Dart may be poison to compact rivals

I’m in the land of trucks, SUVs and all things big-wheeled for the launch of the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart – the first Chrysler vehicle designed and built under Fiat’s ownership.

This Dart is not similar to or related to the iconic ’60s American muscle car of the same name. In fact, the modern compact sedan is actually related to the European Alfa Romeo Giulietta, which is known for its competent handling and stylish looks instead of balls-out speed and horsepower.

2013 Dodge Dart

Dart is built on a stretched and widened Giulietta package jam-packed with standard features not typically found in this segment. Even the $15,995 SE base model comes with 10 airbags, ABS disc brakes on all four wheels, traction control and on/off electronic stability control, so it should have a significant value advantage straight out of the gate.

Due in summer 2012, Dodge’s sharpest-looking compact sedan ever will compete in the most crowded vehicle segment there is, against the more conventional and popular Civic, Corolla, Cruze, Elantra, Focus and Jetta, to name a few.

Continue reading my review of the 2013 Dodge Dart on the Toronto Sun’s Autonet.ca.

Or, go straight to the photos.

All rights reserved. 2013 Dodge Dart Test By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

The Pfaff Motorsports team will return to the Canadian racing circuit in the 2012 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada with Castrol as lead sponsor on the No. 9 Porsche 911 GT3 racecar, which was publicly unveiled at the Thompson Hotel in Toronto this week.

Kyle Marcelli has been hand-picked to debut the Pfaff Castrol motorsports team in the 2012 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge. With more than 10 years racing experience in 84 races, including 12 wins and 46 podiums, the 22-year-old Barrie, Ontario native is one of the country’s most exciting up-and-comers in motorsports.

“We are very excited about the upcoming race season and have great expectations for the team we have put together with Fiorano Racing and up-and-coming driver, Kyle Marcelli, behind the wheel,” said Christopher Pfaff, president and CEO, Pfaff Automotive Partners.

Marcelli’s career highlights include racing in the American and European Le Mans Series. On May 19 and 20, at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, the open wheel specialist will race against 20 other entries in the 2012 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada opener during the annual Victoria Day Speedfest Weekend presented by Castrol Edge in Bowmanville.

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin

With racing veteran Fiorano Racing building the GT3 racecar and Marcelli as lead guest driver, the Pfaff Castrol Motorsports team is poised to be a leading contender in the upcoming race season.

Pfaff Motorsports driver Jeff Pabst will join the team as guest driver throughout the season. Pabst has more than 20 years of racing experience including the ALMS, Porsche Super Cup, World Challenge and, most recently, the Canadian Touring Car Series.

In its second year, the Porsche Cup series is North America’s fastest growing single-make racing series, expanding from six to nine races and adding two new venues, including the Formula 1 race weekend in Montreal

“It’s a traditional race on Sunday, sell on Monday situation,” said Joe Lawrence, president and CEO of Porsche Cars Canada, at the Pfaff Motorsports team launch party. “We’re excited to have a large field of 21 cars in the series this year.”

Developed in conjunction with the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA), the GT3 Cup is designed to develop new drivers and prepare them for competition in the American Le Mans Series.

Canada is the 20th country to host it own GT3 Cup series. For dates and places, check out the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin site here.

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All rights reserved. Pfaff returns to Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

Porsche 911 GT3 2012 Sebring Test Days

After a ground-breaking first season, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin enters its second year with three times the entries and three more races for 2012.

Last year, less than two months before the first race, Porsche Canada announced North America’s newest single-make racing series, the Porsche GT3 Cup Canada. Designed to develop new drivers and prepare them for competition in the American Le Mans Series, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., in partnership with Porsche Motorsport North America and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), entered into a two-year agreement for the 20th GT3 Cup Challenge series in the world.

The inaugural 2011 season consisted of three events and a total of six races. And, while the short lead time initially made for small fields, in the end, the series produced some spectacular sports car racing. The high quality of the drivers, cars and teams ensured the results of each race were undecided until the checkered flag finally fell.

The season culminated at Mosport in July with a full field of both Canadian and U.S. drivers battling it out for North American bragging rights as well as the three class championships. Drivers Perry Bortolotti, Shaun McKaigue and Bob Seitz won their respective platinum, gold and silver class championships. All three return to the series in 2012 to defend their championships.

“It was an incredible season of racing,” said Joe Lawrence, president and CEO of Porsche Cars Canada, and one of the driving forces behind bringing Porsche single-make racing back to the place it first started back in the 1980s. “All in all, we could hardly have hoped for a better start – the fans were excited, the fields tripled in size by year end and, after witnessing the buzz, Porsche’s global technology partner, Michelin, jumped in as a sponsor. In addition, we have added three new events to the series calendar. I expect this season will produce some of the best racing Canada has seen in some time.”

Porsche GT3 Cup Canada Speeds Ahead

The first event of the 2012 season will be at Mosport International Speedway’s Victoria Day Speedfest. Two races are scheduled that weekend, one on May 19 and the other on May 20. Eighteen teams have entered 2012′s inaugural event, almost all of which have committed to a full season of racing and a run at the platinum, gold and silver championships.

