Every September, Vancouver plays host to the “Pebble Beach” of Western Canada in Luxury & Super Car Weekend displaying some of the world’s greatest in automobiles & luxury lifestyle. With every major manufacturer in the industry bringing their latest & greatest, The BMW store did not disappoint with their iconic line up cars.
At a very intimate setting at 130 West in Vancouver, OpenRoad Audi unveiled the new TT coupé and roadster (aka convertible) to its valued customers this past week.
Watch the these video to see the unveiling.
This all-new car is lighter, faster, and more fuel-efficient that ever before, having shed an extra 90 lbs over top of the second-generation TT, which was already lighter than the original by 200 lbs.
When the TT was first conceived in the mid-1990s, Audi knew that it had a game-changer on its hands. The concept car blew the minds of both auto journalists and the public when it was unveiled in at the 1995 Frankfurt Auto Show.
The overwhelmingly positive reception to the concept TT was enough to convince Audi to build the car for the masses.
When the actual production vehicle was unveiled, the public absolutely fell in-love with it as it retained much of the good looks of the concept vehicle.
The TT (along with the R8) has certainly established Audi’s credentials in the world of automotive design. Many say that it is a statement of the company’s commitment to precision engineering.
This latest Audi TT is more revolution than evolution, similar corporate good looks of the all-new R8 supercar. In the spirit of the first-generation TT, this latest car is still a design showcase.
What’s new? A lot! Compared to the outgoing model, the new TT is actually 21 mm shorter and 10 mm narrower. However the wheelbase is 37 mm longer. The platform is now a hybrid aluminium/steel platform, which Audi promises has been designed for improved torsional rigidity.
In the TT roadster, a new powered soft top can be operated at speeds up to 50 km/hr and opens/closes in a speedy 10 seconds. Audi’s engineers have also designed the top to take up even less space than ever before.
Because it is a soft top and not a folding hardtop, there is still 280 litres of cargo space available, enough for a quick weekend jaunt out of town.
Both coupé and roadster are available with Audi’s LED lighting package (for $1,100) which includes brighter and white LED-based headlights with LED turn signals, LED tail lights with dynamic turn signals, and LED All-Weather lights.
Under the hood is a 2.0-litre direct-injection turbocharged four cylinder engine shared with the Audi A3. This mill generates 230 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque at a low 1,600 rpms.
Audi promises improved fuel economy with official figures coming in at 7.8L/100 kms and 10.1L/100 kms on the highway.
If you’re looking for more power, Audi once again offers the sportier TTS. This model shares the same 2.0-litre displacement as the TT, but has been upgraded and tweaked to produce 310 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque.
As with other Audis, Quattro full-time all-wheel-drive is standard equipment, as is Audi’s rapid shifting 6-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission.
The highlight of the revised interior is Audi’s virtual cockpit which comes in the form of a 12.3 inch LCD instrument cluster versus traditional gauges.
This system can also be fitted with Audi’s Navigation Package ($1,800), putting a beautiful full-colour high resolution map right in front of the driver.
The result is a clean, simple, and elegant look that fits in perfectly with the TT’s character. It’s really something you have to see in person to fully appreciate!
The 2016 Audi TT Coupé starts at CDN $51,600, the TT Roadster at $55,600, and the TTS Coupé at $61,900.
More photos below…
Surf, sand and Porsches, Crescent Beach Concours D’Elegance 2015.
OpenRoad Auto Group Assistant Marketing Manager, Melissa Mak’s interview with Driving.ca
Enter to win a day in an all-new 2016 Audi TT and a $300 gift certificate to use at Furry Creek Golf Course!
You had me at wine tastings… Cruising the Circle Farm Tour with MINI Langley. And you can too. We’ll even loan you a MINI convertible!
British Columbians can finally breathe a small sigh of relief (and clean air), thanks to some much needed rain and cooler temperatures.
The rain has also brought down with it some of the remnants of smoke and ash that have been trapped in our atmosphere for the past couple of weeks.
Ash from big wildfires can travel for many kilometres and will often land on your car. If this happens, do not just give your car a quick dry wipe.
Why? Because the little particles can be abrasive and can scratch your vehicle’s paint.
Here are a few more tips on washing soot and ash off your car. By following these tips, it won’t take much time to get your car looking and smelling great inside and outside after a big wildfire!
There is almost no way of knowing what kind of soap a commercial car wash is using.
