Car FYI

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...

  Photo Credit: Stellantis 2024 Product Lineup: Giulia, Giulia Quadrifoglio, Stelvio, Stelvio Quadrifoglio, Tonale, Tonale PHEV Overall Brand Impression:  Alfa Romeo is an unmistakably Italian auto brand that proudly admires in the design and performance of their 2024 model lineup. Joining the Giulia and Stelvio in the marque’s vehicle portfolio is the Tonale compact crossover. What’s New for 2024:  An all-new model for the 2024 model year, the Alfa Romeo Tonale has been for sale in Canada through much of 2023. The Tonale features a youthful, athletic exterior style combined with a satisfyingly high amount of standard content including a 12.3-inch driver cluster, 10.25-inch center touchscreen as well as high-tech safety features including adaptive cruise control and Traffic Sign Recognition. The Alfa Romeo Tonale also launched as the first car to incorporate an NFT (non-fungible token) digital certificate that evolves with the vehicle’s life. The 2.0-turbocharged four...

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/Car FYI Canada   2024 Product Lineup: Integra, MDX, RDX, TLX, ZDX Overall Brand Impression: Acura introduced Canadians to the initial vision of Japanese luxury showcasing sporty elegance. Despite their NSX hybrid supercar being retired after the 2022 model year, the Acura brand contains an exciting vibe with their 2024 product line. What’s New for 2024:  The most notable addition to the Acura lineup for 2024 is the revival of the ZDX nameplate. Instead of the previous iteration of the ZDX where customers saw it as a radical yet polarizing crossover shape, this time has Acura breaking new grounds offering the brand’s first fully electric powertrain. The Acura TLX sport sedan receives an extensive refresh for 2024 with a revised Type S Concept inspired front grille, larger 19-inch standard wheels, enlarged 12.3-inch center display screen and improved sound deadening for occupants. Since June of this year, Canadians have been delighted by the presen...

Photo Credit: Genesis Motor North America untitled Launched in late 2015 as a luxury branch connected to South Korea’s Hyundai Motor, the Genesis brand has made impressive inroads to the premium vehicle marketplace in a short time. Today, Genesis constructs a brand lineup tailored under the design philosophy of ‘Athletic Elegance’ promoting well-appointed sedans and sport utility crossover vehicles. While finding the ability to compete against the longer-established luxury automobile marques such as Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac and Lexus, the not-even six-year-old marque is also in an enviable position of being able to quickly define their image of premium motoring as electrification grows. Genesis’ first fully-electric vehicle, the GV60, lends itself to adapting modern and even-more modern luxury touches. The Genesis GV60 is based on the Hyundai’s E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform) that is also being used with the IONIQ 5 set for a 2022 ...

Photo Credit: American Honda Motor Co., Inc Acura’s top-selling vehicle year after year, the RDX crossover has allowed buyers a reasonably accessible entry to modern luxury that also excels in everyday driving. With 62,876 units sold in the United States in 2019, it could be difficult for a premium brand such as Acura to convey a sense of tailored prestige around such popular crossover vehicle. Drawing upon the mystique of the NSX hybrid supercar, the limited production 2021 Acura RDX PMC Edition is already seen by buyers as a fantastically vibrant means to obtain some differentiation from the common dealership fare.  A specially-prepared variant that goes beyond aesthetic and trim details, the 2021 Acura RDX PMC Edition is the latest among a series of handcrafted models giving the Honda-supported luxury badge a new sense of prominence. First showcased with the TLX sedan in 2019, Acura has extended the precision performance halo of the NSX supercar and their Performance Manufactu...

Photo Credit: Cadillac/General Motors  Luxury automobile brand Cadillac launched in 1902 when the motor vehicle industry was still in its infancy. Some of the most basic details of the automobile were still coming into form including what would be the preferred manner of propulsion for the new machines. Gasoline vehicles including Cadillac’s offerings competed against steam as well as a very solid challenger being the electric car. Although electricity lost the early days of the industry, the ongoing second century for the automobile is falling into the favour of electric vehicles. Building its reputation of American prestige and elegance with gasoline engines, Cadillac plans to embark on their first vehicle powered through the propulsion they once defeated. Cadillac’s new LYRIQ is designed to allow the luxury marque to explore the uncharted fully electric vehicle future. A stylish premium crossover utility vehicle, the show car representation of the Cadillac LYRIQ exhibits new dep...

Photo Credit: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US The rise of the sport utility/crossover vehicle vehicle over the past two decades has been driven primarily by one aspect; versatility. Elevated viewpoint for the driver, high ground clearance for better all-weather driving and optimized cabin space are practical characteristics for sport utility vehicles. Also, there are some less practical reasons why individuals choose these particular vehicles is to achieve a unique sense of performance. With many large, three-row crossover vehicles relying on powerful V-6 powerplants, the Dodge Durango is a remaining source for scarcer V-8 engine power. The 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 has served as the soul for the Dodge sport utility vehicle since the 2004 model year. A grunt from an eight-cylinder engine underneath the Durango's hood will be a little more forceful heading into 2018 as SRT hands have tuned-up the 7-passenger vehicle. Photo Credit: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US For the first tim...

Photo Credit: Audi of America In less than a month, the potential of a new year in the automotive sector will be in full bloom in Detroit. For a longtime a showcase largely reserved for new cars and ideas of the American automakers, growing interests of other brands has elevated the North American International Auto Show into a pinnacle global event. German luxury car maker Audi will be among the world motoring contingent choosing the 2017 edition of the auto show in Detroit to debut their latest vehicle imagery in the form of the Q8 concept. Previewed in pair of sketches ahead of the 2017 North American International Auto Show, the Audi Q8 concept front and side exterior views reveal a sizable crossover infused with a healthy performance appetite. Featuring a long hood and long flat roof and a wide front version of Audi's Singleframe grille, the Q8 concept vehicle's outer appearance does convey an intentional sport design. Although premiering as a concept in Detroit, th...

