Actor Sean Connery poses with an Aston Martin DB5. A 1964 DB5 played a starring role in the James Bond film Goldfinger that year. The DB5 and other Aston Martin cars have often been featured in James Bond films.Handout When we learned that Aston Martin was going to be building 25 special continuation reproductions of the original DB5 that Sean Connery famously drove in Goldfinger, we were excited. We got even more excited when we saw how the gadgets are actually going to work. To make all of the engineering work as slickly and smoothly as the oil from the taillights, Aston Martin employed the film special effects supervisor for the Bond films themselves, Chris Corbould. He’s been in the special effects industry since 1980, with his first Bond film being A View to a Kill, so you know he’s going to do it right. Aston Martin has released a video to tease the inner workings of the smoke screen, taillight-deploying oil slick and the front turn signal machine guns. Still to build is the revolving number plate displaying BMT 216A; the rear window bulletproof screen; wheel-mounted tire puncture spinners; bumperette battering rams; and of course, the all-important red button on the gearshift knob for any unwanted passengers. Corbould says the challenge in building these gadgets into a road car (although it isn’t street-legal) is to actually put them all into one car, whereas in a film there would be multiple examples, likely with a single gadget each. The cars will be reserved for the Bond fans with the biggest wallets, as each of the 25 examples will cost a whopping £2.75 million. Yes, unfortunately, it won’t just be given to you by Q Branch. Remember not to park it outside of any Scottish castles or drive it down any alleyways
Origin: Watch Bond’s gadgets come to life in these Aston Martin recreations
these
Listen to these Montreal comedians’ viral parody songs about car names
Étienne Dano is a well-known humorist (and comedian, and TV/radio collaborator) in Québec. Arnaud Soly is a newer talent, with a knack for, among other things, parody songs based on weird themes. Think cities’ names, subway stations and—cheese. A week ago, both met at Auto St-Hubert, a used vehicles dealership on Montreal’s South Shore, to show people while they may not have the greatest voices in town, they know their way around parody songs. And cars. In fact, they know enough to craft this two-minutes spoof video – where it’s a matter of Volvo coucher avec moi ce soir – that went viral on Etienne’s Facebook page, with over 400,000 views in just three days. Among the 15 or so short singing clips transformed to relate to vehicles, you’ll recognize “Hyundai is gonna be the day” from Oasis’ Wonderwall; as well as the infamous jingle from Da Giovanni’s restaurants. (This time, it’s “Dodge Giovanni” that will stick in your head for days…) In our opinion, the best is their take on a classic The Beatles’ tune: “Hey Juke/ Don’t make Outback/ Take a Saab song/ And make it Boxster” Even if you don’t recognize “J’ai de la misère en Chrysler/ J’ai du Nissan-timent dans le sang” from the Québec group La Chicane; or “Journey d’a Buick” sung to the tune of Richard Séguin’s Journée d’Amérique, don’t worry: subtitles are there to help your
Origin: Listen to these Montreal comedians’ viral parody songs about car names
Motor Mouth: Which of these EV pickup concepts have the best chance of reaching production?
