Kathy Renwald is a member of AJAC and a multi-award winner for vehicle testing at the AJAC Journalism Awards. As a career journalist her love of cars began when covering auto racing as a TV sports reporter.  Combining car reviews and road trips is a passion.

BMW X2 at Grimsby Beach. Kathy Renwald photo

On a dreary, drizzly day we head out in the BMW X2 SUV road tripping to Niagara. The landscape is grey and misty, but hey, we stand out in the Galvanic Gold little crossover.

The gold paint will cost you $895 extra, an option I could nix, but right away I grew to love the $1,000 extra Harman Kardon sound system. Bruno Mars takes the chill off any rainy day.

Our exit out of hometown Hamilton is via the Nikola Tesla expressway. Sounds high tech, but it’s just the same old pothole-filled road that used to be aptly called- Industrial Drive. It’s a good test of the ride feel of the X2. Which is tight, sporty and on the stiff side.  To change the response, a toggle through Sport Normal and Eco offers up driving modes a bit softer or thriftier on gas. In addition to potholes, the road surface is rough, the X2 remains acceptably quiet inside.

The BMW X2 is a shapely bridge between the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/2018-bmw-x1-xdrive28i-review/">X1</a> and <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/review-2018-bmw-x3-m40i/">X3</a>. It’s lower, smaller and sexier. A serious off-roader it’s not, a dashing runabout it is.

The base price for my tester is $42,250, options ramp it up to $54,845. The big ticket item is the Premium Package which includes all the stuff you want like heated steering wheel, big sunroof, park distance control and other treats.

Prowling around Niagara is endlessly amusing. First stop is a chug around the little historic enclave called Grimsby Beach. Picture gingerbread houses in colours straight out of a crayon box. In the summer, park your car here and stroll around to fully appreciate the Victorian architecture, the gardens and views of Lake Ontario

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Road-Trip-2018-BMW-X2-to-Niagara-15.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-118478 size-full" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Road-Trip-2018-BMW-X2-to-Niagara-15.jpg" alt="Road Trip: 2018 BMW X2 to Niagara" width="1732" height="2309" /></a>

Our next destination is the once a year blowout for people who love the book arts. It’s called Wayzgoose and it’s always the last Saturday in April at the Grimsby Public Art Gallery.  People who hand make their own books have their creations on display, along with handmade paper, cards, journals, etchings, prints, rubber stamps, printing presses and type. It’s one of my favourite gatherings and also an opportunity to meet artists from all over Ontario and Quebec who are making books by hand.  <a href="http://www.grimsby.ca/Art-Gallery/Exhibitions/">The Grimsby Public Art Gallery</a> is always worth a visit to see thoughtful, intriguing shows.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Road-Trip-2018-BMW-X2-to-Niagara-31.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-118477 size-full" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Road-Trip-2018-BMW-X2-to-Niagara-31.jpg" alt="Road Trip: 2018 BMW X2 to Niagara" width="1875" height="900" /></a>

From paper shopping we headed to see alpacas at the West Niagara Agricultural Centre and Fairgrounds. It is just a sprint up the Niagara Escarpment, and for a brief time we get to push the X2 through some curves.  That’s where the fun lives with the X2. Minimal body roll, sharp steering, and an eager 8-speed automatic transmission make carvng though S curves joyful.  The turbocharged 2.0 litre engine produces 228 horsepower with 259 lb-ft of torque, a fine match for the size, weight and intent of the X2.

Alpacas are adorable and just slightly hysterical upon close observation. They will stare you straight in the eye in a vacant way and then head off comically to something more interesting.  Related to llamas, they are smaller and popular as pets and wool producers.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Road-Trip-2018-BMW-X2-to-Niagara-9.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-118475 size-full" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Road-Trip-2018-BMW-X2-to-Niagara-9.jpg" alt="Road Trip: 2018 BMW X2 to Niagara" width="2309" height="1732" /></a>

At the show they are judged for their confirmation(shape) and fibre. A lot of women from farms all over Ontario were showing alpacas, and more than happy to let you get up close and personal with their animals.

The <a href="http://www.westniagarafair.ca/site/home">agricultural centre</a> has various shows and events through the season, including square dancing get togethers, and a wonderful fall fair.

The agricultural centre is actually in a little town near Grimsby called Grassie. Not many people have heard of it, but the X2 navigation found it right away via voice command. All the computer/info/entertainment features work easily and intuitively through the, always improving, BMW iDrive system.

The interior decor is typically BMW which reads zero body fat. Slick, sleek and minimalist it is. Seats are clinically good, the steering wheel is just right-grippy and a bit chunky, and the paddle shifters are not wimpy or over done. My only complaint and it’s not easily dismissed, is that visibility from the drivers seat when turning into intersections is compromised by the side mirror and A pillar. For a person of my height 5’4” and with the sort of seat adjustment I make, a lot of the view is blocked.  You don’t ride all that high in the X2 so give the seating position a good look when test driving.

Backseat passengers will notice too, that their windows are high up and narrow, but the panoramic sunroof helps in mitigating claustrophobia. The seatbacks adjust in the rear, which helps to accommodate people of different sizes and shapes.

