Today on CarCostCanada, Lotus announces dire news that it will soon shrink its staff by 325 workers, a blow to the sports car maker that’s struggled to keep up with larger competitors despite a boom…

Lotus to lay off one quarter of workforce ahead of plans to restructure

If you want one of the lightest, leanest, most enjoyable sports cars money can buy, those in the know realize few cars can compete with a modern-day Lotus on the street or track, or a classic one for that matter. That reality, combined with strong sales in the luxury and performance car sector should result in good news for the Hethel, Norfolk-based brand, but as it turns out the British sports car maker is about to lay off "up to 325" workers as part of a restructuring.

While 325 workers might not seem like a lot when compared to the thousands of layoffs other automakers have announced in recent years, factor in that 325 is more than a quarter of Lotus' 1,215 employees.

"We have worked very hard to avoid the need to make the proposal, but do believe that it is now essential," said CEO Jean-Marc Gales in a statement. "It is in no way a reflection on our employees who have shown nothing but dedication to us and have worked tirelessly to support Lotus."

It should Read Full Story
With a long history of building four-seat cars, the fact that Lamborghini has gone so long with only two-seat sports models to its name is very strange. Check out this story about an upcoming concept…

Lamborghini teases cryptic caption within coupe-like profile image

With the new Urus four-seat crossover SUV soon to augment Lamborghini's lineup beyond two-seat sports cars, and the beautiful Estoque concept introduced way back in 2008 having caused all to question when Lamborghini would bring out a four-door coupe of its own, it was only a matter of time before we received yet more news of the Italian brand's plans for an upcoming four-place car. That news may be in the form of a cryptic caption that Lamborghini released along with a teaser image of a new concept coming to the Paris Motor Show next month.

"Once perfection is achieved, you can just double it," stated Lamborghini, most likely referring to doubling the seating capacity of one of its already "perfect" sports cars. What we don't know yet is whether or not this announcement refers to an update of the Estoque in concept or production trim, or if the brand will show something altogether different utilizing two doors at the upcoming Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris next month. Anything Read Full Story
As BMW splices up its 3 and 4 Series lineup into ever more finite niches, Trevor Hofmann drives the latest 4 Series Gran Coupe and reports on its significance within the brand’s broadening range of…

2015 BMW 428i xDrive Gran Coupe Road Test Review

Before seeing the new 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe in the metal it was hard to get excited about yet another new model spun off of BMW's ubiquitous 3 Series / 4 Series platform architecture, but now I understand.

Forgive me for copping attitude, but there are only so many niches within niches that need to be filled. After all, Canadian Bimmer fans can now get the good old 3 Series four-door sedan (in all-new duds mind you), the 3 Series Touring (wagon), the more recently added 3 Series Gran Turismo (taller, larger five-door liftback), the ActiveHybrid 3 (sedan) and the M3 (sedan), while fans of two-door BMWs can purchase the 4 Series Coupe and 4 Series Cabriolet, plus M4 versions of both. Likewise, those who want a taller ride height and more utility can opt for an X3, while a new X4 (think shrunken X6) has also joined the fray. Did I miss any? Ah yes, the subject of this review. The Bavarian brand's new 4 Series Gran Coupe slots in alongside the aforementioned 4 Series Coupe and Read Full Story
Audi and motorsport go hand in hand, thanks to years of rally and endurance sports car leadership. What was out of place, however, was the converted shopping mall that housed the operation for too many…

Audi Sport moves to impressive new facility in Neuburg

While motorsport might not play first fiddle in Audi's operations as it does for some pure performance car brands such as Ferrari, there's no denying that its decades of winning racing programs have built respect for the German brand, highlighted by its world rally dominating Quattros in the eighties and more recently, sports prototype dominance at Le Mans and throughout the FIA World Endurance Championship, plus its strong performance in Germany's popular DTM touring car series, where it currently occupies three of the top five positions.

