2021 Toyota MiraiGraeme Fletcher / Driving What is it?The original Toyota Mirai was the sort of car a mother could be very proud of, but it lacked the verve to stir an onlookers soul. The second-generation 2021 Mirai has a sleek look that makes it stand out from the crowd, and this time around it is for all the right reasons! The striking design features broad shoulders, a fastback roofline, long hood and 20-inch wheels. It is a looker!The cabin also benefits from the rework with the wheelbase now measuring 2,920-mm, up 141-mm, which means theres now realistic backseat legroom and space for a third rider. For the driver, the Toyota Premium Multimedia system now has a larger 12.3-inch screen and a 14 speaker JBL sound system.Check out all our latest Auto Show coverageWhy does it matter?By combining hydrogen from the on-board tanks and oxygen from the atmosphere, the Mirais fuel cell creates electricity and water there are no other combustion byproducts, so it is as clean as clean gets. No word on the power output other than it will deliver enhanced performance. This means more power that the outgoing cars 151 horsepower and 0-100-km/h time of 9.7 seconds.More importantly, the increased fuel storage brings a 30 per cent bump in driving range. This means it should have a gasoline-rivaling range of 655 kilometres. Ditto the five-minute refueling time. There are hydrogen stations in Vancouver and Quebec City. Hopefully, Toronto will be added to the list! When will Canada get it?The second-generation Toyota Mirai goes on sale here late 2020.Should you buy it?The next-gen Toyota Mirai has everything the original lacked it has road presence with a significantly sharper look and a much nicer cabin to go along with a realistic driving range and short refueling time. As a package it makes a very strong ambassador for the coming Hydrogen
Origin: First Look: 2021 Toyota Mirai
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First Look: Lexus LF 30 Concept
What is it?The Lexus LF 30 Concept represents the future of the brands battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The name stands for Lexus Future, with the 30 celebrating 30 years of Lexus it seems like just yesterday when the LS 400 rocked the car world and redefined the consumers expectation of luxury and reliability. The LF 30 is a futuristic-looking electric car that takes the companys spindle grille and transforms it into the key styling cue for the car. Some of the design is outlandish thinking; other aspects speak to the first Lexus BEV, which will debut this November.Check out all our latest Auto Show coverageWhy does it matter?The heart of the LF 30 is found in the four in-wheel electric motors that combine to produce 536 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque from rev-one. The go-juice comes from a 110-kWh battery that delivers 500 kilometres of electric-only range. One of the keys to the operating strategy is the Lexus Advanced Posture Control system. It regulates the motors to keep the delivery of power in keeping with the drivers expectations. As such, it has the ability to drive the front motors, the rear motors or all four motors according to need and/or demand. The layout also gives the LF 30 real-time torque vectoring through the control of the individual motors.Elsewhere, the steering is by wire, the charging is wireless, the glass roof panel becomes a massive touchscreen that controls many in-car functions and LF 30s autonomous driving technologies have drone support. The latter looks forward to the car Lexus envisions hitting the road in 2030. Lexus LF 30 Concept Lexus When will Canada get it?The LF 30 is purely conceptual at this point, but it speaks to the fact Lexus will offer an electric derivative of all of its models by 2025.Should you buy it?Whats not to love about a cool-looking all-electric car that has a real-world driving range and the performance that promises to wow the driver it takes all of 3.8 seconds to reach 100 km/h and it has a top speed of 200 km/h. The answer to how this will translate into a future Lexus product is closer than you might think, with Lexus set to debut its first battery electric by years end.
