Car FYI

Photo Credit: Acura As part of the human condition, there is always those who quest for the first. The first piece of cake, the first spot in line for the concert that will sell-out in minutes or the first place at the Rolex 24 at Daytona; the position is often sought-after among those craving attention. At this week's Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, the enviable low-ranking number will be incentive to sell three vehicles for 2016. A fourth car set for sale at the 2016 auction will also carry significance as a desirable early example of a potent super sport compact. In every case, these early example vehicles up for auction are putting charities first. 2016 Chevrolet Camaro COPO Photo Credit:Chevrolet  Estimated Auction Time: 5:00 PM Local  (7:00 PM ET) on Friday January 29, 2016 Decades ago, the acronym 'COPO' first generated a reputation of being feared and respected by the performance car community. A name standing for Cent...

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy Introduced in 2015 as one of the most affordable auto racing touring series in Canada , the showroom stock based Nissan Micra Cup excelled in providing a fun motorsports experience for drivers and race fans. Heading into the second year of Canadian racing, the 2016 Nissan Micra Cup will be fought in areas outside of the province of Quebec. Planning 8 race weekends in 2016, the Nissan Micra Cup will involve two races in each event. Races held within the province of Quebec will continue to feature three staged at Circuit Mont-Tremblant as happened in 2015. Also serving as a return date for the Nissan-supported series sophomore season, the tour will also be part of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres again in 2016. Three races will be held in Ontario that includes the season-opening race weekend at Calabogie Motorsports Park (a 5.05-kilometer track located west of Ottawa). The other two events in the province will take place at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park...

Photo Credit: Chevrolet of Canada Canadians have been told the differential in the currency rates would lead to many things becoming more expensive. After several years where the Canadian dollar was valued higher than the United States dollar, there has been a substantial swing in the other direction. This threat of higher Canadian prices is particularly the case with food (although never discount the motivation of plain, simple greed by an opportunistic entity). As expensive items similar in both the United States and Canada, automobile pricing has seen some of the most extreme differences caused through currency conversion. Canadians simply want to know our earnings are being sought by companies that accept the knowledge of how hard we work for our money. With well-priced items serving as a great springboard for attracting our dollar, Chevrolet's newest Spark subcompact could be a satisfying enticement to car buyers flirting under the five-digit price milestone. Showing t...

Photo Credit: FIA World Rallycross Presented by Monster Energy A high-flying fan favourite in rally and rallycross competition, American driver Ken Block will take his act to a more international stage in 2016. The Hoonigan Racing driver has committed to run all 12 rounds of the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy (informally named World RX) with the support of Ford Performance. Having completed in just two events part of the World RX tour in his career prior, Block's entrance into the series have all indication of being a competitive first full season. "For a big portion of my career I've maintained a mixed focus and kept a diverse race calendar, but now I'll be focusing myself fully on one single championship." said Ken Block responding to his upcoming plans. At the age of 48, Ken Block arrives as a full-time rookie in World RX with considerable credentials. Block's early success was related to the Rally America where...

Photo Credit: Chevrolet You could say Chevrolet recognized the 'current' stage of development for automobiles last year when they unveiled the Bolt EV concept . The electric car concept itself is far from being an imaginative design study but Chevrolet attached a strong sense of purpose behind the small vehicle first shown publicly at the 2015 North American International Auto Show. The last time such focus and devotion accompanied a radical vehicle proposal from Chevrolet, a 2007 plug-in hybrid concept car was sculpted into the production Volt sedan. Coming to life in a city set ablaze by the illumination of electric signs, the example of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV production car shines brightly. A debut at the 2016 CES (Consumer Electronics Show), the 2017 Bolt EV is the second year in a row Chevrolet chose to give the high-tech minded audience in Las Vegas the first look at their electrified production car. Last, year, the second-generation Chevrolet Volt preview  al...

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy When we typically think about car rentals, an exotic driving experience rarely comes to mind. Other than the fact there is sometimes a unique exploratory moments when driving a vehicle you don't own, the standard standard of relatively-new economy cars and vans fall flat of providing meaningful memories behind the wheel. In major cities in the United States, car rental conglomerate Enterprise Rent-A-Car provides customers with a feistier option for spending a day or two with a vehicle. The Exotic Car Collection groups a premium selection of cars and crossover vehicles that would otherwise not be so easily accessible. Depending on the location, Cadillacs, BMWs and even Lamborghinis can be rented through Enterprise's Exotic Car Collection. Part of a recent expansion of their operations, the rental car service has opened its first Canadian Exotic Car Collection venture. Serving the city of Toronto, the Exotic Car Collection program is estab...

Photo Credit: Harman The major exhibition of consumer electronics starting off 2016 serves as the perfect place to take advantage of the optimism of a new 12-month period. A parent company behind premium sound as well as infotainment solution names like Harman Kardon, JBL and Infinity, Harman has unleashed a barrage of news for the 2016 CES in Las Vegas. Cloud-based service delivery, integration with smart home technology and most impressively pupil-based driver monitoring is part of Harman's automotive-related announcements. Not to be left off, Harman also unveils a number of audio system components such as the Infinity Voyager Drive Bluetooth unit. Among the plans for improving the in-car experience for driver and passengers, Harman is partnering with Microsoft to open-up greater connectivity possibilities. Involved in Harman's showcase of new mobile productivity solutions is components of Microsoft's trademark Office 365 technology suite. Integrated with infotai...

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy Technology wastes no time in ringing-in a new year. This week, the CES (Consumer Electronic Show) 2016 edition will provide a dazzling showcase pitching how this recently-arrived year, as well as others following, could be impacted by new ideas. Once a major exhibition for computer companies and home electronics trends, auto companies have rapidly assumed the figurative center stage at CES as a changing driving experience is quickly becoming apparent. Appearing almost as important as Detroit's North American International Auto Show in some aspects, the beginning of the year has Ford Motor Company devoting considerable resources into the 2016 CES. Set to be part of their showcase starting with Tuesday January 5th press conference ahead of the CES' opening, Ford has presented an impressive official show vehicle for the event. The reincarnated supercar that served as an auto show crown jewel in 2015, the 2017 Ford GT represents 2016's new and a...

Photo Credit Ford Motor Company Now in a new year, the traditional auto racing calender gears for a complete reset. New races, new championships and new possibilities all exist in the motorsport world. Canadian Formula 1 prospect 17-year-old Lance Stroll will start his 2016 season with an entirely foreign experience. Just barely old enough to possess a driver's license in most parts of the world, Stroll will participant in driving one an IMSA prototype machine at this year's Rolex 24 at Daytona. A 2014 Formula 4 Italian Championship title winner and winner in Formula 3 this year, Stroll is quickly asserting himself as one of Canada's most promising young talents. Observing the progression of a rising star, Lance Stroll ended last year signing as development driver with the Williams Martini Racing Formula 1 team. For 2016, the teenage driving prospect will compete in his first major sports car event with Chip Ganassi Racing. Stroll will be competing in the prestigiou...