Desert safari

Born into a racing family in the late Sixties, you might say it was inevitable that Gary Grant would be passionate about everything to do with cars. Following a career in the auto industry, automotive media became the perfect way for Gary to share that passion with car lovers.

In what will surely rank as one of the most embarrassing moments of his life, motorcycle racer Riccardo Russo mistook the beginning of the final lap of last weekend's CIV Championship race in Mugello, Italy for the checkered flag. Russo began punching at the air and even stood up on his pegs to celebrate as the rest of the field streamed past him. As the battle for the win continued for one more lap, Russo continued to celebrate.

The actual winner of the race was of little consequence as all the fans will remember is the guy who could have been the winner, gleefully throwing the win away!

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6iwnnE12HCM" frameborder="0" width="500" height="281"></iframe> [reviews-news-gallery id=1]

Motorcycle racer celebrates win a lap early 

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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.

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

Parallel Parking

You’re driving slowly along a street, looking for a place to park. You come across a long stretch of parallel parking. But to your frustration, the spaces left by other people’s parking efforts are not quite long enough for you to fit. The search continues.

Drawn from our own frustrating experiences with parking, we decided to answer the question once and for all – what’s the best way to parallel park your car? Our research has found a simple answer.

You should always park at one end of a parking space, leaving as big a space as possible at the other end. It doesn’t matter which end – just remember to leave yourself room to get out. While this might sound obvious, a quick look at the street outside your home will show many drivers think parking in the middle of the space is best – or just don’t give it much thought at all.

Optimizing how we park our cars in cities matters, because free parking spaces are, by their nature, a limited resource. We’ve taken to our cars with a vengeance as the world slowly reemerges from lockdowns. Mobility data shows our cities are coming back to life, with our travel behaviours changing in turn.

Even though many of us are still working from home, those of us commuting are reluctant to return to public transport. You’ll have already noticed the result based on traffic. The number of cars on the roads of Australian cities has already met or gone past pre-COVID numbers, and so too the parking demand.

How can we all park better?

Everyone is familiar with marked spaces, where painted lines show you where to park. These help manage our frustrations with unreliable parking, but they are bad for density because every space needs to be able to accommodate a large car.

In our research, we focused on unmarked parallel parking, such as that found on most residential streets. That’s because here we can control exactly where we position our cars.

We tested four strategies drivers can follow in these types of parks: always park as far back as possible;

park at either end of the space; park in the middle of the space; or randomly park anywhere in the available space.

We simulated what would happen in the common situation where demand exceeds supply, in which there is always a car waiting to park, with a driver who is prepared to wait until someone else leaves.

The worst strategy for maximizing car parks? Parking in the middle of the space. You might find this useful if, say, you wanted to discourage people from parking directly outside your house. Parking in the middle of the available space makes it harder to cram more cars in.

We found parking randomly in a space can produce slightly better outcomes. Many drivers use this strategy subconsciously.

But overall, the best strategy for fitting as many cars into scarce street parking is to park at either end of the space. It doesn’t matter which end you park at, and it doesn’t even matter if you choose the same end as your neighbours. Under this scenario, we could fit the most cars onto any street.

We also analyzed what happens when there’s only a small distance between driveways or intersections. If you live in a street with shorter curbs, parking at either end of the spot becomes even more beneficial.

How significant is this technique? In many residential areas, you can almost double the number of cars able to fit on the road by parking at the front or back of the available spaces.

Issues with parking

Parking is a scarce resource that we need to manage carefully to encourage other modes of transport, such as public and active transport. Storing cars on valuable land is also a poor use of real estate. If autonomous cars arrive, we might see a future in which cars drive themselves off to remote car parks and free up all of the highly accessible land currently used for street parking.

If we wanted to reduce the demand for parking, we would have to encourage more people to return to public transport through measures such as lowering fares or increasing the cost of parking or fuel. We could also build extra car parks next to train stations or bus bays.

But given these measures are unlikely to happen in the near future, we need to make the most of the parking we have.

Until then, the management of on-street parking will remain a vexed issue, particularly in our most congested cities. In Sydney, for instance, local residents and commuters vie with visitors for the right to park in a given street.

As the amount of on-street parking is more or less fixed, we should make the most of the space we’ve got. Next time you come across an unmarked parallel park, try parking at the front or back of the space.

Benjy Marks and Emily Moylan are lecturers at the University of Sydney in Australia.

This story was originally published by The Conversation.

&nbsp;

What’s the best way to parallel park your car? We have the answer

PPrime charging 2

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.

I’m constantly hunting for our next EV, either new or used. Most new EVs are often out of stock, especially the latest generation of models that are priced somewhat like mainstream cars, including the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID.4.

There may still be a few floating around on lots, either because buyers cancelled last minute or dealers are selling their demo vehicles, but these (and likely other EVs) have largely sold out in Canada for the 2022 model year.

The lengthy wait – a few months to a year or longer – for many new EVs has pushed some buyers to the used market, which is swollen with buyers. Here are some useful ways to save some money when shopping for a used EV.

The first is to do your homework. Website plugndrive.ca has information about two non-government used EV incentives for drivers in Ontario: a $1,000 incentive for buying any used battery electric vehicle that costs less than $50,000 (before taxes), and another $1,000 if you scrap an older internal combustion vehicle.

