2021-GMR Grand Prix-IMS road course (credit Penske Entertainment Doug Mathews)

Updated: May 11, 2022 (10:03AM)

Wednesday, May 11
<ul>
 	<li>5:30P-6:30, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>8:30P-9:00, REV TV, Winged Nation #15, N</li>
</ul>
Thursday, May 12
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>8:00P-9:00, CBS Sports, Race of Champions 2022, Pite Havsbad in Piteå, Sweden, Feb 5-6/22, N</li>
 	<li>8:30P-9:30, FSR, NHRA Sportsman Series, Charlotte, NC, May 1/22, N</li>
 	<li>9:00P-10:00, CBS Sports, Formula E Preview Show, Berlin, N</li>
 	<li>9:00P-11:00, REV TV, AMA Supercross Monster Energy Series, Round #17, Salt Lake City, UT, May 7/22, N</li>
</ul>
Friday, May 13
<ul>
 	<li>5:30P-6:30, REV TV, Indy Lights Round #3, Indianapolis road course. Race #1, L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
</ul>
Saturday, May 14
<ul>
 	<li>8:30A-10:30, TSN2, ABB FIA Formula E Racing, Round 7, Berlin, L</li>
 	<li>12:00n-1:30, FSR, NASCAR Truck Series QUALIFYING, Kansas Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>1:15P-2:15, REV TV, Indy Lights Round #4, Indianapolis road course. Race #2, L</li>
 	<li>1:30P-2:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, Kansas, L</li>
 	<li>2:00P-4:00, FSR, ARCA Menards Series Dutch Boy 150, Kansas Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>3:00P-3:30, NBC, NTT INDYCAR PRE-RACE, GMR Grand Prix, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, L</li>
 	<li>3:30P-5:30, NBC/SN-NOW, NTT INDYCAR GMR Grand Prix, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, L</li>
 	<li>4:00P-6:05, imsa.tv, IMSA Michelin Pilot Mid-Ohio 120, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH, L</li>
 	<li>5:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Cup Series QUALIFYING, Kansas Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:30, CBS Sports, ABB FIA Formula E Racing, Round 7, Berlin, SDD, N</li>
 	<li>7:00P-8:00, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-RACE, NCWTS, Kansas Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>8:00P-10:30, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, 134 laps, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, KS, L</li>
 	<li>10:30P-12:00m, FSR, NHRA QUALIFYING #1, Richmond, VA, SDD, N</li>
</ul>
Sunday, May 15
<ul>
 	<li>3:00A-5:00, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, 134 laps, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, KS, May 14/22, R</li>
 	<li>6:30A-8:30, FSR, ARCA Menards Series Dutch Boy 150, Kansas Speedway, May 14/22, R</li>
 	<li>7:25A-9:00, REV TV, FIM MotoGP SHARK Grand Prix de France, Bugatti Grand Prix race circuit, Le Mans, France, L</li>
 	<li>8:30A-10:30, TSN2, ABB FIA Formula E Racing, Round 8, Berlin, L</li>
 	<li>10:30A-12:30P, FSR, NASCAR Cup Series QUALIFYING, Kansas Speedway, May 14/22, R</li>
 	<li>12:30P-1:30, FSR, NHRA QUALIFYING #2, Richmond, VA, SDD, N</li>
 	<li>1:30P-3:00, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-RACE, NCS, Kansas, L</li>
 	<li>2:00P-5:00, REV TV, IMSA WeatherTech Series Lexus Grand Prix At Mid-Ohio, Mid-Ohio, Lexington, OH, L</li>
 	<li>2:30P-3:00, TSN3/5, NASCAR Cup PRE-RACE. Kansas City, L</li>
 	<li>3:00P-6:30, TSN3/5, NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, KS, L</li>
 	<li>5:30P-6:30, FSR, NHRA QUALIFYING #2, Richmond, VA, SDD, R</li>
 	<li>6:30P-9:30, FSR, Camping World NHRA Drag Racing Series Virginia Nationals, Virginia Motorsports Park, North Dinwiddie (Richmond), VA, SDD, N</li>
 	<li>8:00P-9:30, CBS Sports, ABB FIA Formula E Racing, Round 8, Berlin, SDD, N</li>
</ul>
Monday, May 16
<ul>
 	<li>12:00n-2:00P, FSR, ARCA Menards Series Dutch Boy 150, Kansas Speedway, May 14/22, R</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>10:00P-12:00m, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, 134 laps, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, KS, May 14/22, R</li>
</ul>
Tuesday, May 17
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>7:00P-10:00, FSR, Camping World NHRA Drag Racing Series Virginia Nationals, Virginia Motorsports Park, North Dinwiddie (Richmond), VA, May 15/22, R</li>
 	<li>8:00P-8:30, REV TV, The Inside Line #21, F1 news, N</li>
</ul>
Wednesday, May 18
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>8:30P-9:00, REV TV, Winged Nation #16, N</li>
</ul>
Thursday, May 19
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>8:30P-9:00, FSR, NHRA Pro Mod Series, Charlotte, May 1/22, N</li>
 	<li>9:00P-9:30, FSR, NHRA in 30, Richmond, May 15/22, N</li>
</ul>
Friday, May 20
<ul>
 	<li>11:45A-1:30P, TSN2, Formula 1 Practice: Spanish Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>4:00P-5:30, FSR, NASCAR Truck Series QUALIFYING, Texas Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>5:30P-6:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, Texas, L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:30, FSR/TSN2, NASCAR Xfinity Series PRACTICE &amp; QUALIFYING, Texas Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>7:30P-8:30, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-RACE, NCWTS, Texas, L</li>
 	<li>8:30P-11:00, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series com 220, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, L</li>
</ul>
Saturday, May 21
<ul>
 	<li>9:20A-10:25, TSN5, W Series, Barcelona, L</li>
 	<li>9:30A-11:00, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series com 220, Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, May 20/22, R</li>
 	<li>10:25A-10:55, TSN5, Formula 1 PRE-QUALIFYING: Spanish Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>10:55A-12:30P, TSN5, Formula 1 QUALIFYING: Spanish Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>1:00P-2:00, CBS Sports, SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup, Magny-Cours, France, May 15/22, N</li>
 	<li>1:00P-1:30, TSN5/FSR, NASCAR Xfinity Series: PRE-RACE, TMS, L</li>
 	<li>1:30P-4:00, TSN5, NASCAR Xfinity Series, SRS Distribution 250, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, L</li>
 	<li>4:00P-5:00, CBS Sports, SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup, Magny-Cours, France, May 15/22, R</li>
 	<li>7:00P-9:00, TSN4/5/FSR, NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open PRACTICE &amp; QUALIFYING, Texas Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>10:00P-11:00, FSR, AMA MotoAmerica Superbike, Virginia Intl. Raceway, Day #1, Alton, VA, SDD, N</li>
</ul>
Sunday, May 22
<ul>
 	<li>6:35A-7:45, TSN5, Formula 2 Feature Race: Barcelona, L</li>
 	<li>8:30A-9:55, TSN5, F1 Grand Prix Sunday PRE-RACE: Spanish Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>9:00A-11:00, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series com 220, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, May 20/22, R</li>
 	<li>9:55A-12:00n, TSN5, Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio de España, Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain, L</li>
 	<li>12:00n-1:00P, TSN5, F1 Chequered Flag: Spanish Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>4:00P-6:00, TSN2, Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio de España, Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain, SDD, R</li>
 	<li>4:30P-5:30, TSN5, NASCAR Pinty's Series NTN Ultimate Bearing Experience 250, Sunset Speedway, Innisfil, ON, May 14/22, N</li>
 	<li>5:00P-6:00, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-RACE #1, NCS All-Star Open, TMS, L</li>
 	<li>5:30P-600, TSN5, NASCAR Cup Series PRE-RACE, All-Star Open, TMS, L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-8:00, TSN5, NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-8:00, CBS Sports, SRO GT World Challenge America, NOLA, New Orleans, LA, SDD, N</li>
 	<li>7:30P-8:00, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-RACE #2, NCS All-Star, TMS, L</li>
 	<li>8:00P-10:00, TSN1/5, NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, L</li>
 	<li>9:00P-10:00, FSR, AMA MotoAmerica Superbike, Virginia Intl. Raceway, Day #1, Alton, VA, May 21/22, R</li>
 	<li>10:00P-11:00, FSR, AMA MotoAmerica Superbike, Virginia Intl. Raceway, Day #2, Alton, VA, SDD, N</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/RFTV_2022_Wheels-Original-May-11-22.pdf">CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE PDF VERSION</a>

Codes: 

L = live; R = rerun; N = new (not live); SDD = same day delayed

SN = Sportsnet

FSR = Fox Sports Racing

MTOD = Motor Trend on demand (com) via subscription

DVELO = Discovery-Velocity

tv = IMSA.tv (via internet)

B-Jackson.tv = Barrett-Jackson Auctions (barrettjackson.tv) via internet

Time is Eastern Time (EDT in season)

Canadian Race Fan TV Listings May 11-May 22

23 cadillac escalade v main

For over half a decade, Dan Heyman has written professionally about cars and car culture, specializing in luxury/performance vehicles, 4 x 4s and pickup trucks, with a micro city car or two thrown in for good measure. If he's not striking a spacebar, he's likely out photographing cars on the twists and turns of the Coast Mountain roads outside his hometown of Vancouver, BC, or cutting a line on a racetrack.

The arrival of a full-bore “V” version of the Escalade probably shouldn’t come as much of a surprise; after all, the Escalade has been one of the brand’s bestsellers for quite some time now so you could see how a performance version will fit. Perhaps more surprising was just how long it took to arrive; Jeep has been churning out hi-po SRT versions of their Grand Cherokee for years, as have the Germans of their offerings.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-cadillac-escalade-v-interior.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168177" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-cadillac-escalade-v-interior.jpg" alt="2023 Cadillac Escalade" width="2000" height="1500" /></a>

Now, the ‘Lade is an interesting study in that it kind of walks the line across two segments with a short- and long wheelbase version. Both Mercedes and BMW have a three-row model line above their two-row offerings, while Cadillac makes all of the Escalades three-row vehicles, with one – the ESV – getting a longer wheelbase and stretching longer overall. So, in a way, it has to fight a battle on two fronts. Which could be why a performance version hasn’t come to fruition until now, though Cadillac will tell you that their market research shows that only now is the time.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-cadillac-escalade-engine.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168178" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-cadillac-escalade-engine.jpg" alt="2023 Cadillac Escalade" width="2000" height="1052" /></a>

So it goes that for 2023, we’re getting both an Escalade and Escalade ESV with a 6.2-litre supercharged V8, built in the same place they build Corvettes: Bowling Green, KY. That’s just the engine, though; the vehicle itself will continue to be built at the Arlington Assembly in Texas. In order to keep everything in check, engine internals including the pistons, rods, and cylinders have been beefed up.

Power is rated at 682 hp and 653 pound-feet of torque, making the Escalade V the most powerful full-size SUV you can get, anywhere. Heck, it even makes more power than the likes of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. Nevertheless, Cadillac claims those figures (plus a specially-tuned 10-speed automatic transmission and 4WD) are enough to complete the 0-96 km/h sprint in 4.4 seconds and the quarter mile in 12.74 seconds at 177 km/h. Those aren’t simply performance SUV numbers; those are stretching into proper sports car territory.

Not too far in, however; asked about the possibility of a “Blackwing” version of the Escalade to bring it in-line with the recently released CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing sedans, GM was quick to point out that while “V” does mean “performance” above all else, “Blackwing” is yet another cut above that, aimed more at folks who may want to track their Caddys.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-cadillac-escalade-v-brembo.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168179" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-cadillac-escalade-v-brembo.jpg" alt="2023 Cadillac Escalade" width="2000" height="1304" /></a>

That’s not really the purview of an SUV weighing in at over two tonnes, no matter how much power you give it. Although you may be able to do some damage at the drag strip, provided you upgrade to some stickier rubber as Cadillac has stuck with three-season Bridgestone rubber for the Escalade V as opposed to switching to summer performance tires. This is, after all, still a luxury SUV meant to work as an everyday vehicle, first and foremost.

The rubber and wheels are complimented by the standard fitment of an electronic limited-slip differential as well as self-adjusting magnetic dampers. Those can also be individually set and accessed via the steering wheel-mounted V-button. In addition to the suspension, the exhaust note, powertrain response, steering, brake pedal feel, and AWD system can all be set and accessed via that same button. If you just want to lope comfortably around town in your luxury cruiser, selecting “Tour” – that joins Sport and Snow/Ice as the other baked-in drive modes – softens everything, though Cadillac is saying that as speeds increase, the V will feel more “committed” than other Escalades, even in Tour mode.

