The G70 is the smallest and sportiest offering by Genesis yet. 

Following the releases of the G90 flagship and mid-size G80, Genesis is completing the trifecta with the launch of the G70 compact luxury sedan two weeks ago in South Korea. With expressive lines, big brakes, limited slip differential and a choice of two forced induction engines, this model is intended to be the sportiest — looking at least, as we can’t forget about the G80 Sport — of the trio.  

“At Genesis, we shape fascination and desire with the passion, dedication, and talent from our designers. We modulated all parameters from the Genesis DNA to tailor a sport sedan. This challenge required the highest skills and know-how. The G70 is designed to captivate all senses with its sensuous and tensioned muscular volumes,” said head of design Luc Donckerwolke.

Aesthetically, the car has a low and long hood, sloping roof and short overhangs emphasizing its performance-oriented purpose. The second to bear a mesh front grille after the G80 sport, on either side are combination LED headlamps and quad stacked daytime running lights. Behind the front wheels are airflow vents, and out back are a raised trunk lid, G80-inspired LED taillights and dual exhaust pipes.

Premium simplicity is how one might describe the interior. Designers have used a lot of aluminum and metal in the dash, centre console and door panels that give off an air of sophistication, as do the quilted Nappa leather seating surfaces and door cards. A few physical controls and a freestanding display make up the majority of the centre stack.

The two powerplants mentioned earlier are a turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder and a twin-turbo 3.3-litre V6, the former making 249 horsepower/260-lb-ft of torque and the latter 365 horsepower/376 lb-ft. Some less-than-expected features for the segment include launch control, a cornering system capable of applying light brake force to the inside rear wheel and a mechanical limited slip differential to help with acceleration out of turns.

 The 2018 Genesis G70 arrives in Canada this spring.

BCAA and ICBC want to remind drivers of the rules when approaching flashing lights on the road.

Pop quiz: do you know what to do when you spot a vehicle stopped on the road with flashing red, blue or yellow lights? If you answered, “Slow down and move over,” then you are correct. In B.C., that’s actually the law, one that was put in place to protect people like tow truck drivers, maintenance and utility crews and emergency responders while they do their jobs.

The proper procedure after spotting such a scenario while driving is to first slow your speed down to 70 km/h in an 80 km/h or above zone, or if below 80, reducing to 40 km/h. Afterwards, if it is safe to do so, move into the open lane going the same direction and drive past. Not doing so can result in a fine of $173 as well as three demerit points.

In the summer, BCAA commissioned a survey on the subject showing nearly half of respondents have witnessed motorists speeding by a roadside scene. More than 80 per cent of those surveyed did not know exactly how fast they should be going in such a scenario. Most also believe being in a rush and/or distracted driving contributed to the problem.

There are tools available to help plan out a route so you don’t get surprised by roadwork or an accident. Online resources like Google Maps work great to look at what’s going on in the streets before you leave the house, or many vehicles on the market today actually factor in live traffic information.

Jaguar models, for example, equipped with the available InControl TouchPro Connected Navigation infotainment system monitors traffic flow in real time, revealing an accurate travel time to a destination. Similarly, virtually all BMWs now have the option of adding ConnectedDrive, which knows where the delays are happening. Its Advanced Real Time Traffic Information technology gathers intel from the cellular network, GPS data from vehicle fleets, smartphone apps and even police reports and is accurate to within 100 metres. Detours are recommended as necessary.

To learn more about the Slow Down, Move Over law, visit the official website.

The year 2040 comes early for Jaguar following their announcement of the FUTURE-TYPE concept car, which the English automaker imagines could be a reality by the future date. Supporting both autonomous and manual driving modes, the real story here is that its users may actually only own the steering wheel, sharing the rest of the vehicle with the community.

Called Sayer, named after the FUTURE-TYPE’s designer, the removable wheel is intelligent, voice-activated and acts as a control centre for the car, as well a sophisticated virtual assistant. Like a more advanced version of Apple’s Siri, Sayer can make reservations for you at a restaurant, tell you if you’re running low on milk, and of course, summon your car.

Unlike traditional vehicle shopping, prospective FUTURE-TYPE customers would join a fee-based club. Members can either opt for sole ownership, or choose to let others use the car during periods of inactivity.

“FUTURE-TYPE offers an insight into the potential for driving and car ownership in the future. It’s partof our vision for how a luxury car brand could continue to be desirable, in a more digital and autonomous age,” said Ian Callum, Jaguar director of design.

“Our FUTURE-TYPE Concept is an advanced research project looking at how we can ensure an on-demand Jaguar will appeal to customers in 2040 and beyond. Whether it’s commuting to work, autonomously collecting children from school or enjoying driving yourself on the weekend in the countryside, if there’s a choice of on-demand cars driving around city streets, we need to ensure  customers desire our 24/7 service over our competitors.”

Sayer also helps to take the guesswork out of travel planning. State where you need to be at a certain hour, and it works out what time you should be ready, when to deliver the vehicle and even suggests a part of the journey that might be enjoyable for automatic steering to be switched off.

Featuring 2+1 semi-tandem seating, occupants can more easily share a conversation or get some work done on the way to their destination. The FUTURE-TYPE will have the ability to communicate with other smart automobiles on the road allowing shorter distances between bumpers and more efficient lane changing, in turn reducing traffic congestion and preventing accidents. 

Is it really back-to-school time already? As teens get ready to climb back into their cars to head to class, or perhaps shop for a new set of wheels, here are five tips for both young drivers and parents to think about before hitting the road.

1) Put down the phone

Distracted driving continues to be a major issue everywhere despite legislation being put in place to discourage the risky behaviour. Did you know those who text and drive are 23 times more likely to involved in a collision or near collision? Fortunately, most vehicles now, even entry level examples like the 2017 Toyota Corolla, come with Bluetooth connectivity. After pairing the system with a smartphone, calls and even texts can be handled hands free.

2) Use the seatbelt

Simple concept, but some people still choose not to buckle up for whatever reason. It is shown that many crashes where teenagers were behind the wheel became fatal due to their not wearing seatbelts.

3) Don’t drive while drowsy

Operating an automobile when sleepy can have the same effects as doing so under the influence of alcohol. Find a safe place to pull over and shut your eyes for a few moments if required to get refreshed. Although certain cars nowadays feature assistance technologies such as the Lane Keeping Assist System in the Honda Accord, which will automatically correct steering should the sedan drift out of a lane without signalling, it is not designed to replace careful driving.

4) Prepare for emergencies

Whether the route from home to school is a short or long one, always bring along emergency supplies in the trunk just in case. Nothing fancy is required — a pre-packaged bundle from any store is fine as long as the essentials such as a first aid kit, flashlight, jumper cables, etc. are included.

5) Choose the right vehicle

As a parent, it can be tempting to pass an old clunker down to the kids as a first car. By no means is purchasing the latest luxury model necessary, however picking something contemporary will mean the product will possess the latest safety equipment from air bags to traction control. Have a look through OpenRoad’s extensive new and used inventory.