Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Acura TL bursts into flames moments before being traded in at Ontario dealership [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/acura-tl-bursts-into-flames-moments-before-being-traded-in-at-on/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/acura-tl-bursts-into-flames-moments-before-being-traded-in-at-on/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/acura-tl-bursts-into-flames-moments-before-being-traded-in-at-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Acura TL trade-in burns at Ontario dealership

Watching your car burst into flames before your eyes is never good news, and it's even worse when you're mere moments away from trading it in at the local dealership. This Car-B-Q blaze apparently erupted at Acura 2000, a dealer in Brampton, Ontario. As the video tells us, the unlucky customer saw his 2004-2008 Acura TL trade-in suddenly catch fire and go up in resale-value-killing smoke.

According to the hyped-up cameraman (who evidently works next door at Northwest Lexus) and his eccentric play-by-play commentary, this Acura owner is about to be left without a ride home and might want to consider switching to a Lexus instead.

Scroll down to watch video of the drama unfolding as fire fighters put out the mysterious blaze before anyone - except the car - was harmed.


UPDATE: The owner of the 2008 Acura TL has contacted Autoblog to clarify the video above. Unlike what the narration suggests, he was not at the dealer to trade in his car. According to his email, he had brought in his car earlier for a power steering recall (to prevent a possible fire), and "...within 24 hours of the recall job being completed, the car burst into flames. It was caused by the power steering fluid leaking onto the catalytic converter."

The owner's tale of woe doesn't end there, however. He says that "Acura agrees that the mechanic had screwed up the job, and that is what caused the fire. However, both the Acura dealership and Honda Canada refuse to do anything about the situation. My insurance company was the one to compensate me."

Continue reading Acura TL bursts into flames moments before being traded in at Ontario dealership [UPDATE]

Acura TL bursts into flames moments before being traded in at Ontario dealership [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acuraacura 2000bramptonburncar burningcar dealercar fireontariotltrade-invideoFri, 21 Dec 2012 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20409552/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/21/acura-tl-bursts-into-flames-moments-before-being-traded-in-at-on/20409552/article-detail.xml 20409552 http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/tl-to-use_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/tl-to-use.jpg <![CDATA[Chevy Camaro to be built in US once again]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/19/chevy-camaro-to-be-built-in-us-once-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/19/chevy-camaro-to-be-built-in-us-once-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/19/chevy-camaro-to-be-built-in-us-once-again/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Chevrolet Camaro 1LE

General Motors has announced that the next generation of the Chevrolet Camaro will once again be built in the United States, specifically at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Lansing, MI. The current Camaro has been assembled in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, since its introduction in 2010.

The automaker cites "lower capital investment and improved production efficiencies" as key reasons for the move - indeed, the Camaro is the only rear-wheel-drive vehicle made in Oshawa; the Buick Regal and Cadillac XTS are currently manufactured there, and the upcoming Chevrolet Impala will join the front-wheel-drive group in 2013. Meanwhile, the Lansing facility currently produces two rear-wheel-drive vehicles - the Cadillac ATS and CTS - which makes the Camaro a natural fit.

The Canadian Auto Workers Union is, as expected, none too pleased by the "callous and poorly thought-out" announcement, "reacting in anger and frustration" according to a statement. CAW National President Ken Lewenza added, "General Motors has once again shown a complete and utter disregard for its workers and also Canadians in general, whose tax dollars kept the company out of bankruptcy."

The CAW says that "GM must replace lost Camaro production on a one-to-one basis." The automaker's own statement says it will "continue to meet the production targets agreed to with the Canadian and Ontario governments during the 2009 restructuring." In any case, production of the current Camaro will continue in Ontario until the next-gen model is ready to go on sale sometime within the next few years.

Feel free to read statements from both General Motors and the CAW below.

Continue reading Chevy Camaro to be built in US once again

Chevy Camaro to be built in US once again originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camarocanadacanadian auto workerscawchevroletgeneral motorsgmlansingontariooshawaWed, 19 Dec 2012 14:17:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20407500/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/19/chevy-camaro-to-be-built-in-us-once-again/20407500/article-detail.xml 20407500 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/2013-chevrolet-camaro-1le_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/2013-chevrolet-camaro-1le.jpg <![CDATA[New Ontario racetrack green-lit, hopes to woo NASCAR]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/09/canada-getting-a-new-racetrack-in-ontario/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/09/canada-getting-a-new-racetrack-in-ontario/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/09/canada-getting-a-new-racetrack-in-ontario/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Canadian Motor Speedway artist's rendering

You may think that NASCAR is exclusively an American sport, but it has quite a following in Canada, too. How do we know that? Well, aside from knowing a few fans who count themselves among our neighbors to the north, it seems that a project has been green-lighted to build a NASCAR-minded speedway in Fort Erie, Ontario.

