Car Talk Archives - Page 6 of 149

2 Favourite Jeep Concept Vehicles

Nov 13 2015

Each year Jeep creates a collection of concept vehicles to showcase its skills, and the Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts that are available to buy.

For 2015, Jeep produced 7 concepts. They were then driven on the 49th Easter Jeep Safari, an annual week-long off-road adventure through the rugged trails of Moab, Utah.

Of the 7, these are my 2 favourites. Both are manual!

Jeep Chief

A nod back to the 1970s full-size Jeep Cherokee, with a surfer twist.

Bet this Chief would sell like crazy.

And people would lose their minds over the tiki-guy gearshift knob.

Jeep Staff Car

A salute to Jeep’s military service vehicles.

That this one is my favourite should surprise no one.

Same engine as the Chief – a 3.6 L Pentastar V6, paired to a 6-speed manual transmission.

Looks old, but is all-new.

Spotted in Utah while I was there off-roading the 2015 Jeep Cherokee.

Heads-Up Display is Coming your Way – HUD

Nov 13 2015

I don’t like most new auto technology – I think it encourages lazy, distracted driving – but HUD, oh I am SO into HUD.

HUD – Heads-Up Display – a holographic technology used to communicate information directly into the driver’s field of vision.

There’s 2 types of HUD. Both are visible in direct sunlight… somehow. It’s kind’ve amazing.

1 – Projection HUD

The image is projected through a lens in the windshield, making it appear like it’s floating above the hood directly in the driver’s vision.

Use the hard buttons to customize that image. As seen above – display the current radio station, which direction the vehicle is travelling, the posted speed limit, what the cruise control is set at, and navigation instructions appear here too.

2/6 of my last press cars had HUD.

This 2016 Cadillac Escalade.

2 – Translucent Screen HUD

While HUD was once reserved for luxury vehicles, some automakers are bringing it down to entry-level cars, like the 2016 Mazda3.

The image is projected onto a screen located just below the driver’s field of vision. While still effective, usually this type isn’t as customizable as the projection HUD.

The added bonus though, is when the car is turned on the screen rises dramatically from the dash, like a fighter jet video game.

Mazda calls it which Active Driving Display.

Found on the 2016 Mazda3 GT (top trim.)

If the new car you’re buying offers HUD,
it’s worth the upgrade.

Learn more in my column – HUDs are Good

Drive by Laser. No Really… LASERS

Nov 12 2015

Not being dramatic. These laser headlights literally exist.

See – sticker proof.

It’s an all-new technology from Audi, making them 1st automaker to offer laser lights in production cars.

It will debut on the 2017 Audi R8.

How it Works:

There are 2 lasers installed into the headlight for use when the high-beams are engaged.

These 2 lasers replace the 37 LEDs found in the 2015 models.

The lasers emit a blue colour which is converted into a pure, white light that mimics daylight. And because a laser light is both brighter and more concentrated, it reduces driver fatigue and makes it easier to recognize contrast.

Best of all though, a laser high‑beam achieves twice the lighting range of an LED one.

It can be fine-tuned better than an LED. So the 2017 R8’s camera‑based sensor system will detect an oncoming vehicle, then actively adjust the light pattern to exclude it from the high-beam’s glare.

In the photo below, top is the light at the end of a track day, in the bright sun with my iPhone. Below is the press photo. Pretty eh.

Important – ONLY Canadian models
will offer this tech

The headlights on the 2017 American model will be the same LCDs as the outgoing one.

So US buyers – the cost of importing our model might be worth it, if only so you can say, “hi hi, my car has lasers.”

The 2016 Chevy Equinox

Nov 11 2015

2016 Chevy Equinox LTZ AWD

2.4 L 4-cylinder engine
6-speed automatic transmission
All-wheel Drive (AWD)

182 horsepower
172 lb.-ft. of torque

Starting at $26,795
This one $37,995

You know me – function over fashion, forever – so I like the look of this Equinox.

That’s not to say I think the Equinox is ugly, not at all. In fact, the model you’re looking at remains mostly unchanged since its debut in 2009. As in – this vehicle will age well.

A fast way to differentiate previous model years from this 2016 is the new grille and headlights.

Available in 3 trims – LS, LT, LTZ – this is the top LTZ.

Remember, this Equinox is a people-mover; it’s not supposed to press you back in your seat, it’s a work horse, and it does that well. Pickup is decent off the launch, and while your foot will be to the floor while merging or passing, it’ll get there. While towing 1,500 pounds too.

Steering and suspension follow suit – tuned for comfort – and during it all the cabin is quite quiet.

AWD is available in each trim, another +$2,200. And it’s possible to opt-up to a 3.6L V6 engine which outputs 301 hp and 272 lb-ft of torque.

Fuel economy is rated at 9.9 L / 100 km (combined,) and I achieved a 9.7 L / 100 km. Not sure I’ve ever typed a that I achieved a lower rating before; I drive like a pig remember.

The centre console controls are easily learned, and there’s so many hard buttons! YES.

Features include remote start, a backup camera, cruise control, 8-way power front seats that are heated, and the cabin’s climate control is automatic.

A + $2,325 sees the addition of a sunroof, higher quality speakers and a navigation system.

The backseat is roomy, one of the largest in the segement, and ready – the rear seats recline. Nice eh.

This makes the cargo area slightly smaller than some of its competitors, but no matter, fold down the 60/40 seats and it’ll be fine.

Like most GM products, standard on all trims is the ability to connect the car to the internet.

Using OnStar with 4G LTE and a built-in WiFi Hotspot, passengeres can connect via the dashboard. Learn more here.

Chevy is great at storage.

Like the two-tiered centre stack cubbies, and the deep armrest storage compartment that easily holds your Happy Meal Spiderman driving glasses.

A + $1,250 Driver Confidence Package adds the en vogue driving aids – blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, rear park assist and forward collision alert. That’s a well priced package.

However, see the below photo? That orange bar is the forward collision alert, which I found a bit sensitive. Why is it lighting up when I’m passing on the highway?

If I owned this SUV, a piece of electrical tape would go overtop.

You’re going to start seeing these Equinoxes everywhere.

Look on your drive home tonight. It’s not that I pointed them out, but because this is Chevy’s 2nd best-selling vehicle (1st is a pickup truck.)

Saved the best fact for last…
the Equinox is built in Canada!

The Oshawa, Ontario Assembly plant produces SUV.

Blog tag = Chevy

Spoke at the Automotive Business School of Canada

Nov 10 2015

This morning I spoke at the Automotive Business School of Canada.

It was great to meet you, class! Clever of you to specialize in this industry, an ever-growing one with gobs of money behind it, an endless number of verticals so there’s a place for whatever your passion, and best of all, people who are passionate, intelligent and industrious.

To those contemplating getting a degree in anything auto-related, this is your school.

Choose between a 2 or 4 year program, both of which boast an ridiculously high 90% grad placement rate over the past 28 years. And it uses a lot of experiential learning, like how the class annually hosts the largest outdoor Auto Show in North America.

The curriculum for this class features a weekly guest speaker. Last week was the President of Audi Canada, this week was Jim Kenzie and I, whom you’ve met before.