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six sourced from BMW, but that could all be changing according to emissions documents filed by the brand. According to Automobile Mag, the 2.0-litre turbo engine that the 2020 Supra receives in other markets is coming to the United States. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has just certified the engine for sale in California, for use in both the Toyota Supra and the BMW Z4 with which it shares a platform. The real question is, will the engine make its way onto Canadian market Supras? “Toyota Canada would be smart to bring in the rumoured 2.0L Turbo version of the new Supra,” says our own Motor Mouth, David Booth, noting that with the current proposed lineup, there would be a huge gap between the bargain-basement 86 and the full-zoot six-cylinder Supra. The 2.0-litre turbo-four that the Supra receives in Japan makes 194 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. of torque, exactly the same as the BMW Z4. The smaller engine should also command a lower price, just as the Celica/Supra did in the 1980s. Booth adds: “A mid-priced Supra would slot in nicely between those two and give Toyota dealers a full range of sports car offering, which, I have to assume, is their eventual goal. So, yes, look for a Supra four-banger, but not before the top-of-the-line 3.0-litre six makes a splash.” In some markets, the BMW Z4 also comes with a manual transmission when specified with the 2.0-litre turbo, so if Toyota really wanted to light our manual-loving purist hearts on fire they could add that down the road as
Origin: Will Toyota bring the 2.0-litre turbo Supra to Canada?
All about car 