Top 10s: New vehicles for Canadian hockey parents

Story by John LeBlanc Are there any drivers on Canadian roads and highways that deserve more respect than hockey parents? (or skiing, speed skating, curling, luge, bob sleigh or ringette parents?) Battling before-dawn wakeup calls, rush-hour traffic, four-season driving conditions and unruly passengers — not to mention the transportation of toxic cargo known as the […]

Road Test: 2012 Mazda5

Maxivan The only true “mini” van gets a major redo By John LeBlanc Since its introduction in 2005, the front-wheel-drive Mazda3-based Mazda5 has been popular with young families who need more room than a compact car offers, but don’t want to pay the higher price or deal with the bigger size of a standard minivan.

The Crank: Mazda quickly ditching Nagare

By John LeBlanc Well that didn’t take too long. As soon as former Mazda design director Laurens van den Acker left last year to take over as head pen of France’s Renault, it seems the Japanese automaker can’t move fast enough away from its still-born Nagare design language, a look that was created by van […]

The Crank: Mazda’s Nagare, no more

By John LeBlanc Well, so much for that. After four years of teasing us with concept after concept, highlighted by the Furai concept (below, left) from the 2008 Detroit show, it looks like Mazda is canning its much bally-hooed Nagare design language.