autoLIFE Quarterly (#3) by BILODEAU Media Group

autoLIFE AUTO RACING GOES TO THE MOVIES

autolifequarterly.ca

SPRING 2011

QUARTERLY

ISSUE #3

SHIFTING THROUGH THE PAST l

NEW MINI

COUNTRYMAN RE-INVENTED AND READY TO ROLL!

SPRING 2011 ::: ISSUE #3

ISSUE CONTENTS

PREVIEW

Diggin’ Up The Dirt

PHOTO BY ROMERO S.

The snow is melting and the trails are opening up again for another riding season. We break down the key features of KTM’s new 350 SF-X and why you’re going to be seeing a lot of it this year. by JOE PESKUNOWICZ

FEATURE ARTICLES

ALQ DRIVEN

Five Days of Fun!

There’s ﬁnally a domestic competitor on the road to the import compacts. by DAN CHILTON

SPRING 2011 | ISSUE #3 | AUTOLIFEQUARTERLY.CA

COVER STORY

Compact Crossover

The new MINI Countryman. It’s like the jumbo shrimp of the car world. by STUART EASTWOOD

MEDIA RELEASE

Grasping the Concept

The new McLaren MP4-12C GT3 comes out of hiding to hit the track ... fast! by MCLAREN AUTOMOTIVE

Omega has announced that it will work in cooperation with actor and brand ambassador Daniel Craig to support ORBIS International and its Flying Eye Hospital in the ﬁght against preventable blindness. A special watch – the Hour Vision Blue – has been created to celebrate the partnership, and OMEGA has guaranteed that at least one million U.S. dollars from its sale will be donated to ORBIS, an organization which delivers eye care to some of the world’s most remote and developing regions.

ISSUE CONTENTS

SPRING 2011 ::: ISSUE #3

CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY

The Nissan ESFLOW

If you thought the LEAF was too ‘girly’ for you, get a load of this hot ride!

12 16 18 20

LETTERS

ALQ Readers Write In

Only two issues old and we’ve already got fans. You guys are great!

ALQ ON SITE

Show Stoppers

Snaps from the Motorcycle and Auto & Truck Shows.

LAUGH TRACK

Give Us a Smile

We found some comedians who have some hilarious views on driving.

GADGETS & GIZMOS

24 42 58

Put A Lid On It!

Spraying On The Shine

We found some of the best rated motorcycle helmets on the market.

Here’s a new way to get your chrome ﬁx at a fraction of the cost.

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MORE INSIDE 10

GAME REVIEW

NFS: Shift 2 Unleashed

A racing game that’s about as real as it’s ever going to get from in your livingroom.

OVERVIEW

Fuel Eﬃcient SUVs

We found 13 SUVs on the market that rival most mid-size cars for fuel economy.

SIDE-BY-SIDE

2011 Touring Bikes

Only a few manufacturers produced Touring Bikes for 2011, but we found them.

HELPFUL HINTS

Are You Getting Hosed?

Racing Goes to the Movies

Here are some tips that will help you save a few bucks at the gas pumps.

Here’s a look at how auto racing has been captured by Hollywood over the years.

PURE FUN

Morgan 3-Wheeler

It’s like a cross between a race car, a motorcycle and a ﬁghter plane.

WTF!

“But Oﬃcer ...”

Some helpful tips on what NOT to do when you’re getting a ticket.

PHOTO FINISH

100 Years of Ford in the UK What would you say if we told you electric vehicles were introduced 44 years ago?

from the editor

he thing about starting up a new magazine, especially in an industry where the product is practically the sole source of editorial content, is that you’re relatively an unknown to the industry and you are rarely afforded many of the benefits and perks seen by other, more established periodicals. When it comes to writing up reviews on the latest vehicles to hit our streets, for example, many of the magazines that you might be more familiar with are contacted in advance and provided with test models in order for them to give each machine their own personal assessment and maintain the accuracy and integrity of their magazine (something that you, as a reader, grow to both respect and demand from your favourite publications). Unfortunately for us, here at ALQ, these manufacturers don’t know us from Adam (yet!). As a result, our phone doesn’t ring with offers of delivering the latest and greatest toys to our door. And any calls that we make to them, requesting access to their products for the purpose of editorial amelioration, is generally met with a telephonic ballet of being placed on hold and “let me transfer you to...”, until finally we’re politely refused, brushed off and hung up on. Consequently, we have had to walk onto the lots of our local dealerships and request test drives, like anybody else, in order to get our hands-on experience with the products we want to write about. Hey, no hard feelings here. Sincerely. These manufacturers are being absolutely inundated with calls on a daily basis from every Tom, Dick and Harry with an auto blog, who calls himself a journalist, wanting his turn behind the wheel. So, of course, when some little car rag from Calgary, Alberta, suddenly pops up on the scene and throws itself into this ocean of gearhead bloggers and Stig-wannabes, it’s predictably (and understandably) met with a yawn and summarily dismissed. In all things worthwhile, however, persistence is key. And thanks to the people at Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada and, most recently, the local marketing offices for the Ford Motor Company, ALQ is beginning to receive calls and requests to test the newest products on the market. In our last issue we brought you a fist-hand account of riding four different Harley-Davidson models around southern Alberta. And in this issue, we’re pleased to bring you exclusive chronicles of both the new 2011 Ford Fiesta and the 2011 MINI Countryman. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to those distinguished individuals who are picking us up and giving us the consideration and respect we, here at ALQ, are working so very hard for. I hope you’ll continue to look for us and correspond so that we may sustain our pursuit for the thrill of driving the latest and greatest machines coming off the line. (Oh, and journalistic excellence, of course.) Thanks for reading. Enjoy issue #3! — MARK BILODEAU

AUTOLIFE@SHAW.CA

SPRING 2011 | ISSUE #3 | AUTOLIFEQUARTERLY.CA

PUBLISHER: 1512489 Alberta Ltd. EDITOR IN CHIEF: Mark G. Bilodeau TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Anthony Lowery CREATIVE DIRECTOR: John Hull ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Monica Collier DESIGN DIRECTOR: Ryan Fodale CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Andy Boedekker, Dan Chilton, Stuart Eastwood, Rob Gregory, Paul Kane, David Kirkland, Joshua Koenig, Todd Mackie, Seth Miller, Joe Peskunowicz, Pat Roy, Greg Spielman, Allan Taylor, Steve Tsang, Dylan Webber

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mark G. Bilodeau, Mulner-Photography.com

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER: Mike Bradley COPY EDITOR: Bonny Leung PREPRESS: Dan Boyes WEB DEVELOPMENT: Sean Munson MARKETING DIRECTOR: Karen Briggs ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Alberta Sales Office T: 403.703.1915 E: autolife@shaw.ca

AUTOLIFE Quarterly Magazine is published four times per year by 1512489 Alberta Ltd. Box 28007 Cranston RPO Calgary, Alberta T3M 1K4 PRINTED IN CANADA BY

All Trademarks presented in this magazine are owned by the registered owner. All advertisements appearing in this magazine are the sole responsibility of the person, business or corporation advertising their product or service. For more information on AUTOLIFE Quarterly’s Privacy Policy and Intention of Use, please see our website at www.autolifequarterly.ca. All content, photographs and articles appearing in this magazine are represented by the contributor as original content and the contributor will hold AUTOLIFE Quarterly and its parent company, 1512489 Alberta Ltd., harmless against any and all damages that may arise from their contribution. All public correspondence, which may include, but is not limited to letters, e-mail, images and contact information, received by AUTOLIFE Quarterly or 1512489 Alberta Ltd. becomes the property of 1512489 Alberta Ltd. and is subject to publication. AUTOLIFE Quarterly and its parent company, 1512489 Alberta Ltd., may not be held responsible for the safety or return of any unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other materials. Reproduction of this publication in whole or in part without written consent from AUTOLIFE Quarterly and/or its parent company, 1512489 Alberta Ltd., is strictly prohibited.

letters

send us your thoughts and comments: autolife@shaw.ca

PHOTO BY MIKE BRADLEY

you didn’t even break down the basic numbers for us to have a look at. (?) I thought you guys were supposed to be a magazine about automotive enthusiasm, not Alberta tourism.

TRUE GRIT

I truly enjoyed the article you ran in your Winter 2010 issue about the custom hot-rod [Canadian Grafﬁti, issue #2]. It was a great example of the kind of real passion there is for vehicles and automotive culture. I’ll admit that I certainly don’t mind reading the reviews and write-ups about new cars and trucks that are making their way onto the market, but to read about a guy who was able to take a vision and a pile of scrap iron and build it into a reality is something I ﬁnd truly inspiring. My congratulations to him on building it and to you for having the good sense to report on it.

∆

OSCAR MURCH VIA E-MAIL

We’re sorry, Oscar. We assumed you had the wherewithal to

type www.harley-davidson.com into your web browser. Much of the enthusiasm we feel stems from the enjoyment we get from driving and riding. Tapping into that speciﬁc aspect was what we were aiming for in our article. Next time, we’ll be sure to break down the spec chart for you as well. ~MGB

WALTER PHELPS CALGARY, AB.

TALKING SHOP

ARABIAN KNIGHTS

Thanks for presenting your article on the Knight XV. I must say, it looks and sounds like quite an impressive machine. It makes me wonder though; with all of the money the U.S. dumps into their military, why, in Heaven’s name, are soldiers still being killed by roadside bombs in the Middle East? From the way you laid it out in your story, it sounds as though these vehicles are practically impenetrable. If so, the Americans should be buying these things by the ﬂeet. (I refer to the American military only because I know our Canadian

military barely scrapes together the budget to buy our troops laces for their boots, let alone state-of-the-art equipment. Remember that brilliant submarine purchase a couple years ago?) Anyway, great story!

∆

FRED KOPP LETHBRIDGE, AB.

Unfortunately, we can’t really speak for the Canadian military (let alone the Americans), but when it comes to protecting those who risk their lives in order to protect us, we agree that no expense should be spared. But hey, we’re here to discuss autos, not politics. ~MGB

SPRING 2011 | ISSUE #3 | AUTOLIFEQUARTERLY.CA

BY THE NUMBERS

Your article about riding those Harleys through southern Alberta certainly made it a lot more difﬁcult to make it through this past winter. All that talk about the winding roads through the scenic rolling foothills put an ache in my heart and a longing to ride. But to make one small note of criticism, if I may? I would have preferred that you had been every bit as descriptive about the technical specs of the bikes as you were about the scenery. Sure, you broke each of them down a little bit, but come on ... you had four phenomenal machines at your disposal and

You guys posed a very intriguing argument regarding the auto industry’s whole “green” movement. All of this money being spent on developing new technologies, and yet it may wind up costing consumers all that much more in the end. It’s enough to make me urge my son to take Auto Shop at school.

∆

KEN FOWLEY EDMONTON, AB.

Well, we’re certainly not going to argue the value of learning the basics of automotive repair, but keeping that old jalopy running is still only a just a bandaid on a much bigger problem. ~MGB

2011 Volvo S80

ALQ ON-SITE

Two-Wheelin’ 2011 CALGARY & EDMONTON MOTORCYCLE SHOWS By the size of the crowds we had to work our way through at this year’s shows in Calgary and Edmonton, it’s obvious that riding fever in Alberta is at an all-time high. The manufacturers are introducing some fantastic new machines in 2011, as well as keeping some proven fan favourites. Alberta riders are chomping at the bit to ride their iron horses for another season!

SPRING 2011 | ISSUE #3 | AUTOLIFEQUARTERLY.CA

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MIKE BRADLEY

ALQ ON-SITE

Kicking Tires 2011 CALGARY INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW Let’s face it ... Even if you’re not in the market for a new car or truck, you’re still going to take in the greatest indoor auto show on earth. And why, you might ask? Because when it comes down to it, we’re always in the market for a new car or truck. This year’s Calgary Auto Show had something for everybody. From the ultra-high end to the incredibly affordable. We loved it!