On most road trips to Niagara I make pit stops at garden centres to get things I can’t find in Hamilton. A favourite is <a href="https://www.thewateringcan.ca/">The Watering Can</a> on King Street in Vineland.  Their plant material is excellent, with exotic treasures like tropicals, that make the garden instantly lush. Cargo space when the X2’s backseat is folded down is more than 50 cubic feet. Load in height is about mid-thigh for me, so a plant safari is on the checklist.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Road-Trip-2018-BMW-X2-to-Niagara-30.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-118476 size-full" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Road-Trip-2018-BMW-X2-to-Niagara-30.jpg" alt="Road Trip: 2018 BMW X2 to Niagara" width="3608" height="1732" /></a>

Any trip in Niagara should take in a winery with some good food.  In the vicinity of our meander is the very nice <a href="https://redstonewines.ca/">Red Stone Winery</a> in Beamsville with good food and an excellent patio. The modern design of the winery/restaurant is an artful contrast to the leafy grapevines that stretch as far as the eye can see.

So the BMW X2 is a fine chariot for exploring, in fact it best shows off its sporty driving pedigree out in the country where the roads are smoother and curvier than the city. All in all it was a golden trip on a day with no sun.

<a href="http://www.wheels.ca/news/five-reasons-niagara-on-the-lake-visit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignnone wp-image-118479 size-full" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Road-Trip-2018-BMW-X2-to-Niagara-7.jpg" alt="Road Trip: 2018 BMW X2 to Niagara" width="2309" height="1732" /></a>

<a href="http://www.wheels.ca/news/five-reasons-niagara-on-the-lake-visit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Five Reasons to Visit Niagara-on-the-Lake that Don’t Involve Wine</a>

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There’s More to Niagara than Just the Falls

2018 Ranger Rover Velar at Buffalo City Hall. Kathy Renwald photo.

Is there a better car to explore blustery Buffalo than the Range Rover Velar? The burnished pedigree sets this luxury SUV up for muck, ice, snow and slop. I encountered most of that and more during a field trip in our never-ending winter now morphed into spring.

My test car in its appointed colour of black, black and more black appears understated and tough, like I imagine a Palm Springs police cruiser would look.

Our first stop in Buffalo was the spectacular city hall where I parked the Velar for a beauty shot. Even dusted in road salt as it was every day of my test week, it still projected attitude.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0035.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-117186" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0035.jpg" alt="Road Trip Range Rover Velar" width="1732" height="2309" /></a>

Buffalo City Hall is one of the most majestic Art Deco buildings in the United States. At 30 stories it is a landmark seen for miles. It cost $7 million to build in 1931 and evidence of the robust budget includes domed interior ceilings, ornate columns, murals and council chambers that look fit for a gathering of heads of state.

From the 27th floor an observation deck frames panoramic views of the city, with Lake Erie forming one boundary, and the beautiful radial street plan of Buffalo unfolding as far as the eye can see. For lovers of history and architecture a stop at Buffalo City Hall is a great introduction to an elegant past.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0013.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-117175" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0013.jpg" alt="Road Trip Range Rover Velar" width="2309" height="1732" /></a>

Lots of people are hip to the charms of Buffalo, but if you aren’t I can tell you there are many great places to eat, places to walk, and opportunities to immerse yourself in sports. Unlike many big cities, driving around Buffalo is unhurried, usually not congested, and casual enough to allow frequent stops for scenic photos.

The Velar is decidedly photogenic for a vehicle with utility in the title. The muscular hunk not only looks rugged, but is built for combat and remarkably pliable to drive.  What else could you expect from an SUV that has terrain settings that include, grass, gravel, sand and mud. I suppose in a pinch you could plow a field with it.

At a price as tested of $96,040 the Velar bridges the vehicle gap between the lesser <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/evoque-holds-its-own-against-its-big-brothers/">Evoque</a> and the gold plated <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/gentlemans-express-picks-up-the-pace/">Range Rover Sport</a>. It fills the middle of the line up well, competent and luxury laden, but without the out of body experience delivered by top of the line RR’s.

The supercharged V6 puts out 380 horsepower and is fast for a vehicle capable of “wading” through 2 feet of water at your favourite trout stream. The ride quality is silky with Velar’s Terrain Response doing a lot of the thinking for you.

So from city hall we glided on to the Albright Knox Art Gallery with its deep and rich collection of contemporary art. Jackson Pollock, Jasper Johns-the walls are adorned with the best of the abstract expressionists. Rarely will you be hurried, annoyed or have to lineup in gruesome weather to see shows here. The gallery is sublimely peaceful, with a good café, and always brimming with fascinating work.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0068.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-117176" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0068.jpg" alt="Road Trip Range Rover Velar" width="2309" height="1732" /></a>

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0050.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-117177" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0050.jpg" alt="Road Trip Range Rover Velar" width="1732" height="2309" /></a>

