Car FYI

Photo Credit: FCA North America Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is seen as a slower adopter to electrified motoring compared to many other major automakers. Through much of the 2010s, the vehicle builder was mainly focused on bolstering the Jeep as well as the young Ram brand emphasizing more traditional propulsion. From 2020 until 2017, the only vehicle publicly sold by FCA to employ an electric drivetrain in North America was the Fiat 500e (a fully electric version of the stylish subcompact limited to sales in only select American states and was not available in Canada). Contrasting FCA’s barren electric or hybrid vehicle offerings through much of the past decade were production plans announced in the late 2000s.  At the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the corporate entity that would become FCA existed as Chrysler LLC. Recently splitting from its turbulent marriage with Daimler-Benz, the auto company operated under a private equity group eager to impress...

Photo Credit: Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 aficionados in recent seasons have been witnessing a renaissance of the Silver Arrows in a manner not seen since the 1950s. Returning to the series as a constructor in 2010, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport Formula 1 team hit a masterful stride in the prestigious open wheel racing tour in 2014 when a new series mandate for a hybrid gasoline/electric powerplant came to fruition. As of September 12th of 2017, the Mercedes-AMG team has taken victory in 60 of the 72 events since the current hybrid power unit specifications came into effect. As is the case with any automaker who uses motorsports to define their brand, Mercedes-Benz’s performance division naturally wants to directly transfer success on the track to the street. A single-passenger, open-wheel race car designed to run a main feature race no longer than two hours is starkly different from a production vehicle seemingly limits the amount of technology that could be shared. Unveil...

Photo Credit: Ford Motor Company Despite thoughts to the contrary, hybrid vehicles utilizing electric-assist driving are not going anywhere. The frequently adapted gasoline-electric powertrain associated with hybrid automobiles enables a level of efficiency resulting in fewer gasoline emissions. Better fuel economy through hybrids also contributes to savings on gasoline that can total to quite a sum in longer terms. For 2017, almost every auto company has now introduced at least one hybrid vehicle, Ford Motor Company and Toyota have both taken the once-alternative powertrain the furthest in the marketplace. In the case of Ford, the auto company is committed to developing 13 electrified production vehicle s. Including hybrid versions of customer favourite Mustang and F-150 for the future, the blue oval’s plans also consist of implanting electrified products into fleet applications. Catering to their loyal law enforcement customer base as they fulfill their vision of electrifie...

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy All the pretty motorized horses are rolling into the City of Toronto this weekend. Drawing what should be guaranteed to be another stellar collection of new and collectible automobiles, the 2017 edition of the Canadian International AutoShow has opened with a new sense of new while what was new in 2016 begins an unfortunate transition to being outdated. Although one year is not a drastic distance back in time, consider the fact the generational life of an automobile is roughly 6-10 years. As the 2017 Canadian International AutoShow is now underway, let's take some time to reflect what transpired at the 2016 gathering of motoring excellence in Toronto Civic Responsibilities: 2016 Honda Civic Wins Big Photo Credit: Chris Nagy The 9th generation version of the Honda Civic released in 2011 was an example where a devotion to a proven formula almost proved poisonous. Although the 9th generation Civic did not deviate from its solid build qualit...

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy The Detroit-based North American International Auto Show has always fueled an early release of potentially game-charging designs and vehicle philosophies from automakers (with American companies traditionally reserving some of their most pivotal presentations). After the course of recent history, Ford Motor Company hasn't been afraid to make some noise on the departure or arrival of a new year. In December 2013, the current generation Mustang broke cover ahead of the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit while a new F-150 pickup truck debuted for that same exhibition. The following year, Ford decided to retain the suspense for the show introducing two EcoBoost-propelled, high-performance models in the form of the GT supercar and the F-150 Raptor. Ahead of the 2017 edition of the important automotive event, the blue oval has set out some remarkable new plans that includes adding electrified powertrains to some iconic Ford vehicles wit...

Photo Credit: Nissan Not even five years since being revealed to the public, one of the most profoundly distinct designs to have emerged for modern auto racing has become the subject of innovation, envy and contention. This month, Don Panoz, CEO of DeltaWing Technology Group and Japanese automaker Nissan have reignited a dispute over the ownership of a breakthrough engineering philosophy for modern automobiles on the race track as well as on the street. When the IndyCar Series welcomed proposals to visions of American open wheel racing for the 2012 season, a jet plane-like concept premiered generating an instant sensation. The radical DeltaWing presented an ultra-aerodynamic shape and lightweight construction boasting high-speed potential with less horsepower. A narrow front wheel track and the lack of downforce enhancing devices such as the conventional rear wing found on most modern race cars created a thought-provoking possibility to IndyCar competition that resulted in b...

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...

With the all-new Volvo XC90, the Swedish auto company will introduce the option of the world's first seven-passenger plug-in hybrid later this year. The 2016 XC90 T8 Plug-in Hybrid (also called the Twin Engine by Volvo) can be driven up to 43 kilometers on an electrical battery charge. Once the 9.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack's charge is depleted, the 2016 Volvo XC90 T8 Plug-in Hybrid's 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged and supercharged engine provides a confident 320 horsepower. All models of the large premium crossovers are propelled through an all-wheel drive and equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission. For its introduction, the 2016 XC90 T8 Plug-in Hybrid crossover vehicle will come with a special standard technology making faster battery charging possible. The Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine is billed as the first plug-in hybrid to include a standard 240-volt charger with the portable TurboCord dual charger system. TurboCord featu...

It was late 2012 at the Los Angeles Auto Show Acura tantalized the sports car world with the return of the NSX. After two concept coupes, a pledge to use gasoline/electric hybrid technology, a Mid-Ohio track run  and an announcement that the car will be built in Ohio, the 2015 North American International Auto Show marked the last leg for the vehicle's journey ahead of hitting showrooms. After what seemed like an eternity in concept development, the production version for the revival of the Acura NSX supercar has finally arrived. While the basic styling appearance remained intact from concept to production, the street version of the Acura NSX has been augmented through extensive on-track and wind tunnel testing. The production NSX supercar is more than three inches (80 millimeters) longer than the 2013 concept car. Improvements to the hood vents, front fascia vents, side air intakes and a revised rear deck spo...

It is said the fortune favours the bold. In the 1990s, Toyota Motor Corporation stepped a vast distance into an unknown realm when they pursued gasoline/electric hybrid driving technology. The Toyota Prius led what would be a transformation of a brand and thinking for what electrified cars could be. At a time when purely gasoline-powered vehicles reigned supreme for almost nine decades on roadways, the idea of hybrid cars was met with mixed reactions. Some viewed the premise of integrating electric power with a gasoline powerplant as a sensible alternative to full electric cars. Issues such as limited range plagued the serious chances of electric cars in the modern world. Hybrids were viewed as the best of both worlds where the electric drive system supplemented the gasoline engine. On the negative judgement side of hybrid vehicles, critics wanted to believe that hybrid cars would be too pricey for automotive consumers and the tech...