2011 Toronto: Top 10 Must Sees

By John LeBlanc With the spring new car buying season just around the corner, there’s no better venue for Canadian new car buyers to check out than the annual  Toronto auto show (a.k.a. Canadian International AutoShow). Open to the public now until February 27, the Toronto auto show not only displays virtually every new car you can buy, it’s also a good place to check out what’s coming on the horizon. If you’re planning on heading to the show for its last open weekend, here are my Top 10 must-see cars (in alphabetical order):

2012 Audi TT-RS

The RS, pictured above, is Audi’s most serious attempt yet at making its TT a real sports car. Trust me. Much of the formula relies on the return of an inline-five engine to Audi’s lineup (a 2.5-litre unit making 340 hp), a type of engine that was available in many Audis between 1977 and 1997, most famously in the original Quattro coupes that won multiple world rally championships. So, is the new RS the Audi TT that finally stops prickly critics (including yours truly) from slagging off the TT as a mere Volkswagen Golf in drag?

2012 BMW 6 Series Cabriolet

As the production version of BMW’s controversially styled 1999 Z9 concept, the last generation 6er was more muscle than majestic. This time around, BMW designers have gone for the refined elegance route with their new grand touring 2+2. Preceding this year’s coupe, and a forthcoming four-door Gran Coupé, the soft-top convertible model will lead the new 6 Series into Canada. For now, it will only come one way: the 650i Cabriolet with its 400 hp, 4.4-litre V8 engine hooked up to an eight-speed autobox.

2012 Buick Verano

It’s been a while since Buick played in the compact segment. Remember the 1989 Skyhawk, a badge-engineered Chevy Cavalier that started life as a badge-engineered Chevy Vega in 1974? Buick hopes you don’t. Like the Chevrolet Cruze (which the Buick shares its platform with) the Verano is a General Motors Asia product, primarily designed for the Chinese market. Unlike the compact Chevy, though, the Verano has a bit of muscle under its hood: A base, 2.4-litre four with 177 hp, and an optional turbocharged 2.0L four that makes 220 hp from the larger Regal.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic

In a segment that’s getting more competitive by the month—and crucial in helping automakers offset the sales of gas-guzzling pickup sales in the battle to meet tougher fuel economy regulations—can Chevy win over subcompact buyers with its Aveo-replacing Sonic? Another Asian-developed GM product, the U.S.-made Sonic will come in four-door sedan and hatch versions with “class-leading rear-seat roominess and cargo space.” A base, 1.8-litre four or a 138 hp turbo 1.4L from the larger Cruze will be available with a six-speed manual, plus big-car features like navigation and heated seats.

2012 Dodge Durango

Benefiting from its previous partnership with Mercedes-Benz, along with its new Jeep Grand Cherokee platform-mate, the new Durango goes from “worst” to nearly “best” in class. Instead of the ill-handling and space-inefficient truck-based older model, the new three-row Durango resides on the car-based platform of the next ‘Benz GL—at about half the price. The flexible Durango combines the room of a crossover, but with best-in-class towing capacity (6,200 lbs. with the V6; 7,400 lbs. with the V8), a well-appointed interior and decent road manners.

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302

Just as Chevrolet is only now getting around to rolling out a convertible Camaro, Ford is releasing yet another Mustang model: This time, one that’s track worthy. Available in limited production in 2012, the Mustang Boss 302 was built to be the quickest, best-handling production Mustang ever, so says Ford. Over the regular Mustang GT, the Boss has been tweaked for the track with a higher output engine, meatier brakes and suspension, and both interior and exterior bits trimmed to optimize weight, aerodynamics and race track performance.

2012 Hyundai Accent

Here’s one of those new subcompacts the new Chevy Sonic needs to deal with. Hot on the heels of the launch of this year’s new compact Elantra sedan and Velostar coupe comes the all-new 2012 Accent subcompact. Ready to take on new rivals like the Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, and said Sonic, the Accent will be the first Hyundai to get the automaker’s new 1.6-litre direct-injected four-cylinder and six-speed automatic gearbox. The result is a hybrid-like 4.7 L/100 km highway fuel consumption.

Nissan Ellure Concept

The front-wheel drive Ellure concept hybrid sedan is a precursor to what the next Altima sedan may look like. The Ellure’s supercharged 2.5-litre gas, four cylinder engine works with what Nissan calls an Intelligent Dual Clutch Control (one motor/two clutch design with lithium-ion battery) and a 25 kW electric motor, hooked up to CVT. To make sure the driving experience is as “dynamic and rewarding as Ellure’s physical properties,” an independent suspension, regenerative braking, and advanced drive-by-wire electric/hydraulic steering are part of its package.

2012 Nissan Nismo 370Z

While Nissan is garnering all kinds of attention with its Leaf electric vehicle, it still makes cars for enthusiasts. And now at the top of the list is the new Nismo Z. Nissan calls the Nismo Z an “enthusiast’s dream,” backing that boast with 350 hp, making it the most powerful production Z ever. In addition to a mandatory close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox (there’s no automatic option), the Nismo Z sports a specially tuned suspension, super-lightweight forged alloy wheels, and a unique exterior and interior trim.

2012 Volkswagen Passat

Will Canadians go for an “Americanized” Passat? That’s the big question for the supersized and U.S.-built version of Volkswagen’s new mid-size sedan. There are only a few small details German car fans will miss in der neu Passat. Like the bottom of the Passat’s interior front dash is hard (not soft) plastic and the trunk lid hinges are of the single- instead of space-saving multi-hinge design. But the similarly marketed new Jetta (lots of room, itty-bitty price) is flying out of VW showrooms at a record pace. And the Passat TDI will deserve serious consideration if you’re looking at a hybrid sedan or a pricier BMW or Mercedes diesel.

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