Posted by Peter on
March 3, 2010
2010 Chicago Auto Show: Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing
With doors agape, the 2011 SLS greeted visitors at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. This is the car that Mercedes is using to ignite our memories of the 1955 Mille Miglia and Stirling Moss. But wait, didn’t they just do that with the McLaren SLR Stirling Moss?. In person, it’s clear to see that the driver sits acres away from the nose of the car, much like the SLR McLaren this car effectively replaces as well as the BMW Z4 we drove in 2009. And although both the SLS and the baby BMW are rear-wheel drive two-seaters, the similarities end there. Whereas the Merc has a 6.2L V8 and pedestrian-arresting gullwing doors, the BMW is more conventional with its normal doors and straight-six engine. There’s also the matter of the $200,000 difference in price between the two, but no one said that a sense of occasion was cheap. In fact, it most assuredly isn’t. The SLS had a presence that had people flocking to its rotating stand, despite the lack of professional female accoutrement.
But why should you bother with a plane ticket to Chicago when you have CarEnvy.ca to do that for you? With our ever-expanding collection of 360˚ videos, it’s just like you’re there. Except you’re in the warmth of your home or office and not under the migraine-inducing lights of McCormick Hall. The things we do for our readers…
[author via YouTube]
Posted by Peter on
February 26, 2010
2010 Chicago Auto Show: Fisker On The Stand, Not In The Streets
Have you ever seen a Fisker on the streets? Sure you have, you’ve seen an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Aston Martin DB9, or maybe even a BMW Z8. Or maybe you’ve even seen all three, like I have. But I can guarantee that you haven’t seen this eponymous (and electric) car of Henrik Fisker’s on the streets. That’s because it’s not for sale yet. Still, Fisker Automotive has been tantalizing those of us interested in stylish electric cars for some time now, and I’m not saying that I fall into such a category, I’m just speaking in generalities. With an on sale date expected to be in the third quarter of this year, we may not have to wait much longer for the Fisker Karma sedan. Although the convertible and crossover models that American Vice President Joe Biden famously leaked are still an indeterminate ways away.
So how is Fisker ramping up excitement for their new products? With a splashy booth at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, of course!
Posted by Peter on
February 23, 2010
What Do Hyundai and Volkswagen Have That Toyota Doesn’t? Quality!
Based on what you see above, you’ll agree that this new 2011 Hyundai Sonata (no, that isn’t the Passat CC) has more inspired and engaging styling than the benchmark Toyota Camry. But what you can’t tell from the pictures is how the car feels. So let me tell you that it feels solid and well screwed together. Like, no joke. In fact, I’ll go as far to say that the new Sonata is better than the Camry, and for that matter all the other midsize sedans. I had an inkling that this statement might be true, but the Korean company’s presence at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show cemented it for me.
It was there that I saw the 2011 Sonata in the metal and had the opportunity to explore the car a bit. This car was so surprisingly adequate that I needed to compare it to Toyota, the reigning champion of North American sales. And adequacy. But I’ll get to that in a second because there were also the 2010 Tuscon, the Genesis brothers, and the Genesis Coupe drift car that some dude named Rhys Millen uses to extract smoke out of rubber. And all of these cars had a big impact on me. I know it has been said before that Toyota’s quality is slipping, but it wasn’t clear to me how badly the Koreans are now beating the Japanese titan, and therefore everyone else. But it isn’t just Hyundai that is sneaking up on the Big Two of GM and Toyota, it’s Volkswagen too. It has been well-publisized that Volkswagen plans to be the world’s largest automaker by 2018, but based on what I saw at the CAS, I wouldn’t be surprised if it were the Koreans first. Either way, both brands are on the rise.
More proof and less rhetoric are below.
Posted by Peter on
February 21, 2010
Lexus LFA in 360˚ Splendour and Vivid Detail
The 2010 Chicago Auto Show has just wrapped up but our belated (but bespoke) coverage will continue to seep into these pages over the coming days. To start things off, here is a video of the venerable Lexus LFA that we took. While you’ve undoubtedly seen pictures of the LFA, or even video reviews, you haven’t seen it up close and personal. Until now.
