wh-SportCompacts-Acura-June11

In an automotive universe where utility vehicles, crossovers and electric vehicles dominate the landscape, there’s still plenty of old-fashioned fun to be had for lovers of traditional high-performance cars.

The Detroit Three automakers are still cranking out Chevrolet Camaros, Dodge Challengers and Ford Mustangs, including some variants with more than 750 horsepower. It’s like 1970 all over again, but supercharged.

For aficionados, right now is a Golden Age of high-performance sport compacts — cars that are fast, nimble, affordable and in most cases, available with manual transmissions.

Even though the original film to celebrate sports compacts — “The Fast and the Furious” — is already more than two decades old, thoroughly up-to-date models continue to come to market, which is great news. Here are five examples.
<h3><strong>Acura Integra</strong></h3>
The hype surrounding Acura’s newly reintroduced sport compact is strong, with the automaker referring to the Integra as “a premium performance gateway for a new generation.” While that might be a little overwrought, there’s no doubt that the car is a key model for Honda’s upscale performance division.

Fans of “The Fast and the Furious” are of course older, and the Integra will remind them of their youth, while being large enough and comfortable enough to carry their families. Now a four-door hatch, the 2023 Integra offers buyers a choice of three trim packages, as well as a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable unit. The lone offering under the hood is a turbo 1.5-litre-four-cylinder that produces 200 horsepower driving the front wheels. Acura has added plenty of technology features, too.
<h3><strong>Subaru WRX</strong></h3>
<h3><strong><a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/wh-SportCompacts-Subaru-June11.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168964" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/wh-SportCompacts-Subaru-June11.jpg" alt="Sport Compacts" width="1600" height="1090" /></a></strong></h3>
New for 2022, the fifth generation of Subaru’s most potent all-wheel-drive performance car features a 271-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a choice of either a six-speed manual transmission or an automatic. Four-wheel disc brakes are standard, of course.

Also new for 2022 is a top-of-the-line trim package called the GT, which includes electronically controlled dampers (shocks) that the driver can set to Comfort, Normal or Sport settings. The WRX GT is available only with Subaru’s new automatic transmission, which includes an eight-speed manual mode. Note that the WRX STI is no longer available, so the WRX is the top model.

&nbsp;
<h3><strong>Toyota GR Corolla</strong></h3>
<h3><strong><a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/wh-SportCompacts-Corolla-June11.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168965" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/wh-SportCompacts-Corolla-June11.jpg" alt="Sport Compacts" width="1600" height="1596" /></a></strong></h3>
The newest kid on the sport-compact block is also one of the most potent. Toyota announced in April that it would build a limited-edition high-performance 2023 GR Corolla powered by turbocharged 1.3-litre three-cylinder that produces 300 horsepower.

This all-wheel-drive beast comes with a six-speed manual gearbox and drivers can adjust how much power is distributed to the front and rear wheels. There GR Corolla arrives next year.

&nbsp;
<h3><strong>Hyundai Kona N</strong></h3>
<h3><strong><a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/wh-SportCompacts-Hyundai-June11.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168966" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/wh-SportCompacts-Hyundai-June11.jpg" alt="Sport Compacts" width="1600" height="1199" /></a></strong></h3>
Korea-based automaker Hyundai has elevated its performance image in recent years with ‘N’ variants of some of its popular sedans and crossovers. That said, the Kona N is new for 2022. The compact crossover is designed to provide a substantial performance upgrade over the base Kona. Under the hood is a 276-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder that’s backed by an eight-speed paddle-shift transmission.

&nbsp;
<h3><strong>Honda Civic Type-R</strong></h3>
It won’t be officially unveiled until shortly before it goes on sale this summer, but the 2023 Honda Civic Type-R is already breaking records. In March, the Type-R development vehicle ran a lap at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan in 2 minutes and 23.12 seconds, a track record for a front-wheel-drive car.

Although Honda has not released detailed product specs on the upcoming Type-R, the previous 2021 model was powered by a 306-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder connected to a six-speed manual gearbox. Expect the 2023 model to also have aerodynamic enhancements to set it apart from base Civics.

Sport-compact fans will have a lot of choices at the dealership this year

wh-AuctionRecord-June11

There’s a new most-expensive car in the world. A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, known as the Uhlenhaut Coupé, recently changed hands for a staggering 135 million Euros, or about $184 million Canadian.

The record-shattering car, nicknamed for designer Rudolf Uhlenhaut, was sold to a private collector by auction house RM Sotheby’s in 5 at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. The buyer was not disclosed.

