Detroit Auto Show 2015: top vehicle debuts
Toyota, Hyundai and Porsche were among the many brands that debuted new vehicles at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Top six luxury cars to ring in the New Year
Here is a list of six impressive luxury cars to usher in 2015 with.
2015 AJAC Canadian Car of the Year recap
Last week, seventy-three journalists wheeled in to Niagara Falls, ON for the 27th annual AJAC Canadian Car of the Year awards.
Spring into a convertible with the Roadster, MX-5 or R8 Spyder
The fine line between the end of winter and the start of spring is often blurred. It still rains more often than not, and you just can’t get yourself to pack away the jackets quite yet. And with summer approaching quickly, you start to notice the faint smell of barbecue wafting in your window, and then the first firm sign appears — convertibles of all shapes and colours begin flooding the streets.
For the 2014 model year, there is no shortage of new drop tops offered by manufacturers ranging from mild to wild. Here are a few favourite picks to hit the open road with this start of the warm season.
MINI Cooper Roadster
With great handling due to its short wheelbase, cute looks and the choice of three powerplants, there’s a lot to like about the MINI Cooper Roadster. Starting at MSRP $28,900, it’s available in standard trim with 121 horsepower, the more powerful Cooper S with 181 hp, and my personal favourite, the John Cooper Works edition with 208 hp and 192 pound-feet of torque. All models still get great gas mileage as well with the latter rated at 7.7 L/100 km in the city and 5.6 L/100 km on the highway.
Audi R8 Convertible
On the other end of the spectrum, the Audi R8 Spyder Convertible is made to impress. For an MSRP of $148,000, you get a 4.2-litre eight-cylinder engine producing 430 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, 19-inch wheels and a six-speed manual transmission. Or, step up to the $182,000 V10 model for a horsepower and torque bump up to 525 and 430 lb-ft, respectively. New for 2014 is an optional S tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox that will launch the V10 from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3.5 seconds.
Mazda MX-5
Time is winding down for consumers to pick up the third generation of arguably the most popular roadster in history: the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Introduced in 1989, the first iteration alone sold over 400,000 units. The modern version retains much of that classic two-seater sports car feel with a rear-wheel drive layout, a high-revving 167-hp engine and an available six-speed transmission. Enthusiasts should be on the lookout for a new Miata based on a completely redesigned chassis coming soon.
Besides these examples, there are plenty of other open-air options available. Visit openroadautogroup.com/new-cars for a complete list.
Heads-Up Displays: Fighter jet technology in today's cars
Head-up displays (HUDs), which project vehicle speed and other information in the driver’s field of view, have been available since about 1990s on a small handful of luxury cars.
But with most of them based on basic LED technology of the time, information that could be displayed was limited at best. Cost, packaging, and reliability were also issues.
As automakers try to find new ways to reduce driving distractions in recent years, new LCD technology and cost reductions have allowed heads-up display systems to become more widespread like never before.
How it works
Fighter jets have used HUDs for years to keep vital information in front of pilots during combat situations. After all, keeping their eyes trained on the action in the heat of battle rather than on the cockpit instruments can mean the difference between life and death.
While a head-up display can take almost any form, the most common type in a car reflects its image directly off the windshield just below the driver’s line of sight. This is achieved by a special display integrated on the top of the dashboard and a specially coated windshield.
Just as in a jet fighter, the idea is that a head-up display helps the driver concentrate on what is happening on the road by displaying relevant information right in the driver’s line of vision.
What you get as you peer out past the steering wheel is a floating display with your speed and navigation directions. On some cars, the current audio playlist, collision warning and lane departure markings may also be displayed.
In fact, thanks to the move from LED icon-based displays to configurable LCD monitors, automakers can display just about anything.
Today, head-up displays are widely available in many models from luxury marques including Audi, BMW, Lexus, and also the Hyundai Equus. In this category, buyers demand technology and are willing to pay extra for it.
However in the last year or so, heads-up displays have also made it to lower-priced vehicles thanks to a few clever innovations by engineers.
BMW 3-series, 4-series, 5-series, 6-series, 7-series, X5, X6
BMW offers an advanced full-colour HUD system on many of their models. You can see your current speed, but the 3×6-inch colour display also shows vehicle warnings (such as lane departure and collision alert), the current setting for the adaptive cruise control, and turn-by-turn GPS navigation indicators. You can also bring up your current playlist, or see who is calling on your Bluetooth connected phone.
BMWs HUD will adjust automatically to current weather conditions due to an ambient light sensor. Via the vehicle’s iDrive interface, owners can further tweak the brightness level, position and rotation of the display, or even what information they want (or don’t want) to see.
Audi A6, A7, A8
Audi’s full-colour heads-up display recreates the display philosophy of their Multi-Media Interface.
The 3.41×10.31 inch display is based on the latest TFT LCD screen technology and backlit by 15 energy efficient white LEDs. Like BMW’s system, a sensor constantly measures ambient brightness in front of the vehicle and the system adjusts the light intensity so that the display can be read perfectly at all times day or night.
