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Canadian Auto News Watch - Monday October 27, 2014
General Motors Corporate News
Demolition of former GM plant keeps neighbourhood guessing
Byline: Dave Battagello, Source: The Windsor Star, Page: A2, Edition: Early
Windsor Star - Sat Oct 25 2014
Sale of GM plant nearly done
Byline: DON FRASER , STANDARD STAFF , [email protected], Page: A1, Edition: Final
The St. Catharines Standard - Sat Oct 25 2014
Airbag crisis: The vehicles in Canada that are affected; At least 200,000 vehicles here
have been recalled
Byline: THE GLOBE AND MAIL
globeandmail.com - Fri Oct 24 2014, 10:55am ET
The Opel ADAM designed by Bryan Adams
Byline: Nauman Farooq, Source: AutoGo.ca, Page: E19
The Telegram (St. John's) - Sat Oct 25 2014
Automakers set sights on female customers
Byline: Kumar Saha, Page: W8, Edition: ONT
Toronto Star - Sat Oct 25 2014
Ford picks Mexico over Windsor to build new engine
Byline: GREG KEENAN, ADRIAN MORROW, Page: B1, Edition: Ontario
The Globe and Mail - Sat Oct 25 2014
Windsor loses out on $1.5B Ford program; 'Devastating'
Byline: Grace MacAluso, Source: Postmedia News, Bloomberg News, Page: FP2, Edition: National
National Post - Sat Oct 25 2014
Union head 'furious' after failed Ford deal; Engine construction would have brought up
to 1,000 new jobs for Windsor
Byline: Eric Andrew-Gee Toronto Star, Page: A4, Edition: ONT
Toronto Star - Sat Oct 25 2014
Ford workers worried about future jobs; Union says gov't needs new auto strategy
Byline: Jay Rankin, Source: The Windsor Star, Page: A1 / Front, Edition: Early
Windsor Star - Mon Oct 27 2014
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General Motors Product News
Mid-Sized Trucks Are Back at Last
Permalink: www.msn.com...
msn.com - Mon Oct 27 2014
2015 Chevrolet Malibu | Driving
Permalink: driving.ca...
driving.ca - Mon Oct 27 2014
2015 Buick Regal 4dr Sdn GS AWD - Autofocus.ca
Permalink: www.autofocus.ca...
autofocus.ca - Mon Oct 27 2014
2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV - Autos.ca
Permalink: www.autos.ca...
autos.ca - Mon Oct 27 2014
What's most important about this car is the stuff that hasn't changed
Byline: Jim Kenzie Special to the Star, Page: W1, Edition: ONT
Toronto Star - Sat Oct 25 2014
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Lifestyle/Social
Yukon vs. Yukon: driving the Klondike highway - Canadian Geographic
Permalink: canadiangeographic.ca...
canadiangeographic.ca - Fri Oct 24 2014
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General Motors Corporate News
Demolition of former GM plant keeps neighbourhood guessing
Windsor Star
Sat Oct 25 2014
Page: A2
Section: Windsor & Region
Byline: Dave Battagello
Source: The Windsor Star
Demolition of the former General Motors Transmission Plant remains ongoing just off Kildare Road attracting
both onlookers and those curious about what's next for the massive 1.2-million-square-foot site.
No specific announcements have been made on the property's future by co-owners - Chatham developer Don
Tetrault and the Jones Group which is handling the demolition.
"We are interested to see exactly what will go in that area," said Sebastian Ruthmann, machining manager for
CNC Concepts and Manufacturing which sits next door to the former GM plant at 1680 Kildare Rd.
"We are not sure how it's going to affect our business, so we would like to know. Someone said the megahospital might go there - but also that it might only be used for storage."
Executives with the Jones Group were said to be out-of-town on Thursday and did not return a message from
The Star.
Ruthmann's tool shop has actually set up a webcam on his property for those who want to see the ongoing
demolition online at (cncconcepts») dlinkddns.com "There are a ton of people stopping by and watching the
demolition," Ruthmann said. "It's pretty impressive.
"It was sort of depressing going by every day and seeing that big building empty. It's nice to see something
being done, rather than just having this empty building next door."
The GM transmission plant shut down in July 2012, putting about 1,400 people out of work.
