compete with BMW's M division and Mercedes-Benz's AMG division.  Maybe someone should let Polestar know, that they were once in those shoes.  Too bad they were used for a new division for the EV world, similar to Cupra.

     If Polestar wants to take on M and AMG, they are going to have to dig really deep into the aftermarket world, as they don't have much to go with.  A limited product lineup and a short lifespan will make it harder for Polestar to pull this off.  Maybe if they went back to their roots with Volvo, they could be able to compete with the top tier of luxury aftermarket products.

      Today Polestar is seen as a newcomer to the luxury field, filling a gap where it was needed in the Volvo-Geely lineup.  But without a strong presence in the world of luxury cars, Polestar is going to have a hard time convincing consumers that they should trade in there AMG for a BST.  This is something that Genesis is currently working on, and so far it hasn't gotten off the ground.

      Maybe Polestar should built up there lineup and presence first, then try to move into the aftermarket world.  Of they could reunite back with Volvo and bring back there storied past.

Want to more about Polestar.  Then check out the corporate links tab for company information or our Podcast on Polestar's ramp up.

Everett J.
#autolooks

own success story, but the success story of the entry level EV marketplace.

        Founded in 1993, Perodua is relatively a new automaker.  But with a hard fought battle from under the shadow of Malaysia's other automaker, Proton Auto, they are about to set there mark on the automotive world.  Most companies accomplish their world dominance when they launch, but just like the music industry, sometimes there a few who take a few market cycles (records) before they really take off.  Perodua may just be that success story, but can they become the Metallica of the EV world with their new car?

        Now you must be thinking to yourself, how could AutoLooks put this small car company into the same category as one of the biggest metal bands of all time.  Well, for starters, Metallica didn't make it big off there first album and really they didn't see commercial success until the Metallica album (Black album for the ones who don't which album we are talking about).  But how can we even think that a car company who has been around for over 30 years, grow to dominate the EV world.  For that answer you have to take a look at this models purchase platform.

       Unlike other manufactures, Perodua is setting up this model with a 275 ringgit ($67 US) per month payment for there battery pack.  This is part of a nine (9) year lease contract for your battery pack under the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model.  Made to ensure a lifetime guarantee on the battery, which along with its 80,000 ringgit ($19,400 U.S.) price-tag, will make this compact more appealing to the entry level consumer.

      As we outlined in our "Small EVs" and "Entry Level Issues" #podcasts, the entry level market is where life starts for any brand.  Without any entry level products, consumers are more likely to bypass your products later on as they move up the financial chain.  Without that bond which is built at the bottom, most companies today are moving away from this model, and only going after the larger profits.  But without entry level consumers becoming attached to your brand at an early stage, they may not want any of your products in the future as they become loyal to the band who was there for them in the beginning.

       Perodua knows this market all too well, as there corporate model is based off of entry level products.  With only Sub-Compact and Compact models in their current lineup, Perodua, cannot take a chance on alienating their core consumers with a higher priced product, just to meet government demands.  They want to ensure that they keep there loyal consumers even with a change to an alternative power source.       

         Including a lease program for the battery pack, reduces the anxiety usually attached to hefty price tag of replacing the battery after 6 - 10 years.  With a lease program, Perodua can not only remove this anxiety, but also create a separate revenue stream for the company, which can last past the first owner.  This not only gives peace of mind to its new owners, but also piece of mind to the used car market owners, as they won't have to worry about the replacement cost.  Maybe Perodua is on to something here?

​    With a little help from Canada's own Magna Steyr and China's CATL, the jointly developed lithium iron phosphate battery pack and modular platform will help to reduce the overall cost of this model.   With 201hp and 210 lb-ft of torque, this little compact fits the market just where it needs to be to compete with its hybrid and combustion counterparts.  And with a range of up to 445km (276miles), range anxiety is out the question, as most entry level consumers don't travel more than this a day.

       The only real issue you have at the end of the day, is if you can afford to install a home charger, or if your building supports EV charging.  This is where anxiety sets in for the consumer, but with most places already hooked up and many more on the way, this will become less of an issue further down the road.  For now it may be in Perodua's best interest, to create a lease program for home charging stations.  Of course there is always Tesla for that.

