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September 2003
September 30, 2003 Honda of Canada Manufacturing produced its two-millionth Civic passenger car on Monday. The popular Civic has been the best-selling passenger car in Canada for five consecutive years. As well, up to August of this year, the Civic has also been Canada's
best selling nameplate, currently leading the sales volume leaders in the historically popular pick-up truck and minivan segments. More than 1.1 million Civics have been sold in Canada since its introduction in 1973.
September 30, 2003 Coinciding with the start of Milan Fashion Week, Mercedes-Benz and Giorgio Armani announced the start of a new joint cooperative venture. Their first product is a Mercedes-Benz CLK Giorgio Armani Design Car.
September 29, 2003 The first Lexus to be built outside of Japan rolled off the assembly line at Toyota's Cambridge Ontario plant on Friday. The vehicle, a silver 2004 RX 330 emerged from behind a screen as employees of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. (TMMC) watched along with Canadian government officials and Toyota executives from around the world.
September 29, 2003 Budget Canada's first Car and Truck Rental kiosk at a Canadian Tire retail store was opened on Saturday in Pickering, Ontario. Budget has an agreement with Canadian Tire to provide car and truck rental services at select Canadian Tire locations over the next few years.
September 29, 2003 Isuzu Motors Limited and Westport Innovations Inc. announced that the ELF CNG-DI, a joint entry between Isuzu Motors and Westport, won two gold medals in the efficiency and emissions categories and one silver medal in the vehicle noise category at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Sonoma, California.
September 26, 2003 DaimlerChrysler announced that its new Grand Sports Tourer will go into production at the start of 2005 alongside the M-Class at its Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant. The company is investing U.S. $600 million in plant expansion to accomodate the new model.
September 26, 2003 Honda and Toyota both announced they will expand their test fleet of fuel cell cars in the U.S.
September 26, 2003 The 2003 Challenge Bibendum ended on Thursday, and the organizers reported progress on a variety of technology fronts.
September 25, 2003 Toyota Canada announced that it has renewed its partnership with Evergreen to provide financial and logistical support for schools across Canada wishing to "green" their school grounds.
September 25, 2003 A recent survey of 40 senior executives at automotive manufacturers and suppliers reveals that 9 out of 10 executives say they intend to move certain non-manufacturing business processes to low-cost offshore locations. The survey was conducted by the management consulting firm A.T. Kearney.
September 25, 2003 Morgan Motor Company has joined forces with Aero Racing, makers of the two Morgan Aero 8s currently enjoying successes in the British GT Cup Class Championship, to launch a special limited edition Aero 8 GT Coupé. Just 15 numbered cars will be hand built at Morgan's Malvern works.
September 25, 2003 Toyota dealers in the U.S. are experiencing an overwhelming response to the all-new 2004 second-generation Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrid vehicle. Even though the new Prius does not launch in the U.S. until October 17th, nearly 10,000 orders have already been taken for the popular hybrid.
September 25, 2003 According to the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Centre, there were 63,136 deer-vehicle crashes in 2002, down approximately 4 percent from 65,993 in 2001. However, due to crashes that go unreported, the actual total remains closer to 80,000. On average, there are 173 crashes involving deer every day of the year in Michigan, or one every eight minutes.
The 100,000 the Kia vehicle to arrive in Canada, a Sorento SUV, came off a transport ship at Annacis Terminals near Vancouver on Tuesday.
September 24, 2003 A team of engineers from Mercedes-Benz has been nominated for the German Future Prize 2003 in recognition of the development work they carried out on the Pre-Safe anticipatory occupant protection system which received its world premiere in the S-Class.
September 24, 2003 Super7 Cars Incorporated, an independent licensed manufacturer of left-hand drive Super 7 cars equipped with Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle engines, announced the results of its Canadian and World record speed attempts at the Nanaimo, B.C. Airport, on September 17th.
September 23, 2003 In a recent series of frontal offset crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, all seven new or redesigned vehicles earned the top rating of good. The Institute tested three 2003 model midsize cars (Mazda 6, Infiniti G35, and Saab 9-3), two 2004 model minivans (Toyota Sienna and Nissan Quest), and two 2003 model large luxury cars (Lincoln Town Car and Mercedes E class). In addition to good overall ratings, five of the best performing vehicles earned the Institute's "best pick" designation.
