Photos of the Week

May 7–May 13

Honda’s offers futuristic crossover design

Honda’s Concept D is destined to be the Japanese manufacturer’s flagship crossover in China.

The concept was unveiled at the Shanghai auto show and its shape drew some sharp intakes of breath.

The angular vehicle features a raked rear window and huge rear spoiler plus eye-catching gold spokes.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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April 30–May 6

What the heck is this?

The introduction of the Chevrolet FNR concept at the Shanghai Auto Show caused a lot of head scratching among observers.

The wild-looking car, designed by GM’s Shanghai-based Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center team, is meant to show a “futuristic capsule design.”

It features “dragonfly-style” swinging doors, hubless motors inside the wheels, and a wireless charging system for the electric drivetrain. The front seats can swivel 180 degrees so that all passengers in the cabin can chat while the car navigates itself.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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April 23–April 29

Shanghai-brid

French manufacturer Citroën staged the world premiere of its new Aircross concept at the Shanghai Auto Show earlier this week.

The large sport utility vehicle is powered by plug-in hybrid technology.

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April 16–April 22

Chevrolet Sparks sweet and tasty colours

As if the Chevrolet Spark in Jalapeno Green and Salsa Red weren’t enough to inspire a store run for taco chips, the minicar is tickling the taste buds for the 2016 model with two more foodie-inspired exterior colors – Toasted Marshmallow and Kalamata Olive.

“The first generation Spark’s colors allowed us to explore some fun, creative names,” said Dora Nowicki, marketing manager for the 2016 Spark. “We had an opportunity to continue this trend with the new Spark. When it came time to name new colors for the 2016 model, we brought color samples to the table and challenged our launch team to let their creativity run wild.”

keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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March 26–April 1

Shaken, and Stirred.

The James Bond of the future may well be driving this Aston Martin DBX Concept. It’s an all-electric, all-wheel drive, concept for the future.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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March 19–25

Artful car2go

Nomi Chi, a fourth year student at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, created this car wrap as part of collaboration between TED 2015, car2go and her school.

It’s one of seven of the car share program’s vehicles wrapped by original art from her fellow students. One was displayed at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre while the TED talks event was underway and the rest circulated in the car2go fleet.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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March 12-18

Aero 8: A Blast From the Past

The all-new Morgan Aero 8 draws its design inspiration from the popular British roadsters from the 1960s.

But the similarities between the new 8 and those cars from the past ends with the looks because the Aero 8 is reliable! – It’s powered by a BMW V8 engine capable of propelling the two-seater from zero to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. Prices later but it won’t be available here – sadly.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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March 5–11

Quite the Concept

Infiniti offered the first full glimpse of its QX30 Concept at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show this past week.

It combines the sleek lines of a coupe with the distinguishing features and higher stance of a crossover. Production details have not been finalized.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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February 26–March 4

Kia causes another ‘Ster at auto show

Kia revealed another Soul-based concept at the recent Chicago Auto Show.

The Trail’ster crossover follows in the tracks of the 2009 Soul’ster and 2012 Track’ster concepts. The Korean manufacturers says it is aimed at the “city-dweller-turned-outdoor-adventurer.”

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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February 12–18

Infiniti to expose QX30 to public glare in Geneva

Infiniti will take the covers off the QX30 Concept at the Geneva International Motor Show next month. The QX30 Concept is the Infiniti design vision that will inspire a new premium compact crossover targeted at a new generation of premium customers.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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January 15–21

Smartwatch steers autonomous drive Audi

The Audi Prologue concept was summoned to its display position at the recent CES electronics show in Las Vegas by an LG smartwatch!

Powered by a 4-litre TFSI engine, merged with an electric motor, the hybrid system produces a stunning total output of 690 hp.

Piloted driving is what Audi brings to the table of autonomous vehicles, and it’s determined to put the system in vehicles like the Q7 as early as the end of this year. The system will be available to take over for drivers in an autopilot like mode, allowing the driver to redirect their attention.

keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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January 8–14

How Deep Is Your Love?