[email protected]
© 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Illustration:
• Jason Kryk, The Windsor Star / Demolition continued this week at the former General Motors transmission plant at 1680 Kildare
Rd.
Edition: Early
Story Type: News
Length: 236 words
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Sale of GM plant nearly done
The St. Catharines Standard
Sat Oct 25 2014
Page: A1
Section: News
Byline: DON FRASER , STANDARD STAFF , [email protected]
A deal to sell the General Motors' Ontario St. site is near completion.
The 43-acre property has 1.2 million square feet of building space and was shuttered in 2010.
Adria MacKenzie, a spokeswoman for the auto giant, has confirmed the pending sale.
"GM Canada has entered into a contract for the purchase of their Ontario St. property in St. Catharines,"
MacKenzie said in an e-mailed statement.
"The contract is anticipated to close in (the fourth quarter).
"The buyer has plans to redevelop the site in consultation with the City of St. Catharines," the company
statement adds. "We are unable to disclose the purchaser's identity or disclose any other information regarding
the property or the sale at this time."
St. Catharines mayoral candidate Walter Sendzik has run a newspaper advertisement saying he met with the
"international, Toronto-based developers" who are in the process of buying the long-shuttered complex.
That company is "currently finalizing the deal," the candidate's ad said.
St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan said he and other members of council are "bound by confidentiality" over
the name of the possible purchaser and discussions with them.
"I and staff have met numerous times with ... the proponent behind the prospective purchase," McMullan said.
"It's my understanding that there will be a formal announcement fairly soon."
McMullan previously said that mixed-use development ideas have been floated.
They include elements like high-tech work, software development and medical suppliers that don't fit into the
traditional view of manufacturing, but still generate jobs.
McMullan also previously noted the site's location overlooking Twelve Mile Creek and its proximity to
Montebello Park "create opportunities and exciting possibilities."
© 2014 Osprey Media Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Edition: Final
Length: 267 words
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Airbag crisis: The vehicles in Canada that are affected; At least
200,000 vehicles here have been recalled
globeandmail.com
Fri Oct 24 2014, 10:55am ET
Section: Other
Byline: THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Defective airbags have caused auto makers to recall nearly 3.4 million older model vehicles worldwide,
including at least 200,000 in Canada.
The U.S. government warned more than 7.8 million people to have air bags in their cars fixed amid concern
that a defect can kill or injure the driver or passengers. Degraded airbags can send the equivalent of shrapnel
flying into the front compartment.
The warning covers cars made by Toyota, Honda, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, General Motors and Ford. The Wall
Street Journal reported that U.S. federal prosecutors are investigating the Japanese airbag supplier, Takata
Corp. Its defective airbags are suspected to have been a factor in four deaths. Meanwhile, Transport Canada
told The Globe and Mail that no complaints have been received in this country.
The U.S. government reacted after a Sept. 29 crash claimed the life of a 46-year-old woman in Florida. Hien
Thi Tran suffered severe neck wounds that may have been caused by metal fragments flying out of the air bag
on her 2001 Honda Accord.
Honda is recalling 107,000 vehicles in Canada, covering almost 81,000 Honda Civics and about 11,000 Acura
1.7 EL vehicles from the 2001-2003 model years; 6,140 CR-V vehicles from 2002-2003 and almost 10,000
Odysseys from the 2002 model year.
Toyota Canada previously announced a recall for inspection in Canada including the 2003 Toyota Corolla,
Matrix, Sequoia and Tundra vehicles, and model year 2002 and 2003 Lexus SC 430 vehicles.
Nissan recalled 20,000 in Canada: 2001-03 model years of the Maxima, Pathfinder and Sentra, and the Infiniti
I35, QX4 and FX.
Mazda Canada is recalling a relative handful of just over two dozen vehicles, the RX-8 and Mazda6 from the
2004 model year.
GM: About 55,000 Pontiac Vibe hatchbacks sold in the United States and Canada are being recalled. The 2003
models are nearly identical to the Toyota Matrix and were made at a California plant that was jointly run with
Toyota.
BMW is recalling about 41,000 Canadian 3-Series vehicles from model years 2000-2006 due to the passengerside airbag system.
In May, Ford recalled 90,000 Escape SUVs and C-Max gas-electric hybrids from the 2013 and 2014 model
years. A software problem could interfere with the side curtain airbags from inflating in certain types of rollover
crashes. The company says it had no reports of crashes or injuries.