After Mosport, the series moves to Montreal, June 8 to 10, as part of the Grand Prix du Canada festivities. There, in the series’ only single race event of the year, Canadian entrants will battle their American counterparts in front of one of the largest crowds in Canadian sports. The race has been listed on the U.S. Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge calendar for several years and will be run under U.S. rules once again in 2012. “But, with such steady increases in participation as we’ve seen recently, we could have our own race at the Grand Prix in 2013,” explained Lawrence.

The third stop on the schedule is a two-race event at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant as part of the 2012 Summer Festival. Held on the weekend of July 6 to 8, the event makes the series’ first trip to the historic Quebec track, formerly the home of the Grand Prix du Canada in the 1960s and 70s.

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin returns to Mosport for the Grand Prix of Mosport for two more races as part of the huge American Le Mans Series fixture the weekend of July 20 to 22.

The final two-race event of the year will be at the track where the series first took the green flag last May, Calabogie Motorsports Park just outside of Ottawa, on the weekend of August 9 to 12.

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin is divided into three classes; Platinum Cup, featuring the more powerful 2012, 2011 and 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars; Gold Cup, which includes 2005.5 – 2009 Porsche GT3 Cup cars, and the Silver Cup class for 2002 – 2005 996 Porsches. All three classes run on Michelin Cup N1 tires.

“The growth of the series this year is very gratifying because racing is so integral to who we are and where we are going. The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin brings this essential aspect of the brand to life locally here in Canada,” commented Lawrence. “We are looking forward to the new venues and to see what some of the new drivers can do. Last year Perry Bortolotti emerged as an important new racer. We’re excited to see who steps to the forefront this year!”

Additional information, including a downloadable schedule and competitor regulations, are available at http://www.imsaracing.net.

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin features semi-professional drivers racing head to head in the largest single-make series in the world. Powered by one of the world’s most successful race cars, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, the multi-class structure of the series teaches drivers essential skills for an eventual career in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón.

All rights reserved. Porsche GT3 Cup Canada Speeds Ahead By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

2013 SRT Viper

In case you have been living under a rock for the last week, here are some of my close-ups with the 2013 SRT Viper GTS from the New York International Auto Show where I was on assignment for Autonet.ca. I didn’t get to see the whole show this year. However, I was there long enough for the star of the event to make its slithery presence known with its 8.4L V10 motor making 640 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque roaring to life on stage where SRT president and CEO, Ralph Gilles, addressed the media horde. Enjoy!

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All rights reserved. 2013 SRT Viper bows in NYC By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

B-class Betty is wicked quick

I’m back at the Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada to drive the all-new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth on the 5.0-km long road course where this pint-sized car is proving you don’t need a ton of horsepower to create a super-sized grin.

The Abarth is the high-performance version of Fiat’s 500 subcompact that is gaining popularity in North America and is outselling other small cars like the Mini Cooper, Honda Fit, and Scion xB and xD since launching in late 2011.

Although Canadians will pay two grand more than our American neighbours, as well as miss out on a full track day event learning to drive their new Abarths, $23,995 is still a fair price for such big performance in a small package.

2012 Fiat 500 Abarth

The twin-intercooled 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo four, for example, makes an impressive 115.3 hp per litre and the car weighs just 1,151 kg. Combine its 160 hp and 170 lb.-ft. of torque with a host of enhancements over and above the standard Fiat 500. Among them, a heavy-duty performance five-speed manual transmission, tuned suspension with Koni FSD twin-tube dampers and beefy sway bars, 17-inch alloy wheels, powerful ABS brakes and a nicely-balanced chassis, and it really is a track-ready every day car.

Continue reading my review of the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth on the Toronto Sun’s Autonet.ca.

Or, go straight to the photos.

All rights reserved. 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth Test By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

Genesis Coupe reborn as bona fide sports car

Last fall, I drove the best-selling Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 GT at Mosport and was quite impressed with the car’s superb balance and exciting performance. But, today I’m at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada to drive the significantly-refreshed 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe – both the 2.0T and 3.8 GT models – and boy what fun they are!

Each gets more power and suspension tweaks that make both cars even better, along with much improved, more refined interiors and transmission choices. The 2.0T has a new twin-scroll turbocharger and a 50% larger intercooler that bumps horsepower by 30% to 274 and torque to 275 lb.-ft., while the 3.8L V6 now makes 348 hp and 295 lb.-ft. on premium fuel.

2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Hyundai has revised its six-speed manual transmission for more precise gear shifts, and introduces a new eight speed automatic with Shiftronic manual mode and paddle shifters. Not only that, a three-stage ESC allows drivers to partially and fully disengage both the electronic traction and stability controls while ABS remains active. The intermediate setting no longer cuts engine power.

Continue reading my review of the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe on the Toronto Sun’s Autonet.ca.

Or, go straight to the photos.

