Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen and Don “the Snake” Prudhomme

Posted on March 18, 2013 by northredline

Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen and Don “the Snake” Prudhomme are retired American drag racers who had one of the most interesting rivalries in the history of the sport. During the late 1960s, they revolutionized the NHRA drag racing circuit as well as entertainment sports marketing when they attracted Mattel’s Hot Wheels Division to sponsor them. Over the course of the sponsorship in the early 1970s, they were able to buy the best racing equipment and build their brands all across the US drag racing circuit.

Don and Tom

During this time, Tom McEwen raced in his red 1970 Plymouth Duster, named “Mongoose” and Don Prudhomme raced his yellow 1970 Plymouth Barracuda named “Snake”.

Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen

Don ‘the Snake’ Prudhomme

Both drivers gained even wider public attention from Mattel’s “Hot Wheels” toy versions of the cars that were released in 1970.

Here is a clip of the two cars in all their glory.

Coincidentally, a new feature film titled “Snake & Mongoose”is scheduled for release in September 2013. The film will explore one of the greatest rivalries in racing history as well as how these two unlikely figures revolutionized entertainment sports marketing. Check out the film’s most recent trailer.

International Harvester Scout

Posted on March 15, 2013 by northredline

A true original, the International Harvester Scout was a pioneering American off-road vehicle manufactured from 1961 to 1980. It laid the foundation for more advanced North American SUVs to be developed on its legacy as a true 4×4. Initially created as a competitor to the Jeep, the Scout was introduced as a commercial utility pickup in 1960.

Early model

In late 1965, the Scout 800 model was launched offering customers many improvements in comfort and design including; bucket seats, better instrumentation, heating systems, optional rear seats, and more engine choices including a 4-cyl, 6-cyl, or V8.

Scout 800

The Scout and second generation Scout II were all produced in Fort Wayne, Indiana as two-door trucks with options of either a half cab pickup or removable hard or soft top. Scout II’s were manufactured from mid year 1971 to 1980. It is most identifiable by its different front grilles which changed slightly throughout the years.

Convertible and hardtop models

Targeted at the “outdoorsmen” the Scout II appealed to those who spent time in the wild and wanted a vehicle that would get them to the destination and have room for all their gear. International Harvester was successful with their target market and this was long before the SUV became cool as a “Yuppie” family vehicle.

Marketing materials

I remember my Grandfather saying he wanted a Scout which was sort of funny since with his age and declining health he really was more of an armchair angler and hunter then. Unfortunately, he never did get his Scout but not all was lost since it instilled in me a keen interest in SUVs and to date I have owned two different SUVs. Mind you, none of them have been anywhere close to as inspiring as the Scout….

Way ahead of its time

During its 20 year run (1960–1980), 532,674 Scouts were produced, a truly remarkable number for a relatively small player in the auto world. Unfortunately, the party came to a abrupt end with the demise of the International Harvester company and the last Scout rolled off the production line on October 21, 1980.

Going topless

Scouts were and still remain an amazing foundation platform for 4×4 enthusiasts to built a serious off road machine with.

Serious off roader

Many of these machines are still on the road doing what they were designed to do more than 40 years ago when that original design sketch came to be. The International Scout is a true icon in America’s auto history and certainly deserves more credit than it gets today.

Source: Wikipedia

2013 Buick Verano Turbo Review

Posted on March 13, 2013 by northredline

2013 Buick Verano Turbo

2013 Buick Verano Turbo 1ST Package

Vehicle Type: Front wheel drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
Base Price: Starts at $30,900 (CAD)
Price as Tested: $33, 245 (CAD)
Transmission: 6 speed automatic (also available 6 speed manual)
Engine: Turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel
Competitors: Acura ILX, the Audi A3, Ford Focus ST and the Mazdaspeed 3

The Buick Verano debuted in North America in 2012 as the first compact marketed by Buick since the 1997 Buick Skylark and has enjoyed good sales numbers to date. RedlineNorth had a chance to review the 2012 model and what stood out most to us then was its overall sportiness for a four door sedan and its superior level of fit and finish.

The 2013 Verano includes the release of a new turbocharged engine, borrowed from the Regal GS and offering increased power, as well as stiffer suspension and subtle exterior styling changes. With Canadian sales of Buick passenger cars up 23 per cent in 2012, the new turbocharged Verano adds another dimension for Buick to continue its stellar pace.