SPRING 2011 | ISSUE #3 | AUTOLIFEQUARTERLY.CA

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARK G. BILODEAU

laugh track “Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead.” ~Mac McCleary

send us your best joke at: autolife@shaw.ca

“I hate the left-hand turn

arrow because it creates a very tense situation when we line up, waiting for that left arrow to turn from red to green. And it’s fine for the person in the front. When it turns green, that guy never seems to go -- I don’t know why. I don’t know if it’s the power: knowing there are people behind them, and they’re controlling people’s lives? And the psychology is interesting because the guy in the number two spot, he won’t honk because he figures, ‘Hey, I’m getting through.’ But the further back you get, the more tense it becomes. So I’m in sixth. I honk. The guy in front of me flips me off. And I’m like, ‘What? I’m not even honking at you -- I’m looping around you.’” ~Wayne Federman

“My grandma always says

that she never gets any phone calls. So, for her birthday, I put one of those ‘How’s my driving?’ bumper stickers on her car. The phone’s pretty much ringing off the hook now.” ~Chris Hobbs

“You know you’re driving

a hunk of junk when you’re going down the road and you’re having tow trucks circle you.” ~John McDowell

“I’m not an outdoorsy guy.

My buddy used to hunt deer, and that’s way more complex than I thought. You’ve got to track the animal for, like, two or three days. And at the end of it, you may or may not get a kill, he told me. I’m like, ‘Forget that, dude. I kill a deer in my car while I’m speeding and text messaging at the same time. It’s not that difﬁcult, bro.’” ~Mike Vecchione

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“I bought a brand new

Porsche 944 Turbo. I really couldn’t afford it, but I ﬁgured -- what the hell, I’ll just pick up a couple extra hours a week at work. So, I’m working 137 hours a week now.” ~Gene Pompa

“I called a car phone the

other day for the ﬁrst time. I did something I thought was kind of stupid, considering my friend never answered and I was calling a car. Think about this -- I let the phone ring 11 times. Did I think perhaps my friend was in another part of the vehicle? He’s going to pick up the phone out of breath -- ‘Sorry, came in from the trunk. Man, I have got to get a cordless. One phone is not enough for this Chevette.’” ~Joe Bolster

“You’ve got to be careful.

That New Yorker attitude will get you in trouble. I get on the highway -- ﬁrst thing, I get pulled over for speeding. The cop walks over to me; I roll down the window. He says, ‘Do you know how fast you were going?’ I couldn’t resist. I said, ‘Yeah, I know exactly how fast I was going. What I didn’t know is that you were parked behind the bridge. I think if I had known that, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation. Is there anything else I can help you with ofﬁcer? I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m in a bit of a hurry.’” ~John Henson

“I was recently involved in

kind of a serious driving accident. It was not completely my fault because the other guy involved was really drunk. But he was at a slight disadvantage because he didn’t have his car with him at the time.” ~Steve Trilling

“Another sign of getting

older just started happening to me. Driving down the highway, I saw my blinker was on. I don’t remember putting that thing on. I had no idea how long it had been on for. You suddenly realize, ‘I’m the guy I used to hate to be behind.’” ~Bill Keller

“I got stuck in trafﬁc.

I sat there for 30-40 minutes without moving an inch. By the time I got up to where the accident was, there was nothing there. God, that pisses me off. When I sit for 30 minutes, I want to see, like, a human head. Then you don’t feel so bad: some guy lost his head, I lost a half hour. That’s an even trade.” ~Frank Prinzi

“I saw one of those giant

HUMMER cars with handicapped tags on it. I thought, ‘Wow, I never realized that being an a**hole was technically a handicap.’” ~Greg Giraldo

“My goal this year is to

buy a Prius so I can be the anti-Prius driver. Be like, ‘Yeah, that’s my Prius. The one with the gun rack and the dead deer carcass roped to the hood.’ Wouldn’t that be sweet? Driving around in a Prius, throwing garbage out your window? ‘It’s a Prius; I already helped the Earth, hippie!’” ~Mo Mandel

“I actually got pulled over

once for driving in the diamond lane. Cop said to me, ‘You know you have to have more than one person in the car to drive in the car pool lane.’ I said, ‘Check the trunk.’” ~Doug Benson

GADGETS & GIZMOS by Seth Miller

PUT A LID ON IT!

BEFORE YOU TAKE TO THE OPEN ROAD THIS SPRING, MAKE SURE YOU’RE PROPERLY PROTECTING YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET.

Bell Vortex RSD Apocalypse

This highly rated skull bucket is made from a lightweight composite polycarbonate alloy shell and weighs in at a very modest 1600g. Bell’s patented Velocity Flow Ventilation™ system with FlowAdjust™ allows for maximum stability and temperature control. The antibacterial/antimicrobial interior liner can be easily removed and tossed into the washing machine. It’s not wired for sound, but integrated speaker pockets have been designed to accommodate your aural desires. And its ClickRelease® visor system allows for the fastest, easiest, tool-free shield swaps ever. MSRP: $250 RATING: òòòòò

Suomy Jet Light Oil

Scorpion EXO 700

Arai Vector 2 ID

AFX FX-70

Icon Airframe Regal

MSRP: $220 RATING: òòòôô

MSRP: $240 RATING: òòòòô

MSRP: $750 RATING: òòòòò

MSRP: $60 RATING: òòòôô

MSRP: $330 RATING: òòòòô

This polycarbonate shell was designed to ﬁt under the seat of Honda scooters. It has a quick release chin strap and the visor can lock into three different positions.

A ﬁberglass/Kevlar matrix shell with adjustable front and rear vents and an aero-tuned rear spoiler. There’s also a built-in breath deﬂector to reduce fogging.

SPRING 2011 | ISSUE #3 | AUTOLIFEQUARTERLY.CA

Complex Laminate Construction (CLC) shell provides excellent integrity as well as light weight. The wider shield design allows for a greater peripheral view.

For the Easy Rider at heart. Beanie-style shell with removable ear ﬂaps. The three-snap visor can be easily replaced with a universal face shield.

The ultimate lid for the ladies. Oversized exhaust ports allow for massive air flow and the light yet strong shell is made from fiberglass, Dyneema and carbon fiber.

F F

our wheels move the body; two wheels move the soul. If you’re a rider, you understand. If you haven’t ridden or it’s been too long, you likely think, “Yeah right, another Easy Rider wannabe.” What is it about riding a motorcycle, if anything at all, is so inspiring and even if it is, are there not thousands of other pursuits that can achieve the same satisfaction? An enthusiast would tell you that from the minute you hop on your bike everything changes. Today’s worries, tomorrow’s business and yesterday’s regrets disappear and are replaced by a big smile. The mind clears, the senses are awakened and you feel like a kid again. Exaggeration? Ask your buddy who rides. In his book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert M. Pirsig relates, “In a car you’re always in a compartment, and because you’re used to it you don’t realize that through that car window everything you see is just more TV. You’re a passive observer and it is all moving by you boringly in a frame. On a cycle the frame is gone. You’re completely in contact with it all. You’re in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of pres-

ence is overwhelming.” Riding doesn’t have to be costly and you don’t need a big thunderous bike to experience the joy of riding. Motorcycles come in many different forms. There is Dirt, which in this part of the country is fabulous, Sport, which provides the biggest shot of adrenalin, Touring and then there are Cruisers, the iconic style of motorcycle riding. Different strokes for different folks. Riding a cruiser is perhaps biking in its simplest form. Point and go. Cruisers are capable of long-distance jaunts, and just as at home for an afternoon or evening ride. And a cruiser doesn’t need to break the bank. At Rocky Mountain Honda Powerhouse, they offer two main lines of cruiser bikes, starting with the indefatigable Honda Shadow 750, known for its reliability and easy use, and the unparalleled Honda VTX1300. The 750cc

Shadow is an amazing bike and is best suited for riders that are looking for something that is easy to handle yet capable of keeping up with the larger bikes and passing them at fuel stops. From $6,995 for a brand new Shadow, it’s also a very economical way to get on a bike and get going. Spend a little more and you end up with the powerful VTX1300 starting at just under $10,000. So what are you waiting for? Stop by Rocky Mountain Honda Powerhouse, move your soul and take your new baby home.

www.rockyhonda.com

15220 Shaw Road SE Calgary, AB T2X 2A1 (Just off of Macleod Trail)

403-230-7777

AUTOMOTIVE INNOVATIONS by Dylan Webber

Á Spraying On The Shine PIMPING YOUR RIDE IN BLING JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT EASIER.

ou may have noticed that most of today’s new vehicles coming off the line just don’t rock the same amount of chrome as they used to. A common misconception is that chrome simply isn’t as popular as it once was, therefore manufacturers just don’t employ it in their new designs as much. The fact of the matter is, the allure of chrome has never lost its luster with the common man. Think about it. When you see that shiny mirror-like reflection coming off that spotless trim or bumper, you get goosebumps. Don’t you? The truth is, environmental restrictions and new government regulations are making the traditional electroplating process more and more difficult. As a result, manufacturers have elected over the years to conveniently reduce the amount of chrome they feature on their vehicles, effectively passing on to the general public the idea that chrome just isn’t popular anymore. Well, get out your polishing kits, people, because there is a new chroming process that is safer and infinitely more affordable than ever before. A company in Clearwater, FL, has developed a process of spraying what is essentially a micro-layer of silver onto the desired surface between two layers of clear paint. The process is called Spectra-Chrome and it’s one of the most innovative things we’ve seen in a long time. The process basically exercises three steps. The first of which is to apply a specially formulated base coat to the desired substrate. Acting, more or less, as a primer, this coating provides a high-gloss reactive

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surface that is key for the next stage of the technique. Step two is the application of two water-based solutions that are sprayed on simultaneously with a dual-nozzle gun. The reaction of the two solutions mixing together is fundamentally a mist of liquid silver. This mist bonds with the initial base coat and creates that shimmering mirror-like reﬂective surface we love so much. The ﬁnal step is the application of a clear protective top coating that helps maintain the sparkle of the liquid silver and completes the chroming process. One of the aspects about this third stage that we found particularly intriguing was the ability to add colour to the top coat, thereby creating a form of colourized chrome. The resulting ef-

fects are something traditional electroplating would never be able to achieve, opening up a world of potential when it comes to showing off your vehicle’s chrome features. The real kicker in all of this was learning just how cost-effective the process actually is. If you were to take the bumper off of an average half-ton pick-up truck and have it electroplated, you’d reasonably be looking at a cost of anywhere from $1800-$2500. Take that same bumper and put it through this Spectra-Chrome process and you’re looking at a price tag of around $250-$300. Seriously! Several shops across the United States have already begun to employ this method. Recently, we were fortunate enough to discover that The Rod Shop in Calgary, AB, has acquired the technology and is now making it available closer to home. Find them online at www.therodshop.ca and get in touch with them to learn more about this incredible process. ƒ

CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY by Todd Mackie

Hustle & Flow

NISSAN INTRODUCES A SPORTY NEW CONCEPT CAR IN GENEVA THAT’S LEAVING THE COMPETITION IN THE DUST.

t looks like a sports car, handles like a sports car and performs like one too. But Nissan’s ESFLOW is different than every other sports car yet built: It’s electric. Using technology pioneered in the LEAF, the EV concept shows that driving can still be as much fun tomorrow as it is today. Owning an ecologically sound car does not have to come at the expense of driving enjoyment. The briefest glance at the ESFLOW is

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enough to tell you what kind of car it is: a long bonnet leading into a steeply raked, wrap around windscreen, the compact cabin placing the occupants bang on the car’s centre of gravity, hunched arches over ultra-low proﬁle tires wrapped around six spoke wheels. ESFLOW is unmistakably a sports car. ESFLOW is rear-wheel drive and it runs on two electric motors that are placed above the axis of the rear wheels, in a mid-ship position. These motors independently control the left and right wheels, and so the torque is optimized to ensure outstanding vehicle stability and control as well as efﬁcient power

regeneration. The motors produce enough torque in an instant for it to reach 0-100kmph in under 5 seconds and travel over 240km on a single charge. An aluminium chassis has been built around the drive train and the power cells are incorporated in such a way that they beneﬁt ESFLOW’s strength and poise, not detract from them. Indeed, unlike a conventional fuel tank, batteries do not get lighter as they provide energy, so the car’s weight distribution remains constant throughout a drive. The high waistline afforded by the ESFLOW’s classic sports car proportions allows strong, yet unobtrusive roll bars incorporated

in to the structure behind the seats to safely take the entire load of the car in the event of a roll over, negating the need for obtrusive, thick, reinforced A-pillars and the blind spots they inevitably create. Crisp, clean lines convey the purity of the ESFLOW’s sporty potential. The six spoke wheels contain blue carbon inserts while the same material adorns the side sill, roof mounted lip spoiler and lower rear bumper. Blue LEDs accentuate the futuristic lights slashed into the bodywork both front and rear. The door mirrors have been replaced with small rear view cameras at the base of its A-pillars.

