Minivan renaissance?

OK, so it's not a trend ... but one noteworthy mention at this year's Canadian International AutoShow is the debut of a minivan. That's right, it's not a crossover, wagon or small SUV, it's a minivan, and it's new.

In addition to announcing price reductions on several of its models, Volkswagen made the Canadian debut of its new minivan: the Routan (pictured). And, as of Thursday night's opening gala event, it's getting a good deal of attention.

Patrick Saint-Pierre, of VW public relations, says Volkswagen decided to go back to the minivan market at the request of its dealers after the end of the line for the EuroVan.

"Many American brands have left the minivan market, but import presence keeps rising, as does their share of the market," says Saint-Pierre. "So we thought this was the perfect opportunity to seize."

With the demise of minivans from General Motors and Ford, and the popularity of CUVs, does the Routan have a chance?

Nemo Electric Truck

One vehicle you won't see in any Canadian International Auto Show publicity - or even in Wheels' special Auto Show section - is the Nemo.

This "electric urban truck" was invited to appear at the show the night before the press day, when a show floor space unexpectedly opened up. I don't know how the heck they got it here from Montreal in last night's snow storm, but here it is, on the 700 level of the South Building, just outside the Media Room.

Nemo was engineered and is being built in Ste-Therese, north of Montreal, right across the street from the shopping mall that used to be the site of the GM Camaro factory. Production begins later this year.

Given the range drawbacks of electric vehicles - the main problem of which has always been getting a long enough extension cord - Nemo has been designed for what the company calls "proximity work and transportation". A.k.a., theme parks, private factories, other non-public road applications. Plug it in overnight, and it's ready to go the next morning.

The single platform can be configured a million different ways - the one at the show has a small dump truck body, but it can be set up as a people mover, a flat bed, probably anything you could think of.

For example, Nemo company president Ken Johnson says ambulance operators tell him that about ten percent of all calls could be handled with something this small. Indeed, in something like a sports stadium or a gated community, a Nemo ambulance could get to places a full-size ambulance just couldn't reach.

A Nemo mini-fire truck? Why not?

The unit at the auto show is even painted orange - just like the cartoon fish.

www.nev-nemo.com for more information.
 

Canadan Car/Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards

Well, as my Grade 11 history teacher used to say when we collectively got the wrong answers to his pop quizzes, "Another failure of democracy.''

Likewise the results of the 2008 Automobile Journalists Association of Canada Car/Utility Vehicle of the Year awards.

The Audi R8 is Car of the Year - a fabulous car by any standard, but a $150,000 sports car of which they'll maybe a hundred in Canada? Car of the Year?

Can't blame Audi. They don't make the rules, and they aren't going to hand the trophy back.

The R8 was also chosen Best New Design and, a couple of months ago, "Most Coveted'' by the journos at AJAC's Test Fest last fall.

The other finalists were the Saturn Astra and Audi S5.

Actually, the real Car of the Year didn't even make the final three. At least the Chevrolet Malibu won the North American award.

General Motors did win the Utility Vehicle award, although it was the wrong General Motors vehicle. The Buick Enclave should have been a slam-dunk, but the collective minds of AJAC gave it to the Silverado pick-up. A worthy winner, but nowhere near the breakthrough represented by the Enclave.

Nissan Rogue, another fine vehicle, was the other Utility finalist.

Ford's SYNC system, enabling connectivity of multiple media devices into a car and making it even easier for drivers to be distracted, won Best New Technology. Is there no hope?

Wait 'til next year. We'll probably get it wrong again.

 

 

For 2008 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year the winner is ...

 

... the Chevrolet Silverado.

The Chevy was up against 25 competitors to earn this year's title.

 

More snow? Must be almost time for the AutoShow

How much more snow can Toronto handle? While car drivers are slip-sliding their way to work today, truck and SUV drivers with 4x4 get to show off their vehicle's capabilities ...

And if you're in the market for a new truck or SUV, or a family friendly crossover, here's what to expect at this year's Canadian International AutoShow (opening to the public on Friday until Feb. 24).

