Jeff Griffiths with the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid in Calgary.Brendan Miller/Postmedia Toyotas 2020 Corolla is all new from top to bottom and front to back. Now in its 12th generation, the Corolla platform first launched way back in 1966. Since then, the car has been a perennial best-seller for Toyota with more than 45 million examples sold worldwide.While overall design of the compact sedan has been revised and driving dynamics have been improved thanks to Toyotas New Global Architecture (TNGA) underpinnings, the big news for 2020 is the fact that for the first time ever Toyota is offering the Corolla as a hybrid. Theyve taken the Hybrid Synergy Drive system from the Prius and placed it in the Corolla to give the model maximum fuel economy.So, does it live up to its miserly expectations?Calgary driver Jeff Griffiths says he spent $10.26 on gasoline for the week he spent driving the compact sedan. Which is, frankly, quite amazing, he explains of the money invested to add 325 kilometres to the odometer. In the Corolla Hybrid, a 1.8-litre four-cylinder internal combustion engine is paired with two motor/generators. Combined output of all three is 121 horsepower, and that power is put to the front wheels and ultimately to the road through a continuously variable transmission. Electrical power is stored in a nickel-metal hydride battery that lives under the rear seat and takes up very little real estate. Plus, the batterys location lowers the Corolla Hybrids centre of gravity, something the automaker claims helps to improve overall agility.Ive driven a Toyota before, Griffiths says, adding, Back in the Seventies, I had a Land Cruiser and it was indestructible. My opinion of the company is theyre one of the best automakers on the planet theyre all about quality.While certainly aware of the nameplate, Griffiths had never before driven a Corolla. Of his first impression of the 2020 Corolla Hybrid, he says the car was bigger than hed expected it would be.He adds, One of the most striking things about the car is the bucket nose on the front end, it certainly makes the car noticeable.Getting into the drivers seat, Griffiths was immediately impressed by the fit and finish. It feels like they cared when they put it together. Everythings soft that needs to be soft and there are no hard edges sticking out anywhere its very refined looking.With the door closed, it took Griffiths only a few moments to make a couple of small adjustments to the seat and mirrors. Ergonomically, he says, the car fit him nicely and the switchgear was all where hed expected it to be.Basically, I was just able to get in the car and drive, and thats a good thing in my opinion, he says. I didnt need a course to drive it, but it does take a few minutes to learn the various menus in the touchscreen and what they all do. When he was ready to roll, Griffiths hit the start button.And, nothing happened, he chuckles. The engine doesnt start, but everything lights up and the electronics take over. Thats a bit of a different feeling because thats all new to me Id never driven a hybrid or electric vehicle before.You hit the accelerator pedal and off you go. With very little road noise and no engine noise you at first feel like youre floating along.When you demand more power, the gas engine kicks in when it needs to. Its got all kinds of poop when you get the electric motors and the gasoline engine going, itll really get up and dance.For the most part, Griffiths kept the Corolla in the city. He commuted and ran errands, but he did get out on a country road to judge how well it would handle some curves.Its a confident, sure-footed car, he says. And the brakes were very efficient. When you lift off the throttle, thanks to the regenerative braking system, the car felt like it was being slowed by engine braking.While Griffiths says he experimented driving in different modes, including Eco and Sport, he couldnt feel too much difference, and wondered what part of the driving dynamic might have changed.He says the trunk has plenty of room and he didnt have any difficulty lifting objects in or out of the cargo space. The rear seat offers a 60/40 folding back and that further increases carrying capacity.His two adult sons, 5-feet 8-inches and 6-feet tall, each found room in the back seat and thought it comfortable for a short ride.The Corolla Hybrid, he thinks, would best suit someone using the car to commute on a daily basis or to have as a second vehicle. It was easy to drive, and offered worry free, fuss free, economical convenience.While I personally might not have found the car that exciting to drive, he says, It is really, really good at what it does. DRIVER’S JOURNALDay OnePicked up the car first thing in the morning. First impression: quiet. On the drive into downtown Calgary it was difficult to tell if the engine was running. Very smooth. Driving home in the evening; feels isolated theres very little feedback to the driver. It
Origin: Reader Review: 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Review:
Uber reports 3,000 sexual assault claims last year in its safety review
In this March 15, 2017 file photo, a sign marks a pick-up point for the Uber car service at LaGuardia Airport in New York.Seth Wenig / Associated Press Uber found more than 3,000 allegations of sexual assaults involving drivers or passengers on its platform in the U.S. last year, part of an extensive and long-awaited review in response to public safety concerns.The ride-hailing company released an 84-page safety report Thursday, seeking to quantify the misconduct and deaths that occur on its system and argue that its service is safer than alternatives.U.S. customers took about 1.3 billion trips last year, Uber said. About 50 people have died in Uber collisions annually for the past two years, at a rate about half the national average for automotive fatalities, according to the company. Nine people were killed in physical assaults last year, Uber said.Uber drivers reported nearly as many allegations of sexual assault as passengers, who made 56 per cent of the claims. There is little comparable data on assaults in taxis or other transportation systems, and experts have said the attacks are widely under-reported. The assault claims reported to Uber