The 2014 Vancouver International Auto Show kicks off at the Vancouver Convention Centre West on March 25, 2014. It comes with car unveilings, exotics, collectables, live auction, Mustang Club, Porsche Club, and much more. See all the Features & Promotions.

Dates & Hours

Tues, March 25 – Sun, March 30
Tuesday – Friday: Noon – 10:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am – 4:00pm

Tickets

General Admission	$15.00
Seniors (65+)/Students	$10.00
Children 7-12	$4.00
Children 6 and under	Free
Family Pass (2 adults & 2 children 12 & under)	$30.00
Multi-Day Pass (good for any 2 days)	$25.00
*Rates subject to change *Please note: the on-site box office closes 1-hour before the show closes

 

Buy Online or at the On-Site Box Office.

Daylight Saving Time has passed and your car’s clock is still one hour behind. You are terrified of being late for appointments because you’re unsure whether your wrist watch is correct or your car’s clock. We have a guide for various clock systems in vehicles, on how to change your car’s clock for Daylight Saving Time.
 

Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time was first proposed by George Vernon Hudson in 1915. Implemented by various countries since 1916, the idea really caught on during the energy crisis of the 1970s.

Advocates of Daylight Saving Time state that because the evenings have more daylight and the mornings less, there are benefits to retailing, sports, and other activities that exploit sunlight after working hours.

Opponents claim that because society on a whole doesn’t get enough sleep these days, losing an extra hour during Daylight Saving Time can be dangerous not only on the roads, but also when it comes to making important work or life decisions.
 

Changing Your Car’s Clock for Daylight Saving Time

Whichever side of the fence you sit on, the reality is that it’s here to stay for now and as a result, we have to go through the potentially arduous task of changing the clocks in our cars at least twice a year.

These days many clocks are embedded into and controlled via the satellite navigation headunits. As a result, changing the time may be more complicated than you think depending on which vehicle you drive.
 

1. Traditional Digital Clock Readout

If there are a couple of small markings or buttons next to the clock readout, namely “H” and “M” these indicate Hour and Minute adjustments respectively. 

Pressing the “H” button is all you will need to advance the clock ahead by 1 hour to the correct time for Daylight Savings purposes. The “M” advances the minutes, and the “R” resets the clock to the closest hour. Most Hondas have the “R” button, but not all manufacturers share this same arrangement. Many Hondas also use the “FM” button as the clock reset/setup button.



All Mazda vehicles are also set up this way, regardless of whether they’re equipped with the navigation option. This makes it extremely easy to change the main vehicle clock within seconds. (The picture below is from the 2014 Mazda6).
 

2. GPS Satellite Navigation Smart Clock

If you have a car with a virtual clock in the satellite navigation system, or in a smaller multi-function screen, your car may be smart enough to know what the Daylight Saving Time calendar is. Therefore you may not have to switch the clock at all if this auto setting is activated. Your car will do it for you automagically! 

Moreover, many higher end luxury cars with factory GPS systems use the GPS satellites’ time to synchronize the car’s clock, thereby eliminating the need to adjust the clock. Ever!

Simply ensure that your car’s clock or GPS synchronization settings are set correctly from within the settings menu.

If you do need to manually reset the clock for whatever reason, there is likely a manual override in the System Settings menus and the clock submenu.

If you have a decorative analog clock in the dash with no obvious way of changing the time near the clock face, it is likely that the analog clock is integrated into the satellite navigation headunit. Therefore, follow the same instructions as above to change the analog clock’s hour hand as appropriate.
 

3. Non-GPS Navigation Headunit With Integrated Clock Function

If you have a slightly more sophisticated headunit but without navigation, such as on this 2014 Hyundai Tuscon, there is likely still a settings menu that you can easily access via a dedicated button.

In the case of the Tuscon, one uses the “Tune” button to scroll through and select the clock option to make the appropriate adjustments to the time. Simple, right?

All of the scenarios above will likely cover 4 out of 5 of the vehicles out there on the roads. However when in doubt, always consult your owner’s manual or give your service department a call to change your car’s clock for Daylight Saving Time.