A showcase of mid-1950s technology and style, the 300 SLR had a top speed of 290 kilometres per hour, and the distinctive gullwing doors that would become an icon of Mercedes design from that era. The 300 SLR was one of only two prototypes ever made and had been owned by Mercedes-Benz since new. The second prototype remains in the automaker’s collection.

Mercedes-Benz said proceeds from the sale would go toward establishing The Mercedes-Benz Fund, a global scholarship initiative “to encourage a new generation to follow in Rudolf Uhlenhaut’s innovative footsteps and develop amazing new technologies, particularly those that support the critical goal of decarbonization and resource preservation.”

Given the rarity of the car and its historic provenance, the fact it became the most expensive collector car ever sold was not especially surprising. What was surprising is that the sale price was more than double the previous record of about $90 million for a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, which had been the gold standard for the high-end vintage-car market.

Collector-car valuation and insurance company Hagerty suggested that the money brought by the sale of the 300 SLR could lift other collectibles.

“This sale could push values of other apex cars like the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic over the nine-figure mark,” said the company’s Hagerty Insider newsletter. “This most recent sale emphasizes how much the collector car market has matured over the past 10 years, and that the best examples of these cars now rival the prices of some of the best pieces of art from the 20th century.”

While the record-shattering sale made global headlines, it was far from the only indicator that the collector-car market is enjoying explosive growth as the world begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Online car-auction company Bring a Trailer had record gross sales of $828 million (U.S.) in 2021, more than double its 2020 total of $398 million, according to the New York Times.

Then there was Arizona Auction Week, the annual gathering of enthusiasts from around the world who congregate in the Phoenix area each January to buy cars at a handful of mostly high-end auctions. This year’s take was $266.7 million (U.S.), well over Hagerty’s forecast of $211 million.

What’s particularly noteworthy about the total is that it represents a 22 per cent increase over pre-COVID-19 numbers from 2020, despite the auction companies having one-third fewer cars to sell this year.

The two years lost to COVID-19 could be fueling the boom, and other factors come into play as well. Global supply chain issues are driving up the cost of parts for restoring classic vehicles. And with automakers moving swiftly towards electrification, EV powerplant swaps into vintage cars already are a thing.

At $184M, meet the world’s most-expensive car — a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR

wh-EnglishEVs-Lotus-April16

The British government in November 2021 announced aggressive electric-vehicle legislation: Beginning in 2022, all new home and business construction will have to be built with electric charging points installed. That means up to 145,000 new charging points per year.

Given that the sale of new gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles in the United Kingdom will be banned beginning in 2030, mandating EV chargers will certainly help the forced march toward a battery future.

Considering that the high-end luxury and boutique British automakers want to sell as many cars as they can in North America, the all-EV movement in the U.K. has implications for luxury-cars buyers in Canada and the United States.

With that in mind, here’s what you expect to see in the next few years from across the pond.

<strong>Jaguar Land Rover</strong>

Buyers can already purchase the I-Pace, an EV hatchback that has been available on this continent since late 2018. While Jaguar is rolling out new versions of its conventionally powered XE sedan and F-Pace utility vehicle this year, the future is strictly battery powered for Jaguar as of 2025, with Land Rover to follow.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-EnglishEVs-Jaguar-April16.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167416" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-EnglishEVs-Jaguar-April16.jpg" alt="Jaguar" width="1600" height="765" /></a>

To help facilitate the conversion, the automaker announced a partnership with artificial-intelligence tech company NVIDIA to “jointly develop and deliver next-generation automated driving systems plus AI-enabled services and experiences for its customers.”

Also notable is that Jaguar Land Rover Canada’s president is Wolfgang Hoffman, the former Audi and Lamborghini executive, and he will be tasked with leading the move to EVs in the Canadian market.

<strong>Bentley</strong>

The maker of classic high-performance British luxury cars has developed what it calls its Five-In-Five plan, which will result in one new electric Bentley model for each of  the next five years, starting in 2025. All five will be designed and developed in the automaker’s facility in Crewe, England. To fund the EV switchover, Bentley is investing 2.5 billion pounds (about $3.25 billion CDN) at the site to transform it into what the automaker calls its Dream Factory.

Earlier this year, Bentley hosted a press event in Southern California to showcase its new Flying Spur Hybrid, which the automaker said ran purely on electric power about 30 per cent of the time. Bentley also offers a hybrid version of its massive Bentayga SUV, but both hybrids eventually will be replaced by full-on EVs.

<strong>Rolls-Royce</strong>

Another fabled British luxury car maker, Rolls-Royce is playing its future EV cards a little closer to its chest than rival Bentley at the moment. In February, the company confirmed it will build an EV at some point this decade. The automaker added, “It will be launched only when the time is right, and every element meets Rolls-Royce's technical, aesthetic and performance standards.”