After the gallery, we hiked back to the Velar for the short drive to the mind-blowing Hotel Henry. Imagine a castle-like, cavernous, imposing 1800’s insane asylum turned into a boutique hotel. There you have the Hotel Henry.  Considered Buffalo’s most important and beautiful building, the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane was designed by Henry Hobson Richardson. From 1880 to the 1970’s it was guided by a mandate to improve medical care for mental health patients. After years sitting forlorn and empty, the forces aligned for rebirth as the Hotel Henry. Not all of the massive building has been restored, but the section now open is a revelation. With big curved hallways, giant windows, and ornate staircases the hotel is elegant and calm. There are several beautifully designed places to eat, and the walls are lined with intriguing art.  While the thought of insane asylum turned hotel might make some uneasy, the designers have captured a thoughtful spirit there and preserved the elements that placed this building on the National Register of Historic Places.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0075.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-117179" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0075.jpg" alt="Road Trip Range Rover Velar" width="1732" height="2309" /></a>

From the rebirth of a landmark we carried on to another monument to the past, the empty Buffalo Central Terminal. Another one of Buffalo’s art deco masterpieces, the train station once had 200 trains a day arriving and departing. Bult in 1929 and closed in 1979, the Central Terminal was home to the New York Central Railway.

Despite its declining state, the station is looked after and loved by the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation. They hold events and tours that keep the history alive.

That’s just a whisp of what Buffalo has to offer. In warm weather stroll the revived waterfront, take in a Buffalo Bisons baseball game or visit the zoo and botanical garden.

After a full day touring, we headed back across the border. The trip along the QEW gave me time to think about the charms of the Velar. The things I loved-power, handling, lux interior, the things I didn’t-A pillar blind spots, technology while innovative, perhaps too complex and distracting. Still it was a grand chariot to explore the charms of Buffalo.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0070.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-117181" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0070.jpg" alt="Road Trip Range Rover Velar" width="2309" height="1732" /></a>

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Exploring Charming Buffalo in the Range Rover Velar

Driving the Honda Civic Type R (4)

Driving the Honda Civic Type R is like reliving the thrill of your first kiss.  A ride in this dashing rogue dusts us with the dewy optimism of youth.

The Type R presents itself with no filters. Compared to other junior racers such as the Subaru WRX Sti, the VW Golf R, and the Ford Focus RS, the Type R is positively feral. Visually it offers no apologies. The crazy back wing looks like it could tow a water-ski team, various grilles, and air intakes front and back look like misshapen furnace filters, and the Satanic red infused interior is 100 percent carnival midway. But sit behind the chunky wheel, gearshift in hand and all design crimes are forgiven.

After driving it for an all too brief 30 minute test drive at Canadian Car of the Year testing, I got the Civic R for a glorious week of raconteuring.

The true personality of the Type R is of a frenzied racehorse in the starting gate at the Kentucky Derby. It’s surprising to learn that the same animal can relax around town, prancing over speed bumps, negotiating pitted and potholed roads, without roughing up occupants. Plunk it into drive mode Comfort and it does its best to buffer dodgy roads.

But the R deserved a road trip. I blew out of Hamilton on Highway 6 toward Guelph, stopping first at the roadside landmark called <a href="https://grasshopperimports.com/">Grasshopper Imports</a> where psychedelia lives in this DayGlo painted pottery and gift shop. I posed the Civic in front the rainbow coloured building and thought again how the Type R with all its angles and shadows and fins-looks like a half opened carton of milk.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Driving-the-Honda-Civic-Type-R-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-112863" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Driving-the-Honda-Civic-Type-R-2.jpg" alt="Driving the Honda Civic Type R" width="6000" height="4000" /></a>

Next up, get off Highway 6 as fast as possible. I turned on Concession Road 1 headed toward Cambridge, via Puslinch and the tiny hamlet of Crieff.

Along this section of Concession 1 are rolling hills, horses nibbling at pasture grass, and lovely farms with names like Juniper Hill.

Here with few cars, lovely roads and good visibility the Type R could be set loose in full entertainment mode.  The six-speed manual is smooth, precise and ready to be slammed, and how quickly you come to love the rev-match control feature.  Steering is honed to a knife’s edge, without being twitchy.  This car is about immediate gratification and unfiltered fun. The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine is unique to the Type R, and proves that 306 horsepower packaged correctly is as thrilling as most humans need. An engineering triumph produced a car that does not drive like a front-wheel drive car.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Driving-the-Honda-Civic-Type-R-12.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-112867" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Driving-the-Honda-Civic-Type-R-12.jpg" alt="Driving the Honda Civic Type R" width="4032" height="3024" /></a>

In Crieff I punched down on those tenacious Brembo brakes and peeled into The Danish Place Restaurant at Sunset Villa-home of the Danish Canadian Club of Southern Ontario.  This place is the best-kept secret in Ontario. On Sunday at 11 a.m. the big buffet was already laid out with smoked salmon, chicken stuffed with feta, rye breads, rich cheeses, egg and shrimp open face sandwiches, meatballs and rouladens. Tuborg Beer was being delivered to big tables filled with families, and a fire was crackling in the fireplace. It’s a wonderful experience and if you’re lucky the open-once-a-month Danish bakery will be operating-where you can load up on Danish breads and pastries. In the winter the hours vary so check online at <a href="http://www.sunsetvilla.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunsetvilla.org</a>.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Driving-the-Honda-Civic-Type-R-buffet.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-112865" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Driving-the-Honda-Civic-Type-R-buffet.jpg" alt="Driving the Honda Civic Type R" width="3900" height="1733" /></a>

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Driving-the-Honda-Civic-Type-R-5.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-112866" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Driving-the-Honda-Civic-Type-R-5.jpg" alt="Driving the Honda Civic Type R" width="3900" height="2925" /></a>

After a walk around the little lake at Sunset Villa, and taking a few more snaps of the Type R, I carried on toward Cambridge.

