Porsche Performance Tour 2014: day two
After having fun off the beaten path with the Macan on day one, the Porsche Performance Tour stuck to regular roads Thursday for the drive to Vernon.
Porsche Performance Tour 2014: day one
For the first time, Porsche Cars Canada’s Performance Tour visits the Vancouver area. The three-day event provides a driver experience focused on a handful of vehicles: the classic Porsche 911 Carrera S, the mid-engined Cayman and the brand new 2015 Porsche Macan luxury crossover SUV.
On the first day, guests gathered at Vancouver International Airport for introductions before setting off for the first group activity — offroading in the Macans at a special course in the Callaghan Valley region near Whistler. People piled in either the 400-horsepower Carrera or the 275-hp Cayman for the drive up (both equipped with Porsche’s Doppelkupplung PDK dual-clutch transmission), testing out the suspension through twisty bits along the Sea-to-Sky Highway.
Once at the offroad course, there were a choice of Macans available: the S model with 340 hp/339 lb-ft of torque or the Turbo with 400 hp/406 lb-ft. Both tackled the steep hills, muddy dips and rock-covered surfaces admirably without any instances of anyone getting seriously stuck. That was partly due to the all-wheel drive system and gadgetry such as hill descent control (automatically slows the vehicle down on declines, allowing the driver to concentrate on steering) and an off-road mode (raises suspension height to give 9.1 inches of clearance, softens steering input, modifies torque distribution, etc.), but mostly it was because of the expert guidance of Porsche driving instructor Kees Nierop and his team.
Drivers paired up for the exercise and switched so that everyone got an opportunity to test out the crossover and all the new technologies. Afterwards, the Macans were shuttled back to a gathering spot and the drivers retired to Whistler for the evening to conclude the first day’s activites. There’s more to come, but here are some pictures to enjoy until then:
Top three affordable and fun vehicles for students
With the B.C. teacher’s strike officially over, the topic of back-to-school is finally again on people’s minds. Below, we’ve compiled a top three list of practical — and more importantly, fun — cars for students.
BMW M Power Tour delivers at Mission Raceway
Letters — the English alphabet is full of them. But in BMW’s case, only one single letter really matters: M. As in M3, M4, M5, and M6, all of which were present at the 2014 BMW M Power Tour.
Hyundai Fun Day 2014 lives up to name
Not only does Hyundai Fun Day rhyme, but the automotive outing taking place at Ontario’s Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) lives up to its name by being an entertaining — and educational, I might add — annual event.
Hosted by the Seoul, Korea-based manufacturer, a handful of journalists and writers gathered at the racetrack for a few hours of light-hearted vehicle testing.
“It’s an opportunity to catch up on all of the product news Hyundai has brought, or will shortly bring, to market,” says public relations manager Chad Heard in a press release.
The day started off bright and early with a breakfast at hotel in North York before making the trek to CTMP in Bowmanville. Guests travelled to the venue in their choice of two vehicles that were heavily featured during the event — the all-new seventh-generation 2015 Sonata and the redesigned Mark II Genesis sedan.
The Sonata is Hyundai’s signature “intermediate” sedan, and is the brand’s first mainstream model to embody its “Fluidic Sculpture 2.0” design that is an aesthetic quality that makes the vehicle appear as though it’s always in motion.
The redesign has much bolder and more aggressive styling embodied by a big hexagonal grille, angular headlight housings that blend in with the top of the front fender line, and bright LED daytime running lights. At the back, the 2.0T trim has gorgeous quad exhaust outlets. A flat-bottomed steering and orange stitching inside give a sporty feel.
Two engine choices are available: a 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder with 185 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, and the aforementioned two-litre turbo with 245 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque.
Patrick Danielson, Hyundai product planner, says the Genesis is “a statement of what Hyundai can do.” If that’s the case, the company is doing quite a lot. The four-door is a premium luxury sedan with a very European look – just look at the oversized chrome grill that extends far into the front bumper, HIDs, LED light strip, long wheelbase and wide stance.
The previously offered V6 and V8 engines have been revised to now develop 311 hp/293 lb-ft of torque and 420 hp/383 lb-ft, respectively, with updated technologies like a three-stage Variable Induction System and a freer-flowing exhaust manifold.
Other enhancements include a stiffer chassis, a full under-body cover making the Genesis more aerodynamic and quiet, and a suspension system with increased travel for a more comfortable ride. All trims receive the new HTRAC all-wheel drive that can split torque depending on road conditions or driver-selected settings such as Normal, Sport and Snow modes.
