August 2016
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Phone: 416-609-2125

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nullIt's hard to ignore the fact that we're already well into August now that we're being by bombarded by back-to-school ads and fall promotions. But let's cling on to the summer - and the incredible weather that comes with it - for as long as we possibly can.



And what better way to do so than a leisurely, scenic road trip? Below, we've featured 10 incredible Canadian routes and 10 must-travel spots in the U.S. Take some time off while you can, grab your family, and jump into your car. Which of these trips have you already been on? Which ones have caught your eye?



We hope you enjoy the information and will call us at (416)-609-2125 with any questions or needs that you may have regarding your next vehicle. 


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H. Gary Peacock

General Manager 
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Terrain Modes Detailed
Image via Ford Canada

 
When the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor arrives, i will have a number of different drive modes to help you conquer a variety of situations.



Six modes will be offered in total, with each modifying a number of different aspects of the Raptor's performance to best suit the terrain. The modes are: normal, sport, weather, mud/sand, Baja, and rock crawl.



Normal mode is for everyday driving, offering a balance between comfort and convenience. Sport mode will increase throttle response, speed up shift times, and hold gears longer. Weather mode is mean for driving through snow or rain while on road. 



The other three drive settings have to do with heading off road. In mud/sand mode, four-wheel drive high is activated, and traction control settings are tailored to make sure the truck has optimal traction. Baja mode is meant for high-speed desert running, and rock crawl mode is for low-speed manoeuvring over obstacles. 



The 2017 Raptor will come with a 3.5-litre turbocharged V6 engine that makes over 411 horsepower, hooked to a brand new 10-speed automatic transmission. 





The Volkswagen Deal, Explained
The new Volkswagen settlement is a complicated matter, taking more than six years of production, and 45 models into account. The National Post's David Booth delves into the deal and what it might mean for Canadians.


How much money is involved? The number being reported is $14.7 billion (U.S.), which includes 2.7 billion for an "environmental remediation" trust. For Volkswagen to actually buy back every American TDI involved in the scandal, it'll cost them just over $10 billion.


Giving your car back to VW: There are two parts to the compensation deal if you return your vehicle to VW. First, VW will buy back the used car at its resale value - the amount you'll receive is determined by the "clean trade" value set by the North American Dealer's Association before the the scandal was revealed. The second part is an "owner restitution" payment, which is the Environmental Protection Agency's penalty for Volkswagen. People will receive this compensation even if they decide to keep their vehicle and have it fixed.


What if the car was leased instead of owned? If they're leasing a 2009 to 2015 VW (or Audi A3) Americans will be eligible for a complete payout of their lease without penalty, and half the owner restitution payment. If the leased vehicle was returned after Sept. 18, 2015, drivers will still be eligible for compensation. 


What if the car was sold or destroyed in an accident? If the TDI was sold after Sept. 18, 2015, but before June 28, the restitution payment will be split evenly between the previous owner and new buyer. If the car was totalled - after Sept. 18 - it is also still eligible. Starting July 26, VW owners can check their VIN numbers on VWCourtSettlement.com to find out what they may be compensated.


Is it worth getting the vehicle get refurbished? The average compensation for the entire fleet is about $20,900. Looking at individual compensation packages, it's clear the best deal is to take the buyback. Keeping a VW spewing diesel just doesn't make sense.


What if someone opts for the refurbishing option? This is more complicated. VW and the EPA haven't agreed to a fix yet, and no one knows how retrofitting the errant turbo-diesels will affect the vehicles. Plus, if someone does opt for the fix, there's no going back.


What does this mean for Canadian TDI owners? Officially, VW Canada says that "class action proceedings in Canada follow their own process with Canadian courts and therefore the process differs from that in the United States," and that "only ... the repairs for the affected vehicles ... are subject to approval the U.S. Environmental protection Agency" will be offered here. But Canadians should expect the same basic compensation package.


One last thing to think about: $14.7 billion equals about one year of profit for Volkswagen, which means that's only one year of profit loss for VW to get out of the biggest automobile scandal in 130 years.


Top 10 Best Canadian Road Trips
Summer is the season of road trips. Roll down your windows, turn the music up, and check out these iconic Canadian road trips recommended by Reader's Digest.



Vancouver to Tofino, British Columbia

Head to Horseshoe Bay for the ferry to Nanaimo, then hit the Pacific Rim Highway for a gorgeous, windy drive featuring incredible views of mountains, lakes, and coast through ancient temperate rain forest. 



Calgary to Lake Louise, Alberta 

Take four days to properly explore Calgary, stroll around the crystal-blue Lake Louise, and visit Banff Springs. Take the gondola all the way up the mountain and lounge in the hot springs.  