According to reports, the $400-million project will see the construction of a new Canadian Motor Speedway, a one-mile banked oval track with spectator capacity of over 65,000, including 60,000 grandstand seats, 5,000 club chairs and 80 suites. Though it is unclear if the track will eventually join the NASCAR calendar, a mile-long oval circuit is a pretty solid indicator of the kind of racing intended for this location. Another not-so-subtle indicator of investors' hopes for the facility? The designer is four-time NASCAR champ Jeff Gordon.

Lest you think the facility is only for turnin' left, the plan also includes a 2.5-mile road course. According to Canadian Motor Speedway executive director Azhar Mohammed, "This will be a world class facility that will attract visitors from all over North America. We are very anxious to begin the next steps in seeing the speedway become a reality."

While there were some appeals against the project, they were all rejected by Ontario Municipal Board. The project will provide jobs, and eventually tourism to an area that was forced to close its slots and live horse racing recently. We look forward to seeing how this track plays into the motorsport community at large.

As the Toronto Star notes, NASCAR's Nationwide series has already announced that it will stop racing in Montreal, so the Canadian Motor Speedway could conceivably make a play for the event if it doesn't go to Mosport as rumored.

Construction for the facility is expected to take just 18 months.

New Ontario racetrack green-lit, hopes to woo NASCAR originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadacanadian motor speedwayfort eriejeff gordonnascarnextel cupontariostock carstock car racingthe chaseFri, 09 Nov 2012 10:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20373379/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/09/canada-getting-a-new-racetrack-in-ontario/20373379/article-detail.xml 20373379 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/canadian-motor-speedway-rendering_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/canadian-motor-speedway-rendering.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota looking to shift some Lexus RX production from Japan to Canada]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/27/toyota-looking-to-shift-some-lexus-rx-production-from-japan-to-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/27/toyota-looking-to-shift-some-lexus-rx-production-from-japan-to-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/27/toyota-looking-to-shift-some-lexus-rx-production-from-japan-to-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



In an effort to reduce the Yen's impact on its bottom line, Toyota says it will invest $100 million in its Cambridge, Ontario plant to increase output of the Lexus RX CUV. The Ontario factory is Toyota's only Lexus producer outside of Japan.

"This is a big and ambitious project with new technology, exacting standards and tight timelines," Brian Krinock, president of Toyota's Canada manufacturing unit, said in a press release. "Our team members have demonstrated time and time again that they thrive on these kinds of challenges."

The expansion will take the plant's Lexus capacity from 74,000 units a year to 104,000, including 15,000 RX 450h hybrids. By the time production begins in early 2014, the plant is expected to have added about 400 new jobs and take overall employment to 6,900 workers.

Continue reading Toyota looking to shift some Lexus RX production from Japan to Canada

Toyota looking to shift some Lexus RX production from Japan to Canada originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cambridgecanadalexusontariorxrx 350rx 450htoyotaFri, 27 Jul 2012 09:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20284866/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/27/toyota-looking-to-shift-some-lexus-rx-production-from-japan-to-c/20284866/article-detail.xml 20284866 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/01-2013-lexus-rx-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/01-2013-lexus-rx-opt.jpg <![CDATA[GM to shut Oshawa line, shed 2,000 jobs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/gm-to-shut-oshawa-line-shed-2-000-jobs/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/gm-to-shut-oshawa-line-shed-2-000-jobs/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/gm-to-shut-oshawa-line-shed-2-000-jobs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

GM Oshawa Assembly

According to the Toronto Sun, General Motors will be shutting down one of the lines at its Oshawa, Ontario plant, putting 2,000 workers out of a job. As of yet, no official notice has been given to the employees or the Canadian Auto Workers union that represents them, though an official announcement is reportedly coming within the next couple of days.

GM will be closing the line that currently builds the Chevrolet Equinox and outgoing Impala models. Recently, we reported that the automaker would be adding Equinox production to its Spring Hill, Tennessee facility, but this news of a line closure in Oshawa likely means that GM's compact crossover will now be built exclusively in the United States. The 2014 Impala will move to GM's flexible line in Oshawa, where it will be built alongside the Buick Regal, Chevrolet Camaro and Cadillac XTS. The Impala will also be built at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck facility, which is currently responsible for the Chevrolet Malibu and Volt.