In the meantime, enjoy the extra hour of sunshine after work!

Heated steering wheels are amongst the salvo of amenities that auto manufacturers have recently offered to help Canadians combat our country’s large temperature variances.

Over 10 years ago, BMW offered customers the next echelon of luxury comfort amenities when they debuted their then-new 2003 BMW 7-series flagship luxury car. A heated steering wheel was one of the many available luxury options available.

Similarly, Audi also offered a heated steering wheel option (linked to their heated seats) in their 2001 Audi A6.

These days, you don’t have to purchase a $120,000 luxury vehicle to enjoy the latest in comfort and convenience features. What were once high-end novelties like air conditioning, power locks and windows, heated steering wheels have become optional or even standard equipment virtually industry wide in most vehicle classes these days.

Have you ever sat in a vehicle with heated seats? The principles on how a heated steering wheel works are the same.

Essentially, a heating element in the steering wheel heats the rim of the wheel so that the whole touch surface is toasty warm once you lay your hand on it. There’s no need to wear bulky gloves to try to keep your fingers and hands warm and the system is activated simply with a flick of a dash or steering wheel mounted switch.

Some cars with factory-installed remote starter systems also tie in the heated seats and heated steering wheel functions so that they are both preheated before you even get into the car. Perfect for a cold Canadian morning if your car is parked outside overnight or all day outside at work.

A few examples of non-luxury brand vehicles that offer heated steering wheels include:

Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Hyundai Santa Fe XL
Nissan Altima
Nissan Maxima
Toyota Highlander
VW Touareg

Toyota has a great (and adorable) video discussing the feature on their all-new 2014 Highlander:

So if you park your vehicle outside frequently and are shopping for a new ride, be sure to check out this feature on your next test drive!

In the car community, there are two basic schools of thought. The one likes his car tuned and customized, while the other prefers to keep things stock and original. While this phenomenon takes place amongst all brands of cars, it seems that Porsche stands atop them all in terms of a divided customer base. Today we’re taking an ambitious dive in to the two approaches in an attempt to resolve this great debate once and for all. Ambitious? Sure. Worth a shot? Absolutely. Let’s get started…
 

Tuned & Customized

While there are plenty of companies more than willing to reupholster your Porsche’s interior, add a set of forged wheels, bolt in a new exhaust system and call it a day, I will only consider companies that offer Porsche complete performance, body, and interior overhauls. Here are two of the most prominent ones:

RUF – RUF’s 991 RT-35, created to be a 650 horsepower turbocharged celebration of RUF’s 35 years of overhauling and tuning Porsches, pictured alongside the legendary 1977 Turbo 3.3. Another special creation was RUF’s Yellowbird, which was essentially a highly tuned 1987 Carrera 3.2 known to be quite the handful even in experienced hands.
 

Techart – A similar comprehensive tuning house that goes beyond aesthetic upgrades. Pictured is the Techart program for the 991 Turbo, which brings the horspower figure from 560 to 620 bhp, lowers the 0-100 km/h acceleration to 2.7 seconds and bumps the top speed to an eye watering 321 km/h. 

Of course we can’t include them all. Not listed are Switzerland’s Sportec, Russia’s TopCar, and Germany’s Mansory, Edo Competition and Manthey Racing. 2013 unfortunately also saw two prominent Porsche tuners go bankrupt. 9ff, creater of monster 911s, and America’s SpeedArt will surely be missed in the enthusiast community.
 

Factory Original

Now that we have gotten familiar with companies willing to take your money in exchange for making your Porsche unique, let’s take a look at some reasons why one would want to keep a Porsche in factory original condition.

For starters, taking your car to a tuner will, in most cases, void your warranty. And given the high performance, high strung nature of these cars, a lack of warranty will surely trigger Murphy’s law, nevertheless the renown reliability of Porsche’s engines. 