- Compiled with files from The Canadian Press, The Associated Press, Bloomberg, New York Times and
Forbes.
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© 2014 The Globe and Mail Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Length: 416 words
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The Opel ADAM designed by Bryan Adams
The Telegram (St. John's)
Sat Oct 25 2014
Page: E19
Section: Drive
Byline: Nauman Farooq
Source: AutoGo.ca
When Canadian rock star Bryan Adams sang "the only thing that looks good on me is you," could he have been
thinking of a cool, city hatchback?
General Motors' European division Opel certainly thinks so, and decided to pair their ADAM hatchback with one
of Canada's brightest stars.
This lead to the creation of the very limited-edition Opel ADAM designed by Bryan Adams. Only seven
examples will be made, all of which will be sold through an auction to help raise money for the Bryan Adams
Foundation, a charity that carries the motto "Helping people help people."
All the Bryan Adams ADAMs wear a distinctive camouflage paint job, and are kitted out with heated leather
seats, IntelliLink infotainment system and automatic climate control. Powering the ADAM is a 1.4L four-cylinder
engine that produces 100 hp.
This special-edition car was originally created for Opel's 2014 calendar, which also featured photography by
Mr. Adams.
While GM is mulling the idea of bringing the ADAM to the North-American market, badged as a Buick, if you
have the means, you can bid on these cars on United Charity's website.
Bidding will close November 21, 2014.
(www.unitedcharity.de»)
© 2014 Transcontinental Media G.P. All rights reserved.
Length: 193 words
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Automakers set sights on female customers
Toronto Star
Sat Oct 25 2014
Page: W8
Section: Wheels
Byline: Kumar Saha
Auto industry folks, here's my advice for the month: don't ignore the ladies.
New research published by Frost & Sullivan, which looked at data across various countries around the
developed world, shows that increasingly more women are getting in the driver's seat. Literally.
Currently, nearly half of all vehicle licence holders in the U.S. are female, the biggest percentage anywhere in
the world. Canada is almost the same but with a growth rate of about 5 per cent, which is higher than America.
Germany, Japan and the U.K. are creeping up there, with more than 40 per cent share of female drivers.
Other studies also emphatically prove the point that cars are no longer a man's game. According to J.D. Power,
women accounted for about 39 per cent of direct car purchases in 2013, up from 37 per cent the year before.
Research from General Motors claims that women ultimately influence 85 to 95 per cent of all car-buying
decisions.
On top of it, when you consider the fact that 53 per cent of millennials - the Holy Grail of marketing
demographics - are female, the message gets loud and clear. Going forward, if car brands, and by extension
their representative dealerships, are not able to woo the ladies, they might just land themselves in the dollar
doghouse.
All the chatter around the rising influence of women in car purchases and vehicle maintenance has been
gathering strength in earnest for the past decade.
Yes, we now have female executives heading the likes of GM and Citroen, which in itself is the sign of
changing times, but consider this data point: 91 per cent of salespeople at U.S. dealerships are men. I haven't
seen a Canadian number but I'd bet that it would be pretty similar.
No doubt that some automakers have found that nearly three in four females felt misunderstood by car
companies, according to Frost & Sullivan analysis.
But I also think that as more automakers adopt emphatic pro-female strategies in their products, the trickledown effect may not be far behind.
Take for instance Jaguar - among the many luxury carmakers that built their brands on the backs of old-school
testosterone.
It launched its XE sports sedan earlier this year, aimed squarely at younger women.
Porsche had the same target buyers in mind when it launched its crossover Macan, a more compact version of
the Cayenne. It has even picked tennis star Maria Sharapova as its brand ambassador, despite the fact that 85
per cent of Porsche buyers are men.
Mass market brands have been toying with similar ideas for some time - case in point the Fiat 500, whose
purchasers are 70 per cent women. However, the current mantra is not to build cars made for women, as these
have often failed to sell in the past. Rather, the idea is to offer customization or personalization options that
focus on more female-friendly trims (auto assist functions, wellness features, and high quality materials) and
colours.
The urgency to appeal to women is also becoming more pronounced down the value chain. Beyond automotive
advice sites for women such as askpatty.com, dealers across the world are beginning to wear their "womenfriendliness" as a badge of honour.
