News Roundup: Green Party leader parades in Viper, Hertz customers get arrested for renting and more

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May takes part in the 121st annual Victoria Day Parade in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, May 20, 2019.Chad Hipolito / Canadian Press Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam. Here’s what you missed while you were away. Green Party leader takes a parade lap in Dodge Viper, hears about it from Twitter Dodge Viper RT/10 Concept. Not a green car. FCA Green Party leader Elizabeth May is catching some flack for the car she recently appeared in during the Victoria Day Parade on Vancouver Island. Even though she was just “riding where parade organizers asked (her) to,” she should’ve known going anywhere in a 1994 Dodge Viper could lead to some unfavourable headlines. The first-gen Dodge Viper RT/10 uses an 8.0-litre V10 to make 400 horsepower and (usually) single-digit-MPG fuel economy—not exactly a green vehicle. They did drive with the top down while it was raining, though, so she gets a few cool points for that. Two dead buffalo, a totalled Camaro and no driver Drivers in the Northwest Territories had a weird morning last week when they came upon a car accident involving two dead bison, a crumpled Camaro with New Jersey plates and – here’s the creepy part – no driver in sight. A man driving the red Camaro with tinted windows and black American air force-inspired roundel decals on the side was seen gassing up at a nearby station the night before, and was warned to watch out for buffalo on the road. Police have yet to identify the driver and report that nobody was taken to hospital following the incident. Hertz reports rented vehicles as stolen and gets customers arrested In this May 9, 2011 file photo, customers wait in line at a Hertz rental car counter at San Jose International Airport in San Jose, Calif. Paul Sakuma, File / AP Photo Hertz has apparently been surprising some of its renters by incorrectly marking their vehicles as stolen and sicking the police after them. For some customers it’s just confusing, resulting in a slightly inconvenient and probably comical conversation with police. But for others it’s more than an inconvenience, landing some in the back seat of cop cars or even behind bars while the “glitch” is recognized. And it appears as though this type of thing happens somewhat regularly, with over thirty similar cases in the U.S. having been reported. Battle of the midsize pickup: 2019 Ford Ranger vs. GMC Canyon vs. Toyota Tacoma 2019 Ford Ranger vs. GMC Canyon vs. Toyota Tacoma Derek McNaughton / Driving How much truck is enough truck? For many, a midsize option like the 2019 Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma and GMC Canyon will be plenty of pickup. But which of the three stalwart North American trucks is best? The Canyon has the most power, the Ranger the best fuel economy and the Tacoma the best off-road capabilities, for starters, but after all the other pros and cons were weighed, our experts both chose the same winner. Read on to find out which it is. Couples’ ‘baby’ pics with Eaton turbo win the Internet A lot of people will claim their car is their baby, but few will go as far as this Utah couple who orchestrated a full-on “new arrival” photo shoot with their Eaton supercharger to prove it. “We would love to welcome this Supercharger into our household,” the proud father posted to Facebook alongside the gallery of images featuring the parents fawning over the piece of machinery. “It is going to be whining a lot but can’t wait for all of the fun!” The schtick was an elaborate way for the man – a photographer and owner of a 2007 Ford Mustang GT into which the blower will be set – to get back at his mom, who’d been bugging him for grandkids. Wonder if she’ll still want to babysit Man gets rear ended, reacts like a hero A classic Plymouth involved in a rear-end collision in Saskatchewan, caused by the 69-year-old driver’s collapse. Wayne Duquesne / CBC Saskatoon Getting into an accident is rarely a good thing, but for one Saskatchewan driver, rear-ending a couple in his 60’s Plymouth may very well have saved his life. And kudos to the driver of the vehicle that was struck, a former lifeguard named Wayne Duquesne, who noticed the man was slumped over the wheel, likely having suffered a heart attack, and reacted quickly to summon help and perform CPR. Take the poll in the link above and tell us how you’d react in this scenario. Ram recalls 63,000 trucks for tailgates that could fall open in traffic 2017 Ram 1500 FCA Over 63,000 Ram trucks in Canada and 410,000 in the U.S. are being called back by the brand due to a potential fault in the tailgate’s power-locking mechanism that could see tailgates popping open on the road. Only 1500, 2500 and 3500 trim-level trucks fitted with 8-foot cargo beds and the power-locking option are impacted, and of those, only the model
Origin: News Roundup: Green Party leader parades in Viper, Hertz customers get arrested for renting and more

