Car FYI

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/Car FYI Canada There’s a popular saying in motorsports that money buys speed. However, auto racing competition isn’t always the best source to generate money. Without sponsorships and/or other wealthy parties, the glory to capture victory is an expensive endeavour. Excluding the prestigious Indianapolis 500 where a sizable race purse can make a massive financial impact (for example 2023 race winner Josef Newgarden and his Team Penske organization took $3,666,000 US), the season-long point standings are a barometer for success. This weekend, the NTT IndyCar Series arrives at Thermal Club in Palm Springs, California for a non-points competition with where a driver and team can win a $500,000 American dollars on Sunday for 30 laps of racing.  The 2024 Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge event takes place on March 24th with two 10-lap heat races and a final 20-lap battle between 12 All-Star contenders. The first time in recent history that such a high-paying, non-ch

Photo Credit: Honda Canada Inc. Product Lineup: Accord, Civic, CR-V, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot, Prologue, Ridgeline Overall Brand Impression:  Recognized for its sturdy reputation, Honda demonstrates itself as being exceptionally careful to deliver the vehicles customers want today while insuring they also provide products demanded for tomorrow. Having officially employed Canadians for 55 years, last year marked the company’s 10 millionth vehicle produced in the country with upcoming plans for expansion imminent. For 2024, Honda’s automobile lineup features backbone models such as the Civic and CR-V while the completely-new, all-electric Prologue.  What’s New for 2024:  Welcomed into the Honda lineup for 2024 is the first-ever Prologue. A fully-electric crossover vehicle with a predicted driving range of 450 kilometers thanks to a General Motors-supplied Ultium battery technology, the 2024 Honda Prologue is created as an attractive, practical design. Being delivered in limited

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/Car FYI Canada Product Lineup: Acadia, Canyon, HUMMER EV, Savana, Sierra, Sierra Heavy Duty, Terrain, Yukon, Yukon XL Overall Brand Impression:  GMC’s 2024 lineup of trucks, crossover utility vehicles and commercial vans (the GMC Savana remains in production as a steady work vehicle) reflects a diverse customer base for the General Motors brand. GMC is taking utility along new avenues for the 2024 model year. In addition to a heavily revised, enlarged Acadia crossover and an upgraded Sierra Heavy Duty pickup truck, a full-fledged charge of the HUMMER EV lineup with the SUV joining the pickup truck presents GMC’s work-duty performance in a light for the future.  What’s New for 2024: A brand-new GMC Acadia drops for the 2024 model year as a larger, more capable premium crossover. Stretching 10.6 inches longer than the previous generation vehicle, the 2024 Acadia offers greater space for the three-row passenger cabin. A richer array of safety features, availab

Photo Credit: Genesis Motors North America Product Lineup: Electrified G80, Electrified GV70, G70, G80, G90, GV60, GV70, GV80 Overall Brand Impression:  In August of 2023, Hyundai’s spun-off luxury brand Genesis produced their one-millionth vehicle. The eight-year-old premium marque had rapidly established a niche in the prestigious motoring sector with sedans, crossovers and electric vehicles. For 2024, Genesis continues to foster a reputation for constructing prestigious, well-equipped automobiles.  What’s New for 2024: The entry-level premium sedan in Genesis’ 2024 product lineup, the G70 receives a number of updates. Touting a presence of a new Genesis emblem, enhanced interior and standard Brembo brakes, the 2024 G70 sedan boasts new base power from a 300-horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. For the second half of 2024, Genesis dealerships will receive a new GV80. In addition to the extensively refined but familiar Genesis GV80 SUV, the 2025 model year will al

Photo Credit: Ford Motor Company Product Lineup: Bronco, Bronco Sport, E-Series, E-Transit, Escape, Explorer, Edge, Expedition, F-150, F-150 Lightning, F Series Super Duty, Maverick, Mustang, Mustang Mach-E, Ranger, Transit, Transit Connect Overall Brand Impression:  After more than 120 years as a major automaker, Ford continues to play a delicate balancing act between embracing the requirements for the modern motoring environment while still honouring celebrated automotive staples. Ford’s electric vehicle transition is moving rather smoothly with the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning pickup truck while the Bronco, Escape and Explorer find buyers. Of course, the F-Series truck lineup continues to be the benchmark for all utility vehicles in North American. Finally but most excitingly, the 2024 model year brings an all-new Mustang to the marketplace with bigger and better performance aspirations. What’s New for 2024:  For 2024, the biggest impact on the Ford vehicle portfolio is t

Photo Credit: Fisker Inc. Product Lineup: Ocean Overall Brand Impression:  The second iteration of an electrified auto company that his worn Henrik Fisker’s last name, the California-based Fisker Inc. is hoping to establish a healthy niche in a crowded marketplace. Officially entering business in Canada towards the end of 2023, Fisker has an ambitious product plan starting with the Ocean premium crossover vehicle. What’s New for 2024:  The Fisker Ocean is the latest entrant in the exploding premium-grade, battery electric crossover vehicle genre. Debuting as the One first edition model last year, the Ocean is available in three trim levels; Sport, Ultra and Extreme. Ahead of the 2024 model year, Fisker has rebalanced the pricing for their Ocean trim lineup. The high-end Ocean Extreme trimmed model receives a sizable price reduction of $10,200 Canadian (from $89,999 in 2023 to $79,799 in 2024). Buyers who had already committed to purchasing a Fisker Ocean Extreme model prior to the p

