Breaking down Toyota Safety Sense
Toyota is rolling out a new safety suite that includes technologies like a Pre-Collision System and Lane Departure Alert.
OpenRoad's Frankfurt Motor Show 2015 top picks
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.
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
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.
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
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).
Key stats
Horsepower: ?
Powertrain: ?
Transmission: ?
Seats: five
Fun fact: The original concept featured a three-door design with a blue and black roof.
Toyota Automobile Museum in Japan: mecca for car lovers
We take you on a tour of the Toyota Automobile Museum in Nagakute, Japan — 150,000 square-feet of everything automotive, and more.
Toyota, Lexus win big in 2015 Vincentric Best Value in Canada Awards
The results are in from the Vincentric Best Value in Canada Awards: find out which new vehicles have the lowest cost of ownership.
OpenRoad's vehicle airbag FAQ
Like seat belts, vehicle airbags were introduced to help save lives. We answer popular questions about this important safety feature.
Scion and Toyota to release new models for 2016: iM and Yaris Sedan
Scion is expanding its lineup, adding both an iM hatchback and iA sedan, the latter to be badged as a Toyota Yaris sedan in Canada.
Clean Energy Vehicle incentive program returns to B.C.
St. Paddy’s day may have been a couple of weeks ago, but folks in B.C. have another reason to go green again with the start of phase two of B.C.’s Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) program on April 1.
About $7.5 million in electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle sale incentives will be available from now until March 31, 2018, or until the funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.
“With the Clean Energy Vehicle program, we’re providing incentives that will make electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles more affordable for British Columbians, and expanding the charging and fuelling infrastructure to make it easier to ‘fill the tank,” says Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines.
Consumers thinking about purchasing or leasing a new battery electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle are eligible to receive up to a $5,000 rebate, and up to $6,000 if the power is provided by a hydrogen fuel cell, like the new Hyundai Tucson FCEV.
Bennett says phase one of the CEV program — that expired last spring — encouraged over 900 electric cars to find new homes and also spurred the installation of more than 1,000 charging stations across B.C., resulting in the reduction of approximately 57,000 tonnes of vehicle emissions.
Some quick stats: vehicles are responsible for nearly half of the province’s household greenhouse gas emissions; a CEV reduces emissions by 5.6 tonnes per year when compared to a conventional 2000 model year or older vehicle; a CEV reduces emissions by 3 tonnes per year when compared to a new gasoline-powered vehicle, according to a news release by the provincial government.
For drivers who hadn’t considered an alternative-energy automobile previously for whatever reason, manufacturers now offer several options that would appeal to even the most die-hard fan of traditional internal combustion. Here are some examples of what’s available.
BMW i3
Type: battery electric vehicle (with optional gasoline Range Extender)
Form factor: five-passenger hatchback
Base MSRP: $45,000
Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid
Type: plug-in electric hybrid vehicle
Form factor: five-passenger mid-size crossover SUV
Base MSRP: $86,600
Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid
Type: plug-in electric hybrid vehicle
Form factor: five-passenger sedan
Base MSRP: $110,000
Toyota Prius Plug-in
Type: plug-in electric hybrid vehicle
Form factor: five-passenger hatchback
Base MSRP: $35,905
Read more about the CEV phase 2 program on the website.
Best green vehicles at 2015 Vancouver International Auto Show
The 95th Vancouver International Auto Show (VIAS) is happening right now at the Vancouver Convention Centre, and is quite literally bigger, and better, than ever before. Exhibition space has grown by one-quarter this year, to 290,000 square feet, and for the first time the displays spill over to the upstairs ballroom. Fittingly, since it takes place in B.C., VIAS features a heavy focus on alternative-energy automobiles fuelled by diesel, electricity and even hydrogen. These are the green vehicles you’ll want to see.
Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle Concept
You may have heard about Toyota’s production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle already on sale in Japan and about to hit the roads in the United States later this year. While no Canadian expansion plans have been announced yet, Toyota debuted the Fuel Cell Concept (FCV) that provided the inspiration for the Mirai for the first time in Canada.
The Mirai was actually tested in Yellowknife in -30 C weather to evaluate cold-weather effectiveness. The space-age looking sedan creates electricity by utilizing a chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen, refuels in about the same time as a conventional gasoline-powered car and can drive up to 500 kilometres on a single tank.
Audi A3 Sportback e-Tron
The A3 Sportback e-Tron, Audi’s first plug-in hybrid, made its first regional appearance at VIAS. Besides a few badges and some minor exterior tweaks to the grille and rear bumper, this hybrid looks remarkably similar to the standard version. Power is provided via a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine combined with a 75-kilowatt electric motor making 204 net horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.
Volkswagen Golf Sportwagon TDI Clean Diesel
VW is in Vancouver to prove that even with the crossover SUV craze taking place across North America, wagon’s haven’t quite called it quits. It’s been a good year for the Golf, reaping several industry awards, and the Sportwagon should continue that trend. The diesel powertrain provides plenty of torque and achieves great fuel economy rated at 7.5 L/100 km in city driving at 5.6 L/100 km on the highway.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Although Hyundai also has a plug-in version coming, it is the standard Sonata Hybrid making the trip to Vancouver. As part of the redesign, the engine is a smaller and more efficient 2.0 litre vs. the outgoing 2.4. The battery pack has a 13 per cent bigger capacity, and now fits under the trunk floor so the rear seats can fold 60/40.
