The Polestar 2 features a 440-kilometre full-charge range and a price of $69,000 for a fully loaded model.Polestar We now know how much the Polestar 2 will retail for when it is available in Canada next summer: $69,000. The five-door fastback from the Volvo-offshoot automaker features an all-wheel drive electric powertrain producing 300 kW (408 hp) and 660 Nm (487 lb.-ft.), translating into a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of less than five seconds, according to the company. Full-charge range of the 78-kWh battery is said to be 440 kilometres. The first models available in Canada will come fully loaded at that $69K price, which means early adopters won’t have to pay extra to get the Performance Pack, which adds Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes and 20-inch forged wheels. A base model will become available in following model years, likely close to $50,000 if the pricing and product strategy follow European (39,000 euros) and American (US$44,000) estimates. Polestar 2 is the first car in the world to embed Google’s Android platform as the basis of its infotainment system—operated via voice control and an 11-inch touchscreen display—and also brings embedded Google services to a car for the first time, including Google Maps with support for electric vehicle ownership, Google Assistant and the Google Play Store. Other tech-forward features include Pixel LED headlights, frameless side mirrors and the unique illuminated Polestar logo, which is reflected onto the car’s panoramic glass roof. The Polestar 2 made its first public appearance at last month’s Geneva International Motor Show in March, and has embarked on global roadshow in Europe, North America and China throughout the remainder of the year. Pre-orders for the Chinese-built EV are open at polestar.com/en-ca and require a $1,500 down
Origin: Polestar 2 will cost $69,000 for Canadians
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The new Land Rover Defender will be revealed in September
2020 Land Rover Defender It’s been over two decades since the Land Rover Defender, the British marquee’s most capable off-roader, has been available for purchase in North America. According to recent insight provided by a brand insider, that dry spell may soon come to an end as the top-tier SUV gets ready to make its international debut in September and lines up for arrival in 2020. Jaguar Land Rover’s communications and PR GM, Tim Krieger, told the Australian publication CarAdvice that the Defender will step into the spotlight this fall, and be delivered to Aussie dealerships starting in 2020. There will be something around Frankfurt (in September),” Krieger told CarAdvice. “Whether it’s at the motor show or whether it’s an out-of-show event, we’re sorting that out at the moment, with Australia in early 2020.” Reading between the lines, and considering how highly Land Rover regards the US market (look closely at the camo and you’ll see that it’s all about USA and legendary off-roading destinations there) we would speculate this means North America will be working with the same timeline. You can add this news to the stack of hints about the upcoming Defender and its release schedule. The brand had already unveiled a series of images of the camouflaged off-roader kicking up dirt in various terrain, and it promised the new Defender would be available for purchase on North American soil in 2020. JLR has already been busy testing it here this year. Thanks to a photographer with speedy reflexes, we’ve also been granted a glimpse under the new Defender. View this post on Instagram My awesome camera dude/bear jerky and Coors swigger @benstanziale crawled under a Land Rover Defender Mule and got these shots of the fully independent rear end. I see a big fat aluminum control arms and air bags (air suspension). You see anything else? Was Land Rover happy? No, but what were they going to do? #hard #landrover #defender @landrover 🇬🇧🕷🇬🇧😉 A post shared by Jonny Lieberman (@jonnylieberman) on Apr 11, 2019 at 8:42pm PDT The upscale 44’s underside (this model, at least) reveals what looks to be a system incorporating air suspension, an anti-roll bar and independent rear suspension. Other spy shots of the interior show that it will have a definite rugged, utilitarian design. We’ll provide updates here just as soon as North American dates have been confirmed by the brand. But Canada is a lot closer to the UK than Australia, so
Origin: The new Land Rover Defender will be revealed in September
Lincoln Corsair will be first Lincoln model built in China
Lincoln will build its brand new Corsair SUV in China, making it the first model the brand has ever built there. According to a report from Automotive News filed on Wednesday, the MKC predecessor is projected to be Lincoln’s most popular model in China, as the MKC was. The choice to build the Corsair in China makes sense, as it is built upon the same platform as the redesigned 2020 Ford Escape, which is produced in China. Having production in the same country that buys the most of the model makes for great savings on shipping. As for Americans, their Corsairs will come out of Louisville, Kentucky. Local automaker Changan also uses the same plants as Ford in a joint building venture, as laws in China require that foreign automakers can’t just set up a plant and start building, they must partner with local companies that are run in part by the government. This is a small price to pay in exchange for large tax savings. Lincoln has been doing very well in China since 2014 when it was introduced there, and that is partly because of the desire for locals to purchase luxury products for more of a personal experience, rather than an object to show off. Chinese Lincoln dealerships also offer more than what a regular dealer would, with a luxurious showroom complete with tea room. Complete sales and service transparency is also a hallmark of the company. Expect Lincoln to make more vehicles in