        In the end it seems that Perodua will be the company who on the right path towards EV adoption at the ground level.  Now we just have to wait and see if there model can be replicated elsewhere in the world.  Maybe this could lead to more demand abroad for the little brand, as more consumers demand Perodua's products worldwide.  Let's hope.

Everett J.
​#autolooks

     Today's release of the all new 849 Testarossa is an homage to the past which moves this company even further into the future.  But you have to ask yourself.  Why, would they use a name from a past model which fell out of favour with so many purists.  Nostalgia is why.

      With a market consumed by everything 80's, it seems that there is no way to get around using names from the past.  But for Ferrari, the Testarossa name is not an 80's name.  Dating back to the 50's, Ferrari has used the Testa Rossa nameplate for another model other than its ill fated Miami Vice star.  The 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa started the name and as with its sweeping design, Ferrari has once again brought back a past favourite.
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     Although it may not embody the original presence of the 57 Testa Rossa, this new Testarossa does use pieces from Ferraris past.  Borrowing design elements from a few past favourites, while adding on some unique twists along the way.

     Using a name synonymous with an 80's T.V. show is one way to start off a replacement model.  And if you haven't figured it out yet, the new Testarossa is here to bump the SF90 from its top spot.  It does seem rather odd as most of still see the SF90 as a new car, since this model still hasn't really been shown the light.  But I guess the only light it will see, is when Ferrari puts this top model out to pasture.

      Ferrari's replacement for its top tier model seem like it is off to a good start.  Jumping the line with a retro inspired name is one the better ways to get noticed, but what about its design.  Overall the 849 does utilize most of Ferrari's new design language.  Gloss black accents, clean flowing lines with hard break offs at the end.  But one thing does stand out to us with this model. 

       Up front it seems that Ferrari really wanted to act like a little kid, as the front splitter seems to be sticking out its tongue.  From certain angles, this car seems to be sticking its tongue out at you.  This is not something you would expect from the top tier of the sports car world.  But again, they are trying to change the design layout for their model lineup.  Maybe this is a way of sticking it to whoever was not paying attention to the SF90.

​     Along the sides, this Ferrari borrows key features from a previous top tier model, the limited run Daytona SP-3.  Oh wait, that was another play on the past as well, but at least it was only in its naming rights.

    Breaking up the front from the rear, Ferrari has decided to add on some bland glossy black plastic.  Maybe they thought that if Bugatti can break the lines from front to rear, so could they.  But in all reality, Bugatti did it correctly, not cheaply.

     Out back the 849 becomes a bit alien to most.   With thin evil eyes, protruding tailpipes and stiff upper lip rear bumper.  Maybe some more time checking out the rear of this beauty would have helped before its launch.  But one great thing is, is that they brought back the little lip spoilers from the FXX-K.

       Overall the 849 is a decent car which borrows key aspects from the past to rebuild their future.  But in all sense, the 849 Testarossa seems to be just another Ferrari trying to hold off the boutique builders.   Maybe someday soon they will find their way back to looking forward for inspiration, as the past has already been done.

Everett J.
​#autolooks

  With space maximized to great distances, the Canoo is sure to be a hit with ride hailing and even taxi companies alike.  Considering that you have easy access inside via large suicide doors, this might just be the perfect party and transportation vehicle.  Add to that an interior which is free from center driveshafts and seats and you have a true king when it comes to mobile transportation.
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    The front is inviting for the driver as well, as it looks to a future free from dashboards and bulky steering wheels.  Of course that could be because this is just a concept for now and the production model may differ from what we see here.  In the back the you will find enough space for you and all of the guests and it even has a spare seat built into the door so that you can maximize the entire rear seating space.  This could be good for personal transportation, but may pose a problem when it comes to running a ride hailing service. ​
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the Model Y has done that again with the addition of a Y to the world.  And with the addition of the Model Y, Tesla has made the world a more beautiful place.

    Yes, we all know that the Tesla brand embodies everything we love about the EV industry, but did you know that their product range creates a word that best describes them.  And to top this off, the censors are unaware that Tesla is doing this, well at least until now.  Tesla has been tight lipped about their naming culture, but it seems that they not only want to describe themselves, but they want to describe pure name models as well.
 