Rolls-Royce does have some EV experience, having built its 103EX concept car in 2016. A full-size luxury sedan with a proprietary electric powerplant, the 103EX was never intended for production. The car was shown around the world for three years.

<strong>Aston Martin</strong>

After a false start three years ago when the electric version of the Rapide sedan failed to come to fruition, Aston Martin has pushed its EV plans back to 2025. That’s when the company plans to build an electric sports car in England and a utility vehicle is slated for production the following year at a new manufacturing facility in Wales.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-EnglishEVs-Aston-April16.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167415" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-EnglishEVs-Aston-April16.jpg" alt="Aston Martin" width="1600" height="1079" /></a>

Aston Martin will begin deliveries of its first plug-in hybrid — the mid-engine Valhalla supercar in 2024 — and by 2026 all of the company’s new models will have electrified options.

Aston Martin signed an agreement with British technology company Britishvolt to develop bespoke high-performance battery-cell technology. The goals of the alliance are faster charging times, great driving range and suitability for the racetrack.

<strong>McLaren</strong>

The supercar maker is taking a measured approach to the EV revolution. Last year, McLaren introduced its first plug-in hybrid, the Artura. Powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V-6 and a plug-in hybrid power unit, the Artura makes 670 horsepower, which is good enough to hit 200 km/h from a standing start in a mere eight seconds. As far as a battery-electric vehicle, though, McLaren has not yet announced specific plans.

<strong>Lotus</strong>

Another niche British automaker, Lotus dropped a bombshell in late March with the announcement that it would build what it calls “the world’s first all-electric Hyper SUV.” The Eletre was unveiled on live British TV on March 29. It’s the first of what Lotus promises will be three new EVs launched in the next four years.

According to Lotus, the Eletre will have a maximum range of 600 kilometres. According to business publication “Automotive News Europe,” Lotus will only produce electric cars by the late 2020s.

EV in the U.K.: Pushed by regulations, British automakers have big plans for electric vehicles

wh-EVPickups-Lightning-March5 (1)

It’s game on in the full-sized EV pickup wars, as Ford Motor Co. and General Motors prepare to do battle in a new and potentially hugely lucrative marketplace.

The Ford F-150 has been the bestselling pickup in Canada for decades. In spring, Ford is scheduled to begin deliveries of the F-150 Lightning, the first electric pickup from the Detroit Three automakers.

Pickups are big business. According to Automotive News Canada, Ford sold 116,401 internal-combustion F-Series pickups in 2021, accounting for nearly half of the company’s 243,447 total passenger-vehicle sales. For comparison, the second-place Escape crossover found homes in 25,960 Canadian driveways.

GM also is jumping into the fray with its the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV, which was introduced in early January. It won’t arrive until the spring of 2023, a full year after the Ford.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-EVPickups-Silverrado-March5-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165802" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-EVPickups-Silverrado-March5-2.jpg" alt="2022Chevrolet Silverado" width="2400" height="1656" /></a>

Chevrolet sold nearly 52,000 Silverados in Canada in 2021, more than three times that of all Chevrolet cars (15,909) and about 43,000 more than the second-place Chevrolet Equinox utility vehicle (8,675).

Both automakers have a lot at stake with their respective EV variants. Here’s how they stack up, based on preliminary specifications offered by the automakers.
<h3><strong>Electric range</strong></h3>
The Chevy is based on the GM Ultium platform, which the company is using as the basis for its wholesale move to EVs in the next few years. The maximum range on a single charge is 400 miles (640 kms) and the 800-volt system can add 100 miles (160 kms) of range in a claimed 10 minutes.

Range is the category that’s by far the biggest win for the Silverado, as it’s a full one-third further than the 300-mile (480-kilometre) range of the Lightning when equipped with the optional extended-range battery. The standard battery is good for 230 miles (370 kms).
<h3><strong>Price</strong></h3>
The F-150 Lightning will be offered in two trim levels for the Canadian market, versus three in the United States. The base model, called the Pro, will be priced at $58,000. Meanwhile the more upscale Lariat starts at $68,000. Both models will feature super-crew four-door cab configurations with 5.5-foot beds.

