oct 7 2011 inmotion

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Your community’s transportation station...• Services & Accessories [B10]• Classifieds [B10]

• October 7, 2011

Advertising Feature

Your community’s transportation station...

Green Initiative: • Castor oil-based foam greens Ford Focus. [B9]

Oct. 18 – Mature Drivers Workshop, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Burnside Gorge Community Centre. A workshop to help mature drivers assess their own driving skills, habits and knowledge in a peer group environment, plus tips and strategies to improve driving skills. FMI: www.victoria.ca/recservices

Oct. 24 – Recreation Oak Bay’s Monterey Centre hosts a Mature Driving Workshop with BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation, 10 a.m. to noon. Assess your driving skills and habits and learn how to make adjustments to reduce risk. FMI: 250-370-7101.

Steve Copp, from Steve Copp Construction drives a 2011 Ford F-150 “Limited” pickup.

“I have always had Ford or Lincoln trucks. This was a unique model and I liked the added features.”

Events & Activities...

Driver of the Week...

QUEBEC CITY: Chevrolet has big plans for its smallest car, the 2012 Sonic.

With a forecast 30-per-cent-growth in the Canadaian small car segment by 2015, Chevrolet is aiming to double its current market share to 17 per cent.

There’s no stronger market in North America for small cars than Quebec and no better place to launch the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic than Quebec City. Sonic replaces the sub-compact Aveo which, while a solid seller, never took off in the hearts and minds of North Americans, particularly those to the south.

GM-owned Deawoo in Korea has supplied a host of compact and sub-compacts like the Optra but the new Sonic will be built in Michigan.

Sonic will be available as both a sedan and hatchback with a starting price of $14,495 for the base LS sedan and $15,495 for the LS hatchback.

Standard across the board are six air bags. Also found on all Sonics is OnStar with Directions and Connections making this the only small car on the market with a standard navigation system. Bluetooth, power door locks, remote keyless entry and Hill Hold Assist also are standard. Air is an $1,150 option on the LS but standard on the LT and LTZ.

The mid trim Sonic LT sedan starts at $16,495 and the hatch starts at $17,495. Later in the year we see the

turbocharged LTZ arrive with a starting price of $20,495 for the sedan and $20,995 for the hatch. Optional on the LS and LT is the $465 Peace of Mind package that adds four extra airbags (knees and thorax) for a total of 10 airbags.

The LS and LT both are powered by a 1.8-litre inline, four-cylinder producing 138 hp and 123 lb/ft of torque. This engine features a two-stage variable intake manifold that delivers up to 90 per cent of peak torque from 2,400 rpm all the way up to 6,500 rpm. Standard

transmission is a five-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic.

The LTZ is a whole different kettle of fish with a 1.4-litre inline, four-cylinder with a turbocharger embedded in the exhaust manifold. It produces 138 hp and 148 lb/ft of torque that comes in at 1,850 rpm. The only transmission is a six-speed manual.

Chevrolet is claiming the LTZ will deliver 5.1L/100 km highway fuel consumption with class-leading

Chevrolet’s newest entry into the small car market is the 2012 Sonic, available as a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback (LTZ model shown). Chevrolet claims best-in-segment highway fuel consumption of 5.1L/100 kms.

Chevrolet goes super-Sonic

JIM ROBINSONMetroland

MediaCarguide Magazine

Continued on Pg. B2Continued on Pg. B3

B2 • InMotion Friday, October 7, 2011 - VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE • PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW

acceleration when paired with the 1.4L Turbo and six-speed manual transmission.

The 1.8-litre is listed at 7.7/5.6L/100 km city/highway for the manual and 8.3/5.5L/100 km city/highway for the automatic. The LTZ gets 7.3/5.1L/100 km city/highway with Chevrolet claiming this is the best highway mileage in the segment. The LTZ won’t get the six-speed automatic until next year.

All versions have MacPherson struts with coil springs and stabilizer bar at the front with a torsion beam compound link type rear suspension.

The hatch has the black-coloured rear door handle grafted into the black C-pillar that combine to give the five-door a sporty three-door look heightened by the exposed, motorcycle-inspired rear taillamps.