Style-wise, the V benefits from unique 22” wheels shrouding red Brembo brake calipers with six pistons up front, a blacked-out grille, quad tailpipes, V-Series badging inside and out, and a lowered suspension for a purposeful look. Inside, optional “zebra wood” inserts do well to compliment the semi-aniline leather and a 36-speaker AKG audio system comes as standard.

Of course, you can’t look at this Escalade’s dash – or that of any other Escalade, for that matter – and not notice the 38” curved OLED display that dominates the proceedings, just as it does on the Platinum-spec model on which the V is based. Indeed, it’s rivalled only by Mercedes-EQ’s Hyperscreen when it comes to overall size and in the V, it gets special gauge cluster graphics to further drive the point home that you’re in a special ‘Lade. GM’s proprietary Super Cruise autonomous tech will also be available, but will count as one of the few options you can spec for the V, which comes pretty much loaded at base.

It also comes in pretty short supply; the Escalade V is going to be a very limited run choice when it goes on sale later this year. So if you’re thinking that this is the way you’ll want to go, it’s our suggestion that you make it down to your local Cadillac dealership toute suite.

2023 Cadillac Escalade V debuts with nearly 700 hp

23 range rover sport main

With the release of a new Range Rover comes the inevitable: the arrival of the “Sport” version – a move from Range Rover that’s as old as time immortal…well, maybe not but if we are talking about size alone, the Sport is actually closer in size to the original Range Rover than the current Range Rover.

For the uninitiated: the idea behind the Sport model of one of the world’s most well-known SUVs – both in the luxury sphere and otherwise – is to provide all the luxury of its bigger sibling, but in a tauter package both in terms of styling and engineering.

The Sport sits lower than does larger truck, is shorter thanks to smaller front overhangs and is designed to give off the impression that while the full-size Range Rover is meant to haul people, the Sport is meant to haul you-know-what and indeed, the red truck pictured here sure looks ready to do some of that.

It starts with the front fascia, which sports the slimmest headlights ever fitted to a Land Rover vehicle, so much so that they almost looks like something from a concept and destined to the cutting room floor once a final production design got approved. It looks cool but according to Range Rover, it’s actually the rear styling that is the most progressive part of the package. It features more curved corners than previous as well as a lower plate location to visually pull everything closer to the ground below.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-range-rover-sport-interior-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168172" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-range-rover-sport-interior-scaled.jpg" alt="2023 Range Rover Sport" width="2560" height="1578" /></a>

From the side, the new Sport benefits from exterior design manager David Eburah’s fastidious adherence to the requirement to provide broad, flared surfaces that can both extenuate the curves and cuts the Sport gets, but also allow the paint to best highlight details like the lower door crease and high beltline. Add features like black wheels and contrast-colour black roof, and you have a Range Rover that provides a surprisingly different look than does the larger Range Rover models. The door handles, by the way, sit flush until you need them, which both looks cool and improves drag. Probably not by much, but it’s there.

Inside, as is the case with pretty much every new vehicle these days, the proceedings are dominated by the central infotainment screen. Here, it’s curved and measures 13.1 inches (the digital gauge cluster, meanwhile, measures 13.7”) and is your gateway to the optional 29-speaker (four of the five headrests get a speaker of their own), 1,430-watt Meridian audio system as well as an app suite, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, Alexa, and wireless Android Auto. Beneath that, we find the climate control system which is actually made up of two traditional dials that only alight if the climate system is activated. Yes, that means the secondary digital display seen on the old Sport is no more, which, if we’re honest is not really that big of a deal. It looked slick enough, but this system will likely be easier to operate when out on the road.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-range-rover-sport-rear-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168173" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/23-range-rover-sport-rear-scaled.jpg" alt="2023 Range Rover Sport" width="2560" height="1440" /></a>

Out on the road and at speed, probably, as this new Sport has the wherewithal to produce plenty of it.

It’s available in four trims: P400 Dynamic S ($101,750), P400 Dynamic SE ($108,450), P440e Dynamic HSE plug-in hybrid ($123,050) and P53 First Edition ($133,650). The first two are powered by a 48V mild-hybrid straight six good for 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, while the PHEV is good for 434 hp and 457 lb-ft. The First Edition, meanwhile, gets a twin-turbo V8 good for a ground-pounding 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. All Sports come with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

While that last engine makes some wild figures, it’s limited to the First Edition for the first year and while we all love exclusivity, it does perhaps signal that Range Rover knows that the day of the V8 being the hot-selling engine are over. Indeed, it looks as though the P400e is going to be the Sport to grab; it makes good power and you can cruise up to 77 km on a single charge, both aspects of this model that are appealing to a wider array of drivers. Indeed, we were surprised at the launch to find out that there was even going to be a V8 option, let alone one that was going to be more powerful than the outgoing model unless you’re talking about the old model’s SVR trim, which hasn’t yet been announced for this new version.

Of course, this begin a Land Rover it should have off-road chops but surely, this specialized Sport version isn’t meant to go off road, is it? Aha! Not so fast! The chassis is 35 per cent stiffer thanks to the use of boron steel and aluminum, has air suspension that can lift to 5.3” over standard ride height, can wade through 35” of water, climb a 45-degree grade and gets rear-wheel steering whereby the rear wheels can turn up to 7.3˚ for a tight 36-foot turning radius. Add an adaptive off-road cruise control system similar to what we’ve recently seen on the Ford Bronco, and it’s not hard to believe Land Rover when they tell you that they drove against the current up a live spillway at the famous Kárahnjúkar hydro plant in Iceland as part of the Sport’s testing regimen.

The 2023 Range Rover Sport is available now.

First Look: 2023 Range Rover Sport

news 5-9 (1)

Evan is an East Coast based automotive journalist and a Certified Engineering Technologist. He is an avid autocrosser, hack mechanic, and a member of AJAC. If you don't find him driving or writing about cars, you'll probably find him in the garage breaking one.

Yukon Denali goes Ultimate

GMC has announced the Yukon Denali Ultimate for 2023. After starting as an option pack on Sierra, then becoming a trim level there, GMC has expanded the new brand to its big SUV. So what does Ultimate mean on Yukon Denali? On the outside, new details include what GMC calls Vader Chrome on the grille, special 22-inch wheels, and Galvano-finish trim. Inside, there's much more, including new Alpine Umber full-grain leather on all three rows of seats. Also found on the Paldao open-pore woodgrain trim is a laser-etched topographical representation of Mount Denali. Tech changes include an 18-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system with speakers in the front headrests and stainless-steel grilles. Denali Ultimate will also make Super Cruise available as an option. It's the latest version of GM's hands-off driver assistance, the one that can automatically change names and will work when towing on compatible roads.

F-150 Lightning makes more power than advertised

Ford has decided that the F-150 Lightning, which began production last week, will have more power and more payload than initially announced. Extended-range battery-equipped trucks will make 580 hp, up from the expected 563. Standard-range trucks get 452 instead of 426. Torque stays the same at 775 lb-ft for both. Maximum payload for the electric truck grows too, 235 lbs for a total of 2,235 lbs when properly equipped. “We were seriously focused on raising the bar on this truck, including after we revealed it, so we can deliver more for our customers,” said Dapo Adewusi, F-150 Lightning vehicle engineering manager. “And our drive for continuous improvement will get a big boost when we start getting feedback and ideas from customers when they receive their Lightnings.”

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-9-4.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168093" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-9-4.jpg" alt="2022 Ford F-150" width="2500" height="1875" /></a>

Polestar 2 updates

Polestar has announced some updates to the Polestar 2 electric sedan along with new pricing for 2023. The EV starts from $53,950 for a single-motor Long Range model. It's up from $49,900 last year, but cheaper out the door because it qualifies for the newly expanded federal EV incentive. A dual-motor 2 is now $58,950. Thanks to a software change, Polestar expects the 2023 dual-motor car to gain 18 km of range for a new estimate of 421 km. Improvements to the heat pump are expected to help that car's range in colder weather. A new Nappa leather option is Zinc with Light Ash trim, sourced from Bridge of Weir. Plus Pack cars get a better cabin air filter, and Performance Pack cars now get a 68 hp and 15 lb-ft software update boost. Expect the 2023 Polestar 2 at stores in September.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-9-5.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168092" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-9-5.jpg" alt="2023 Polestar" width="2500" height="1875" /></a>

Stellantis invests big into EV production

Stellantis has made another massive announcement for Canadian auto manufacturing. A $3.6B investment into electric vehicle production the company says will secure the future of plants in Brampton and Windsor. Windsor Assembly will be reworked starting next year to build "a new multi-energy vehicle architecture." The platform will allow battery electrics for multiple models. Brampton Assembly will be "fully modernized" starting in 2024. In 2025, it will begin to produce an all-new architecture Stellantis says will "support the company's electrification plans." It's also expected to mean a return to three shifts for both plants. This comes in addition to the $5B announced for a battery plant in the Windsor area earlier this year.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-9-2.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-168090" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-9-2.jpg" alt="Stellantis" width="2500" height="1612" /></a>

Kia Soul renewed

Kia's Soul is getting a facelift. The news comes from Kia U.S., but we expect to see similar changes here. A new nose with a larger grille and similar changes to the rear are the most noticeable. There are also new colours and wheels. Other expected changes include pulsing-light speakers as seen on the Seltos, and for some previously optional driver-assist features to be added to entry-level trims.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-9-3.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-168091" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-9-3.jpg" alt="2023 Kia Soul" width="2500" height="1318" /></a>

News Roundup: F-150 Lightning Makes More Power, Yukon Denali Ultimate, More

aston Martin

Norris McDonald is the Editor of Toronto Star Wheels. His columns, blogs and feature stories, particularly about motorsport, are industry-leading. He has received awards and citations for his newspaper work and frequently appears on radio and television. In 2014, he became the first journalist to be inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame.

Max Verstappen started third in Sunday's Miami Grand Prix, was second a corner later and before you know it, he was first. And there you go.

Max finished first in his Red Bull and the two Ferrari drivers, Charles LeClerc and Carlos Sainz Jr., where second and third in their Ferraris. Other than that, the race was ordinary.

Canadian Lance Stroll of Montreal was 11th in his Aston Martin; Nicholas Latifi of Toronto was 14th in his Williams

Notebook Ramblings 

Michael Andretti continued his lobbying in an effort to launch a Formula One team. Michael's front man, as usual, was father Mario who was talking nonstop to anybody who would listen saying that the money was in place, the drivers were in place and everything was ready. All they needed was permission.

It was interesting that on Wednesday night of the Miami race week, all of the players with teams in the league this year from Williams down through McLaren and Mercedes met for dinner and nobody was talking about Michael Andretti. The reason, of course, is because they could very easily wind up losing to the newbie rather than getting access.

One thing about the locale. Everybody talked about how wonderful Miami is when in fact anybody who has spent any time there knows that other than Key Biscayne, the place is a dump. Yes, it has a vibrant Night Life but other than that it is not exactly a wonderful place. One thing: the fake marina was the talk of the town.

&nbsp;

Everybody talked about how this particular race was promoted and yet it didn't look like there were more people there than there usually is at the Long Beach GP or the King of them all, the Indy 500.

Bob Winegar, a special correspondent, reports that Howie Scannell's induction to the 2021 Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame will take place at the CBC Building, 250 Front Street, Toronto in the Glenn Gould Studio, on Saturday, May 28 starting at 6pm and going to about 10 p.m.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Scannell.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168083" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Scannell.jpg" alt="Howie Scannell" width="910" height="638" /></a>

Howie Scannell

Howie Scannell's induction to the 2021 Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame takes place at the CBC Building, 250 Front Street, Toronto in the Glenn Gould Studio, on Saturday, May 28 starting at 6pm and going to 10 pm.

There will be no sit-down dinner this year, instead a cash bar, and dress is no longer expected to be formal but casual, a suit perhaps, no tie.

It will include both the Class of 2020 and 2021, so I suspect it may run longer. Gotta thank those sponsors, mechanics and fans!

Tickets are $85 each and can be purchased through the CMHF website.

Thanks again to the following for putting their names up as references for Howie or assisting:

John Casale and Wendy Richardson - Flamboro Speedway

John Greedy - Jack Greedy Construction

Rick Sharples - Yesterday's Speedways

Randy Spencer – Auto racing Writer

Warren Coniam - CMHF member and Grisdale's

Norris McDonald - CMHF member, Toronto Star. 

Hope we can see you all there to support Howie.

Joey Logano won the NASCAR Southern 500 Sunday, Justin Algier was first in the Xfinity Series and John Hunter Nemechek won the trucks race Friday night. . . . Danica Patrick did a great job in Miami,  better than she has at Indianapolis.

Shannonville Challenge 

The inaugural Pirelli Supercar Challenge race is set to get underway this Wednesday May 11, 2022.

As part of the Shannonville Racing Club’s exclusive events, the Pirelli Supercar Challenge serves as a great way for both rookie and experienced club members to not just race in a safe environment but have a lot of fun in the process.