The 360˚ video and 16-image gallery of the LFA are below. I think you’ll enjoy the fine details of Japanese engineering. A lot. Also, the matte gray that this LFA is painted is infinitely cooler than the white we keep seeing.
Posted by Janaki on
February 17, 2010
2010 Chicago Auto Show: 2011 Ford Fiesta
Sporty Euro subcompact fans all over North America, rejoice. Ford the all-seeing, all-benevolent has heard your pleas, and it has deemed you worthy. The Fiesta is coming, and it’s not being dumbed down.
More and a gallery after the jump.
Posted by Janaki on
February 16, 2010
2010 Chicago Auto Show: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi
This probably wasn’t the image you were expecting to see. Neither was I, which is exactly why it was so cool. Don’t worry, Suzuki brought along a Kizashi that auto show visitors could actually play in. The rotisserie was a really nice touch, though—especially seeing the undercarriage of the car, sans road grime and in very nice lighting. Oh, and also not on a creeper. But I digress.
More and a gallery after the jump.
Posted by Janaki on
February 12, 2010
2010 Chicago Auto Show: Kia Ray Concept
While opinions on the design of Kia’s Ray concept will no doubt be mixed, you have got to give Kia points. Who else brings Muno from Yo Gabba Gabba and a guy dressed to a giant sock monkey to an auto show? 
Video and photo gallery after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Jonathan on
February 11, 2010
What’s Cooler? Part II – Battle Wagon Lite
Earlier this month I talked about needing a station wagon to haul around he who will be the newest addition to our little family. Station wagon, estate, touring, shooting brake… these all make sense to me.. Barring some shift in oil prices or the further breakdown of Minnesota roads, I won’t be driving an SUV (really just a large tall station wagon). Barring blunt force head trauma, I won’t be driving a minivan. A Mustang V8-powered Volvo 940 was compared to a supercharged M3-powered BMW 525i Touring. Verdict? BMW.
I’m still casually surfing the Internet for a station wagon that amuses me. Something that can haul the diapers as well as the mail. Something that has some style to it. Something that commands respect and awe from the other parents. More importantly, according to my wife, something that won’t break the bank. Hey, she’s the one who pointed out I still need funds for the old car projects.
Admittedly, I had all but forgotten the Volkswagen Fox two-door wagon even existed. Appearing briefly in North America somewhere between the late 1980s and the early 1990s, these Brazilian-built econoboxes wheezed and lumbered along with something like 81 horsepower from their 1.8-litre, longitudinally-mounted four-pots. The sedans shared styling cues with the Audi 4000 (80) and VW Jetta. The wagons, however, looked like an intoxicated union between a early Mk-2 Golf and a Communist-era Fiat police car. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Jonathan on
February 2, 2010
What’s Cooler? Battle Of The Battle Wagons
Life is all about change. When I was young and single I had small cars that fit my life. Rather, I could fit my life into small cars. I could cram almost everything I owned into my 1985 Honda Prelude. Later, when it was just me and the wife, we had cars like a Dinan-modified BMW 325is and a Mazda Miata LE. We couldn’t put much into them, but they were fun and buzzy and you didn’t care if they were a little uncivilized.
But now there’s going to be a third person in our family. A little wonder who will in time learn to tolerate such automotive silliness but may not spring forth unto this world with the car bug that infects his parents. What’s an expectant father to do?
Posted by Peter on
January 31, 2010
The 2010 Edmonton Motor Show Recap
The 2010 Edmonton Motor Show was this past weekend, in case you forgot to look at your calendar. As you would expect, CarEnvy was there in full force. Ok, so it was just me and a few friends, but at least someone went. The show was noticeably smaller than in years past. Almost depressingly so. It was as if the economic contraction of 2008 and 2009 had just sunk in now. No matter, there was still enough new exotic hardware to keep us interested.
The highlights included a pair of Spyker C8s (but no Saab in tow), a Gulf-liveried Ford GT (just like John Mayer’s!), a Bentley Continental Supersports, a Aston Martin DBS Volante, a Ferrari 599, a Ferrari California, and a type 993 Carrera convertible tuned by Ruf.
A gallery of their exquisite detailing is after the jump.
