Discreet speed: Jaguar launches 470-hp XF Supercharged

By Justin Couture

Though Jaguar's XF has only been out for a bit more than a year in Canada, Jaguar has been hard at work, sharpening the luxury sedan’s claws. For 2010, it launched a new naturally aspirated, 385-horsepower 5.0-litre V8 engine for the XF Premium Luxury model, and the 510-horsepower supercharged XFR. The latter model is the range topper, complete with performance-enhanced suspension, brakes and an aggressive-looking exterior.

In terms of pricing and performance, the gap between the XF Premium Luxury and the XFR is fairly sizeable. Jaguar decided to span it with a new model, the XF Supercharged, which pairs more grunt with a more discreet styling. Key visual differences include a standard 20-inch wheels, a subtle rear spoiler, quad exhaust tips and silver-gray painted brake calipers; these aside, it looks mostly like a regular XF.

Aston Martin making a Toyota-based micro car

By Justin Couture

Aston Martin has just released the first photo of its upcoming concept car, and it must be said, it’s unlike anything the brand has ever made before. It’s called the Cygnet, and it’s a Smart-sized vehicle based on the Toyota iQ.

The Cygnet features all the usual Aston Martin styling cues, but they’ve all been condensed and re-proportioned to fit on the Toyota’s pint-sized frame including the famous wing-shaped grille, hood vents and fender vents. Amazingly, the headlamps are unchanged from the stock Toyota units. The car is expected to feature the iQ’s 1.33-litre inline-four engine which develops 96 horsepower and 90 lb.-ft. of torque. A stock Toyota iQ with this engine takes a bit less than 14 seconds to hit 100 km/h from still.

Road Warrior meets Green Acres: Tractor Pull a surreal event

By David Menzies

I wasn’t sure what to expect at the Bolton Truck & Tractor Pull. I mean, a towing competition? Now I know better. Truck and tractor pulling is one-part Road Warrior, two-parts Green Acres. It’s the sum total of what happens when a gaggle of good ol’ boys get their hands on the sort of money that could fund the U.S. national defence program (and then use the dough to outrageously modify farm equipment.) End result: Terminator meets Hee-Haw.

Pulling is a different kind of motorsport. There’s no oval asphalt track; rather, vehicles – one at a time – roar down a narrow dirt-covered straightaway measuring about 300 feet. It’s all about might rather than flight as mutant trucks and genetically-altered tractors endeavour to tow a sled that doesn’t resemble anything Santa Claus ever piloted.

Survey says: Ford Escape Hybrid this summer’s most coveted vehicle

By David Menzies

Who’d have thunk it? The Ford Escape Hybrid is this summer’s most coveted recreation vehicle.

At least, that’s one of the conclusions drawn from a new survey commissioned by www.leasetrader.com.

LeaseTrader recently asked more than 1,500 participants what recreation vehicle they’d prefer to acquire this solstice. The number one choice was the Escape Hybrid, followed by the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Mazda CX-7.

Call it the “Goldilocks Factor”: the top three choices are neither econoboxes nor Fat Bastard SUVs. While the Escape is an SUV, it’s certainly no Expedition. Meanwhile, the Tiguan and CX-7 are more diminutive than the Touareg and CX-9 respectively.

Surely the Escape’s ascent as top dog on the list is yet another telltale sign of a wonky economy and spiking gas prices as consumers rationalize their vehicle preferences. “Living large” has apparently been eclipsed by “medium motoring.”

2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year candidates announced

By Justin Couture

The Hyundai Genesis and Ford F-150 have scarcely been North American Car and Truck of the Year for six months, but work has already begun on next year’s awards. The organization, represented by the top 50 Canadian and U.S. auto journalists has just revealed the full list of candidates.

Following the announcement of the “long list” the journalists will test and evaluate the vehicles, narrowing down the field. A “short list” will be then be released, followed by the award ceremony at next year’s North American International Auto Show in January.

Hybrid busses: more hype than heroics

By David Menzies

They say it’s not easy being green. Turns out it’s not cheap, either. And in some cases, not that smart. Case in point: the City of Toronto and its ill-fated experiment with hybrid busses

The Toronto Transit Commission currently has more than 500 Orion hybrid (electric/diesel) busses on the road. Although hybrid cars are all the rage with trendy green commuters, hybrid busses are a different matter entirely.

For starters, talk about sticker shock: each hybrid bus costs an additional $200,000 off the lot (a hybrid is $700,000 versus $500,000 for a garden variety diesel bus.) Thus, from a bottom line perspective, a hybrid only makes sense if each bus is capable of delivering fuel savings of $200,000 over the course of its life (highly unlikely.)

Granted, there are other benefits to hybrids. A hybrid bus dispenses 37% less greenhouse emissions and 30% to 50% less nitrous oxide emissions. And the buses are supposed to consume 20% to 30% less fuel.

There’s just one not-so-insignificant glitch to the TTC’s green dream: the hybrids are lemons.

Foreign automakers set to out-build Detroit Three in the U.S.

By Justin Couture

Automakers from around the world have been building passenger cars in North America for decades now, but soon, the Detroit Three may no longer be the biggest players in terms of production volume in North America.

Grant Thorton LLP, an account management firm that specializes in restructuring, predicts that by the time Chrysler and GM start to pay off their government-backed loans in 2012, the total combined volume of the Detroit Three’s vehicles will hover at the 7.5 million mark, which is less than the combined volume of European, Japanese and Korean brands built in the United States (an expected eight million units).

“A new order is emerging where Detroit companies may no longer be the volume leaders in their home market,” said Kimberly Rodriguez, a principle at the Grant Thorton.

Lee Iacocca launches commemorative Mustang

By Justin Couture

Having worked at the head of two out of three of Detroit's Three automakers, Lee Iacocca knows the North American auto industry pretty well. He played an instrumental role in reviving Chrysler during the ‘80s, helped develop the idea of the minivan, and he launched the original 1964 Ford Mustang, one of the most popular American sports cars of all time.

Forty five years later, the Mustang is still going strong. What better time to celebrate with a special edition than now?

For the past two years under the company name I Legends, Iacocca worked with star designer Michael Leone and Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters Inc. to come up with the Iacocca Silver Edition. Their work was well worth the wait; the finished product looks fantastic and was well worth the wait.

Historical lemon of the week: 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Iron Duke

By David Menzies

Summer is here at last! And with it comes fun-in-the-sun, outdoor patios, and the official drink of summertime, lemonade.

In honour of that beloved bittersweet beverage, from now until fall, we shall present a look back at some of the most memorable lemons of yesteryear on a weekly basis. We’re talking design disasters, marketing misfits, engineering errors and aesthetic abominations. In short, some of the most wretched rides of all time.

Without further ado, let’s all collectively hold our noses as we present our first retrospective lemon: the 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Iron Duke.

Mahindra bringing affordable diesel pickups to North America

By Justin Couture

If you’re in the market for a cheap, durable and rugged pickup truck, take note - there’s a new kid on the block.

On specs alone, it’s arriving dressed to impress and ready to work. It will be powered by a 2.2-litre clean-diesel engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission (as standard equipment) enabling it to haul 1.38 tons, while consuming just 7.8 L of fuel per 100 km driven on the highway. Available in two or four-door variants, it also comes equipped with standard ABS brakes and stability control with rollover mitigation.

If its diesel powertrain weren’t enough to set it apart from the competition, when it goes on sale during the fourth quarter of 2009, it’s set to be priced 10 to 15 per cent cheaper than comparable Japanese offerings. Interested?