The series will see two division housing both street legal performance cars and race cars, these will be known as the Super GT and Super Street divisions. Races will be run on Wednesday evenings, once a month and be open exclusively to the members of the brand new Shannonville Racing Club.

The Super GT division welcomes any type of race car, while the Super Street division will be dedicated to street cars with a specific set of safety and passing rules. This program is open to all and welcomes women in motorsport.

In a typical race format, the events will consist of practice, qualifying and a race for both divisions taking place in the span of one evening. The goal of the Pirelli Supercar Challenge is to provide a fun and friendly environment, giving our customers a full race experience condensed into one evening.

“This is something that our customers really asked for,” said RACE Events general manager Dominique Bondar. “With the success of club racing all across Canada, the Pirelli Supercar Challenge is something we are excited to announce to the Shannonville community. With round one nearly here, we’re ready to get the ball rolling and create a fun activity for Wednesday nights.”

Registration for the four events can be found on the Shannonville website, with specifics rules and regulations available for both divisions.

The 2022 calendar will include four dates:

EVENT 1 – May 11, 2022
EVENT 2 – June 15, 2022
EVENT 3 – July 13, 2022
EVENT 4 – August 17, 2022

The Shannonville Racing Club’s objective is to be the preferred motorsports community in Canada, built on fun, shared passion and access to an energizing motorsports community. Their mission is to stimulate, promote and organize fun and exciting motorsport experiences for all motorsport enthusiasts in an environment free from.

Racing Roundup: Verstappen hands it to two Ferraris 

wh-Vehicle5G-BMW-May7

You might not realize it, but many modern vehicles on the road today are essentially computers on wheels.

From multiple sensors to reduce emissions, to automated safety features and performance enhancements, roughly 50 different computer systems all help manage what’s going on under the hood and in the cabin. No wonder computer chip makers and software companies are setting their sights on powering tomorrow’s vehicles.

And just like any computer, it works best when it can communicate with other machines, which is why the latest in cellular technology, called 5G, is making its way to vehicles.

Prevalent in major cities across Canada, 5G is already available on many of today’s smartphones, such as the iPhone 13, Samsung Galaxy S22 and Google Pixel 6. Some laptops and tablets support 5G, too, as well as portable “hotspot” devices for internet access in homes and cottages.

This fifth-generation cellular technology offers several advantages over the last generation of 4G LTE. This includes much faster data speeds, lower latency (the time required for data to travel between two points) and higher connection density (how many devices the network can support at one time in a geographic area).

“5G is the next evolution for connectivity across a multitude of devices and not just mobile phones,” said Kristin Kolodge, vice president of auto benchmarking and mobility development at J.D. Power. “Just like it reduces lag or latency when you’re searching for or downloading content, or perhaps video chatting, these benefits will help enable new kinds of connections in vehicles, too, or significantly enhance services we have today.”

Drivers and passengers in a 5G-enabled vehicle will be able to quickly connect to various online services – for information, entertainment, navigation and communication – but it will also allow fast over-the-air updates to the vehicle’s various computer systems.

Just like Apple, Android and Microsoft push updates to phones, tablets and laptops, car owners will be able to benefit from new features and software “patches” to fix issues. 5G also helps facilitate a faster and more reliable connection between a driver and their vehicle, even when they are not inside of it, such as accessing the car’s systems remotely on a companion app.

“5G networks’ near instant response times and capacity to connect millions of devices means vehicles will be connected in a technology ecosystem like never before,” said Neel Dayal, senior director of innovation and partnerships for Rogers Communications.

Dayal said Rogers partnered with the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network last month to launch a <a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fabout.rogers.com%2Fnews-ideas%2Frogers-and-ovin-launch-5g-transportation-challenge%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CZac.Carreiro%40rci.rogers.com%7Cf89e88907abd479746fe08da22f18d03%7C0ab4cbbf4bc74826b52ca14fed5286b9%7C0%7C0%7C637860718082030173%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=QoGvxaVFjCGqkte7Dq0U3YvkW4f2UZSCGEcUTbO3Vs0%3D&amp;reserved=0">5G Transportation Challenge</a>. “Right now, we’re encouraging mobility and transportation SMEs (small and midsize enterprises) to share how they might use the Rogers 5G network for automotive use cases, and winners will be invited to demonstrate and showcase their applications on site on the Rogers 5G-enabled testbed at the University of Waterloo later this year,” said Dayal.

In the long run, smart cars powered by 5G could communicate with several other devices, said Kolodge. “We’re going to start seeing things like vehicles connecting to infrastructure over 5G, such as a stoplight or a construction sign, or perhaps a construction worker wearing a vest that has a sensor in it that tells the driver of the car there is a work zone ahead.”

Kolodge said 5G could also enable vehicle-to-vehicle communication. “If a car drives across a patch of ice or a pothole in the road, it can communicate that to other vehicles in that vicinity,” said Kolodge.

In March, BMW launched the 2022 BMW iX xDrive50, the first 5G-equipped car in the U.S. It is supported by T-Mobile’s Magenta Drive, a $20 per month service that provides high-speed connectivity to the car, for both for calls and data services, and includes an internal Wi-Fi hotspot to connect up to 10 devices to the internet in or outside the vehicle.

In Canada, BMW’s first 5G vehicle will be the all-new 7 series, including the all-electric BMW i7, to go on sale in the country in the fourth quarter of this year.

“5G connectivity in this vehicle will open up a whole new level of user experience,” said Jonathan Thomson, national manager of product planning at BMW Canada. “Not only will software updates be completed much quicker, but in-vehicle entertainment will also reach new heights, (which) can be equipped with a 31-inch, 8K ultra-wide screen for second-row passengers that runs Amazon Fire TV.”

Thomson said the baseline focus for vehicle connectivity is over-the-air updates. “This allows our compatible vehicles, and their software, to remain as up-to-date and relevant as possible. This applies to system functionality upgrades, map updates, and so on.”

Other automakers, like General Motors, are also betting big on 5G. “As GM moves to 5G, the company will introduce a range of new convenience and entertainment features as well as new driver-assistance technologies,” said Natalie Nankil, director of product communications at General Motors Canada.

“These network improvements will be foundational for the future of GM’s growing over-the-air update strategy,” said Nankil, who confirmed the first GM vehicles with built-in connectivity to 5G are expected to be introduced in 2025. “With more advanced features, robust and secure software, and faster download speeds, more data per second is accessible to provide a more convenient and safe customer experience.”

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-Vehicle5G-Tower-May7.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-168074 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-Vehicle5G-Tower-May7.jpg" alt="5G" width="1626" height="1200" /></a>

Autonomous technology

When it comes to driverless cars, 5G could help augment other autonomous technologies, including radar and lidar sensors, and onboard cameras.  J.D. Powers’ Kristin Kolodge said it will allow for both vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure communication.

“This is essential for automated vehicles to understand what’s going on around it, whether it’s gathering and processing info from sensors or cameras, or from other devices across that connectivity band,” said Kolodge.

Rogers Communications’ Neel Dayal said 5G will help facilitate autonomous vehicles in the near future, “Including cars and taxis, but also autonomous public transportation systems, delivery systems and assisted driving for seniors and people with disabilities.

“Advanced sensors like cameras and lidar across vehicles and roads will help navigate by allowing cars to communicate with their environments and create more accurate maps,” said Dayal.

5G is soon coming to your car

Polestar 2 charging and Model 3 6

With over two decades as a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), Michael Bettencourt has been writing about cars and automotive topics for over 25 years. A journalism graduate of Ryerson University, he has won multiple awards for automotive photography, vehicle testing, plus EV and green topics, and has owned various EVs since 2011.

If you happened to order your Ford Mustang Mach-E, Polestar 2 or Audi Q4 e-Tron in 2021 and received delivery of it after April 25 of this year, then congratulations. You are one of the fortunate new buyers who can take advantage of the new federal EV rebate.

If you bought or received it before, then you are out of luck. This latest round of federal government changes, which took effect in late April, increased the rebate price cap on EV purchases from $45,000 to $55,000 for cars, and $60,000 for all-electric or long-range PHEV minivans, pickups or sport-utility vehicles – including those mentioned above. Buyers of those vehicles who pre-ordered and then picked up their cars once the increase was in place will receive a $5,000 discount.

But the reality is that most new electric vehicles available today, aren’t available today. They were all pre-ordered many months ago.

“For most vehicles it’s six months to three years (wait),” said Daniel Breton, the CEO of industry group Electric Mobility Canada. This has pushed many folks who want to buy a new EV into the used market, pushing up their prices.

There was hope a national used EV rebate – like those in Quebec and British Columbia – would be announced by the federal government in its recent budget, but it was not included.

“We were expecting a federal rebate for used EVs because it was part of the mandate letters,” said Breton, about the yearly public mandates issued to government ministers by the prime minister. “It’s been part of the mandate letters for two or three years, so we’ve been really surprised not to see any used EV rebates.”

When you look at the base price of EVs in the U.S., their costs, even with the exchange rate, are generally higher than in Canada, which start just under $45,000 for some manufacturer’s base models. But there are concerns a wave of price increases is coming.

Breton said that even though most manufacturers have a model under $45,000, “97 per cent of the vehicles (actually) sold would be more expensive models.”

So, while the new rebate cap can be used on more vehicles, which is a good for EVs overall, the new changes won’t help many new buyers for some time.

Michael Bettencourt bought his first EV in late 2011 and has followed the Canadian EV scene ever since. Follow him on Twitter @MCBet10court

EV Advice: New rebate won’t help buyers, yet

Briggs Cunningham, 24 Hours Of Le Mans

In 1962, Carroll Shelby envisioned building a lightweight roadster fitted with an American V-8 engine. That vision became the Cobra sports car.

But the idea for such a machine was originally developed more than a decade earlier by Briggs Swift Cunningham II, who was a sporting enthusiast, a gentleman racer and a fearless competitor. As heir to the family meat-packing fortune, Cunningham had the means to pursue practically any activity he desired. Sports was his passion, and auto racing, in particular, consumed him.

But it wasn’t until 1948 that the then-41-year-old Cunningham took his first few laps on a racecourse. In those days, as it is today, one of the most prestigious and grueling races in the world was the French 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was also an event utterly dominated by Italian, German and British race cars.

Cunningham decided to rise to the challenge. In 1950, he fielded a two-car team for the big endurance test. One was a nearly-stock Series 61 Cadillac coupe equipped with a 160-horsepower V-8 engine. The other was similarly powered but was wrapped in one of the strangest bodies ever displayed on a race car.

Its appearance was like that of a bar of soap, having both front and rear wheel skirts and a boat-tail rear end. It looked almost homemade despite being designed and built by several Grumman aircraft engineers during their off hours.

Dubbed Le Monstre (the monster) by the French press, this Cadillac-powered oddity managed a respectable 11th place finish, despite an off-track excursion where Cunningham spent more than a half-hour vigorously digging the car out of the sand with his bare hands. The stock-bodied Series 61 coupe ended up in 10th place overall.

The same year as his first Le Mans effort, Cunningham built his own sports car, called the C-1 roadster, followed in 1951 by the C-2R. The latter of these was the first to use Chrysler’s 331-cubic-inch Hemi V-8 engine, replacing Cadillac as Cunningham’s powerplant of choice. Both models were reasonably quick, but ultimately too heavy for competitive endurance racing.

Cunningham’s most successful race car by far was his 1951 C-4R, which was an aluminum-bodied roadster fitted with a modified 325-horsepower Chrysler Hemi. It could sprint from zero to 60 miles per hour in about six seconds.

Cunningham’s company in West Palm Beach, Fla., was supplied with engines and technical advice from Chrysler, whose key executives had taken a keen interest in his activities. This type of support was necessary to win, as each engine was worth about $60,000.

Cunningham’s C-4Rs were painted white with two broad blue racing stripes running the length of the car. This scheme was later copied by Cobra-maker Carroll Shelby for his Mustang-based GT350 racers. Weighing considerably less than earlier efforts, the C-4R proved competitive and virtually bulletproof.

Cunningham and his team entered the C-4R in the 1952 Le Mans race. Out of a possible 24 hours behind the wheel, Cunningham drove 19-and-a-half hours straight, allowing his copilot to drive only near the end. By the time the race was over, the C-4R had finished first in class and fourth overall. This was an amazing result for a small team with a single-car entry that lacked the kind of resources available to the factory-backed European teams.

Over the next two years, the three C-4Rs that were built collected a total of 15 first place finishes along with five seconds and five thirds at race venues including Sebring, Fla., Watkin’s Glen, N.Y., Elkhart Lake, Wis. and Riverside, Calif. During this period, the cars never broke down and none crashed. Team Cunningham was so successful and popular that it was featured in a 1954 issue of “Time Magazine.”

Aside from the C-4R, Cunningham also built the road-going C-3 coupe and convertible. These Italian-designed beauties, which also featured Chrysler Hemi power, cost a small fortune, resulting in fewer than 30 being produced between 1951 and 1955.

