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6 posts from April 2009

04/17/2009

2010 Mustang in our driveway!

By Philippe Crowe

MustangAtFord-Web-3250We got the keys! We just picked up our 2010 Mustang GT test vehicle. It is a GT Coupe, with the TR3650 5-speed manual transmission, panorama roof, black leather interior and painted Sterling Grey.

Ford seems to have decked it out with all the options available, including navigation and the top sound system. And we took it from Ford with only 337 km on the clock. Expect full coverage in the July issue, our Mustang-special issue.

First impression? Sounds, looks and drives just like a Mustang should.

Mustang's 45th

By Philippe Crowe
64_Pavilion_w_HFII_HR  
Today, April the 17th, is the 45th anniversary of the introduction of the Mustang, and we celebrate this event at World of Wheels by picking up a brand new 2010 Mustang GT test vehicle from Ford, to be covered in our Mustang special in the July issue.

In Ford's own words: "The Ford Mustang made an indelible mark on the American auto industry when it was introduced on April 17, 1964, at the New York World's Fair. More than 9 million pony cars have been sold since then, and to this day, the Mustang continues to stir people's passion for power, performance and fun.There is a steed for every need -- whether it's a 215-horsepower V-6 Mustang or the 700+-horsepower Shelby GT500 Super Snake. After 45 years, the Mustang is still the undisputed King of the American Road."

Pictured is Henry Ford II with the 1964 1/2 Mustang Ford at the World's Fair in Flushing Meadows, New York, on April 17, 1964.

04/10/2009

Lucas Oil Events Calendar: June, July, August & September 2009

Lucas Oil Show & Shine Events Calendar


Click here to view the PDF version of the Lucas Oil Show & Shine Events Calendar for June, July, August & September 2009.

Additional Shows not listed:

Sunday, September 27 - Oldies 1310 & The UniglassPlus Ziebart Car Show Series presents Cruizin into Fall. This show has dash plaques, thousands of dollars in door prizes and is all sponsored and all free. Open to all years, makes and models,10:00am to 3:00pm. Info: Larry Way 613-446-4717

Sunday, October 4 - Canadian Classic Cars Summer Roundup Car Show. All sponsored and all free, 10:00am to 3:00pm. All years, makes and models welcome. Dash plaques and door prizes. Info: 613-673-2277

04/08/2009

1951 Mercury Monarch Convertible brings top bid this last weekend

By Philippe Crowe

TS09_r065_01 Like a yearly tradition, RM’s Classic Car Auction of Toronto kicked-off the Canadian spring collector car season for the 19th time. The event was held at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, April 3-5. 

Despite the current economic conditions, this segment of the automotive market continued to show strength and activity with a 15% increase in attendance over last year’s spring event and sales that exceeded initial expectations.

The top seller of the weekend event was an impeccably restored, award-winning, 1951 Mercury Monarch Convertible that brought a final bid of $192,500. This 1000-point show car, originally built in Windsor, Ontario, is one of only four known examples and one of several cars offered at the event that were built in Canada, by former generations of today’s automotive workforce.

TS09_r065_10

“This weekend presented many opportunities for both buyers and sellers. We are very pleased with the increase of new visitors and the gavel prices on the auction block.  Most surprising, is the number of inquiries from consignors for our Toronto fall event indicating the market remains positive,” remarked RM’s veteran car specialist Dan Spendick.

Some of the featured highlights of the Toronto event include the following:

- rare Giallo Fly yellow 1999 Ferrari F355 F1 Spider for $105,600
- a luxurious high performance 2004 Cadillac XLR Roadster for $55,000
- freshly restored 1956 Mercury Montclair Convertible for $49,500
- well equipped Rally Red 1967 Pontiac GTO Convertible for $39,050

E-Class Coupé unveiled

By Philippe crowe

Mercedes-Benz has just released official pictures of its Coupé variant of the new E-Class.

2010 E-Class coupe-Web Mercedes-Benz has improved the already exemplary long-distance comfort of the E-Class even further, including intelligent bodyshell technology with up to 30 percent greater rigidity, further improved seats and a newly developed suspension whose shock absorbers automatically adjust to the current driving situation. The optional air suspension now works together with an electronic damping system.

The outstanding safety and comfort of the E-Class are matched by its environmental compatibility and economy: the six and eight-cylinder engines have been optimized to deliver improved fuel economy. The diesel powered E 350 BlueTEC now receives the full BlueTEC exhaust aftertreatment with AdBlue injection; the resulting improvements in emissions are impressive as the levels are already below the EU6 limits planned for 2014.

The work done in the wind tunnel was particularly successful, for with a drag coefficient of only 0.25, the new E-Class sedan is the world’s most aerodynamically efficient luxury sedan. It betters the already good Cd figure of the preceding model by another four percent. Acccording to the manufacturer, this represents a fuel saving of around 0.25 litres per 100 kilometres when driving at a highway speed of 130 km/h. The aerodynamics are for example improved by variable fan louvres, which control the airflow to the engine compartment in line with requirements.

The new E-Class will be available in sedan, coupe and wagon variants. Expect to read a test drive of the sedan soon on this blog, with the same for the coupé following suit a month or two later.

