Car FYI

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy Due to various reasons, I have not had the time I needed to properly share my experience at the 2016 Honda Indy Toronto. It is really quite a shame on my part because the day I attended the event was perhaps the most lively events I have been to. The reconfigured track resulting from moving pit to the outside portion of the front stretch, positioning the IndyCar paddock inside the Enercare Centre, the return of NASCAR stock cars belonging to the Canadian Pinty's Series as well as the overall ambiance of the 2016 Honda Indy Toronto provided a memorable time at the races. The Verizon IndyCar Series paddock located inside for 2016 served as an interesting change. Providing a fresh change of scenery to watch the crews prepare race cars, it wasn't without a minor discomfort. Though the area was shaded from the hot July sun and any potential precipitation, I found it to be actually warmer inside than outside since a breeze was present through much of...

Photo Credit: Joe Skibinski For the 30th occasion, the City of Toronto has welcomed a majestic show of competitive technology alongside the waterfront within the Exhibition Place grounds. Since 1986, open wheel Indy-style cars have been the highlight to major auto racing held on a temporary street course. With exception to 2008, the racing activities has been an yearly occasion that attracted some of the largest crowds for an annual sporting event in Ontario and ranks high within the country of Canada. As the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series arrived in Toronto for the longstanding engagement of thrilling Canadian fans, this year's race demonstrated a revamped flavour compared to the 29 races that preceded this year's race. Not immune to the hotel/condo construction fever that Toronto has been weathering for the past decade, the 30th anniversary of the Honda Indy Toronto was marked by some key changes. The movement of the pit road to the left side of the track was noted for th...

Photo Credit: Chris Jones For three decades, Indy-style car racing has been an ingredient of summertime in Toronto (well, somewhat less last year since the race was positioned in June to accommodate the 2015 Pan-Am Games but the race was still held in reasonably warm temperatures). The 30th edition of the Toronto street race within Exhibition Place arrived with sensational momentum as current IndyCar stars including Canadian and 2016 Indy 500 pole sitter James Hinchcliffe prepared for the Verizon IndyCar Series’ only stop outside of the United States for 2016. Serving as the main event for the 2016 Honda Indy Toronto, the Verizon IndyCar Series 85-lap race on Sunday was set by the outcome of Saturday afternoon qualifying. Contending on a refreshed street course design for 2016 created as a result of construction within the event grounds, the pit road was most notably shifted from the right side of the track to the left side. The pit road location movement has also prepared to ...

Photo Credit: Aston Martin The Americas Long regarded as the most prestigious form of auto racing, Formula 1 has been known for creating legends. Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, James Hunt, Mario Andretti and Michael Schumacher are among a few that transcend the borders of motorsport to be seen as sport stars based on their mastery inside the global open wheel series. As impressive as driver instinct and physical nature impacts auto racing, finely-tuned machines have provided the basis for legacies. Teams looking for the competitive edge have developed technologies and philosophies becoming the foundation for most supercars. Fuel injection, mid-engined configuration, carbon fiber construction and semi-automatic transmissions. The technology transfer of Formula 1 cars to road cars has also been accompanied by the teams of the sport. While manufacturer involvement is a cornerstone to Formula 1, the reversal trend has always been popular. The story was that Enzo Ferrari began buil...

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy Today, Tesla Motors officially declared an action transpired in regards to autonomous and self-driving that many have feared as well as expected to happen. In a company blog posting, Tesla Motors announced their company was contacted by the United States NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) as a preliminary investigation has been opened into the self-driving Autopilot program installed on a Tesla Model S involved in a crash resulting in a death. A fatal accident where an activated Autopilot system is suspect for being a leading factor, a male occupant of a Tesla Model S sedan died when the vehicle collided with the trailer of a transport truck. The explanation of the crash seems to indicate the limitations of this certain self-driving aid technology in detecting white objects in high light conditions. According to the blog account, the tractor trailer was perpendicular to the Model S where the all-electric vehicle drove under the bot...

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy An unofficial homecoming event for me each year, the Georgian College Auto Show has been a constant source of joy for me. An show put together by students of the automotive sales and marketing programs, the outdoor exhibition carries its own unique charm. Not as flashy as the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto, the vivid collection of vehicles organized by students still represents the majority of auto manufacturers producing automobiles for the North American market in a positive light. Instead of the beaming of fluorescents and large turntables, the campus' field and the warmth of a natural, cooperative early June sunlight is all that is needed to bring out beauty on four wheels. An annual event since 1985, I've personally attended every Georgian College Auto Show since 1997. Ever since I've been going to the auto show (including years when I attended the college as a student), the campus has changed and the cars have evolved. The f...

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 ...