The Crank: April’s showers could mean Fall flowers for new car buyers

By John LeBlanc

April’s Canadian new car sales numbers came in this week. And as is the continuing trend, new car customers are dividing up the automakers into roughly three groups: the Haves, the Have-nots and those Treading Water. Read more

Comparo: BMW Z4 sDrive35i vs. M Roadster

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Old versus new

How does the hottest third-gen Z4 compare against the hottest second-gen BMW roadster

By John LeBlanc

When the second-generation 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster had its coming out party at last January’s Detroit auto show, the usual superlatives flew from most seasoned observers on hand. What was there not to like? Compared to its predecessor, the new Z4’s cabin was roomier, with nicer materials and more available luxury features. Its exterior was sleeker. Smoothed over like a rock in a stream, compared to its slice ’n’ dice 2008 predecessor. And the fresh Z4’s most noticeable upgrade was a new retractable hardtop, a feature that ostensibly replaced the previous clothtop roadster and hardtop coupé models in one fell swoop. Read more

The Crank: New Nissan EV’s Canadian availability dependent on government incentives

By John LeBlanc

If you haven’t heard, Nissan’s new Leaf electric vehicle is becoming a big deal. The five-passenger car will be the first fully electric car launched by a major automaker and could become a future collectible. It is designed to provide a 160 km range on a full charge. And it looks like people are ready to buy into its promise of zero emission driving. Read more

2010 Beijing: Is Fiat missing the boat in China?

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By John LeBlanc

One Western automaker that was noticeably absent from this year’s Beijing auto show was Chrysler’s new caretakers over at Fiat. This is the third time Fiat has skipped a major Chinese auto show, after taking a pass from the Shanghai show last April and the Guangzhou show in November. And while all the big Western players unveiled new models or announced new production or joint ventures expansion deals at this year’s Beijing show, Fiat keeps missing the boat on the largest new car market in the world. Read more

2010 Beijing: Audi stretches its flagship A8

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By John LeBlanc

BEIJING – China may be the world’s largest new car market, but no one wants to really drive here. Especially in the larger cities, like here in Beijing (population 22,000,000) or Shanghai (19,210,000.) The uninitiated are stunned by the telepathic confluence of cars, trucks, pedestrians, motorcycles, rickshaws and bicycles, where traffic lights and lane markings are mere suggestions on the jam-packed streets. Read more

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