The Smart brand is being powered down in Canada and the United States. Mercedes-Benz Canada has confirmed that sales of the tiny car, which is currently sold only as a battery-powered electric vehicle, will end at the end of the 2019 model year. In a statement, the company cited “a number of factors, including a declining microcar market in the U.S. and Canada, combined with high homologation costs for a low-volume model.” Mercedes-Benz will continue its electric strategy with new EQ models, which will initially arrive in Canada with the new EQC in 2020. Smart initially launched in 1998 as a joint venture of Daimler-Benz and watch company Swatch – resulting in a tiny city car with replaceable coloured plastic body panels that could be switched out to change the car’s appearance, like a Swatch. The cars used a three-cylinder, 800-cc diesel engine, rated at just 40 horsepower, when they arrived in Canada in 2004. They didn’t arrive in the United States until 2008, when the powertrain switched to a three-cylinder gasoline engine. They were initially imported by United Auto Group, owned by Roger Penske, who transferred the distribution rights back to Mercedes-Benz in 2011. The car’s best sales years were shortly after its Canadian introduction, and declined after that. An electric EQ version was added for 2014, and for 2018, the Smart lineup of coupe and cabriolet dropped its gasoline engine and went strictly electric. Range was approximately 130 kilometres on a charge, which also limited its appeal when other electrics were offering much longer driving distances. Only 368 Smarts were sold in Canada in 2017, and that dropped to just 345 in 2018. The little car should carry on in other markets, though. Daimler recently announced a joint venture with Zhejiang Geely to build the electric Smart in China, with sales beginning in 2022. In both Canada and the U.S., Mercedes-Benz will continue to provide service and replacement parts for gasoline and electric versions through authorized
Origin: Smart calls it quits in Canada and the U.S.
Canada
5 weekend driving getaways in Atlantic Canada
The Cabot Trail is a winding two-lane highway along the coast of Cape Breton, many parts of which are solid double lines.John Chalmers As you’re contemplating your getaway plan for the upcoming travel season, know this: you don’t have to organize some grand trip that involves a plane or a train in order for it to be memorable. There are countless driving getaways for you East Coast folks to enjoy, ones that can be done over a weekend, too, if you don’t have much vacay time to burn. We’ve picked five weekend driving getaways — each one within a two-hour drive — from five cities in Atlantic Canada. Fill up the tank, pack your bags and hit the open road. Stay tuned for more suggestions of great day trips across Canada. From Charlottetown, PEI Visit: Tignish, PEI Time: 1:50 Tignish is a tiny working fishing town not far from North Cape (read: epic beaches) and is about a two-hour getaway from Charlottetown. If history is your thing, you’ll appreciate the hidden gems dotted throughout the village. For example, the St. Simon St. Jude church is home to one of the first tracker pipe organs in North America that dates back to 1882 — it’s a big deal in the music world. Stay at the Tignish Heritage Inn Gardens, a stately brick building erected in the 1860s that has since been converted into a 17-room hotel. It’s located near mile-marker 0 of the Confederation Trail, so is ideal for anyone planning to cycle or hike. View this post on Instagram Because fares are usually lower in the autumn, it’s a great time to see the #BestOfCanada. Photo via @alexgdouglas ✈️ #WestJet A post shared by @ westjet on Sep 24, 2018 at 4:02pm PDT View this post on Instagram Take me back to where I belong . . . #tbt #throwbackthursday #pei #princeedwardisland #travelpei #visitpei #iotd #potd #seascapes A post shared by victorialapp (@victorialapp) on Aug 17, 2017 at 9:00pm PDT View this post on Instagram #stillstandingtv #church #tignishpei #pei A post shared by Chuck Power (@chuckpower76) on Oct 21, 2017 at 8:13am PDT From Halifax, NS Visit: Blomidon, NS Time: 1:00 Avoid the throngs of tourists in Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg and head west. Highway 101, which runs from Bedford to Yarmouth, is the fastest route, though heading south to Chester and then taking Highway 12 west will get you there, too. The latter is more scenic, but will add a full hour to the drive. Blomidon Provincial Park and surrounding area offer sweeping views of the craggy coastline, much of which can be taken in from one of the many hiking trails. Camping inside of the 1,875 acre park is a must for anyone who’s comfortable sleeping under the stars, but there are quaint accommodations in neighbouring Wolfsville, too, like the Blomidon Inn, which is a former sea captain’s mansion-turned-hotel. Aside from exploring the provincial park, pay a visit to the Blomidon Estate Winery or play a round of golf at Ken-Wo Golf Club, which has been a fixture in the region since opening in the ’20s. View this post on Instagram Views 👀 . . . #novascotia #blomidon #views #annapolis #annapolisvalley #explorecanada #explorenovascotia #explorens #novascotia #canada #oceanplayground A post shared by Jenny Bauer (@jennybbbau) on Aug 8, 2016 at 9:12am PDT View this post on Instagram “In these parts, hotels aren’t hotels, they’re mansions…” If the Blomidon Inn, a restored sea captain’s mansion turned hotel, looks like the perfect place to recharge during your next holiday (it does to us), then head to Wolfville, just one hour from Halifax. Expect a gorgeous room furnished and decorated in the Victorian tradition and a fantastic restaurant serving dishes crafted with the freshest Annapolis Valley ingredients, including the chef’s own garden. During your stay take time to smell the roses at the Blomidon Inn Gardens, a photographer’s delight. 