rpm-june-july-2014-issuu by RPM Canada

Contents

50th Anniversary

The Ford Mustang celebrates its 50th anniversary ...pg 12

Eco-Run

The 2014 AJAC Eco-Run sheds light on emission-reducing technologies ...pg 24

Accord Hybrid

Vsport

911

Car Audio

Belair

The twin turbocharged Cadillac CTS VSport ...pg 20

Honda jumps into the EVbased hybrid market ...pg 32

ALSO INSIDE

Starting Lines-------------------------------------- 4 Feature: Tire Speed Ratings---------------------22 Regency Lexus Grand Opening-----------------23 Mercedes Vancouver Grand Opening----------23 Test Fleet------------------------------------------28

These steps can be universally applied to almost any vehicle ... pg 36

The legend of Porscheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 911 Turbo continues ...pg 30

Ken Johnsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1956 Chevy Belair Convertible ...pg 44

The Truck Guy------------------------------------- 34 All-British Field Meet----------------------------- 49 Classic Corner------------------------------------- 50 New Product Showcase-------------------------51 Parting Shots-------------------------------------54 RPM June / July 2014

Volume 16, Issue No. 3 June/July 2014

Chevrolet Introduces the 2015 Corvette Z06 Convertible

Publisher / Editor: Dean Washington dean@rpmcanada.ca Associate Publisher: David Symons david@rpmcanada.ca Managing Editor Jordan Allan jordan@rpmcanada.ca Circulation: Brenda Washington brenda@rpmcanada.ca Copy Editor Gerry Frechette gerryf@rpmcanada.ca Sales & Marketing Elaine Fontaine elaine@rpmcanada.ca Contributing Writers/Photographers: Jordan Allan Gerry Frechette Ian Harwood Cam Hutchins Dave MacKinnon Nigel Matthews Russell Purcell Benjamin Yong

RPM IS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING:

ecently, Chevrolet unveiled the first Z06 Convertible offered from the factory since 1963, when they debuted the all-new 2015 Corvette Z06 Convertible model. When interviewed, Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter said that recent technological advancements have enabled the building of a modern Z06 convertible and that until recently, it was not possible to create a lightweight open-roof structure that is strong enough to cope with the braking, cornering, and pure acceleration of the Corvette’s top performance model. The aluminum structure is 20 percent stiffer than previous fixed-roof Z06 models, and the curb weight of the convertible model is nearly identical to the Z06 coupe. Under the hood, the Z06 convertible will get the same 625 horsepower and 635 lb-ft of torque out of the 6.2L supercharged V8 engine, but will offer a completely different driving experience from its fixed-roof counterparts. Some notable features of the new model include an electric top that can be lowered remotely using the car’s key fob, or on the go at speeds of up to 50 km/h. Aston Martin to Partner with Mercedes AMG to Develop New Engines and Electronic Systems A new partnership between Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG has been formed to develop new V8 engines and electronic systems to support Aston Martin’s launch of its next generation models.

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Aston Martin Vantage V8 Publishing Schedule: RPM is published 6 times per year by RPM Media Inc. Every second month. Subscription Info: 1 year: (6 issues) $9.95 + hst, 2 years: (12 issues) $17.95 + hst. Second class mailing #40050183. General Policies: The views expressed by the writers are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. Reprints with permission only. Advertisements are accepted in good faith, but we suggest that it is in your best interest to check offers personally. Publication by rpm motoring monthly should not be taken as an endorsement of the product or services offered. The publisher assumes no responsibility for the return of any materials sent to our offices by individuals or organizations. MAILING ADDRESS: 1921 Broadway Street, Unit 1, Port Coquitlam, B.C. Canada V3C 2N2

Tel: 604.629.9669 Fax: 778.285.2449 Toll free: 1.888.500.4591 Website: www.rpmcanada.ca

RPM June / July 2014

Time Delay Actual Position

Virtual Position

The agreement allows Mercedes-AMG and Aston Martin to develop V8 engines for the next generation of models that will incorporate cutting edge technology and combines high performance with fuel efficiency. An Autoblog report stated that Aston Martin spokesman Matthew Clarke said the company will continue to use the 6.0-litre V12 engine in current models, with ongoing development, for the near future. It is unknown which models will receive the new V8 and which will continue to use the V12, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Aston will use the new engine in more than just the V8 Vantage model.

of $44,950, there are a couple of optional packages that include things like a bigger display screen and full-leather seats. There is also a $4,000 “range extender” add-on — only available from the factory at time of purchase —, which is a gasoline engine that is designed only to recharge the 18.8 kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery. With the extender, approximate range goes from 160 km to 300. Orders for the i3 are now being taken at select dealerships across the country.

BMW Celebrates 30th Anniversary of M5 with Special Edition BMW i3 unveiled to Canadian Media BMW has recently announced it plans to celebrate the 30th anBMW’s first mass-produced pure electric vehicle, the i3, was of- niversary of the M5 with a special edition for 2015 called the “30 ficially unveiled to Canadian media in the beginning of June at their Richmond Hill, ON headquarters.The diminutive hatchback has a 130-kilowatt electric motor that delivers 170 horsepower to

the rear wheels, along with 184 lb-ft of torque that comes on as soon as you press the gas pedal. Perhaps more interesting than the performance stats is the holistic approach to the construction of the vehicle that feature interior bits made from eucalyptus wood harvested from Europe and naturally-tanned leather using an olive-leaf extract. In fact, 25 per cent of the materials inside the car come from recycled sources. Retailing for a base MSRP

RPM June / July 2014

Jahre M5” (German for 30 years of the M5). The car will see only 300 examples produced worldwide with only 30 of them making their way to North America. The special edition M5 will have the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 under the hood, but the output has been cranked up to 600 horsepower with a solid 516 lb-ft of torque. These numbers will make it the most powerful M5 that’s ever been created, and the addition of a dedicated control module allows the Active M Differential to react sooner to improve the traction when exiting corners. On the outside, the car will feature a Frozen Dark Silver Metallic paint that will boast “30 Jahre M5” badges on the kidney grill surrounds, front fenders, door handles and twin dual exhaust pipes, as well as some spots in the interior including the seats and the passenger side of the dash panel.

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2015 Dodge Challenger

New Dodge Challenger Debuts with a Couple of New Models Dodge proudly unveiled the updated 2015 Challenger at the 2014 New York Auto Show, and with it came a couple of new models: the track-ready 6.4-litre Scat Pack Model, and the 392 HEMI Scat Pack Shaker model, along with a number of other changes and improvements. A new class-exclusive 8-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission is available, as is an available 8.4-inch touchscreen, and selectable drive modes to alter steering effort, engine and transmission response as well as electronic stability control settings. On the outside a new heritage-inspired split grill surround is featured on the front, as are new projector headlamps with halo LED surrounds and projector fog lamps. For the rear, heritage-inspired split LED tail lamps with a gloss black surround are featured, and there are now nine different wheel options for you to choose from. For the new models, the Scat Pack 6.4 HEMI V8 stays true to the 45-year heritage of the Challenger with its roots going back to the Scat Pack performance stage kit offered for 1970-71 Challengers. It features the 6.4 HEMI V8 under the hood that sees it produce 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. The 392 HEMI Scat Pack Shaker model takes the Scat Pack features and adds in the Shaker package which include the Super Track Pak, performance tires, and the prominent hood scoop, just to name a few. Honda Accord Hybrid Wins 2014 Canadian Green Car Award The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid has recently received the 2014 Canadian Green Car Award as chosen by a panel of top Canadian automotive journalists. The Accord Hybrid was selected among five other category winners as a vehicle that best pairs environmental benefits with mass market appeal. The award, which was presented at Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Green Living Show, was awarded to the Accord after it was made eligible by tying the Volkswagen Jetta

RPM June / July 2014

Turbo Hybrid in the Hybrid category in an earlier selection round which was made after extensive testing by the 19 judges. In taking home the award, Honda had to beat out some other notable competition such as the Nissan Leaf, Ford C-MAX Energi, Cadil-

lac ELR and the Tesla Model S. This is the 2nd annual Canadian Green Car Award, as the inaugural version was given to the Ford Fusion Hybrid last year. OpenRoad VW Shows 2015 GTI The redesigned 2015 GTI has just recently hit dealerships, and Volkswagen Group Canada brought one out to show off in late May at the groundbreaking event for a new OpenRoad VW dealership in Burnaby. A black Mark VII was parked next to a grouping of original Beetles and Buses for a small classic car show on the

brief return to the U.S. market with the expensive Alfa Romeo 8C back in 2008, but only around 100 examples were sold, so we’ll count this as its official return. The 4C boasts a mid-engine design that’s inspired by the legendary brand’s racing history, carbon fibre monocoque, and an all-aluminum turbocharged engine that is influenced by Formula 1, plus advanced technological solutions which all will help deliver a supercar level of performance. Using the D.N.A. system, drivers will be able to select from four different driving modes including Dynamic, Natural, All-Weather, and Race to ensure the car is acting appropriately for whatever situation you take it in. When it’s launched, a special Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition will be available, limited to only 500 units, and including a number of added-on features such as a racing exhaust, race suspension, and a serialized Launch Edition plaque. Corvette Museum to Possibly Stabilize Sinkhole to Make it Tourist Attraction empty lot that will eventually be the site for the store. The GTI features the iconic red pin striping across the headlamps and grille, complemented by red brake calipers. While visually keeping true to the vehicle’s roots, the new version is slightly bigger and more powerful, with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine producing 210 horsepower and 285 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard with the option for an automatic. OpenRoad Auto Group president Christian Chia spoke at the event about his fondness for the original hot hatch. “When I was a kid I grew up in both Jakarta and Amsterdam, and my first cousin had a black Mark 1 GTI,” says Chia. “To this day, that car still remains engrained in my mind.” Consumers will be able to get a close look at the new model when OpenRoad Volkswagen opens next summer. Alfa Romeo Making a Return to North America After a nearly 20 year hiatus from North America, Alfa Romeo is returning to our shores and has unveiled the 4C model at the If you have any sort of interest in the automotive world, you’ve 2014 New York Auto Show. To clarify, Alfa Romeo did make a most likely heard about the massive sinkhole that opened up

Alfa Romeo 4C 10 RPM June / July 2014

underneath the floor in the Skydome area of the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky back in February, which damaged eight rare and one-of a kind Corvettes. Since then, CNN has learned that attendance was up over 50 percent in March thanks to people wanting to check out the wrecked vehicles, which has resulted in the Museum looking into possibly making it a permanent fixture at the Skydome hall. Katie Frassinelli from the National Corvette Museum told CNN that they are looking into possibly preserving the sinkhole and thereby creating a very unique type of exhibit. She mentioned that they are actively talking to construction companies and engineers just to see what’s possible and some suggestions have included having a bridge over it, stairs that go down into the hole or even a glass floor over top so you could look down.

