Canadian Automotive Review CAR April 2018

April 2018 Vol. 20, No. 1

FAST LANE TO THE FUTURE

Experts discuss the auto industry’s future at CIAS

IN THIS ISSUE: 6 Small Vehicles

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The Future in Focus Utility Vehicles Countdown to the EV The Age of Autonomy Road Test: 2019 Ram 1500

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fleet.subaru.ca or call 1-877-293-7272

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Shell Lubricants doubles Canadian distribution network Shell Lubricants is expanding its b2b distribution network in Canada, doubling the number of distributors. As part of the expansion, WestPier, Pepco and Boss Lubricants will join Shell’s network in Canada. Customers will still find Shell lubricants through current distributors; Bluewave Energy, Filgo and Lubesource (Original Parts Warehouse). Proper selection and management of lubrication can unlock several benefits, including lower maintenance costs, longer equipment life and reduced energy consumption, the company says. In Canada Shell Lubricants has a blending and packaging facility in Brockville, Ontario that produces a slate of passenger car, motor oils, heavy-duty engine oils and industrial products.

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Vol. 20, No. 01

April 2018

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We’re distracted drivers: most Canadian Millennials A poll from Allstate Insurance Company of Canada reveals 80 percent of Canadians believe drivers under 34 are most likely to drive distracted. The study, conducted by Leger, found that Canadians from that cohort recognize their tendency to drive distracted, with 69 percent conceding that they’re probably the most likely to do so. They’re also less likely to believe their behaviours cause them to lose focus. Eating, drinking and looking at roadside distractions are less likely to be seen as distracting.

Nearly all Canadians agree that using a mobile device and grooming are distracting. Many Canadians also feel that looking at roadside distractions is more distracting than using a navigation system. Ontarians were more likely to agree that using Bluetooth is more distracting, while two-thirds of New Brunswickers feel that talking to passengers is not distracting compared to the national average of 55 percent. In Nova Scotia, 89 percent ranked eating as a key distractor, higher than the national average of 76 percent.

Meanwhile, 98 percent of Albertans said using a mobile device was a distraction, slightly higher than the rest of Canada.

Goodyear announces 35th Highway Heroes A truck driver who helped a motorist who had been pierced through the neck by a broken steering wheel is the 35th recipient of the Goodyear Highway Hero Award. Frank Vieira of Ancaster, Ontario, was driving near Toronto when he heard a crash, noticing that a car had slammed into the back of a stationary roll-off truck.

Vieira ran to the car, whose driver had been pierced through the neck by a piece of steering wheel. Vieira placed one of his hands over the wound while using his other hand to call for help. The driver of the roll-off truck walked over to the car and fainted at the sight of the injuries. While applying pressure, Vieira used his foot to pull the leg of the driver who had fainted away from traffic.

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Canadian auto sales soften

Recent research shows that 51 percent of Canadian automotive consumers are likely to purchase a new vehicle over the next 24 months. Those surveyed last year were 11 percent more likely to buy soon, a number highlighted by a record year for Canadian automotive sales.

Canadian Black Book has designed a poll conducted by Ipsos to gauge Canadian car buying habits, knowledge and trends. This year’s edition surveyed 1,255 Canadians. The poll implies that younger consumers are more likely to buy in this timeframe, with respondents aged 18-34 the most likely at 65 percent, those 35-54 at 57 percent and those 55 years or older are least likely at 34 percent.

Male respondents show more eagerness to buy in two years at 58 percent versus females at 44 percent. Over a quarter (27 percent) are likely to consider purchasing a vehicle fully online.

Fleet Complete hires new COO and general counsel

Subaru Outback earns IIHS Superior rating Subaru’s reverse automatic braking (RAB) feature has landed praise in a new rear crash prevention-rating program introduced by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Outback, when equipped with RAB, was named a top performer, earning a Superior rating from the IIHS, the auto company said. Launched to help buyers identify vehicles with technology that can mitigate or prevent low-speed reverse collisions, the rear crash prevention-rating program evaluates several technologies and functions for their ability to prevent crashes. The Outback was one of six vehicles to have their RAB systems evaluated and one of two to earn a Superior rating.

Fleet Complete has hired Alex Armanious as its chief operating officer and Robyn Scott as executive vice-president and general counsel. As Fleet Complete’s COO, Armanious will head the company’s global operations and services. He was most recently senior vice-president, product & technology at Mosaic and chief information officer at LafargeHolcim. Robyn Scott joins Fleet Complete as a member of the executive team in meeting the company’s strategic business goals. With legal expertise in technology and venture capital, she oversees all legal and regulatory governance. Scott has worked at Rogers Communications, World Gaming, Moneris Solutions and Sigma Systems, where she most recently served as general counsel and corporate secretary. C.A.R.

