All 2009 Articles

It's a simple fact: drive all four of a vehicle's wheels, and the driver will experience a greater level of control and traction than with a standard two wheel drive alone. The added grip on the roads surface in any weather benefits confidence and peace of mind on any voyage- especially those taking place when the weather gets nasty.

The 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit will be a major event for Fisker, which is set to launch not only the production version of the Karma sedan but also an all-new concept.

The times, they are a changing. Though it breaks a long-held North American tradition and contravenes the 'bigger is better' mentality, Ford is pushing powerplant technology to the next level in the name of power and efficiency.

Toyota Canada announced the pricing on the 2009 Venza crossover, and also stated that their vehicles would get an average of 1% in price increases.

The MKS has repositioned Lincoln several notches higher in the luxury sedan market, and that's where they need to be realistically to compete with Cadillac, Lexus and other notables in this intensely competitive arena.

BMW's handsome new 7-Series flagship is readying for launch following its scheduled appearances throughout the autoshow circuit this winter. Available as the 750i or the extended-wheelbase 750Li, BMW's biggest car is aimed to take on the Lexus LS, Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8.

Here's a real looker of a machine: the new Maserati Quattroporte GTS. It's not just another drop in a endless sea of expensive rocket sedans, either. In fact, Maserati says it's the most capable luxury performance four-door the they've ever made.

The 2009 BMW X6 is quite a strong-character vehicle and, much like with humans, this character can be pretty intimidating at first glance. It's entirely possible that you find it unattractive and want to look elsewhere, but give it a chance and you'll see how fast this bold new vehicle can grow on you.

Despite the numerous automakers that have dropped out of the Detroit Auto Show, others, like Audi, are promising new models that will be the envy of the other shows. On top of the unveiling of the R8 V10, Audi will present an all-new concept in the tradition of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the four-door A7 Coupe.

Well known for the safety of its automotive vehicles, Swedish manufacturer Volvo will conduct a study to compile a variety of data on driving behaviour in specific situations. For the FOT research project, part of the EuroFOT project established by the SAFER research center, the automaker will equip some 100 Volvo V70s and XC70s with cameras and computers.

Merrickville, Ontario - Can you imagine an SUV weighing over two tons that can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 8 seconds while burning about 9 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers? No, I'm not talking about gas-electric spinoffs like the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid or Chrysler Aspen Hybrid. This vehicle uses a different powertrain altogether: a modern twin-turbo diesel. It sports the blue-and-white roundel of BMW and is called X5!

It seems like a tough battle between the Dodge Ram and the Ford F-150, both totally redesigned for 2009. The latest round in the head-to-head grudge match goes to the F-150 for claiming Motor Trend Magazine's "Truck of the Year" honours. At the end of October, the Ram outscored the Ford by a small margin to become the AJAC's "Best New Pickup Truck" for 2009.

The Aspen is Chrysler's first foray into the world of sport utility vehicles. That's right: the storied company had never offered an SUV before, leaving that job to its sportier Dodge division. While the Aspen burst onto the scene fairly late, it now represents a quality alternative, especially in hybrid variant.

For 2009, Infiniti is introducing a convertible version of its successful G series. In 30 seconds, this four-passenger sports machine will drop its three-piece folding steel roof to let in the sun. The Infiniti G was originally introduced to Canada in 2002, featuring the manufacturer's trademark 3.5-litre V6 motor.

Volvo Canada has just signed a deal with Aeroplan where the automaker will offer Aeroplan miles to Canadians who test-drive, buy or lease a Volvo between January 1 and March 31, 2009.

After the launch of Aston Martin's new 4.7 liter V8 Vantage earlier this year, the British automaker is now offering owners of the previous Vantage a choice of performance enhancing add-ons for the original 4.3 V8 engine.

After ending Z4 roadster production this past summer, BMW has announced the availability of two all-new Z4 models this springtime. Available for power will be a pair of 3.0 liter straight-six engines. The first generates 255 horses and 220 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,600 rpm and is naturally aspirated.

If Mercedes-Benz is correct, then two displays are better than one: especially when they both exist on the same screen. With a new technology called SPLITVIEW, the driver and front passenger will be able to watch two different images from the same display screen. Mercedes is the first premium brand to introduce the technology, which will initially be available on their S-Class luxury sedan.

For years, space-efficient cars have been zipping around in Japan, but manufacturers never tried to put them on a boat and send them to North America. In Canada, small cars are generally well-accepted, as compacts dominate the sales charts. In the USA, though, the Japanese minicars would have failed miserably.

The automotive world is shrinking by the second. After Volkswagen, BMW is now selling diesel-powered cars in North America. A 3-Series sedan called 335d and a new variant of the X5 known as the xDrive35d are now part of the brand's portfolio. Wolfsburg's TDI monopoly will soon be no more. A new market segment is fast emerging and the 2009 BMW 335d, the first premium compact sedan to run on diesel in Canada, represents the tip of this iceberg.

A few automakers are turning their backs on the auto show in Motor City, but that won't stop the venue from being an exciting one.

Mercedes-Benz is teaming up once again with the prestigious Swiss watchmaker IWC Shaffhausen for a new limited edition, this time of the powerful and luxurious SL63 AMG roadster.

The 2009 Honda Fit does not look quite like the model that was introduced back in 2007. But while the overall design has considerably evolved (jewel-like headlights, sculpted hood, exaggerated roofline, smaller rear window, new dashboard, etc.), the formula is the same. The Fit is still a great example of efficiency in terms of space and performance.

For any car, getting back to its roots is usually an excellent move, particularly in the case of a brand's cherished child. Take the new Nissan Z; the boomerang has been perfectly thrown and in more ways than one.

The new generation of the most popular roadster of all time is now available in its native land, Japan. Unveiled just a few weeks ago, the MX-5 has inherited several of the brand's styling cues, including the large lower air intake with five wide corners.

A first impression is hard to change. When you meet someone for the first time, it supposedly takes about 30 seconds to make an idea in your mind of what kind of person is standing in front of you, and if you like that person or not. The same goes for cars and trucks. Walk in a dealership and spot the vehicle you're interested in. After a few seconds, if the exterior shape pleases you, the next step is arguably to open the door and sit down in it.

One year after the launch of the Karma Concept, Fisker will unveil the production model at the 2009 NAIAS, in Detroit. The revolutionary Karma becomes the world's first premium sports sedan to use a hybrid powertrain. Performance promises to be outstanding with a 260-horsepower, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine mated to 22.6-kW lithium-ion battery. Total output exceeds 400 horsepower (408) while accelerations from 0 to 100 km/h are completed in 5.8 seconds.

There was a sure way to make the Audi A5 and S5 even more enjoyable to drive- and that was to take off their tops. Audi has just announced that the A5 product line will be expanded to include Cabriolet models with three powerful engines and groundbreaking top technology for owners to enjoy.

Gas prices are rising and falling... and rising again and falling again. Small fuel-efficient cars, or econoboxes, offer a golden opportunity to become immune to this yo-yo. Since 2004, the Toyota Yaris has been dominating the market, easily overtaking such rivals as the Hyundai Accent and Nissan Versa.

The 2009 Kia Borrego could certainly be described as an automotive anachronism. While it just arrived on the market, this vehicle belongs in a previous era. What I mean is that Kia could not have picked a worse time to introduce a full-size SUV.