The cabin of the ESFLOW is clean and open and weight saving has been a priority throughout its design. By far, the heaviest components in the interior of most cars are the steel framed, thickly upholstered and increasingly motorized seats. The seats in the ESFLOW are sculpted into the rear bulkhead of the car, negating the need for a heavy frame. This of course means that they are immobile, but this is of no consequence as the steering and pedals adjust electronically to suit each individual. The ESFLOW was unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show (March 3-13) and unlike the countless other concept vehicles proudly displayed by their respective manufacturers, the ESFLOW is production ready. Unfortunately, there’s still no word from Nissan as to what a base price might be, so we’ll just have to sit in anticipation. ƒ

Source: http://nissannews.com

GAME REVIEW by Joshua Koenig

ﬁ æ

Unleash Your Need IT’S THE CLOSEST MOST OF US WILL EVER COME TO THE REAL THING. Coming out on March 31, 2011 is one of the most anticipated racing games of the year, Need for Speed: Shift 2 Unleashed. This is the 17th installment in the Need for Speed franchise. The newest rendition promises to offer something for everyone. Not only is there unbelievable realism, there is an arcade mode to please that crowd as well. The vehicle handling and drifting is very sensitive and accurate. I found myself losing control a bit too often because it was so responsive. But it is something you will get the hang of over time. Another new feature is the crash model. If you take too many bumps your car will begin to lose pieces, thus impeding your ability to drive. And if you crash too hard, the car will no longer function, putting you out of the race. And if that wasn’t challenge enough, when a computer-controlled vehicle crashes, the debris

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and wrecked car will remain on the track. This added obstacle undoubtedly forces you to employ some caution. Shift 2 Unleashed offers one of the most comprehensive car line-ups to date. There are over 135 different vehicles, including a McLaren F1, Ford Mustang, and the BMW Z4 GT3. Since the racing events vary from

retro, muscle, drift, endurance, modern FIA GT3 and FIA GT1, there is no shortage of jaw-dropping sports cars. The frameworks of the vehicles are fantastically done. Their lines and curves are sleek, but deﬁned. The vehicles featured in the game come from

almost every manufacturer. However, the car bodies are littered with advertising to simulate an intense racing environment. So don’t expect many too original paint jobs. The graphics and backgrounds are also noteworthy. Clearly, an abundance of effort went into making all 50 tracks as comprehensive as possible. The game’s camera angle is essentially a ﬁrst person helmet cam. The head turns in a manner that is identical to how the racer would view the track. Other new aspects in this game include the display of tire pressures, differentials, brake temperatures, and RPM’s. This allows you to race more comprehensively. You can even custom tune some of these features and test them out on the course before your next race. Overall, this game has many appealing aspects. The realistic damage, spectacular graphics, and of course, a mind-blowing collection of cars, are impressive. This game has something in store for all racing enthusiasts. ƒ

HYUNDAI VELOSTER FEATURED AT THE 81ST INTERNATIONAL MOTORSHOW IN GENEVA

Five Days of

FUN!

The Ford Motor Company gave us a brand new 2011 Fiesta for ďŹ ve whole days without limitation or supervision. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope their insurance payments are up to date!

BY DAN CHILTON

T FORD FIESTA

here used to be a time when shopping for a compact car meant you had a choice of two viable options. You could either go to the Honda dealership and pick up a Civic, which was generally the more widely accepted solution, or if you had a little bit of extra money to spend, you could pick up a Volkswagen Golf. Other than that, most of the other compact cars on the market really weren’t worth considering, unless the dealership was offering some kind of exceptionally low price and they were throwing in a lifetime supply of Tim Horton’s coffee. Sadly, the market hasn’t really changed all that much over the years, but the new 2011 Ford Fiesta is finally providing a quality domestic solution to a need that has traditionally been filled by the imports. Back in November of 2010, the Ford Motor Company provided our office with a new Fiesta SES 5-door hatchback so we could drive around for five days and subsequently write this article. It was a blinding green model (Ford calls it Lime Squeeze Metallic) with a 5-speed manual transmission. It came with an abundance of amenities, which I found incredibly generous for a compact car. One little feature that was lacking, however, was a block heater. The car had been shipped to our office from Ontario, and I guess block heaters aren’t the “no brainer” piece of equipment out there as they are here in Alberta. The particular week we were given the car just happened to be one of the coldest we had seen all winter. The warmest it got over the first couple of days was minus 32°C ... before the windchill! Needless to say, our brand new toy sat frozen, like a block of ice, in front of our office for the first two days. It was like getting an X-Box360 for Christmas, complete with the Kinect module, and then being told you can’t play with it until after

Boxing Day. It sucked! This, however, was not the car’s fault. There’s a reason why block heaters are considered to be standard equipment in Alberta, and I would challenge almost any vehicle to withstand the Antarctic-like deepfreeze we were in at the time and turn over without having ﬁrst been plugged in. Much to my elation, by the third day the weather had improved enough that we were able to get it started. We had three days of test driving time left and I wasn’t going to waste a second of it. We were still sitting at minus-double-digit temperatures, but the motor was running and the clock was ticking. It was time to put this thing on the road and get some driving done. Unlike most of its competitors, Ford provides the Fiesta in either a hatchback or sedan model. Although the hatchback, like the one we

had, offers signiﬁcantly more cargo room, there are those who prefer the slightly more sophisticated look of the sedan. I, on the other hand, don’t consider myself to be sophisticated at all. I use duct tape to repair the holes in my jeans and I eat sprayable cheese from the can. I like to have fun and the hatchback (especially in that vibrant Lime Squeeze Metallic colour) was screaming at me to indulge in some. THE MECHANICS The SES model we were provided comes with a 1.6L Ti-VCT inline-4 engine and ﬂips out 120 horsepower (88.26 kW) and 112 lb-ft (151.85 Nm) of torque. It’s nothing that’ll get me into the next Fast and Furious movie, but it still kicks out a fair bit of pep. It rides on 16” aluminum alloy wheels with 195/ 50HR16.0 Michelin tires all

around. The 5-speed manual transmission we had is the standard, but a 6-speed automatic is optional. This is a $1250.00 jump in the price tag, however, and it’s considered to be an upgrade. In my experience, one of the most thrilling feelings you can get while driving (especially in a smaller, sportier car like this one) is manually shifting through the gears and pretending you’re a driver in the Dakar Rally. So why in the world would you pay to have this exhilaration taken away from you? Probably best to leave that little upgrade to those sophisticated types who want their sedans. Overall, I found the car to be quite responsive when accelerating. As much as can be expected from 120 horses anyway. It was able to do a 0-100km/h sprint in approximately 9.5 seconds. Relatively average for a small car like this, but the response of the accelerator is immediate

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FORD FIESTA

and the shifting is incredibly smooth. So even though you’re not setting any land speed records, it still feels like you’re flying off the line. The suspension was quite a bit more buttery than I was anticipating from a domestic compact. Typically, most small cars shake a vibrate with every little bump and rut you find, but the Fiesta seemed to flow quite nicely. Given the fact that it was November and the weather was so cold, I was hard-pressed to find any roads that weren’t icy. This was one area where I found the Fiesta to behave the way I expected it to. When pushed aggressively and taken to higher speeds, my little green monster was wanting to slip and slide a little. Once I brought it back down to the speed limit, however, things seemed to stable out again. THE INTERIOR The general impression I got from sitting in the SES was that the interior was far more stylish and plush than one might expect from an economy car. The engine might have been feeling the cold, but the heated leather bucket seats in our SES (upgraded from the standard cloth upholstery ... though still heated) kept my buns nice and toasty. The center stack of controls on the dashboard is magnificently decked out with slick chrome accents, but it seemed a bit too busy for me. You know how you get to that point with your car, when you reach out to adjust the volume or fiddle with the air conditioning and your hand just finds the button or knob you need without having to look? Well, it’s probably going to take you a while to get to that point with the Fiesta. Fortunately, that’s where having Ford’s incredible SYNC® system comes in handy. Through simple voice commands, I was able to control the sound system (standard equipped with AM/FM radio, single CD player, MP3 capability and an AUX input jack) or connect a call on my cell phone through the available Bluetooth feature. Adding even more convenience, I was able to adjust the volume from the steering wheel. The cold temperatures, however, once again illustrated something about the Fiesta that I found a bit inconvenient. I’m about 5’ 6” and, admittedly, about 30 pounds overweight. Translation: I’m short and

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FORD FIESTA

a bit chubby. So now I have to move the seat up in order to comfortably work the clutch, and thanks to the minus OMG weather we were having, I’m sporting a wonderfully bulky parka to keep myself from succumbing to hyperthermia. Put that all together and what you get is a guy having to wedge himself past the steering wheel every time he wants to climb in and out of the car. Granted, once I was actually seated inside and had my seatbelt on, I was quite comfortable and felt like I had plenty of shoulder room. Of course, the headroom was ample, but remember ... I told you I was short. CARGO AND STORAGE On Day 3 of my atropical test drive, I decided to take advantage of the fact that I could do some business-related running around on Ford’s tab and opted to make a few magazine deliveries. So I loaded up the cargo area with a half-dozen boxes of ALQ (each box weighing approximately 45 pounds) and dropped them off at various locations around town. There was more than enough room in the cargo area to hold the boxes and the suspension seemed to take the added weight without even so much as a hiccup. FUEL ECONOMY After three full days of booting around the city, I was thrilled to look at the Fiesta’s highly visible instrument cluster and see that the gas gauge was still sitting at a respectable level. Ford claims the Fiesta will get a city/highway mileage rating of 7.1/5.3 L/100km respectively. Granted, I didn’t bother to verify their accuracy, but I did a massive amount of bombing around in this car over those three days, putting nearly 500 kilometers on the digital readout, and I was still sitting with more than a quarter of a tank. FINAL IMPRESSIONS Overall, I found the Ford Fiesta to be a thoroughly enjoyable ride. The crisp acceleration, superior suspension and uncharacteristically extravagant look of the interior made me feel as though I wasn’t driving a compact car at all. In fact, the impression was much more like that of a mid-size. But the way it handled when I threw it into the