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McLaren Vancouver Opens its Doors Coinciding with the release of the McLaren 650S supercar earlier this year, Pfaff Automotive Partners officially launched its new 6,000-square foot McLaren Vancouver dealership with a party on May 8 at its location on West 2nd Ave. Only the second retail store to carry McLaren vehicles in Canada, the normally two-car showroom held a few more models on opening night, including an MP4-12C Spider, an in-house tuned Spa F12C, and a McLaren GT Sprint track car. There was even a white 650S Spider convertible on display drawing a large crowd of spectators, many of whom

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were likely seeing the car in person for the first time. Also available in Coupe form, the 650S is an evolution of the aforementioned 12C with a massaged version of its twinturbo V8 pumping out 641 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. The outside of the car also gets a rework with an aggressive P1esque carbon front bumper featuring large air intake that curve upwards, meeting the headlights. Underneath, a built-in splitter keeps everything planted to the ground. The cost for this fine piece of machinery? The Coupe starts at an MSRP of $287,000 and the Spider rings in at $305,500.

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Mustang’s 50th Anniversary Story by Cam Hutchins

derbird. Giving up its sports car status for what was midsized in the ‘50s, cars were getting bigger and bigger and the 1958 Thunderbird ifty years ago, the 1964 1/2 Mustang was launched on April 17, bucked the trend and sold well. 1964 at the New York World’s Fair with Walt Disney cutting the ribbon. Seemingly a fairytale story, we all recognize the various Mus- But the tiny Volkswagen Beetle had hit the shores of the U.S. and tang models that have been built over the five decades, and love it started selling in respectable numbers. The Big Three all launched their Beetle killers with a Valiant, Falcon and the rear-engined Corvair. or hate it.....it is an icon of the car culture. The new car from Ford, dubbed “T-5,” got the go-ahead form Henry It is lucky to have ever been built at all. Fifty years ago, the car Ford II, and the rest is history. business was very different than it is today. We see new models launched all the time and many models use parts from other cars Starting with a measly $40 million and the parameters of a base price in a company’s lineup. The lineups generally include a full range of of $2,500, weight of 2,500 pounds, overall length of 180 inches, four seats, buckets for the front, floor shift and using the Ford Falcon models from sub-compacts to Minivans and Pickups. mechanicals, all this had to be done in 18 months. In 1964, the Ford Motor Company released the Mustang to the public with great fanfare, but nothing like the marketing of the Edsel. Iaccoca had made inroads with the staid Galaxy, creating the 500XL Three hundred million dollars were reportedly spent on launching a and the sporty Falcon Sprint, while VW sold 230,000 cars in 1962. whole new line of cars only a few short years before, and Ford was Rumours of Pontiac’s GTO and Plymouth’s Valiant variant, the Barstill licking its wounds after that failure. Edsel cars were built for only racuda, were being reported. three years. 1965 Ford Mustang. Recognizing the importance of the Youth Market and knowing smaller and sportier was the way to go, Lee Iaccoca approached the Boss, Henry Ford II, with the idea of the new car. The car scene looked a bit different in the early ‘60s. The Big Three - General Motors, Ford and Chrysler - had made a ton of money throughout the ‘50s producing one basic car from each division. Offered in a lowly two-door sedan and up through station wagons and sporty convertibles, they were all based on one model.

Chevrolet offered the Corvette in 1953 as a “Sports Car” and Ford followed with the Thunderbird in 1955, but other than pickups, there generally was only one platform for each brand. Things changed in the late ‘50s with a recession in 1958, where all car models took a hit in sales, except for the newly-bloated Thun12 RPM June / July 2014

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‘65 Mustang Fastback.

Production was speculated to be 100,000 units a year but Iaccoca knew if he did his job well, it should sell better than the first year of the Falcon at a very respectable 417,000 cars sold. Production was at two plants, Dearborn and San Jose. The standard equipment was very good for the base model, including padded armrests and dash, carpets, floor shift, sporty steering wheel, cigarette lighter , courtesy lights and full wheel covers. This allowed the base car to be sporty, economical and affordable...but the list of options allowed for extensive personalization. The “Rally Pac” offered a column-mounted tach and an electric clock. Three-speed manuals on the floor came standard, but automatics and four-speed manuals were available. Most buyers opted for $1,000 worth of optional equipment on top of the $2,400 base price.

Although the Mustang was launched at the World’s Fair, preliminary work had gone on to make sure the car hit the ground running. Massive In the Spring of 1962, a formal presentation to an agitated Henry newspaper ad buys, along with covering markets including mens and Ford II was made and the Boss told them to add an inch for legroom ladies magazines...they were selling a lifestyle, not just a car. in the back and they had better sell the thing. Billboards in 70 major cities and 200 smaller markets, as well as cars The previous design studies were looked at, but in August 1962, being on display in 100 hotels and 15 airports. Offering exclusives to fresh designs were called for. Eighteen clay models were built, as both Newsweek and Time got front-page exposure in both magazines. Ford designers competed to create the winning design. Among the Showing infomercial ads April 16th at 9:30pm on all three networks at names chosen for the T-5 project, Cougar, Monaco, Bronco and the same time meant a captive audience with nowhere to turn except Cheetah were all considered, but Torino won. The T-5 name was a Ford Mustang ad. Try doing that today. used on Mustangs heading to Europe, as the name Mustang was used in Germany on a motorcycle. Production was set to ensure at least one Mustang was in every showroom nationwide and shown in 11 European cities as well. Just The name Torino did last, as people in the know, knew Henry Ford II before the launch date came a bonus of an improving economy with was fooling around with an exotic Italian lady. Naming the car for the President Lyndon Johnson promising tax breaks . lady your boss leaves his wife for might not work. Iaccoca and Ford II decided on using Mustang as a tribute to the American WWII P-51 It apparently worked, as 22,000 orders came in the first day and soon Mustang plane. Having the dual meaning of the wild pony from the Ford Dealers were delivering 1,200 new Mustangs every day. After American West did not hurt. 12 months, sales of the Mustang had reached 418,812, surpassing ‘65 Mustang Convertible.

14 RPM June / July 2014

1970 Ford Mustang.

the Falcon’s first year of sales. That success resulted in an estimated $1 Billion in sales for Ford and the creation of 18,000 new jobs. Almost ¾ of buyers opted for one of three V8s ranging from 164 hp to 210 hp. The car was to be sold as one model, but a fastback 2+2 option was introduced in September 1964. Along with the 2+2, the base model 6-cylinder was bumped up to 200 cu. in. And the V8 now started with the “Challenger” 289 two-barrel while the 260 was dropped from the line. A Challenger Special V8 was rated at 225 hp, and in June of 1964 a High-Performance version was offered. This “hi-po” 289 with 10.5:1 compression pumped out 271 hp and was identified as the “K Code.” The fifth character of the VIN code is “K” on these models. These were the type of cars sent to Carroll Shelby to turn into Street/Race Cars called the GT-350. For the Spring of 1965, the upgraded Pony interior and a GT package were introduced. The GT was only available with the top two versions of the Challenger 289 engine and included lower body stripes, fog lamps, front discs, better springs, shocks and steering, anti-roll bar and dual exhaust. Although the changes were modest for 1966, the Mustang kept evolving from its 2,500-pound mandate to a chubby 1971-73 model. As the world changed and the oil embargo gutted the The 1974 Mustang saw the introduction of the 2nd generation.

performance industry, the new-for-1974 Mustang II was unveiled with a standard 4-cylinder and available V6. Soon, a V8 was introduced, but power was way down and flashy graphics and spoilers seemed to mask it well. Although regarded as the least-popular generation of Mustang, it sold 385,993 units compared with 134,867 for the behemoth 1973 model. 1979 saw a whole new platform for the Mustang and an available 5-speed manual transmission mated to an available 140-hp V8. 1982 to 1986 saw more improvements and a RPM June / July 2014 15

be based on the Mazda MX-6. Various Mustang Magazines called for a letter writing campaign launched to save the V8 rear-wheel drive program. Kicking the marketing into overdrive, a new model was launched in 1994 after Ford spent $700 million to improve the Fox platform. Some styling clues from earlier cars were used, and a convertible was offered again, but the notchback body style was dropped. Sales ranged from a high of 185,986 in 1995 to a measly 108,103 in 1997. The new Modular 4.6L V8 was introduced in the Mustang and gone was the 302 Windsor V8 from 1968. From 1999 to 2004, the Mustang soldiered on as a general everyday car, but the base power jumped to a respectable 190 hp with some big performance packages available. The V8 could be ordered with whopping 210 hp was available by 1986, but still the car only sold up to 390 hp and a 6-speed manual on the SVT Cobra. 224,410 units. The new model in 1979 had sold 369,936 units. Buyers obviously liked the new platform. The newly restyled 2005 model took much of its design from the Fordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3rd generation Mustang started in 1979.

1990 edition of the Mustang with the popular 5.0L V8 engine.

The 2005 Mustang.

For 1987 through 1993, power crept from 225 hp to 235 hp but sales averaged 142,000 cars with the highest being 1988 and 1989 with around 210,000 cars sold and the lowest, 1992 with only 79,280 cars sold. The sales figures could reflect the dramatic activity Mustang fans engaged in, after the April 13, 1987 Autoweek Magazine report Mustangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glory years, and very good-looking cars were introduced that the new Mustang would drop the V8 and go front-wheel drive and with 210 base hp, a GT with 300-325 hp and a monster new Shelby

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Duratec 3.7L DOHC V6 with 305 hp. The V8 is here to stay...but how else does the latest model of Mustang compare to the first model? Unlike the first version, where a fastback was added part way through 1964, the fastback and convertible are the only body styles available. Reviewing the specs mandated by Henry Ford II, the car was to have had four seats, weigh 2,500 lb, ride on a 108-inch wheelbase and be 180 inches in length with a cost $2,500. The 2014 model is 189 inches long with a 107-inch wheelbase and four seats. As for the 3,500 lb of weight, blame it on the standard level of ride quality and safety features unheard of in the mid-’60s. The sales numbers may be off the stellar years of the launch of the 1964½ Mustang, but unlike those years with only Falcons, Galaxies and pickups sharing the showroom, Ford now sells an impressive line of 14 vehicles with some sub-categories including hybrid versions of some and the Shelby GT500 Mustang as well as the Raptor truck. While Volkswagen is not the only import fighting for the buyers, so many cars are being produced with so much engineering and at such great expense. Considering the $700 million invested in the 1994 Mustang model, it seems impossible that a car could ever be created and built for mere pocket change of $40 million... and then go on to win the hearts of so many!

Admirably Fun The 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport

Story by Jordan Allan, photos courtesy of Cadillac Canada

well laid-out interior that features a massive 12.3-inch LCD gauge cluster that is customizable, as well as a fully coloured heads-up display that allows you to keep your eyes on the road, but still be connected to what’s going on. The centre stack is highlighted by an 8-inch touchscreen that features Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system. I’m sure by now you’ve heard some frustration geared towards the system, but during my test week I found it fairly easy to use with it only causing me problems a couple of times.