📷: @handluggageonly📍: @blomidoninn, @visitnovascotia #ExploreCanada . « Ici, les hôtels ne sont pas des hôtels, mais des manoirs » Si le Blomidon Inn, cet ancien manoir ayant déjà appartenu à un capitaine de marine aujourd’hui restauré et transformé en hôtel, vous semble, comme à nous, l’endroit rêvé pour refaire le plein d’énergie durant vos prochaines vacances, prenez la route de Wolfville, à une heure seulement de Halifax. Des chambres magnifiquement meublées et décorées dans le plus pur style victorien vous y attendent, de même qu’un fabuleux restaurant qui propose une cuisine du terroir exploitant les produits frais de la vallée de l’Annapolis (certains viennent même directement du jardin du chef!). Prenez le temps pendant votre séjour d’aller humer l’exquise odeur des roses peuplant le jardin de l’hôtel – et n’oubliez pas votre appareil photo! 📷 : @handluggageonly 📍 : @blomidoninn @visitnovascotia #ExploreCanada A post shared by Explore Canada (@explorecanada) on Sep 8, 2018 at 8:38am PDT View this post on Instagram
Origin: 5 weekend driving getaways in Atlantic Canada
600-hp Nissan GT-R returns to Canada for 2020 model year
2020 Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition What is it? It’s not as awesome as the GT-R50 Nissan revealed last year and then decided to build for well-heeled customers, but the 2020 GT-R introduces a 50th Anniversary Edition with heritage colours that pay tribute to the greatest racers to bear the GT-R badge. Why does it matter? Don’t be distracted by the flashy colours and pretty stripes Nissan is showing off for their 50th Anniversary Edition GT-R. The real news is the return of the 600-hp Nismo engine tune under the hood of 2020 GT-R Track Edition cars, not seen since the very brief appearance of the GT-R Nismo in Canada for the 2017 model year. While 600 hp is a wonderful round number to make good headlines, it’s not the only change on the menu for the heavyweight AWD supercar, though it is the most meaningful for performance enthusiasts. Each and every twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 that goes into a GT-R is handcrafted by its own takumi technician, with a signed badge commemorating his work. In standard Premium trim, horsepower is an already robust 565, with 467 lb.-ft. from 3,300 to 5,800 rpm, while the 600-hp Track Edition gets a bump to 481 lb.-ft. from 3,600 to 5,600 rpm. Changes for the 2020 model include new turbochargers that yield quicker responsiveness, race-inspired exhaust manifold designed for easier servicing and potential tuning. Nissan continues to tinker with the transmission refinement, but hopefully they will never go too far and strip away the endearing mechanical orchestra of gears and differentials from the 6-speed dual-clutch. R mode gains more aggressive downshifts, particularly during ABS moments, when it interprets that hard braking as preparation for corner exit. However, both Auto mode and R mode will dial back the aggression based on driving inputs, so if you are just driving around town, it won’t downshift for max rpms every time you brake gently or regularly. and as with every update, the suspension is tweaked to enhance both cornering attitude and comfort to go along with refined steering and braking. With the GT-R climbing the pricing ladder thanks to impeccable performance credentials, Nissan is working to keep up appearances and quality for customer that could just as easily spend their money on a Porsche 911 or Mercedes-AMG GT. While the 8-inch touchscreen and controls are looking a bit dated, the single, seamless piece of leather stitched across the dash and matched by door panel inserts do bring a touch of class to the cabin. However, if you can get your hands on one, the 50th Anniversary Edition is the one to have, with a grey colour scheme Nissan likens to the twilight sky (fitting for a car that is in the twilight of its generation), special embossed seats, and stitched Alcantara headliner and trim. Sadly, the 50th anniversary special is paired only with the Premium trim, so you can’t have your 600-hp track beast in that guise. When is it coming? The 2020 Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition will be in dealers this summer. Should you buy it? Well, if you couldn’t afford the GT-R50, then this isn’t a bad way to get into GT-R, especially the Bayside Blue that is as loud and special as the car
Origin: 600-hp Nissan GT-R returns to Canada for 2020 model year
