Auto Trends Weekly Feb 06, 2015

1FRIDAY Feb 06, 2015www.swmediagroup.caAUTO TRENDS WEEKLY

For 2015, the Mitsubishi Lancer continues as a fine, good looking, and four-door sedan with sporting pretensions. This compact car comes as a well-equipped basic model

and as you move through the range you gain extra equipment such as: air conditioning, remote keyless entry, split-folding rear seat backs, and cruise control. You also get more performance enhancing features such 4-wheel disc brakes and All-Wheel Drive. New from 2014 changes are enhancements, such as an im-

proved touchscreen interface with backup camera for SE mod-els, while the GT and Ralliart trims can be optioned with new touchscreen navigation. The base models arrive with a willing, but-economical 148hp four cylinder engine, whilst the turbocharged Ralliart offer more performance thrills. It is sadly the last year for the ultra- high performance Evo model, so be quick if you still hanker after one. More upmarket features such as automatic climate control, key-less entry with pushbutton engine start, USB port, Bluetooth

wireless cell-phone link, and a sport suspension also add to the mix.Depending on trim level, options can include: Mitsubishi’s in-fotainment system, a sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, high-power audio system, navigation system, rearview camera, and rear-obstacle detection.The ultimate Lancer is the almost race-car spec of the high per-formance Ralliart version with: high-output turbocharged en-gine, specific transmission, All-Wheel drive, limited-slip differen-

Volume 02, Issue 06 || Ph:604-597-7749 || Fax: 1-855-796-3342 || Friday, Feb 06, 2015

2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Good looks, features and performance makes this sedan a hit!

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Continued on 5

By Veeno Dewan

2 FRIDAY Feb 06, 2015www.swmediagroup.ca AUTO TRENDS WEEKLY Sneak Preview

Toyota Invites Auto Industry to Share in Hydrogen Vehicle FutureToyota is opening the door to the hydrogen future, making available thousands of hydrogen fuel

cell patents royalty free. Announced at the recent 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, this Toyota initiative will spur development and introduction of innovative fuel cell technologies around the

world.Toyota will invite royalty-free use of approximately 5,680 fuel cell related patents held globally, including critical technologies developed for the new Toyota Mirai. The list includes approximately 1,970 patents related to fuel cell stacks, 290 associated with high-pressure hydrogen tanks, 3,350 related to fuel cell system software control and 70 patents related to hydrogen production and supply. The first generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, launched between 2015 and 2020, will be critical, requir-ing a concerted effort and unconventional collaboration between automakers, government regulators, and academia and energy providers. By eliminating traditional corporate boundaries, Toyota can speed the development of new technologies and move into the future of mobility more quickly, effectively and economically.Toyota has a long history of opening its intellectual properties through collaboration, and was instru-mental in facilitating the widespread adoption of hybrid vehicles by licensing related patents. Today’s announcement represents the first time that Toyota has made its patents available free of charge and reflects the company’s aggressive support for developing a hydrogen-based society.The hydrogen fuel cell patents will be made available to automakers who will produce and sell fuel cell vehicles, as well as to fuel cell parts suppliers and energy companies who establish and operate fuel-ing stations, through the initial market introduction period, anticipated to last until 2020. Companies working to develop and introduce fuel cell busses and industrial equipment, such as forklifts, are also covered. Requests from parts suppliers and companies looking to adapt fuel cell technology outside of the transportation sector will be evaluated on a case by case basis. The day’s announcement covered only fuel cell-related patents wholly owned by Toyota. Patents related to fuel cell vehicles will be available for royalty-free licenses until the end of 2020. Patents for hydrogen production and supply will remain open for an unlimited duration. As part of licensing agreements, Toyota will request, but will not require, that other companies share their fuel cell-related patents with Toyota for similar royalty-free use.

Ford Ecoboost technology now available in every new Ford vehicle

Ford EcoBoost technology is available in every new Ford car, utility and light-duty pickup in North America beginning this year. EcoBoost engines power a growing number of Ford performance models, including

the new Mustang, just-announced F-150 Raptor, as well as Fiesta ST and Focus ST. Based on the same race-proven engine architecture serving Ford’s IMSA Daytona Proto-type endurance racing efforts, the next-generation twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 in the GT features a wide power band with impressive time-to-torque characteristics.The engine demonstrates remarkable efficiency – a key attribute of its endurance rac-ing-derived powertrain, where exceptional performance combined with efficiency is a critical competitive advantage. Ford’s twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 raced to three wins in its first season of the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship in 2014, including a win in the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring, along with seven podiums over more than 15,000 endurance racing miles.

