Category Archives: News

Chevrolet Camaro to debut in NASCAR in 2013

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Last week, Chevrolet announced they will have a new entry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series next year as the Camaro will make its series debut in February 2013 at the Daytona International Speedway.

Leading its segment in US sales in both 2010 and 2011 and currently in 2012, the Camaro will continue the proud heritage of Chevrolet performance vehicles in one of America’s most prestigious racing series.  Chevrolet has more wins, more manufacturers’ championships and more driver’s championships than any other manufacturer competing in the Nationwide Series.

The Camaro race car model incorporates a strong front grill, halo light rings and a bulging hood taking its style cues from the mean street car it is today. We look forward to seeing it in action next year.  For more information, check out the full press release.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Day Sunday August 12th – Toronto, Ontario

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For those readers in the Toronto area who have been wanting to test drive an electric vehicle here is your chance.  On Sunday August 12th, Yonge and Dundas Square will be home to EV Day.  Starting at 10 am you’ll be able to test drive some of the newest electric vehicles and learning about re-charging infrastructure.  Invited exhibitors include:

Azure Dynamics
Audi – A3 e-tron
GM – Chevy Volt
Fisker – Karma
Ford – Focus EV
Nissan – Leaf
smart – ED
Tesla – Roadster and Model S
VIA Motors

More details can be found here at Plug ‘N Drive Ontario.

 

London 2012 Olympics – Official Vehicles

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With the 2012 Summer Olympics officially opening yesterday in London we thought it was time to check out the official vehicles for the big event. In a massive marketing move signed in 2011, BMW became the official automotive partner of the 2012 games. As official sponsor, BMW will loan the London Olympic Games Organizing Committee a fleet of 4,000 branded vehicles to transport VIPs and executives between various sites using the newly designated and highly controversial Olympic only lanes. The 30 miles of specially designated roads have been introduced to help with speedy transit between venues.

The Olympic fleet is distinguished by the London 2012 branding wraps which have been designed specifically for the various models.

In order for BMW to secure the deal they had to meet the Olympic committee’s stringent emissions requirements: while the average emissions of vehicles in the UK comes in at 138 grams of CO2 per kilometer, the German automaker had to come in below 120 g/km – which BMW did at 116 g/km for the Olympics.

To get there, a portion of the cars BMW is supplying are electric vehicles: 160 units of the 1 Series ActiveE and 40 of the Mini E, with another 40 of the 5 Series Active Hybrid. The rest of the fleet is comprised of the 320d EfficientDynamics (1,550 vehicles), 520d Efficient Dynamics (700), X3 xDrive 20d (17), X5 xDrive 30d(10) and Mini Countryman Cooper D (200 vehicles), plus another 25 R1200 RT motorcycles and 400 BMW Streetcruiser bicycles.

Earlier this month, BMW unveiled their newly designed London 2012 Olympic Park Pavilion which represents a significant architectural addition to the Olympic Park, providing an exciting assortment of the company’s latest vehicles against the backdrop of the Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre.

In addition to providing all the fleet vehicles for the Olympic games BMW has also brought their Art Car collection which is on display during the London 2012 Festival that runs into early September.

Kudos to BMW UK for stepping up to support the Olympic spirit in such an efficient and bold way. We hope all the Olympic folks have as much fun being chauffeured around in those BMW vehicles over the next three weeks as they do watching the games.

Go Canada go!

Batmobile Documentary Preview

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Check out this preview of an upcoming documentary on the iconic Batmobile. From the first appearance of the Batmobile in DC Comics #27 in May 1939 the various incarnations of the vehicle have been a fixture of the Batman comic series.

The documentary will be released late 2012 during the Christmas season and promises to take an interesting and detailed look at the Batmobile.

2013 Ford Escape

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Recently, the RedlineNorth team got a chance to get up close and personal with the new 2013 Ford Escape SEL 4WD model.  Dressed in an all black exterior with black leather interior the new SUV is super slick upon first glance. Now, saying this, there are some detractors out there who are not keen on the new design and would like Ford to continue the Escape’s truck styling of the past decade. However, Ford has made the decision globally to leverage the Ford Kuga crossover vehicle platform which is the reason behind the new innovative design.

The 2013 model’s interior is immensely well appointed and finished to a level not seen in previous models. From the overall fit and finish, to the enhanced development of the Microsoft Sync system Escape owners now have all the tech gadgets and touchscreens typically associated with more upscale vehicles.  And keep in mind, there is another trim model called the Titanium above the SEL which has some additional features if you really want all the bells and whistles.

The cargo area is up slightly this year to 34.3 cubic feet behind the back seats and 68.1 with the rear seats folded.  The 2013 Escape continues to provide owners with the required space for the kids, groceries and those weekend getaways.

The rear of the Escape is nicely appointed with automatic tailgate, dual chrome exhaust tips and a two inch receiver trailer hitch coming standard with Class II towing package.

The SEL model shown here is equipped with the 2.0-liter turbo four cylinder with 240 horses and 270 lb-ft of torque which is actually the same horsepower and 37 more lb-ft of torque than offered by last year’s 3.0-liter V-6. And the kicker here is with the turbocharged EcoBoost technology it uses less fuel than last year’s V6 and less fuel than the 2012 hybrid model.

There are two other available engines including a turbocharged 16-valve 1.6-liter inline-4, with 178 hp,184 lb-ft and a 2.5-liter inline-4, with 168 hp, 170 lb-ft of torque.  Unfortunately, the 1.6 liter engine has been recalled recently for a fuel line fire hazard issue as seen here.

After reviewing the new 2013 Ford Escape, the RedlineNorth team gives it a double thumbs up and predicts it will sell well this year.  If you are in the market for a smaller sized SUV or crossover you need to add it to your list.