When the main competitors in your segment are the likes of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes, it is absolutely imperative that you produce a vehicle that not only shares many of the same characteristics as the vehicles bearing those big nameplates, but also make an effort to surpass them. That’s just what Cadillac has done here by introducing the CTS Vsport which is meant to be somewhat of a step between the tamer 3.6-litre CTS and the fire breathing The leather seats did a very good job of holding you in, no matter 6.2-litre Supercharged CTS-V Coupe which has been rumoured how fast you were going through a corner, and also gave you to be on its way out. Take just one look at the CTS Vsport and you’ll be impressed by the incredible-looking car that features a mean-looking front end, complete with LED light accents, a very large Cadillac emblem, as well as a very aggressive stance. The long hood of the CTS allows it to appear as steeper which only adds to the aggressive nature. The back end features Cadillac’s signature vertical taillights as well as dual exhaust outlets. All in all, the CTS Vsport has an overall mean look that’s as distinctive as it is sexy, which puts it right up there with some of its German counterparts. Step inside the CTS and you’ll be just as enthralled as you were when you saw the outside. One of the first things you’ll notice is the carbon fibre trim on the doors and just above the glove box on the passenger side. Aside from that, you’ll find a generally

SPECIFICATIONS

Price (MSRP): ...................................................................................... $74,495 Type: ..........................................................................front-engine, RWD sedan Engine: ........................................................ 3.6L twin turbo DOHC 24-valve V6 Horsepower: . ....................................................................420 hp @ 5,750 rpm Torque: ......................................................................... 430 lb.-ft. @ 3,500 rpm Transmission: ................................................................................8-speed auto Brakes: .......................................................................................... 4-wheel disc

20 RPM June / July 2014

a rumble thanks to the Safety Alert Seat which would go off if it felt a collision was looming or if you drifted even slightly out of your lane. A large, thick steering wheel added to the general race car-like feel of the vehicle which was even further enhanced if you pushed the shifter-mounted Manual mode button and used the metal paddle shifters. I didn’t notice road noise to be a big

problem, but you do hear quite of bit of engine rumble and exhaust notes which, if you’re like me, are definitely not a problem. Under the hood of the CTS Vsport is a new twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre V6 engine that makes a very impressive 420 horsepower with 430 lb-ft of torque and is the first of its kind for Cadillac. Also a first, an eight-speed transmission, complete with a manual mode, is paired with the engine, which makes driving this beast just that much more fun. The front Brembo brakes are able to slow down the CTS when needed just as quickly as it accelerated, which is necessary for a car with its kind of power and size. I’m sure this gets said about a lot of cars, but this was truly one of the most fun cars to drive of any that I’ve sat behind the wheel of so far. Thanks to its Magnetic Ride

Control suspension system, the steering feels very tight in a good way and is able to handle any corner you throw at it with ease, feeling very much like one of the crafty German cars I mentioned before. When idling, the exhaust note and engine rumble is not all that impressive, but once you get those RPMs up you will be astonished at what you hear, as it provides a very nasty (in a good way), throaty growl that would leave you believing they had thrown an aftermarket exhaust on the car when you weren’t looking. Not only will driving it make you an instant admirer of the car, but it will also do the same to pedestrians and other drivers as I noticed people taking a look at the CTS Vsport more than I have during my time behind the wheel of any other vehicle. When you step back and take it all in, this car really is the complete package. It is a big, luxurious sedan with incredible power and looks that gives you a rush of adrenaline each and every time you sit behind the wheel. With a $74,495 price tag, the CTS Vsport will not only be able to compete in its class, but may also sway some potential German-seeking buyers into purchasing one. RPM June / July 2014 21

ity. Speed ratings were created in the 1960s so European drivers would know how fast they could safely drive their vehicles without risking tire failure. Since then, speed ratings have also come to indicate how a tire will perform - how it’ll brake, grip around corners, give stability and get rid of heat. So, perhaps we should more accurately think of a tire’s speed rating as its ‘performance rating.’ Many drivers aren’t aware of all the ways their safety depends on the performance rating of their tires, which is concerning because more and more drivers are researching and shopping for tires online without knowing the tire speed rating required for their vehicle.

Tire Speed Rating is Crucial For Vehicle Safety Story and photos by Gerry Frechette

hose of us who are driving enthusiasts are typically aware of how big an effect a vehicle’s tires have on performance and safety. Factors like inflation pressure, tread wear, and appropriate rubber compound for the season are but a few of the things the tire experts tell us are so important.

A single tire size can come in multiple speed ratings, and drivers aren’t always aware of the recommended original equipment (OE) specifications. Installing lower speed-rated tires means they’ll flex and squirm under pressure, causing heat build-up and compromising traction and tire life situations that can lead to blowouts. Tires with recommended or higher speed ratings perform better to help keep your vehicle on the road. Kal Tire had both ‘S’ and ‘V’ rated tires on hand to test, good for sustained speeds up to 180 and 240 km/h respectively. You might well think that an ‘S’ would be plenty on a family car, because you don’t ever go 180 on the streets. But the point is, the comparison is valid even at speeds below 100 km/h, the fastest we drove in the test. In back-to-back testing, the ‘V’ tire braked to a stop from both 60 and 100 km/h more quickly and in a shorter distance, held its line in a constant radius corner at a higher speed, and did all of this at a lower temperature, as measured on the tread surface when the car came to a stop.

“The handling and safety of your vehicle depends on driving with tires that match or exceed your OE specifications because of the way your vehicle was engineered to drive; your suspension was calibrated with a specific performance rating in mind,” says Carey Hull of Kal Tire. “You can always upgrade for better performance, but if you downBut something not thought of so often is the tire’s speed rating. Per- grade your tire’s performance rating, it compromises the way your haps one reason for that is that new vehicles are always equipped tires respond to both everyday and emergency situations.” with the correct tires. But what about when it comes time to replace your tires? Or, you are buying a used car and the tires aren’t original? If the aforementioned factors are all okay, then does it matter what the speed rating is? Well, we found out that the answer is definitely yes, when Kal Tire, Canada’s largest independent tire dealer, put on a demonstration that compared two sets of tires with different speed ratings, on identical family sedans, to measure their steering response, emergency braking, cornering grip and heat generation. Speed ratings for tires are identified by an alphabetic code. For most passenger vehicles, the recommended rating is a letter between ‘S’ and ‘Y,’ which can be found at the end of the size code on a tire’s sidewall. This letter indicates the maximum speed a tire can go in conjunction with a load carrying capac22 RPM June / July 2014

The modern facility resembles the lobby of a five-star hotel, albeit furnished with a colourful array of the Japanese company’s cutting-edge automobiles. Three walls of expansive, glass panels help showcase the product to passing commuters and sidewalk window shoppers. A high-ceiling, split-level design offers customers plenty of room to explore the product, take a break in the lounge area, or reflect on various art pieces scattered throughout the facility. Guests looking for information, or a sales associate, are greeted at a dedicated Concierge desk, rather than being pounced upon by the over-exuberant sales staff one usually associates with auto dealerships.

Vancouver’s Regency Lexus opens innovative dealership complete with butler service Story and photos by Russell Purcell

In an effort to set it apart from other luxury car dealerships, Regency Lexus has also launched its innovative Butler Service, which is an extension of the pre-established VIP service. Lexus owners who purchase from Regency will receive a superior customer service experience, which includes everything from luxury courtesy car delivery for any maintenance or repair work, to personalized beverage stocking and the option of complimentary car washes and vehicle inspection with service. The Butler Service is a sales tool which allows Regency customers to experience a leisurely test drive in a new Lexus automobile so that they can see if it suits their needs. It begins with a brief, online survey which will give the concierge some insight into what you like to eat or drink, what type of music you listen to, reading preferences, and how you spend your free time. Your response to direct questions about individual driving style, seating position and cabin comfort allow the staff at Regency to prepare the selected vehicle just for you.

ancouver is a cosmopolitan city known for its relaxed, but fashionable lifestyle, and for having a population of image conscious residents who During my Butler Service experience I was given the opportunity to drive appreciate the finer things in life. the LS460, and enjoyed getting to explore the city behind the wheel without the stress of a high-pressure salesperson barking in my ear. I journeyed Recently, Vancouver’s Regency Lexus moved into a stunning new facility to Stanley Park, where I took a few moments to enjoy the morning paper, on Burrard Street which will set the standard for this segment of the industry. sip the fat-free vanilla latte, and eat the tasty pastry that had been selected The building is amongst the first in the world to be built to Lexus’ Global for me based on the results of my survey. If this is living the Lexus lifestyle, Design Standard. consider me sold.

Mercedes-Benz Opens New Vancouver Store Story and photos by Benjamin Yong

eautiful cars and people, catering by award-winning Hawksworth Restaurant and a chance to view the new building up close drew about 1,000 people to the official launch of the Mercedes-Benz flagship retail store in Vancouver. The massive 32,000 square-foot facility, operating since January of this year, was transformed into a half lounge, half showroom during the opening in late April. The main area, bathed in natural light thanks to its high glass walls, had a couple of bar stations set up with tables scattered throughout, providing a place for guests to mingle and eat. On the other side near the service area, a room outfitted with a DJ was turned into a makeshift scotch tasting area. Executive staff made the trip out to address dealers, customers, industry representatives and the media.

“This year alone, we will launch the brand new GLA, which is like “I think that it’s not secret to anybody in Vancouver that we were all an urban entry-level sport utility vehicle. We have maybe the most very anxious for this new facility to finally see the light of day,” says important vehicle for Canada, the C-Class, which is all-new in the fall Tim Reuss, president of Mercedes-Benz Canada, adding that they had of this year,” says Källenius. severely outgrown their former location on West Broadway. Looking out the window at the adjacent Porsche Centre Vancouver, he He introduced Ola Källenius, board member of global marketing and also quipped that the team at Mercedes-Benz’s performance division AMG is bringing out the a new supercar dubbed the AMG GT that sales, to say a few words. should make this fellow German rival “feel the heat.” “This facility gives us the opportunity to showcase the impressive Mercedes-Benz product portfolio, which has phenomenal additional Visitors leaving for the night were given tubes with M-B-branded boxer products that we’re bringing to Canada in the next few months and shorts inside. The new dealership is located near Vancouver’s oldest residential neighbourhood, at 500 Terminal Ave. years.” RPM June / July 2014 23

AJAC Eco-Run

Story and photos by Gerry Frechette

help consumers become more aware of the latest fuel-efficient and emission-reducing technologies being offered by automakers, and fter the first two successful runnings of the Automobile Journalists to demonstrate to Canadians more fuel-efficient ways to drive their Association of Canada (AJAC) Eco-Run in Eastern Canada, this own vehicles and reduce their pain at the pumps. year’s event was moved earlier in the year and to the West Coast, beginning and ending in Vancouver, with a scenic foray up Howe Each vehicle was fitted with a special monitoring device that recorded the vehicle’s fuel consumption, as well as the driving techniques of Sound through Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton.