Qualifying for the $1,000 purchase incentive requires you to take part in a one-hour Plug ‘n Drive webinar on EV ownership, charging and other key info. A non-profit education group, Plug ‘n Drive has been “cranking out the rebates,” said its president and CEO, Cara Clairman.

As it is privately funded, its incentive program could end at any time. “I went to the province and said, ‘You guys should pick it up,’” said Clairman, who added Quebec offers a government-funded $4,000 used EV rebate. “But I’m not holding my breath.” She also said the federal government has shown interest in a used EV rebate, but there’s no timeline or details on that plan at the time of writing this column.

The $1,000 scrappage incentive is not a lot of money for a still-working vehicle these days, so the wiser financial move may be to trade-in or sell your old car.

Another tip would be to see if you can find an EV lease you can take over, ideally one that only has a year or two of payments left. Its monthly payments may be low thanks to the $14,000 Ontario EV rebate that was cancelled in mid-2018 by the Ford government.

The residual value of the EV would have been set before any chip shortages, gas price spikes or interest rate hikes, so the purchase option at the end of its lease – and perhaps even the monthly payments – may be somewhat more attractive than you could find otherwise.

 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: Finding used EV bargains not easy

Power,Supply,Connect,To,Electric,Car,For,Add,Charge,To

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

This year’s federal budget saw an expansion of iZEV, a rebate program facilitated by the federal government and designed to sweeten the pot for customers buying or leasing an electric vehicle. Under the new rules, which took effect on April 25th, the price cap for rebate eligibility on all-electric passenger cars was increased to $55,000 for base models while SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks may qualify with a starting price $5,000 higher. Those sticker prices can rise by $10,000 in each instance for more expensive versions of the same vehicle.

While the feds can be notably deficient in some areas of record keeping (how’s that Access to Information Act working out on Parliament Hill, eh?), it appears they are on the ball with keeping tabs on the iZEV program since its inception in May 2019. Reams of data are publicly available – check it out <a href="https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/42986a95-be23-436e-af15-7c6bf292a2e1">here</a> if you wish to see for yourself. For readers who don’t wish to go blind staring at spreadsheets, we’re pleased to have parsed the data for you.

These numbers are current through to the end of March 2022. We selected that date since it is the final full month of the original iZEV program before the new eligibility rules came into effect in the last week of April. Our goal is to pluck a few notable details from about 150,000 rows of data – particularly information focusing on total expenditures, regional quirks, and popular vehicles. Buckle up, stats nerds; there’s no shortage of numbers ahead.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/battery-cell-production-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-167824 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/battery-cell-production-scaled.jpg" alt="EV battery production" width="2560" height="1668" /></a>
<h3>Nearly 150,000 rebates given out</h3>
A total of 141,873 rebates were doled out through iZEV since the program began, totalling just a hair over $611 million in government largesse. Not all those rebates were for the maximum amount of $5,000. Some Canadians were eligible for only $2,500. This smaller sum would have been calculated either by the size of a vehicle’s battery (less than 15kWh) or if the customer chose a short-term lease instead of an outright purchase.
<h3>Summertime shopping </h3>
If you think Canadians like buying cars in the summertime, you’re correct. The month with the most activity was August 2021, when 7,099 rebates were requested. Sixty days later was equally robust, with 6,940 asks for iZEV funds. As one might expect, the pandemic’s onset saw a cratering of demand, though there were still 1,108 souls who managed to brave COVID and shuttered dealers for an EV in April 2020. Even with that dip, which carried on for several months, the program has seen an average of just over 4,000 applications per month since its commencement.
<h3>Line Items</h3>
For reasons known only to bed-wetting accountants, the iZEV program can be tweaked to provide an odd-numbered rebate depending on the terms of a vehicle loan or purchase. For example, while the $2,500 and $5,000 figures are widely known, some shoppers ended up with bizarre amounts such as $2,031 or $3,437. Most of the rebates were comprised of the so-called ‘normal’ figures, with 72.3 per cent getting five-grand in government money and 27 per cent receiving half that amount.
<h3>Regional Differences</h3>
Alert readers will not be astonished to learn Doug Ford’s decision to axe the Ontario provincial rebate on EVs had a massive effect on sales of electric vehicles in that region. Despite being home to the lion’s share of this nation’s residents (and their cars), the Loyalist Province counted for 17,931 rebate requests or just 12.6 per cent of the total since May 2019.

How does that contrast that to Quebec and British Columbia, two places which have provincial assistance on top of the federal monies? Try 76,836 and 41,382 – or 54.2 and 29.1 per cent respectively. Ford might have flapped his jaws recently that Ontario is set to be a hub of EV manufacturing in North America but the raw numbers starkly show EV sales are severely impacted by his policies. Perhaps he could pour money into such a program instead of free license plates stickers and a buck-a-beer campaigns.