Its only a matter of time before pickup trucks become electrified.Brendan McAleer / Handout / Driving / GMC It was inevitable. Inescapable, really. Money, as they say, follows markets and there’s simply no market bigger right now than the gargantuan pickups that have, quite literally, taken over North America. Marry that predilection with the headlines surrounding pretty much anything electric and it’s amazing we’re not already awash in plug-in pickups. Actually, if Tesla’s biannual financial funk gets any deeper, Elon Musk may start taking deposits soon. Cynicism regarding Musk’s business practices aside, Tesla’s success has emboldened all manner of startups — Rivian, Atlis, and others — to build their own electric colossus, each vying to stuff more lithium-ions into their truck beds than the next. Even General Motors and Ford are leaping — OK, taking baby steps — into the segment themselves, worried the proverbial rock-and-hard-place that is consumer demand for ever more trucks versus increasingly stringent emissions standards may eventually limit how many profit-producing pickups they’ll be allowed to sell. So Motor Mouth decided to evaluate the major players in this burgeoning market; one eye trying to determine which ones will actually get produced, the other gauging their chances of success. And to measure each player’s chances, we have introduced a new rating system — the Motor Mouth Vapourware Index. Using our new VI index is easy: Our best score of zero represents an absolute certainty of success — a “dead cert,” if you will — while the maximum 10 denotes approximately the same probability of anyone actually driving, say, a Faraday Future vehicle. Tesla pickup — as inevitable as an inappropriate Elon Musk tweet A fan rendering of Tesla’s upcoming pickup truck Stephen William Mason There is little doubt Tesla will produce a pick-me-up sometime in the future. And, whatever its guise, it will likely be a grand success, loyal Teslarati likely to park one right beside the Range Rover that’s never seen a dirt road or the Ferrari that’s never been to a racetrack. Exactly what will power these “cyberpunk Blade Runners” — quite literally Musk’s description for his new pickup — remains speculation, but he has promised a range of 500 miles (800 kilometres), meaning — if the Model X is any indication — it eats up about 40 kWh every 160 kilometres of driving. We’re looking at about 200 kWh of lithium ion. That’s US$40,000 worth of battery, which means there will be precious little change from CDN$100,000. Nonetheless, look for them to be a plague at high-end craft meets. Motor Mouth VI: 0 Rivian R1T — the new darling of the plug-in set 2019 Rivian R1T Electric Truck Handout / Rivian Rivian is the one manufacturer threatening Tesla’s stranglehold on EV hype, its marketing just the right combination of exaggeration and outright hyperbole. Beyond the standard puffery — the R1T’s 180 kWh battery has inspired truly headline-grabbing embellishments — there’s some pretty nifty design, like the innovative ski pass-thru that reveals inventiveness beyond mere emissions reduction. Ford has invested heavily in Rivian, and R1T test mules were actually disguised as F-150s to prevent detection, which begs the question: Will Rivian produce electrified pickups under its own badge, or will the guppy get swallowed by the whale? Whatever the case, the R1T (or something using its technology) will hit streets. Motor Mouth VI: 4 as a standalone marque, 1 as a rebadged Ford Workhorse W-15 — perhaps a little too practical for its own good The Workhorse electric truck concept. Handout / Workhorse Workhorse is in negotiations to buy the shuttered Lordstown plant from General Motors, so one has to assume it intends to produce something that resembles its much-ballyhooed W-15. That said, the deal — contrary to Donald Trump’s recent tweet — is not final, rendering the promise of 2019 deliveries somewhat fanciful. Nonetheless, Workhorse stands out in this crowd with its decision to use a more practical plug-in hybrid powertrain. Oh, its 60-kWh battery does promise 80 miles (128 kilometres) of electric-only driving, but its BMW-supplied range extender allows 310 miles (500 kilometres) more gasoline-fueled range. The W-15 is set to start at about US$50,000 and will have the capacity to power your house in an emergency. Indeed, the only knock on the Workhorse may be that it is both practical and affordable, both qualities the EV crowd seems to find unappealing. Motor Mouth VI: Eventually 1, but a 7 going by the initial promise of this year Bollinger B2 — modest goals mean this “electrified Hummer” has an off chance to make it to market The Bollinger B2 electric truck Handout / Bollinger Unlike the rest of the plug-in pickups discussed here, the Bollinger is not looking to impress nouveau-riche dilettantes. It boasts but 200 miles (320 kilometres) of range despite carrying no less than a 120-kWh of Li-ion in its
Origin: Motor Mouth: Which of these EV pickup concepts have the best chance of reaching production?