Another report from The Globe and Mail suggests that a third shift could be added to the flex line when production of the Impala and XTS fire up. If that's the case, employment on this line would rise from about 2,000 to 2,500 workers, and the laid-off employees from the consolidated line would have first crack at these jobs.

GM to shut Oshawa line, shed 2,000 jobs originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadachevroletequinoxgeneral motorsgmgm oshawagm plantimpalaontariooshawaFri, 01 Jun 2012 11:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20249427/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/01/gm-to-shut-oshawa-line-shed-2-000-jobs/20249427/article-detail.xml 20249427 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/was3208925_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/was3208925.jpg <![CDATA[Canadian railroad strike could pinch U.S. car supply]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/28/canadian-railroad-strike-could-pinch-u-s-car-supply/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/28/canadian-railroad-strike-could-pinch-u-s-car-supply/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/28/canadian-railroad-strike-could-pinch-u-s-car-supply/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Canadian Railway strike - locomotives in yard

TheDetroitBureau.com reports 5,000 Canadian Teamster union members moved to strike against the Canadian Pacific Railroad after last-minute negotiations failed to reach a fruitful agreement. As a result Chrysler, General Motors, Ford, Honda and Toyota have all seen their vehicle shipments bottlenecked. The railroad company has closed a full 15,000 miles of track across both Canada and the U.S., and the Canadian government has already threatened take action to put an end to the standoff. Those tracks typically handle a large portion of vehicle commerce, including moving both complete cars and components to and from manufacturing facilities.

According to TDB, Canadian Pacific Railroad serves auto manufacturing facilities across Ontario and the U.S. Midwest, helping to link those plants with sister locations in Mexico. Chrysler says the company is currently investigating alternative shipping methods in the event the strike continues much longer. Honda, meanwhile, has said CR-V shipments have already been impacted by the issue.

Canadian railroad strike could pinch U.S. car supply originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 May 2012 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadian pacificcanadian pacific railroadcanadian pacific railroad strikechryslerfordgeneral motorsgmhondamexicoontariorailroad strikestriketeamstertoyotaMon, 28 May 2012 09:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20245854/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/28/canadian-railroad-strike-could-pinch-u-s-car-supply/20245854/article-detail.xml 20245854 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/canada-rail-strike_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/canada-rail-strike.jpg <![CDATA[Ontario seizes pair of taxi cabs for street racing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/ontario-siezes-pair-of-taxi-cabs-for-street-racing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/ontario-siezes-pair-of-taxi-cabs-for-street-racing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/ontario-siezes-pair-of-taxi-cabs-for-street-racing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Toronto Cab 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

Ontario seizes pair of taxi cabs for street racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevroletchevrolet impalaimpalaontarioreckless drivingtaxitaxi drivertorontovideoThu, 26 Jan 2012 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20157721/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/26/ontario-siezes-pair-of-taxi-cabs-for-street-racing/20157721/article-detail.xml 20157721 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/cab-racing-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/cab-racing-628.jpg <![CDATA[2012 Ram Cargo Van starts rolling in Windsor]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/31/2012-ram-cargo-van-starts-rolling-in-windsor/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/31/2012-ram-cargo-van-starts-rolling-in-windsor/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/31/2012-ram-cargo-van-starts-rolling-in-windsor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2012 Ram Cargo Van

Call it a Caravan, call it a Voyager, call it whatever you want - just don't call it a Dodge. Because while it may look exactly like a Dodge, it's actually a Ram. And as the suits in Auburn Hills will point out, the Ram truck brand is no longer under Dodge's purview.

What it's actually called is the Ram C/V, which doesn't stand for Commercial Vehicle but for Cargo Van. It's the panel-wagon version of the Dodge Grand Caravan, and it's just entered production in Windsor, Ontario.

The Class 1 commercial vehicle offers 1,800 pounds of cargo capacity and 3,600 pounds of towing capability for a Gross Combined Weight Rating of 8,750 pounds, all the while delivering up to 25 miles per gallon on the highway. It also gets a heavy-duty radiator and transmission oil cooler over the family-hauling version. It's ready to order now from your local Ram dealership.