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corners and easily jogged from lane-to-lane on the straightaways left no doubt in my mind that I was indeed gunning down the road in a little sportster. This car is an absolute blast to drive. Ford has built an economy compact that performs like its Japanese and European counterparts, but offers the convenience of a signiﬁcantly smaller price tag and lower maintenance bills. I suspect dealerships will have little trouble moving units, especially as the warmer months get closer. Personally, I would gladly invite another opportunity to drive the Fiesta after the snow melts. I’m sure I’ll have a much easier time climbing in and out of it, given that I’ll likely be wearing my duct tape-patched jeans and a t-shirt instead of a parka. And I’m conﬁdent that the copious amounts of performance fun I had driving on icy streets will be compounded that much more when the roads are dry. Keep in mind, however, that winter will be returning quicker than you know it and that block heater is only an $80 upgrade. ƒ

Compact CROSSOVER

Like a roomy and sporty little oxymoron, the new MINI Countryman proves to be a jumbo shrimp on the road. BY STUART EASTWOOD

MINI COUNTRYMAN

n an interesting departure from expectations, MINI’s Countryman compact crossover vehicle is now available. Entirely new, the car draws inspiration from the ingenuity of the original Mini. Challenging established engineering conventions, Alec Issigonis conceived a car just three meters long, and yet had the capability of accommodating four adults comfortably. From its 1959 debut, the Mini proved a success. Owners Peter Sellers, George Harrison, and Twiggy lent the car cachet and were frequently spotted on the trendy Chelsea end of London’s King’s Road. Fashion designers Vivienne Westwood and Mary Quant worked nearby, their boutiques establishing the style of the “Swinging Sixties”. Quant’s memorable short skirts are named in honour of her favourite car. The Mini range expanded in September of 1960, with the introduction of the ﬁrst estate and van variants, the Austin Se7en Countryman Mk1, and the Morris Mini Traveller

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Mk1. Economical and reliable, the cars were soon in use with the trades and police forces throughout the UK. A lightweight vehicle based on the Mini was developed for the British military. Looking as if designed as a collaboration between the Amish Institute of Technology and IKEA, the Moke was compromised by its 10” wheels. Unable to traverse terrain more challenging than a putting green, the Ministry of Defence decided to look elsewhere. The car was then offered to the civilian market, a decision that saw the Moke enjoy a

reasonable measure of success, particularly in tropical climes as taxis. In 2000, after 41 years in production, and 5.3 million examples of the car having sold, the Mini was retired. The Mini ranks ﬁfth on the list of longest production runs, only surpassed by the Citroen 2CV (1948-1990), Morris Oxford III / Hindustan Ambassador (1956- present), Lotus 7/ Caterham (1957present), Volkswagen Beetle (1938-2003), and the timeless Morgan 4/4 which remains in production 75 years after its 1936 debut. The car designed by Issigonis was entirely brilliant, but time and improving technology had caught up with it by the end of production. Ironically, the Mini inﬂuenced competing designs from the Asian motor industry. Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai quickly caught up, and were soon offering improved performance and standard equipment for an equivalent cash investment. Time for change. Having acquired the Rover Group in 1994, BMW took possession of the Mini brand. Work began on a replacement, and the new MINI, the spelling having been capitalized to differentiate between the two cars, was introduced in 2001. Respecting the heritage

of the brand, BMW crafted a worthy successor to the late motoring icon. Nearly a third as large as the previous Mini, the car incorporated many improvements. A 1.6 Liter engine and modern safety equipment were speciﬁed, resulting in a car well placed to take on entries from competing manufacturers. Over the past decade, MINI’s portfolio expanded to include the Clubman estate and the stylish convertible which, in many respects, is a contemporary interpretation of the traditional British sports car. All of which neatly brings us to the new Countryman. Fusing the attributes of an SUV with those of a passenger car, compact crossovers are largely about style and convenience and offer limited off-road capability. The Audi Q5, Land Rover LR2, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4 are all contenders in this segment. Honouring its lineage, the Countryman shares its name with the ﬁrst Mini estate

and enjoys familial styling cues. The Countryman is larger again than contemporary MINI models and is the ﬁrst four-door in the marque’s history. At the front, an instantly recognizable MINI grill and fascia are present which, according to the factory, is designed to enhance pedestrian safety, although not running people over in the ﬁrst instance may prove as effective. Viewed from the side, the car is obviously a MINI, albeit one that’s been super-sized to accommodate the extra set of doors. The large rear lid sports a prominent MINI badge that cleverly incor-

porates the door latch. Additional MINI styling flourishes include a high window line and short overhangs, all of which work in concert to create a well-balanced profile. Depending upon colour and wheel choice, the car can look quite aggressive, making it appealing in a “Tonkaesque” manner. To accommodate the optional MINI ALL4 all-wheel drive system, the Countryman rides a few millimetres higher than previous offerings. Being easier to enter, the car will appeal to those previously unable to consider a MINI as a result of flexibility limitations. Interior appointments are typically MINI, being both tasteful and attractive. All surfaces are covered in quality materials pleasant to the eye and touch, the whole creating an inviting environment. “Full integration of the passengers within the vehicle creates that driving experience so typical of MINI.” If the copywriter responsible for the MINI advertising meant to say the front seats are

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MINI COUNTRYMAN

comfortable, then he’s mostly right. Then again, “fully integrated within the vehicle” may just mean the doors stay shut. Individual bucket seats are ﬁtted to the rear and allow adjustment fore and aft, as well as rake. Folding the rear seats increases the luggage capacity from 350 to 1,170 litres. Should extra space be required, a plethora of optional equipment is available to transport personal effects and larger items such as sporting equipment. The traditional centrally-mounted speedometer continues and incorporates the display screen for the MINI Connected system. MINI Connected controls access to in-car entertainment, mobile telephone, integrated Twitter support, and GoogleTM Local Search functions. The system is navigated via a knob mounted between the front seats and is similar to BMW’s iDrive technology. This may become intuitive after living with the car, but having to stop to make sense

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of the radio proved an annoyance. Unfettered access to a computer literate 12-yearold shouldn’t be a prerequisite to ﬁlling the cabin with some decent tunes. Stalks mounted on the steering column activate the expected complement of features. Minor switches are set into the center column, and into the panel above the rear-view mirror. Apart from MINI Connected, the controls are obvious to function and switches are all clearly marked. The seats are divided by the Centre Rail, onto which task-speciﬁc accessories can be installed. Extra cup hold-

ers, a stowage box, and an iPhone adapter with USB interface can be speciﬁed from the option list. This original idea will allow the owner to create an environment that makes personal sense. The handbrake lever is placed between the seats, the release handle being unusually orientated transversely, and is conveniently placed to facilitate smooth hill starts. The optional sunroof is worth considering as the extra light makes the cabin just that little bit more pleasant. Six airbags are ﬁtted and, along with an advanced seatbelt system, provide an enhanced level of occupant safety, should circumstances conspire. A choice of two 1.6 Litre motors are available. In Cooper trim a naturally aspirated engine producing 121HP is presented, while the Cooper S, by virtue of adding a twinscroll turbocharger, sees this increase to 181HP. The motor in the Cooper S test car was smooth and tractable in all driving situations and

provided performance sympathetic to the car’s image. A John Cooper Works version will likely be offered but, unless planning on entering the World Rally Championship, the Cooper S will suffice. Gear selection in the test car was via a 6-speed Manual gearbox. Offering good feel through the gates, and slotting into gear with a satisfying directness, the gearbox is a joy to use and would be instructional to more than a few competitors. For the benefit of those holding differing views as to how gear changes should be accomplished, an optional 6-speed automatic is available. The four disc braking system is fitted with the now expected Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and is further enhanced with Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD). The brakes are well matched to the sophistication of the chassis, and are predictable and effortless, whether scrubbing speed before a corner or

bringing the car to a quick stop in trafﬁc. ALL4 all-wheel drive is only available on Cooper S models. In normal operating conditions the drive is divided between the front and rear axles evenly. However, if required, 100% of the drive can be directed to the rear wheels. Dynamic Stability Control and optional Dynamic Traction Control are available to lend further assistance, should conditions warrant. The ALL4 all-wheel drive works away quietly in the background, never intruding or otherwise drawing attention to itself.

Countryman promotional material states the car offers a MINI like “go-kart” feeling on the road. Not quite. The Countryman is heavier and taller than current company offerings, meaning Mr. Newton’s Laws must be considered. The car does handle well, exhibiting a degree of agility and willingness when pushing on. The wise will remember that the Countryman is designed to do things other MINIs can’t, which inevitably results in a different driving experience. The Countryman is an entertaining proposition on its own terms; just be clear that your expectations, or enthusiasm, aren’t misplaced. The speed-sensitive, electrically-assisted steering system is comfortably weighted and provides good feedback to the driver. The suspension, comprised of a single joint spring-strut front axle and a multiple control-arm rear axle, provides a stable, comfortable ride and, while ﬁrm, won’t prove tiring when encountering typical urban road

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MINI COUNTRYMAN

imperfections. Sightlines around the car are very good, making it unchallenging to place the car in traffic with confidence. Those familiar with MINIs will notice the extra weight carried by the Countryman. This doesn’t detract from the driving experience, but it does reinforce the idea the car is intended to fulfil a distinctly different mission. The car’s dimensions are perfectly suited for city driving, big enough to avoid bullying and small enough to nip into openings when they appear. The car offers a modicum of off-road ability, but few owners will subject the Countryman to anything more challenging than a Costco parking lot. When the Mini was introduced, it was intended to provide affordable motoring to the masses - a role it fulfilled successfully. Times and expectations change, of course, and MINI is now a premium market product. While it’s difficult to argue with the quality on offer, things can get a bit expensive. The MINI Cooper Countryman starts just shy of $28K; however, you’ll not be looking twice. You’ll probably be considering the Cooper S, in order to take advantage of the ALL4 all-

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wheel drive. The base price of the test car is $34,400 which, by the time freight and option charges are included, sees this advance to a not insigniﬁcant $45,773. Brings to mind the adage, “it costs an arm and a leg,” making the automatic gearbox ($1,500) necessary, as you’ll be unable to work the clutch. MINI supports the Countryman with three years of no-charge scheduled maintenance, a 4-Year/80,000 kms warranty, along with MINI Mobile Service and MINI Roadside Assistance. 30 years ago Chrysler’s mini-van duo,

the Dodge Caravan and the Plymouth Voyager, became popular with young families. Mini-vans were soon followed by large SUVs, such as the Ford Explorer, which offered consumers the ability to transport their children in a vehicle that offered a more rugged persona, and with the belief that the car offered enhanced safety due to its size. World oil prices, and the enmity of the green movement, have resulted in the popularity of traditional SUVs declining dramatically. Compact crossovers allow buyers to enjoy the advantages of an SUV in a more environmentally friendly and socially acceptable package. MINI is betting the compact crossover segment will be active, and has produced a car to be competitive from the get-go. Few prospective MINI owners arrive at a dealership to comparison shop, for it’s a MINI they want, and it’s a MINI they’ll have. There aren’t many brands that enjoy this unique emotional investment with their customers. If MINI can successfully imbue the Countryman with this demonstrative goodwill, they can think about ordering the cake and balloons.

FUN FUNCTIONAL AND

FUEL EFFICIENT

REASONS WHY IT’S STILL OK TO BUY A SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLE v

Lexus RX 450h Base Price:

$59,550

The 2011 Lexus RX 450h is a 3.5L V6 Engine: DOHC 24-valve mid sized Luxury Sports UtilHorsepower: 295 hp (220 kW) ity Vehicle capable of accommodating ﬁve passengers. It Torque: 234 lb-ft (317 Nm) was ﬁrst launched as concept vehicle at the 2007 North Drivetrain: AWD American International Auto Length: 187.8 in (4770 mm) Show. This sedan’s standard Storage Capacity: accessories include auto dim24.6 - 80.3 ft³ (Seats: Up-Down) ming mirrors, 18” alloy wheels, Fuel Economy: 6.7 / 7.2 fog lights, keyless entry and (City/Hwy L/100km) ignition, 10-way power front seats, auto dimming mirrors, dual zone automatic climate control, tilt and telescopic steering column, wood interior, cloth upholstery, reclining second row seats, audio system with nine speakers, six

CD changer, AUX-IN audio pin and satellite radio. This hybrid’s powertrain is capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds and can tow up to 3500 pounds.