September 23, 2003 The first Chevy SSR available for sale in Canada sold for $93,100 on eBay.ca Motors as part of a charity auction. Lee Munro of Paris, Ontario placed the highest bid on the Chevy SSR - buying one of the most highly anticipated new vehicles in Canada.
September 23, 2003 Japanese manufacturers, led by Toyota and Honda, were at the top of 11 segments (one a tie) in Strategic Vision's 2003 Total Value Index (TVI). European marques, led by Audi, were at the top of 5 categories (one a tie). Domestic brands captured three first place spots and Hyundai won two.
September 23, 2003 Actor Kiefer Sutherland will narrate the first-ever IMAX 3D NASCAR film, NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience. The film is scheduled to open on March 12, 2004. The thrills of NASCAR will be captured through IMAX 3D technology and brought to life on screens up to eight stories tall, with 12,000 watts of pure digital surround sound.
September 23, 2003 The Government of Canada and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador will contribute joint funding of $13.8 million for three highway improvement projects in the province. The funding was announced by Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and MP (Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte) Gerry Byrne, on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, together with Newfoundland and Labrador Works, Services and Transportation Minister Jim Walsh.
The 2003 Targa Newfoundland concluded in St. John's on Saturday. CanadianDriver's Paul Williams and Brian Harper of the National Post drove their 2003 Mini Cooper S to a fifth place finish in the Touring Class.
September 22, 2003 BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW tires have been selected as original equipment for the turbocharged 2004 Dodge SRT-4. The Dodge SRT-4, with 5.8-second 0-100 km/h capability, features P205/50ZR17 BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW high-performance tires mounted on 17" x 6" cast aluminum wheels.
September 20, 2003 As Paul Williams expected, day four of the Targa Newfoundland proved to be the toughest day yet. But the Williams/Harper Mini Cooper S moved into fourth place in the Touring Class despite missing a stage by 16 seconds.
September 19, 2003 Report from Targa Newfoundland September 19, 2003 Jeep announced a new standard for measuring its vehicles off-road capabilities.
Arriving in January, the Cadillac CTS-V is the first in the new V-Series line of Cadillac luxury performance vehicles and features a 400 horsepower 5.7-litre V8, six-speed manual transmission, large Brembo performance brakes at all four corners, 18-inch wheels and tires, retuned shock absorbers and a host of interior and exterior styling refinements.
September 19, 2003 Surrey, British Columbia Wal-Mart team members claimed victory in Brampton Ontario at the second annual National Lube Rodeo Championship. Team "Delta Force" will represent Canada On October 2nd when they fly to Bentonville, Arkansas to compete against the top 15 U.S. teams at the North American Lube Rodeo Finals.
September 19, 2003 SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, has announced plans for the International Auto Salon-Atlantic City, Friday through Sunday, May 21-23, 2004. The new event, to be held in the newly redesigned Atlantic City Convention Center, will mirror the best elements of the International Auto Salon-Los Angeles and add features to meet the unique needs of the East Coast market.
September 19, 2003 More than 1.2 million vehicles worth more than U.S.$8.2 billion are stolen in the United States each year with approximately 200,000 illegally exported out of the country, says the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
Wednesday's events at the Targa Newfoundland saw the competitive stages tighten up, with drivers and vehicles working harder for penalty-free runs. The Williams/Harper Mini Cooper S had a good day running penalty-free stages.
General Motors of Canada announced pricing for three all-new Chevrolets - the mid-size Epica, compact Optra and and sub-compact Aveo.
September 18, 2003 DaimlerChrysler Services announced a management rotation at the executive level. Richard Wardwell, 56, who was Vice President of Mercedes-Benz Credit since December 2001, has been named President and CEO for DaimlerChrysler Services Canada.
CanadianDriver's Paul Williams and co-driver Brian Harper of the National Post completed the first day of competition in the 2200 kilometre road rally. Paul brings us this report of the day's activities.
September 17, 2003 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released rollover resistance ratings for eleven sport utility vehicles on Monday. Out of a possible five stars, only two SUVs received four stars: the Honda Pilot and Nissan Murano.
September 17, 2003 On September 23rd, more than 100 of the cleanest running advanced technology vehicles on the planet will roll into Sonoma, California to kick off Michelin's fifth annual environmental vehicle competition, Challenge Bibendumä.
September 17, 2003 A noted Detroit landmark will welcome visitors for one final time as the entire remaining collection at Richard and Linda Kughn¹s privately owned museum "Carail" will be sold by RM Auctions Inc. of Blenheim, Ontario.