Origin: First Look: Lexus LF 30 Concept
First Look: 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge
The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge is the companys first-ever all-electric vehicle and heralds the roll out of a new EV from Volvo each coming year for the next five years.Andrew McCredie LOS ANGELES, Ca. Two years ago, Volvo promised to make every vehicle it sells electrified by 2020. It has now made good on its promise with the unveiling of its first-ever all-electric vehicle, which is also the first Volvo that will receive software and technical updates over the air (a la Tesla).The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge is an electrified version of the compact luxury crossover the Swedish automaker brought to Canada last year, the perfect platform for Volvos initial foray in the EV space. The exterior of the electrified version differs from its gas-powered stablemate in the front end (no need for a radiator grille) and the rear end (no need for tailpipes) but apart from that borrows many body panels from the ICE version. Likewise, the vast majority of the XC40 Recharges top hat cabin interior, doors, rear cargo space and hatch is from the original. Each model is built in the same Belgium factory in Gent.Where they differ, of course, is in the powertrain and parts of the chassis, though they still share many suspension bits and pieces.The XC40 Recharge has two electric motors, one powering each axle, fed by a good-sized 78-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. According to Volvo, the electric XC40 outperforms its petrol partner by some measure, reporting power output of 408 horsepower, 660 lb.-ft. of torque and a sub-five-second zero-to-100 km/h time.North American full-charge range is expected to be in the 320-kilometre range, though Volvo Canada says that is a conservative estimate (no doubt trying to avoid the disappointment surrounding the Audi e-Tron’s reported range that fell short of published figures). And according to Volvo, the battery charges to 80 per cent of capacity in 40 minutes on a fast-charger system.Not much information was provided about the regenerative braking system, but we do know it will come with three modes: a one-pedal driving mode, a mild regen mode and a freewheeling mode. The XC40 Recharge is also notable as it features an all-new infotainment system developed by Volvo and Google, the first such partnership for a global automaker. According to Volvo, the Google Android operating system is more intuitive than past interactive systems, and uses a suite of Google apps to improve interactions, including Google Assistant, Google Play and Google Maps. The latter includes real-time traffic updates and constant monitoring of the vehicles battery range to suggest nearby charging stations and to map the most efficient routes possible. Voice recognition functions can control most in-car functions, from climate to music to text messaging.During the reveal to the worlds motoring press at Hubble Studios in L.A., Volvo execs went to great lengths to underscore the companys commitment to sustainability, not just in terms of what comes out of Volvo tailpipes but in terms of the entire manufacturing process and the manufacturing processes of its supply partners, including battery suppliers. Over the next five years, the company has committed to launch a fully electric car every year in an effort to make all-electric cars 50 per cent of global sales by 2025, with the rest hybrids. The name Recharge is the new brand name for all chargeable Volvos with a fully electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain.As to the bigger picture of building cars in a cleaner manner, the company is aiming to reduce its lifecycle carbon footprint per car by 40 per cent between 2018 and 2025. This is seen as the first, tangible step towards Volvo Cars ambition of becoming a climate neutral company by 2040.The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge is expected in Canadian showrooms by this time next year, and pricing will be released early in 2020. Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google
Origin: First Look: 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge
Volkswagen reveals new look for high-performance R brand
Volkswagen has continued its rebranding efforts with a revised logo for its high-performance R sub-division. The German firm unveiled a new version of its VW roundel at the Frankfurt motor show as part of a company-wide rebranding effort. The new look is currently being rolled out across the UK. It has now introduced a new version of the R logo for its performance arm, which will appear on all of the sub-brand’s models. It will first be seen on the Atlas Cross Sport R-Line, which will be revealed shortly for the North American market. Volkswagen claims the new logo symbolises a fresh start for the R brand. Jost Capito, who heads up the division, said that R is “all about excitement and thrill” and that the firm is taking a “strategic and operative approach to working on great products and creating a unique customer experience.” The new logo was developed by Volkswagen’s in-house design team, with a focus on ensuring it would work in digital formats. It was designed to be “modern, distinct and sleek” and to show a “broader, more powerful impression” that “defined Volkswagen’s commitment to performance and exclusivity.” The Atlas Cross Sport will be revealed next week, following the concept version revealed at last year’s New York motor