The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia 

Once ranked number one among US and Canadian island destinations by Travel + Leisure magazine, the trail has beautiful views of the coast, cliffs, and beaches. Leave time to stop at one of the island's six excellent golf courses.  



Eastern Townships, Quebec

Manoir Hovey is a luxurious getaway 75-minutes east of Montreal. Along the way, there are stands to buy local produce direct from farmers. Cider and iced cider production is also growing in the area, so be sure to try some.



Stratford, Ontario 

A perfect long weekend getaway, the drive to Stratford is scenic, the small town is charming and historic, and there are a number of unique boutiques that are fun to shop in.



The Sea to Sky Highway, Squamish to Whistler, B.C.

From downtown Vancouver to Whistler, it's about a two-hour drive along the winding Sea Sky highway, which features a continuous view of the Coast Mountains and Howe sound. 



A Foodie Tour through Kelowna, B.C.

Kelowna is in the orchard and winery-strewn Okanagan Valley, it has recently built a reputation as a gastronomic adventure spot. South East Kelowna, in particular, has excellent spots to choose from. 



Pelee Island, Ontario

The southernmost inhabited tip of Canada, Pelee Island is a beautiful oasis in Lake Erie, featuring many great cultural spots, including the Pelee Island Heritage Centre, and provincial nature reserves. 



Edmonton via Jasper or Calgary via Banff

This is a trip that can be as short as two days, or as long as seven, depending on how much time you have. It includes Icefields Parkway, one of the most scenic drives in the country, to the Rocky Mountain park with amazing waterfalls, glaciers, and wildlife.



Cruise the Chatham-Kent Corridor, Ontario

The scenic Chatham-Kent is made up of 23 small communities overlooking Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and the Thames river. It's also an excellent motorcycle touring destination. 



Top 10 Scenic U.S. Road Trips
Click the map for more!
 

It's time to make the most of the summer as it nears its end all too quickly. If you're heading out on a road trip, or travelling to the U.S., AutoGuide.com has chosen some of the best routes to travel on your time off.



Seven Mile Bridge

Located in Florida, the Seven Mile Bridge connects Knight's Key in the Middle Keys to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys. Part of US 1, this route is not just scenic and breathtaking, it's also one of the longest bridges in the country.



Route 66

Stretching from LA to Chicago, Route 66 is one of the most iconic roads in the U.S. Established in 1926 and spanning 3,939 kilometres, it's the perfect drive to enjoy your car and visit historic sites. 



Lombard St.

With eight hairpin turns down a steep roadway, the drive down Lombard St. - one of the most crooked streets in the U.S. - is a unique one. It does get quite busy, though, so be prepared to wait. 



Denali Hwy.

Also known as Alaska Route 8, the Denali Hwy. is an amazing way to take in the Alaskan wilderness. Although driving conditions aren't the greatest, there are plenty of places to stop and gaze along the 217-km route.



Cherohala Skyway

The 69-km long route crosses thorough both the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee and the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. It's actually considered to be the most expensive road in North Carolina, costing $100 million (U.S.) to build over three decades. But, it was built for sightseeing, making it worth the hefty price tag.



Blue Ridge Parkway

This National Parkway runs slightly over 755 km of Virginia and North Carolina, through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Expect close-up views of mountains, a diverse range of plants and animals, and stunning long-range vistas along the way.



Road to Hana

Hawaii, of course, is known for being scenic, but Hana Highway is the best way to view all the beauty Maui has to offer. With no stops, it takes about 2.5 hours to drive across the winding roadway that passes over 59 bridges. 



U.S. 129 - The Tail of the Dragon

U.S. Route 129 actually spans 937 km, but the section known as the Tail of the Dragon is what makes it famous. Featuring 318 curves across 18 km, it's widely considered the top road for motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts. 



Angeles Crest Hwy. 

The two-lane highway goes over the San Gabriel Mountains in LA, and is 106 km long with lots of sights, twists, and turns. It's also one of the most dangerous roads, where it's common to see accidents with helicopter medevacs on location.



Big Sur Coast Hwy.

AutoGuide.com's top choice, the rugged stretch of California's Hwy. 1 crosses between San Simeon and Carmel. Spanning 137 km of stunning scenery, it's one of the few places in the U.S. that truly offers a meeting of land, sky, and sea.



Can Uber and Lyft Ease Used-Car Glut? 
Some automakers are adding a new strategy to manage the influx of vehicles returning from leases and rentals: providing cars to Uber and Lyft drivers. 



Ride-hailing services are creating a new outlet for carmakers to better manage the flow of late-model vehicles, according to Automotive News. This can help generate extra revenue and help avoid selling cars at auction for lower prices.