Cunningham made further attempts at winning Le Mans outright with newer models, but with little success. After the 1955 season, he ended his car-manufacturing business. But he and his team members continued to race other brands, such as Jaguar, Ferrari, Maserati and Porsche, for the next 10 years.

Fast forward to 2001 and the Cunningham Motor Company was revived with the hopes of reigniting the Cunningham fire. Although that effort eventually floundered, the revival would have been a fitting testament to the man who showed the world that smaller is better, except when it comes to what was under the hood.

Cunningham proved that American V-8 muscle could successfully compete against Europe’s pureblood race cars, setting the stage for Shelby’s success with his Cobra a decade later.

This racing pioneer was well ahead of Carroll Shelby

wh-ConvertingCars-Main-May7

While the global automotive industry is steering toward manufacturing electric instead of internal combustion engine vehicles, a lifelong car lover from Canada has found a way to make the switch without scrapping the chassis and frame.

In February of this year, Dean Kneider, a 51-year-old Toronto native now living in B.C., launched Riise EV. Riise is an acronym for “The Realization of Innovative and Integrated Sustainable Energy,” and the company retrofits gas-powered vehicles into electric ones.

“We have 1.5 billion vehicles on this planet, we shouldn’t be throwing everything away to buy new electric. We should be converting,” Kneider said.

There are companies, many based in California, that are converting classic cars. Kneider looked into buying one of those vehicles but found the cost would have been extremely expensive. There was also a three-year waiting list because of the demand. Instead, he began discussing the idea of starting his own similar business two years ago. His family, friends and business partners encouraged him to do so.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-ConvertingCars-Conversion1-May7-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168060" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-ConvertingCars-Conversion1-May7-scaled.jpg" alt="Converting Cars" width="2560" height="2295" /></a>

“They thought the concept was inspiring, the right idea at the right time. Very unique, logical and the name Riise EV had a purpose of changing the world for the right reasons,” he said. “I wanted to build a business plan that was impactful.”

Along with retrofitting cars, his plan includes a way to scale the operation by converting buses, shuttles and utility fleets. They usually feature the same models and years of vehicles, so they can all be switched to electric using the same parts, or what he calls “rev kits.”

He will be targeting governments and companies for prospective orders. He said only doing conversions with one-off vehicles does not work because his company might be able to do only 24 conversions a year. With fleets, he said the company could do thousands.

“A new electric bus today costs about $400,000 and we’ve got the bus conversion kits down to about $200,000,” he said. “We’re taking a five-year-old bus that is off its powertrain warranty and have the ability to convert it. We figured this was an economic business model that a lot of people would get behind. I'm not trying to squash new buses. I want the school boards to buy new buses, but I don’t want them to get rid of their fleet.”

Kneider researched his idea for about a year and figured he could convert a car, truck, bus or van from gas-powered into electric in three months. He then began to circulate his plan to investors, who are eligible for environment-related tax benefits.

He said the provincial government in B.C. has structured it so there are $675,000 in tax breaks for the first $1.5 million raised. Kneider said there are also grants available from the federal and provincial governments, which he said would provide additional financial resources to use for research and development and growing his staff.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-ConvertingCars-Conversion2-May7-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168061" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-ConvertingCars-Conversion2-May7-scaled.jpg" alt="Converting Cars" width="2114" height="2560" /></a>

“I’ve got paper stacked up like the Rocky Mountains in my office. I know every scrap of DNA that you can about electric cars,” he said. “Unless somebody’s going to write a check for $20 million so you can buy a ton of inventory and equipment or parts and accessories, it's really hard to get going. If it was so easy, everybody would be doing it.

“If I’m going to get investors to invest in the company, which I have, they will want a return (on their investment),” he said. “Profits is not a dirty word. I'm doing it in a way where I'm still making money, but I'm doing right for the environment.”

Changing the focus

Kneider said the automotive world is consumed with companies such as Tesla, Rivian, Lucid and Canoo, that are building new electric cars and trucks. He said what he is doing has a bigger and more practical purpose in terms of sustainability.

“I’m trying to preserve from an environmental standpoint, things that are important,” he said. “My kids challenged me every day on what I am going to do better for the environment, because this is how our kids are being brought up. I don't want to be a throwaway society.

“It's a tough space to get all the parts and equipment to do it,” he said. “It’s not as easy as it looks. If it was, everybody would do it, but I wanted to give it a go.”

He also looked at a way to start a business with his 14-year-old son, William, whom he said thought the idea of transforming classic sports cars into electric vehicles was “cool.” Growing up, Kneider wanted to work with his own father, George, who worked as an architect for more than 50 years and whose clients include premium automotive manufacturers. He sees Riise EV as a company he can develop into something where his son could join him one day.

So far, his team has converted one car and is close to finishing another. It has also converted one bus. He said he could sell them, but the plan is to convert at least 10 examples that he can show to interested clients.

“I’m finally doing it, but I’m just starting to go out and sell it because I can show it,” Kneider said. “People don’t want to buy something they can’t see. People want to buy something they can feel in touch. I’ve already had people wanting to buy the car and the bus. I’m trying to utilize this to show people it is possible and then they can start putting orders in. It takes a little time because it’s a new way of thinking.

“I’m just blazing a trail, and I don’t want to sound like when Elon Musk started Tesla. He started with a roadster and all the oil and gas companies and car companies like Ford, GM, Jaguar, Porsche and all the others didn't want him to do it because he was changing something. He was a disrupter. He had a lot of money backing him to be able to create tests and look at what it’s done?” he said.

“It’s paved the way for guys like me to now come in and do different things, along with probably a slew of other electrical companies.”

He said his idea is different because rather than building a new product, he is converting older vehicles to keep them on the road longer.

“The new car companies want to sell new cars. They don’t want me doing this. The bus companies don’t want me doing this,” he said. “Legislation regulations could hurt me for a little while, but I’ve proven that we can do it in the bus and the shuttles and the high asset equipment.”

Stuffing lightning under the hood: this Canadian converts gas-powered vehicles into electric ones

Red Bull Racing’s RB7

Updated: May 4, 2022 (10:19PM)
<h3>Wednesday, May 4</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>8:30P-9:00, REV TV, Winged Nation #14, N</li>
</ul>
<h3>Thursday, May 5</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>8:00P-9:00, REV TV, FIM MotoGP HIGHLIGHTS Gran Premio Red Bull de España, Jerez, Spain, May 1/22, N</li>
 	<li>8:00P-8:30, FSR, NHRA in 30, Charlotte, May 1/22, N</li>
 	<li>8:30P-9:30, FSR, NHRA Sportsman Series, Houston, Apr 24/22, N</li>
</ul>
<h3>Friday, May 6</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>3:00P-4:30, FSR, NASCAR Truck Series QUALIFYING, Darlington, L</li>
 	<li>4:30P-5:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, Darlington, L</li>
 	<li>5:00P-6:30, FSR, NASCAR Xfinity Series QUALIFYING, Darlington, L</li>
 	<li>5:15P-6:45, TSN1, Formula 1 Practice, Miami Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>6:30P-7:30, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-RACE, Darlington, L</li>
 	<li>7:30P-10:00, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Dead On Tools 200, Darlington Rcaeway, SC, L</li>
 	<li>10:00P-11:30, FSR, NASCAR Xfinity Series QUALIFYING, Darlington, SDD, R</li>
</ul>
<h3>Saturday, May 7</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:30A-8:00, DVELO, FIA World Endurance Championship Total Energies 6 Hour of Spa-Francorchamps (Part #1), Belgium, L</li>
 	<li>8:00A-9:30, FSR, NASCAR Xfinity Series QUALIFYING, Darlington, May 6/22, R</li>
 	<li>9:30A-10:00, CBS Sports, Mobil 1 the Grid, N</li>
 	<li>10:30A-12:30P, FSR, NASCAR Cup Series QUALIFYING, Darlington, L</li>
 	<li>12:00n-1:30P, DVELO, FIA World Endurance Championship Total Energies 6 Hour of Spa-Francorchamps (Part #2), Belgium, L</li>
 	<li>12:30P-1:30, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay Xfinity Series PRE-RACE, Darlington, L</li>
 	<li>1:00P-2:00, CBS Sports, Trans Am presented by Franklin Road Apparel, Sonoma, CA, Apr 30/22, N</li>
 	<li>1:00P-1:30, TSN3, NASCAR Xfinity Series PRE-RACE, Darlington, L</li>
 	<li>1:30P-4:00, TSN3, NASCAR Xfinity Series Mahindra ROXOR 200, Darlington Raceway, SC, L</li>
 	<li>3:00P-3:55, TSN5, Formula 1 PRE-QUALIFYING, Miami Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>3:55P-5:30, TSN5, Formula 1 QUALIFYING: Miami Grand Prix</li>
 	<li>5:30P-6:30, TSN5, W Series (all-female racing), Miami, USA, SDD, N</li>
 	<li>6:00P-8:00, FSR, NASCAR Cup Series QUALIFYING, Darlington, SDD, R</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sunday, May 8 ★ Mother’s Day</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>11:00A-1:00P, FSR, NASCAR Cup Series QUALIFYING, Darlington, May 7/22, R</li>
 	<li>2:00P-3:25, ABC/TSN1, F1 Grand Prix Sunday PRE-RACE: Miami Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>2:00P-3:30, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-RACE, NCS, Darlington, L</li>
 	<li>3:00P-3:30, TSN5, NASCAR Cup Series PRE-RACE, Darlington Raceway, L</li>
 	<li>3:25P-5:30, ABC/TSN1, FIA Formula 1 com Miami Grand Prix, Miami Intl. Autodrome, Miami, FL, L</li>
 	<li>3:30P-7:00, TSN5, NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400, Darlington Raceway, SC, L</li>
 	<li>5:30P-6:30, TSN1, F1 Chequered Flag POST-RACE: Miami Grand Prix, l</li>
 	<li>5:30P-7:00, CBS Sports, Trans-Am TA2, Sonoma, CA, May 1/22, N</li>
 	<li>7:00P-8:00, CBS Sports, SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup, Brands Hatch, England, Apr 30/22, N</li>
 	<li>10:00P-12:00m, TSN2, Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, SDD, R</li>
 	<li>10:30P-1:30A, FSR, NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Circle K Four-Wide Nationals, zMAX Dragway, Concord (Charlotte), NC, May 1/22, R</li>
</ul>
<h3>Monday, May 9</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>12:00n-2:00P, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Dead On Tools 200, Darlington Rcaeway, SC, May 6/22, R</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>7:30P-10:00, TSN5, Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, May 8/22, R</li>
</ul>
<h3>Tuesday, May 10</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>12:00n-3:00P, FSR, NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Circle K Four-Wide Nationals, zMAX Dragway, Concord (Charloe), NC, May 1/22, R</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>8:00P-8:30, REV TV, The Inside Line #20, F1 news, N</li>
 	<li>8:00P-10:00, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Dead On Tools 200, Darlington Rcaeway, SC, May 6/22, R</li>
</ul>
<h3>Wednesday, May 11</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>5:30P-6:30, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>8:30P-9:00, REV TV, Winged Nation #15, N</li>
</ul>
<h3>Thursday, May 12</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>8:00P-9:00, CBS Sports, Race of Champions 2022, Pite Havsbad in Piteå, Sweden, Feb 5-6/22, N</li>
 	<li>8:30P-9:30, FSR, NHRA Sportsman Series, Charlotte, NC, May 1/22, N</li>
 	<li>9:00P-10:00, CBS Sports, Formula E Preview Show, Berlin, N</li>
</ul>
<h3>Friday, May 13</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>5:00P-7:00, REV TV ?, Indy Lights Round #3, Indianapolis road course. Race #1, L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
</ul>
<h3>Saturday, May 14</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>8:30A-10:30, TSN2, ABB FIA Formula E Racing, Round 7, Berlin, L</li>
 	<li>12:00n-1:30, FSR, NASCAR Truck Series QUALIFYING, Kansas Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>1:15P-2:15, REV TV ?, Indy Lights Round #4, Indianapolis road course. Race #2, L</li>
 	<li>1:30P-2:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, Kansas, L</li>
 	<li>2:00P-4:00, FSR, ARCA Menards Series Dutch Boy 150, Kansas Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>3:00P-3:30, NBC, NTT INDYCAR PRE-RACE, GMR Grand Prix, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, L</li>
 	<li>3:30P-5:30, NBC/SN-NOW, NTT INDYCAR GMR Grand Prix, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, L</li>
 	<li>4:00P-6:05, imsa.tv, IMSA Michelin Pilot Mid-Ohio 120, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH, L</li>
 	<li>5:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Cup Series QUALIFYING, Kansas Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:30, CBS Sports, ABB FIA Formula E Racing, Round 7, Berlin, SDD</li>
 	<li>7:00P-8:00, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-RACE, NCWTS, Kansas Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>8:00P-10:30, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, 134 laps, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, KS, L</li>
 	<li>10:30P-12:00m, FSR, NHRA QUALIFYING #1, Richmond, VA, SDD, N</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sunday, May 15</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>3:00A-5:00, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, 134 laps, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, KS, May 14/22, R</li>
 	<li>6:30A-8:30, FSR, ARCA Menards Series Dutch Boy 150, Kansas Speedway, May 14/22, R</li>
 	<li>8:00A, REV TV ?, FIM MotoGP SHARK Grand Prix de France, Bugatti Grand Prix race circuit, Le Mans, France, L</li>
 	<li>10:30A-12:30P, FSR, NASCAR Cup Series QUALIFYING, Kansas Speedway, May 14/22, R</li>
 	<li>12:30P-1:30, FSR, NHRA QUALIFYING #2, Richmond, VA, SDD, N</li>
 	<li>1:30P-3:00, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-Race, NCS, Kansas, L</li>
 	<li>2:05P-4:50, imsa.tv/(REV TV?), IMSA WeatherTech Series Lexus Grand Prix At Mid-Ohio, Mid-Ohio, Lexington, OH, L</li>
 	<li>2:30P-3:00, TSN4/5, NASCAR Cup PRE-RACE. Kansas City, L</li>
 	<li>3:00P-6:30, TSN4/5, NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, KS, L</li>
 	<li>5:30P-6:30, FSR, NHRA QUALIFYING #2, Richmond, VA, SDD, R</li>
 	<li>6:30P-9:30, FSR, Camping World NHRA Drag Racing Series Virginia Nationals, Virginia Motorsports Park, North Dinwiddie (Richmond), VA, SDD, N</li>
 	<li>8:00P-9:30, CBS Sports, ABB FIA Formula E Racing, Round 8, Berlin, SDD</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/RFTV_2022_Wheels-Original-May-4-15.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE PDF VERSION</a>

