PurchasingB2B C.A.R Fall 2013

Vol. 15 No. 2 September 2013

Coming Attractions What’s new for the 2014 model year

INSIDE:

4 2014 Model Previews 11 Winter Tires 8 Nissan NV200 14 Minimizing Risk

Fleet management is our whole world.

For 65 years, ARI’s world has revolved around providing smart solutions for fleets of all kinds.

Whether big or small, car or truck; regional, national or global, ARI’s complex fleet management expertise is unsurpassed. From best practice assessments to lifecycle analyses, sustainability studies, and predictive modelling, ARI’s advanced tools and experienced fleet professionals make a world of difference.

Learn how our flexible strategy can be part of your world: 1-800-361-5882

www.arifleet.ca

CAF 2012 Fact Book.indd 1

7/25/2013 10:30:05 AM

On the cover…

Pride & Joy

Artwork By Jeannette Sommers, Oil on Canvas, 16X20

Pride & Joy was painted in memory of my father. This 1936 International Truck was excavated from a ditch covered in leaves and debris. My father brought it home and enjoyed many hours restoring it.

When he sold it, the motor ran perfectly, the body like new, except left primed. His wish was to have a ride in the truck once it was painted.

Dad passed away and my brother and I were allowed to drive his ashes to his final resting place in this beautiful restored truck. It was his pride and joy. My father was mine.

For details on how you can enter to win 1 of 2 original paintings by Jeannette, please see “Original Paintings Draw” on www.PurchasingB2B.ca

T:10.875”

B:11.125”

S:10”

80 VALLEYBROOK DRIVE TORONTO, ONTARIO M3B 2S9

www.PurchasingB2B.ca

Vol. 15, No. 02

SEPTEMBER 2013

EDITOR: Emily Atkins (416) 510-5130, eatkins@bizinfogroup.ca ART DIRECTOR: Sandy MacIsaac (416) 442-5600 ext. 3242, smacisaac@bizinfogroup.ca PUBLISHER: Dorothy Jakovina (416) 510-6899, djakovina@bizinfogroup.ca PRODUCTION MANAGER: Kimberly Collins (416) 510-6779, kcollins@bizinfogroup.ca CIRCULATION MANAGER: Barbara Adelt (416) 442-5600 x 3546, badelt@bizinfogroup.ca BIG MAGAzINES LP ExEcutivE publishEr: Tim Dimopoulos vicE-prEsidEnt of canadian publishing: Alex Papanou prEsidEnt of businEss information group: Bruce Creighton CAR, established 1991, is published twice annually (June and September), by BIG Magazines LP, a division of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd. © Contents of this publication are protected and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the publisher or editor NOTICE: CAR accepts no responsibility or liability for claims made for any product or service reported or advertised in this issue. CAR receives unsolicited materials including letters to the editor, press releases, promotional items and images from time to time. CAR, its affiliates and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, re-publish, distribute, store and archive such unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensation of any sort.

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GM hosts fleet launch

By Howard J Elmer

General Motors hosted a Fleet event recently in Brampton, Ontario. This event though didn’t focus just on the typical trucks and vans; in a show that is mimicking the resurgence of the General itself, all the brands were represented.

Firstly, Buick, Canada’s fastest growing luxury brand was on site. Sales of the all new Verano are driving Buick’s growth as customers embrace Buick’s first entry into the small luxury segment.

In addition to Buick, the Chevrolet small cars are doing well and were also being shown to Fleet buyers and media alike. Two in particular are the Chevrolet Spark and Malibu.

Also on hand were the popular Impala, and the new diesel-powered Cruze.

The size of this show also speaks to the health of the automobile industry currently and also to the pent-up buying lag in the fleet market where everything from service vehicles, taxis and executive cars are now sought in increasing numbers.

For that reason, the entire Cadillac lineup was on hand, featuring the newest ATS, as well as the CTS and XTS. The updated truckbased Escalade is also now available.

On the truck side, Chevrolet and GMC also showed alternative fuel pickups in the form of GMs’ bi-fuel Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 HD extended cab pickup trucks.

Fleet and retail consumers can place orders now. These vehicles include a compressed natural gas (CNG) capable Vortec 6.0L V8 engine that seamlessly transitions between CNG and gasoline fuel systems. Combined, the

trucks are expected to offer a range of more than 1,000 kilometres. The Silverado and Sierra will be available in standard and long box, with either two- or four-wheel drive.

The entire half-ton line was also represented—as it has just recently been updated—including a new line of engines called Eco-Tec3.

As the name implies, these motors are economical and technically superior to the last generation of powertrains.

With a number of European-sourced vans coming to Canada (with other manufacturers) the question has also been posed–what is GM doing? For the moment, the veteran Savana work van, in all its forms, continues to be offered directly to customers as well as to upfitters (a number of whom were in attendance demonstrating their aftermarket add-on service bodies).

