2013 C-MAX Energi

 2013 C-MAX Energi

So how bad could driving an electric car be? They have won races, they are changing the way we look at the environment, and well, they even have become status symbols in places. We could look at what companies like Fisker and Tesla have done to make electric cars sexy, but why? We can’t all be the super-wealthy crowd. Most of us commoners can only think of practical things. There are companies making electric cars practical for the masses, and Ford is one of the leaders in this charge!

Let’s take the C-MAX Energi for example. Start out with a compact car that can fit five comfortably, then make sure it has some room to haul some extras when needed. Then out of anyone’s sight hide some high-tech goodies like a battery pack, a charger and an electric motor to make it all go. Top it off with incredible visibility, a great chassis and excellent reliability and you have got yourself a C-Max Energi!

Now I can tell you this would not be a car that girls would be throwing themselves at you in, but it is  a car that a small family could own or just a nice runabout. If you are looking to save some money on your gas bills, this would be the way to go.

With a 38km range on straight battery power it won’t get you far, but when you couple it with the gas engine it comes with, the fuel mileage takes a good jump.  I was not able to do better than 5.0L/100km but it is rated at 4.5L/100km and I could see it doing that especially if you chose to go straight electric and charge after each trip.

It takes 8 hours to recharge fully with the plug in for home, but you can get a 240 volt Leviton charging station installed and it will cut the charge time to three hours. The electricity required is said to run around $25 a month so factor that into your fuel bill.

This car has some other great features that will help you drive it as efficiently as possible.  The SmartGuage with EcoGuide will help you to tailor your driving to get peak fuel economy. With your EV status on one side and your efficiency leaves on the other you will know exactly what is working for you and where you need to work on your heavy foot. 

One more feature in the C-Max Energi is the EV Mode Button. It gives options like electric only(EV MODE), gasoline only (EV LATER), or a radical combination of both (AUTO EV).

I enjoyed driving this car as it  did everything very well and I would recommend it to people who want the EV experience without the massive EV bill. This is a very affordable way to get your feet wet in the market. Who knows? You might fall in love with the ease of operation and change the way you look at cars all together!

Disclosure: This vehicle was provided by Ford Of Canada

2013 Ford Focus ST

So I walk into a dealership and say to the salesperson,

"Today I have $30,000 to spend on something that will carry my family of 4, allows me to carry some larger items I move from time to time, and is able to make me feel like I am a race driver when I want it too. Do you have anything that might work for me?

His reply? "Have you driven the Focus ST?" 

"Well, I have driven the Focus and although I know it will handle the family and carry my goods, it really doesn't make me feel like I'm driving  anything racy."

Again he replies "Have you driven the Focus ST?"

"Well then, show me this car you speak of!"

He takes me over to a Focus on the lot and as we approach from the front all I can see different is an ST badge on the left hand grill opening, I am underwhelmed. As he pulls the car forward and reveals a bit more to me, well I am mildly pleased, as it has a bit of a sportier edge to it from the side. Around back of it I am thoroughly impressed, this car is all business out back from the nicely sculpted rear spoiler down to the intriguing look of the exhaust placement.

So I tell him, "It does have a different look to it, and it is an alright look, but what I am after is the performance driving experience. I want something I can toss around corners and that has enough power to set me back in the seat."

"Let me tell you something about the ST package," he says. "It includes the 2.0L EcoBoost 4 cylinder that pumps out 252 HP and 270 lb/ft of torque. Also there is a close ratio 6 speed manual transmission to pump that power through to the front wheels. It also includes three mode Advanced Trac, - at the push of a button you can go from Standard - designed for all road surfaces, wet dry or snow. Sport - where the Advance Trac only activates when needed. Or Off -  where you are entirely in control of the car with the system shut down."

I am now impressed and I need to drive this car. I climb behind the wheel and can't help notice the near perfect layout of the gauges as I am embraced by the grip of the Recarro seats. With information laid out for quick viewing while driving at a fast speed, it had very much a track car feel to it.

But wait, this one still has the My Ford Touch and navigation in it, this would appear to be a hybrid - part racer, part practical every day driver - this might very well be the ticket I was looking for!
When I fired it up it had a nice subtle rumble to it, I am pleased as the loud soup can exhausts drive me crazy. Now I want to drive this thing.