For the 2013 model year Buick offers two engines for the Verano; the standard 2.4L ECOTEC I-4 providing 180 hp and 171 lbs of torque and an optional 2.0L ECOTEC I-4 Turbo engine taken from the Regal GS. The turbocharged engine produces a whopping 250 hp and 260 lbs of torque and will do 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds.

Despite this additional power there is very little reduction in fuel efficiency, thanks to GM’s innovative turbocharger technology. The 2.4L standard engine offers a combined fuel rating of 9.9L per 100 km which increases to only 10.1L with the turbocharged engine. It should be noted that premium fuel is recommended for the turbo engine.

Happily, the turbo version of the Verano is offered with both automatic transmission and a 6-speed manual. With the dramatic decline of manual transmissions offered these days in the North American market it’s nice to see General Motors still provides the manual offering.

During our test period we especially enjoyed the stiffer suspension the turbo model provides as it hugged the road in the corners and provided excellent stability when accelerating. The steering felt accurate, however, there was a bit of softness overall, the kind you would expect in a four door sedan as after all it’s not a sports car.

There are very few visual clues to distinguish the turbo model and these are limited to the dual exhaust, a small ‘T’ beside the model name and a rear deck spoiler. While the Verano shares a number of Buick styling cues from the waterfall grille, portholes and chrome accents, it does have a much sportier and more aggressive persona than your father’s Buick, but it’s still hard to shake that stately sedan look.

The interior of the Verano has a wealth of luxury features from beige leather seats, dual zone climate control, and a heated steering wheel to a more understated, but desirable feature which Buick calls QuietTuning. QuietTuning provides additional acoustic insulation, sound deadners, and triple-sealed doors all intended to provide a quieter ride. When driving at highway speeds the Verano did provide a noticeably quieter environment, which adds to an increased sense of luxury in the vehicle. While the interior won’t be mistaken for a Bentley, the car does offer some excellent features and an attention to detail to help make those daily drives that much more comfortable.

Leather wrapped heated steering wheel adds a touch of luxury

Storage in the Verano is more than adequate with 396 L of cargo room. The trunk space is very roomy, especially for this class of vehicle. However, it would have been nice to give up a bit of the space in the trunk for more in-cabin room. Depending on your stature, the Verano could feel a bit cramped around the driver’s seating area. Overall cabin ergonomics are good with an easy reach of stereo, climate control and navigation controls, although things still felt a bit too close at times. In addition, rear leg room felt quite limited and may be challenging on long journeys, especially with adult passengers.

Intelligent system comes standard in the Verano

IntelliLink system comes standard in the Verano

All Verano models except for the base model now come with a Side Blind Zone Alert feature. When overtaking, or being overtaken, a visual indicator appears in the side mirror alerting the driver to the presence of another vehicle. The Blind Zone Alert was used extensively throughout our test period with the Verano, so much so the reviewer was looking for the warning indicator light in their own vehicle afterwards. This feature should not be under rated and is a welcomed addition to the 2013 model. Other additional safety features included in the Verano are ten standard air bags, a collapsible pedal system, which allows the pedals to detach during a crash to reduce the risk of leg or ankle injuries and the inclusion of the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system to help reduce the risk of rollovers.

A serious competitor in its class

The refinements made to the 2013 Verano Turbo, including the advanced safety features and the addition of the 2.0L turbo charged engine are a welcome addition to an already well equipment compact sedan. As a result of the new engine, suspension and steering have been tweaked to support the extra ponies under the hood and Buick has done a good job here. The interior offers a number of luxury features, including Quitetuning providing a noticeably quieter ride as well as a leather wrapped heated steering wheel, a nice touch for those cold Canadian winters. There is plentiful trunk cargo space in the Verano, however, interior cabin space is a bit lacking with regards to rear leg room. Overall, Buick has done a great job with the Verano Turbo and it is a very worthy competitor in its class. Buyers in this market segment should seriously consider adding the turbocharged edition of the Verano to their short list.

Rally Mexico 2013

Posted on March 11, 2013 by northredline

Many of you have already likely seen the World Baseball Classic game from Saturday which saw Canada and Mexico in a bench clearing brawl. Well, if you haven’t go ahead and check this out as it is really is quite the spectacle.

On a related note, last weekend’s Rally Mexico is one of the toughest races on the WRC‘s annual schedule given the high altitude geography of the course. French Volkswagen driver and Team Red Bull member Sebastien Ogier won the event by more than three minutes to take his second straight WRC victory.