However, GM has taken the step of partnering with Nissan to produce a small cargo vehicle that GM will sell in the US and Canada.

GM will procure the vehicle from Nissan and distribute it through the Chevrolet dealer network. Called the Chevrolet City Express, it is based on the Nissan NV200, which was recently launched here. The GM version will be available for sale in the fall of 2014.

It’s anticipated that this is just the first move in a revamp of GM’s commercial offerings. The next “first” will be the update of the current Silverado/Sierra HD pickups–coming in late September.

SEPTEMBER 2013 Canadian automotive Review | 3

All-new and raring to go 2014 model-year preview

1

By Tony Whitney

2

4

3

5

#1: BMW’s i3 Electric car. #2: The 2014 Impala boasts more space and an eco-tec engine. #3: Mitsubishi’s Mirage has a 3-cylinder engine. #4: Fiat 500L is a big brother for the stylish Fiat 500 coupe. #5: The new Toyota Corolla will be a likely hit with buyers.

4 | CANADIAN AUTOMOTIVE REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2013

With the North American auto industry in a buoyant state right now, it’s no surprise that automakers have been busy prepping a fair number of all-new sedans, SUVs and crossovers for 2014. In our preview of the upcoming model year, we’ve chosen some of the standouts from various model ranges and in most cases, we’ve selected only models that are all-new and stayed away from what automakers call ‘mid-cycle refreshes’.

Some manufacturers have multiple new model releases for 2014 while others have little to show—usually a precursor to major activity during the auto show season. We’ve avoided new models unlikely to attract fleet interest—sports cars, ultra high-end vehicles and the like—but included some products at the entry- or mid-level of the luxury segment because of their potential for executive fleet applications.

Chrysler Corporation All the action for 2014 seems to be in the Jeep division, with the much-anticipated new Grand Cherokee taking centre stage. While picking up many styling cues from predecessors, the new model seems to be built with more of an eye to luxury than before. The cabin is especially good and as always, there’s a wide range of AWD systems to choose from, along with engine options that include a diesel. Jeep is claiming best-in-class fuel economy and towing capability.

Interestingly, Jeep has reintroduced its Cherokee nameplate for a less expensive and smaller model that fits into the compact crossover/SUV class. It’s affordable yet still has great all-season capability.

The new Fiat 500L is a utility version of the microcar 500 model that’s been quite a hit in Canada. It doesn’t look much like the tiny 500 and it’s a lot bigger, but it offers four doors and quite impressive people and cargo capacity. It should prove popular with buyers who like the charm of the original 500 but need more space.

General Motors The stylish new Chevrolet Impala should attract the fleet interest it’s enjoyed in the past. For 2014, it has more head- and leg-room and enhanced cargo space. There’s also a new four-cylinder Ecotec engine available as a worthwhile economy option. Over at Buick, the Regal features upgrades that include available all-wheel drive and a new and thrifty four-cylinder engine.

From Cadillac, the CTS has been entirely updated for 2014, making this the third generation for the luxury sedan. Like its Buick stablemates, it should appeal to executive fleet buyers who follow a “buy domestic” policy. The CTS needn’t be expensive to run—there’s a turbocharged four-cylinder available for economy-minded buyers.

host of electronic safety features and should be a strong contender against rivals in the larger luxury sedan segment.

Kia Kia is introducing a flurry of new products, including new Forte, Rondo, Soul and Sorrento models. Highlighting the Kia range is its Cadenza luxury sedan—a new segment for the Korean automaker. Clearly aimed at the likes of Lexus and the popular German upscale nameplates, the Cadenza certainly looks the part with its tasteful, restrained, bodywork.

The Forte compact sedan will likely prove attractive to fleets, as the new version offers better roominess than the car it supersedes.

The Rondo is Kia’s small crossover while the Soul, a niche market product, has grown a little for 2014 without losing its design appeal. It’s also claimed to be more refined. The Sorrento is a mid-size SUV and for 2014, has been updated from end to end, but styling remains almost the same. A 290-horsepower V-6 powers the top-of-the-line Sorrento.

Mazda Mazda’s primary introduction for the 2014 model year is an all-new version of its strongest seller—the Mazda3. A compact that has hovered around the top of the sales charts for many years, the Mazda3 has been praised for its performance, quality, durability and strong resale price record. Making full use of Mazda’s much-praised SKYACTIV technology, the new car comes as both a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback, and there are two engine options. With 3.5-million sold worldwide, it’s easy to predict that the new generation car will prolong this success.

