Mustang_CJ_1400_01

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.

Sure, the immense sound levels of drag racing are part of the appeal. Of unsilenced V8s rocking everything in a 30-kilometre circle around the track. But to borrow from Theodore Roosevelt, speaking softly and carrying a big stick has a certain appeal of its own. Which is what makes this latest Mustang Cobra Jet just so cool. It's the first factory electric dragster to come from the Blue Oval, and it's coming fast.

Ford projects more than 1,400 horses from the electric powertrain, along with more than 1,100 lb-ft of torque working in near-silent harmony to propel this all-electric prototype down the quarter-mile in a remarkable time.

"Ford has always used motorsport to demonstrate innovation,” said Dave Pericak, Global Director, Ford Icons. “Electric powertrains give us a completely new kind of performance and the all-electric Cobra Jet 1400 is one example of pushing new technology to the absolute limit."

The Cobra Jet name has been a staple of drag racing Mustangs since 1968, when 50 Mustangs were built with a special Cobra Jet V8. Since then, it's been used on several drag-ready (and not street-legal) versions of the Mustang that Ford would sell directly to racers for professional or sportsman level drag racing.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Mustang_CJ_1400_04.jpg?w=745&h=430"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-151634" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Mustang_CJ_1400_04.jpg?w=745&h=430" alt="Cobra Jet 1400" width="1200" height="633" /></a>

Ready to run in the low eight-second bracket, this quiet Cobra Jet will be one of the quickest of its breed, and Ford says it should set a trap speed of more than 275 km/h making it one of the fastest, too.

"This project was a challenge for all of us at Ford Performance, but a challenge we loved jumping into,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “We saw the Cobra Jet 1400 project as an opportunity to start developing electric powertrains in a racecar package that we already had a lot of experience with, so we had performance benchmarks we wanted to match and beat right now."

Ford will debut the car later this year, once drag racing starts back up again, that is. It'll be at an event where fans and competitors will get to see the new car and find out what it's capable of. Until then, the Cobra Jet 1400 will get a sneak peek starting this Sunday on MotorTrend On Demand.

Ford's Latest Mustang is a 1,400 hp Drag Racer

Leclerc_10 MM CR-V

Whether it’s a first-drive feature from the sun-soaked California coast, a quick news story about an off-road pickup that may (or may not) be coming to your local dealership or a review of a hot new sports sedan, somewhere Lee Bailie is writing about cars and car culture, something he’s been doing for almost a decade. A car guy to the core, he went on his first automotive plant tour at age seven.

Honda of Canada Manufacturing (HCM) built its 10 millionth car this week, marking a significant milestone in its history which began in 1986 when Honda became the first Japanese manufacturer to build cars in Canada.

The 10 millionth car, a 2023 Honda CR-V Touring Hybrid finished in Radiant Red Metallic, rolled off the line at HCM’s number two assembly plant in Alliston, Ontario, joining a lineage of cars built there that include the Honda Ridgeline, Honda Odyssey, Acura EL, and Acura ZDX.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176395" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/4th-gen-Civic_1st-gen-Ridgeline_1st-gen-MDX_2nd-gen-Odyssey-scaled.jpg" alt="Honda Alliston" width="2560" height="1440" />

To mark the occasion, Honda Canada assembled an impressive array of vehicles built at the plant, including a 1987 Accord, which was the first Honda built at HCM, a 1999 Odyssey, the first of its kind built for the global market, and a 2001 Acura MDX, a first gen model that was also ticketed for global production.

Also on hand, and which attracted a lot of attention, was a 1967 Honda S600 convertible, which was the first passenger car imported by Honda Canada which began operating in 1969.

“This achievement is a testament to the hard work, commitment, and dedication of generations of HCM associates, I want to thank and congratulate them on this historic milestone,” Jean Marc Leclerc, President, and CEO Honda Canada said in a statement.

“Since 1986, HCM has been a class leader in Canadian automotive manufacturing and production and one of Honda’s most important facilities on a global scale. It’s been a pillar of the local economy and community for decades and will be for generations to come.”

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176400" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CR-V-paint-inspection-scaled.jpg" alt="Honda Alliston" width="2560" height="1440" />

HCM currently builds the Honda Civic sedan and Si in plant one, and the CR-V and CR-V Hybrid in plant two. A third plant builds 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engines. The facility has held several noteworthy distinctions during its 37 years, including being named the global lead plant for the 10th gen Civic in 2015, and capturing the same designation in 2022 for the 6th gen CR-V.

The Civic has been built at HCM since 1988, CR-V production began in 2012, and the engine plant has been in operation since 2008. Of note, the 2023 CR-V Hybrid marks the first electrified vehicle the plant has assembled.

HCM’s three plants sit on 890 acres (360 hectares) in Alliston, Ontario, which is located about 90 kilometres north of Toronto. The plants occupy about 4 million square feet of space, and employs more than 4,200 associates.

Current annual production sits at more than 400,000 vehicles and 190,000 engines. Combined, about 100,000 Civics and CR-Vs built at HCM are sold in Canada each year.

Honda builds 10 millionth car in Canada

Heineken Player 0.0

It's a chance to drink some (non-alcoholic) suds and earn the opportunity to sim race against two-time F1 World Champ Max Verstappen and win a trip to the F1 Canadian Grand Prix. Heineken 0.0 is letting Canadians compete for the fastest virtual time around one of Canada's most iconic circuits with some serious glory on the line.

The contest runs from May 25th through June 7th. Race fans and gamers can take their best shot around the virtual Circuit Gilles Villeneuve playing EA Sports' F1 2022 game. Once you've set the fastest time you can manage, you can enter a screen capture of your lap on the Player 0.0 microsite. The contest is open to all platforms that can run the game, which includes PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series models as well as Windows PC.

Heineken Canada will take the five fastest players and bring them to the Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Prix du Canada, held in Montreal on June 16-18. At the Montreal GP, those five fastest virtual drivers will compete trackside to see who is the fastest sim racer in Canada and will win the title of Canada's Player 0.0.

The racer who wins Canada's Player 0.0 will win a trip to sim race against two-time Formula One champion and Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen later this year. They will also compete with winners of Player 0.0 events from around the world at the global Player 0.0 event.

"Sim racing is changing the world of F1 as drivers themselves use it to prepare for races, and we are thrilled to be putting Canadians in the driver's seat with Player 0.0," said Heineken Canada Managing Director Laurent Delmouly.

The Player 0.0 contest is part of the brewer's partnership with F1. The contest promotes the brand's When You Drive, Never Drink campaign and Heineken 0.0 non-alcoholic lager, which it says encourages responsible drinking.

Player 0.0 Contest Comes With Chance to Race Max Verstappen

news 5-29 (1)

All-new BMW 5 Series and i5 EV

BMW is introducing the 2024 5 Series with an all-electric i5 and no V8 model. Instead the only gas 5er at launch with be the 255 hp 530i xDrive for $70,500. The new 5 Series is longer and wider, and BMW says it drives better than the car it replaces. It will also come loaded with tech beyond the 590 hp and 412 km of range electrical system the i5 M60 ($95,000) offers. The i5 will offer a hands-on driver assistance system that can automatically change lanes with just a glance from the driver at their mirror. The new 5 gets BMW's twin-screen Curved Display that merges the 12.3-inch dash and 14.9-inch centre screen into one bezel. The system uses BMW's latest iDrive which includes gesture controls. BMW plans to add a PHEV for Canada in 2024 and the new 5 should hit dealers around the end of 2023.