September 17, 2003 Senator Joyce Fairbairn, on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, together with Alberta Transportation Minister Ed Stelmach, today announced that the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta will contribute joint funding of $12.5 million for a highway improvement project near Brooks.
September 17, 2003 At the age of 46, Calgary resident, Mark Gardiner decided to quit his day job and sell everything in order to attempt the ultimate racing challenge: the Isle of Man TT, the world's greatest, and most dangerous, motorcycle road race.
CanadianDriver's Paul Williams is co-driving a factory-sponsored 2003 Mini Cooper S with Brian Harper of the National Post in the Targa Newfoundland. Here is his first report.
September 16, 2003 While record new-vehicle sales in Canada in recent years have increased the volume of service customers in new car dealerships, independent repair shops are outperforming most dealerships in satisfying service customers, according to a new J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Canadian Customer Commitment Study.
A new research study titled "Economic Effects of Interruption of Capacity on the Ambassador Bridge," reports that short-term closures of the Ambassador Bridge would cause significant economic impact on the region. The new study estimates that a mere four-hour shutdown would cost the regional economy over $US15.4 million ($CA21.3 million).
September 16, 2003 Owners of non-luxury Japanese- and Korean-make cars and compact vans report lower levels of satisfaction with their original equipment (OE) tires compared with those who own competitive-make European and domestic vehicles, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Original Equipment Tire Satisfaction Study released yesterday.
September 15, 2003 Thousands of eager fans lined the route for the start of the Targa Newfoundland on Saturday. The 2003 version of Targa Newfoundland will again be a six-day, 2,000-plus kilometre automobile adventure for the owners of great sporting cars from around the world.
September 15, 2003 A left-hand drive Caterham SUPER7 GSXR 1300 Hayabusa Roadster will attempt to break world speed records at an airstrip in Nanaimo, B.C. on Wednesday.
September 15, 2003 The new-generation Prius will feature significantly more power and performance than the previous model, as well as best-in-class fuel economy and best-in-market emissions performance.
September 15, 2003 The Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba will contribute joint funding of $15.72 million for three highway construction projects along the Trans-Canada Highway 1 in Manitoba.
September 12, 2003 This Fall, Europeans will be able to buy a diesel-powered Passat TDI with 2.0 litres displacement and 136 horsepower with a diesel particle filter that meets Euro 4 emissions standards.
September 12, 2003 The Canadian debut of the new BMW 5 Series took place September 11th at the Holt Renfrew FLICK gala, held at the luxury retailer's flagship Bloor Street store in Toronto, Ontario.
BMW is debuting the new X3 small SUV and the new 6 Series coupe as well as the redesigned 5-series sedan and the updated X5.
Audi revealed its ‘Le Mans quattro' concept study. 1.90 metres wide but only 4.37 metres long and 1.25 metres high, the Le Mans quattro is short and wide, but its wheelbase of 2.65 metres accommodates a surprisingly spacious cockpit.
September 11, 2003 A total of 19 Volkswagen T5 Multivans will provide shuttle services in Frankfurt running on a new synthetic fuel produced from biomass.
September 11, 2003 Volkswagen will supply DaimlerChrysler with 120,000 2.0-litre four-valve diesel engines a year, reports the company.
September 11, 2003 GM of Canada announced pricing for the all-new 2004 Malibu sedan, which arrives in Chevrolet dealerships this fall. The Malibu will be available with the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $22,160.
News briefs from the 60th Franfurt Motor Show:
September 10, 2003 The V8 engine found in Range Rovers and the Land Rover Discovery trucks is being retired. Land Rover is auctioning its entire V8 engine line in Solihull, England.
September 9, 2003 Pontiac's all-new entry in the midsize car segment for 2005 will be called G6, Pontiac told its dealers here in a meeting.
September 9, 2003 General Motors announced the names of its four new crossover sport van (CSV) entries that will debut as 2005 models. Delivering a blend of mid-size van versatility with SUV-like attributes, the new models take the segment in a new direction and help GM compete across a broader range of the highly competitive people and cargo-carrying marketplace.
September 9, 2003 Toyota Canada announced that Al Brost of Whitehorse, Yukon, has won a Toyota Tundra Terminator 3 Special Edition. Brost won the limited edition truck, created for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, in a contest that ran in theatres across Canada when the movie opened.
September 9, 2003 Bumpers on the midsize 2003 Mazda6 performed reasonably well in 5 mph crash tests conducted recently by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but results for five other vehicles were disappointing.