Also new is a Mazda6 sedan, replacing a model that was always greatly underrated in Canada. The new car is certainly more stylishly appealing and with a full SKYACTIV suite, it may well prove more of a competitor for its Camry and Accord rivals. A diesel version will arrive later.

Mercedes-Benz The respected German automaker has an intensively updated version of its E-Class sedan for 2014 that’s bound to garner interest around the executive fleet business. Perhaps even more important is M-B’s introduction of an entirely new model—the CLA-Class. A compact sedan that promises to combine Mercedes ambiance and performance with affordability. It should be fuel-efficient too because the only engine right now is an advanced four-cylinder turbo. Styling hints at the expensive CLS model further up the Mercedes model range.

Honda/Acura

Mitsubishi

There’s not too much action on the Honda front for 2014, but upscale sister division Acura has an all-new flagship model dubbed RLX. This sedan moves up a luxury notch or two from anything Acura has created before and boasts an impressive level of refinement and quietness. The RLX features all-wheel drive and a

The most recent Japanese automaker to enter the Canadian market, Mitsubishi has two all-new models for 2014—Outlander and Mirage. The Outlander SUV/crossover has grown a little and been endowed with a very well-executed interior that places this compact product firmly into a more competitive position in the

SEPTEMBER 2013 Canadian automotive Review | 5

hottest SUV segment in Canada. V6 and four-cylinder engines are available, and the top variant boasts such cutting edge safety aids as adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning technology.

The Mirage is a subcompact that’s been shown around the word as a concept in recent times. With its 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine, it should record impressive economy figures. Mitsubishi hopes its Mirage will become one of Canada’s most affordable and fuel-efficient models for 2014. The Mirage is built at a Mitsubishi plant in Thailand—another example of automotive globalization.

Nissan/Infiniti Nissan is bringing us a new version of its popular Versa subcompact for 2014 and upscale partner Infiniti has a new car and a new name with its Q50 sedan. The sporty 4-door Q50 will be available with conventional or hybrid drivetrains and offers what Infiniti describes as “the world’s first direct adaptive steering”. Other safety features are numerous and include active lane control and available all-wheel drive. Price is said to be less than $38,000 in basic form.

The Nissan Versa competes in the growing subcompact class that includes products like the Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit. It boasts a snappier styling job than the earlier car but still carries a very affordable price tag. Hatchback (Versa Note) and sedan bodywork is offered, with the sedan being the least expensive. Fuel efficiency is a major selling point for both these new Nissans. Also being readied for the new model year is a new version of Nissan’s Rogue crossover SUV, but few details have yet been released.

Subaru Subaru is a niche player in the auto industry, but offers some fascinating products, often with unconventional features like its famed boxer (horizontally-opposed) engines, which are all but extinct among other manufacturers. A new generation Forester SUV will appear for 2014 with a wide range of updated features. Subaru is claiming best fuel efficiency for a full-time 4WD SUV with this new Forester and two boxer engines are available.

Toyota/Lexus The iconic Toyota Corolla sees yet another generation arrive for 2014—an amazing 11th. This small car will be closely watched by rivals thanks to its “benchmark” status in its hotly contested class. A model that’s sold over 40 million (1.3 millon in Canada) since its 1960s introduction, each generation is always a little better than the last, even though improving the product seems an almost impossible task. Toyota highlights the new Corolla’s added “fun to drive” quotient and a combination of more power and better fuel efficiency. Headlamps are LED as standard,and new powertrain technology promises to enhance the driving experience.

Other upgrades add up to a very appealing compact car package.

The rugged 4Runner SUV is all new for 2014, though it’s been on the market for some time now. The once-available V8 option has been removed from the lineup, probably because the latest V6 engine offers much the same capability with less fuel usage. Toyota’s luxury arm, Lexus, has a new-generation IS, the division’s entry-level model.

Re-styled inside and out, the IS is available with a choice of V6 powerplants. Cargo space has been improved and the rear seat now splits 60/40—key points for business and family users. c.a.r.

HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES — PLUS A COUPLE OF DIESELS Although the frantic activity of recent model years around hybrid and electric vehicles has faded a little, a fair number of products in the “green transportation” segment are poised to enter the Canadian market for 2014.

Much of the buzz among EV fans has been directed at the upcoming BMW i3, a cute little electric car with a highly respected nameplate behind it. A ground-up effort with a dash of pioneering technology, the i3 is scheduled to be in the showrooms before too long, but all-new EV products often face development delays.

At the other end of the size scale, Cadillac is planning an EV version of its new CTS sedan—the ELR—and it will use the same running gear as Chevrolet’s now well-proven Volt model. Both models use a small range-extending engine and for 2014 the Volt has been reduced in price.