News Roundup: Elon hires sheep-tweet guy, VW imports an SUV and more

Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam. Here’s what you missed while you were away. Elon Musk has hired that dude from the sheep Tweets The photo of the absolute unit shared on the museum’s Twitter page that started the exchange with Elon Musk. The MERL via Twitter Remember recently when Elon Musk traded Tweets including sheep photos and gifs with the Museum of English Rural Life in Berkshire, U.K.? Yeah, that happened. Musk was so impressed with the museum’s social media manager’s humorous social media management, that he’s hired the guy to work for Tesla. So if you want a job with Tesla, just send your application in Tweet form to @elonmusk, apparently. Volkswagen is bringing a new SUV, the Tarek, to North America Volkswagen is expanding its SUV offerings in North and South America with the addition of a compact SUV that’s already on roads elsewhere. It’s called the Tharu in China, but when it reaches Western shores it will be known as the Tarek, this according to details revealed by Volkswagen of Argentina. The small SUV will fit in beneath the Tiguan in Volkswagen’s SUV lineup. VW hasn’t revealed any of their other cards, including how similar the Tharu and Tarek will be in appearance and performance, but don’t worry, we’re staying tuned for you. Lowered VW owner says his Irish town’s speed bumps are ‘discrimination’ Christopher Fitzgibbon and his lowered VW Passat Michael Cowhey / SWNS via the Daily Mail But first, a poem: There once was a lad with a car that he lowered just a little too far so when it smashed a speed bump and he felt like a chump, he cried “I’m not paying, you are!” A 23-year-old man from Limerick, Ireland, who dished out $4,000 to have his Volkswagen Passat lowered down to four inches off the ground, and then damaged it to the tune of $3,400 by driving it over the speed bumps in town, is claiming the city has “discriminated” against him and should be footing the bill. “I feel discriminated against because I’m driving a modified car – it’s lowered, so it’s four inches off the road – and I’m being denied my right to drive on these roads,” he told the Daily Mail. Limerick city responded by pointing out that the speed bumps are in fact less than 75 mm or three inches tall. All seven generations of the Chevrolet Corvette, ranked They were all great in their own way, but which was the best? Handout / GM In anticipation of the arrival of the C8, we’ve organized all seven gens of the Corvette from best to worst. Driving’s Vette-expert Clayton Seams puts the C5 generation (1997-2005) at the very bottom of the pile for having “the absolute worst interior of any Corvette” among other less redeemable qualities. Up in second place, he’s got the C3 (1968-1982), an undeniable ’70s sex symbol driven by the likes of the Apollo astronauts and Jimi Hendrix. Which Corvette takes the title of best of all time so far? Read on to find out. Couple out $14,500 after accidentally purchasing stolen vehicle that was covered by Manitoba Public Insurance 2015 Ford Explorer Limited Graeme Fletcher / Driving A couple that purchased a 2015 Ford Explorer from an independent seller, had it insured by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), and then drove it home, got an unpleasant surprise when police later showed up to seize the vehicle. The SUV was one of 13 vehicles taken from a Winnipeg used car dealership in what appears to be an inside job involving a former sales manager. The reason the Explorer didn’t raise red flags at the insurance desk is because the heist hadn’t been uncovered or reported to the police yet. For the couple, it unfortunately means they’re out $14,000 and a car. MPI says the funds can only be recuperated from the seller of the vehicle. Which is the superior luxury sport-ute, the 2019 BMW X5 or the 2019 Porsche Cayenne? 2019 Porsche Cayenne S vs. 2019 BMW X5 xDrive50i Nick Tragianis / Driving This week, our highly opinionated in-house experts Nick Tragianis and Brian Harper debate the merits and faults of the BMW X5 xDrive 50i and the Porsche Cayenne S with the aim of determining which is the better buy. On the one hand, the Cayenne is a more capable towing rig, and its back seat is roomier. On the other hand, the X5’s interior is utterly lavish, especially with the Premium Excellence package (yes, it’s really called that) providing features like cooled and massaging seats, leather everything and a crystal shift lever. Both SUVs have been refreshed for 2019, and both are plenty bling-y, but one is $20,000 cheaper. Canadians choose manual transmissions more often than Americans do There’s been a lot of news about the manual transmission lately. Brands are releasing their uptake numbers, purists are sobbing for the state of humanity, and we auto journalist are comparing any way we can. For
Origin: News Roundup: Elon hires sheep-tweet guy, VW imports an SUV and more