All rights reserved. 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Test By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

There are two photo sets here. I shot the first set back in 2005 at the 2006 Honda Civic long lead presser in Japan where I drove the then soon-to-be-launched eighth-gen Civic Si on the Motegi Twin Ring road course. The earlier JDM-spec Civics shown here were on display next to the paddock – generations one through seven are pictured here, all of them in better-than-showroom condition. No doubt it’s because the Honda Collection Hall museum stands nearby on the automaker’s hallowed grounds in the city of Utsunomiya, in Japan’s Tochigi Prefecture north of Tokyo.

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I shot this next set at the launch of the 2012 Honda Civic last spring. I drove the current Si coupe, on the Homestead-Miami Speedway road course; and, rode shotgun several hot laps with a pair of professional Canadian hot-shoes, Scott Goodyear and Patrick Carpentier. The earlier models shown here are all North American-spec cars owned by American Honda. Though generations only one through eight are shown here, the first-gen CVCC looks like it has the most potential as a fun little project car, don’t you think?

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All rights reserved. Honda Civic through the generations By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

The Jaguar C-X16 concept made its one and only Canadian appearance at the 2012 Canadian International Auto Show this past week in Toronto where Autonet’s Shaun Keenan got the full scoop on this gorgeous GT coupe from none other than its creator, Ian Callum, design director for Jaguar. By the sound of things the C-X16 is more than just a design concept for Jaguar, but you’ll have to keep reading to learn more.

Q: Start by telling me when the C-X16 first became the twinkle in your eye?

A: Personally, I’ve wanted to do this car since I arrived at Jaguar 12 years ago. It’s been in the back of my mind for a long time. It really started to materialize a couple of years ago when our M.D. at the time, Mike O’Driscoll, came in and said he wanted to do this car as well. He’s since retired unfortunately, but he said, and I totally agreed with him, ‘it’s about time we start looking at a two-seat sports car for Jaguar.’ We’ve got a 2+2 GT and it’s very much an extreme GT, but we wanted to get back to the roots of what Jaguar performance is about, and this is it for me!

My interview with Ian Callum, Jaguar’s director of design, on the C-X16 Concept can be read in its entirety on Autonet.ca.

En francais?

All rights reserved. New face of Jaguar starts with C-X16 By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

I met Petter Solberg in Sardinia, Italy during the 2004 Rally Italia Sardina. Cool guy, awesome driver and quite the collection of Subarus and other awesome hardware according to this circa Dec. 2010 vid I have stumbled upon.

This is some old footage shot with my old Nikon Coolpix 4500 back in the day. The first car in the vid is driven by Mikko Hirvonen, who at the time, was the number two SWRT driver behind Petter Solberg. I shot the first segment from the spectator / grandstand area at checkpoint three, I believe.

The second half of the vid is shot from the back of a transit van heading back down the mountain back to Olbia where the rally has been based out since 2004. For the WRC cars, it’s a transit stage between their last checkpoint and the Olbia staging area. The WRC cars are street legal, of course.

All rights reserved. Petter Solberg’s garage By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

If you need some reasons to get your arse off the couch and check out the 2012 Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto (Feb. 17-26), here are a few… a few million that is.

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All rights reserved. Exotics kick off Toronto auto show By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

TORONTO (Ontario) Thursday, February 16, 2012 – In an early morning press conference at the opening of the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, the Hyundai Elantra was declared the 2012 Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

“The all-new Elantra was simply the single most important new vehicle that Hyundai has ever launched,” said Steve Kelleher, President and CEO, Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. “The Elantra competes in Canada’s critical compact segment, so for it to win Canadian Car of the Year is vindication for all the effort Hyundai designers and engineers invested into the project. We wanted to bring Canadians a new take on the compact sedan; one with great style, quality, safety and incredible fuel efficiency. So, we couldn’t be more proud that AJAC agreed it should win Canada’s highest automotive award.”

Hyundai won three out of the eleven “Best New” categories when announced in October 2011. All “Best New” category winners are eligible to compete for the overall crown of either the “Canadian Car of the Year” or the “Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year”. The Hyundai Elantra was also the winner in the “Best New Small Car over $21,000″ class.

The Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel was named 2012 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year by AJAC.

“Winning this award is a tremendous honour, said Mr. John White, President of Volkswagen Canada. “The Volkswagen Touareg is extremely capable both on and off road, and surrounds its passengers in comfort and luxury. We are very pleased to be recognized for all of the hard work our engineers and designers have put in.”

The “Best New Design” award went to the Hyundai Veloster.

“It’s a great honour to have the Hyundai Veloster win the Best New Design award from AJAC,” said Steve Kelleher, President and CEO, Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. “Fluidic Sculpture was Hyundai’s first foray into developing its own, distinctive design language and the Veloster was sculpted from the outset to be the most aggressive iteration of that approach. The Veloster is a design halo for the entire Hyundai brand, so to win an award based on the car’s styling is proof that our designers have found success.”

The top three finalists for the 2012 Best New Design award were the Hyundai Veloster, the Jaguar XKR-S, and the Ranger Rover Evoque.