The second reason that’ll make you think twice about tuning your Porsche is a little niggle called resale value. You see, not only will tuning your Porsche cost you anywhere from 10 to 200% of MSRP, more often than not, you’ll not only fail to recuperate your investment, you’ll also watch your car depreciate more quickly. This makes begins to make sense when you realize that customizations are usually highly personal, and that they may not be performed to the liking of the next interested buyer. The fact that visual aftermarket components often indicate to potential buyers that the car has been enjoyed in a rather spirited fashion also does not help the owner’s case.
 

 

Conclusion

So should we conclude that aftermarket enhancements should be avoided like the plague? Not so fast. Perhaps the resale value and warranty penalties incured are justified by the performance upgrades. If Porsche race cars, backed by the manufacturer, are highly modified versions of stock 911s, why shouldn’t owners be able to modify theirs to suit specific conditions and requirements. For example, what if one owner specifically uses his Porsche 991 Turbo for summer track day weekends and finds his road suspension setup to be slightly too soft for the track? Or perhaps a Porsche Cayman owner prefers a softer setup and a power boost for his long blasts from A to B on the German Autobahn? Does it now make sense to begin modifying your car? When applying logic from motorsports to everyday life, all of a sudden modifications begin to make a lot of sense.
 

While there are pros and cons to modifying your car, i.e. a loss in value could be offset by a gain in personalized setup,  could there be a perfect middle ground? Perhaps. And it’s called Tequipment – a unique customization program by offered directly by Porsche. It offers owners access to approved accessories to enhance the performance, look, and usability by means of Powerkits, Aerokits, Roofracks, and practically anything in between. Not only does the manufacturer warranty stay valid, but Porsches fitted with lots of Tequipment goodies actually fetch higher prices than similar models of equal vintage and with equal mileage. The fact that the individual parts have undergone strenuous testing, perhaps for longer periods of time and in more extreme conditions than independant tuner add-ons, just adds to the appeal of Porsche’s Tequipment parts. Wunderbar!

If I were to have it my way, I’d choose a 7-speed manual 991 Carrera S in Aqua Blue with the Aerokit, and the Alcantara Sports Design steering wheel. For that specific request I have the procrastinator’s tool of choice to thank called the Porsche Configurator. At the end of the day we’ll all have a different opinion in mind, not unlike we’d all dream up a slightly different Porsche.

If you are interested in purchasing a Porsche, stay tuned for Porsche Centre Langley (opening Fall 2014).

Auto engineers have developed many different technologies in the last decade to reduce your car’s fuel consumption.

With the plethora of advances made in the last few years or so, there is now a befuddling amount of technology that you can find in even some inexpensive compact cars.

In this article, we’ll be taking a brief look at the major systems offered today.

Hybrid technology

Micro hybrid – Up to 5% savings in fuel consumption

Better known as a start-stop system, a micro hybrid system can provide for a 5% efficiency bump. This system automatically stops the internal combustion engine to reduce idling time at red lights, thereby reducing fuel consumption.

In most vehicles equipped with a start-stop system, an enhanced starter and deep cycle battery is fitted so as to be able to withstand the increased numbers of engine starts. Other setups include an enhanced combined starter-alternator design.

Advantages include low cost, low complexity, and no interior cabin sacrifices in space.

Examples: Found on all hybrid vehicles as well as all current model BMWs, Porsches, Jaguars, Land Rovers, most Audis, Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and some GM vehicles.

Mild hybrid – up to 15% savings in fuel consumption

A mild hybrid vehicle that cannot drive on the electric motor alone (i.e. there is no pure electric vehicle mode). It uses a smaller electric motor and battery combination and therefore always needs the internal combustion engine working in tandem. The electric motor is there to assist the gasoline engine in propelling the vehicle.

The advantages are lower cost and smaller packaging than a full hybrid system.

Examples: Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) in the CR-Z and Insight, General Motor’s eAssist system (e.g. on the Buick Regal)

Full hybrid – Up to 30% improvement in fuel economy

A hybrid vehicle with the ability to propel the vehicle solely on the electric motor alone without the assistance of the internal combustion engine.  However due to limited battery capacity a full hybrid is generally only able to do so under certain low load conditions such as light acceleration, light cruising, or in stop and go traffics at low speed.