    The release of the Model Y has made it possible to name any pure named vehicle within the lineup know.  This works when you add the main lineup’s models in-front of their other product offerings.  SX3Y Semi, SX3Y Roadster and SX3Y Truck.  It even works on their home-based products and supercharger stations as well (SX3Y Powerwall, SX3Y Solar Roof...etc.).  So really Tesla’s model range speaks for their products.  Our only question now is why they did this.  For that answer we may have to look back to their beginning.

   Back when Tesla first entered the market, they were all about how their technology was going to change the future, not about how great their car looked.  But looking a bit further into why their first product was a sports car, they were quoted as saying that “this is the sexiest alternative fuel product you will find today”.  And yes, they were correct in their statement, as the Prius was not winning any beauty pageants and the previous GM EV1 was no better. So yes, Tesla was correct in their statement as the original roadster was the sexist EV around.  Of course, that has changed due to increased competition and sites like AutoLooks.net.

    But again, you have to ask yourselves why they also chose to make each name a world and letter as well.  That philosophy for naming dates back to the beginning of the automobile industry.  And if not for that naming culture back then, we may not have had the world-famous Model T.  See a resemblance as Tesla uses “Model” in front of each of its names as well.  Seems Tesla not only spelled a world from their naming culture, but brought back the same naming culture that put Ford on the map.  And if it can work for a company that changed the world back then, then why not use it for a company that wants to change the world again.

   So, when you take a look back, it’s not hard to see why they would use the naming culture that they have as they wanted the world to know how SX3Y the EV industry could really be.  That and the fact that they played on the same naming culture that Ford used when he started.  Seems fitting as Henry Ford changed the automobile industry for his and future generations and now Tesla wants to do the same.  So really in the end the naming culture chosen by Tesla is not only a great word that can be used to describe itself and its products.  But a naming philosophy that is ingrained into every automotive product since the time of Henry Ford.  We are glad that Tesla decided to follow suit with a man who changed the automobile industry and we are very glad that their products spell a dirty word.

Everett J.
@Autolooks, #AutoLooks

company.  Sure, there were a few bumps along the way, but who would have thought that this one idea from an engineering company would become so much more.

   Now after more than fifty (50) years in existence, Hyundai is finally moving further upstream. But this move was a long time coming as the move into the luxury world happened a lot sooner than Genesis will let you believe.  Like both Lexus and Infiniti, Genesis was a brand which was spawned from existing products.  Ones which had already been tried and tested and proved to be a bit more upscale than their standard stablemates.  But to really see how this all happened you have to go back to the beginning.

    Back in the late 90’s Hyundai purchased the Kia brand as it was about to flat line.  Themselves being the product of a Ford upbringing as well, Kia was on their way out just before Hyundai took them over.  And funny as it is, Ford was looking to pick up the brand before Hyundai dropped their pitch.  Seems Korean fanfare won this day, but why did Hyundai really want to own their competition.  Well at that time Hyundai was looking to move the latter and into a more premium product line.  Something hard to do when the Accent is your bread and butter entry market vehicle.  But Hyundai was determined to do it as they wanted a piece of the luxury market.

    But to do this they would have to change the perception of their consumers and they buying public.  So, to do this they would star importing their premium models from Korea into other markets.  Yes, Hyundai already had premium models and it was around the time they purchased Kia that they had moved into the premium Asian market.  But for the rest of the world, we still only had standard low budget Hyundai's.  But that too would soon change.

   During the late 90’s after releasing the Dynasty (Grandeur) model in their home market, Hyundai was looking to move themselves up the product chain.  By then Hyundai had started producing better products as they had used the money from their cheap entry level vehicles for their R&D to push better quality.  And that they did as the Sonata was slowly moving into Camry territory. This wouldn’t happen until the later part of the next decade, but Hyundai was already looking to make their next product move.  And with the Dynasty/Grandeur model they did, as they soon released the XG350 and Kia Amanti onto the N.A. and E.U. marketplaces.
 
   Trying their hand at a more premium market was a gamble as both Hyundai and Kia by this time were only known for cheap entry vehicles.  Of course, Hyundai was on a better footing to move up as their quality was moving up.  Kia on the other hand was just trying to make it in a new market and would soon find themselves the product of cheap luxury jokes.