For $40,990 the Type R comes pretty well stocked.  There are safety features like lane departure and blind spot display, connected features like navigation and wireless charging, and chassis tuning refinements that are so complex it’s easier to enjoy them than to understand them.

Ultimately the R is so engaging to drive you will forget there’s a radio, navigation and Siri Eyes Free and just swim in the delights of a car so frisky to drive. That joy will make you forget that the touch screen infotainment system is slow and frustrating to use.

I loved the shapely seats, so supportive and bolstered they support all your body parts, like props put in place by a yoga teacher.

In Cambridge one can take in the cafes, art galleries, admire the many historic stone buildings, but my first stop is always <a href="http://www.phidonpens.com/">Phidon Pens</a>. They carry wonderful fountain pens, exotic pencils, paper goods and journals. The vibe is elegant and refined.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Driving-the-Honda-Civic-Type-R-pens.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-112864" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Driving-the-Honda-Civic-Type-R-pens.jpg" alt="Driving the Honda Civic Type R" width="4000" height="2667" /></a>

So, well fed, and well equipped with writing materials, I headed back to Hamilton in the Type R, instruments glowing red in Race mode, and engine revving unrestricted in this barely civilized of Civics. It was a bubble of fun I didn’t want to burst.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/ford-weathers-winters-last-blast/">Ford Weathers Winter’s Last Blast</a>

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Uncivilized – A Southern Ontario Road Trip in the 2018 Civic Type R

2016 CIAS AMG S63 Mercedes

“Pardon my wind shear, but I’ve got six new models to unveil.”

That should have been the quote from Mercedes-Benz as they flipped the wraps off a lineup of hooligans, everyday haulers, and a hybrid at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.

Need to move your kid to college? The GLS luxury SUV seats seven and rides on air suspension. Looking to save fuel while slogging through the city? The S550e Plug-In Hybrid purrs on electric power for up to 33 kilometres. If you ache for delirious fun, then dial up the AMG S 63 Cabriolet — with 577 horsepower, it’s always a cure for the humdrum.

The point is, Mercedes-Benz will have 143 models in production by the end of 2017, a vehicle for anyone shopping for luxury, even at the lower end, according to president Gareth Joyce, “We want luxury to be accessible to a wider audience, and if you get it right, people stick with the brand.”

<img src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2016-CIAS-AMG-S63-Front.jpg" alt="" />

&nbsp;

Depending on how much cabbage you have might determine just what is accessible. The S550e starts at $117,300. At the show, the floor model has a white-leather interior as striking as an Alaskan glacier. Mercedes does luxury with such conviction, it stirs the envy in all of us.

In the spring, the new SL launches with more power, a sportier front end, and five transmission modes to skate through. The SL 63 and SL 65 spark performance even further with biturbo power producing cosmic numbers. In the SL 65, the 6.0-litre, V12 is rated at 621 hp. The challenge will be finding roads worthy of this convertible marvel.

Remember the SLK? It’s called the SLC now. Mercedes is reordering its family tree so that customers don’t need a tutor to figure things out. The SLC shares its internals with the C-Class, thus the name change. New to this lineup is the AMG SLC 43, a frisky roadster with a biturbo V6, producing 362 hp. There’s a bunch of fun features, of course, including exhaust flaps that can be opened or closed by the driver for restrained or raucous sound.
<blockquote>RELATED: <a href="http://www.wheels.ca/news/the-new-mercedes-benz-slc/">The new Mercedes-Benz SLC</a></blockquote>
Even the pipsqueak smart fortwo got 15 seconds of fame, as Mercedes cheered the launch of the cab version. Drive it with the canvas all the way down as a convertible (it takes 12 seconds), or go part way and open it like a sunroof. The fabric even comes in blue denim, for a jeans look. There’s one engine choice, a three-cylinder making 89 hp, just enough to ruffle your hair, and a manual or automatic transmission is available. Sounds like sunny ways for the smart fortwo.
<blockquote>RELATED: <a href="http://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/review-2016-smart-fortwo-shows-vast-improvement/">Review: 2016 Smart Fortwo shows vast improvement</a></blockquote>
With 19 new models launching this year and 38 in 2017, Mercedes-Benz has the best depth chart in the luxury racket.

<img src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2016-CIAS-AMG-S63-Rear.jpg" alt="" />

Freelance writer Kathy Renwald is a frequent contributor to Toronto Star Wheels. To reach her, email <a href="mailto:wheels@thestar.ca">wheels@thestar.ca </a> and put her name in the subject line.