Volkswagen caused quite a stir across Europe when it announced rock singer Robbie Williams as its new marketing manager at a televised press conference.

“For me, it’s a big change. It’s stepping out of the world of pop into a proper job,” is how the Brit singer described his new assignment at Volkswagen.

He currently features in an advertising campaign for the new “Club & Lounge” special models.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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December 18–24

Yeah!

Nickelodeon and Toyota have collaborated to transform everyone’s porous pal into a new 3-D concept car based on Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies’ upcoming film, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.

The SpongeBob Movie 2015 Toyota Sienna features a custom three-dimensional SpongeBob SquarePants exterior, complete with the character’s Superhero Incredibubble mask that blows real bubbles at the top of the car. The interior features seating inspired by each of SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom pals, along with a wood-grain dashboard, a custom Captain’s steering wheel, a blue-sky head liner and a sand-inspired floor.

The one-of-a-kind vehicle is now featuring in a cross-country promotional tour leading up to The SpongeBob Movie’s Feb. 6, 2015 premiere.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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December 11–December 17

Everything Is Awesome!

Volvo Cars’ safety expert Anders Axelson knows that brilliant ideas can pop up in the strangest of circumstances.

A visit to Legoland with his twin daughters in 2007 inspired Anders to turn an amusement park ride into an efficient test method in Volvo Cars’ quest for better protection in run-off road crashes.

“Watching people being thrown in all directions during a ride in the ‘Robocoaster’, I suddenly realised that those rapid, random movements resembled the violent forces occupants in a run-off road crash are exposed to,” says Anders Axelson.

“The industrial robot manufacturer ABB had the technology and the knowledge to programme a machine designed for precision work to move a car seat around in a seemingly random pattern. It worked brilliantly,” says Anders Axelson.

A vehicle seat and restraint system is mounted on the multi-axial industrial robot. The robot, which is used together with a crash test dummy, can be programmed to simulate the occupant kinematics during crucial parts of run-off road scenarios.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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December 4–December 10

An Italian Master

The all-new, five-seater 2016 Fiat 500X is the latest addition to the Italian manufacturer’s lineup in North America.

The all-wheel drive car, which will arrive next year, will be powered by a fuel-efficient 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission.

keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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November 27–December 3

Driveway editor Keith Morgan spotted his dream car at the Los Angeles International Auto Show… a Morgan!

The brand new three-wheeler looks interesting but he had his eye on the new roadster behind it. The UK company makes its cars in a classic style.

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November 20–November 26

Get your Kicks on Route 66

Driveway editor Keith Morgan has just returned from the Nissan Altimate Rogue Trip that took him 4,000 kilometres along the old Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica.

Next week, he will report on the seven-day adventure undertaken in the 2015 Nissan Rogue and 2015 Nissan Altima, pictured above.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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November 13–November 19

Nissan has announced its new partnership with Adam Levine, lead singer of Maroon 5 and coach on NBC’s Emmy Award winning The Voice. The partnership marks an expansion of the automaker’s existing multi-season sponsorship of the show. New program elements include a series of on-air vignettes featuring Adam Levine and several season seven contestants in video segments.

The first vignette, debuting during the Nov. 18 episode of The Voice, will feature Adam Levine giving viewers their first chance to hear a live rendition of “SUGAR” from the new Maroon 5 “V” album while driving Nissan’s 545-horsepower supercar, the GT-R. View online at NBC.com/Nissan from Nov. 18.

The remaining vignettes featuring season seven artistes, will air on Nov. 25 and Dec. 2.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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November 6–November 12

What a boring photograph – such an unusual selection for picture of the week.

Look a little closer because that QR code on the B pillar could be a lifesaver.

When a crash occurs and the vehicle is seriously damaged, the priority for the rescue services is to free the occupants. This can be extremely dangerous for both occupants and first responders since the vehicle is equipped with many potentially hazardous components such as high voltage wiring, fuel lines as well as airbags and SRS pyrotechnics, all of which can be compromised depending on the severity of the impact.