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4 FRIDAY Feb 06, 2015www.swmediagroup.ca AUTO TRENDS WEEKLY Auto News

At Montreal’s recent International Auto Show (MIAS), Land Rover revealed the final piece of its ‘Inspired by Britain’ jigsaw at the Montreal Auto Show, Canada. The Evoque NW8 is the third in a series of special edition models inspired by iconic British landmarks.

The Range Rover Evoque NW8 takes its inspiration from the postcode in North West Lon-don, UK, that has been at the heart of the city’s creative scene since the Sixties and is home to the world famous Abbey Road. It is based on the Dynamic model and complements the existing SW1 Monochrome and SW1 Colour special editions.The exterior of the NW8 is exclusively available in Fuji White paintwork with a unique Firenze Red Contrast Roof and matching red door mirror caps. The Range Rover lettering on the bonnet and tailgate is given the eye-catching red treatment while the 20-inch alloys are finished in Narvik Black*.Darkened headlights and fog lamps, clear rear lights and the Santo-rini Black wing vents and grille all highlight the Evoque’ s confident stance, while the NW8 is also distinguished by black rather than silver finished bumper inserts.Customers get an equally distinctive interior with a choice of Taurus leather Ebony seats with Pimento perforated inserts or Ebony seats with perforated Ebony inserts. Additional highlights include unique embroidered headrests and an Anodised Red rotary Driver Selector with matching Command-ShiftTM gearshift paddles or, on manual models, a white gearlever insert with red graphics.A unique Evoque graphic sets the NW8 apart from its special edition stablemates. The distinctive mo-tif is inspired by the iconic Abbey Road zebra crossing and adorns the tread plates, seat tags and key fob. Its design celebrates the history of Evoque showcasing the original 2008 LRX Concept, Evoque five-door, Evoque Coupe and 2012 Evoque Convertible Concept.Exclusivity is guaranteed with only 1,000 examples of the special edition NW8 set to be produced.

Range Rover Evoque NW8 Special Edition

Nissan reveals Le Mans Racing challenger during Super Bowl

Nissan declared itself ready to take on the world’s best sports car manufacturers after re-vealing a glimpse of its Le Mans challenger – the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO – during the commercial break for Super Bowl XLIX last week.

In a bold move, the Japanese manufacturer has interpreted the sport’s technical regulations in an innovative way, producing a front-engined, front wheel drive car that is powered by a V6 3.0-liter twin turbo gasoline engine and a kinetic energy recovery system.“It gave us great pride to reveal the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO during the Super Bowl,” said Roel de Vries, global head of Marketing and Brand Strategy at Nissan. “The combination of the Su-per Bowl and the Le Mans 24 Hours – two of the most watched sporting events in the world – presented us with a unique opportunity to showcase our most ambitious motorsport program in recent times. The GT-R is our flagship road car. This, the ultimate GT-R, continues a sporting bloodline that goes back three decades with NISMO, the motorsport and performance arm of Nissan. Le Mans drives innovation, so success on the track will lead to greater innovation in our road car range. We are the new kids at Le Mans. Our opponents are the best in the world, but we are ready.”The new car will contest the LM P1 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the high-est category in world sports car racing. Starting at Silverstone, UK on April 12, the series travels around the world to Spa in Belgium, onto the Le Mans 24 Hours and Germany’s Nürburgring, before going global with races in the U.S., Japan, China and the Middle East.The FIA World Endurance Championship is the ultimate proving ground for automotive com-panies as technological gains on the track can carry through to road cars. Racing car engineers are facing the same challenges as road car engineers as the spotlight falls on energy efficiency. With more technical freedom than Formula 1, the LM P1 engineers have ample opportunity to innovate.The intensive test program for the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO that began in Arizona last year contin-ues in the U.S. Nissan’s full LM P1 driver line-up will be revealed soon.