Today automakers will be making Canadian debuts of several crossovers and pickups.

Look for the:

*2009 Dodge Ram

*2009 Ford F-150

*2008 Ford Foose F-150

*2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid

And for crossovers, the ...

*2009 Chevrolet Traverse

*2009 Ford Flex

*2009 Kia Borrego

*2009 Subaru Forester

*2009 Dodge Journey

*2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS

Live blogging throughout the day from the floor of the Canadian International AutoShow.

Check back often for highlights ...

Wanted: North American "fit" models for Chinese automaker

While most of the journalists at today's Changfeng press conference didn't really understand Li Jianxin, the company's chairperson, during his presentation (his English was so broken Wheels columnist Lorraine Sommerfeld thought he was repeatedly announcing free lobster if you made it through to the end). But now it's clear the Chinese automaker doesn't understand its intended North American audience either. 

A friend was milling about the display this afternoon, checking out the Liebao CS7 (see photo) when he was approached by a Changfeng representative. "Can you get in the car?" asked the rep, again in broken English.

He then explained that he was the vehicle's designer and that he hadn't considered "big people" (think linebacker) when designing his cars.

He invited the 6-foot-3 guy to sit in each of Changfeng's cars and SUVs, snapping enough photos to fill a 1-gig memory card. "Maybe I could make the seat wider," he said. "If I moved the pillar back 100 mm, would you fit?"

If Chinese automakers really want to break into the North American auto market next year -- that was the suggestion at last year's show -- they better hire North American fit models to make sure "big guys" can fit into their vehicles. 

Giants go green

It's clear there's a power struggle going on at this year's Detroit show: It's a battle between the big trucks and eco rides. But soon you can have your cake and eat it, too. General Motors's Chevy Tahoe Hybrid is on offer, but there's also the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid and just this morning GM unveiled the Cadillac Provoq fuel-cell crossover (first on show last week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas). The Provoq -- gotta love the name -- looks more ready to go than most "concepts." The Provoq can travel more than 480 km on a fill of hydrogen.

Canadians liven up Detroit auto show

First Kim Cattrall ... and now -- happening right now -- Canuck Bryan Adams rocking out the Audi stand for the unveiling of the new TTS ...

Sex comes to Detroit

When I took on the assignment of covering trucks and SUVs at this year's Detroit auto show, I never imagined I'd be able to write about two of my favourite things in the same blog: cars AND Sex and the City.

Mercedes-Benz used a little star power for the formal unveiling of its new Vision GLK Concept: Kim Cattrall, who plays the naughty Samantha Jones in Sex, introduced the SUV with Mercedes' chairperson Dieter Zetsche.

The new GLK (on sale next January in the U.S.), plays a role in the New Sex and the City movie, which is currently being filmed and comes out in May.

True to her character, Cattrall said the GLK has ``bulges in all the right places and it`s a tight little package.``

And there`s room for all the Gucci and Versace bags a New York shopper can manage to fill in one day, too.

(Kim Cattrall photo by Neil Dimock)

Running of the Rams (and walking of the bulls)

The crowd was gathered on either side of Washington Ave., in front of Cobo Hall, anticipating a sort of running of the bulls. What we got instead was a slow and steady march of 150 long-horned steer (probably safer anyway considering they weigh about the same as a truck).

Cowboys corralled the cows, and then came the new 2009 Dodge Rams. Dodge calls the new look "Get out of my way" (which the crowd did when the steers got spooked and began hopping on each other like salmon swimming up stream).

While Dodge's grilles have, over the past few years, made bold statements, the Ram's is bolder than ever. There's a new Crew Cab model, a first for Dodge. There's extra storage in cubbies built into the floor.

A new 5.7L Hemi V8 with 380 hp and 404 lb.-ft. of torque powers the Ram.

The new Ram arrives this fall. The new Cummins diesel engine is available starting 2009.

(Photos by Neil Dimock)