Continue reading 2012 Ram Cargo Van starts rolling in Windsor

2012 Ram Cargo Van starts rolling in Windsor originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 ram cargo van2012 ram cvchryslercvdodgedodge caravandodge grand caravanontarioramram cargo vanram cvwindsorWed, 31 Aug 2011 13:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20031355/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/31/2012-ram-cargo-van-starts-rolling-in-windsor/20031355/article-detail.xml 20031355 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/web-ram-cv-windsor_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/web-ram-cv-windsor.jpg <![CDATA[Why was this BMW dealership abandoned in 1988 with cars still inside?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/14/why-was-this-bmw-dealership-abandoned-in-1988-with-cars-still-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/14/why-was-this-bmw-dealership-abandoned-in-1988-with-cars-still-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/14/why-was-this-bmw-dealership-abandoned-in-1988-with-cars-still-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



In 1988, Citation Motors, a BMW Dealership in Ontario, shut its doors with little explanation. The simple answer seems to be that the dealership had its concession license revoked, but nobody seems to be able to track down why exactly. Endras BMW, another Toronto-based Bimmer peddler, did some digging, but didn't come up with too much.

Whatever the case, the dealership moved to Toronto, switched its name to Downtown BMW, and went under in 2002. The owner of both places seems to be eccentric at best, as he left Citation where it sat, untouched, with a then-brand new 635csi and E28 5 Series abandoned inside. The business is reportedly well cared for, and the cars have not succumbed to the elements the way they would have were they truly left to rot.

The owner of the establishment apparently has little interest in selling the business or his wares. To make things more interesting, there's apparently an as-yet unopened underground storage facility and a back lot packed with junked Bimmers.

Why was this BMW dealership abandoned in 1988 with cars still inside? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1988 bmw 528i1988 bmw 635csi5 series5286 series635csibmwcanadacitation motorsendras bmwontarioSun, 14 Aug 2011 15:54:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20016963/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/14/why-was-this-bmw-dealership-abandoned-in-1988-with-cars-still-in/20016963/article-detail.xml 20016963 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/abandoned-bmw-dealership_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/abandoned-bmw-dealership.jpg <![CDATA[Teamsters fire up website to protest BMW, prepare to picket dealers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/18/teamsters-fire-up-website-to-protest-bmw-prepare-to-picket-deal/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/18/teamsters-fire-up-website-to-protest-bmw-prepare-to-picket-deal/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/18/teamsters-fire-up-website-to-protest-bmw-prepare-to-picket-deal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Teamsters Local 495

Ontario, California's Local 495 chapter of the Teamsters union has taken aim at BMW to protest the company's outsourcing of 100 distribution center jobs. Like every large company, BMW is looking for ways to save money in lean times, and laying off unionized workers is an easy way to do that.

Still, it leaves 100 guys, all of whom have been on the job at least 10 years, without a source of income and up against stacks of bills. To protest, Local 495 set up BMWUltimateMisery.com, depicting an evil, flesh-eating 6 Series threatening a family of workers. On the site, the Teamsters have aggregated headlines and videos relating to their plight.

To augment the website, they've started picketing BMW dealerships and posting videos to Vimeo saying why they're angry and what they want done about it. We'll leave that for you to figure out by watching the video after the jump. While this is certainly a well-organized protest, we're going to go out on a limb and guess that BMW's mind remains made up. Video and press release are after the break.

Continue reading Teamsters fire up website to protest BMW, prepare to picket dealers

Teamsters fire up website to protest BMW, prepare to picket dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbmwultimatemiserycaliforniaontarioteamstersteamsters unionMon, 18 Jul 2011 08:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19993082/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/18/teamsters-fire-up-website-to-protest-bmw-prepare-to-picket-deal/19993082/article-detail.xml 19993082 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/teamsters-lead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/teamsters-lead.jpg <![CDATA[12-year-old girl crashes stolen pickup, takes out town's power]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/16/12-year-old-girl-crashes-stolen-pickup-with-10-friends-takes-ou/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/16/12-year-old-girl-crashes-stolen-pickup-with-10-friends-takes-ou/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/16/12-year-old-girl-crashes-stolen-pickup-with-10-friends-takes-ou/#commentsFiled under: ,

Pikangikum Police

12-year-old kids looking to jump behind the wheel should stick to go-karts and video games. Or maybe empty fields. Otherwise, things don't usually end well, as was the case for a preteen girl in Pikangikum, Ontario.

