2017 Canadian International Autoshow

This year's Canadian International AutoShow was held from February 17 to 26.

The show is more than just the over 1,000 new cars and trucks. There are also features and promotions to attract the public.

Auto Exotica has become a permanent fixture at the AutoShow. It once again featured all the Exotic Marques available across Canada and hosted a unique showcase of rare exotics owned by the country's most passionate collectors.
Debuting this year was the Automotive News Canada, and APMA presented Auto Congress on Friday, February 17. Top Canadian and North American auto industry executives took center stage at the first Automotive News Canada Congress. The speakers discussed technology and mobility solutions, sales outlook for 2017 and investments in the Canadian market.
Play Pump to Win, presented by Esso, was an opportunity for attendees to win discounted fuel.
In celebration of 50 years of Grand Prix Racing in Canada, the AutoShow showcased the history, cars and Canadian driving legends that have participated in the event.
As usual, the winning vehicles, as selected by Canada's most respected automotive journalists, were on hand.
Electric Avenue allowed visitors to get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle and learn about EV technology firsthand during complimentary test drives offered through Plug'n Drive.
The Legendary Motorcar Company was on hand to celebrate the Muscle Cars from the '60s and '70s.
Once again, the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association gave attendees a chance to win $50,000 towards purchasing a new vehicle.

Below are some of the vehicle highlights from this year's Canadian International AutoShow.

The Acura Precision Concept drew a lot of attention. The Precision Concept was developed by the Acura Design Studio in California and unveiled at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The vehicle previews the future styling direction of Acura's sedans. The Precision Concept showcases the company's new front end and Diamond Pentagon grille, flanked by sharp Jewel Constellation LED headlights with fractal elements, as well as the deep gashes for air intakes.

Trucks continue to occupy more space at the AutoShow. This is a 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon Crew Cab 4X4. The Power Wagon boasts a 6.4 liter Hemi VVT V6 with a six-speed automatic transmission. Standard equipment on the 4X4 includes a front-mounted WARN electric winch, fuel tank and transfer case skid plate, black fender flares, front disconnecting stabilizer bar, and Tru-Lock front and rear differentials. This Ram has a retail price of $64,540.

On display was the 2017 Acura TLX 3.5 SH-AWD. This midsize luxury sedan has a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. The car will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 5 seconds and still achieves fuel economy of 21/31 mpg city/highway. Transferring the motor's power is a ZF nine-speed automatic transmission. The SH-AWD features will cost consumers an additional $2,200.

The Nissan Vmotion 2.0 Concept is an evolution of the V-motion front engine design seen on Nissan products such as the Murano and Maxima. The vehicle won the 2017 EyesOn Design award for the Best Concept Vehicle as well as Best Innovative Use of Colour, Graphics, and Materials. The Vmotion provides hints at Nissan's future Intelligent Mobility, which is the company's road map to achieve zero emissions and zero fatalities.

At the 2017 AutoShow was this A Production class 1969 Chevrolet Corvette from the Legendary Motor Company. The 'big block' Corvettes were equipped with the RPO L71, a 427 cu.in. engine, which produced over 400 horsepower and lb-ft of torque in stock form. The vehicle's standard transmission option was a M21; however, teams used the Muncie M22 for racing purposes. This model won the 2014 Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational with Al Unser Jr. and Peter Klutt behind the wheel.

One of the vehicles featured in Art and The Automobile was the 1951 General Motors Le Sabre Concept Car. The Le Sabre Concept first appeared in Toronto at the 1951 Canadian National Exhibition. The F-86 Sabre jet fighter, a successor to the 1938 Buick Y-Job, inspired the car's lines. The project was under the direction of legendary design chief Harley Earl. Billed as an experimental laboratory on wheels, its advanced features, such as the use of aluminum, set the direction for many future General Motors products.

One of the many exciting vehicles at this year's Canadian International AutoShow was the Oasis by Swiss automaker Rinspeed. The Oasis is an autonomous two-seater concept car combining futuristic driving and urban living. The powertrain is a ZF 2 x 40 kW electric motor. The vehicle will travel from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.7 seconds and has a top speed of 130 km/h. The range for this electric car is 100 km. Without any occupants, the Oasis weighs 1,100 kg.