Volkswagen Motorsport chief Jost Capito dedicated the team’s victory to the team’s engine builder after the Polo R WRC took the checkered flag. Capito was quoted ironically “To win with that engine in the neighbourhood of the country’s Volkswagen plant makes us very proud people”.

Source: Autosport.com

Here is a nice video monage of footage from the Rally Mexico event.

Germany Tour Part 2 – Mercedes-Benz Museum

Posted on March 7, 2013 by northredline

Unfortunately, nobody from Team RedlineNorth is taking in the sights and sounds of the this week’s Geneva Auto Show so in lieu of real coverage we wanted to revisit Europe by doing a post on Mercedes-Benz. Recently, a RedlineNorth community member traveled to Germany to tour some of the holiest car sites in the world including Stuttgart’s Mercedes-Benz Museum. A lifelong car enthusiast, he was kind enough to share his trip photos of this ultimate once in a lifetime Benz experience.

Located in a sprawling complex in Stuttgart, Germany, the Mercedes-Benz museum is home to some of the rarest and most beautiful of all Mercedes-Benz models. If you ever have the opportunity to check it out it for yourself it is worth every minute. This is only a brief snapshot of the museum but hopefully does provide a glimpse into what is available to see. The images below are in chronological order as per the model dates.

The early years

The beginning

When cars still looked still like stagecoaches

When cars still looked like stagecoaches

Open limo

Saloon style

Sunday driver

Iconic 300SL Gullwing

Another Gullwing

Early racing history

Modern racing history

It would not be a Mercedes-Benz museum without the Popemobile

A little history about Benz:

The origins of Mercedes-Benz go back over 125 years to 1886 when Karl Benz created the Benz Motorwagen, then the first ever gasoline powered car. However, Benz was not alone in his invention as a year later, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach’s added a gasoline engine to a stagecoach to produce a car of their own. Interestingly, in spite of these major developments, the first Mercedes-Benz branded vehicles were not produced until 1926, after the merger of Karl Benz’s and Gottlieb Daimler’s companies into the now iconic Daimler-Benz company.

Jaguar F-Type

Posted on March 3, 2013 by northredline

It’s been a while since there has been this much hype from a British automaker so we thought it was time to revisit the Jaguar F-Type. With its recently infused capital from India’s Tata Motors, Jaguar has got its Mojo back and is now bringing its “A” game to the big dance.

Launched as Jaguar’s first two-seat sports car in 51 years, the F-Type is truly a special car and its pedigree could not be any better as Jaguar’s last two seat sports car was the infamous E-Type.

At the time of its launch in 1961, Enzo Ferrari famously declared the E-Type as the world’s most beautiful car and today, surviving E-Types are still symbols of automotive beauty. It’s in a rare class of its own as the E-Type remains as one of only six cars appearing in New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

Of course, having introduced with a brief history about its famous father the real question is does the new F-Type have the goods to create the same type of future impact?

Well, we won’t know that answer until we see sales numbers at the end of 2014 but so far media reaction as been very positive. To keep these good feelings rolling, Jaguar has opened the purse strings and is currently spending a ton of money on a variety of marketing projects for a wide global audience.

Let’s be honest though it can’t be that hard to leverage one of the worlds most iconic brand’s along with the sex appeal of a two seat sports car convertible. Nevertheless, Jaguar has come to play by hiring some of Hollywood’s top guns including the sultry songstress Lana Del Rey as the face of the F-Type along with acclaimed director Ridley Scott and Emmy winning actor Damian Lewis to star in a short film about the F-Type.

Check out this edgy video of Lana Del Rey singing the exclusive track “Desire” the official soundtrack of the F-Type. We have to say, the song and video sure makes us younger folk want an F-Type so we only can imagine what it does for the mid-life crisis crowd.

Here is the F-Type teaser clip about the upcoming short film scheduled for release in March 2013.

For the full details on the F-Type and to keep posted on developments be sure to read Jaguar’s new microsite at Ftype.com.

Need A New Car? Why Not Print One Out?

Posted on March 1, 2013 by northredline

Okay, we’ll we aren’t quite there yet, but news this week that Jim Kor, a professional engineer and his team of volunteers, are working on a follow up to their Urbee 3D printed car concept, with an Urbee 2. The 10ft long vehicle takes about 2,500 hours to print and has a curb weight of about 1,200 pounds.