Elsewhere, the Northwest Territories have counted for 17 rebate requests and Nunavut doesn’t rank at all. Combined, the four Atlantic provinces make up just shy of 2,000 iZEV recipients, with a recent uptick in their take rate thanks to BC-style provincial rebate programs in most areas down east. Truck-loving prairie dwellers have helped themselves to only 3,635 rebates since May 2019.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/tesla-model-3-ev-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167826" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/tesla-model-3-ev-scaled.jpg" alt="Tesla Model 3" width="2560" height="1440" /></a>
<h3>Tesla tops the list</h3>
A total of 16 different brands have dipped a wheel into iZEV, running the alphabet from Audi to Volkswagen.

Given the sheer volume and popularity of Tesla, it should be unsurprising to learn those cars got roughly 40,800 handouts, equating to 28.8 per cent of the program so far.

Or perhaps it should be surprising. After a price increase in November 2021, the Tesla Model 3 no longer qualified for iZEV under the old rules. Yet, a total of 5,469 transactions for Model 3 sedans received rebates between December 2021 and March 2022. Tesla notes that orders for the car placed prior to the price hike were expected to remain eligible and it looks like that confidence was justified. In total, the government has splashed out more than $27.3 million on Tesla Model 3s since they were official removed from the eligibility list. We will refer you to iZEV’s new price cap for that car’s future admissibility to the program, Musk’s propensity to unpredictably fiddle with the prices of his fleet notwithstanding.

In other showrooms, both Hyundai and Toyota cleaned up, accounting for 26,742 and 20,807 rebate applications respectively. While the Japanese giant counts just two models in its numbers – the RAV4 Prime and Prius Prime – our Korean friends have had no fewer than nine models in the game since program inception, ranging from current models like the angular Ioniq 5 and other efforts like the Sonata PHEV.

What do the numbers behind Canada's iZEV program tell us?

911 sport classic header

It's the most powerful Porsche with a manual transmission. The Porsche 911 Sport Classic is a heritage-look modern 911 inspired by the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 that will be limited to just 1,250 for the world. It will come with cool looks, upgraded suspension bits, and a bespoke watch.

Though Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur could have made this a simple cosmetic special, the custom part of the business chose to make this something truly special. Starting with the wider body of the 911 Turbo, the car is also fitted with the 3.7L flat-six engine normally found in the Turbo <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/vehicle-reviews/review-2021-porsche-911-turbo-s">and Turbo S</a>. Making 542 hp, 30 less than Turbo-badged cars but 98 more than the Carrera S (and 40 more than GT3), this is the most powerful 911 currently sold with a manual transmission. That stick will be the only choice, and the car will drive only the rear wheels.

An interesting visual tweak, this car doesn't have the rear fender intakes of Turbo models. Instead, the engine breathes through ducts at the bottom of the rear spoiler.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/911-sport-classic-spoiler-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-167790 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/911-sport-classic-spoiler-scaled.jpg" alt="911 sport classic 992" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

Porsche has used a suspension based on the 911 Turbo and GTS models. Porsche Active Suspension Management is standard (along with a 10mm-lowered ride). Because it lacks front-drive hardware (and that extra weight), Porsche has softened the springs up front. Porsche ceramic brakes are standard, and the standard rear-wheel steering has been modified for Sport Classic spec.

Sport Design cars will get a new Sport Grey Metallic paint colour, the first time it has been used. Solid black, Agate Grey, and Genetian Blue will also be offered, all getting double stripes in light grey. The stripes are entirely hand-painted, including marking out the design and sanding them smooth with the rest of the panel. There are more motorsports-inspired graphics on the car's flanks, and a lollipop and door number are no-cost options.

Called the Heritage Design Package, it includes a double-dome roof and recessed profile on the hood (both of which are carbon fibre). The fixed spoiler is also carbon fibre and is meant to make you think about the ducktail spoiler on the 1972 RS 2.7. 20 and 21-inch wheels get wide spokes, finished with a machine polish and black look that are a nod to the classic Fuchs wheels used on Porsches starting in 1967.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/911-sport-classic-interior-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-167788 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/911-sport-classic-interior-scaled.jpg" alt="911 sport classic 992 interior" width="2560" height="1712" /></a>

Inside, the 911 Sport Classic gets a pepita houndstooth pattern first made an option on the 911 in 1965. The other part of the seats is semi-aniline leather, with the Sport Classic the first to use it in this classic cognac colour. White gauge hands and green digits are a callback to the 356, and even the digital displays have some heritage tweaks. The pepita and cognac interior will become available in other 911s later this year.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/911-sport-classic-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167785" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/911-sport-classic-3.jpg" alt="911 sport classic 992 watch" width="2500" height="1667" /></a>

Lastly, the watch. From Porsche Design, the Chronograph 911 Sport Classic uses hands and numbers based on the car and will come finished in titanium or black. The Porsche Design logo will be finished in gold to match the one on the car. The Swiss-made timepiece will be available to order in exchange for 12,500 euros at Porsche Centres.