Foxy Lady, a U.K.-based driving club for women, now offers female-friendly guidelines for dealerships who are
interested in joining its own network.
Automakers such as Nissan are taking the courtship several steps ahead. The company plans to launch
hundreds of "Ladies First" dealerships across its native Japan with the explicit goal of getting non-Nissan
female drivers to try the brand. Among other things, these dealerships will feature designated play areas for
kids and changing stations.
Closer to home, Texas-based independent repair chain Honest-1 Auto Care is already seeing great success
with service shops tailored for women, with similar facilities as that of Nissan's planned Ladies First
dealerships.
Combined with promoting a green image, the company's strategies have resulted in double-digit growth over
the past few years.
Honest-1 Auto Care's female-friendly move was purely driven by numbers.
Since nearly 70 per cent of its customers are women, it made obvious sense to implement the changes at its
stores.
For most individual dealerships and service shops across North America, store traffic may not yet be
dominated by women, but there's little doubt that attracting them would ultimately be good for business.
Time to say hello, ladies!
Kumar Saha is a Toronto-based automotive analyst with the global research firm Frost & Sullivan. Email:
[email protected]
© 2014 Torstar Corporation
Illustration:
• Nearly half of all vehicle licence holders in the U.S. are female, the biggest percentage anywhere in the world. Dreamstime
Edition: ONT
Length: 738 words
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Ford picks Mexico over Windsor to build new engine
The Globe and Mail
Sat Oct 25 2014
Page: B1
Section: Report on Business
Byline: GREG KEENAN, ADRIAN MORROW
A major Ford Motor Co. engine investment that the federal and Ontario governments were trying to land in
Windsor, Ont., will instead go to Mexico, underscoring the difficulty Canada is having competing for auto
investment against its partner in the North American free-trade agreement.
The auto maker was seeking about $700-million in government financial help to build a new, 1.5-litre engine to
power small vehicles, sources familiar with the negotiations said.
But the two levels of government and Unifor, which represents workers at Ford's two engine plants in Windsor,
said Friday that negotiations have ended. The investment is slated to go to Mexico, Unifor president Jerry Dias
said.
Mexico has won billions of dollars worth of new investments in auto assembly plants in recent years, but the
proposal for Windsor, known as the Dragon project, appeared to represent a chance for Canada to chalk up a
victory that would have produced about 1,000 jobs, some of which would go to some of the 483 workers now
on layoff.
Canada's decline and Mexico's rise are evident in vehicle production figures for 2014.
Factories in Mexico cranked out 2.396 million vehicles as of the end of September, up 7.5 per cent from a year
earlier, while Canadian production fell 0.6 per cent in the same period to 1.745 million vehicles. The jump in
Mexican production and drop in Canadian output come amid a robust recovery in U.S. sales - the destination
for many of the vehicles produced in both Canada and Mexico - and a record-setting sales pace in Canada.
The investments in Mexico, which include assembly plants announced this year by BMW AG, Kia Motors,
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and Mazda Motor Corp. factories that have begun production this year, highlight how
essential it is for Canada to retain the existing Detroit Three and Japanese plants located in Ontario, industry
officials said.
"The environment for these types of investments is extremely competitive and we would be interested to learn
what Mexico may be offering," said Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association
of Canada, which represents Canadian auto suppliers.
The original Ford proposal to build a 1.5-litre engine, which also had a hybrid version, called for an investment
of about $2-billion, but fell significantly by the time negotiations broke off.
What's disheartening about the decision is that workers have won accolades from Ford for working safely and
producing high-quality engines and yet the investment goes elsewhere, said Chris Taylor, president of Unifor
local 200, which represents workers at the Essex Engine and Windsor Engine plants. The number of active
workers is down to about 1,400 at the two plants, Mr. Taylor said, from 6,300 at six engine and engine parts
plants in 2000.
The federal and Ontario governments hinted in statements Friday that the financial request was too high in
relation to the commitments Ford was prepared to make. "Our government is committed to partnering with
business in a fiscally responsible way, but we will not invest taxpayer dollars in any partnership that doesn't
provide a strong return for Ontarians," Ontario Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid said in a
statement. "This includes creating good jobs, anchoring key facilities, building an industry supply chain,
fostering research and development, and leveraging a larger investment from the private sector."