Save up to $20,000 off these three luxury sedans
2019 BMW 7 SeriesHandout / BMW On the last three Fridays of every month, Graeme Fletcher combines manufacturers’ incentives from Unhaggle.com with resale value, dependability and overall ratings to find you the best deal for your money in new cars. This week, we look at deeply discounted luxury sedans with all-wheel-drive. The hot deals are on the 2019 BMW 750i xDrive and Mercedes-Bens S 450 along with the 2018 Lexus LS 500. BMW 7 Series 2019 BMW 7 Series Handout / BMW Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price: $117,750 Manufacturer Incentive*: $20,000 Unhaggle Savings: $1,500 Total Savings: $21,500 Mandatory Fees (Freight, Govt. Fees): $3,215 Total Before Tax: $99,465 — lick here for exclusive local pricing Seldom do you see a discount exceed $20,000, but that’s the case with the 2019 BMW 750i xDrive, as the revamped 2020 model is already sitting on dealer lots. As luxury cars go, the big 7 Series has always been one of the sharper — the secret is it blends a luxurious ride with some decidedly sportier undertones. As such, it can be almost anything to just about any prospective owner. The cabin is marked by its quality and lengthy amenity list. Key is the revamped iDrive infotainment system — it features a 10.2-inch touchscreen that recognizes hand gestures using a 3D camera. Twirling a finger counterclockwise reduces the audio volume; the opposite increases it. The driver can also accept or reject incoming calls with a hand swipe. It works with Apple CarPlay, but sadly not Android Auto. Once too complicated for its own good, iDrive is now much easier to use. The rear environment is as opulent as up front, boasting one of the largest back seats in the business with just about a metre of legroom. Behind is a 515-litre trunk. Blind-spot monitoring, front/rear sonar parking sensors and automatic high beams are standard. The Advanced Driver Assistance package ($2,200) adds lane-departure warning with keep assist, dynamic cruise control with stop/go functionality, park assist and forward cross-traffic alert. Given the 750i’s price tag, this should all be standard. The 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 is good for 445 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque. The upshot is a broad power curve that never leaves the driver wanting. It works with an eight-speed automatic and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Under normal circumstances the systems sends 40 per cent of the power to the front wheels and 60 to the rear. The split varies according to road conditions, and also uses the stability control system to quell under- and oversteer. It’s one of the better systems around. The combination sees the 750i xDrive run from rest to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, complete the 80-to-120 km/h passing move in 3.1 seconds, and it’s rated to deliver an average fuel economy of 11.5 L/100 kilometres. BMW’s self-leveling air suspension and adaptive dampers are standard. The air suspension adjusts the ride height to suit the drive, while the adaptive dampers control body roll and the steering obeys input with unerring accuracy. The result is a sharp-handling car that is not out of place on a racetrack, yet it is supremely comfortable when cruising the highway. The BMW 750i xDrive arrives with a staggering $21,500 combined Unhaggle discount and a sticker of $99,465. Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Handout / Mercedes-Benz Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price: $108,100 Manufacturer Incentive*: $10,000 Unhaggle Savings: $1,500 Total Savings: $11,500 Mandatory Fees (Freight, Govt. Fees): $2,810 Total Before Tax: $99,410 — lick here for exclusive local pricing After last year’s refresh and the introduction of the new S 450 model featured here, the 2019 S-Class remains unchanged. The cabin is slick with everything from heated 16-way front seats, and a choice of 64 colours for the cabin’s ambient lighting, to a 13-speaker, 590-watt Burmester sound system. The highlights are two 12.3-inch screens for the instrumentation and infotainment system housed beneath a single pane of glass. The COMAND infotainment is operated through a central controller with a rotary knob and one-touch keys for major functions, including navigation. It also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Move rearward and the short-wheelbase S-Class has 947-millimetres of rear seat legroom and a 464-litre trunk. While blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic high-beams and rain-sensing wipers, among other safety features, are standard, the S 450 requires the Intelligent Drive package ($2,300) to get adaptive cruise control, active/evasive steering assist, congestion emergency braking, active lane keep assist and active blind-spot monitoring among other things. The package gives the S 450 a Level 2 self-driving capability. Again, this should be standard fare considering the price tag. The S 450 is powered by a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 that makes 362 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque, anywhere between 1,600 and 4,000 rpm. The early entry of peak
Origin: Save up to $20,000 off these three luxury sedans
Save up to $12,000 on these three full-size pickups