Origin: Lincoln Corsair will be first Lincoln model built in China
Ford will introduce a new ‘affordable’ product by 2022
Ford today introduces the all-new Focus car for global customers, featuring the latest advanced and affordable technology with more comfort and space and a better fun-to-drive experience.Handout Ford is letting its drivers know that just because the stories of entry-level Ford vehicles like the Fiesta, Focus and Fusion, are coming to a close, those seeking a bargain won’t be left in the cold waiting for the bus. On Wednesday, the VP of enterprise product line management for Ford, Jim Baumbick, said the Blue Oval would be adding a new “affordable” nameplate to its lineup, providing an alternative to the receding sedans, Automotive News reports. It’s unclear what body style it’ll be built around, or how large or small it’ll be, but things are apparently moving quickly over in Ford’s development HQ. It’s an example of how we’re moving faster, working together differently and leveraging our five all-new flexible vehicle architectures, Ford said in a statement. We came up with the concept in just 12 weeks using our new product creation process. Previous all-new vehicles could have taken years of research before receiving approval. Will it be a sedan? Given that all four of the aforementioned culled Ford vehicles are, that which is meant to fulfill those missing them would make sense as a sedan. But the push toward larger vehicles like SUVs and pickups is undeniable, so we could definitely see the “affordable” option being a crossover. There’s also the news of a more affordable compact pickup on the way, which could be the sedan substitute Ford is speaking of. Time, and Ford, will tell.
Origin: Ford will introduce a new ‘affordable’ product by 2022
Hyundai promises 2020 Venue will be its smallest, most stylish CUV yet
2020 Hyundai VenueJonathan Yarkony / Driving What is it? Yet another cute little crossover from South Korea, this one they claim will be the smallest and most affordable in its now seven-strong SUV lineup. Why does it matter? Well, putting smallest and most affordable in the same sentence as SUV is always attention-grabbing. Power comes from Hyundai’s tried and tested 1.6L inline-four with dual-port fuel injection. Mated to Hyundai’s IVT (Intelligent Variable Transmission), which marries CVT efficiency with artificial “gear shifts” so it feels like a traditional automatic. Overall, the combination is good for 7.1 L/100 km fuel consumption. Stylistically, the Venue looks like a Kona that was mated to a Mini, cute to some, a little too boxy for others. Inside, the “highly function and expressive” interior, like the Venue’s price tag, is meant to attract all those budget-conscious Millennials that have been forced to shop the used car market for the trendy sport-ute they all covet. Hence, what Hyundai Canada calls its “youthful, fun” colour palette. Shorter overall than Kona by 130 millimetres, the Venue’s wheelbase is only 81-millimetres, so the Venue is surprisingly roomy inside. In fact, passenger volume is only down a paltry 62 litres (just two cubic-feet). Even the cargo capacity is down by just 14 litres, barely enough to fit a purse or laptop. The Venue’s infotainment system features an eight-inch Display Audio touchscreen and rear-view monitor that also incorporates both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Heated seats and a heated steering wheel, meanwhile, lend a feeling of affluence in small packages. When is it coming? End of this year. Should you buy it? Like I said, prefacing the description of any SUV with “most affordable” is always a good way to start a discussion. Perky performance and decent fuel economy just add to the allure. The Venue’s styling might not be to everyone’s liking, but I suspect that the Venue’s low MSRP will more than make up for the somewhat tepid
Origin: Hyundai promises 2020 Venue will be its smallest, most stylish CUV yet
Chevrolet will auction off the last front-engined Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette Z06Handout / Chevrolet The next-generation C8 Corvette has finally been confirmed by Chevrolet to be mid-engined, ending a 65-year tradition of the front-engined sports car. This also means the C7 Corvette will be the last generation to have the engine in the front, and Chevrolet will celebrate this by auctioning off the final one built. The car itself is an all-black Z06 with no distinguishing characteristics. Although it hasn’t been built yet, we can expect there might be a plaque or something. This news also quashes rumours that said the C7 and new mid-engine C8 might be sold alongside each other. The car will be sold at the Barrett-Jackson Northeast auction on June 28th, and all proceeds will go to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which pays off mortgages for the families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and builds mortgage-free, accessible smart homes for injured service members. The foundation is named after Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter who was killed during the tower collapse on 9/11. Chevrolet has been a supporter of the foundation for many years, and most recently sold the first production 2019 ZR1 at auction to benefit it, to the tune of US$925,000. The C8 Corvette has been teased to the press since man first walked on land, but it’s finally going to be unveiled for real on July 18th, just a few weeks after the sale of the last