The internal combustion engine will be summoned to step in to provide full acceleration as soon as those conditions are exceeded.

Advantages include significantly reduced fuel consumption, particularly in the city as the electric motor will do most of the work in stop-and-go traffic at low speeds.

Examples: Various Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles, Honda Accord Hybrid, BMW hybrid vehicles, Ford hybrid vehicles, some General Motors hybrids, Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

Full plug-in hybrid – Up to 90% improvement in fuel economy (provided EV mode is mostly used)

Essentially a full hybrid vehicle with the ability to plug into a wall outlet or specialized high voltage quick charger to top up the on-board battery.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles tend to have bigger battery packs and higher output motors than their non plug-in versions. They are usually able to run the vehicle in Electric-only mode for much longer durations and even up to highway speeds.

These vehicles are designed to handle commuter-type range (20-100 kms) and conceivably can be driven in pure EV mode for extended periods without the internal combustion engine ever firing up at all as long as the battery pack isn’t drained and certain other conditions are met.

Examples: Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid, Ford C-MAX and Fusion Plug-in hybrids, Chevrolet Volt

Two Mode Hybrid

Essentially a full hybrid vehicle that can operate in two modes. Firstly like a regular full hybrid, and secondly as a variable system where the internal combustion engine and electric motors work in tandem and vary their power outputs depending on specific driving conditions.

Two mode hybrids were developed out of an engineering partnership among GM, Chrysler, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

Alternative technologies

Mazda’s i-ELOOP – Up to 10% improvement in fuel economy

Derived from “Intelligent Energy Loop”, i-ELOOP is Mazda’s in-house developed capacitor-based regenerative braking system. It aims to improve fuel economy in totally unobtrusive and less expensive ways.

The system converts kinetic energy and stores it in a capacitor to power all of the electrical systems in the vehicle. This system is less complex (and therefore smaller, lighter and less expensive) than a traditional hybrid and avoids the need for a  dedicated electric motor and battery.

Mazda also claims that the capacitors also have the ability to charge and discharge rapidly and are resistant to deterioration despite prolonged use.

i-ELOOP is expected to improve overall fuel economy by up to 10%, but like the hybrid systems is dependent on road conditions and driving habits.

This system is currently fitted to the 2014 Mazda6 and 2014 Mazda3.

Porsche Brake Energy Recouperation System

Porsche’s Brake Energy regeneration system incorporates a smart alternator that switches off when the car is accelerating or cruising to reduce the parasitic load on the engine.

The alternator only charges the battery when the car is decelerating, thus using its kinetic energy to provide power for the car’s on-board electrical system.

Visit an OpenRoad location near you to learn more.

One of the biggest choices to be made when buying a sport-utility vehicle used to be the type of all wheel drive or four wheel drive system you need. Nowadays a wide variety of cars, not just SUVs, are also available with all wheel drive or four wheel drive for all weather traction.

But with an even wider variety of systems available with some manufacturers offering two or even more choices on a single vehicle line, the choices can be confusing.

In this article, we’ll cover the basics of what’s out there, and some of the more well known/well advertised systems available!

4WD vs AWD – What’s the difference?

4WD vs AWD: Generally speaking, Four Wheel Drive systems (4WD) have extra low gearing in a separate gearbox for more torque when off-roading. All Wheel Drive (AWD) systems do not have this separate low range gearbox. The benefit of the latter is that it saves on system complexity and weight with fewer components to wear out and better fuel economy. If you don’t plan on doing any serious off-roading or towing, stick with a vehicle with all-wheel-drive.

The Terminology behind it

Part-time 4WD: The most basic system out there. It gives the driver the choice of he/she wants to engage two wheel or four wheel drive modes. However, most part-time 4WD systems cannot be engaged unless it is very slippery because the system locks both the front and rear axles together. Using these systems on dry roads, especially around corners, will cause binding and potential damage to the system.

