Top three vehicles from New York International Auto Show 2017
A couple of cool concepts and a new hybrid arrival top the news from this year’s show in the Big Apple.
Revisiting Genesis New York Concept vehicle
This concept shows a sportier side of the new luxury brand.
Introducing 2018 Genesis G80 and G80 Sport
Hyundai’s upscale sister brand Genesis has finally launched in Canada, with the flagship G90 executive sedan serving as the first official offering. The next model that will be introduced to customers later this year is the mid-size G80.
There are some exterior similarities shared between the two vehicles for sure, for example the huge hexagonal grille that dominates the front end, but the G80 features unique details as well.
The Bi-Xenon headlight housings are “fuller” and more angular than the ones found on its bigger brother, and a sporty blacked out strip runs along the width of the front bumper. Around back, the LED taillights wrap-around the rear quarter panels and are like more elegant versions of something you’d find on a Hyundai Sonata.
Simplicity is the key to the G80’s spacious interior, designed with keeping controls intuitive and giving the cabin an open feel. Gadget lovers will appreciate the fact that extra storage pockets and cubbies have been added to ensure space for all of a modern-day driver’s stuff. For bigger items, the trunk has a capacity of 433 litres.
A total of three engines are available, all paired to eight-speed automatic transmissions: a 3.8-litre V6, making 365 horsepower; a 420 hp V8, which is the same as the one found in the G90, and just recently announced, a 365 hp, 3.3-litre turbocharged V6 packaged with a Sport edition of the car. HTRAC all-wheel drive is standard across every grade.
The G80 Sport wears a more aggressive front bumper boasting three large lower air intakes and copper-coloured accents. Other additions include 19-inch alloy wheels, bigger front and rear brakes, carbon fibre interior trim and leather sport seats and steering wheel. Under the skin, there is an adaptive suspension system to keep body roll to a minimum.
Look for the 2018 Genesis G80 to arrive this spring.
Genesis premium automotive brand officially launches in Canada
After a year of waiting, the luxury offshoot of Hyundai finally opens for business.
AJAC evaluates latest 2017 vehicle models at TestFest
Over 30 of the latest market entries were scrutinized at this year’s event to determine the eventual Canadian Car of the Year award winners.
Top three debuts at New York International Auto Show
Of the many things the Big Apple is famous for, cars are also among them. One of the year’s biggest automotive spectacles — the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) — is going on right now until April 3, and there has been some seriously interesting news coming out of the east coast event.
2017 Mazda MX-5 RF
The fourth generation of everyone’s favourite modern roadster, the Miata, was released last year in soft-top form, and it was only a matter of time before a hardtop version would be announced. And now it has: introducing the MX-5 RF. Sporting fastback looks, it features a retractable rear window and the roof can be fully stowed. Surprisingly, the storage capacity in the trunk remains the same for both models.
In North America, the RF will utilize the familiar SKYACTIV-G 2.0 gasoline engine.
2017 Toyota Prius Prime
Toyota is touting the latest plug-in variant of the new Prius as the being the “best-equipped, most technologically-advanced model to date.” Greater battery capacity and an improved hybrid system give the Prime a 22 per cent reduction in fuel consumption compared to its predecessor, resulting in a projected 1.96 Le/100 km (litres equivalent) and a total range of over 965 kilometres.
Design highlights include very cool quad-LED headlights, lightweight aluminum used for the hood and carbon fibre for the hatch, and an available 11.6-inch interior multimedia screen.
Genesis New York Concept
Following closely behind the debut of the production G90 sedan, Hyundai’s recently separated luxury division now turns its attention to something sportier. The New York Concept is a hint towards the brand’s future styling direction, represented here by a long hood, unique fender vents, tapered rear deck and copper-coloured accents. Inside, a massive 21-inch LG 4K display dominates the dash connected to an interface combining touchpads and 3-D gesture control.
A hybrid powertrain generates 241 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission
Must-see vehicles from Canadian International Auto Show 2016
These are the production and concept cars from Toronto’s annual auto show that you don’t want to miss.
Hyundai Motor Company creates new Genesis luxury nameplate
Hyundai and Genesis will rarely be used in the same sentence going forward, as the latter is becoming its own global brand.
Bose, Lexicon, Mark Levinson: comparing premium car stereo systems
The 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo in the Lexus RC 350 is an example of hi-end audio found in today’s vehicles. Photos by Benjamin Yong.
With the overall fit and finish of new models produced by automakers at an all-time high, it’s easy to take the audio systems in vehicles for granted. It wasn’t so long ago that swapping out a lackluster OEM head unit and speakers for aftermarket replacements was almost a no-brainer — but now, many manufacturers across the board are partnering with high-end sound specialists to bring you a premium auditory experience straight from the factory. These are some of the best examples out right now.
Hyundai Genesis
The 2015 Genesis debuted in Canada at this year’s Toronto Auto Show, and one of the highlights is a standard 14-speaker Lexicon surround sound system. Buyers opting for the 5.0-litre Ultimate trim receive an upgrade to 17 speakers and 900 watts. If you don’t recognize the name Lexicon, it is part of Harman International Industries — often known for its Harman/Kardon product line — that provides OEM audio technology for multiple automotive brands.
Lexus RC
A car as visually stunning as the Lexus RC luxury coupe needs an equally sexy stereo. That’s provided in the form of a 10-speaker in-house Lexus system, or an available 17-speaker Mark Levinson package. Both use Class-D amplifiers and a centre-rear mounted subwoofer for deep bass.
High-end audio guru Mark Levinson founded the company in 1972, which is also now run by Harman. The equipment, possessing a signature exterior black anodized finish, is used in several Lexus vehicles including the IS, ES, GS and RX, to name a few.
Mazda6
Mazda is proving you don’t need to drive a luxury car in order to enjoy a luxury listening experience. Going with the American-based Bose Corporation as the provider of its audio hardware, the 11-speaker system in the Mazda6 GT is more powerful and 20 per cent lighter than the one found in the previous generation, fitting perfectly with the brand’s SKYACTIV philosophy of increasing both performance and efficiency.
A new low-energy-consumption amplifier drives the setup, featuring Centerpoint digital signal processing and AudioPilot 2 that utilizes a microphone in the cabin to monitor ambient noise, automatically compensating for unwanted sound coming from the road or engine.