The new small overlap front crash test added by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in 2012 has been tripping   up cars both small and large, forcing many manufacturers to go back to…

Redesigned 2015 Hyundai Genesis aces crash tests

The new small overlap front crash test added by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in 2012 has been tripping up cars both small and large, forcing many manufacturers to go back to the drawing board to improve less-than-stellar results.

But as Hyundai has proved with its next-generation 2015 Genesis, the extreme challenges of the small front overlap crash test can indeed be met. The redesigned Hyundai Genesis recently earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award; with a good rating in the small overlap front crash test and a superior rating for front crash prevention. It also earned good ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint evaluations.

In the small overlap test, the driver's space was maintained well, and injury measures recorded on the driver dummy indicated a low risk of any significant injuries in the crash. The front airbag stayed in its correct position during the crash, allowing it to cushion the dummy's head properly, Read Full Story
Nissan is looking to move the next generation of its iconic Leaf decidedly towards the mainstream, according to Nissan executive Current 2014 Nissan Leaf. (Photo: Nissan) vice president Andy Palmer. Expected…

Next-generation Nissan Leaf to go mainstream

Nissan is looking to move the next generation of its iconic Leaf decidedly towards the mainstream, according to Nissan executive vice president Andy Palmer. Expected to arrive in mid-2017, the new Leaf will have a more capable battery pack to extend range, and more conventional styling.

Nissan explained that when the Leaf was introduced four years ago it needed to look different to attract attention, but as electric cars become more common and accepted, they can adopt more mainstream styling.

Mamoru Aoki, Nissan brand's global design chief gave credit to Tesla for leading the charge towards authentic electric style. "The current Leaf is aiming too much [for] an EV-like appearance. Tesla doesn't look EV at all. The Tesla S just looks nice, very sporty, sleek, but very authentic," he said.

The next-generation Leaf is expected to feature a front-end inspired by Nissan's current design language. It will retain the current model's hatchback configuration and follow Read Full Story
Honda delivered its best Accord sedan yet last year, a car that reminded everyone why the company’s leagues of satisfied customers Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press are always so satisfied.…

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring Road Test Review

Honda delivered its best Accord sedan yet last year, a car that reminded everyone why the company's leagues of satisfied customers are always so satisfied. Now for 2014 it's taken the Accord concept into greener pastures with the Accord Hybrid.

In case that name sounds familiar, this isn't their first go-around with an Accord Hybrid. I first drove the car with the same name back in 2004 and it was truly impressive, but more so for performance than fuel economy. Like all Honda hybrids up to this point, which currently include the Civic Hybrid, CR-Z and Insight, their Integrated Motor Assist parallel hybrid system (mild hybrid) has been employed, a drivetrain that electrically boosts power to the gasoline engine rather than having an EV mode that can take over completely. The old 2005-2007 Accord Hybrid was a surprise because its powertrain included a V6 instead of a fuel-saving four, which might have been a good idea if stuffed under the hood of a premium-level Acura TL, but despite Read Full Story
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