FUN, FUNCTIONAL AND FUEL EFFICIENT

Audi Q7 TDI

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Base Price:

$58,900

Engine: 3.0L V6 TDI The Audi Q7 TDI was ﬁrst launched in 2005 at the Frankfurt Horsepower: 225 hp (165.5 kW) Motor Show and was originally based on Volkswagen’s group Torque: 406 lb-ft (550.5 Nm) PL71 platform. Major alterations Drivetrain: quattro AWD took place for 2009 to give us the SUV available today. This fullLength: n/a size crossover is capable of accommodating seven individuals. Storage Capacity: 10.9 ft³ The standard trim includes 18” Economy: 12.3 - 7.3 alloy wheels, roof rails, rear park- Fuel (City/Hwy L/100km) ing sensors, dual zone automatic climate control, power lift gates which include programmable opening angle, automatic wipers, heated 8-way power front seats with lumbar adjustment and leather upholstery. Some of the optional features on the Q7 TDI include a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats. Not that important as we head into the warmer months, but winter always comes quickly in Canada.

Base Price:

$49,555

Vortec 6.0L V8 GM pioneered the full-size hybrid Engine: SUV in 2008 and is still the only Horsepower: 332 hp (248 kW) manufacturer currently offering a hybrid vehicle in this class. The Torque: 367 lb-ft (497 Nm) Chevy Tahoe Hybrid combines Drivetrain: 2WD / 4WD a 6.0L V-8 with two electric motors, improving the overall mileLength: 202 in (5131 mm) age by as much as 25 percent. Storage Capacity: Depending on the driving situa16.9 - 108.9 ft³ (Seats: Up-Down) tion, the electronically variable Fuel Economy: 2WD: 10.1 / 8.4 transmission (EVT) can function (City/Hwy L/100km) 4WD: 10.2 / 8.5 with continuously variable gearing for light loads and ﬁxed-ratio strength for more heavy-duty tasks, such as towing. The four-wheeldrive Tahoe also has low-range gearing, which is an unusual attribute for a hybrid. Three rows of seating provide generous seating for up to seven. Standard amenities include leather seating, a premium sound system and a navigation system.

Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTec Base Price:

$58,900

The Mercedes-Benz ML350 Engine: 3.0L V6 Diesel BlueTec comes fully equipped Horsepower: 210 hp (154.5 kW) with 19” wheels, a sunroof, automatic wipers, automatic Torque: 400 lb-ft (542.3 Nm) headlights, foglamps, dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise Drivetrain: 4MATIC AWD control, a tilt-and-telescoping Length: 188.2 in (4781 mm) steering wheel, 8-way power front seats, MB-Tex premium Storage Capacity: 29.42 - 72.4 ft³ (Seats: Up-Down) vinyl upholstery, dash-mounted Fuel Economy: COMAND electronics interface, 11.1 / 8.0 (City/Hwy L/100km) Bluetooth and an eight-speaker stereo with a 6-CD/DVD changer and an auxiliary audio jack. Passenger room is impressive, offering ample leg-room for ﬁve passengers. Standard safety equipment

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includes anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, hill-start assist and hill-descent control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid Base Price:

$42,850

3.5L V6 The Toyota Highlander Hybrid Engine: DOHC 24-valve is easy to recommend to anyone Horsepower: 280 hp (205.9 kW) looking to significantly reduce their fuel consumption without Torque: n/a having to sacrifice the functionFWD ality of a true SUV. The base Drivetrain: (On-Demand 4WD) model comes fitted with 17” alloy Length: 188.8 in (4795 mm) wheels, automatic headlights, foglamps, keyless ignition/entry, Storage Capacity: 10.3 - 94.1 ft³ (Seats: Up-Down) cloth upholstery, an eight-way Fuel Economy: power driver seat, a 40/20/40 6.6 / 7.3 (City/Hwy L/100km) split-folding/sliding/reclining second-row seat with removable center seat, a 50/50 split-folding third-row seat, cargo area-mounted releases for folding down the second-row seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, air-conditioning (with rear climate control), a

Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

rearview camera and a six-speaker audio system with CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, an iPod/USB interface and Bluetooth connectivity/ streaming audio.

Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid Base Price:

$95,080

In a social climate where fuel Engine: Vortec 6.0L LIVC V8 efﬁciency is the new cool, the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid offers Horsepower: 332 hp (248 kW) prospective owners of a colossal, Torque: 367 lb-ft (498 Nm) exuberant, luxury sport-utility vehicle the promise of full-sized Drivetrain: Autotrac™ 4WD performance that’s somewhat socially acceptable. There’s room Length: 202.5 in (5144 mm) to seat eight and it comes well Storage Capacity: 16.9 - 108.9 ft³ equipped with 22” alloy wheels, (Seats: Up-Down) xenon headlights, sunroof, remote Fuel Economy: 10.4 / 8.5 (City/Hwy L/100km) start and a power rear liftgate. Inside you’ll ﬁnd all the expected spoils, including leather-trimmed seating, heated and ventilated power front seats with driver memory, power-adjustable pedals, tri-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth and a navigation system. Also standard are a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system, a 6-CD changer and satellite radio.

Base Price:

$77,500

The Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid Engine: V6 tells us that the German manufacturer has a lot more than small Horsepower: 380 hp (279 kW) and sporty in its repertoire. This Torque: 428 lb-ft (580 Nm) gasoline-electric model showcases a Porsche-developed hybrid Porsche Traction Drivetrain: Management AWD system with a battery-powered electric motor. The result is one Length: 190.8 in (4846 mm) of the most seamless power Storage Capacity: n/a deliveries from a hybrid on the market. The Cayenne S Hybrid Fuel Economy: 8.7 / 7.9 (City/Hwy L/100km) also coasts at speed with the engine shut down, making an even further impact on fuel efﬁciency. It comes standard with 18” cast-aluminum wheels, self-leveling automatic headlamps, front and rear foglamps, power tailgate, automatic wipers, 8-way power front seats, sliding and reclining 40/20/40-split rear seat, Bluetooth and a 10-speaker sound system with CD player and auxiliary audio jack.

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FUN, FUNCTIONAL AND FUEL EFFICIENT

BMW ActiveHybrid X6 Base Price:

$99,900

4.4L V8 Turbocharged The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 will Engine: Gas/Electric be able to deliver all of the perHorsepower: 480 hp (353 kW) formance you’ve come to expect from this manufacturer. In perfor- Torque: 575 lb-ft (779.6 Nm) mance testing, it went from 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds, which is not Drivetrain: AWD only impressive for a hybrid, but Length: 192.1 in (4879 mm) it’s the same performance as the regular V8-powered X6. Inside, Storage Capacity: 29.6 - 59.7 ft³ (Seats: Up-Down) all of the creature comforts that Fuel Economy: have become synonymous with 11.6 (overall avg. L/100km) BMW come standard, but the optionally available, ventilated 14-way-adjustable “multicontour” seats are among the ﬁnest ways to pamper your posterior, offering an almost inﬁnite degree of adjustabil-

Ford Escape Hybrid

Mercedes-Benz R350 BlueTec Base Price:

$56,200

The Mercedes-Benz R350 Engine: 3.0L V6 Diesel BlueTec is a large crossover wagon that has standard seating Horsepower: 210 hp (154.5 kW) for six and comes with a sevenTorque: 400 lb-ft (542.3 Nm) passenger stand-alone option. Included among its many safety Drivetrain: 4MATIC AWD features are stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes, active Length: 203.2 in (5157 mm) front head restraints, front- and Storage Capacity: 84.2 ft³ second-row side airbags and side curtain airbags for all three Fuel Economy: 11.5 / 8.2 (City/Hwy L/100km) rows. In crash testing, the R350 BlueTec achieved the highest rating for frontal-offset and side crash protection. This is a big vehicle and from behind the wheel, it feels it, but its ride quality is comfortable and its high-speed stability is exemplary. The spacious cabin is, without question, one of this vehicle’s more worthwhile features.

ity and comfort. Other options include ventilated and massaging front seats, rear window shades and a rear seat entertainment system.

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Base Price:

#38,399

It may come as a surprise to hear Engine: 2.5L 4-Cylinder that the Ford Escape Hybrid has been around for five years Horsepower: 153 hp (112.5 kW) now. As a result, Ford has pretty Torque: 136 lb-ft (184.4 Nm) much got a lock on the market. If you’re currently shopping for a Drivetrain: FWD/4WD small hybrid SUV with impressive functionality at a more than Length: 174.7 in (4437 mm) attractive price, this little gem Storage Capacity: 27.8 - 66.0 ft³ is the only game in town. The (Seats: Up-Down) Escape comes well equipped with Fuel Economy: FWD: 5.8 / 6.5 (City/Hwy L/100km) 4WD: 6.6 / 7.3 some wonderful technological features, including Ford’s Sync voice-activated multimedia system. In government crash testing, the 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid scored a perfect five out of five stars for all occupants in both frontal and side impacts.

FUN, FUNCTIONAL AND FUEL EFFICIENT

Mercedes GL350 BlueTec

GMC Yukon Hybrid SLT Base Price:

$68,815

Base Price:

$53,190

The GMC Yukon Hybrid gets Engine: Vortec 6.0L LIVC V8 nearly 50% better mileage than its 5.3L V8 FlexFuel brother, Horsepower: 332 hp (244.2 kW) while still offering a powerful V8 Torque: 367 lb-ft (497.6 Nm) engine, the ability to transport up to eight people and a towing Drivetrain: 2WD / 4WD capacity of 6,200 pounds. The regenerative braking system has Length: 202.0 in (5131 mm) been designed to replenish the Storage Capacity: 16.9 - 108.9 ft³ batteries by capturing energy (Seats: Up-Down) normally lost when you come to Fuel Economy: 2WD: 10.1 / 8.4 (City/Hwy L/100km) 4WD: 10.2 / 8.5 a stop. Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, rear park assist with rearview camera, power-folding heated side mirrors and tri-zone automatic climate control. In-car entertainment includes a navigation system with real-time trafﬁc reporting, a hybrid system display and a nine-speaker Bose audio system with a CD/MP3 player, a USB port and satellite radio.

Base Price:

$70,500

Notwithstanding the capacious Engine: 3.0L V6 Diesel price of ownership, the MercedesBenz GL350 BlueTec presents Horsepower: 210 hp (154.5 kW) a perfectly logical argument for Torque: 400 lb-ft (542.3 Nm) the existence of the seven-seat luxury vehicle. Especially if you Drivetrain: 4MATIC AWD happen to be a large family who prefers to travel in style and with Length: 200.75 in (5099 mm) a high level of safety through all Storage Capacity: 9.18 - 81.22 ft³ types of unpredictable Canadian (Seats: Up-Down) weather. And despite its hefty Fuel Economy: 12.4 / 8.8 (City/Hwy L/100km) size, the handling of this SUV is surprisingly dextrous and slick through crowded city streets. There’s room for seven passengers and features whiplash-reducing head restraints ﬁtted to all seven seats. The GL350 BlueTec is one of the most spacious luxury crossovers on the market, as its third row is big enough to seat two average-sized adults in comfort.