Photo Credit: Maserati  Spending over a century gaining a reputation for building finely-crafted sport coupes, roadsters and sedans, Italian brand Maserati is set to give rise to a new era for the 2017 model year. Giving hints at a production luxury crossover utility since 2003, Maserati formally declared their entrance into the competitive market by debuting the Levante at this year’s Geneva International Motor Show. Badged with the Italian word translating to English as “rising’, the Levante tall stature embodies principles already explored through the Quattroporte and the Ghibli (this crossover vehicle shares its platform with both sedans). Maserati’s luxury design as well as the brand’s performance properties such as a low center of gravity, 50/50 weight distribution and the company’s Skyhook adaptive suspension. Expected to arrive in Canada for this September, two versions of the new Maserati Levante can already be ordered from Maserati dealerships. According to the ...

Photo Credit: Tesla Motors Tesla Motors has repeatedly beaten odds for a start-up United States-based automaker. Specifically focused on the creation of electric vehicles, the California car builder overcame sceptics with their Roadster and later with the release of the Model S sedan. When the Tesla Model S would gain the honour of Motor Trend's Car of the Year in 2013 , the win of one of the most prestigious vehicle awards meant no one could afford to underestimate the electric car company. As soon as Tesla's buzz reached critical mass in the United States, the brand has expanded rapidly. In Canada, the electric vehicle's image has grown swiftly. Since Tesla's first Canadian sales store opened inside Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Centre in 2012, addition locations in the Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal area have spouted up. 17 of Tesla's Supercharger charging stations are also part of the electric car company's Canadian infrastructure. With such a bri...

While all auto companies seek to be a fashion idol in one way or another, luxury car companies all aim to be the Coach bag or Armani suit of the wheeled kind. By moving their head office into New York City's trendy SoHo area, General Motors' luxury car gem Cadillac has been planting their ear to the ground to high-fashion. It appears Cadillac has quickly made use of contacts gained in its new neighbourhood. Through a collaboration announcement with fellow American brand and fashion designer Public School, Cadillac has provided a detailed tease of their latest, all-new crossover vehicle. The partnership for a Dubai Pre-Fall Collection for Public School in November will also coincide with launch of Cadillac's eagerly-awaited new model. As predicted, the newest Cadillac crossover vehicle is part of a name branding strategy. Called the XT5, the 2017 model year product will be the luxury automobile's first redesign of a crossover since 2010. From t...

Ever since Porsche introduced the Cayenne in the 2000s, no automaker has been ruled-out in adding a crossover vehicle to their line-up. At 2012 Geneva Motor Show, British luxury vehicle brand Bentley unveiled a concept design to what was seen as the impending arrival of a super-luxury crossover. A marque seen as one of the most prestigious builders of automobiles in the world, Bentley only needed to create a world-topping vehicle for the popular segment. Almost four years later, the Bentley Bentayga is the form of an all-new bred of luxury crossover vehicle. Though the Bentayga represents the inauguration of Bentley's foray into a new class of motoring, the vehicle is the end result of a long, uneasy journey of exploration. The EXP 9 F Concept (an initial design creation meant to chart the vision of Bentley's crossover vehicle) premiered in 2012 to a largely negative reception. While the idea of a Bentley crossover vehicle was not si...

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...

Last year in New York, BMW teased a concept of their X5 sport activity vehicle operating on a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Combining the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine using BMW TwinPower Turbo technology combined with an electric motor, the X5 eDrive Concept was one of many interesting ways to envision BMW's top crossover vehicle. Recently, a diesel-powered version of the BMW X5 was imported into North America allowing owners to explore greater distances between fuel stops. Less than a year since the X5 eDrive Concept debuted, the vehicle has been granted the production green light as the 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e. Employing a similar powertrain layout displayed on the concept, the 2016 model year X5 xDrive40e operates primarily on an electric power before relying on a gasoline engine for longer range driving. From concept to production, the BMW plug-in hybrid vehicle has undergone some gains as well as some loses. The one gain made with the showroom-ready version of the ele...

As a new regular feature on Car FYI, this website will dedicate a vehicle to represent each passing month. I wanted to prepare the feature for last month but planning for the 2015 Canadian International AutoShow and other news slowed that progress. So, to inaugurate the Car FYI Car of the Month honours, I will name two vehicles in order to catch up. For January and February, the two vehicles chosen could not differ more greatly. Car of the Month January 2015: The Ford GT After the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the blue oval brand thrilled the high-performance community with a new iteration of their GT. The new Ford GT supercar understandably dazzled audiences with a shape that truly had to be behold to love for its every curve. Lavish use of lightweight carbon fiber and Pirelli Pilot Super Sport Cup 2 tires defined the two-seat supercar in its world premiere. This is second time Ford Motor Company is res...

As a member of the automotive press, February 12th was show time for Toronto's largest display of new automotive trends and technology . The 2015 Canadian International AutoShow was opened with some indications for the cast of some amazing, new players in the new vehicle sector this year. For 2015, there were some spectacular premieres being captured by cameras and being adored by the attendees. The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, Range Rover Diesel, Audi TTS and the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor  were all part of the exhibition inside the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. However, I must admit that this year presented a few more surprises than usual owed largely to some simultaneous vehicle unveilings. In the past, the scheduling of the Canadian International AutoShow at the same time as the Chicago Auto Show had led to a case of "either or" in automotive premieres. Influence of the Chicago show often resulted in first-...