W1 Aurora Banner
|
Newmarket Era
|
Georgina Advocate
|
East Gwillimbury Express
SALES • LEASING • SERVICE QUICK LANE • PARTS
15815 Yonge Street, Aurora Thursday, July 21, 2016
1-888-263-3849 1-800-465-0411
ROAD TEST
RACE RECAP
Rob Beintema
Jim Robinson
Metroland Media
Metroland Media
“Man, this would pimp up nicely,” a buddy commented as he looked over the 2016 Dodge Durango. I could understand the sentiment because the Durango starts with the good bones of a clean and elegantly aggressive, squared-off design. It is, arguably, the handsomest truck-styled SUV in its segment. But I wasn’t sure it needed to be “pimped up” any further. I kind of liked it just the way it was. Although our tester started off simply enough as a base SXT model ($43,395), the Billet Metallic paint choice ($195) gave this big sport ute a classy silver sheen, an almost monochromatic look already emphasized by Dodge’s Blacktop Package ($1,595), adding 20-inch painted Gloss Black aluminum wheels, along with a further Gloss Black treatment to the grille, mirrors, headlamp bezels and even the Durango badges.
“
The Durango is a smooth cruiser with excellent highway manners.
”
Those blacked-out pieces contrasted nicely with the package’s body-coloured additions - front and rear fascias, wheel mouldings and sill mouldings. The package also deleted the
Nissan Micra Cup flourishing
Dodge Durango
with new tech tweaks
The 2016 Dodge Durango Citadel in basic SXT trim is enhanced with Billet Metallic paint and Dodge’s Blacktop package, creating a dramatic monochromatic look to complement its aggressive stance.
roof rack and added accents that included the shark fin antenna, the bling of bright dual exhaust tips in the back and LED daytime running headlamps up front, and the final interior touch of leather and suede seat inserts. The silver and black colour combination gave the Durango a kind of no-nonsense air, almost a law enforcement look. But for all of its exterior austerity, this particular Durango SXT also bolstered its comfortable interior with a Popular Equipment Group ($1,250), adding Park-Sense Rear Park Assist along with the ParkView Rear Back-Up Camera, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
A nice combination with just enough added extras to please, and without blowing the total price sky high. But, then again, there are plenty of other Durango choices to choose from. Four trim levels range from SXT ($43,395) to Limited ($48,395), R/T ($55,695) and Citadel ($56,395). All Durangos in Canada come standard with AWD and a rotary dial-operated eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission mated to either a standard V6 or optional V8 engine. The 3.6-litre Pentastar VVT V6 engine (tested here) makes 295 hp and 260 lb/ft of torque and comes
with a best-in-class tow rating of 2,812 kg (6,200 lb), enough to handle the big boy toys of most weekend warriors. I admit, I didn’t do any heavy hauling but the V6 feels up to any task. The Durango is a smooth cruiser with excellent highway manners. The AWD system does not come with off-road pretentions, no 4X4 selection dials or locked mode levers, but the seamless system will handle the usual cottage road duties and the all-weather challenges of everyday driving. Fuel economy with the V6 is rated at 12.8/9.5L/100km (city/ hwy), boosted this year with a Turn to page W7
LEFT: Blacktop Package add-ons include 20-inch painted Gloss Black aluminum wheels, a Gloss Black crosshair grille, darkened headlamp bezels and LED daytime running headlamps. RIGHT: The standard 3.6-litre 24-valve Pentastar V6 engine makes 295 hp, and 260 lb/ft of torque harnessed to an eight-speed automatic and standard AWD in Canada.
BOWMANVILLE, ON: It’s just about the cheapest racing bang for your buck on the planet and it’s called the Nissan Micra Cup. Now in its second season, the little race series that could has become wildly successful due to a lot of factors, but mostly, it’s just good fun. And it’s all pretty simple. You start with a $9,995 Nissan Micra and JD Racing and Competition in Montreal adds $13,000 of race grade equipment, including a stiffer Nismo S-Tune suspension kit, FIA-approved racing seat with fivepoint harness, modified exhaust, high-performance brake pads, safety cage, driver protection net, race spec alloy wheels with Pirelli lowprofile tires, and last but not least, a fire extinguisher. Oh, and you get a racing suit too. So for about $23,000 you have a full-blown racecar. By the time you add in things such as a trailer, fuel, tires and sundries, it adds up to about the same as a steering wheel on a Formula One car. The genesis of the Micra Cup began at the Toronto Auto Show in 2014 when Nissan announced sub ten grand pricing for the 2015 Mexican-made Micra subcompact car. Quebec auto journalist and noted racer, Jacques Deshaies, saw an opportunity to created a grassroots-level racing series. Together with Nissan Canada and its corporate senior communications manager, Didier Marsaud, the series was born just before the start of the 2015 racing season. The whole concept caught fire in Quebec last year and I will always remember that at the Montreal Grand Prix last year, the Micra Cup drivers got a bigger ovation than F1 champion Lewis Hamilton. Now in its second season, the series has spread outside of Quebec with eight double weekend events for a total of 16 races, with three of the events in Ontario — the most recent being July 1-10 during the prestigious IMSA Series at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport) in Bowanville. Some 26 cars took part in Race One on Saturday and Race Two on Sunday with Xavier Coupal winning on Saturday with last year’s Turn to page W6
It’s the summer of C-Class. Don’t wait. For a limited time enjoy a finance rate of 0.9% for 60 months on ALL 2012, 2013, and 2014 C-Class models.* Limited time offer includes
0.9%
*
financing for 60 months on select 2012-2014 models.
Buy a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle and benefit from: • Reassurance: 150-point certification inspection • Warranty: standard Star Certified warranty up to 6 years or 120,000 km • Confidence: complete vehicle history report • Security: 24-hour special roadside assistance • Peace of mind: five day/500 km exchange privilege
Mercedes-Benz Newmarket, 230 Mulock Drive, Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 9B8, 905.853.6868, www.newmarket.mercedes-benz.ca © 2016 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. *0.9% financing only available through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services on approved credit for a limited time. Available for up to 60 month finance on model year 2012-2014 Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned C-Class models excluding AMG (less than 140,000 km). Down payment may be required. Vehicle license, insurance, registration and sales taxes are extra. Dealer may lease or finance for less. Offer may change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers. See your authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer for details or call the Mercedes-Benz Customer Relations Centre at 1-800-387-0100. Offer ends August 1, 2016.