Origin: Volkswagen reveals new look for high-performance R brand
First Look: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible
The launch of the 2020 C8 Chevrolet Corvette held, we have to admit, plenty of surprises for us. It started around $70,000 in Canada and promised a zero-to-96 km/h time of under 3.0 seconds.We expected the C8 to be competitive, but I dont think many were expecting that.But the reveal of the C8 convertible? Not so surprising. Chevy chose to reveal the C8 drop-top in the Kennedy Space Centers Rocket Garden in Orlando, Florida.Thats partly because rockets are just plain cool, but moreso because astronauts have been driving Corvettes for almost as long as there have been astronauts. Alan Shepard, Alan Bean, Neil Armstrong and many others famously owned examples of the classic plastic sports car.But lets talk about the car itself. For starters, it gets the same 6.2-litre 490-hp V8 as the coupe, which makes it the most powerful Corvette base model ever. The top is a folding hardtop arrangement, and no soft-top will be available. According to engineers, the tops six motors, linkages and hinges add a reasonable 35 kg to the total weight of the C8.Like most modern convertibles (and especially mid-engined ones) there are twin nacelles behind the driver headrests. Chevy says they hearken back to the faired-in headrests of 1950s prototypes and visually connect the top of the windshield to the rear of the car, but we think the less-sexy reason for them is simply to provide more rollover protection. Nonetheless, they are well-executed and not an eyesore. And while the C8 coupe shows off its engine under glass, the vert obscures it, since the roof is stored on top of the engine compartment when folded down. To accommodate the thermal demands this covering-up adds, some rather stylish vents have been sliced into the top of the rear deck for engine cooling. And, yes, even with the top stored, you can fit two sets of golf clubs in the C8. Sigh.Impressive numbers? Well, the C8 vert has plenty. The coupe starts at about $70,000 in Canada, and the new convertible will begin at $78,998 when it arrives here. Production of the C8 will start in January, and deliveries will happen two months after that.But that wasnt all Chevy revealed among the rockets; it also pulled out a very fierce-looking C8.R race car. Flared and spoilered, wearing massive slicks and roll cage, the C8.R is very much the real deal. Chevy was reticent to divulge technical details about the C8.R, but said it would compete at Petite Le Mans soon.One thing to note about it: It sounded for all the world like a flat-plane-crank engine. We dont know whats under the hood, but it does not sound like a typical cross-plane
Origin: First Look: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible
First Look: 2020 VW ID.3
The VW ID.3 is a rear-wheel drive all-electric vehicle heralding the German automakers first foray into its ambitious electrified future.Andrew McCreide What is it?The 2020 ID.3 is the first production electric vehicle from Volkswagen utilizing VWs new modular electric drive matrix (MEB), featuring the batteries integrated into the underbody that when combined with the vehicles long wheelbase create a spacious five-seater for a compact segment entry.There are three battery size options: the entry level features a 45-kWh battery with a full-charge range of 330 kilometres (note: all ranges are based on the world harmonized light-duty vehicles test procedure, meaning Canadian ranges will be less); the middle battery option is a 58-kWh with a 420-km range; and the big-battery option is a 77-kWh unit with a range of 550 km.According to VW, a fast charger (output of 100 kW) will juice the ID.3 to a range of approximately 290 km within 30 minutes. The rear-wheel-drive hatchback can be seen as the e-Golf 2.0, though is a complete clean-sheet design with all-new architecture. Likewise, the futuristic cabin design is all new and lights the way for the coming onslaught of VW EVs.Why does it matter?The ID.3 represents the first tangible step in VW distancing itself from Dieselgate, the company having found a new religion in EVs. So much so that it has staked its future on the zero-emission technology with a US$91-billion commitment to build and sell mass-production vehicles in the coming decade. Needless to say, to VW this vehicle matters a lot. The ID Crozz concept on the Frankfurt show floor. When Canadians finally get a new VE EV, it will likely be a crossover based on this vehicle. Andrew McCredie When is it coming?To Canada? Its not. Europe is the market for the ID.3, and while VW Canadas Thomas Tetzlaff said wed love to have it in Canada, the first of the new generation of VW EVs Canadians will get a chance to buy will be a crossover based on the ID Crozz concept, pictured above. While he cant say exactly when that Tennessee-built CUV EV will be in showrooms, he offered (hoped?) it could be as soon as late 2021.Should you buy it?As it wont be available in Canada, not really a relevant question. However, considering the commitment that VW has put into designing and building this hatchback coupled with its excellent full-charge range its safe to say this most likely will be a good vehicle. We also love the fact that it is
Origin: First Look: 2020 VW ID.3
First Look: 2020 Mini Cooper S E
