Car FYI

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 b...

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. ...

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 electrifi...

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 Chrys...

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 Corvet...

Photo Credit:BMW Group BMW 2024 Product Lineup: Alpina B8 Gran Coupe, 2-Series, 3-Series, 4-Series, 5-Series, 7-Series, 8-Series, i4, i4 Gran Coupe, i5, i7, iX, M2, M3, M4, M5, M8 X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, XM, Z4 Roadster Overall Brand Impression:  BMW automobiles have a tendency of inspiring a special sense of driving passion. In recent years, the German auto giant has placed an increased focus on high-tech amenities garnering some public backlash for monetizing these already equipped features on their vehicles behind subscription services. Other source of remarkable advancement is seen with the BMW i sub-brand of electric vehicles. For 2024, BMW’s Canadian product lineup includes the new 5 Series with an i5 all-electric variant, i4 xDrive40 and X2 crossover in addition to the reworked X5 and X6. What’s New for 2024: With a history dating back to 1972, the 5 Series has been and remains one of the German marque’s most crucial models. Entering 2024, the eighth generation BMW...

Photo Credit: Buick/General Motors 2024 Product Lineup: Enclave, Encore GX, Envision, Envista Overall Brand Impression:  The Buick of 2024 is definitely not the upscale General Motors brand our grandparents had in their driveways back in the day. Going beyond the re-imagined badge presentation applied to their vehicles last year, Buick’s modern image invokes urban adventuring for youthful motorists. The 2024 product range consisting entirely of crossover vehicles includes a remodelled Encore GX as well as the all-new Envista. What’s New for 2024:  For 2024, three of the four products found in Buick’s lineup are either new or notably refreshed. Only Buick’s flagship Enclave remains largely unchanged for the new model year. The biggest addition for 2024 is an all-new entry-level model called the Buick Envista. Selling for a base price starting at just under $30,000 in Canada, the 2024 Envista sharp and sleek small crossover design is complemented with outstanding standard am...

Photo Credit: CNW Group/Grand Touring Automobiles untitled In 1994, Christian von Koenigsegg started on a path in the automotive world many have attempted but few succeed. Committed to manufacturing of exotic, high-performance vehicles, Sweden’s Koenigsegg Automotive AB would have to build more just a fast supercar. Design and engineering efforts behind constructing a quality performance machine can be comparably easier than assembling a lasting halo around a premium brand. Koenigsegg has beaten the odds by producing small batches of exceptionally high-powered, precision-engineered cars identified for regularly exceeding a top speed of 240 miles per hour or greater. Though production of Koenigsegg’s vehicles is limited and is accompanied with an exceptionally high price adding to the brand’s exclusivity, there is still a need for the Swedish car make to have a partner to share the young marque’s products with their select customer base. Announced i...