Volkswagen Touareg TDI For 2011, the Volkswagen 3.0 TDI 90° V6 Engine: 24 valve engine Touareg TDI has undergone a bit of a facelift from the Touareg Horsepower: 225 hp (165 kW) models of the past. It’s noticeably Torque: 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) smaller and signiﬁcantly lighter than its predecessors and even Drivetrain: 4MOTION AWD though its general design may initially smack of a typical SUV Length: 188.8 in (4795 mm) crossover, there’s a lot more to Storage Capacity: 32.1 - 70.9 ft³ this vehicle than meets the eye. (Seats: Up - Down) Standard features in the base Fuel Economy: 11.1 / 7 (City/Hwy L/100km) “Comfortline” model include 18” alloy wheels, a remote controlled power tailgate, automatic windshield wipers with rain sensor, heated washer ﬂuid novels in the front, 8-way power adjustable front seats, navigation system, 8” high-resolution touch screen with 3D landmarks

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and mapping, SD card input, 60GB hard drive, video DVD playback, satellite radio, Bluetooth and a Media Device Interface with iPod connectivity.

Diggin’ Up The

DIRT

BREAKING DOWN THE SKINNY ON THE ALL-NEW 350 SX-F AND THE LATEST DESIGN INNOVATIONS FROM KTM. BY JOE PESKUNOWICZ

PHOTO BY ROMERO S.

KTM 350 SX-F

In spring a young man’s fancy turns to...

A NEW DIRT BIKE!

Detail and Studio Photography by Mitterbauer H. Action Photography by Romero S. and Montero F.

PHOTO BY MONTERO F.

trip through the 2011 Motorcycle Show revealed some big news for some manufacturers, small paint and trim changes for others, and ﬁnally a few losers that might make the bottom 10 list of all time. But one booth took me back 35 years to when I would dream about the new models with the “new and improved this” and “lighter that” with the promised “improved performance” and faster lap times that would come with the changes. How could the manufacturers keep producing such dramatic improvements year after year? Well, the answer was and still is factory racing programs. Back then, what we saw on the factory works bikes would trickle into production by bits and pieces over the next few years. Today, CAD/ CAM design, CNC machining, improved casting techniques and material advancements almost guarantee that the latest developments (almost all of them, not a select few) will be on the dealer’s ﬂoor by the next spring so that we can be on the fastest and best bikes ever. Well, the KTM booth took me back to those days. Having never paid all that much attention to the offerings from this Austrian manufacturer, it was a pleasant shock to visit with Vince Aiello and the boys from Cycle Works and learn about the latest offerings.

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In motocross there are two basic classes, the 250cc 4-stroke and 450cc 4-stroke. Back in the day, this was the 125cc 2-stroke and 250cc 2-stroke classes. With the almost universal switch to 4-strokes by the big 4, the classes have morphed to the new sizes. The smaller, more nimble bikes can out-handle and be quicker than the bigger bikes on tight tracks. Only on the wide open tracks and long straights do the bigger bikes show their size. Well, now KTM has married the best of both worlds. Take a 250 size and weight chassis and create a 350cc that is only 3 HP down from the 450 model. The genius of this design becomes so obvious when the technical speciﬁcations were explained. The 350 SX-F motor is an over square design with an 88mm bore and a 57.5mm stroke. It can rev to over 13,000 rpm. It is a DOHC (double over head cam) design when the competitors use a SOHC. It is a 250

PHOTO BY ROMERO S.

KTM 350 SX-F

PHOTO BY ROMERO S.

on steroids that runs with the 450’s and handles like a much smaller bike. The engine braking that you experience on a 450 is much less noticeable, according to KTM. The other key to the performance is the new 42mm Keihin electronic fuel injection throttle body. Finally, a system that will automatically adjust for altitude and temperature for maximum performance throughout a wide range of riding/racing conditions. And as only KTM can do, there are optional “PowerParts” available that have three power maps which are adjustable to match riding conditions. For the techie geeks, you can even remap with your laptop. One of the biggest problems with racing 4-strokes is if you crash and the engine stalls, restarting a hot engine can be troublesome. KTM puts an electric start on the 350 SX-F. There is even an optional kick start lever that can be installed if you desire. The titanium valves and DLC coated ﬁnger followers allow the 13,000 rpm limit. The camshaft gear has a balancer on it and drives the water pump. The engine even has two oil pumps for pressurized lubrication. This engine almost creates a new category of bike and by itself, is big news. But it does not end there. KTM has developed a brand new chassis for the 2011 SX race bikes. Stefan Everts had a huge inﬂuence on the ergonomics and layout of the brand new frame. KTM is the only company left that uses steel for the frame. The 25CrMo4 chromoly steel provides higher torsion-

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al rigidity and reduced longitudinal stiffness designed to absorb high impacts from the rear suspension. The frame is not only stronger; it weighs less than the competitor’s aluminum frame. And the advancements don’t stop with just the frame. This series of racers, are the ﬁrst KTM’s to have a linkage suspension. What this does is allow the use of mechanical advantage to have plush initial travel over moderate terrain at lower speeds but add “leverage” so that the hardest whoops can be taken at racing speed with progressive springing and dampening rates for the larger bumps. In simpler terms, conventional direct suspension is linear in its ability to absorb terrain. Linkage suspension gives racers a wider range of suspension for the fastest racers on the harshest tracks. And this system works! The new cast aluminum swing-arm is a work of

PHOTO BY ROMERO S.

KTM 350 SX-F

PHOTO BY MONTERO F.

PHOTO BY ROMERO S.

art that looks as good as a decoration on your mantle as it does on the meanest new track star. Throw a WP (White Power) shock in there and one of the most tractable rear suspensions in the class is available to soak up the whoops, triples, and rhythm sections of your favourite tracks or trails. The WP suspension is up front too. The latest generation of 48mm USD (upside down) are valved and sprung to match the new frames. If the rear swingarm is a piece of art, then the CNC machined triple clamps are so trick that we wondered if they were on loan from the Smithsonian or from the AMA Factory Team. Impressively, they come standard on each and every new 350 SX-F. A trip through the “Orange Porn” PowerParts Catalogue offers different triple clamps with varying “offset”. These world class parts can ﬁne tune a professional-level race bike to match any track. World class! There is no detail left to “standard” parts. Even the wheels are special. The CNC machined hubs are wrapped in EXCEL rims with trick spokes and new aluminum nipples. Notice those brakes? If you have been shopping for a Ferrari, you probably saw the Brembo brakes. They might even be optional on a Porsche. Top end Ducati race bikes come with Brembo’s. KTM? Oh, just standard fare. Unless of course you go to the PowerParts catalogue and upgrade further. The Brembo master cylinders operate with a feel and ﬁnesse that needs to be experienced. Want special Brembo levers? Available. Hydraulic clutch...yawn.

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Comes with. Of course they go on top end Renthal bars. With the nicest grips we have seen on a bike in ages. But this is just a partial list of all the innovations, incredible components, engineering, and ﬁt and ﬁnish that KTM is putting into their latest efforts. This is truly one of the times that the word ‘synergy’ comes to mind: the total is greater than the sum of the parts. The best news? We will all get a chance to ride this marvel. KTM has announced that they will be traveling across Canada this spring with a stable of test rides for the racers (and us wannabes) to test on the track. Sometime in May, they will be coming to the Wild Rose Motocross Track with samples of these machines for us all to try. ALQ will be there to beg a ride on what could arguably be considered the coolest new bike to hit the track in several years. ƒ

SIDE-BY-SIDE SPEC CHECK by Paul Kane

Trans Canada Touring WE BREAK DOWN THE SPECS ON SOME OF 2011’s NEWEST TOURING MODELS.

YAMAHA

Stratoliner Deluxe

$22,999

MSRP

HARLEY-DAVIDSON Road Glide® Ultra

$24,889

MSRP

KAWASAKI

Vulcan 1700 Voyager

$22.549

MSRP

VICTORY

Vision Tour

$25,869

MSRP

ENGINE

Air-cooled OHV 8-valve 48° V-twin w/EFI

Air-cooled Twin Cam 103™

4-stroke V-Twin

4-stroke 50° V-Twin

DISPLACEMENT

1854 cc

1690 cc

1700 cc

1731 cc

BORE & STROKE

100 X 118 mm

98.4 x 111.3 mm

102.0 x 104.0 mm

101 x 108 mm

COMPRESSION RATIO

9.5 : 1

9.6 : 1

9.5 : 1

9.4 : 1

DRIVETRAIN

Belt

Belt: 32/68 ratio

Carbon fiber belt

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Belt

FUEL SYSTEM

Mikuni Dual 43mm cross bore throttle body Fuel Injection

Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)

Digital fuel injection with dual 42 mm throttle bodies

Electronic Fuel Injection with dual 45mm throttle body

LENGTH

101.6 in (2580 mm)

98.7 in (2507 mm)

100.8 in (2560 mm)

104.9 in (2668 mm)

WIDTH

43.3 in (1100 mm)

36.2 in (919 mm)

39.2 in (995 mm)

n/a

SEAT HEIGHT

27.8 in (705 mm)

29.1 in (739 mm)

28.7 in (730 mm)

26.5 in (673 mm)

TOTAL HEIGHT

52 in (1320 mm)

55.0 in (1397 mm)

61.0 in (1550 mm)

n/a

WHEEL BASE

67.5 in (1715 mm)

63.5 in (1613 mm)

65.6 in (1665 mm)

65.7 in (1670 mm)

WET WEIGHT

810 lbs (368 kg)

888 lbs (402.8 kg)

895 lbs (406 kg)

907 lbs (411 kg)

FUEL CAPACITY

17 L

22.7 L

20 L

22.7 L

TIRES

Front: 130/70R18 Rear: 190/60R17

Front: D408F BW 130/80B17 65H Rear: D407 BW 180/65B16 81H

Front: 130/90-B16 Rear: 170/70-B16

Front: 130/70R18 Dunlop Elite 3 Rear: 180/60R16 Dunlop Elite 3

IGNITION

TCI/ Electric

1.2 kW electric with solenoid shift starter motor engagement

TCBI with digital advance

Electric

TRANSMISSION

5-speed

6-Speed Cruise Drive®

6-speed with overdrive

6-speed overdrive constant mesh

ABS

n/a

Optional

Yes

FUEL ECONOMY (overall avg.)

46 mpg

35/54 mpg (cty/hwy)

44 mpg

n/a

SPRING 2011 | ISSUE #3 | AUTOLIFEQUARTERLY.CA

Grasping the

CONCEPT THE NEW MCLAREN MP4-12C GT3 BREAKS COVER TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE ITS FIRST ROUND OF TESTS. MEDIA RELEASE BY MCLAREN AUTOMOTIVE

fi T he first McLaren MP4-12C GT3 to be built by McLaren GT - a new company that brings together the expertise of the McLaren Group and CRS Racing - has successfully undertaken its debut tests at the MIRA proving ground facility and Silverstone Circuit in England. McLaren GT has also appointed a new test driver to its team, 26-year-old Portuguese racing driver Álvaro Parente. The initial shakedown tests undertaken with the 12C GT3, whereby new components are calibrated and bespoke aerodynamic body structures are appraised for the first time, will be followed by comprehensive tests scheduled throughout March and April

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at a number of FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) certified circuits across Europe. News on the development program, full driver line-up and planned competition for the 12C GT3 will be confirmed after these tests are completed. McLaren GT Project Manager Andrew Kirkaldy and McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin piloted the new 12C GT3 on its first outings. These realworld tests follow months of virtual testing in the McLaren Simulator at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, which is also used to develop the 12C production car and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ Formula 1 cars. Andrew Kirkaldy said: “We have an extensive list of subjective and objective development targets set for the MP4-12C GT3. In the first tests, the car is achieving excellent results in many areas including handling, powertrain and other aspects of dynamic performance.