Also from GM is the Chevrolet Spark EV, which is an electric version of the existing Spark gasoline-fueled city runabout. The Spark EV is the first fully electric car from GM since the oft-lamented EV-1, which was axed in 1999. Volkswagen is rumored to be working on an all-electric Golf which may be previewed at upcoming auto shows.

There’s an interesting development at Honda on the hybrid front as the automaker once again offers a hybrid version of its strong-selling Accord. At the last go-round, the hybrid Accord was dropped due to poor sales, but Honda is taking another run at this segment for 2014.

Volkswagen is introducing a hybrid variant of its Jetta sedan with a turbocharged powerplant. Given VW’s vast experience of turbocharging, this could be the peppiest hybrid out there when it arrives, excluding exotics.

Lincoln is launching a hybrid adaptation of its MKZ mid-size entry-level luxury sedan. This model will bring some welcome economy to the executive fleet sector and should earn serious attention. It’s tough to make a “green statement” with a luxury automobile unless it has something special under its hood.

Given that diesel power can be the best option of all when it comes to fuel efficiency, it’s good to see that, at last, more automakers are bringing us “oil burners”. Diesel engines are highly fuel-efficient, very long-lasting and offer a greater range than conventional gasoline powerplants. Today’s diesels are quiet, refined and free of the exhaust smoke that used to characterize them. Two diesel standouts for 2014 from unexpected sources are the Chevrolet Cruze diesel and the Mazda6 diesel, both of which use cutting-edge diesel technology to enhance what are already excellent products. The Mazda6 diesel makes full use of the automaker’s SKYACTIV technology, and early tests have shown this sedan offers great performance and surprising quietness. Both are welcome additions to the diesel segment, although it’s taken a while for automakers to catch on to a demand that VW and Mercedes-Benz have known about for years.

6 | Canadian automotive Review SEPTEMBER 2013

CAF

S:7”

YOUR SUCCESS IS PROPELLED BY INNOVATION.

| 2014 SIERRA 1500

| 2013 CADILLAC ATS

S:10”

| 2013 CHEVROLET TRAX

With 17 Car and Crossover models with fuel consumption ratings of 6.7 L/100 km highway or lower *, the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel rated at 4.2 L/100 km highway, and a ‘Best in Class’ 2014 full size V8 pickup† rated at 8.7 L/100 km highway, our vehicles can help lower the costs of fueling your fleet. It’s our commitment to engineering innovation that delivers technology like Biofuel, Hybrid, and eAssist™ that can make a positive impact on your business.

2013 VEHICLES WITH 6.7 L/100 KM HIGHWAY FUEL CONSUMPTION OR LESS* Chevrolet Cruze ECO

4.6 L/100 km hwy

Buick Encore (FWD)

6.0L/100 km hwy

Chevrolet Sonic (1.4L)

5.1 L/100 km hwy

Cadillac ATS (2.5L)

6.0L/100 km hwy

Chevrolet Spark

5.1L/100 km hwy

Chevrolet Equinox (2.4L)

6.1 L/100km hwy

Chevrolet Cruze (1.4L)

5.2 L/100 km hwy

GMC Terrain (2.4L)

6.1 L/100km hwy

Chevrolet Malibu ECO

5.3 L/100 km hwy

Buick Regal (2.0 Turbo)

6.2 L/100 km hwy

Buick LaCrosse with eAssist™

5.4 L/100 km hwy

Buick Verano (2.4L)

6.2 L/100 km hwy

Buick Regal with eAssist™

5.4 L/100 km hwy

Chevrolet Camaro (3.6L)

6.6 L/100km hwy

Chevrolet Malibu (2.5L)

5.7 L/100 km hwy

Chevrolet Impala

6.7 L/100km hwy

Chevrolet Trax (FWD)

5.7L/100 km hwy

Your success. It’s how we measure ours.

To learn more about the vehicles that can help your bottom line, visit fleet.gm.ca *Fuel consumption ratings based on GM testing in accordance with approved Transport Canada test methods. Your actual fuel consumption may vary. †2014 Silverado and Sierra equipped with available 5.3L V8 EcoTec3 engine. Comparison based on WardsAuto.com 2013 Large Pickup Segment. Your actual fuel consumption may vary.

a good business partner

NV200 van is built to work

Pickup truck culture in North America spawned the truck cap business in the 60s. Owners in rainy and snowy climates, like ours, immediately saw the advantages and demand for these covers skyrocketed. So, while truck owners in Canada were making vans out of their trucks, Europe simply built vans. Of course Europeans never had a love affair with pickups the way we did—but a good idea, even in Europe, is still a good idea, and now these vans are coming here.