This weeks hot Unhaggle deal includes the Ford F-150, GMC Sierra and Ram 1500.Handout / Ford / GMC / Ram On the last three Fridays of every month, Graeme Fletcher combines manufacturers’ incentives from Unhaggle.com with resale value, dependability and overall ratings to find you the best deal for your money in new cars. This week, we look at 44 pickup trucks from the Big Three. The hot deals are on the 2019 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew, GMC Sierra SLE Crew Cab and Ram 1500 Tradesmen Crew Cab. 2019 Ford F-150 2019 Ford F-150 Handout / Ford Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price: $48,799 Manufacturer Incentive*: $10,664 Unhaggle Savings: $1,500 Total Savings: $12,164 Mandatory Fees (Freight, Govt. Fees): $2,040 Total Before Tax: $38,675 — lick here for exclusive local pricing The thirteenth-generation of Canada’s best selling pick-up truck continues with some minor changes — the largest is the top-line Limited now shares the radical Raptor’s 450 horsepower high-output EcoBoost V6. The XLT featured here is more modest in all departments. It gets the usual power items plus FordPass Connect with a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot for up to 10 devices along with Sync3 with an eight-inch touchscreen. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the XLT arrives with a 5-feet 6-inch short box, the XLT still has the requisite capability — the rear seats fold up against the back of the cab, which opens up a large lockable storage area with a flat floor. The box also features the needed tie-downs and a payload rating of 762-kilograms. While pre-collision assist with auto braking is standard, blind spot monitoring is a $650 option, but only after adding the 302A package, which drives the total cost to $6,800. Myopic packaging at its best! The XLT’s 3.3-litre V6 twists out 290 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. It drives all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission with Normal, Tow/Haul and Sport modes. The 44 system is part-time with two- and four-wheel-drive high as well as four-wheel-drive low. The 44 side should only be used on loose or slippery surfaces, as it winds-up when steering in dialed in on dry pavement. The combination delivers a posted average fuel economy of 11.6 litres per 100 kilometres, a run from rest to 100 kilometres an hour of 8.1 seconds and a tow capacity of 3,357-kg. The F150 takes a balanced approach to ride and handling. On smooth urban roads and on the highway it is comfortable. Again, on a smooth twisty road there is minimal body roll and the steering delivers decent feedback. However, when a rough section of road is encountered mid-corner the back-end has a tendency to washboard out of line. This is a common trait with trucks with a solid rear axle and leaf springs. The Ford F150 XLT SuperCrew has a generous combined Unhaggle discount of $12,164, which leaves a pre-tax sticker of $38,675. 2019 GMC Sierra 2019 GMC Sierra Handout / GMC Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price: $47,100 Manufacturer Incentive*: $6,050 Unhaggle Savings: $1,500 Total Savings: $7,550 Mandatory Fees (Freight, Govt. Fees): $2,035 Total Before Tax: $41,585 — lick here for exclusive local pricing The next-generation GMC Sierra is new for 2019. The restyled rig is handsome and the SLE featured here comes with the right amenities including an eight-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth audio streaming for two devices along with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and OnStar. There is now a degree of cohesiveness to the layout. It also arrives with Teen Driver. It can limit certain vehicle features and automatically turn on safety systems meaning no more smoky burnouts. It also gives an anxious parent a report card gives on junior’s driving habits. One of the big improvements is the increased rear seat room in the crew-cab. Out back there’s a 5-feet 9-inch box that comes with the needed tie-downs and a payload rating of 940-kg. Blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and front/rear park assist are part of the Drive Alert I package. It is priced at $1,095, but requires upgrading to SLE Convenience package first. This bumps the combined cost to $3,960. Again, with these features rapidly becoming standard it is regressive thinking. The features SLE arrives with a 2.7L turbocharged four-cylinder that was designed for truck use. It uses variable valve lift to produce 310 hp and 348 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,500 rpm. It works with an eight-speed automatic transmission to drive all four wheels. The featured model has a part-time single-speed 44 system. For those not intending to go off-road or visiting a construction sites on a frequent basis this system is enough. To get the set-and-forget system with a low-range gear set requires going to the larger 5.3L V8 engine and a package costing $3,745. The featured SLE with the 2.7L engine has a posted average fuel economy of 11.8 L/100 km, a run to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and a tow capacity of 3,000-kg. The latest Sierra is certainly more compliant than the outgoing model,
Origin: Save up to $12,000 on these three full-size pickups
All about car 