We take it off the lot and my first thing was to see what it felt like, after all if it did not go the answer would be no and I would return to the lot. Instead what I found was a very punchy little car. The turbo lag you feel in most cars was almost nonexistent. Well, time to open this thing up, I already know it will be practical, my worry is will it be able to keep me entertained.

We get it out to an open highway and start rowing through some gears, they are close ratio but I find the shifter throw to be a bit much for me, nothing that can't be cured by the aftermarket. It accelerates with ease to 100kph in about 6.5 seconds, I was told by the salesman it would top out at over 240kph if we were on an open track.

I have to admit, this car had the ability to make me soil myself and that was exactly what I was after. Even with front wheel drive it was a very mild bit of torque steer and once you knew it was going to be there it became second nature.

I still needed to know how it would handle in the corners as all of the cool kids are running rear drive cars and I still want to play with them. A few off ramps and an open parking lot filled me in. This car stuck, and it was hard to tell it was a front driver. It responded well to everything I asked of it. This could be the one!

We returned to the dealership both of us with grins from ear to ear and I told him I only had one more hurdle to jump but I knew this was the car for me. I had to convince The Wife.

This is never an easy task as she does tend to like practical and sensible cars. For me to want this so I can race was not going to go over well. So I did what any other man would do, I left that part out.

I showed her the brochure and told her how practical it was and how comfortable the family would be even on the longest trips. I let her know about the navigation so she would never be lost again. She was unsure about the manual as she does not like to shift all of the time, I said that part was for me as I will drive it most. I then had to pull the trump card, it has a vanity mirror* under the visor that lights up. Permission granted!

The lesson here is "Happy Wife, Happy Life" and I can still hit the track on the weekends, everybody wins with this car.

 

 
* Disclosure : This vehicle was provided by Ford Of Cananda

*This is a work of fiction.  Any resemblance to actual events or wives, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. My wife likes impractical race cars.
 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 
   

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013 C-MAX HYBRID

2013 C-MAX HYBRID

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but I will tell you I am one of the few open minded old dogs around. The week I spent in the 2013 C-MAX Hybrid was proof enough that I am still fully trainable (sorry ladies, I’m spoken for). 

I look into the mirror and I see a red cape wearing guy who believes that faster than a speeding bullet is almost fast enough. I live for horsepower and deep throaty exhaust notes - fuel consumption will always take a back seat to performance for me. Why on earth would I possibly want to drive a “Hybrid”? I assumed it would be the most boring vehicle I ever reviewed.....I was wrong!

What I found instead was an opportunity to broaden my sense of reality, expand my scope of thinking. I dove into this vehicle full of wonder - I wonder why they make these? I wonder how much savings this would really amount to? I wonder what kind of a person would buy this? - I was about to get schooled!

They have produced a car that actually wants to teach you how to be efficient. They do this with a series of gauges that help inform you of what you are doing right. The car is pure genius and not afraid to show you, built-in LCD tutorials on braking and driving efficiency.  Drive it hard and your vine is going to shed leaves and drive it nicely and they may stay with you forever. I started out driving it hard finding out where it performs and where it doesn`t. The car was fun and seemed to do everything very adequately, peppy without getting aggressive, hauled around family and cargo just fine, was a bit weaker than I expected in the corners though...but practicality has to have some boundaries.

What I found was a very roomy  five passenger Multi-Activity-Vehicle (MAV) that delivers great comfort and capacity and is on Fords’ first ever Hybrid only platform.  It seems odd to build a platform that is only good for one purpose, but when that purpose is to make the earth a greener place for our children to live, I get it. The fact that they have built the vehicles with the family in mind is wonderful too, as families are the largest segment of users in the automotive world.

The power train is the new 2.0L Atkinson-cycle I-4 gas engine and is teamed with an advanced high-voltage lithium-ion battery backed up by a new electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission (eCVT) built and engineered by Ford.  What does that translate to in English? There is a smallish engine with a big battery backup and a transmission that will optimize power during any driving situations. It also has a regenerative braking system to keep that big battery charged for when you need to use it next.

These cars have been the victims of many an accusation about fuel consumption. One thing I learned in auto sales is the people who come shopping for the most fuel efficient vehicles will be the ones who return complaining of poor gas mileage. The fact is, that is where they focus their attention so of course it won`t be good enough. I focus on horse power and have yet to find anything that will satisfy my needs. That being said, the EPA ratings have never been accurate and should only be used to compare apples to apples.  What I found was that I received a very solid 6.0L/100KM and that is not bad at all for a full family-haulin unit. It was more than I had expected after hearing other reviews.