The 12-year-old reportedly swiped the family pickup truck, then loaded it up with ten friends: three 10-year-olds, three 13-year-olds, three 14-year-olds and one 21-year-old.

When police tried to intervene, the girl sped away. Out of safety concerns for the young driver and her passengers, officers elected not to pursue. She wound up crashing anyway. All parties fled the scene, and luckily, it appears no one was seriously injured. Unfortunately, everyone in Pikangikum was inconvenienced as a result.

You see, the truck smashed into a utility pole, knocking out the town's power. Charges are pending against the young joyrider.

12-year-old girl crashes stolen pickup, takes out town's power originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Jul 2011 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ontariopikangikumpower outagepre-teen driverunderage driverSat, 16 Jul 2011 13:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19992537/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/16/12-year-old-girl-crashes-stolen-pickup-with-10-friends-takes-ou/19992537/article-detail.xml 19992537 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/pikangikum-police_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/pikangikum-police.jpg <![CDATA[PSA: Using an armchair as a replacement seat is a bad idea]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/17/psa-using-an-armchair-as-a-replacement-seat-is-a-bad-idea/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/17/psa-using-an-armchair-as-a-replacement-seat-is-a-bad-idea/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/17/psa-using-an-armchair-as-a-replacement-seat-is-a-bad-idea/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

passenger armchair

Ottawa police were conducting roadside seatbelt checks as part of the Spring Seatbelt Campaign, when one of their stops brought an unexpected surprise. A green Chevrolet minivan's driver got into some trouble thanks to the aftermarket passenger seat he installed. This was no Sparco or Recaro, mind you - the driver went with something more akin to a La-Z-Boy.

You see, an armchair resided where the passenger seat was once bolted down. An unrestrained armchair with a thought-deficient passenger riding shotgun. The 33-year-old driver was cited for operating an unsafe vehicle, and he was also charged with driving on a suspended license. The cops scored a two-for-one, and the passenger was lucky he didn't have to pick windshield out of his face.

[Source: CBC.ca | Image: Ontario Provincial Police]

PSA: Using an armchair as a replacement seat is a bad idea originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armchair passenger seatarrestcanadaontarioontario policeottawa policesuspended licenseSun, 17 Apr 2011 17:35:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19914764/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/17/psa-using-an-armchair-as-a-replacement-seat-is-a-bad-idea/19914764/article-detail.xml 19914764 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/li-armchair-620_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/li-armchair-620.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Mazda dealer responds to allegations it bilked customer on meds]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/10/video-mazda-dealer-responds-to-allegations-it-bilked-customer-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/10/video-mazda-dealer-responds-to-allegations-it-bilked-customer-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/10/video-mazda-dealer-responds-to-allegations-it-bilked-customer-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Canadian Mazda dealer responds to overpriced car sale - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Over the weekend, we brought you the story of Madeline Leonard, a Canadian woman on disability who was pressured into the sale of a 2010 Mazda6 sedan when she came in to have some work done on her 2004 model year vehicle. Not only did she drive off of the lot in a new car she didn't really want (a demo car with around 3,700 miles, no less), she was ridiculously overcharged. The dealer sold her the car at a $45,846 CAD list price with an eight-year loan at 7.4 percent interest, bringing the grand total of the transaction to $66,000 CAD.

Now, the Orangeville, Ontario Mazda dealership has responded, saying that the two employees mainly responsible for this sale have been fired. What's more, the dealer plans to take the car back and refund Leonard all of the money that she has paid up to this point. That may be all well and good, but OMVIC says that the people involved could potentially face fines of up to $250,000, and possibly even do some time in jail.

Leonard, who is taking medication for a number of problems including fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, depression and anxiety, says that she feels cheated, lied to and manipulated. Understandably so, especially since an investigation by the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) determined that the vehicle she purchased is only worth about $40,000 CAD.

Justice will indeed be served. Hit the jump to watch a video of this story which ran on a Toronto area news station. Hat tip to Jeff!