Autocar confidential: five-digit EV sales still a way off for Jaguar, Seat finds a more premium audience and more

This week’s selection of snippets from the automotive sphere brings news of Seat’s continuing rise towards premium status, a bright future for McLaren and Nissan’s worries that governments could be doing more for autonomy. London longing for electric Jaguars UK sales of the Jaguar I-Pace will double to around 3000 units in the next 12 months, according to UK boss Rawdon Glover, though he predicted that five-digit sales of the EV would be at least five years away. More than 40% of I-Pace sales are within the M25. Seat not so simple any more The Seat Tarraco and stand-alone Cupra brand are pushing buyers into higher, hitherto unseen price points for the firm, much to boss Luca de Meo’s delight. “We’ve been on a journey, first to get people to consider our cars for more than £20,000 and now more than £30,000. It is working. There was no future in selling our cars for 15% less than similar ones,” he says. McLaren gives customers what they want McLaren’s Special Operations department has tripled its business in the past two years, and CEO Mike Flewitt sees no reason why that trajectory won’t continue. “We’re seeing it again with Speedtail that people who buy exclusive cars want to make them individual,” he said. “Our bespoke content offering is hitting new heights.” Governments make autonomy a no-go? Peter Bedrosian, Nissan Europe’s product planning chief, says it’s government legislation, and not technology, that is slowing the advancement of autonomous vehicles. “It’s not the know-how holding us back – a lot of policy needs to change before we introduce level-three autonomy and above,” he said. “It requires a big change in legislation and infrastructure, because it profoundly changes cars. We’ll be ready for level three by 2019 and, depending on policies, 2020 for level four and above.”
Origin: Autocar confidential: five-digit EV sales still a way off for Jaguar, Seat finds a more premium audience and more

This Bentley book costs more than an actual Bentley

Bentley is celebrating its 100th birthday, and to commemorate its long and storied history, they’ve written the whole thing down—yes, the British luxury marque’s just released a big book of stories about how it got where it is today, beginning with its inception in 1919. The Bentley Centenary Book is 800 pages and encompasses nine chapters about the famous brand. The foreword is by Ralph Lauren, while the chapters touch on subjects such as performance, design, craftsmanship, and its customers. The book also weighs some 30 kilograms and spans almost a metre across, when opened. Three versions of the book will be printed. The first is a basic’ edition which costs £3,000 pounds (about $5,100) and is limited to just 500 copies. The exterior is bound in the same leather used on Bentley vehicles in whatever colour you like, and sports a Bentley badge. Only 100 copies of the Mulliner version will be printed, at a cost of £12,500 each, or approximately $21,400. That extra cash gets you 10 portraits measuring 20-by-24-inches, each featuring an iconic Bentley, as well as 56 watercolour paintings. You also get a section of the front-left tire from the 2003 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning Bentley Speed 8, and a chance to have your car – provided it’s a Bentley – photographed and featured on special pages. The big boy is the Centenary Edition, which features 100 carats of diamonds and costs a whopping £200,000. That’s about $340,000, or almost $10,000 per kilogram. Only seven of the centenary edition will be printed, one for each continent. We’re confident if all seven owners ever get together, they will probably conjure W. O. Bentley’s ghost, who will tell them what the next 100 years will
Origin: This Bentley book costs more than an actual Bentley

Autocar confidential: Skoda takes the high road, Ferrari keeps it traditional and more

Ferrari, Skoda and Toyota lead the snippets from our automotive newsgatherers this week, with electrification being high on the agenda for all involved. Maranel-ectrification is a stretch Don’t count on seeing an all-electric Ferrari for a long time yet. Michael Leiters, Ferrari technical chief, said there are two big issues with the tech: sound and weight. “It’s not fitting right now for a Ferrari,” he said. “We’re studying, yes, to learn better but there is no decision yet.” The first Ferrari hybrids will arrive later this year. Three’s the magic number Skoda is content to keep its UK line-up of SUVs to three over the coming years, according to boss Bernhard Maier. Despite some rivals expanding their range further, Maier said: “I think we have everything our competitors do. What are we missing? We don’t always have to bring the same kind of cars. Our line-up is profitable and successful, and customer feedback is that our vehicles are spot on.” Toyota and Lexus make a power play Toyota and its luxury marque, Lexus, will outline their electrification plans at this year’s Tokyo motor show in October. Until now, the brands’ focus has been on hybrids but announcements are expected at the show about electric cars and plug-in hybrids. The brands’ models, which are built on a new global architecture, can be adapted to different powertrains with relative ease. Courting controversy The judge responsible for many of the Dieselgate lawsuits at a regional court in Stuttgart, Germany, has been replaced due to suspected bias at the request of Volkswagen. The judge’s wife is the owner of a VW diesel car affected by the emissions scandal and has sued the German car maker in a district
Origin: Autocar confidential: Skoda takes the high road, Ferrari keeps it traditional and more

