Review: Jaguar F-Type S an aural delight

The Jaguar F-Type is one of the best-sounding sports cars on the market. But the cabin has room for improvement, and you might want to think twice about the value of this $90,000 car.

Jaguar F-TYpe in TorontoThe Jaguar F-Type is one of the best-sounding sports cars on the market. But the cabin has room for improvement, and you might want to think twice about the value of this $90,000 car.

With the he 2017 Jaguar F-Type, you slip into the driver’s seat rather than step or climb in. As far as the cabin feelings go, this one is like a cozy blanket.

The interior feels posh, insulated and comfortable. Most surfaces feel well-made and suitable for the type of car that costs almost a hundred grand.

Granted, the dashboard layout is horrible. The infotainment system is slow and dated. The shifter blocks access to key infotainment controls (but you can use the steering wheel-mounted buttons instead).

Meanwhile, the centre stack swoops around your right leg and continues on past your right elbow, through your shoulder and to the back of the coupe.

Jaguar F-Type interior
The F-Type’s interior looks inviting, but the shifter blocks access to some of the infotainment and HVAC buttons behind it.

The way the cockpit surrounds you is a testament to how this is a car for people who like to drive. But does it deliver a “driver’s” car?

The specific car I reviewed was a 3.0-litre V6-powered S model, which produces 380 horses from the supercharged engine.

Before you even hit the gas pedal, just from turning this engine on with the starter button, your ears are feasted to a glorious soundtrack.

Honestly, if you enjoy listening to music while you drive, great. But this car doesn’t need any more music. The exhaust note sounds good enough.

In fact it’s so good, kids on my street turn their heads to take a look before it even passes their view. My wife can even hear me coming home from a few hundred metres away.

No, it’s not Mustang-aftermarket-exhaust loud. Nor is it that cheesy. It just sounds deep, throaty and solid.

Performance-wise, the engine is not bad. You’d kinda expect this car to fly, which it does. It’s just that the vehicle itself is a little heavy so the feeling of acceleration didn’t really come through to the driver.

Sure, you put your foot down and hear the baritone notes from the engine, the speedometer shoots up, and next thing you know you’re lifting off the pedal so that you don’t get a massive ticket.

However, the sensation of speed is muted within the cabin. Personally, I like to feel that I’m flying.

It’s not like there’s space to take advantage of that speed in Toronto. In fact, I never got above third gear one time driving from Mississauga to midtown Toronto along the 401 during rush hour.

The brakes were fantastic, erasing speed with ease. The suspension was taunt, but not so hard that you’d need to see a chiropractor on a weekly basis.

Jaguar F-Type's rear
The Jaguar F-Type’s rear is a beauty – which is a good thing, considering how much other drivers will see of it.

It was all very civilized and very orderly. Unless you kick the accelerator as your turning.

See, this Jag is a rear-wheel drive model (you can get it with all-wheel drive too). But sending all that supercharged power to the rear wheels can result in a bit of oversteer. And next thing you know you’re fighting with the wheel to keep things going straight.

This aspect of the F-Type will definitely keep you on your toes. But it’s also a feature that will keep you excited, it won’t let you get complacent and it’ll deliver exactly what a sports car is meant to deliver – an experience above and beyond a normal sedan.

In the looks department, the F-Type nails it. I’ve never had so much interest in a car like this one.

It was particularly from the kids, tugging at their dad’s shirts or slapping their friends on the shoulder to check out this car. It just looks eyecatching even when your left leg is getting a workout with the clutch in rush hour traffic.

Jaguar F-Type rear quarter panel
It’s so badass, it’s sweet. The Jag F-Type stands out across from the Redpath Sugar factory in Toronto.

Downsides? It’s a two-door car, and the doors seem particularly long. That makes getting in and out of the car in thin spaces a little more challenging.

The trunk is for slim luggage, even though there’s no rear seat (this is strictly for two).