Codes: 

L = live; R = rerun; N = new (not live); SDD = same day delayed

SN = Sportsnet

FSR = Fox Sports Racing

MTOD = Motor Trend on demand (com) via subscription

DVELO = Discovery-Velocity

tv = IMSA.tv (via internet)

B-Jackson.tv = Barrett-Jackson Auctions (barrettjackson.tv) via internet

Time is Eastern Time (EDT in season)

Canadian Race Fan TV Listings May 4-15

2023_Supra_MT_3.0_MatteWhite_002

Chris D’Alessandro is a writer living in downtown Toronto. Growing up in a family of used car dealers and mechanics, he’s been immersed in car culture his entire life. A frequent contributor to VICE Canada, Chris’ screenwriting work has also won a Canadian Comedy Award. So, “hipster, wise-ass, gearhead” pretty much covers it. Follow Chris on Twitter @chrisdaless and Instagram @chrdalessandro

When I road tested the latest GR Supra 3.0 back in the fall, I really only had one complaint.

It wasn’t its lack of merit as a sports car. The GR Supra is fast, fun, capable and it makes some great noises.

It wasn't the BMW connection, either. The B58 inline-six engine so closely mimics the 2JZ from both a technical and driving feel standpoint that until you’ve actually driven one, you simply can’t understand just how little point there was in Toyota spending tens of millions of dollars to develop their own engine from scratch.

But there is one thing that has always gotten under my skin about the GR Supra.

I’ve tested three separate GR Supras at this point, and each time when I’ve stepped into their X-Wing fighter-like cockpit, instinct has told me to immediately look for a clutch pedal. Of course, I’ve always found nothing where a third pedal should be … except disappointment.

The driver’s seat of the GR Supra is so focused and purposeful, it actually feels strange to be missing that most demanding of driver engagement points — the manual transmission.

Mercifully and finally the GR Supra 3.0 will receive a proper manual transmission for the 2023 model year. One can’t help but wonder if this a direct result of the new Nissan Z so loudly boasting its available manual transmission in Nissan’s initial marketing blitz. It’s possible. But Toyota claims the addition of the manual is based on customer feedback dating as far back as the GR Supra’s launch.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2023_Supra_MT_3.0_MatteWhite_012-1-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167948" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2023_Supra_MT_3.0_MatteWhite_012-1-scaled.jpg" alt="2023 Toyota Supra" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

“Since its launch in 2019, we have received positive feedback from our customers about the Supra’s powerful driving performance, fun and comfortable handling, and attractive, true sports car design. But we have also received many requests for a manual transmission,” Romaric Lartilleux, manager, public relations for Toyota Canada told wheels.ca via email.

Unsurprisingly, the manual transmission in question will be a BMW-sourced ZF unit. To be specific, it’s the unit which is currently available in the four-cylinder version of the BMW Z4. However, like everything else on the Supra, Toyota will be making their own engineering tweaks to the hardware.

“Our engineers were able to modify existing transmission housing, driveshaft and gear set and remove elements that were not required, such as the acoustic package to create a tailor-made solution for the GR Supra,” says Lartilleux

Those are interesting clues to how Toyota is approaching their manual experience differently from BMW. Removing the acoustic package, for example, may suggest more mechanical noise communicated to the driver (oh, the sweet sounds of gears gnashing and selectors clunking).

Changing the transmission housing and driveshaft may be for the purposes of weight reduction — as well as to reduce rotating mass. This combined with a different gear set could indicate that Toyota wants their manual to be snappier and more involved than the Z4, with the need to shift more frequently like the Supra’s little brother, the GR 86.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2023_Supra_MT_3.0_MatteWhite_005-Red-V2-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167949" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2023_Supra_MT_3.0_MatteWhite_005-Red-V2-scaled.jpg" alt="2023 Toyota Supra" width="2560" height="1605" /></a>

This would be a huge benefit to the GR Supra’s overall driving experience. So many modern manual transmissions — particularly in high horsepower cars — simply aren’t much fun to drive because once you get hit third gear… you’re shattering the speed limit.

A shorter final-drive ratio (3.46 versus 3.15 for the automatic) in addition to recalibrated traction and stability-control programming indicate a more purposeful approach to the manual variant (i.e. track work).  The manual Supra will also have a more unique interior thanks to a rearranged center console, which shuffles a few elements around in order to accommodate the manual shifter.

Interestingly, BMW does not currently offer a manual transmission for any vehicle equipped with the B58 inline-six (perhaps why it was so difficult for Toyota to offer this option previously), meaning the GR Supra will be the only game in town if you want the ‘snap-crackle-pop’ of B58 turbo runoff and a clutch pedal.

The manual transmission option will only be available on the 3.0 and 3.0 Premium models. Additionally, this year’s “special Supra” will be a manual-only trim level, dubbed the A91-MT.

Only 500 units of the A91-MTwill be offered in the U.S. —and <a href="https://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/about/news/toyota-gr-supra-adds-manual-transmission-and-enhanced-drive-dynamics-for-2023">Canada will get only 50</a>. So, expect high demand for these limited edition units.

The A91-MT will be available in either matte white or grey, with a unique brown leather interior which is not currently available on any other Supra trim level. Additional upgrades include an Alcantara shift knob, red brake calipers, badging and strut tower braces, and 19-inch wheels.

For 2023, across the entire Supra lineup, Toyota has revised the tuning of the shocks and power steering system. A new feature that Toyota calls Hairpin+ is apparently meant for steep uphill hairpin turns — and allows for a greater difference in wheelspin between the left and right rear tires.

Translation? The current Supra’s ass-end can kick out more aggressively than a background dancer in a rap video. The car can, at times, feel untamable and unpredictable around tight turns. The 2023 updates should theoretically limit the Supra’s tendency for “snap-off” oversteer.

So, will all of these updates in addition to the manual transmission make the GR Supra a clear winner over the Nissan Z?

Toyota and Nissan will just have to each lend me a tester for a week and wait for my verdict.

I’m sorry folks, but there is simply no other way…

The pedantic and subjective opinions of this self-important auto-journalist aside, I find it difficult to believe anyone who places an order for a manual Supra will be disappointed.

And if you really want one of those 50 A91-MT units, you had better hurry.

Finally, We Have Details on The Manual Toyota GR Supra

EQS kommt 2021 und ist erstes Modell auf der neuen Elektroarchitektur: Sechs neue EQ Modelle: Mercedes-Benz erweitert Elektroauto-PortfolioEQS arrives in 2021 and is the first model built on the new electric architecture: Six new models from EQ: Mercede

Stephanie Wallcraft is a multiple award-winning automotive and motorsport journalist, and she is also a parent who daily navigates living and driving in Canada's largest city. Stephanie is President of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.

As the head of the Mercedes-EQ electric sub-brand, Christoph Starzynski’s job will only become increasingly important in the years to come.

Starzynski is vice-president of electric vehicle architecture for Mercedes-Benz Group. His team has overseen the launch of the EQS sedan on a dedicated electric vehicle platform, and the upcoming EQE sedan and just-announced EQS SUV. And there’s much more to come: Starzynski says the S-Class, E-Class, and C-Class currently being sold are in their final life cycle as internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercedes-EQ-2-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167918" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercedes-EQ-2-scaled.jpg" alt="Ercedes EQ" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

“Everything we are developing from now on will be EV only,” Starzynski says. “The next S-Class will be fully electric only. There will be no ICE or hybrid version anymore as of right now.”

The AMG performance sub-brand is also undergoing this shift. A new dedicated platform solely for electric AMG vehicles will be ready by 2025. Electric Maybach products are coming as well, Starzynski says, and they are “not years away.”

Canada is one of the top markets in the world per capita for AMG sales, so the question of whether AMG owners are ready for this change is an especially important one here. As the AMG platform is developed, Starzynski says, one of the goals is to keep as much of the drive experience on par with that of ICE AMG vehicles as possible.

“It’s not only about the classic engine sound,” he says. “I think it’s more the dynamics, ride, handling, stiffness of the suspension, steering. … I don’t think there is going to be a big convincing [of buyers to adopt AMG EVs], unless someone really, really needs a V8 sound, which we somehow can incorporate through our speakers.”

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercedes-EQ-3-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167919" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercedes-EQ-3-scaled.jpg" alt="Mercedes EQ" width="2560" height="1708" /></a>

Range is another important hurdle in the switch to EVs, particularly in the luxury segment where buyers have high expectations. The EQS SUV being released in Canada toward the end of this year will be offered in 450 4MATIC and 580 4MATIC variants. North American estimates are not yet available, but European range estimates for the EQS SUV are topping 600 kilometres for some models.

“I think there is a specific bar in a segment which you have to jump over,” Starzynski says. “Otherwise, in my opinion, customers will not accept the product.”

Starzynski has been with Mercedes-Benz for more than 20 years, starting in support roles and gradually moving into management and regional executive positions before being named Chief Engineer for Electric Vehicle Architecture in 2017. Today, he oversees Mercedes-EQ from the head office in Stuttgart, Germany, where he says the corporate environment is different from what it has been in the past. There’s much more emphasis on constant evolution and change, as opposed to the predictable cycles that have been traditional in the automotive industry.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercedes-EQ-4-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167920" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mercedes-EQ-4-scaled.jpg" alt="Mercedes EQ" width="2560" height="1440" /></a>

“We've changed the way we're working in R&amp;D now from model year to model year moves, which we were used to, into small, incremental changes and improvements,” he says. “That comes with the assistance of how our Formula 1 colleagues work. They basically have to be better every two weeks to beat the competition. We realized, in this transformation and disruption, we have to change our processes as well.”

Some of those changes, Starzynski says, include developing open-concept collaborative workspaces, partnering more often with small technology start-up companies, and bringing people with a wider knowledge base in-house for new types of development such as battery chemistry testing. The advent of over-the-air software updates has made it possible to offer new features on an ongoing basis instead of at the time of the vehicle purchase, meaning that ongoing customization and evolution will become an expectation instead of a novelty.

“There's so much fast technology moving, and of course we want to be ahead of the game,” Starzynski says. “I can’t imagine that we will have the same style EQS for 20 years and just keep it fresh for software purposes. Obviously, the result is going to be model year changes, [but] the small, incremental changes and improvements will be disconnected from the model years.

“There is definitely a point of customization possible where the customer is really seeing a benefit.”

Today, SUVs are in higher demand than ever. Mercedes is touting the EQS SUV as the first electric luxury seven-seat SUV in the world, a position that Starzynski says makes it an extremely important vehicle for the Mercedes-EQ brand.

“It has maybe the potential, like the first M-Class, to say we’re setting a market,” he says. “This car is the ultimate luxury SUV, with a progressive interpretation of EVs.

“It will set, in my opinion, a main guiding star for the automotive industry.”

