Honda Indy Toronto

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Once a year, the Indy series comes roaring into town for a three-day party like no other so make sure you head down to Toronto’s Exhibition grounds to take it all in.  This year, there is a “Fan Friday” event where admission is free and you can you walk the grounds and see the practice runs all for a donation to the Make a Wish Foundation.

As for Canadian talent in this year’s race, Alex Tagliani and Oakville’s won James Hinchcliffe will be gunning for podium finishes. We wish them good luck!

Honda Indy

Image source: Sportsnet.ca

For more info and tickets check out the Hondy Indy Toronto site.

Be sure to stay tuned for coverage from this weekend’s racing action next week.

Isetta

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Isetta

Isetta

The Isetta was a micro car that was originally developed in Italy by the scooter and refrigerator company of Iso SpA and was first released in 1953. It was powered by the 9.5 hp motorcycle engine found in the Iso Moto 200 and became known as the ‘bubble’ car thanks to its egg like shape.

The design of the Isetta was licensed to a number of companies around the world including in Spain, Belgium, France, Brazil, the UK and to BMW of Germany.  In 1955, BMW redesigned the Isetta around a one-cylinder, four-stroke, 247 cc motorcycle engine which generated 13 hp. Although the design remained the same ,much of the parts in the BMW version were not inter-changeable with the Iso Isetta. BMW produced over 160,000 vehicles until production ceased in 1962.

The Isetta has been featured numerous times in pop culture since its launch 60 years ago, including being the vehicle character Steve Urkel drove in the TV sitcom Family Matters and an Isetta was found by Barry Weiss wrapped up in a storage unit in the first season of the reality show Storage Wars.

Steve Urkel's Car in Family Matters

Steve Urkel’s Car in Family Matters

Most recently Petrolicious has recently added a video to their library on Jack Charney, an auto enthusiast from California that owns a 1957 BMW Isetta which he originally bought new, sold it and then was able to acquire it again years later.  It’s a wonderful video, with the fantastic cinematography we have come to expect from Petrolicious.

Sources: Wikipedia, Microcar Museum, Petrolicious

2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4×4 – 10th Anniversary Edition

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With the kids out of school and the pools all open, summer is now in full swing. And what is more representative of summer than a soft top Jeep?

Yes, the Jeep Wrangler is synonymous with summer so what better time to get behind the wheel of a beautiful Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4×4 – 10th Anniversary Edition.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

At home in the City

Whether it’s the charming Jeep wave, monster ride height, or the distinctive lines largely unchanged from its beginnings more than sixty years ago, one thing remains; everyone has an opinion about Jeeps. Although there is something very polarizing about the Jeep, it continues to be an endearing vehicle like no other. With its round curves and friendly grill, it truly is one of the most iconic brands within the automotive world. Market researchers routinely place Jeep a top of the list of the world’s most known brands. Still sold throughout the world it remains popular in many different locales resulting in top seller status globally for Chrysler.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

In the country

Of course, what would a Jeep experience be without a little camping in the countryside. Our Wrangler Rubicon tester was totally at home cruising through the countryside northwest of Toronto searching for the perfect plot to pitch our tent. As well, with its large amount of rear cargo room it was very practical for heading out on a family camping trip.

The idea behind the Rubicon is to offer a model from the factory that includes a ton of off-road upgrades for the enthusiast. Beginning with Chrysler’s new 285-hp Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 the Rubicon is a treat to drive around town and the country. But the real goodies for the off-roader, lie in the guts of the vehicle with its 4.10:1 Dana 44 axles working through a Rock-Track part-time transfer case with a 4:1 low-range ratio and Tru-Lok locking differentials.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Perfect camping companion

Beginning with Chrysler’s competitive 5 Year /100,000 km powertrain limited warranty the Rubicon offers the outdoor enthusiast an unmatched unique vehicle experience.

Wrangler-2-2

With a base price of $36,045 CAD and a total price as tested coming in at $48,680 our tester included all the bells and whistles you would ever want, or need, on your Jeep.