Jake Enright, a spokesman for federal Industry Minister James Moore, said the Ford proposal was
"unprecedented" and any investment the two governments make in the auto industry must "be in the best
interests of Canadian taxpayers."
Mr. Taylor said the union needs to talk to the governments again about what level of investment they're
prepared to make when other governments are willing to pay for 60 per cent to 70 per cent of projects in order
to win the jobs. The governments became aware of the engine investment late in the game, when talks with
Mexico were well advanced, Unifor's Mr. Dias said.
Although he would not comment on the $700-million figure, he noted that "the ask was high and when the ask
is high, the commitments have to be high as well."
Comments by Bob Shanks, Ford's chief financial officer, appeared to support a theory among some industry
officials that the auto maker did not seriously consider Windsor for the investment. "We can't pull out something
that was never going," he told Bloomberg Television.
© 2014 The Globe and Mail Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Edition: Ontario
Length: 710 words
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Windsor loses out on $1.5B Ford program; 'Devastating'
National Post
Sat Oct 25 2014
Page: FP2
Section: Financial Post
Byline: Grace MacAluso
Dateline: WINDSOR, ONT.
Source: Postmedia News, Bloomberg News
Ford Motor Co. has decided against awarding a new engine program to its Windsor, Ont., plants, which could
have created up to 1,000 additional jobs, Chris Taylor, president of Unifor Local 200, said Friday.
"At this point we are not being sourced any new product; the product is not going to be awarded to Windsor,"
Mr. Taylor said. "It's very, very devastating news for our members and our community."
Although neither Ford nor the union had confirmed the size of the investment, sources told the Windsor Star in
August that it would have exceeded $1.5-billion. Windsor had been competing with Mexico for global assembly
of 1.5 and 1.6 litre engines for vehicles including the next generation Fiesta subcompact. Ford had been in
talks with Ontario and Ottawa for government incentives to help fund the investment, but Mr. Taylor said
negotiations with the province hit a snag.
"I believe the Ontario government had problems with meeting terms and conditions set by Ford to land this
product in Windsor," he said.
Mr. Taylor said he had heard rumblings earlier this week that talks had gone awry, but received confirmation
from his national union and Ford officials Thursday.
"As a local, we're not going to bury our heads in the sand," Mr. Taylor said. "We have to have some discussion
with the government to find out where this went sideways and decide how we progress going forward."
Car companies have long been pressing Ontario and Ottawa to up their game in the global competition for
automotive investment or continue watching vehicle assembly plants and jobs move to Mexico and the U.S.
south. Some jurisdictions typically fund at least 60% of a carmaker's investment, while Ontario and Ottawa
have covered a total of about 20% through a combination of grants and low-cost loans.
Windsor currently is home to the Ford Windsor and Essex Engine plants, which employ about 1,300 hourly
workers. Although those operations are "stable," the Ford investment would have moved more than 400
workers off layoff and secured the long-term future of the local plants, Mr. Taylor said.
"As of right now, it's not coming to Windsor," he said. "The value to us was a future with a good product, jobs
for the people on layoff and a bright light for a community that sorely needs good news."
Ford also reported third-quarter profit on Friday that fell less than analysts had projected as the company
continues to grow in China where it now outsells Toyota Motor Corp.
The automaker reported net income of US$835-million, or 21¢ a share, down 34% from US$1.27-billion, or 31¢
per share, a year earlier. Excluding one-time costs, earnings were 24¢ a share, beating the 19¢ average
estimate.
"We did have some challenges," Bob Shanks, Ford's chief financial officer, told reporters Friday of the
automaker's third quarter. Those included US$630-million in recall costs and a US$166-million negative effect
from a strong dollar.
Ford sales in China surged 26% in the first three quarters of the year, as it sold a record 813,412 vehicles on
strong demand for its Kuga and Eco-Sport sport-utility vehicles and Focus and Mondeo sedans. Last year,
Ford's sales in China surpassed Toyota Motor Corp. for a record market share of 4.7%.
"We feel extremely excited about what is going on in China," Mr. Shanks said "The products are resonating
very well in China with consumers."