In addition to the Hybrid, the majority of the public had their first chance to get an up-close look at the 2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell, the first mass-produced hydrogen-powered vehicle available to Canadians. Available to limited consumers through a lease program, the first lucky owners are a local couple living in Surrey.
Porsche 918 Spyder
Some visitors to Porsche Centre Langley have already experienced the spectacle that is the $1.3-million Porsche 918 Spyder in person. The hybrid supercar, one of three sold in B.C., uses two electric motors and a 4.6-litre V8 engine to achieve a top speed of 340 km/h.
The 2015 Vancouver International Auto Show runs until March 29. More pictures below:
Car safety technology package comparison
Like computers and cellphones, vehicles have been leaping forward in the area of tech within the last few years. A lot of the modern electronic innovation has to do with safety, whether it’s making an existing function like cruise control safer by automating part of the process, or trying to prevent accidents by giving the driver tools such as blind spot monitoring to increase awareness.
Every automaker offers some kind of safety feature suite, although they do vary somewhat from brand-to-brand and are sometimes only available on higher-level models, or as part of a larger package. Here is a comparison of what you can get from three popular manufacturers.
Toyota
After driving a vehicle with conveniences like parking aids, it’s hard to go back to doing it the old fashioned way. On the 2015 RAV4 crossover in the AWD Limited trim, customers can opt for the Technology Package (plus $2,135) that includes backup sensors that beep when you get too close to another object, helping avoid bumper dings or worse. It also comes with automatic high beams, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert and lane departure alert.
Infiniti
The new Q50 sedan is one of the most technologically advanced cars in the market right now. For $4,300 more, Infiniti has a Deluxe Touring and Technology Package chock full of goodies like their Around View Monitor.
Using a series of strategically positioned wide-angle cameras, this system provides a 360-degree picture of the vehicle’s surroundings from a bird’s-eye view. Other additions include intelligent cruise control and front seat pre-crash seatbelts that utilize motors to ensure passengers are properly restrained.
Mazda
We all know rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of accidents, and Mazda says 60 per cent of those occur at speeds of 30 km/h or less. That’s why a lot of their safety focus is around braking. The Mazda6 GT with the $2,800 Technology Package adds Smart City Brake Support.
At low speeds, a laser sensor mounted on the windshield monitors the vehicle in front. If the computer detects a collision risk, the brakes are preloaded for maximum efficiency. If the driver doesn’t intervene, the brakes are automatically applied and engine output isreduced.
Brakes: what's the difference between discs and drums?
For many casual drivers, their idea of a vehicle’s brakes is simply the pedal left of the throttle, and the expensive item that shows up on their service bill every few years. Never mind trying to ask whether they can discern between disc and drum setups. Fortunately, we “brake” down the differences of the two systems for you below.
Drum brakes
This type of braking mechanism is called a “drum,” because that is precisely what it looks like. Still found on some vehicles being released in the market today — think entry-level cars like the Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit — it is the usually dark-coloured cylinder located underneath each of the rear wheels on newer vehicles.
The outer casing of drum brakes is made from either cast iron or, to a lesser extent, aluminium. Inside the drum is a set of “shoes,” which are crescent-shaped metal pieces that have a high friction material affixed onto the outer edges. When a driver steps on the brakes, a specialized fluid transfers the movement from the pedal to the shoes that then press up against the drum to slow the wheel, and the car, down.
Drum brake shoes
Disc brakes
People nowadays are most likely familiar with the disc brake system that has become increasingly ubiquitous over the last couple of decades. Rather than featuring a drum, disc brakes utilize a round rotor also made from cast iron, or in high-performance applications composites, including carbon and ceramic.
A “caliper” sits above and straddles both sides of the rotor (as seen in the picture below of a 2015 Scion FR-S), a part that contains a series of hydraulic pistons and a high friction brake pad on either side. Activating the brakes causes the pistons to clamp down and push the pads to make contact with the rotor, slowing down the vehicle. This is similar to what happens when braking on a bicycle.
Each time this process takes place, both the brake pad and the rotor wear away due to abrasive friction. Generally, the pads will be depleted sooner than the rotors and require more frequent replacement.
Other differences
Because of its enclosed design, drum brakes are prone to excessive heat build-up under high-stress situations, which can cause “fade,” meaning the brakes start to lose their effectiveness. The rotors used in disc brakes on the other hand are exposed to ambient air resulting in constant cooling.
Cost of manufacturing is one of the reasons some automakers continue to offer partial drum brake setups. That said, the front brakes do the majority of the work since weight is shifted forward each time you brake, so only having discs in the front is more than adequate for most motorists.
Replacement
The life of brake components varies greatly depending on models, personal driving habits and driving conditions — the best thing to do is take your vehicle in for regular servicing to ensure everything is working properly. If you hear or feel anything out of the ordinary like squealing or shuddering when the brakes are applied, make sure you consult a professional immediately.