In addition to its standard equipment, the following are just some of the extra tricked out options that are available with the 10th Anniversary Edition:

  • LT265/70R17E OWL On/Off Road Tires
  • Rock Rails by Mopar
  • Red Front and Rear Tow Hooks
  • Steel Front and Rear Bumpers
  • Radar Red Stitching Accents
  • Quick Silver Interior Accents
  • Chrome/Leather-Wrapped Shift Knob
  • Uconnect 730N with 6.5″ touch screen, navigation and 20GB Hard Drive
  • Integrated Voice Command with Bluetooth
  • Rear Window Wiper/Washer
  • Trailer Tow with 4-Pin Connector Wiring

Wrangler-6

Our test vehicle came mated to a standard six speed manual transmission which was quite fun to drive in both city and highway environments. Although getting it into overdrive (sixth gear) was a little challenging initially, we got use to it quickly and found the transmission very smooth overall.

Wrangler-7

From the Jeep icon silhouette on the front windscreen to the simulated tread marks of the rear floor mats, to the red leather stitching on the armrest, Jeep brings a leading level of attention to detail to the Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 10th Anniversary edition.

As for the Rubicon’s interior technology, Chrysler’s Uconnect system worked very well as it understood voice commands when spoken to the first time and navigation within the system was very intuitive overall. Our test vehicle came with a 6.5 inch touchscreen media centre with enhanced navigation and a solid stereo which included a subwoofer in the rear cargo area.

Wrangler-4-2

Additional Comments:

  • There was an acceptable amount of noise coming from the tires considering they are LT265/70R17E offroad/onroad tires.
  • Fuel economy is stated at 13.4 L/100 km (21 mi/gal) City 9.6 L/100 km (29 mi/gal) Highway. Considering its pedigree and what it’s built for this is solid fuel efficiency.
  • As expected there is some body roll when taking sharp corners, or going over contoured surfaces on the highway.
  • The split rear door was useful for passengers accessing the rear storage area easily.
  • Placement of standard equipment such as power window and power mirror adjustments were located in the centre console and not on the doors themselves, which took some getting used to but quickly became familiar.

Wrangler-3-2

As expected rear leg room was slightly limited, but seriously who buys a Jeep Rubicon for rear leg room?

Competitors:

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon really is in a segment of its own since there is nothing available here in Canada that truly parallels all its offerings for an apple to apple comparison.  That being said the main general competition are the following models.

  • Toyota 4Runner
  • Land Rover LR2
  • Subaru Forester
  • Nissan Xterra
  • Ford Raptor * not in same class but target for off-road enthusiasts

Final Thoughts:

While the the Rubicon is not for everyone, for those looking for a vehicle with a little luxury for the city during the week and the capability to go hard core in the country during the weekend, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4×4 – 10th Anniversary edition is for you. Chrysler has hit a home run within this specialized market by blending every day practicality with unparalleled off road abilities.

Hidden compartments in vehicles

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For those of you who watched the gritty HBO hit series “The Wire” you will be well versed in the role hidden compartments in vehicles play in the life and death of drug dealers. Well, it seems as if it is not just television fiction since we are now seeing laws in the US be changed to deal with the rise in hidden compartments in vehicles designed to transport contraband materials such as guns, drugs and money.

Secret compartment

Secret gun compartment in SUV

Car and Driver magazine recently did a feature on this very topic which is well worth checking out. As well, here is a video clip which shows an example of a VW Jetta modified to transport drugs.

Sebastien Loeb King of the Hill

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Nine time WRC champion Sébastien Loeb has destroyed the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb record in his Peugeot 652kW 208 T16 with a time of 8m13.878s. He beat the existing record of 9m46.181 set by Rhys Millen in 2012, by more than a minute and a half.  Loeb’s average speed in this year’s race was 140 kph (87 mph).

Millen was a distant second this year with a time of 9:02.192 in his 2013 Hyundai PM580T, and Jean-Philippe Dayraut of France also topped the previous record with a time of 9:42.740 while driving a 2011 Mini Countryman.

You can see Loeb’s record breaking performance below.

Getting Ready for Pikes Peak 2013

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As the second oldest auto race in the US, there is no shortage of buzz surrounding the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb set for Sunday, June 30th. With an immense range of different classes of competitors it is one race that provides something for every auto enthusiast.

Pikes Peak

Source: blogs.hotrod.com

This weekend’s race will be an exceptionally interesting one as it’s Peugeot’s first appearance at Pikes Peak in 24 years. The last time Peugeot ran up the mountain was back in 1988 in the 205 Turbo 16 rally car. This year’s version is a heavily modified black on black version of the 208 hatchback piloted by the most winningest of all rally drivers, Sebastien Loeb.