Drivers can select what information they wish to have shown via the MMI, including the speed, navigation symbols, and lists of infotainment systems and displays for the driver assistance systems.
Mazda3
HUDs are finding their way into more vehicles, including lower-priced ones such as the all-new 2014 Mazda3.
Mazda’s optional system, dubbed their “Active Driving Display” is the first Mazda product with such a system and is more compact than other HUDs out in the marketplace. Traditional HUDs wouldn’t fit in the Mazda3 due how much space they require.
The Active Driving Display doesn’t project onto the windshield but instead onto a pop-up semitransparent lens on the top of the dash in the driver’s field of vision. Despite being fitted to a lower-priced vehicle, the Mazda3’s system also projects speed, cruise control settings, driver assistance system warnings, and navigation info. However it is not a full-colour display unlike those from the German auto manufacturers.
One extra benefit to this setup is reduced repair costs if the windshield gets damaged. Why? Because traditional Heads-up display systems require a special reflective windshield coating for the information projected on them to be visible. If a stray rock damages the windshield in the Mazda, it won’t be as costly to fix as the car uses a normal windshield.
MINI Cooper
The all-new 2014 Mini Cooper Hardtop, boasts even more tech than its predecessor, including a heads-up display system.
Like Mazda’s system, the full-colour HUD is not projected onto the windshield surface but instead appears on a semitransparent lens atop the dashboard in the driver’s field of vision.
Turn-by-turn navigation graphics, current speed and speed limit information, safety system warnings can be displayed and seen quickly and conveniently without the driver having to take eyes off the road.
2014 MINI Cooper launch event at MINI Langley
MINI customers and fans were invited to the official launch of the 2014 MINI Cooper and Cooper S at MINI Langley on Thursday April 10th.
Amongst the gastronomic delights and flavoured teas by Railtown Catering, attendees also had the chance to participate in a game to win a weekend drive in a MINI, including a four star luxury hotel stay at Whistler.
Now in its 3rd generation, the MINI Cooper and Cooper S are slightly larger with more creature comforts and more features to accompany the extra inches here and there.
MINI fans at the MINI Langley Open House launch event had the opportunity to sit in this latest model with its extra 1.1 inch in wheelbase, 1.7 inch in width, and 4.5 inch longer length.
Despite these gains, the MINI has not gotten grotesquely larger. Thanks to clever packaging, this all-new model also drives with more presence and security on the road, despite a smallish package that is shorter than the current Honda Fit.
The upgraded materials of the new interior, including more soft touch materials all around, were noticed and appreciated by guests.
The new car is more grown up and substantial without losing its fun-to-drive and funky cabin, as evidenced by a new jukebox-like strip of LEDs around the centre dash that glows various shades of red, green, and yellow depending on the car’s driving mode or what button you’re pushing.
To experience this new car, and possibly the coolest engine Start/Stop button I’ve ever seen, head on down to MINI Langley and check it out for yourself!
MINI TV Ad: Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games
Watch these MINIs perform O Canada in their own unique way in support of Team Canada in this MINI TV Ad. The sounds were authentic using Original MINI Parts and Accessories. MINI is an official sponsor of Team Canada in the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. #MINIsingsocanada is the official hashtag.
If you are interested in a vehicle, visit MINI Langley.
MINI TV Ad Sochi 2014
OpenRoad VLog – Episode 2: “MINI Transformer”
Watch as our VLogger Matt shows you how “Transformable” the MINI Cooper S Roadster really is! Cool songs help too. No MINI’s were hurt in the making of this film.
BMW Langley & MINI Langley now open!
The tremendous anticipation for the opening of BMW and MINI Langley is finally over! On August 15th, 2011, we opened the doors to our new 58,000-square-foot facility. This brand new BMW and MINI location makes us the first centre inside The Collection Auto Mall, which will serve the automotive needs of Surrey, Langley and the south Fraser area. Located conveniently at the corner of the Langley Bypass and Glover Road, this luxury autoplex makes a great home for us here at BMW and MINI Langley.
Our building at BMW and MINI Langley has achieved LEED Silver certification, further continuing our green initiatives and vision for sustainable operations. During your visit, you may notice our 70-car rooftop parking, the BMW M display, and MINI green living walls. Our two-storey showroom is capable of displaying 26 BMW vehicles, with a separate 7-vehicle showroom for MINI. Guests will also find that our facility is able to service 18 vehicles, with wall-to-wall work benches in our state-of-the-art service centre.
To celebrate our launch, we will be hosting a true OpenRoad experience by mixing the class of these brands with the culture of Langley. For two consecutive Sunday afternoons, on September 18th and 25th, guests will be able to taste the finest wines & cheeses right from the heart of Langley, whilst enjoying relaxing jazz music and exploring the features of our new facility. We invite you and your family and friends to join us for a delightful Sunday afternoon.
Here at BMW and MINI Langley, we hope to grow with the community, and will continue working towards providing our guests with a valuable and experiential automotive experience.