Mercedes EQS SUV leads the brand’s steady march towards electrification

news 5-2 (1)

F-150 Lightning production underway

Ford's very first production F-150 Lightning electric pickup rolled off of the assembly line in Michigan last week. The EV pickups are built at an all-new production facility in an historic Ford complex in Detroit, with the company already taking 200,000 reservations and looking to ramp up production to 150,000 per year. “Today we celebrate the Model T moment for the 21st Century at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center,” said Ford executive chair Bill Ford. The automaker hopes to deliver more than two million EVs per year by 2026, making the vehicles account for a third of the company's sales volumes. So, if you're one of the reservation holders eagerly awaiting your new EV pickup, the wait is starting to shrink. F-150 Lightning starts from $68,000 in Canada with 370 km of range, and a longer-range model with 515 km is also available.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-2-2.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167913" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-2-2.jpg" alt="2022 Ford F150 Lightning" width="2500" height="1875" /></a>

Integra is here

Acura's 2023 Integra, the return of the legendary hot sport compact badge, will arrive at dealers in June. The base model car, featuring a 200 hp 1.5-litre turbo-four, will start from $34,350 before destination. That model will get a CVT. If you want the six-speed stick, you'll need to get an Elite A-Spec Package trim car, for $42,550. That car comes with adaptive dampers, 16-speaker ELS audio, and an integrated dynamics system with individual drive mode. Acura will also offer the Integra in A-Spec for $37,050, and Elite A-Spec with a CVT for the same price as the stick.

Supra gets a third pedal

Toyota's Supra sports coupe gets a new manual transmission option for 2023, along with changes to all six-cylinder models and a new special edition. The six-speed stick was developed just for this model, Toyota said, with unique internals and a larger clutch diameter to handle the 382 hp and 367 lb-ft of torque of the 3.0-litre turbo-I6. The eight-speed auto is still available and will be the only box on the 255 hp GR Supra 2.0. All six-cylinder GR Supra models get a re-tuned suspension with revised shocks. They also have a new power steering system, with 3.0 models offering new wheels and new paint colours. A new A91 special edition is six-speed only and adds a cognac leather interior, red Supra badge, and strut tower braces. The A91 model will be limited to just 50 for Canada, with pricing for all 2023 GR Supra models to follow in summer.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-2-4.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167912" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-2-4.jpg" alt="2023 Toyota Supra" width="2500" height="1667" /></a>

The electric Corvette is real

Chevrolet has confirmed an electric Corvette is coming, though it won't say when exactly. GM President Mark Reuss confirmed the news Monday, saying that there would be internal combustion models as well. An electrified Corvette is coming next year, and while Reuss didn't clarify if it would be a hybrid or PHEV, the teaser video he posted clearly showed a Corvette that could spin its front tires. The highly camouflaged C8 Corvette had all-wheel drive. The layout wasn't specified, but the likely method will be to put electric motors on the front axle with the gas engine driving the rears. The Acura NSX uses a similar drivetrain.

https://twitter.com/chevrolet/status/1518577631716913152

Brightdrop EV breathes life back into Ingersoll plant

Meanwhile at the General Motors CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, ON, the process of converting to produce the BrightDrop commercial EVs has begun. The plant most recently built the Chevrolet Equinox crossover, but will now be the home to GM's EV delivery vans. The production equipment is expected to be installed by September, with employees back for retraining in October. The first production vehicle is expected by end of year. GM says it already has more than 25,000 reservations for the truck and expects to start a second shift of production next year.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-2-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167910" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-2-3.jpg" alt="Ingersoll" width="2500" height="1833" /></a>

&nbsp;

Weekly News Roundup: Lightning Strikes, Integra Priced, 'Vette Electrified, More

Toronto,,Ontario,,Canada,-,July,8th,2018:,A,View,Of

Mark Toljagic is an accredited automobile journalist with a pro-consumer bent - which also describes the condition of many of his own cars.

There’s no logical reason you’d expect a leader who goes by the name of Ford to have a soft spot for motorists.

Yet Ontario Premier Doug Ford has shown drivers a lot of love lately. Among other things, he’s cancelled and rebated license-plate renewal fees, removed some road tolls and promised to build new highways.

The high cost of automobile insurance has been on the government’s mind, as well. When COVID-19 shuttered schools and workplaces two years ago, Queen’s Park directed some financial relief for drivers, resulting in more than $1.3 billion in insurance savings dispersed to motorists who were driving a lot less during the lockdown.

In its recently unveiled 2022 budget, the Ontario government proposed new measures to reduce the cost of auto insurance, including changes that would provide consumers with more flexible coverage, a pledge to crack down on insurance fraud, as well as enhance fairness – including re-examining the use of postal code information to determine premiums.

Ontario drivers may soon be able to tweak their insurance coverage further, such as by making not-at-fault damage coverage, also known as direct compensation property damage (DCPD), an optional add-on. It’s an idea that could yield some savings for drivers on a tight budget. Those who own older cars that are worth less than the cost to insure them would be able to opt out of DCPD coverage, which is currently mandatory in Ontario.

If another driver is at fault in an accident, DCPD covers damage to your vehicle and its contents, and for the loss of use of your vehicle when damaged. But if you drive an older, inexpensive vehicle, you may wish to drop the coverage and welcome the lower payments (this is separate from collision coverage, which pays for repairs to your car when you’re at fault).

“There’s significant savings for the driver who accepts the risk,” says Matt Hands, insurance director at <a href="http://Ratehub.ca">Ratehub.ca</a>. “However, the cost of replacing or repairing the vehicle will be fully incurred by the motorist.”

The government wants to see more innovations adopted, chiefly usage-based insurance (UBI) programs that give drivers more control over their insurance costs. Sometimes referred to as pay-as-you-drive insurance, UBI has been around for nearly a decade in Canada. It relies on a telematic device that plugs into the OBD-II data port and collects information about the vehicle’s speed and driving characteristics, such as hard acceleration and braking (newer programs no longer use a plug-in and only require the driver’s smartphone).

The information is shown on the driver’s phone app and relayed back to the insurance company, which determines how safely the client is driving and assigns a numeric score that’s constantly changing. Drivers who opt for the surveillance system are promised at least a 10 per cent discount for signing up.

Despite the promise of instant insurance savings, a mere 15 per cent of Canadian drivers say they have tried UBI, and some of them went back to conventional insurance.

“Telematics is a tricky feature,” says Hands. “For the longest time it could not affect your rates going up, and only represented a benefit to the motorist.” But some insurers have changed the rules of engagement, introducing the prospect of higher rates for bad drivers.

Ratehub’s own survey of drivers, conducted in 2021, tapped into consumers’ trepidation regarding usage-based auto insurance:
<ul>
 	<li>77 per cent say they are concerned about potential rate hikes</li>
 	<li>67 per cent express concern about the accuracy of the programs</li>
 	<li>56 per cent have privacy concerns</li>
 	<li>51 per cent are hesitant in case it negatively impacts their rates</li>
</ul>
“If I have to pass someone on a two-lane highway and briefly accelerate to 125 km/h in an 80 km/h zone, am I going to be penalized?” Hands poses, echoing a common question. The reality is it depends on the insurance provider and their UBI program. If you consistently demonstrate poor driving behaviours, you could see your rates increase.

Hands says that insurers are listening to motorists’ concerns and are making changes. Some programs allow the driver to edit their driving record on the app to remove instances when another family member was driving the vehicle, or made an evasive maneuver to avoid a collision.

“It’s a great feature, but just know that if you edit too frequently, you will be put on notice by your insurer,” warns Hands. He’d like to see companies offer consumers a trial period with the software, so that they can experience the potential benefits and savings – something that a few insurers have instituted.

Hands would like to see more options for “pay as you go” insurance aimed at downtown city dwellers. Intended for low-mileage drivers whose vehicles sit at home while they commute to work by transit, the plan offers lower premiums because vehicles are mostly driven on weekends and not during accident-prone rush hours.

As for the much-despised territorial rating that assigns risk according to residential postal code, Hands says the government could choose to remove geography from the criteria, making communities like Brampton, Ontario, less expensive to insure a car. But the risk would be pooled across the rest of the province, raising everyone else’s insurance premiums, he says.

“Postal codes are a crude way of assigning risk,” Hands points out. “The province of Alberta has tried tying insurance risk to drivers’ credit score, which seems to have some validity.”

As Ontario moves ahead with auto insurance reforms through its Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Hands cautions that change comes slowly in this sector and that nothing is going to happen overnight.

“The industry has been slow to adopt digitization and other technology in Canada,” he says, while other jurisdictions have embraced innovation much quicker. “The United Kingdom is ahead of its time, as is much of Europe.”

Just don’t look to the Ontario government to offer public auto insurance schemes of its own. Hands insists that government-run plans are costlier, since there’s no competition. Instead, he says Ontario is doing the right thing by working with the industry and weighing regulatory changes to eke out savings for consume

“It’s all about fostering a better relationship with the private insurers and providing regulatory transparency, which is in the best interest of everyone.”

Ontario’s 2022 budget proposes reducing car insurance costs. What could that mean for you?