   The XG was not the greatest premium product in the world and was soon found to be only as good a base Camry.  But that wasn’t bad news for Hyundai as their products were now being seen as more Toyota, Honda competitors, rather than the Chevrolet, Mitsubishi products they had before.  And with that boost of energy from R&D, Hyundai was about to release their next foray into the premium marketplace.
 
   As the XG name disappeared from their product lineup it opened up the door for the Azera to fill the void in upper echelon of their product lineup.  But unlike the XG, the Azera was a bit more toned done and less of a premium market product.  It did fit nicely into the product lineup and finally gave the Avalon a true competitor.  Yes, the Azera was almost on par with a Toyota product and within a few years it was.  But how did this help them move up into the luxury field.  That is where the story gets really good.

   The XG left a void in the product lineup when it left, as the Azera really never lived up the to the premium appeal that the XG had.  But as the Azera was a move in the right direction for product quality, the forthcoming Genesis sedan was going to build upon this.  And did it, as the Genesis sedan was a product like no other, ever from a Korean manufacture.  Sure, the XG and Azera opened the door, but he Genesis was the product that paved the way for the entire brand.  But unlike other premium products, the Genesis did not have any true markets from where It came from. That is what helped this product moved faster into the luxury marketplace.
 
    Once the Genesis sedan started taking sales away from premium makes, it was soon time for Hyundai to bring another product over from Korea and finally hit the hammer on the head.  This was done with the 2nd generation Hyundai Centennial or as you may know it better as the Hyundai Equus.  The Equus was a model that would be a game changer for not only Hyundai, but also the entire luxury marketplace.  And like Lexus, Acura and Infiniti before it, the Equus would help launch the soon to be named luxury arm of Hyundai.

   As we said before Hyundai was still having trouble moving itself up the luxury scale and by the early 2000’s they had begun divesting their luxury models from the rest of the product line.  Even their dealerships were divesting themselves and eventually Hyundai wanted the Genesis and Equus models to only be sold in dedicated dealerships.  Soon enough Hyundai found that this was too little too late for themselves and it was better off if they split their luxury arm from the Hyundai name.  Even with Kia moving up into the Hyundai marketplace, it was still better to move out rather than up.  And by 2015 it was announced that Hyundai had given up their luxury dream and moved onto creating the Genesis line.
  
   November 4th, 2015 was the day the world found out that Hyundai wasn’t moving up, but Genesis was becoming its own brand.  That was the day we realized that Hyundai finally knew what we had been saying for years.  You can’t always move up, but you can always move out.  And like Toyota before them, Hyundai was finally moving out.  Genesis was here and within a year its first year it would become a new player in the luxury ring.  Hyundai had not only moved out, they moved up as well, as the Genesis lineup was comparable to the likes of BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Lexus.  This was great news as they now didn’t have to compete with the like of Acura, Chrysler and Lincoln and could still have the chance to move Hyundai up.  So, all hope was not lost, just the hope of becoming a luxury mark.

    Today Hyundai is on par with its Asian rivals and still has a wide range of products worldwide.  But as their Kia line moves further into their territory, they will have start moving a bit more upwards.  This could still be a hard battle as some of their product offerings could be hard to move up.  But that is only because they are great products and killing them off would be just too hard to do.  So, here’s to Hyundai and their hard-fought battle which brought them from the Pony and Excel of the 80’s to the Azera and G90 of today.

Everett J.
#AutoLooks, #autolooks, @Autolooks

   Dodge or RAM as it is called now, has been playing around with the idea of an ultimate off-road truck for quite a while now.  Back in 97 Dodge played around with the idea of a 6x6 Ram 2500 called the T-Rex.  Nothing really ever materialized from the project from Dodge, but it did set the aftermarket world ablaze.  As soon after T-Rex conversions were being completed by coachbuild and aftermarket companies.  But even with that much fanfare, the T-Rex was never put into production.

   Skip forward a few years and one again it seems that the aftermarket world is still interested in the idea.  Brabus and AMG being the company that wants this market takes the G-Class to the next level with a beefed up 6x6 version.  This model is enough to for the parent company to expand into this uncharted marketplace and Mercedes-Benz gives us our first production 6X6 truck.  Funny as it is that the model this 6X6 was built off of wasn’t even a truck to begin with either.  This action soon moves the aftermarket into a frenzy of 6x6 works and pushes the envelope of what can be done with any body-on-frame vehicle.