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4/3/18 2018-04-16 12:503:05 PMPM

By Lesley Wimbush

Subaru WRX Since a brand-new WRX is slated to appear next year, there are only a few minor updates to the WRX’s fascia, and a revised equipment list for 2018. For the first time, Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite (adaptive cruise, pre-collision braking, lane-keeping assist reverse auto braking) is available, but only on CVT-equipped WRXs. Available with 268hp, or 305hp for the even sportier STI, the WRX comes standard with all-wheel-drive.

Image: Ford

Image: Toyota

Mid-February is traditionally a time of hearts and flowers and the wistful celebration of Cupid’s aim. But for those whose veins course with octane rather than romance, it’s also the time when the Canadian International Auto Show rolls into town. While mid-size passenger cars have been the hardest hit by the explosive popularity of crossovers and SUVs, compact car sales also dropped 40 percent between 2014 and 2017. Good news for the consumer, since it forced other automakers to price-match the Nissan Micra’s $9,998 claim to fame as Canada’s least expensive car. Sales grew by 2.9 percent last year, and the healthy crop of new small cars on display at the CIAS suggests that the versatile compact is recovering.

Image: Mazda

Compact cars abound at the Canadian International Auto Show

Available in sedan or hatchback, the Mazda3 was significantly refreshed last year and receives only minor updates for 2018.

Last year marked the first use of Mazda’s SkyActivVehicle Dynamic control technology and improvement to their i-ActiveSense safety suite. There are two engine choices, a 155hp 2.0L four-cylinder, and the 184hp 2.5L four-cylinder, mated to either a six-speed manual, or six-speed automatic transmission. Available are LED head and taillights, electronic parking brake to accommodate a larger, covered centre console, perforated leather upholstery and wrapped, heated steering wheel.

Image: Subaru

A HEALTHY CROP OF COMPACTS

Mazda3

Ford Focus Last refreshed in 2015 the Focus is essentially unchanged for 2018. It comes in a dizzying array of models, from a basic economy box; an all-electric EV to an all-wheel-drive, rallyinspired RS hatchback. Available in sedan or hatch, the Focus comes standard with capless fuel filler, backup camera, MyKey owner controls, Sync voice recognition connectivity with 4.2-in. display. There are plenty of available technology and comfort options moving up through the trim levels. Engine choices are a 123hp three-cylinder, a 160hp four-cylinder, 252hp turbo-four, and a 350hp, 2.3L turbo-four in the RS models.

Toyota Corolla For over 50 years, the Corolla has been a popular choice in the compact segment. In 2018 it adds a new range-topping XLE trim, and there’s a hatchback on the way for 2019. The single engine choice, a 1.8L four-cylinder puts out 132hp; bumped to 140hp in the L Eco trim. What the Corolla lacks in excitement, it makes up for in durability and safety—it’s a multiple IIHS five-star safety pick—and every model comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense. This includes pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane departure with steering assist, auto high beams and dynamic radar cruise control.

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Image: Chevrolet

Chevrolet Cruze The Cruze returns for 2018 unchanged, except that the hatchback joins the sedan in offering a diesel variant. With that powertrain, the Cruze boasts the lowest consumption rate, at 5.0L/100km highway, of any non-hybrid or EV vehicle in Canada. It puts out 137hp and an impressive 240lbs-ft. of torque for instant responsiveness. Standard engine is a 153hp turbo-charged four-cylinder. There are four trims, with standard Bluetooth, seven-in. MyLink infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB and rear camera.

Additional features moving up through the trims include keyless start, heated steering, sunroof, Bose sound, 4.2-in. multi-information display, heated rear seats, wireless phone charging.

Image: Nissan

Image: Mitsubishi

Volkswagen Golf Changes to the Golf for 2018 are minor but important. All models now get LED daytime running lights or optional LED headlamps, restyled front and rear fascia, new LED tail lamps and new rim designs and paint colours. Interiors are upgraded with larger touchscreen displays and emergency braking systems now feature pedestrian recognition. The same 170hp 1.8L fourcylinder engine returns with either five-speed manual or six-speed automatic. Sporty GTI models get a boost in power to 220hp and the Golf R boasts 292hp and a new seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. The R also receives a slick new “Volkswagen Digital Cockpit” similar to Audi.

Image: Volkswagen

Image: Honda

Honda Civic Canada’s best-selling car for nearly two decades underwent a ground-up redesign in 2016. A brand-new hatchback followed the sedan and coupe shortly after. The Civic was the first compact to offer radar-based advanced driving assist technology across the trim lines. There are three engine choices: a 2.0L four cylinder with 158hp; a 1.5L four cylinder with 174hp, which is massaged to 205hp in the Civic Si. With 306hp, the 2.0L turbo-four in the Type R is the most powerful in the lineup.

Standard on base trims are cruise control, Bluetooth, backup camera and USB. Upper trims get Honda’s Lane Watch, keyless start, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also available are LED headlights, heated rear seats, navigation, premium sound, Honda Sensing active safety technology.

Nissan Sentra Nissan’s second bestseller in Canada, the Sentra, receives some slight changes to available features for 2018. Siri, Bluetooth and emergency braking are standard. Available options include Sirius XM, a moon roof, Navigation, Bose stereo and leather upholstering. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are strangely absent. Engine choices are: 124hp four-cylinder (130hp with the six-speed manual), or a 188hp turbo-charged four-cylinder with a continuously variable transmission.

