First Drive: 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 Coupe

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How much is that Shelby in the window?

While the rest of Ford’s 2011 Mustang lineup gets all new mills, the topline Shelby GT500 makes do with tweaks. Is it enough?

By John LeBlanc

CALABOGIE, Ont.—If not as big a money maker as his onetime racing car rival Enzo Ferrari, affixing 1960s’ American racing legend Carroll Shelby’s name to a car has always had plenty of marketing appeal. The rest of Ford’s Mustang lineup gets a thorough redo for 2011 with all-new six- and eight-cylinder engines. Yet the top-line Mustang-based Shelby GT500 coupes and convertibles — modern interpretations of Mustangs Shelby built and raced for Ford over 40 years ago — will only be getting by with minor tweaks to their engines, suspensions and chassis. Read more

The Crank: Diesel-loving Canadians to get new 2011 Jetta TDI first

By John LeBlanc

The next, new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta is going to be a big deal for the German automaker in North America. And it needs to be. Along with the new U.S.-made Passat-replacing-yet-to-be-named midsized sedan coming next year, the new Mexican-made Jetta is the first half of VW’s two-sedan attack to more than double its U.S. sales from last year to 450,000 cars. Read more

First Drive: 2011 Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI/Sport

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New sixes for Audi’s Q7

German automaker downsizes its large crossover’s gas engines for 2011

By John LeBlanc

INGOLSTADT, GERMANY–Right up front in the automaker’s press materials, Audi says its Q7 is “the large Audi for the sporty individualist — the high-performance SUV for sport, leisure, family and business.” While most of the Canadian “sporty individualists” who are buying Q7s are opting for the torque-rich and fuel-efficient 3.0 L TDI diesel V6 version, Audi needs to deal with the more stringent tailpipe emissions (Europe) and fuel economy (North America) regulations coming down the pipe, plus customers who don’t want to get their fuel from a diesel pump. Read more

The Crank: Is the guard changing in Canadian new car showrooms?

By John LeBlanc

In my weekly Autonews column at Wheels.ca, I reported that last month’s Canadian new car sales suggest the market is starting to be divided in to the “haves” and the “have nots.” However, Canadian auto industry analyst, Dennis DesRosiers has taken a longer view back than just a year ago. And he purports a more dramatic is happening in the market. Read more

Top 10s: Grandfather cars

By John LeBlanc

You — or someone you may know — may have a reached a point in your driving life where style, performance or the latest in engineering just don’t matter anymore. Welcome to the little known auto segment called Grandpa cars. Mainly large, serene driving, conservative sedans, these cars are perfect for your Grandpa to out perch a fedora on the rear parcel shelf, accompanied by a box of tissues and a bobble-head schnauzer, of course. Sadly, two of my favourite Old Man rides, the Hyundai Azera and Kia Amanti, have been put out to pasture this year. But don’t fret; I still managed to find 10 of my top cars for your Father’s Father: Read more

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