   During the time this was all going on, Ford decided to move on from the speed race of the Lightning and SRT RAM and over into the world of Baja inspired vehicles.  They begin work on a new F150 model which is set to shakeup the aftermarket and truck world.  This new model becomes a hit for Ford and soon becomes the envy of everyone within the truck world.  But again, Dodge or by this time RAM still doesn’t take notice and simply adds a few Mopar dealer modifications onto their RAM 1500 model.  This model dubbed the RAM Runner is no real contender for the Raptor, as it is an aftermarket modification and not a factory backed model.  Sure, the RAM Runner was better in the off-road category than the Raptor, but anyone can build an aftermarket model to beat the Raptor. 

  As the Raptor now has gained worldwide attention it still seems that RAM still doesn’t want to play ball.  Even when the 2nd generation Raptor arrives in China the RAM brand sits quiet.  So, by this time it seems that no one will ever challenge the likes of the Raptor as its sales climb without a competitor.

  Fast forward to 2016 and the Detroit Auto Show and you will find yourself the envy of every truck owner as your take a selfie with the new Nissan Warrior concept.  This looks like Nissan may want a piece of the Raptor pie, but those dreams soon die off as we find out it was just a design study to gauge the public's opinion.  Apparently, it wasn’t enough to warrant a Raptor competitor.  Again, our dreams of a Raptor competitor are gone and we feel that it may never happen.  But all those dreams will finally be realized at the Texas State Fair in 2016

   2016 was a great year for the Texas State Fair, but one product stood out better than any other.  That model was the all new RAM Rebel TRX concept and it was about to set the Raptor marketplace on fire.  This fire was lit by the fact that RAM stated that the new TRX model, which was powered by the Hellcat motor, would become an actual model.  Well that is great news, but unfortunately for us they didn’t tell us when it would become a model.  But that would all change in 2018.

   During the 2018 auto show season we got to meet the all new 2019 RAM Rebel and with it the hope that the TRX would live on.  Sure, RAM hasn’t stated that the new TRX is a definite go, but when their five-year plan was released, a new performance model showed up on the list.  This could be the long awaited TRX model or it could just be the next Power Wagon.

   Now as the Detroit Auto Show comes to an end, we find ourselves again wondering where our TRX model is.  Maybe at SEMA or again at the Texas State Fair will RAM unveil this long-awaited model or they might just leave us with the all new Power Wagon.  Whatever it is, we still don’t think the Rebel, RAM Runner or Power Wagon is a true competitor to the F150 Raptor.  Even if it doesn’t come with a V8 anymore, the Raptor still is the true Baja inspired truck which eludes the competition.

Everett J.
#AutoLooks, @Autolooks.net

Yes, it may seem odd that we live so far away from the automotive world that surrounds the GTA, but when you want to travel some wide-open roads, then we might be in one the best spots in the province.

   As the darkness soon gives way to the light, our stomachs start to grumble as we have yet to eat a hearty breakfast.  And after a quick stop to fill up on some greasy fast food, we are off once again and, on our way, to hog town.

   Our travels soon lead us off out wide-open roads of the North and onto the over congested roads of the south.  There we find ourselves face to face with our arch nemesis, morning traffic.  Being that we are from the North we tend not to find much of this back home, so for us morning traffic is more an automotive nightmare rather than a part of our lives.  But hey, I guess when you do it everyday it just becomes part of your daily routine.

   Slowly we manage to make our way down the Gardiner Expressway before finally reaching our off-ramp which will bring us one step closer to the Toronto Auto Show.  And as we make those final turns through traffic, we sigh a bit of relief as we finally make it to our parking spot.

   After a quick shoe change and head count, we are off to the auto show.
 
   If you have ever been to the Toronto Auto Show you will have an idea of where we have entered the show and if you haven’t, well we are on the wrong side of the tracks.  Quite literally as we always like to start our day off at the Exotic’s showcase.

    We have come to realize that if you try to enter the exotic showcase any time between 11:30am and 3:00pm, you may have some trouble getting a good shot of the rides you want to see.  So, for us that is why we always head there first.  And like we said, we have to cross over the main track line in downtown T.O. to get there, as we have entered the show from the South Convention Centre.