“The intent of the AJAC Best New Design award is to identify and reward the vehicle that exhibits the best balance of form and function”, said Richard Russell, chair of AJAC’s 2012 Canadian Car of the Year awards.

Consumers will have a chance to win a four-year lease of the 2012 Canadian Car of the Year thanks to a “Drive to Win” contest launched today by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). The “Drive to Win” contest will run from February 16th to April 30th, 2012. Canadians can register on-site at the Canadian International Auto Show at the Eco-Drive Showcase presented by CAA South Central Ontario or online through the contest portal, www.caadrivetowin.ca.

CAA and AJAC announced a partnership exactly one year ago at the 2011 Auto Show. The two associations joined forces with the goal of working together to provide Canadian consumers with better access to factual, ethical and honest information on automotive topics that matter to them.

“CAA’s proud to partner with AJAC on the Canadian Car of the Year Awards program through the Drive to Win contest,” said Jeff Walker, CAA vice-president of public affairs. “The Canadian Car of the Year program is a great source of accurate, comparative information on vehicles that are new to the market and we are pleased to be drawing additional attention to this valuable initiative.”

For additional “Drive to Win” contest details and to submit your ballot visit www.caadrivetowin.ca.

“We are extremely proud of the Canadian Car of the Year program. The goal has always been to provide Canadian consumers with the most accurate, unbiased and useful information possible to assist them in making purchase decisions. This is possible because of the participation of more than 70 experienced automotive reviewers, thorough evaluation procedures and the impartiality assured by secret ballots submitted to and tabulated by the international accounting firm of KPMG,” said AJAC’s Canadian Car of the Year Awards chair, Richard Russell.

Unlike other awards, AJAC’s Canadian Car of the Year awards are not a popularity contest based on the opinions of a few people. AJAC’s winners are determined on a combination of measured facts and subjective evaluations of more than 20 parameters by the journalists – more than 40,000 pieces of data in all. Most importantly, they are based on actual testing of the vehicles – back-to-back; on the same roads and in the same conditions on the same day. The actual testing event takes place in Niagara-on-the-Lake every October and is known in the industry as “TestFest.” Shell Canada is the official fuel supplier of the event.

Photos from today’s award announcements, the category winners’ press conference, and the TestFest evaluation event, are available for print and broadcast media under Canadian Car of the Year.. Photo Gallery… on the AJAC web site.

B-roll footage can be downloaded from www.wheelsonedge.com/ajac

In addition, our AJAC journalists who evaluated the brand new models at TestFest are available across Canada for interviews to talk about the procedures, vote results and comparative data. Media are invited to visit the AJAC web site and log-in under “Ask An AJAC Expert,” then choose the “Media” link to access interview information once validation has occurred.

For more information on the 2012 Canadian Car of the Year Awards, either visit our AJAC web site at www.ajac.ca, call the AJAC office at 1.705.924.3444, or send us an email: beth@ajac.ca.

All rights reserved. Elantra named Canadian Car of the Year By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

Riding shotgun with legendary endurance racer Hurley Haywood for some hot laps in a Porsche 911 GT2 RS at the Porsche Sport Driving School USA last year at Alabama’s Barber Motorsports Park is a definite highlight of my professional life. Trying to chase him down with one of the school’s 911 Carrera 4S’ was a real treat too. And, although the unseasonably cold Alabama spring weather turned Darth Vader’s summer rubber into rock hard icy slicks and ruined a perfectly good opportunity to enjoy the hilly, sweeping roads outside Birmingham, Ala., it’s hard to complain.

I get to drive many vehicles in my line of work. Not all are lavish and expensive though, and all of them have good points and bad. Some are cooler than others. Others may be more fun to drive than they are functional for everyday purposes.

In less than 48 hours, a Korean car will be named Canada’s of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). It will deserve it, too, whether it’s the new Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Elantra or the Kia Optima. My money is on the latter, having driven both the SX and hybrid trims in 2011 and getting excellent fuel economy and performance from both.

Sure, I wouldn’t mind owning either of them; but, of all the cars I got to drive last year, there are others that got my blood boiling much faster. Here are my ‘Top 5′ drives of 2011:

5) 2011 Nissan Nismo 370Z (CAD $47,033* as tested)

The Infiniti G37 IPL nearly took Zed’s place on this list simply because it came with an automatic transmission, which, I suppose is better than the whiny CVT other Nissans are equipped with. A slick six-speed manual is the only one available on the Nismo 370Z, however, and benefits from perfectly-synchronized downshift rev-matching in ‘sport’ mode that keeps the Nismo-tuned 350-hp 3.7-litre DOHC V6 in its sweet spot! Rays 19-inch wheels and an upgraded suspension and brakes complement a well-balanced chassis that responds well to driver commands in a package that looks elegant, not gaudy. I thought last year’s 40th anniversary edition 370Z was pretty good, but this car is really great!