Mitsubishi Mirage With its bargain-basement price and meager fuel consumption, the Mirage is the epitome of budget commuter with modest power and a no-frills interior. This year sees a new trim level, ES Plus, that builds on the base E with air, keyless entry and 6.5-in. infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There’s one engine, a noisy 78hp three cylinder with either five-speed manual or CVT, but it nevertheless helps the Mirage achieve a 6.0L/100km combined fuel rating.

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By Michael Power

DISRUPTION AHEAD

Auto show panel discusses how technology is changing the industry

N

ow is a turbulent time for a number of industries.

So-called disruptive technology is causing businesses to rethink how they operate. Industry 4.0 is changing how manufacturing and other fields perform. Perhaps no more so is this true than in the automotive industry. Autonomous driving, ridesharing, electric vehicles and the connected car are converging to transform the way people drive and their relationships to vehicles and mobility.

As part of the Automotive Intelligence series, which debuted at Toronto’s Canadian International Automotive Show in February, a group of experts discussed what the future of the automotive industry, as well as the driving experience, will look like. The panel, entitled Driving in the Age of Autonomy, featured the following participants: Don Romano, president and CEO, Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.; Joni Paiva, president, Nissan Canada Inc.; Ted Lancaster, vice-president & COO, Kia Canada Inc.; Brian D. Fulton, president and CEO, Mercedes-Benz Canada; and Edwin Ulak, chief product officer, autoTrader.ca.

The group began by discussing disruption, with Romano commenting that the word is most often used to describe a product. But that’s not the only place disruption is going to come from—disruption also happens in the way in which people acquire products. Amazon sells products just like department stores do, but the company does so in a different way, Romano said. With today’s technology, industries have become displaced because other companies have come up with different ways to engage people. He cited his company’s push to make it simpler and easier to buy its products. “We’ve been selling and servicing cars in the same way for 100 years,” he told the audience. “But with the technology today we’re seeing a lot of companies get displaced by companies that have found better ways to engage with their customers. And I think we as an industry have to move in that same direction.”

Innovation and technology are bright spots in the future of the automotive world, said Lancaster. But while all the major automotive players are investing in these areas, innovation in design is also important. People want to feel and look good in their cars, he noted. At the same time, consumers want to feel that their purchasing choices are environmentally sustainable.

Manufacturers therefore must be able to deliver on several fronts and enhance their experience with the vehicle. “If we continue to do that and get feedback from consumers I think it’s going to be a robust future for the auto industry and I think it’s going to help us be as connected as we can to consumers,” Lancaster said.

The panel from left: Ted Lancaster, Kia Canada Inc.; Don Romano, Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.; Joni Paiva, Nissan Canada Inc.; Brian Fulton, Mercedes-Benz Canada; Edwin Ulak, autoTRADER.ca

AutoTrader.ca’s perspective is unique, said Ulak. The website connects people with the cars they’re looking to purchase so responding to changes in the way people buy those cars is important. For example, the company used to be a printed product but is now a mobile app and website. Without that change, the company wouldn’t have been on the panel, he noted. There have also been changes in the way in which people interact with dealers, Ulak said. These days, about two thirds of people simply show up at a dealership unannounced.

Those consumers are better informed than ever, and some of their pain points in buying include that the process takes too long, is difficult, not transparent and that they don’t have enough control. “The existing value chain, the way it’s constructed, needs to evolve to meet consumer needs,” Ulak said.

The panel agreed that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was important to the industry and economy.

Paiva noted that if NAFTA were radically altered or even cancelled, OEMs would adapt and continue to “play by the rules.” But at this point, what the landscape would look like without NAFTA remains guesswork. While none of the OEMs on the panel build cars in Canada, those companies source parts here while assembling vehicles in Mexico and the US. “There are huge stakes in place, so whatever happens is pure speculation at this stage,” he said. “I feel optimistic that things will end well for all parties. So we will adjust and adapt to the rules.”

Lancaster agreed that if NAFTA cahnged car companies would work within the rules. There are options for free trade

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with other countries, such as existing trade with Mexico and an alliance with Korea. While it would be “sad” if NAFTA disintegrated—that would mean risk to the US and Canada alike—there are ways Canada can have positive trade with its partners. “I’d like to see NAFTA stay, I think trade amongst partners is fantastic and it leads to healthy economies locally and globally, but we’ll find a way to make it work,” he said.

Our electric future The panel touched on vehicle electrification with Ulak noting the increase in interest in electric vehicles has been “phenomenal.” At the same time, some of that interest can be chalked up to hype. As well, barriers remain, he said. Those barriers include not only price but also the availability of charging stations and range anxiety among consumers. But interest will pick up as those barriers fall, Ulak said. For his part, Paiva remarked that the future is no doubt electric. The electric engine has existed for over 100 years, and the auto industry is working hard to make the technology efficient and cost effective. Several factors are spurring the growth of electric vehicles: the price is improving, the range is growing and there are more charging stations available, Paiva said.

