Want today’s best 7-passenger luxury SUV? Audi makes a strong case for its all-new Q7, with sharp new styling, lighter weight, better handling, a much nicer interior, and superb electronics. We tested…

2017 Audi Q7 2.0 TFSI Quattro Progressiv Road Test

With more than half a million Q7s down the road since inception no one argues against the mid-size luxury SUV's market success, but the outgoing first-generation was starting to look and feel a bit stale when its near decade-long tenure finally ended last year.

Since then it's been made clear there was pent-up demand for an all-new Q7, which when combined with unparalleled growth in the luxury SUV sector saw the stylish new model jump a shocking eight positions on the sales charts, last year's record-breaking 4,335 deliveries bypassing most of its competitors to take fifth place amongst mid-size luxury SUVs and second amid dedicated seven-passenger models, while within the first two months of 2017 it's taken down another rival for fourth spot overall and first amongst the seven-occupant crowd. Welcome back to the mid-size SUV limelight Audi.

It's certainly a bright new year for Audi and its ever-strengthening SUV lineup, with a new compact Q5 around the next corner Read Full Story
The A3 E-tron marks the return of the previous five-door Sportback body style, making Audi’s most fuel-efficient model also one of the most practical in its compact lineup. Canadians have long loved…

2017 Audi A3 e-tron Sportback

The A3 E-tron marks the return of the previous five-door Sportback body style, making Audi’s most fuel-efficient model also one
2017 Audi A3 e-tron Sportback
Charge for free at many locations including this shopping mall. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)
of the most practical in its compact lineup. Canadians have long loved hatchbacks, even in the premium sector, and now that most of our large urban centers have increased the availability of quick charging stations our inner-city car buyers are adapting to the cleaner more eco-friendly way of life
2017 Audi A3 e-tron Sportback
The A3 e-tron Sportback interior is just as stylish and well made as the conventional A3. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)
of plug-in hybrid electric mobility. This makes Audi’s A3 E-tron Sportback an ideal combination of do-all pragmatism and extreme thrift, many of these charging stations not charging a penny to plug-in, while home charging is also much less expensive than filling up with unleaded. The all-new Audi A3 e-tron Sportback, seen here “filling up” for free at a local shopping mall, is currently in our garage and therefore will soon be featured as the topic of a full review. Could this be the plug-in hybrid you’ve been waiting for? Check back to find out.
It only makes sense that the luxury auto sector’s most successful brand in new vehicle sales is also strong on the pre-owned market. Mercedes-Benz’ popularity helps drive up used prices, which is…

Mercedes wins multiple Canadian Black Book and ALG retained value awards

It only makes sense that the luxury auto sector's most successful brand in new vehicle sales is also strong on the pre-owned market. Mercedes-Benz' popularity helps drive up used prices, which is always a bonus for owners when it comes time to trade up to a new model or sell their used car or SUV.

Proving this point, the German brand earned multiple Canadian Black Book 2017 Best Retained Value Awards. The venerable G-Class SUV moved up two places to take top spot in the "Full-Size Luxury SUV" category, while the GLK (now replaced by the GLC) earned runner-up status in the "Compact Luxury SUV" segment behind Audi's Q5, an impressive feat considering just how many compact sport utilities are vying for top position. Mercedes' CLS four-door coupe was also recognized amongst the best three in the "Premium Luxury Car" class, while Mercedes final prize was first place for the Sprinter passenger and cargo van in the "Full-Size Van" segment.

The Sprinter moved up one spot from Read Full Story
When the word “bespoke” is used in the same sentence as “Jaguar Land Rover” one tends to think of the highest quality leathers, veneers, wool carpets and convenience features rather than an “Advanced…

Project Hero Land Rover Discovery designed to help Red Cross save lives

When the word "bespoke" is used in the same sentence as "Jaguar Land Rover" one tends to think of the highest quality leathers, veneers, wool carpets and convenience features rather than an "Advanced Command Vehicle" with integrated shortwave and GPS comm equipment, specialized toolkits, climbing gear, and power supplies, let alone a power-retractable covered landing pad for an onboard drone; and likewise when JLR's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) gets mentioned it's usually in tandem with "Premium Paint Palette" finishes, Sentinel armoured vehicles, SVR and SVAutobiography halo models, or previously noted bespoke personalization, but in this case it's an orange and white search and rescue vehicle created by SVO for the Red Cross. This "bespoke" 2017 Land Rover Discovery, dubbed 'Project Hero', was designed and engineered by Jaguar Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations for the Austrian Red Cross and presented to global media at the Geneva auto show earlier this month. An advanced communication Read Full Story
The prestigious iF Design Award has been given to Infiniti for the second consecutive year, 2016’s Q80 Inspiration Concept now joined by the production 2017 Q60 sports coupe. The annual iF Design Awards…

Infiniti Q60 sports coupe honoured with prestigious iF Design Award

The prestigious iF Design Award has been given to Infiniti for the second consecutive year, 2016's Q80 Inspiration Concept now joined by the production 2017 Q60 sports coupe.