Specs are as follows:

  • Hit Canadian showrooms in May 2012
  • Transmission: 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode
  • Wheelbase: 105.9 in
  • Length: 178.1 in
  • Width: 72.4 in Height: 66.3 in
  • Curb weight (est): 3600–3800 lb
  • Zero to 60 mph: 6.9–9.4 sec
  • Standing ¼-mile: 15.2–16.9
  • Top speed (limited): 118 mph
  • Fuel Economy: City/Highway: 21–23/28–33 mpg
  • MSRP of SEL model – $30, 521 CAD as of July 24, 2012

Canada’s Newest Supercar – Plethore LC-750

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There is no doubt Canada is one of the best countries in the world and although Canada is famed for its Mounties, lumberjacks, hockey players and wide range of wildlife it has never been a place associated with building supercars. However, this may start to change with the Plethore LC-750.

The Plethore is the masterpiece of St. Eustache, Quebec based HTT Technologies and designer Luc Chartrand. The three-seater – which was declared street legal in October 2010 – puts the driver seated in the middle of the car, with room for two passengers slightly set back from the centre seat.

It is powered by a 7.0-litre supercharged aluminum V8 taken from the ZR-1 Corvette that delivers an awesome 750 horsepower and 655 lb of torque. The carbon-fibre Plethore weighs in at just 1150kg – about the same as an Mazda Miata – so performance is of supercar status – 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds and a top speed of an earth shattering 247 MPH, thanks to a racecar-like power-to-weight ratio of more than 0.6 horsepower per kilogram. Power is delivered to the road through an electronically controlled 6-speed gearbox, giving the driver the choice between a conventional shift lever and Formula One™-style paddle shifters.

HTT Technologies is currently in full production mode and has been delivering its first cars – throughout 2011 and 2012. However, with a sticker price of approx $795,000 CAD the market is very small to say the least. Nevertheless, the owners of HTT hope to build the business so one day they are taking approx 50 orders per year.

With its Lambo style doors and true supercar design and appearance the Plethore LC-750 certainly looks the part and we wish HTT technologies all the best on selling these globally.

However, what’s with the name?

1966 Volvo with almost 3 million miles

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Retired teacher Irv Gordon of long Island, New York is the proud owner of a 1966 Volvo P1800S. To date, Gordon’s red Volvo coupe has almost 3 million miles on the odometer (the equivalent of nearly 1,176 times across the globe). He has held the Guinness World Record for High Mileage Vehicle since 2002 and was the first person to hold this record. 

The 72-year-old drives his Volvo everywhere and he hopes to reach the 3 million mile mark by the end of the calendar year. It took him 21 years to reach the first million miles and 15 more years to reach 2 million. However, he only has 34,000 miles to go and with trips to Montreal, Texas and Michigan in just the last month, the last leg of his trip should not be too hard to complete as Gordon averages 85,000 to 100,000 miles per year.

Most of his trips nowadays are primarily for auto shows, but he has been known to take trips across the country just for a good cup of coffee. In addition, Volvo has sent Gordon on trips around the country and the world to represent Volvo in auto shows.

“I don’t think (just) any car could do it,” said John Maloney, president and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America. “It is a combination of a car beloved by his owner that has gotten Irv to this mileage.”

Gordon bought his beloved car on June 30, 1966, for $4,150 at the age of 25. At the time of the purchase it was a whole year’s salary and he originally wanted the convertible model with air conditioning, but it was too expensive so he settled for the hardtop model with an AM/FM radio.

RedlineNorth loves these type of stories about people who love their cars and we wish him all the best with his goal of hitting the 3 million mile mark!

Hot Wheels Double Loop de Loop at 2012 X Games

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As reported earlier this month Team Hot Wheels has just completed another world record stunt.  This time a double loop de loop at the 2012 X Games in Los Angeles California.

I don’t know about you but the inside car seems to be traveling too slowly on the approach to get all the way around the loop, but of course they performed the stunt successfully, so speed obviously wasn’t a factor.

Good control on the landing after the little bounce from the second vehicle.

Making of/teaser video below:

 

Ford Developing Traffic Jam Fighter

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In the category of ‘Why haven’t they developed this years ago’ Kicking Tires is reporting that Ford is developing a traffic jam fighter –

“Traffic Jam Assist uses several of Ford’s current radar and camera systems (active park assist, adaptive cruise control and Lane-Keeping Aid) to help a vehicle keep pace with others in traffic and provide automated steering control so it stays in its current lane. It also detects changing traffic patterns on the road ahead and communicates them to the driver. So far, the prototype system works in highway situations where lanes are clearly marked and there are no pedestrians, bicyclists or animals present.

‘Individual simulation studies have found that where 25% of vehicles on a stretch of road are equipped to automatically follow the traffic ahead, journey times can be reduced by 37.5% and delays reduced by 20% — saving millions of gallons of fuel each year,’ Ford said in a statement.
The automaker hopes this system will reduce driver stress and ease traffic gridlock, especially since traffic jams are on the rise because of population growth around the world.” – Source: Kicking Tires

Traffic jams usually form through what is called a shockwave. The following is a simple illustration of how a traffic jam is formed:

MIT Video – Formation of a ‘phantom traffic jam’

By overriding stop start driver behavior, these automated driver systems allow traffic to flow smoother and average speeds increase as a result.

Remember this theory the next time you are stuck in traffic!

Catching A Golf Ball in an AMG Roadster

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Check out this video of former F1 driver David Coulthard catching a golf ball hit by pro golfer Jake Sheperd. The car caught the ball 275 metres away from the tee.

Here is the behind the scenes video on how the stunt was set up.