5FRIDAY Feb 06, 2015www.swmediagroup.caAUTO TRENDS WEEKLYSpecial Feature

Shelby GT350R MustangRace Track ready coupe coming to Canada Ford has unveiled the new Shelby® GT350R Mustang, the most track-ready road-go-

ing production Mustang ever built. Arriving later this year, the new Shelby GT350R has been designed and engineered

in the same spirit, delivering never-before-seen track capability from a Mustang – thanks to innovations in aerodynamics, chassis engineering and light-weighting.“The Shelby GT350R Mustang is a no-compromise car in the pursuit of maximum track capability,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “ “The Shelby GT350R Mustang is a car with the nimbleness and power delivery you want on a road course,” said Nair. “This isn’t just about horsepower. The Shelby GT350R is an all-around balanced athlete – one that is extraordinarily precise and agile.” Lightweight carbon fiber wheels are standard on Shelby GT350R, making Ford the first major automaker to introduce this innovative wheel technology as standard equipment. Shelby GT350R is more than 130 pounds lighter than the Shelby GT350 Track Pack model, which has proven its durability in multiple 24-hour racetrack tests.For customers seeking more comfort in their Shelby GT350R, Ford is offering an optional Electronics Package. Included is dual-zone air conditioning, 8-inch touch screen with navigation, seven-speaker audio system, turn signal mirrors and more.The Shelby GT350R has been optimized for aerodynamic excellence. Details including the hood vent for heat extraction and lift reduction, underbody belly pans front and rear, an aggressive diffuser, vented wheel wells and turbulence-reducing fender vents, wheel air curtains and side skirts all remain on Shelby GT350R, but the car’s downforce capabil-ity has been increased. Revisions to the front splitter maximize downforce, while an all-new high-efficiency car-bon fiber rear wing has been added in anticipation of competition. The wing moves the vehicle’s center of pressure rearward while improving downforce and lift balance – ideal

for high-speed track work. The new 5.2-litre dual-overhead-cam V8 engine is the first-ever production V8 from Ford with a flat-plane crankshaft – an architecture typically found only in racing applications or exotic European sports cars. Unlike traditional V8s, where the connecting rods are at-tached to the crankshaft at 90-degree intervals, this design evenly spaces all crank pins at 180-degree intervals to optimize high-speed engine breathing. It is the most powerful naturally aspirated production Ford engine ever, with more than 500 horsepower and more than 400 lb.-ft. of torque. An air-to-oil engine oil cooler typically found only on race cars maintains engine tem-peratures under the most severe conditions, as does a standard cooler for the six-speed manual transmission. A Ford-tuned limited-slip Torsen differential with 3.73 axle ratio is optimized for corner-ing grip and straight-line traction, while an electronically modulated rear-mounted air-to-oil differential cooler maintains ideal temperatures during track driving.Aside from carbon fiber wheels, larger front splitter and rear wing, Shelby GT350R fea-tures distinct design details. Exterior touches include red painted brake calipers, red pin striping at the edges of the optional over-the-top racing stripes and Shelby GT350R badging. Inside is high-contrast red stitching, Shelby GT350R badging and the D-shaped steering wheel fitted with a red center mark at the top. The limited-production Shelby GT350R will be available in the United States and Canada later this year, and is one of more than 12 new Ford Performance vehicles coming by 2020.“This is the pinnacle of performance Mustangs today,” said Dave Pericak, director, Ford Performance. “The Shelby GT350R Mustang lays the groundwork for a story that will play out for years to come on the track and the street.”

6 FRIDAY Feb 06, 2015www.swmediagroup.ca AUTO TRENDS WEEKLY

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Auto Review

January Canadian Auto Sales Continue Growth Trajectory The New Year has begun where the old one left off with Canadian auto sales growing

3.6% in January to 99,051 units compared to January 2014. January marked the 10th straight month of record auto sales in Canada. Auto sales in Canada for January also

continued the trend of being above the 5 year average sale for the month by a significant 9%. “A relatively mild winter along with sustained lower fuel prices have been contributing fac-tors to the sales growth,” noted David Adams, President of the Global Automakers of Can-ada. “Additionally, the 2015 model year will be the year with the highest number of new model introductions compared to any year over the last 30 years, which is always a magnet for consumer demand in the marketplace,” added Adams. “At the end of the day, the auto-motive business is all about three things – product, product and product”. Lower gasoline prices were also a contributing factor to the continued rise in truck sales with truck sales up 8.4% to units compared to last January. Truck sales represented 64.5% of all sales in January compared with 61.6% last January.For the GAC member companies, vehicle sales were up 4.4% to 54,838 units, representing a better than market growth for the 14 member companies of the Global Automakers of Canada. Fiat Chrysler took the early lead in sales with 18,054 units sold while the Ford F-series con-tinued to reign as the best- selling vehicle. The Hyundai Elantra took an early sales lead over the Honda Civic selling 3,083 copies compared to 2,289 for the Civic – the perennial passenger car sales leader for the last 17 years.GAC members’ sales represented 51.7% of total market sales in January compared to 55.1% for January 2014. (Data Source material from “Global Automakers of Canada.)