The audio system wasn’t amazing, which you’d expect better in a tester that was $106,725. The sound was at time distorted, particularly when it wasn’t turned up. Either a previous reviewer blew the speakers, or the speakers are cheap. I hope it was the former and not the latter.

And you know what, the HVAC vents that raise from the dashboard makes up for any shortcomings.

As does the exhaust note. Did I mention that?

Fast Facts:

2017 Jaguar F-Type S Coupe

Canadian base price: $89,500 (base)

Price as tested: $106,725

Engine: 3.0-litre V6

Horsepower: 380

What’s hot: Exhaust sound

What’s not: Cabin layout

Manufacturer’s website

 

 

Cars of the future will share emojis, won’t honk

Are you angry that another motorist has cut you off? One day, you might not be flipping them a one-finger salute and hammering the horn. Instead, you might send the other driver an emoji.

The company will also sell a kit to share electronic messages, such as selfies, from your personal car.
The company will also sell a kit to share electronic messages, such as selfies, from your personal car.

Are you angry that another motorist has cut you off? One day, you might not be flipping them a one-finger salute and hammering the horn. Instead, you might send the other driver an emoji.

A tech startup in Silicon Valley is working on technology for cars that will send emojis to other motorists, rather than using a horn to share a message.

According to the Financial Times, Drive.ai is developing autonomous technology that will help cars communicate to each other.

Drive.ai’s technology will use displays on the car, potentially on the roof our on windows, to share messages with other vehicles. In addition to showing emojis, the platform would also be able to display pictures and text.

The company’s co-founder tells the Financial Times that this new technology is designed to help drivers “emote intention.”

There’s still lots of research and development that needs to go into this. Also, a whole bunch of manufacturers are going to have to sign off on a standard for vehicle-to-vehicle communications so they can all talk together nicely, even if the emoticons that will be flashed to others won’t be friendly.

 

Audi technology predicts when the red light will change

Can’t stand waiting for the traffic light to turn green? Audi has technology to help you get a jump on the other guys.

Audi’s Connect Prime service will help drivers know when a traffic light will turn red, and when the signal will change to green.

The feature will be available in three new models beginning this fall.

However, don’t expect to be jumping the reds in any town, right away.


The technology relies on data from each city’s traffic light infrastructure, which is sent to the car via its onboard LTE connection. Only “select cities and metropolitan areas across the U.S.” will jive with the new system.

It’s all through their vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) system that connects cars to the road infrastructure, making the cars smarter in the process.

The car will determine and show the driver the optimal speed they should be travelling at so they don’t have to come to a stop at the intersection.

The goal is to reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions.

If you’d like this feature on your next Audi, you’ll have to tick the right option box on the forthcoming A4, A4 Allroad or Q7.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe discontinued

Hyundai is killing off its rear-wheel drive sports car, the Genesis Coupe. This model year will be its last.

The news, reported by Motor Trend and other outlets, comes as the Korean automaker moves ahead with plans to turn the Genesis name into its own luxury brand. Think of what Audi is to VW, or what Lincoln is to Ford.

With aggressive styling and a potent engine, the Genesis Coupe stood out for its value-minded pricing.

Its naturally-aspirated 3.8-litre V6 engine could pump out 348 horsepower, while the smaller 2.0 inline-four was good for 274 ponies.

Its reception in car reviews wasn’t overly impressive. Let’s be honest, if you wanted a larger rear-wheel drive car that was short on practicality, you’d opt for an American muscle car or spend a little extra to get Japanese quality.

Although this model is dying off, we’ll probably see something similar from Hyundai once it gets its new Genesis brand up and running.

 

 

Vancouver’s housing market is a boom for luxury car sales

Bentley Bentayga SUV

It’s no secret that Vancouver’s skyrocketing housing prices are wild. The cost of a single-family home is now at $1.6 million, a 39 per cent increase from last summer.