   To get to the North Convention Centre you have to traverse three (3) flights of escalators and cross over one massive amount of train tracks.  But don’t worry as you will cross over them on a covered bridge which is usually sponsored by Subaru.

    On the other side of the bridge you will find yourself a level up from the main showroom floor of the North Convention Centre.  This is a great spot to stop and take a look at what manufactures are there so you can plan your path for later.  After you quick stop be ready to follow signs as you will need too, to be able to make your way down three (3) levels of escalators to reach the basement.  This is where you will find the home of the exotics and a special display.  This year’s display was a few cars from the Barrett Jackson collection.  You may also find a few vendors as well, but like us, try not to spend too much time with them as you only have a window of an hour before the rush comes down.

  For this year it seems that the DeLorean sales dealer of Ontario decided to grace us with a taste of what they can do.  And if you’re like us, then you will get lost in a sea of stainless-steel heaven.  But being from the Nickel City, stainless steel is nothing new to us.
    After a quick snapshot of both the car and the chrome lady, we moved into the main floor of the exotics.  There we found a vehicle that has never been to this side of the world before.  This vehicle in particular has a starting rating of 2000hp and hails from the U.A.E.  Yes, we are talking about the Devel Sixteen.  And it is way better in real life than it is on your screen.

    Seems that T.O. is the place to be as the original Aston Martin Red Bull AM-RB-001 concept made its first stop here as well.  Too bad the same couldn’t be true for any of our Canadian manufactures as we have only ever seen the HTT Plethore at the Toronto show.  Guess this show is like the LCBO, there’s always room for everyone else except our own.

  Moving from there we find ourselves surrounded by highly desirable classics.  But this year there was the added touch of a vendor who specializes in racing memorabilia.  Too bad we didn’t have $25,000 on hand as we really wanted that autographed Senna helmet.

    From there we moved down and again found our usual crowd from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin, Lotus even Karma Automotive.  Yes, that old Fisker is back and it seems they really want to sell them in Toronto.  But not if Tesla and their full lineup booth had anything to do about it. 

   Of course, we tried out the Tesla lineup and even check out the space in the frunk, but what really caught our eye in the exotic space was the world premiere of Canada’s own F1 team and their car.  Sure, it doesn’t seem like much as their not a top tier league, but this is Canada’s own claim to fame in the world of F1 racing.  And if that wasn’t enough for you, they have a few Canadian sponsors as well.  Guess we’re not only concerned about Hockey in this country, as it seems that a few people and companies have come together to make the Racing Point team a reality.

    Next to Canada’s own F1 car was the biggest stand in the exotic ring and that was held by McLaren.  Not only did they bring a near complete product lineup, but they also brought a bare-naked carbon version of the Senna.  And next to that you found their next greatest products, the ride-on toys for the kids.  Guess that’s a way you can keep both dad and the kids happy.

   From there we moved onto the Barrett Jackson special exhibit where we found a few good rides to choose from.  As usual this showcase wasn’t really all that special, but I guess you need to fill space with something.

   After a quick escalator ride up two (2) levels, we again find ourselves face to face with the main North Hall.  And like every year for the past couple of years, Jeep took up the back wall to showcase a bit of our backyard.  Guess they should have told us as we could have brought them some of our 50cm of snow we received the week before.  But then they would have to keep it cool and that might take away from the display.

   From there we moved our way through Nissan and Mazda and onto the back wall where we found something a bit more familiar.  Someone from our youth was standing tall against the back wall and just had to get a picture with them.  Seems that Bumblebee teamed up with Volkswagen to showcase his original form.  Of, course we could be wrong and that Volkswagen may have teamed up with Bumblebee to showcase how a VW Beetle was the original Bumblebee vehicle.  Not that glammed up Camaro you find today.

   Besides Bumblebee VW did decide to grace our showroom floor with the likes if the I.D. Cross and I.D. pike’s peak cars as well.  They just can’t let Bumblebee steal the show can they.

   From there we moved past the Mitsubishi and Hyundai stalls as there wasn’t much fun there.  The Palisade is better to see in real life, but really, we have seen the i30 Touring Car before.

   Next to Hyundai we found ourselves again at the Nissan stall.  This time we wanted to check out the Nismo Leaf RC and the tracked Altima.  And worth it is to see them both in real life.