“The 12C’s carbon chassis and aerodynamic efﬁciency mean we started with a lightweight, dynamically-optimized sports car. Those characteristics are fundamental to any race car. The car is around 100mm wider than the standard production car and features a new suspension system which we have tested in the McLaren Simulator. Having now experienced this new set-up in the 12C GT3 car, I’m delighted with the progress we are making. “The McLaren GT team is working with Formula 1 technology suppliers, and several of the senior technical personnel involved in this project have vast experience in Formula 1. This is a unique advantage in developing a GT speciﬁcation car.” From 2012, McLaren Automotive and CRS Racing will supply and support a limited number of FIA GT3-compliant racing cars based on the McLaren 12C high-performance sports car for privateers.

ﬁ

MP4-12C GT3: Technical specification outline The 12C GT3 race car is based on a standard 12C. Developing the race car has required a team of engineers, technicians and test drivers from McLaren Group and CRS Racing to focus on several fundamental components. The 12C GT3 is based on the McLaren carbon MonoCell chassis, which weighs just 75kg and is produced in a revolutionary onepiece mould. Race specification composite body panels and a fixed rear wing have been added to the GT3 car. The same 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 as in the production car on which it is based will be used in the 12C GT3, tuned to race specification. A bespoke paddle-shift system operating an all-new Ricardo-designed gearbox developed specifically for racing will be fitted. This system eschews the 7-speed SSG dual-

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clutch Graziano transmission supplied in the standard 12C. New electrical architecture is being supplied by McLaren Electronic Systems Limited, including electronic dash and data technologies. Bosch Motorsport will supply a new ABS system for the 12C GT3. A new aerodynamics package has been developed by McLaren Racing in compliance with GT3 regulations, incorporating a new front splitter, door blade, rear wing, diffuser and louvres in the front fenders. The new GT3 car will feature motorsportspeciﬁc braking and suspension components. These include bespoke callipers by Akebono, Ofﬁcial Supplier to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. Due to regulations imposed by racing authorities, the 12C GT3 will not feature the road-going 12C’s ProActive Chassis Control

System; negating the requirement for an antiroll bar. Instead, the 12C GT3 will use a conﬁguration comprising race-speciﬁc roll bars and dampers. McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin said: “Those who have seen the new MP4-12C production car won’t be surprised to learn that immense attention to detail has been applied in developing the GT3 version. Quality is a watchword. We know that our potential customers will expect McLaren GT to deliver a competitive car right out of the box and, starting now with a programme covering aerodynamics development and durability testing, we are determined to do just that. “The McLaren GT team is committed to achieving unprecedented levels of performance, also guaranteeing the levels of quality, reliability and durability with which we expect to delight future race teams entering competitions with the 12C GT3.” ƒ

HELPFUL HINTS

Are You Getting Hosed? SOME TIPS ON HOW TO GET THE MOST FOR YOUR MONEY AT THE PUMPS. TIP #1 GIVE YOUR CAR SOME BREAKFAST

You should only ever ﬁll up your tank in the morning, while the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline. When it gets warmer, gasoline expands. So if you buy in the afternoon or evening, your litre is not exactly a litre.

TIP #2 TAKE IT SLOW

When you’re ﬁlling up, don’t squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to the maximum. If you look, you will see that the trigger has three stages; low, middle and high. Ideally, you should be pumping on low mode, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while the fuel gushes into your tank. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the high setting, some of the liquid that goes into your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked back up into the underground storage tank, so you’re technically pumping more gas into your tank than you actually need.

TIP #3 STICK TO THE TOP HALF

One of the most important tips is to get yourself into the habit of ﬁlling up when your gas tank is half full. Have you ever noticed how you go through the bottom half of your tank much quicker than the top half? The reason for this is because the more gas you have in your tank the less air there is occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks at service stations have an internal ﬂoating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evapora-

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tion. Your vehicle’s tank does not have this feature. So as your tank gets lower, the more air space there is and , therefore, the quicker your gasoline just ﬂoats away on you.

TIP #4 DO NOT BUY FRESH

If there’s a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO

NOT FILL UP. More than likely, pressure from the supply truck pumping into the storage tanks is churning up the sediment and impurities that have settled to the bottom. This gunk can clog your fuel ﬁlter, get into your fuel line and generally cause your vehicle to become less fuel efﬁcient. The more your mileage suffers, the more gas you wind up having to buy.

A HISTORY OF

RACING AT THE

MOVIES

WE SEARCHED THROUGH THE CINEMATIC HEAP TO FIND YOU THE CARS, THE ACTORS, THE INSPIRATIONS AND THE JUST PLAIN TRIVIAL NONSENSE REGARDING HOW RACING HAS BEEN DEPICTED IN FILM OVER THE PAST 45 YEARS.

> GRAND PRIX

1966

The “Formula 1” cars used during filming were actually Formula 3 cars modified to look like F1s. Actors James Garner and Yves Montand were supposed to do all of their own driving for the movie. Garner had no trouble with this and would often race some of the other professional drivers hired

> SPEEDWAY

for the film while off camera. Montand, however, spun out while shooting a scene and was subsequently terrified of driving fast again. The crew rigged his car to be towed behind a 1964 Ford GT40. This rig could reach speeds of up to 130 mph and Montand felt a lot more comfortable with the setup.

1968

Elvis is a stock car driver saddled by back taxes and needs to raise some serious prize money to dig himself out of debt. Now, perhaps buying the King as a driver requires some major suspension of disbelief, but in order to add an increased level of authenticity, filming was done at the Lowe’s Motor

Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, and real life drivers such as Richard Petty, Buddy Baker and Cale Yarborough make appearances as themselves. Now you just have to accept that His Hound Dogness could actually beat the likes of this incredible driving company and you’ll be able to believe the happy ending.

{|||||||||||||||||||||}

|||||||||| > WINNING

1969

This film is said to have ignited Paul Newman’s love for racing. The crash sequence shown at the beginning of the Indianapolis 500 was from the real 1966 race. In this sequence, A.J. Foyt can be seen climbing over the first turn fence to escape the crash site.

> LE MANS

1971

Steve McQueen’s own Porsche 908 was entered into the actual 1970 Le Mans race in order to obtain live racing footage for the film. Despite being loaded down by three movie cameras, spoiled aerodynamics and repeatedly stopping to change the film, the car placed a respectable 9th.

> TWO-LANE BLACKTOP

1971

Three matching 1955 Chevys were used in the movie. Two of them would later be used again in George Lucas’ 1973 movie, American Graffiti. One was equipped with twin carburetors and would be the car driven by Harrison Ford’s character. The other was fit with a roll cage and used in a rollover scene.

> VANISHING POINT

1971

The Chrysler Motor Company loaned five Dodge Challenger R/Ts to this film. It’s commonly believed that they were running on 426 Hemi V8 engines, which were available in the model at the time. But in fact, four of the vehicles had 440 V8s and the fifth was a 383 V8 Magnum.

Grand Prix © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.; Speedway © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.; Winning © Universal Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.; Le Mans © Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.; Two-Lane Blacktop © Universal Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.; Vanishing Point © Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

AUTOLIFEQUARTERLY.CA | SPRING 2011 | ISSUE #3

> THE LAST AMERICAN HERO

1973

This film is based on the real life story of NASCAR driver Junior Johnson. Johnson’s history of running moonshine is well documented. He has been credited with inventing the “bootleg turn”, in which a driver escapes his pursuer by throwing the car into a sharp 180° skid and speeding off in the other direction.

> DEATH RACE 2000

1975

The funky cars that were featured in this cult classic were merely re-bodied cars of the day. Matilda the Hun’s car was based on the frame of a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, Nero the Hero’s ride was actually a Fiat 850 Spyder and the car of the main character, Frankenstein, was on a Chevrolet Corvette frame.

> THE GUMBALL RALLY

1976

There were two Ferrari Daytonas and two 427 Cobras used in the making of this movie. The final racing duel between these two cars was filmed at (and in) the Los Angeles River, which was the same location used in several other films such as Grease and Terminator 2.

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{|||||||||||||||||||||}

|||||||||| > THE CANNONBALL RUN

1981

Ron Rice, founder of Hawaiian Tropic, was good friends with Burt Reynolds and the film’s director, Hal Needham. He loaned them his own black Lamborghini Countach for the movie. Much to his approval, it was driven by Spandex-clad hotties, Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman.

> SIX PACK

1982

The car driven by Kenny Roger’s nemesis throughout the film was in reality one of the few Dodge Miradas driven in NASCAR in the early 80’s. For some reason the car, over the years, has been consistently (and incorrectly) referred to as a Buick.

> HEART LIKE A WHEEL This was a biographical picture about the life of drag racing legend, Shirley Muldowney. It stars Bonnie Bedelia in the lead role, much to Muldowney’s displeasure. The racing icon is noted as stating that she would have preferred to have Jamie Lee Curtis play her in the film.

1983

She also went on to say that she thought Bedelia was “a snot.” When asked about what she thought of the film once it was done, Muldowney said,”...the movie did not capture my life very well at all, but more importantly, I thought the movie was very, very good for the sport.”

The Last American Hero © Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.; Death Race 2000 © Buena Vista Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.; The Gumball Rally © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.; The Cannonball Run © HBO Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.; Six Pack © Studio unknown. We thank them for the use of the image for editorial purposes.; Heart Like a Wheel © Studio unknown. We thank them for the use of the image for editorial purposes.

> STROKER ACE

1983 The word ‘stroker’, in racing technology, refers to an after-market crankshaft that increases the engine’s stroke, or length of piston travel. This in turn will increase the engine’s displacement and therefore the overall horsepower.

> CANNONBALL RUN 2

1984

Jackie Chan’s car in this movie is a Mitsubishi Starion. It was sold in North America under that name, but more commonly known as a Conquest, sold by Chrysler dealerships. With only a few trivial exceptions, the cars sold in domestic dealerships differed from the Starion in name only.

> DAYS OF THUNDER NASCAR driver Greg Sacks did most of Tom Cruise’s stunt driving in this movie. Cruise wanted to do his own stunt driving, but wasn’t allowed to for insurance reasons. The scene where Cruise’s character, Cole Trickle, leaves the pits after a race to hit Russ Wheeler

1990

is based on an actual event which took place during the 1987 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (known then as “The Winston”) at Charlotte, NC, between drivers Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliot. Earnhardt deliberately spun Elliott out during the final segment of the race.

{|||||||||||||||||||||}

|||||||||| > THUNDERBOLT

1995

Heavy rain in Japan halted production of this Jackie Chan racing movie. The crew moved to Malaysia to shoot the final race scenes, but the Malaysian government was worried that people would get hurt during filming, so the race was driven and filmed at slower speeds and sped up during post production.

> DRIVEN

2001

Sylvester Stallone originally conceived the film as a biopic of Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna, a very popular three-time Formula One champion who tragically died after hitting the wall during a race in 1994. Stallone was once asked in an interview about films he wished had not done, and he listed this as one of them.

> THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS

2001

Dominic Toretto’s black muscle car is a 1970 Dodge Charger with a 528ci supercharged Hemi and four speed transmission. After the filming of the crash at the end of the movie, the same 1970 Charger wound up in the opening scenes of Herbie Fully Loaded as a car in the junkyard.

Stroker Ace © Warner Bros. Enmtertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.; Cannonball Run 2 © Warner Bros. Enmtertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.; Days Of Thunder © Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.; Thunderbolt © New Line Home Video. All Rights Reserved.; Driven © Warner Bros. Enmtertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.; The Fast and The Furious © Universal Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

AUTOLIFEQUARTERLY.CA | SPRING 2011 | ISSUE #3

> 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS

2003 On more than one occasion in the film, police officers utilize a shotgun-like device that shoots an electrical probe into the body of a car. The purpose of this probe is to short out the vehicle’s electrical system and cause it to stall. Such a device does not exist in reality. It was an invention of the filmmakers.