The cars will start from 272,714 euros, or around $370k Canadian. The second of four Heritage Design models (the first was the 2020 911 Targa 42), orders are open now for the 1,250 cars. European deliveries starting in July and other markets to follow.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Porsche 911 Sport Classic is a Retro Throwback in all the right ways

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Canada's federal electric vehicle incentive program is expanding. The feds are raising the price limits for vehicles to qualify for the rebate, with a new category meant to capture larger electric vehicles (like pickups) with an even higher cap. The new maximum base price for a model to qualify is $55,000, up $10,000 from before. Higher trim and options levels of those vehicles will qualify as long as the MSRP is under $65,000. This should allow models like the BMW i4 to qualify, though Tesla's Model 3 is still above the maximum. For "larger zero-emissions vehicles," which includes SUVs, minivans, and trucks, the max base price is $60,000, with a max of $70,000. Another significant change to the rebate plan changes how plug-in hybrid models qualify. It was previously based on battery capacity but now uses range. The change means that Ford Escape PHEV, Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson, and Kia Sorento PHEVs are now all eligible for the full $5,000 EV rebate.

Volvo PHEVs get range boost

Volvo, with perfect timing, has just announced that its new longer-range Recharge PHEV powertrain has arrived in 60 and 90 series models. The new driveline, badged T8 on XC60, XC90, S60, and S90 models allows for a range of 58-64 km on electric power (depending on model). This doubles the range for some models. A more powerful rear electric motor delivers 143 hp (up from 87) for a total of 455 hp. That makes the PHEV T8s Volvo's most powerful cars yet. The V60 Recharge is currently on the iZEV incentive list.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/news-4-25-5.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167815" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/news-4-25-5.jpg" alt="2022 Volvo XC 60" width="2500" height="1792" /></a>

Lexus reveals first-ever EV

Lexus has revealed the brand's first EV. The RZ 450e is based on the Toyota bZ4X, and that's quite clear in the vehicle's appearance even with the electric version of a spindle grille in the nose. It's not entirely the same, around 115 mm longer, and it will get powertrains the Toyota doesn't. Toyota offers the bZ4X with front-drive sporting a 201 hp motor or AWD with two 107 hp motors. Lexus uses the big front motor and the standard rear motor for a total of 308 hp which leaves us wondering why we couldn't have two of the big motors. EVs are supposed to be quick, aren't they? Steer-by-wire, a system where the wheel is not directly connected to the wheels, will arrive down the road, and it lowers the maximum steering wheel angle to help make the oddball yoke Lexus pictured work. RZ will also get the latest version of the Lexus Safety System. Range is an estimated 360 km and it is set to go on sale by end of year.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/news-4-25-4.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167816" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/news-4-25-4.jpg" alt="Lexus" width="2500" height="1314" /></a>

Lincoln jumping on EV wagon

Lincoln introduced the Star concept, a look at the brand's EV design language. Running behind other luxury brands on electrification, Lincoln says it will have three EVs by 2025 and a fourth the year after. We hope they look like this. Largely similar to the body shape of current Lincoln models along the sides, the nose is very interesting. A light signature grille that looks like the original TV Batmobile (also a Lincoln), the nose transforms into a very large frunk thanks to a slide-out panel and a "hood" that articulates upward. The cabin uses 3D-printed metal latticework, full glass roof with digital shade, and three new rejuvenation mood settings that combine symphonic orchestration with special animations. Lincoln has traditionally done well to bring concept to the road (minus features like the coach-opening doors), so we're excited to see the production version of this one.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/news-4-25-1.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167817" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/news-4-25-1.jpg" alt="Lincoln" width="2500" height="1250" /></a>

The Mercedes EQS SUV has landed

Mercedes-Benz launched the 2023 EQS SUV. The model will be offered here in 450 4Matic and 580 4Matic, both with AWD. The former has 355 hp, the latter 536, while battery capacity of up to 108 kWh will be offered. Ranges for Canada aren't yet available, but the WLTP cycle rates it at up to 600 km. It is wider and taller than the EQS sedan, allowing for more space inside. It will also get an adjustable air suspension as standard equipment, while the Mercedes-Benz Hyperscreen 56-inch array of screens will be standard on 580 models. Pricing will be announced later this year, with the vehicles expected to hit dealers around winter.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/news-4-25-3.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167818" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/news-4-25-3.jpg" alt="2023 EQS SUV" width="2500" height="1667" /></a>

Two new EVs coming from Nissan

Nissan teased two all-new EV models expected to arrive in 2025. One each from Nissan and Infiniti, they will be built at the brand's Canton, MS, plant, which is being converted to build EVs. The plant is currently home to Altima, Frontier, and Titan. Though the images shown are just a small look at the front of the two EVs, they appear to be crossover models, and both use lighting signatures to great effect.