M267178

Updated: May 18, 2022 (11:59AM)
<h3>Wednesday, May 18</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>2:30P-3:00, TSN2, 2022 Porsche Super Cup Race 1, Emilia Romagna, Imola, Apr 24/22, R</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>8:30P-9:00, REV TV, Winged Nation #16, N</li>
</ul>
<h3>Thursday, May 19</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>8:00P-9:00, REV TV, French Grand Prix Highlights featuring Moto3, Moto2, MotoE, and MotoGP, May 15/22, N</li>
 	<li>8:30P-9:00, FSR, NHRA Pro Mod Series, Charlotte, May 1/22, N</li>
 	<li>9:00P-9:30, FSR, NHRA in 30, Richmond, May 15/22, N</li>
</ul>
<h3>Friday, May 20</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>10:45A-12:30P, TSN2, Formula 1 Practice: Spanish Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>1:15P-2:00, TSN2, W Series Qualifying: Barcelona, Spain, L</li>
 	<li>4:00P-5:30, FSR, NASCAR Truck Series QUALIFYING, Texas Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>4:30P-5:00, TSN3, 2022 Porsche Super Cup Race 1, Emilia Romagna, Imola, Apr 24/22, R</li>
 	<li>5:30P-6:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, Texas, L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:30, FSR/TSN2, NASCAR Xfinity Series PRACTICE &amp; QUALIFYING, Texas Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>7:30P-8:30, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-RACE, NCWTS, Texas, L</li>
 	<li>8:30P-11:00, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series com 220, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, L</li>
</ul>
<h3>Saturday, May 21</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>8:20A-9:25, TSN5, W Series: Barcelona, Spain, L</li>
 	<li>8:25A-10:00, REV TV, FIM Superbike World Championship Estoril (Round #3, Race #1), Circuito Estoril, Portugal, L</li>
 	<li>9:25A-9:55, TSN5, Formula 1 PRE-QUALIFYING: Spanish Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>9:30A-11:00, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series com 220, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, May 20/22, R</li>
 	<li>9:55A-11:30P, TSN5, Formula 1 QUALIFYING: Spanish Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>11:30A-12:30P, TSN5, Formula 2 Sprint Race: Barcelona, L</li>
 	<li>1:00P-2:00, CBS Sports, SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup, Magny-Cours, France, May 15/22, N</li>
 	<li>1:00P-1:30, TSN5/FSR, NASCAR Xfinity Series: PRE-RACE, TMS, L</li>
 	<li>1:30P-4:00, TSN5, NASCAR Xfinity Series, SRS Distribution 250, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, L</li>
 	<li>4:00P-6:05, imsa.tv, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Mid-Ohio 120, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, L</li>
 	<li>4:00P-5:00, CBS Sports, SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup, Magny-Cours, France, May 15/22, R</li>
 	<li>7:00P-9:00, TSN5/FSR, NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open PRACTICE &amp; QUALIFYING, Texas Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>10:00P-11:00, FSR, AMA MotoAmerica Superbike, Virginia Intl. Raceway, Day #1, Alton, VA, SDD, N</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sunday, May 22</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>5:35A-6:45, TSN5, Formula 2 Feature Race: Barcelona, L</li>
 	<li>7:30A-8:55, TSN5, F1 Grand Prix Sunday PRE-RACE: Spanish Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>8:25A-10:00, REV TV, FIM Superbike World Championship Estoril (Round #3, Race #2), Circuito Estoril, Portugal, L</li>
 	<li>9:00A-11:00, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series com 220, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, May 20/22, R</li>
 	<li>8:55A-11:00, TSN5, Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio de España, Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain, L</li>
 	<li>11:00A-12:00n, TSN5, F1 Chequered Flag: Spanish Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>4:00P-6:00, NBC, NTT INDYCAR Series Indy 500 Fast 9 Qualifying, IMS, L</li>
 	<li>4:00P-6:00, TSN2, Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio de España, Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain, SDD, R</li>
 	<li>4:00P-5:30, TSN5, NASCAR Pinty's Series NTN Ultimate Bearing 250, Sunset Speedway, Innisfil, ON, May 14/22, N</li>
 	<li>5:00P-5:30, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-RACE #1 NCS All-Star Open, TMS, L</li>
 	<li>5:30P-600, TSN5, NASCAR Cup Series PRE-RACE, All-Star Open, TMS L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-8:00, TSN5, NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-8:00, CBS Sports, SRO GT World Challenge America, NOLA, New Orleans, LA, SDD, N</li>
 	<li>7:00P-8:00, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-RACE #2, NCS All-Star, TMS, L</li>
 	<li>8:00P-10:00, TSN1/5, NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, L</li>
 	<li>9:00P-10:00, FSR, AMA MotoAmerica Superbike, Virginia Intl. Raceway, Day #1, Alton, VA, May 21/22, R</li>
 	<li>10:00P-11:00, FSR, AMA MotoAmerica Superbike, Virginia Intl. Raceway, Day #2, Alton, VA, SDD, N</li>
</ul>
<h3>Monday, May 23 ★ Victoria Day (Canada)</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>9:30P-11:30, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series com 220, Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, May 20/22, R</li>
</ul>
<h3>Tuesday, May 24</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>4:30P-6:00, TSN2, NASCAR Pinty's Series NTN Ultimate Bearing 250, Sunset Speedway, Innisfil, ON, May 14/22, R</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>9:00P-10:00, FSR, MotoAmerica Rewind, Virginia International Raceway, May 21-22/22, N</li>
</ul>
<h3>Wednesday, May 25</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>2:30P-4:00, TSN2, NASCAR Pinty's Series NTN Ultimate Bearing 250, Sunset Speedway, Innisfil, ON, May 14/22, R</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
</ul>
<h3>Thursday, May 26</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>8:30P-9:00, REV TV, Winged Nation #17, N</li>
</ul>
<h3>Friday, May 27</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>1:30P-3:00, FSR, NASCAR Truck Series QUALIFYING, Charlotte Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>3:00P-3:30, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, Charlotte, L</li>
 	<li>3:30P-5:00, FSR, NASCAR Xfinity QUALIFYING, Charlotte Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>5:00P-6:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, Charlotte Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-8:00, FSR, ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150, Charlotte Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>8:00P-8:30, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay NCWTS PRE-RACE, Charlotte Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>8:30P-10:30, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NC Education Lottery 200, Charlotte Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>10:30P-12:30A, FSR, ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150, Charlotte Motor Speedway, SDD, R</li>
</ul>
<h3>Saturday, May 28</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>9:25A-9:55, TSN2, Formula 1 Pre-Qualifying: Monaco Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>9:30A-11:30, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NC Education Lottery 200, Charlotte Motor Speedway, May 27/22, R</li>
 	<li>9:55A-11:30, TSN2, Formula 1 QUALIFYING: Monaco Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>12:00n-1:00P, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay Xfinity PRE-RACE, Charlotte, L</li>
 	<li>12:30P-1:00, TSN2, NASCAR RaceDay Xfinity PRE-RACE, Charlotte, L</li>
 	<li>1:00P-4:00, TSN2, NASCAR Xfinity Alsco Uniforms 300, Charlotte Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>4:00P-5:00, TSN2, NASCAR Pinty's Series eBay Motors 200, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, May 22/22, N</li>
 	<li>7:00P-9:00, FSR, NASCAR Cup Series QUALIFYING, Charlotte, L</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sunday, May 29</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>7:00A-9:00, FSR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NC Education Lottery 200, Charlotte Motor Speedway, May 27/22, R</li>
 	<li>7:00A-9:00, REV TV ?, FIM MotoGP Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, Mugello, Italy, L</li>
 	<li>7:30A-8:55, TSN4/5, F1 Grand Prix Sunday PRE-RACE: Monaco Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>8:55A-11:00, TSN4/5, Formula 1 Grand Prix De Monaco, Monte Carlo, MC, L</li>
 	<li>10:30A-12:30, FSR, NASCAR Cup Series QUALIFYING, Charlotte, May 28/22, R</li>
 	<li>11:00A-12:00n, TSN4/5, F1 Chequered Flag: Monaco Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>11:00A-12:30P, NBC/SN360, Indy 500 PRE-RACE, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>12:30P-4:00, NBC/SN360, NTT IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, L</li>
 	<li>12:30P-2:00, TSN2, NASCAR Pinty's Series eBay Motors 200, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, May 22/22, R</li>
 	<li>2:00P-4:00, TSN2, Formula 1 Grand Prix De Monaco, Monte Carlo, MC, SDD</li>
 	<li>3:30P-6:00, ABC, Formula 1 Grand Prix De Monaco, Monte Carlo, MC, SDD</li>
 	<li>4:30P-6:00, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay Cup Series PRE-RACE, Charlotte, L</li>
 	<li>5:00P-6:00, FOX, NASCAR RaceDay Cup Series PRE-RACE, Charlotte, L</li>
 	<li>5:30P-6:00, TSN5, NASCAR RaceDay Cup Series PRE-RACE, Charlotte, L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-10:30, FOX/TSN1/5, NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, NC, L</li>
 	<li>10:30P-12:30A, FSR, ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150, Charlotte Motor Speedway, SDD, R</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/RFTV_2022_Wheels-Original-May-18-29.pdf">CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE PDF VERSION</a>

Codes: 

L = live; R = rerun; N = new (not live); SDD = same day delayed

SN = Sportsnet

FSR = Fox Sports Racing

MTOD = Motor Trend on demand (com) via subscription

DVELO = Discovery-Velocity

tv = IMSA.tv (via internet)

B-Jackson.tv = Barrett-Jackson Auctions (barrettjackson.tv) via internet

Time is Eastern Time (EDT in season)

Canadian Race Fan TV Listings May 18-May 29

news 5-16 (1)

Road trip summer

A survey of Canadians has found that 77 per cent say they're still "likely" to take a road trip outside of their city or town this summer despite high gas prices. Forty-three percent are planning to leave their province, and 33 per cent of Canadians with a vehicle are planning to take road trips of seven hours or more this summer. The Toyota Canada Summer Road Trip Survey, run by Ipsos, was conducted in late March. Just over half of Canadians say that gas prices are influencing their trip decisions, but it also found that 91 per cent of Canadians are planning to do activities they couldn't over the past two summers. So, expect more traffic in tourist areas and a lot of local businesses happy to welcome you all back.

Highlander turbo

Toyota is swapping the Highlander SUV's long-lived 3.5-litre V6 for a turbocharged four-cylinder engine for 2023. All Highlander gas models will get the new 2.4-litre engine. It will make 265 hp, 30 less than the V6, but will make 310 lb-ft of torque. That's 47 more torques. Toyota claims more than 60 per cent reductions in some forms of emissions, with less CO2, but the automaker estimates fuel economy to be nearly the same. 9.8 L/100 km combined vs 10.3. Other changes include a larger 12.3-inch available screen on Limited and Platinum. Toyota is shuffling some features, adding a hands-free liftgate to XLE and XSE models. A big change for the 2023 Highlander, the infotainment system on that new screen is all-new. Like the Tundra's, it offers natural voice commands, cloud navigation, Google point of interest data, and other connected features. Pricing will follow with models expected at dealers later this year.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-16-4.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-168354" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-16-4.jpg" alt="2022 Toyota Highlander" width="2500" height="1667" /></a>

VW revives the Scout

Volkswagen has announced the biggest brand revival surprise since General Motors decided to make a Hummer EV. The International-Harvester Scout name will be coming back, applied to a new electric off-roader. The Scout was a competitor to the likes of the Ford Bronco and Chevrolet Blazer from 1961 through 1980. Yes, it was designed and built by IH, the tractor company. But SUVs were agricultural at the time, so it fit. The story of how the Scout became part of the Volkswagen group is a long one, so we'll stick to the current news: VW plans to bring back the name for EV pickups and SUVs sold in North America. Along with the announcement, VW showed off two renderings that do bear some resemblance to the original Scout and Travelall pickup. Production is set to start in 2026, so we expect to hear plenty more before then. It's part of VW's plans to let its U.S. operations have more freedom to build models for this market, which has already produced the Atlas.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-16-5.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168358" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-16-5.jpg" alt="Volkswagen" width="2500" height="1406" /></a>

VinFast battery subscription

VinFast Canada has announced its battery subscription pricing for the VF 8 and VF9 EVs. There will be two plans, a fixed unlimited plan, and one that offers up to 500 km per month with per-km pricing after. All VinFast vehicles will be sold with a subscription until the end of 2023, after that, an outright price will be offered. The Fixed plan is $139/mo for VF 8 and $199 for VF9. Flexible is $39 and $59, with overages of 9c/km for VF 8 and 11c for VF 9. 2022 VF 8 models will offer 420 km Eco ($50,850 plus battery subscription) and 400 km Plus ($59,350+) models, with VF 9 offering 438 km Eco ($69,150+) and 423 km Plus ($75,650+). The battery subscription plan covers all maintenance and repair costs for the battery, along with no-charge replacement if capacity dips below 70 percent of new. Customers who buy a 2022 on Fixed will have a permanent subscription fee, implying that the battery fee will change over the life of the vehicle for other buyers.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-16-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168355" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-16-2.jpg" alt="Vinfest" width="2500" height="1308" /></a>

Lexus updates UX

Lexus has updated the UX 250h AWD for 2023. The big change is a new touchscreen that uses the same interface Lexus debuted in the NX earlier this year. Hey Lexus voice activation, more connected services, and a more modern interface (with no trackpad) are part of the change. Lexus is adding performance dampers and active variable suspension to F Sport Series 1 vehicles and has stiffened the chassis of all UX trims for improved ride and handling. Expect pricing for the new model later this summer.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-16-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168356" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/news-5-16-3.jpg" alt="Lexus UX" width="2500" height="1406" /></a>

&nbsp;

News Roundup: Scout Name Returns, Highlander Gets Turbo, VinFast Prices Battery Subscription, More

pinty's

Every year around this time, to help me get into the mood, I watch a DVD documentary on the Indianapolis 500, from the beginning of the 1960s until 1970. Those were the 10 years of major change at the Speedway.

The documentary is narrated, for the most part, by the late great ABC sportscaster Jim McKay who starts it off by saying: “It’s the good, ol’ summertime and it’s this time of year when you hear these three distinct commands: “Play ball,” “They’re off, “ and “Gentlemen start your engines.” It is so true and you hear those words all the time in summer.

NBC, on Saturday before the first of the two big races at Indianapolis in May, the 500 being the biggie (Colton Herta won the first one Saturday)) had an hour-long discussion involving the four drivers who, they say, have won the 500 at least four times: AJ Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears and Helio Castroneves. It was a fabulous 60 minutes of reminiscing and if you can get it on repeat, I urge you to take a watch in case you missed it the first time around.

But between something that was said on the documentary and on the hour-long discussion resulted in advertent controversy. For example:

Foyt, when he won his first 500 in 1961, cheated. He had trouble hooking up his fuel rig and could only get some of his remaining fuel into his tank. Next stop, he borrowed someone else’s rig, which worked. Only after the race was what he did declared illegal. So Foyt really only won the race three times.

Helio, of course, made no reference to Paul Tracy, who beat him in 2004 (although disallowed), so his “fourth” victory scored in 2021 was really just his third.

Of the four men honoured, then, only two were legitimate – Al Unser and Rick Mears. Both those men earned their places.

Now, to the weekend’s results:

After stalking the leaders for 250 laps, Treyten Lapcevich took advantage of contact during NASCAR Overtime to win the NTN Ultimate Bearing Experience 250, his first career NASCAR Pinty’s Series victory.

Lapcevich was third on the final restart but shot to the lead when Marc-Antoine Camirand drove leader Raphael Lessard up the track in Turn 1.  Lapcevich held off Lessard for the win, much to the approval of his home track crowd.

“Those last two laps were wild,” Lapcevich said in Victory Lane. “Marc got into him in (Turns) 1 and 2, I just had to take advantage and then keep Raphael behind me. It feels great to finally put this RGC Sports / Qwick Wick / FBM No. 20 in Victory Lane. I came close so many times last year, but this one was just meant to be.”

In the Cup race at Kansas Sunday, Kurt Busch finished first, with his brother third and Kyle Larson second. Zane Smith won the trucks race.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Joran-Szoke.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168351" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Joran-Szoke.jpg" alt="Racing Roundup" width="1200" height="812" /></a>

Ricky Taylor and Felipe Albuquerque, driving an Acura DPi, won the Mid-Ohio round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Sunday. The IMSA cars will be running at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in July.

Reigning Formula E champion Nyck de Vries won the two Berlin EPrix races this weekend, round 8 of the Formula E championship. McLaren F1, meantime, announced it would be participating in the Formula E championship going forward. I find that curious, because McLaren is mortgaged to its hilt and nothing spends money faster than Formula E, which has no home base. F1 and IndyCar have home bases; Formula E goes from place to place and the hotels are taken up by the crew and they live on the road all the time and if anybody wants to spend a fortune this would be the way to do it.

