LUXURY LEADS THE PACK
2016 BENTLEY BENTAYGA
What is it? According to Bentley, the new Bentayga — its first — will be “the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world.”
Riding on the same platform as the latest Audi Q7, the lone Bentayga power plant at first will be a twin-turbocharged W12 engine, making 600 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque.
Paired to the gas-twelve is an eight-speed automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels. Bentley claims a sports car-like top speed of 300 km/h and a zero-to-100 km/h time of four seconds.
Why does it matter? Money. The Bentayga is expected to grow annual Bentley sales from around 7,000 vehicles to 10,000 per year.
When is it coming? Order a Bentayga today for delivery in 2016.
Should you buy it? If you can afford over $250,000 for a tarted-up VW Touareg, go for it.
John LeBlanc
2017 AUDI A4
What is it? Although Audi has already released images and details, the Frankfurt Motor Show marked the refreshed A4 sedan’s official debut.
The new A4’s styling is strictly evolutionary, but the Audi does receive a more contemporary cabin and a thoroughly redesigned chassis. All models will offer more interior room but weigh a bit less.
Canadian-market A4s will get a 252-horsepower, 2.0-litre turbo-four, as well as a diesel for the first time. Both are paired to a seven-speed S-tronic gearbox.
Why does it matter? As the freshest kid on the block, the new A4 gains a bit of an advantage over its archrivals, the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
When is it coming? On sale in Europe by year’s end, expect the new A4 to start arriving in Canada in 2016.
Should you buy it? The differences between the Audi and its German rivals are getting razor thin. It’s likely, the decision to go with the A4 will be subjective.
John LeBlanc
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS COUPE
What is it? Following the introduction of the redesigned C-Class sedan, the 2017 C 300 4Matic Coupe at the Frankfurt Motor Show is essentially the same car — sans two rear doors.
The current C-Class is very much like a smaller S-Class, replete with rich materials plus the sporty look of a coupe.
As Mercedes’ bread-and-butter car, the C-Class coupe grows in length and width, with a new nine-speed automatic that funnels the four-cylinder’s 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels.
Why does it matter? Competing against the Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series, the new C-Class Coupe reveals a more aggressive side, with bolder flanks and a stronger shoulder line than the S-Class Coupe.
When is it coming? Arriving in spring of 2016, the C 300 Coupe will be followed by other models, including the Mercedes-AMG C63.
Should you buy it? For those with an appreciation of design, the C 300 Coupe is gorgeous, but also brings AWD winter capability.
Derek McNaughton
2017 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS CABRIOLET
What is it? Not since 1971 have we seen a Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet. That’s about to change with the introduction of three new topless versions, all powered by the same impressive engines found in the S-Class Coupe.
The 2017 S-Class Cabriolet is a two-door four-seater that will wear a fully automatic fabric top available in four colour choices. The top opens in 17 seconds at speeds up to 60 km/h. The seats are equipped with Mercedes’s Airscarf neck-warming system, and an automatic “aircap” reduces wind turbulence and drafts.
Why does it matter? The S550 uniquely receives a new ninespeed transmission to handle the 516 pound-feet of torque from the twin-turbo 4.6-litre V8. The AMG S63 4Matic version gets a 5.5-L twin-turbo V8, delivering 577 hp and 664 lb.-ft. of torque that should crack the four-second mark in the zero-to-100 km/h sprint.
When is it coming? Arriving in the spring of 2016, the 2017 S550 and AMG S63 4Matic will be joined later by the mighty AMG S65, whose 6.0-L twin-turbo V12 produces a supercar-like 621 hp and 737 lb.-ft. of torque.
Should you buy it? The resurrection of the droptop S-Class is one thing, but the drive exhilaration — especially in V12 AMG S65 trim — will be top of class.
Derek McNaughton
2016 BMW X1
What is it? A baby “premium” crossover from BMW.
Why does it matter? The budgetminded CUV is meant to lure the young and badge-conscious into BMW’s web. It is also credited with popularizing the luxury compact CUV segment, selling some 730,000 units in its first generation.
Larger than the original, the new X1 is also roomier, allowing BMW to raise the front seats some 36 millimetres and the rears an even more “commanding” 64 mm.
Entry-level models will see the first use of BMW’s three-cylinder 1.5-L in an SUV. The volume seller in Canada, will probably be the 231-hp 2.0-L turbocharged xDrive 25i, which BMW rates at 6.4 L/100 km in Europe and claims it can accelerate to 100 km/h in just 6.5 seconds.
When is it coming? The X1 will arrive in Canada later this year. Pricing has not been divulged.
Should you buy it? Yes, if you always wanted a front-wheel-drive BMW. But not if you’re looking for the fabled “ultimate driving machine.”
David Booth
2017 TOYOTA PRIUS
What is it? The fourth generation of the car that started it all — the Toyota Prius — debuted at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show looking sleeker and sharper, and the new efficiency makes it more frugal than any Prius before.
While not revealing figures, Toyota says the 2017 Prius will hit “new benchmarks” for fuel economy, not just in the city where the hybrid typically does well, but on the highway, where the car relies more heavily on the gas engine. Expect a 10-percent gain over the 2016 model, which averages 5.6 L/100 km.
Why does it matter? The Prius’s new platform could be used for other models, and the nickelmetal hydride battery it uses results in a lighter, more compact design for better trunk space, Toyota says. It also has a lower centre of gravity, which should improve handling. A 1.8-litre gasoline engine still drives the front wheels, but it’s now mated to a smaller electric motor, and there is a new and separate electric-power unit to drive the rear wheels to provide temporary 4WD traction at low speeds.
When is it coming? Arriving as a 2017 model in the middle of next year, the Prius will have a number of exterior and interior design changes. More angled than before, the Prius continues to look, well, oddly like a Prius.
Should you buy it? If the need to be seen as green is paramount in your car-buying decision, the Prius should be at the top of your list.