Ford will use Tesla charge ports

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176333" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-29-4-scaled.jpeg" alt="Ford Tesla" width="1920" height="2560" />

Ford has inked a massive deal with Tesla that will see Blue Oval models able to charge at more than 12,000 Tesla Supercharger fast-charge stations across Canada and the U.S. Ford will begin including a Tesla plug adaptor with its EVs starting next year and in 2025 will offer its EVs with a Tesla plug built-in. The compatibility will specifically be for V3 (and likely newer) Tesla Supercharger stations. This brings Ford's total network of fast-charge stations to nearly 100,000 in North America. Ford also confirmed that it would be launching a "series of next-generation EVs" beginning in 2025.

2024 VW Atlas pricing

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176332" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-29-3.jpg" alt="2024 VW Atlas" width="2500" height="1667" />

Volkswagen announced pricing for the refreshed 2024 Atlas crossover. The Atlas drops its base trim and its VR6 engine, so pricing is up slightly. The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas starts from $49,995, with the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport from $48,895. A new 269 hp 2.0L turbo-four is now the only engine. Making Comfortline the entry spec means that wireless app connect, power hatch, heated and ventilated front seats and other comfort features are now standard. Also new for 2024 is the Peak Edition trim, a rugged off-road appearance grade that comes with all-terrain tires.

New MyNissan app

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176334" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-29-5.png" alt="My Nissan app" width="2218" height="2310" />

Nissan has launched a new MyNissan app for its customers. The new app includes vehicle functions like remote locking and unlocking, vehicle customization, and other convenience features. It also lets customers schedule maintenance and access emergency services. Owners can even see their payment information if financed through Nissan. Nissan Ariya EV owners will be able to see EV-specific information like battery status, time until charge complete, and range, all from their smartphone or smartwatch.

Maybach Night Series

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176331" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-29-2.jpg" alt="Maybach night series" width="2500" height="1767" />

Mercedes has just announced a new grade for its top-shelf Maybach models. The Mercedes-Maybach Night Series adds exquisite details like dark chrome and new intricately textured surfaces. On the EQS SUV, it will include pinstripes on the grille, exclusive two-tone paint, and rose gold headlight accents. On the S-Class, it will include a similar two-tone finish and rose gold as well as its own unique interior colour options. Also offered will be the most ostentatious wheels we've ever seen, covered in an array of Maybach logos on the wheel face.

News Roundup: Tesla/Ford Partnership, 2024 Atlas, BMW i5, More

The New Aston Martin DB12_09

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 Aston Martin DB12, the world’s first super tourer, will be powered by a Mercedes-sourced 4-litre bi-turbo V8 producing 670hp.

The term “grand touring” or any variation thereof has long been synonymous with the luxury, the panache, and the flare of a good, hearty drive from one country to another, possibly with a dropped top, probably at speed, likely in a European car. It denotes a sense of adventure that we can all get behind and has even inspired a racing classification – GT -- and a world-famous racing video game series – we’ll let you figure out which one. You’ve got 2.5 seconds.

It's a segment that Aston Martin has been playing in since, well, it first started over 100 years ago – Aston is celebrating its 110th anniversary in 2023 -- and has been well known for, ever since. Even as they dabbled in smaller performance coupes (even microcars), became Canadian (snicker) and went racing – both in their native GT class as well as the open-wheeled world of Formula 1 – whenever you thought Aston, you thought long hoods, rear-wheel drive and the Côte d’Azur. And James Bond.

Here’s the thing, though; it seems all those years of “GTing” has gotten to Aston and after a big influx of cash from Chinese conglomerate Geely, it was time to move on to something bigger and better. It was time to take grand touring to the next level: Super Touring.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176291" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The_New_Aston_Martin_DB12_01-scaled.jpg" alt="Aston Martin DB12" width="2560" height="1706" />

We’ve capitalized that term here because it’s one that Aston themselves has coined to define their latest supercar, the Aston Martin DB12, which they’re calling “the world’s first Super Tourer”.

Big words; one doesn’t just go about creating a vehicle segment lightly – unless you’re the Germans and have decided that “coupe” no longer means “two doors”, of course. So what is Aston doing to back it all up?

It has the looks, to be sure; the big copper-coloured wheels set against green paint are a delight, and the now signature way the front fender blends with the doors is expanded here, so as to not be outdone by the massive lower clip and grille. The bluey crystalized headlight bulbs also catch the eye, and the aggressive and pointy rear end brings it all together nicely.

Speaking of the Germans: a big part of what’s earned the DB12 the Super designation is German, and that’s its heart: a 4.0-litre biturbo V8 courtesy of the big-engine masters over at Mercedes-AMG. Here, it makes 670 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, both figures that are up on what’s made by the Ferrari Roma, one of this latest DB’s closest competitors. It’s an upgraded version of what we’ve been enjoying in the DB11, stacked with larger turbos and better compression ratios. The result is a 3.5-second 0-97 km/h time and a top speed cresting 320 km/h.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176293" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-New-Aston-Martin-DB12_07-scaled.jpg" alt="Aston Martin DB12" width="2560" height="1706" />

Of course to be truly “super”, one needs to keep that all in check – there are, after all, much less expensive and exotic vehicles that make quite a lot more power. The DB12 needs to be able to handle the twists and turns of a European coastal road just as easily as it can fling you forward down a de-restricted section of Autobahn.

In that light, the DB12 gets an electronically-controlled rear differential – Aston has dabbled here before, just never in a DB-branded car – which the company says can go from locked to open in the blink of an eye, helping get the meat of the bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport S tires down on to the sun-baked tarmac below in a much more manageable fashion. It should come as little surprise that the DB12 is stiffer than the outgoing DB11 and that active dampers are also in on the deal, modified in the DB12 to provide a greater dynamic range. Put simply, it can be softer or firmer when you want it to be, simply by tweaking the drive modes.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176294" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-New-Aston-Martin-DB12_06-scaled.jpg" alt="Aston Martin DB12" width="2560" height="1689" />

Inside, much attention has been paid to upgrading and modernizing the DB12’s interior as the DB11 suffered from a little bit too much old-school-cool in an era where digitize all the things was the name of the game, even in the world of super- and hypercars. Those issues were personified by the aging infotainment system, which Aston has upgraded for the DB12, providing a high-res touchscreen as well as support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected to an optional 15-speaker Bowers &amp; Wilkins Audio system.

It all points to Aston Martin taking a lesson or two in modern technology – some of which was probably provided by their F1 know-how – and looking to deliver a vehicle that can crush continents as those of its ilk always have, but to do so anchored firmly in this century and beyond. If you’re lucky enough to have the $300,000-plus on-hand it’s likely going to take to procure one of these, you’ll get the classic flavour you’ve always loved – rich leather, brawny V8, rear-wheel drive and fat rubber – but with a touch of what it takes to really do damage this day in age.

