Car FYI

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette is one of the finest-tuned and most recognized performance machines made. Featuring a meticulously sculpted shape combining elements of race cars and jet aircraft, the Corvette’s recent evolution to a rear mid-engined layout for its eighth generation has been a lengthy pursuit for perfection . The 2020 Corvette Stingray with its 495-horsepower Small Block V8 engine contributed to the fastest stock acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per hour while the Z06 edition of the sports car rose the vehicle to the peak of automotive athleticism with a 670-horsepower LT6 powerplant. The book of 70 years of history has been written by eight major revisions that progressed from a modest performer. On this day (June 30th), the first chapter for the Chevrolet Corvette’s story began to be written inside a Flint, Michigan factory where the first car was assembled with less precision and polish than the modern icon. Starting life as Project Ope...

Photo Credit: Car FYI Canada/Chris Nagy Theme of the Show: 40th Anniversary- The Legacy The Canadian automotive landscape had certainly changed over a 40-year time span (at least that would be my impression despite the fact I wasn’t alive in 1974). The brands, the technology and the diversity in vehicle types present two different worlds of motoring.  The 2013 Canadian International AutoShow marked four decades of collecting the latest vehicles under a roof during the middle of winter. Humbly started as an exhibition in the International Centre near Pearson International Airport by a local Toronto dealership organization, the modern incarnation of the car show consumed the floor of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre by the time the 40th edition of the show was held.  As one final note worth mentioning about the 40th edition of the Canadian International AutoShow, Media day occurred on Valentine’s Day so it was an occasion where I spent time with a love in my life. ...

Photo Credit: Bavi Bas/ GM Canada In an event taking place ahead of Christmas, General Motors of Canada contributed two fast vehicles for Durham Children’s Aid Foundation supporting Sharon's Kids. Occurring back in October, I would like to call attention to this event as a constant reminder of how, even despite the difficulties and challenges almost everyone has endured in some form or another in 2020, there remained the capacity to recognize a good charitable cause.  Part of an online auction that was held between October 21st and October 28th, a pair of special Chevrolet Corvettes represented a classic end as well as a new beginning for the long-running sports car in Canada. The first vehicle of note is the final seventh generation Corvette assembled for the Canadian market, a 2019 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe featured a 460-horsepower V-8 engine and a Torch Red colour scheme. The second car positioned in the charity auction was the first of the radical eighth generation model . ...

Photo Credit: Chevrolet/General Motors Delayed by three months by the COVID-19 pandemic and operating under a series of special restriction including the ultimate decision run without fans in attendance at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis 500 will take place for the 104th time this weekend on August 23rd. Set to be a drastically different version of the classic 500-mile event on the 2.5-mile historic oval, the 2020 edition of the great race will continue to feature a few normal touches. One of the familiar traditions with the Indianapolis 500 since its inception is an official pace selected to lead the race cars to the green flag.   Leading the 33-car field to the start of the 104th edition of the Indianapolis 500 will be a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hardtop coupe. Wearing Torch Red exterior paint accompanied with Carbon Flash accents, the Corvette Stingray pace car appearance includes a body colour-matching high-wing rear spoiler and another ground effect a...

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy The recently concluded 2020 edition of the Canadian International AutoShow wraps as a grand celebration of wheels and the motors that propel them. More than just a gathering for vehicle manufacturers to impress us with their latest designs and technologies, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre played host to a multitude of ideas lined to the classic, modern and futuristic automotive genre. Within the massive gathering space was a chance to amuse yourself with various types of interactivity. Branded with the theme of “Transformative Times”, the 2020 Canadian International AutoShow acted in an attempt to shed light along the many crossroads the automobile industry faces while also reminding us of the delight of more than 100 years of motoring. Photo Credit: Chris Nagy In recent years, the Canadian International AutoShow has benefited from a high-profile lead-in that was held in Detroit. Previously a staple for January, the North American Internatio...

Photo Credit: Chevrolet Though the commitment to a Chevrolet Corvette with an engine positioned ahead of the passenger compartment remained the production standard for another generation, a host of concept cars would continue to sell notion of a different powerplant layout. Intended as a research vehicle, the Astro I featured a fiberglass body that did not use conventional doors. An electric-powered roof would open in concert with elevating seats provided a unique entry and exit experience for passengers for a vehicle measuring only 35.5 inches in height. Finished in Crimson-Flame Acrylic Pearl paint, the Astro I design study also consisted of an air-cooled engine, fully automatic air conditioning, twin grip steering wheel and active aerodynamics to facilitate emergency stops. Another concept vehicle displayed a more reality-focused proposal. The XP-880 concept car came to fruition in 1968 under the engineering expertise of Frank Winchell and Larry Nies. Using existing productio...

Photo Credit: Chevrolet On April 11th of 2019, the sports car world was mesmerized by a sight roaming the roads of New York City. A camouflaged version of the upcoming 2020 Corvette teased what would be one of the boldest iterations of the sports car seen the vehicle’s nearly 67-year history. For 2020, the Chevrolet Corvette will operate with an engine mounted behind the driver and passenger for the first time. The Corvette’s retention of a front engine had been viewed as a personality trait for the American performance machine Opening new possibilities in aerodynamics and handling, the notion of a Corvette using this powertrain layout has actually been debated for decades. As the new car debuts on July 18th of 2019, the moment marks the conclusion of a historic battle within General Motors and Chevrolet dating back to the early days of the Corvette taking place with many forms. The first seeds of a mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette were planted in 1960 through the creation of ...

Photo Credit: Chevrolet  When 2018 arrives, the Corvette will enter its 65th year as Chevrolet’s sweetheart sports car. Living a lifetime marked by both prosperity and adversity, the Chevrolet Corvette underwent adjustments through seven generations as culture assesses the modern automobile. The increase reliance on electrification, fuel management and customers favouring other vehicle types has resulted in a global auto market that may not be kind to a rear-wheel drive, V-8 engined sports car. When the 638-horsepower Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 was released between 2009 to 2013 there were even thoughts that classic American sports car philosophies would not translate into succeeding examples of the vehicle. Some of this concern was alleviated by the roll-out of the seventh generation Chevrolet Corvette and the Z06 featuring 650 horsepower of old-fashioned performance greatness. Proceeding into the 2019 model year, the future of the automobile will involve Corvette’s most treas...