Monthly Archives: April 2012

Waze Navigation App

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What is Waze? Simply put it’s a navigation app that gives you turn by turn directions and includes voice integration. This type of app finds itself in a crowded market up against. However, Waze distinguishes itself by using crowd sourced information to give you real time information on traffic conditions, all with a very user friendly interface.

Users can graphically see other Waze users in their area and click on an icon to get a report of their real time speed. No more guessing as to what the difference between a red and yellow line on a map means. Waze gives you the vehicle’s speed down the last kilometer.

Of course there are other features to Waze such as the ability to report traffic accidents, or the location of speed traps. All of this information becomes available to other Waze users instantly. In the age of digital privacy concerns Waze allows you to remain anonymous while using the app.

Waze is a free app and it’s available on iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Nokia based phones.

The beauty of this app is that the more people sign on and start using it, the more it benefits the drivers in your community.

Lexus CT 200h Luxury Hybrid

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Launched at the Geneva Auto show in March 2010, the Lexus CT 200h Luxury Hybrid  began to be sold in North America one year later.  With worldwide sales at the end of 2011 at just over 50,000 units the model is rather niche for Lexus overall, however, it is leading the compact luxury hybrid category segment and seems to be more than a Prius covered with the Lexus badge.  Along with the comforts and refinement associated with the Lexus brand, the CT 200h provides owners with a genuine feel good persona since it is “greener” than any luxury car ever built.

The CT 200h is powered by the same 1.8 litre VVT-i four-cylinder engine (Toyota’s 2ZR-FXE) as used in the Prius, producing 134 net horsepower and instant torque from the electric motor. According to the Lexus Canada site, the CT 200h has an exceptional Tier 2 Bin 3 emissions rating,  which means that it is nearly 70% cleaner than gas burning engines and  the cleanest diesels. It also delivers remarkable fuel efficiency of 4.5/4.8/4.6L/100km– city/highway/combined, making it Canada’s most fuel efficient luxury vehicle. With prices starting from $30,950.00 CAD it provides good value for those who have a “green” consciousness while also seeking the luxury of a Lexus.

Cadillac Baby Stroller

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You’ve got to love this baby stroller, even if you don’t have a child of your own.  It features red under body lights, whitewall tires and a red interior. Oh yeah, you can also push a button to shoot flames out the back!

Cadillac Baby Stroller

Check out the video and the ebay page where you can buy the fiberglass body to make your own.

Jeep Wrangler Pickup called JK8

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For those who attended the Toronto Auto Show back in February, hopefully you caught a glimpse of the amazing blue Jeep Wrangler JK8 Northern Edition. Launched last year at  the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, Mopar’s JK8 kit turns a current four door Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon into a two door super rugged, rock crawler 4X4 pick-up truck.

Jeep enthusiasts have been talking for years about the possibility of a Jeep pick-up truck coming to fruition so Mopar’s decision to create this kit is not really surprising. Jeep CEO and President Mike Manley has gone on record as saying that the next redesign of the Wrangler could include a pick-up option, though no definite plans have been announced.

For more information on what’s involved in doing the conversion check out the following video.

Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4

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The Lamborghini Aventador was designed to replace the ten-year-old Murciélago as the new flagship model in the Lamborghini lineup starting in 2011. Soon after the Aventador was publicly unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in February 2011, Lamborghini announced that it had already sold over 12 months of the production vehicles, with deliveries starting in the second half of 2011. In August of 2011, Top Gear chose the Aventador as the car of the year for 2011.

The specs are as follows:

  • 691 HP from 6.5 liter V12 engine
  • Top Speed 349.2 km/h (217.0 mph)
  • 0-100 KM/H IN 2.9 SEC
  • Fuel mileage is 14 miles per US gallon or (17 L/100 km)

With a suggested retail price of $379,700 USD, ownership is largely reserved for professional athletes, rap moguls and successful business people nevertheless, we can all dream right?