Aside from the pair of star cars, Hyundai had on hand a full complement of their other offerings. Following my drive in a Sonata to the motorsport park, I started the day off with taking the Santa Fe and Tucson crossovers on a short but muddy offoroad track. I then hopped in a quirky-looking, but very fun, turbocharged Veloster hatchback onto an autocross course where I placed 11th overall with a self-proclaimed respectable time of 34.3 seconds (first place was 32 seconds).
I ended my portion of performance activities with a few adrenaline-pumping laps around the track in a R-Spec Genesis Coupe that, on top of the 348-hp V6, has a firmer suspension, Brembo brakes and a factory-option tuned exhaust that sounded simply mean.
To learn more about Hyundai models, visit openroadhyundai.com.
Audi Twin Cup victory for OpenRoad technician
Weee are the champions! The 2014 Audi Twin Cup Service World Championship wrapped up last month in Munich, with Canadian representative Aaron Berghoffer sharing first place honours in the competition’s Technology Cup.
A technician at OpenRoad Audi, Berghoffer travelled to Germany with service consultant and fellow co-worker Dragos Paduraru who also participated in the competition that featured 219 entrants from 38 countries. Over two days, the pair worked with other Canadian teammates in their respective categories before coming together on the last day to vie for the championship.
“The Twin Cup is completed as a team — three people from a technology background and three from a service background. The service group completes two 45-minute tests and the technology group completes two 45-minute tests at the same time. We then complete a one-hour test together as a team,” says Berghoffer, adding his trio’s evaluation included measuring and adjusting a rear differential, and diagnosing and repairing an air suspension system.
“The technology cup is awarded to the technology team with the highest score.”
Berghoffer says he found the most challenging tasks to be managing his time wisely and overcoming the pressure to finish accurately. While he and his tech teammates won their category, Canada finishing sixth in the overall competition. This year marked the tenth anniversary of the annual event.
Do you drive an out of warranty Audi?
Best in-vehicle infotainment systems
Gone are the days where the only thing to entertain you on your drive home was an AM/FM radio and, if you were really lucky, a CD player. Automakers are now trying to create an all-inclusive experience by allowing control of your smartphone and other mobile devices via your car, and vice versa. Let’s take a look at some of the best in-vehicle information and entertainment systems available right now.
Audi
The brand with the four rings calls their information and entertainment technology Audi connect, which they describe as “all applications and developments that connect Audi models to the owner, the Internet, the infrastructure and other vehicles.” One of the first companies to offer broadband Internet access on-the-go, Audi has expanded their services to include highspeed LTE support and WiFi hotspot connectivity.
Working from the driver’s seat is no problem with text-to-speech functionality. Through a synced device, emails can be read aloud, and SMS can be sent using voice commands. To unwind, Audi music stream is able to play songs from a personal music library or over 3,000 Internet radio stations.
BMW
Lots of brands now offer the ability for your car to interact with your phone, but not that many go the other way around. BMW ConnectedDrive is a series of services and apps that incorporate access to a concierge, real-time traffic information, online entertainment and more. It also includes the Remote App that pairs with your BMW so that you can lock and unlock your car from afar, honk the horn if you lose your car in a crowded parking lot, or turn on the heat or air conditioning so the temperature is just right when you get inside.
Apple CarPlay
Rather than being exclusive to a single marque, Apple’s CarPlay technology will be available through several automobile manufacturers such as Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota and many more. Seamlessly integrating with the OEM infotainment hardware and software, it essentially mimics the operating system of an i-product. For instance, users will instantly recognize Apple’s familiar icons on the vehicle’s display screen. You can press them to elicit the expected response, or enable Siri and execute commands with voice activation.
These are just some of the latest technologies currently being offered. For more information on other systems, visit www.openroadautogroup.com/new-cars.
Using a clay bar to detail your car (step-by-step guide)
Mention a clay bar to most non-car folk, and they will probably stare back at you blankly. A staple for detailing shops and enthusiasts alike, it is quite literally a piece of malleable clay that removes contaminants picked from everyday driving like bits of brake dust and road tar. It’s a great idea to do this before waxing because it will ensure the paint is smooth and clean before applying a protective coating. Below is an easy step-by-step guide on how to properly clay bar your ride.
- Give your vehicle a thorough wash and dry before starting to remove loose dirt and grime.
- Your clay bar kit (like this one, from Mothers) should come with a big rectangular chunk of clay. Rip off a piece big enough to fit in your hand and reseal the rest in a Ziploc bag.
- Warm up the clay by kneading it in your hands, and then generously spray the supplied lubricant onto the panel of the car you’d like to start with.