Weekly News Roundup: EV Rebates, EV Launches, EV Concepts

2021 Barber Motorsports Park - Honda Grand Prix of Alabama (Penske Entertainment, Chris Owens)

<h3>Wednesday, April 27</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>7:00P-10:00, FSR, NHRA Camping World Drag Racing SpringNationals, Houston Raceway Park, Baytown (Houston), TX, Apr 24/22, R</li>
 	<li>7:30P-8:00, REV TV, Winged Nation #13, N</li>
</ul>
<h3>Thursday, April 28</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>7:00P-9:00, TSN2, Formula 1: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Imola, Italy, Apr 24/22, R</li>
 	<li>7:00P-8:00, REV TV, FIM MotoGP HIGHLIGHTS Grande Prémio Tissot de Portugal, Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimao, Portugal, Apr 24/22, N</li>
 	<li>8:00P-10:00, REV TV, AMA Supercross Monster Energy Series, Round #15, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA, Apr 23/22, N</li>
 	<li>8:00P-9:00, CBS Sports, FIA Formula E Preview, Monaco, N</li>
 	<li>8:00P-8:30, FSR, NHRA in 30, Houston, Apr 24/22, N</li>
 	<li>9:00P-10:00, CBS Sports, Trans-Am, Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, Apr 24/22, N</li>
 	<li>9:00P-12:00m, FSR, NHRA Camping World Drag Racing SpringNationals, Houston Raceway Park, Baytown (Houston), TX, Apr 24/22, R</li>
</ul>
<h3>Friday, April 29</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>3:00P-4:30, FSR, NASCAR Xfinity QUALIFYING, Dover, DE, L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>7:00P-8:30, FSR, NHRA QUALIFYING #1, Charlotte, L</li>
 	<li>8:30P-10:00, FSR, NASCAR Xfinity QUALIFYING, Dover, DE, SDD, R</li>
 	<li>9:00P-10:30, REV TV, FIM World Superbike Motul Dutch Round, TT Circuit Assen, Assen, NL, Race #1, Apr 23/22, R</li>
 	<li>10:00P-11:30, FSR, NHRA QUALIFYING #1, Charlotte, SDD, R</li>
 	<li>10:30P-12:00m, REV TV, FIM World Superbike Motul Dutch Round, TT Circuit Assen, Assen, NL, Race #2, Apr 24/22, R</li>
</ul>
<h3>Saturday, April 30</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00A-7:00, CBS Sports, FIA Formula E Preview, Monaco, R</li>
 	<li>8:30A-10:30, TSN5, ABB FIA Formula E Racing Round 6, Monaco, L</li>
 	<li>9:00A-10:30, FSR, NASCAR Xfinity QUALIFYING, Dover, DE, Apr 29/22, R</li>
 	<li>10:30A-12:30P, FSR/TSN5, NASCAR Cup Series PRACTICE &amp; QUALIFYING, Dover, DE, L</li>
 	<li>11:00A-12:00n, CBS Sports, FIA Formula E Preview, Monaco, R</li>
 	<li>12:30P-1:30, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-RACE, Xfinity, Dover, L</li>
 	<li>1:00P-2:30, CBS, ABB FIA Formula E Racing: Round 6 - Monaco, SDD, R</li>
 	<li>1:00P-1:30, TSN5, NASCAR Xfinity Series PRE-RACE, Dover, L</li>
 	<li>1:30P-4:00, TSN5, NASCAR Xfinity Series A-GAME 200, Dover Motor Speedway, DE, L</li>
 	<li>3:00P-6:00, NBC, AMA Supercross Monster Energy Series, Round #16, Denver, CO, L</li>
 	<li>6:55P-9:00, imsa.tv, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (GT4) Laguna Seca 120, Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, L</li>
 	<li>9:00P-10:30, CBS Sports, ABB FIA Formula E Racing: Round 6 - Monaco, SDD</li>
 	<li>10:30P-11:00, CBS Sports, Mobil 1 the Grid</li>
 	<li>11:00P-12:00m, CBS Sports, Trans-Am, Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, Apr 24/22, R</li>
 	<li>11:00P-1:00A, REV TV, All North Racing Western Rattler 300, Penticton Speedway, BC, L</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sunday, May 1</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00A-8:00, FSR, NASCAR Cup Series PRACTICE &amp; QUALIFYING, Dover, DE, Apr 30/22, R</li>
 	<li>7:25A-9:00, REV TV, FIM MotoGP Gran Premio Red Bull de España, Jerez, Spain, L</li>
 	<li>10:00A-11:00, FSR, American Flat Track (motorcycles), I-70 Half-mile, Odessa, MO, Apr 23/22, N</li>
 	<li>10:55A-11:55, REV TV, Indy Lights Round #2, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL, L</li>
 	<li>11:00A-12:00n, FSR, NHRA QUALIFYING #2, Charlotte, SDD, N</li>
 	<li>12:30P-3:00, SN360, NTT INDYCAR Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL, L</li>
 	<li>1:00P-3:00, NBC, NTT INDYCAR Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL, L2:00P-3:00, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay PRE-RACE, Dover, L</li>
 	<li>2:30P-3:00, TSN5, NASCAR Cup Series PRE-RACE, Dover, DE, L</li>
 	<li>3:00P-7:00, TSN5, NASCAR Cup Series DuraMAX Drydene 400, Dover Motor Speedway, DE, L</li>
 	<li>3:00P-6:00, NBC/REV-TV, IMSA WeatherTech Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship, Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, L</li>
 	<li>3:05P-5:50, imsa.tv, IMSA WeatherTech Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship, Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, L</li>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NHRA QUALIFYING #2, Charlotte, SDD, R</li>
 	<li>6:30P-8:00, CBS Sports, Trans-Am TA2, Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, Apr 24/22, N</li>
 	<li>7:00P-10:00, FSR, NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Circle K Four-Wide Nationals, zMAX Dragway, Concord (Charlotte), NC, SDD, N</li>
 	<li>10:00P-11:30, CBS Sports, Trans-Am TA2, Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, Apr 24/22, R</li>
</ul>
<h3>Monday, May 2</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
</ul>
<h3>Tuesday, May 3</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
 	<li>9:00P-12:00m, FSR, NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Circle K Four-Wide Nationals, zMAX Dragway, Concord (Charlotte), NC, May 1/22, R</li>
</ul>
<h3>Wednesday, May 4</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</li>
</ul>
<h3>Thursday, May 5</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>6:00P-7:00, FSR, NASCAR Race Hub, L</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>5:30P-7:30, 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 Raceway, 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>7:00A-1:00P, MTOD, FIA World Endurance Championship Total Energies 6 Hour of Spa-Francorchamps, 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>12:30P-1:30, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay Xfinity Series PRE-RACE, Darlington, L</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, L</li>
 	<li>5:30P-6:30, TSN5, W Series (all-female racing), Miami, USA, L</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, TSN1/4, F1 Grand Prix Sunday PRE-RACE: Miami Grand Prix, L</li>
 	<li>2:00P-3:30, FSR, NASCAR RaceDay Cup Series PRE-RACE, Darlington, L</li>
 	<li>3:00P-3:30, TSN5, NASCAR Cup Series PRE-RACE, Darlington Raceway, L</li>
 	<li>3:25P-5:30, TSN1/4, 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, TSN1/4, F1 Chequered Flag POST-RACE: Miami Grand Prix, L</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>
&nbsp;

