Car Talk Archives - Page 75 of 149

Been Filming with Motoring TV

Feb 19 2014

Motoring TV – Canada’s longest running TV show * about cars on TSN.

* 26 years!

Acutal real microphones were used, a first for me.

They film on tape, gah; I could never.

Years ago I wrote a diatribe against tape, hang on… here, 2009.

Feel just as strongly today.

This is the crispest footage of me, ever.

These are all for a new segment we launched today,
Motoring TV ‘Double Talk‘.

Keep an eye MotoringTV.com, I’ll be in a bunch starting tomorrow.

I’m pointing here!

Aaaaand action.

[photos by Ed Gatner]

Nissan’s All-new Micra – the Only Car under $10k

Feb 19 2014

Nissan’s all-new Micra is the
lowest priced car in the country,
starting at $9,998

It’s a 1.6 L engine, outputting 109 hp and 107 lb-ft of toque, available in either 4-spd automatic or… manual. Nice.

As you expect, that’s the base model price, which means manual windows and doors.

But still, the rear seats fold 60/40, you can connect a device and play music, there’s a rear wiper with washer, and a Traction Control System (TCS).

The available features list includes all the en vogue stuff like: backup camera and colour screen; steering wheel controls; USB; A/C; Bluetooth hands-free phone; and remote keyless entry.

For such a low-priced car, I was hmm, the interior will feel chintzy, but I pawed it at the auto show, and it doesn’t. Nissan told me that because they buy parts in such massive bulk for both Nissan and Renault, they can get better quality finishings and materials.

Here’s the full spec sheet.

Make sure to order the below “Cargo Cover” (it’s an option). Security.

This car is specifically built for Canada.

Tim Franklin, head Product Planner at Nissan, is the gentleman behind customizing for our country, and I’ve interviewed him about that for my ‘Keri on Driving‘ column – How Nissan modifies cars for Canadians.

Tim conducts a “hockey stick test” ha (see also: the 6 Types of Features).

Didier Marsaud and I celebrated with cake.

Salut Monsieur, and bienvenue à ma blogue!

2015 Nissan Micra
Starting at $9,998

Arrives in dealerships this spring.

Ford’s keeps a ‘Futurist’ on Staff

Feb 19 2014

A real life pattern-recognition machine! She predicts upcoming trends, then suggests to Ford how to best prepare for them. For someone with a blog section dedicated to Predictions ya, so into it.

Meet Sheryl Connelly, who was delightful.

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

Trends move slower than we think, about three years at a time, while a fad comes and goes quickly. Example: jeans are a trend, while the style of jeans (e.g. skinny or bootcut) are a fad.

***

Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

AutoShow = 15 Videos Filmed and 0 Tweets

Feb 13 2014

Not one! Quite the departure from previous shows and years. This was one of the only photos I took, Lexus’ new concept car.

But looking over the #CIAS hashtag, and doesn’t look like I’m alone, it’s quite sparse compared to past years. Don’t know why, but interesting eh.

Video though, most every by far. Miles and I killed it. We filmed a KeriBlog video and one for my segment on Motoring, a total of 7 cars mini-reviews.

Russ and I also filmed about 5 mini-car reviews for Motoring,

These will air week after next.

This has easily my best auto week yet. Been killing it all week.

Ford granted me 1/2 exclusive interviews to their… Futurist. For someone with an entire blog section dedicated to Predictions you bet I was into it.

Meet Sheryl Connelly, who was delightful.

I rarely use that word, because it rarely fits. But she really was.

Next week’s Keri on Driving column is about that, then I also fit in a video interview for KeriBlog, asking her what she thought of my personal predictions. We had so much fun I’m pleased to report she was late for her second interview (with Zoomer Media at that; little KeriBlog.com win there ha, oh I love my job).

Two parties last night, first a Chrysler party, then dinner with Nissan / Infiniti.

It’s not really right to take photos at these things, especially being this weirdo blog/journalist hybrid, so I usually err on the side of no.

Can’t feel the balls of my feet from being on them all day (did 12 hours in 4″ shoes son!).

Came home to the return of my BFF from Africa (Suzy HI), who, in her typical BFF fashion, had left me a message to say shed arrived home safe, and then all about how her boys had told her about how, in the Kingston paper this week, 4 of the 9 auto articles were by me, and she was so proud, nothing about ohhh that she’d just travelled to the other side of the world xo.

Hi from my local, just cheered you with my Stella while I blog this, then Motoring’s two posts tomorrow (you didn’t know I was doing that eh ;).

Been averaging about 3 hours / night, I do sleep deprivation pretty well, boom boom. I am blinking a lot though, and bet I’ll read this tomorrow, shaking my head.

Tomorrow morning we’re off to a Corvette event, then file my column, and then that’s my week complete, fall on my face.

TTYT