While the electric car isn’t comparable or competitive with the gas engine, that gap will close, said Romano. Eventually,

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the combustion engine will “go the way of the horse and buggy,” he said, noting that the automotive industry one day will be able to produce an electric vehicle that charges in the same time it takes to fill a gas tank and travels the same distance as a gas engine. “At that point, game over,” he said.

Among other trends the panel touched on was the future of the traditional sedan, which has declined in popularity recently as demand for the SUV has picked up. The trend appears sustained and long-term, Ulak said, with sedan searches on AutoTrader.ca dropping while those for SUVs have increased in the last few years. But while many people are buying SUVs these days, they are still considering the sedan as an option. “Is the sedan dead? Do people not want them any more? No, they still hold that place in the consumer’s consciousness,” he said.

Fulton agreed sales will likely skew towards SUVs, but passenger cars will remain important. The ubiquity of all-wheel drive in SUVs remains a consideration for consumers, noted Lancaster. Consumers consider comfort and fuel prices when shopping, he added. And while SUVs are synonymous with all-wheel drive, Lancaster said he doesn’t see the sedan disappearing any time soon.

The panel gave an insightful look at what’s ahead for world of cars, trucks and SUVs. It’s sure to be an exciting future for the industry in the years to come. C.A.R.

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2018-04-16 12:50 PM

By David Miller

Modernized

& REFINED mid-size SUVs can be the perfect choice for transporting a number of people with ample cargo space. Newer three-row models have surfaced over the last few

years with added technology and fuel economy in mind. In addition, interiors have been refined for comfort and luxury, while still retaining that toughness with enough

towing capability for most hauling jobs. Here’s a list of some of the top mainstream large and mid-size three-row utility vehicles available in the marketplace.

Image: Honda

Image: Hyundai

Large utility vehicles play a vital role for many businesses.

Fuel prices may have put these large transporters in jeopardy, but when minivans aren’t an option, large and

LARGE

utility vehicles keep technology and fuel economy top of mind

Image: Nissan

Hyundai Santa Fe XL The Hyundai Santa Fe XL is your value-laden choice starting at $32,199. It’s sizable, comfortable and simply a great deal with a six- or seven-seat configuration. Over the past few years, it may have lost some steam to more excitingly designed vehicles, but that will all change with a new 2019 Santa Fe. For now, the 2018 Santa Fe XL delivers most of the necessities minus that eighth seat and a little less room and cargo compared to its competition. It boasts a healthy but not thrilling 290hp 3.3L V6 engine with a six-speed gearbox that’s enough to transport a load of people smoothly without a lot of fuss, but a higher-thanaverage fuel economy rating. To get premium features the Luxury trim is the choice at $42,299. That includes a panoramic sunroof, leather seating and an eight-inch touchscreen with navigation.

Honda Pilot Honda made some extreme changes in 2016 to the style and look of its hot-selling Pilot—up 22.3 percent at the end of 2017 in year-over-year Canadian sales. Gone is its boxy and mundane past and in its place is an in-style, slicked-back silhouette similar to its rivals with plenty of power and fuel efficiency deriving from its 280hp 3.5L V6. The Honda Pilot is considered a mid-size SUV, but is at the top of the heap for interior volume and cargo space, more in-tune with the rest of this list. In the second row, consumers will have the choice of comfort or maximizing occupancy with optional Captain’s chairs or a standard bench (that can sit up to eight). Entry into the third row is aided by push button access that slides and tilts the seats. There’s a bonus with Honda’s standard suite of safety technology.

Nissan Armada The Nissan Armada, now in its second-generation, is built on the same platform as the Infiniti QX80 and Patrol—the global name for this full-size SUV. The Armada maintains that truck-like toughness with a body-on-frame construction that has an impressive towing capacity of 8,500lbs (3,856kg).

Under the hood is a direct injected 5.6-litre V8 that produces 390hp and 394lbs-ft of torque mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission geared for improved fuel economy ratings. Its refined interior featuring leather seats creates a value offering when compared to the QX80. There are similar plush touches and technologies including standard navigation, heated from seats for the first two rows, dual power seats and power lift gate, that only get better as you move up trim levels.

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Mazda CX-9 The Mazda CX-9 adds a design-friendly option to the three-row SUV segment.

Now in its second generation, the CX-9 gets treated to Mazda’s SkyActiv platform and engine. The latter uses a 2.5-litre four-cylinder SkyActiv-G engine to propel the ute up to 250hp and 310lb-ft of torque matched to a sixspeed automatic transmission with available all-wheel drive.

Similar to Mazda’s model range, the CX-9 receives exceptional forward motion styling that makes this three-row SUV appear smaller than it actually is.

Its curves and angles bring a refreshing look to the segment that’s complemented by a simplified yet sophisticated interior that features an infotainment screen that sits front and centre on the dash. At a starting price of $36,400, the Mazda CX-9 is one of the better deals out there.