In the end, I learned a lesson. Hybrid vehicles serve a purpose and we need to embrace the green technology  if we want to keep our environment healthy. They are far less polluting and far more economical and all of  that adds up to cleaner air to breathe. I don’t want to be a country where we have to wear masks to keep the pollutants out of our bodies, let’s get on the band wagon and back this trend. It’s one worth thinking about and looking into. 

Disclosure : This vehicle was provided by Ford Of Canada

2013 Ford Explorer Sport

While I was glad to hear that I was going to get the chance to roll around in the new Explorer Sport for a week, I had so many things I wanted to know. How was it going to perform? How practical would it be? Is it possible that this could fit into my lifestyle? Well, I think I found out the answers to those questions and more.

With all of the SUV's on the market, I think this one could be the sexiest, just the right combination of bling and zing that gets my heart pumping. I drove the Explorer Limited last year and knew that I liked the way it looked and the way it handled, my thoughts were with a bit more power this could be something to be reckoned with.

Look out SRT8 Jeeps, look out Durango R/T this thing is here to compete. It may not have the power and torque of the big V8's but it will be right there when push comes to shove, and it does it with it's 365 HP 3.5l EcoBoost engine  and a beefed up suspension. It powers it through all of the twists and turns and makes sure you can reign it in when it comes time to hit the brakes.

So needless to say, I like it, I like it a lot, driving it makes me happy. Part of it has to do with the blacked-out exterior treatment, nothing says badboy like tinted windows, a blacked-out grille and 20 inch wheels!

But how practical is this beast? Is it able to allow a family to enjoy it? Well, here are some requirements I expect of a family vehicle :

SAFETY
Is it going to be safe? - This one should do the trick. It is equipped with just enough air bags to keep you protected in the event of an accident. This year, they even added front knee air bags also, and the rear inflatable seat belts are an industry first.

With the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) it gives a second way to make sure those lane changes don't end poorly. This Explorer is also equipped with Curve Control, it will take over and slow the vehicle if you try to make a turn too quickly. So this one gets a passing grade for safety.

COMFORT

Is it comfortable for everyone? - Well it has the extra row of seating in it so even if you had a family of 6 I think you would be happy. The second row should not be used for more than 2 teenaged children, the third position is there for an emergency only as I can't see someone travelling comfortably there.

The seats however, are quite comfortable. I enjoyed driving it for hours at a time, my son even asked if we could buy it as he was taken in by the moon roof and the 12 speaker Sony stereo with all of it's gadgets, and the heated and cooled seats. What can I say, he's like his dad and enjoys all of the simple things in life.

Also equipped with the rain sensing wipers, the smooth shifting 6 speed automatic and the Adaptive Cruise Control that will slow you down and speed you up based on the proximity of the vehicle in front of you, I would have to say it's doing OK. I did not like the collision alert though as I think I put a bullet in my shorts a couple times thanks to it - it's the last thing you want to see when passing someone at highway speeds.

AFFORDABILITY
Cost, both up front and down the road. - Well lets just say it will not be the easiest thing on your pocket book when you purchase it, ringing in at $48,000 or so for a base Sport. The one I tested chimed in at a bit heftier $55,000....that smarts a little. But not when you compare it to similarly equipped competition, then it is right in the mix.

As for repairs, well for the first three years or 60,000 km don't expect to pay for anything more than regular maintenance. The drive train they have you covered for 5 years and 100,000 km. Now keeping the petrol in this beast, that will be the hard part as I was able to manage 13L/100km combined highway and city. That's not anywhere close to what Ford claims at 13.2 L/100KM for city and highway rated at 8.8L/100KM. But the truth of the matter is I did have a bit of a heavy foot as I set out to enjoy my time with it. Comparing it to the competition I would say it still did quite well.

Overall, I really enjoyed this vehicle as it did pretty much what I hoped it would do. The way it looks made me expect better performance as I think this is a sweet looking machine, but Ford chose to throw in some practicality and made it a winning combo. It was a hit with everyone who accompanied me in it  and I did not want to give it back when the time came. What it boiled down to in the end, is that I'm a sucker for a pretty face!