March Was a Good Month for Electric Vehicles

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Looks like things are looking up for electric vehicles in the month of March.  General Motors sold the most amount of Volts ever in one month with 2,289.  In addition, Nissan is reporting that Leaf owners are only traveling 25 miles (40 kms) per day.  This is well below the expected driving range of 73 miles (120 km) for the vehicle. The average daily distance of 25 miles isn’t out of line with what household travel surveys tell us about general driver behaviour.  The biggest challenge for electric vehicles in my opinion is re-adjusting the behavior of drivers from filling up once a week at outside of the home to more frequent ‘re-fueling’ in the home.

Nissan Leaf Interior

Finally, Forbes has an interesting article challenging the recent headlines over the past 18 months indicating electric vehicles aren’t selling. Their assertion, and I would agree, is that the vehicles are selling but it’s the original expectations were too high for a new technology.

Chevy Volt

GM has high hopes for 2013 Impala

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GM’s Chevrolet brand is trying to resuscitate sales of big sedans with a sleek, new version of the Impala.The family hauler is the last model in Chevy’s lineup to be revamped. When it hits showrooms early next year, it will replace an Impala that was last updated in 2005.

Chevrolet thought about changing the Impala’s name, but decided it had significant recognition after 50 years on the market and more than 16 million in sales.

The 10th generation Impala gets much of its design from other Chevrolets. Its body slopes from back to front. It has high doors, low-profile side windows and large wheels. The company says the car is quiet. It has sound-deadening insulation and laminated glass in the windshield and windows. The roomy interior has upgraded materials.

UNDER THE HOOD: Buyers can choose from three engines, all mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder will produce 195 horsepower, while a 3.6-liter V-6 will have 303 horses. There’s also a 2.4-liter four with GM’s eAssist system that halts the engine anytime the car stops and uses a small electric motor to help the gas engine get better mileage. All three have direct fuel injection in which the air and fuel are mixed in the cylinder surrounding the piston. That’s more efficient than older engines that mix outside the cylinder.

INSIDE: It seats five and has a spacious rear seat and lots of legroom. It has 10 air bags and numerous safety options such as radar-guided cruise control that brakes the car if the driver gets too close to another vehicle.

FUEL ECONOMY: GM says the model with eAssist will get about 32 mpg on the highway. Mileage testing on the other two engines hasn’t been finished, the company says.

PRICE: Chevrolet won’t release it yet, but it’s bound to be more than the current model, which starts at just under $28,000 CAD.

Check out Consumer Reports review from this week’s New York Auto show.

Maybe there is some truth to the old adage “They don’t make him like they use too”

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Rachel Veitch, a 93 year old grandmother, who lives in Orlando, Florida has hung up the keys to her “Chariot” after she ran a red light last month and realized her vision had failed her. After 48 years on the road and 927,000 kilometres her “Chariot” a 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente has finally been parked for good. She bought the Mercury Comet Caliente for $3,289 in February 1964 and the car has outlasted three marriages while having had 18 batteries, three sets of shocks and eight mufflers. She has meticulously kept service records throughout the 48 years and claims it still runs as good as the day she drove it off the Mercury lot.

 

 And who says imports are better than domestics?

Ken Block’s Gymkhana Three – L’autodrome, France

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Gymkhana events are time and/or speed events in an automobile. These can feature obstacles such as cones, tires, and barrels. The driver must maneuver through a predetermined “track” performing many different driving techniques. What separates gymkhana from traditional autocross events is that the gymkhana requires drivers to perform reversals, 180 degree spins, 360 degree spins, parking boxes, figure 8s and other advanced skills. Drifting is also encouraged where helpful or necessary. Essentially, a gymkhana is any event featuring a starting point, a finish line and some sort of “obstacle” to get through, around, or by, all within a certain time limit – Wikipedia.

The following is a video of Ken Block going through the L’autodrome in France.  His driving skills are simply amazing.

Who says cars can’t fly….

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The Terrafugia Transition is a two-seat airplane with foldable wings, four wheels and turn signals. The Massachusetts company calls its creation a “roadable aircraft” and a “street legal airplane.” With a sticker price of approx $279,000 USD the market is quite niche to say the least for the car that flies. However, if a nice luxury car is approx  $100,000 USD and to have the capability to fly as well as drive, the Terrafugia Transition is an incredible bargain at $279,900 USD.  And if you think about the time saved from traffic it is a no brainer for the wealthy commuter. Check out the latest video –