ranged from unwanted kissing to forcible penetration. Uber is very much a reflection of society, said Tony West, Ubers chief legal officer who helped spearhead the two-year research effort. The sad, unfortunate fact is that sexual violence is more prevalent in our society than people think. People dont like to talk about this issue.Uber had committed more than a year ago to release a safety study, a promise Lyft Inc. made soon after. Lyft, the second-biggest ride-hailing provider in the U.S., has yet to publish a report. On Thursday, Uber said it would regularly share data with Lyft and other companies about drivers accused of serious safety lapses and continue publishing safety reports every two years.Uber has faced a steady stream of complaints in court across the country over driver misconduct, and Lyft has recently seen an explosion in legal claims by passengers. Just in California, at least 52 riders have sued Lyft this year over allegations they were assaulted or harassed by their drivers, according to filings reviewed by Bloomberg.Uber has faced similar complaints in countries beyond the U.S. The company was sued in 2017 by a woman who alleged top executives violated her privacy after one of its drivers in India allegedly raped her.Regulators in London cited uncertainty about Ubers ability to ensure the well-being of its passengers as a reason they revoked the companys license to operate there last week. Uber will be able to continue operating in the U.K. capital as it appeals the decision. Dara Khosrowshahi, the chief executive officer, said at an event earlier this week that a precursor to trust is transparency.According to the study, the proportion of assaults to total trips decreased by 16 per cent last year as Uber implemented new safety tools, such as contacting drivers and customers when the system identifies unusual activity, as well as adding a button to dial 9-1-1 from the app. I do think Uber is one of the safest ways to get from point A to point B, said West.Uber disclosed five categories of sexual assault allegations. In 2018, Uber received 1,560 reports of non-consensual touching of a sexual body part, 594 reports of non-consensual kissing of a non-sexual body part, 376 reports of non-consensual kissing of a sexual body part, 280 reports of attempted non-consensual sexual penetration and 235 reports of non-consensual sexual penetration.The extent of sexual misconduct, while staggering, isnt unique to Uber, said Ebony Tucker, executive director at Raliance, an advocacy and consulting firm focused on preventing sexual violence. Ubers findings didnt surprise any of us, she said. Sexual assault is pervasive. Its everywhere.Counting assaults is a complicated exercise. Only about a third of claims the company received about penetration without consent were reported to the police, Uber estimated. In about a quarter of cases, Uber said its team didnt successfully communicate with the victim after the initial report. Women reported 89 per cent of the rape allegations, the company said.Uber opted not to disclose many other troubling forms of sexual misconduct that it had previously identified as possible reporting categories. For instance, the company didnt say how many times drivers and riders made inappropriate comments to one another, nor did it disclose incidents of indecent
Origin: Uber reports 3,000 sexual assault claims last year in its safety review
Car Review: 2020 Jaguar F-Type Coupe
2020 Jaguar F-TypeBrian Harper / Driving OVERVIEW All-wheel-drive, two-seat sports coupe PROSStunning looks, smooth driving, sounds terrific CONSNo more manual transmission, poor visibility VALUE FOR MONEYFair WHAT TO CHANGE?Nothing HOW TO SPEC IT?As is but without the Checkered Flag package, power tailgate or all-wheel drive It was at the 2006 Concorso dEleganza where I saw the car a diminutive two-seat hardtop coupe called the Cisitalia 202, one of the first new sports cars to come out of post-Second World War Italy. Initially, I gave it a quick glance on my way to look at bigger, fancier, more exclusive automobiles dotting the lawn of the Villa dEste on the outskirts of Como. But something drew me back to the Pininfarina-designed 202 and I spent the next half-hour walking around it, studying the handbuilt coachwork from every angle before determining, in my mind, that the cars proportions were, in a single word, perfection. That one of the 170 or so Cisitalia 202s built has been on permanent display at New York’s Museum of Modern Art since 1951 has further bolstered this belief.The 202 was a progenitor of the coupe-bodied sports car, and since then, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times the now iconic silhouette has left such a profound impression, the last being at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show when Jaguar debuted the F-Type Coupe. A product of then-director of design Ian Callums fertile mind his extensive portfolio includes the curvaceous Aston Martin Vanquish and DB9 the F-Type was, and still is, the most gorgeous sports car he has ever penned, far more than a mere hardtop version of the F-Type Convertible that had predated it.Sensuous, with pardon the obvious clich a jungle cat stealth and perfectly integrated lines that accentuate not only speed and power, but elegance, the car still draws admiring glances from passersby, quite the accomplishment for an aging machine in this increasingly jaded world.With its looks, I could (almost) forgive the F-Type if it drove like a Massey-Ferguson tractor, which fortunately, it doesnt. The testers supercharged 3.0-litre V6 throws out a solid 380 horsepower, plenty enough to move the 1,674-kilogram coupe along at a quick clip zero to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds is Jaguars claim.In addition to being offered with a milder 340-horsepower version of the supercharged six, the F-Type can also enhance its pace with a supercharged 5.0L V8, available with as much as 575 horsepower. Conversely, if a more sedate boulevardier appeals to you, the base model comes with a 2.0-litre turbo-four with 296 horsepower. Finally, though rear-wheel drive is the normal state of affairs, all-wheel drive is optional on V6 and standard on V8 models, this tester being so fitted.As if supermodel beauty and