If you like luxury cars, this year’s AutoShow is the place to be
Big three German brands lead the way with new introductions but Asian and American automakers are not far behind
Luxury vehicles have never been more popular, and both the North and South buildings off the Metro Toronto Convention Centre have some glamorous brands on display at this year’s Canadian International AutoShow.
When it comes to luxury, the big three German brands always come to mind, and each has something new and interesting among its usual array of tantalizing metal.
Audi is introducing its flagship A8 sedan and A7 fastback this year, sporting their new design language and riding on an all-new platform.
Both are powered by the same 340hp 3.0-litre V6 turbo paired with the brand’s signature Quattro all-wheel drive for authoritative acceleration and traction. Meanwhile, they abound with advanced technology, including Audi AI Traffic Jam Pilot, which takes over in slow-moving traffic at the touch of a button.
Mercedes is treating show-goers to a few different flavours, with a beauty, a beast and a hypercar.
Beauty is the CLS four-door coupe, which also introduces the AMG 53series powertrain, a new, electrified 3.0-litre inline-six featuring twin turbos that benefit from both conven- tional exhaust-gas forced induction and an auxiliary electric compressor. In addition to the 429 hp and 384 lb-ft on tap, it has an “EQ Boost” that briefly provides 21hp plus 184 ft-lb of torque.
The beast is the new MercedesBenz G-Class, the first time it’s been thoroughly re-engineered in almost four decades on the market.
The new Gelandewagen moves into the 21st century with independent front suspension, modern driver assistance systems and driving modes that will add comfort on the road while still maintaining its legendary off-road prowess.
We look forward to special editions in the future, anything from highpowered road rockets and wild tuner specials to lifted, big-wheeled rock crawlers.
And expect to see a huge crowd surrounding the Mercedes-AMG Project One Hypercar, which is essentially the powertrain from Mercedes’ world championship-winning F1 race car dropped into a road-legal body with a few aerodynamic tricks.
Like numbers? How about 1,000 hp to all four wheels,11,000 r.p.m., 0-200 in less than six seconds, top speed of 350 km/h, production run of just 275 units.
While it’s hard to follow that act, BMW’s i8 Roadster makes its first appearance in Canada, and it is stunning. Its novel powertrain is a 1.5litre three-cylinder paired with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery for more than 20 kilometres of range on pure electric power, while still accelerating from 0-100 km/h in less than five seconds.
BMW traditionalists might be more enticed by the far more affordable M4 CS, a new trim on the M3 that bumps power from the 3.0L straight-six turbo up to 460 hp for a sprint to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds.
For those interested in something more relevant and realistic, BMW has just introduced the X2 crossover, a slightly sportier version of the X1.
For the rest of the European brands, it is all about the SUV. From Italy, Lamborghini is showing their Urus super-SUV, Maserati’s latest offering is the Levante SUV, while Alfa Romeo has the Stelvio (which will soon be available as a 500+ hp Quadrifoglio version). Jaguar and Volvo are both launching small SUVs with innovative powertrain tech and eyecatching designs.
Jaguar’s i-PACE will be the brand’s first all-electric vehicle, a small crossover that promises a range of more than 500 km from a 90-kWh lithium-ion battery. Volvo’s XC40 is powered by their Drive-E powertrain series, arriving first with the turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder T5, then hybrid and electric powertrains in the future.
If you think luxury needs to be large and in charge, check out the Lincoln Navigator, a proper, full-size SUV that’s riding a wave of optimism as Lincoln makes a strong comeback with new-found quality and custom interiors from its Black Label personalization service.
Hyundai’s luxury division, Genesis, is quickly expanding its portfolio, with an all-new G70 sedan arriving to challenge luxury powerhouses such as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Genesis is also displaying the GV80 concept, which previews future Genesis SUVs.
Lexus also brings a vision of the future to CIAS in the LS+ Concept, which introduces new design elements for their signature “Spindle Grille,” as well as new tech such as laser headlights and an artificial intelligence that can enhance its selfdriving capabilities.
Luxury fans should also make time to visit Auto Exotica, with brands such as Lamborghini, McLaren, Bugatti, Pagani, Rolls-Royce and more on display in level 100 of MTCC North.
History buffs will appreciate Art & the Automobile on level 700 MTCC South, with some classic brands and a collection of gorgeous hood ornaments and beautiful vintage cars.