Mercedes-Benz is ready to roll out whatever you need

Detroit Auto Show 2016 Porsche 911

DETROIT — Remove some of the spokes, twist a vent, add a fin, top up the horsepower and you can take the wraps off the new 2017 911 Porsche Turbo and Turbo S.

Unveiled at the Detroit auto show, the 911 Turbos still show their formidable swagger. Year after year, only the most surgical tinkering can alter the basic sea creature shape of the 911’s for the better.

The front end gets new treatment that makes it look wider with changes to the LED lights and an extra fin in the front air intake. The 911 Turbo wheels now match the Turbo S wheels with an extra half-inch of width. At the back, there are changes to the rear lights exhaust system and rear lid grille.

<img src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2017-Turbo-S-1.jpg" alt="" />

In the horsepower department, the trend is unbound by 20 horsepower for each model. The 3.8-litre, six-cylinder in the 911 Turbo now puts out 540 hp. The Turbo S is up to 580 hp, thanks to new turbochargers with larger compressors. Sprinting to 100 km/h is achieved in the Turbo S in a brain-swelling 2.9 seconds and 3.0 seconds in the 911 Turbo. Even still, gas consumption is improved by 0.6 litres per 100 kilometres, according to Porsche, by using superior engine management.

Both vehicles will be available in coupe and convertible versions from the start and will come with the Sport Chrono Package as standard. Bundled in that package is the new Spot Response Button which summons up peak power for 20 seconds as often as needed.

After trotting out the shiny stats on the 911 Turbos (and even a base 911 has a turbo, though it’s not part of the “title”), Porsche moved on to talk up its commitment to plug-in hybrids and the future project — Mission E 600 hp electric sports car.

But in the here and now, one in every three Porsches sold in North America is a 911, and maybe that’s why there are 21 to choose from. A tinker’s delight.
<blockquote>RELATED: <a href="http://www.wheels.ca/news/porsche-boxster-and-911-carrera-black-edition-models/">Porsche Boxster and 911 Carrera Black Edition models</a></blockquote>
<img src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2017-Turbo-S-8.jpg" alt="" />

Freelance writer Kathy Renwald is a regular contributor to Toronto Star Wheels. To reach her, please email <a href="mailto:wheels@thestar.ca">wheels@thestar.ca </a> and put her name in the subject line.

PORSCHE AT DETROIT: 911s show their swagger

Acura Precision Concept

DETROIT — It doesn’t sound like the Acura Precision Concept will ever be built and that’s too bad because it’s a stunning wedge of sculpture.

At the North American International Auto Show media preview days this week, Acura debuted the Precision Concept, a luxury performance sedan, as a way to renew its vows to a questioning flock of followers. The path ahead leads to performance, bold design, and exacting execution.

Judging by the intensely red, sculpted with an exacto knife, concept car, Acura will leave behind a reputation for bland design and half-hearted attempts at luxury.

Brand ID starts at the front end according to Acura, and the Precision’s diamond shape grille is like nothing else on the road. It features a raised diamond pattern over vertical louvers. A piece of art whose second function is to feed air into the engine compartment. Acura described it as a diamond pentagon and said it will be coming to a real Acura vehicle soon.

<img src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/02-Acura-Precision-Concept-2016-Rear-3-4.jpg" alt="" />

A bunch of other impossible angles razor across the front end and point the way to the slash-shaped headlights, with an overlay design that looks like shattered ice.

While there’s a lot of energized shapes at the front and rear ends of the car, the side view moves away from all the turbulence. Polished smooth as a stone the doors disappear, the 22 inch wheels pop, and the confident lines put a firm grip on a design that could have imploded.

Inside the Precision, a product of Acura’s California Design Studio, the theme is luxury lounge. The seats are ultra thin, and radically contoured, the centre stack is cantilevered to evoke a floating bridge, and though there is a flashy wide screen, key driver info is dedicated to a head’s-up display. Embedded in the guts somewhere is a personal assistant who will organize your life.

<img src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/05-Acura-Precision-Concept-2016-Interior3.jpg" alt="" />

Acura global head of design Dave Marek said inspiration for the Precision came from fashion, architecture and nature. “When you open the door you feel invited in.”

After the formal presentation, Jon Ikeda, GM of Acura, indicated that the Precision Concept is like a touchstone of what future Acura design will look like.

If that’s true, then the brand will surely lure new customers looking for a luxury style that promises to shake it up.
<blockquote>RELATED: <a href="http://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/2015-acura-rlx-elite-review/">2015 Acura RLX Elite Review</a></blockquote>
Freelance writer Kathy Renwald is a frequent contributor to Toronto Star Wheels. To reach her, email <a href="mailto:wheels@thestar.ca">wheels@thestar.ca </a> and put her name in the subject line.

ACURA at Detroit Auto Show 2016: Concept car 

Detroit Auto Show

A bunch of North Americans are driving around in pickup trucks that are too big for them, according to Honda Motor Co. Inc., so to the rescue comes the new 2017 Ridgeline, a light duty urban hauler unveiled at the North American International Auto Show’s media preview.
<blockquote>RELATED: <a href="http://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/smaller-honda-ridgeline-stays-true-to-its-school/">Smaller Honda Ridgeline stays true to its school</a></blockquote>
With unibody construction that rides easier on rough roads, connectivity in the cabin, and a segment first — hidden speakers in the truck bed — the Ridgeline is not about the job site, it’s about the lifestyle.