Image: Ford

Image: Toyota

Image: Chevrolet

Chevrolet Tahoe The Chevrolet Tahoe doubles the GMC Yukon sales in the US, but in one of the auto industries greatest anomalies, it’s currently outsold by the Yukon in Canada. The Tahoe starts at a modest $58,365 for the four-wheel drive version ($3,000 less for 2WD) and can perform just as admirably as the Yukon with a smooth and effortless drive without all the bells and whistles. The Tahoe is a body-on-frame behemoth that can tow up to 8,600lbs (3,900kg) from its 355hp V8. It fits up to eight passengers that can also enjoy the same 4G LTE Wi-Fi pleasures as the Yukon. A plethora of USB ports and power outlets are available to add to its driver safety technologies.

Image: Mazda

Image: Volkswagen

Volkswagen Atlas The Atlas is a big part of Volkswagen’s SUV push with Canadian sales starting as a 2018 model year vehicle. It’s built off of Volkswagen’s new MQB platform with a chiseled and aggressive frame, reminiscent of the Ford Explorer. Powering the Atlas is a smooth and responsive 3.6L V6 that makes 276hp and 266lbs-ft of torque mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with tiptronic paddle shifters. The size of the Atlas isn’t felt when moving, as it handles the road with precision and balance, much like the rest of the Volkswagen lineup.

Drawbacks are found on the inside with a lacklustre environment and slightly high fuel economy numbers. Captain’s chairs are an option for additional comfort.

Toyota Sequoia Another truck-based full-size SUV is the Toyota Sequoia. This refresh provides a polished front fascia and an additional TRD Sport package that comes off more aggressive. The Sequoia is a capable SUV possessing power, comfort and an adaptive air suspension. Powering the Sequoia is another V8, this one of the 5.7L variety producing 381hp and 40lbs-ft of torque.

Standard features include LED lighting, power moon roof, leather seating and Toyota’s suite of safety technology for a starting price of $60,190. It a maximum towing capacity of 7,100lbs (3,220 kg).

Ford Expedition The new Expedition is based off the F-150 pickup platform with an all-aluminum body on top of its front structure that results in a lighter mass by 300lbs (136kg) and best-in-class fuel economy. There is a twin-turbo V6 that produces up to 400hp mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission that’s super quiet on the road. The Expedition comes with a spacious interior including three-row seating for up to eight passengers. There is soft touch materials and premium touches including a sliding and reclining second row. The driver can fold the third-row headrest automatically.

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By Michael Power

Canadian auto show panel takes on issues surrounding electric vehicles

electric FUTURE T

he automotive industry is a field undergoing a significant transformation, with the rise of electric vehicles one of the main trends of that change. To highlight this, the Automotive Intelligence panel series at the Canadian International Automotive Show in Toronto last February featured a discussion on vehicle electrification. The session, called The Electric Revolution, featured an array of speakers and focused on issues including charging infrastructure, city planning, the current rebate model, as well as the pros and cons of the electrified technology as it exists today.

For its part, Toyota Canada has been working towards electrification for a long time, noted the company’s vice-president, corporate, Stephen Beatty, who sat on the panel. At the same time, the company is just starting its electrification journey. The consumer perception of electrification is now beginning to take hold of the consumer’s attention, he added, with about one percent of the buying public starting to move toward EVs. And while the technology already exists the market needs to catch up, as does the infrastructure needed to support it. “We’re asking people not just to think about new technologies and how they’ll stand up but also to think about the infrastructure requirements and really the changes in driving behaviours,” he said.

Fellow panelist Brett Smith, co-director of the Center for Automotive Research at the University of Michigan, noted the unprecedented change—or at least its potential—that electrification is putting the industry through. It’s a very exciting time for the industry, he said, while also noting that the hype surrounding those changes has also grown. “There’s some really interesting technology,” he told the audience. “I’m not sure if it’s ready for mass market prime time but it’s getting a lot closer. Smith also described a “Trump bump” that had seen not only many Americans saying they would refuse to buy electric vehicles, but also some saying they’d buy one simply to spite the current US president.

Current drivers of electric vehicles are largely those who are already enthusiastic about the technology, said Smith. For most consumers, purchasing an EV represents a big lifestyle change and it’s up to the industry to find the product that goes from the passionate user to the mass market. “We do things because it works for us,” he said. “We don’t do it because it’s cost effective and I can go out and talk about how wonderful it is.”

David Paterson, VP, corporate and environmental affairs, General Motors of Canada, agreed that it had been an exciting year in the industry due to advances in electric vehicle

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“Some companies will be well situated to take advantage and others will not. Of course we want to be in the category of the former.” – JACK SIMPSON, GM technology. From the company’s perspective, electric vehicles are part of a broader change that includes autonomous vehicles and other alternative ways to look at mobility in Canadian cities.