The 2010 Kia Discover Your SOUL Sweepstakes Rules

Agreement: These rules govern the The 2010 Kia Discover Your SOUL Sweepstakes (the “Contest”). No purchase is necessary to enter the Contest. The act of entering the Contest constitutes acceptance of the Contest rules and the decisions of the Contest judge, which decisions shall be final and binding on all entrants.

No Purchase Entry: A free on-line ballot is provided online here, and paper ballots are available in World of Wheels Magazine. In order to enter the Contest without making a purchase, check the box on the on-line or paper ballot that appears beside the statement "No, I don't want to subscribe to World of Wheels. Just enter me in the Contest."

Sponsors: The Contest sponsors are World of Wheels Magazine, a publication of Formula Media Group (a division of Metroland Printing and Publishing Ltd.) and Kia Canada Inc. (the “Sponsors”).

Eligibility: The Contest is open to all residents of Canada, excluding residents of Quebec, who have reached the age of majority in the province or territory in which they reside, except for employees, immediate families and anyone living with any employee of either of the Sponsors or any affiliate, advertising or promotional agency of either Sponsor. Limit of one entry per household. Incomplete or illegible entries, bulk drop offs, photocopies, scanned copies, facsimiles or other mechanically or electronically reproduced entries will not be accepted and will be disqualified. For greater certainty, multiple computer program generated email entries will also be disqualified.


Contest: Enter the Contest by going to https://secure.indas.on.ca/care/wfw/ and following the prompts or by filling out the ballot in World of Wheels magazine and mailing it to:


Formula Media Group
447 Speers Road, Suite 4
Oakville, Ontario L6K 3S7

The Contest begins at midnight March 1st 2009 and ends at midnight September 13th 2009. The winner will be chosen by random draw, which will take place on September 16th, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. The winner will be contacted by telephone or email by a representative of the Sponsors, and must reply within 48 hours to maintain eligibility. If the potential winner cannot be contacted within this time period or fails to respond to any attempted contact, such potential winner will be disqualified, his/her entry will be declared null and void and the Sponsors reserve the right, in their sole and absolute discretion, to select at random another eligible entry, in which event these provisions shall apply to such other eligible entry. In order to be eligible to win, the winner must correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question.

6. Prize: One (1) 2010 Soul Burner 4u with manual transmission (SO55BA) (approximate retail value of $20,995). All applicable taxes, registration fees, licensing fees and any other expenses of any kind are not included and are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. The prize winner must either (a) come to Formula Media Group (447 Speers Road, Suite 4, Oakville, Ontario L6K 3S7) in person to collect the prize or (b) make arrangements to have the prize delivered to him or her at his or her sole expense. If the prize winner does not claim the prize (or make arrangements for delivery of the prize) within 10 days following the draw, the next eligible entry selected by random draw will be contacted, and the first entrant selected will have no further claim to the prize. The Sponsors will not mail or ship the prize and are not responsible for unclaimed prizes.

7. Release: Prior to receiving the prize, the winner will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and release form releasing the Sponsors and their respective related parties from all liability in connection with the Contest and/or the prize, confirming compliance with these rules and consenting to the use of his or her name and photograph, without further compensation, in any publicity carried out by the either of the Sponsors and/or their respective advertising and promotional agencies. The signed form must be received by the Sponsors within 48 hours of notification or the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate entrant. The form may be sent to the Sponsors via facsimile at 905-842-4432.

8. Privacy: The Sponsors may use your personal contact information to administer this contest, including contacting, announcing and promoting prizewinners. In addition, either of the Sponsors may use this information to send you offers or information from the either of the Sponsors, the Sponsors’ respective affiliates and from selected sponsors or advertisers ("Marketing Offers"). If you do not wish to receive Marketing Offers, you may opt-out at any time by: following the instructions at the bottom of any email Marketing Offer you receive, informing your telemarketer at the time you are called with a Marketing Offer, calling 1-800-265-3673 and requesting that your personal information not be used for Marketing Offers, or e-mailing slennox@thespec.com and requesting that your personal information not be used for Marketing Offers. Contests are run in compliance with the privacy code of Metroland Media Group Ltd., which may be found in full at http://www.metroland.com/page/Privacy 20Policy .

Banning: The Sponsors may, in their sole discretion, prohibit any person from entering any Contest whom it believes to be abusing the rules. Such abuse includes but is not limited to entering false information and entering more than once.
 Other: Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. This Contest is governed by the laws of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein and is void where prohibited by law. The Sponsors reserve the right to cancel or modify the Contest or the Contest rules at any time without notice. All prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and are not convertible to cash. The Sponsors reserve the right to substitute any prize or portion of the prize with a prize of equal or greater value. All prizes are awarded as-is and no warranties or guarantees are implied or expressed, beyond the standard manufacturer's warranty. The Sponsors are not liable for any lost, late, misdirected or stolen entries or inability to process entries, or any errors, damage or negligence that may arise in connection with this Contest, including technical failures on the part of Contest software, virus, website down-time, human error or property damage incurred by any Contest entrant. The Sponsors are not responsible for any errors or omissions in printing or advertising this Contest. Use of any automated system including robotic or form filling software to enter or participate in this Contest is prohibited and will result in disqualification of all entries by anyone using such assistance. If a dispute arises regarding who submitted an online entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address provided at time of entry. Authorized account holder is the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.