   After the Nissan pavilion we made our way to the FCA stand.  And as usual they have the biggest in the North hall.  And this year they had the largest all around as even GM lost some ground in the South building.

   As usual FCA had their standard display which emphasizes more on the Jeep and RAM brand while the Fiat brand is tucked away in the back corner.  Too bad as the entire Chrysler, Fiat and Dodge MPV lineups were pushed aside to make more room for the trucks and SUV’s.  We would have like to see a few more options of the Charger, Journey and 300, but since trucks rule today, then sedans have to make way.  Although even the Jeep and RAM brands couldn’t keep us occupied as they both didn’t have anything extravagant to show us.

   Next to FCA was the usual Honda / Acura pavilion where they showcased their standard products along with their recreational and home use products.  But they did bring one wow factor vehicle with them, as they showed up to Toronto with an original 1978 Civic.  Kind of makes you realize where you came from when you get to see the cars from a company’s past.

   After Honda we made our way through the Subaru booth and past the updated Legacy.  Sure, it’s been updated, but to us it's just a mild makeover.
   From there we made our way our and back over to the South building where the biggest part of the show was held.

   Just one floor up from the main hall in the South building you will find the main attraction to the Toronto Auto Show this year.  Sure, the Devel Sixteen was great, but nothing can compare to a working replica of a Bugatti Chiron.  And when it’s made from Lego and it actually works, then you have something that is truly great.

   The Lego Chiron is something that is a must see for all automotive and Lego fans.  As it is not only a replica of a real vehicle, it is one that actually runs.  And who can really say that they haven’t played with Lego at some point in their lives.  Well if you never have then you would do just like us and head on into the Lego play centre.  This is where we got to build our own automotive Lego creation, then got to test it out.  And while most of our vehicles failed the barrier wall, we still had loads of fun.
 
   Across from the Chiron you found yourself immersed in the lowrider car culture.  This display was the proud culmination of personal vehicles and museum pieces on loan from the Peterson Museum in L.A.  And if you’re like us you will want to get yourself to L.A. sometime to see the entire collection from Peterson Magazine. Just remember to get their early so you can get on the list to see what’s in the basement collection.
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   Next to the Peterson exhibit we found ourselves once again surrounded by the vehicles from Canada’s own Concours d’Elegance.  Cobble Beach is where you will find our show and if you want to see what Canada and Ontario has to offer, then check it out sometime.  Inside the exhibit we found the usual array of classics which showcase our past and like most years we got to see a few vehicles you usually won’t see at your standard car show.  Our true favourite here was the Buick Y-Job concept from 1938, this was truly a sight to see.  Just like the Tucker Torpedo from last year.

   As we moved down to the main hall in the south building, we started to feel like the show just kept going.  And that it did.

   Unlike other years we decided this year to start in the far west corner and again found the Mini booth tucked away.  They still bring their lineup, but it seems like their parent owner, they wanted to move a bit of swag as well.  But sorry that’s not for us as we don’t need a BMW or Mini had.  The truly great thing here was that BMW did let you sit in an i8.  Funny how Audi next door didn’t let us inside the R8 as they have in the past.

   As we moved past the likes of all the luxury marks, we started to feel like we actually were in a dealership.  Sure, there was not sounds or smells from the garage, but really there wasn’t much else besides new vehicles.  As only Lexus brought a concept to Toronto.  No, the EQC isn’t a concept anymore, it is just another bland Mercedes that blended into its surroundings.

   And as we were all about to lose all hope that there could be something great down here, GM gave us a lifeline.  That lifeline came in the way of a free espresso from Buick.  Of course, they have done this for the past three (3) years, but who can blame them for keeping something that great.

   The Buick stall didn’t have anything else to impress, but GM did keep us on our toes with their display of the new Sierra tailgate.  We did see this last year, but were unable to test it out.  This year they let us play around with it and we had loads of fun.  This could be the reason why GM has moved up in our world, well that along with the better design language.