Without delving too much into chemistry, the pH level of the soap is used to express its balance between acidity and alkalinity.
pH is an important factor to consider when choosing cleaners or degreasers because cleaners at both ends of the scale (14 and 0) can be very effective cleaners, but with the side effects of being a lot more environmentally or even health hazardous.
A pH level of 7 represents neutrality. Numbers less than 7 represent increases in acidity. Numbers greater than 7 represent increases in alkalinity.
Because the pH scale is logarithmic, each scale unit equals a power of 10. As such, a product that has a rating of 13 is a whopping 10,000 times more alkaline/caustic than one with a rating of 9!
Ash is high in alkalinity so there is no sense in trying to get rid of alkaline with an alkaline car wash. A pH balanced car wash soap will do a thorough job without damaging your car’s paint by ensuring that the surface remains at close to a neutral pH of 7. More caustic cleaners will leave a basic or acidic surface, so do your paint job a favour and stick with a pH balanced soap!
As a recommendation, all Meguiar’s or Mothers branded car soaps are pH balanced, and can be found at places such as Canadian Tire or Lordco.
For tougher stains on rocker panels or wheels, Simple Green’s All-Purpose Cleaner degreaser has a mild pH of 8.5 to 9.5.
By “top to bottom”, this means to start washing from the roof first, then work your way down the sides of the car to the rocker panels and wheels. This ensures that all loose dirt and ash does not re-coat a clean surface that you have already rinsed off before.
Some people like to first wash the wheels and tires after hosing off their cars. This is not a particularly good idea as it inevitably leads to back splash from the wheels getting onto the previously hosed down surfaces.
After the initial rinse, use a micro fibre or sheepskin wash mitt to soap the surfaces from top to bottom, rinsing the mitt frequently to loosen trapped dirt.
Stay away from sponges as the open cells can cause particles to be trapped and dragged along the paint surface, causing thousands of micro scratches.
If you already have a good car care regime going, your vehicle is likely to be in good shape even if the remnants from the wildfire fall on your paint.
By applying a high quality carnauba wax or a synthetic polymer polish on your car’s surface once every few months (or roughly at the start of each season), not only will your car look shinier, but the paint will also have an extra layer of protection against the elements!
The more slippery surface will also make it more difficult for dirt to stick on it, meaning that your car will also stay cleaner for a longer period of time.
OpenRoad Auto Group was proud to partner with the BC Cancer Foundation for the #DriveforCancer fundraiser at the 2015 Diamond Rally in May. OpenRoad was honoured to invite cancer survivor Sarah MacKenize and her family to join in the rally with a 2015 BMW 650i xDrive Cabriolet from The BMW Store. Below Sarah MacKenzie shares her experience.
I have always loved the incredible views of the Sea-to-Sky highway. The way the islands reach out from the ocean to the west, set against the sheer drops of the mainland rock faces to the east is breathtaking and dramatic. The views had always been the highlight for me – but this time is was not where we were going, but how we were getting there.
On May 30, I was lucky enough to drive the Sea-to-Sky in the 2015 Luxury and Supercar Diamond Rally. Outfitted in a gorgeous white BMW 650 convertible from the OpenRoad BMW Store, my husband Patrick and I and our two young boys had the ride of a lifetime driving among some of the world’s most expensive cars. The sun was out, the top was down and we were lovin’ it!
The morning kick-off was a feast for a car lover’s eyes. Ben and James gravitated toward the Superman Ferrari and the purple and orange Lamborghini, before getting distracted by the yummy food that had been set out for us. When it was time to “launch”, we set out on clear roads – roads that had been closed off by the VPD just for the rally cars. I’ll never forget the sound of the engines roaring, of hitting Highway 1 with nothing but eager drivers ready for the thrill, and the wind whipping around us. Not to mention the sound of my boys screaming with delight from the back seat, their hands straight up in the air like they were on a roller coaster!
Once were on the 99, the fun really got underway, especially for Patrick. Patrick is a “car guy” through and through and he was eating up every detail and feature of the 650 and pointing out one super car after another. Admittedly, I did have to close my eyes from time to time! He assures me he was only keeping up with the pace of traffic.
The boys got such a kick out watching Tom, OpenRoad’s photographer, manoeuver himself out of the windows and hatch of the press car to snap photos with the camera with one hand, while signalling us to drive forward, slow down, smile, wave and take off ahead again with the other hand!