© 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Illustration:
• Susana Gonzalez, Bloomberg News / An employee works on a Ford Fiesta engine at a factory in Mexico. Ford Motor Co.
announced Friday it will be awarding a new engine program to a factory in Mexico, rather than its plant in Windsor, Ont.
Edition: National
Story Type: News
Length: 550 words
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Union head 'furious' after failed Ford deal; Engine construction
would have brought up to 1,000 new jobs for Windsor
Toronto Star
Sat Oct 25 2014
Page: A4
Section: News
Byline: Eric Andrew-Gee Toronto Star
Ontario appears to have lost a high-stakes bidding war over car manufacturing jobs, as Unifor, the auto
workers' union, says Ford Motor Co. will build a new type of engine in Mexico instead of Windsor after talks
with the federal and provincial governments broke down.
Unifor national president Jerry Dias said he was "disappointed" that the months-long negotiations failed. The
project would have provided Windsor's Ford plant with between 900 and 1,000 jobs, he said.
In a written statement Friday, Minister of Economic Development, Employment, and Infrastructure Brad Duguid
confirmed that the Windsor deal had fallen through.
"Our Government is committed to partnering with business in a fiscally responsible way, but we will not invest
taxpayer dollars in any partnership that doesn't provide a strong return for Ontarians," Duguid said.
Ford spokeswoman Michelle Lee-Gracey declined to comment, saying the company's discussions with
governments were confidential.
Dias told the Star that Ford was asking Ontario for a cash grant and the federal government for a loan, but
would not specify the dollar amounts. "It was a very aggressive proposal by Ford," he said.
In the end, Dias added, the Mexican government effectively outbid Canada: "Mexico will subsidize heavily and
did, just like every other country that wants a strong auto industry."
While the union president said he wasn't interested in "finger-pointing," he said Windsor was close to landing
the engine deal. "We almost captured this project. It was an uphill battle all the way. Am I disappointed?
Absolutely I'm disappointed. I'm furious actually."
But the news for Ontario's struggling auto industry hasn't been all bad of late. Earlier this month, Ford said it
would add 1,000 jobs at its plant in Oakville by the end of this year to build the 2015 Ford Edge crossover SUV.
Tony Faria, a professor of marketing and an auto industry expert at the University of Windsor, said the
economic landscape was tilted against Ontario, with countries such as Mexico, Brazil and Argentina offering
companies huge grants to set up factories.
"Canada is competing against a lot of jurisdictions that are very generous in what they're offering - perhaps
overly generous - but the fact is that's what we're competing with," he said. "The question is, do we want to
compete on that level, or do we want to continue to lose out on investments?"
With files from The Canadian Press
© 2014 Torstar Corporation
Edition: ONT
Length: 391 words
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Ford workers worried about future jobs; Union says gov't needs
new auto strategy
Windsor Star
Mon Oct 27 2014
Page: A1 / Front
Section: Windsor & Region
Byline: Jay Rankin
Source: The Windsor Star
In the wake of Ford announcing last Thursday that its new engine program would go to Mexico instead of
Windsor, many local workers are now worried about the future of their jobs.
"It's an insult to our employees who put our blood, sweat and tears into our product," Cindy Brenner said after a
Unifor Local 200 meeting Sunday.
Ford had been talking with both the Ontario provincial and Canadian federal government to invest $1.5 billion in
Windsor engine plants that would construct 1.5-and 1.6-litre engines.
Brenner is the third generation of her family to work for the automotive company and she is concerned for the
next generation.
"They asked us to do things with the intention of giving us this product and it was in good faith and we pulled
our weight," said Brenner, who retired from Ford last year in November after 25 years. "And here they are
pulling the carpet out from underneath us."
"We've done everything that we can," said Unifor Local 200 president Chris Taylor. "And when we're competing
with jurisdictions like Mexico that are willing to work at $5 an hour, obviously the government knows we can't
compete on that level."
Unifor represents 1,300 workers in Windsor and Essex plants and says that the investment would have
equated to 1,000 new jobs and the recall of more than 400 Ford workers on layoff.
"Obviously we've got to get a message to both levels of government that the old strategy of funding 10 to 20
per cent may not work anymore," Taylor said.
Some people questioned why the federal and provincial governments supported 70 per cent of Toronto's $2.4billion bill to host the 2015 Parapan American Games, but couldn't chip in enough to convince Ford to invest in
Windsor.