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/RFTV_2022_Wheels-Original-Apr-27-May-8.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 April 27-May 8

Kroger 200

Looking back, even Darrell Waltrip admits that calling out Richard Petty probably wasn’t such a bright idea. The year was 1979, Petty was in his prime and a brash loudmouth, known simply as D.W. He introduced himself to reporters by saying, “Hello, I’m Darrell Waltrip and I’m here to take Richard Petty’s place.”

Bold? Certainly. But nothing compared to his stunt a few years earlier when the Owensboro, Ky., outlaw was chased by the police, an incident that ended with his car taking six bullets during the pursuit.

“I think they were just trying to send me a message,” said Waltrip about his feud with the local police that went back to his childhood growing up in the town. “And trust me, I got the message.’’

If there’s one thing other than racing that Waltrip has always been good at, it’s putting himself in jams. When he arrived full-time on the Winston Cup (now called the Cup Series) scene in 1975, he immediately challenged the establishment and the legends.

He would beat on the bumpers of guys such as Petty, Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison, and then say afterward that it was on purpose. Racing’s royalty meant nothing to the man known as much for fast talking as fast driving. “I was just mouthy. I was rude and obnoxious. I was a good talker, and they wasn’t,” he said.

Waltrip quickly became one of NASCAR’s most disliked drivers, and one of its most quotable. Petty might have been the king of the track, but Waltrip was the king of the one-liner. When asked how he set the Kentucky-State high-school track record with a 2:02.04 in the 880-yard run, Waltrip said, “They threw me a hubcap and hollered, ‘Police!’ “

His favourite racing phrase? “You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel.”

On his relationship with the late Dale Earnhardt?  “Dale and I were always ‘frenemies.’ We were friends part of the time; we were enemies part of the time.”

It was those quips and moments that eventually endeared Waltrip to fans and even competitors. Ironically, he finished his 29-year racing career with two most-popular driver awards that brought him almost as much satisfaction as his three cup championships.

“I felt I was given a chance to mend fences with fans,” said Waltrip, whose popularity also earned him a spot on a Wheaties cereal box. “Richard Petty had once said that I would win a lot of races and break a lot of records, but I’d never be most popular driver.”

It wasn’t that Waltrip didn’t have a heart of gold, he just seldom showed it or wouldn’t be known for it. Whether it was racing his silver-coloured go-kart as a teenager around Owensboro or his old 1936 Chevrolet coupe in Nashville, Tenn., Waltrip was the biggest fish on the little circuits; a barnstorming short-track ace whose ego became more inflated with every win.

“Wherever I would go, I was almost assured I was going to win one or two races a week and I made a good living doing that.”

In 1972, at the age of 25, Waltrip began dabbling in NASCAR’s Winston Cup series, sporadically racing until he joined the circuit full-time in 1975. “It was difficult to step to the big leagues,” he said. “It took some time for me to make up my mind that I needed to get in there.”

And what a decision it was.

In terms of all-time wins, the once-obnoxious Kentucky kid finished his career tied for third with 84 Winston Cup checkered flags. He was the first driver in the circuit to win $10 million in a single season and he was the only driver to win $500,000 or more in a season 18 times.

And his younger brother Michael went on to have his own slice of NASCAR stardom, usually being the diplomat that the older Waltrip seldom was. Both eventually won the Daytona 500, with Michael winning twice.

After retiring from driving at the end of the 2000 season, Waltrip moved to the broadcast booth as a race analyst, a position he held until June of  2019.

Now 75, he has certainly mellowed since those the days of police chases, flying bullets and brazen predictions. Waltrip’s wife of more than 50 years, Stevie, said his Christian faith helps keep him grounded. His daughters keep him on the “boogity-boogity-boogity,” one of the infamous commentator terms he used every time a race got under way.

From outlaw to champion and from rebel to father, Waltrip has come full circle. Ironically, in a life spent driving in circles.