Our fleet for the week, listed below, consisted of 18 of just about every vehicle powertrain and body style you could think of, from full-electric compacts to plug-in hybrid and diesel-fuelled luxury sedans, from a small gasoline-engined family sedan to a diesel pickup. All, in their own way, had a claim to be a green vehicle based on the technology employed to cast as small an environmental footprint as possible on the roads of Canada. 2014 MINI Cooper 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel 2014 Ford CMAX Energi 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid 2015 Cadillac ELR 2014 Chevrolet Cruze EcoDiesel 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid 2014 Hyundai Elantra 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid 2014 Mazda3 2.0L 2015 Mazda6 i-ELOOP 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL 350 4MATIC BlueTEC 2014 Mercedes-Benz E 250 4MATIC BlueTEC Sedan 2014 Mitsubishi i-MiEV 2014 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV + Tech 2014 Nissan Leaf SL 2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid 2015 Volvo XC60 Drive-E

the driver. The results reflect fuel consumption in real-world driving conditions and that data is posted on the AJAC website (www.ajac. ca) so consumers can compare those results and make informed decisions when deciding on their next vehicle purchase, whether it’s a small car, a typical family sedan, or even a light duty truck.

The AJAC Eco-Run is not a race or a competition, and no winner was The attached summary provides a picture of how each vehicle perdeclared. The event, however, does have two important purposes – to formed in the hands of the various AJAC journalists over the three 24 RPM June / July 2014

days. Of note in the average fuel consumption calculation, except for the pure electrics which obviously have their own special ‘fuel consumption equivalency factor,’ plus the two bigger diesel-engined vehicles, all the cars fell into the 4-to-6 litre per hundred kilometre range that equates to at least 50 miles per gallon. Of note, probably 90 percent of the roads driven during the event were highways, so the hybrids might have generated even better results had there been more city streets on the map. Unlike last year’s event, when there was direct comparison to the official NRCan Energuide fuel consumption results for each vehicle, the testing protocols for that evaluation are currently being completely revamped, so that the results more closely equate to actual performance of each vehicle in normal use – which means the numbers will go up, and the reported efficiency in NRCan testing will go down. Given that last year, when the AJAC results were slightly better than the Energuide numbers, one can expect the results this year to be

that much better than the new Energuide ones, showing that there is much that individual drivers can do in their day-to-day driving to maximize the efficiency of their vehicles. The AJAC Eco-Run can only exist with the support of its partners, including Natural Resources Canada, which has been a key part of Eco-Run since the event’s inception, and the CAA National office, which has also supported the event since Day One. The New Car Dealers Association of B.C. also provided significant support, along with the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish. The AJAC Eco-Run committee also wishes to acknowledge the support provided by BC Hydro, Cross Chasm, Stantec and Sun Country Highway. RPM June / July 2014 25

can adopt to reduce fuel consumption â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and fuel costs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; regardless of the age of our vehicles. Not only did the AJAC Eco-Run highlight the latest advances by You can test your own eco-driving techniques by checking out ecomanufacturers to improve fuel efficiency and reduce the impact on drivingonline.ca, and then apply them to your own car. For further our fragile environment, the journalists used driving techniques we all information and images from the event, go to www.ajac.ca.

AJAC Eco-Run 2014 - One-Page Summary All vehicles were equipped with a monitoring device for the event. The results are summarized below for six specific legs of the event. The logger captured both standard OBD signals and non-standard signals to be able to measure the total energy consumption of the vehicle.

Vehicle

Accord Hybrid Altima C-MAX Energi Cruze Diesel E 250 BlueTEC Elantra ELR GL 350 BlueTEC i-MiEV LEAF Mazda 3 SKYACTIV Mazda 6 i-ELOOP MINI Cooper MKZ Hybrid Optima Hybrid Panamera S E-Hybrid Ram 1500 EcoDiesel S60 Drive-E Average

Vehicle

Average Fuel Consumption (Leq/100km)

4.63 6.94 4.41 5.79 6.07 6.16 4.65 8.89 1.32 1.60 5.67 6.57 5.44 5.07 6.07 5.60 8.94 6.81 5.59

Average Fuel Consumption (Leq/100km)

4.63 6.94 4.41 5.79 6.07 6.16 4.65 8.89 1.32 1.60 5.67 6.57 5.44 5.07 6.07 5.60 8.94 6.81 5.59

26 RPM June / July 2014

Fuel Consumed (L)

2.9 4.2 1.7 3.5 3.8 3.8 4.0 6.1

Vancouver to Squamish Elevation Change = 0m

Squamish to Whistler Elevation Change = +667m

Whistler to Pemberton Elevation Change = -457m.

Electricity Consumed (kWh)

Distance (km)

4.1 4.0 3.8 3.3 4.1

65.8 64.7 63.3 65.8 66.7 64.8 66.9 67.9 70.2 66.4 66.4 66.2 64.8 65.6 66.4

6.3 5.6

66.5 71.9

5.02

1.43 7.72 9.47

Fuel Consumed (L)

2.8 1.7 2.4 3.2 2.5 1.6 3.7

2.9 3.0 2.1 2.5 3.1 2.2 3.3 3.2

Fuel Consumption Fuel Consumed Electricity (Leq/100km) (L) Consumed (kWh)

4.47 3.5 6.52 4.4 3.51 4.3 5.29 4.2 5.69 4.0 5.92 4.0 6.28 3.4 8.98 7.0 1.23 1.60 6.22 3.4 6.09 5.4 5.93 3.4 5.01 3.6 6.19 4.6 Remove due to data accuracy 9.49 5.8 7.74 4.3

Distance (km)

-0.37

4.55 8.69 10.36

Fuel Consumption Fuel Consumed (Leq/100km) (L)

56.9 53.1 58.6 59.9 56.9 55.5 58.4 69.4 56.8 52.3 56.6 63.7 55.8 56.9 58.4

6.16 8.23 7.20 7.07 6.96 7.25 6.63 10.05 1.72 2.22 6.06 8.47 6.00 6.36 7.87

56.7 60.4

10.17 7.13

1.7 1.1 1.6 1.9 1.7 0.6 2.5

1.6 1.6 1.5 1.1 1.6 0.9 2.4 1.8

Electricity Consumed (kWh)

Distance (km)

Logger accidentally unplugged 36.3 -0.09 36.8 37.0 38.7 36.0 1.94 36.9 38.1 2.17 35.1 3.12 36.5 36.5 35.0 31.6 36.5 37.0 3.51 37.5 36.7 36.6

Pemberton to Whistler Elevation Change = +457m.

Whistler to Squamish Elevation Change = -667m

Squamish to Vancouver Elevation Change = 0m

Electricity Consumed (kWh)

Distance (km)

Fuel Consumption Fuel Consumed Electricity (Leq/100km) (L) Consumed (kWh)

Logger accidentally unplugged 32.5 8.54 -0.21 32.5 5.29 32.6 7.24 32.5 9.80 32.2 7.90 3.37 32.5 6.13 32.5 11.40 5.46 34.8 1.76 6.72 37.6 2.00 37.2 7.71 35.1 8.41 29.9 7.08 33.2 7.57 37.9 8.05 0.25 32.5 6.96 32.8 10.07 37.7 8.60

2.2 4.0 1.0 3.3 3.0 3.5 0.0 4.7

5.08

7.73 5.33 5.43

2.5 3.9 2.2 2.6 2.6 2.9 4.6 3.7

4.95

Distance (km)

62.1 62.4 63.4 62.7 62.0 61.8 63.1 64.8 62.9 58.7 62.7 63.7 59.9 62.7 63.3 71.4 63.4 62.6

Fuel Consumption Fuel Consumed (Leq/100km) (L)

3.57 6.33 2.51 5.18 4.77 5.66 1.37 7.19 0.95 1.04 3.97 6.12 3.72 4.15 4.09 4.87 7.24 5.94

2.6 4.4 3.2 3.6 3.5 3.4 2.5 5.8

Electricity Consumed (kWh)

-0.3

4.61 9.16 9.65

3.5 3.3 3.3 2.8 3.8 4.3 5.8 4.0

0.17

Fuel Consumption (Leq/100km)

4.79 2.91 4.30 4.88 4.66 2.16 6.45 0.69 0.96 4.36 4.62 4.84 3.04 4.35 3.40 6.62 4.78

Distance (km)

Fuel Consumption (Leq/100km)

58.7 59.4 62.6 61.3 61.3 58.3 59.6 61.1 67.2 62.9 57.8 59.4 58.4 59.1 62.3 61.5 59.4 61.9

4.46 7.34 5.06 5.83 5.73 5.90 5.10 9.47 1.53 1.72 6.00 5.61 5.61 4.71 6.10 7.09 9.74 6.39

TEST Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Price: .............................................................................................. $43,105 Engine: . .................................................................. 4.3L OHV 12-valve V6 Trans: ..................................................................................... 6-speed auto Power: .............................................................................................. 285 hp Torque: ........................................................................................... 305 lb-ft Curb Weight: ............................................................... 2,357 kg / 5,196 lb Fuel Consumption: (L/100km – City/Hwy) ................................. 12.6/9.0 New for 2014: The Silverado was completely redesigned for 2014 with a new, bolder look that’s more functional and aerodynamic. Three new engine options are available as are a ton of new features such as a corner step rear bumper, EZ lift-and-lower tailgate, as well as new safety features. Segment Competitors: Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Nissan Titan, GMC Sierra, Toyota Tundra. The Skinny: The redesign came at a perfect time for the Silverado, as it was beginning to fall behind its Ford and Dodge counterparts in many people’s eyes. It now features a bold, aggressive design that in our opinion likely surpasses its main competition. When you add that to a plethora of new features, three new efficient yet powerful engines, and a great looking interior, you have a truck ready to challenge for the half-ton crown. Pros: The bold new looks really allow it to stand out from a crowd. We were amazed with the addition of a wide array of technology and practicality features. Cons: The V6 feels slightly sluggish when you need to accelerate quickly. The Verdict: If you’re looking for a pickup that has work truck-friendly features, the latest technology, a refined ride, and a great looking interior, then look no further.

Kia K900

Price: ................................................................................................ $69,995 Engine: ................................................................... 5.0L DOHC 32-valve V8 Trans: ........................................................................................ 8-speed auto Power: ................................................................................................ 420 hp Torque: ..............................................................................................376 lb-ft Curb Weight: ..................................................................2,066 kg / 4,555 lb Fuel Consumption: (L/100km – City/Hwy) . ................................. 13.3/8.9 New for 2015: The Kia K900 debuts for the 2015 model year and is Kia’s new flagship premium luxury sedan. It is the first Kia car to use a V8 engine under the hood and Kia hopes that it will further engrain them into the minds of people looking for a luxury sedan. Segment Competitors: Audi A8, Cadillac XTS, Jaguar XJ Series, BMW 7-Series, Hyundai Genesis, Lexus LS 460. The Skinny: The K900 comes in as a brand new vehicle and is the first of its kind in the Kia lineup. It shares many of the same styling cues as its smaller Cadenza and Optima counterparts but adds in a big V8 engine and all the

safety and technology features you could want. Pros: It’s able to match its German counterparts in terms of technology, and definitely has one of the smoothest rides we’ve ever experienced. Cons: Didn’t have the aggressive rumble or exhaust note we were hoping to get out of a 5.0L V8. The Verdict: Kia hopes this new V8 sedan will be able to compete with some of its German rivals, and we say, why not? It has just as many cool features and comes in at a fraction of the price, which is surely enough to at least get consideration of large luxury sedan buyers.