In order to make certain its various motorsport programs remain competitive moving into the future, the four-ringed brand's racing division, Audi Sport, has moved into new digs in Neuburg, 19 kilometres west of the road car division's headquarters in Ingolstadt. The state-of-the-art 116-acre facility comes after 20 years of planning and two years of construction, and is now home to Audi Sport's top engineers, technicians and additional staff Read Full Story
Few crossover SUVs are as sport-oriented as Infiniti’s QX70, especially when dressed up in top-line Sport trim. Today on CarCostCanada, Trevor Hofmann reviews a 2015 QX70 Sport in a menacing shade of…

2015 Infiniti QX70 Sport Road Test Review

Infiniti has made what some might consider an odd move for the 2015 model year, they've dropped the powerful 5.0-litre V8 in their sportiest QX70 crossover SUV, instead relying on their award winning 3.7-litre V6 to motivate all trim levels. With its main European rivals offering V8-powered alternatives it at first appears that Infiniti is making a big mistake, as some may claim that having no V8 in the brand's 2015 lineup will water down its performance image, but factor in that very few QX70s were sold with the V8 option last year, as well as the fact that the engine isn't used in any other Infiniti or Nissan product, and it's easy to understand their decision. After all, if it's not selling there's no reason to keep it in the lineup.

Truth be told, the last time I drove a V8-powered QX70 5.0 it went by the name of FX50, and that was way back in 2009. An impressive machine with 390-horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque at your beck and call, it was also a tad thirsty for premium Read Full Story
What do you get when you take Toyota’s sportiest Camry SE and mash it up with its most economical? Meet the 2014.5 Camry Hybrid SE, a new limited-run model that offers all of the fuel economy and environmental…

2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE Road Test Review

Having successfully won over millions of green-minded consumers worldwide (and thousands of economy-minded taxi drivers) with its distinctive-looking Prius range of hybrid vehicles, it seems that Toyota is turning its attention to a new breed of hybrid buyer these days: the hybrid buyer who doesn't want to be seen as driving a hybrid.

The company took an initial step in this direction back in 2006 when it introduced the Camry Hybrid sedan, available in LE and XLE trim with a few subtle but distinctive hybrid styling details. Now, halfway through the 2014 model year, the company has introduced the limited edition 2014.5 Camry Hybrid SE, an environmentally friendly hybrid sheep in sporty-minded wolf's clothing.

Mechanically, the Camry Hybrid SE is identical to its Camry Hybrid siblings, with the same 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine paired with an electric traction motor and CVT transmission to produce a net total of 200 horsepower. This is actually significantly Read Full Story
C’mon, we know you want one. There’s something utterly virile about Mercedes’ G-Class, its G55 AMG being the most potent statement of masculinity yet, in North America at least. Now those on the…

Mercedes to bring G65 AMG to North American market for 2016

It would be an understatement to say that Mercedes-Benz has its crossover and SUV segments covered. In fact, it doesn't only cover the basics, with vehicles like the GLK in the compact segment, ML in the mid-size category and GL in the full-size seven-passenger arena, but on top of these more familiar sizes a new smaller compact GLA crossover is currently arriving at Canadian M-B dealers nationwide, plus, of course, it has long provided the iconic G-Class, one of the best off-roaders available anywhere.

Of course, Mercedes offers each model in a variety of trim levels, all of the above except for the GLK available in very sporting top-tier AMG guise. Prior to the 2013 model year the G55 AMG was the only Aufrecht, Melcher and Großaspach-tuned G-Class available, but that all changed when the Affalterbach, Baden-Württemberg-housed division replaced the 5.5-litre V8 in the G55 AMG with a ridiculously powerful V12 and dubbed it G65 AMG. So far Mercedes hasn't offered this Read Full Story
Today on CarCostCanada, auto journalist Trevor Hofmann reviews the 2014 Kia Sorento in just-above-mid-grade EX V6 trim. The current Sorento design won’t be with us much longer, with an all-new model…

2014 Kia Sorento EX V6 Road Test Review

Have you ever questioned what the word "new" means in the automotive marketing dictionary? Obviously if a vehicle has never been licensed before it's new, but that's not what I'm referring to. Rather, I'm talking about when some brands say a given model is new when in fact it's a "refresh", "facelift", or "mid-cycle update".

Kia could have quite reasonably called its 2014 Sorento all new, being that it rides on a new platform architecture design, incorporates a new direct-injection V6 engine, features new interior design with nicer materials, offers new telematics, and boasts a new infotainment system, but they didn't. They rightly stated that the updated Sorento was "significantly redesigned" and much more than a "freshening," being that 80-percent of the 2014 model is new, and factoring in that its arrival last year made it four years since this second-generation went from the original truck-like body-on-frame design to unibody, its styling has only been mildly refined, albeit Read Full Story