FAIL: Not-So-Safe Safety Car

The picture says it all.

FAIL.

[Edmunds]

Introducing the Cheapest Infiniti You Can Buy

Infiniti is introducing a new model to the Canadian market and it just so happens to be the cheapest as well.

The G25 will now be a part of the G37 sedan and coupe lineup, though it will be available only in sedan body style. The G25 will also use a smaller engine than the G37. It will use 2.5 litres and it will develop 218 horses along with 187 pound feet of torque. The G25 will be available in either rear wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Infiniti has mentioned a seven speed automatic being available, but more worryingly, there is no mention of a manual transmission option.

The hope with the new G25 is to offer a competitor to BMW’s 323i, Mercedes-Benz’s C230 and Lexus’ IS 250 and will help usher people into the brand.

The G25 will have a starting price of $36,360.

[Infiniti Canada]

Saabs Back On Canadian Roads in September

Saabs have not been sold in Canada since 2009 and contrary to popular belief, the reason why had little to do with the brand being put on life support before Spyker could fall back on the tired cliche of saving Saab just in the nick of time.

What actually happened was its dealer and government importation agreements expired here and they weren’t renewed since it looked like Saab was done like dinner.

As a result, Spyker pretty much needs to start from scratch bringing Saab back to our country. According Saab Cars of North America president Mike Colleran, “Canadian Saab consumers are fiercely loyal. I get letters on a daily basis from Canadians asking ‘when’s Saab coming back?”

Didn’t know Canadians had such a thing for Saabs. In any event, the first model to be sold on our soil will be the newly redesigned 9-5 flagship sedan meant to be a 5-series, E-Class, A6 and S80 competitor. It will arrive at the end of September.

Next up will be a revised 9-3 in October, then the 9-4X crossover. Can’t wait to try them all out!

[The Globe & Mail]

Happy Canada Day!

Happy birthday Canada!

While I won’t do this to my car, I will celebrate by going on a drive on part of this great land!

Happy Father’s Day From Car Driven!

Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there, many of whom I’m sure were instrumental in helping us getting our driver’s licenses through driving lessons. And if you’re dad was like mine, you need to take special time to thank him on this day for making you learn how to drive a manual transmission. Thanks, dad!

Automakers Loving Obama Again

This is a bit of a turn around, isn’t it.

Just a short while ago, automakers were up in arms with the new, more stringent fuel efficiency standards that were going to come into play in 2016. Some thought they were too short on time to develop the technology necessary to meet the new standards, while others even asked to be exempted from the new standards.

However, with newly announced mileage requirements for light trucks and vehicles running through 2018 to 2025, automakers are breathing a sigh of relief as the pressure is relieved slightly with the extension. On top of it all, the new standards will be national which means manufacturers won’t need to abide by different state laws. For instance, California has the strictest emission laws in Amurrica and they have long been a thorn in the side of automakers.

This is an interesting move. Something definitely needs to be done with how much gas our cars use, but time is rapidly running out for a solution, especially considering how much oil is being lost as you read this post from the leak of the States shoreline. Is it better to force automakers into coming up with fuel efficient cars in a short period of time and risking unforeseen problems because they were rushed? Or is it better to give them time to develop good technology while we suck up more and more of the earth’s non-renewable resources?

What do you think?

[Autoblog Green]

BMW X3 Prototype Causes Bomb Scare in New York!

BMW was out testing its prototype for the new 2011 X3 in New York with Head of Production Planning Martin Birkmann being the fellow doing the testing (which would be an awesome job by the way).  Birkmann made a pretty big error in judgment by deciding to leave the X3 prototype by Central Park with the engine running.

In case you haven’t heard (and if you haven’t you really need to read or watch the news more often) New York is very much on high alert after a bombing attempt last week in Times Square where a bomb was left in an SUV with the engine running. So naturally, the people of New York are a bit jittery and will definitely take notice of suspicious vehicles.

Since the X3 is still in prototype phase and since BMW annoyingly loves to put camouflage over all its new upcoming products so bloggers like myself don’t out the product before an official reveal, the X3 had said camouflage and naturally stood out like a Hummer at a climate change convention. New Yorkers aren’t generally used to test mules around their parts as well, so it may not have been immediately apparent that this situation was just BMW innocently testing its new product. A woman walking her dog did indeed pick up on the peculiar looking SUV and so she called the cops who promptly arrived, cleared the area and cautiously investigated the X3.

Obviously they did not find anything but the X3 had its rear window smashed in the bomb finding process.

Lesson learned for Birkmann!

[Photo Credit: New York Daily News]

Pretty In Pink

I don’t care what anyone says, I would totally rock this pink Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV that was spotted in Doha. I could do without the weird black swiggles in the paint and the ridiculously large spoiler in the back though.

But this car is so amazing that it really doesn’t matter what colour it is. It’s just fantastic. That V12 will put to shame anyone who makes fun of it anyway.

Would you own a pink Lambo?

Happy Easter From Car Driven!

Have a great Easter weekend and as always, safe driving!

Saab Escapes Death Courtesy of Spyker Motors

After a torturous few months of indecision, GM has reportedly reached an agreement to sell Saab’s auto division to Dutch supercar company Spyker.

The deal reportedly gives GM $74 million up front, while it pockets $326 million in preferred shares from Saab’s new parent company. Also rumoured to be part of the deal is a guarantee that the Swedish government (who fought intently to keep the country’s second biggest car company afloat) is able to secure a 400 million euro loan.

Perhaps one of GM’s oddest requests in order to seal the deal was the insistence of removal of Spyker’s Chairman, Vladamir Antonov. Antonov is of Russian decent (his name really gives it away, doesn’t it?) and GM is quite adamant that their technology be kept out of the Russians proverbial hands. This was reportedly a condition in the now dead Opel-Magna deal as well. American pride is great, isn’t it? In any event, Antonov has agreed to step down in order for the deal to carry through.

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