> KART RACER

2003 At one point in the movie, Randy Quaid’s character, Vic Davies, claims the moment he knew he wanted to build engines was on February 14, 1976, while he was watching the Daytona 500. The only trouble is that in 1976 the Daytona 500 was run on February 15th ... not the 14th.

> 3: THE DALE EARNHARDT STORY

2004

At the end of the movie, where Dale Earnhardt is shown at his last race at Daytona, Bobby Labonte is shown driving a Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Labonte was, in fact, driving a Pontiac Grand Prix in that race, and did not drive the Monte Carlo until after Earnhardt’s death.

> HERBIE FULLY LOADED

2005

Herbie was a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle deluxe ragtop sedan painted in VW L87 pearl white. Most of the racing scenes shot at the California Speedway were during the pace laps of the Target House 300, a NASCAR Busch Series race, and the Pop Secret 500, a NASCAR Nextel Cup race.

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{|||||||||||||||||||||}

|||||||||| > CARS

2006

The character of The King is a 1970 Plymouth Superbird and voiced by NASCAR driving legend, Richard Petty. Petty drove for the Plymouth racing team in the 60s, but left to go to Ford in 1968. The Superbird was specifically designed by Plymouth in 1970 to lure Petty back. The digitally animated version of

the car in the film bears the exact same paint scheme and number that Petty’s actual car had back then. The King’s wife in the film is voiced by Lynda Petty, Richard’s real wife. Her character is a 1974 Chrysler Town and Country station wagon, which the Pettys used to drive to the races back in the 70s.

> THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT

2006

Toyo donated 4000 tires for the movie. All of the drifting in the movie was authentically performed and not created by CGI. Rhys Millen, his father Rod, and a handful of other famous rally and drift racers consistently performed amazing drift sequences for the movie.

> TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY

2006

The car driven by Ricky Bobby’s dad, Reese Bobby, is an homage to Curtis Turner’s 1967 Daytona 500 car designed by Smokey Yunick. This car was a 7/8 scale model of a regular Chevelle that enabled Turner to have an advantage on the field. The car was subsequently banned by NASCAR.

2 Fast 2 Furious © Universal Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.; Kart Racer © Warner Bros. Enmtertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.; 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story © ESPN Original Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.; Herbie Fully Loaded © Walt Disney Studios. All Rights Reserved.; Cars © Walt Disney Studios / Pixar Enmtertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.; The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift © Universal Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.; Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby © Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

2011 NISSAN 370Z Coupe

> REDLINE

2007

Comedian/actor Eddie Griffin destroyed a rare Enzo Ferrari belonging to the film’s producer, Daniel Sadek, on March 26, 2007, when he crashed it into a barricade while promoting this movie. Fortunately, Griffin was unhurt in the low-speed incident, at Irwindale Speedway, about 20 miles east of Los

> DEATH RACE

2008

This movie was shot in only 50 days on an estimated budget of $45M (nearly a million per day). 34 cars, including Mustangs, Dodge Rams, Porsches, Jaguars, BMWs and Buicks were used to portray the 11 main cars and a handful of extras. Jason Statham’s character drives a 2006

Angeles. He was practicing for a celebrity charity racing event tied to this upcoming film. The car, however, was not as fortunate. The crash caused $300,000 damage to the car. Sadek estimated that the car was worth $1.1 million, but said he was just happy that Griffin wasn’t injured.

Ford Mustang GT, outfitted with a Roush supercharged 5.4L 3V Ford V8 Engine. It’s armed with flamethrowers, napalm and two mounted (and fully operational) mini-guns that are capable of shooting 3,000 rounds of actual bullets per minute. The car cost over $250,000 to detail for the film.

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|||||||||| > SPEED RACER

2008

Most of the driving in the movie was done in a “gimble”, which is a type of driving simulator. The cockpit of a car was attached to a hydraulic system that had the race sequences programmed into it. With the race cars being completely fictional, most of the pedestrian cars were based on

real-life futuristic concept cars. One can easily spot an orange Rinspeed E-GO Rocket parked nearest to the screen when Rex picks Speed up from school. And at one point, two Peugeot concept cars (the awardwinning Peugeot 4002 Lion and the quirky Moonster) are seen as well.

> FAST & FURIOUS

2009

The Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 that Paul Walker drives in the film was provided by Kaizo Industries. In July, 2009, the car disappeared and was believed to be stolen. It was later revealed to be one of the three R34s seized by government agents as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal imports.

> DEATH RACE 2

2010

Frankenstein is back one more time. This time he’s driving a five-speed manual 5th-generation Ford Mustang, armed with dual M134 miniguns, a smoke screen, napalm, and oil slick dispenser. The car also has a 6”-thick detachable steel plate on the rear bumper called “The Tombstone”.

Redline © Studio unknown. We thank them for the use of this image for editorial purposes.; Death Race © Universal Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.; Speed racer © Warner Bros. Enmtertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.; Fast & Furous © Universal Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.; Death Race 2 © Universal Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

SPRING 2011 | ISSUE #3 | AUTOLIFEQUARTERLY.CA

ROLEX EXPLORER 39mm COSC Certified Chronometer Polished Bezel Sapphire Crystal Waterproof to 100 metres / 330 feet Self-Winding Oyster Bracelet with Oysterlock Safety Clasp and Easylink Comfort Extension Link

MORGAN 3 WHEELER by Andy Boedekker

What The...?!!

IS IT A CAR ... A POD RACER ... A FIGHTER PLANE ... A SPEEDING BULLET? WHATEVER IT IS, IT LOOKS LIKE A BUTT-LOAD OF FUN!

hen was the last time you thought of driving as an adventure? The Morgan 3 Wheeler is sure to bring that fun and passion back to you. Lift the safety catch from the “bomb release” starter, hear the massive twin cylinders detonate and choose your favourite destination. The iconic design and nostalgic look of this vehicle has been coupled with 21st century technology. The powertrain is a V-twin fuel injected engine pushing out an economical 115 horsepower, mated to a Mazda 5-speed manual transmission. This car is a fusion of old and new, providing smooth “get in and drive” convenience with the thrill of extreme performance. Safety has clearly been taken very seriously, with a reinforced tubular chassis and twin rollbars for both driver and passenger. A sturdy V belt provides traction to the rein-

SPRING 2011 | ISSUE #3 | AUTOLIFEQUARTERLY.CA

forced rear tire. The pronounced bullet shape and the exposed chassis and aluminium tub are accompanied by the airplane profile of the car’s sides. The shape is of a gentle yet powerful missile at the front leading to a beetle back tail at the rear. From the design viewpoint, the focus was evidently set on making the car as close to an airplane as possible, while retaining handy extra space for the driver, passenger and some trunk space in the rear. A leather padded cockpit complete with aircraft instrumentation adds to the sense of flying on the road. The car is easy to control with compact dimensions offering a perfect view ahead and to the rear. The car’s lines do not end abruptly but instead flow organically and echo the smooth shapes of a racetrack. The car is approved by US and European road transport authorities for safety and emissions, but still no word yet on when we might see this fun-mobile here in Canada.

ALQ

PIT CREW MARKETPLACE

WTF! (Why The Fine!)

Rob Gregory

Questions? Email Rob Gregory at rob@gogto.ca.

“But Officer...”

FIVE QUICK TIPS TO HELP YOU REDUCE AND DEFEND THAT FINE.

Here’s a list of common mistakes drivers make during their interaction with the police. Though they don’t necessarily solve the initial problem, they will aggravate the present situation and the manner in which the case is dealt with in the justice system. ATTITUDE CHECK

No one likes getting pulled over or receiving tickets. Your anger or frustration gets directed into the face of the officer giving you the bad news, sometimes unintentionally. Or the thought is, “Well, he’s ruining my day, so I’ll ruin his.” A common phrase among peace officers is “he failed the attitude test”. It can mean the difference between getting one ticket or five, or the police not towing a vehicle when they have the authority to. And it assists in creating a stronger recollection of the incident in the mind of the officer when the case goes to trial. No matter what occupation you’re in, if you get treated badly, the natural reaction is to return the favour. Police officers are trained to take notes. If you want to see a routine traffic stop get the same type of attention that a major crime would, make the cop your enemy. Fortunately, a good attitude is often indicated in police notes as well. And that can make a difference during negotiations with a prosecutor prior to trial. Whenever someone is exercising discretion, it’s often a minor point that will sway them to decide one way or the other. Bad attitude often equals a bad result, or at minimum a very difficult time obtaining a positive outcome for the accused driver.

NO EXCUSES

“My kid is going to throw up.” “I have to get to the bathroom.” “I thought the speed limit was 110 all

through here.” There’s a wide chasm between an excuse and a legal defense to a charge. We all make excuses, but consider how often they’ve been used before. And keep in mind that there will be follow-up questions for the dramatic cases. One of the best excuses would seem to be rushing a loved one to the hospital. The ofﬁcer will be very quick to offer an ambulance if that’s the excuse given. There is no legislation providing an exemption for non-emergency vehicles to violate the Trafﬁc Safety Act or its regulations. And the defense of “due diligence” has failed countless times when there has been the logical

Failing to Stop for Police is a major offence for insurance purposes. This causes a signiﬁcant increase in rates.

GATHER EVIDENCE

“I don’t know why I got pulled over for speeding here. The sign back there is covered with mud and snow, and he’s telling me it’s clearly visible.” You can’t buy a cell phone without a camera these days. Take a photo of the sign, or any other issue that may illustrate a defense to the charge. You need to do this at the time. Conditions may change after a few hours. Though a tree branch blocking a stop sign may be similar the next day, the weight the Court places on this type of evidence will diminish.

TAKE IT SERIOUSLY

and legal alternative of calling an ambulance.

PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY

“There’s a police vehicle behind me with its emergency lights on. But there’s no shoulder here, so I’ll just go up a block and turn right because there’s lots of room there.” The Trafﬁc Safety Act requires a driver to bring their vehicle to a stop “forthwith”. This means immediately. If the police want you to drive to a different location, they’ll tell you to after the initial stop.

“I got a ticket for Careless Driving. The guy in front of me stopped quickly, but I was looking to the side and didn’t react in time. I guess I was careless, so I just paid the ticket.” Careless Driving is one of the most serious charges under Provincial Statute. The Court may suspend your driver’s license for up to 3 months if it’s issued as a summons. Insurance may become unaffordable. Professional drivers are likely to lose employment upon conviction. Most lawyers and paralegal agents offer a free consultation to persons charged with trafﬁc offences. Your insurance agent can also advise you of the consequences of your charge. Find out the repercussions before you enter a plea.

Rob Gregory is the owner of Gregory Ticket Office. He is a former police officer and Provincial Prosecutor, with 19 years of experience in Alberta’s Traffic Court.

SPRING 2011 | ISSUE #3 | AUTOLIFEQUARTERLY.CA

The Audi A7 Sportback has scored a big victory: the five-door coupé has been selected the winner of the “Auto Bild” Design Summit. A distinguished jury panel evaluated the design of a total of ten new cars. The result: the Audi A7 Sportback was voted number one by a wide margin for its outstanding design.

2011 Audi

YOUR PASSION IN PICTURES

Photo Finish

GOING GREEN IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT. JUST ASK FORD.

With the recent wave of hybrids and EVs coming onto the market, it would be easy for one to think that enviro-friendly motoring alternatives are a creation of the 21st century. But in 1967, the Ford Motor Company of Britain introduced

SPRING 2011 | ISSUE #3 | AUTOLIFEQUARTERLY.CA

the Comuta concept vehicle as a way to demonstrate the potential of the electric vehicle. It had a top speed of 65km/h and a total range of around 65 km on a full charge.

2012 Porsche Cayman R