Chevrolet is promising a full range of Silverado EV models, starting with the WT (work truck), which is intended for fleet customers and starts at $52,448, plus the destination charge. Prices go all the way up to $119,948 for the RST First Edition, which is, as the name implies, the first electric Silverado to arrive. Chevrolet opened the online portal in January and the First Edition is already sold out. Deliveries are expected to begin in fall 2023. Customers can reserve their 2025 Silverado WT and RST now with expected delivery in spring 2024, according to the portal. All Silverado EVs will have four-door crew-cab bodies.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-EVPickups-FordDash-March5-4.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165799" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-EVPickups-FordDash-March5-4.jpg" alt="2022 Ford Lightning" width="1600" height="890" /></a>

An interesting feature is the return of “mid-gate” wall that separates the bed from the cab. As was the case in the long-gone Chevrolet Avalanche, the wall can be dropped to elongate the bed.

<strong>Power and towing capacity</strong>

The Chevrolet will produce up to 660 horsepower and 780 pound-feet of torque. That tops the 563/775 ratings of the Ford when it’s equipped with the optional battery pack. When it comes to towing capacity, the max for both vehicles is 10,000 pounds (4,500 kilograms), although Chevrolet says it will eventually offer a fleet model that can pull up to 20,000 pounds (9,000 kilograms).

<strong>Technology</strong>

Both pickups are loaded with standard and available technology features, including semi-autonomous freeway driving, large interior touch screens, multiple power outlets and the ability to run the electricity into your house during a power outage.  The Silverado has four-wheel steering.

<strong>Marketing</strong>

Being first matters. The Silverado EV will not arrive in any volume for at least two years. Its shape is unique, but it looks like less of a pickup than the Lightning, which also hampered the Avalanche (which also cost more than a similarly equipped Silverado). The Ford will arrive sooner and in terms of marketing buzz, the Lightning name is a lot catchier and more evocative than Silverado EV.

<strong>Is there a clear winner?</strong>

As is the case with their gasoline counterparts, the two EV pickups are fairly evenly matched on paper. What’s not known is how they drive, although General Motors has more EV experience. The Silverado EV’s biggest advantage is its greater range but the Ford has a huge advantage because it arrives to market first, and not by a small margin.

Ultimately, the proof will come down to everyday use. We’ll find out soon about the F-150 Lightning, but it’s going to be a while until anyone knows just how good the Silverado EV is.

Trucking down a new road

wh-LastGasp-Jailbreak-Jan29 (1)

Without question, the year 2021 was proof that electric vehicles are both here to stay and are the way of the future. Seemingly every automaker announced new electrification plans.

But that does not mean the venerable internal combustion engine is going quietly into that good night. While EVs dominated the 2021 headlines, Detroit’s Big Three automakers were partying like it was 1969, at least in terms of their muscle cars. We mark the new year with a Greatest Hits of 2022, Motown Muscle Edition.
<h3><strong>Dodge Charger and Challenger </strong></h3>
The Charger and Challenger, both of which are built at parent company Stellantis’ manufacturing facility in Brampton, Ont., are the muscle-car equivalent of an active octogenarian: simultaneously elderly yet somehow remarkably ageless and still relevant. These are among the oldest platforms sold in North America — dating back more than 15 years — and still Dodge continually finds a way to keep them fresh and interesting. The best way seems to be with more power.

For the 2022 model year, the new twists are the Charger and Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak models. At first blush, the big news appears to be that, through the wizardry of computer calibrations and engine tuning, the Jailbreak variants produce a pavement-melting 807 horsepower. The regular Hellcat models are rated at 100 horsepower less.

But the coolest aspect of the Jailbreak models is that owners can create their own bespoke muscle car. Jailbreak buyers can choose from: seven options each for seats, stripes and wheels; six different brake caliper colours;

five exterior badge packages; and four choices each for steering wheels, seatbelt colours and floor mats.

In all, there are also more than 20 different categories of options to choose from. This huge choice virtually ensures that each buyer will get a truly unique vehicle. More than that, though, it’s a throwback to the 1960s, when buyers could walk into any Big Three dealership and order up a car with a crazy combination of options. This, quite simply, is brilliant marketing.
<h3><strong>Ford Mustang Shelby GT500</strong></h3>
For fans of the Blue Oval brand, the 5.2-litre 760-horsepower Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 moves into 2022 without major mechanical changes, and that’s not a bad thing. The most powerful production Ford model ever sold to the public, the Shelby GT500 offers a great blend of straight-line acceleration with wonderfully balanced handling and braking.

New for the 2022 model year is a limited-run Heritage Edition GT500, trimmed in Ford’s iconic Brittany Blue, with a choice of painted or taped Wimbledon White stripes (black painted stripes are also an option). Painted stripes in either colour will set buyers back a pretty penny compared to the cost of the tape stripes. In the United States, they’re $10,000, although there’s no word on the cost to Canadian buyers.