Canada’s Next Race Car Track will be in Osoyoos BC - Hopefully!

According to the Autos.ca website, Canada’s next major racing circuit look like it will be in Osoyoos in Northwestern BC and set to open in late 2015.Autos.ca reports that the Osoyoos Indian Band is granting the use of 277-acre site to US

based auto racing club Area 27 for 110 yearsThe racetrack is designed by famous Canadian Formula 1 racing driver Jacques Villeneuve. The website reports that approval from Osoyoos Indian Band was the first major step and much more environmental and legal hurdles exist before actual construction can begin. Area 57 is a private Motorsport club that is selling memberships to enable use of the track.

7FRIDAY Feb 06, 2015www.swmediagroup.caAUTO TRENDS WEEKLYAuto Preview

The Dodge Caravan, Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country are still the best selling Minivans in Canada and the US. And with good reason, as they provide families with unmatched versatility and most innovative features, such as class-leading horsepower,

class-exclusive Stow ‘n Go Seating, beautiful craftsmanship and segment leading technology that fits every type of budget. Our Town and Country tester for the week was a top or the line edition with every conceiv-able option. In Canada, the Chrysler offers four Town & Country models, The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price on the Town & Country ranges from $42,095 to $48,095 plus extra for some of the more fancy op-tions. All Chrysler Town & Country models come equipped with the award-winning 3.6-litre Pentastar™ VVT V6 engine with a class-leading 283 horsepower and a refined six-speed automatic transmission. Ex-terior features on our tester included: 17-inch aluminum wheels , bright side roof rails, chrome door handles, chrome door mir-ror caps, twin power- operated rear doors, rear remote opening hatch door, and more bright work on the grille and body sides. All in all the Town and Country looks polished and well- designed inside and out. The dark blue paint and sleek black leather-Alcantara suede trimmed seats combo on our tester was very impres-sive looking. The luxuriously appointed interior featured deep, plush and very comfortable seats, smart double stitched trim on the black interior trim pan-els, power-folding third-row seats and hands-free com-munication system, The 2015 Town & Country also comes standard with heated first- and second-row seating and a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel- vital in our cold Cana-dian climates. Our tester had the separate second row dual captain’s chairs option.In terms of interior space for the dollar, you certainly are not going to find much of a bet-ter bargain than the Chrysler Town & Country, which certainly offers more space than you would expect. With the seats up, cargo room is excellent as the recessed area for the third row seats provides more than plenty of room for groceries and what have you. Behind the front row hidden under the floor mats is the space reserved for the middle Stow ‘n Go seats

to fold into these too can be used for hidden cargo if one desires, as well.Fold the seats into the floor and you get a cavernous roomy flat area you could hold a party in! The third row seats are powered and can be lowered 60/40 if required. Stowing the middle row requires moving the two front seats fully forward but then they easily flip and fold into the floor. This van certainly has everything the kiddies could want and our tester was fully loaded with

two television screens for Blu-ray DVD viewing, one each for the second and third rows. There is probably no other mini-

van that kids would enjoy more on long trips. The “kids” seated up front also had a lots of options as

well, such as: a navigation system, backup camera, power everything including sunroofs, passenger

seats, rear hatch and both side doors, blind spot detection system, auto-dimming rear

view and driver’s side mirror, and satellite radio.

On the road the Town and Country’s high seating position inspires a

lot of confidence with its good all- round visibility and feeling of security. The 3.6-liter V6 en-

gine provides decent acceleration and the light power assisted steering

makes handling easy. On the highways it feels stable and surefooted. Passengers

enjoy the delightfully roomy cabin and the high end features and technology

To sum up, the 2015 Town & Country is a very lav-ishly equipped and luxurious vehicle with plenty of

family-friendly touches and value. Duel remote op-erated power sliding doors, and tailgate, leather seats,

Chrysler’s excellent Stow ‘n Go disappearing second-row passenger seats all make it a versatile, yet comfortable family

hauler.Nothing much to complain about. For the price and spec- it a no brainer and has to be con-sidered top of the list on any list if you are shopping for a luxury orientated minivan Chrysler is expected to bring a redesigned replacement for the minivan in 2017 with produc-tion to begin next year at the Windsor Assembly Plant 2015 Chrysler Town and Country Minivan base priced from $48,695. Price as tested - $55,710.