While Mercedes-Benz information has been available to rescue teams for decades, it was traditionally provided in a printed format or downloadable as a pdf document. Today, it can be accessed by scanning a QR code with a smartphone, providing immediate access to a detailed rescue card which contains all of the structural details specific to a vehicle model, such as the location of airbags, battery, high strength steel (HSLA) and fuel tank.

As part of its awareness campaign, Mercedes-Benz Canada has captured Kelowna’s Fire Hall No. 1 firefighters’ thoughts on Rescue Assist.

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October 23–October 29

Making Strides

This especially themed pink Chevrolet SS is pacing caution laps at three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends this month.

For the fourth consecutive year, Chevrolet and General Motors’ employees, dealers and customers are uniting to battle breast cancer. They hope to exceed the $1.1 million raised in 2013 through the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks and other activities.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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October 16–October 22

Seeing Citroen

The Citroën C1 URBAN RIDE concept will never reach our shores even if it goes into production.

But it’s always interesting to view European interpretations of city cars. The fold back top, which enables an almost convertible driving experience, is a throwback to the classic Citroen 2CVs from yesteryear.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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October 9–October 15

Inspiration Meets Concept…

Infiniti premiered its eye-catching Q80 Inspiration concept at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.

The four-door fastback is five metres long, two metres wide, and only 1.35 metres at its highest point.

Powered by a new 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbo diesel engine, it delivers 170 horsepower. It also provides a glimpse into a high-performance and efficient hybrid electric powertrain that is expected to deliver 550hp while returning 5.5L/100km.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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October 2–October 8

Nothing Small About This Super MINI…

A collaborative venture between MINI and the Italian design and body-manufacturing specialist Touring Superleggera has produced this eye-catching prototype.

The compact two-seater roadster will make its premiere appearance at the Paris Auto Show this coming weekend. If it goes into production will be a radical departure from the current MINI shape.

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September 25–October 1

The Vauxhall ADAM S looks to be devilishly delicious little car.

The 1.4-litre Turbo ECOTEC unit in the ADAM S delivers 50 per cent more power and 70 per cent more torque than its naturally-aspirated 1.4-litre combines with a six-speed manual gearbox, to propel it to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds and produces a top speed of 200 km/h.

Too bad that we will never see the General Motors UK product on our roads.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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September 18–September 24

Four-time world F1 champion Sebastian Vettel stands by the prototype Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Edition, parked at the famous Eau Rouge corner, for which it was named, at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, near Spa. Belgium, prior to the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix.

Vettel, the Infiniti Director of Performance, heavily influenced the super powerful version of the Q50. It is expected to go into full production.

Read about the weekend Driveway editor Keith Morgan spent at the Grand Prix online at drivewaybc.ca

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September 11–September 17

Driveway editor Keith Morgan joins the Infiniti-Red Bull Racing’s F1 team for the day.

Well, he stood around the pit garage as World Chap Sebastian Vettel’s car was readied for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Morgan will report on his race weekend in Spa, Belgium, in next week’s Driveway. He’ll also reveal the inside secrets he discovered earlier during a behind-the-scenes tour of the Infiniti-Red Bull Race team factory in Milton Keynes, England, and offer an account of his drive through the EuroTunnel to France in an Infiniti Q50.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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September 4-September 10

To Infiniti and Beyond…

This Infiniti Q50 seems to be in one heck of a tight traffic jam.

Actually, it is moving briskly because it is aboard the EuroTunnel train and heading under the waves of the English Channel to France.

Driveway editor Keith Morgan is aboard and will report on his weekend at the F1 Grand Prix in Spa, Belgium, in mid-September. He’ll also reveal the inside secrets he discovered earlier during a behind-the-scenes tour of the Infiniti-Red Bull Race team factory in Milton Keynes, England.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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August 28-September 3

The Vanquish

Behold the new 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish ultimate GT – zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.