Origin: Chevrolet will auction off the last front-engined Corvette
Here’s what Ontario’s new license plates will look like
Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government released its designs for Ontario’s new license plates April 11, including a slogan that will replace the former “Yours to Discover” motto, which has graced plates in the province for 37 years. The new plates feature white lettering on a blue background (as opposed to the blue lettering on the white background of the outgoing plates), the tri-petal Ontario Trillium logo in the center, and of course the new slogan, “A Place to Grow.” The new plate will no longer have stamped, raised lettering, instead going for a flat sticker-type surface. Though it kind of sounds like something meant to encourage the blossoming of legal cannabis business in the province, the line “A Place to Grow” is actually borrowed from the song A Place to Stand, A Place to Grow, which was written to celebrate Ontario during the nation’s centennial festivities at Expo 67 in Montreal. Still, we won’t be surprised to see people slapping pot-leaf stickers over that trillium. This is the new Ontario license plate our question is is there still a green plate? @ONtransport pic.twitter.com/usDOqWXyXf Sudbury EV Assoc. (@GSEVAssociation) April 11, 2019 Commercial vehicles will also be getting a redesigned plate with the slogan “Open for Business,” one of the Ford government’s favourite catchphrases. The updates were officially revealed during the provincial budget announcement on Thursday, which included a broader plan to update the province’s branding to the tune of $600,000. The new plates will begin to be screwed onto cars once the current inventory has been depleted.
Origin: Here’s what Ontario’s new license plates will look like
This wild record-setting twin-turbo BMW M1 will be sold this weekend
A record-breaking BMW M1 LPG land speed racer, built by Harald ErtlCoys Auctions The builder? Harald Ertl, an ex-F1 driver who was looking for a new motorsports endeavor. The reason? When British Petroleum released Liquid Petroleum Gas (that is, propane) as an automotive fuel, Ertl jumped on the chance to set a world record with the stuff. BP sponsored the attempt along with brands such as VDO, Ronal, Blaupunkt and Sachs. And of course, the car: according to Hemmings, the starting point was a used BMW M1, which at the time was a vehicle that had not seen much action in motorsport beyond its own one-make spec race. The stock BMW M88 straight-six put out 277 horsepower, but that number would change once the car was converted to the LPG required to try for the record. The M1 was already good for 160 miles per hour (257 km/h), but it would have a hill to climb with different fuel. Once two turbochargers were added to the 3.5-litre engine, it produced an estimated 410 horsepower, but there was a knob that allowed Ertl to turn up the boost if needed. Three of the specialty cars were built with the aerodynamic bodywork, reported to be designed by ex-F1 team owner (and Canadian) Walter Wolf, who, coincidentally, also built three special Lamborghini Countachs that inspired the flared bodywork of the 1980s production models. Ertl beat the record, but unfortunately, it was never recorded by the FIA, so it remains off the books. Ertl died a few years after the attempt in a plane crash; the vehicle then sat outside at various car dealership lots until it 1993, when it was stored inside and not touched until now. This car is the actual record-breaking car that nailed the record at 301.4 km/h (187.3 mph) with Ertl at the wheel. It will come up for auction at the Techno Classica auction at Messe Essen in Essen, Germany on April
Origin: This wild record-setting twin-turbo BMW M1 will be sold this weekend
This Dutch company will electrify your vintage Porsche
A Dutch firm called Voitures Extravert wants to convert your vintage 911 into a fully electric vehicle. The company’s Quintessenza conversions were introduced last year, with the goal of a five-build run, with maybe another 12 for 2019. However, now the company is announcing it’s going to increase the number of cars converted to three per month, a total of 36 per year. The conversion involves much more than just an engine swap: Voitures Extravert is also a restoration expert and can customize your vehicle to any taste that you want. It has explicitly stated it won’t convert models from the 1960s, but it will take your ’70s and ’80s machines and backdate them to look like older models. Modern conveniences can be added to the rest of the drivetrain as well, to boost safety. Powering the conversion is an electric motor in the same place as the original engine; the running gear now makes 672 lb.-ft. of torque, which puts the car’s performance specs closer to those of a 1970s race car. The weight distribution has also been improved by way of the front-mounted batteries. Range for the electric Porsche isn’t too horrible either; the 58-kilowatt-hour battery can power the car for up to 200 miles (321 km), and fast-charging allows 100 km of range to be added in just 15 minutes. The conversions obviously aren’t cheap: they cost about US$338,000, or about $450,000 Canadian. But at least you can say you’re trying to save the planet, one classic at a
Origin: This Dutch company will electrify your vintage Porsche
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