[Source: CityNews.ca]

Continue reading Video: Mazda dealer responds to allegations it bilked customer on meds

Video: Mazda dealer responds to allegations it bilked customer on meds originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 May 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 mazda62010Mazda6canadamadeline leonardMadelineLeonardmazdamazda dealershipMazda6mazda6 sedanMazda6SedanMazdaDealershipontarioorangevillescandalMon, 10 May 2010 14:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19471131/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/10/video-mazda-dealer-responds-to-allegations-it-bilked-customer-o/19471131/article-detail.xml 19471131 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/mazda-videoopt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/mazda-videoopt.jpg <![CDATA[Canadian police pull over entire Mini convoy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/01/canadian-police-pull-over-entire-mini-convoy/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/01/canadian-police-pull-over-entire-mini-convoy/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/01/canadian-police-pull-over-entire-mini-convoy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

MINI Convoy

Every year, the Southern Ontario Mini Club organizes two charity drives - one in the Spring and one in the Fall. Over time, the event has grown from a handful of participating cars to over 30, and as such, this year the organizers let local law enforcement know where the caravan would be and when it would be there as a courtesy. So far, so good, right? Not exactly.

During the first part of the drive, the convoy ran into a few members of the Ontario Provincial Police without incident. One officer even went so far as to tell the organizers that there was only one other patrol for the rest of the route. Turns out that wasn't quite true.

Instead of providing an escort for the convoy or thanking the organizers for a heads up, the OPP set up a speed trap along the route where the limit changes from 100 km/h to 90 km/h. When the parade of Minis came past, officers pulled over the whole lot, and cited three cars for going 121-123 kmh in a 90 kmh zone, or about 76 in a 55. One driver was also cited for having a radar detector and had his equipment confiscated.

Yes, setting up a speed trap on a charity drive is a prick move, but it gets worse. The OPP evidently called the local television station beforehand so they could film the whole sting. Once the station had the film, they broadcast a story claiming that 11 of the Mini drivers had been arrested for doing 50 kmh over the speed limit and that they had their vehicles confiscated as a result. Even worse, the story claimed that some of the Mini drivers had their children with them and that the OPP had called the Canadian equivalent of child services on the parents.

Members of the Mini club complained to the station, and the video was taken down as a result, though no apology or retraction has been issued so far.

[Source: The Garage Blog via Motoring File]

Canadian police pull over entire Mini convoy originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 May 2010 11:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CanadaCooperMiniMini ClubMini CooperMiniClubMiniCooperOntarioontario canadaontario provincial policeOntarioCanadaOntarioProvincialPoliceOPPSouthern Ontario Mini ClubSouthernOntarioMiniClubSat, 01 May 2010 11:19:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19460456/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/01/canadian-police-pull-over-entire-mini-convoy/19460456/article-detail.xml 19460456 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/opp-sting-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/opp-sting-630.jpg <![CDATA[General Motors adding Chevrolet Equinox production at Oshawa, move boosts GMC Terrain too]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/26/general-motors-adding-chevrolet-equinox-production-at-oshawa-mo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/26/general-motors-adding-chevrolet-equinox-production-at-oshawa-mo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/26/general-motors-adding-chevrolet-equinox-production-at-oshawa-mo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2010 Chevrolet Equinox - Click above for high-res image gallery

Continued strong demand for General Motors' new Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain has triggered the automaker to add extra production capacity for the crossovers at the its Oshawa, Ontario assembly plant. As you may recall, last year, GM added an extra shift of production at the Ingersoll plant that has always built the Equinox, but apparently that still isn't enough bandwidth. Thus, the body shop at Ingersoll will be expanded over the next several months to provide the extra stamping capacity needed to supply Oshawa. The bodyshells will then be shipped 120 miles east to Oshawa where a third shift will build the Equinox alongside the Impala.

With the new production capacity, all laid off employees at Ingersoll will be back at work and 70 workers will be hired. The Oshawa ramp-up will lead to the recall of 600 employees there, many of whom lost their jobs when full-size pickup truck production ended there last year. Production of the Equinox in Oshawa will start this fall.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox


Photos copyright (C)2009 John Neff / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading General Motors adding Chevrolet Equinox production at Oshawa, move boosts GMC Terrain too

General Motors adding Chevrolet Equinox production at Oshawa, move boosts GMC Terrain too originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Chevrolet Equinox2010 Chevy2010 Chevy Equinox2010 GMC2010 GMC Equinox2010ChevroletEquinox2010Chevy2010ChevyEquinox2010Gmc2010GmcEquinoxcamichevroletChevrolet EquinoxChevroletEquinoxchevyChevy EquinoxChevyEquinoxEquinoxGMGMC TerrainGmcTerrainingersollontarioOshawaoshawa ontariooshawa plantOshawaOntarioOshawaPlantTerrainFri, 26 Mar 2010 18:39:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19415520/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/26/general-motors-adding-chevrolet-equinox-production-at-oshawa-mo/19415520/article-detail.xml 19415520 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/chevyequinoxreview_03_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/chevyequinoxreview_03_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Buick Regal, Camaro convertible production to launch in Oshawa plant Q1 2011]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/buick-regal-camaro-convertible-production-to-launch-in-oshawa-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/buick-regal-camaro-convertible-production-to-launch-in-oshawa-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/buick-regal-camaro-convertible-production-to-launch-in-oshawa-p/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2011 Buick Regal - Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors of Canada has confirmed that production of the 2011 Buick Regal will kick off at its Oshawa assembly plant in the first quarter of 2011. That move has been assumed long before the Regal was even confirmed as an addition to the North American product lineup when a GM-CAW document listed production of a mid-size sedan to be added to the plant.