The company has been addressing the range anxiety associated with EVs and has seen sales increase by 83 percent, he noted. While conceding the growth has come from a low base, Paterson noted that growth would continue in alignment with factors like infrastructure, consumer preferences and so on. “If we don’t take that long-term view we won’t get there,” he said. “We’ve been committed to putting a product on the road that a consumer is going to want.”

The industry still has work to do in lowering the costs of EV technology, Paterson noted, and the company is developing a hydrogen fuel cell pick up truck. And what technology suits drivers best is based in part on where they live, he said. In the future, we could see electric pickups with hydrogen fuel cells in rural settings and battery driven cars in cities. Currently, both the government and manufacturers subsidize such technology, Paterson noted. “Overall we have got to bring the cost down and that will produce less burden on the state to be able to be the subsidizer of these vehicles and they will be able to move forward to the mainstream,” he said.

The Scandinavian view For its part, Norway has pulled ahead with regards to EVs for a number of reasons, said Morten Edvardsen, senior political advisor to the Norwegian EV Association (NEVA). Last year, a total of 21 percent of the new cars were pure battery electric cars, Edvardsen said. The country boasts a “huge package” of incentives for consumers to buy EVs over gas cars. The infrastructure, such as charging stations, is also widely available there. As well, around 90 percent of Norwegian EV owners can charge their vehicles at home. At the same time, having a car in the Scandinavian country isn’t as easy as it is in Canada, he noted. Vehicle ownership is expensive, toll roads and ferries abound and many people who live in apartments in cities like Oslo lack parking spaces.

The Nissan LEAF is 100-percent electric and gives consumers plenty of options, said the company’s chief marketing manager, Nissan LEAF, and manager of executive planning Francois Lefevre, who also sat on the panel. The company claims zero emissions as its goal, and is now focused on the launch of the second-generation LEAF with a fourth-generation battery. The car has an average range of 242km without needing to be recharged and customers tend to drive about 41km per day,

Lefevre said. Home charging is key with over 80 percent of customers charging their cars where they live. Currently, two provinces offer funding for home chargers, said Lefevre.

The company’s focus is electric, Lefevre noted, and timing is everything. Every manufacturer is now launching EVs, and the infrastructure is less expensive than it’s ever been. And while there’s a place for hydrogen vehicles, the emphasis for the company will remain on the electric.

“There are multiple options, but diversifying now creates confusion in the market,” he said. “So the focus definitely needs to be on something where it’s tangible.”

Fellow panelist Brookes Shean, who is regional general manager, Central Canada for FLO/AddEnergie, stressed that the range anxiety that many consumers now feel about electric vehicles will diminish as the infrastructure supporting them improves. EV drivers now worry about whether the charger will work when they arrive at work, for example. His company focuses on the customer experience, and he mentioned not waiting until there’s a quarter tank to fill up. FLO/AddEnergie is a private company and there’s lots that goes into ensuring the network is done well.

Electric future Volkswagen Canada was also committed to an electric future, said the company’s product planner, Scott Hollinshead. And while the process towards electrification is like pushing a boulder up a hill, the industry can now see that hill’s crest.

Once that hill is crested—most likely around 2020 or slightly after—the industry will be unable to turn back to the combustion engine, Hollinshead stated. “Some companies will be well situated to take advantage and others will not,” he said. “Of course we want to be in the category of the former.”

Jack Simpson, GM, business development and innovation at Toronto Hydro, said the organization is running scenarios and engaged in pilot projects in an effort to help understand charging behaviours better. There is capacity in the system, which is available overnight. The organization therefore is looking to encourage charging after the supper hour, as well as midnight to 6am. Fair pricing is crucial, Simpson noted, and the organization is regulated so those prices are regularly reviewed. The grid can handle the gradual shift to EVs for at least the next 10 years, Simpson said, provided that EV drivers charge their vehicles overnight. “Today it’s about a two-to-one, three-to-one advantage for people to charge at night versus the day time,” he said. “So the pricing incentive is there and we can keep working on the awareness.”

Overall, the panel of industry experts offered a diverse look at what might be in Canada’s electric vehicle future. As several of the panelists agreed, due to electrification, it’s certainly an interesting time for the automotive industry. C.A.R.

14 | CANADIAN AUTOMOTIVE REVIEW APRIL 2018 | Purchasingb2b.ca

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By Michael Power

A Self-Driving

Image: redlinevector, 123RF

F

WORLD

or many, it’s a seductive image: you sit scrolling emails, reading the news or staring out the window as a driverless pod on wheels whisks you around. This is the image many have of the future of autonomous vehicles, and judging by the media attention, that future appears just around the next turn in the road.

But is fully autonomous driving—socalled level-five autonomy—really that close? As part of its Automotive Intelligence series, which debuted at Toronto’s Canadian International Automotive Show in February, a group of industry experts discussed the topic during a panel entitled Driving in the Age of Autonomy.

Among the panelists was Stratford mayor Dan Mathieson, whose Southwestern Ontario municipality of 31,000 people has become an AV research and testing hub. A demonstration and testing zone has opened there called the Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network. The centre will see academics and the auto industry working to further AV technology. The response in Stratford has largely been one of excitement, Mathieson said.