Design details that improve the look of the new Sonic include

chrome grille surrounds and matte black honeycomb grille inserts on all models, while a range of wheel sizes, including 17-inch alloy wheels, reinforces its sporty flare.

For those who want to individualize their Sonic, Chevrolet is happy to oblige with a wide range of add-ons such as a ground effects package, special wheels, body colour spoiler, front fog lamp kit and an array of body wraps. You can chose one of the standard designs or supply your own graphics. 3M, which supplies the body wraps, will do it up and apply it at the dealership.

The instrument cluster is motorcycle-inspired, centering on a large digital speedometer display.

The interior includes storage compartments in the centre stack and doors. The rear seats fold flat for

carrying larger items. Front bucket seats are standard

and heated front seats are available. I drove the LTZ hatch and sedan (both manual) and was a passenger in an

LT automatic.I don’t know why but the sedan felt bigger

on the inside than the hatch even though it is the other way around.

But the facts speak for themselves. Cargo volume in the sedan is 397 litres (14 cu ft). The hatch has 539 litres (19 cu ft) behind the rear seats and a total of 869 litres (30.7 cu ft) with the seat folded.

The ride and handling were tuned by Corvette engineers, who dialed in electronic power steering, GM’s StabiliTrak stability control and rollover sensing control.

The result is a better-than-expected experience a world away from the previous generation Aveo.

On rambling roads and byways along the south shore from Montreal to Quebec City, the turbo went on boost almost immediately and pulled a lot stronger than you’d expect from just 1.4-litres. The six-speed manual felt more like two, three-speed transmissions with one for in-town power and the other for highway cruising.

Coming down a hill at the posted 90 km/h and breaking for a turn meant gearing down to fifth or fourth but with the revs so low, the boost was gone. So I had to pull for third which shot the revs up but got the turbo back on song, getting the job done.

Passing some of those 53-foot-long Quebec tractor-trailers on winding, narrow two-lane roads meant making sure you had enough room. Once committed, the turbo caused no white-knuckle moments.

I rode back to Montreal from Quebec City in a 1.8-litre LT with automatic. Here it was heavy highway traffic all the way with lots of road construction.

While they have the same horsepower, the extra torque of the LTZ is more substantial.

However, I think we’ll see a majority of Sonics being sold as the LT with automatic simply because many equate a turbo to higher fuel consumption, although it’s not the case with the Sonic.

This is probably the best compact car Chevrolet has produced in three decades.

But they are going up against Hyundai Accent, Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit, all of which are strong competitors and all of which are boring in the same small car growth Chevy sees. But Chevrolet has done its homework well with benchmark safety, outstanding connectivity, punchy engines and a bigger cabin than expected.

The bowtie is back in the small car game.

The 2012 Sonic hatchback has 539 litres (19 cu ft) behind the back seat and 869 litres (30.7 cu ft) with the seat folded.

The dashboard of the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic features a large digital speedometer display inspired by motorcycles.

Chevy Sonic Continued from B1

VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE • PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW - Friday, October 7, 2011 InMotion • B3

Veteran Car Run honours motoring pioneers

Metroland MediaCarguide Magazine

As the sun rises over London on Sunday, Nov. 6, at precisely 7:02 a.m. the oldest vehicle participating in the Royal Automobile Club’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run will be the first to depart from Hyde Park.

At the wheel of the 1.5 hp 1894 Benz Velo will be one of the youngest drivers to take on the historic 60-mile route as the event celebrates its 115th anniversary year.

Adopting the famed No. 1 starting plaque for the world’s longest-running motoring event, the 1894 Benz Velo will be driven by 17-year-old Oliver Wright from Skyreholme near Skipton, North Yorkshire.

Yet to take his driving test, Oliver will head the 500-strong entry of pre-1905 vehicles joining to celebrate the anniversary event which this year honours Germany as the celebrated country, with event sponsors Mercedes-Benz and Bosch both marking 125

years in 2011.Believed to be the oldest Benz Velo

in existence, the car is part of The Ward Collection, jointly owned by brothers Daniel and Toby Ward.