Peugeot Pikes Peak

Source: Peugeot

This video gives you a real flavour of what Peugeot has brought to Pikes Peak in the past as well as what they are bringing this year.

Last year, we wrote a post about the spectacular crash from the 2012 race. Thankfully, the driver and co-driver were not seriously hurt.

We wish all the racers a safe and successful race on Sunday!

Sources: MotorTrend and Peugeot

Top Gear Series 20 Trailer

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The BBC have just released the new trailer for Top Gear’s 20th series (season). It’s hard to believe there have been twenty seasons of Top Gear – from burning down caravans, travelling to the North Pole and racing a Bugatti Veyron around Volkswagen’s test track in Germany.

From the looks of it the 20th series promises to deliver just as many adventures, amazing cars and some fantastic cinematography as is the hallmark of the show. The Redline North team is looking forward to the new series starting June 30th.

Yorkville Exotic Car Show

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What better way to spend Father’s Day than a hit up a charity car show in the heart of Toronto’s tony Bloor/Yorkville area.  Sponsored by Porsche, McLaren Toronto and Prostate Cancer Canada, the one day, Yorkville Exotic Car show charity event raises  funds for cancer research. In spite of some rain earlier in the day, the event was well attended with solid crowds coming out to see these exotic autos. We too, had a great time checking out all the cars and even bumped into the Globe and Mail’s Drive Editor, Peter Cheney who is always up for a in-depth chat about autos. Peter had his amazing Lotus Evora parked on display along with other Lotus models.  There was a plethora of cars from all eras including; classic hot rods to Corvettes, Ferrari’s Lamborghini’s, BMW’s, Maserati’s, Aston Martin’s, Bentley’s, Mercedes’ and of course Porsche’s.

Peter Cheney

The Globe and Mail’s Peter Cheney and a 1969 Camaro he was driving home

Lotus

Lotus line-up

Aston Martin

Aston Martin DB9

Lamborghini

Lamborghini

Ferrari

Ferrari line-up

Porsche GT3

Porsche GT3

Ferrari 360

Ferrari 360 Motor

BMW M6

BMW M5

Corvette

1968 Corvette

Be sure to check this out for more information about the Yorkville show.

 

Car Stunt in Saudi Arabia

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Take a look at this crazy video from Saudi Arabia. The first part of the video shows two guys changing, or swapping, car tires while driving down the road on two wheels, while the latter part shows another vehicle driving down the highway on its side while the passengers hang out on the side of the vehicle.

This video and others like it have been described as ‘sidewalk skiing’. We’re not quite sure where the ‘sidewalk’ aspect comes in, but it’s an interesting video to say the least and something that isn’t likely to happen down the Trans Canada Highway anytime soon!

Electric Vehicle Price Drop

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This week the Globe and Mail reported that both Nissan, GM and Mitsubishi have all recently dropped their prices, or are offering time limited incentives, on their plug-in electric vehicle models.

The new S version of the Nissan Leaf debuting next month will retail at $31,698.  Buyers in Ontario will receive $8,500 back from the provincial government lowering the price to $23,198.  The SV version, was the lowest-priced model in 2012 at $38,395, will now cost $34,998 and will include a Level 2 (240V) charger.

2013 Nissan Leaf (Source: Nissan USA)

2013 Nissan Leaf (Source: Nissan USA)

Likewise, General Motors is offering a $4,000 incentive in the US towards its plug-in hybrid electric Chevy Volt, which has both a gasoline engine and electric motor. Finally, Mitsubishi Canada is offering between $5,000 and $7,000 off two versions of its full battery electric i-MiEV bringing the base model down to $30,998, or $22,498 in Ontario and slightly higher in Quebec and B.C.

For those interested in making the leap to electric vehicles, now is a good opportunity to make the investment as prices have never been this low.  With the cost of refueling the vehicles in the sub $5 range for most consumers across the country, along with the reduced maintenance costs, some real savings can be had by choosing electric vehicles.  This is not to mention the added benefits of the high torque, quiet ride and low center of gravity.

Although there have been downward pressures in the cost of the lithium batteries that store the energy in these vehicles, the question remains how long these incentives can be offered as the batteries can make up to one third the cost of the vehicles.  Time will tell.

Sources: Globe and Mail, Mitsubishi Canada