a decent amount of scoot werent enough, the F-Type announces its presence with an aural alert from its four inboard-mounted tailpipes, starting with a somewhat obnoxious fart on startup. Then theres the cars active sports exhaust; by pressing the console-mounted override button, electronically controlled bypass valves in the exhaust open and alter exhaust gas routing into a freer-flowing path to reduce backpressure and enhance sound quality. The result is a thundering blat under hard acceleration especially in Dynamic mode and, on downshifts via the eight-speed automatics paddle shifters (the manual has since been discontinued), a snarling, crackling stanza of hooliganism that startles all those within earshot. Sophomoric? Yes, but it still gives me the giggles. Despite the cars performance bona fides, the F-Types ride and handling is neither extreme nor unpleasant. Its not as sharp or precise as a Porsche 911; theres a little more comfort built in to the suspension so as not to rattle your teeth when the 20-inch Pirelli P-Zero tires roll over a tar strip. In fact, the car proved quite livable during a 1,100 kilometre-long summer road trip. My wifes sole complaint was that the seat back did not recline enough for her to properly nap while I drove.This particular 2020 model-year tester bears the unwieldy name of F-Type Coupe P380 AWD Checkered Flag Limited Edition $110,600 as-tested the latter half of this designation denoting a cosmetic package adding nothing to the cars performance capabilities. According to Jaguar, Checkered Flag models celebrate the automakers rich sports car heritage dating back to the 1948 XK 120. It does so by featuring a range of subtle visual enhancements to the exterior and to the driver-focused cabin.Externally, the Checkered Flag edition adds extended side sills, plus exclusive twin-spoke 20-inch wheels and red brake calipers. Inside, highlights include a black contrast headliner and a luxurious Windsor leather interior featuring performance seats with embossed headrests, red seatbelts, contrast stitching throughout the cabin, dark brushed aluminum centre console trim, and a steering wheel
Origin: Car Review: 2020 Jaguar F-Type Coupe
Car Review: 2020 Kia Soul
2020 Kia SoulBrian Harper / Driving OVERVIEW Front-wheel-drive, subcompact hatchback PROSVery well contented, surprisingly roomy, distinctive CONSOptional AWD would help sales, fuel economy just OK, mood lighting is a thing? VALUE FOR MONEYGood WHAT TO CHANGE?Bring back the turbo 1.6L and DCT HOW TO SPEC IT?EX Limited As far as practical transportation goes, Kias quirky Soul has not only made it to its third generation thereby surviving the box-on-wheels fad that resulted in mobile Tupperware containers such as the Honda Element, Nissan Cube, and Scion xB it has lost little of its previous two predecessors fun and funky personalities.However, Kia is continuing to focus too much on the youth market with the new 2020 model, while discounting the fact the proclaimed urban runabout actually appeals to a fairly broad cross-section of buyers. Though its a sample size of just one family, I can honestly say my millennial-age daughter wouldnt give the squared-off Soul a second look she absolutely despised the Elements styling while wife and I love the subcompacts sightlines and its nimbleness in traffic.Yet, if you buy into the companys description of the redesigned cabin, Kias proudest accomplishment with the front-wheel-drive hatchback would seem to be its close tie-in with music, what the company says is an overarching theme for Soul since its inception. So, drawing inspiration from the emotional visualization of sound, the Souls interior space is adorned with shapes and textures that reflect acoustic inspired elements to create a full sensory experience.Maybe youre more conversant in corporate hyperbole than I am, but that description just makes me go, Huh? Maybe it has something to do with the cars available sound mood lighting, which emits soft light from the centre door panels, complete with the ability to synchronize to the beat of the music playing through the audio system. Yes, you too can turn your car into a mobile jukebox, tailoring the interior ambiance according to a variety of selectable moods, including Hey! Yo!, Party Time, Traveling, Romance, Midnight City, and Caf. If Im showing my age by saying big whoop, then Im good with that. Look, the cabin, especially the top-drawer GT-Line, is extremely well contented, but there is also a lot of black plastic of varying hardness throughout not a complete surprise, considering the Soul starts at a very affordable $21,195, topping out at a little less than $30K as-tested. But Id happily forego the rainbow of customizable lighting which, thankfully, can be turned off for a cheerier interior shade than black. Years ago, Kia offered something called the Retro trim level on what was then the Soul 4U with the 2.0-litre engine. Its key feature was tartan-like door and seat trim that went with the two-tone beige-on-black dash area. It was a refreshing alternative to dark monotony, one Id like to see return.Thats subjective, though. What isnt is the fact that Kia Canada dropped the 1.6-litre turbo-four from the Souls powertrain lineup its still offered in the U.S. leaving only the yeoman 2.0-litre inline-four, with 147 horsepower, for propulsion. Its not as though the turbo engines 201 horses turned the Soul into a track terror, but it and the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission it was bolted to certainly gave the runabout added jump when rolling through traffic. Thanks to the cars light weight, just 1,393 kilograms, the 2.0L is by no means stressed, and notably around town, has more than enough low-end zip to easily keep up with the cut-and-thrust of daily traffic.Still, the fun quotient of what is a playful little rig has been diminished by the one engine/transmission pairing. As for the Souls in-house-built intelligent variable transmission otherwise known as a CVT it goes about its business unobtrusively and efficiently, with a feel much like that of a conventional automatic. Fuel economy is good overall, though not particularly outstanding for a small car. I averaged 8.7 L/100 kilometres for the week, with about a 50/50 mix of city and highway commuting.Despite this third-generation version being all new, only the most ardent fans of the Kia brand are likely to pick out the revisions to the Souls boxy shape I actually parked next to an older model to get a sense of the changes. The exterior highlights include a larger grille with a two-tone treatment, wraparound boomerang-shaped taillights, slimmer daytime running lights, and reworked front fenders and C-pillars, the latter designed to resemble airplane wings. A particular bold shade of red called Inferno and decently fat P235/45R18 rubber with a nice set of alloy rims accentuates the testers jaunty personality, offsetting its pragmatic nature. Said pragmatism, seen in the surprising amount of cargo space and passenger room offered given the Souls compact size, is accentuated for 2020 courtesy of a slight increase in the cars dimensions, notably
