The Canadian subcompact SUV market segment will soon become a lot more diverse, with the nine competitors currently available swelling to 12 by the end of the year. Before the new Ford EcoSport and Toyota…

Nissan bringing Qashqai subcompact SUV to Canadian market

Nissan has had fun advertising the unique Qashqai (cash-kai) name in European markets where consumers have been mispronouncing it for more than a decade, smartly turning a negative into a positive with humorous radio/TV spots and online videos. From what it appears, when the subcompact SUV arrives on Canadian soil this spring it will retain its unusual global name, despite Nissan Canada's U.S. counterpart choosing to call it Rogue Sport.

Smart move? While Canadians appreciate some differentiation from the 10-times-larger U.S. market, the reality of cross-border advertising bleed makes a strong argument for following the American narrative. Kia, which previously named its Canadian-spec mid-size sedan Magentis, because it rightly considered Canada a separate global market, eventually renamed it Optima to take advantage of marketing synergies between the two countries, however Mitsubishi's RVR, which has long been competitive within the same subcompact SUV segment the new Qashqai Read Full Story
Most financial analysts aren’t predicting a rosy short-term future for Canada’s economy despite what PM Trudeau, FM Morneau and the rest of the Liberal establishment tell us, so will automakers start…

Kia releases photos of new Picanto city car

The Picanto has long been a great looking little city car that sells very well in global markets. Canadian world travelers that happen to love cars may have noticed them roaming the streets in Europe, Asia, or most anywhere else, although diehard automotive fans will likely be aware of the car's existence. Given its popularity elsewhere and our burgeoning small car market, wouldn't it make sense for Kia, a growing albeit still less popular brand, to offer it here?

Kia has just released photos of its third-generation Picanto, a stylish little runabout that boasts a 15-mm longer wheelbase than its predecessor at 2,400 mm, and wheels that have been pushed farther out towards each corner for "a more confident appearance," says Kia. Along with more sculpted bodywork the new Picanto's exterior colour palette will be even more vibrant than previous generations, with 11 bright paint options designed to make passersby take notice.

The Picanto's redesigned interior will include Read Full Story
Honda’s automobile division is almost young enough to fall into gen-X, but despite its relative youth the innovative Japanese company has managed to build 100 million vehicles globally since it began…

Honda achieves 100-million global automobile production milestone

Considering that many of today's largest automakers are more than a century old, it's amazing to contemplate everything Honda has achieved within the car industry in just 53 years. In fact, on December 22, 2016, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it had surpassed the 100-million automobile production milestone.

"Thanks to the support from our customers around the world," said Takahiro Hachigo, President, Chief Executive Officer and Representative Director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. "Honda was able to deliver 100 million automobiles. The passion of our company founder who wanted to help people in their daily lives and pursue the joy of driving has been inherited by Honda associates as the original starting point of Honda automobile manufacturing. Striving to meet the next 100 million customers, Honda will continue delivering increasingly attractive products."

Honda first began assembling automobiles at its Saitama Factory in 1963, its initial mass-produced model being Read Full Story
What are the chances that Infiniti’s American-born head of design is of Cuban descent, that he had a great uncle who was a famous Cuban architect, and that Cuba would become open to U.S. nationals just…

Infiniti drives first registered US-spec car through Cuban streets in 58 years

You can't make stuff like this up. Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti's executive design director, is the great-nephew of mid-century modern architect Max Borges-Recio, renowned for designing Havana, Cuba's fabulous and world famous Cabaret Tropicana, as well as Club Náutico. Now that the U.S. has reopened its embassy and is allowing trade and tourism between the two countries, could there be a better opportunity for a family reunion?

For a bit of background, the Tropicana Club, which came to life in 1939 at Villa Mina, a large suburban estate in Havana's Marianao neighborhood, helped spread Cuba's rich, vibrant culture internationally, and of course was the inspiration for the fictional Manhattan nightclub of the same name in "I Love Lucy", where Lucy's (Lucille Ball) husband Ricky Ricardo (played by Cuban-born Desi Arnaz) was a singer and bandleader. The TV venue has since been recreated in real-life, not to mention the Tropicana name has also been used for hotel casinos in Atlantic Read Full Story