Audi SQ5

Price: ............................................................................................. $ 59,600 Engine: ..........................................3.0L V6 Supercharged DOHC 24-valve Trans: . .................................................................................... 8-speed auto Power: .............................................................................................. 354 hp Torque: ........................................................................................... 347 lb-ft Curb Weight: . .............................................................. 2,000 kg / 4,409 lb Fuel Consumption: (L/100km – City/Hwy) .................................. 13.2/8.5 New for 2014: The Audi SQ5 is brand-new for 2014 and is the first “S” variant of any Q model. It takes all of the great features and practicality of the Q5 and adds the fun and aggressiveness that’s associated with the “S” badge. Segment Competitors: BMW X3, Land Rover LR4, Mercedes-Benz GLK, Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, Lexus RX 350. The Skinny: The Audi SQ5 is one of the fastest and most capable crossovers on the road today. One minute it’s a practical, roomy 5-passenger CUV with room to haul the golf clubs or groceries around and the next it’s a fire breathing supercharged beast that can go 0-96 km/h in just 4.8 seconds. Pros: We liked the unique combination of practicality and fun that is rarely seen in a utility vehicle. Cons: If you’re like us and never get tired of testing out the outrageously fun powertrain, you may start to notice the gas needle fall a little faster than you’d like. The Verdict: We thoroughly enjoyed our time testing the SQ5 and were actually sad to see it go back. It delivers on just about every front and when you add in the sheer joy you get when behind the wheel, you have a winner in our books. 28 RPM June / July 2014

FLEET BMW 535d

Price: ...............................................................................................$68,150 Engine: ................................................ 3.0L turbodiesel DOHC 16-valve I6 Trans: .......................................................................................8-speed auto Power: ...............................................................................................255 hp Torque: ............................................................................................413 lb-ft Curb Weight: ................................................................1,930 kg / 4,255 lb Fuel Consumption: (L/100km – City/Hwy) . ..................................7.9/5.3 New for 2014: The 5-Series received a minor facelift for 2014 as well as a new model, the 535d with the “d” of course meaning diesel. It features a new 3.0L straight-6 turbodiesel powerplant under the hood. Segment Competitors: Hyundai Genesis, Acura RLX, Jaguar XJ, Audi A6, Cadillac CTS, Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The Skinny: The 535d comes in as a new addition to the 5-Series for 2014 that provides excellent fuel economy without sacrificing the power you’ve come to expect in a BMW. Add that to the fact that you wouldn’t even know it was a diesel unless you put your ear right to the hood or tail pipe and you have

a car that will compete in its segment. Pros: Never ceases to amaze at the fuel efficiency that these BMW diesels continue to offer, far surpassing our expectations. Cons: Drives a wee bit stiff and feels rather heavy. The Verdict: The 535d provides an excellent option for those who want a fuel-efficient Bimmer without having to sacrifice the luxury or power that is usually associated with them.

Land Rover Range Rover SC

Price: ............................................................................................ $114,990 Engine: ..........................................5.0L Supercharged DOHC 32-valve V8 Trans: . .................................................................................... 8-speed auto Power: .............................................................................................. 510 hp Torque: ........................................................................................... 461 lb-ft Curb Weight: . .............................................................. 2,330 kg / 5,137 lb Fuel Consumption: (L/100km – City/Hwy) ................................ 15.5/10.6 New for 2014: The Range Rover was completely redesigned for 2013 so there are minimal changes for 2014, including the addition of start/stop technology. Segment Competitors: Lexus GX 460, GMC Yukon Denali, BMW X5, Mercedes Benz GL-Class, Cadillac SRX The Skinny: The Land Rover Range Rover is one of the most sought-after SUVs in its segment due to its iconic looks and off-road prowess. Currently in its fourth generation, it continues to carry a level of prestige and it’s easy to see why, as it is a wonderful blend of luxury and ruggedness. Pros: It has to be said that Land Rover was smart in not altering the looks too much, as the Range Rover has really built up a large fan base over the years. Cons: Although they’ve reduced some of the weight, fuel efficiency will never be a selling point of this beast of an SUV. The Verdict: The Range Rover really is the ultimate blend of luxury and ruggedness, and with new safety and technology features being added over the years, it will continue to be top of mind for those looking for this type of vehicle.

Honda Civic Coupe

Price: ............................................................................................... $20,955 Engine: ....................................................................1.8L SOHC 16-valve I4 Trans: ........................................CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) Power: ............................................................................................... 143 hp Torque: ............................................................................................ 129 lb-ft Curb Weight: ................................................................ 1,281 kg / 2,824 lb Fuel Consumption: (L/100km – City/Hwy) . .................................. 6.9/5.1 New for 2014: 2014 sees the Civic Coupe receive a few exterior styling upgrades as well as the addition of a 7-inch touchscreen display, and a new CVT transmission for gas-powered models. Segment Competitors: Hyundai Elantra, Mazda3, Kia Forte, Chevrolet Cruze, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Jetta, Nissan Sentra. The Skinny: The Civic Coupe received many new upgrades for 2014 after the sedan received a quick refresh in 2013. The front end now features a sportier look as does the rear. A small horsepower gain along with a stiffer

suspension definitely improves the fun factor. Pros: The Civic Coupe really impressed us with its overall look paired with a number of new technological features and all at a bargain price. Cons: If you are a tall person, you may have a bit of a headroom problem. The Verdict: The Civic Coupe features great looks, a competent powertrain and is overall a safe and efficient option for those considering purchasing a vehicle in this class. RPM June / July 2014 29

The Legend Continues 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo

Story and photos by Russell Purcell

Porsche is one of the few manufacturers that uses competitive motorsport activities to conduct research and development for their automobiles. As a result, the 911 Turbo can claim its share of the motorsport heritage held by the venerable 911, as variants of the nimble coupe have been racking up major racing victories and establishing track records around the globe since day one.

he term icon gets tossed around a lot in the automotive world, but there are few cars as iconic as the venerable Porsche 911. This legendary sports car was born out of the successful 356 program in 1963, and has now been in continuous production for more than half a century. The Porsche 911 represents a dream machine for people from all walks of life and every age group, and has established a very large The 911 Turbo’s styling reflects the car’s racing roots with its enormous wheels and tires, wind-cheating teardrop shape, active chin spoiler, and fan base. three position active rear wing, but unlike many sporty cars, all these In 2012, Porsche unleashed the seventh generation of the 911, code features are functional, and do in fact enhance the car’s performance name 991, to the motoring public and the car was an immediate hit. and handling. For 2014, the potent turbocharged model has finally arrived on our As Porsche’s customers (and most auto journalists) are getting larger, shores. it became evident that the company was going to have to enlarge their Evolution takes time, and the designers and engineers at Porsche have cars to maintain occupant comfort levels. With the introduction of the managed to carefully direct this process for more than five decades. 991 platform, Porsche stretched the 911’s wheelbase, which brought The 911’s basic shape and layout are still intact and act to provide a much-needed room to the passenger cabin. The car is wider than the tried-and-true foundation upon which they are free to create a car that previous iteration, the 997, and the seats sit lower. These changes have stirs the heart, and the soul. With each new variant, the team at Porsche resulted in big gains in the passenger compartment, which feels much has managed to keep the car relevant, competitive and surprisingly (for more spacious overall. Enthusiast drivers will appreciate the fact that such an aged design) innovative. While the outgoing Turbo was regarded as one of the best handling automobiles on the road today, the move to the 991 platform has made the driving experience even more rewarding. This is because the car features a longer wheelbase, a significantly lower suspension, and a wider track. These technical changes have given the new car an enhanced level of stability which helps inspire driver confidence. Supercars come and go, but the 911 Turbo is a major player in this category as turbocharged 911s have been terrorizing the tarmac for 40 years. Under the lightweight rear bonnet resides a 3.8-litre, twin-turbocharged flat-six engine which produces a healthy 520 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. This potent powerplant is more than sufficient to allow the 911 Turbo to hold its own against more pricey rivals, but what really sets the car apart from its competitors is the fact that you can drive it every day. 30 RPM June / July 2014

there is more room to wear a helmet should you actually plan to use the car at the track. With the increase in size, the design team had to carefully monitor weight gain, so to offset the larger dimensions, many of the car’s body panels (and much of the chassis) are now made out of aluminum. While a 911 Turbo is a superstar in the world of sports cars, at this price point it also needs to play the role of a luxury coupe. To satisfy this need, the designers at Porsche have carried many of the styling elements from their stunning Panamera sedan over to the 991 program, and the results are impressive. The passenger cabin is more luxurious than that of previous offerings, but the dash, instrument cluster and centre console remain uncluttered and help retain the cockpit feel expected in a car of this type. Much to my chagrin, the manual transmission has been wiped from the Turbo’s playbook. In its place resides a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) auto-manual which can be operated using the paddle levers fitted to the Sport steering wheel. This gearbox is blindingly fast and ultra-smooth, and when left to function on its own accord will help the car make more When called to action, the 911 Turbo accelerates like a rocket. Runs efficient use of the premium gasoline it likes to use to quench its thirst. from 0-100 kilometres-per-hour can be executed in a mere 3.4 seconds all day long, and when operated in Sport Plus mode, the time drops Dynamic is a word that is often used to describe cars like the 911 Turbo, to a blistering 3.2 seconds. Top speed is listed in product literature as and it fits, as this car represents a precision tool that has been engineered being 315 km/h. to deliver a dynamic handling experience. The car feels planted at speed, especially when pushed hard through the corners. This is largely due to The engineering team has managed to broaden the engine’s torque the capabilities of the all-wheel drive system and some pretty advanced curve, which means you will find that you are able to power through electronics. corners like never before. Handling is razor sharp and surprisingly neutral for a 911, a car that at one time was plagued by oversteer due to the fact that the engine hangs out past the rear axle. The electric power steering has been engineered to provide just enough assistance to reduce the amount of effort required by the driver, while at the same time enhance the level of steering precision. When your enthusiasm overwhelms your driving abilities, you can be confident that the car’s advanced braking system will be up to the task when it comes time to draw in the reins. The Turbo comes equipped with

SPECIFICATIONS Price (MSRP): .................................................................................... $169,200 Price as tested: . ................................................................................. $188,945 Type of vehicle: ......................... AWD, rear-engine, grand touring sports coupe Engine: ..............................................................3.8L, twin-turbo, DOHC flat-six Power: . .................................................................. 520 hp @ 6,000-6,500 rpm Torque: . ............................................................... 487 lb-ft @ 1,950-5,000 rpm Brakes: ........................................................................... 4-wheel disc with ABS Transmission: . ........................................................... 7-speed PDK manumatic Fuel economy (L/100km, city/hwy): . ....................................................12.2/8.1

The product planners at Porsche are well aware that the typical 911 Turbo buyer is an enthusiast driver who may at times drive the car hard, so every Turbo comes fitted with Porsche Stability Management (PSM) and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) as standard equipment. large (380mm), lightweight, cross-drilled and internally-ventilated disc brakes that react very quickly and seemed to resist fading. The car also features the company’s latest innovation, Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV Plus), which at slow and medium speeds is able to The skilled driver will appreciate the 911 Turbo’s rock-solid body enhance the car’s agility and steering precision. When the car is corner- structure, advanced all-wheel drive system, rear-wheel steering and ing at high speeds, PTV Plus transfers drive torque to the outside rear tremendous downforce, all factors which allow you to extract the most wheel which supports the steering motion of the car, thereby improving from Porsche’s latest thrill ride. It is also one of the few cars on the road its handling and providing additional stability. today that is equally adept at driving you to work as it is helping you shine at the track. For those customers looking to extract the most from this marvelous machine or looking to add track activities to the agenda, Porsche offers The 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo is more powerful, more comfortable, and the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and the Sport Chrono more fuel efficient than ever before, so it should remain a top seller for Package to help enhance the driving experience further. the German automaker. RPM June / July 2014 31

Compelling Package

picked it up. This is the first Honda without a transmission, he explained, and is very different from any other hybrid.