-By Veeno Dewan

2015 Chrysler Town and Country Minivan is still the top luxury one of the best around

8 9FRIDAY Feb 06, 2015www.swmediagroup.ca

FRIDAY Feb 06, 2015www.swmediagroup.caAUTO TRENDS WEEKLY AUTO TRENDS WEEKLY

Almost everyone has heard of cases and stories where motorist and vehicle owners have tried to claim damag-es and cost from such capers as staging fake accidents,

abandoning cars and setting them on fire, collusions involving bogus witnesses and the like. In the past there have reports of crooked rings of friends and families organizing and stag-ing elaborate fake accidents involving a couple of cars and claiming thousands of dollars in costs from ICBC. Other fraud includes claims for over exaggerated or non- existent injuries and unrelated damage to vehicles and false claims of stolen cars. The cost of these fraudulent cases tie up thousands of hours in claims work for ICBC and cost potentially hundreds of millions of dollars each year. In fact, ICBC estimates fraud costs its three million- plus customers between an extra $100 and $150 each year in additional insurance fees.Inevitably all motorist and vehicle owners will pay even more as insurance rates rise to reflect added costs. However things may get a little harder now for would- be fraudsters as the In-surance Corporation of British Columbia released its top fraud files of 2014 and intends to use new technology to crack down on offenders. ICBC’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU), is now using facial rec-ognition technology, the social media and cellphone tracking to identify and catch fraudsters and are investigating claims with extra attention to detail. Although most people are hon-est says ICBC, there is still a small minority of people who try to abuse the system to the detriment of everyone. ICBC says new digital technology, improved forensics; investigation techniques and more thorough investigating into suspicious claims will make a marked dent in the rate of fraud detected. Below are some of ICBC’s top fraudster of 2014

The coverage conspiracy

A customer with only basic insurance and an expired driver’s licence rear-ended another vehicle. The customer asked the driver in the other vehicle to tell ICBC the crash happened a day later so she could buy optional insurance, which would cover the damage to her vehicle. The other driver refused. The underinsured customer then bought optional insurance on her way home from the crash, despite telling ICBC she went straight home after the crash when reporting the claim. Us-ing the other driver’s statement to ICBC and time-stamped insurance transaction data, ICBC denied her claim. The under-insured driver was on the hook for the cost to repair both ve-hicles, which was more than $7,400.

The telltale airbagA customer who was prohibited from driving claimed his ve-hicle had been stolen at the time it was involved in a three-vehicle crash. Forensic testing of residue on the vehicle’s driver-side airbag revealed a DNA match to the customer and proved he was in fact the driver at the time of the crash. The customer was found guilty of providing a false statement relating to an ICBC claim under the Insurance Vehicle Act, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay ICBC back more than $18,000 in claims costs and total loss payments paid out for the other two vehicles in-volved in the crash.

The torched lemonA customer reported his truck was stolen at a movie theatre. The vehicle was recovered, burnt. A vehicle inspection showed the burnt truck had serious mechanical problems, contrary to what the customer told ICBC. Further investigation into the customer’s cellphone records revealed that he was at the scene where the burnt vehicle was found. The customer pled guilty to providing a false statement relating to an ICBC claim under the Insurance Vehicle Act, fined $4,000 and ordered to pay ICBC back more than $3,000 for investigative and claims costs.

The hit-and-run victim A customer told ICBC his Honda Civic was parked outside his home when it was struck by an unknown vehicle that fled the scene. Damage to the customer’s vehicle was not consistent with a hit-and-run and paint flecks matching the customer’s Honda Civic were actually found embedded in a vehicle from another hit-and-run claim. When confronted with these pieces of evidence, the driver of the Honda Civic admitted to making a false claim, as he had in fact fled the crash scene after his vehi-cle struck another. The customer was found guilty of providing a false statement relating to an ICBC claim under the Insurance Vehicle Act, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay ICBC back more than $5,600 in claims costs and repair costs to the vehicles.

The traveller’s taleA woman was a passenger in a vehicle that was rear-ended and

told ICBC she had a long-term injury from the crash, including ongoing neck pain and headaches. ICBC’s special investigation unit found a blog by the injured passenger chronicling a six-month motorcycle trip through South America that included drives on extremely rough terrain, showing her injuries weren’t as severe as she claimed. This claim went to trial and the cus-tomer was awarded just $12,000 by the judge—two-thirds less than she’d originally asked for.