Full-time 4WD: Offers a driver selectable two-wheel-drive mode for dry-road or summertime driving, an “auto 4WD” or full-time 4WD mode for changing conditions or inclemental weather conditions, and a 4WD Low or Lock mode for low range gearing and off-roading.

Permanent 4WD: These permanent systems send power to all wheels at all time, typically with a fixed power split ratio between front and rear wheels. Many permanent systems can be dynamic in nature, computer controlled with the ability to transfer power back and forth between front and rear axles depending on slippage or upon acceleration and cornering. Being a “4WD” means that there is low range gearing for off-roading or tougher conditions.

Part-time AWD: These systems are typically 100% front-wheel drive based, transferring power to the rear wheels only after slippage to the front wheels occurs. They require no driver intervention but are less sophisticated than permanent or full-time AWD systems.

Full-time AWD: Either a front wheel drive or rear wheel drive biased system until slippage occurs. Better systems will send a small amount power to front or rear axles (depending on which the main set of drive wheels are) upon acceleration, not just after slippage happens, to prevent loss of traction before it occurs. These systems tend to be more intelligent as they can also vary the torque between front and rear axles, and possibly side-to-side depending on the manufacturer. No low range gearing.

Permanent AWD: These systems are fully automatic with no driver activation or intervention necessary. Power sent to front and rear wheels is typically set at a fixed ratio (typically 50/50 or 40/60) so all wheels are powered at all times for neutral handling and all time traction before slippage occurs. Being AWD, there is no low range gearing for off-roading.

What different manufacturers offer

With a huge variety of manufacturers offering AWD or 4WD these days, we’ll cover some of the more well-known systems advertised out there.

Quattro: Perhaps the best branded permanent or full time all-wheel-drive system for consumer vehicles. When people think of all-wheel-drive for passenger vehicles, Audi’s Quattro probably springs to mind. And as it should too, as Audi, partly as a way to win multiple World Rally Championships in the 1980’s, is largely responsible for popularizing all wheel traction in cars that we can all enjoy these days.

These days there are several different types of Quattro systems varying on which vehicle you choose in Audi’s model range.

Learn more at OpenRoad Audi.

4MATIC: A generic name for Mercedes-Benz’s 4WD or AWD vehicles with four powered wheels. It can refer to either a full-time AWD system, a permanent AWD system, or a Mercedes-Benz’s permanent 4WD system, depending on the model.

xDrive: BMW’s permanent all-wheel-drive system that is typically rear wheel drive biased. This allows for the typical rear wheel drive sporty BMW feel that customers and owners expect. This system is dynamic in nature and has the ability to transfer power fore and aft, side-to-side, and before slippage occurs.

xDrive is available on over 20 different BMW models: from the BMW 3 Series Sedan, 4-series Coupé, to the BMW 5 and 7 Series Sedans, as well as their X3, X5 and X6 Sports Activity Vehicles including the BMW X5M and BMW X6M.

Learn more at BMW Langley.

Instinctive AWD: Jaguar’s permanent all-wheel-drive system, also rear wheel biased and with the ability to start from the rear wheel drive biased ratio and transfer power fore and aft depending on conditions. On the move, the intelligent system continuously monitors driving and road conditions to help maximize traction and handling balance.

The front-to-rear torque split can vary from most of the torque on the rear wheels to as much as 50% on the front wheels. What’s more, this system can even take action pre-emptively to ensure the best possible grip in a variety of road and weather conditions.

Intelligent AWD: Infiniti’s full-time all-wheel drive system that sends 100% of the power to the rear wheels most of the time, but up to 50% to the front wheels if needed, enhancing control and traction when conditions are not optimal.

Learn more at OpenRoad Infiniti.

Real Time 4WD: Honda’s part-time AWD system that is a bit of a misnomer as it does not have a low range gearbox. This system only engages only when slippage occurs. The hydraulically actuated system is 100% front wheel drive until the wheels slip in which case the rear wheels receive power.

Overall system operation is completely automatic; no electronics or driver action is involved. The greater the degree of front-wheel slippage, the greater the amount of torque fed to the rear wheels.

Learn more at OpenRoad Honda.

