What do women, Volvo drivers and Rochester, NY all have in common? They each represent the best drivers in their category, according to a new report from NYC-based tech start-up, Dash, which analyzed a snapshot of five-million miles driven by American car owners. Dash has a mobile product (Dash – Drive Smart) that makes any carRead Full Story
Archive | General News
Octagon to close parts department
Vancouver-based Octagon Motor Group will be closing its parts’ sales operations, effective September 1, 2014. The service department remains open to provide expert service for all British and import makes and models. The company has taken this difficult decision after a prolonged period of economic losses from the parts department. The losses have extended throughoutRead Full Story
In Memoriam: Frank Hagerty, an extraordinary life
The world lost a great character on March 18, 2014, with the passing of Frank Hagerty, co-founder of Hagerty Insurance. Frank Hagerty was born in Detroit on June 16, 1934, the only child of Frank and Evelyn Hagerty. He attended Cooley High School and graduated from Michigan State University. He began by studying agriculture withRead Full Story
Motorcyclists who ride with their dogs
Eric Ristau and Geneva Limatta, a husband-and-wife team from Missoula, Mont., are putting together a film about motorcyclists who bring their dogs along for the ride. No, these easy-riding pups don’t sit on the seat, clasping their owner’s midsection. They ride in sidecars and wear specially designed dog goggles (called “doggles”). Fittingly the movie isRead Full Story
Most powerful and valuable automotive brands revealed
Brand Finance Auto 100, has released its 2013 annual study conducted by leading brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance As the world’s biggest auto brands showcase their latest creations at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, we put to them to the test to determine which are the most powerful and most valuable. Toyota has solidified itsRead Full Story
Vancouver ranked #1 in traffic congestion
TomTom, a leading supplier of in-car location and navigation products and services, has released the sixth edition of its TomTom Traffic Index, the world’s most accurate barometer of traffic congestion in 169 cities across six continents. Vancouver has surpassed Los Angeles for the first time ever, ranking the most congested city in North America andRead Full Story
NRC to help Canadian Transportation Industry reduce vehicle weight
As automakers and their suppliers from around the world strive to develop fuel-saving technologies, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has announced a new program to help the Canadian transportation industry reduce the weight of cars, trucks, trailers, buses, and trains by developing innovative aluminium technology. “Canada is a global leader in producing aluminium,Read Full Story
BC government renews electric vehicle incentives
Local electric vehicle business, Big Green Island Transportation, will continue installing home electric vehicle charging systems after the BC government announced a last-minute extension of incentives for electric vehicle purchasers. The incentives were set to expire on March 31, 2013. “We’re relieved that the BC government has decided to renew these critical clean transportation incentives,”Read Full Story
car2go expanding its operations to the Vancouver carsharing community
VANCOUVER, B.C. — car2go Canada Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler North America Corporation, will expand its Vancouver operations to meet the needs of its more than 10,000 members. Beginning in mid-April, 100 car2go edition smart fortwo cars will be added to the car2go carsharing network, the car2go Home Area will expand and new car2goRead Full Story
New rebates to help B.C. drivers plug into clean energy
Starting next month, consumers will be able to access $17-million in funding that will help get them into clean energy vehicles and support the green-tech sector in British Columbia as part of the Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan. The Chevrolet Volt runs on electric as well as gas. The point-of-sale incentive program,Read Full Story
Kernel Knowledge: One man on a mission to show how ethanol is wrecking your engine
To leave one of Ed Syrocki’s standing-room-only ethanol education seminars is to go home amazed, enlightened, and probably a little upset. Syrocki doesn’t just claim ethanol destroys fuel lines, wrecks fuel pumps and clogs accelerators—he lets you see the damage for yourself. Find out why Syrocki is on a one-man grassroots campaign to educate historicRead Full Story
Canadian government investing in Next Generation Auto R&D
The Government of Canada has announced five new projects to be supported by the Automotive Partnership Canada initiative (APC). As a result of these new projects, Canadian drivers will benefit from research into new technologies for the automobile industry that will develop a battery pack thermal management system for hybrid electric vehicles, more efficient systemsRead Full Story
Much anticipated Fisker Karma Luxury Hybrid soon to be sighted
If the Fisker Karma is any indication, eco-friendly electric vehicles can be sleek, sexy, high performance, and every bit as stylish as their luxury contemporaries, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Jaguar. On September 1, 2011, Fisker Karma owners will finally get to test-drive the elusive Karma, during an exclusive driving event in Palm Beach, Florida. Karma ownersRead Full Story
Russo and Steele’s Monterey Auction results up by 22%
The 11th Annual Russo and Steele Monterey 2011 Event saw a record increase in bidders (both domestic and international) and the number of viewers on its LIVE online auction increased by 25 per cent. The event boasted a 64 per cent sales rate—up 22 per cent from last year—and a preliminary total sale of US$8,507,344.Read Full Story
Take the Wheel and see the World
There’s something about hitting the road that makes travel come alive, especially when the drive is through some of the world’s most scenic roadways and locales. Road tripping empowers you as a traveller with the flexibility to route—and re-route—your itinerary at any time. Whether travelling with the family, with a group of friends or withRead Full Story
End of an era, or maybe not?
What do Peter Sellers, Tina Turner, Sir Richard Branson and Liam Gallagher, former front man of the 1990s British pop band Oasis, all have in common? They have all been customers of Bristol Cars, the English manufacturer of hand-built, high-performance cars for discriminating (and wealthy) buyers for more than 60 years. Bristol 401 prototype bodiedRead Full Story
Online driving test in support of Canada’s Year of Road Safety
In support of The National Year of Road Safety 2011, Young Drivers of Canada, Canada’s largest driver training organizations, and State Farm Insurance have partnered to create the first online national driving test. The test initiative encourages safe and smart driving practices across the country and was designed to not only engage Canadians to easilyRead Full Story
Insurance industry picks 2011 safest cars
The insurance industry 2011 safety pick awards recognize 66 vehicles. South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia and German car maker Volkswagen led the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s annual list of the safest new vehicles (2011 model year). Hyundai and its affiliate Kia Motors, and Volkswagen and its Audi brand received the most awardsRead Full Story