The ill-thought impersonationA Vancouver police officer observed a driver talking on his cell-phone while driving and pulled him over to discover the driver had received a 90-day driving prohibition two days earlier. The driver was charged with driving while prohibited, ticketed for driving while using a cellphone and received a one-year driv-ing prohibition. Undeterred, the customer next obtained an interim driver’s licence using a friend’s identity and transferred his vehicle into his friend’s name. Using facial recognition soft-ware, ICBC identified the prohibited driver as impersonating his friend. The driver pled guilty to impersonation, a Criminal Code offence, and was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and a $375 victim surcharge fee.The public can help prevent fraud by reporting suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claims or other activities to ICBC’s fraud tips line at 604-661-6844 or 1-800-661-6844, toll-free in B.C. Tip information is confidential and callers can remain anonymous.

Special Auto Trends Feature

ICBC’s top fraud files of 2014 How Vehicle Fraud Ends up Costing Motorist more

-By Veeno Dewan

10FRIDAY Feb 06, 2015www.swmediagroup.ca AUTO TRENDS WEEKLY

Spring time is around the corner and you need to get ready for the season. The changing of the seasons is often one of the best ways to time basic automobile maintenance. The dawn of spring is the perfect reminder for you to verify that your windshield wipers are

still in good shape, your tires are holding air and your air filter is still clean enough to do its job properly. Spring is also a great time to rotate your tires, particularly if you live in a region where you don’t need to swap on a set of summer rubber once the winter is over Warmer weather makes it easier to take care of all the cleaning you may have put off during

the winter months. It is often far too cold to regularly wipe down the interior or hose off the exterior of your automobile during the December to March period, which means that the dirt, dust and grime associated with regular use can re-ally build up.Of course, winter brings with it several additional clean-ing concerns that should be taken care of once spring rolls around. First and foremost, for those who live in a region where road salt is a fact of life, it’s important to make sure all traces of this corrosive substance are removed from your vehicle, inside and out. Road salt is tenacious; it clings to ev-ery nook and cranny of your vehicle’s undercarriage. Be sure your car wash, whether you do it yourself by hand or visit a self-serve or automatic car wash, includes your automobile’s wheel wells and underside, which means that it is very im-portant to make sure that whatever car wash you choose, offers the ability to liberally blast your chassis with strong jets of water. Since salt accumulation is one of the biggest contributors to rust, keeping it off your vehicle goes a long way toward protecting your investment.Salt, snow and ice are also very easy to track into your ve-hicle over the course of the winter where they melt together on carpets and floor mats. It can be frustrating to try to re-move salt and mud stains from carpeting using traditional shampoos; fortunately, there are special enzyme cleaning products that are specifically designed to handle road salt, breaking it down so it can be removed from fabric. Simply spray on, wait and then wipe to take care of even the most frustrating lumps of road salt in your vehicle’s interior.Taking the time in the spring to handle the little things can make a big difference in your car’s appearance and perfor-

mance, and lengthen its lifespan. Here is a quick spring checklist of things that should be done to preserve your vehicle and keep it working at its best.•Check Winter Tires – look for damage or wear and consider removing unless you live in rural areas in Western Canada, take your car to the mountains for snow sports or in the prairies or Eastern Canada that is! If you don’t have winter tires, it’s still a good idea to have your tires rotated or replaced.•Check your Brakes – Listen for signs of brake wear like squealing or screeching.

Pre - Spring Car Care

Tips

Continue on Page 12

Tip of the Week


The iconic MINI brand has expanded in the last few years to offer a plethora of two –door coupes, roadsters, ex-tended wheel base models four – door models and a

crossover. Looking for something unique and funky? MINI has you covered!Our recent tester was the crossover model; namely a 2015 MINI Cooper S Countryman All4. The Countryman has been around since 2010 and is the largest of the MINI models to date. Key attributes to the Countryman is the chunky left- field looks, five door hatchback format, All Wheel Drive, cool in-terior cabin, easy entry and exit, a high visibility driving posi-tion and decent enough room for four adults. The Countryman configuration is front-engine, all-wheel drive and power is provided by a 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder developing 181 Horsepower with either six speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.

Our tester was fitted with the following options: six speed automatic transmission, ($1,300). Essentials Package with glass sunroof, heated front seats, sport button and LED fog lights $1,400). The Loaded Package ($1,100) added comfort access, front center armrest, rain sensor auto headlamps, auto climate control and white turn signals. Also fitted was the Wired Package, comprising voice recognition, integrated visual display, blue toot hand USB connectivity, smartphone integration, MINI navigation and combox controller ($1,400). Stand-alone options included black headlights ($100), An-thracite headliner ($180), Electric window defroster ($500) and metallic paint.