Electric mode is the primary one at speeds up to about 70 km/h, and in Hybrid mode, the engine will act as a generator to keep the batteries topped up. Above that speed, the engine’s output is electronically coupled to the drive wheels along with that of the electric motor, but 2014 Honda Accord Touring Hybrid engine speed is directly proportional to road speed, or ‘direct drive.’ All the power delivery to the front wheels is accomplished in that mysteriStory and photos by Gerry Frechette ous ‘black box’ without the aid of gears or pulleys. The second on-board owhere in the automotive industry is the pace of technological motor is a smaller ‘slave’ to the main motor, acting as a generator to change, and the wide variety of approaches under one name, start the engine and keep the on-board systems running. more pronounced than in the Hybrid field of vehicles. There are several different combinations of batteries, motors and engines from which to With the 166-horsepower electric motor dishing out instantaneous choose, all of which are effective within the parameters of their design. torque of 226 lb-ft, and the 144-horsepower 2.0-litre four under the These days, it is all about maximizing the ability of the car to move on hood doing its thing (not at the same time, so Honda claims 196 total electric power alone, given the capabilities of batteries, motors and horsepower), the Accord is no slouch, and lives up to Honda’s deserved reputation of being a car that enthusiasts will enjoy. The launch to 100 control systems. km/h is accomplished in the eight-second range, about the same as the Honda has had hybrids since around the turn of the century. The four-cylinder gas models. But of course, efficiency is now a part of the original system was called the Integrated Motor Assist system, a good program, with the most recent Transport Canada ratings bestowing the description of the gasoline engine’s higher priority in the system, given Accord Hybrid with consumption of only 3.7L/100 km in the city. In our that pure-electric operation was not an option. The most recent Civic week with the car, in totally urban driving, we were not able to better 6L, still an impressive number.

The Accord Hybrid features the same styling found on the Accord Sedan, plus upscale detailing with unique Hybrid badging and blue-accented grille and light lenses, LED lighting, a unique wheel design and a decklid spoiler. Our tester was the upscale Touring model, which, priced at $35,690, commands a $5,000 premium over the regular Touring sedan, so, as with any hybrid, one ought to do a bit of cost-benefit analysis to establish a break-even point. Having said that, the Accord Hybrid is a very compelling package of drivetrain and infotainment technology, all wrapped in a high-quality package at a good price. Honda jumps into the EV-based hybrid market and CR-Z hybrids use IMA, and so did the short-lived Accord Hybrid of in a big way with this car. several years ago. But this new Accord Hybrid is a completely different SPECIFICATIONS animal from those, the first of a new generation of Honda hybrids that give MSRP as tested: ................................................................................... $35,690 priority to electric propulsion. In that sense, it follows the recent trend. The Accord Hybrid uses Honda’s two-motor hybrid powertrain along with Intelligent Multi Mode Drive system, allowing it to move through three different driving modes - EV Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive - to optimize efficiency. But there is less to this system than meets the eye, as the Honda technical trainer at the regional office explained when we 32 RPM June / July 2014

Vehicle Layout: ........................... Front-engine, front-wheel drive, 4-door sedan Engine: ................................ 2.0L DOHC 16-valve I4, plus 124kw electric motor Transmission: .............................................................................................. N/A Power: . .................................................................166 hp (196 hp incl. engine) Torque: .................................................................................. 226 lb-ft @ 1 rpm Brakes: ................................................................ front and rear disc, ABS, EBD Curb Weight: ....................................................................................... 1,636 kg Fuel Consumption: L/100 km, city/hwy . .................................................3.7/4.0

The Truck Guy

Truck Tents Story by Ian Harwood, photos courtesy of the manufacturer

are like regular tent poles that collapse with a quick pull) designed to fit in the stake pockets of your box rail. The tent also comes with a fly for the rain and an awning off the back to cover climbing amping is fun, and I’m sure all of us have done it at one time in and out. And they have tents available for just about any truck. or another. There are some limitations that hold us back from The cost is around $289, depending on the truck. Invest in an air mattress or you will be sporting a set of marks on your back just picking up a few things and heading out. resembling the ribs in the trucks bed, don’t ask me how I know.

SUV owners should especially like the tents that are designed with them in mind. These tents feature a docking collar that fits around the back of your sport-ute so your vehicle is inside your tent. When you need your vehicle, you just remove the collar

One of them is a decent tent that is easy to set up and keeps you dry and comfortable. One of the hottest products on the market today is called “truck tent.” Napier Enterprises developed it and it makes sense for those people that like to go camping, but do not like to sleep on the ground. The truck tent is exactly as it sounds - a tent for your truck. This tent sits in the open bed of your truck with the tent poles (which 34 RPM June / July 2014

footprint that can sleep 4-6 people and over 7 feet of headroom. There are three large mesh windows providing plenty of ventilation and the bathtub-style floor keeps things dry. Carrying bag included for $269. The interesting thing about this line up is with every purchase, a tree will be planted through the partnership with trees for the future. A quick tip, order the Sportz strap protectors for $24.99. These strap protectors will save the finish on the side of your truck and prevent scratches, as the wind moves you and your tent around. There are many combinations available from this company, so look them up at www. napierenterprises.com. and zip it up. Cost is $379. For hunters there is a Camo version featuring the Mossy Oak break up design; cost is $349. Just be careful sticking your head out the back in the early morning. The newest tent in Napierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s product line is the Backroadz truck tent. This value-priced tent line fits most pickups and sleeps two comfortably. Easy setup utilizing shock-corded fibreglass poles and offers 5 feet, 5 inches of head room. It comes with a rain fly and storm flap in the door section to provide privacy and protection. The cost of this model is $199. The SUV/Minivan tent has a universal sleeve that fits snugly around any vehicle with a 9x9-feet

RPM June / July 2014 35

Putting it all together Stage 1

The first in a series of virtual builds outlining how to get the best value/quality of sound out of your system on a given budget Story by Dave MacKinnon

ver the past few years, we have talked about source units, speakers, amplifiers, integration modules, processors, subwoofers and much more. It has all been great information, but it’s like practicing all your football plays without actually playing a game of football! It’s time to put it all together… and over the next few issues, that’s exactly what we are going to do. The goal is to offer four types of systems that can be used in a car or truck that will, with each progressive step, offer a dramatic increase in the realism and accuracy of your music. Assuming you haven’t gone out and done something silly like paying for a premium

A futuristic dashboard design begging for some equally state-of-the art audio. 36 RPM June / July 2014

factory audio system, the steps in Stage 1 can be universally applied to almost any vehicle. Source – The head unit (source unit) you choose will be the deciding factor in how far we can take your audio system. If you get an entry level source unit (<$200 for CD, or <$600 for multimedia), you will be limited in the number of pre-amp outputs available, the overall sound quality of the unit and the flexibility available in configuring the unit. As we have a goal of improving sound quality, you will want to look for the following as a minimum – Front, Rear and Subwoofer preamp outputs rated for at least 4V, 24-bit D/A converters and adjustable on-board crossovers

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for low- and high-pass (preferably independent for the front and rear outputs). It’s up to you in terms of source goodies – USB, SD Card, SiriusXM and of course CD or DVD are just a few options. If your particular vehicle doesn’t allow for the factory source unit to be removed, then you should look at high quality integration modules. Of utmost importance is making sure you are starting with a level playing field, and I mean that quite literally – many head units have a built-in equalization curve that is specific to your vehicle and the factory speakers. Our goal is smooth frequency response, so talk to your salesperson about that issue if the factory head unit has to stay. Beware of factory source units that have equalization built in. This is very common, and about the only way to overcome that is through the use of a processor like the JL Audio Cleansweep CL441dsp. Hit up JL Audio’s website to see how it can help you – www.jlaudio.com Speakers – For Stage 1, we are going to use the factory speaker locations to control cost. Speakers are an important choice since they are the only link between your electronics and your ears. Don’t skimp here – expect to pay at least $150 a pair. Look for The Focal Access 165-AC is all-new for 2014 speakers with a rubber surround and provides legendary Focal sound quality at on the woofer, soft dome tweeters very aggressive price points. and most importantly, that sound good. You can’t buy a speaker by looking through specifications, charts or graphs, so take your favourite music, go to a car stereo shop and start listening to speakers that fit your application. At Stage 1, we are going to go with factory speaker sizes, so they may be anything from 4 inches, up to a 6x9. If you have a limited budget, spend the money on better front speakers. Why? The goal here is realism – think of us as building your own private concert. When you go to a club or concert, you stand facing the stage. The performance is out in front of you. Using the example of an acoustic performance (since that works better), you can hear the singers and each individual instrument on the stage in front of you. That’s the goal, so we need good front speakers. Just a reminder, I implore you – please listen to the speakers for yourself; you can’t imagine the differ- JL Audio is well known for their great subwoofers, ence from one model to but they make some excellent value speakers. The TR series offers amazing performance. another. 38 RPM June / July 2014

The five-channel KS-AX3205D from JVC is a great system amp. It produces 50 Watts to each of the front channels and 300 Watts for a subwoofer. adjustability and control over the front and rear speakers and a dedicated channel for a subwoofer. It’s much harder to listen to an amplifier and compare one to another as compared to speak-

Clarion’s new WQ3020D subwoofer is rated to handle 500 Watts of power and was developed here in Canada to hit hard and play low! Bass – It may seem odd at first, but adding a subwoofer to a system can make the most dramatic difference in the overall sound as compared to a factory system. Filling in the bottom two octaves of the audible spectrum adds depth, emotion and realism. Here, you are going to need to decide on your budget carefully. Also consider, that ‘more’ is not better when it comes to realism. Two cheap 12-inch subs aren’t going to sound better than a good, single 10-inch sub in a good-quality enclosure. Be honest and realistic with your expectations as well – if you know you are going to listen to the system loud, make sure you buy a subwoofer that can handle some power; 400 Watts continuous (also sometimes incorrectly called 400 Watts RMS) would be a good starting point. But, just as with speakers, specifications don’t mean a thing in terms of how a speaker sounds. Listen to your favourite music – listen for the speed at which the bass hits on kick drums or tympani. Listen for definition in a synthesizer

