How a Golf Fairway figured in America’s first automotive test
2016 marks the 120th anniversary of the automobile industry in America. To commemorate one of the era’s defining events, the Historic Vehicle Asssociation (HVA) took a look back at the first comprehensive automobile contest held May 30, 1896. As with many early automotive events, the May 1896 contest was sponsored by Cosmopolitan magazine. At theRead Full Story
Limited-Edition pink VW Beetle on the way
Volkswagen’s #PinkBeetle will go into production as a 2017 model, having been shown as a concept at the 2015 New York Auto Show. The first vehicle ever to officially be named as its own hashtag, the exclusive run of #PinkBeetle models will be available in coupe and convertible configurations and will go on sale fallRead Full Story
First serial production 2017 Acura NSX rolls of the line at PMC in Ohio
The highly anticipated first serial production 2017 Acura NSX has rolled off the line at the new Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio. The PMC is the exclusive manufacturing home to Acura’s next-generation NSX, the only supercar made in America. “[This] marks the realization of a big dream here at the PMC and theRead Full Story
Canada’s newest VW dealership opens at OpenRoad Volkswagen Burnaby
OpenRoad Volkswagen, Canada’s newest Volkswagen dealership is officially open for business in Burnaby. The 45,000-square-feet facility is the region’s largest and most modern VW dealership. OpenRoad VW is also the new home of the very first VW Beetle to land in Canada in 1952, where it is currently on display. “We are pleased to partnerRead Full Story
2016 Vancouver ABFM Winning Ticket for Trip to Britain
Congratulations to the holder of the 2016 ABFM entrant ticket #2059, which was drawn on the evening of Saturday May 21, 2016 at the conclusion of the Vancouver ABFM at VanDusen Garden. The lucky attendee at the show has won a Trip for Two to Britain (Vancouver to London, Gatwick), courtesy of Expedia Cruiseship CentresRead Full Story
E-Type voted Vancouver ABFM 2016 Best Brit Car
Story updated: May 17, 2016 Western Driver’s 2016 online survey of the Top 10 British Cars is now closed, with 572 votes cast. From a list of 20 pre-selected British-built classic cars, voters declared the Jaguar E-Type their favourite, closely followed by second choice Aston Martin DB5. Here is how the top Top 10 ranked:Read Full Story
Oxford Mini plant celebrates 15 years of new MINIs
The Mini Plant in Oxford today (April 26, 2016) celebrates 15 years since the first new MINIs rolled off the production line on 26 April, 2001. The BMW Group, which is marking its centenary year in 2016, acquired the plant in 1994 and relaunched the brand in 2001 with the debut of the new MINIRead Full Story
Liberace’s Bicentennial Rolls Royce added to Liberace Garage at Hollywood Cars Museum
The Liberace Garage at the Hollywood Cars Museum, Las Vegas, has added the late entertainer’s Bicentennial Rolls Royce, a 1952 Silver Dawn two-light convertible London Motor Show car, to its roster of vehicles on display. Designed for the Liberace Show ’76, the majestic vehicle was used on stage at the Las Vegas Hilton, with LiberaceRead Full Story
Quirky Nevada races occuring in 2016
Nevada knows racing. All types of racing. There are some involving vehicles, but there are some quirky ones that include outhouses, zombies, camels and ostriches. International Camel & Ostrich Races, Sept. 9-11, Virginia City Now in its 57th year, these races started as a practical joke by a reporter. In 1959, Nevada-based newspaper the TerritorialRead Full Story
Report reveals Canadians don’t trust autonomous vehicles, yet
Canadians are wary of driverless cars, according to research released by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) on the eve of a major conference looking at the future of autonomous vehicles. Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of Canadians say they would not trust a vehicle to drive itself while they are in it, stating concerns suchRead Full Story
Pennzoil and Canadian Tire launch new sweepstakes
Pennzoil and Canadian Tire’s DRIVER are giving Canadians a chance to win a 2016 BMW 320i – plus Free Shell gasoline for a year! Several other prizes are up for grabs, too, including thousands of dollars’ worth of gift cards for Canadian Tire and Pennzoil/Shell products. No purchase is necessary. Entrants are required to correctlyRead Full Story
Nissan vehicles compete in innovative soccer match
Nissan, partner of the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Champions League, tested its vehicles during an innovative football game with what it considered the best alignment: The star football product portfolio in Latin America. The innovative encounter was a faithful recreation of an official UEFA Champions League match with lineups presentation, referee, opening ceremony,Read Full Story
Speed meets endurance in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans, held at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France (June 15-19, 2016), is the world’s oldest and greatest endurance race, representing the pinnacle of passion, prestige and precision. At its inception in 1923, the 24 Hours of Le Mans was suitably called the “Grand Prix of Speed andRead Full Story
Infiniti offers top international engineering students F1 career opportunity
Infiniti’s global search for the best up-and-coming engineering undergraduate talent begins its third successive year with the launch of the 2016 Infiniti Engineering Academy. Canadian students have the chance to earn the career opportunity of a lifetime in Formula One and automotive engineering, with a factory F1 team and the premium Japanese vehicle manufacturer. InfinitiRead Full Story
Nissan GT-R breaks Guiness World Records title for fastest drift
Nissan has set the Guiness World Records title for the fastest ever drift. The record was set during a special event that took place at Fujairah International Airport, UAE. Masato Kawabata, the Japanese drift champion and title holder for the Japanese drifting series, clinched the top spot from former record holder Jakub Przygoński ofRead Full Story
2016 Vancouver International Auto Show highlights
The 96th annual Vancouver International Auto Show (March 23-27, 2016) featured more than 400 new and one of-a-kind vehicles including the newest offerings from 26 major manufacturers, most of which were displayed on the lower main floor of the Convention Centre. An interesting variety of vehicles were displayed on the second floor, including a re-engineeredRead Full Story
Actress Michelle Rodriguez drives Jaguar’s fastest ‘Cat’
The new Jaguar F-Type SVR (Special Vehicles Operations), the fastest series production Jaguar vehicle ever, has been put through its first high speed test drive with Hollywood actress Michelle Rodriguez at the wheel. On a closed highway in the Nevada desert, home to the world renowned Silver State Classic Challenge road race, the actress pushedRead Full Story
Audi R8 2016 World Performance Car
The Audi R8 Coupe has been named 2016 World Performance Car in the World Car Awards. With a total of four awards, the Audi R8 is the most successful model in the history of the World Car Awards. The predecessor to the R8 had already taken home two World Performance Car awards and a WorldRead Full Story