He was a terror in a racecar – and with his tongue.

Network EV6 comparo Ivy

The recent federal budget signalled a tripling of government rebates for new EVs over the next three years. It also hinted at expanded rebate parameters but didn’t spell out two key aspects of the plan: whether its current $45,000 price ceiling would be increased to help buyers of pricier electric SUVs and trucks, and whether the $5,000 amount per vehicle would be adjusted.

More details are expected to be released by Transport Canada about the broadened program in the next few weeks. In the meantime, those about to purchase EVs are in limbo, wondering whether to buy now or wait to avoid missing potential new incentives.

Early this month, the government issued a helpful release that stated the budget measures would help more Canadians adopt EVs by “continuing to provide purchase incentives of up to $5,000,” which suggests the top rebate amount wouldn’t change. However, it also noted it was extending funding to “broadening eligibility under the program to include more vehicle models.”

The easiest way to do this, and arguably the most helpful to drivers being hit by increased gas prices, is to extend rebates to used EVs, which has been the case in Quebec for years. (Up to $3,500 is available when a used EV is bought.)

The government has a pricing tightrope to walk here, too. Its $45,000 price cap has been shown to keep the base price of EVs down, especially compared to the U.S. Raising that $45,000 could make more vehicles eligible, but it might potentially increase the base prices on popular models.

As well, Kia has temporarily stopped taking orders for its new 2022 EV6 models in Canada and one recent CBC report had a dealer saying the wait time for a Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid was now three years.

The auto industry wants to see higher government rebates – up to $15,000 per new EV – but opposes the rules requiring that a certain percentage of its sales need to be zero-emissions vehicles. On the other hand, EV and clean energy groups have applauded the government’s efforts to increase the percent of these vehicles before all new cars are required to be emissions-free by 2035. The website roadto2035.ca, launched by a coalition of new vehicle dealers and automakers, sets out their positions clearly, while EV lobby group Electric Mobility Canada has asked for rebates for EVs of up to $70,000.

All of which leaves some potential EV owners wondering if now is the time to buy or if they should wait – and how long it will take for their ordered vehicles to arrive.

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: What the recent budget means for EVs

wh-DealerNews-Kowalsky-April23

When Gerry Kowalsky turned 35 in 1957, he decided to change careers. He’d worked in construction for 10 years and anticipated a slowdown in that industry. He answered an ad for an automotive salesperson at Kaye Ford in Kitchener and got the job.

Today, Kowalsky is Ontario’s oldest actively registered vehicle salesperson. On March 19, he celebrated his 100 birthday at Olympic Honda in Guelph, where he has worked for the past 36 years. He is still selling cars.

Kowalsky worked at Kaye Ford for 23 years, first in sales and later as a used car manager, before taking time off to care for his ailing wife (she died in 1992). When he returned to work, he was recruited by the Brewis family, which owned a Chevrolet Oldsmobile dealership in Paris, Ont., and sold cars there for two years. When that dealership was sold, he continued working there for a while before moving to the Brewis family’s Honda franchise in Guelph, which was opened by Charles Brewis in 1973. It is still family owned today.

At his birthday celebration, dozens of well-wishers were on hand to pay tribute to Kowalsky’s long career in the auto industry, including Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie and John Carmichael, CEO of the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council.

Hyundai fights homelessness

More than 40 Hyundai dealerships from across Canada answered the call to help address youth homelessness, donating more than $100,000 to 360ºkids in support of the organization’s ninth annual 360ºExperience fundraiser in Newmarket. During the March 3 event, participants spent a winter’s night outside to better understand some of the realities at-risk and homeless youth face.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-DealerNews-Hyundai-April23-scaled.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167739" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-DealerNews-Hyundai-April23-scaled.jpeg" alt="Hyundai" width="2560" height="2436" /></a>

This year’s 360ºExperience took place both virtually and in-person, with virtual participants each raising a minimum of $100 and in-person participants each raising a minimum of $2,000. Don Romano, president and CEO of Hyundai Canada, and Kirk Merrett, the company’s director of human resources, were among those who spent the night outdoors to support 360ºkids’ vision that every child should have access to a safe home.

At 100 years old, this Ontario man is still selling cars in Guelph

2021-Nissan-Rogue-06

Dear Ask a Mechanic,

On the second page of the owner’s manual for my 2021 Nissan Rogue, it states to not plug in a tracking device or drive monitor into the vehicle’s OBD2 port as it will void the car’s warranty. Insurance companies are promoting theses devices as a way to get lower rates by monitoring driving habits. Are you aware of this restriction being made by other car companies? – Rogue Runner

For readers not familiar with it, the OBD2 port – it stands for on-board diagnostics, level two – is a standard 16-pin electrical connector that’s located inside vehicles, normally in the footwell area on the driver’s side. It is an access point where mechanics can communicate with and diagnose the engine and transmission control modules. It’s been a required part of vehicle emissions equipment since 1996.

In modern vehicles, this data link connector can typically be used by specialized diagnostic equipment to access many of the other vehicle systems that might use the same communication networks.

Because it’s a mandated interface point that must meet a specific Society of Automotive Engineers standard, the data link has a standardized pin configuration. Additionally, the communication protocols used for data transfer are also defined and structured by either the engineering society or the International Organization for Standardization.