GM launched a nationwide program, Express Drive, this spring, providing Chevrolet Equinoxes, Malibus, and Impalas to Lyft drivers in East Coast markets. Automotive News reports that GM's numbers are minuscule at this point, but have potential for growth as these services expand their networks. 



Both Toyota and Volkswagen have also announced plans to offer more flexible leasing options to ride-hailing services Uber and Gett respectively. 



Taken from Mike Colias, Automotive News, July 11 Issue
New Nissan Pathfinder Gains Power, Style
Image via Nissan Canada

 
The popular Nissan Pathfinder has been refreshed for 2017. The large, three-row crossover  now sports new exterior styling, an enhanced powertrain, and a number of interior updates.



With the new headlamps and V-Motion grille, the Pathfinder now fits in nicely with the rest of Nissan's lineup. The hood, and front and rear bumpers have also been reworked. These exterior changes have resulted in better aerodynamics.  



The new Pathfinder features a 3.5-L V6, with new pistons and an increased horsepower of 284 (up from 260 hp). Torque reaches 259 lb.-ft., up from 240 last year.



Other features include a motion-activated liftgate, a 13-speaker Bose sound system, and tri-zone climate and entertainment systems. 



The Discontinued Dozen
Image via BMW


Whether a vehicle is a sales dud, or it reaches the natural end of its development, or they no longer fit into the company's marketing strategy, manufacturers often drop models from their lineups.



Here are 12 we're saying goodbye to in Canada this year:



Honda CR-Z

Introduced in 2010, Honda barely sold 1,300 of its two-seat sporty coupe in Canada. It's being dropped to make room for an Accord Coupe hybrid. 



Chrysler 200/Dodge Dart

FCA used the Chrysler 200 as proof it could build quality, small cars in North America. But boss Sergio Marchionne was not a fan of either and told investors in January the sibling sedans had "run their course."



Buick Verano

The Verano, which only had a short run of 2017 models, may be another victim of Canadians trending away from the compact sedan segment. It will continue to be sold in China, but Buick will focus on the Encore crossover in North America.



Cadillac ELR

The ELR plug-in hybrid was pricey, even for a Cadillac, and sold fewer than 3,000 units in Canada and the U.S. 



Scion tC

Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented sales channel, is disappearing altogether. Some models, like the FR-S sports car, will move to Toyota showrooms, but not the tC.



Mini Paceman

The rakish-looking three-door hatchback didn't draw enough customers to justify its existence, but there are still five versions of the rebooted Mini to choose from. 



Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Hyundai is launching Genesis as a stand-alone luxury brand, but the couple will not make the transition as the initial offerings will focus on sedans. But Hyundai has said there are plans for the coupe to return by 2021.



Lincoln MKS

With fewer than 200 Canadian sales in 2015, the MKS won't be missed as Lincoln ditches it for the Continental. 



Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

The pricey ($39,000) hybrid didn't sell well, forcing VW to cut their Jetta sedan lineup to only two vehicles.



BMW M5

The M5 sedan defined its category over two decades ago, so it's surprising a cornerstone of BMW's M brand won't be back. But, it's possible this may just be a hiatus. 



Volvo XC70

With only 426 sales last year, the XC70 won't be missed as Volvo still offers a full range of vehicles for buyers to choose from.



What "Semi-Autonomous" Really Means


The rush of news and misinformation following the death of a 40-year-old Ohio man - the first person to die behind the wheel of a semi-autonomous car -proved it's long past time for a debate and discussion about driverless cars. What are they really? How are they sold? Who's responsible when things go wrong? 



With the Tesla Model S and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, self-autonomous vehicles are already on the road. At the moment, the technology is reserved for high-end vehicles, but as with any new gadget, it's likely to more affordable and, therefore, more common. 



What does it feel like to drive? The image of drivers paying little attention, with their feet of the pedal and hands of the wheel is an illusion. A Tesla in Autopilot doesn't drive itself - the driver's hands have to stay on a steering wheel (the car will eventually slow down if you don't), and Tesla maintains the human driver is always responsible. This distinction is what makes it semi-autonomous. 



It takes a while to trust the technology, but Tesla's Autopilot feature works well. It slows down automatically and turns smoothly. 



With less to do, it can even be a bit boring. It may be easy to feel like you're not driving, but legally speaking, you are. So, it's still illegal to check your phone or read something while in the driver's seat.



In 2013, almost 2,000 Canadians died in car accidents, while 10,000 were seriously injured. The intent behind self-autonomous vehicles is to make our roads safer. However, this could take years. Accidents will still happen.



But the technology is progressing quickly. Who knows where it - and the laws governing it - will end up.





Quest Automotive Leasing Services | 4960 Sheppard Ave E | Toronto | Ontario | M1S 4A7 | Canada