4) 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 GT (CAD $36,499* as tested)

If you ever get the chance to take a Hyundai Genesis Coupe out on a race track, you might just find yourself running the tank dry. The 3.8-litre V6 engine puts down 306 horsepower and 266 lb.-ft. of torque through a Torsen rear limited slip differential. Nineteen-inch 10-spoke wheels and a Brembo braking package with four-piston calipers and a GT performance suspension translates into a tidy package that doesn’t break the bank. The car is really well-balanced with the traction control system on or off; and, a new eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the 2013 model even has me curious. (Fortunately, I’m driving the new Genesis Coupe at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, Nev. in a few weeks time, and; will finally get to drive the 2.0T.)

3) 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe AWD (CAD $58,690* as tested)

The CTS Coupe is pure boss even without a V-series badge. Its aggressive styling and impressive wheelbase are enough to make anyone rethink the Cadillac brand; and, this beauty has the power to make any senior citizen look and feel young at the wheel. The CTS-V Coupe gets a more serious 555-hp 6.2-litre V8 for another 13-plus grand; but, the standard 3.6-litre V6 engine, which develops 318 horses, is plenty good for everyday driving. The interior of the AWD test mule is calm and quiet, with high-quality leathers and trims on par with far more expensive luxury sports coupes. Let alone one that can seat four people.

2) 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 (CAD $48,199* as tested)

Whoa there Tonto, who’s the boss? Almost immediately after picking up this U.S.-spec 2012 Boss 302 at Ford Canada HQ in Oakville, Ont., I found myself zipping along the highway with a new Camaro SS convertible unable to… well, I digress. But, for under 50 grand this basically a street-legal racecar. It has a 444-hp five-litre V8 engine, high performance Brembo brakes, fully-adjustable suspension and a 3.73 Torsen limited slip (optional) capable of making any grown man smile. A Laguna Seca package adds a rear-seat X-brace, brake cooling ducts, front air splitters and more. If you’re really want light up the rear tires and take this nostalgic ‘Stang to the track, be sure to grab the optional red ignition key that disables all the electronic babysitters and puts this thoroughbred into full race mode, as well as increase your tire budget!

1) 2011 BMW 1 Series M (CAD $53,600* as tested)

Of the 56 different models competing at TestFest last fall in AJAC’s 2012 Canadian Car of the Year competition, the 1M is the perfect combination of everything it takes to make a great performance coupe. The velvety smooth three-litre inline six-cylinder bi-turbo powerplant develops 335 horsepower and 332 lb.-ft. of torque that is enjoyed via BMW’s variable M differential lock and virtually-perfect six-speed manual transmission and M Servotronic vehicle-speed sensing power steering. The lightweight RWD coupe even rivals the current E92 M3 with its telepathic handling, amazing acceleration and incredible stopping power. There was nothing faster than it in the slalom course and it’s definitely the fastest car I’ve driven around the airport runway test track we’ve had at the Niagara District Airport the past several years. It does zero-100 km/h in five seconds, 80-120 in 3.6 and screams to a halt (100-zero km/h) in 38.5 metres (only the $86,000 Porsche Cayman R and Dodge Charger SRT8 did better, but not by much). Only 200 of these cars were allotted for Canada, so finding one will be like finding a toothpick in a very large haystack.

Well, that’s my list. And, that’s just me. Stayed tuned to my blog Journauto.com for exciting news and updates. Been working on a few new things lately that I hope to share soon. In the meantime, check out my photo gallery from my day at the Porsche Sport Driving School USA here.

*MSRP excluding destination, delivery, taxes and/or other fees.

All rights reserved. Top 5 Drives of 2011 By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

My sister got nailed by one of these fish during an evening boat cruise somewhere along the Mississippi River in Illinois many years ago. She took a direct hit in the face by a fully grown silver carp and, was lucky to not be knocked off the boat into the prop as the 50-pound flying carp nearly knocked her out cold. She needed some stitches to close a gash above her lips and came away from the incident with one heck of a fish story.

Silver carp are among several Asian carp species that have been invading North American waterways and destroying native ecosystems for decades. Injuries like my sister’s are not uncommon according to the United States Enviornmental Protection Agency (EPA), which along with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and a host of other agencies including Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources have been doing their part to keep these invasive species’ out our Great Lakes.

Since escaping a Mississippi River fish farm that flooded in the early ’90s, Asian carp have continued to swim north. Everything from electric barriers and large-scale fish culling with toxic chemicals to permanent lock closures and marketing efforts (to sell these critters as foodfish at home and abroad) is being undertaken to keep them out with the Stop Asian Carp Act of 2011 being one the latest initiatives.

Despite evidence the largest source of freshwater on the planet has been breached by Asian carp, the fight must go on on all fronts. There are battles to be fought and ground to be won, and very little time left.

Everyone should be writing to their local U.S. Senators and Canadian Members of Parliament to help stop this ecological disaster from getting any bigger. The U.S. officialy declared war on these pests in 2007 citing the Lacey Act of 1900. In the province of Ontario, it’s been illegal to posses live Asian carp since 2005.

It’s not too late to take up the fight and, if you’re brave enough to go fight on the front lines, the Peoria Carp Hunters want you!

Check out their latest YouTube video.

