Car FYI

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy It is an art for a premium automobile brand to provide a special aura around their vehicles. Historically, there are two ways to win over an affluent clientele. The first method is luxury features such as leather seating and advanced technology suites provide a comfort-oriented impression of high-end motoring. Another way a premium marque attracts special prominence is through performance. While luxury cars would often deliver more than enough power for a boulevard ride, the recent direction has been to infusing outright, pavement-burning high-performance into a model line-up. In doing so, boutique performance groups have grown inside popular luxury brands. BMW has their M models, Cadillac features a V line and Mercedes-Benz adds sensationalism to their vehicle lin-up through AMG. In 2013, Volvo joined the tailored high-performance fight through a partnership with a Swedish motorsport team. Founded in 1996, Polestar Racing instantly developed...

Photo Credit: Mazda North American Operations At the beginning of the Bruce Springsteen music video for his classic hit "Born to Run", I remember him saying "Nobody wins unless everybody wins". In a world where these victories are difficult to come by, it is truly amazing when a great number of us benefit positively. With one special model of the 2016 Mazda MX-5 sold in the United States last weekend, there were plenty of winners. The Launch Edition version of the 2016 Mazda MX-5 is dressed-up version of the top-tiered Grand Touring model of the new roadster. Accounting as the first 1,000 models of the fourth-generation sports car, the MX-5 Launch Edition also includes Advanced Keyless Entry and comes with a branded Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth speaker. Priced aa $30,495 for a six-speed manual or $31,570 for the six-speed automatic gearbox model, preregistration was required on a special website for the opportunity to buy a limited issue 2016 Mazda MX-5...

Photo Credit: Chris Jones The past few months have been a busy time. It has been my deepest regrets I fell behind on the Car FYI Car of the Month updates. One occupation of time has been the rapidly moving 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series. A tight season started in late March and ending in late August, the 16-race schedule quickly flooded towards the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 99th Indy 500. A race won by a brilliant performance by Juan-Pablo Montoya, the Team Penske organization secured its 16th win in the race. However, up until the green flag flew for the Memorial Day weekend classic event, The majority of focus for the Month of May activities at the speedway was foreshadowed by a wicked Monday practice crash. The accident resulting in a broken right front suspension component on the #5 car fielded by Schmidt Peterson Motorsports sent James Hinchcliffe violently into a wall. Thankfully by no small effort of the Holmatro Safety Team, Hinchcliffe received prompt me...

Heavily popular in much of Europe to the point they would sometimes outpace gasoline engines, diesel powerplants exists as a niche item in North America. Large-scale interest in diesel powerplants in North America was a by-product of high gasoline prices in 2008. Although gas prices have dropped from impairing highs, many auto companies were still committed to offer diesel engine options. Attached to building small, affordable cars, Japanese auto brand Mazda created an uproar in 2012 when they pledged to include a diesel engine as part of their upcoming Mazda6 sedan and CX-5 crossover vehicle for North American consumers. Part of Mazda’s campaign to convince American and Canadian audiences to the effectiveness of their so-called SkyActiv-D engine took place in sports car racing. After three years, there have been signs Mazda’s diesel marketing tool is running out of momentum. Since May, it has been rumoured the SpeedSource team fielding Mazda’s diesel-powered prototype effor...

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy Canada is a great land with great people. As a Canadian, I am happy each and every year on July 1st to celebrate a collective greatness with my countrymates. Barbeques, fireworks and the proud displays of the Maple Leaf flag is some of the ways Canada Day is remembered each year. During my Canada Day, I spent time reviewing photos I have taken over the years of race cars. While it took me some time to prepare my presentation, I proudly display for you a sampling of Canadian motorsport history. 1986: Paul Tracy's Kroll Racing Frissbee-Chevrolet Photo Credit: Chris Nagy Auto racing enthusiasts of the 1960s and 1970s would fondly celebrate the Can-Am Series. Auto racing greats such as Penske Racing's first superstar Mark Donohue, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Formula 1 race team founder Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme are just a few big names that wheeled some of the most exotic sports cars on the planet during the e...