Part of the vision of the three wheeled Urbee car is to use the least amount of energy possible for every kilometre traveled and to cause as little pollution as possible during manufacturing, operation and recycling of the car.

The production process, at a basic level, involves uploading the design of the component parts into a computer at a 3D printing facility. The printers then spray molten polymer, layer by layer until the parts are complete. The entire vehicle will not be all plastic of course, the engine and the base chassis will be metal.

The following is a video of the car going for a test drive on a public road.

According to Wired, who sat down with Jim Kor, the vehicle will have a hybrid electric engine, with the current engine in the prototype puts out a maximum of 10 hp. Most of the driving will be powered by an electric motor however.

In many jurisdictions the vehicle will actually be registered as a motorcycle rather than a car, as with three wheels and a curb weight of less than 1,200 pounds it has more in common with a motorcycle.

The original Urbee prototype had an estimated cost of around $50,00, which isn’t bad for a prototype. No word yet on the costs for the Urbee 2, although 14 people have already committed to purchasing one, mostly from people working on the design team.

Source: Wired

2013 Audi RS4 Avants in Head to Head Paintball Duel

Posted on February 26, 2013 by northredline

Take a look at this cool video of two 2013 Audi RS4 Avants going head to head in an aircraft hanger with paintball guns mounted to the hood of the cars. They make their way around obstacles while trying to score hits against each other.

The drivers, Jim Dowdall & Colin Skeaping, who are professional stunt drivers, demonstrate some amazing driving skills in the video. It also looks like they had a lot of fun. This is of course little wonder when you consider they are driving the RS4 Avant, which has a 4.2 liter V8 engine that produces 444 hp and goes from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds!

In case you were wondering points were scored for hits, flair and creativity.

You can also check out the making of video below:

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT

Posted on February 24, 2013 by northredline

As promised earlier in our Elantra review, we said we would review more models in Hyundai Canada’s line up. Well, recently we had the chance to spend some time behind the wheel of the new Hyundai Elantra GT. Built as a replacement to Hyundai’s Elantra Touring model, this innovative hatchback designed GT targets the North American buyer who requires loads of space but also wants a sporty, compact car. As winner of AJAC’s (Automobile Journalists Association of Canada) award for Best New Small car (over $21,000) we were looking forward to seeing what the Hyundai Elantra GT had to offer.

Our tester model came in the GLS Auto trim now listed at MSRP $22,599 CAD.

Performance Features

1.8L Dual CVVT DOHC 16V Engine with 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque
6-Speed Automatic Transmission with SHIFTRONIC®
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
Driver Selectable Steering
*Manufacturer fuel economy ratings are – City (AT) 7.6L/100km, Hwy (AT) 5.3L/100km, Combined (AT) 6.6L/100km

Although frugal overall we did not quite match these figures on our test period as we obtained 7.5L/100 km (31MPG) in a combined city and highway environment. These numbers are still solid considering we were in all types of mixed terrain. Across the Elantra line-up, all automatic transmission models come standard with an optional active eco system that modifies the engine and transmission control to help increase overall fuel efficiency.

Safety Features

Advanced Front Airbags, Front Seat-Mounted Side Airbags, Roof -mounted Side-curtain Airbags (6)
Driver Knee Airbag
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS)
Keyless Entry and Alarm System

Interior Features

AM/FM/XM®/CD/MP3 Player with 6 speakers
Manual Air Conditioning
Power Windows with Driver’s Auto Down
iPod®/USB/Auxiliary input jacks
Trip Computer
Driver’s Seat Height Adjuster
Rear Seat Centre Armrest with Cupholders
Power Door Locks
Steering Wheel-mounted Audio and Cruise Controls
Front Centre Console with Storage compartment and Fixed Armrest
Heated Front Seats
Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel
Cooled Glove Box
Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel and Gear Shift Knob
8-way Power Driver’s seat with Lumbar Support
Luggage Under Floor Box

Exterior features

Roof-mounted XM® Antenna
16” Alluminum Alloy Wheels
Front Fog Lights
Panoramic Sunroof

In comparison to the Hyundai Elantra Coupe reviewed recently the interior of the Elantra GT was not exactly the same since our Coupe tester was a higher trim model. Nevertheless, our tester came with a black interior with sporty cloth front seats with white stitching, a leather wrapped steering wheel with both cruise and audio controls. Along with a slick-looking trip computer screen located between the gauges, the interior feels fun and provides a sporty persona. In addition, the one unique feature our GT model came with not included in the Coupe is the panoramic sunroof providing a true cool factor for a car in this price range.