Of course, we will have to drive the new DB12 to see if the Super Tourer idea slants more to marketing jargon or does indeed bring a new dimension to the drive of this latest DB. Soon, we will have the chance to drive one on the very roads we spoke of earlier – you’ll want to check out our review. Watch this space.

Aston Martin DB12 debuts as the world’s first ‘Super Tourer’

Fabian Kirchbauer Photography

Dual motor BMW i4 xDrive40

BMW has added another all-wheel drive version of its<a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/first-drive-2022-bmw-i4"> all-electric i4 sedan</a>. The i4 xDrive40 delivers 396 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque and uses one motor at each end to provide AWD. The xDrive40 uses the same 81.5 kWh battery as the rear-drive 40 and the AWD M50 and is set to deliver an estimated 494 km of range. The i4 can charge at up to 205 kW. Pricing starts from $69,900 and the first units should arrive here in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Sentra Cup returns

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176203" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-22-2.jpg" alt="Nissan Sentra Cup" width="2500" height="1667" />

Nissan has announced the return of one of the most entertaining racing series in Canada. The Sentra Cup hits the track on Saturday, May 27th at Circuit Mont-Tremblant. It is the third year of Sentra Cup racing, and nine years if you count the Micra Cup that came before. <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/news/valerie-limoges-becomes-first-female-driver-to-win-the-nissan-sentra-cup">Valérie Limoges</a>, the first woman to win a Canadian national road race series overall title, is looking to make it two in a row this year. All Nissan owners can come to watch the event for free by registering at Nissan's site. There are six races set for this year's season.

Custom Range Rovers

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176205" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-22-4.jpg" alt="Range Rover SV" width="2500" height="1667" />

Range Rover is adding a new SV Bespoke commissioning service that lets buyers make their Autobiography and SV models even more custom and more what they want. Prospective buyers can visit a special suite in the UK or select retailers to pick from a wider range of materials and colours. There are up to 391 interior colourways and 230 exterior finishes. Also new for the Range Rover this year is a new P550e plug-in hybrid with 542 hp. A twin-turbo 48V mild hybrid gas version is also new, with 606 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.

New Mercedes camper vans coming

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176204" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-22-3.jpg" alt="Merecedes-Benz vans" width="2500" height="1406" />

Mercedes-Benz announced some of its van plans for the future, including an all-new van-specific electric vehicle platform. The new platform would allow for front and all-wheel drive, varying van lengths, and both a full and mid-size van to be built on the same bones. In addition to the usual commercial customers, Benz will be chasing the camper and vanlife enthusiast this time around. Mercedes-Benz will be developing in-house camping versions of its vans along with RV industry partners. Expect the new EV platform around 2026.

Ineos Grenadier coming to Canada

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176202" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-22-1.jpg" alt="Ineos Grenadier" width="2500" height="1407" />

Ineos is bringing the Grenadier SUV to Canada in early 2024, starting from $91,929. The rugged SUV will get BMW power and infotainment, but it is designed as a heavy-duty replacement for the original Land Rover. The Grenadier comes with standard 4x4 and an electrical system meant to make adding accessories simple and easy. Trailmaster trims come with pre-wired points for lights. The Grenadier will also be highly customizable, offering buyers their choice of luxury appointments as well as off-road extras.

News Roundup: Nissan Sentra Racing, BMW i4 AWD, Ineos Grenadier, More

2024 tacoma (3)

A new Toyota Tacoma doesn't come around often. It's part of the midsize pickup's charm; the durability, dependability, and resale that it earns by only undergoing slight changes year over year over year. That's why the 2024 Toyota Tacoma is such a big deal. It's new from the ground up, full of upgrades and surprises including the model's first-ever hybrid and the return of the manual transmission.

It still looks like a Tacoma, even though there's a lot of Tundra in the equation, especially on the chrome-heavy Limited spec truck. Toyota's designers in California took inspiration from both trucks as well as the company's Baja racers to capture "the extreme spirit of offroad adventure."

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176196" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2024-tacoma-11.jpg" alt="2024 Toyota Tacoma" width="2500" height="1667" />

&nbsp;

Under the new Taco is a new frame, based on the laser-welded high-strength frame used in the Tundra. Toyota reinforced the crossmembers for higher payload capability (up almost half a ton to 1,709 lbs in hybrid models). That extra payload is designed for overlanders, Toyota understands that its intermediate truck buyer is doing more with their pickups than ever before.

The frame gets disc brakes at all four corners for the first time. This is sure to be contentious with some die-hards, but dropping the rear drums should seriously improve the truck's braking feel. Though peak towing isn't exactly up as a result, the max is 6,500 pounds, slightly under some grades of the 2023 model.

If that's not enough, the Tacoma will also get coil springs at the rear along with a new multi-link suspension. The SR5 grade will still get leaf springs, but the rest get the coils.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176190" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2024-tacoma-5.jpg" alt="2024 Toyota Tacoma" width="2500" height="1650" />

Coils or not, Toyota is changing up its suspensions to make each grade feel better suited to its purpose. That means different shock tuning for each one. It also means new Fox QS3 three-position adjustable shocks with remote reservoirs (though the adjustment is not remote). It also means ARB Old Man Emu shocks for the newly added Trailhunter model and fully adaptive dampers for the luxury Limited trim.

Toyota's base engine is a 2.4L turbo-four making 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. The truck will be 4x4 only in Canada (which means no PreRunner trim) and an eight-speed automatic is standard. Limited gets a new full-time 4x4 system, another Taco first.

You'll be able to order the 2024 Tacoma with a six-speed stick. The three-pedal choice will be an option on TRD Off Road and TRD Sport, but it will make eight fewer ponies and seven fewer torques than with the auto.

For the first time in a Tacoma you'll be able to get a hybrid. Badged i-Force Max like in the Tundra, this pairs the 2.4L four with an electric motor. Total output is 326 hp and a whopping 465 lb-ft of torque, sent through the eight-speed auto. The hybrid system is optional on TRD Off Road and standard on Limited, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter.

All 2024 Tacomas will be four-door Double Cab models in Canada, though five and six-foot box lengths will be offered.

The basic SR5 trim gets much less basic than before. Smart key is standard, as is a 7.0-inch gauge display and 8.0-inch centre screen with Toyota's latest multimedia. Heated seats are even standard now, as is Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. That upgraded safety system includes radar cruise, pre-collision system, and all of the usual driver aids.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176195" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2024-tacoma-10.jpg" alt="2024 Toyota Tacoma" width="2500" height="1667" />

TRD Sport gets colour matched door handles and fender flares, plus a suspension tuned more for on-pavement driving. TRD Off Road gets more serious with Bilstein monotube shocks, multi-terrain select, an electronic rear locker, and composite skid plates. 33-inch tires are optional, along with the TRD Pro's new sway bar disconnect. This one has a larger 12.3-inch digital cluster.

Limited gets adaptive shocks and full-time 4x4, along with power running boards, a head-up display, and chrome trim. It comes with a 14-inch centre screen, and, gasp, heated and ventilated front seats plus a heated wheel. It also is the first to get Toyota's new JBL Flex portable speaker that mounts in the dash.

