World of Wheels

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.

Automakers get App-titude

Always on the hunt for clever ways to promote their wears, the world’s automakers are increasingly wading into the world of Apps for Apple’s popular iPhone and iPod Touch. Two that peaked our interest of late come from VW and Land Rover.

For folks out of the loop, the ‘Apps’ are small programs downloaded from the Interwebs to Apple devices. They can be anything from games or cooking advice, to how to tune a guitar or read Shakespeare.

Last week, Volkswagen of America said it became the first auto manufacturer to launch a car exclusively on a mobile device. Its all-new 2010 GTI hot-hatch debuted via a free version of the Firemint Real Racing game App for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Good genes: C63 gets a shot of SLS testosterone

It not even on the street yet, but already the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG super car is having an affect on it family members.

The German automaker has announced that its already stout C63 AMG sedan will offers a new Performance Package Plus option, adding go-faster parts from the gull-winged flagship sports machine.

Check the box for the new package and the C63’s 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 gets forged pistons from the new SLS. It also bolts in new connecting rods, a lightweight crankshaft and a new engine management system.

Chevy wants John Q. Public to name Volt colour

Chevrolet is turning to the public for help in naming an exclusive new colour for its coming Volt extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV). The winner will head to LA for the upcoming auto show and drive a pre-production version of automaker’s eco-car.

Chevy needs a moniker for a new silver exterior colour with an emerald hue. “We’re looking for a name that captures the innovation and spirit of the Volt,” said Maria Rohrer, director, global Volt and global marketing operations at Chevrolet.

Ideas can be submitted via www.chevroletvoltage.com until November 4. Consumers will vote online for the best of that lot, with three finalists announced December 1. The overall winner will be declared at the LA show.

AJAC's TestFest 2010 on this week to decide Canadian Car/Utility Vehicle of the Year

Members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) will again converge on Southern Ontario this week to test out 50-plus vehicles competing in the 2010 Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY).

Scribes from across the country will meet in Niagara-on-the-Lake for ‘TestFest,’ held annually at the local airport and on the surrounding public roads.

Over the week, new 2010 vehicles in 12 categories will be tested back-to-back by a team of judges in "real-world" conditions and on-track or off-road if that’s their forte. AJAC says this gives results, “relevant to potential car and truck buyers,” because the vehicles are wrung out, “on the same roads, under the same conditions to ensure objective evaluation.”