Further reading:
HealthyLakes.org
The Carp Hunters
Asian Carp Wiki
Silver Carp Wiki
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Asian Carp Status Report (2005)

All rights reserved. Stop Asian Carp Today By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

Hey Forza fans! Following Insight Racing’s solid start to the CTSCC season in Daytona last week, I’ve made virtual replicas of both BMW race cars for road racing and Forza fans alike to drive and enjoy in Forza Motorsport 4.

To show my support for the Ohio-based team, I’ll be giving away these designs for free for the duration of the 2012 Continental Tires Sports Car Challenge season. That’s right, free!

Driven by 2011 CTSCC rookie of the year Ryan Ellis and Tyler McQuarrie, the real #18 car scored its first top 10 of the season in round one of the 2012 CTSCC. The faster #19 car, driven by Jeff Westphal and Martin Jensen, finished the BMW Performance 200 at Daytona in 15th position.

To download the liveries, load up your copy of Forza and search the ‘STOREFRONT’ for the designs to download yourself. You can find my storefront by searching gamertags for “journauto”.

For the #18 car, search for “BMW 135i” designs with any of these keywords: #18 INSIGHT RACING BMW 128i COUPE ST CLASS REPLICA 2012 CONTI TIRES CHALLENGE

For the #19 car, search for “BMW E92 M3″ designs with any of these keywords: #19 INSIGHT RACING BMW E92 M3 COUPE GS CLASS REPLICA 2012 CONTI TIRES CHALLENGE

There is no 128i model in the game, so the #18 car uses a 2009 BMW 135i Coupe, which you can get in the game or online auction house, with HRE 445R wheels* painted black to match. The #19 GS racecar requires you to have the 2008 BMW M3 Coupe E92 with black HRE 546R wheels*.

Insight Racing will also compete in the 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series in Europe this year with a new Ferrari Italia 458 GT3. It doesn’t yet have a livery…

*Purchase in wheels section of Forza Motorsport 4 “Upgrade Shop”.

Xbox Live Gold subscription, video game and internet connection required.

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All rights reserved. Insight Racing CTSCC liveries for Forza 4 By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

Look what I just found in the Forza Autovista garage! Don’t know when or how it got there, but it has me wondering what auto reviews might be like in 500+ years. Maybe something like this:

The 2554 AMG Transport Dynamics M12 Wathog FAV is powered by a 12-litre hydrogen-injected ICE powerplant. In a standard 1G environment, the Warthog has a 490 mile range and 78 mph top speed, no matter the terrain!

The four wheel drive, four wheel steering M12 FAV features a manual shifted transmission and a steering-wheel linked emergency brake that can turn the Hog on a dime.

It comes with 420/60 20-inch nanotube tires that are practically indestructible with reactive tread compounds that provide unearthly traction. Naturally, its 14-inch disc brakes are made from exotic carbon ceramics found only on the planet Sanghelios.

It’s equipped with a Graf/Hauptman solar/Saline actuator that allows the driver to create hydrogen fuel from any fresh, brackish or salt water source, thus reducing the need to transport bulky and dangerous fuel supplies.

Depending on its use, multi-function displays, vehicle status computers and G-rated impact seats are among the many customizable interior features AMG can install at the factory.

All Warthogs are coated with a programmable nano-prismatic paint to refract colour at any chromacity depending on the vehicle’s destination. A security bit was designed to prevent people from tinkering with the finish.

Pre-order yours today.

All rights reserved. 2554 AMG Transport Dynamics M12 Warthog FAV By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

Canada’s next car of the year will be Korean! And, my money is on this Kia.

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) today announced the top three finalists in its 2012 Canadian Car of the Year competition at the Montreal International Auto Show.

The finalists in the three categories are [drum roll]: for, 2012 Canadian Car of the Year, the Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Elantra and Kia Optima. For 2012 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, the BMW X3, Dodge Journey and Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel. And, for 2012′s Best New Design, we have the Hyundai Veloster, Jaguar XKR-S and Range Rover Evoque.

The winner in each category will be announced at an early morning press conference at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto on Thursday, February 16th.

Eleven category winners were eligible for the top honours after being announced last October during the association’s annual “TestFest.” Hyundai Auto Canada won three of the 11 categories while BMW Group Canada, Kia Canada and Mercedes-Benz Canada each garnered double wins. Other category winners were Chrysler Canada and Volkswagen Canada.

Back in October, 70 of Canada’s top automotive journalists spent four days in Niagara-on-the-Lake conducting intensive back-to-back comparative testing of 170 “all new” or “significantly new” 2012 vehicles. This is no easy task!

Vote results were determined from more than 40,000 individual data points established during TestFest. That information includes not just specifications and features, but actual performance data and subjective ratings on up to 23 different vehicle characteristics – from interior roominess and comfort to ride quality and handling ability. The vote results were compiled on-site by the international accounting firm KPMG and kept confidential even from AJAC until the winners’ press conference.

