Canada auto news

Official: Subaru Canada commissions brand-inspired artwork for contest

Subaru Canada ran a contest with the artist web site deviantART to see how wild imaginations would treat the theme of Driving Confidence. For three weeks, creators in any medium were asked to upload "original creations that celebrate the bold design, superior handling, and meticulous engineering that Subaru vehicles are renowned for."

The contest specifically instructed artists to "push your creativity to the limit," which is why there are plenty of images out of our species and galaxy. The first place winner (pictured) won $2,500 for "Born to Rally in the Snow," the second place getter got $1,000 for "Unleash the Beast," third place took $500 for "Subaru Slot Car Set," and the runner-up was "Subaru Impreza WRC Rally 'The Pass 2'."

All of the entries are on display now in a "space-defying gallery" in Subaru's booth at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toroto, and in our gallery of high-res images.

Study: Smoking pot nearly doubles risk of serious crash

Canadian researchers have discovered smoking marijuana three hours before driving can more than double a driver's chance of being involved in a serious crash. The study examined data collected from 49,111 victims who had been seriously injured or died in an accident. Researchers specifically looked at cases where tetrahydrocannabionol, the active compound in marijuana, was found in the victims' blood stream but where other drugs and alcohol were absent. The study also evaluated instances where the driver admitted to smoking within three hours of the crash. The findings demonstrate that, while those who drive under the influence of alcohol are still more likely to be involved in a collision than their pot-smoking counterparts, marijuana significantly impairs an individual's ability to safely operate a vehicle.

Shocking.

The study did not note precise levels of THC present in each instance, though as CBC News reports, other research has proven a positive link between the higher crash likelihood and elevated THC levels.

Law enforcement agencies are currently struggling to effectively test for THC impairment during roadside stops. Unlike blood-alcohol levels, which can be easily tested for using a breath test, THC is harder to detect. As a result, most agencies have adopted a zero-tolerance policy.

Video: Hyundai's Canadian Super Bowl ads are full of yeti

Hyundai Canada had its own ad for the Super Bowl, and instead of a cheetah they went for a more elusive beast: Sasquatch. Created to push the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, the "Country Drive" spot highlights a couple who are amazed at what they find on a drive through the woods. From the Sasquatch's perspective, the feeling's mutual.

The Canadians didn't stop there: they made nine "Sasquatch on Set" clips to show what it's like working with yeti. Strangely, he never takes an interest in the Genesis Coupe when he's not working, but you can check out all the spots after the jump.

Continue reading Hyundai's Canadian Super Bowl ads are full of yeti

Video: Ontario seizes pair of taxi cabs for street racing

Two taxi drivers in Toronto recently found themselves on the wrong side of the law after officers stopped the duo for illegal "stunt driving." The drivers had their Chevrolet Impala taxis impounded and their licenses revoked for seven days after officers busted the two street racing early on the evening of January 25. The Toronto police haven't released any details about what spurred the two to show down on Younge Street, Canada's longest, or the drivers' ages. In addition, their employers are keeping their mouths shut about whether or not the duo will continue to have jobs after their mandatory license suspension lifts in a week.

According to our neighbors to the north, Younge Street once had a bustling street racing scene. Regardless of whether these two were settling an old score or just horsing around, running light to light near the crowded Dundas Square area is a recipe for disaster. Hit the jump to check out a video of the news report for yourself.

Continue reading Ontario seizes pair of taxi cabs for street racing

Video: Ontario siezes pair of taxi cabs for street racing

Two taxi drivers in Toronto recently found themselves on the wrong side of the law after officers stopped the duo for illegal "stunt driving." The drivers had their Chevrolet Impala taxis impounded and their licenses revoked for seven days after officers busted the two street racing early on the evening of January 25. The Toronto police haven't released any details about what spurred the two to show down on Younge Street, the city's longest, or the drivers' ages. In addition, their employers are keeping their mouths shut about whether or not the duo will continue to have jobs after their mandatory license suspension lifts in a week.

According to our neighbors to the north, Younge Street once had a bustling street racing scene. Regardless of whether these two were settling an old score or just horsing around, running light to light near the crowded Dundas Square area is a recipe for disaster. Hit the jump to check out a video of the news report for yourself.

Continue reading Ontario siezes pair of taxi cabs for street racing

Report: Ford to pay bonuses and raises, GM and Chrysler decline to do same

Ford has announced that it will give both bonuses and merit-based raises to the company's salaried workers in the United States and Canada for the first time since 2008, according to Reuters. On average, the manufacturer will offer a 2.7 percent salary increase based on individual performance. The company stopped offering the bonuses after the financial crisis of 2009 sent automotive sales into a plunge. Ford paid neither bonuses nor merit raises that year, but offered merit raises in 2010. In 2011, the company's workers received bonuses only.

Of course, this decision has sent all eyes toward General Motors and Chrysler and their plans for their own workers. According to The Detroit News, both GM and Chrysler have said raises and bonuses will be determined by their own performance, not their rival's actions. GM has announced the company will make a final decision after it analyzes its financial results for 2011. Chrysler, meanwhile, intends to announce its fourth-quarter 2011 results on February 1, after which it will determine whether its workers will be eligible for their yearly awards.

