Car FYI

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/Car FYI Canada Theme of the Show: Beyond Expectations For an event that featured the Canadian debut and/or exhibition of several high-performance vehicles, the opening ceremonies were a particularly high-octane affair. The late Sergio Marchionne, than-CEO of Fiat Group and later Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), took to the stage for the company’s press conference followed by a Q&A in an act that could be viewed as brave or foolish. Just ahead of the auto show, his automaker had been reportedly asking for $700 million in government assistance to upgrade their Canadian manufacturing short of five years after the company accepted nearly $3 billion in loans from the Ontario provincial and Canadian federal governments in order to restructure Chrysler Group. Despite the allegations there was some serious hardball being played by the auto company, Marchionne’s speech and tone attempted to divert any hostilities drawing heavily on his personal Canadian conne...

    How many off-road adventurers have been waiting for the 2017 model year vehicles to roll onto dealership lots? The impending arrival the EcoBoost powered next-generation version of the F-150 based Ford Raptor the probably fueled the dreams of many who are attracted to the roads less traveled (or do not exist at all). The 2017 Raptor will be Ford's attempt to better its 411-horsepower off-roading pickup truck. Though Ford decided to create an all-new vehicle, Shelby American's Baja 700 conversion awakens the 2011 to 2014 model year 6.2-liter V-8 engined vehicle. In addition to the purchase of a 2011 to 2014 model year Ford SVT Raptor, Shelby's Baja 700 equipment package equates to a $45,000 investment. Not the first Ford SVT Raptor given the Shelby treatment, the respected Las Vegas based company enters a bold new performance realm. Exhibiting the same tenacious quest sports car excellence as the AC Cobra and GT350 version of the Ford Mustang, the limited edition...

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has issued some startling news related to vehicle accidents occurring on roads they patrolled in 2014. Published numbers paint a disturbing picture of tragedies on Ontario roadways that could have been completely avoided. In all of Ontario, a total of 74,684 motor vehicle collisions occurred in 2014 (a reduction from 75,684 province-wide collisions in the 12 months of 2013). Due many of those resulted in damage to a car, truck, motorcycle or other vehicle, a sizable number of accidents ultimately proved fatal. Overall fatalities on Ontario roads showed a modest reduction for 2014 compared to the previous year with the total number falling from 290 to 287. Though the slight reduce has been a pleasing sight for the OPP, the data is by no means celebrated. The most alarming numbers is the amount of deaths on OPP patrolled roads occurring due to contributing circumstances. The four major factors (cal...

Location: Various On-line retailers and stores Price: $1-189.99 This next Car FYI Gift List idea is a bit on the nose but can not be underestimated in its appeal. Young or old, Hot Wheels lead the way into the hearts of true car fans. For budding automotive enthusiasts, Hot Wheels provide an extension of imagination and basically hours of fun either on specialized tracks or practically anywhere else. For adults, Hot Wheels captures past memories as well as a continuing passion for automobile. Providing myself only the occasional indulgence, I was fortunate to find two vehicles etched in my childhood. First being Knight Rider's K.I.T.T. in Super Pursuit Mode and the second was Herbie the Love Bug. Larger, high-detail replicas are also provided through the Hot Wheels Elite line. The vehicle shown in the picture is the special San Diego Comic-Con version of the Darth Vader car part of the recently unveiled Hot Wheels Star Wars line. Right now on Amazon.com, one ex...

Location: Mercedes Benz Collection Price: $145.95 One of the most iconic Mercedes-Benz production vehicles ever built, the 300 SL Gullwing was derived from a winning race car. The unique opening doors, the first-ever application of fuel injection to a performance car and limited in production to just 1,400 examples from 1954 to 1957, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing is a prized vehicle among high-end collectors. While the full-sized 300 SL Gullwing could demand over $300,000 at a top auction, the gift item-oriented  Mercedes-Benz Collection offers a smaller, more affordable alternative for fans of the 1950s supercar. Part of their 2014 Holiday Star line of lifestyle accessories, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Model Car and Pen features a 1:43 scale die cast replica of the classic Gullwing sports car painted in Fire Engine Red. A black ballpoint pen with red accents is destined to be moved by a pleased writer when they are looking at the miniaturized 300 SL. The die ca...

Location: Sparkle Canada Price: $39.21 The Ford Mustang has long had a strong relationship with women during its 50 years in the marketplace. This allegiance was forged early in the production of the famous American classic. Ford has reported  "the first retail produced Mustang” was purchased by school teacher Gail Wise in Chicago. Ahead of the introduction of the brand-new 2015 Ford Mustang, one lifestyle product was released specifically tailored to the pony car’s faithful female followers. OPI Ford Mustang Nail Lacquer Collection Described as a limited-edition nail lacquer collection, the Ford Mustang-themed products come in six colours. The list of categorized colours include ‘Race Red‘, a golden pearl ‘50 Years of Style‘, black ‘Queen of the Road‘, pinkish ‘Girl Love Ponies‘, ‘The Sky’s My Limit’ aqua hue and ‘Angel with a Leadfoot’ consisting of a celestial white. According to OPI Co-Founder and EVP Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, “These lacquers celebrate...

Price: 250.95 US Location: Mopar Authetic Gear (US Site) This year, Mopar celebrated the 50 th anniversary of the 426 HEMI racing engine. While Chrysler Corporation had utilized powerplants utilizing hemispherical chambers since the 1950s, the 426 cubic-inch version (nicknamed the Elephant) was considered the zenith of their HEMI development. Developed as a racing engine, Chrysler intended to win the Daytona 500 with the Tom Hoover-designed 426 HEMI V-8. At the 1964 Daytona 500, Richard Petty lead a top-three sweep at the track powered by the Chrysler engine. Aside from stock car racing, the 426 HEMI engine would also become a force in professional drag racing. Street Chrysler products equipped with the Elephant was and remains a prized example of Mopar muscle car performance. As a special treat for hard-core Mopar fans, a reproduction of the blueprint for the groundbreaking performance is provided as a high-quality piece. Chrysler’s A864 HEMI® Cylinder Block Line Drawin...