TRD Pro gets all of the really good off-road stuff including the Fox shocks already mentioned and TRD control arms. It has an aluminum front skid plate, 33-inch Goodyear rubber, and an electronic rear locker.

New this year, the TRD Pro adds rocker protection, an ARB rear bumper with red recovery hooks, and a front sway bar disconnect that increases suspension articulation. With the standard hybrid drive it gets a 2400-watt AC inverter with a pair of plugs and some pre-wired DC accessory switches. Like in the past, it has a Toyota heritage grill and LED fog lights.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176197" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2024-tacoma-12.jpg" alt="2024 Toyota Tacoma" width="2500" height="1667" />

The TRD Pro's real trick, though, is a new driver's seat. The IsoDynamic Performance Seat has an air and oil shock absorber to help keep the driver behind the wheel when the terrain gets rough. The seat can move vertically and laterally, and the driver can tune it or turn the system off with a lever.

Then there's the Trailhunter. The first in a new line of overlanders Toyota previewed last year, this one is built to "go far." Old Man Emu position-sensitive shocks are just the start. This truck has 33-inch tires that raise the ride height by about two inches, while a high-clearance exhaust tip, stamped steel skid plates, and rock rails help keep the truck intact over obstacles.

The truck has a high-mount air intake, bed utility bar with Molle panels, and loads more ARB parts. The team at Australian off-roaders ARB even came to Toyota facilities to finish the package. Built-in roof rack attachments that are standard on all grades let you mount cargo to the top of the truck, and multiple available bed racks make adding rooftop tents a breeze. Trailhunter gets some of the TRD Pro's best bits like the rear locker, ARB bumper, and front sway bar disconnect.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176191" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2024-tacoma-6.jpg" alt="2024 Toyota Tacoma" width="2500" height="1667" />

The Trailhunter gets loads of bronze accents including its heritage grille. There is a 20-inch LED light bar standard, Rigid fogs that show white or yellow on command, and campsite lighting for around the truck. It gets bronze wheels and will offer that bronze oxide paint in the photos. If that has you wondering about the next TRD Pro special paint job, expect that announcement in a few months.

Toyota is planning for the four-cylinder models of the Tacoma to hit showrooms late this year, with pricing for the new pickup to follow. If you want a hybrid, which is the only way to get some of the best trims, you'll need to wait for next spring.

2024 Toyota Tacoma gets a ground up redesign

news 5-15 (1)

New Ranger

Ford has just launched the new Ranger pickup for North America. The brand's midsizer is wider and longer. It also offers a new 315 hp 2.7L V6 on top of the carryover 270 hp 2.3L four-cylinder. Despite the changes, and a new frame, max towing and payload are nearly the same at 7,500 and 1,805 pounds, respectively. Instead, Ford is leaning on more towing tech including 360-degree cameras and available Pro Trailer Backup Assist to make towing easier. Getting into the bed is also easier thanks to a new integrated step, while the bed can now handle a sheet of plywood between the wheel arches. In-cabin changes include wireless charging, larger centre console and door pockets, and improved folding rear seats to give owners more space for bits and bobs.

Ford also has a new Ranger Raptor, adding its top-shelf off-road trim to the lineup for the first time. Ranger Raptor includes long-travel Fox live valve shocks, a 405 hp 3.0L V6, locking differentials, and a giant Ford-lettered grille. Orders for the new Ranger open later this month. Expect more details and pricing in a few months.

718 Spyder RS will offer breathtaking performance

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176107" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-15-4.jpg" alt="Porsche 718 Spyder RS" width="2500" height="1668" />

Porsche's 2024 718 Spyder RS is the fastest open-top 718 model yet. The RS gets a 493 hp flat-six and is lighter and lower than the standard 718. Think of it as the open-roof version of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS and you've got the idea. It will only be offered with Porsche's seven-speed PDK automatic and should hit 100 km/h in just over three seconds. Active suspension management and a mechanical limited-slip differential are standard. It also has centre-lock wheels and ball joints in place of bushings for suspension mounting, though the suspension is slightly softer than the hard-top GT4 RS. Which makes sense for an open-air car. RS means fabric door straps and a manual top. Carbon fibre parts will be offered to help trim weight even more. Expect the model on the road later this year.

New Lexus models

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176108" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-15-5.jpg" alt="New Lexus GX" width="2500" height="1406" />

Lexus is getting two new models ready, one of which will be a completely new segment for the brand. That new one is the 2024 Lexus TX. A Lexus version of the Toyota Grand Highlander, this is a full-size three-row crossover. Lexus hasn't played in this segment before, instead, it has the smaller three-row RX L and the body-on-frame LX. This one should be a competitor to the likes of the Cadillac XT6 and Lincoln Aviator as well as BMW's X7. The second is the latest version of the Lexus GX. This off-roader has historically been related to the Toyota 4Runner and Tacoma, and with those models being replaced soon, the GX is also due. All we've seen so far is an aggressive peek at a headlight and a new hood.

Volvo EX30 teaser

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176105" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-15-2.jpg" alt="Volvo EX30" width="2500" height="1376" />

Volvo is also teasing a new electric crossover. The EX30 is set for a full reveal on June 7th, and we don't know much other than that it will be small. Does small mean below the XC40 and C40 Recharge models or will it be a replacement for those two? We'll wait and see. Both 40-model EVs are quite new, suggesting they would stick around, but fitting a smaller model under those could be tough in the Canadian marketplace.

Toyota to introduce 10 new EVs by 2026

Toyota might be behind in EVs at the moment, but its latest announcement shows that the car company plans on catching up in a hurry. The company talked about a three-row electric vehicle during its annual financial briefing this month, part of plans to sell 1.5 million EVs per year by 2026. The model is set to be built in the U.S., with battery packs made in North Carolina. It will be one of 10 new EVs the automaker plans to debut by 2026, with those new models offering much more electric range than its current EVs. Toyota said we can expect double the range of its current line. To go with it, a Lexus EV was teased, with an incredibly sleek shape and plenty of sharp angles.

News Roundup: Ford Ranger Raptor, New Porsche RS, More

news 5-8 (5)

Quebec proposes stricter emission targets

The Province of Quebec is looking at tightening its existing zero-emissions vehicle mandates. Under the proposed new rules, automakers in that province would have to hit 50 percent ZEV sales more than a year earlier. Well ahead of both current provincial and proposed federal guidelines. Hitting 100 percent is still set for 2035, but the plan is to get to 91 percent by 2031. The new targets would come with new penalties, as well. Fines of $20,000 per non-ZEV unit instead of $5,000. Under the rules, automakers would be able to purchase credits from other automakers who have exceeded their target. Last year, around 12 percent of new vehicles sold in the Province were ZEVs.

Impreza pricing

Subaru has priced the all-new 2024 Impreza. The reworked AWD hatch will start from $26,795 in Canada, $3,500 more than last year. However, the 2024 is not available with a manual transmission, accounting for much of that base price hike. It also comes standard with Subaru's EyeSight driver assistance suite. Touring is $29,995 and comes with a larger single-screen center display. It also adds a heated leather wheel. RS includes a 2.5L 182 hp boxer-four for $31,795, and at the top of the line is the Canada-only Sport-tech trim which includes navigation and DriverFocus distraction mitigation for $34,795.