Origin: Car Review: 2020 Kia Soul
Reader Review: 2019 Ford Ranger Lariat Supercrew
Bob Corrigan with the 2019 Ford Ranger in Calgary.Al Charest / Postmedia Small trucks such as the original Ford Ranger, last sold in North America in 2011, are a distant memory as pickups continue to morph into oversize haulers. As such, the small and useful light-duty truck segment has languished.With a 2019 model-year truck, however, Ford has returned the Ranger nameplate to Canada and the U.S. Like its full-size brethren, the Ranger has grown in size.According to Bob Corrigan, thats not a bad thing. Corrigan recently drove a SuperCrew 2019 Ranger Lariat 44. Regarding the Rangers growth, he says buyers are simply looking for more room in a vehicle. I spent a lot of time driving smaller trucks in my younger days when I was delivering newspapers to paper boys, the Calgarian says. They were useful vehicles for the size.Corrigan also owned a 2007 Ford Ranger, one of the last generations of the truck that first launched in 1983 as a replacement vehicle for the Mazda-built Ford Courier. Originally sold with a. 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and four-speed standard transmission, the Ranger could also be had with a V6 powerplant. The truck quickly gained a faithful following and became a best-selling compact pickup for Ford.I bought my 2007 Ranger as a utility vehicle, but I only kept it for a year and a half before it transitioned into being my sons truck, Corrigan says. He drove it to university and used it as a work truck for his painting business.We just sold it this spring.According to a Ford media release, the automaker chose to return the Ranger name on a midsize truck because theres a new generation of midsize truck buyers seek(ing) more manoeuvrable, fuel-efficient pickups.Although absent since 2011 in Canada and the U.S., a Ford Ranger truck has been available in other global markets for years. Ford based their new North American version on the global platform but says theyve developed the Ranger specifically for our market.For example, while the North American Ranger does have its similarities to the global product, including styling cues and a high-strength steel backbone frame, the new truck is equipped with steel, frame-mounted front and rear bumpers the global Ranger lacks these.Power comes from a 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine and power is transmitted through a 10-speed automatic transmission. An available FX4 four-wheel drive package adds off-road tuned suspension components, all-terrain tires and frame-mounted steel bash plates and Dana Trac-Lok differentials. The truck can be had in two-wheel and four-wheel drive in SuperCab and SuperCrew cab configuration. Trims include the base XL, next level XLT and well-equipped Lariat. Pulling up to the 19 Ranger, equipped with the $3,000 Lariat package and a host of options including the FX4 off-road package for a total of $51,859 before taxes, Corrigans first thought was of the overall size.Its significantly bigger than the old Ranger, he says, and adds, But, given that, I think it will be a truck for people who have occasional use for such a vehicle without being in the full-size truck market.His tester was painted in Fords Hot Red Pepper metallic.Red might be the name, but its more of an orange and I think its a very attractive colour, Corrigan says. Overall, the Ranger has solid, clean looking lines, almost like a scaled-down F-150.Corrigan says its a step up to get into the cab, but one thats not awkward. Once in the leather-covered drivers seat, he adds that it took him little time to become comfortable and familiarize himself with the controls.Although I owned that older Ranger, Ive never been much of a Ford guy, Corrigan admits. But, with this 2019 Ranger, Im very impressed with how Ford has set up the controls and touchscreen system it was easy to set up and very intuitive, even better than our 2019 Toyota Camry.Fit and finish was rated as excellent, with the contrast stitching on the all-black interior receiving a favourable comment. The fitted floor mats, which were a $170 tray-style floor liner option from Ford, would protect the interior nicely in all kinds of conditions and Corrigan approved.Immediately after picking up the Ranger, Corrigan and his wife drove 300 kilometres to their vacation home in Fernie, B.C.Although this Ranger has the FX4 off-road package, in regular drive mode with the tires it had, it was very quiet Fords done a great job on the sound-deadening, he explains. You can talk and just enjoy the ride without a lot of noise, road or wind, from entering the cabin.Power supplied by the EcoBoost engine was rated as excellent.Driving down Highway 22, we had the opportunity to pass several times and I never had any concerns about pulling out and the 10-speed automatic never felt like it was hunting for gears, Corrigan says. I think Fords done a great job with these four-cylinder engines to get the power out of them.Plus, the Ranger is capable of towing a maximum 3,400 kilograms (7,500
Origin: Reader Review: 2019 Ford Ranger Lariat Supercrew
Car Review: 2020 BMW 750Li xDrive