Base price for the midnight grey tester was $29,950 plus freight: $1,750. Final cost with all options came to $36,710.The Countryman interior features a tall, headroom-friendly cabin with a nice, high driving position. All the super-cool MINI styling elements are present featuring a huge circular speedo and display screen combo, circular air vents and styl-ish toggle switches for minor controls. One striking feature on our tester was the matte all- black finish to the dash and instruments, air vents and doors which makes the interior very dramatic as the trim and seats are also black. Only smalls chrome and aluminum accenting de-tails break up the monochrome effect.

Auto Review

- By Veeno Dewan

Continue on Page 12

2015 MINI Cooper S Countryman All4 Crossover has four-doors and plenty of street cred

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Pre - Spring Car Care Tips

•Check Your Belts and Hoses – A slipping belt will affect the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system.•Exterior Clean – Wash your car and apply wax after it’s dried to preserve your vehicle’s shine. Also, make sure the underbody of your vehicle is clean. Get rid of salt build up which can lead to erosion and rust.•Interior Clean – Vacuum the inside of your vehicle and store away your winter mats. * Change your oil according to manufacturers’ specifications.•Top up all fluids – Windshield washer, anti-freeze, oil, power steering & transmission fluids.•Apply Protectant – The sun can damage or crack any vinyl surface that you have in your car (dashboard, steering wheel, seats). Make sure you apply a protectant to keep this from hap-pening.•Have your battery tested. Make sure it still holds a charge.•Wiper Blades – During the rainy season it’s important to make sure your wiper blades are working properly.•Alternator – Test the alternator output to make sure the charging system is working well.

Continued from Page 10 Continued from

At this price point and in keeping with MINI as an upmarket, aspirational brand; quality, fittings and finish are top quality. The leather on the seats is thick and the plastics and trim of a very high standard.The huge center-mounted speedometer also houses the color display screen, which fea-tures the navigation system. The display controls the cars entertainment feature via a small control knob and proves easy to use with a little practice. I managed to program the navi-gation system first time with very little effort. The front seats are comfortable and also arrive heated. Overall the Countryman is the roomiest of the MINI lineup with space for four adults with decent enough leg room, and headroom front and rear. The big sunroof also brightens up the black leather interior. On board storage is good with twin cupholders and roomy door-mounted storage pockets. There is a spacious cargo area behind the rear seats and the rear seats can be folded down to expand the cargo area. On the road; the Mini’s 1.6 litre, 181-horsepower turbo engine is a decent enough perform-er with good low and mid-range torque. Turbo lag is largely absent and the power comes on strong in the mid and low-end torque range. The engine is well matched to the six speed auto and All Wheel Drive System.The tester’s optional six-speed automatic with paddle shift feature is also fun to use, but not as fast as a proper manual. I prefer to keep the auto transmission in its normal mode and would recommend more performance driving enthusiasts opt for the available 6-speed manual tranny.Handling is good and despite the Countryman’s extra weight and taller profile, it still fea-tures sublime MINI-like handling with a stable composed ride and very responsive steering around corners and in fast lane changes. Also note; the excellent visibility and tight turning radius means the MINI is easy to park and maneuver in tight urban streets and parking lots. Fuel economy ratings for the Countryman are (L/100 km): 8.7 city, 6.5 highway.The higher ground clearance and recalibrated suspension setting allows for a slightly softer ride and the All-Wheel Drive system offers very good traction on wet and slippery surfac-es. Rear passengers had no complaints, although the Countryman is a proper four-seater rather than tight five- seater. That tiny, rear middle- seat perch is not a long distance option! To sum up, the MINI Countryman S All4 is worth considering if you like the MINI brand and design but need four doors and a much roomy alternative to the two-door MINI. There is of course the spacious MINI Clubman, with rear barn doors as well. However the Countryman All4 offers the five-door option. As usual options packs which are ‘must haves’ on the MINI do hike up the base cost, but will be much appreciated by owners as they live with car. With its neat looks, roomy cabin, five–doors, turbocharged power, and All-Wheel Drive the Countryman is a stylish CUV that will bring a smile to every owner. It’s a MINI after all!Auto review by Veeno Dewan. 2015 MINI Countryman S All4 Priced from $29,950.Price as tested: $36,710