This subwoofer package from MTX includes a 12-inch Terminator series subwoofer, a high-efficiency vented enclosure and a 200-Watt Amplifier.

ers, so you have to have a little faith here. If you are on a budget, there are some impressive compact amplifiers available. We have included the two most popular compact options in the Civic Stage 1 Chart. Power is important – no head unit makes more than about 18-20 Watts of real, clean power. We need to drown

The BTA850FHC is an 8-inch subwoofer in a vented cylindrical tube. It includes a 50-Watt amplifier, making this all-in-one installation Small enough to fit in your pocket, but powerful enough quick and easy. to surprise you, the XC1410 amp from Clarion produces track. There is a LOT of music in the bass range. We have offered 50 Watts per channel and has built-in crossovers.

up a powered subwoofer, a subwoofer package, and made use of the fifth channel of an amplifier with a quality enclosure and out road and wind noise, and depending on your vehicle, exhaust noise. This can only be done with good, clean power. subwoofer in the Stage 1 Chart. Power – Now it comes time to pick an amplifier. The easiest Installation – None of this gear sounds any good sitting in solution to get our system up and running with the least hassle is their cardboard boxes in the trunk of your car, so having it inteto look at a 5- or 6-channel amplifier. This gives us independent grated into your vehicle by a trained professional is paramount. 40 RPM June / July 2014

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Talk to the installer before they start. Ask to see the installation bay and make sure it’s relatively clean and tidy, taking into account that they may be busy. Ask for pictures and references if you want. In terms of supplies, you are going to need a complete amplifier installation kit, likely a radio wiring harness, radio mounting kit and maybe an antenna adapter. You will also need some extra interconnects (we want full control over the system from the front seat). Some vehicles require integration modules to interface with factory options The AMPKT-4 from Wirez is a like OnStar or door chimes. complete amplifier installa- There are ways around some of tion kit and includes twisted these, but discuss the pros and pair interconnects and a wa- cons with your salesperson and ter-resistant fuse holder. installer before you start. Unless you have chosen a massively powerful amplifier, you can get away with using the factory speaker wiring – but if you have any doubts, pay extra to have real pure-copper wire run to each speaker. As this wire will be exposed to the elements (in your doors), forgo the Copper Clad Aluminum stuff – it corrodes too quickly.

The installer should also take the time to go through the balance and fader on your source unit and ensure that the output of each speaker is in-phase (adding acoustically) at the listening position (driver’s seat). What is considered electrically in-phase doesn’t always work acoustically. Lastly, and most importantly, the installer should make sure that the subwoofer is also acoustically in phase. This is perhaps the most dramatic opportunity for an error in setting up the system. If the woofer is out of phase acoustically, you will have very little mid-bass in the vehicle, and the bass will seem abnormally boomy and disconnected. Upgrades – even with this modest system, there are a few upgrades we can make along the way that will provide improved performance. The biggest bang-for-the-buck upgrade would be to have your installer install sound damping material on your doors. You want to seal up the doors so that none of the sound coming from the back of the speaker can mix with the sound coming from the front and reduce output. Sound damping (not dampening) also helps keep road and wind noise out of your vehicle. It’s a win-win option and well worth any penny you spend. You can NOT spend the same money on better speakers and achieve the same result. If your vehicle has steering wheel-mounted audio system controls, you may want to have those integrated into your system. This makes it safer, and easier to use.

Take your time in planning your s y s t e m . Ta k e your time in listening to speakers. Take your time researching your head unit. The awesome JL Audio CleanSweep Make sure you CL441dsp can undo any equalization built are getting what in to your factory source unit and make y o u w a n t , a n d that a viable option for vehicles where that everything the radio can’t be replaced. will be easy to use. If you are adding Bluetooth, make sure you have Metra’s 95-7882B allows you to re- tried your phone with the source unit you have chosen.

Setup – You will notice that I said ‘Integration’ above, and not installation. That was deliberate. Unlike home audio systems, we don’t always know which way our speakers will be facing, or if there is an obstruction in front of them move the giant one-piece radio in the (front or rear window Civic and install a double DIN radio. for example). We also don’t know if the designer of the factory audio system played any tricks with any of the wiring in the vehicle to achieve a specific goal – that does happen. Once the system is in the car and playing music, your installer should take the time to set the gains on your amplifier using either an oscilloscope or a levelsetting device like the SMD DD-1 (you can Google the latter if you want). This will ensure maximum performance from your system.

So, what will this new system provide as a reward for your hardearned money? You will experience improved clarity and realism in your music. Each instrument will be easier to pick out from one-another. The system will play louder than the factory system, and do so more effortlessly. You will have more impact from your music – bass will be tight and clean and will play deeper. It will, if executed properly, make you want to listen to your favourite music again and again!

Three levels of Stage 1 systems for the 2013 Honda Civic. Pricing is MSRP or as printed online. You can expect to save 10% or more if you buy everything all at once from your local car audio specialist shop. 42 RPM June / July 2014

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Bringing Back Memories

Ken Johnson’s 1956 Chevy Belair Story and photos by Cam Hutchins

In October of 2010, some buddies came by to tell Johnson he would never finish the car. Not being new to the game, he had rowing up in Langley, B.C. brings back huge memories for already taken a 1929 Ford five-window from a farm field in the Ken Johnson, still a resident there. His Dad’s friend, Ray prairies with a tree growing out of it and turned it into a cool hot Derochier, ran the Shell Gas station across from the Langley rod. Then came a ‘49 Ford pickup that was an award winner. Hotel. One day in 1956, Derochier came by the Johnson house on Michaud Cres. to show off his pride and joy, a brand new Proving his buddies wrong, he took the car apart and sand1956 Chevy Belair convertible. Young Johnson watched as the blasted it to find out what all was salvageable and what needed roof went up and down like some magical carnival ride and then got to go for a ride in the car.

Some memories fade over time but when recently his neighbour mentioned a friend had found an old Chevy that was owned by the Hotel family, Johnson was ecstatic until he found out the friend had bought it. Shortly after, the friend drove by the neighbour’s to show off the car...albeit on a trailer in very rough condition. Johnson told the new owner about his time in the car and if he ever wanted to sell it, he was going to buy it. Two weeks later the fellow realized that he wanted a new shop for his house more than a rusty, barely running Chevy, prompting the sale to Johnson. Johnson drove it up and down his driveway twice and into the one-car garage attached to his house, and started stripping the car apart. The car had been owned the whole time by Ray Derochier and upon his passing, it was willed to his sons, but they could not repair it, so they offered it for sale. The car had a later 327 and four-speed on the floor, but it came with the original 265 engine and automatic. The crossmember had been maimed during the installation of the four-speed, but otherwise the car was complete and original. The icing on the cake is that the car had never been transferred out of Ray Derochier’s name so Johnson is officially the second owner. 44 RPM June / July 2014

replacing. The frame was sandblasted and repaired and the crossmember welded, as it was cut up to install the four-speed. He painted the frame himself. The body needed extensive work including both rear quarters, inner and outer rockers and complete new floors including the trunk. The trunk deck and the doors needed the bottom part cut away and new pieces welded in. To add insult to injury, the bottom of the car had a liberal coating of a tar-like substance that

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was probably rustproofing...but it seemed to do more damage than good. The floorboards were cut out but the underside of the hood took three days of hard work to scrape clean. On the bright side, there was one good fender and the hood was usable. The stainless was all there except for the joiner piece on the windshield. Johnson and a buddy polished all the stainless themselves, and all-new Danchuk Chrome was bought at the Old Car Centre. Quite a bit of the suspension was replaced but it is kept original using all-new rubber bushings, etc. The front brakes were upgraded using a disc brake kit with power brake booster, but the rear drums are stock. The running gear has been upgraded with a new 350 cu. in. 340-horse four-bolt main crate motor backed by a 700R automatic, and the rearend was perfect, so other than a coat of paint, it is original. The car purrs down the road at 110 km/h turning 1,100 rpm.

46 RPM June / July 2014

The one-inch tuck-and-roll twotone interior, in white vinyl and matching green, was also done by Johnson and pal Doug Worrall in the garage and looks amazing. Extra lighting in the trunk and passenger compartment give it a modern touch as does the new USB radio that looks like the stock 1956 Chevy AM unit, but the 1,100-watt Krunch amp does not sound like the stock AM unit! Parts were gathered from various sources including the Old Car Centre and the Monroe Swap Meet, and the new aluminum rad was ordered online out of the States. It rides on Firestone tires with Ridler Chrome Wheels.

After all the hours spent doing the bodywork himself, his son announced he would like to try painting the car. He had never painted a car before but after researching it, they built an impromptu paint booth in the garage using a couple of furnace fans as ventilation. The young fellow laid down a beautiful two-tone paint job of Pinecrest Green and Indian Ivory.

48 RPM June / July 2014

After proving his buddies wrong by finishing it in May of 2013, Johnson and a friend took off to 100 Mile House for the first trip out, followed by trips to Tullameen, Keremeos, Sechelt and tons of local shows. And don’t worry about the old parts going to a landfill; the original motor and tranny went to one fellow, the 327 is now in a hot rod, and the worse-for-wear chrome went to Mark Zomar for one of his old Chevys! In the car world, it is rebuild, re-use, burnout and Cruise!

All-British Field Meet Story and photos by Benjamin Yong

very spring, the beautiful VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver is transformed into one of the biggest gatherings of classic British vehicles in western Canada for the All-British Field Meet (ABFM) car show. On May 17, over 500 makes and models in every colour of the rainbow were represented in 61 classes from MGs, Jaguars and Bentleys to a rare futuristic-looking Aston Martin Lagonda.

on a yearly pilgrimage to ABFM from as far as Alberta and beyond. Denis Overholt, from New Westminster, first attended with his Triumph TR6 almost 20 years ago. “I bought my car new in ’75, so I guess I probably got involved (with ABFM) through the local Triumph club. I joined in ’92 and so probably from ’95, I’ve been coming here. You don’t come every year, but you come most years,” says Overholt. He added, his flawless Mimosa Yellow TR6 is almost completely original, with the only major changes being a fresh coat of paint and the addition of an electric overdrive system on the transmission.

