Montreal Auto Show Part 1: Trucks

Posted on January 25, 2013 by justdrivethere
Montreal Auto Show

Montreal Auto Show

So the Detroit Auto Show is finished. Almost everyone in the automotive media was there covering all the new cars, from the new C7 Corvette Stingray, to the new NSX Concept.

I was not there. Instead, I chose to cover a lesser known North American Auto Show, the Salon International de l’Auto de Montréal. You might have never have heard of it, but this show had 44 stands, with all the manufacturers that matter. That means Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls Royce, even Maserati!

The photographic coverage I did was very vast, so in order to make it more readable to you all, I will update the blog over the next five days, with five new posts from the best that I saw: Trucks, Small cars, Midsize, Exotics and Concepts.
Today, we will look at Trucks.

After all, this is North America., the land where the Truck is King. There were quite a few at the Montreal Auto Show, but not as much as I would have expected. We have to face it, just like all other auto shows, environmental consciousness was increasingly present.

That said, that did not stop GM from presenting the new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado. It is a major change from the old one, and this classic truck continues to impress. On the GMC side, nothing really new, but you have to admit, the GMC Denali HD is mighty impressive. Here, the term truck makes sense. It is one of those vehicles where you really have to climb in to get in.

Speaking of climbing, my all time favourite truck was there, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. It is unbelievably intimidating in person. Here is a truck designed to take bumps and jumps like a Mclaren takes a corner, which is very fast indeed. Continuing in the F-150 range (and it is just incredible the amount of variants there are), there also was the HD (for Heavy Duty) version present. HD basically means take a big truck and make it bigger.

From the last of the big three was the Dodge Ram. Another very capable truck, if only starting to look a bit dated. The Power Wagon version looks very good, but less capable than a Raptor, I have to say.
On the Japanese side, Toyota was showing a rugged version of the FJ Cruiser which looked interesting. From Lexus you had the obvious RX450h, but better yet, the new LX570 which is absolutely huge (pictured here against a Mercedes ML). Acura showcased the 2014 MDX, in all its LED glory.

And from Europe, the Mercedes stand was showing off the ML63 AMG, one of the best SUVs in my mind. The big news was coming from Land Rover though. The Evoque was presented (and I have to admit, I am really starting to like it…), but more importantly, the latest Range Rover was there. Just look at it. It just screams do-anything-in-absolute-comfort-and-style.

So these were the trucks that stood out from the rest in my mind. Tomorrow, we will look at the other end of the scale: Small cars.

2014 Chevrolet Silverado
2014 Chevrolet Silverado
GMC Denali HD
Ford F150
Ford F150 HD
Ford F150 SVT Raptor
Ford F150 SVT Raptor
Dodge Ram
Dodge Ram Power Wagon
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Lexus LX570
2014 Acura MDX
Mercedes ML63 AMG
Range Rover Evoque
Range Rover Evoque Coupe
2014 Range Rover
2014 Range Rover
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The C7 Corvette Stingray, here it is

Posted on January 13, 2013 by justdrivethere

Well, it has been a while since I last posted, but in my defence, nothing exciting happens over the holidays, as the whole industry is, well on a holiday. But to kick off 2013, here is a preview from the Detroit Auto Show.

So, straight from the livestream from Detroit, here is the 2014 C7 Corvette! What do you think?

2014 Corvette Stingray reveal

2014 Chevrolet CorvetteSome important points to remember: It will officially be called the Corvette Stingray, the transmission will be a 7 speed manual, there will be a carbon fibre removable roof and carbon fibre bonnet and the chassis will be an all aluminium frame. Power comes from the 450hp LT1 V8. The interior is a mix of carbon fibre and leather and is a huge leap forward compared to the old C6.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette2014 Chevrolet Corvette

2014 Chevrolet Corvette

2014 Chevrolet Corvette interiorIf you want to know more about it (power and how it could stack up to the new Viper), check out this post I did a couple of months back. I have been waiting to see this one for a while. Hopefully I will get to see it in the metal quite soon!