No prices yet… start saving!

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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August 21-August 27

Tomorrow’s BMW

The BMW Vision Future Luxury car graced the concept car lawn at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance last weekend, offering a glimpse of what the brand’s new generation of cars will look like.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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August 14-August 20

The Need for Speed

Not something you want to see approaching fast in your rear view mirror, especially if the lights are flashing.

This is the all-new exterior styling for the 2015 Charger Pursuit police car. The V-8 models deliver 370 horsepower enabling it to take off to 100 km/h in less than six seconds. Just pull over and get out your licence.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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August 7-August 13

A New Treat

There’s a sight for a sore eyes on these very hot summer days – a monster ice cream truck.

The almost six-metre high truck was featured in an award-winning series of TV ads in Europe for the new Skoda Octavia vRS model. It proved so popular with viewers that the Czech manufacturers toured the UK serving free ice cream to all comers.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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July 31-August 6

Uncle Yaris

The redesigned 2015 Toyota Yaris hopes to check all of the boxes for small-car shoppers.

It features a bold new look with a distinctly European flavour and a new, quieter interior crafted from improved materials. It comes in 3-door and 5-door liftback configurations. Prices nearer time of launch.

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July 24-30

A Real Stinger

The Kia GT4 Stinger concept has received a prestigious design award from the Industrial Designers Society of America.

The car, first introduced at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, is an authentic rear-drive 2+2 sports car. Beneath the hood resides a tuned version of Kia’s race-proven 2.0-litre turbocharged gasoline direct injected (T-GDI) four-cylinder engine, which puts out an impressive 315 horsepower.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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July 17–23

Turning Over a New LEAF

What do you get when you combine the world’s best-selling zero emission vehicle with innovative paint technology that repels mud, rain and everyday dirt?

Answer: a Nissan LEAF electric vehicle that might just be the “world’s cleanest car.”

Created to demonstrate its potential use in future production vehicles, this LEAF’s exterior was treated with a specially engineered paint that is designed to repel water and oils.

The “self-cleaning” paint, called Ultra-Ever Dry, creates a protective layer of air between the paint and environment, effectively stopping standing water and road spray from creating dirty marks on the LEAF’s surface.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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July 10–July 16

Sepia Tone Soccer (#NoFilter)

What on earth is an old, part-sepia picture of a soccer player doing in Driveway?

Well, Chevrolet has invited Manchester United fans worldwide to help celebrate the brand’s debut on the club’s new home shirt by participating in a unique digital experience.

Fans visiting www.ChevroletFC.com can be among the first to sign up to ‘virtually’ wear and share the new shirt via their social channels as part of Chevrolet’s “What Do You #PlayFor?” global campaign.

“Our presence on the new Manchester United home shirt is a highly anticipated moment for the club’s more than 659 million followers around the globe, and for the Chevrolet brand,” said Tim Mahoney, chief marketing officer, Global Chevrolet

Chevrolet also posted a video featuring Manchester United players, legends and fans. The video pays homage to the history of Manchester United shirts, dating from the club’s inception in 1878.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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July 3–July 9

The Veloster

The 2014 Hyundai Veloster is one of the 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000, according to Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com.

Editors of the trusted new- and used-car information resource applauded the three-door coupe for its unique exterior design and stylish, tech-laden interior, ranking it number two on the list.

The Veloster picture was shot on the California coast…  we couldn’t help noticing the car is on the wrong side of the road!

keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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June 26–July 2

Maria and Le Mans

French Open winner Maria Sharapova was driven to the glamorous Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Pre-Wimbledon Party in the Porsche 918 Spyder – the Stuttgart marque’s fastest, most powerful production car to date, and one of the lowest-emitters of CO2 of any class of car.

Fresh from his drive in the Le Mans 24 Hours race, Sharapova’s chauffeur for the night was Porsche factory ‘works’ driver, Mark Webber, complete in smart chauffeur attire.