Some believe that companies are living entities similar to other creatures on this planet. Certainly businesses can be fostered into valuable members of human society when properly encouraged. Like individuals, companies are also required to pay taxes in a fair civilization (although many elect to declare their residence in a civilization that results in the smallest tax bill). Businesses can even be adored to an extent as brands and products can assemble a strong following. The automotive sector contains some of the deepest connections where people have grown all attached to a product name. The Chevrolet Corvette is envied for being a sports car embodying American performance while the Jeep Wrangler epitomizes classic utility. Even the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic enjoy a fondness among North American motorists as trusted transportation. These types of associations are highly valued to the point even a minor change has the potential of completely ostracizing audi...

Are you still seeking that ideal gift for that car lover in your life? Young and old, the attraction of four-wheeled vehicles has long-served as a source of amusement. While some of us would identify our ideal Christmas or holiday gift with 707 horsepower flowing to the rear wheels of a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat , a majority of enthusiasts can be won over by a fun, thoughtful surprise related to the automobiles. For this reason, Car FYI has compiled several gift ideas for the Canadian automotive fan. Recognizing the assorted tastes of individuals enchanted by car culture, maybe one suggestion will guide the gift-giver or perhaps the self-gifter. Starting off the 2014 Holiday Gift List, I share with you an item that definitely caught my eye. On the first day of 2014, retailer Canadian Tire created a chillingly awesome commercial for the MotoMaster Eliminator battery. Premiering during the January 1st Winter Classic NH...

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy In a previous post, I shared the results compiled by the Insurance Bureau of Canada on the top-10 most frequently stolen vehicles in this country for 2014. Having already shared the story of the nation's most frequently stolen vehicles , the organization also created lists relating to regions of Canada shining a spotlight on the fact that thieves in certain provinces prey upon specific automobiles. Dividing Canada into five areas, there is indeed major differences in the types of vehicles stolen. Prairies and Territories Encompassing four provinces and three territories in Canada, pickup truck thefts appear to dominate the mindset of thieves. Eight of the top-10 most targeted vehicles on the list for the region are Ford Super Duty pickup trucks. These numbers of this region of Canada has clearly resonated with the regional trends as the 2007 Ford F-250 Super Duty made the top of both lists. Two vehicles of no...

In most cases, automakers appreciate it when their vehicles are found at the top of charts. In Canada, Ford Motor Company has contently watched as their F-Series truck line has been a hot commodity. On-road and off-road capacities for Ford's pickup trucks has been reflected year after year. As a matter of fact, 48 years of sales-topping performances in its class reveals the Canadian popularity for this dependable work vehicle. Coveted among hard-working individuals and businesses, the Ford F-Series has unfortunately become a magnet for thieves. A report released on Wednesday by the Insurance Bureau of Canada highlighted the top-10 most stolen vehicles in this country. On the national chart, Ford F-Series trucks appeared on the list a total of seven times. With Ford F-Series pickups taking the top three positions on the list, the 2003 Cadillac Escalade is positioned in fourth place as the highest vehicle not to b...

With months of cold, snowy weather, vast landmass and limited charging stations outside pockets of urban areas, electric vehicles currently face a tough road in Canada. A company driven technological visionary Elon Musk, Tesla Motors has not been deterred from expanding their dealership network north of the 49th parallel. The first Canadian Tesla store opened at  Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Centre in late 2012. Since the Toronto store opening, Tesla expanded west adding a sales outlet on Vancouver's Robson Street and added a several service outlets. This weekend, the city of Montreal receives increased attention from the electric car maker with the christening of a new store inside the large French-Canadian city. Opening with a VIP celebration Friday night, Tesla's latest Montreal sales and service center came alive on Ferrier street. During the weekend, the mood of the dealership will be el...

Since its introduction in 2002, Toyota's Scion brand has been fighting to gain traction as a hip and popular youth-oriented spectacle. Scion has been devoted in selling small, affordable vehicles while the North American Toyota brand converged itself on the mid-range of the auto sector. However, despite Scion's creative marketing and promises for personalization, the brand has not entirely succeeded in winning over customers. Recent additions of the FR-S and the iQ microcar has made Scion showrooms a more entertaining destination but the novelty of those vehicles appears to be exhausting. Scion sales in Canada following October is down compared to 2013. Division sales in the first 10 months of 2014 is down 18.8 percent compared to the same time last year. In order to reinvigorate the young blood of the Scion brand, a new hatchback concept car will debut at the...

Porsche's enthusiasm for motorsports has been the cornerstone of the brand's prestige as a sports car maker. While the German performance vehicle builder has been regularly competing with production-based race machines through the 21st century, Porsche has not had a purpose-built race car entered in the top prototype category of Le Mans. In fact, the last time Porsche contended in the prototype class of the French sports car classic occurred before Audi entered the their first R8R vehicle in competition. After 16 years, the 16-time overall event winner returned to the daylong sports car endurance race with the Porsche 919 Hybrid. Although the two Porsche entries suffered problems during the 24-hour race, there was still a celebratory spirit at Porsche Centre Oakville. This enthusiasm his now been recognized by through a global competition for marketing. Triumphing against respected dealerships across the global ...