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2019 Canadian Car & Utility of the Year announced in Toronto

February 15, 2019 by Media press release Leave a Comment

AJAC President Mark Richardson announces the winners in the John Bassett theatre to open the Canadian International Autoshow.

TORONTO, Ont. (February 14, 2019) – Today, the Kia Stinger was announced as the 2019 Canadian Car of the Year and the Jaguar I-Paceas the 2019 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, as selected by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). The Jaguar I-Pace has the distinction of being the first fully electric vehicle ever to be chosen for an overall award by AJAC member journalists.)

The two vehicles were awarded with Canada’s highest automotive accolades at the opening ceremonies of the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto. This followed months of testing and evaluation on roads and conditions from coast to coast by nearly 70 of the country’s most-esteemed automotive journalists. The decision followed two rounds of voting scored anonymously on many different factors, including performance, features, technology, design, fuel consumption and value.

These winners were selected from across 55 entries, including last year’s category winners and this year’s next-generation or significantly updated vehicles. Voting data was collected anonymously from more than 1,500 ballots.

“It gives us great pride to declare the Kia Stinger to be the Canadian Car of the Year, and the Jaguar I-Pace to be the Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, for 2019,” said AJAC President Mark Richardson. “AJAC journalists are among the most objective and discerning automotive professionals in the country, and the fact that these two vehicles have risen to the top of our vigorous testing and voting protocol means that they’re truly among the best available to Canadian buyers.”

And Now There Are Three

February 5, 2018 by Media press release Leave a Comment

TORONTO, Feb. 5, 2018 /CNW/ – Six vehicles edged closer today to the ultimate goal of being named 2018 Canadian Car of the Year and 2018 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

Mazda will be hopeful for an accolade – three of the auto maker’s new vehicles made the final cut.

This year, voting was expanded to include all new vehicles available to Canadian buyers, not just those vehicles new to the market. For the first time, nearly 100 of AJAC’s voting journalists were able to directly score vehicles against their competition, whether they were all-new for 2018 or returning popular models. Almost 3,000 ballots were cast on 182 vehicles. If we drove them, then we had an opinion on them – and we passed that opinion on through an anonymous system of standardized voting to determine which vehicles are the best of them all.

The three cars and three utility vehicles were chosen in a separate, second round of voting by AJAC’s journalists from the 14 vehicles that were named the best in their segments earlier this year at the Montreal Auto Show. The voting process was a simple one: AJAC members were asked which, of the segment-winning vehicles they’d driven and experienced, most deserve to be named the best car and utility vehicle for 2018.

The three cars in the final running are the Honda Accord (Best Large Car in Canada), Mazda 3 (Best Small Car in Canada), and Volvo S90/V90 (Best Large Premium Car in Canada).

The three utility vehicles in the final running are the Chrysler Pacifica (Best Minivan in Canada), Mazda CX-5 (Best Small Utility Vehicle in Canada), and Mazda CX-9 (Best Large Utility Vehicle in Canada).

All six will be on stage February 15 at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto for the announcement of the ultimate winners. Until the envelope is opened then on stage, the results are a closely guarded secret, known only to the auditing firm of KPMG. The announcement and presentations will take place in the John Bassett Theatre at 8 am.

Checking in at the 2011 Canadian International Auto Show

February 21, 2011 by Gary Grant 3 Comments

The Canadian International Auto Show is, for many car enthusiasts, the high point of the Canadian winter. A chance to spend a day or more poking about in new cars and seeing the newest concept cars. My first impression of the 2011 show is that I was a bit let down.

I suppose I should qualify that feeling, lest you think the show isn’t worth visiting, because it is. Over the 2 previous weeks, I had covered the new car launches at the Detroit and Chicago shows where there were several World or North American premieres. There were no World premieres in Toronto and several of the manufacturer’s booths lacked the extravagance of their counterparts south of the border. I hate to say it, but the first part of my day was a little boring.

After a while, that brought with it the somewhat embarrassing realization that perhaps I’m becoming a little bit jaded. Having been in the car industry for so long and now covering car shows as part of my job for close to a decade means that a show has to really shine to light me up. The truth about the Toronto show is that most, if not all, of the spectacular new models I saw at Detroit and Chicago are also at the Toronto show. There is some really cool stuff there that most show goers will have never seen. The 2012 Hyundai Accent wasn’t at either of the other shows, and is at Toronto. That is a pretty important model in our market and there was quite a buzz surrounding the great looking little car.
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Shelby gallery at Toronto Autoshow

February 12, 2010 by Gary Grant 3 Comments

As a kid, the thing I remember more than anything about going to the Toronto Autoshow was checking out all of the race cars that were inevitably on display. For more than a few years, cars of interest to a kid that is into racing have been sadly sparce. This year though, the Canadian International Autoshow has partnered with the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame to honor racing icon Carroll Shelby.
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Mini shows Beachcomber Concept complete with Shark Boy and the girls

February 11, 2010 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

The most exciting moment so far this morning at the Canadian International Autoshow in Toronto has been the appearance of the MINI Beachcomber concept with a cargo of Shark Boy and bikini bait.