Thought to be the first four-wheel model to be built by Benz, this particular 1.5 hp single cylinder Velo has an intriguing history.

It was one of three cars shipped to Italy in 1894 rumoured to have been sold to the Marconi family. It was then imported to the UK in a packing crate in 1900 when the family moved to Berkshire. The car stayed in the same crate until 1980 when it was disinterred and sold by Sotheby’s at an auction in Bristol in 1981.

Robert Holmes à Court fully restored the car for the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run while the Benz Velo travelled across the globe, from Australia to America, before it was acquired by The Ward Collection a decade ago.

It is one of seven stunning Veteran vehicles entered by The Ward

Collection for the 115th anniversary Run.

Oliver, a talented automotive student who has shown a flare for motor mechanics from a very early age, has been given the wonderful opportunity to command the magnificent Benz Velo on its first Veteran Car Run under its current ownership as a Ward family friend.

Just two years after the Benz Velo was built, on Nov. 14, 1896, thirty-three pioneering motorists set off from London for a drive to the Brighton coast in celebration of the recently passed Locomotives on Highways Act, signifying the birth of motoring innovation and laying the foundations for the world’s longest-running motoring event.

In 2011, Oliver will follow in the tire tracks of those Emancipation Run participants along the 60-mile journey which will take in much of the original 1896 route before the nostalgic finish on Brighton’s Madeira Drive.

A 1894 Benz Velo, believed to be the oldest in existence, will take part in the annual London-Brighton Veteran Car Run that marks the 1896 English law that allowed motorists to drive without a man carrying a red flag walking in front.

Victoria’s Steve Copp, owner of Steve Copp Construction Ltd. and a frequent competitor on the Western Speedway track, continued a long-time affinity with Ford when be purchased his 2011 Ford F150 “Limited” pick-up.

“I have always had Ford or Lincoln trucks. This was a unique model and I liked the added features,” Copp says.

“This is my sixth new Ford and I think they get better and better with cooler features with every new one.”

Favourite memories with this vehicle started this past summer, “having the whole family in it and driving to the cottage,” Copp says.

Describing the truck as “responsive, yet not over-stated,” Copp’s favourite feature would have to be the “sync” phone feature. “I don’t even have to take my phone out of my pocket to take or make calls.”

Driver of the Week:Continued from Pg. B1

Got a cool ride?Be our next Driver of the Week! Email us at

[email protected]


Tell us about it!Planning a bike, boat or car event? Email us at [email protected]


With an even more refined exterior and interior, the 2012 Mazda3 sees the first application in North America of Mazda’s innovative SKYACTIV fuel-saving and performance-oriented technologies, achieving 4.9L/100km (U.S. 40 mpg) on the highway.

Mazda Canada has made price reductions on all 2012 Mazda3 sedan and hatchback models, from $700 to $1,470, or three per cent to eight per cent, compared to the 2011 models. The 2012 Mazda3 GX sedan now starts at $15,595 while the 2012 Mazda3 Sport hatchback starts at $16,595, and the Mazdaspeed3 price is held at $29,695.

The Mazda3 model is Mazda’s best-selling vehicle worldwide and accounts for nearly half of all Mazda sales in the United States and Canada, making the vehicle a prime candidate for introducing SKYACTIV to consumers looking for dynamic performance coupled with high fuel efficiency.

For 2012, the Mazda3 comes with even more standard features.

The Mazda3 sedan GX model gains power door locks and keyless entry, while the Mazda3 sedan and hatchback receive heated seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knobs on the GS trim, and Bose audio system with Centerpoint, AudioPilot and 10 speakers on the GT.

The Mazdaspeed3 also receives the Bose audio system with Centerpoint, AudioPilot and 10 speakers as standard equipment.

Enhanced packages and an available Blind Spot Monitoring system complete the additions.

2012 Mazda3:

Find more featuresand new pricing

The restyled 2012 Mazda3 features the first application of Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology that offers up 4.9L/100km on the highway.


The Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team made history on Sept. 14, 2011, at the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife as their ultimate, street-legal, track-ready car – the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR – recaptured the production car lap record with a 7:12.13 elapsed time.