The colour scheme harkens back to Carroll Shelby’s first Mustang GT500, which debuted in those colours for 1967.

[caption id="attachment_164994" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-LastGasp-Shelby-Jan29-3-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-164994" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-LastGasp-Shelby-Jan29-3-scaled.jpg" alt="Ford Shelby" width="2560" height="1239" /></a> Preproduction model shown. Available spring 2022. GT500 and Shelby are registered trademarks of the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust.[/caption]
<h3><strong>Chevrolet Camaro ZL1</strong></h3>
Chevrolet’s weapon of choice in the muscle-car wars is something of an enigma, given that it’s rumoured to be going out of production, perhaps as early as 2023. Parent company General Motors is moving heavily toward an all-EV future and its unclear if the Camaro will be a part of that future.

That said, Chevrolet still races the Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR series, where it has won consecutive championships. And Chevrolet is still selling the ZL1, although the lion’s share of the automaker’s performance marketing certainly seems focused on eighth-generation Corvette.

Although Chevrolet does not mention the 2022 ZL1 specs on either its U.S. or Canadian websites (at the time of writing this), the model is still for sale and is still powered by a 650-horsepower supercharged 6.2-litre V-8 engine. While that seems low when compared with the 760-horse Shelby GT500 or the 807 ponies in the Hellcat Jailbreak models, the ZL1 is plenty potent, especially in the handling department. The Camaro has morphed from muscle machine into a sports car. Best of all, unlike the Shelby and the Hellcat models, you can still order a ZL1 with a manual transmission.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-LastGasp-Camaro-Jan29-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-164992" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-LastGasp-Camaro-Jan29-2.jpg" alt="Chevrolet Camaro" width="1600" height="1153" /></a>

Muscle cars…One last gasp?

Mach_E_1

Automakers usually advertise the quickest charge times for their electric vehicles, achieved using an expensive and hard-to-come-by 400-volt Level 3 DC fast charger.

But that’s not what you have at home. Not even close.

Plugging in to a normal 120-volt wall outlet means you get the slowest charging rate. Instead of the advertised quickest rate of 38 minutes for a Ford Mustang Mach-E, you’re looking at days. That’s not much of an incentive for EV ownership.

While there are now more than 6,000 public charging stations nationwide, according to Natural Resources Canada, EV owners will need to charge their vehicles mostly at home.

One solution is to purchase a Level 2 charging station, which can be hard-wired into the electrical panel or plugged into a 240-volt outlet, such as the outlet used for a drying machine.

A Level 2 station cuts the charge time for that Mach-E to around 10 hours, according to Ford. The time may not be ideal, but it does mean the vehicle can be fully charged overnight in the driveway.
<h3><strong>Know the costs</strong></h3>
Buying and installing a Level 2 charging station costs about $1,500 to $2,000, according to Cara Clairman, CEO of the Toronto-based non-profit Plug ’n Drive, which educates Canadian consumers about the benefits of EVs.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Cara_Clairman-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-162515" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Cara_Clairman-2.jpg" alt="Cara Clairman" width="542" height="741" /></a>

“The install costs depend on how far your outlet is from your (electrical) panel. If your plug is really close to the panel, it’s going to be cheap. If it’s far away to the garage or the spot you want to put the charger, it’s going to cost a little bit more. What we see is it costs anywhere from $500 to $1,000, $1,200 to install and then the charger on top of that. That’s another $500 or $600.”

Charger cost depends on its features. For example, so-called smart chargers have apps that allow the charger to be controlled remotely from a cellphone or other Bluetooth device. As well, lower priced units usually have lower amp ratings — current flow — which means a slower charge rate.

The chargers for sale on Plug ’n Drive’s website range from $750 for a 30-amp unit, to about $1,200 for a 48-amp unit.
<h3><strong>Know your savings</strong></h3>
While as much as $2,000 is a lot upfront, that can be quickly recouped in government rebates — depending where you live — and fuel savings.

For example, according to ChargeLab.co, the government of Yukon will rebate 50 per cent of the total install costs of a home charger, up to $750. Likewise, the government of Quebec will rebate 50 per cent of the cost, up to $500. Some local municipalities even offer incentives.

But the big savings come by way of reduced fuel costs over time.

“On average, here in Ontario, electricity is about one quarter the price of (gasoline),” said Clairman.

“In Quebec, it’s more like a fifth or a sixth. Manitoba, about a sixth. So it depends what province you’re in, how cheap your electricity is, but it’s significantly cheaper. So if you’re paying $1.20 a litre (for gasoline), I’m paying less than the equivalent of 30 cents a litre for my electricity.”
<h3><strong>Location</strong></h3>
Given Canadian winters, mounting the charging station in the garage will be a desirable option. Top-brand chargers are rated for indoor and outdoor use, however, which would serve car ports.