Improved Mach-E, orders open

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-176024 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-8-1.jpg" alt="Mustang Mach E" width="2500" height="1667" />

Ford is reopening orders for the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV, and the next batch will get some serious upgrades and even bigger price cuts. All standard-range models get a new battery that adds 4 kWh as well as 45 hp to the total on AWD models. The new battery can charge more quickly as well, taking five fewer minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent. BlueCruise, the brand's hands-off driver assistant, will be included on all Mach-E models, but a subscription is required to use it. Premium Standard Range models see their prices cut by $3,000 for RWD and $2,250 for AWD respectively. The Premium Extended Range models get a massive $11,000 and $10,250 taken off of their MSRP, meaning that both should now qualify for federal incentives. Order books should be open again soon, and Ford says it has increased production.

Volvo XC40 recharge and C40 get more range

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176027" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-8-4.jpg" alt="Volvo C40" width="2500" height="1666" />

Volvo is increasing the range of its C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge models by adding single-motor RWD variants for the first time in Canada. The single-motor vehicles get a new 248 hp permanent magnet motor and an 82 kWh battery pack. This gives the XC40 a range of 471 km and the sleeker C40 477 km. The new battery can charge at up to 200 kW. Twin Motor versions also get new motors that help boost range. The rear motor is now a 255 hp permanent magnet motor, while the front is a 147 hp motor that can be de-energized when not needed to save power. Twin Motor cars get their same 78 kWh and 150 kW fast charge battery from last year, but XC40 has 49 km more range and C40 has 51 km more, for a total of 408 and 413 km respectively.

2024 Lexus UX pricing

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176026" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-8-3.jpg" alt="2024 lexus ux" width="2500" height="1398" />

Lexus has priced the 2024 UX. Its smallest model sees small upgrades for 2024, including new headlights. All UX models are the UX 250h hybrid again this year, delivering 181 hp and an estimated 6.0 L/100 km combined. The 2024 UX starts with the Premium trim for $42,300 and extends through Luxury, F Sport Design, and F Sport Series 1 and Series 2. F Sport Series models get suspension and chassis upgrades like adaptive dampers as well as more sport-oriented cosmetic changes. The F Sport Series 2 tops the range at $51,800. The 2024 UX is at dealers now.

Bronco Trail App

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-176025 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-8-2.jpg" alt="Bronco Trail app" width="2500" height="1667" />

Ford has launched a new off-road app. The Bronco Trail App for iOS and Android will only be available for Bronco owners. It includes 1,200 professionally curated trail maps covering the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Ford promises more trails to come. The app includes the capability to record drives, including waypoints and photos. It also has satellite imagery and topographic maps, as well as recommendations for trails where lowering tire pressures are needed. The app is free, but only for Bronco owners.

News Roundup: Big Mustang Mach-E Price Cuts, Quebec Aims to Speed Up ZEVs, More

news 5-1 (3)

New Defender trims

JLR (as Jaguar Land Rover is now known) is adding new grades to the Defender, including adding its supercharged V8 to the 130 model and a new five-seat Defender 130 Outbound. The Defender 130 V8 (they're not calling it a Land Rover anymore) has the same 5.0L supercharged V8 as the shorter models. Well, almost the same. Here it makes 493 hp and 450 lb-ft, instead of 518 hp in the V8 110. It should still turn the Defender into a bit of a rocket ship. The less powerful V8 will also be offered in the Defender 110 SE. Defender 130's new Outbound trim drops the rearmost seats in favour of more cargo space. This one can hold up to 2,516L of gear, around 200L more than the seven-seat D130. More importantly, the load floor is now flat, making it much more useful than the three-row's cargo area. It has other camping-friendly features like rubber mats that can fold down to protect the bumper. D130 V8 pricing starts from $141,550, about $30k more than the I6.

BC increasing EV support for commercial sector

The Province of BC is working to increase electrification in the commercial vehicle sector. Three CleanBC programs are getting new funding to help encourage zero-emissions adoption by those who run medium and heavy-duty EVs. $19.5 million will be spent on 130 new charging stations designed for bigger trucks. Commercial trucks have trouble fitting into conventional EV charge stations designed for passenger vehicles. $30m will be spent on what the province calls "the technology gap." Trying to help develop clean tech for larger vehicles, marine, and aviation. Lastly, Seaspan Ferries has received support to help buy fast charging stations and two large EVs to help move heavy trailers and cargo. The province says that commercial transport is responsible for 60 percent of transportation emissions and 25 percent of total provincial greenhouse gas emissions. The province has now funded 20 projects to help lower emissions in the commercial sector.

Bye Bye Bolt

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175907" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-1-2.jpg" alt="Chevrolet Bolt" width="2500" height="1667" />

Chevrolet is dropping the popular Bolt EV after model year 2023, and the Bolt EUV will go along with it. Instead, the Orion Township, Ohio, plant where the vehicles are built will go all-in on the 2024 Silverado EV. A much more expensive (and likely profitable) endeavour for GM. To help replace its entry-level EVs, expect new models this year including the Chevrolet Equinox EV. Based on GM's latest Ultium electric platform, that model is expected to launch in the summer and eventually be priced "around $37,669."

Flo expands to build more charging stations

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175909" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-1-4-scaled.jpg" alt="FLO charging station" width="1978" height="2560" />

Canadian charging operator Flo has announced a partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank that will bring more than 2,000 public fast-charge stations online by 2027. The $220m loan will double the number of public fast charge stations, Flo says. The project will use Flo's newest 320 kW ultra-fast charger, designed to bring most EVs capable of ultra-fast charging to 80 percent in just 15 minutes. Flo is planning for approximately 400 new sites in communities with populations greater than 20,000 people.

More Tacoma Teasers

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175910" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-1-5.png" alt="Toyota Tacoma" width="2100" height="1260" />

Toyota is almost ready to let us see the 2024 Tacoma pickup, but first, we get at least one more tease. This time it's portable tunes. Toyota will offer a JBL Flex portable speaker with the truck for the campsite and worksite audio. The portable boom box will dock in the truck's dashboard to charge and may be part of the truck's audio system. The removable stereo isn't new (Jeep has already done it) but it is cool. Stay tuned, if you'll pardon Toyota's pun, for more.

More power for EQE

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175906" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-1-1.jpg" alt="Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV" width="2500" height="1406" />

Mercedes-Benz has announced new acceleration upgrades for EQE sedan and SUV and the EQS sedan and SUV models. The upgrade bumps EQE 350 models from 288 hp to 348 hp and cuts a full second from the 0-100 km/h times. The EQS 450 models climb from 355 hp to 435 and get just under a second quicker. The over-the-air update starts from $75 per month on EQE and $115/month on EQS. Or you can get a lifetime subscription to the extra power for $2,500 on EQE and $3,800 on EQS models.