As John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. put it, truck users are getting mulch and going to the dump, and when that drudgery is over they’re ready for a tailgate party. For that, Honda serves up the in-bed audio system, with six speakers pumping out 540 watts of sound. It can be controlled by phone for pre-game fun.

The Ridgeline’s only engine choice is a 3.5-liter, V-6 engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. No horsepower figures were forthcoming, but its expected to be similar to the Honda Pilot’s 280 ponies. Both all-wheel and front-wheel drive will be available.

Behind the passenger compartment, innovation abounds. A dual-action tailgate swings up and down or to the side for flexible ways to load cargo. The bed on the Ridgeline is 5.4 inches wider and 4 inches longer than the previous generation with a 4-foot wide flat bed space between the wheel wells that can carry drywall or plywood, a segment exclusive.

<img src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2017-Honda-Ridgeline-014.jpg" alt="" />

Hidden in the bed wall is an available 400-watt power inverter, ready to power a tailgate blender or flat screen TV, according to Mendel. The lockable in-bed trunk stores cargo out of sight, and has a drain plug for easy cleanup.

Honda conducted focus groups, and studied their target truck buyer in a myriad of ways to develop this second generation Ridgeline. The key to the class is civilized manners. The truck should be easy to manoeuvre, comfy in the cabin, and more fuel-efficient.

For all the breezy talk of lifestyle and tailgating, you’d think the exterior styling would have something edgy or cheeky brewing, but it doesn’t. The four-door is decked out in conservative, business-casual style.

<img src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2017-Honda-Ridgeline-018.jpg" alt="" />

But that, too, is probably calculated to win over the customer who wants a truck that’s capable and civilized.

Freelance writer Kathy Renwald contributes to Toronto Star Wheels. To reach her, please email <a href="mailto:wheels@thestar.ca">wheels@thestar.ca </a> and put her name in the subject line. Detroit Auto Show 2016

HONDA at Detroit Auto Show 2016: Ridgeline hides truck bed speakers

Night car motion in Shenzhen

<h2>Chrysler 200 a pretty and practical car for the modern family</h2>A homogenized group competes in this category, with no wacky wild card among the three pretty traditional family cars.But tradition gets some tremendous tweaking in the Chrysler 200, and I picked it number one for its sleek exterior, V6 engine, luxury cabin and ahead-of-the-pack styling.Chrysler 200 ($27,995 base, $29,995 as tested)Inside, the hard work of the fashion and function police at Chrysler shows up in rich-to-the-touch surfaces on the steering wheel, armrests and the excellent seats. A rotary dial shifter — yes, like the one in the über-thousand dollar Jaguars — clears clutter from the centre console. A bigger-than-most 8.4-inch touchscreen houses the Uconnect info hub, and is so easy to use that it could be tagged “senior friendly.”With the 3.6-litre V6 producing 295 horsepower, the 200 was quieter on the highway, frisky to drive and had better steering and handling than the 4-cylinder competitors in the category, but logically it gets the worst fuel economy of the bunch. The new 9-speed automatic transmission makes the days of the 4-speed auto seem medieval.Family shoppers should note that the Euro-swoopy styling of the Chrysler 200 means the inattentive risk banging their heads on the roof when getting in the back seat, and leg swinging room on entry and exit to the back is tighter than the competition. A rare styling miscue is on display on the instruments in front of the driver: the tach and speedo are rimmed in a garish slot-machine blue, and the plastic cover is too shiny.Overall, the Chrysler 200 executes a new stylish standard for the family hauler and fits it with common-sense features, like the clever sensor that wouldn’t let me close the trunk because it knew the keys were in the pocket of the jacket I was trying to stow.It’s a pretty and practical car for the modern family.Subaru Legacy ($23,495 base, $28,995 as tested)The Subaru Legacy fought hard to be number one in Family Under, but seemed diminished next to the big-kilowatt star power of the Chrysler 200. I picked it number two. In a side-by-side comparison with the Chrysler 200, inside and outside the Legacy is as exciting as a pair of coveralls. When the designers at Subaru finally put down their T-squares and draw a car with some curves, then we can talk.<img class="size-medium wp-image-56555 " title="B821758518Z120141031103037000GF81BQFT33" src="http://d3img3do1wj44f.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/B821758518Z120141031103037000GF81BQFT33-300x200.jpg" alt="Subaru Legacy Test Fest" width="300" height="200" />Beyond design doldrums at Subie, there are lots of good things in Legacy-land. The standard all-wheel-drive, the excellent bolstered seats, the quiet cabin, and the feeling that the car is solid and in control. Safety features are abundant, and nannies such as lane departure work well without being intrusive. The CVT operates smoothly and delivers the best fuel economy of the bunch, but sometimes 174 horsepower just leaves the Legacy feeling short of breath. All those straight lines and right angles do make the cabin feel more spacious than the Chrysler 200.Toyota Camry XSE ($23,850 base $29,890 as tested)The everyman styling of the Toyota Camry gets a poke of personality in 2015 with a new heavy metal grille at the front and more rounded rear end. Inside, my Test Fest tester had ultrasuede seats and red-stitched highlights on upholstery and the dash. Ultimately I liked the form-fitting seats of the Legacy better, and preferred its handling, ride and quieter cabin to the Camry’s. Ergonomics in the Camry are excellent, and big dials for audio and climate are welcome. Overall, not enough for a home run in this group.<img class="size-full wp-image-56558" title="B821758518Z120141031103037000GF81BQAI83" src="http://d3img3do1wj44f.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/B821758518Z120141031103037000GF81BQAI83.jpg" alt="Toyota Camry XSE Test Fest" width="500" height="333" />wheels@thestar.ca [reviews-news-gallery id=1]