The Toyota FCV Plus is another vehicle in the same vein at the Oasis. This fuel cell concept embodies Toyota's vision of a hydrogen-based society. Toyota believes that hydrogen will play a role in sustainable mobility and that there will be widespread use of hydrogen. The idea is that compressed hydrogen has a higher energy density than electricity, can be generated from a wide range of raw materials, and is easy to store, which makes this alternative attractive.

There probably isn't a Ferrari 250 LM that doesn't have an interesting racing history. The 250 at the AutoShow is the ninth of thirty-two constructed. The first owner was Scuderia Filipinetti, driven by Ludovico Scarfiotti and Nino Vaccarella. Chassis No. 5899 is powered by a 320-horsepower 3,286 cc aluminum block V12 engine with six 38 DCN carburetors. The Ferrari has an independent front suspension and rear unequal length with wishbones with coil springs. Four-wheel disc brakes stop the car.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie, also called the AM-RB 001 and Nebula, is a limited-production hybrid sports car built in collaboration between Aston Martin, Red Bull Racing, and several other engineering firms. The goal was to develop a track car suitable for public roads. The hybrid has a 6.5 liter naturally-aspirated V12 engine and a 119 kW permanent magnet synchronous electric motor. A combined power output of 1,160 horsepower is transferred through a seven-speed Ricardo transmission.

A 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF GT 6MT RWD starting at $38,800 was on hand. This MX-5 is equipped with a Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine, which produces 155 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. Mated to the motor is a Skyactiv six-speed manual transmission. The car at the Mazda exhibit also included the Grand Sport Package and Machine Grey Metallic, which resulted in a sale price of $42,200.

The 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Superleggera came to the public's attention with the release of the James Bond movie franchise. The first appearance in a Bond film was Goldfinger. There are only 886 cars; this example was restored in 2003. The 3,311-pound vehicle is powered by a 4.0 liter DOHC in-line six-cylinder, which produces 325 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 288 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. The DB5 came with a 5-speed standard transmission or optional 3-speed automatic.

The 2017 Toyota Camry is available as a gas or hybrid model. Two ICE options exist: a new TNGA 2.5 liter 4-cylinder or a 3.5 liter V6 with D-45 fuel injection. These engines are paired with a new 8-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission for smooth shifts and enhanced fuel efficiency. The Camry Hybrid features the next generation of the Toyota Hybrid System, built around the 2.5-liter motor and Continuously Variable Transmission.

Honda showed the concept form of the Honda Civic Type R. The new Type R debuted in Geneva. The 306 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque are obtained from a 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with VTEC. The transmission is a six-speed manual. Stopping the Type R are 13.8-inch vented and cross-drilled rotors with four-piston Brembos, while the rears are fitted with solid 12-inch rotors. The wheels are 20 inches with Continental ContisportContact 6 tires.

The Parnelli VPJ4 was part of the exhibit celebrating 50 years of the Canadian Grand Prix. The car is the result of a partnership between former racer Parnelli Jones and a successful businessman, Vel Miletich. Up until the construction of the VPJ4, the team's focus was the USAC series. Their Formula 1 entry was designed by Maurice Philippe and debuted at the 1974 Canadian Grand Prix with Mario Andretti. Andretti qualified sixteenth and finished seventh.

This new Volkswagen Beetle Dune convertible appeared at the 2017 Canadian International AutoShow. Attempting to mimic the Global Rallycross look, the Dune gets an extra 0.2 inch of ground clearance, fender flares that widen the car by 0.6 inches, and 18-inch wheels. The convertible is powered by a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produces 170 horsepower. Mated to the motor is a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Lexus LF-FC Concept was initially revealed at the October 2015 Motor Show. LF-FC is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) and the company's future vision. This grand touring vehicle is powered by a high-output cell combining hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity. The LF-FC represents a commitment to progressive luxury with environmentally responsible solutions.