Most people are generally unaware that wipers, headlights, and batteries are among the most vital parts of their vehicles and, as such, that they need to be replaced regularly. Each of these components will wear with constant use, and, with the colder weather now on the way, they should all be checked around this time of year.
TORONTO - Canadian auto sales rose only marginally in January to 95,639 vehicles from 95,306 in the same month in 2013, according to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants.
But the meagre 0.3 per cent increase masked big gains by many import brands, which overall saw January sales increase 8.5 per cent year over year. That compared with an overall 8.1 per cent decrease for the so-called Detroit brands, DesRosiers said.
"January is always a troubling month for vehicle sales and not necessarily just because of the weather," the consultancy said in a commentary.
It noted that companies can be under tremendous pressure in December to meet specific sales targets and will often go to extraordinary lengths, including the use of aggressive dealer and consumer incentives to bring sales forward.
"We often see double-digit increases in December as sales are pulled forward followed by double-digit decreases in January when reality sets in," it said.
Among the Big Three, General Motors of Canada sales was hurt the most, down 20.1 per cent to 10,991 cars and light trucks from 13,761, followed by Ford of Canada, whose January sales were off 10.1 per cent at 14,526 compared with 16,193 last year.
Chrysler Canada, meanwhile, enjoyed a 3.9 per cent increase to 17,589 vehicles from 16,928, DesRosiers said.
It was the 50th consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth for Chrysler's Canadian subsidiary, the longest streak in its history.
Toyota Canada was among the import makes that experienced a big improvement, with overall sales across its three brands up 10.6 per cent for the month to 10,439 vehicles, including 3,981 Toyota cars and 5,347 Toyota trucks.
Sales of Toyota's luxury Lexus brand were up 12.1 per cent at 914, compared with 815 a year ago, while Scion sales totalled 197, down from 290 a year ago.
Honda Canada reported overall sales of 7,732 vehicles, up 7.1 per cent from 7,220 a year ago.
Sales of Honda brand vehicles increased 9.8 per cent to 6,820 vehicles from 6,211 last year, while its luxury Acura division saw sales fall 9.6 per cent to 912 vehicles from 1,009.
Nissan sales rose a whopping 37.1 per cent to 5,624 from 4,101 a year ago, while its luxury Infiniti brand saw sales rise 41.3 per cent to 736 vehicles from 521.
Also doing well was Volkswagen, up 9.2 per cent to 3,683 vehicles from 3,373 and Subaru, up 27.9 per cent at 2,319 from 1,813, while Mazda sales were virtually unchanged, up 0.1 per cent at 3,754 vehicles compared with 3,752 last year.
By contrast, Hyundai sales were off 8.8 per cent at 6,704 from 7,349, although its Kia affiliate saw sales increase 5.7 per cent to 3,883 from 3,673 vehicles.
When Canadian Tire invited me to take a look at the upcoming spring/summer products showcase, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Being an automotive writer, we usually don’t cover topics that aren’t directly related to the industry.
However, the nice folks at Canadian Tire decided that they would be more than happy to show-off some of their latest automotive products to be released in the spring.
So without further ado, here are my top five new automotive products coming to a Canadian Tire near you (in no particular order)
Rust and salt go together like AWD and a Subaru STI, which is why Metal Rescue will be supplying Canadian Tire this winter with its patented rust remover wash. This rust remover is “Rust’s worst enemy” but is completely safe on materials such as iron and steel along with the human hand.
This bath is designed to be dangerous only to the rust that is on the component, meaning that any contact with human skin will not result in any harm. This wash can be most useful for someone looking to restore an older vehicle by dipping the rusted out components in the bath and removing it once the rust has been eliminated.
Turtle Wax – Black Tire CoatMSRP – $14.99Turtle Wax has a long-standing reputation in the auto industry as one of the premier companies for supplying and manufacturing paint waxes and protectors. This year they have launched the “Black Tire Coat” which promises to shine for months without leaving an oily texture on the surface of the tire. The spray is designed to handle all weather conditions and even survive through those summer hand washes.
Ferrari High-back booster seatMSRP – $149.99Okay, so not necessarily something revolutionary but how could any car obsessed dad resist having their child sit safely in a booster seat that boasts one of the fastest logos on the planet? This booster seat is designed for a child between 40-100 pounds and features a removable back portion that can convert it from a child seat to a booster seat in mere seconds.