The Nissan NV200 is a small utility van aimed at business users. To picture its size, think of the current Nissan NV full-size van and lop 4.5ft off the length and 2.5ft off its height. This makes it a significantly different product—aimed at a market that wouldn’t consider a full-sized van. And that is why it will really appeal to the unique, one-van entrepreneur. In California for instance, I saw a NV200 outfitted for a custom-built surfboard shop and another for Gibson, as a mobile guitar repair van. It doesn’t hurt that the body of the NV200 has no windows, so in essence it can become a rolling billboard for your business as well. Big name recognition—at a small capital cost.

Both vans were wrapped with eye-catching graphics, while inside very specific features carried (and showcased) each company’s wares. What helped in this customization is the NV200’s factory installed interior metal webbing that provided standard mounting points for racks and shelves; all of which can be attached to the 8 | Canadian automotive Review SEPTEMBER 2013

webbing without drilling into the sidewalls. Also, six floor-mounted tie-down hooks in the cargo bed can be used as temporary or permanent fix points. Inside, the NV200 offers up 3,474 litres (122.7 cubic feet) of cargo space and almost seven feet of clear floor length.

So, past the obvious transport duties, the NV200’s price-point, size and running costs will appeal to the small entrepreneur as well as larger fleet customers who want to do on-the-spot marketing at shows, events and cultural venues.

How? Well, park your custom “woody” NV at the beach and show off your surfboards on a pull-out rack. No building, no permit, no overhead. Perfect. If you’re a big operator like Gibson, you park your fleet of custom vans at concerts and in front of music venues—interact with the bands and have fans check out your wares, do repairs and sell guitars.

This new van is built in Mexico and is in use around the world (in over 40 countries). The front-wheel-drive platform uses a 2L gas engine that makes 131hp and 139 lb-ft of torque at max rpm; and, it uses all that rpm range with a sturdy CVT transmission. This combination moves the van around lickity-split. It’s nimble with a very low centre of gravity feel, a tight turning circle (37ft) and easy, quick steering.

I drove a combination of freeways and city streets with the van—in-

By Howard J Elmer

cluding lots of stop, start, and U-turns up and down alleys to help out a film crew shooting a segment on the NV200. This type of driving was made really easy with the short shifter located right in the middle of the centre stack. Going from reverse to drive and back again was easy—without looking. Mirrors are decent, though a little small, while the drop-away nose of the van and large windshield made forward visibility excellent. The windows also have the auto up and down feature, one that is used a lot in the work-a-day world, and it’s standard. It’s nice that A/C is also standard at this price point.

The rest of the gauges and controls are simple, large and well laid out. Nothing fancy, but then utility is uppermost in the design elements of this van; right down to an extra-tough layer of cloth sewn into the outboard side of the driver’s seat. Why? This is the spot that always wears out first from the constant in-and-out rubbing of the driver’s butt. That’s attention to detail that deserves a respectful nod.

If I have to voice a complaint about the NV200 it is simply that the window-less body shell makes backing out of laneways a chore—the vehicle has a really big blind spot.

My tester was empty most of the day except for a passenger. As a vehicle for a driver and partner it works well too, both space-wise and comfort-wise. Seats are supportive; legroom is good and overall riding position comfortable.

The max load the NV200 will carry is 679kg (1,500lb); and while I didn’t get to carry cargo, I suspect it will perform up to expectations based on the snappy acceleration I experienced. Certainly the CVT provides infinite gearing that adjusts to load. So the torque curve should pull this maximum weight well. However, I did find that I often had the gas pedal pinned to the floor during freeway on-ramp acceleration. So, while some drivers might think this indicates a powertrain that’s a bit anemic, I appreciated the payoff of the small engine, which is small gas bills. Nissan claims 8.7L/100km City and 7.1L/100km Highway.

The NV200 platform is unique because it’s a FWD configuration.

With the whole drivetrain confined to the forward axle, a number of benefits make themselves known right away when driving and working with this small van. First, it has a very low load floor height

(19.5 inches) and secondly, small, unobtrusive rear wheel hubs. A standard 40- x 48-inch pallet will fit back there. Also accommodating this skid entry are rear doors that first open to 90 degrees, then with a second release swing wide and out of the way to 180 degrees. Those rear doors are also split 60/40, with the larger door being on the curbside. For deliveries this is excellent both in placement and design. Opening one door a hundred times a day beats opening two that many times. Another access design element is the twin side sliding doors—again convenient in tight delivery situations, but also best in a taxi configuration. The driver and passenger doors themselves are also large and open wide for the repetitive in-and-out that makes up a delivery driver’s day. I also noted that all the door handles/latches are light and easy to open one-handed.

The van has a unique, low roof height that will allow access to any underground parking or loading dock. For city deliveries and downtown service vehicles, this is crucial. So, along with Ford’s Transit Connect, this vehicle lands in a new market niche—one that until now has forced buyers into vans too big for their needs—or into cars not really suited to their purposes. One other note on the Transit Connect—it’s taller and won’t fit every underground garage the way the NV200 will—something Nissan took pains to point out.

