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OpenRoad Auto Group Wins 2015 WebAward

OpenRoad Auto Group on October 1, 2015

OpenRoad Auto Group is honored to be a recipient of a 2015 WebAward for Outstanding Achievement in Web Development. Presented by the American-based Web Marketing Association, the annual WebAward Competition sets the standard of excellence for Website development. OpenRoad first received this award in 2014.

“It’s great that OpenRoad has been recognized for the continual development of a better online car shopping experience”, says OpenRoad Auto Group Director of Marketing Ben Lovie. “Our web strategy is simply to never stop exploring new ways to create a better online experience. I am particularly excited about Payment Engine, a new vehicle monthly payment shopping tool we launched this summer and a new project that is in the works and due for release later this year.”

This award serves as a true testament to OpenRoad’s continuous stride of hard work to create a better car buying and ownership experience. With exciting new web projects on the horizon, OpenRoad does not expect their innovations in web development to slow down anytime soon. 

Learn more about this achievement here! 

Winterize your vehicle with five cold weather prep tips

Benjamin Yong on September 30, 2015

It’s not exactly snowing outside yet, but now is a great time to get your car ready for the low temps ahead.

Vancouverites may be clinging onto the last vestiges of summer with this latest bout of favourable weather, but chilly and wet conditions are inevitably on the way as we approach fall and winter. To avoid being stuck out in the cold on the side of the road, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for the upcoming frigid conditions beforehand. We asked the experts to share their five top tips on getting your vehicle winter ready now.

Tires

The single most crucial safety factor is the condition of your tires. Winter tires are recommended for the season, identifiable by a symbol on the sidewall that looks like a snowflake inside a mountain. The problem with commonly-run all season tires is that they start to lose traction and flexibility as the temperature dips down to 7 C, which is when winter rubber performs at its best.

Lights

Ensure all exterior lights are functioning. Proper operation of the headlights will signal to pedestrians and other vehicles on the road that you are approaching them, and will also assist you in seeing where you are going. Brake lights alert drivers behind you that you are stopping, and turn signals are self-explanatory but are also responsible for acting as your hazard lights in emergencies.

Fluids

Something overlooked quite often is fluid levels. Antifreeze, engine and transmission oil and power steering and windshield washer fluid should all be inspected. The only protection your car’s engine has against cold and freezing is the antifreeze, therefore it is very important to follow the recommendations laid out in the owner’s manual. Remember to always let the radiator cool down before working on it.

Windshield wipers

Make it a habit to regularly check your windshield wiper blades — we tend to forget about these until we need them. The blades should replaced once in the winter and again in the spring.

Emergency kit

Travel with a roadside safety kit: it should contain items like a flashlight, new batteries, gloves, dry food, bottled water, road flares and emergency markers. Other good items to have on hand are rain boots, a thick, waterproof jacket and a small blanket that will all come in handy during a breakdown.

2016 Audi TT exclusive unveiling

OpenRoad Auto Group on September 22, 2015

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…

OpenRoad's Frankfurt Motor Show 2015 top picks

Benjamin Yong on September 21, 2015

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frankfurt_motor_show_2015
Visitors inspect automobile manufacturers’ latest wares at IAA 2015, which runs now until Sept. 27 in Frankfurt, Germany.

The 66th annual Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA), or Frankfurt Motor Show, is in full swing right now in Germany. There have been dozens of new vehicles and concept debuts since the show opened a few days ago, but we picked out a handful that are particularly intriguing. Here are OpenRoad’s top three cars from this year’s IAA.

Porsche Mission E

Porsche has been very interested lately in the field of hybrid technology, evidenced by their release of several partially electric models last year. The Mission E concept car, however, is the brand’s first four-seater that is completely powered by electricity. With a range of over 500 kilometres on one charge, it only takes approximately 15 minutes to replenish 80 per cent of the battery thanks to Porsche’s unique 800-volt turbo charging system.

Porsche Mission E rear

Key stats

Horsepower: 600

Powertrain: two permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM)

Transmission: all-wheel drive

Seats: four

Fun fact: A camera mounted to the rear-view mirror detects the driver’s mood.

Mazda KOERU concept

Mazda KOERU

Before you ask — KOERU means “exceed” or “go beyond” in Japanese, which is what the company is trying to do with their latest crossover concept. It has Mazda’s current KODO styling written all over it, but also includes a few twists like the rings around the LED headlights that are supposed to resemble an untamed animal. As usual, engine specifics aren’t being disclosed but expect some form of SKYACTIV.

Mazda KOERU concept rear

Key stats

Horsepower: ?

Powertrain: ?

Transmission: ?

Seats: five

Fun fact:  The KOERU is rumoured to lead to a three-door CX-4 model, or a new CX-7 or CX-9.

Toyota C-HR Concept

Toyota C-HR

Consumers’ appetites for compact, fuel-efficient crossovers the world over continue to grow, and Toyota is hoping to capitalize on that with the C-HR Concept hybrid. The automaker has stated plainly they are looking to bring a new model to market, and hope to have a production-ready model to announce in a matter of months. Few specifics are known at this point besides the dimensions: 4,350 millimetres (length); 1,850 mm (width); 1,500 mm (height); 2,640 mm (wheelbase).

Toyota C-HR side

Key stats

Horsepower: ?

Powertrain: ?

Transmission: ?

Seats: five

Fun fact: The original concept featured a three-door design with a blue and black roof.