- Take the clay and gently glide it back and forth on the lubricated panel. It should slide effortlessly, there’s no need to apply too much pressure. If the clay starts to stick, spray on more lubricant. Wipe the area dry with a soft, clean towel afterwards and run the back of your hand along the paint, which should feel like glass. If not, start over again.
- Examine your piece of clay — it’s likely looking a little dirty. When it looks a lot dirty, fold it in half and massage it until you have a clean side to work with.
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Repeat this step for each section of the car. I like to start with the roof and work my way down, from front to back because the bottom part of the car tends to be the filthiest.
- Hatchbacks and wagons also tend to accumulate a lot of grit on the lift gate so you’ll want to spend some more time there.
After you’ve gone over the entire vehicle, it’s time to seal in the shine. Grab a bottle or can of your favourite wax and finish the job. See How to wax your car in three easy steps.
How to wax your car in three easy steps
In today’s busy world, finding the time to wash our cars can be a hassle. That’s probably why automatic car wash businesses do so well. So it should be no surprise that the concept of waxing a vehicle is foreign to many people — partly because they don’t see the point, and also because they simply have no idea how to do it.
From a purely aesthetic standpoint, giving your car a coat of wax will make it gleam like it just came off the showroom floor. The other benefit of it is that it will help to protect the paint — and make it easier to clean — from the abuses of everyday driving like splattered-on road tar, bird droppings, and so on. Follow these easy steps and your ride will be shiny and protected in no time.
Before you start
- Make sure your car is clean and dry, so wash and wipe it down beforehand.
- Pick up some wax. I’m partial towards the Mothers California Gold Brazilian Carnauba Cleaner Wax that comes in an easy-to-apply liquid form and helps to remove stubborn stains at the same time as well.
- Have some clean cotton cloths on hand for the application and then the polishing afterwards. Try and choose something that is 100% cotton and durable so you can reuse it, like the ones from Scratch Protector that are colour-coded for different tasks and come in packs of three.
- Find a cool, shady location like in a garage or under covered parking to avoid the hot sun baking on the wax.
3 steps to wax your car
- Squirt some cleaner wax onto the cloth (a little goes a long way), and choose one panel of a car to work on at a time. I normally start with the roof and then the hood and work my way towards the back of the car.
- Apply the wax in the same direction that the wind would flow over the car. In other words, use a front to back motion rather than circles, which can cause swirl marks in the paint. After you finish with a panel, leave it and move to the next one letting the wax sit for a while instead of immediately wiping it off.
- After the car is covered in a hazy white finish, it’s time to polish. Using another clean towel, buff off the wax using a similar technique to when you were initially applying it.
A few things to be mindful of: try and avoid getting wax on any black rubber trim because it can be annoying to remove later on. A big white dried blob kind of ruins the look of your newly spotless vehicle.
If you run your fingers over the paint and you still feel or see some bumps, you may need to use a clay bar first to remove any lodged in bits of dirt or grit.
That’s all there is to it! Now go out for a drive and show off the fruits of your labour.
OpenRoad's BMW Langley LEEDs way towards environmental stewardship
OpenRoad’s BMW Langley makes going green look easy with their state-of-the-art dealership that received LEED Gold certification late last year.
Walking into the massive glass-filled facility on Collection Drive that first opened in August 2011, sales manager Ahmed Abou-Shaaban says the abundance of sunlight makes staff and customers alike feel almost immediately happier.
“To be honest, when you’re working in a glass building on a nice sunny day, you’re getting more Vitamin D and it helps your mindset and mood,” says Abou-Shaaban.
To achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status, which ranges from Certified to Platinum, a certain number of points must be achieved in seven different environmentally friendly areas. Among the topics are energy efficiency — for example using natural light to minimize reliance on electricity — material selection and indoor environment quality.
Everything about the building looks high-tech and modern, from the sensor-equipped lights that remain off until people walk by, to the unique architecture and primarily white colour scheme that makes you feel like you’re in some kind of a BMW museum. The boardroom on the second floor is surrounded by giant floor to ceiling windows, and appears to be floating in the air when you look around you.
“Clients rave about the size and the design aspect of the building. All together, it’s definitely a wow factor the minute you walk in.”
Abou-Shaaban says achieving LEED Gold is not only good for reducing carbon footprint, but that it alignts with the German manufacturer’s current goals, as well.
“With our brand, we are working towards producing green-friendly vehicles. We just introduced the i3 and i8 and pride ourselves on moving forward and finding ways to minimize emissions. Clients do value that we’re thinking about the next generation, as well.”