Ford
The Ford Fiesta ST, a happy little subcompact, is quick and nimble and puts some “sport” into this fuel-sipper. Ford says it has a dynamic sports chassis and a 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine producing nearly 200 horsepower. There’s even a leather shift knob and a big touch screen to control various systems. Ford is also pushing its all-new 2014 Ford Transit commercial van with more fuel efficient engines (standard 3.7-litre V-6, 3.5-litre EcoBoost and an all-new 3.2-litre Power Stroke diesel).
If you’re shopping for a new minivan, the 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon is a pure passenger version of the Transit Connect van.
General Motors
Electric vehicles? Fancy ones? Does that interest you? Cadillac has the 2014 ELR, then. It’s the Caddy version of the Chevrolet Volt extended range electric vehicle. More interesting for gearheads is the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray with the most powerful standard engine ever stuffed into this sports car (450 horsepower): 0-100 km/h in four seconds or less and it can pull 1g in the corners. Cheap, cheerful and green shoppers take note of the 1014 Chevrolet Spark EV and you muscular types will be interested in the all-new 2014 GMC Sierra pickup.
Honda
Honda is intent on re-establishing itself as an innovative engine company and the Accord Plug-in Hybrid will help. Honda says this latest Accord Hybrid is roomy, entertaining and it has an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy rating 115 MPGe, which is a special rating for electrified vehicles. The most important car at the Honda stand, though, is the significantly updated 2013 Civic. This, after all, is Canada’s best-selling car for 15 straight years and the latest version is a huge step up from the 2012.
Hyundai
The Santa Fe crossover is a fine example of how competent this South Korean auto maker has become. Hyundai sold more than 130,000 vehicles in Canada last year, and its Elantra was Canada’s second-best-selling car.
Kia
Kia Canada has high hopes for the 2014 Rondo wagon and here you have a vehicle that Americans to the south are not going to get. Kia in the U.S. doesn’t think it will sell well enough. But Kia Canada chief operating officer Maria Soklis is optimistic about the new Rondo’s prospects in Canada. And, as evidence of Kia’s move upmarket to greater respectability, the 2014 Cadenza sedan will get its Canadian debut in Toronto.
Jaguar
Finally, a smaller two-seat convertible sports car from Jaguar after decades of waiting. It’s the F-Type and its pretty as a peach. F-Type, F-Type S and the F-Type V8 S will be powered respectively by the new Jaguar supercharged 3.0-litre V-6 engine in 340-hp and 380-hp outputs. Or go crazy in the 495-hp 5.0-litre supercharged V-8. Jag is also unveiling the XFR-S, what the company says is the fastest and most powerful sedan Jaguar has ever produced. Just 100 will be for sale in the world, 20 in Canada.
Maserati
Well, there’s the six-generation Quattroporte to dream about. Here we have the sixth-generation version and it’s one of the most stylish sedans you’ll ever encounter.
Mazda
For decades, mainstream Canadian buyers have had to turn to Volkswagen if they want a diesel engine. No more. Mazda Canada will launch the 2014 Mazda6 SkyActiv-D Clean Diesel later this year. The all-new Mazda6 is also worth a look for its racy styling.
Mercedes-Benz
Merc is updating the E-Class for the 2014 model year. All of it. Every model in the E-Class range. Visitors should also ask about the new CLA sedan which just might be priced less than $30,000. We’ll find out shortly.
Mitsubishi
The 2014 Outlander crossover is the central model in Mitsu’s lineup in Canada. The updated Outlander has new styling, a better cabin and richer materials all around. Canadians get their first look in Toronto.
Subaru
A new Forester is on the way and it’s worth asking about at the Subaru stand.
Toyota/Lexus
The Toyota RAV4 is all new as a 2013 model and it’s better than the old version in almost every way. It’s also assembled in Canada – Woodstock, Ont., in fact.
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