All of this is to say that because the data link is mandatory (with very rare exception – certain Tesla models being notable examples), universal by design to allow emission testing and diagnostics, and its operation well-established and strictly defined, it should be a safe place for an interface to read or request data.

While I have not come across a warning of this type in an owner’s manual (or even heard of it), I did experience a situation at an auto event where issues were experienced by several vehicles from different automakers when a third-party fuel-economy tracking device was plugged into their data connectors. I also once diagnosed a defective tracking module that caused major issues in a Chevrolet Cruze. Removing the device corrected the problem and left no apparent aftereffects.

In theory, automotive modules and communication networks are hardened against electrical shorts and other issues. In practice, if such an accessory was to somehow cause damage, and the automaker could prove it was responsible, any possible discount on insurance would suddenly seem moot.

I believe the odds of causing harm are extremely low, however Nissan’s unusual and very specific warning would be enough for me to advise against risking it in your Rogue.

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.

Ask a Mechanic: Can you plug in a tracking device?

wh-AskMechanic-April23

Dear Ask a Mechanic,

We recently brought our 2015 Hyundai Tucson to the garage to have our summer tires put back on. During the process, we were informed that we needed to have new brakes for all four wheels. My husband was told that one of the rear calipers had seized, and that the front pads were also seized and worn. I don’t understand how our car could brake okay when most of its brakes were seized. Did we get lied to? Why did they insist on replacing both rear calipers instead of just the bad one? – Bad brakes 

Tire changing seasons, both in the spring and fall, are also busy times for brake work. Removing the wheels exposes the brakes, making it easy to inspect them. And like in a Cracker Jack box, there can be a surprise inside.

Brake corrosion is common. The wear surfaces of disc brake rotors and their components are exposed to the air and elements, even if they’re partially protected by the wheels and vehicle body. It’s not just from driving in wet conditions, either. The same moisture in the air that causes condensation or frost on your vehicle’s windows has a similar effect on the metal brake parts. Even for those parking indoors, the corrosive effects of winter’s road salt and brine come into play.

Normally, if all else is good, regular use from driving will tend to quickly scrub this fine layer of corrosion off the wear surfaces. But, If the rust is allowed to get a bit deeper into the rotor surface, the opposite occurs. The swollen or pitted metal wears the pad material down, compounding the problem and possibly causing brake pulsation or noise. Working from home, and other pandemic-related driving reductions, appear to have made this issue more prevalent.

Even partially seized brakes can continue to function to a degree. With power assist and hydraulic brakes, the pressures generated at the calipers can potentially bend the brake pad backing plates and caliper pins enough to apply some force. Under light to moderate braking, you might not notice the performance loss. (Once applied, the stuck pads may not fully release and could drag; uneven or grossly premature pad wear results.)

As to why calipers are replaced in pairs, this is standard industry practice. Ostensibly this preserves hydraulic system balance. And, like changing both wiper blades when one starts to smear, it also reduces the probability that the other caliper, having experienced the same service life, may also soon fail and damage the newer brake parts.

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.

Ask a Mechanic... Tire changes may reveal brake issues

wh-AskMechanic-April16

Dear Ask a Mechanic,

Last year I bought my first-ever summer toy, a fully documented, low-mileage and pampered 2015 Jaguar F-Type R, which has been parked safely inside my attached garage all winter. Spring is finally here, and I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel. Is there anything special that I should do, or can I just back it out and drive it? – Itching to drive

There are varying schools of thought about what steps should be taken prior to returning a stored car to the road. At one extreme, you have those that believe you should disable the fuel system and crank it over to build oil pressure before allowing the engine to start. On the other side, those that recommend you just make sure the tires aren’t flat and start it up. I’m a tad less obsessive than the first group, but I do believe you need show some care.

When it comes to my sports car, my fall preparations included adding a fuel stabilizer, filling the tank with ethanol-free premium gas and connecting a battery tender to keep it maintained. As a result, in the spring I can basically set my tire pressure, eyeball the oil and coolant levels, and proceed to burn that tank of gas (driving moderately until I’ve refilled it with fresh fuel).

What additional steps you’ll want to take depend on your Jag’s maintenance history, what storage preparations were done in the fall and whether it was run during the winter.

If it was started and idled numerous times throughout the winter, you may have inadvertently contaminated the oil with moisture and fuel. Unfortunately, the lack of a dipstick makes checking the condition of the oil in your F-Type challenging, so consider replacing the oil if it wasn’t done last fall.

The other fluid levels found under the hood should be checked.

You should also inspect the age, condition and pressure of the tires. Why age? Often, well cared for and low-mileage vehicles are still using their original tires. If they are seven or more years old, replacement is probably warranted. If you’re not sure when they were made, the last four digits in the tires’ DOT serial number will tell you (for example, 1015 would mean it was made during the tenth week of 2015).

If a fuel stabilizer wasn’t used in the fall, I’d recommend going for a nice, leisurely drive to use up at least half a tank of gas before adding more. Frustrating as that might sound, this period of “tame” use will give you an opportunity to make sure all is well. And remember, summer tires don’t grip as well during cool spring temperatures.

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.

Motorcycle racer celebrates win a lap early

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