World of Wheels

Volvo drive around the world virtually via Facebook

Volvo Cars has launched an online contest challenging people to ‘virtually’ drive its uber fuel-efficient C30 DRIVe around the world in 80 days, using only their Facebook friends.

The Swedish automaker will donate 15,000 Euros in the winning team's name to a carbon-offset project promoted by the Myclimate organization. Volvo says the donation is enough to neutralize the amount of carbon dioxide generated by the average person during a lifetime.

With its Start/Stop technology and turbodiesel powertrain, the C30 DRIVe can cover 1,327 km on a tank of fuel. That’s how far each participant must “drive” the car before handing it off to a Facebook friend.

Rolls-Royce motors into ultra-rich Arab address

Rolls-Royce has opened a new showroom on Pearl Island, the ultra-exclusive man-made peninsula in Doha, Qatar, west of Saudi Arabia.

Catering to the oil-rich and ultra wealthy, the Pearl Qatar is “one of the most luxurious islands in the world,“ and measures 400 hectares. Its website says the Riviera-style setting offers up luxury apartments , town homes, penthouses and villas, an international yachting hub, three five-star hotels and two-million square metres of international shopping, restaurants and entertainment.

A motorbike as cool as McQueen

Britain’s Triumph Motorcycles and watchmaker TAG Heuer have teamed up to produce a special edition, Steve McQueen-inspired, bike.

The TAG Heuer Bonneville wears blue and orange livery inspired by the Porsche sports car driven by McQueen in the film Le Mans, which in turn was the inspiration for TAG’s 40th anniversary edition of the Monaco watch.

 “We are delighted to play our part in this exciting project. The Triumph Bonneville and TAG Heuer Monaco are both timeless masterpieces, celebrating their respective 50th and 40th anniversaries this year,“ said Neil Morley, Triumph’s head of brand communications. „We also both have a natural connection with Steve McQueen, who famously wore a Monaco watch in the film Le Mans and was renowned for his love of our bikes, making this a very natural collaboration.”

Pirelli launches P Zero Trofeo track and street tire

Pirelli has introduced its new ultra-high-performance tire, the P Zero Trofeo. Unveiled at the SEMA show in Vegas last week, the radical rubber is dubbed, “a fast track tire that gives racers the flexibility to drive on the street to and from the track.”

The Trofeo’s one serious-looking tire, almost a racing slick were it not for the asymmetrical tread and the three wide central ribs. Pirelli say the pattern on the outer edge was derived from asphalt rally applications.

The Italian tire giant say its put its knowledge from 100 years in motorsports into the P Zero Trofeo’s design. The tires are actually unique front and rear and good for both dry and wet driving and racing.

Walter Röhrl, 63, wins Costa Brava Rally

Famed German auto racer and official Porsche factory test driver, Walter Röhrl, just won Spain’s Costa Brava Rally - at 63 years of age.

He claimed the victory last weekend in the FIA European Rally Championship for Historical Cars, finishing the race in the Spanish town of Lloret de Mar with co-driver Peter Göbel.

Röhrl was European Rally Championship in 1974 and a four-time Monte Carlo Rally winner. Göbel has won the German Rally Champion four times.

Acura TSX Sport Wagon coming, plus new CSX trim

Honda Canada has just announced that a Sport Wagon version of it front-wheel drive TSX sports sedan will debut in fall 2010.

The automaker’s being tight-lipped on details of the new Canadian model presently, but like its sedan sibling, the wagon will essentially be a guised up version of the Accord model Honda sells in the European market.

We’d bet the TSX sedan’s 2.4-litre, 201 horsepower four-cylinder and its optional 280-hp 3.5-litre powertrains make it into the wagon. Let’s hope a European turbodiesel makes the pond crossing this time too.

Porsche unveils light, lithe Boxster Spyder

Porsche has uncloaked the lightest, most powerful and most extreme version of its mid-engined Boxster to date. The new Spyder model will make its public debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show in December.

Weighing in at 1,275 kg, the Boxster Spyder is now the lightest Porsche production model. The German sports car giant created the two-seater as an homage to the legendary 550 Spyder, built back in 1953, and the open-cockpit RS Spyder Le Mans prototype.

The Boxster Spyder wears a lightweight manual soft top, extra-low side windows and a bulged rear decklid, reminiscent of the Carrera GT super car.

Power comes from a retuned version of the Boxster S’ 3.4-litre flat-six, up 10 horsepower to 320 ponies. Porsche say the Spyder has a lower centre of gravity than regular models and wears an all-new sports suspension.

Equipped with Porsche’s PDK double-clutch gearbox and the Sports Chrono Package, the new Spyder accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, while fuel consumption is 9.3 L/100 km (30 mpg) on the New European Driving Cycle. Top speed is 267 km/h with the roof open.

The Spyder’s interior is stripped-down. Automatic climate control and a radio are optional. The sport seats are a lightweight design with a carbon-fibre shell and larger side bolsters.  Fabric door pulls, like those in the 911 GT3 RS, replace the traditional door handles.

Unlike the special-edition 550 Spyder and RS60 Spyder models introduced in 2004 and 2008, the new Boxster Spyder is a regular production model. It goes on sale in February 2010 at $72,900.

SEMA 2009: Chevy unleashed five custom Camaros in Las Vegas, including a turbo V6 for Jay Leno

Chevrolet rolled into Las Vegas, Nevada for the annual SEMA Convention this week and promptly pulled the covers off of five Camaro concepts.

Chief among them was a version of the reborn muscle car made for TV host and car guy Jay Leno. His car is powered by a twin-turbocharged version of the 3.6L direct injected V6 that is standard on the Camaro.

Blowing through a custom air-to-air intercooler, the turbos force-feed the engine about seven pounds of boost, lifting its horsepower to about 425. GM says that’s “about 40 percent greater than stock and in normal driving (when the turbochargers aren’t making boost), there’s virtually no penalty in fuel economy over the non-turbocharged 3.6L engine.”

Scion official lands in Canada Sept. 2010

Toyota has announced that its youth-minded Scion brand will land in Canada in September 2010. The offshoot brand, already a staple in the U.S. of A., will initially be sold through 45 dealers in and around Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

Scion will launch to Canucks with its tC compact sport coupe, the xD subcompact five-door hatchback and the cubic xB compact five-door.

“As the auto industry emerges from recession, one of the largest and youngest demographics will be entering the marketplace, “said Larry Hutchinson, Director of Scion in Canada. “They are not only looking for a safe, high-quality and fuel efficient vehicle, it is important to them that the vehicle reflects their personality and lifestyle, and the stylish and trendy Scion brand will be there to fulfill that need.”

AJAC picks Canada’s 12 best new vehicles for 2010

As we told you previously, last week the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) held its annual, week-long “TestFest” in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON.

Seventy scribes from across the country (including Yours Truly) were on-hand to conduct back-to-back testing of 50-plus vehicles and vote on the best new cars, trucks and SUV/CUVs for 2010. 

The 12 category winners were announced at a press conference at the Niagara Drive Centre, located at the Niagara District Airport where TestFest is staged each year. They will compete for the overall Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year, announced at the auto show in Toronto in February.