2015 MINI Cooper S Countryman All4

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tial, and satellite radio. Comfort and convenience features include: automatic climate control, heated front seats, steering wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls, leather-wrapped steering wheel, color multi-informa-tion display, AM/FM/-disc in-dash changer, digital signal processing, speed, Sirius satellite radio months complimentary service, Bluetooth@ 2.0 USB input, tilt/height adjust. steering wheel and 6-way adjustable driver seat. Also available is fast-key keyless entry & ignition,, power central door locks with keyless entry, power windows, a height-adjustable steering column, a 60/40 split folding high-back rear bench, rear centre armrest with cup holders, auto-off halogen headlights, fog lights, If you like plush…the Sun and Sound Leather Package” offers a leather interior. powered sunroof and uprates the audio system to a 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate Punch system boasting nine speak-ers including a 10-inch subwoofer, One also gains in this package the cool and handy FAST-key (Free-hand Advanced Security Transmitter key fob that allows you to keep your keys in your purse or pocket upon entry and one doesn’t need a key to start the ignition. Interior ergonomics are good with everything where it should be. On the road the Lancer is a very pleasant, fast, great handling car. The Lancers sport-tuned front Macpherson strut and rear multi-link setup provides excellent road holding and a comfortable ride with just enough sport to keep you entertained. The steering is firm direct and allows for copious amounts of road feel. The brakes are also good with well- modulated stopping through the ABS-equipped four-wheel disc setup. Gear shifts are also precise and fast enough for all drivers if you opt for the manual transmission. I like the firm, sporty body hugging front seats and the usable fairly spacious back seat cabin and rear trunk. Dislikes? Not too many- the harsh interior plastics could be higher grade and that is about it. Buying the Lancer almost becomes a no-brainer with its distinctive looks, a great engine and that amazing ten-year power train warranty. Safety is also high, with the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander was designated a “Top Safety Pick+” rated vehicle by the US based Institute for Highway Safety. To sum up the Lancer has more charm, style and presence that its rivals from Toyota and Honda and is worth looking into if you seek a more stylish, individual, fast, fun to drive, fuel efficient sporty family car .Add the class leading 10 year warrantee and it is hard to overlook. This is in fact,

one of my favorite cars to drive. Auto review by Veeno Dewan2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Specs.Type Four-door sedan and hatchbackLayout Front-engine, front-wheel-drive / optional all-wheel-driveBase engine (hp) 2.0L four-cylinder (148 hp)Optional engine(s) (hp) 2.4L four-cylinder (168 hp); 2.0L four-cylinder turbo (237hp); 2.0L four-cylinder turbo (291hp)Transmission(s) 5-speed manual, CVT, 6-speed dual-clutch automaticFuel economy (L/100km, city/highway) 7.9/5.8 (CVT 2.0L)Basic warranty 60 months/100,000 km2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Base price from $14,998.

This vehicle is available at: Newtype Richmond Mitsubishi9200 Bridgeport Rd. Richmond, BC V6X 1S1Call: Brian Low or Zain Kaiyum, Ph: + 1 604 231 9200 Web: www.newtypemitsubishi.com

2015 Mitsubishi Lancer

1996 Dodge Grand CaravanThis vehicle has just landed, details to follow soon! If you can’t wait though, email us at [email protected] or call (250) 545-2261 right away! $2,995.00

Chevrolet Pickup 1981396 HOT ROD STEP SIDE SHORT BOX BLACK BEAUTY RESTORED MAY TRADE, $8,995. Call: 604-754-6569

Infiniti M35 x 20064 Dr, White, 160,000 km, new tires new breaks excellent condition every option available, $12,750. Call: 604-513-3612

Volvo 740 1989180,000 km, WAGON NO RUST CLEAN LOW KMS BOOKS RECORDS AUTO 4CYL SOLID $2900 OBO 604 535 5997

Ford Taurus 2006102 KMS MINT COND 6 CYL AUTO 4 DR SENIOR OWNED $4,200. Call: 604-535-5997

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Cruise, CD Stereo, Leather, Low KM, All original, looks and runs perfect, a real nice van! $4800 Call: (604) 366-0444

CHEVY ASTRO 2004 fully loaded, excellent running van for sale. $2,499 OBO. 778-772-1313

Honda Accord 1998Warr. Auto, Leather, Sunroof, 206Kms Pwr Opt., $2,480. Colverautosales.ca 604-939-8489

DODGE DAKOTA 2004Excellent running pickup, fully loaded, available for $3999 OBO 778-772-1313

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Auto Trends Weekly Feb 06, 2015

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