News Roundup: New Defender trims, Chevy Bolt to be discontinued, Power boost for Mercedes EQE/EQS, more

2024 GMC Sierra HD AT4X

Living in rural Nova Scotia, Matthew Guy has immersed himself in car culture for over 30 years and relishes the thought of a good road trip. A certified gearhead, he enjoys professionally writing about cars and is very pleased to contribute for wheels.ca.

His work has also appeared on Car Throttle, The Truth About Cars, and in CAA Magazine. Find him on Twitter @matthewkguy

Car companies are famous for mining every single shred of goodwill out of a popular trim or nameplate when they suddenly find themselves with a hit on their hands. Fortunately, when the bones are as good as this, the proliferation of models can be considered a Very Good Thing.

Enter the 2024 GMC Sierra HD AT4X. The overlords at General Motors have permitted their truck brand to delve into the corporate off-road parts bin and have a root around – paying particular attention to the magnificent Multimatic DSSV dampers which are the party pieces on top-tier variants of dirt-focused trucks from The General. For those not in the know, those suspension bits are the product of a Canadian company and feature technology hewn from lessons learned in the likes of professional desert racing and Formula 1. In short, they are a tremendous piece of kit.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175898" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_6768-scaled.jpg" alt="2024 GMC Sierra HD AT4X" width="2560" height="1920" />

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175894" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/007-2024-Sierra-HD-AT4X-AEV-scaled.jpg" alt="2024 GMC Sierra HD AT4X" width="2560" height="1565" />

Along with some of the segment’s best off-road suspension dampening, the AT4X adds a factory-installed 1.5-inch (38mm) suspension lift, then goes ahead and places specific control arms up front plus unique steering knuckles to appropriately handle that raised height. A rear e-locking differential is on board, plus skid plates in the form of a steel one over the transfer case and an aluminium one covering things up front. Those are 35-inch Goodyear Territory tires at each corner, if you’re wondering.

A choice of two engines are on tap, both familiar to GM fans. A 6.6L gasser is the standard mill, making 401 horsepower and 464 lb.-ft of torque. The one you really want is the 6.6L Duramax diesel, producing 470 ponies and a towering 975 lb.-ft of twist. It is this engine which, in our testing, has been shown to fit the personality of GM’s heavy-duty trucks to a tee. A 10-speed automatic handles shifting duties no matter which engine is selected. Towing prowess tops out at 18,500 pounds when properly equipped.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175902" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_6782-scaled.jpg" alt="2024 GMC Sierra HD AT4X" width="2560" height="1920" />

Walking up to these trucks in person gives one a sense of just how enormous they are, keeping in mind yer author is 6’6” in his size 13 stocking feet. The top of its hood is chest level, meaning even yours truly will need to step on the power running boards to scrape off the windshield on a cold December morning. Those 35-inch flotation size tires look ready to pummel the earth into submission, and it probably will since diesel-powered units will weigh well in excess of 8,000 pounds. And forget leaning in the driver’s door to grab something out of the deep centre console without hauling oneself into the cab. Ground clearance is a whopping 11.6 inches, up from about 10 inches in the standard truck, and height checks in at 82.6 inches. Check those clearance signs, folks.

Speaking of, the truck benefits from the same interior upgrades as other GMC HD pickups, which is to say it jumps leaps and bounds over the old one as if evolution went straight from protozoa to human beings. Soft-touch surfaces and luxurious appointments abound, clad in an Obsidian Rush colourway which is unique to the AT4X. The full-grain leather-wrapped front seats have a massaging function, meaning one can unwind and decompress with the same verve as those DSSV dampers working underneath the truck. The authentic Vanta Ash wood trim looks expensive (and, more importantly, real) while the 12-speaker Bose surround sound audio system is sure to crank out Prime Country with the best of them.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175892" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/004-2024-Sierra-HD-AT4X-scaled.jpg" alt="2024 GMC Sierra HD AT4X" width="2560" height="1145" />

Most importantly, these HD pickups receive a 13.4-inch infotainment touchscreen, a tablet tasked with running major truck operations plus music and navigation. It is complemented by a 12.3-inch configurable gauge cluster ahead of the driver and a 15-inch-diagonal head-up display. In short, there are more screens in there than your local cinema. More cameras than the cineplex, too, with views ranging from the trick Transparent Trailer View to a Bed View with zoom. In fact, up to 14 different camera angles are available to help drivers keep an eye on the truck and their stuff.

If all that’s not enough for ya, GMC will be glad to point you in the direction of a Sierra HD AT4X AEV Edition. This brute takes everything on the AT4X and adds a yaffle of extra off-road tools. Up front is a robust stamped steel bumper with integrated recovery points and front winch capability, an addition which looks great and adds a ton of functionality but slightly harms approach angles compared to the AT4X (29.8 vs 31.6 degrees) since it juts out a bit further than the stock bumper. Choose your weapon wisely, then. There is another steel bumper out back, skid plates are swapped out for heavy duty steel units over the steering gear and transfer case, while the expected AEV badging pops up in conspicuous places around the truck. The AEV trim showed up when corporate cousins at Chevy tossed a set of ZR2 keys to AEV brass Dave Harriton and told him to outfit the thing as if he was headed into the wilderness. This truck is a continuation of that relationship.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175900" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_6778-scaled.jpg" alt="2024 GMC Sierra HD AT4X" width="2560" height="1920" />

With the addition of an AT4X trim, and its AEV counterpart, GMC has realized its multi-pronged approach of offering gonzo levels of off-road capability in each size class of its pickup truck portfolio. With this ability in midsize, full size, and heavy duty segments, the brand is – along with Chevrolet which offers similar kit on three sizes of ZR2 trucks – uniquely positioned to have a rig on tap for just about every off-road customer.

The 2024 GMC Sierra HD AT4X and the accompanying AEV Edition are expected to arrive at dealerships in this autumn.

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First Look: 2024 GMC Sierra HD AT4X

IMG_6902

Automotive journalist from Montreal, AJAC-member, and owner of claveyscorner.com

If you’re an automotive enthusiast looking for something cheap and fun in the secondhand market these days, things are a little rough. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit us back in 2020, prices of iconic enthusiast-friendly classics have skyrocketed, making them, in some cases, more expensive than a brand-new sports car. But not all hope is lost, because there are still some hidden gems out there for any budget. One example is the first-generation MINI Cooper R50, an underrated future classic. It was sold here in Canada from 2002 to 2006 (2008 for the convertible).

When these cars came out, they were all about smiles per gallon. They were lightweight and tiny compared to anything else on the road, huge fun to drive and beautifully styled by non-other than Frank Stephenson. They also marked the return of the iconic MINI brand thanks to new BMW ownership.

Here’s a fun fact about these cars: in 2022, Hagerty UK listed the MINI Cooper R50 in its Bull Market List. Hagerty, a classic car insurer, considers that this generation of the MINI Cooper is currently at its most affordable and that it will slowly appreciate over time. Hagerty believes that the MINI Cooper is a future classic due to its significance in automotive history, but also because it’s a bookend car in the sense that it reincarnated the entire MINI brand that we know today.

Unfortunately, one of the reasons they’re so underappreciated and forgotten by enthusiasts is because of their shady reliability record. Stories of first-generation MINI Coopers blowing their engines, dropping their transmissions, or ending up with serious cooling or electrical issues are far too common, which has seriously hindered their appeal and resale value over time.