[caption id="attachment_162511" align="alignnone" width="1000"]<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GM_DC_fast_charge-1.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-162511" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GM_DC_fast_charge-1.jpg" alt="GM fast charge" width="1000" height="666" /></a> The new EVgo fast charging stations will offer 100-350-kilowatt capabilities to meet the needs of an increasingly powerful set of EVs coming to market.[/caption]

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Plug_in.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-162514" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Plug_in.jpg" alt="EV Charging" width="2400" height="1800" /></a>

Level 2 charging wands will work with any make and model of EV, except for Teslas, which have a unique connector. Adapters are available for Teslas, however.
<h3><strong>Mindset</strong></h3>
Last but not least, EV ownership requires a reset of old habits.

Since charging time is a factor — versus the short time it takes to refuel a vehicle with gasoline — drivers should attempt to keep the vehicle on the charger when it’s not being driven. It’s a habit akin to cellphone charging, which ensures maximum available range for the next time the vehicle is driven.

[caption id="attachment_162512" align="alignnone" width="1000"]<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GM_DC_fast_charge-3.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-162512" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GM_DC_fast_charge-3.jpg" alt="GM Fast Charge" width="1000" height="667" /></a> General Motors to collaborate with EVgo, ChargePoint and Greenlots to enhance the charging experience for customers[/caption]

For EV owners, a 240-volt home station is a must

Ferrari_296_GTB_3

Electric power is intended to enhance or even replace internal-combustion propulsion on a mass scale. Maybe not right now, but within the next decade.

That this seismic shift is under way is not surprising — General Motors, for example, has announced that it plans to end the sale of internal-combustion vehicles by 2035 — but high-end sports and luxury automakers are setting the pace with aspirational offerings that are electrified. The reasons are simple: Such halo vehicles have always lived on the razor’s edge of technology, and the higher cost of that matters less as a percentage of the total cost of the vehicle.

Following are five examples:
<h3>Ferrari GTB 296</h3>
To some Ferrari faithful, the idea of a V-6 hybrid might be sacrilege, especially when one considers that the least-loved Ferrari model of all-time might be the V-6-powered Dino 246 of the mid-1970s. And Ferrari made its bones with legendary V-8 and V-12 engines that sang like opera stars.

Not to worry. The new Ferrari GTB 296 is the real deal, even if it comes with a combination of a V-6 internal combustion engine and an electric motor driving the rears wheels. The combination produces 818 horsepower, enough to send this sleek Italian into ludicrous speed in just seconds.

Bear in mind this in not Ferrari’s first hybrid, which was the V-12-powered LaFerrari.

Still, the 120-degree V-6 in the GTB 296 revs to 8,500 RPMs, giving a top speed of 330 km/h, or a tick over 200 mph. Zero to 100 km/h takes less than 3.0 seconds.

Everything else is legit, too: the engine is mounted behind the two-seat interior and the body is the model of Italian style. What’s under the engine cover might have fewer cylinders than enthusiasts are used to, but the GTB 296 is phenomenal as a high-end sports car.
<h3>Mercedes-Benz EQS</h3>
The first electric luxury sedan from the legendary automaker is an exercise in both style and technology. Mercedes-Benz says its new EV flagship is the world’s most aerodynamic production car, with a coefficient of drag of 0.20. A Chevrolet Volt is about 0.28 and the Jeep Wrangler is about 0.55 (the lower the number the better).

When it goes on sale late this year, the EQS will be offered with either 329 horsepower or 516. Also in the works is a 630-horse version.

According to Mercedes-Benz, the EQS has an electric range of up to 770 kilometres. Give credit to the battery system, which can be recharged at a rate of about 300 kilometres in 15 minutes.

The interior shows a next-level touch-screen sophistication with only a small number of buttons located on the centre column and the steering wheel. Even the vent outlets appear embedded in the touch-screen panel. Note that an EQC electric utility-vehicle had been planned for 2021, but it’s on hold for the North American market.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/mercedes_benz_EQS_interiorP.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161752" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/mercedes_benz_EQS_interiorP.png" alt="Mercedes Benz EQS" width="1000" height="559" /></a>
<h3>Lamborghini</h3>
Although none of Lamborghini’s current offerings — the Huracan, Aventador and Urus — are electrified, they will all be hybrids by 2024. A fourth model yet to be named is slated to be an EV. Whether the internal-combustion engines stay the same, the top-tier Aventador will retain a V-12 engine, but with hybrid assist.