3M - Paint DefenderMSRP – $24.99Much like Turtle Wax, 3M is highly respected among automotive enthusiasts and is used extensively in the detailing industry for its polishes, waxes and paint films. 3M has released a spray on film that aims to extend the life of your vehicles’ appearance by absorbing pebble chips and paint scratches. This easy to apply, spray on film lasts for months and easily peels off in sheets when expired.
Everyone loves watching a good Russian dash cam montage on YouTube but what happens when you find yourself in such a situation like the people featured in those infamous compilations?
HP has you covered with the f210 Car Camcorder. Capable of “locking down” in the event of an accident, this dash cam can also give GPS locations at the time of the accident and features a wide-angle lens in the front of the vehicle to help capture everything that transpired. It also features micro-sd storage up to 32GB and can record on a continuous basis by looping into old, uninteresting footage that has been previously captured.
Volkswagen’s new Super Bowl commercial is sure to keep people watching. The ad ‘Wings’ starts with a father driving and saying to his daughter that when every VW reaches 100, 000 miles, a German engineer gets his wings.
The commercial proceeds to show different scenarios of engineers receiving their wings, mostly at inopportune times. The different scenarios when the engineers receive their wings are quite funny and give the viewer a chuckle. This was a smart move for VW to show that their new cars are more reliable unlike some of the past models.
Check out the video here!
Nissan’s very clever commercial that aired for the first time at the Super Bowl is definitely worth a watch. It starts in a city covered in snow like snowmageddon with evil snowmen wrecking everything they can with shovels. A man is in his car trying to get it started and all of a sudden, the Rogue comes out of a side street and starts plowing the snowmen over. Say goodbye to old man winter with the Rogue! It’s a very intriguing commercial for people who despise winter and cannot wait for spring to come.
Here it is:
Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist system is getting an upgrade for 2015. The next-generation EyeSight will have twin colour cameras and have more processing power.
If you don’t know much about Subaru’s EyeSight, it’s located at the top of the windshield inside of the car. What makes it unique is that it can detect brake lights, pedestrians and obstacles ahead and send a signal to the car’s throttle and braking system to avoid a collision.
Most manufacturers primarily use either radar or laser sensors to detect distance and closing speed for vehicles in the surrounding area. The cameras are most commonly used for pedestrian detection and maneuvering into tight spaces.
What makes EyeSight stand out is that a distinction cannot be made between vehicles and pedestrians with radar or laser sensors. On the other hand, EyeSight’s system processes faster and can recognize the difference between the two.
With the addition of colour cameras, the new system will allow Subaru vehicles to distinguish when the car in front has its brake lights on allowing for a faster braking aid response if needed at closing speeds around 48 kilometres per hour.
The upgraded EyeSight system will debut in the 2015 Legacy scheduled to be unveiled next week at the Chicago Auto Show. Subaru’s upgraded technology is surely going to alter driver assist programs across the fleet, as well as other automakers.
Turin, Italy - Today, the Board of Directors of Fiat S.p.A. ("Fiat") approved a corporate reorganization and the formation of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles ("FCA") as a fully-integrated global automaker.
Following Fiat's acquisition of the minority equity interest in Chrysler Group LLC, previously held by the VEBA Trust, the Fiat Board of Directors has reviewed options for the most appropriate governance and corporate structure.
In order to establish a true peer to the major global automotive groups, in both scale and capital market appeal, the Board has decided to establish Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V., organized in the Netherlands, as the parent company of the Group. FCA's common shares will be listed in New York and Milan.
"A new chapter of our story begins with the creation of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. A journey that started over a decade ago, as Fiat sought to ensure its place in an increasingly complex marketplace, has brought together two organizations each with a great history in the automotive industry and different but complementary geographic strengths. FCA allows us to face the future with a renewed sense of purpose and vigor," said John Elkann, Chairman of Fiat.
Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chairman/CEO of Chrysler Group said: "Today is one of the most important days in my career at Fiat and Chrysler. Five years ago we began to cultivate a vision that went beyond industrial cooperation to include full cultural integration at all levels. We have worked tenaciously and single-mindedly to transform differences into strengths and break down barriers of nationalistic or cultural resistance. Today we can say that we have succeeded in creating solid foundations for a global automaker with a mix of experience and know-how on a level with the best of our competitors. An international governance structure and listings will complete this vision and improve the Group's access to global markets bringing obvious financial benefits."
