“I’ll take 0-per cent financing for 200, Alex…”

I’ll give you this: if you’re coming down to the ‘Dome to make a decision on your next new car, figuring out the financing isn’t as easy as watching Mr. Trebek on Jeopardy. What you will find is the Canadian auto industry still evolving when it comes to dealing with our Loonie that is stubbornly staying on par with the U.S. dollar.

Last year, we saw unheard of low financing and cash incentives. But every manufacturer was waiting to see which one of the big players would blink and actually drop MSRPs. Well it’s finally happened.

Toyota Canada recently announced price reductions from $750 on the Toyota Yaris to $8,100 on the Lexus GX series.

So when you’re trolling the show floor comparison pricing, go ahead and ask any sales folks, “So, when will you be dropping your prices—just like Toyota?”

I'd like to thank my mom, eh?

Limited to the invited press on hand, the AJAC Annual Awards—the Academy Awards of the Canadian auto industry—traditionally kicks off the media days here at the Toronto show. Without the aid of any Hollywood script writers, here's a sample of this year's reception speeches:

T.O. or bust!

First things first.

Only newspaper editors, show organizers, and sign makers who charge by the letter, call the Toronto auto show the “Canadian International Auto Show.”

Whatever.

My first trip to the “Toronto show”, 15 years ago, was a random act of car enthusiasm.

Me and three car buddies, up at 4 a.m. to make the four hour drive from Ottawa to the Skydome. Once there, for the next eight hours we walked, gawked, fought the car geek crowds, and ate bad hot dogs and drank flat Labatts.

After taking in all the latest and greatest on four wheels, our quartet of car nuts then piled into that paragon of highway transportation, a Ford Tempo (NOT MINE!), and made the drive back to the Nation’s Capital. As is the norm, a late winter storm doubled our drive home.

By the time I crawled into bed, it was 2 a.m.

This year’s Toronto show opens to the public next Friday, February 15 at 10:30 am.

Whether your commitment to get there involves a ride on the TTC, or a Tim Bit and double-double-fueled marathon from Ottawa, the Toronto show is always worth the trip.

This year, I’ll be back, but this time as part of this Wednesday’s media herd. Check back here then for on-the-floor industry news updates.

And don’t worry.

I’m sure the hot dogs have improved. But I’d load up on the onions anyway.

Day 1 Wrapup

The sun's not up yet, but Day 2 kicks off here in Detroit in 40 minutes with a media roundtable with General Motors venerable prodcut/czar/guru/saviour, Bob "Can't Miss" Lutz.

But before that, here are some industry highlights from Sunday:

- As a direct shot at GM's non-committal date (maybe, probably in 2010) for its plug-in hybrid, the Chevy Volt, late yesterday Toyota claimed its lithium-ion hybrid vehicles will be in demonstration fleets in 2010. Toyota said this will include plug-in hybrids that already have been under development.

- Remember when the first Japanese premium brands—Acura, Infiniti, Lexus—blew up the idea of what value meant in the luxury classes in the late 1980 and early '90s? Korean automaker, Hyundai, thinks its new Genesis luxo-sedan will be an just as big of an "industry disruption."

As a reminder, the Genesis is a rear-drive sedan with a 375 hp, V8 and styling that mimics the best from Lexus and Infiniti to be priced many thousands less than the aforementioned established brands.

- Instead of as a replacement for its recently euthanized Accord Hybrid, Honda announced that its "i-DTEC" clean diesel technology will make its North American debut in a 2009 Acura-badged vehicle. Honda was mean with the details such as displacement, power and torque. But expect 2.2-litre four banger of some kind.

Working Hard for You - Part 2

Incredible! It's been almost an hour since Chrysler's Firehouse/bar has been open, and amazingly, some of the 6,000 to 7,000 media are still working in the on-site press room.

Is this Toyota's new microcar?

Working hard for you

Dodge's running of the bulls

Move 'em up! Head 'em out!

I'd like to thank my mom...

With four out of six of this year's finalists for the North American Car and Truck of the Year finalist's from General Motors, the odds were odds were in the hometeam's favour. About as surpising as a Britney Spears meltdown, the Chevy Malibu beat out the Cadillac CTS, and the Honda Accord for the 2008 North American Car of the Year.

My choice would have been the Caddy. The Malibu's good. But it's not as big of a breakthrough as the car it's based on, and last year's winner, Saturn's Aura.

On the truck, if I was GM, I'd be peeved.

The Mazda CX-9—a car-based crossover—beat out the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. Last year, Chevy won with its Silverado, by all accounts, a real truck.

BTW, that's Car and Driver's Tony Swan, one of the judges, doing the intros.