As a four door hatchback, the GT is ultra convenient for getting in and out as well as providing both driver and passengers with ample leg and headroom. During our test period, we headed north for some skiing/snowboarding and the GT was a perfect choice for the outing. The GT offers 651 liters of cargo room behind the rear seat versus the Elantra sedan’s 420 liter trunk and with the 60/40 split back seats folded down the total is a monstrous 1,444 liters of cargo room. As a result, the GT is very comfortable for taking three occupants along with all their ski gear out of the city for a day on the slopes.

Equipped with both traction control and Hankook snow tires, the GT handled the roads in ski country like a champ and was a real charm to drive in Ontario’s winter weather.

Competitors

The key players currently competing with the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT for Canadian buyers include the Mazda3 Sport, Ford Focus hatchback, Subaru Impreza hatchback, Toyota Matrix, Kia Forte hatchback and Volkswagen Golf hatchback. With so many strong competitors, Hyundai does have its work cut out for them however, the Hyundai Elantra GT offers great overall value. With its base trim levels starting at $19,149 through to $26,349 for the top of the line model its hard to beat the Elantra GT in dollar per dollar value comparisons. Therefore, if you are looking for a compact, sporty hatchback capable of tackling just about anything you give it make sure the Hyundai Elantra GT is on your shopping list.

North American International Auto Show 2013 – NAIAS

Posted on February 20, 2013 by northredline

Last month, Team RedlineNorth headed south crossing the border into Detroit to attend the 2013 North American International Auto Show – NAIAS. Held over the last two weeks of January, the Detroit show is the biggest auto show in North America and one of the largest in the world. There is much debate today which global auto show is the most significant, but the reality is NAIAS continues to be among the top along with Geneva, Frankfurt, Paris, Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo. The rankings criteria are based around the number of journalists that attend, and the number of worldwide product introductions that are made at the events. This year’s NAIAS total ticketed attendance was 795,416 compared to last year’s 770,932 and the 2013 total is the highest figure since 2004 when 808,833 attended.

As for the full numbers here are the NAIAS 2013 Highlights:

Total Vehicle Introductions: 59 (50 Worldwide; 9 North American)
Total Press Preview Attendance: 5,212 journalists from 60 countries
Total Industry Preview Attendance: 28,326 people from 30 countries
Total Charity Preview Attendance: 13,069 people ($3.9 million raised)
Total Ticketed Attendance: 795,416 (incl. Industry Preview, Charity Preview & Public Show)
Total Economic Impact: $365 Million

Source: NAIAS.com

Lexus LFA

The level of trade show booth production is incredible in Detroit and Lexus did not disappoint showing off its unreal LFA model with full sound/audio clips replaying at the display. Yes, we know the price tag is crazy at $400,00 CAD but it truly sounds like an F1 car and Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson was recently quoted saying it was the best car he has ever driven.

Taking it all in

With all the major manufacturers represented in Detroit it truly is a must attend show for the auto enthusiast.

Chevrolet Camaro

Whether it’s the Hot Wheels Chevrolet Camaro display or Toyota’s latest and greatest in technology the show successfully captures the hearts and minds of attendees.

Cutting edge Toyota technology

As you likely have heard by now, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray took home the award as the show’s “Darling” . However, the accolades are not without controversy since there are some Corvette purists who are upset about the rectangular tail lights since the Corvette has had round tail lights for 60 years.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

In spite of what you may have heard, it was not all about the North American automakers as the Europeans brought some quality product like the new BMW 4 series model. It looks to be a combination of the great features and nimbleness of the 3 series with a little more size and creature comforts from the 5 series. It sure sounds like a winning product plan and our only question is why did it take this long to come up with it?

BMW 4 Series

And what can we say here? No major auto show is a wrap without some over the top cars and Usain Bolt’s gold Nissan GT-R fits this mold perfectly. As it would be equally at home parked at Bolt’s house in Jamaica or in LA parked beside Justin Bieber’s chrome plated Fisker Karma or Chris Brown’s jet fighter Lambo.

Usain Bolt’s Nissan GT-R

We aim to offer a little taste of what the show includes and inspire you to check it out for yourself. Be sure to mark your calendar for January and hopefully we will see you in Detroit in 2014!

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2013 Buick Verano Turbo 1ST Package

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