Autos

Sympatico

Did you know?

While a completely eco-friendly car may not be possible (yet), automakers are doing what they can to help curb that impact on mother nature. Let’s take a look at a few examples.

Torture Chamber: Automotive Hell

For a new car, going from concept to production is a long, arduous and expensive process. Part of that process involves subjecting a car to unimaginable conditions and equally unimaginable stress. Let’s examine some of the sheer misery cars go through, all in the name of safety and comfort.

Rhianna gifts Chris Brown a Mercedes-benz SLR Stirling Moss

Craziest cars gifted to celebrities

Rumours sprung up April 30 that singer Rihanna bought boyfriend Chris Brown a $1-million Mercedes-Benz for his birthday. It sort of got us thinking about how celebrities gift each other cars like moms gift holiday socks. Here's our list of some of the most outrageous star car exchanges.

Some Fabulous Flops

Cats! And cars! 40 felines in the auto industry

Yes, we've already thrown together a gallery of cars named after animals. But the list of feline-themed four- (or six-)wheeled vehicles was so long we figured it deserved its own slideshow. Here's almost every reference to cats in the automotive industry.

Getting the most out of your GPS

Tips and tricks on how to make your GPS as helpful as possible.

The 51 worst puns in the auto industry

Puns have been called the "lowest form of humour," but these little pieces of wit have a least few fans in the world of car culture. We've gathered together 51 of the worst – or best? – groaners from across the industry.

The most fuel efficient Six-cylinder vehicles

10 things the road is trying to tell you

Road signs are pretty much universal, no matter where you are. However, if like most of us, you live in the city or the suburbs, you won’t have been exposed to the full range of road signs - and trust us, there’s a sign for almost everything. Here’s a look at 10 of the more uncommon signs:

Multi-taskers: Vehicles with many talents

Multitasking done right: These vehicles are good at stuff you'd never expect

10 SUVs that can actually go off-road

What if you actually want an SUV that can do it all, road or no road? We've cherry-picked some modern 'utes that fit the bill.

Top 10: interesting truck features

Because our pickup truck choices in Canada are mostly limited to domestic marques with a few foreign brands thrown in, it might be one key feature that makes or breaks a potential sale. Here’s a look at some new stand-out features we like on current trucks.

10 things we love about winter driving

Summer is the driving season, or so most auto advertisements tell us. To my mind, though, the true Canadian driving season begins when the snow starts flying. Here are a few reasons winter is the best time to be on the road.

10 tips to improve your driving today

We know, it's been a long time since we took our driving test too. It's easy to fall into bad habits. We suggest taking an advanced driving course, but in lieu of that, here are 10 simple things you can do to make yourself a better driver right away:

Canadian cars and car factories

Here is a list of the cars we make in Canada (for the 2012-13 model year), as well as some of the old factories that are no longer in operation.

Automotive degrees of separation

Our new favourite game! The automotive industry is a truly global one, with connections all over the world. We decided to trace some of those connections and see where they lead.

Why we love Europe

Cops, cabs, and carousels!

Features that should come back (or not)

Some things are best left in the past, while others…well…we really wish someone had the guts to bring back

I will let somebody cut in, at least once a day

New year's resolutions for drivers

With the turning of a new year, the usual thing to do is make a list of ways in which we will strive to be better people…even while in our cars

25 of the oddest automotive nicknames

From the "Tin Snail" to the "Screaming Chicken," there are plenty of weird nicknames for cars out there.

Most stolen vehicles in Canada: 2012

The Insurance Bureau of Canada just released its annual list of the top 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada. We suggest you read this list carefully before making any car purchase.

Rust in peace: vehicles that died in 2012

2012 claimed another 16 nameplates this year, from sports cars to hybrids to hybrid sports cars

Best cars you didn't buy...

…But should have. There are some cars out there that just never caught on, that flew under the radar, that were simply unlovable. Here then are some good cars, and even a few truly great ones, that just didn't sell as well as they deserved to.

SUVs: Then and now

A lot has changed in the SUV market. Most of the vehicles that make up the segment these days are more like cars than trucks. Most have unibody, car-like construction, and some even return decent fuel economy. Here's a comparison of current SUVs and their predecessors.

The most efficient V8-engined cars

Big displacement and good fuel efficiency aren't mutually exclusive

Canada's least powerful new cars

Canada's least powerful cars are an eclectic bunch. There are hybrid Japanese hatchbacks, a gas-powered Mexican-built German sedan, and a Korean-designed Chevrolet city car that costs nearly as much as its subcompact sibling. If power corrupts, these cars do very little corrupting.

The future is now

We live in an age where technology becomes outdated almost as fast as its released to the public. This technological revolution has its impact on the cars we drive as well. Here’s a look at some of the cars we might have only imagined would be possible a decade ago.

Cheap exotics: Love 'em or leave 'em?

It's a dangerous game looking for your old dream cars in the classifieds. You'll find these exotic old high-tech machines are now within financial reach. Your first thought will be to pull the trigger and make an offer. But, your second thought will be about repair bills, sourcing parts, and maintenance. Is it worth it?

The 11 wagons Canadians can have

Not only are they often out of the price range of most Canadian buyers, station wagon nameplates are unfortunately decreasing in numbers, affordable or not. Loosely defined, this is the current crop.

EVs from around the world

Ever wonder what sort of plug-in cars and concepts automakers are toying around with abroad? Check out these electric vehicles (EVs) from around the world, courtesy Reuters.