This business strategy was announced in May by Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Lamborghini_Urus.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161750" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Lamborghini_Urus.jpg" alt="Lamborghini Urus" width="2000" height="1228" /></a>
<h3>Porsche Macan</h3>
The sports-car brand got a jump on most of the competition with its stylish — and incredibly quick and expensive — Taycan EV four-door sedan, which the automaker has been heavily promoting. Next up, in 2023, will be an electrified version of the Macan compact-utility vehicle.

Porsche says the Macan EV will have logged more than 1.8 million test miles before going on sale. Porsche has 20 digital prototypes for testing, which saves time and money, helping to speed development. The goal with the new model is to be the sportiest in its segment, which is appropriate for the brand.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Porsche_Macan.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161753" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Porsche_Macan.jpg" alt="Porsche Macan" width="1000" height="558" /></a>
<h3>Maserati GranTurismo</h3>
This will be Maserati’s first EV, with most of the details still to come. The Italy-based automaker teased a prototype from the Maserati Innovation Lab and let it cruise the streets of Modena while a photographer captured images of the carefully camouflaged body.

There are no specifications available, but even in disguise, the GranTurismo looks fast and almost certainly will have sophistication and elegance.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MaseratiGranTurismoP.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161751" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MaseratiGranTurismoP.png" alt="Maserati Gran Turismo" width="1000" height="520" /></a>

High-end brands on the cutting edge of propulsion technology

wh-EVsShanghai-AudiA6e-May29

<strong>If you wanted to sum up</strong> the 2021 Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in a single word, that word would be “electrifying.” Or maybe an even better choice would be “electrified.”

That’s because so many of the vehicles unveiled at China’s most prestigious auto show — a rare in-person major event during the COVID-19 pandemic — are EVs of all shapes and sizes, with a heavy emphasis on utility vehicles and luxury sedans. And there will doubtless be many more EVs to come soon as the auto industry continues its migration away from internal combustion engines.

The following are five significant EVs from the show.
<h2><strong>Audi A6 e-tron</strong></h2>
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-159410" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/shutterstock_1964598430-1.jpg" alt="Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition" width="1280" height="960" />

Germany-based automaker Audi is expanded its EV lineup with the A6 e-tron, which features a range of 700 kilometres and the ability to reach 100 km/h from rest in four-seconds flat. Audi will begin production of its dazzling new four-door EV luxury sedan in late 2022. The new design rides on what Audi refers to as its Premium Platform Electric technology. Fat tires, 22-inch wheels and a low ride height give this new EV a distinctive appearance.
<h2><strong>Toyota bZ4X Concept</strong></h2>
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-159405" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/wh-EVsShanghai-ToyotabZ4X-May29.jpg" alt="Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition" width="1280" height="660" />

The automaker has taken the wraps off its first fully electric tall wagon, the Toyota bZ4X Concept, which the company said is the first in a series of EVs carrying the bZ brand (short for “below zero.”) The automaker said it will offer, globally, some 70 electrified models by 2025, including hybrid and EV pickup trucks and 15 full-on EVs. Although the bZ4X was developed in conjunction with Subaru, the body bears a striking resemblance to similar to some vehicles from Toyota’s Lexus division. The bZ4X will be manufactured in China and go on sale globally in the middle of next year.
<h2><strong>Genesis Electrified G80</strong></h2>
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-159409" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Shanghai-International-Automobile-Industry-Exhibition.jpg" alt="Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition" width="1280" height="851" />

The luxury division of Hyundai, Genesis is making its first foray into the EV world with the beautifully proportioned, though somewhat awkwardly named, Genesis Electrified G80 luxury sedan. Genesis estimates a driving range of more than 500 kms with its new offering, the design of which is described by the automaker as “athletic elegance.” A rapid system allows the battery to charge to 80 per cent from 10 per cent in 22 minutes. A high-tech control system allows the Genesis Electrified G80 to switch between all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel drive for efficiency.
<h3><strong>Mazda MX-30</strong></h3>
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-159408" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MAZDA-MX-30-European-specification-7-1024x576-e1571800346103.jpg" alt="Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition" width="1280" height="640" />

Set to go on sale in the fall, the Mazda MX-30 is the automaker’s initial foray into battery-electric vehicles, but it most certainly will not be its last. Mazda is planning an entire series of powertrains, including a hybrid that uses a rotary-engine generator (think RX-8), and conventional and plug-in hybrids. The MX-30 is compact and has a unique design that combines conventional front doors with small reverse-hinged rear doors to access the back seat.
<h2><strong>Lincoln Zephyr Reflection</strong></h2>
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-159406" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/wh-EVsShanghai-ZephyReflection-May29.eps_.jpg" alt="Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition" width="1280" height="651" /> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-159407" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/wh-EVsShanghai-ZephyReflectionDah-May29-1.jpg" alt="Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition" width="1280" height="806" />

Lincoln said the Zephyr Reflection is planned solely for China. But if this drop-dead gorgeous luxury sedan tips Lincoln’s hand as to its plans for EVs in North American, then bring them on. The Zephyr Reflection also features technology we can expect to see closer to home, such as the trio of dash screens running the full width of the cabin.