2020 BMW 750Li xDrivePeter Bleakney OVERVIEW Big grill marks big upgrades for BMW’s flagship sedan PROSmagic cloud ride and isolation, effortless urge, tech-for-days CONSnot much cabin storage, “Hey BMW” not quite ready for prime time VALUE FOR MONEYaverage WHAT TO CHANGE?More steering feel, cushier front seats HOW TO SPEC IT?avoid the Cooling Box The world may be crazy about SUVs, but premium German automakers still place the flagship crown upon their full-size luxury sedans. Up here in this rarefied air, its all about power, prestige, pampering and cutting edge technologies. A lot has filtered down from these lofty four-doors over the decades. Mercedes-Benz introduced the world to ABS (anti-lock braking) in the 1978 W116, and then ESC (electronic stability control) in the 1995 S600. The Audi A8 was the first mass market sedan with an all-aluminum structure, and BMW pioneered the modern car/driver interface with its iDrive in the 2001 7 Series.Jump ahead nineteen years and we have the refreshed 6th-generation 2020 BMW 7 Series, here in $126,400 750Li xDrive guise and optioned to the tune of $155,800. It still has a version of iDrive, but unlike its ancestor, this 7s quilted Merino leather chairs (both front and back) will cool and massage your backside six ways from Sunday. It will tickle your ears with spectacular Bowers and Wilkins audio, drive hands-and-feet free for brief stretches, park itself, slice through the rural darkness with laser headlights, and, oh yes, pick up its skirts and scoot like a kerosened cat thanks to the updated 4.4L twin-turbo V8 that now makes 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, up 80 and 74 points respectively from last year. Isolation ChamberPerhaps most importantly, the 750Li xDrive wafts along in eerie silence not unlike a Rolls-Royce, which is no great surprise, as BMW owns Rolls and (shhh) this chassis underpins the current Ghost and Wraith. Helping in this regard with this tester is the optional Active Comfort Drive with Road Preview that uses GPS info and a stereo camera to predict upcoming road surfaces, and instructs the adaptive dampers, rear air springs and active roll stabilization to act accordingly. You dont so much drive on the road as over it, such is the sense of isolation. However, even in Sport mode, there is nary a hint of sport here, as the steering is Novocain numb and the chassis really has no appetite for anything other than gradual sweepers. Yes, it handles well and corners flat for such a big beast, but you wont be inspired to go there.You sure cant miss the 2020 7 Series cartoonishly engorged kidney grill (40 percent bigger, says BMW), and you cant argue it doesnt give the sedan some serious presence that it previously lacked. Other mid-cycle tweaks include recontoured hood, body panels, more upright (read: formal) chrome Air Breather vents aft of the front wheels and a light bar connecting the rear taillights.Modern yet familiar controlsWhile the other German flagship sedans sport acres of digital touch-screenage within, BMW seems to understand the importance (and safety) of maintaining tactile controls with its latest generation iDrive 7.0. There is still the familiar rotary control knob on the centre console that, with its push and nudge functions, allows the driver to easily navigate most duties without having to prod away at a touchscreen although the 10.2-inch screen does have touch function. Additionally, a row of preset buttons can be assigned to various tasks, be they calling up a desired radio station, phoning the reservation desk at your favourite steak house, or having the navigation guide you home.There are hard buttons for most HVAC functions, as well as for heating and cooling the seats, and firing up the massage. Yes, the dash design is a busy and not particularly cohesive, but build quality and material choice are unassailable.All Canadian 2020 7 Series get standard M Sport Package that really has nothing to do with sport in the go-faster sense it adds Anthracite headliner, M leather steering wheel, M pedals, illuminated sill plate, comfort seats and special black wood trim. Technological tour de forceHalf the game in these full-size execu-barges is one-upmanship in the gizmo department.Blurt Hey BMW at any time, and the car will do its best to cater to your every whim, be it adjust an onboard system, find a destination or tap the interweb for both useful and useless information. It is early days for these mobile voice assistants, so functionality can be hit and miss.One year of Apple CarPlay is included, but after that owners will have to pay a subscription fee to use it (wha???).The 7s new digital gauge cluster comes across all modern, showing the speedo and tach displayed as arcs on the sides of the screen, with the centre portion reserved for navigation info and the like. Its not as crisp as Audis Virtual Cockpit, nor as configurable.BMW’s signature Gesture Controls coolest
Origin: Car Review: 2020 BMW 750Li xDrive
Car Review: 2019 Infiniti Q60 I-Line Red Sport
2019 Infiniti Q60 I-Line Red SportJil McIntosh Ive always had a soft spot for coupes. Theyre not all that practical, but theres something about that styling that does it for me. And if they can back up those looks with performance, thats even better.Infiniti makes a looker out of its Q60 coupe, and it packs decent power into my top-end I-Line Red Sport tester. But there are some lacklustre spots, and while they dont entirely ruin the car, fixing them could turn this cars fortunes around.Overhauled into a next-generation model a couple of years ago, the Q60 enters 2019 with just a few tweaks. The base four-cylinder engine offered last year is gone, and the three trim levels the Luxe, Sport, and I-Line Red Sport all use a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, along with a seven-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.In the Luxe and Sport models, the V6 makes 300 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque, but in the Red Sport, its beefed up to 400 horses and 350 lb.