The region is an industrial and automotive manufacturing hub and there’s been a lot of effort since 2014 to position it as the demonstration-testing zone.

“The residents are getting excited,” he told the audience. “It means we’re going to have state-of-the-art infrastructure.

We’re going to be on the cutting edge of 5G and dedicated short-range communication. We’re going to be data collecting off the vehicles. We’re going to be able to start better pinpointing those potholes.

We’re going to see our safety standards increase.”

But along with the advantages of becoming an autonomous driving hub

come challenges, Mathieson stressed.

Cities will have to upgrade their infrastructure and mapping capabilities, and much of the associated technology has a lifecycle of just six to eight years. One question will be whether municipalities can monetize some of that infrastructure.

For example, will municipalities be able to earn a royalty on the information that autonomous vehicles are able to collect?

“The rubber hits the road in communities and there is where we’ll have our challenges,” Mathieson said.

front of an autonomous vehicle.

“For autonomous vehicle operation it’s all about not just detecting what’s around you but being able to determine on a highly probable scale, what the likely path for that detected object is,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie saw a few challenges associated with autonomous vehicles. The first challenge, which gets less attention, is the diverse array of technology that’s needed to put autonomous vehicles on the road. A second challenge is dealing

“For autonomous vehicle operation it’s all about not just detecting what’s around you but being able to determine on a highly probable scale, what the likely path for that detected object is.”

– ROSS MCKENZIE The University of Waterloo, near Stratford, houses the Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research, and its managing director Ross McKenzie shared the stage with mayor Mathieson. The centre’s focus has been on “perception analysis,” which involves analyzing data that a vehicle collects in real time to help that vehicle make informed decisions. The centre has done work in object detection and enabling autonomous vehicles to differentiate between people and vehicles, McKenzie said. The centre has perfected detecting and determining passenger vehicles, although trucks pose a larger challenge and the focus is on delineating between buses, tractor-trailers, flatbed trucks and others. Another challenge involves pedestrians, he said. AVs must be able to distinguish between adults and children—or whether someone is pushing a stroller or seated in a wheelchair—as well as other objects that might wind up in

with the random nature of vehicles when people are driving them. Autonomous vehicles will have to share the road with human drivers that, for example, drive erratically because they get distracted or try to make up lost commute time by speeding through a yellow light that then turns red, McKenzie said. Additionally, autonomous cars must know where they are going, and high-definition maps for autonomous driving are a key component of that. And while companies are creating these maps, they’re not widely available yet.

“Vehicles aren’t going to go anywhere unless they have these maps,” McKenzie said. “All of the autonomous vehicles that are on the road today have been previously driven by a human operator down the road to learn the road. They don’t go down the road unless they’ve been driven manually first.”

Augmented reality is also playing a role

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in the AV world, said fellow panelist Chris Candy, vice-president of business development at Seven Media. Augmented reality involves laying something digital over the real world, Candy said. Citing the smartphone game Pokemon Go as an example, Candy noted that several companies were using augmented reality to improve their customers’ experience with the brand. IKEA, for example, allows consumers to visualize a piece of furniture in their house. Candy gave a vehiclerelated example of an augmented reality repair manual. If a vehicle owner is working on a car but can’t locate a part under the hood he or she would be able to look at a smartphone or tablet (eventually they will look through glasses) for repair instructions or to identify parts. In the future, windshields may display instructions, such as maps, that drivers currently rely on their smartphones for.

“And as everything moves over to the

Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council

autonomous vehicle side, displaying particular pieces of information (on the windshield) that the vehicle is doing behind their decision process to help people feel a little more comfortable with the autonomous side,” he said.

Fellow panelist Ted Graham, head of open innovation for General Motors, said the evolution of autonomy is happening faster than many think, Graham noted.

By 2019, the company will have on the market in a major city self-driving “robo-taxis”—Graham described these as a shared form of mobility used to get around urban environments. GM recently bought San Francisco-based Cruise Automation, a driverless car company founded in 2013. The company is testing Level 4 autonomous vehicles on that city’s streets, Graham said. The company also recently opened a facility in Markham, Ontario to complement its engineering centre in nearby Oshawa.

Conseil canadien des fournisseurs autochtones et membres de minorités

Dennis DesRosiers, president of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, reinforced that the three major disruptors of autonomous/connected vehicles, electrification and ride sharing are steadily becoming the reality. But the public gets confused regarding level of autonomy and when each will arrive.

And while much of the technology exists, other areas such as infrastructure must catch up. It’s also true that most vehicles sit idle 95 percent of the time. “With all of these technologies converging, we’re going to have higher utilization and that’s going to create a lot of efficiencies,” DesRosiers said. “But there are a lot of issues to overcome.”

At the same time, elements of autonomy are appearing in vehicles that OEMs are producing now, DesRosiers said. “All roads lead to it, but I think it’s going to be a longer road than people think,” he said. C.A.R.

