Video: 2012 BMW 328i Modern

The Crank: New stop/start systems turning off BMW owners

By John LeBlanc One of the biggest contributors to the fuel savings of any gasoline-electric hybrid is the vehicle’s automatic start/stop systems, a feature that allows the gas engine to shutdown when the vehicle is stopped in traffic or at an intersection. Stop/start systems work so well automakers are now applying them to gas-only models. […]

2012 Canadian mid-year new car sales report

Story and photos by John LeBlanc The end of June marks the halfway point of the calendar year. And for the majority of Canadian brands, 2012 has been a very good year so far. Compared to sales between January and June 2011, Canadians bought 7.1 per cent more new passenger cars and trucks, for a […]

The Crank: Do stripes make BMW’s Minis go faster?

By John LeBlanc Automotive legend has it American road racer Briggs Cunningham put the first ever stripe on a racing car.  After his white 1951 C4-R was seen with the contrasting pair of blue stripes that ran across the car from trunk to hood, a trend was quickly started, one that eventually migrated to production […]

2012 Geneva Motor Show: The best debuts NOT coming to Canada

By John LeBlanc GENEVA—For many car fans, the annual Swiss auto show held here at the foot of the Alps is strictly a “look-but-can’t-buy” proposition. While the auto industry has become a lot more global, regional regulations and consumer tastes still mean there are plenty of debuts here that will not be coming to Canada.

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