An Electrifying Auto Show in Shanghai

wh-GMElectric-BoltEUV-April3

<strong>General Motors is leaving no doubt</strong> about just how serious it is about going electric. The company has a new logo to emphasize its zero-emission future and a new marketing campaign to promote that vision.

And there’s more to it than just clever slogans, advertising and flashy new graphics: By the end of 2025, GM plans to invest $27 billion (U.S.) to introduce 30 electric vehicles (EVs) globally, which is an ambitious agenda that fundamentally transforms the company’s identity. Bigger still, the company also announced a goal to sell only zero-emission vehicles by 2035.

On LinkedIn, GM CEO Mary Barra said, “As one of the world’s largest automakers, we hope to set an example of responsible leadership in a world that is faced with climate change.”

While GM is just one automaker, the bold move dovetails with a 2035 California ban for all brands. It’s a policy that’s likely to gain momentum. In Canada, Quebec announced in November a ban for 2035. In British Columbia, it’s 2040.

But the automaker is nearly starting from scratch. According to Reuters, GM sold 2.55 million vehicles in the United States in 2020, but only about 20,000 were electric vehicles.

“There are moments in history when everything changes. Inflection points. We believe such a point is upon us for the mass adoption of electric vehicles,” said Deborah Wahl, GM global chief marketing officer.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-158294 size-full" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/wh-GMElectric-Ultium-April3.jpg" alt="GMC Hummer EV" width="1280" height="725" />

The automaker is charging forward with product, promising some of its new models will have the capability of traveling up to 450 miles (720 kilometres) on a charge, with the ability to accelerate to 60 mph (96 km/h) from rest in as little as three-seconds flat.

A key component is GM’s Ultium modular architecture, which consists of the chassis, batteries (also dubbed Ultium) and electric motors that power the new generation of GM EVs.

The new ‘Everybody In’ marketing campaign sets what GM terms “an optimistic and inclusive tone” by touting the giant automaker’s expertise in EVs.

As for the logo, it was designed with an extensive use of blue tones to metaphorically evoke the blue skies that result from replacing internal-combustion-engine vehicles with EVs that emit no tailpipe emissions.

In terms of products, GM already has unveiled the massive GMC Hummer EV, which will be rolled out in several trim levels over the next few years, started with the low-volume 2022 Hummer EV Edition 1. Production begins late in 2020.

Also in the EV pipeline are the Cadillac LYRIQ luxury SUV, a new generation of the Chevrolet Bolt compact sedan and an electrified version of the Chevrolet Silverado pickup.

And those are just for starters. Expect an avalanche of new-product announcements over the coming months if GM is to hit its global goal of 30 new EV models — two-thirds of which will be sold in North America — launched in the next five years.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-158295" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/wh-GMElectric-Hummer-April3.jpg" alt="GMC Hummer EV" width="1280" height="761" />

Certainly, GM’s electrification shift will face significant challenges from a variety of competitors. Tesla has a huge head start with EVs and already has a passionate and loyal owner base. And most major automaker these days are planning to electrify its fleet at least partially in the next decade.

That said, analysts believe GM is well positioned to take advantage of this bold and dramatic shift in how its cars are powered.

Zacks.com’s January Analyst Blog wrote this of GM: “This legacy automaker is pulling out all the stops to demonstrate its EV efficiency. It has adopted an ‘all-in’ electrification strategy, whereby it will gain a competitive edge in batteries, software, vehicle integration, manufacturing and customer experience to make EVs the key catalyst for boosting the company’s profitability.”

A group of 21 financial analysts covering GM gave the company an average rating of “buy.”

And the overall market for EVs appears poised for strong growth in the near future. According to a research report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, EVs are projected to account for 10 per cent of all global passenger-vehicle sales by 2025, rising to 28 per cent by 2030 and 58 per cent in 2040.

So, while the future remains unwritten, GM appears poised to take advantage of one of the most significant technology shifts in the history of the automobile.

Tom Jensen

Articles by Tom Jensen