-ft. The Red Sport also adds an electronically-controlled dynamic suspension, 20-inch wheels instead of 19s on the base cars, and performance exhaust, along with a blacked-out grille and a carbon fibre deck lid spoiler.Pricing starts at $53,795 for the Luxe and $55,795 for the Sport, while the Red Sport begins at $65,295. Funny, that: The Red Sport comes in seven colours, most of which add $750 to the bottom line. But if you actually want it in red, its an extra $1,000.My tester also added a ProActive package of such items as lane departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlamps, blind-spot intervention, and automatic high-beam headlights many of which I wouldve expected to be standard, not added in for the $3,200 cost of the package. The package also adds Direct Adaptive Steering, a quicker-ratio version that lets you select settings for Sport and Sport-Plus, Standard, Snow, and Eco. Whats never in question here is the Q60s powerplant. The engine knows exactly what its supposed to do, and it propels this coupe with authority. Its quick, acceleration is linear with virtually no turbo lag, and it keeps pulling strong and hard from first press of throttle, through to ber-effective passing power at highway speeds. The transmission is a proper mate to it, with swift-smooth upshifts and satisfyingly-blippy rev-matching on downshifts and I like that its a standard PRND shifter, not one of those ghastly electronic push-pull things. Clad in bright red calipers, the brakes have good bite and are easy to modulate.Alas, the weak link in all of this is that optional steering system. Its a steer-by-wire system, all electronic without a physical connection between steering wheel and steered wheels (a mechanical clutch bolts it all together if something malfunctions). Infinitis made considerable improvement over the first iteration of the system several years ago, but its not there yet. Even with the optional adaptive version set into the sport modes and despite direct as part of its name it lacks the crisp, direct response and feedback thats part of being a sports coupe. Exceptional performance cars feel like theyre following your eyes and anticipating where youre going to toss them next. By comparison, the Q60 looks at your steering input and says, Yeah, whatever, Ill get on it. The suspension also feels tuned more for comfort than sporty performance, too.Its a shame, because everything else points to this being a canyon-carver: The muscular good looks, the supportive seats roomy up front, headroom-deficient in the rear and the Red Sports sparkly-silver carbon fibre interior trim, which sounds over-the-top but actually looks great in person. Nobody can top Infiniti for incorporating shimmery stuff into its interiors and making it look good. The Q60 uses a dual-screen centre display that falls on both sides of the fence. To the good, I like that the navigation screen stays on up top and other functions are handled through the bottom screen, so if youre following the map, it doesnt disappear when you adjust something below. And there are hard buttons for the climate control, as well as to quickly access the screens home or audio pages.But within those pages, things tend to get too fiddly. A dial-and-button setup on the centre console for some map and camera functions seems a detached from the rest of the system. The screens and their icons look dated, at a time when buyers at this level want to show off the latest-and-greatest to their passengers. And Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rapidly becoming the gold standard for the features lists even on economy grocery-getters, are noticeably absent.Thats the Q60s biggest problem: There are many competitors in the $60,000 segment and drivers are comparing the Infiniti to some pretty heavy hitters in the sport-coupe market, and they generally want the latest and greatest. The Q60 is gorgeous and that 400-horsepower engine is a winner, but it should handle better and you have to pop
Origin: Car Review: 2019 Infiniti Q60 I-Line Red Sport
Car Review: 2019 Nissan Micra S
2019 Nissan Micra SPeter Bleakney / Driving OVERVIEW Base Micra a charming throwback to basic transportation PROSgood ride quality, zippy engine and handling, roomy, great visibility, price CONScan you live without A/C? VALUE FOR MONEYvery good WHAT TO CHANGE?It’s perfectly austere HOW TO SPEC IT?I’d pass on the metallic paint and save $135 Ive had the good fortune of driving some pretty hot and rare-ish cars lately the Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye, Mercedes-AMG’s GT 63 S 4-Door, and the Range Rover Sport SVR but none have been as hot or rare as this base, five-speed manual, $10,488 Nissan Micra S. Hot because it has no air conditioning, and rare because, well, who in their right mind is going to buy a new car with no A/C these days? And since Millenials look at manual transmissions as anti-theft devices, there goes that demographic, too.Nonetheless, this little tinder box exists if for nothing else for its low-low price, and this is the spec youll be buying if you want to partake in the Nissan Micra Cup race series. After a week of sweating behind the wheel of this Micra, I totally get why Nissan started the Micra Cup this little four door hatch with a stick-shift is a hoot to drive.Power comes from a DOHC 1.6L four making a modest 109 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 107 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400, and while this doesnt sound like much, its all about the power-to-weight ratio. Its a smooth, linear, and eager unit that has little mass working against it, so the Micra never feels flat-footed. Put you foot into it, and this diminutive hatchback turns into a snarling little puppy, all frisky and eager to please. The steering is sharp and direct, too, and while the chassis exhibits a fair bit of body roll, the Micra is an agile little thing that loves to be thrown into the corners, hanging on with, err, dogged persistence while carving an accurate path. Good ride quality, too. In this age of overweight, overpowered, and overly complicated vehicles, the base Micra S is a breath of fresh air literally as youll probably have the windows rolled down most of the time. Yes, I said rolled: For you youngsters, the strange cranking devices sprouting from the door cards will be as unrecognizable as milk in a bottle. But for us more seasoned types, crank windows is a throwback to simpler times. And with the Micra, the cabin is so small you can reach over and drop the passenger window from the drivers seat.Additionally, this stripper model has no central power door locks another convenience we are totally used to. As a result, one has to ensure each of the five doors is manually locked before turning in