General Motors will bring back up to 700 laid off workers to staff a second shift on the flexible manufacturing line at the plant east of Toronto. The front-wheel drive Regal will be built on the same assembly line as the hot-selling Camaro. About the same time as Camaro production begins, GM will also add production of the new Camaro convertible. Initial supplies of the Regal will be coming from the Opel plant in Russelsheim, Germany when it goes on sale this summer.


Gallery: 2011 Buick Regal


[Source: General Motors ]

Continue reading Buick Regal, Camaro convertible production to launch in Oshawa plant Q1 2011

Buick Regal, Camaro convertible production to launch in Oshawa plant Q1 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20112011 buick regal2011 buick regal gs2011 chevy camaro convertible2011BuickRegal2011BuickRegalGs2011ChevyCamaroConvertibleBuick RegalBuick Regal GSBuickRegalBuickRegalGsCamaro ConvertibleCamaroConvertibleontarioOshawaoshawa camarooshawa ontariooshawa plantOshawaCamaroOshawaOntarioOshawaPlantMon, 15 Feb 2010 07:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19356876/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/15/buick-regal-camaro-convertible-production-to-launch-in-oshawa-p/19356876/article-detail.xml 19356876 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/x11bu_rg004_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/x11bu_rg004_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Cadillac XTS production to start at Oshawa in early 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/07/report-cadillac-xts-production-to-start-at-oshawa-in-early-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/07/report-cadillac-xts-production-to-start-at-oshawa-in-early-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/07/report-cadillac-xts-production-to-start-at-oshawa-in-early-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Detroit-bound Cadillac Concept Teaser - Click above to enlarge

Early next Tuesday morning, Cadillac will unveil a concept version of its new XTS flagship at the Detroit Auto Show. A report from Canada's CTV now says that production of the XTS will begin at General Motors' Oshawa, Ontario assembly plant in early 2012. Rumors of a Cadillac to be produced at the plant east of Toronto first began circulating last July. The XTS will join the Chevrolet Impala and Camaro as well as the new Buick Regal at the facility. The XTS is expected to be based on the Epsilon II platform but with all-wheel-drive.

The addition of the Cadillac and the Buick could necessitate an extra shift at the factory which would likely result in 750-1,000 of GM's previously laid-off workers being recalled. Last year, GM closed an adjacent Oshawa factory that had been building full-size pickup trucks.

[Source: CTV]

Report: Cadillac XTS production to start at Oshawa in early 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillaccadillac xtscadillac xts oshawaCadillacXtsCadillacXtsOshawadetroit 2010Detroit auto showDetroit auto show 2010Detroit2010DetroitAutoShowDetroitAutoShow2010NAIASNAIAS 2010Naias2010ontarioOshawaoshawa ontariooshawa plantOshawaOntarioOshawaPlantXTSThu, 07 Jan 2010 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19306813/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/01/07/report-cadillac-xts-production-to-start-at-oshawa-in-early-2012/19306813/article-detail.xml 19306813 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/caddy-concept-lead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/caddy-concept-lead.jpg <![CDATA[GM buys remaining stake in CAMI plant from Suzuki]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/needs-pic-gm-buys-remaining-stake-in-cami-plant-from-suzuki/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/needs-pic-gm-buys-remaining-stake-in-cami-plant-from-suzuki/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/needs-pic-gm-buys-remaining-stake-in-cami-plant-from-suzuki/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2010 Chevrolet Equinox - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's safe to say that 2009 has been the most difficult year in the 101-year history of General Motors. But while most of the news coming out of GM has been tough to swallow, the Detroit, MI-based automaker has had one very good piece of news: its new products are faring well in the marketplace. And of all the new products GM brought to market this year, none has higher volume than its Theta-based crossovers built at the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario. The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and the GMC Terrain have been successful enough that The General has added a third shift, scheduled regular overtime for the rank and file and even spent $93 million on a new body shop to increase production capacity by 40,000 units per year.

