For years Infiniti’s G was the only real sporting alternative to the class benchmark BMW 3 Series, in the way that Lexus’ cars seemed to Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press have been…

2014 Infiniti Q50 Road Test Review

For years Infiniti's G was the only real sporting alternative to the class benchmark BMW 3 Series, in the way that Lexus' cars seemed to have been designed to go up against Mercedes-Benz models. While Lexus now offers a credible 3 Series fighter and others have joined the fray, Infiniti has nevertheless earned the right to be the go-to Japanese alternative to Bavaria's quintessential sport sedan. The only difference today is that there's no G anymore, but rather a Q50.

The Q50 might boast a new name and revised styling, upgraded interior quality and a mind-blowing list of standard and optional features including a powerful hybrid-electric version, it's still a G at heart. It remains one of the most energetic cars in its class off the line and on the highway. Its handling capability is astounding. It continues to impress in interior refinement and features. And lastly its styling is arguably better than ever.

I drove the Q50 Hybrid last fall and came away very impressed, Read Full Story
Subaru has always tended to take an evolutionary approach to its designs and the new 2015 Outback, which debuted at the recent   New York International Auto Show, is no exception. As with previous…

2015 Subaru Outback looks tougher yet is more refined

Subaru has always tended to take an evolutionary approach to its designs and the new 2015 Outback, which debuted at the recent New York International Auto Show, is no exception.

As with previous Outbacks, the fifth-generation version is based on the Legacy platform and has been updated in concert with its sedan sibling. The new Legacy (the sixth generation of that car) debuted earlier in the year at the Chicago auto show.

Stylistically, the new Outback has an entirely new front fascia with a hexagonal grille, a more steeply raked windshield and new standard HID headlights. The new car is slightly bigger than the previous Outback, with 15 mm more overall length, 18 mm more width and a 5-mm longer wheelbase. The changes, though small, allow a more spacious cabin with greater shoulder, hip and elbow room up front, and more legroom in the back seat. Ground clearance remains the same at 220 mm.

Mechanically, the latest Outback gets either an enhanced, lighter version Read Full Story
I just stepped out of a $50k+ German premium tuning brand-badged super coupe and was totally impressed, but not as much Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press as I was with this $26,450 Scion FR-S…

2014 Scion FR-S Road Test Review

I just stepped out of a $50k+ German premium tuning brand-badged super coupe and was totally impressed, but not as much as I was with this $26,450 Scion FR-S I had the week prior. Certainly the Teutonic two-door was quicker off the line and faster at full throttle in sixth gear, while the exhaust note was throatier, cabin quieter and more refined, feature-set more complete and badge more prestigious, but the FR-S is arguably prettier, the front seats more comfortable with better lateral support, its overall mass lighter, the handling sharper and overall feel more visceral. In the end, I had way more fun in the FR-S! And after all, isn't that why we buy sports cars?

Somewhere between the old Alfas, MGBs, Spitfires and 240Zs we drove in the '60s and early '70s; the Celicas, Corolla GT-Ss (AE86s), GTIs, MR2s and Sciroccos we drove in the mid-to-late '70s and '80s; the Corrados, Miatas, Preludes, Talons, 240SXs, and even the RX7s, 300ZXs, Supras and NSXs of the '90s… and the Read Full Story
Fiat-Chrysler’s Automobiles’ recently announced five-year strategic plan has its share of winners and losers – the to-be-discontinued 2014 Maserati Alfieri Coupe Concept (Photo: Maserati)…

Alfa Romeo and Maserati plan multiple new models

Fiat-Chrysler's Automobiles' recently announced five-year strategic plan has its share of winners and losers - the to-be-discontinued Dodge Grand Caravan and Avenger being two examples of the latter - but for fans of Italian sports cars it looks like a bonanza.

The bonanza stems from aggressive development plans for the company's Alfa Romeo and Maserati marques. Between them, the two Italian sports car builders have been given the go-ahead to develop something like 14 new vehicles. To get the development rolling at Alfa Romeo, FCA has set aside 5 billion Euros - nearly $7 billion US - to fund a skunk works staffed by 200 of the brightest engineers from throughout the various FCA companies, with that number growing to 600 by next year.