Fuelled in part by wealthy foreign buyers, many from China, the city is enacting a 15 per cent tax on homes purchased by non-Canadians.

But it’s not just the housing market that’s been affected by wealthy folks from foreign countries. The Vancouver luxury car market has gone gangbusters as well.

Numbers from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and found that the number of high end vehicles in Vancouver has almost doubled between 2009 and 2015. That’s a short time period for such a dramatic increase.

Business is booming for high-end luxury and exotic car dealerships. Not wanting to miss out on making a sale to buyers whose primary language isn’t English, some are hiring sales reps that speak Mandarin to cater to buyers from China, according to Bloomberg.

And these buyers don’t just want any luxury car – they want the best, most exclusive models.

For example, the Bloomberg report quotes an eyebrow-raising anecdote from MCL Motor Cars’ general sales manager Caleb Kwok.

He says a customer came in and wanted a new Bentley Bentayga SUV. Great, but this was even before the vehicle was in production.

The customer told Kwonk he wanted the vehicle right away. “How much do I need to pay to get that car right now?” he reportedly said.

 

Review: Ford Edge Sport struts the badass looks

Ford Edge Sport
The Ford Edge Sport, available in the Spice paint hue, stands out. No matter if you’re at a cottage or at a grocery store.

In the SUV world, you have a couple sub-categories of “sport” utility vehicles.

You have the soft ‘utes – the small yet pumped up versions of cars. They provide mostly city-like handling for urban dwellers that want a little extra space and a commanding driving position.

At the other end of the spectrum you have the big, brash SUVs. Think of the Toyota Highlander or even the Cadillac Escalade. All utility and sport only by name.

In between is a segment that’s getting squeezed. You have these SUVs that are as legitimate at what they do as Jason Statham is at being an action hero. They’re doing their best to be utilitarian and athletic.

This is where the Ford Edge Sport slots in. The Edge, on its own, is not bad. But the Sport makes you proud to drive a big vehicle.

My tester is a bright orange model – the colour is known officially as “Spice.” It stands out on your driveway or in any parking lot largely due to the bright, high-energy hue that it’s painted.

But it also stands out for its sport poise. The sheet metal is muscular. Bulges hint at inner power.

Looking out from behind the driver’s seat, the bulges on the hood are so big it looks like something is wrong with the hood. It’s like the SUV was in a crash and the metal was shifted out-of-place to expose openings between where the hood meets the windshield wipers and the glass.

Don’t worry, you’ll get over the bulging hood in a couple of days.

Inside, things are not bad. It’s no luxury barge, so don’t expect to get pampered by soft, plush materials or high-quality lux finishes. Things are as you’d expect in a Ford, and the build quality does feel quite good.

When it comes to storage space, there are lots of spots. You’ll find several spots to stash everything from your phone to your wallet to your clutch. Whether it’s under the armrest or in the middle of the dash, the Edge has you covered.

Speaking of space, you’ll have more than enough to stretch out. The front row provides ample room for the driver and passenger, while the back row is airy. Yes, there’s no third row – but you’d be looking at the Explorer if you need the extra seating.

And because there’s no third row, trunk space is fantastic. I could point out how many litres of cargo capacity the Edge affords, but just know that you can fit in a stroller, gear for a family of three and a guitar. You could easily fit in another occupant and their stuff for a weekend trip.

So, we’ve determined that the Edge Sport looks unforgettable, it can swallow up a family of four and their stuff. But how does it get from point A to point B?

There’s no hiding the girth of the Edge. It’s big. But if you want to haul around friends or a family and their belongings, you need size.

On city streets, the Edge rolls along but you need to give it a little extra space to do its thing.

Its Enhanced Active Park Assist makes parallel and perpendicular parking surprisingly easy, thanks to 12 sensors that help pilot the SUV into the right space. This feature works really well for parallel parking, but I prefer my own skill for perpendicular parking.

