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OpenRoad's Frankfurt Motor Show 2015 top picks

Benjamin Yong on September 21, 2015

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.

Porsche Centre Langley revs up classic car show at Crescent Beach.

OpenRoad Auto Group on September 9, 2015

Surf, sand and Porsches, Crescent Beach Concours D’Elegance 2015.

Engine sound symposer systems explained

Benjamin Yong on May 25, 2015

Automakers recognize how important sound is to a sports car, and are coming up with newfangled ways of making them heard from the inside.

Top affordable luxury convertible vehicles for summer

Benjamin Yong on May 13, 2015

Summer is coming, and it’s time to look your best — because this season, there is a greater selection of well-priced luxury convertible vehicles offered by automakers than ever before.

LIGHTS, $1.3m Porsche Supercar, and Action – Porsche Centre Langley's VIP Grand Opening

Chris Eastwood on May 10, 2015

In 2000, OpenRoad Auto Group formed to offer car buyers and owners an experiential automotive retail service.

One of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies, CADA Laureate and the recipient of multiple Canadian Best Employer Awards, OpenRoad celebrated the official grand opening of its latest dealership, Porsche Centre Langley, with an exclusive VIP event that showcased the premium culture and iconic heritage of the German sports car brand.

With the addition of Porsche Centre Langley, the OpenRoad team now comprises of over 800 associates representing 12 import brands at 15 dealership locations across British Columbia.

To celebrate the Fraser Valley’s first certified Porsche dealership, which is one of only two Porsche sales and service centres in the Greater Vancouver area, more than 400 VIP guests were in attendance on Wednesday May 6th, 2015, for the grand opening ceremony.

Dignitaries included Mayor Ted Schaffer from the City of Langley; Alexander Pollich, President and CEO of Porsche Cars Canada; Christian Chia, President and CEO of OpenRoad Auto Group, and Aly Jiwani, General Manager of Porsche Centre Langley.

“We congratulate Porsche Centre Langley and its team for the opening of their new location and welcome them to the family,” said Alexander Pollich, President & CEO, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. “The greater Vancouver area is one of the markets around the country that has helped the brand grow substantially. As such, we are pleased to now offer our customers an address in Langley.”

Wednesday night’s event featured a private performance by Juno-award winning artist, LIGHTS, and featured live stallion horses, a line-up of vintage Porsche cars, as well as the sold-out limited edition $1.3 million Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid supercar – the fastest production road car in the world to have lapped the famed Nurburgring track.

“When we started to plan this event, I told our marketing team, ‘No matter what you do, just make sure that there is a lot of horse power’”, joked Christian Chia, President and CEO of OpenRoad.”I think they only heard the ‘horse’ part of my request”.

“We are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to partner with Porsche Canada to bring one of best brands in the world to the Fraser Valley,” added Chia. “Our goal is to offer more than just a great Porsche sales and service centre. We’re fully committed to creating new opportunities for motorsports enthusiasts in B.C. while building a unique community of people who are passionate about Porsche’s beautifully engineered, high performance cars and a best-in-class experience.”

If you have a chance, stop by and visit Porsche Langley’s 20 car showrooms at 6016 Collection Drive (corner of Glover Road and Langley Bypass). The 42,000 square-foot building features Porsche’s latest facility design concept and is part of the Langley Auto Collection, Canada’s only luxury auto mall.

Time Lapse video of the event:

More photos below:

Porsche Centre Langley Grand Opening Press Release

OpenRoad Auto Group on May 7, 2015

OpenRoad Showcases Porsche’s Iconic Heritage and Premium Culture at the Grand Opening of Porsche Centre Langley. More than 400 VIP guests attended the marquee celebration which featured a spectacle of live stallion horses, interactive staging elements, and an exclusive performance by Juno-award winning artist, LIGHTS.

Clean Energy Vehicle incentive program returns to B.C.

Benjamin Yong on April 4, 2015

_{The BMW i3 is eligible for a rebate under phase two of B.C.’s Clean Energy Vehicle point-of-sale incentrive program. Photo by Benjamin Yong.}

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 charging

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

Benjamin Yong on March 27, 2015

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.

2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

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.

Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell

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:

2015 Vancouver International Auto Show entrance