600-hp Nissan GT-R makes its return in Canada for 2020 model year
2020 Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition What is it? It’s not as awesome as the GT-R50 Nissan revealed last year and then decided to build for well-heeled customers, but the 2020 GT-R introduces a 50th Anniversary Edition with heritage colours that pay tribute to the greatest racers to bear the GT-R badge. Why does it matter? Don’t be distracted by the flashy colours and pretty stripes Nissan is showing off for their 50th Anniversary Edition GT-R. The real news is the return of the 600-hp Nismo engine tune under the hood of 2020 GT-R Track Edition cars, not seen since the very brief appearance of the GT-R Nismo in Canada for the 2017 model year. While 600 hp is a wonderful round number to make good headlines, it’s not the only change on the menu for the heavyweight AWD supercar, though it is the most meaningful for performance enthusiasts. Each and every twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 that goes into a GT-R is handcrafted by its own takumi technician, with a signed badge commemorating his work. In standard Premium trim, horsepower is an already robust 565, with 467 lb.-ft. from 3,300 to 5,800 rpm, while the 600-hp Track Edition gets a bump to 481 lb.-ft. from 3,600 to 5,600 rpm. Changes for the 2020 model include new turbochargers that yield quicker responsiveness, race-inspired exhaust manifold designed for easier servicing and potential tuning. Nissan continues to tinker with the transmission refinement, but hopefully they will never go too far and strip away the endearing mechanical orchestra of gears and differentials from the 6-speed dual-clutch. R mode gains more aggressive downshifts, particularly during ABS moments, when it interprets that hard braking as preparation for corner exit. However, both Auto mode and R mode will dial back the aggression based on driving inputs, so if you are just driving around town, it won’t downshift for max rpms every time you brake gently or regularly. and as with every update, the suspension is tweaked to enhance both cornering attitude and comfort to go along with refined steering and braking. With the GT-R climbing the pricing ladder thanks to impeccable performance credentials, Nissan is working to keep up appearances and quality for customer that could just as easily spend their money on a Porsche 911 or Mercedes-AMG GT. While the 8-inch touchscreen and controls are looking a bit dated, the single, seamless piece of leather stitched across the dash and matched by door panel inserts do bring a touch of class to the cabin. However, if you can get your hands on one, the 50th Anniversary Edition is the one to have, with a grey colour scheme Nissan likens to the twilight sky (fitting for a car that is in the twilight of its generation), special embossed seats, and stitched Alcantara headliner and trim. Sadly, the 50th anniversary special is paired only with the Premium trim, so you can’t have your 600-hp track beast in that guise. Should you buy it? Well, if you couldn’t afford the GT-R50, then this isn’t a bad way to get into GT-R, especially the Bayside Blue that is as loud and special as the car
Origin: 600-hp Nissan GT-R makes its return in Canada for 2020 model year
Audi’s new S6 and S7 go diesel in Europe, but stick with gas in Canada
Static photo, Colour: Daytona greyAudi Audi has already released the A6 and A7, but now the so-called performance versions are here in the form of the S6 and S7, which are a little different depending which side of the pond you’re on. In Europe, the sole engine option is a diesel-powered 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 with a 48-volt electrical system that powers a supercharger. Some 349 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque is all you get with the oil-burner, enough to get the huge Audi to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds in S6 guise; the S7 and S6 Avant get there a little slower at 5.1 seconds. We all know Audi has done well in LeMans with its diesel race car, but nobody on the street cares about that. We want revs and horsepower, and the diesel version just isn’t going to deliver that. Luckily for us in North America, we don’t have to suffer. The diesel will be left off the plate on this side of the pond in favour of a gasoline-powered 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 that makes 450 horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. of torque; a 48-volt electrical system is also on the table, again powering the same supercharger. Audi has not released the full performance figures for the gasoline engine in the S6 or S7, but we don’t expect them to change drastically. On top of the new engine options, the S6 and S7 now feature four-wheel steering to make up for the lack of V8. Inside, a new digital gauge cluster and touchscreen dash showcase the new technology present for 2020. Although the V6 will never make as nice a soundtrack as the V8, the new car is sure to be faster and more
Origin: Audi’s new S6 and S7 go diesel in Europe, but stick with gas in Canada
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