2009 Canadian International Autoshow

The theme of this year's Canadian International Autoshow was The New Era.

For the first time in almost a century, vehicle manufacturers have to consider more than the internal combustion engine as a source of power. Alternatives such as hybrids, fuel cells, and electric vehicles are being introduced at a rapid rate.

The more than 300,000 visitors to this year's Canadian International Autoshow had an opportunity to see the latest vehicles and advances in automotive technology.

The Autoshow is more than the manufacturer's latest offerings; it includes show promotions and features.

Via Rail had their Silver Blue Class contest. The winner of two passes would travel first class from Toronto to Vancouver on Via Rail.
Sunoco was giving away $50,000 of its performance fuel. Visitors to the Sunoco booth could enter and win a gift card for up to $5,000 in gas.
There was also an opportunity for showgoers to win the new 2010 Lexus RX 350.
One of the many features being offered was free parking. Free parking was available at Harbourfront Center from 6-11 pm weekdays and all day on the weekends. Along with the parking show, organizers offered a free shuttle from the lots.
Returning for the fifth year was the Cruise Nationals. On hand were the Grand Champion and ten of the finalists.
Castrol presented a collection of Corvettes spanning 56 years.
GTA in Motion featured the Future is Electric, a combination of informative presentations and innovative displays focusing on future automotive trends and technology.
GTA in Motion also included the NASCAR Pavilion. For the fifth year in a row, the exhibit celebrated NASCAR racing.

Below are some of the vehicle highlights from the show.

The Canadian International Autoshow would only be complete with some Canadian content. Castrol's Corvette exhibit included the 2007 Corvette Z06 Ron Fellows Championship Edition built by General Motors to commemorate the success of the Canadian race driver. Fellows won six consecutive American Le Mans Series championships from 2001 to 2006. 399 were produced, 300 for the United States, 33 for Canada, and the remainder for export. The Corvette features a 7.0 liter V8 SFI engine, which produces 505 horsepower and 407 lb-ft of torque. The engine is connected to a six-speed manual transmission.

This is the Subaru G4e concept car. The G4e is short for Green for the Earth. This electric vehicle was developed by Japanese automaker Subaru in conjunction with the Tokyo Electric Power Company. The car is wedge-shaped to reduce the coefficient of drag. To make the G4e move through the air cleaner, designers have used rear view cameras rather than mirrors mounted on the body. Despite its size, the Subaru is intended to carry five passengers. Power the G4e is a 65 kW electric motor with lithium-ion batteries that have a range of 200 kilometers.

The Nissan GT-R attracted much attention at this year's Canadian International Autoshow. This four-passenger Coupe comes standard with all-wheel drive. However, what is under the hood has sparked the most interest. The GT-R is equipped with a 3.8-liter double-overhead-camshaft V6 engine with two turbochargers. As a result, the motor produces 480 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 430 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. The Nissan is fitted with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The only downside to the GT-R is a curb weight of 1,740 kilograms.

Hyundai is manufacturing its Genesis model with two different engine options. The first is a 3.6-liter double-overhead-camshaft V6, which produces 290 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 264 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. The second option is a 4.6-liter double-overhead-camshaft V8, which produces 375 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 333 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm. All cars are equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Genesis with the V6 motor retails for $37,995, while the V8 option will set consumers back $43,995.

Lotus currently produces three models: the Elise, Evora, and Exige. The car on display was the Exige. The two-door Exige is rear-wheel-drive with a six-speed manual transmission. Mounted behind the driver is a 1.8-liter inline 4-cylinder double-overhead-camshaft engine that is supercharged. This combination produces 220 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 165 lb-ft of torque at 5,500 rpm. Being a sports car, it is quite small. The Lotus is 3,780 mm long and 1,850 mm wide. The total package weighs 942 kilograms.

Nissan's new 370Z Coupe was unveiled at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. The car looks similar to its predecessor, the 350Z; however, it is shorter and wider. In keeping with its name, the Nissan is powered by a 3.7-liter double-overhead-camshaft V6 engine. The motor produces 332 horsepower at 7,000 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm. This model is equipped with a seven-speed Jatco automatic transmission.

Audi showcased their latest R8. The two-door Coupe has Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. The R8 is powered by a 4.2-liter double-overhead-camshaft V8 motor, which produces 420 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and 317 lb-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm. Bolted to the engine is a six-speed manual transmission. The 1,639-kilogram car's fuel consumption is 17.1 liters/100 kilometers in the city and 10.3 on the highway. Depending on the options selected, the price can range from $141,000 for the base to $152,000.