For the necessary paperwork that goes along with any delivery vehicle’s route, the NV200 has a built-in convenient clipboard holder on the dash—and the passenger seat folds flat and has a hard back that acts as a desk surface. This is not a repurposed van—it was designed to work and I expect it will do a good job.

Available now, the NV200 has a base MSRP of $21,998. c.a.r.

SEPTEMBER 2013 Canadian automotive Review | 9

Including those not yet asked.

2014

+ performance

5

Roomy 5-passenger seating capacity

Transmission

CVT Lineartronic 5

+

110 %

satisfaction

1

X-ModeTM System 4

Enhanced control of the road with the push of a button

Choose PZEV technology, the affordable eco-friendly alternative without the compromise.

subaru-pzev.ca

+ wider 15mm + taller 20mm + longer 35mm

2,115 L

cargo capacity

Fuel consumption 2 6.2L / 100km

(highway) for the 170 hp., 2.5 litre version.

3

250 x

Subaru BOXER Engine

Innovation meets technology.

The Subaru BOXER® engine produces dynamic low-end response. Available on the 170 hp/2.5L or 250 hp/2.0L turbocharged versions.

Fonction 6 SI-DRIVE Hands-free system

7

680 kg

2014 FORESTER

To consult our Fleet ordering guide or for more information please visit www.fleet.subaru.ca or call 1 877 293-7272 for the National Fleet Sales department.

1. Only on Limited models. 2. Fuel consumption figure rating posted by Natural Resources Canada of 6.2L/100 km (highway) for a 2014 2.5i Forester equipped with continuously variable automatic transmission and a 60L fuel tank capacity. Fuel consumption figure should only be used for vehicle comparison purposes. Actual fuel consumption will vary based on driving conditions, driver habits and vehicle load. 3. Available on the 2.0XT model. 4. Automatic transmission only. 5. Not available on the 2.5i (EJ1-X0) model. 6. Available on the 2.0XT model. 7. Ratings of “Good” are the highest rating awarded for performance in five safety tests (moderate overlap front, small overlap front, side, rollover and rear) conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) (www.iihs.org). To earn a 2013 Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must receive a “Good” rating in at least four of the five tests and a “Good” or “Acceptable” rating in the fifth test. Technical specifications are subject to change without any prior notice. Vehicles shown for illustration purposes only.

THE ANSWER TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS

conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) (www.iihs.org). To earn a 2013 Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must receive a “Good” rating in at least four of the five tests and a “Good” or “Acceptable” rating in the fifth test. Technical specifications are subject to change without any prior notice. Vehicles shown for illustration purposes only.

By David Taylor

Get your winters on Tires for cold, snow and ice

Ever driven on one of those infrequent winter days when the sky is a brilliant blue, the sun is shining–and your vehicle’s heater is blasting away as you warm your nether regions with your heated seat? Even on clear, moisture free pavement, in situations such as this, winter tires can be a formidable ally.

Winter tires are designed for cold conditions–and not necessarily just for snow or ice. Manufacturers have long concentrated on the fact that tire treads are susceptible to temperature. The effectiveness of all-season tires drops off sharply as the thermometer falls below seven degrees Celsius. That is the point at which winter tires start to gain the edge, providing better traction. With winter tires and lower temperatures, stopping distance is greatly improved. As the temperature drops further, the gap between the two widens, regardless of surface conditions.

All winter tires combine flexible rubber compounds with small tread blocks and hundreds of small cuts known as “sipes”, in the tread itself. These blocks and cuts are designed to keep the tire constantly flexing and biting at the road surface. This helps maximize grip on unpredictable surfaces.

You have to decide which type of winter tire makes the most sense for you. While branding and tire compounds do vary between manufacturers, there are three basic approaches to winter grip.

“Studless” tires are the type most vehicles run. They provide optimum ice and packed snow grip, but are less responsive on dry roads–especially if you’re a fast driver with a sportier vehicle. To achieve high traction levels on snow and ice they offer less grip on dry roads and your vehicle will not respond as crisply or quickly to steering inputs, under hard braking or hard acceleration.

Studded tires can be run studded or unstudded. Studded, they’ll give comparable ice and packed snow grip but they may be less responsive on dry roads. When unstudded, they’ll lack grip on ice and packed snow, but will perform well in moderate and deep snow. Ensure you may run with studs in your jurisdiction—if this is your preference. We show studded tires with an (*S*).

Performance winter tires will exhibit similar dry-road deficiencies to a much lesser degree than studless. If your vehicle came with summer performance tires, these tires will be more comparable in steering response, acceleration, braking and cornering grip. Do not expect miracles on ice and snow.