something I totally missed out on for the first few nights. New for 2019 is a standard back up camera, and Nissan has also recently added a USB port.Two questions loomed large as I prepared to drive to a gig at a country music festival in Shelburne, Ontario, about a two hour drive from my house: Would the Micra accommodate my upright bass, and could I endure the trip with no A/C on a hot summer day? The answers are yes, and barely. Surprisingly, with the 60/40 split rear seat folded and the front passenger chair pushed fully forward, the bass slid in no problem. I also fitted in a small amp, bass guitar, music stand, and a few other items. Nice.The drive started out swimmingly, with the windows open and the swirling breeze keeping me cool and feeling pretty smug. Look at all those poor wretches sealed away from this beautiful summer, in their air-conditioned cocoons. The world would be a better place if we all had to crank our own windows, lock our own doors, and listen to FM radio on a crappy two-speaker radio! Look at me, this little four banger is sipping regular fuel as daintily as Miss Scarlett sipped a mint julep, while your fancy fuel sucking rigs have to power, and carry around, such unnecessary posh trappings as air conditioning systems, automatic transmissions, power door locks, and motors to work the windows, mirrors, and seats. When I was your age yada, yada, yada. Then things got considerably more swimmingly. Dark clouds loomed up ahead, and before long my wee ovoid car-lette and I were caught in a deluge of biblical proportions. I soon found my smug self presented with two options, neither of which were particularly excellent: Roll up the windows and perish in this $10,000 mobile sauna, or keep em down and get soaked. Turned out, I didnt have much choice as the de-frost didnt actually work in these conditions. So, I got soaked.Now, if youre worried about the Micra, it did get a bit damp, but the whole interior is basically one big piece of hose-out plastic, so no harm done. Given this is the base Micra, there is a deficiency of electronic gubbins in here to get damaged, and since seat heaters are off the Micras menu, I wasnt afraid of getting electrocuted either.Damn, I love this little
Origin: Car Review: 2019 Nissan Micra S
Car Review: 2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo
2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport TurismoJil McIntosh OVERVIEW Porsche adds another model for four-door fun PROSGood looks, excellent driver, comfortable interior CONSNo sporty steering feel, too-fiddly controls, everything’s an option VALUE FOR MONEYIf you’ve got it, it’s a great place to spend it WHAT TO CHANGE?Bring back the function buttons HOW TO SPEC IT?Get the chassis control; beyond that, the sky’s the limit In late June, I went to the racetrack to watch the Queens Plate, and arrived in a 2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo. Clad in fancy clothes and a wide-brimmed, fancy hat because I am nothing but traditional for the big horse races I chose valet, rather than trudge across an acre of dirt-and-gravel parking lot.Most of the crowd left all at once, and it was a madhouse to get ones car back. When my bright Mamba Green car slowly made its way in, several young men crowded around it. When I announced ownership because after all that, I sure as hell wasnt going to admit it was merely borrowed I got three requests for a ride, and one marriage proposal. And why not? This things a head-turner indeed, even if the eye-searing exterior shade didnt always reach a consensus with onlookers. Its four-door configuration was also contentious with some, who felt that any Porsche beyond a Cayenne or Macan should not have more than two points of entry, but I disagree. The Panamera is a great way to get you and three of your friends to your destination, but it also has the chops to satisfy as a sports machine when its just you and the curves in the road.The GTS is the latest addition to the Panamera lineup, which morphed into its second generation for 2017. Its available as the Panamera as weve come to know it, or the more wagon-like Panamera Sport Turismo, as I drove it. At a starting price of $153,300, my tester slots between the 4S Sport Turismo ($125,600) and Turbo Sport Turismo ($177,300). But this being Porsche, where it seems everything except the windshield is an option, my car was outfitted to $182,840 before freight and taxes. That included such items as $5,710 for dynamic chassis control, $2,300 for eight-way power rear seats, $6,120 for an Assistance Package that added such features as blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control, $1,970 for a customizable head-up display a first-time option for Panamera and $400 to paint the door handles black.All that is icing on a car that masterfully blends sports performance with the smooth, coddling personality of a luxury machine. Power comes from a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that spins out 453 horsepower and 457 lb.-ft. of torque. Its mated to an eight-speed PDK Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, the companys name for its dual-clutch automatic thats beautifully quick and smooth, but unfortunately operated with an awful push-pull-and-a-button-for-Park electronic shifter that too many automakers seem to prefer for how techy it looks, rather than using a more intuitive setup.The all-wheel system automatically shifts as much as 70 per cent of torque to the front wheels as needed, and drive modes can be selected via a handy steering wheel-mounted dial. An air suspension is standard equipment, while my car was optioned with rear steering and that dynamic chassis control gadget, counteracting body roll and keeping the car level on uneven surfaces.The handling is whip-sharp, and the Panamera tucks around corners like its glued to the pavement, but what really impresses is how it blends that ability with rock-solid comfort. Even in Sport-Plus, the suspension is firm but never a kidney-knocker. Its a relatively heavy vehicle, but it simply goes out and carves the corners without breaking a sweat, every hair in place and with nary a wrinkle in its tuxedo. For some enthusiasts it may be too smooth, since the steering feel is rather muted, but I find its in