The 918 Spyder has a mid-mounted 4.6-litre V8 race engine coupled to two electric motors with lithium-ion batteries. It is a remarkable plug-in hybrid super sports car that can reach a top speed of 344 km/h, sprint from zero to 100km/h in 2.5 seconds, and yet at 72 g/km (70 g/km with the lightweight Weissach Package) produces so little CO2 that it is exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

It has a total power output of 887 hp and holds the current lap record for a production car at the famous Nürburgring race circuit of just 6 minutes 57 seconds. Despite all that performance, its plug-in hybrid technology means a low fuel consumption of 3.0 L/100kms is possible.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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June 19–June 25

The Ring

You need not be a Formula 1 fan to enjoy this computer-generated film about the Red Bull Ring, the location for this coming weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.

It features the man from today’s Driveway cover story – four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel and Infiniti-Red Bull Racing’s young gun Daniel Ricciardo racing around the track. Driving RB10s, Daniel and Sebastian explain the track’s unique characteristics as they dual around the 4.3 km circuit. As the Red Bull racers contend with changing weather conditions, they explain the circuit’s elevation changes, the four best overtaking opportunities, the track’s nine corners and the four high-speed stretches.

In certain sections of the circuit, Sebastian’s RB10 becomes transparent, showing the intricate inner details of his 2014 racecar.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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June 12–June 18

Teaching the Champ

Driveway Editor Keith Morgan offers advice to four-time F1 champ Sebastian Vettel just prior to the Montreal Grand Prix, during a hot lap of the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Ontario.

Vettel was behind the wheel of an Infiniti Q50, a car in which he played a role in developing. Morgan tells to story of his day at the track in next week’s Driveway and video of the occasion will be featured online.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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June 5–11

Como-ver

The MINI Superleggera Vision concept debuted at the recent Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como, in Italy.

The open-top two-seater was created by MINI and Touring Superleggera, the tradition-steeped design and coach building house based in Milan. It takes the shape of a classic roadster but uses a very contemporary electric drivetrain.

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May 22–May 28

Dream Car

The BMW GINA Light Visionary Model was first conceived in 2008 but still looks very futuristic.

It is one of 17 concept cars from across Europe and the US to be displayed at “Dream Cars: Innovative Design, Visionary Ideas” at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.

The GINA Light Visionary Model features a virtually seamless outer skin, consisting of a flexible fabric material stretched over a movable substructure. Furthermore, functions are only enabled when they are actually needed. The most striking example of this is the headlight design. In normal position, when the headlights are not active, they are hidden under the special fabric cover. As soon as the driver turns on the lights, the contour of the front end changes.

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May 15–May 21

GO PINK.

A luxury vehicle like a Cadillac Escalade can often be a reward for achievement.

For former University of Louisville star quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, about to embark on a pro football career with the Minnesota Vikings, a new Escalade is even more than that.

It was a Mother’s Day dream come true for his mom, Rose Murphy, a breast cancer survivor.

The story of Rose and Teddy is told in a new short film by renowned director Spike Lee, which can be viewed, on Cadillac’s YouTube page.

“When I was in third grade, I promised my mom I would get her a pink Cadillac Escalade,” Bridgewater said. “Pink is the color that represents breast cancer awareness, so I just want to get her that big pink Escalade truck and see that big smile on her face.”

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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May 8-May 14

Make Like a Nissan, and LEAF.

A fleet of Nissan LEAFs took to the streets of a quiet village in the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region to mark the International Noise Awareness Day last week.

The cars were filmed racing silently around the small French town while residents were video-monitored sleeping through the stunt.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states at least 13.5 percent of Europeans are exposed to road traffic noise at levels exceeding 55 dB, which is considered detrimental to health. Search Nissan LEAF 100% Electric – Silent Ride on YouTube to view the video.

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May 1-May 7

Selfie

Washing a car can be a chore and a costly one at that.

In response, Nissan in Europe has begun tests on innovative paint technology that repels mud, rain and everyday dirt, meaning drivers may never have to clean their car again.

