SMALL MEETS BIG
As in past years, the 2014 Canadian International Auto Show was a hub of activity
Toronto in February isn’t often the most hospitable place in terms of weather and this year’s winter seemed to be one of the most severe in recent memory. Nevertheless, there are few things that will stop throngs of consumers for attending the annual Canadian International Auto Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and the 2014 event was no exception.
The show got off to a high profile start as Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles spoke at the opening ceremony. There was a strong theme of emphasizing Canada’s role as a manufacturing base for vehicle production and Marchionne, who holds both Italian and Canadian citizenship talked about lessons the industry has learned from the past and how those lessons are helping shape its future. With Chrysler in talks with both the provincial and federal governments, there are also signs that the automaker’s Windsor and Brampton assembly plants will continue to play a significant role in its operations for the foreseeable future, despite the relatively high manufacturing costs currently associated with this country and persisting rumours that long-term Canadian vehicle production is still in jeopardy.
GM wowed with its Camaro Z/28 and Corvette Z06
It was a similar situation at Ford Motor Company of Canada where President and CEO Dianne Craig announced future investment at the automaker’s Oakville Assembly complex, highlighting the new Ford Edge Crossover which will be sold not only in North America but overseas, encompassing more than 60 different markets.
Honda’s 2015 Fit unveiling was accompanied by a guest appearance from James Hinchcliffe
Canadian consumers tend to place more value on small cars than their counterparts south of the border, emphasized by the 2015 Nissan Micra. This new entry-level offering won’t be sold in the U.S. and is designed to provide value for money. It’s starting price of $9,998 will make it one of the most competitively priced new cars on the market. During a recent interview with Canadian auto dealer, Nissan Canada President Christian Meunier said the Micra is a big win both for Canadian consumers and dealers and is designed to draw different buyers into the new car market.
Honda took a similar approach, choosing the AutoShow to unveil its latest Fit subcompact, with Canadian Indycar star James Hinchcliffe making a guest appearance. Like Nissan’s Micra, the new Fit is expected to resonate strongly with Canadian consumers and bringing out a local hero was a smart publicity move.
Iconic VW Rabbit was a blast from the past
General Motors has been having a good year with product and chose to reveal the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z28, 2015 Corvette Z06, 2015 Cadillac ATS coupe and its new Heavy Duty pickup line. In stark contrast to small, thrifty cars, the plethora of big rigs and performance offerings at GM suggest that there is a wave of confidence sweeping the auto sector, buoyed by bullish economic indicators, at least for the short and medium term.
Other highlights included the announcement of the Canadian Car and Utility of the Year (Mazda6 and Jeep Cherokee respectively), Kia’s Provo concept and K900 flagship, Subaru’s 2015 WRX STI and the Porsche Macan — a model expected to take the Stuttgart-based automaker to new levels of sales volumes in Canada.
Also not to be missed was the stunning McLaren P1 unveiled at the Pfaff Automotive Partners display and from one extreme to the other — a classic 1970s VW Rabbit at the entrance to the show. The latter indicated that even in the 21st century, there’s perhaps a lot to be said about going back to basics.
Stunning McLaren P1 was something to behold