The annual iF Design Awards program is hosted by one of Germany's oldest and most respected design organizations, iF International Forum Design GmbH in Hanover. Winning is especially rewarding because the jurors aren't solely from the automotive sector, instead representing a cross-industry product design viewpoint; the jury consisting of 58 independent design experts from around the world.

After more than 5,500 entries from 59 countries, 2017 iF Design Awards submissions were judged on "innovation, functionality and ergonomics, aesthetics and the sustainability of its production process and product attributes," stated an Infiniti press release.

The new Q60 received its award within iF Design's "Automobile" category, whereas last year's Q80 Inspiration Concept was recognized within the Read Full Story
The new 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country is upon us, replacing the extremely well proven XC70 with beautiful new sheetmetal, stylish LEDs, a more refined leather-lined interior, state-of-the-art electronics…

Volvo asks us to “rediscover your passion in life” in a new V90 Cross Country

The new 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country is upon us, replacing the extremely well proven XC70 with beautiful new sheetmetal, stylish LEDs, a more refined leather-lined interior, state-of-the-art electronics, and a technologically advanced powertrain. With styling that could singlehandedly make wagons cool again, it rolls on the same undercarriage as the multi-award-winning XC90 SUV and S90 mid-size sedan models, and is powered by the same turbocharged and supercharged direct-injection 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine used in top-level trims throughout Volvo's lineup, except for the XC90 SUV that boasts a 400 horsepower plug-in hybrid version of the same power unit in its highest trim level.

In an attempt to draw attention to this all-new model, Volvo has come up with a creative ad campaign designed to lure oftentimes shut-in workers out of doors in order to "rediscover your passion in life".

"You reach a point in life when you have to choose," says Thomas Andersson, Vice President Read Full Story
In case you thought Bentley already produced the ultimate luxury SUV, not so confirmed the revered British ultra-luxury marque when it coined its Bentayga Mulliner “The Ultimate Luxury SUV”, a “flagship…

Bentayga Mulliner pushes world’s most luxurious SUV further upmarket

In case you thought Bentley already produced the ultimate luxury SUV, not so confirmed the revered British ultra-luxury marque when it coined its Bentayga Mulliner "The Ultimate Luxury SUV", a "flagship model" that sets "new standards in automotive luxury" at its Geneva auto show introduction.

OK, Mulliner is merely a top-line trim level of the already ultimate Bentayga and not an entirely new SUV, but it should nevertheless be noted that improvements must be plentiful in order to warrant the highly respected Mulliner name.

On that note, dubbing Mulliner a trim level doesn't do the name, or rather the British firm's personal commissioning division justice. Mulliner is Bentley's exclusive in-house bespoke customizing shop, which has long made the brand's hedonistically accoutered coupes, convertibles and luxury sedans even more hedonistically accoutered, and therefore is now doing the same for Crewe's first-ever SUV.

The new Bentayga Mulliner will likely become Read Full Story
Is there a more beautiful grand touring car on the planet? Certainly the all-new DB11 will be high on auto enthusiasts’ lists, but for many sports car aficionados the more classic GT lines of Aston…

Aston Martin Vanquish S makes a brilliant GT even better

Is there a more beautiful grand touring car on the planet? Certainly the all-new DB11 will be high on auto enthusiasts' lists, but for many sports car aficionados the more classic GT lines of Aston Martin's Vanquish still rule supreme.

The Vanquish might hail from Aston's earlier design language, but it hardly looks dated. Its second-generation redesign arrived on the scene in 2012 for the 2013 model year after all, so it's still fairly fresh as far as super GTs go, and now the new Vanquish S builds on appearances while upping performance for one of the most enticing new models to hit the road so far this year.

"From the moment the original Vanquish was launched it became a modern icon. It propelled Aston Martin from an era of hand-built cars to one where craftsmanship and technology combined to create a new kind of great British GT," said Dr. Andy Palmer, Aston Martin President & CEO.

"In its second generation the Vanquish maintained that momentum with Read Full Story