The specially engineered super-hydrophobic and oleophobic paint, which repels water and oils, has been applied to the all-new European market Nissan Note to create the world’s first self-cleaning car.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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April 24-April 29

2015 Dodge Charger

The world’s only four-door muscle car gets a new exterior and a 300 horsepower V-6 mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Charger is built at the Brampton (Ontario) Assembly Plant in Canada. Production is slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2014.

keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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April 17-April 23

The Mirror

Nissan’s Smart Rearview Mirror is the world’s first LCD monitor that helps provide clear rearward visibility unimpeded by traditional obstacles such as cargo, tall passengers or inclement weather.

It is installed in an all-new 2014 Rogue at Nissan’s stand at the New York International Auto Show.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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April 10-April 16

Kia plans to get ahead of the pack

Kia will unveil an all-new midsize multi-purpose vehicle at the 2014 New York International Auto Show next week. Kia believes its new offering will pose a big challenge to its competitors in the segment. It will be big enough to transport as many as eight passengers and their belongings.

The Driveway team will be at the show to report on the latest launches.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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April 3-April 9

XL-ent fuel consumption

The world’s most fuel-efficient hybrid car, the Volkswagen XL1, will go on display in in London alongside other Designs of the Year award nominees.

A team led by Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design for VW, designed the Volkswagen XL1. It is a limited series production two-seater car that explores the limits of energy efficiency for a road-legal production vehicle.

The design brief for the XL1 was to produce a ‘one litre’ car – that is to say, a car that uses one litre of fuel per 100 km. The resulting vehicle uses just 0.9 litres per 100 km.

To achieve this fuel consumption figure, the XL1 was aerodynamically optimised, adopting the classic ‘tear drop’ shape and utilising innovations such as removing traditional wing mirrors and replacing them with small cameras called e-Mirrors which transmit exterior images to interior displays.

For more details on the XL1, visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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March 27-April 2

Faster than a speeding bullet… almost

The McLaren 650S Coupe made its North American debut this week at the Vancouver International Auto Show.

The British-made super car can accelerate from zero to 200km/h in just 8.4 seconds. The 4-litre, twin turbo V8, boasts a surprisingly good fuel consumption rate of 11.7 L/100K. Mind you, perform a few burnouts and you will be visiting the gas pumps with more frequency.

At press time, there was no sticker price available other than the European price, which is in excess of $350,000.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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March 20-26

The Year of the Mustang

The Hagerty Classic Alley at the Vancouver International Auto Show perhaps should be called Mustang Alley, in what is already the Chinese Year of the Horse.

There are two Mustangs on display, including this red 1966 Ford Mustang, along with a 1956 Chevrolet Nomad resto-mod and a 1966 Plymouth Satellite. The second Mustang is a 1965 Mustang convertible, restored to an as new condition and is steeped in Vancouver history.

A beautifully restored 1966 Mustang Hardtop will be auctioned off from the show’s Redline Stage on Saturday, March 29. That day 50 Mustangs, celebrating 50 years of the model, will be displayed on the Convention Centre Concourse.

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March 13-19

You could be forgiven for thinking this car was the latest example of an Italian supercar.

Well it is and it isn’t. It’s a PassoCorto designed in Italy for Korean car manufacturer Hyundai.

It’s the result of a competition staged by Hyundai at the famous Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) in Turin, Italy, to create a sports car that would appeal to Generation Y consumers. The final concept was displayed on the IED stand at the 2014 Salon International de l’Auto in Geneva, Switzerland.

The brief, drawn up by Hyundai’s European R&D centre in Rüsselheim, Germany, called for the 16 students on the Transportation Design masters’ course at IED to draw and design the car of their dreams. The car should be one they would want to buy and drive, targeting Generation Y –consumers born between the 1980s and the early years of this millennium, who have grown up with computers and are used to being connected at all times.