Symmetrical all wheel drive: Aside from Audi, the other vehicle brand that is synonymous with all-wheel-drive is Subaru. Subarus all use a permanent AWD system.

With over three decades of all-wheel-drive experience, including multiple wins in the World Rally Championships, Subaru has a lot of experience in this field. Their dynamic system actively distributes engine torque to individual wheels in everyday driving, as well as in extreme conditions. With a combination of equal length driveshafts and the boxer engine layout, Subaru’s claim to fame is that their system is better balanced and is more efficient than others on the market.

Active-Torque-Split AWD: Mazda’s full-time all-wheel-drive system that adjusts traction needs by monitoring wheel slippage, steering angle, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, and available driveline torque. In normal driving, 100-percent of the driving torque is delivered to the front wheels.

During aggressive acceleration or when one front wheel is on the verge of slip, a controlled percentage of the available torque (up to 50%) can be directed to the rear axle.

Learn more at OpenRoad Mazda.

Porsche Traction Management (PTM): PTM is either a permanent four-wheel-drive or permanent all-wheel-drive system. This permanent (active) all-wheel drive features an electronically-regulated, computer controlled multi-plate clutch. The system’s variable torque distribution improves driving dynamics, agility and rapid traction management. It ensures optimum force delivery in every driving situation and excellent acceleration power whether on long straights, through tight corners, or on road surfaces with varying grip.

Learn more at Porsche Centre Langley.

The statistics are pretty grim — on average 300 people a year die after being hit by cars backing up and 16,000 are injured, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). About one-third of those fatalities involved children aged 5 or younger and another third involved people 70 or older.

In many cases, the drivers are unaware of the person’s presence due to blind spots behind the vehicle which traditional rear-view mirrors do not adequately account for. Pets and children are particularly susceptible as their smaller statures make it difficult for drivers to see, especially at night.

While there aren’t any similar statistics in Canada, it is safe to say that countless accidents can also have been avoided by a combination of proper driver attention and driver aid technology.

Fortunately, simple and relatively inexpensive rearview camera technology can now make backing up safer by significantly improving drivers’ visibility.

A February 2008 bill signed into law by President George W. Bush gave the NHTSA a deadline of 2011 to create a rule to require rearview cameras for all cars. Although NHTSA has now said that they require till 2015 for further investigation, many manufacturers are already equipping their vehicles with rearview cameras as optional, if not standard equipment.

Since Transport Canada tends to mirror the rules from its US counterpart, happily, many of our Canadian specification vehicles are likely to follow suit as well when this law comes into effect.

In the dark and rainy months frequently experienced by Lower Mainlanders, the rearview camera can also help to avoid costly repair bills to the rear body panels.

With typical bumper repair jobs ranging from $500-1000 after repainting or at the very least the standard ICBC deductible ranging from $300-500, the rearview camera can potentially pay for itself and then some if it helps you to avoid just one unfortunate accident!

A few of examples of vehicles that already include rearview cameras as standard equipment include the 2014 Honda CR-V, Odyssey, Pilot, and the 2014 Toyota Highlander.

But even inexpensive compact cars such as the 2014 Mazda3 are equipped with rearview cameras as standard equipment in certain trim levels.

In many of these vehicles, you don’t have to even have to have the optional navigation system to enjoy the safety benefits and convenience of the rearview camera.

The Honda CR-V, for example, displays the live feed from its multi-view camera on its i-MID (Multi-Informational Display) screen. If the vehicle is equipped with the navigation system, the video image will be even larger due to the significantly larger screen size.

As always, the rearview camera is only intended to be a supplemental aid to the rearview and side mirrors and is no substitute for proper driver attention to the surroundings.

Nonetheless, they are an important new safety addition to cover the blind spots directly behind the vehicle and below the window line, especially for SUVs that all have higher driver seating positions and more visibility issues.

With any luck, these rearview camera systems will soon be as ubiquitous as ABS and airbags in all cars in the not too distant future! In the meantime, be sure to test out the increased visibility the next time you go for a test drive.