Not satisfied to have Chrysler steal the thunder with their booth girls, the MINI folks went straight to the bikini kill. Add in a bit of humor with a trash eating shark dude and it was truly the only press conference that has ended up in a media scrum.

Toronto Autoshow Day 2

February 12, 2009 by Gary Grant 6 Comments

Day 2 of the Canadian International Autoshow, the media open house has come to an end. I must admit that I’m feeling incredibly old tonight, as I am absolutely wiped after two full days of walking. While I don’t have the energy to share stories, I at least have to share a few images from the day. Sadly, no girls today, so it looks like I’ll have to make another trip down during the show. If you are in Toronto between now and the 22nd, you should drop by the show.

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Scion coming to Canada, does a mail drop of swag

February 10, 2009 by Gary Grant 2 Comments

scion-swag-pac

It came without a knock at the door, just the creak of the screen door opening. Mamma G went to look who was there, but there was nothing but a box addressed to me from Toyota. Hiding inside the box was a bit of Scion swag hinting at the brand’s launch at the Canadian International Autoshow this week.

A funky stuffed Scion Xb, a Scion keychain and a sampler cd. The kids like the squishy Xb and the keychain may prove to be useful. As Scion has built quite the rep with the younger consumers south of the border for supporting the music scene, so I was actually excited to have a listen. Apparently I’m old, because electronic music has changed a fair bit since the days when I listened to Skinny Puppy. Nevertheless, I’m sure that Scion’s target audience will be happy to hit the dance floor to it.

I’ve spoken with a few retail auto industry types this week about the arrival of Scion and the expectations are mixed. Some, like me, are excited to see the brand on our roads like they should have been when the hip little squares first appeared in the States. Others wonder how already strained dealers will cope with even more inventory. Yes, it is a challenging time to bring a new product to market but Scion may just be the right product for the time. Fashionable, affordable and fun may be just what the young consumer is looking for. The timing may be perfect.

We’ll be sure to bring you pictures of the Scion display at the Toronto Autoshow over the next couple of days.

Porsche drops out of Canadian International Auto Show

December 12, 2008 by Gary Grant 10 Comments

With the North American International Auto Show in Detroit struggling to keep their show floor full of new iron, the news came today that Porsche has dropped out of the CIAS in Toronto. Toronto is one of Porsche’s strongest market, so this move may come as a shock to some. In reality, it is a well thought out marketing decision that plays to the historic strength of the Porsche brand to the individual.

Laurance Yap, Porsche Canada’s PR rep said this morning:

Porsche traditionally has better results when it spends its marketing
dollars getting prospective customers into vehicles, such as driving events
held at local dealerships, than events such as auto shows. People are more
apt to buy if they drive the cars. So we’ll be putting a greater emphasis
on personal marketing activities.

In other words, the cars sell themselves.

In case any of you have missed it, there is a major crisis in the automotive industry these days and even the strongest niche brands stand to encounter some rough times ahead. Porsche is fortunate to have possibly the most iconic brand in the industry. They are a destination brand that people aspire to own from the time they are old enough to recognize a 911. The reason Porsche’s sell themselves is that the spirit is so far rooted in the enthusiast that he is sold before that flat six even spins to life. The growl from the pipes just pushes the potential owner over the edge.

Equally important to the proliferation of the icon is the human element. From the little kid at a car show who peers past the ropes to catch a glimpse of the newest Porsche to guys like our old friend Sarj who have owned several of the early air cooled machines, every enthusiast of the brand shares their favorite story with anyone who will listen. Owners regularly bring their friends to club and dealership events and those friends often buy in to the lifestyle of the brand. Porsche is one of the few brands where dealerships and owner’s groups continually work alongside one another.

By concentrating on the individual prospect, Porsche is perpetuating the human component of the brand, while keeping a watchful eye on the expense side of business.

I just hope they don’t miss any little kids trying to see over the rope, as they are the buyers of the future.

Press release after the break
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Gallery: 2008 Canadian International Autoshow

March 7, 2008 by Gary Grant 3 Comments

Given that I got sick during press day at the 2008 Toronto Auto Show, our coverage here in The Garage was sadly lacking to say the least. At least I was able to get a ton of decent shots as I shuffled around trying not to infect the entire media group.

Huge gallery after the break
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What are you doing on the cover of Wheels?

February 18, 2008 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

That was phone call I received on Saturday morning. The photo above is on the cover on the Wheels section of the Toronto Star, accompanying Howard Elmer’s write up on the new Challenger.

That’s me on the right getting a detail shot of the hood.

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