Disclosure : This vehicle was provided by Ford Of Canada

Ford Goes Big At Edmonton Motor Show

A+ for presentation

Edmonton Motor Show kicked of Media day in high style yesterday as Bob Vilas, executive director of the Edmonton Motor Dealers Association, let us know why the show date had been moved from February to April. This allows for more manufacturers to bring in some rarely seen vehicles, this year has three Canadian vehicle debuts, Vilas added "this is the best content I have ever seen". I have to agree with him, there was so much to see that my head was spinning, or that could have been one of the interactive displays Ford of Canada brought called SimZilla!

It all began with the vice-president of marketing from Ford, Jack Palazzolo running through the history of Ford trucks and leading up to what is seen as the future of trucks, The Ford Atlas! This was in fact the high point of the show for me and I am sure many others. Doing what Ford excels at, they really brought the big show for us all to see here and when the curtain dropped there it stood, the Ford Atlas Concept Truck in all of it's brilliant silver glory.

ATLAS concept

ATLAS concept

Then Ford Atlas Concept is inspired by decades of listening to customers at the places they work and play. The result is a purpose-driven design with prominent wheel arches, a wide stance and chiseled grille – all to reinforce its functional Built Ford Tough^® image. 

2014 Fiesta ST

They chose Edmonton for this reveal because Alberta is in fact the largest purchasers of trucks  in all of Canada, but trucks were not the only thing they had here for us. They brought many other greats, you will see the 2014 Fiesta ST the hot hatch that everybody is talking about, the C-Max Energi for the ECO minded, a Shelby  GT 500 for the rest and a wide range of other Ford favourites.

One thing I enjoy about Ford is they are not there just to push sales, they are there to educate and entertain. They bring many interactive displays that are great for the adults, but the kids will be enjoying them to.

Hank

 Hank has always been a favourite as he explains why Ford does things the way they do, just don`t get caught being the one hiding behind a pickup, his cybernetic sensors will detect you and you may get called to the front of the class!

SimZilla

New for this year is the addition of SimZilla. If you really enjoyed the Atlas why not take one out for a test drive, this can make that happen, and in a fun and exciting way. This is a true simulator that will make you feel like you are driving the real deal, try not to crash, paint jobs are not cheap you know.

Over all you will enjoy your visit to the Edmonton Motor Show, and once again I think Ford has stolen the spotlight, don`t miss it!

2013 Explore Sport

2013 Escapes



2013 Mustangs

Chevrolet Equinox 2LT and GMC Terrain Denali

2013 Equinox 2LT

2013 GMC Terrain Denali

Recently I was given the pleasure of driving both the Chevrolet Equinox 2 LT and the GMC Terrain Denali and considering they are on the same platform I thought I could compare what is different about them.

 
Let’s start with the physical appearance of these SUV's. They only share the same platforms, which mean that underneath they are virtually identical. But the way they look, you would never know that.

 
The Equinox has a very soft and appealing look to it with its nice curvy fenders and gentle face. While the Terrain has a more aggressive look, sporting the surly looking fender arches and some hard straight lines to grab your attention. What a great idea, I know I preferred the Terrain while my wife prefer the Equinox, this way GM can give the buyers what they want.

 
Now, the beauty of these two is more than just skin deep, they were designed to be some of the safest small SUVs on the market today. Because GM knows that safety is a key issue when you plan on carrying your most valuable cargo with you (your loved ones), and as far as crash test ratings go they don't get much better according to NHTSA. They gave them a 5 star-top of the class. I like to refer to these vehicles as driving a roll cage with pillows throughout...because if something happens all of the bad stays on the outside while you are wrapped in a cocoon of marshmallow softness.

 
GM went to town on this design. Also offered is a lane departure and forward collision alert system that helps out. This is about as safe as you get when you’re looking for a vehicle in this class.

 
Now, as we wander into the interiors you will note that they share similarities in the way things are laid out-from the center stack right through to the rear cargo area. The center stack is laid out almost perfect for most drivers.

 
Everything is pretty logical with the ChevyMyLink/GMCIntellilink sitting high atop with the 7" touchscreen that can show you everything from maps to your phone numbers to your choice of artist and radio stations. Best of all with the new systems is you can activate them by voice and keep your eyes on the road! The screen also serves as a backup camera, basically it is like your rear-view mirror just lower, but I was disappointed that there were no directional lines on it.

 
Below that you will find some very easy to use climate controls and a couple of buttons to heat up your tushy. At the very bottom are the driver control functions that can change everything in your readout on the driver information center located between the tachometer and the speedometer.

 
Below all of the buttons is a CD player that you can hardly see, I figure they are hiding it so people don't miss it when they disappear soon...who listens to CD's anymore?

