Official 2009 Toronto AutoShow Discussions

[safristi]

.Camaraderie...............that election year show was tha BOSS.................

[articsteve]

Park at Yorkdale Mall and take the subway. This way you don't pay parking and avoid downtown traffic.

Core downtown TO is still a piece of cake.  In some respects it's even faster than it was due to strict tow away and no turns.  It's outside that core and outside Metro that is permanent grid lock.  401 westbound to Guelph during the 3:30 - 7:30 pm slot can be at a crawl the entire way.  Toronto to Hamilton via QEW; guaranteed crawl just before Oakville.  I have no idea how ppl stand it.

Only way into and out of downtown is to cruise in at about 10:30 a.m. and leave no earlier than 8:00 p.m., Fridays excepted.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Anyone else going to the show next week, Tuesday-Friday?

Sorry, think I'm only going this Friday. Bring your camera and I'm sure everyone will be comparing impressions of the show.


CX-7 is getting the 2.5L 4. Good idea, as I think it would eliminate the main reason why a shopper may dismiss it.

[carcrazy]

Anyone else going to the show next week, Tuesday-Friday?

Sorry, think I'm only going this Friday. Bring your camera and I'm sure everyone will be comparing impressions of the show.


CX-7 is getting the 2.5L 4. Good idea, as I think it would eliminate the main reason why a shopper may dismiss it.

I did not know that although I've always said that a large I4 and a small V6 should be the right engines for the CX-7.

[kevlar]

i have the week off next week so i will probably go during the daytime. 

[MKII]

Anyone else going to the show next week, Tuesday-Friday?

Sorry, think I'm only going this Friday. Bring your camera and I'm sure everyone will be comparing impressions of the show.


CX-7 is getting the 2.5L 4. Good idea, as I think it would eliminate the main reason why a shopper may dismiss it.

While we were gathered here in rainy Chicago for the Auto Show, we received word that the 2010 refresh for the Mazda CX-7 has in fact debuted some 500 miles away in Toronto, Canada. This switcheroo had us searching the floor here in McCormick for a 2010 model lazing away in the corner of Mazda's stand, but instead we only found the 2009 model. After the press conference, we stopped to chat with James O'Sullivan, Mazda's North American president and CEO, and he confirmed the Canadian debut was in fact the global premier.


The big news coming out of the Canadian International Auto Show for 2010 is that the CX-7 is getting a new 2.5-liter normally-aspirated four-cylinder model (the same engine is employed in the 2010 Mazda6 and Mazda3). So-equipped, the CX-7 generates 161 horsepower (at 6000 rpm) and maximum torque of 161 pound-feet of torque (at 3500 rpm). The turbocharged, 244-horsepower 2.3-liter engine remains unchanged. Further details like fuel-economy, price, and trim specification for this model will be revealed "at a later date," and in fact there is no official confirmation that the normally-aspirated inline-four will come to America, although it would be hard to imagine Mazda not doing so.

Beyond powertrains, Mazda has refined the CX-7 inside-and-out, including a redesigned front end with a larger five-point grille and different front and rear fascias. Inside, new gauge faces have taken up residence, along with a 4.1-inch color TFT information display, an available blind-spot monitoring system, three-position seat memory for the driver's seat (and a power backrest for the passenger seat), and Bluetooth for both phones and audio.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/2010-mazda-cx-7-debuts-with-new-four-cylinder-in-toronto/

more pics of CX-7 and MX-5 from Toronto Auto Show
http://www.auto123.com/en/multimedia/photos/gallery/2010-mazda-cx-7-and-2009-mazda-mx-5-at-the-toronto-auto-show?bid=104996&binding=3

[ggweci]

The refresh looks good imo.  It brings it in line with the "corporate look", but not over-the-top.  It actually is pretty well done on the CX-7.

Good news about the 2.5L for those that want a nice driving CUV w/ a somewhat upscale feel, but were afraid of the turbo and premium fuel penalty.

I still wish they replaced the 2.3T w/ a V6 that could run on regular and not as "peaky" 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Any CTC get together for the show this year?

Is anyone interested in going this Friday during the day?

Well there are a handfull of us going today, meeting at 10:30a.

Planning on some drinks/dinner downtown afterwards. Don't have a time set yet (figure 5:30-6pm ish) but PM me if interested in making that.

Wolfe?
Careener?
BJB?
Kevlar?
Wetson?
...?

[Careener]

Have a great day at the show.
I'll try and meet up with you afterwards if I can make it downtown.

I'll probably go to the show itself on Sunday night. There are usually smaller crowds at that point and I don't end up waiting behind lines of people taking photos of themselves inside the cars.

[kevlar]

did you guys go?    grrrrrrrrrr.  i was working today!!  maybe this weekend or monday.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Was driving by the lakeshore in Toronto today and noticed Mercedes-Benz was doing test drives across from the CNE / just east of ON Place. Stopped, and it was as simple as filling out a form with my driver's license.

The course is a fairly short loop and they don't want you going crazy, but was still a nice way to get more time behind the wheel of one, as I hadn't driven a Benz in awhile.

Took a spin (not literally) in a Smart, B-Class Turbo and non-Turbo (man, that car is packaged so well... so much friggin' room), GLK (the side sills are EXTREMELY wide in it with and without the rockers, took a photo at Autoshow as just for that reason I wouldn't buy one and question how many women will feel the same... but is she a beaut to drive), etc. Also had an E and probably something else. Oh, C-Class as well.

You can show up or they have R-Class shuttles from the Autoshow going. I wanted to drive a BLUETEC and some of the R shuttles are, but didn't get in one.

Something to scope out if interested, as I didn't notice the sign at the show for it. Runs thru next Sunday.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

FYI, Pizza Pizza has $5 off coupons valid thru Thursday.

[Thinking Out Loud]

The refresh looks good imo.  It brings it in line with the "corporate look", but not over-the-top.  It actually is pretty well done on the CX-7.

Good news about the 2.5L for those that want a nice driving CUV w/ a somewhat upscale feel, but were afraid of the turbo and premium fuel penalty.

I still wish they replaced the 2.3T w/ a V6 that could run on regular and not as "peaky" 

I was at the show and asked one of the guys about the new motor.  I was thinking the normally aspirated motor was IN ADDITION TO the turbo to create a new price point lower down and improve fuel economy numbers.

He'd noted that the turbo was likely toast (not 100% sure).  SO, are they offering the CX7 and knocking the engine down 70 horses for the same price as the turbo in 2010?