The result is a dramatic, compact and ultra-lightweight sports car concept called PassoCorto – Italian for ‘short wheelbase’. The compact two-seater weighs just 840 kg thanks to its carbon fibre chassis and is powered by a rear-mid mounted four-cylinder in-line 1,6-litre bi-turbo engine.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca   

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March 6-12

The Astra VXR EXTREME will be the most powerful front-wheel drive car produced by Vauxhall, General Motors’ UK subsidiary.

The first public sighting sight of the coupe with the 300-horsepower 2.0-litre turbocharged engine under the hood was made at the Geneva Auto Show this week. The all-aluminium engine is mated to six-speed manual gearbox transmitting power through a limited-slip differential.

The Vauxhall/Opel Astra models were available here under the Saturn sub-brand but with its demise so went the Astra. The likelihood of it being rebadged under another GM brand here is not likely but it’s okay to dream.

The Driveway crew is in Switzerland and will report on the show next week.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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February 27-March 5

Futuristic Kia with butterfly wings…

The Kia Niro concept is a futuristic, upscale and performance-inspired hybrid electric drive car designed for urban dwellers.

Entry into the vehicle is by way of dihedral “butterfly” doors with flush door handles that swing up high into the roof. Mounted directly onto the side windows are milled “Plexiglas 1” door mirrors with built-in cameras. And at the rear, the large hatch opens to reveal an expansive carbon-fibre-clad cargo deck ready to swallow large quantities of equipment, gadgets, gear or luggage.

This concept comes with a variant of Kia’s turbocharged 1.6-liter ‘Gamma’ engine, capable of 160 horsepower. The engine and a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission serve the front wheels while an electric hybrid system powered by regenerative braking delivers up to 45 horsepower to the rear wheels – when road conditions require extra grip.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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February 20-26

Make me one with my car…

The Toyota FV2 concept car has no steering wheel.

Advanced design innovations enable the driver to operate the car by moving back and forward and from side to side.

And the car can use intelligent technology to connect with other vehicles in its immediate surrounding area, as well as traffic infrastructure, picking up and providing a wide variety of advanced safety information.

Toyota has created an exclusive smartphone application that enables users to experience the Toyota FV2 and can be downloaded free of charge from the iTunes AppStore or GooglePlay.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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February 13-19

Arty take on the Vancouver International Auto Show

This year’s winner of the Vancouver International Auto Show poster contest breaks new ground using abstract imagery in its design.

Vancouver’s Trish Jodoin designed the 2014 poster and explained the concept: “I wanted to present a poster that would reflect both the Vancouver setting and the excitement of cars themselves

“Rather than choose the usual downtown skyline shot for Vancouver, I think the blurred background evokes a rainy city street at night, which is a wonderfully typical Vancouver sight. The slightly abstract lights in the front suggest two vehicles passing each other. I also think these lines subtly echo the graphic in the Vancouver Auto Show’s logo.”

Jodoin received $1,200 for her winning design.

The Vancouver International Auto Show takes place March 25-30, 2014 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Check it out: vancouverinternationalautoshow.com

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January 9-16

The MINI Paceman Snow Beast is a wild thing.

MINI ascends to dizzy heights once again to present another member of the MINI family in an original creative guise in the Swiss snow sport resort of Laax.

At last year’s Burton Global Series (BEGS), the PirateArtCrew snowboard artists unveiled an art installation featuring the MINI Countryman. This year Urban Art Illustrator Andreas Preis takes up the challenge to work his magic on a MINI Paceman.

Preis is known for his striking designs as displayed, for example, on skateboards and snowboards. Using his expressive illustrative skills, the artist has taken the MINI Paceman and turned it into a wild MINI Paceman SNOW BEAST in time for the start of the competitive event next week.

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December 12-18

Artist Jeff Koons presented the North American premiere of his BMW Art Car – the M3 GT2 racecar – at the Art Basel event in Miami Beach.

The BMW Art Car Collection started when French racing driver and auctioneer Hervé Poulain invited his friend Alexander Calder to design his BMW Le Mans 24-hour racecar in 1975 and so the BMW Art Car was born. Since then some of the greatest names in contemporary art have been added to the collection creating a wide range of artistic interpretations and there are now 17 BMW Art Cars in total.