Under the proposal approved by the Fiat Board, Fiat shareholders will receive one FCA common share for each Fiat share they hold and the FCA common shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) with an additional listing on the Mercato Telematico Azionario (MTA) in Milan. FCA is expected to be resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom, but this is not expected to affect the taxes payable by Group companies in the jurisdictions in which their activities are carried out.
In order to foster the development and continued involvement of a core base of long-term shareholders, FCA will adopt a loyalty voting structure, under which Fiat shareholders who are present or represented by proxy at the Fiat shareholder meeting called to vote on the proposal and who continue to hold their shares until the closing, regardless of how they vote, are eligible to receive special voting shares equivalent in number to the newly-issued FCA common shares they receive. The special voting shares will be subject to specific terms and conditions.
After the closing, shareholders who hold their FCA common shares for at least three years would also be entitled to participate in the loyalty voting structure.
FCA shareholders will be eligible for loyalty voting until they transfer their common shares. This structure is intended to facilitate a stable shareholder base and reward long-term share ownership, while allowing the Group enhanced flexibility to pursue strategic opportunities.
The proposed transaction is subject to approval of the final documentation by Fiat's Board of Directors and shareholders.
The transaction would also be subject to limited closing conditions, including listing on the NYSE and a €500 million cap on the exercise of withdrawal rights arising under Italian law by Fiat shareholders and opposition rights by Fiat creditors. Listing on the MTA in Milan is expected to occur after trading on the NYSE has commenced.
The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Today's decisions, and the jurisdiction of the parent company in particular, are based on the needs and opportunities resulting from the creation of a large, global auto group through the union of Fiat and Chrysler.
The existing organization based on four operating regions will remain central to the operating and management structure of the new Group. All activities forming part of FCA will continue with the same mission, including manufacturing plants in Italy and elsewhere around the globe, with no impact on headcount.
The Group will present a long-term business plan to the financial community at the beginning of May 2014.
Fiat and Chrysler Adopt a New Logo
Following an initial phase with the two corporate logos appearing side-by-side – symbolizing the desire to respect the history, culture and industrial roots of the two groups – both Fiat and Chrysler now require a new corporate identity representative of an organization that is much more than the sum of its two component parts, based on strong core values that represents a unique corporate culture, a common vision and a Group with an international reach.
Created by RobilantAssociati, this branding project began with definition of a distinct strategic concept that served as the basis for creation of the name, logo, house style and entire corporate identity, whose universal and essential forms are strongly expressive and evocative.
Use of an acronym helps create a transition from the past, without severing the roots, while at the same time reflecting the global scope of the Group's activities. Easy to understand, pronounce and remember, it is a name well suited to a modern, international marketplace.
The three letters in the logo are grouped in a geometric configuration inspired by the essential shapes used in automobile design: the F, derived from a square, symbolizes concreteness and solidity; the C, derived from a circle, representing wheels and movement, symbolizes harmony and continuity; and finally, the A, derived from a triangle, indicates energy and a perennial state of evolution.
The logo's design lends itself to an extraordinary range of symbolic interpretations. It uses a versatile, modern language capable of expressing continuous change without losing its core identity.
The new logo will be adopted by Fiat and Chrysler as soon as practicable and before completion of the reorganization of the new Group.
Volkswagen’s Golf R has a new sibling, the Golf R Evo. The Golf R Evo is set to be unveiled in April at the Beijing Motor Show.
Like the Golf R, the Evo will be a more intense version. The weight will be reduced significantly because of the carbon fibre body panels, lighter alloy wheels and thinner seats. The rear seats will be replaced with a roll cage that helps with the sporty essence of the car.
The Evo will be powered by the Golf R’s 2.0-litre TSI that will put out around 370 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque, letting the hot hatch go from 0 to 99 kilometres per hour in under 4.9 seconds. The car will have a six-speed dual clutch transmission and the power will be sent to all four wheels.
Official details will be announced closer to its debut in Beijing.
MARKHAM, ON -- Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. and its affiliate, Kia Canada Inc., have reached settlements with combined valued of almost $70 million in class action suits involving the fuel economy ratings of some of their vehicles.
The deal offers lump sum payments and other options to current and former owners and lessees of some 130,000 model year 2011 to 2013 Hyundai vehicles and some 41,000 Kia vehicles from the same model years.
The value of the Hyundai settlement is up to $46.65 million, while the Kia deal is worth up to $23 million, the companies said.
