Show floor rocks down to electric avenue
Get up close and personal with pure electrics, hybrids and other alternative vehicles
The Canadian International AutoShow has always been the perfect venue for consumers to check out the latest available products. Many prospective consumers of pure electric, hybrid or other alternative powertrain read a lot of material about the technology and its benefits to the environment, but what about in-person?
That’s where the AutoShow comes in — providing the opportunity to get up close and personal with each vehicle’s fit and finish, its interior comforts and gain a true understanding of the technologies from on-site experts.
To help with your mission in finding the latest and greatest on the AutoShow floor in Toronto, we’ve assembled a list of the top-five mustsee new alternative vehicles at this year’s show.
BMW i8 Roadster Since its introduction, the BMW i8 has caused a lot of neck spasms due to its beautiful physique. It’s hard to find any vehicle priced under $150,000 that looks as immaculate and fearless as the edgy i8. It steals the spotlight on the AutoShow floor and Toronto won’t be an exception.
For 2019, BMW introduces its first soft droptop for its plug-in hybrid supercar that folds into the rear seats. Powering this roadster — available this spring — will be the same 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine found in the coupe, along with an electric motor and a 9.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that matched to a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
The gas engine powers the rear wheels, while the electric motor takes care of the fronts with an additional 12 more horsepower for a total of 369 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque (184 lb-ft of that instantly through its available electric torque) aided by a refined high-voltage battery.
Not only does the new battery improve horsepower, it betters its pure-electric driving range to 29 kilometres. When not in powersave mode, the i8 is able to achieve a 0-100 km/h sprint in close to 4.6 seconds.
Genesis GV80 Concept Hyundai has been a big proponent of hydrogen fuel-cell technology. That knowledge is now being transferred over to its luxury brand Genesis through its GV80 Concept — a hydrogen fuel-cell SUV.
After its debut at the 2017 New York International Auto Show, the GV80 Concept makes its first Canadian appearance. From the front, its unusually-rounded form differs from most rakish concepts, but that all changes when checking it out from its side or rear view. Its backside is finished off with laser fibre-optic quad taillamps and 23-inch mesh alloy wheels.
Most of the goodies are found on the inside featuring a massive 22inch curved OLED display screen. The touchscreen sits on top of a “bridge” style dashboard that stretches the width of the cabin. Complementing the technology are plenty of refinements that include quilted leather seating, polished aluminum and ash wood treatments.
As good as it looks, it gets on this list from its hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain. Unfortunately as with many concepts, not many performance or range numbers have been provided, simply serving as a taste of what’s to come from Genesis. For now, Genesis is calling its GV80 Concept a combination of eco-performance and capability.
Jaguar I-Pace Jaguar is under a big electrification push starting with the I-Pace, its first all-electric vehicle. Given the current push for utility haulers, it’s not surprisingly an SUV and a direct competitor with the Tesla Model X with a capable range of 499 kilometres.
For now, it’s still a concept with a full reveal expected on March1ahead of the Geneva Motor Show. More information will be forthcoming, but we do know that its electric motors propel the mid-size SUV to a combined 400 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. For a pure electric, it shows sporty characteristics with a 0-100 km/h sprint clocked at close to four seconds. Managing the power distribution is a centrally located 90 kWh battery pack that can be charged (at least 80 per cent of it) in 45 minutes through a Level 3 DC charger.
The I-Pace will be a combination of sorts when it arrives at dealerships in late 2018: healthy to the environment, sexy to look at and safe on the road thanks to all-wheel drive capabilities.
No shortcuts are made in design with it possessing the same dynamic and forward-thinking touch we come to expect at Jaguar. The I-Pace features an aerodynamic hood scoop and low-roof that resembles more of a coupe than SUV. Inside, consumers will be treated to all the luxuries of Alcantara and Windsor leather with seating for five.
Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid The third version of the Kia Niro family has finally arrived in plug-in hybrid form. For those wanting the capabilities of a pure electric drive (estimated at 41 kilometres) and the desire to drive beyond that limit in gas mode — the Niro PHEV provides it all in one crossover package. In total, it can go a total estimated range of more than 900 kilometres.
Full Canadian details including fuel economy on both electric and gas mode will be released at a later date. For now, Kia is adding a few PHEVexclusive touches to the Niro hybrid version. Included in that will be a subtly-modified front grille insert and surround, hybrid blue exterior accents, available LED headlamps, and an available seven-inch colour meter cluster with a digital tachometer and "ECO/Plug-In" badges.
Using a Level 2 charger, the Niro PHEV can charge in approximately 2.5 hours, or less than nine hours using a simple 120-volt outlet.
The Niro PHEV will compete in an ever-increasing market that features the Toyota Prius Prime, Hyundai Ioniq and Chevrolet Volt.
Mercedes-AMG Project One The Mercedes-AMG Project One is simply a masterpiece in performance and design. It has garnered plenty of attention from its championship-winning Formula One engine: a mid-mounted 1.6-litre V6 that helps to produce a whopping 1,000plus combined horsepower thanks to the addition of four electric motors. If that wasn’t enough excitement, the hypercar can reach engine speeds of 11,000 r.p.m. with a 0-200 km/h sprint in less than six seconds.
Hybrid performance seems to be the name of the game when reaching quad-digit horsepower numbers and one trip around a European auto show floor would tell you that.
However, if you wanted to test out its pure electric form, the Project One can drive without the gas engine for 25 kilometres.
Those performance numbers are rarely found in a production vehicle, and its combination with Formula One technology, makes it all the more exciting. Unfortunately, the Project One will be limited globally to 275 units when it becomes available at some point in 2019 to the tune of 2.275 million a pop ($3.5 million).