Now, more metal will be presented at the Detroit Auto Show, but since everyone in the press world is going to be there, I will be covering something else that takes place at the same time, the Montréal International Auto Show. Watch this space.

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Car of the Year 2012: Well everyone else is doing it….

Posted on December 18, 2012 by justdrivethere

COTY2012The end of year is nigh, and every other car magazine/blog/channel/website are doing their elections to find this year’s Car of the Year. The official European car of the year people have even brought out their list and it actually looks interesting, for once. Following this trend, it would seem a good time to do the JustDrive There car of the year elections, in the spirit of this blog.

You see, many car of the year elections try to look for the best overall car. With that in mind, Motorweek chose the Tesla Model S, EVO chose the Pagani Huayra and Lotus Exige S. L’Automobile-sportive did their selection too, with the help of their readers, and the winner was the Toyota GT86, by popular vote. So if we were to choose a car that would represent this blog, would it be? Could it be different? Let’s see by going through the contenders:

Morgan 3 WheelerThe aim of this blog is to celebrate the joy of driving. With that in mind, the Morgan Three Wheeler would be the obvious choice. It is, after all, the very essence of pure driving, minus the fourth wheel. Needless to say, nothing but fun can be had at its wheel. However, JustDrive There is also about travelling, something difficult to do in the Three Wheeler. The new Porsche 911 (991) fits the bill perfectly. It is still one of those cars that aims to celebrate driving and the driver still plays the most important role in it, not the central computer. It is also great on long trips, but it just feels too obvious to be the car of the year 2012, just like the Porsche Boxster (981). As much as I love Porsches (which is a new thing, but more on that later), they are just too perfect to be car of the year. The fact that they are just evolutions also is detrimental to their vote. For that same reason, the Volkswagen Golf mk7 cannot win. JustDrive There is about driving and travelling, but also about exploring new boundaries that may take the automotive world new directions.

Porsche 911 981What about Ferrari then? This year we saw the F12 Berlinetta. Surely a Ferrari would be the epitome of driving pleasure? That is true, but today’s Ferraris are so encumbered with electronic tech that it is no longer the driver doing the driving, but the computer. So no Ferrari as car of the year I’m afraid. What about that other über supercar that came out, the Pagani Huayra? It is very pure, in the sense that there are no electronic aids at all, the driver dictates every movement. It is also very cool, with those flaps that move about when you corner for added downforce, and that interior which is just a new definition of the phrase automotive art. However, on a personal note, I am not a big fan of its looks. That front end is just a bit too grotesque to be car of the year material. Two cars that I like to look at a lot, on the other hand, are the SRT Viper and the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Let’s talk about the Viper first: It’s fast, very basic and powerful, the interior looks great and you can use it on long trips. Very JustDrive There then. Same thing with the Camaro ZL1, the evolution of the American muscle car I really like, that happens to drive very well also. However, just like the Porsches and Golf, they are still evolutions, nothing ground breaking. Same recipe, but better ingredients.

How about something all new then, something that really does break boundaries, the Tesla Model S? Here, I cannot deny that this car is a revolution, after all, it is an electric car that looks good, has decent range and is not so expensive-ish. It is a car you could own and use CLS 63 Shooting Brakeevery day, provided you have a charging station where you park. Yet as fast as it may be on the road, it still lacks that all out fun factor, the sort you would find in the BMW M5 or Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake (or MBCLS63AMGSB for short). The Tesla may be good, but I doubt it would make me smile each time I take it for a drive. The M5 and MBCLS63AMGSB though make you smile from the time you engage first gear. The Mercedes has the added bonus of looking unbelievably gorgeous with its coupe/shooting brake form, which means you can take the family to Monaco for the weekend. At this point, though, I would be forced to remove the M5 for the same reason I had to remove the Ferrari, it is just too technical.