keeping with its more practical, luxury-four-seater demeanour. The Panamera is a lovely vehicle inside as well, with the quality of materials and fit-and-finish youd expect for the price. Its also a big car, with lots of room for front- and rear-seat occupants. That said, Im less than impressed with Porsches decision to drop the last-generation Panameras rows of buttons in favour of a glass touchscreen surrounding the shifter.You must look down to be sure youre hitting the right spot, for everything from your heated-and-cooled seats to the rear window defroster, and if the suns shining on the glass, its not easy to see the icons. Simple is good in any car, but I think its especially important in something thats primarily about going fast and snarly.Infotainment functions are accessed through a large central touchscreen; most are simple, but there are times when you have to go too deep to find items. Adjusting the direction of the centre vent, for example, requires you to pull up a computer screen. The instrument cluster is also configurable, and one
Origin: Car Review: 2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo
SUV Review: 2019 Jeep Renegade Limited 4’4
2019 Jeep Renegade Limited 4x4Jil McIntosh OVERVIEW Jeep’s smallest ute gets a makeover PROSOff-road ability, comfortable seats, better-looking than before CONSLaggy passing power, not a lot of storage space, still kinda odd-looking VALUE FOR MONEYLimited has lots of features but doesnt quite look the price WHAT TO CHANGE?Fewer transmission gears might not be a bad idea HOW TO SPEC IT?I’d go all the off-road way with the Trailhawk Wow, is that the new one? That looks really sharp! Thats usually something I hear about an eye-catching sports car, but this interested onlooker was, instead, taking in my Jeep Renegade tester.Jeeps smallest sport-ute gets a makeover for 2019, including a tiny new turbocharged engine and a bit of a facelift. It still isnt a handsome beast, but it doesnt look as goofy-nerdy as it did before especially since its lost the white X marks in its taillights, which always reminded me of pedestrian crosswalk signs. (Or a Phillips-head screwdriver. –Ed.) The Renegade comes in five trim levels, starting with the Sport at $28,645, and rising to my top-line Limited tester at $35,045 (which ended up at $39,765 after several options were piled on). The mid-level North and Altitude can be ordered in front- or all-wheel drive, while the Sport, Limited, and the ultra-off-roader Trailhawk drive all four tires.The new engine is a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 177 horsepower and 200 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic. Its standard equipment in the Trailhawk and Limited. In the other trim levels, its an option over a 2.4-litre four-cylinder that produces 180 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque. Despite its higher torque rating, the 1.3L can get wheezy when its asked for power. Its not helped by the transmission, which seems to be a combination of too many gears for its own good, along with its habit of reaching for the top gears as often as possible in the name of fuel efficiency. Its fine when youre cruising along city streets, but theres annoying lag when you really want to pass at highway speeds, for instance.The Renegade is agile, responding quickly and accurately to steering input. The steering weight is confident at higher speeds, but its easy to spin it around tight parking lots. I wish the mirrors were wider, though theyre square when they should be rectangular; as such, they dont reveal as much to the sides as Id like, even when theyre adjusted all the way out. The short wheelbase and relatively narrow track give it a bouncy ride that isnt impossible to live with, but its there. Chalk it up to one of those Jeep things you either understand, or you dont.The all-wheel system features a rear axle that automatically disconnects when the rear wheels dont need to be powered, for extra fuel savings. When rear traction is needed, it seamlessly and immediately reconnects. A dial lets you select settings for snow, sand, or mud, as well as to lock the axles at low speeds for the extra sticky stuff. The Trailhawk is the true rough-stuff rebel of the bunch its surprising just how off-road capable it is, thanks to a Rock setting and 20:1 low-range crawl ratio exclusive to its system but the Limited will still get you through most tougher-than-average conditions.The Renegades interior styling is plain but functional, which is fine in the lower trims, but the expanses of hard plastic looked a bit out of whack with my testers nearly $40,000 price tag. Still, everythings put together very well, and there are some neat styling cues, including a passenger-side handle integrated with the air vent, a handsome steering wheel, and stereo speakers embossed with the signature Jeep grille. This is a small vehicle, and the interior reflects that. The front seats are roomy enough for all but the tallest folks, and I really like the seating position and seats that stayed comfortable on a five-hour drive, but those in the rear seats will notice a lack of knee room if the front seats arent slid considerably forward. The cargo compartment is equally narrow, with a maximum of 524 litres of space when the rear seats are up, although an adjustable cargo floor panel gives you some storage flexibility.All Renegade trim levels include air conditioning, push-button start, heated mirrors, and Bluetooth audio streaming, but you have to go one step from the Sport to the North to get dual-zone automatic climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and automatic headlamps. At my Limited tester, the goodies include a customizable instrument cluster, 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat with a pass-through (the others are 60/40), a 115-volt power outlet, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated seats and steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, and a 12-way power-adjustable drivers seat.Just about everything is simple and easy to use, including climate control functions operated with big buttons and a dial. The heated chairs and wheel are
Origin: SUV Review: 2019 Jeep Renegade Limited 4’4
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