Finding the right Mini

Yes, it’s true that the R50 (base MINI Cooper), R53 (supercharged Cooper S) and R52 (Convertible Cooper and Cooper S) aren’t the most reliable cars out there. But it’s also true that if you pick the right one, you’ll end up with a MINI that’s “not bad”. That’s the one you’ll want to buy as a foundation for your build.

The good news in all of this is that you can still find a well-kept example with decent mileage in the vicinity of $10,000. When I bought my Cooper back in 2020, I paid $6,000 for a model that had never seen winter and it only had 115,000 km on the odometer. Needless to say, it was a keeper.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174243" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_6949.jpg" alt="Mini Cooper R50" width="2000" height="1125" />

The first rule of thumb when buying an R50 is to stay away from anything that’s pre-2005. The early years were a nightmare, but in 2005, BMW basically overhauled the car, replacing several key components with sturdier and better parts. The transmissions were now supplied by Getrag instead of Midlands, which made them a lot more reliable.

The second rule when shopping for a first-generation MINI Cooper is to avoid the automatic transmission. As an enthusiast, you won’t want it anyway since it’s a CVT, but also because it was plagued with problems, leading to a <a href="https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/mini-cooper-class-action-lawsuit-settlement/#:~:text=Under%20the%20terms%20of%20the,mileage%20of%20the%20repair%2Freplacement.">class-action lawsuit</a>.

The final and perhaps most important rule of all: do not buy a Cooper S!

Now at this point, you’re probably wondering why? Why not start off with the high-performance, supercharged model for your performance build? The reason for this is that you’ll want to stay away from the complexity, as well as the oil consumption and cooling issues that resulted from the supercharger. The base Cooper, while underpowered, has a much simpler engine, while remaining a fantastic platform on which to build from.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174247" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mini-r50-manual.jpg" alt="Mini Cooper R50" width="2000" height="1123" />

So, let’s recap. You’ll want to find a 2005 or 2006 MINI Cooper, non-S R50, equipped with a five-speed manual transmission and, ideally, without low mileage. Also make sure that the car has been properly maintained and has its service records. This is a European car after all.

The Tuning Guide – Handling

The R50 MINI is already a fantastic handling car, but you can make it even better. One of this car’s main problems out of the box is that its ride is very stiff. You can improve ride quality and durability with a quality aftermarket coilover set.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174248" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mini-bilstein-coilovers.jpg" alt="Mini Cooper R50" width="2000" height="1125" />

Take the time to carefully shop for the brands that are available. Try to go for well-established companies that have made a good name for themselves in the aftermarket and OEM world. I personally chose Bilstein due to its extensive experience with all sorts of vehicles, more specifically European cars. I went with the B16 set due to its adjustability. Working with a trusty mechanic, I was able to find a sweet spot between handling and comfort. The upgrade led to a car that handles better, rides smoother, but that’s also more solid when hitting rough pavement.

Wheels and Tires

Since the R50 has a power disadvantage versus the R53 Cooper S, you’ll want to keep those wheels as small and light as possible. From the factory, the non-S Cooper comes with 15-inch wheels. I recommend staying with those. If you plan on going larger for looks, do not exceed 16 inches.

There’s a great website called <a href="https://minicooper.fandom.com/wiki/OEM_Wheels_and_Tires#15%22_Wheels">minicooper.fandom.com</a> that lists all the available OEM wheels for a first-gen MINI Cooper, with the weight of each set. The lightest wheels are the R81 “phone-dial” type, weighing in at only 12 lbs. each.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174249" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/stock-wheels.jpg" alt="Mini Cooper R50 wheels mod" width="2000" height="1125" />

I personally couldn’t resist the look of the R90, Italian Job style 16-inch wheels. But I do realize that at 24 lbs. apiece, they’re on the heavy side.

Lastly, you’ll want to wrap those wheels with sticky rubber and if possible, not too wide. What you want from your MINI is to feel it at the limit, so you don’t want too much grip. From the factory, these cars come with 175-mm wide tires. I wouldn’t go past 205-mm, which is what I chose to put on my MINI.

Power – You’ll Need More of it

The biggest problem with the R50 is its lack of power. While immensely fun to throw into a corner due to its lack of body roll and small size, you might find things a bit boring in the straights. You’ll need to extract more horsepower and torque from that basic, but bomb-proof 1.6-liter, single overhead cam, 16-valve Tritec four-cylinder. Stock, it’s good for 115 horsepower and 110 lb-ft of torque.

But what this engine lacks in refinement, it makes up for it for by how simply it was engineered. When designing the MINI Cooper, both Rover and BMW wanted the car to be easily customizable. This also meant easily tunable. They therefore engineered a cast-iron block so it could endure massive abuse, either through natural aspiration, supercharging or turbocharging.

Breathing

The first step is to improve the engine’s breathing through an upgraded intake system. A cold air intake is typically the best route to take for this.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174233" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Engine.jpg" alt="Mini Cooper R50 intake mod" width="2000" height="1123" />

Just like the coilovers, carefully research each brand and find the one that is best suited for a MINI Cooper. Try to prioritize quality over low pricing. <a href="https://www.outmotoring.com/">Outmotoring.com</a> is a wonderful place to find aftermarket parts for all generations of the MINI Cooper. They suggested that I go with an A&amp;E cold air intake system for maximum gains. Upgrading your Cooper’s intake will also give it a pleasant, raspy snarl when climbing through the revs, further adding to the driving experience.

Exhaust

Intake modifications don’t do much if they’re not paired with a proper exhaust system. What you want from this tiny engine is to give it a chance to breathe properly, but also to adequately get rid of its waste.

A full exhaust system may be costly, but it’ll give you the greatest number of gains, especially if it’s mated to a proper intake system. In my case, I went with the Milltek setup, which is specifically designed for the R50 MINI Cooper.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174246" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/MINI-R50-exhaust-mod.jpg" alt="Mini Cooper R50" width="2000" height="1125" />

Designed and hand-built in the UK, the system is said to add about 15 horsepower while improving the exhaust note, but not to the point of getting you pulled over by the police. One other aspect I particularly like about this exhaust system is that the muffler’s tip fits perfectly well inside the bumper hole, put there for the OEM exhaust tip.

True MINI connoisseurs will argue that the R50’s original “Coke can” exhaust tip is part of the Frank Stephenson design. And it is. But Milltek’s system is discrete enough to make it look like an OEM part, all while significantly improving your car’s performance and sound.

Ignition

Now that air and exhaust are flowing through your engine faster than before, you’ll also want to improve the entire ignition system so it can keep up. Out Motoring sells a great package for this that they call the <a href="https://www.outmotoring.com/mini-cooper/out-motoring-MINI_cooper_ignition-upgrade-out-ig-kit-kingsborne-beru-standard-screaming-deamon-coil-tune-up-performance-upgrade-spark-plugs-coil-pack-high-volt.html">Out Motoring Stage 3 Ignition Kit</a>. It comes complete with an upgraded coil pack from Screaming Demon, upgraded NGK spark plugs, and performance Kingsborne wires. This engine modification may seem insignificant, but when you mix it up with a proper intake and exhaust upgrade, you’ll notice the gains.