 
Further down you will find a huge opening for whatever you might want, continue back from there and you find two cup holders and the shifter all right where you would want them. Wander back a bit farther and you find the mother of all storage bins, this thing can swallow a laptop if need be, also inside is the ports for your media player and a power supply is there too.

 
What I did find different between the two is the layout of the dashes. Although I really enjoyed the two tone in the Equinox with the Titanium/Jet-black combo it lost me when it came to the instrument cluster. The gauges were a bit difficult to read in the deep pods they were placed in. The Terrain had a great color accent stitching theme going on and the gauges were a lot better to read.

 
They both have some other unique differences such as the ambient lighting, the Chevrolet is done in a beautiful cool blue, and the GMC presents in a fiery red glow.

 
Passengers are treated to some very comfortable seating options as the front driver’s seat is an 8-way power adjustable, but the shotgun seat in the Equinox was not, it is available in the LTZ model though.

 

The rear seat slides fore and aft with a recline ability for the nappers. The space in both is great for four adults as all will enjoy plenty of room. Behind the rear seat you will find ample room again, and should you need a little more room the seats fold 60/40. Cover your cargo if you chose to, or put your grocery bags into a net that is provided so your milk doesn’t spill. They put a lot of thought into this. Right down to the power tailgate that you can program to go full or 3/4 height if you are in a lower garage are and need it open. You will also notice they have included a 12V plug in the rear for any tailgate parties you might be attending.

 
The power train in these compact crossovers were both the 3.6 L 301 HP and it was stout. I was able to run past just about everything but there was a few gas stations I needed to hit in the process. Although they are rated at 13.2 L/100KM (18mpg) city and 8.4 L/100KM highway I did about 12.9 L/100km and that was about half-city half-highway in both vehicles. To be fair, it was winter and they spent a lot of time warming up. I was thankful for the AWD system that worked quite well backed up by the 6-speed automatic transmission.

 
Over all, I don't think you could go wrong with either, I found the Equinox to be more like something I would buy my wife. I know that she found it quite charming and it was something that appealed to her.

 
For me, it was the Terrain, I liked the looks, I loved the red lighting inside, and I could see myself in one like this. What I didn't love was the price.

 

You can get into either for $26,900 but when you start putting options in them they shoot up fast. The Equinox will top out at about $44,900 whereas the Terrain Denali will take you even higher at $47,100....Ouch, quit it! That seems a bit steep for this market, but the consumers are buying them up so this may be the first time I am wrong in my life.

 In the end, they are both great SUVs and can do just about anything you ask. They are also some of the last small SUV's to offer a 6 cylinder engine. They are truly designed with the family in mind and I would have no problems recommending either of them.


Equinox was provided by Chevrolet Canada
Terrain was provided by GMC Canada

Twas the Night Before Christmas - Hoonigan Style

'Twas the Night before Christmas---Hoonigan Style

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the shops

Not a creature was stirring, not even old Pops;

The mufflers were sitting by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would hoon there;

The children were nestled all snug in their Vette beds,

while visions of super cars drifted in their heads;

And mamma in her leathers, and I in my T,

had just returned home from a winter hooning spree,

When out on the street there arose such a cloud,

I sprang from the bed to see what was so loud.

Away to the window I ran like The Flash,

Ripped open the window to see if he'd crash.

When, what to my wondering eyes did I see,

But a fat little man, in a Shelby GT,

Now that old driver was so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

Well 650 + horse power he had to tame,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called it some names;

"Now, light up those tires you spicy young Vixen!

Traction control off cause these tires we're Blitzen!"

As he hooned around trees I thought "that thing can fly,"

His driving finesse you just can't deny,

So house to house, man he just flew,

Delivering car parts and tires to the hooners that were true.

As I ran to the shop to see him come round,

Through the man-door he crept without making a sound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to lead foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with gasoline and soot;

A bundle of goodies he had slung on his back,

I could only hope that one was my Tach.

He had a hot rodders face and a racer's beer belly,

I thought for a moment he had swallowed a Pirelli

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old hooner,

My only wish was that I could have met him sooner;

A wink of his eye and a nod of his head,

Let me know that I got some new tire tread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to the bench,

And laid out new tools; and finished off with a wrench,

He sprang to his Shelby, as he hit the gas hard I heard the supercharger whistle,

And away he launched as though in a missile

But I heard him exclaim, as he hooned out of sight,

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good-Night."