2013 Canadian International Autoshow

2013 marked the 40th anniversary of the Canadian International AutoShow. This year’s edition combined the past, the best of the present, and future visions. The AutoShow continued to provide The Total Automotive Experience with over 600,000 square feet dedicated to the latest offerings from vehicle manufacturers. Additionally, there were big prize giveaways and several features.

Returning to the AutoShow was:

Auto Exotica showcased high-end cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Aston Martin, Bentley, and Rolls Royce.
Eco-Drive Showcase, presented by CAA, had an array of clean, fuel-efficient vehicles and technologies available in the market now or soon to be. Automakers used the opportunity to showcase their most fuel-efficient offerings.
A feature returning for its third year was the Cruise Nationals. The vehicles featured at the Canadian International AutoShow are the top ten from this summer’s Cruise Nationals. One of these cars will be voted the Grand National Champion.

However, there were several new exhibits, some of which included:

The Canadian Builders Showcase celebrated original customized cars and trucks and the Canadians who built them.

The Canadian International AutoShow also showcased the Sport Compact car market.

There were also prizes to be won by showgoers, such as a Hyundai Genesis R-Spec, Subaru XV Crosstrek, Subaru BRZ, and $40,000 to purchase a new vehicle.

The Autoshow, which was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Center, ran from February 15 – 24.

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette made its first appearance at the Detroit Auto Show. The new C7 is powered by a new 6.2 liter V8 with direct injection and continuously variable valve timing. It produces 450 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. This combination results in a car traveling from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds. The new Corvette achieves more than 1g in cornering grip.

Another powerhouse at the Canadian International AutoShow was Chrysler’s 2013 SRT Viper, which is the responsibility of Canadian Ralph Gilles. The focus has been on modern technology and a comfortable ride. However, under the hood is an 8.4 liter V10 engine, making 640 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. The SRT is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission. Top speed has been recorded at 330 km/h.

One of the cars in the Canadian Hot Rod Builders Showcase was this 1941 Willys. Willys-Overland Motors manufactured vehicles from 1937 to 1942. The Willys Americar was produced in 1941 and 1942. The cars were powered by an undependable four-cylinder 2.2 liter engines. The Hot Rod crowd adopted the vehicles and installed alternative power plants. The Willys on display has a blown V8 and was built by Cavan Country Trucks.

Appearing in the Jaguar compound was this XKR-S model. This car is available as a coupe or convertible. The Jag uses a 5.0 liter V8 engine, which is supercharged. The motor produces 550 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 502 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm. The XKR-S is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission and an active differential. Performance-wise, the car will go from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 300 km/h.

One of the thirty-two vehicles to have their Canadian premiere at the 2013 Canadian International Autoshow was the Ford Shelby GT500. This model is available as a coupe or convertible. Under the hood is a 5.8 liter V8 with a supercharger for added performance, and it is connected to a 6-speed manual transmission. The engine produces 662 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 631 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Ford engineers promised Carroll Shelby that the GT500 would go 200 mph.

In the BMW exhibit was the Vision i8 Concept car, scheduled to begin production in 2014. The plug-in hybrid is a two-door coupe with a transverse mid-engine that is all-wheel-drive. The gas engine is a BMW B38K15T0, a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder. The electric motor is 98 kW, producing 131 horsepower with a combined output of 369. The power is transferred through an Aisin F21-360 FT EOP transmission.

Fisker Automotive is an American manufacturer founded in 2007 by Henrik Fisker. The company’s Fisker Karma could be found in Auto Exotica. The Karma is a plug-in hybrid built in Finland from 2011 to 2012. The front-engine rear-wheel drive car uses a General Motors 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder Ecotec engine. The Karma also utilizes two 120 kW electric motors. The 20.1 kWh lithium-ion battery gives the Fisker a range of 370 kilometers.

The Sport Compact Evolution display was well represented. The Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S were introduced at last year’s Canadian International AutoShow but have already caught the imagination of the Tuner crowd. There were several modified examples on the premises. The front engine 2.0 liter Subaru ‘boxer’ engine and rear-wheel layout is a great candidate for upgrades.

Debuting at Mercedes-Benz was the G-Class, available as a G 550 or G 63 AMG model. The G is for Gelandewagen, which means cross-country vehicle when translated into English. The G-Class has a 5.5 liter V8, producing 382 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. When equipped with a turbocharger, the output is 536 horsepower at 5,500 rpm. The all-wheel-drive vehicle uses a 7-speed automatic transmission.

The centerpiece of the Toyota exhibit was the Lexus LF-LC Concept car. The two-door luxury coupe premiered at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. The LF-LC is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive car. The Lexus is powered by the company’s advanced hybrid drive system. The interior of the LF-LC has many innovative features, such as a remote touchscreen control system and additional controls on the door armrests.

General Motors answer to Ford’s Shelby GT500 Coupe is the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. The ZL1 uses a 6.2 liter supercharged V8 that produces 580 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 556 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. The car is also available with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. The ZL1 can be had for $58,500. The Camaro is also available in LS, LT and SS models.

This is a Jaguar XF RS. It is the company’s answer to the BMW M5, Audi RS6 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. Jaguar used the XF model to create the RS version and added a supercharger to the 300-horsepower 4.2 liter V8 to increase the power output to 510 horsepower. With the upgrade, the RS goes from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 186 miles per hour. A limited production run will be available in 2014.

Mercedes-Benz is one of a few companies that continue to produce convertible versions of their sedans. The Mercedes on display is the SLS AMG Roadster. Interestingly, the roof is fully automatic and lowers in eleven seconds, which can be operated at a speed up to 50 km/h. The engine in the rear-wheel drive car is a 6.2 liter V8 with an output of 583 horsepower at 6,800 rpm. This Roadster retails for $214,200.

Several versions of the Dodge Charger are available, which is reflected in the price, which ranges from $29,995 to $48,095. At the top end is the AWD Sport package. It has a 6.4 liter V8 engine with an output of 470 horsepower. It features 19 wheels, a paddle shifter, sports seats, a rear spoiler, and a transmission with a sports mode. Also, the all-wheel-drive disengages the front wheels when they are not required.

The Lexus LF-CC (Lexus Future-Compact Coupe) first appeared at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. The LF-CC uses design cues from Lexus’s LF-LC and LFA concept cars. The driveline for this hybrid is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle gas engine with D-4S direct injection technology and a water-cooled permanent magnet electric motor. The LF-CC is also a rear-drive vehicle.

The Dodge Avenger nameplate was reintroduced in 2007. This midsize family sedan is offered in five trim levels – CVP, SXT, SXT Plus, R/T and Blacktop. The base models use the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 173 horsepower. A 3.6 liter V6 option is rated at 283 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. In addition, four and six-speed automatic transmissions are available.