With no 2011 model-year Dodge Viper cars being produced, SRT joined forces

with the Viper Club of America and the ViperExchange by Tomball Dodge team from Tomball, Texas, which supplied two brand-new 2010 Dodge Viper ACR’s off their showroom floor for the record-setting effort.

The street-legal Viper ACR is factory-equipped and tuned for outstanding track performance with coil-over racing dampers that are adjustable for both

damping and ride height.The shocks are two-way factory

adjustable without removing the wheels – a timesaver at any track configuration – and they include a large range for compression and rebound adjustment.

Aerodynamics are also adjustable via carbon-fiber rear wing with seven-position stanchions and an adjustable front splitter.

Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR reclaims lap record at Nurburgring

SRT10 ACR has reclaimed the lap record at the Nurburgring with a time of 7:12.13.


inmotion.vicnews.com

REACHING OVER

100,000+HOMES EVERY

ISSUE


Green InitiativesFord, BASF green up with industry’s first castor oil-based foam in 2012 Focus


Castor oil is just what the doctor ordered to reduce petroleum-based fossil fuel content in the instrument panel of the new Ford Focus.

Castor oil is derived from the Ricinus Communis flowering spurge plant, which has widespread growth throughout tropical regions.

The plant’s oil presents a sustainable interior foam solution that does not compete with food sources.

Employing more than 10 per cent renewable content, the resulting foam product passes all Ford performance requirements for interior components.

The new castor oil-based foam is significantly more durable than the previously used material, with a 36 per

cent better tensile strength, a measure of the foam’s ability to hold its shape over time and use.

Tear strength also is improved by five per cent while elongation – stretch under temperature or impact stress – is reduced by almost 12 per cent.

Using the principles of Intelligent Performance proven in its sports cars, Porsche has created the Bike S and Bike RS urban bicycle range, which combines the latest technology and highest quality materials with “ride anywhere” capability.

The Porsche bike concept has been inspired by the company’s GT road-car department, responsible for creating the ultimate lightweight Porsche sports cars including the 500hp 911 GT3 RS 4.0.

The Porsche Bike S features a 7005 hydroformed aluminum frame, carbon fibre front forks

and an internally geared Shimano 11-speed Alfine hub gear system with appropriately, a double-clutch system for smooth gear shifting under heavy pedal loads.

DT Swiss wheels with smooth rolling resistance tires, optimized for resistance to punctures and also to assist performance on wet or rough terrain, and Magura disc-brakes complete this impressive specification.

With a total weight of 11 kgs it’s the perfect companion for either a long-distance cycle tour or city-based commute to work.

Weighing 9 kg with a newly developed, carbon fibre

monocoque frame which provides high levels of bike stability and high quality damping properties, the Porsche Bike RS offers the optimum dynamic performance across a variety of terrain, from an urban street to a country bridleway.

Lightweight, high quality components such as a carbon fibre seat post, handlebars and stem are key features.

Equipment usually reserved for high-level cycle racing is also part of the specification of the Bike RS, for example, the 20-speed Shimano XTR derailleur gearset is tried and tested by competitors worldwide.

Light and efficient: Porsche created bike models

The new range of Porsche urban bicycles combines high performance with ride-anywhere capability. Porsche Bike S and Bike RS (shown) are available now.


Service, Accessories & Classifieds inmotion.vicnews.com


Gifts and gadgets for gearheads are always in vogue whatever the season and these cool wine stoppers will surely delight the automotive addicted. Choose from a variety of well-known (and some not-so-obvious) logos, such as Volkswagen, Alfa Romeo, Lotus and Austin Healey, made from beechwood and featuring a polished

cherry finish. You can also select a cue-ball-style stopper with a five-speed

shift pattern carved on top, along with a corkscrew that’s designed in the shape of an emergency-

brake handle. Each stopper and corkscrew are priced

at US $28. Place your order at www.everythingcarz.com, or call

248-926-5124.

Car-crazy stopper

250.388.3535

oct 7 2011 inmotion

Documents

chevrolet sonic

driving skills

new sonic

ls hatchback

standard transmission

mature driving workshop

base ls sedan

mid trim sonic lt sedan