Android Auto redesigned to be more user-friendly

Google is rolling out its first major update for Android Auto since the app was introduced five years ago. The first and most noticeable change is the darker colour palette, which makes it easier to look at during nighttime and keeps it from being too distracting while driving. As soon as you get into your car, all you have to do is start the vehicle and Android Auto will remember the media you were listening to, and immediately return to the spot you left off. Hey, Google, voice commands can now be used for navigation and other functions. The redesigned bar along the bottom of the screen can also be customized to view your next direction. Vehicles with wider screens will also be able to take advantage of more controls, including music playback and directions. More information will also be available on the same screen; for example, turn-by-turn directions and incoming calls can be viewed without changing screens. Google wants it to be easier to accomplish more by using fewer taps, and we think this is a great design ethos. Navigate over to the new notification centre and you’ll find that your calls and messages have been grouped together to bring you the most up-to-date information available. Other subtle changes include the fonts, and the new round icons (they used to be square). Android Auto has expanded to be available on more than 500 vehicles from 50 different brands, and Google is committed to introducing it on as many as they can. The update will hit vehicles in the
Origin: Android Auto redesigned to be more user-friendly

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

8 ways to make your car feel instantly more luxurious

When it comes to protecting your cars paint, there are more than a few things you can do.Supplied / iStock.com via Getty Images Whether your daily driver deteriorated to the point where strangers raise an eyebrow when you cruise by, or you just want to make a few improvements for your own personal satisfaction, there are plenty of possibilities to class up your ride. Sure, some cost more than others, but these eight add-ons are sure to make your car feel instantly more luxurious. Leather steering wheel cover Your hands are literally wrapped around this thing every time you drive, so why settle for the stock option your car came with? The guys at West Coast Customs make a DIY version look easy, assuming you have an industrial sewing machine in your garage. If not, there are plenty of options on Amazon that’ll do the trick. Upgrade your floor mats Floor mats get filthy, and depending on wear and tear, will need to be replaced once in a while, regardless of how religious you are about caring for them. They’re a cheap update and will improve the overall aesthetic, plus give you that rubbery new car smell you can’t help but love. Or switch up your carpet entirely It’s the pricier option, but gutting your interior carpet and replacing it with entirely new material will have a big impact. There are companies that specialize in this, and you can order exact-fit carpeting online. Then, simply decide to install the carpet yourself or have an expert do it. Change up the wheels Forrest Gump’s mother knew how important people’s shoes are. Cars are the same — you can tell a lot about a driver based on the type of wheels and tires on their vehicle. Upgrading the pair can earn you a smoother ride (or rougher, if you go much larger), but it also instantly changes the look. You don’t need to go super flashy with chrome, spinning parts, or wrap them in expensive performance tires, but upgrading wheels — particularly if your car comes with steel wheels and hubcaps — is an effective way to change the aesthetic. Add a collision avoidance system So your vehicle is a bit, shall we say, mature and lacking certain modern features. Depending on the aftermarket upgrade kits, you can install safety features like a back-up camera, a blind spot monitor, or a collision-warning system without having to buy an entirely new vehicle. Modern technology without the modern price tag. Replace your shocks and struts Some manufacturers suggest replacing them every 80,000 kilometres, but really, it depends on what and how you drive. If your shocks and struts have deteriorated over time, and it’s been years since you’ve done anything about them, you might not even realize how much of the road you’re feeling when you drive. Consider new seats Look, sitting behind the wheel shouldn’t feel like you’re in a La-Z-Boy recliner, but it also shouldn’t feel like you’re strapped onto a seat on a budget Ryanair flight. Upgrading your entire seats is another switch that’ll cost you, but it’s a high-end upgrade you’ll literally feel every time you sit down. If your seats are still in decent shape, consider swapping the material from fabric to leather. Give it a wax Spring has sprung, which means you’ll be able to spend some quality time giving your machine some TLC. A fresh coat of wax will protect the paint and make it shine, plus anybody can do it at home. Just make sure you do it
Origin: 8 ways to make your car feel instantly more luxurious