Across the field, Port Moody resident Peter Cuthbert, originally from Sussex, England, was dusting his 1958 MGA 1500 roadster. His third time at ABFM, he belongs to the Burnaby-based Jaguar MG club and “This much-anticipated annual feature provides the perfect excuse for says he always looks forward to taking part. owners and club members to combine their knowledge and enthusiasm and celebrate their favourite classic cars and motorcycles,” says event “This is really well done. This is probably the biggest I’ve seen it today. There seems to be way more people than last year, although last year co-chair Patrick Stewart in a news release. the weather wasn’t that great.” Hundreds of spectators and enthusiasts, young and old alike, filled the gardens on the sunny day to check out the cars, browse auto-related The latest in a long line of lucky owners, Cuthbert says his son found the car from a Craiglist ad four years ago. Since then, he has been trying to trace the history of the vehicle. “I got a hold of these people,” says Cuthbert, pointing at a poster he made with cutout pictures of the MGA at various times of its life. Some show it stripped with no paint, while others resemble its current state painted in a bright blue. “Who knows what colour it used to be. It was red and it was a coupe, and they stripped it all the way down and they painted it this rust colour. They finally got it all together and painted it a legitimate Glacier Blue.”

wares from vendors and take in the view of the flowers and plants in full bloom. A few dealership groups also had booths set up, displaying some more modern English offerings like a brand new Range Rover Evoque decked out in Union Jack graphics. There was even a brass band ensemble playing in the background. Most of the people with entries in the show were sitting on lawn chairs huddled in their respective classes. Some are locals, and others embark RPM June / July 2014 49

Singer 911 is the Ultimate Modern Classic Story by Nigel Matthews

The Singer pictured here is nothing like the Singer automobiles built in England from 1905 until the mid-1970s. Some might refer to the Singer Vehicle Design Porsche as a Hot Rod but it’s not; it’s more like a Resto-Mod. Singer describes it as “reimagined” and that is probably the most accurate description. So what is a Singer Porsche? It’s a car that began life as a Porsche 964, designed (re-designed) by Benjamin Dimson in 1986. Some clay to get it right, and they certainly have done that, even down to 62,172 of these 3.6-litre, 245-horsepower examples were built be- the perfect four-mm panel gaps. Using carbon fibre has resulted in 200-kilogram weight savings. The original steel doors are retained tween 1989 and 1994. for the side impact resistance and safety. The original 3.6-litre engine is rebuilt by Cosworth, who manage to squeeze an additional 100 horsepower out of it. The very same While Singer could have fitted a turbocharged engine into this car, he Cosworth Engineering that built Formula 1 race engines. If you own chose not to so as to maintain the sound and feel of an old 911. With one of these and want to own the ultimate Porsche, simply take it the power-to-weight ratio they have achieved, this car is without the to Singer as the donor car, write a cheque for between $350,000 to need for a turbo or modern assists. A modified fuel-injection system $500,000, and they will perform surgery and miracles on your old is fitted as well as a six-speed Getrag gearbox from a Porsche 993. 964 and make it look even older but “oh so much better! ” I had the Needless to say, this is a driver’s car in every way. pleasure of viewing one of these vehicles in the flesh last August at To slow this 280 km/h (175 mph) car down, Singer uses Brembo four“The Quail” in California. piston calipers and very large drilled rotors,also borrowed from the 993. Over 4,000 hours go into building one of these cars. The original For traction, Michelin Pilot Sport tires are mounted to the iconic-design chassis and engine are retained (V.I.N. and odometer reading) but all forged aluminum Fuchs wheels. I’m running out of space to continue exterior steel body panels (except doors) are removed and replaced listing the unique features of this amazing Porsche, so I suggest you with carbon fibre ones. Singer spent two years modeling the body in visit singervehicledesign.com and enjoy the dream.

Classy Muscle Car Remains a Big Hit Among Collectors and Newcomers Alike Story by Nigel Matthews

ord beat GM to the punch by two years with the introduction of the Mustang. The origin of the Mustang name is not that clear, though some suggest it was named after the P-51 Fighter. Others understandably sway towards the wild horse. Either way, a very suitable name. On the other hand, Chevrolet’s choice of the name Camaro was subject to acrimony. Chevrolet claimed it was taken from an old French dictionary showing the word meant “friend” or “companion,” but Ford announced that an alternate meaning found in an old Spanish dictionary meant “a small, shrimp-like creature.” The last fourth-generation Camaro rolled off the production line at the SainteTherese plant, just outside Montreal, in August of 2002. That seemed to signal that GM was content to allow Ford to continue what it started and be the sole manufacturer of a modern muscle car. That is, until Chevrolet resurrected the Camaro nameplate with production of the fifth-generation car starting on March 16, 2009. The base model Camaro sold in 1967 for $2,800 and was available from the start as a coupe and convertible; it could be ordered with 80 manufacturer options and an additional 40 dealerinstalled options. This enabled GM and the dealers to build considerably on the base price. The bare-bones car came with a 250-cid, six-cylinder engine. The next step would take you up to the more popular 327-cid V8, and the ultimate tire-squealer came with a 396-cid V8, producing 325 horsepower or an optional 375.

50 RPM June / July 2014

Transmission options included a three- or four-speed manual, the sedate and mushy Powerglide automatic or the popular three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic. The ultimate sleeper was the Z-28 fitted with a high-compression 302-cid V8 engine. Very few were sold in the 1967 model year — 602 to be exact. These cars are highly sought after today; a perfect (numbers matching) example can command more than $100,000. The Z-28’s highly-strung engine was a bit lethargic until it reached 4,000 rpm, and then it really woke up, all the way to 7,500 rpm. The 2014 base model Camaro uses a 3.6-litre V6 engine producing 323 hp, while the Z-28 model is fitted with a monstrous 7.0-litre boasting an output of 500 ponies.

Nigel Matthews is the director of sales and marketing for Hagerty Canada, LLC — Hagerty is the world’s largest specialist provider of collector car insurance and provides many resources that support the classic car lifestyle. Contact him at nmatthews@hagerty.com or visit hagerty.ca

NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE HyperTech Max Energy now Available for 2014 Camaro 6.2L

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Hypertech’s Max Energy Power Programmer is now available for owners of 2014 Chevrolet Camaros with the 6.2L V8 engine option. The Max Energy is meant to get more power out of your vehicle but also acts as a diagnostic tool, and has the ability to alter many other components such as speedometer calibrations, top-speed limiter adjustments, auto transmission shift points, and the RPM rev limiter, just to name a few. For Camaros with the automatic transmission, gains of up to 20 horsepower and 18 lb-ft of torque can be had, and owners of the manual transmission version can expect up to 12 horsepower and 20 lb-ft of torque.

Red Line’s new D4 ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) provides a GL-4 level of gear protection making it a superior product for transmissions and transaxles. The balanced frictional characteristics are made to provide smooth and consistent shifts for extended drain intervals. The superior stability provided by the fluid allows high-temperature operation without varnishing valves and clutches, which can lead to transmission failure. The D4 ATF is meant to offer improved thermal stability, maintain viscosity levels and feature lower volatility. It can also be used with manual transmissions and transaxles like Corvette, Camaro, Mustangs, and late-model BMWs.

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Performance Air Filter for 20122014 Mazda from AEM

AEM is proud to introduce a new Performance Air Filter for the 20122014 Mazda 3, Mazda 6 and Mazda CX-5. This new DryFlow air filter is an oil-free filter that’s designed to increase horsepower as well as boost acceleration. It is not only built for performance, but also will protect your engine thanks to its excellent filtration. It’s able to be used for up to 80,000 km before cleaning depending on driving conditions. The filter is washable and reusable and is designed to be used with the OE airbox. For more information please go to www.aemintakes.com

Parts For Any Mopar

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VarsityChrysler.com RPM June / July 2014 51

NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE GoPro’s New HERO3+ Black Edition Camera GoPro has released what it is calling its most advanced product yet with the new HERO3+ Black Edition. The new camera is 20 percent smaller and lighter than its predecessor and provides improved image quality along with a long list of new convenient filters. The new SuperView video mode captures an immersive wide angle perspective, while the new Auto Low Light mode intelligently adjusts frame rate for a better lowlight performance. In addition to that, the battery lasts 30 percent longer, the wi-fi is fourtimes faster, a new sharper lens is featured and it is compatible with all GoPro mounts and accessories. For more information please go to www.gopro.com

FAST Self Tuning EZ-EFI 2.0 New from FAST (Fuel Air Spark Technology) is the Self Tuning EZ-EFI 2.0 system that is made to replace carbureted systems and can support anything from a stock to a 1,200-horsepower system. The EZ-EFI 2.0 features an advanced colour touchscreen handheld device that also doubles up as a sensor dash. A setup wizard guides you through the start-up and the system is able to tune itself while you drive. The system boasts a high-quality harness with mesh loom and a wide-band O2 sensor. It features carb-type distributor support or electronic ignition control. Additionally, the EZ-EFI 2.0 is E85 fuel-capable, unlike most competitors. For more information please go to www.fuelairspark.com

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Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust Kit for 2013-14 Mustang GT500 Flowmaster now has the American Thunder axle-back exhaust system available for the 2013-2014 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 with the 5.8L Supercharged V8 engine. The system will provide an aggressive exterior sound level but is able to maintain a tolerable interior sound from inside, plus provides you with all the performance benefits you would expect. The system is made from 409S stainless steel and features dual specially-tuned resonator mufflers with quad 3.5-inch tips that have machined aluminum edges. The kit includes all necessary parts and hardware for installation.

HOOD PROTECTORS & SIDEWIND DEFLECTORS Easy Installation / Maximum Protection / Available in Smoke or Chrome

For more information please go to www.flowmastermufflers.com

All-New Scratch & Scuff Removal Kit New from 3M, an easy way to remove light paint scratches and scuffs with the Scratch & Scuff Removal Kit. Scratches and scuffs on your vehicle can happen in many different ways, yet are now easily removable thanks to this new kit which will restore shine and gloss to those areas. This will enhance the look of your vehicle by ensuring there are no marks to bring down its appearance. The kit requires no tools to use and is clearcoat safe. Inside the kit youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find a rubbing compound, scratch remover, and an abrasive square and foam pad. For more information please go to www.3mauto.com

ARP Releases BMW 4.0L (S65) V8 Rod Bolt Kit New from ARP is a Custom Age 625+ connecting rod bolt kit for 2007 and later BMW 4.0L (S65) DOHC V8 applications. The kit includes a set of sixteen Custom Age 625+ cap screw-style rod bolts that are nominally rated at 270,000 psi tensile strength, plus a half-ounce pack of ARP Ultra-Torque fastener assembly lubricant. The material that the Custom Age 625+ is made from has a considerably better fatigue life and the bolts are reusable. Using these bolts will provide you with an optimum design that boasts enhanced reliability and increased strength.

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For more information please go to www.arp-bolts.com RPM June / July 2014 53

Pretty funny but definitely a little cheesy.

But officer, i thought green meant go.

It’s a Jeep, no it’s a scissor lift, no it’s... both? That’s got to be the creapiest motorcycle we’ve ever seen.

Would definitely be curious to see what this thing could do in the 1/4-mile.

The Duke boys would be proud.

Parting Shots is where we share those photos that defy classification. If you’ve seen something four-wheeled (or otherwise) that you would like to share, please send it to partingshots@rpmcanada.ca 54 RPM June / July 2014

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