I-XPERIMENTS
As BMW gears up for the rollout of its all-new fully-electric iX “Sports Activity Vehicle” (SAV), the automaker revealed a redesign for its signature “kidney” grille which will take full advantage of the vehicle’s electric powertrain. The iX features an all-electric driving system capable of producing 500 hp with an estimated range of about 480 kilometres. Perhaps the most notable innovation of the iX’s fully-electric driving system is how it utilizes the technology to make new use out of the vehicle’s grille.
“Since the electric drive system of the BMW iX requires only a small amount of cooling air, the kidney grille is completely closed off. Its role has turned digital and here it functions as an intelligence panel. Camera technology, radar functions and other sensors are integrated seamlessly into the grille behind a transparent surface. The heating elements and cleaning system for the sensors are also embedded in the grille front,” read the press release from BMW.
SUPER SAFETY
Two all-new electrified Toyota SUVs have been recognized with safety awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The all-new 2021 Venza LE, along with the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE and XSE have earned the 2020 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK (TSP) award. In addition, the 2021 Toyota Venza XLE and Limited, as well as the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE with Technology Package, earned the 2020 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK + (TSP+) award, thanks to their innovative LED headlights.
Built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, the 2021 Venza makes its return to Toyota’s product lineup after a four-year hiatus and shares its podium with the 2021 RAV4 Prime, Toyota Canada’s second plug-in hybrid model.
A-FORD-ABLE EVS
Jim Farley, Ford CEO has stated he will not be releasing electric vehicles in the six-figure range. Instead, Ford EV’s will be as affordable as possible. He noted, the Ford EVs he has in mind would be priced between US$20,000 and US$70,000 before options.
It is hard to speculate how Ford intends to come up with an EV in the US$20,000 range. The company’s alliance with Volkswagen does give it access to the modular MEB platform, but even the ID.3 has not reached such a price yet. The Mustang Mach-E, Ford’s upcoming all-electric crossover, starts at about US$43,995.
TIMELY TRUCKS
Last year it was announced that the GM plant in Oshawa was to be shut down putting nearly 3,000 people out of work. Now almost exactly a year later, the plant is getting revamped and restaffed thanks to a surge in demand for pickup trucks. Earlier in November, GM union workers came to an agreement on a deal that will see between $1-1.3 billion invested into Oshawa along with 1,400-1,700 hourly workers expected to be hired.
After the deal was announced, Jerry Dias, Unifor national president, said that he never gave up hope on convincing GM to revive the Oshawa plant. GM will continue to recruit heavily from the universities and start-ups in the GTA as it moves towards EVs, self-driving cars and trucks, said Bell. Having also announced recently, separate from Unifor, the hiring of 3,000 tech workers across North America, including some in Ontario, Bell said that Canada is the second-largest hotspot for GM engineering staff.
AUDI OFFERINGS
Audi has released a free collision guide, featuring comprehensive visual guides and tips to follow the OEM’s repair procedures. Chris Woods, technical director for Leons Auto Body, a facility in North York, Ont., said the documents in the manual are full of detailed visuals that can not only benefit collision centres but also insurance companies.
“The documents give a great illustration and are easy to understand, other manufacturers have similar [OEM] manuals but are not as informative as Audi. I enjoy using these, well-illustrated guides to educate my apprentices for their growth,” said Woods. The collision manual has six sections, starting with an overview and the benefits gained, and then it discusses the enrollment and implementation process to get officially OEM certified by Audi.
VOLVO E-VOLVO
Volvo Cars has announced a partnership with EV charging developer ChargePoint, further expanding the range of support for the automaker’s new electric vehicles across Canada and the U.S. Coming just ahead of the North American launch of Volvo’s pure electric XC40 Recharge SUV, this collaboration will provide drivers access to the more than 115,000 ChargePoint chargers installed across the continent, as well as the opportunity to purchase a home charging unit.
“The transition to electric mobility is inevitable and the introduction of exciting new EV models like the all-new XC40 Recharge is another example of the shift already underway around the world,” said ChargePoint CRO Michael Hughes. “ChargePoint’s collaboration with Volvo Cars in the United States and Canada will provide a platform for EV charging across public, residential, and retail locations in the United States and Canada.”
LOW PROFILE
Subaru Canada has unveiled the next generation of the BRZ sports car, expanding on the fundamentals of low-weight and low centre-of-gravity established on the original. The 2022 BRZ is built on a 2+2 coupe platform with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration, held together by lightweight aluminum parts and a newly redesigned chassis.
A larger engine than before also comes standard on the new BRZ, boasting a 2.4L SUBARU BOXER® engine that produces 228 hp at 7,000 RPM and 184 lb-ft of torque (15 percent increase from the previous generation). Convenience has also become a key priority for the BRZ, now featuring an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that offers seamless integration with Apple CarPlay™ and Android ™ Auto, as well as Bluetooth® hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming, rearview camera and SiriusXM® satellite radio.
MORALE BOOST
Nissan Canada has managed to successfully navigate the storm that has been 2020, securing for themselves a Great Place to Work® certification for the second year in a row, according to the eponymous labour advocacy group.
This recognition comes following the results of an anonymous employee survey conducted in October that focused on company culture, workplace experience, rewards, communication, and leadership. This year’s survey also included questions about how employers handled the challenges and uncertainty of the past year, for which Nissan was praised, specifically.