T.J. Buffenbarger, who runs the TJSlideways sprint car website, sent me a short yarn on Ohsweken Speedway’s Dylan Westbrook, who was racing in the States this weekend. He made it up as far as third before he ran out of laps.

Now, two things: I am missing Paul Tracy on the NBC telecasts. James Hinchcliffe is doing a fine job, but Tracy didn’t have a filter and it was always a surprise what came out of his mouth, which made for interesting listening.

The other interesting thing this weekend, which was a forerunner to the 500, is that for the first time in the history of that race legalized gambling will be allowed on the grounds. Now, of course, betting on auto racing has been forbidden because the drivers would get together and fix them. We all know that there have been Formula One and NASCAR races that have been questionable. The 500 will only be available through one sports book on the grounds of the Speedway. But it will still be interesting.  Will the winner, for example. bet serious money on himself and then have to question whether or not he or she might’ve been in cahoots with other drivers?

Bad news: 14-time Canadian Pro Superbike National Champion Jordan Szoke is recovering from serious injuries to both legs and an ankle suffered during a Media Day event at the Walton Raceway motorcross track near Stratford. He also injured his jaw and chin. “it’s going to be a long road to recovery but with the help of my family, friends and fans, I will be back,” he said.

See you next weekend, folks.

Racing Roundup: Not all four-time Indy winners were, in fact, winners 

PD-covid news and features_Mar7

With gas prices in the GTA expected to reach a base price of $2 per litre this summer, let’s take a quick look at how much can be saved on fuel by comparing the regular gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) versions of two of the most popular crossovers on the market – the Toyota RAV4 and the Ford Escape.

Helping to make our comparisons is Natural Resources Canada’s Fuel Consumption Guide, which lists the fuel consumption figures for every vehicle and publishes an annual estimate of how much it will cost to fuel each. This estimate is based on three things: driving 20,000 kilometres per year, a 55 to 45 per cent mix between city and highway, and a fuel price of $1 per litre (which we will simply double).

For the Toyota RAV4, the base cost of a 2022 RAV4 AWD starts at $31,090, compared to $38,150 for the RAV4 Hybrid SE and $44,990 for the RAV4 Prime PHEV SE. The AWD is estimated to cost $3,360 per year for gas, compared to $2,400 for the Hybrid and $1,666 for the Prime. This includes electricity costs of 15 cents per kilowatt-hour and a very healthy 68 km all-electric range that could make for little or no gas use depending on your commute. The $960 you’re saving per year to upgrade from regular gas to the Hybrid model would take you roughly 7.5 years recoup the added purchase cost – assuming gas stays at $2 per litre.

The base model of the RAV4 Prime also qualifies for a $5,000 federal government rebate. Applying the rebate, the Prime currently costs $1,840 more than the regular Hybrid model, meaning the $734 yearly savings in fuel could be made up in roughly 2.5 years. Annual savings of a RAV4 Prime compared to the gas-only AWD add up to $1,694 per year, but still translates to a lengthy 5.3 years to cover the extra purchase cost in non-rebate provinces.

For the 2022 Ford Escape, there are SE variants of the gas, hybrid and PHEV models. The gas version starts at $31,699, the Hybrid at $35,599 and the PHEV at $40,849. Given that the gas SE is estimated to use $3,680 of fuel yearly, and the Hybrid $2,360, that $1,320 yearly difference will take just under three years to equalize. The PHEV’s annual fuel use – gas and electricity – is estimated at $1,590.

The Escape PHEV’s qualifies for the federal government’s $5,000 rebate, so when that is applied its starting price is a mere $250 more than the Hybrid. The PHEV’s estimated annual fuel use of $1,590 will basically pay for itself around the time of the final, fading wisps of new car smell (just over four months). Compared to the gas version, the PHEV’s annual $2,090 in savings works out to almost exactly two years to recoup its purchase cost.

Michael Bettencourt bought his first EV in late 2011 and has followed the Canadian EV scene ever since. Follow him on Twitter @MCBet10court

EV Advice: Filling Up Hybrids

wh-CollisionsStudy-May14

In spring, as we replace our winter tires and hose the salt stains off our mud mats, there’s relief in knowing we don’t have to deal with driving on icy, snowy or slushy roads for another six months. But with the emergence of spring buds and blooms comes the emergence of wildlife, looking for food, habitat and mates—and that causes a whole new set of road hazards.

Canada has a massive road network that cuts through prime wildlife habitat, posing danger to both humans and animals. Nationwide, four to eight large animal vehicle collisions occur every hour, according to the British Columbia Wildlife Collision Prevention Program (WCPP). In B.C., more than 10,000 wildlife vehicle collisions occur every year, resulting in about 570 personal injuries and three fatalities.

About 80 per cent of these collisions involve deer, while other victims include moose, elk, bears and coyotes. But that doesn’t consider collisions with smaller animals like racoons, skunks, rabbits and squirrels because, “as they cause less damage to private property or human life, they rarely appear in official statistics,” said the WCPP on its website.

For years, mitigation efforts — such as overpasses, tunnels and fencing — have attempted to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions, with varying success. Recently, researchers at New Brunswick-based Mount Allison University took part in a study published in “The Journal of Wildlife Management” that used spatial analysis to better understand highway vehicle collisions with elk, using a central Ontario herd as a study group.

About 50 elk were reintroduced into a region near Sudbury in 1930, and in the late 1990s another 150 animals were reintroduced from Alberta’s Elk Island. But from 2008 to 2012, Highway 69, which cuts through the herd’s territory, was expanded to four lanes.

Since then, vehicle collisions with elk near Greater Sudbury have more than doubled, according to the study, despite the presence of overpasses, tunnels and wildlife fencing. (However, it should be noted, these mitigation strategies may have benefited other animal populations in the area.)

While the fencing wasn’t centred around the herd’s main territory, this was made worse by the unexpected movement of the herd, allowing them to circumvent the fencing, said Dr. David Lieske, associate professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at Mount Allison, who collaborated on the study.

“Not only were there more elk in the highway area, but there were also more mortality reports,” he said. “It brought home the message that when you’re building any highway mitigation strategy, you need to follow up on it and it has to be adaptive. You can’t build it once and leave it.”

For example, it may be necessary to shift or expand wildlife fencing, or in certain areas the fencing may need to be higher or deeper in the ground. And there may be holes in the fence that require repairs.

While the findings of the study are specific to the herd, they hold lessons for current and future mitigation infrastructure. For example, integrated monitoring and use of adaptive management is important for limiting wildlife vehicle collisions in the long run.

“We can’t just wall off the road and build a fortress — it would be catastrophic for the animals. You’d be isolating them from each other,” said Lieske. “Ideally you want animals to move naturally so they can find mates and find food, but creating conditions that foster that take a bit of thought. What may work for one group of animals may not work for another group of animals.”

While fencing can be moved, the same can’t be said of overpasses and tunnels. So, what can drivers do to play their part?

Ultimately, many wildlife vehicle collisions are caused by driving too fast or not paying attention, which can both delay reaction times. “We think we own the road, but we don’t really own it. This habitat is how (animals) survive and we’re moving through it,” said Lieske.

As we see more urban sprawl and the expansion of transportation networks, wildlife vehicle collisions will continue to be an issue. “If anything, this problem is going to intensify. My feeling is if we could just go slower, we could prevent a lot of collisions,” said Lieske. “It’s like defensive driving except you’re looking out for animals rather than other drivers. It’s a change in mindset.”

Tips for avoiding collisions with wildlife:
<ul>
 	<li>Be extra cautious at dawn and dusk when animals are more active and when visibility is reduced.</li>
 	<li>When driving at night, slow down and actively scan the road ahead, as well as the ditch.</li>
 	<li>Slow down in narrow, forested areas and near culverts or water sources where animals may be moving around.</li>
 	<li>Pay attention to wildlife warning signs (which are yellow and diamond-shaped).</li>
 	<li>Some animals (like elk) travel in groups, so if you see one, be aware there may be more around.</li>
 	<li>Deer may panic and freeze in the middle of the road when they see your headlights, so slow down at night or in areas where signage indicates deer are present.</li>
 	<li>While many collisions take place on smaller, rural roads, wildlife can still be present in urban areas, so stay vigilant.</li>
</ul>

What elk can teach us about wildlife collisions

Rolls-Royce-Spectre-1

When it does not exist, design it.

This is a quote from Sir Henry Royce, co-founder of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. This and several more of his quotes, to this day, define the ethos of the brand he helped establish.

Strive for perfection in everything we do.

Take the best that exists and make it better.

It’s no empty gesture that sees these words scrawled across the side of a prototype seen skidding across ice-covered Swedish lakes in -40 degree Celsius temperatures this past March. That prototype is the Spectre, the first all-electric car from Rolls-Royce, which is currently 25 percent of the way into its 2.5-million-kilometre testing program ahead of a full reveal to take place sometime in 2023.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Rolls-Royce-Spectre-2-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168221" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Rolls-Royce-Spectre-2-scaled.jpg" alt="Rolls Royce Spectre" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

The Spectre is said to be the spiritual successor – see what they did there? – to the Phantom coupé that was last sold by the brand in 2016. It also kicks off a period of Rolls-Royce development being dubbed “Rolls-Royce 3.0”: if 1.0 was the start of the Goodwood era in 2003, and 2.0 was the launch of the aluminum spaceframe adaptable architecture, then 3.0 will denote the start of the electric epoch.

Technical details remain sparse, but so far sales don’t appear to be: with 18 months to go until the start of production, 100 Spectres have already been presold and 120 deposits placed as of late March 2022, according to Martin Fritsches, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars North America. Fritsches shared the details of the brand’s electric vision with Wheels.ca at a recent event in Banff, Alberta.

This early interest is unsurprising, Fritsches said: the brand has been clear about its strategic vision to go fully electric by the end of the decade, and he said customers are prepared to come along for an even quieter Rolls-Royce signature Magic Carpet Ride.

“We were hearing also from (our customers) that many of them were interested and asking, when is the electric Rolls-Royce car coming?” Fritsches said. “Because we are very intimate with our customers and we listen to them, they are already prepared. … They not only trust us, but they already understand what is coming.”

By what’s coming, he means the benefits of the conversion to electric as well as the challenges. On the positive side, many of the well-known advantages of electric driving align with those already associated with the Rolls-Royce brand.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Rolls-Royce-Spectre-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168222" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Rolls-Royce-Spectre-3.jpg" alt="Rolls Royce Spectre" width="2000" height="1334" /></a>

“Seamless driving, less noise, pure acceleration — many elements are already there that people link with Rolls-Royce,” Fritsches said. “When we started to put all these things together, we have to not only follow that trend, but for the ultra-luxury segment we should be one of the leading brands. [We will] try to come up with the Rolls-Royce of the electrics. That is the ultimate goal.”

From the outset, the bar is high. However, the potential downside is the challenge of electric vehicle charging, which can be an inconvenience for all of today’s EV owners no matter how much they paid for their vehicles. For the ultra-luxury buyer whose time is money, whiling away hours at a charging station outside a rural Tim Hortons might seem like an unacceptable compromise.

Although no details were provided, Fritsches hinted at attempts to put charging infrastructure in place that would meet the expectations of a Rolls-Royce owner.

“Whatever change you drive, it doesn’t happen overnight, particularly in bigger, radical projects,” Fritsches said. “You have to adjust, and also you have to reinvent yourself. That process, for sure, is challenging.

“We are already having conversations when it comes to charging stations or services, and we are already packaging it all together.”

At this stage, not much is known about Spectre. It will have two doors, more than 1,000 electronically controlled functions through 7 kilometres of cabling, 23-inch wheels — making it the first Rolls-Royce coupe to be so equipped since 1926 — and a 700-kilogram battery pack.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Rolls-Royce-Martin-Fritsches.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168223" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Rolls-Royce-Martin-Fritsches.jpg" alt="MArtin Fritches" width="1001" height="751" /></a>

Beyond those details, we’ll need to wait until closer to the car’s full reveal. At its heart, though, Fritsches said the Spectre will still be a Rolls-Royce.

“What will (make it) unique is that it’s still going to be a Rolls-Royce, more than ever,” he said. “You will have the 100-percent pure craftsmanship in it, and all these unique bespoke features as only Rolls-Royce can do it, present in a fully electric car.

“It will be, at the end, the perfect combination of innovation, new technology, (and) electrification, with still the traditional craftsmanship at bespoke levels of Rolls-Royce.”

One final detail for the Spectre still to be announced is its price. However, of all those named so far, this may be the least important. To the Rolls-Royce buyer, cost is less of a factor than desire.

After all, as Sir Henry Royce said: the quality will remain when the price is forgotten.

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