Hyundai Ioniq updated with more EV range and new kit

Hyundai has unveiled a refreshed version of its Ioniq family hatchback with a number of performance, technological and styling updates across the range. The Toyota Prius rival now offers 182 miles of WLTP-certified range in fully electric form, marking a 36% improvement over the range of the outgoing 28kWh model. It’s still around 100 miles less than the currently sold-out Kona Electric, however. The Ioniq Electric’s 38.3kWh battery pack is mated to an electric motor producing 134bhp and 218lb ft of torque, and is fitted with a new 7.2kW onboard charger compatible with Type 2 AC charging points. Hyundai claims the facelifted EV can be charged to 80% capacity in as little as 54 minutes as a result. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain variants are unchanged, but the latter now has a WLTP target electric range of 32 miles. Hyundai has also given the new Ioniq its latest ‘Blue Link’ connectivity software, which enables remote starting, locking, battery status checks and climate control via an associated smartphone app. Further technological upgrades include the addition of eCall, an automated emergency assistance programme, and a free five-year subscription to live traffic monitoring facilities built into the satellite navigation system. Visually, the new Ioniq is marked out from its predecessor by a redesigned front fascia (on both hybrid and electric models), revised front and rear bumpers and reshaped front and rear light clusters. Alongside a larger 10.25in touchscreen, changes to the interior include redesigned temperature controls, blue backlighting throughout and a range of new colour schemes for the optional leather
Origin: Hyundai Ioniq updated with more EV range and new kit

Polestar reveals more details about its upcoming 2 EV

2020 Polestar 2Supplied / Polestar Gradually — very gradually a cynic might say — we’re getting a handle on this whole Polestar project. In San Francisco, not far from the Silicon Valley startups that seem to influence so much of Polestar’s modus operandi, the Swedish/Chinese upstart peeled away yet another layer of the onion that is its first all-electric car, the Polestar 2. What this latest layer revealed is an interior worthy of its German — and, not forgetting Tesla, its American — competition, a little more detail on the pricing/range equation and a whole bunch on how Polestar plans on flogging its emissions-reduced performance future. First and foremost, Polestar in Canada will, no surprise here, focus its attention on the sophisticated hubs of Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto, places where its new sales language — one doesn’t go to a dealer anymore, you visit a space and you certainly don’t “option” your car, you “curate” it — will find a welcome home. Initial “Launch” cars will cost $69,000 and will include everything but the Sport Package (20-inch tires and Ohlins suspension) and leather seats (the standard seat coverings are vegan, by the way). That’s for the 78 kilowatt-hour version that boast a 275-mile EPA-assured range and 500 kilometres EU rated range (if you’re wondering why those numbers don’t convert, it’s because, like all continental ratings, their EV testing standards are a little more, uhm, liberal). Rumours of a shorter-range, possibly 40 kWh, version are exactly that; rumour. China will be getting an entry-level version but the cheapest 2 we Nord Americanos will see will be a stripped 78-kWh version that will undercut the launch version by some 10 grand. It will also only arrive after the “Launch” version, which is due in about a year from now. One last interesting little tidbit: At least initially, the 2 will be available for traditional purchase or lease as well as the “subscription” basis that the company is pushing so hard. The big news from this latest (of what is sure to be many) reveal was a quick peek at Google’s new embedded — as opposed to projected, i.e. from your phone — in-car infotainment system. Called Android Automotive — yes, I easily confused it with Android Auto too — it is an even more seamless integration of the Google user interface into the touchscreen, which, unsurprisingly, looks an awful lot like Volvo’s 11-inch portrait-oriented screen. We’ll be covering its operation in tomorrow’s Motor Mouth, but we’ll leave you with this little tidbit. The Polestar 2 doesn’t require a key. You don’t even have to push a button to start it. Your phone is the key and a weight sensor in the driver’s seat is the electric motor’s on/off switch. Tres
Origin: Polestar reveals more details about its upcoming 2 EV