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December 5-11

A Fiat Masterpiece

Commissioned by the FIAT brand, noted Italian artist Nicola Verlato completed the “Fiat 500L Italian Masterpiece,” using the ceiling of the all-new 2014 Fiat 500L as his canvas, during the recent 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The final image, which pays homage to elements of Michelangelo’s work inside the Sistine Chapel, is available, in addition to time-lapsed video of each of the six day’s efforts, here.  The Fiat 500L will be showcased by the FIAT brand at future events, including art exhibits.

Email: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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November 28-December 4

If you have $1.1 million burning a hole in your jeans pocket then this could be the car for you.

The Youabian Puma has been all the talk this past week at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The bulbous shaped, four-seat convertible is a massive 6.15 metres long, 2.24 metres wide and stands 1.8 metres tall, sitting atop a 4.15-metre wheelbase.

It’s larger than a big Bentley Mulsanne. It rides on 20-inch chrome wheels huge 44-inch (111 cms) tires.

The Los Angeles-based manufacturer says the car was “conceptualized for those individuals who dare to be different than the ordinary.”

Power comes from a 7.0-litre V8, generating 505 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

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November 21-27

Yes, yes, you are wondering what a picture four-seat sofa is doing in Driveway.

Well, it is a Bentley, after all.

The new Bentley Home collection is inspired by the renowned craftsmanship and exquisite materials that characterise the interiors of all Bentley models.

The bodies of the new Richmond pieces are created with an embracing double shell that can be covered in either leather or a fine veneer of burr walnut. The same wide selection of veneers, which is available for Bentley car customers, is also available for most pieces in the collection. The wood is then carefully matched to a padded structure covered in a light cashmere

The colour palette is composed of varying neutral tones of ivory and taupe matched with shades of beige and cream. Intricate details such as the leather braid around the contours highlight the soft and sinuous lines.

The iconic quilted diamond pattern embossed in the leather interiors of a Bentley has also been interpreted into the unique designs of the furniture.

No prices announced yet.

Email: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

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November 14-20

Kia provided the perfect rolling soundtrack to Las Vegas’s never-ending light show as the 2013 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show opened with five music-inspired all-new 2014 Soul vehicles.

The sound-blasting creations feature music-themed builds including a DJ Booth Soul, an “Amped” Soul, the museum-like Music Memorabilia Soul, a Soul inspired by The Voice, which Kia has sponsored for four seasons, and a Soul highlighting the brand’s partnership with the Vans Warped Tour.

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November 7-13

Mitsubishi will unveil three world premiere concept cars later this month at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show.

The AR concept (left) is a next-generation compact MPV, which combines SUV manoeuvrability with MPV roominess. It uses a lightweight mild hybrid system, which comprises a downsized 1.1-litre direct-injection turbocharged MIVEC engine.

The GC-PHEV (centre) is a full-size SUV with full-time 4WD. It is based on a front engine; rear-wheel drive layout plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) system comprising a 3.0-litre V6 supercharged MIVEC engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with a high-output motor and a high-capacity battery to deliver all-terrain performance.

Thecompact XR-PHEV (right) uses a front engine, front-wheel drive layout PHEV system configured with a downsized 1.1-litre direct-injection turbocharged MIVEC engine, a lightweight, compact and high-efficiency motor with a high-capacity battery.

All three concepts feature “e-Assist” active safety technologies and the advanced “connected car” technology. These functions include a danger detection system, which activates the corresponding safety functions.

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October 24-30

Honda will show this stunning S660 sports concept in all its flashy glory at next month’s Tokyo Motor Show. Specs for the roadster have not been released but it is known to use a 660cc, three-cylinder turbocharged gas engine, capable of sending the power of 67 horses to the front wheels. It’s expected to go into production next year in Japan but rumour has it that North American regulations may make its appearance here a major challenge.