Three clever new ways engineers improve 2015 Honda Fit
when it comes to the 2015 Honda Fit, company engineers have redesigned the all-new car with class leading levels of passenger and cargo space.
Porsche Performance Tour 2014: day three
Before parting ways on day three of the 2014 Porsche Performance Tour, the last event was a track day with the 911 and Cayman at Mission Raceway.
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:
2015 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid: world’s first premium plug-in SUV
Porsche has broken new ground with the launch of the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid, the world’s first plug-in hybrid in the premium SUV segment.
OpenRoad Auto Group takes driver’s seat at 3 iconic Vancouver dealerships
VANCOUVER, October 2, 2014 – OpenRoad Auto Group has acquired three iconic dealerships in Vancouver: The BMW Store, MINI Yaletown, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Vancouver, becoming the number one automotive retail group in B.C. for new vehicle sales volume. The award-winning OpenRoad group now represents 12 brands at 15 dealerships in the province.
This announcement gives OpenRoad its second pair of BMW and MINI dealerships, in addition to their existing BMW and MINI dealerships in Langley, B.C. The BMW Store in Vancouver was the first BMW dealership to open its doors in Canada and remains one of the largest volume dealers in the country. MINI Yaletown is urban, iconic and youthful — three characteristics that are well suited to downtown Vancouver. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Vancouver is the only authorized Rolls-Royce dealer in the city and adds the first ultra-luxury brand to the OpenRoad portfolio offering of import automotive brands.
“We really look forward to welcoming them to our team of now more than 700 associates. Having a presence in
downtown Vancouver and Kitsilano has been a dream of mine for many years. By adding three iconic brands and some of the best automotive professionals in the industry, it makes for a very bright future at OpenRoad,” said Christian Chia, President and CEO of the OpenRoad Auto Group.
“The BMW Store is the pre-eminent BMW retailer in the country — it was of the one of the first and has been a landmark in the community. Rolls-Royce is a proud company that celebrated 110 years of history this year. We are proud and excited to be the only retailer in Western Canada.”
The announcement comes as welcomed news at The BMW Store, MINI Yaletown and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Vancouver. Dimitri Kotsalis, General Manager of the three dealerships, said, “The 130 employees that have proudly represented these three distinguished brands have greeted the acquisition with open arms. I look forward to the world of possibilities that lay ahead of us as part of this celebrated automotive group.”
The three dealerships were previously owned by the American company Fields Automotive Group, and officially become part of the Canada-based OpenRoad Auto Group on Oct. 2, 2014.
About OpenRoad Auto Group
In 2000, OpenRoad Auto Group formed to offer car buyers and owners an experiential automotive retail service. With sales and service in multiple languages, OpenRoad Auto Group encourages a car buying experience based on openness, participation and expertise. One of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies, CADA Laureate and multiple Canadian Best Employer Award recipient, the OpenRoad team of over 700 associates represents 12 import brands at 15 dealership locations across B.C., Canada. Visit www.openroadautogroup.com.
For more information, please contact:
OpenRoad Auto Group Ltd.
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.
Adaptive Headlights: Making night time driving safer
As we inch closer to September 22nd, the first official day of fall, there is no denying that the sun is setting earlier. Winter is coming.
Modern diesel power: common myths debunked
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OpenRoad at Luxury & Supercar Weekend
The Luxury & Supercar Weekend took place at the VanDusen Botanical Garden on Saturday and Sunday, and OpenRoad joined the fun by showcasing luxury and classic sports cars while giving guests the opportunity to experience the brand.