Report: Crashed Ferrari Enzo to lead 20-car return to Targa Newfoundland [w/video]

Newfoundland is a bit of a funny place. It's the easternmost point of the North American continent, has its own half time zone, was the last province to join Canadian confederation (having existed as a British colony until 1949) and has its own linguistic dialects. It's also the kind of place where you can fail upwards, it seems. Particularly when driving a customized Ferrari Enzo.

You may recall the story of one Zahir Rana, a Kenyan-born exotic car dealer and enthusiast based in Calgary, Alberta, who took his Edo-modified Enzo to the 2011 Targa Newfoundland rally and promptly drove it right off the road and into a tidal river on the Atlantic coast. (If you missed the story, you can watch the video footage right here after the jump.) Some $100,000 in damage was reportedly caused to the million-dollar supercar - though we wouldn't be surprised it the final figure were substantially more - but that hasn't deterred Rana, or his friends, from returning.

Having lived to tell the tale of his epic crash, Rana has had his Enzo's engine further tuned to 950 horsepower, and is reportedly planning to bring it back for the 2012 Targa Newfoundland... along with 20 of the friends and clients he has amassed from over a decade in the business. Which strikes us as a particularly headstrong and determined way to get back on the prancing horse, so long as this year's rally goes a little more smoothly for Team ZR Exotics.

Continue reading Crashed Ferrari Enzo to lead 20-car return to Targa Newfoundland [w/video]

Report: Canada lagging behind U.S. auto recovery

The Detroit Three are in much better financial shape than three years ago. General Motors and Ford are now profitable, and Chrysler appears poised to begin making real money soon. That success has lead to plans to spend billions of dollars on North American plants, but Automotive News reports that our friends to the north aren't seeing much of the money.

Ford, GM and Chrysler are reportedly planning to spend at least $13.3 billion in the U.S. in the next four years, but investment in Canadian plants is dropping fast. In fact, there was only $1.2 billion in plant spending in Canada in 2011, down 62 percent versus the average of the last decade. A big reason for the decline in spending is the strength of the Canadian dollar and the relative weakness of the U.S. dollar.

Automakers are also spending more in the U.S. thanks to a new labor agreement with the United Auto Workers, which helps level labor costs compared to foreign rivals. Meanwhile, automakers and the Canadian Auto Workers are now working on a new contract for 2012. The CAW has so far fought many of the cost cuts that the UAW has accepted.

To make matters worse for our northern neighbors, Ford closed the St. Thomas plant that once built the Lincoln Town Car and Ford Crown Victoria, and GM ha reportedly announced plans to build two models in the U.S. that are currently being built in Canada.

We're guessing that while the Canada announcements have been few and far between in the past year or two, that could change if the CAW makes a few concessions at the bargaining table in 2012. If not, auto jobs in Canada could be in real trouble.

Report: First Chinese car imported to North America built by... Honda?

The very first production car from China has made it to North America, though it's not what you might think. In an effort to move more of its production out of Japan, Honda has begun manufacturing Fit models in the People's Republic and importing them to Canada. There's no indication that the vehicles will make their way to the U.S. in the future, however. While there are plenty of automakers who operate plants in China, only a fraction of the vehicles built there are made for export. Last year, only three percent were sent outside of the country's borders.

Honda and other Japanese manufacturers have begun investigating production facilities outside of the U.S. to combat the rising Yen, and Honda says that the company will begin producing Fit models in Mexico for U.S. customers soon. According to The New York Times, Honda may be reticent to test the American waters with a Chinese-built vehicle for fear of risking the company's reputation for quality and reliability. That's despite the fact that the company says Chinese-built Fit models are held to the same production quality standards as any Honda vehicle built elsewhere in the world.

Official: GM commits another $68M to Oshawa to build Impala

General Motors has announced that it will invest an additional $68 million into the company's Oshawa assembly plant to produce the next-generation Chevrolet Impala. Those funds are on top of over $100 million headed toward the facility to help launch production of the Cadillac XTS in the plant. The Impala marks the fifth new model to be manufactured at Oshawa since 2009, and GM says the new investment will secure approximately 350 jobs. The next-generation Impala will be built both in Oshawa and at the GM plant in Hamtramck, Michigan, which is also responsible for building the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu.

From what we've heard so far, Impala buyers can expect their new vehicle to be based on a variant of the GM Epsilon 2 platform with a 3.6-liter V6 under the hood. The vehicle may also boast a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and the GM eAssist system may rear its head as well.

The Oshawa assembly plant currently employs 4,400 workers, and the facility produces the Chevrolet Camaro, Camaro convertible, Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Equinox and Buick Regal. The plant recently added two new shifts, thereby securing 1,300 jobs in the process. Hit the jump to view the full press release.

Continue reading GM commits another $68M to Oshawa to build Impala