After all, the point of JustDrive There is to celebrate the joy of driving when travelling. You need a car that makes you feel connected to the road, yet that you can take across the continent. The CLS63AMGSB is good for that, but it would not be what I would call “pure” driving. It only comes in automatic after all.

I feel kind of stupid at this point. I went on and on about how I was going to find the JustDrive There 2012 Car of the Year and how it could be different from every other magazine/blog choice, yet after 882 words, here I am, at the same conclusion as almost everyone: The Subaru-Toyota-Scion BRZ/GT86/FR-S.

2013 Scion FR-SThere is method to this conformity though. You see, the BRZ/GT86/FR-S is a pure sports car. It has a manual gearbox, a normally aspirated engine at the front, drive goes to the rear wheels, and in between sits the driver. When you turn the wheel, you do it, not the computer. If you want to go around that corner sideways, you can. The balance and handling on the car is also perfect, making it one of the best drivers car of 2012, to the point that both Jeremy Clarkson and Chris Harris claimed it was the car they looked forward to drive the most this year. With regards to the joy of driving, the BRZ/GT86/FR-S is the perfect choice. When it comes to travelling, the car has four seats, a boot big enough for many things, including (when seats folded) four tyres for that track day you always promised yourself. You could also take this car around the world, just like you would the Porsche 911, it is a sports car for every day, wherever you may be. When it comes to innovation and being new, the Subaru/Toyota/Scion is just that: it is all about going back to basics. For the same reason Dacia is popular in Europe, the BRZ/GT86/FR-S is popular among enthusiast. Cars have become over-encumbered with things 2013 Scion FR-Swe don’t really need, so a car that gives us just what we need is always going to be welcome. As an added bonus, it is also affordable, meaning it may very well be my next car at some point. Finally, it is a boundary breaker. Just think of the main manufacturer: Toyota, makers of the Prius and Camry. Who would have thought they would come up with one of the purest and most fun sports cars out today?

To conclude, looking back at this list, I see a glimmer of hope for car enthusiasts. With the threat of even more automation, government control and less fun power sources, it still seems that the fun car can still exist. After all, I started off with a list of 12 cars, but there were many more interesting ones out this year.

And looking on next year, it does seem very promising indeed!

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What if the little guy is right?

Posted on December 12, 2012 by justdrivethere

Galt Gas Electric engineRemember city centres in the late 1800s? Yes, me neither, but based on historical data, it was pretty much a mess, in a very literal way. For example, in the city of New York, the level of pollution was so high, that some researchers found out that if population growth continued at the same rate, the city would not be able to sustain itself, and NYC would be doomed. The problem here was that the transportation mode at the time, the horse and cart, produced so much pollution that the city was now awash with diseases and air/noise pollution. The need for an urgent replacement for the horse was huge, and being the time of entrepreneurs, many people rose to the challenge.

What resulted was a big diversity of automobiles, only a small proportion of which were actually petrol powered. For example, battery electricity was no mystery as it is sometimes portrayed today. You had the Baker Electric battery powered cars (1909, which had a range of 110 miles by the way, and very popular back in the day) and the Galt hybrids (yes, same system as a Fisker Karma, only in 1914) or the Lohner-Porsche hybrid before that in 1901. Steam? The Doble steam powered cars (1915) or the Stanley ones (1902) were there. Ethanol powered car? Yeah, the Ford Model T had that in 1908.

The only reason the petrol powered car won in the end was because petrol was so plentiful. The original car, the Daimler-Benz carriage or 1886 was designed to function on alcohol, not petrol after all. Then again, the true original car, the Cugnot steam engine was an alternative fuel vehicle, but I digress… My point is, that in times of crisis, a solution can be found. And in the early days, the solution did not always come from the biggest player.