The 2020 Mini Cooper S EGraeme Fletcher What is it?Based on the Mini three-door hatch, the Cooper S E is a new all-electric ride that promises to put a smile on the drivers face. The electric motor twists out 181 horsepower, 200 foot-pounds of torque from rev one and drives the front wheels through a single-speed transmission.Throw in a super low centre-of-gravity and specially tuned suspension and you have the makings of a proper little racer.The combination gives the Cooper S E the wherewithal to run from rest to 60 kilometres an hour in 3.9 seconds; it hits 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and has a top speed of 150 km/h, and this in spite of the fact it is 150 kilograms heavier than its gas-powered sibling.As with the BMW i3, the Cooper SE will offer a one-pedal drive. Where it differs is the driver can pick the regen level through a typical Mini toggle switch. Inside, the traditional dials also go away in favour of a 5.5-inch colour screen. Why does it matter?One of the keys to the Cooper S E is its next-generation lithium-ion battery it delivers a driving range of up to 270 kilometres. The same battery technology is found in the revamped Mini Cooper S E Countryman All4 plug-in hybrid. The battery size jumps from 7.7 kilowatt/hour to a 10.0-kWh unit that extends the electric-only range by 30 per cent it now rates 57 kilometres.When will Canada get it?No official word on when it comes to Canada, though Minis confirmed we are getting it and will let us know more in a few months. But production of the Cooper S E begins later this year with the first units hitting European roads early 2020. Hopefully, it will hit Canada mid-year.Should you buy it?The Mini Cooper S E electric promises to be a hoot to drive. Combine the low centre-of-gravity with the instant-on electric torque, and the SE might just deliver the ultimate go-kart-like driving
Origin: First Look: 2020 Mini Cooper S E
First Look: 2020 Volvo XC90
2020 Volvo XC90Graeme Fletcher / Driving BANFF, Alta. Heading into 2020 the Volvo XC90, as it has for the past three years, gets updates in all key areas. Stylistically, the new concave grille, reworked front and rear bumpers with integrated tailpipes, and smarter 19-inch wheels, along with standard roof rails and new paint colours, give the outside a richer look.Inside, the instrumentation now uses a reconfigurable 12.3-inch screen and there is a classy new six-seat mode: Here, the middle bench seat makes way for two comfortable bucket seats. The side benefit is the space between the middle seats gives easier access to the roomy third row. More importantly, the XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid gets a larger 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery, giving it a longer electric-only driving range. The T8s other key improvement is a new brake system; the hydraulic pump has been replaced with a vacuum booster that gives the pedal a more natural feel it was a crisp and didnt feel mushy under foot on the drive.What doesnt change is the poise the XC90 delivers through the Rockies. The powerful 400-horsepower hybrid powertrain, and the ability to tailor it according to the drivers needs, make it both powerful and frugal at the same time. Likewise, the optional air suspension and electronically controlled dampers Four-C, in Volvo speak does a very good job of isolating the passengers from the rigors of a rough road without sacrificing handling. Body roll is limited to a few degrees, the adjustable steering has just the right weight across the operating range, and it has the passing power youd need the XC90 T8 runs from rest to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, which for a full-sized SUV, is decidedly decent.While the individual changes to the 2020 XC90 are small, as a whole, they do make for a better
Origin: First Look: 2020 Volvo XC90
First Look: 2020 Audi RS 6 Avant
Since launching the RS brand in 1994, Audi has presented 25 different models, which is fitting given the marque is celebrating 25-years of go-faster transportation. Currently, there are five RS models in the companys portfolio with another six arriving in the coming months.Each model has two key things in common monster amounts of horsepower and the driving dynamics of a racecar. Factor in the quattro systems ability to get the outrageous horsepower to the pavement without melting the tires when the engines muscle is flexed, and the RS models go where pointed in one seriously fast manner.The forbidden fruit denied Canadians for way too long is coming home!Of the models, the RS 6 Avant has to be the one by which all others are be judged. It was, and remains, a street-legal racer, but with the practicality of a station wagon. Whoever said wagons were frumpy has not enjoyed the unmitigated pleasure of running the RS 6 around a racetrack!The first RS 6 Avant arrived in 2002 with a 4.2-litre, twin-turbo V8. It pushed 444 horsepower and delivered a run to 100 kilometres an hour of 4.7 seconds. In 2008, the V8 went away in favour of a 571 hp 5.0L V10 and a run from rest to 100-km/h in 4.1 seconds. In 2013, the RS 6 went back to a 4.0L bi-turbo V8 with 552 hp and a 0-100-km/h time of 3.8 seconds. Youll note each model has been faster than its predecessor!Well, its time to celebrate the forbidden fruit denied Canadians for way too long is coming home! One look at the latest 2020 RS 6 Avant and its 40-millimetre fender bulges tells the onlooker this is one serious machine the front doors and tailgate are the only body parts shared with the mortal A6 Avant. The