Photo Credit: Ferrari S.p.A. Product Lineup: 296 GTB, 296 GTS, Portofino M, Purosangue, Roma, Roma Spider, SF90 Spider, SF90 Stradale, SF90 XX Spider, SF90 XX Stradale Overall Brand Impression:  The devotion of the Italian artisans that has kept Ferrari as a premium sports car leader stretches right back to the company’s founder. However, while Enzo Ferrari believed in the construction of pure performance machines in disregard for creature comforts, today’s vehicles are assembled with more consideration of customers seeking luxury alongside supercar power. Despite a long resistance to engaging in the popular crossover category, Ferrari demonstrates a level of concession to the mass market in 2024 by introducing the all-new Purosangue. The Purosangue joins an exciting 2024 Ferrari lineup that also includes the introduction of the brand’s first street legal XX program vehicle. What’s New for 2024:  Every vehicle in Ferrari’s 2024 lineup is a merger of style and power. An auto brand reno

Photo Credit: Stellantis Product Lineup: 500e, 500x Overall Brand Impression:  When Fiat reentered North American in 2011, there were high hopes that the Italian car make’s small yet stylish products would establish a healthy niche. Although the distinctive design of the Fiat 500 can still attract admiring stares, the brand has amounted to a very tiny share of the market with the 500x crossover being the only product available in recent years. The Fiat 500 subcompact’s reintroduction to the United States and Canada in 2024 as an entirely electric model line could allow this Stellantis brand to gain new relevance among motorists. What’s New for 2024:  The subcompact Fiat 500 returns to the United States and Canada for 2024 exclusively as a battery electric vehicle. Assembled within a tidy, elegant Italian-styled package, the 2024 Fiat 500e features a powertrain consisting of a 42-kWh battery pack as well as an electric motor generating 118 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque. With a ma

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/Car FYI Canada 2024 Product Lineup: Durango, Hornet Overall Brand Impression:  2024 for the Dodge brand features a contrast for its image. Dodge loses two modern icons (the Charger and the Challenger) but gains focus and promise for the future. While an electrified performance coupe is eagerly anticipated, a taste of this aggression can now be obtained through the recently introduced Dodge Hornet that drops its plug-in hybrid variant in 2024. The dependable Durango sport utility vehicle carries the brand’s reputation for everyday versatility with a health dose of sportiness and luxury. What’s New for 2024:  Last year, the Hornet compact crossover became the first all-new product to be added to the Dodge lineup since the unsuccessful Dart in 2013. For 2024, the awaited plug-in hybrid model of the Hornet debuts using the R/T badge in a historically significant way. The first time that Dodge’s Road/Track branding is being applied to a hybrid or electrified produc

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/Car FYI Canada 2024 Product Lineup: Grand Caravan, Pacifica  Overall Brand Impression:  The namesake brand founded by Walter P. Chrysler approaches its centennial in a rather depressing state. With the departure of the Chrysler 300 sedan after 2023, the marque has lost a lasting(though somewhat tired) image-shaping automobile. Due to apparent neglect for the upscale American marque by parent Stellantis as they prefer promoting Alfa Romeo and Jeep as premium choices, Chrysler is represented by only a pair of minivans for 2024.  What’s New for 2024:  The final Chrysler 300C was produced at the Brampton Assembly Plant on December 9th of 2023 with the last vehicle finished in Velvet Red and powered by a HEMI V8 engine. As Chrysler enters 2024 officially closing a major chapter the auto brand has not immediately opened a new story.  Chrysler’s 2024 model year in Canada includes the Pacifica, Pacifica Hybrid and Grand Caravan. 2024 Chrysler Pacifica minivans ar

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/Car FYI Canada 2024 Product Lineup: Blazer, Blazer EV, Bolt EV, Bolt EUV, Camaro, Colorado, Corvette, Corvette E-RAY, Equinox, Equinox EV, Express, Malibu, Silverado, Silverado HD, Silverado EV, Suburban, Tahoe, Trailblazer, Traverse, Trax Overall Brand Impression:  Chevrolet reaches a nexus point in its history in 2024 as its planned metamorphosis will see the popular North American auto brand shift. A model line consisting of a growing number of electrified vehicles will now include a hybrid version of the classic Corvette sports car. While tough and durable Silverado, versatile Traverse family crossover and even the Malibu sedan continue as mainstays this year, 2024 for the bowtie badged marque will see the end of the road for the second life of the Chevrolet Camaro.     What’s New for 2024:  Changes are found throughout much of the 2024 Chevrolet product range. The flashiest addition to the bowtie badge is the new Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray. A hybrid versi