ECU Reflash

This is a tricky one and I highly recommend you read up on it before you embark on an ECU reflash. It’s also important that the company you work with knows everything about your car before they send you the tune.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174239" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_6945.jpg" alt="Mini Cooper R50" width="2000" height="1126" />

I learned this the hard way by working with Superchips, a UK-based company. They sell a great kit called the Bluefin which allows you to simply connect it to your OBD port, giving you up to 10 horsepower in the process. Unfortunately, I hadn’t informed them ahead of time that I had already installed the parts listed above. This led to a reflash that simply wasn’t compatible with my already tuned engine.

My recommendation is as follows: either you begin with this upgrade or, if you plan on doing it last, like I did, make sure to inform the company of all the upgrades you’ve done prior. Also make sure to work with a company that has extensive experience with gen-1 MINI Coopers. Superchips is a good one, but they’ve already begun to legacy their kits due to their age.

How About the Brakes?

Upgrading your brakes is never a bad idea, but I’ve realized that the stock Cooper brakes are plenty capable of withstanding the augmented horsepower and torque. That’s why I decided to stay with the original four-wheel disk setup. All I did was upgrade my brake pads with Hawk performance ceramic units.

Enough Gains to Have Massive Fun

If all these steps are taken properly, your MINI Cooper R50 should end up in the vicinity of 140 horsepower give or take. Considering that these cars only weigh about 2,500 pounds, that’s a great power-to-weight ratio.

You’ll also notice that the engine revs easier all the way to its 7,000-rpm redline and that the throttle response is improved. Lastly, since the car’s entire intake, exhaust and ignition system is overhauled, I suggest always running on 91-octane fuel or higher.

In total, expect these mods to cost you anywhere between $5,000 and $7,000. Considering how affordable these cars are right now, you could end up with a highly fun, analog, and vocal little brat of a hot hatchback for less than $15,000.

Buying and Modding a first-generation BMW Mini Cooper R50

wh-AskMechanic-Nov12

Dear Ask a Mechanic,

My 2009 Toyota Corolla has a warning light that stays on. I’ve brought it into the dealership, and they say it has to do with the tire pressure. At the time, they did something to clear the warning light and checked the tires. They said it would cost a lot of money to replace the sensor that is causing the warning light. They said that if I didn’t want to pay for it to be replaced, I could just live with the warning light being on and just be sure to check the tires now and again. But it’s annoying seeing the light on every time I’m driving. What do you think? – Tire tired

Automotive tire pressure monitoring systems, generally referred to as TPMS, have been around for more than 30 years. The earliest design, co-developed by Bosch and Porsche, used specialized wheels with calibrated pressure switches built into them. The system was costly and not widely used.

Improvements in technology eventually allowed sensors powered by internal batteries to do the job. Each sensor transmits its information to the car’s computer using radio signals. While these sensors have become smaller and capable of transmitting more information (such as tire temperature and sensor battery strength), the basic premise of what is known as direct TPMS remains the same today.

At the same time, anti-lock brakes (ABS) have also become more common and its controllers are now much more sophisticated. This is also a way that tire pressure can be detected. Known as indirect TPMS, this method uses the ABS wheel speed sensors to monitor average tire speeds relative to one another.

Low pressure will result in a tire’s overall diameter becoming smaller. The tires sidewalls get smooshed out and the wheel is closer to the road, meaning the tire’s overall height is less and it will rotate slightly faster than a properly inflated tire. Eventually the average tire speeds reveal the imbalance, and the ABS module will turn on the TPMS warning light.

Automakers frequently use either type. Your Corolla uses the direct kind with four sensors in the valve stems. Since they have batteries built in them, they have a finite lifespan. The battery is attached to the sensor, so replacing the sensor is required to replace the battery, and the tires must come off the wheels to do it.

Like you, I hate having warning lights on, and TPMS is a useful system when it works, so I’d want to fix it. Just know that the sensors are probably all the same age, so even if only one is dead, the others may not be far behind.

While factory sensors can be expensive, aftermarket sensors are widely available, functionally interchangeable and potentially far less costly. I would expect that it will cost well under $100 for each sensor to be replaced and installed. You’ll most likely have to go an independent shop for this option, though.

Ask a Mechanic is written by Brian Early, a Red Seal-certified automotive technician. You can send your questions to wheels@thestar.ca. These answers are for informational purposes only. Please consult a certified mechanic before having any work done to your vehicle.

Dealing with the pressure from a tire warning light

wh-AskMechanic-Nov5

Dear Ask a Mechanic,

I have a three-year-old Mini Cooper. Recently two tires developed a bump on their side walls. I do hit the occasional pothole, but never at any high speeds. Because the wheels on the Mini do not have a conventional inner tube, I was told I would have to replace both tires (they have less than 18,000 kilometres on them). There is no warranty or insurance coverage, and it has cost me $750. What is going on here? – Tire Dinged 

Unfortunately, you’re the victim of a couple of automotive industry trends. One is the market’s preference for larger diameter wheels and correspondingly shorter sidewalls. With less sidewall height to flex and compress, the likelihood that the tire will get pinched by something, like the edge of a pothole or a driveway lip, becomes even greater.

Mini’s use of tire sizes on the Cooper that are a smaller in overall diameter than what is common in Canada and the U.S. results in even shorter sidewalls.

Your cost sounds quite high, but you probably tried to match the remaining tires, which would be a major factor. Even if you didn’t, the Cooper’s less popular tires sizes mean there are fewer alternatives on the market. One of the Mini’s tire sizes, the 205/45R17, is a common factory fitment on Mazda’s MX-5, but the Japanese roadster doesn’t use run-flat tire

Run-flat tires are another factor in your replacement costs. BMW, Mini’s parent company, began transitioning to primarily using run-flat tires in the early 2000s, eliminating spare tires and saving on vehicle weight, space and production costs. The German automaker isn’t alone in using run-flat tires, Chevrolet’s Corvette has used them for three generations, but BMW is among the higher users of them in the auto industry.

The key benefit of these extended mobility tires is the ability for the heavily reinforced sidewall to safely permit continued driving without air pressure (albeit at reduced speed) far enough to reach a service station or garage. Most tire manufacturers have a policy of replacing and not repairing the tire once that happens. Some do not permit repairs at all.

Due to their heavier and specialized construction, run-flat tires are typically anywhere from 10 to 30 per cent more expensive than comparable tires. They also tend to increase ride harshness, a side-effect of the super-stiff sidewalls necessary for low pressure support. Many owners opt to replace run-flats with other tires (and rely on roadside assistance in a flat tire situation) when they buy a vehicle with them.

While it won’t help you with your car’s original tires, pro-rated Road Hazard warranties are available from select tire retailers and brands (often at additional cost) for future tire purchases, offering you a limited form of insurance protection.

Ask a Mechanic is written by Brian Early, a Red Seal-certified automotive technician. You can send your questions to wheels@thestar.ca. These answers are for informational purposes only. Please consult a certified mechanic before having any work done to your vehicle.

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