But GM was spending big bucks and building very important vehicles at a plant that it jointly owned with partner Suzuki. Well, GM changed that last week when it announced that it was buying Suzuki's stake in the Canadian facility. GM has not disclosed the amount of money it paid to take over full interest of the facility, but we're guessing the total wasn't nearly as much as the cost of a new plant, which can cost over $1 billion. But while the news was good for GM and the people of Ingersoll, we're guessing the folks who work at closing plant in the U.S. aren't all that happy about this development. Hit the jump to read over GM's brief press release.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox


[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM buys remaining stake in CAMI plant from Suzuki

GM buys remaining stake in CAMI plant from Suzuki originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Chevrolet2010 Chevrolet Equinox2010 Equinox2010 GMC2010 GMC Terrain2010 Terrain2010Chevrolet2010ChevroletEquinox2010Equinox2010Gmc2010GmcTerrain2010TerrainCAMIcami plantCamiPlantchevy equinoxChevyEquinoxgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsGMgmc terrainGmcTerrainingersollontarioMon, 07 Dec 2009 11:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19266662/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/12/07/needs-pic-gm-buys-remaining-stake-in-cami-plant-from-suzuki/19266662/article-detail.xml 19266662 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/chev-equinox-2010-review-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/chev-equinox-2010-review-630.jpg <![CDATA[Canadian man earns second ticket with one finger]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/19/canadian-man-earns-second-ticket-with-one-finger/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/19/canadian-man-earns-second-ticket-with-one-finger/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/19/canadian-man-earns-second-ticket-with-one-finger/#commentsFiled under: ,



Stare at the maple leaf in the center of a Canadian flag long enough and it really starts to look like someone's giving you the bird. Especially if you've been sucking down Mooseheads, eh?

We mention this because a man was pulled over in Port Hope, Ontario, for going about 85 miles per hour (135 km/h) a few weeks back. After constable Bettina Schwarze wrote the motorist up, he flipped her off. Schwarze then pulled the man over a second time and issued him a ticket for an "improper hand signal." We kinda dig cops with senses of humor.

[Source: Toronto Sun]

Canadian man earns second ticket with one finger originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bettina SchwarzeBettinaSchwarzeCanadaOntarioPoliceTicketsWed, 19 Aug 2009 08:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19119921/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/08/19/canadian-man-earns-second-ticket-with-one-finger/19119921/article-detail.xml 19119921 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/canadalead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/canadalead.jpg <![CDATA[REPORT: Ontario to announce incentives for plug-in vehicles, up to $10K]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/report-ontario-announces-incentives-for-plug-in-vehicles-up-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/report-ontario-announces-incentives-for-plug-in-vehicles-up-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/report-ontario-announces-incentives-for-plug-in-vehicles-up-to/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Ford Focus EV "mule" - Click above for high-res image gallery

The premier of the Canadian province of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty, reportedly plans to announce a major incentive program for plug-in vehicles today in Toronto. Ontario has already given several billion dollars to General Motors and Chrysler and wants to help boost the industry further to try and recoup some of its "investment." To that end, McGuinty plans to offer tax incentives of up to $10,000 toward the purchase of plug-in vehicles.

No details are available yet, but the plan would likely be similar to a U.S. program, with graduated incentives of up to $7,500 depending on the capacity of the battery. A wide array of plug-ins are expected to arrive over the next several years, including the Chevrolet Volt, Ford's Transit Connect and Focus based EVs, Toyota's PHEV Prius and Nissan's EV, among others. McGuinty will reportedly also pledge to have at least 20 percent of the province's vehicle fleet be plug-ins by 2020. Thanks to everyone who sent this in!


Gallery: ABG Quick Drive: Ford Focus EV mule


Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: CTV]

REPORT: Ontario to announce incentives for plug-in vehicles, up to $10K originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dalton McGuintyDaltonMcguintyev incentivesEvIncentivesontarioontario ev incentivesOntarioEvIncentivesWed, 15 Jul 2009 13:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19098808/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/07/15/report-ontario-announces-incentives-for-plug-in-vehicles-up-to/19098808/article-detail.xml 19098808 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/03/focus-ev-1280-05-580_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/03/focus-ev-1280-05-580.jpg -1 2