On display in the Corvette exhibit from the General Motors Heritage Center Collection was the Mako Shark I labeled the XP-755 concept car. The Mako Shark I was designed by Larry Shinoda under the direction of General Motors Styling and Design leader Bill Mitchell. The vehicle took design cues from the 1958 XP-700 double bubble car. The Mako Shark I debuted at the 1962 New York International Automobile Show. The two-door convertible sports car has design elements that would appear in the 1963 – 1967 Corvette C2 and 1968 – 1981 Corvette C3.

Another car on loan from the General Motors Heritage Center Collection was the Manta Ray. In 1969, the Mako Shark II was returned to the GM Design Studios and received styling updates. Upon completion, the car was renamed the Manta Ray. The transformation included the addition of a front spoiler, while the grille and external exhaust pipes were redesigned. Changes were also made to the rear of the car. Interestingly, the Firestone tires were replaced with Goodyears. The Manta Ray also had the engine replaced with a ZL-1 427 cu.in. V8 that produces 430 horsepower.

On display in the Scion compound were the company's current models, the tC, xB, and XDfive, along with the Scion FUSE Sports Concept. This concept vehicle was built by Five Axis Models with assistance from MillenWorks. The FUSE was unveiled at the 2006 New Your International Auto Show. Scion describes the all-new FUSE Sports Coupe as a reflection of the boundless limits and creative envelope that embodies all the vital personalization components of a Scion product. Powering the car is a 2.4-liter double-overhead-camshaft engine with multi-port fuel injection and VVT-I.

The NASCAR Pavilion would only be complete with a couple of race cars. The No. 02 Ford Fusion of Kerry Micks and Scott Steckly's No. 22 Dodge Avenger were on display from the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Both drivers are front runners in the series. Steckly captured the 2008 championship with nine top-10 results in thirteen starts, including four victories. During the season, Micks grabbed a win on the Mosport Speedway oval and had eight top-ten finishes on his way to fifth in the final standings.

The Honda FC Sport concept car first appeared at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. It is an exercise by Honda's Advanced Design Studio in Pasadena, California, to show the company's vision of a hydrogen-powered sports car. The hydrogen-powered Coupe is a three-seater. It does not have an interior, but Honda designers envision the driver sitting in the middle between two passengers—like the McLaren F1. Two electric motors on the rear axle drive the FC Sport.

The Cube, which was new from Nissan in 2009, has been available in Japan since 1998. The Nissan being sold in North America is the third-generation version, which has more rounded styling than its predecessors. This mini multi-purpose vehicle is built on the Renault-Nissan Alliance's front-wheel-drive B platform. It is equipped with a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produces 122 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque.

The BMW M6 is available as a Coupe or Cabriolet. One of the unique features of the M6 is its engine. Powering the car is a 5.0-liter V10 with double-overhead-camshafts that has an output of 500 horsepower at 7,750 rpm and 383 lb-ft of torque at 6,100 rpm. Mated to the engine is a six-speed manual transmission. The 1,777-kilogram car's fuel consumption is 20.3 liters/100 kilometers in the city and 11.7 on the highway. The gas tank holds 70 liters of premium fuel.

Mitsubishi brought their i-MiEV to the Autoshow. The MiEV is an acronym for Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle. This city car is a five-door hatchback that will be offered first to fleet customers in Japan. The MiEV's permanent-magnet electric motor produces 47 kW of power and 180 N-m of torque. The transmission is a single-speed reduction gear design. The car uses a Li-ion battery. The range between charges is 160 kilometers. The MiEV is 3,395 mm long and 1,475 mm wide with a height of 1,600 mm. The curb weight of the vehicle is 1,080 kilograms.

Subaru used this year's Canadian International Autoshow to showcase their Impreza WRX / STi model. This car has proven successful in competition and won the 2008 North American Rally championship. Unsurprisingly, the WRX / STi has a 2.5-liter aluminum flat-four-cylinder double-overhead-camshaft engine with four valves per cylinder. The motor also features direct fuel injection with an intercooled turbocharger. This combination produces 305 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 290 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The 3,360-pound car is limited to a top speed of 145 mph.

2009 saw the release of the second generation of the BMW Z4, called the E89, by BMW purists. This is the first BMW created by two female designers, Juliane Blasi and Nadya Amaout. Its launch was announced in December 2008, and its availability was in May 2009. The two-door sports car is powered by a 3.0-liter six-cylinder double-overhead-camshaft engine. Power is transferred to the rear wheels using a six-speed manual transmission. The Z4 is the first Z model to use a retractable hardtop. Options include a turbocharged motor, a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and active suspension.

Mini had several models on display at this year's Canadian International Autoshow, including this Clubman S. The three-door, four-passenger Station Wagon is front-wheel drive. Under the hood is a 1.6-liter single-overhead-camshaft engine. The power output for the Clubman is 118 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 114 lb-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm. The car is 9.4 inches longer than a Mini Cooper. As a result, there is 61 percent more cargo room behind the backseat. The 1,238-kilogram Mini retails for $26,400.