KPMG will hand over four envelopes with names of the winners of this year’s competition at the CIAS in Toronto. The 2012 Canadian Car of the Year, Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year and Best New Design will be announced along with the winner of this year’s Best New Technology award, presented by Shell Canada, the official fuel supplier of the event.

The 70 journalists are all members of AJAC, whose purpose is to provide consumers with sound, objective, comparative data for use as a resource buying guide when considering the purchase of a new car, truck of SUV/CUV.

Consumers wanting to compare a Fiat 500 to Honda Civic Sedan or a Hyundai Accent; or, an Acura TL to a Mercedes-Benz C 350 need look no further than the AJAC web site: www.ajac.ca > Canadian Car of the Year Awards > Results. Looking to buy a 2011, 2010, or even an older vehicle? AJAC archives the comparative test data and vote results from previous years on its website. Visit www.ajac.ca > Vehicle Comparisons for more info.

All rights reserved. Aiieee Canada! By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

Didn’t think I’d ever get to drive a “new” NSX but my odds of doing so just got a whole lot better…

Acura today unveiled the NSX Concept at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. Showcasing a mid-mounted V6 engine mated to Acura’s innovative new Sport Hybrid Super Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) hybrid system, the dynamically-styled NSX Concept is expected to debut in the next three years.

The new Acura supercar will be developed by an engineering team led by Honda R&D Americas, Inc., and manufactured in Ohio, at a yet to be named facility.

Utilizing a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a Bilateral Torque Adjustable Control System, the all-new hybrid all-wheel-drive system can instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering. Acura anticipates the new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® will deliver handling performance unmatched by previous AWD systems. In addition to the handling benefits of the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® system, a powerful next-generation VTEC® V6 engine with direct-injection works in concert with a dual clutch transmission with built-in electric motor to create supercar acceleration while offering outstanding efficiency.

“This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make NSX the ultimate expression of Acura’s idea to create synergy between man and machine,” said Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. “The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way.”

While most supercars opt for brute force delivered from a large engine, the NSX Concept champions the true racing philosophy of an extremely favourable power-to-weight ratio.

“Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency,” added Ito, who led the development of Acura’s first NSX supercar. “In this new era, even as we focus on the fun-to-drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities.”

Acura NSX Concept Dimensions
Length: 4,330 mm
Width: 1,895 mm
Height: 1,160 mm
Wheelbase: 2,575 mm
Wheel size, in: 19×9 (front), 20×10 (rear)
Tire size: 255/35R19 (front), 275/30R20 (rear)

All rights reserved. New NSX in three years By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

Toyota has sold more than 5.5-million Yaris subcompacts worldwide since the first generation model launched in 1999. It was called the Echo when it arrived in Canada in 2003, however, it changed to Yaris when the second gen launched in 2005. More than 84,000 units have been sold here since, with more than 53% of those in Quebec.

Though it’s been stretched by 75 mm (to 3,900 mm) and given a more dynamic exterior, vis-à-vis a new face and sleeker profile, Yaris is still the shortest vehicle in its class. The front pillar is farther forward for better visibility and the body structure is stiffer and more responsive for better handling. Continue reading my review of the 2012 Toyota Yaris on Autonet.ca.

Or, go straight to the photos.

All rights reserved. Uncle Yaris settles into the mainstream By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

Outlander sits between the RVR compact crossover and Mitsubishi’s Endeavor full-size SUV. With a choice of four- or six-cylinder power, it’s suitable for just about anyone’s daily needs whether it’s in the city or out in the Styx.

A 168-hp 2.4-litre inline-four and front-wheel drive come on the $25,498 base ES model. All-wheel drive adds roughly $2,500 to the sticker. A 230-hp 3.0-litre V6 AWD is standard on the LS and XLS trims, but if you want the closest thing you can get to the rally-bred Lancer Evolution in a SUV, the latter is your ticket. Continue reading my review of the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander V6 S-AWC on Autonet.ca.

Or, go straight to the photos.

All rights reserved. Four wheel drive makes Outlander Super By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/

Russ Bond’s calling and he wants me to explain how the Veloster won best new sports performance car under $50,000 in AJAC’s 2012 Car of the Year competition. As if I had something to do with it.

It’s not that the Hyundai isn’t a good choice. It has a fuel efficient engine and six-speed manual transmission. For $22,499, it looks great, has a nice, functional interior and sports plenty of value. All nice qualities, none of which make it a sports car.

Following a particularly enthusiastic lapping session driving the fast and agile BMW 1M coupe on our airport runway test track during TestFest, it feels barely faster than a Prius out here on the autocross-style cone course.

Sure, it’s nicely balanced and turns well (slowly, of course) but, after a single lap, the 280 mm (11 in.) front brakes prove just how inferior they are compared to those on a real performance car such as the 1M. The Veloster can’t match the stopping power of the 360 mm (14.2 in.) front discs and four-piston calipers, and plows wide through the last turn, taking out a family of cones. One is so badly wedged into the undercarriage I’m forced to pull over so the PR rep sitting in the passenger seat can get out and extricate it for me.