Having the Adaptive Cruise Control for a jaunt up to the cottage made the journey even more enjoyable. The Edge did well to adapt its speed to the changing traffic conditions.

The Edge Sport packs a 2.7-litre V6 engine under the bulging hood. It’s good for 315 horsepower and 350 lb-ft. of torque. I’d have to say I expected more power from the “Sport” edition, but this Edge felt like it had a sufficient amount of power to haul ass.

Fuel economy was quite dependent on how you drive. If you take advantage of the Sport moniker, you’re going to be in the mid double-digits L/100 km. I was scoring between 16-17 during city driving.

How could I forget connectivity/infotainment and leave it to the end? Simply put – Sync3 is quite good. If an infotainment system leaves me with a bad taste, it’s one of the first things I’d mention. But here, in the Edge, it was quite solid. It accepted pretty much all voice commands with ease and the interface itself responded quickly. Sure, the interface could look better, but everything is going to get outdated in no time. So what?

Which leaves this at the price.

The 2016 Ford Edge Sport starts at $46,099. My tester had voice-activated navigation and a gorgeous panoramic sun roof ($2,000) while the adaptive cruise control and collision warning system added $1,500. Tag on another $5,500 for a plethora of visual and convenience features and we’re looking at a price as tested as $56,839.

If you’re shopping and up against Korean competitors, that might seem like a lot. But hey, there’s no other SUV in this market that looks as badass as the Edge Sport – along with the space to put the “utility” in Sport Utility Vehicle.

 

 

 

Tesla’s new Model X plagued by quality problems

tesla_xIt appears as though Tesla’s new Model X is having some growing pains.

Several reports suggest the electric car company’s SUV are suffering from several quality issues.

From doors that don’t open to finicky windows and electronics, Tesla’s latest production vehicle is drawing complaints form its drivers.

A report in the Wall Street Journal quotes at least one woman as saying her doors have problems opening and closing.

Another driver with a problematic Model X was quoted in the WSJ as saying that when he called his local Tesla shop to get his broken doors repaired, he was told that there would be a two week wait because Tesla was reportedly “overloaded with repair” appointments.

Not good for a vehicle that’s supposed to be the company’s biggest volume seller, a vehicle that’s already been delayed to get to this point.

Don’t forget – Tesla may be known for its fast, connected cars but not necessarily quality. Consumer Reports says the Tesla Model S has so many problems that despite it’s good driving manners, they can’t recommend it. 

Let’s see how quality improves as Model X deliveries go up, and whether they’re able to work out any issues with the upcoming Model 3.

Mustang meme overload prompts owner to sell Ford

 

A Ford Mustang owner who seems to be sick of all the memes making fun of the muscle car has had enough and decided to sell his hot rod.

A Craigslist user in the Seattle area appears to be selling his ‘Stang because of all the unwanted attention he’s getting following a week of memes making fun of Mustang drivers.

In the listing, the owner says:

“I am sick and tired of the Mustang memes. Every time I go to get gas someone asks if I’ve done any burnouts lately or if I’ve been to any car shows… then they laugh and answer for me. ‘No because the car is still in one piece'”

In case you’ve missed any of the memes, here’s a YouTube video showing a Mustang leaving a car enthusiast event in Chicago. The Ford pulls out onto the main street and then shortly crashes.

Top Gear’s new hosts Evans and LeBlanc not getting along: report

top_gear_hosts_matt_leblanc_chris_evans

BBC Top Gear’s new hosts Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc reportedly have a very frosty relationship, according to the Sun.

Things between the Brit and the American took a turn for the worse following the Cenotaph stunt, in which the former Friends star was seen doing donuts around a war memorial.

Since then, the relationship hasn’t improved. Evans things the smoke-filled stunt has hurt the image of Top Gear, a show that’s struggling since the departure of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.

An unidentified source tells that Sun “Matt was never Chris’s choice — it was a decision forced upon him to attract the US market.”