Today, it seems we are facing the same problem. Oil is running out, and people are starting to panic. Lots of reports keep being made about how unsustainable life has become, and in a few years we will all be dead if we keep using our cars, that is if we do not die from cancer due to pollution. The perfect time to start looking into new technologies, then! Yes, the bigger companies are doing it (often out of necessity due to tighter regulations), however the small new companies springing about seem to be the leaders in the market. Take Tesla for example. Yes, I may not be the biggest fan of the company, but you have to admit, they played a big role in promoting electric cars again. Now they are working with Toyota to help them make their electric vehicles. Look at Reva, the small Indian manufacturer of small electric cars. They were absorbed by Mahindra, one of the biggest players in the country. With regards to alternative fuel technology, we should not just focus on the established players. The time is ripe for new players to emerge, the Teslas, Revas or Exagons of this world, just like we had Baker, Doble or Galt back in the day.

But don’t forget, battery electric cars are not the only form of alternative fuel technology. Hydrogen is there also, and I still believe it could be the best solution for the future. At the moment, only the big companies are working on this (Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai…), but the opportunity is there for someone to think outside of the box and bring a viable option for the future before the others. Think about it, suppliers of hydrogen are there, such as Air Liquide in France, the technology is known and is safe, and universities are working on it. The only issue is cost, as the current systems are too expensive for commercial use.

All is needed is another Henry Ford to come along and find a way to bring the technology to the masses. Or another Ferdinand Porsche or De Dion and Bouton to figure out a new way to power a car, that we have not explored yet.

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The return of American muscle – with a bang!

Posted on December 6, 2012 by justdrivethere

2013 SRT Viper GTSWith the crisis the Big Three experienced a few years ago, all signs seemed to point to the end of the over-the-top cars they used to produce. Now was a time for rational thinking and efficiency. Gone were the Vipers and Corvettes and in came the Volts and Focuses. It was all becoming very sensible.

And then the companies started being profitable again.
Now, in 2012, two of the most iconic American sports cars were announced and needless to say, I am very excited!


The first one is the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette. 59 years ago, it was launched and ever since then, it has stood as the symbol of American excess. It was also a good attempt at trying to mix American muscle car and European sports car. Though a lot of generations of Corvettes usually failed in that area, those being more muscle than brains, the latest ones were promising. And now, the latest version (still not officially revealed yet) looks to hit the mark.
Yes, we do not know what it looks like, but we know how it will be powered. The engine will be a next generation LT1 6.2 litre direct injection V8. I think you’ll agree, we can all live with that. Combine that with 450 horsepower and cylinder deactivation and you even have a Corvette that could do well around town! With such an engine, performance will be impressive, with a 0-60mph time promised in under 4 seconds.
Again, details are scarce regarding anything else, but all will be revealed in Detroit next year, but expect a lighter car with improved handling and build quality. And if you really want to know what it looks like, check out Jalopnik.

2013 SRT Viper GTS Launch Edition model at Gingerman Raceway, SeThe second surprise was the 2013 SRT Viper. Yup, the big snake is back! Things were not looking good at first, at one point Chrysler said the Viper was finished as it was too Neanderthal for today’s world and then Sergio Marchionne took control, which could only make things worse. But a few years later, behold the new Viper and it looks amazing!
Known for being basically a big truck-engine with wheels, the Viper was always a tough car to drive. If the current reviews are to be believed, this is no longer the case. Yes, that massive V10 is still there, now at an unbelievable 8.4 litres, developing 640 horsepower. 0-60 mph is expected to be below 3 seconds. Yup, it’s fast.
However that power is now tamed through a much better chassis (including wider track at the front and improved torsional stiffness) and a big improvement in terms of comfort. 2013 SRT Viper GTSWhereas the old car was a bit like trying to hitch a ride on a deranged hippopotamus, this new one has a superb interior (with awesome geeky touches, like a hidden Nurburgring map embossed in a phone tray) and an overall feel of being made from more than pure plastic. Seriously, those seats come from the same supplier as Ferrari!
And for the purists amongst us, it comes in two trims: The base model comes pretty much stripped out for those hardcore racers, and the GTS model is much more refined with added insulation and toys.

Needless to say, I am happy to be on the other side of the Atlantic at the moment, so I can get a close view of these statements on wheels up close! The Americans are definitely back in the race!

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