   From their we moved past Chevrolet and the poor attempt to bring back the Blazer nameplate and moved on over to the smaller than usual Toyota booth.  This is one that we had been waiting for as we were really hoping that Toyota had brought the all new Supra.  And they did.  Again, this is a vehicle that you really have to appreciate in real life as pictures don’t really do it justice.
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    Next to Toyota sat a slightly smaller version of the standard Ford pavilion as it seems they gave away some of their land to Toyota.  Guess with no sedans to showcase, they really didn’t need all that room.  But of course, they still had the GT and all new Shelby Mustang on display.  But their real claim to fame this year was there showcase of the all new Explorer.  If that is what you want to see, but for us it wasn’t.  We were more interest in the life size Lego man.

   After a quick run through of the last remaining companies we were finally on our last leg of the show.  And what better way to end out show than with a stroll through an army reserve.  No, we actually didn’t go to the army, we just wandered through the showcase the Canadian Military had.  Too bad they showed us the old Bombardier vehicle as we all know how Mercedes beat out our home-grown companies.  But hey this is Canada, we don’t like to support our own automotive industry.
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   And on that note, we moved our way back upstairs to test our hands at the Forza championship.  Too bad we didn’t have more time as we would have like to see if we could have set the fastest time of the day.  Winner of the week moved onto the finals and could have potentially won $20,000, but we didn’t have anymore time as we needed to get back on the road.
 
   It was now close to 3:00pm and with that came rush hour.  Again, the headaches of traffic and congestion.  We don’t like it and neither did our vehicle as we were about to embark on the worst part of our day trip to Toronto.
 
Our story turns a bit sour on our way-out Toronto, but that is where this story will end.
 
Everett J.
#AutoLooks, @Autolooks.net, AutoLooks.net

   But unlike most other shows, our sea of green wasn't just a sea of green sedans and CUV's, it was mostly made up of green sports and supercars.  Sure this maybe the best way to enter the market, but it could also be a way to change the face of automobiles as well.  

   From China to Sweden some of the biggest  automotive countries had some form of earth friendly model.  Up first was our new Ren supercar from China.  This was followed up by a model from a reborn Artega, the new Scallo.  Now follow that up with an autonomous Saab concept, and you have the makings of a perfect green field.

    One of the most anticipated models at this years Geneva show, was the replacement for the CLS from Mercedes-Benz and AMG.  The new AMG GT saloon sedan is sure to help change the face of future Mercedes models.

   The other great model on this years show floor came from none other than Italdesign.  Sure we all know that they used this years show to showcase their new supercar, but it also was the place to be to see the future of drone technology.  We all know that drones are part of future mobility, but when car companies start blending them with cars, you might get the Italdesign Airbus Popup.  Of course this drone came with a little help from Airbus as well.

    Speaking of drones, you might have wanted to see what Land Rover brought to the show.  Showcasing the blending of off road capability with a rooftop drone and you get the Discovery Hero concept.  The last great thing that Geneva bought this year was the introduction of a sports car from India.  Yes we did say a sports car from India.  And who other than Tata would be able to bring a sports car to world of cars.  Sure it could help that India is home to Grand Prix racing and a team.  Next to that you have the beginning of a beautiful relationship.  And with this relationship comes the demand for a sports car.  So let's hope that this is not just a concept, but a showcase of things to come.

    Well if next year is as good as this year, then we can hope to expect more great green models and concept.

Everett J.
#AutoLooks, @Autolooks, AutoLooks.net

    Up next from China is the TechRules electric hypercar.  Sure we have all heard this before from other companies, but for one company to bring three concepts of their product is really unheard of.  Well unheard of from an entry company, but with Chinese financial backing, were sure they had the money to make all three.

    Next up was the green money from SsangYong, Skoda, SEAT, Borgward and Nissan.  All fave companies are seeing the money to be made from the ever expanding CUV market.  For SsangYong they used Geneva to showcase their new look with the SIV and XLV.  For Skoda and SEAT this was to showcase their upcoming CUV entries.  As for Nissan, they used Geneva to push some premium models to help push more green into their bank account.

    But for Borgward this was a way for them to showcase their expanding lineup.  Sure they just hit the market again after decades of being absent, but it seems that they are playing the comeback properly.  If you want to bring a company back from the dead, why not do it with models which make great profits.  Sure we all remember the Borgward coupes from the past but the CUV is the money maker right now.
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   Well if this years show was all about the green, then maybe next year the show will be all about the gold.

Everett J.
#AutoLooks, @Autolooks, AutoLooks.net