Car FYI

Photo Credit: Ford Motor Company A segment appearing on the surface to be working contrary to the modern automobile segment, the extended-duty three-quarter and one-ton pickup truck market has been facing the same type of scrutiny as passenger vehicles. Greater efficiency and improved technologies are almost universal traits sought from the latest vehicles. While passenger cars and crossovers are intent to promote better fuel economy as well as a more enriching commuting experience with infotainment systems, pickup trucks are expected to make the most from a powerful engine for greater towing and hauling strength. Ford Motor Company’s critically-acclaimed rethinking of their highly-popular, half-ton F-150 pickup truck showed a bold departure from the traditions of the work vehicle segment. Creating lighter weight, intelligently-equipped vehicles with the F-150, the 2017 Super Duty is the next chapter in Ford trucks’ new book on building a trusted hauler for the 21st century.  

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy On Monday night, Volkswagen was in New York City wanting focus to be on the premiere of their new 2016 model year Passat sedan. Instead, the German-based auto company was seen largely as the perpetrators of one of the most sinister new-car emission law breaches in current automotive history. Announced on Friday, September 18th, the United States EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) issued a notice of violation to Volkswagen in regards to members of their diesel engine family sold in North America. Diesel versions of the Volkswagen Beetle, Golf, Jetta, Passat as well as the Audi A3 (a premium vehicle based on the same platform as the Golf) produced in model years between 2009 and 2015 are all embroiled in a wild controversy. Altogether, the total vehicles affected amounts to around 500,000 cars in the United States and Canada. Championed by Volkswagen by a "TDI Clean Diesel", these vehicles powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine hav

  For decades, Honda has been able to depend upon their compact Civic as the bread and butter model for the brand. A reliable, trustworthy vehicle delivering much of what the overall driver is looking for in a car, the Honda Civic has been popular. In Canada, the Civic has spent the past 17 years as the best-selling car. Canada is also the proud home of a production facility for the economy car with the Alliston, Ontario manufacturing plant. A car that long enjoyed the spotlight as the example of efficient small cars, the current Civic in 2015 has arguably lost perspective of the automotive marketplace in the second decade of the 21 st century. The ninth-generation Honda Civic launched for the 2012 model year for the North American market was received poorly. In the following year, an unusual early revision of the Honda Civic took care of some problems but issues with the bland styling and dated engine technology plagued the car in recent years. The emerge of the mundane ni

While all auto companies seek to be a fashion idol in one way or another, luxury car companies all aim to be the Coach bag or Armani suit of the wheeled kind. By moving their head office into New York City's trendy SoHo area, General Motors' luxury car gem Cadillac has been planting their ear to the ground to high-fashion. It appears Cadillac has quickly made use of contacts gained in its new neighbourhood. Through a collaboration announcement with fellow American brand and fashion designer Public School, Cadillac has provided a detailed tease of their latest, all-new crossover vehicle. The partnership for a Dubai Pre-Fall Collection for Public School in November will also coincide with launch of Cadillac's eagerly-awaited new model. As predicted, the newest Cadillac crossover vehicle is part of a name branding strategy. Called the XT5, the 2017 model year product will be the luxury automobile's first redesign of a crossover since 2010. From the three clea

This year, Honda is celebrating an important milestone in both their motorsport history as well as the brand in general. On October 24th of 1965, a Honda constructed RA272 Formula 1 race car took victory at the Mexican Grand Prix. Leading the race from start to finish, Richie Ginther wheeled the first-ever Japanese built vehicle to win a Formula 1 event. For the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, Honda will unveil a modern homage to the performance that drove the 1965 Formula 1 machine that also represents the brand's 'The Power of Dream' philosophy. The Honda Project 2&4 concept machine is a lightweight yet powerful mergence of vehicle types and ideas. A concept sculpted as a result of an in-house 'Global Design Project' competition among more than 80 designers, the final vehicle shape for Honda Project 2&4 Concept references the talent of a united 'Team Honda' entity. Project 2&4 marries automobile and motorcycle qualities for a raw sport vehicle

Realizing an automotive landscape today where almost every automaker promoting vehicles with some kind of electrified powertrain, it is hard to recall how 20 years ago electric or hybrid cars were seen as an oddity. Back then, Toyota raised eyebrows with the production of a small car that combined gasoline and electric power to move. Advertised as a more environmentally-friendly way of travel, the idea also presented some practicality. The first Toyota Prius was bold technology for the 1990s based on an idea that actually dated back around the turn of the 20th century. To many, a gasoline engine and electric motor working together was a wacky premise resulting in the Prius being received like the stereotypical nerdy kid. Bravery of the Toyota Prius allowed it to survive critics who dismissed the advantages of the hybrid vehicle as a green fad or bean-counters who believed hybrids can never be produced profitably. No longer the era where the majority of Internet came through a di

Ever since Porsche introduced the Cayenne in the 2000s, no automaker has been ruled-out in adding a crossover vehicle to their line-up. At 2012 Geneva Motor Show, British luxury vehicle brand Bentley unveiled a concept design to what was seen as the impending arrival of a super-luxury crossover. A marque seen as one of the most prestigious builders of automobiles in the world, Bentley only needed to create a world-topping vehicle for the popular segment. Almost four years later, the Bentley Bentayga is the form of an all-new bred of luxury crossover vehicle. Though the Bentayga represents the inauguration of Bentley's foray into a new class of motoring, the vehicle is the end result of a long, uneasy journey of exploration. The EXP 9 F Concept (an initial design creation meant to chart the vision of Bentley's crossover vehicle) premiered in 2012 to a largely negative reception. While the idea of a Bentley crossover vehicle was not significantly opposed, the exterior de

Photo Credit: Mattel, Inc. For any fan of Star Wars, the Stormtroopers is instantly recognized as a feared military group operating under the Emperor. While fierce in numbers and equipped with superior weaponry, it is somewhat surprising to the reason how the Stormtroopers can be so terrifying judging by the movies in the original trilogy. Despite their often overwhelming numbers, they're often beaten by the heroes in the Star Wars franchise. Stormtroopers' shaky aim has also been a source of comedic reference. Still, the white armoured army of the Galactic Empire remains a stable of Star Wars. Corresponding with Mattel's release of all-new toys for what is possibility the most popular film franchise around, Stormtroopers invaded the streets of the New York City. Eight specially-decorated Dodge Charger SRT 392 sedans appeared in the Big Apple on Friday September 4th known as Force Friday. The so-called Star Wars First Order Stormtrooper Dodge Chargers are available a

Photo Credit: FCA US Becoming the most famous six-cylinder engine design created for Chrysler/FCA products since the Slant-6 that was produced for most than 40 years, the 3.6-liter displacement size Pentastar V-6 gained favour for being powerful, fuel efficient and universal in a single package. Topping out at 305-horsepower with the Dodge Challenger, the evolved engine allows the coupe to achieve 30 miles per gallon highway fuel economy (7.8 liters per 100-kilometer range by Canadian fuel economy measurements). For 2015, almost every vehicle of the Chrysler, Dodge and Ram division offer the modern six-cylinder powerplant. Offered as the base engine in the Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan, even the Ram pickup truck and ProMaster work van make use of the power source. For 2016, the Pentastar V-6 has undergone a significant reworking that should be immediately noticed by buyers of FCA vehicles . Introduced by Chrysler for the 2011 model year, the Pe