The skunk works has been given significant autonomy and a mission statement to develop up to eight new models worthy of the Alfa Romeo name. Key attributes demanded of the new models include advanced powertrains, perfect 50/50 weight balance, Read Full Story
It seems that if you want a smaller SUV with a six-cylinder engine you’d better move quickly… quickly to the Mitsubishi store Photo: Jennifer Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press that is. Gone are…

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander ES Road Test Review

It seems that if you want a smaller SUV with a six-cylinder engine you'd better move quickly... quickly to the Mitsubishi store that is. Gone are the days I think back to with fondness. Days of flannel and socks with Birkenstocks, and driving a big SUV without feeling guilty for the environmental costs or the financial burden of ever rising gas prices. The Mitsubishi Outlander is the only mainstream compact crossover in Canada available with a V6 (the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain twins aren't very compact despite how GM categorizes them). I spent the week in a base model ES model that only has a four-cylinder engine, and I was faced with a now more common dilemma: fuel economy or power?

The ES model's four-cylinder is 2.4 litres in displacement and sends power to the front wheels through a CVT, a fuel-saving 166 horsepower made in the process. The V6 I spoke of before is a 227 horsepower 3.0-litre unit available with SE and GT models that comes paired to a six-speed automatic Read Full Story
As part of its five-year product plan, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles announced that it will be axing the Dodge Grand Caravan in 2016, 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan (Photo: Dodge) and adding a plug-in hybrid to…

Dodge to cancel Grand Caravan in 2016

As part of its five-year product plan, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles announced that it will be axing the Dodge Grand Caravan in 2016, and adding a plug-in hybrid to the Chrysler Town & Country minivan lineup.

The move will mark the end of a 30-year run of building two minivan models at the company's Windsor Assembly Plant, and will also mark the end-of-the-line for Canada's most popular minivan: In 2013, the Grand Caravan outsold the Town & Country by more than five to one.

Chrysler brand chief Al Gardner says the company wants to reduce internal rivalries between Dodge and Chrysler by making the brands more distinct, positioning Chrysler as a mainstream brand and Dodge as a sportier performance brand. Clearly, a minivan doesn't fit into this sporty image.

In additional to dropping the Grand Caravan, Dodge will also cancel its Avenger sedan, which competes too closely with the Chrysler 200. For its part, Chrysler will add a full-size crossover and a Chrysler Read Full Story
When it comes to cars you can plug in, Nissan’s Leaf has been on a bit of a tear lately. Early this year it surpassed the 100,000 Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press worldwide sales threshold,…

2014 Nissan Leaf SL Road Test Review

When it comes to cars you can plug in, Nissan's Leaf has been on a bit of a tear lately. Early this year it surpassed the 100,000 worldwide sales threshold, making it easily the planet's most popular all-electric car (sorry, Ford Focus Electric and Mitsubishi i-MiEV). Now, after battling the extended-range Chevrolet Volt for North America's top plug-in spot over the past couple of years, it has pulled ahead to take the overall lead in the first four months of 2014, beating out the Volt, the Tesla Model S, the Toyota Prius PHV and all of Ford's plug-ins.

You can attribute the Leaf's growing success to several factors that help it find traction among everyday car buyers: First, while its styling is distinctive and unique, it's not freakishly so. Unlike the iMiEV's shouty, pod-like, "I am electric!" design (odd considering its available as a regular gasoline-powered car in other markets), the Leaf has the size, proportions and overall feel of a perfectly normal compact hatchback. Read Full Story
In the mid-size sedan segment, Hyundai’s sixth-generation Sonata has long been one to watch, providing consistent challenge   to the top-selling Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Ford Fusion thanks…

2015 Hyundai Sonata debuts with new styling and increased spaciousness

In the mid-size sedan segment, Hyundai's sixth-generation Sonata has long been one to watch, providing consistent challenge to the top-selling Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Ford Fusion thanks to its feature-rich value and groundbreaking design. With an eye to keeping Sonata at the top of its game, Hyundai recently debuted the seventh generation version at the New York International Auto Show.

Outside, the new Sonata gets crisper and more angular styling than the previous version, giving it a look that's at once more athletic yet more conservative, with a larger and more refined grille and standard LED daytime running lights.

"We crafted the shape of the 2015 Sonata in the same way an award-winning chef refines his recipe over the years," said Chris Chapman, chief designer, Hyundai Design North America. "The evolution to Fluidic Sculpture 2.0's more taut, modern lines reflect the improvements in refinement and driving dynamics for 2015."

Underneath the new Read Full Story