headlights with optional laser lighting come from the A7 and it has a functional rear spoiler to add the needed downforce when at speed.This time around the RS 6 Avant uses a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 that works with a 48-volt belt/alternator/starter (BAS) mild-hybrid system. It pushes 600 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission with launch control and all four wheels. In this application the quattro system sends 60 percent of the drive to the rear wheels and 40% to the front, which gives it a rear-drive feel. However, the system can send up to 85% of the power rearward, or up to 70% to the front wheels if the conditions demand.Audi says the BAS mild hybrid system has the potential to shave the fuel consumption by 0.8 L/100 km in everyday driving. The reality is most will enjoy significantly better savings if only because of the needless idling it prevents. The engine also shuts down four of its eight cylinders when the loads are low, which further helps the economy cause.There are several suspension choices. The four-corner air suspension with adaptive dampers is likely to be the popular option. The ride height is 10-mm lower than the A6 and it drops another 10-mm when at speed to improve stability with a top speed of 305 km/h it needs all the help it can get!The other suspension uses regular coil springs at each corner, but with a special set of dampers that are linked diagonally front-to-rear when the front damper is compressed it sends oil pressure to its diagonal counterpart at the back to ready it for a bump. In the end, the setup reduces unwanted pitch and body roll. Theres also a sport steering setup and an available four-wheel steering system. The latter sharpens the response at speed and chops the turning circle by a metre at parking lot speeds. Of course, there are massive 440-mm front rotors with 10 piston calipers. Tires you ask? Try P285/30R22s on for size!Everything can be tweaked to suit the tone of the drive. There are all the usual modes, including Comfort, Auto and Dynamic. Each alters the engine, transmission, steering, suspension and, when so equipped, the torque-vectoring rear Sport Differential. There is, for the brave (or foolhardy!), also a true off position for the stability control system.Two key assets are found in the RS buttons. The driver can go into the Individual mode menu and set the RS 6 Avant up to suit. Set everything so its ready for a city drive and store the choices in the RS1 button. Crank every facet up to Dynamic and save them to RS2 button. Now you have a track-ready demon at the push of a button.So, how fast is the 2020 Audi RS 6 Avant? It runs to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, making it the fastest to date, yet it still delivers 565-litres of cargo space with the seats up and 1,680L when folded flat. Does it get any
Origin: First Look: 2020 Audi RS 6 Avant
Volkswagen ID R gains new look for Chinese record bid
Volkswagen has unveiled a new look for its record-breaking ID R electric motorsport car for its assault on the 99-turn Tianmen Shan Big Gate Road in China later this year. The 671bhp ID R smashed the outright Pikes Peak International Hill Climb record last year. It has followed up this year by setting a new electric lap record on the Nurburgring, and a new outright record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. To highlight the car and the forthcoming ID range in China, the world’s biggest electric vehicle market, Volkswagen’s motorsport division will tackle the 6.8-mile Tongtian Avenue road, which runs up Tianmen Mountain near the city of Zhangjiajie, around 930 miles south-west of Beijing. The ID R tacked Goodwood in a grey colour scheme, representing VW’s initial official ID colour scheme. It then sported a blue livery for the Nurburgring and Goodwood, reflecting its links to Volkswagen’s hot R division. Red has been chosen because it is a lucky colour in China. The Tianmen Shan Big Gate Road, which is currently open only to buses, rises from 650ft to 4265ft above sea level, leading to Tianmen Cave at the top of the mountain. Because the road has never been used for competition before, there’s no record time for the ID R to break. Volkswagen will therefore stage an online gaming competition to allow participants to set a ‘virtual’ record, with the fastest time becoming the time for driver Romain Dumas to beat in September. Volkswagen is also hoping that other firms will use the newly established course for record bids in the future. Stephan Wollenstein, VW’s China boss, said he hoped the record attempt would “make Tianmen the place to develop electric cars, in order to achieve new dimensions.” Pikes Peak specialist Dumas believes a lack of knowledge will make this a different challenge. “So far, I only know the road from photos and a few videos,” he said. “The route is very winding, extremely narrow in places, and very uneven.” The ID R is powered by two electric motors, giving it a 0-62mph time of 2.25sec. Dumas also drove the car at last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. China is Volkswagen’s biggest market, with the firm operating several joint ventures in the country. It’s gearing up to launch the production version of the first ID model based on its MEB platform and is developing several specifically intended for the Chinese
Origin: Volkswagen ID R gains new look for Chinese record bid
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