Below is a selection of currently available winter tires: BF Goodrich, Winter Slalom KSI State-of-the-art looks and the ability to take you where you want to go throughout the winter make this a great choice for all types of cold weather adventures. With optimized sipe configuration and full lateral grooves for hydroplaning resistance and deep snow traction, a solid all-round tire.

Bridgestone, Blizzak WS-70 Engineered with the latest advances in Bridgestone winter tire technology, the tire’s ZigZag sipes maintain stability of the tread blocks, allowing superb directional control, whether on ice, snow, wet or dry surfaces.

Bridgestone, Blizzak DM-V1 Suited for vehicles ranging from light trucks and SUVs and available in 46 R-speed-rated sizes ranging from 15-22in and 75-45 series. Highly versatile, this tire provides sure-footed traction regardless of the surface–or conditions.

Continental Tire Canada, Inc, ExtremeWinterContact Part of a new family of performance tires, engineered with an advanced tread compound and structured siping to dramatically improve ice and snow traction.

Continental Tire Canada, Inc, Gislaved NordFrost 100 (*S*) An all-new winter tire for the Canadian market, developed in Sweden. Outstanding snow traction, high grip on ice and exceptional dry road handling.

Dunlop Tires, Dunlop Winter Sport 4D Featuring enhanced grip and performance, this tire has the 4D Sipe System, which includes an increased number of shoulder area sipes to enhance braking and acceleration on snow and ice.

And provides excellent handling overall.

Dunlop Tires, Dunlop Winter Maxx With excellent ice grip, this tire achieves its top performance through a higher blade density, preventing distortion and increasing tread-to-ice contact.

SEPTEMBER 2013 Canadian automotive Review | 11

General Tire, Altimax Arctic (*S*) Innovative technology provides increased traction and even wear for the life of the tire. Noted for exceptional cold-weather flexibility and outstanding wet traction.

Goodyear Canada Inc, Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT A winter tire for enhanced traction in challenging winter conditions. With 2D blades in the centre zone, 3D TredLock Technology blades in the shoulder zone, and a specialized ice compound, it’s available in passenger car and light truck/SUV designs.

Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter For confident winter traction, this tire has a directional tread pattern, multiple biting edges and wide tread grooves to help push away snow and slush.

Pirelli Tire Inc, Sottozero 3 Considered by the manufacturer as being their best, all round winter car tire. A combination of balanced sporty performance with excellent braking and traction.

Sailun Tire, Ice Blazer WSL2 A performance winter tire with a unique L-shaped main groove.

Designed to promote an aggressive bite in deep snow, slush, and wet conditions. Maximum stability and multi-directional grip, all while minimizing road noise.

Sailun Tire, Ice Blazer WST2 (*S*) Intended for light trucks, the WST2 has aggressive multi-directional sipes, engineered for excellent grip on snow and ice. Its angled grooves effectively help clear slush and water for extreme grip and control.

Kumho Tire Canada, Inc, I’ZEN KW23 Designed with three-dimensional sipes for improved traction on snowy and icy roads and manufactured from a special compound with new silica for improved ice traction, this tire is optimized for performance at low temperatures.

Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc, iceGUARD iG52c The tread design in this popular tire has been refined to offer superior grip during acceleration, cornering and braking in the most severe winter conditions. Optimized to provide long-lasting even wear and low road noise.

Kumho Tire Canada, Inc, I’ZEN RV KC15 An aggressive asymmetric pattern designed for SUVs and light trucks, this tire provides powerful snow traction with wide lateral grooves and multi sipes for snow and ice braking. A well-balanced choice–especially on wet surfaces.

Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc, iceGUARD iG51v Engineered for light trucks and SUVs, this tire has an aggressive, performance-oriented tread pattern. Its unique construction and compound provide excellent wear, long-term durability—and even improved fuel economy.

Michelin North America (Canada) Inc, X-Ice Xi3 This tire’s full-silica compound maintains flexibility at lower temperatures, improving performance on ice and in snow. It also maintains firmness at moderate temperatures, improving wear and grip and allegedly stops up to 10 percent shorter on ice than the competition.

Michelin North America (Canada) Inc, X-Ice Xi2 Designed to help Crossovers and SUVs hold the road in a variety of wintery conditions. A wide tread contact patch generates acceleration and braking power, as well as cornering traction, for outstanding winter maneuvering.

Pirelli Tire Inc, Scorpion Made for SUVs, this tire has an optimized sipe layout and new tread pattern compound, which allows for shorter breaking distances in all conditions.

12 | Canadian automotive Review SEPTEMBER 2013

Here’s a tip that could save a life and thousands of dollars.

Winter tires should always be installed on all four wheels. Never install on only the drive wheels. Four winter tires are much safer.