September 9, 2003 Showcasing the latest advancements in alternative fuel technology, Hyundai Motor Company will debut its Santa Fe Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FCHEV) at this year's Challenge Bibendum.
September 8, 2003 The majority of Canadians believe that young drivers pose a road hazard and support greater efforts to ensure their safety, according to a survey by a leading traffic safety research organization.
September 8, 2003 A public exhibition of world-renowned artist Kobus Möller's paintings will be on display at Mini Yaletown from September 9 - 14th.
September 8, 2003 General Motors of Canada announced that it will hold the first ever eBay.ca Motors auction for a first available for sale vehicle in Canada, with one hundred per cent of the proceeds being donated to charity.
September 8, 2003 A new, twinned section of the Trans-Canada Highway, near Virden, Manitoba was opened last week. The $12 million Highway 1 project was supported with $5 million from the federal government as a contribution through the Canada/Manitoba Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP) and a previous federal and provincial highway program (Strategic Highway Improvement Program).
September 5, 2003 Toyota Canada is poised to take over the number 3 slot in the Canadian vehicle market. In August, Toyota Canada reported record sales of 14,771 cars and trucks, just 227 vehicles short of DaimlerChrysler's August total of 14,998.
September 5, 2003 This fall Saturn Canada will unveil 36 new and restored playgrounds as part of Saturn's annual playground program. 2003 will mark the seventh year Saturn Retailers have worked to build and revitalize safe play places at schools, parks and hospitals across the country.
Toyota Canada announced the newest addition to its range of Tundra pickup trucks - the 2004 Tundra Double Cab, to be introduced in early 2004.
September 5, 2003 Time is running out for Canadians to nominate a brave truck driver for the 2003 Bridgestone/Firestone Canadian Truck Hero Award. For over 45 years, the award has been recognizing drivers who act quickly and risk their own personal safety to save the lives of others on North American roads.
September 5, 2003 The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) and Toyota Canada have launched a national campaign aimed at encouraging Canadians to "drive the world's greatest country". The campaign, valued at $9.6 million over three years, brings together the public and private sectors in a unique partnership to promote tourism in Canada.
September 4, 2003 According to a J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Escaped Shopper Study released on Tuesday, gas mileage is now fifth on the list of reasons new-vehicle buyers reject one model over another — up from 13th in 2002.
Acura unveiled its all-new 2004 Acura TL performance luxury sedan yesterday. The redesigned TL features a new powertrain, chassis enhancements and new styling.
September 3, 2003 Beginning in early December, the 2004 Infiniti G35 sedan equipped with leather upholstery will be available with all-wheel-drive, announced Nissan. The G35 AWD features Nissan's all-wheel drive system with an active torque distribution management system with an electro-magnetic clutch (no centre differential).
September 3, 2003 The Chrysler Group will reveal the new Chrysler 300C Touring Concept at the 60th International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt on Tuesday, September 9.
September 3, 2003 On September 6th, the national nonprofit organization Tread Lightly! and General Motors' Hummer division will announce a new partnership aimed at promoting socially responsible four-wheeling and educating the public about the responsible use of outdoor recreation areas.
September 3, 2003 Subaru has announced a new Subaru Technical Information System (STIS) Web site. The new web-site provides dealers, independent repair facility technicians and consumers with access to Subaru technical resources such as service manuals, owner manuals, technical service bulletins, monthly technician newsletters and other technical training materials.
September 3, 2003 Mitsubishi Motors North America has replaced its CEO, Canadian Pierre Gagnon, with the former head of Hyundai Motor America, Finbarr O'Neill, effective immediately.
September 2, 2003 As of October this year, some Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold in Europe will be able to receive digital TV channels while moving. Mercedes-Benz has developed a digital receiver which will be fitted to E, CL, S and SL-Class models.
September 2, 2003 The Automotive Industries Association of Canada has published its biennial market research piece on consumer maintenance habits, the 2003 Car Maintenance in Canada Report. The report reveals that while new car dealers continued to be the dominant player in the mechanic installed market, their market share declined from 37.2% in 2001 to 34.0% in 2002.
September 2, 2003 An announcement by the Ontario provincial government that insurance companies must reduce their rates by 15% immediately has been greeted with skepticism by members of the insurance community.
September 2, 2003 The Government of Canada has approved the final environmental assessment and has agreed to proceed with the completion of McConnell-Laramée Boulevard in Gatineau, Quebec.
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