Those who don't take the one-time payments can remain in an existing reimbursement both Hyundai and Kia introduced after restating the fuel economy ratings of their vehicles in November 2012.
At the time, Hyundai's previously advertised fuel consumption figures for combined city/highway driving were increased by between 0.2 and 0.8 of a litre per 100 kilometres. Figures for Kia were not immediately available.
Michael Peerless of Siskinds LLP, the lead plaintiff lawyer involved in the settlement, praised the decision to settle.
"Hyundai should be commended for doing the right thing and resolving this issue with its customers," Peerless is quoted in a statement issued Monday by Hyundai.
"The fact that a class member is able to choose one of a variety of lump sum payments, or to remain in the reimbursement program, provides real benefits to this large class of customers."
At the time of the restatement, Hyundai and Kia both provided a reimbursement program to cover the additional fuel costs associated with the rating change -- plus a 15 per cent premium in acknowledgment of the inconvenience to customers -- for as long as they owned or leased an affected vehicle.
Affected owners and lessees are compensated based on their actual kilometres driven and the fuel costs for the region in which they live.
"While customers have responded favourably to the original reimbursement program, today's settlement is designed to provide them with an additional compensation option, again intended to make customers fully whole for Hyundai's fuel economy ratings restatement," said Faithlyn Hemmings, senior legal counsel at Hyundai Canada.
Under the terms of the proposed settlement Monday, a lump sum payment will be provided as an option to the reimbursement program.
While the agreements are valued at up to $46.65 million and $23 million respectively in cash compensation plus other available options, the actual figure will depend on what options customers choose to take.
The lump sum payments will vary by type of vehicle and will be reduced for any amounts already received through the existing reimbursement programs.
For example, an individual owner who purchased a new 2012 Elantra would receive a lump sum payment of $361, minus any previous reimbursement payments.
Both offers also allow drivers may also select other options, such as a dealership credit of 150 per cent of the lump sum cash payment amount or a credit of 200 per cent of the cash amount toward the purchase of a new vehicle.
Courts in Ontario and Quebec are expected to review the agreement for approval later this year.
Jaguar is getting ready for the Super Bowl. Clearly, they’re not preparing for the game itself – but for the commercials. Jaguar will be running their first Super Bowl ad next weekend during the big game.
Teasers have been released and the British actors have been revealed along with the star of the commercial – the 2015 F-Type Coupe. Tom Hiddleston, Mark Strong and Sir Ben Kingsley play the British villains in Jaguar’s ‘It’s Good to be Bad’ campaign.
Jaguar has released a 30-second clip of the commercial, which actually runs for 60 seconds. In the ad, Kingsley arranges a meeting on the runway at an airport. “So they’re coming. All the usual suspects,” Kingsley says. The commercial then cuts to the runway with the F-Type and Kingsley saying “Oh, and the new one.” The shot is then of the car racing down the runway, and then ends with “You’ll be hearing from us.”
Along with the main commercial, Jaguar released three other teasers featuring each actor saying catchy one-liners. The British actors make the teasers very intriguing creating a James Bond movie-like atmosphere. The ad will be aired on February 2, during Super Bowl XLVIII.
You can watch the videos below and see for yourself.
The Nissan Rogue is already the best-selling Nissan vehicle in Canada, but they want it to climb that compact SUV ladder and capture a bigger piece of that pie along with Ford, Toyota, Honda and Hyundai.
The new Rogue went on sale in December at a starting price of $23,498 and they’re now launching a series of action-packed television commercials to showcase the Rogue’s new bold styling and superb handling.
In this Quebec commercial, the Nissan Rogue battles some angry snowmen that attack a city that’s suffering from the bitter cold and snow. The scene is reminiscent of a Batman movie where the Rogue becomes the hero and saves all of its citizens who can’t get those “other” cars started due to the weather conditions.
The Rogue for the first time will be offered as a three row, seven-seater which is shown in the video. Nissan also is stating that it will have a class-leading fuel economy rated at 6.0L/100 km on the highway for their front-wheel drive CVT models, an 18 per cent improvement from its outgoing model.
Nissan commercials have been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons stemming from its 2011 Frontier Pickup ad that contains some special effects that were deemed deceptive to the consumers. This new commercial isn’t deceptive, but a fun one-minute clip that feels like a movie and can excite new customers to the brand and to the Rogue.