Test Fest: Best new family car under $30,000

B821724409Z120141003111217000G9V1B0LND4

<h2>Dashing to Detroit to wave a Yankee legend goodbye</h2>
2014 Dodge Dart SXT

PRICE: $18,995, as tested $24,810
ENGINE: 2.4-litre i4
POWER/TORQUE: 184 hp/171 lb.-ft.
FUEL CONSUMPTION (City/hwy): 9.2, 6.3 L/100 km, as tested 10.3, regular fuel.
COMPETITION: VW Golf, Mazda3, Kia Forte, Ford Focus, Chevy Cruze
WHAT’S BEST: Logical, easy-to-use computer controls, good seats, agreeable ride.
WHAT’S WORST: Nice but not engaging to drive.
WHAT’S INTERESTING: After offering 100,000 ways to customize the Dart at launch, Dodge has simplified packages for 2014.

DETROIT — We are dashing to Detroit in a Dodge Dart, peeling off the late days of August on a pilgrimage to see New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter play the Detroit Tigers one last time before retirement.

The Dart proves to be a perfect teammate for the road trip, interesting enough to drive, congenial to ride in, and stuffed with a concert hall sound system that is lifting the tedium of driving on the soulless 401.

The idea to see Jeter on his farewell tour hatched in the spring. My road trip companion is my friend Sarah, a true baseball seam head. Last year, we paid dearly to see the Yankees play in New York. In Detroit, $48 tickets give us a splendid view of the field, enhanced by $8 craft beer. At $24,810, the Dodge Dart was plenty likeable too.

Our model, the SXT with the Rallye Appearance Group package, includes touring suspension, stabilizer bar, and trim bits geared for a sportier look.

In an instant we are both happy with the hospitable cabin. The seats fit right away and never needed fiddling after the initial setup. Visibility is good forward and a crisp backup camera takes care of the rear view. The instrument panel and controls are laid out with perfect logic. An 8.4-inch touchscreen display is dead easy to work.

Destination Detroit programs into navigation in seconds, and when the system is switched over to the radio, a small map remains on the screen for reference.

All climate functions are controlled by big dials, no need to poke the touchscreen. The centre console’s controls are rimmed in black trim, as are the gauges in front of the driver. In all, it’s a handsome and restrained interior.

The Dart, with its 2.4-litre, four-cylinder engine pushing out 184 horsepower, is well-suited to plug along in the giant car pool headed for the Ambassador Bridge. The smooth shifting six-speed automatic works discretely, and on the numbing 401, the straightforward cruise control is your best friend.

We averaged 7.1 L/100 km on the highway. I can tell the steering is well-weighted even though a curve can’t be found from Tillsonburg to Windsor. Brakes are fine, but with vague pedal feel, and road noise is nicely muffled.

Normally on a road trip, I can’t wait to get off the main roads and explore; on this trip, not so much. I stash the Dart in the parking garage at the Greektown Casino Hotel. The stylish hotel is plunked in the middle of interesting restaurants, historic churches, and is a 10-minute walk to Comerica Park, home of the Tigers, and Ford Field where the NFL’s Lions play.

Walking to the game, there isn’t much evidence of a Detroit in distress and navigating bankruptcy, although private security guards are on duty near hotels and restaurants. Across from Comerica Park, the Detroit Athletic Club is putting on a fine spread for members; it’s all white tents, linen and oysters on the half shell.

Other bars and outdoor patios are full and street music serenades a festive crowd inching in through the gates of the ballpark.

And what a ballpark it is, with powerful statues of Tiger greats Al Kaline, Ty Cobb and longtime radio announcer Ernie Harwell. Convivial places to eat and drink include the Picnic Porch, where fans feast family style at tables overlooking the field.

The night they salute Jeter is the 10th sellout in a row for the Tigers. He’s greeted with a roaring ovation from everybody including old ladies, babies in Tiger T-shirts and dads with sons lifting baseball gloves too big for their small hands.

It’s a Midwest crowd — warm, welcoming and without airs. Jeter played high school ball in nearby Kalamazoo, and his former coach is here to see him tip his hat to the crowd a last time.

His first games as a pro were at old Tiger Stadium and tonight he’s given two seats from the old park as a memento. Then it’s time to play ball. It’s a classic summer night.

