Toyota Mirai Canadian launch announced at Montreal International Auto Show
Salon International de l’Auto de Montréal 2018 is held at Palais des congrès de Montréal, running from Jan. 19 to 28.
Hot off the heels of the big show down south in Detroit, the 75th edition of the Montreal International Auto Show (MIAS) kicked things off for Canada on Friday. The theme for 2018 is Enter the Revolution, and fitting right in with that is Toyota announcing the Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle will be made available for Canadians starting with a Quebec launch. Keep reading for more on this ground breaking car and two other exciting manufacturer unveils.
Toyota Mirai
Initially shown to the public in 2014 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the hydrogen-powered Mirai has so far been put for sale in Japan, the United States, Europe and United Arab Emirates, and as of later this year, Canada. For those who have never heard about the model, how the vehicle works is actually quite simple. Its main source of energy is hydrogen, which is stored in a fuel tank. When combined with oxygen in the fuel cell stack, electricity is produced (and water, as a by-product, exiting out the tailpipe), good for delivering a peak 151 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque. Other notable attributes include a 500 kilometre maximum range, five minute refuelling time and a resistance to cold temperatures.
Quebec was chosen as the starting point for a number of reasons, such as being an EV-forward province and also the successful trial site for the Toyota Prius Prime, resulting in the plug-in hybrid’s impending nation-wide release.
Audi R8 Spyder V10 plus
The R8 Spyder V10 plus joins the Coupé version, representing the fastest series-production convertible ever produced by the German automaker. To throw some numbers out there: 5.2 litre displacement, 610 horsepower, 413 lb-ft of torque, 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, 328 km/h top speed. The mid-engine sports car — equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and Quattro permanent all-wheel drive — utilizes many different lightweight materials throughout the car, from aluminum and carbon fibre-reinforced polymer in the frame to magnesium and aluminum in the fabric top’s substructure. And it’s sprayed in an ultra-cool “micrommata” green colour.
Infiniti QX50
Built on an all-new platform, the next QX50 is, “the most important vehicle we have ever launched, and it embodies everything the brand stands for — beautiful design, advanced technology and empowering performance,” according to Christian Meunier, VP of Infiniti Global Division. The premium mid-size SUV will feature the first mass-produced variable compression ratio engine, combining the power (260 horsepower) of a 2.0-litre turbocharged motor with the torque (280 lb-ft) and efficiency (7.8 L/100 combined) of a four-cylinder diesel says the company. In addition, the Q50 will offer another innovation: ProPILOT Assist, an autonomous driving aide that can take over steering, accelerating and braking duties on a single-lane road.