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16 | CANADIAN AUTOMOTIVE REVIEW APRIL 2018 | Purchasingb2b.ca

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By Howard J. Elmer

The 2019 Ram’s payload has increased to 2,300lbs and the top tow rating is now 12,700lbs.

LARGER

LIGHTER

The new 2019 Ram offers innovative updates that don’t disappoint

Images: Howard J Elmer

T

he 2019 Ram 1500 is just the second generation of this half-ton brand that has been a stand-alone company under the FCA umbrella since 2009. Despite often still being referred to as the Dodge Ram it’s been on its own for a decade now—a very successful decade with sales up by 191 percent since inception and hitting almost 700,000 sales worldwide in 2017. While there was a mild Ram refresh in 2014 (along with the introduction of the 3.0L diesel engine), this new Ram promises innovative updates in line with an incubation period this long. At first glance it doesn’t disappoint.

The look of the new sheet metal is just different enough to announce this new generation with LED adaptive front lighting anchoring a flatter, swept-back hood that now wears the brand badge. Well, that and the new grille. The iconic cross-hair grille, long associated with the Ram, is fully retired. From now on Ram will lead with its name squarely embossed on its nose.

This truck is slightly larger than its predecessor yet its 225lbs lighter. Weight savings are thanks to the use of more highstrength steel and a wider use of aluminum. This stronger frame, larger brakes (14.9-in) and retuned suspension compo-

nents also offers gains in payload and max trailer towing.

Payload has increased to 2,300lbs and the top tow rating is now 12,700lbs; numbers that make it competitive with any of its rivals.

The new aluminum tailgate is now damped and has an integrated lift-assist feature. Inside the cab the rear floor is now flat. Both of these features have been found in other trucks for a few years now—so, while noteworthy, these and a dozen other small things are just examples of Ram catching up to the field. In some cases though, they’ve done that and more. This new Ram also offers: adaptive cruise control with stop; blind-spot monitoring including trailer coverage; forward collision warning with active braking; ready alert braking; trailer-sway control; lane departure warning with lane keep assist; parallel and perpendicular park and hill-start assist which uses ultrasonic sensors to help the driver perform technical manoeuvres.

What is unique though is the four inches added to the frame which results in a huge new crew cab backseat—one in which the seatbacks will even recline eight degrees. This feature was Purchasingb2b.ca | APRIL 2018 CANADIAN AUTOMOTIVE REVIEW | 17

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Ram’s cabin design and decor gets even better with new materials and features like a switch bank with toggle switches, wireless charging dock and up to five USBs.

previously found only in the HD MegaCab. Supporting that frame at all four corners is a new shock system called frequency response damping (FRD shocks). This technology employs a bypass valve in the shock that opens and closes as needed to soften the ride or offer firmer control during cornering.

Other tech innovations include: updated multilink coil spring rear suspension; active-level four corner air suspension, next-gen TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission; auto-retracting front air dam and frame-mounted active tuned mass modules along with active noise cancellation that makes this Ram interior the quietest ever.

On the inside Ram’s cabin design and decor has always been good—but now it gets even better with new materials and features like an all-new switch bank with toggle switches, wireless charging dock and up to five USBs, including four type C/A ports. The new centre console also has 12 different storage configurations above which you’ll see the first 12-in fully configurable touchscreen (optional) that includes tailor-made graphics for various Ram models. It features the fourth-generation Uconnect multimedia system with SiriusXM, in-vehicle connected services including 4G Wi-Fi hotspot and 360-degree surround view camera with bird’s-eye view.

A new powerful Harman/kardon audio system is now available as well, with 19 premium speakers, 900-watt surround sound amplifier, 10-inch subwoofer and active noise cancellation.

Canadians buy twice as many Ram pickups (per capita) as do Americans. This fact went a long way towards the request— and creation of a Canadian exclusive model for 2019—the

Sport. This truck will include all the most commonly ordered appearance features in one package. It includes a monochromatic exterior theme, body-colour door handles, mirrors and grille with all-black badging. Also a sport performance hood, dual black exhaust tips, 22-inch black accent wheels and all-black Sport-themed interior design. This includes cloth/vinyl bucket seats, black satin chrome, black headliner and a seven-in centre cluster with Sport splash screen.

Engines and transmissions in this next generation remain mostly unchanged with the 3.6L V6 Pentastar still being the standard. The 5.7L Hemi V8 is still the most popular choice in Canada, however up to 20 percent of buyers are now ordering the 3.0L EcoDiesel. Pricing for the new Ram starts at $46,095 MSRP for the 4x4 Quad Cab Tradesman and walking up through the trim packages to $74,195 MSRP for the 4x4 Crew Limited edition. New Ram’s are available to order now. C.A.R.

18 | CANADIAN AUTOMOTIVE REVIEW APRIL 2018 | Purchasingb2b.ca

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A friendly tip, don’t be Bill.

A friendly tip, don’t be Bill.

Pinpoint areas of cost escalation and what to do about them—ahead of time.

SeenItComing.ca

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