The next day, we take the Dart out for photos, posing it underneath the tiger statues at Comerica Park’s entrance. Close to the stadium, the Dart is dwarfed by the splendid Fox Theatre, built in 1928 and restored in 1987 by the Ilitch family, owners of the Tigers and the Red Wings.

While the Tigers play to a packed house, the Detroit Jazz Festival is taking over Campus Martius Park. Music in the open air, ball games nearby, all close to our hotel.

It is a great trip, an escape to a bubble of fun and culture, still vibrant in a struggling city. On the way home, cocooning in the pleasant Dart, it’s easy to linger on the pastimes of summer — a diversion from worrisome news in Detroit and around the world.

Accommodation was provided by Detroit Metro Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau and the Greektown Casino Hotel. The Vehicle tested by freelance writer Kathy Renwald was provided by the manufacturer. Email: wheels@thestar.ca

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ROAD TRIP: 2014 DODGE DART SXT

2014 Porsche 911

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CALEDONIA, ONT.: It's 24 C at take off and the Porsche 911 Turbo is gassed up for a bookworm's tour of Haldimand County. Buck-a-bag book sales wait for us at the Caledonia, Hagersville, Selkirk and Dunnville libraries. We'll stop for lunch at Hoover Point Marina to watch boats bob past the gas dock.

It's everything I love: Porsches, water, country roads and books.

Our ride, the 2014 911 Turbo is a cool grey rather like Lake Erie on a stormy day. Its price tag starts at $169,200, but a package of options puffs up the price to $185,965. Its enough money to put a wing dedicated to a donor on any of the libraries we will visit.

The Caledonia library is busy with kids and young parents. In the lineup in front of me a junior reader is checking out . Wendy Ockenden stamps the return date the old way with a punch and sends the kid on. I'm up and I ask her what's special at the Caledonia library. "We have some great local authors", she says. Suzanne Hurley's romantic mystery novels are very popular.

It's reassuring to me that people still go to libraries and read things printed on paper.

In the all-business cabin of the Porsche Turbo, there's hardly a place to store a piece of paper. The ride is smooth enough, however, to make notes with a fountain pen while you are riding shotgun. Even with 520 horsepower, and sport and sport-plus buttons on standby, the 911 is a civil ride and fun enough at legal speeds to enjoy. When the sporty buttons are punched, it shoots quickly from subdued to show-off. Paddle shifting up, gears are engaged with a popgun blast from the twin-turbo. It's an addictive sound as we motor with sunroof open. (The sunroof is a $2,280 option.)

Hwy. 6 funnels us toward the Hagersville library. The highway can always be counted on for a gravel construction zone. Rocking over a rutted section of road makes you appreciate the 911 Turbo's flexible front chin spoiler. The car hugs up using its active aerodynamics, then deploys to street-sweeper level in sport plus mode once we're off the gravel. As we exit, the flagman propping up the slow sign calls out, Giver!? Nice!

The Hagersville library is in an old glove factory. Assistant librarian Teresa Thompson's surprise reveal is a museum tucked away in a corner. There's china, clothing, and photos of the Hager family, which owned most of the land where the village formed around 1855.

At each library, we pose the 911 for pictures. This reveals one annoying thing: Every shrub and leaf seems to set off the optional park assist alert chimes, and they bleat with unsettling urgency. A more subtle system for the car would be welcome.

Heading south toward Lake Erie, the 911 whips by farm fields and windmills. There's little traffic and we're free to poke along or let the twin-turbo 3.8-litre kick up some dust. Although it's a fearsome machine, the Porsche is a relaxing vehicle to drive thanks to its pinpoint steering and laser-like handling.

A study of the technical specs will point to hundreds of reasons why the 911 Turbo behaves so impeccably. Could it be the dynamic engine mounts included in the $4,600 Sport Chrono package? They switch from hard to soft based on the type of driving done. The package includes the endlessly amusing launch control which surely ruins your mileage (we averaged 12.1 L/100 km), but maximizes your fun.

After a quick stop at the Selkirk library, we eat lunch at Hoover Point Marina: perch on a bun at a picnic table.

From Hoover Point to Dunnville, South Coast Dr. and Lakeshore Rd. hug the shoreline of Lake Erie. An onshore breeze is pushing big waves onto the beach and rattling the poplars shading the cottages. It's a slow drive and a lovely one. I don't know which is better, the odour of the sweet grass growing by the roadside or the smell of leather inside the Porsche.

You don't need Google Street View to find the Dunnville library; it's the one with Harvard Mark II mounted on the front lawn. Dunnville was the home of the No. 6 Service Flying Training School during the Second World War. Thousands of airmen were trained on the Mark II.

The Dunnville Library has the biggest and best book sale, but we must make one more book stop. Doubling back to Cayuga, our visit to Towpath on the Grand Antiques and Collectibles yields a 1957 Ontario Motor League Road Book, complete with turn-by-turn directions.

A bag of books and a box of piano keys I couldn't resist buying fit easily in the Porsche's deep-dish trunk.

It's time for the bookworms to buckle up and head home to Hamilton.

Porsche supplied the vehicle for Kathy Renwald's road trip. wheels@thestar.ca

Kathy Renwald

Articles by Kathy Renwald