They will optimize the performance of the ABS braking and electronic stability systems—the steering too. Never compromise.

Winter tires are like any other replaceable component on your car. Their lifespan is directly related to the quality of the product that you buy and the type of use that they see. Rubber softness, UV exposure, tire construction and even vehicle weight all figure into the equation. If you store your winter tires properly—indoors, away from light and heat and limit them to winter use only—several seasons of safe driving is the norm. Remember, however, that any tire requires tread depth to be effective. The average winter tire produces its maximum traction on snow and ice when it’s brand new. Once a tire reaches 6/32” of tread depth, you likely have one good winter driving season left—before you start the cycle over one more time.

It’s always a good thing when the rubber hits the road—and stays there. c.a.r.

Fleet safety Minimizing risk and liability

By Paul Wingate

Think about everything you and employees of your business, organization or company typically do during the day.

What represents one of the greatest risks to your health and safety? In a word: driving.

In a typical year Canadians collectively drive over 290 billion kilometres on the nearly 900,000 kilometres of roads nationwide.

Unfortunately, there are on average over 170,000 injuries annually and over 2,000 fatalities. Traffic collisions continue to be the biggest transportation safety problem in Canada. The annual economic cost to society from injuries and property damage has been estimated at between $11 and $27 billion depending on the calculation method used.

Careful planning to prevent or mitigate liability with regards to fleet operations is essential. For example, by law, in most jurisdictions, a vehicle used for business purposes is considered part of the “workplace” and subject to workplace health and safety regulations.

In addition, Bill C-45, an act to amend the Criminal Code, came into force March 31, 2004 and defines who is responsible for the safety of persons in the workplace and to allow for prosecution under charges of “criminal negligence” when those responsibilities are recklessly or willfully disregarded.

The amendment states in part that: “Every one who undertakes, or has the authority, to direct how another person does work or performs a task is under a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent bodily harm to that person, or any other person, arising from that work or task.”

Determining the appropriate insurance coverage for company vehicles is just the beginning. Effective risk management requires much more. It is a mistake to think of accident management in isolation or simply in terms of “how do I get a damaged vehicle repaired?”

A systematic approach to your fleet policy that takes into account not only how accidents are handled, but also investing in positive actions to mitigate risk, is essential. This involves minimizing the situational stress to employees when accidents occur and the procedures, programs and services you have in place to maximize

the safety of your drivers before and after the fact.

Best practice starts with a commitment to manage fleet safety as a critical business activity. Some of the best practices that Element Fleet Management recommends are: • Include safety considerations in vehicle selector and up fit choices.

• Track preventive vehicle maintenance.

• Ensure you have an up to date Fleet & Safety Policy that is clearly communicated with management and employees.

• Perform a periodic review of employee driving records (abstracts) to identify the high-risk drivers. A recent study determined that drivers with five or more driving violations were almost three times more likely to have a fatal accident than a driver with a clear record.

• Review reporting and conduct thorough investigations of all road incidents. Another recent analysis highlighted that if a driver had two at fault accidents (major or minor) over a three-year period, without additional training, their risk is substantially higher to repeat.

• Use of telematics data (speeding, harsh braking etc.).

• Provide additional driver safety training to reinforce safe driving practices.

• Confirm that you are protected if employees and volunteers do not have adequate insurance when using their personal vehicle for business purposes.

An important aspect of a good fleet safety initiative is the insight it will provide about your drivers’ behaviour, and identifying the steps that should be taken as a result of this behaviour. One area that companies should focus their attention on is ‘aggressive’ driving. Not only is this a major cause of motor vehicle collisions, but it can also increase fuel consumption by up to 37 percent. A fleet safety strategy will fall short of its objective if a company fails to provide assistance to improve driver behaviour and/or does not identify and communicate the potential consequences of a driver’s actions.

We encourage our clients to be proactive in creating, implementing, monitoring and enforcing a comprehensive fleet safety program.

There are significant financial reasons for doing this, but ultimately protecting lives is the priority. c.a.r.

“Careful planning to prevent or mitigate liability with regards to fleet operations is essential.”

Paul Wingate is National Director, Sales Force Effectiveness with Element Fleet Management Inc. He has more than 32 years of experience in the fleet industry, with management positions in operations, fleet optimization and sales.

14 | Canadian automotive Review SEPTEMBER 2013

Alternative fuel options found here.

Turn to Ford for a wide range of alternative power choices. Beyond ex fuel, diesel and biodiesel, our work vehicles offer CNG/LPG conversion. You can also choose from a number of hybrid models, as well as the 2014 Focus Electric. To ďŹ nd out how Ford technology can take your company in new directions, visit ford.ca.

Vehicles may be shown with optional features. Alternative fuel options vary by model and trim. See dealer for full details.