The $54,000 BMW handily won the sports performance over 50 class and rightly so. It might even be the best car at TestFest. However, almost all 200 allotted for Canada are already spoken for, so buying one might be next to impossible since it’s only available in a single model year. It’s still in the running, though unlikely to be named car of the year.

Comparing the 138-hp Hyundai to a 335-hp 1M is like comparing a small handgun to an assault rifle, but you don’t need a PR rep to tell you the ECU is calibrated for fuel economy and not performance. It’s obvious.

It’s performance hasn’t been lost in translation, it was never there to begin with. Dynamic testing by AJAC reveals the Veloster is by far the slowest of the six cars it beat out in its car of the year category, sports performance under 50 grand. Zero-to-100 km/h takes 9.7 seconds (Prius V is 11.6) and seven seconds for 80-to-120.

Braking scores put it mid-pack – stopping just two metres shorter than more powerful and faster VW Jetta GLI and Kia Optima SX entries, which place second and third in this category, respectively – thanks to simple physics (slow-moving objects take less time and space to stop).

Fuel economy is the only objective score from TestFest the other contenders can’t match. Interestingly, the scores given for emissions are sevens across the board (Buick Regal GS being the black sheep with 7.5) despite the range of powerplants – from Hyundai’s puny four-cylinder to the hulking 6.4L Hemi V8 with 470 hp and torque in the Charger SRT8 – under review.

Also of interest, four of the five other entries in this category are turbocharged (the Si isn’t); and, looking at the overall interior scores, Veloster is a solid fifth.

First runner-up is the Jetta GLI. Sporting the same two-litre turbo engine as the GTI hot hatch, it makes 200 hp and 207 lb-ft and does zero-100 in 7.6 secs, and 80 to 120 in 5.1. The cockpit is superior and space for people and things more than adequate, though the aft cabin isn’t finished as nicely as the front. It has electronic limited slip technology but no way to turn off the traction control to really enjoy the superb chassis and suspension tuning. Left-foot braking helps, but the seats are slippery so it’s hard to pull off.

Kia Optima SX takes second runner-up. Its interior is even nicer than the VW’s. Its two-litre turbo four makes 274 hp and 269 torques and still gets decent mileage. It can hit 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds, makes the pass in 4.2 seconds and, on the test track, handles even better than expected with exceptional steering, stable chassis and defeatable traction controls. Despite having the second longest wheelbase, overall length and the second-heaviest curb weight (behind only the SRT8 in all three) it responds well to driver inputs and can be tossed into corners for more enjoyment.

By my tally, the RWD four-cylinder turbo-powered Mercedes-Benz C250 coupe blew away the category in every aspect with the optional $1,900 sport package. But there’s no AMG badge and no stick shift. The expensive premium options, metallic paint and media interface upgrades don’t really add anything (except for $4,275 to the as tested price). It’s relegated to fourth place.

Next, the Honda Civic Si is a performance bargain for $25,990 with its 201 hp/170 torque 2.4L four-cylinder engine with iVtec offering a near-perfect blend of performance, economy and reliability. A mechanical limited slip differential, superb steering, well-tuned suspension and on/off traction controls make this chassis the most responsive and fun to drive. The six-speed manual is crisp and the Si powerband robust enough to enjoy this car to its fullest on lapping days, and yet not too aggressive for the daily grind. Had Honda done more to improve the interior quality and materials (instead of just technology and ergonomics) on the ninth-gen Civic, it would’ve finished higher than fifth.

The Buick Regal GS is one point behind the Veloster (fourth and fifth respectively) by my scorecard, yet claims sixth place. Its got some balls, is surprisingly smooth on the track and is sporty enough for consideration. It just doesn’t look very sporty.

The SRT8 is a great car with tons of performance and character straight from the showroom. It even has updated SRT performance pages (accessible via the huge touchscreen monitor) to keep track of various acceleration and braking timers, as well as g-forces and steering angle. It reaches 100 in 5.3 seconds and the Hemi has a sport mode as well as cylinder deactivation, so it does the Jekyll and Hyde thing well. Despite placing last, the SRT8 has more performance mojo in its tiny computer brain than the Veloster has total.

The real kicker here is that it might very well be the next Canadian car of the year. Of the eight remaining finalists, three wear the Hyundai badge – other two are the $16,599 Accent and $22,699 Elantra – and I have no doubt one of them will win it all. If fuel economy really is the new performance, the Veloster is a shoe-in.

Hey Russ, can you hold the line? Hyundai’s calling – they’ve just announced a 204-hp 1.6L four-cylinder turbo will be available on the 2013 Veloster. Doh!

What should have won this category? If not the Mercedes, then the Honda Civic Si hands down.

2012 Hyundai Veloster

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Visit the gallery here to check out the other cars in the “Sports/Performance (under $50,000)” category and leave your comments at the bottom of this post.

All rights reserved. Fuel economy the new performance? By journauto Journauto.com Journauto.com - by Shaun Keenan, Canadian automotive journalist, photographer and test driver http://www.youtube.com/journauto/ https://twitter.com/#!/journauto/