The day wasn’t only special because OpenRoad had loaned us this beautiful car, they were supporting a cause that has literally been a life-saver for me. Following my cancer diagnosis four years ago, my family has been on a journey of ups and downs and, thankfully, ups again. OpenRoad is a keen supporter of the BC Cancer Foundation, which makes the cutting-edge research and care of the BC Cancer Agency possible. It is thanks to the generosity of individuals and companies like OpenRoad that new and innovative treatment options, like the one I benefit from, are emerging and available to British Columbians.
Thank you OpenRoad for a carefree weekend with my family!
Sarah MacKenzie & The MacKenzie Family
High levels of ultraviolet rays can weather a car’s paint and interior. See these summer car care tips to prevent that wear and tear.
After many years of speculation and rumours, Apple finally unveiled its first wearable device, officially called the Apple Watch.
Like many of the company’s other products, Apple fans predict that it will change the way that we interact with technology, much like how the iPad and iPhone did. Regardless of whether or not you think the Apple watch is a slam dunk, it has proven to be wildly popular, with millions of units pre-sold.
Like other smart watches on the market, the Apple Watch has the ability to run apps, and BMW being one of Apple’s automotive partners, has taken advantage of this functionality (and the device’s popularity) to further develop their vision of the (Internet) connected car for Apple Watch owners.
No longer is this just whimsical thinking reserved for concept cars. BMW has planted their flag in the world of mobile vehicle connectivity through their ConnectedDrive technology.
The very first vehicles to take advantage of the Apple Watch’s functionality are the electric cars from BMW’s i division.
Since electrical car owners tend to be considered early adopters, it makes sense for BMW to first offer the system to this generally more tech-savvy customer base.
The BMW i Remote phone app allows Apple Watch owners to remotely check and control functions of their BMW i3 or i8.
The Apple Watch has its very own version of the BMW i Remote app, which keeps users updated on the car’s status and much more.
While there is also a BMW i app available for the Samsung Gear S watch, the Apple Watch’s app has been developed a lot more comprehensively and thereby offers richer functionality.
The Apple Watch acts as a clever extension to a linked iPhone with the BMW i app installed. Launching the BMW i Remote app on the Apple Watch brings up a start screen that gives the owner summarized information about the car’s charge status, available range, and time of the day.
Kudos to BMW for ensuring that the app’s graphics are consistent with the look and feel of the in-car iDrive infortainment system.
Scrolling further up on this start screen reveals a new menu through which users can check a whole host of other vehicle information including whether the car is locked, the windows are closed, or even if the moonroof is open. The doors can also be locked remotely. For security reasons, remote unlock functionality can only be done by calling BMW.
Lose your car in a parking lot? No problem. You can remotely flash the lights!
Vehicle maintenance alerts can also be checked at a glance, such as when the next maintenance appointment is due.
One of the heaviest drains on an electric vehicle’s battery is its heating and cooling system. Most EVs allow you to program a timer to pre-heat or cool the car while it is still hooked up to the household electrical grid. BMW’s i app takes this one step further by allowing pre-conditioning on demand with just a tap.
A right swipe of the watch’s start screen reveals the Remote Services screen that allows owners to adjust the car’s climate control system. Here, they can heat or cool the interior of their BMW I car while is being charged. This way no energy needs to be drawn from the car’s high voltage battery to pre-condition the climate control system, helping to maximize the car’s electric driving range.
Swipe the start screen to the left and Apple Watch owners will have access to the app’s location services display. This shows where the car is located on a map, and also offers up the intermodal route planning function.
One of the numerous innovations on board the BMW i3 is intermodal route planning. In slow traffic and congestion, for example, owners can incorporate other modes of transport into the route planning process alongside the user’s own car. This may help them reach their destination more efficiently.
In a nutshell, this means that public transit can also be incorporated as part of the route guidance, extending the navigation system’s instructions from the parked car to the user’s final destination. The app can also guide the owner back to the parking space if required.
Although the intermodal functionality is still in its infancy in Canada, these functions promise to significantly enhance mobility, especially in urban areas.
With their embedded SIM cards, the BMW i3 and i8 are optimized for connectivity, while the BMW i Remote app creates a close link between the car, driver and outside world.
Many of us already view digital services as an integral part of our everyday lives, and smart watches are set to give this trend even greater momentum. They also make using electric mobility a faster and more direct experience.