"If there's money available for that than my god there's got to be money available for jobs. There has to be,"
Taylor said.
Tony Brown who has worked at Ford for 30 years says that he can retire any time, but he's also worried about
the future of Ford jobs.
"Without a future, our pension will dry up," he said.
"The funds just won't be there."
"It's frustrating," said Alex Keeney, who retired from Ford in 2009 after working 37 years. "The government has
got to quit talking about 'jobs, jobs, jobs,' and they've got to take action to help create jobs."
Taylor says that Unifor won't give up. "I'm never going to accept anything as a done deal until I hear an
announcement from Ford," he said.
[email protected]
© 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Illustration:
• Dax Melmer, The Windsor Star / Unifor Local 200 president Chris Taylor speaks with members following a meeting between union
members and their leadership at the Caboto Club on Sunday morning. The meeting was to discuss Ford's decision not to invest in
Windsor.
Edition: Early
Story Type: News
Length: 410 words
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General Motors Product News
Mid-Sized Trucks Are Back at Last
msn.com
Mon Oct 27 2014
View original item at www.msn.com...»
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2015 Chevrolet Malibu | Driving
driving.ca
Mon Oct 27 2014
View original item at driving.ca...»
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2015 Buick Regal 4dr Sdn GS AWD - Autofocus.ca
autofocus.ca
Mon Oct 27 2014
View original item at www.autofocus.ca...»
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2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV - Autos.ca
autos.ca
Mon Oct 27 2014
View original item at www.autos.ca...»
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What's most important about this car is the stuff that hasn't
changed
Toronto Star
Sat Oct 25 2014
Page: W1
Section: Wheels
Byline: Jim Kenzie Special to the Star
Coupé, of course, means "cut" in French.
Not as in "ripped," but as in "chopped off."
In the car world, it typically means a car whose roofline has been "coupé-ed" - chopped off - and the door count
reduced from four to two. But the two-door version of Cadillac's ATS compact luxury car, now on sale at your
friendly local Cadillac store starting at $41,240, is a bit more than that. New glass and sheet metal, only the
hood and grille remain from the sedan, and that latter piece gets a new expression of the Cadillac crest for
2015 on both body styles.
"Bit more" actually describes the ATS coupe in several ways. It is a bit longer, a bit lower and a bit wider than
the sedan.
The coupe is also a bit heavier, if you accept that 100 kilograms is a "bit."
That was also a bit of a surprise, to me anyway - wouldn't you think that two more doors with the attendant
hardware, window winders, etc., would make the sedan heavier?
Apparently not.
Still, Cadillac claims each ATS model is the lightest in its respective class, thanks to clever design and
extensive use of lightweight high-strength steels, plus lots of magnesium and aluminum components.
Two bits of mechanical news on offer, too, both also now in the sedan.
First, reprogramming the electronic control module on the base 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine raises peak
torque from 260 to 295 lb.-ft., which Cadillac says is the highest standard peak torque in the segment.
Torque is more critical to day-to-day performance than horsepower, which remains at 272.
The relevant numbers for the optional 3.6-litre V6 are 321 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. Yes, the four has more
torque even than the V6.
The second significant upgrade is revised electric power-steering gear from ZF, acknowledged as perhaps the
premium steering hardware manufacturer in the business. The new system offers better precision and feel.
As before, full-time four-wheel drive is available on all trim levels, but not with all powertrain combinations. A
Tremec-built six-speed manual is offered, but only with the rear-drive four; a six-speed automatic is optional on
all four-cylinder models, and standard with the V6.
Cadillac admits that few customers will choose the stick shift, but because Cadillac is trying to establish its cars
as the "fun-to-drive" choice in each segment in which it competes, it was deemed necessary to at least offer it.
"Fun-to-drive" and "Cadillac" in the same sentence?
If you've been sleeping under a rock for the past few years and are unaware of Cadillac's forays into racing or
the ultra hot "V-spec" versions of some of its models (coming to the ATS line at the Los Angeles Auto Show in
November), yes, it's true.
As other manufacturers seem to be trying to broaden the appeal of their products to reach a wider audience,
Cadillac is trying to focus its aim. The cars are better; the public hasn't always got the message.
As Cadillac spokesman Dave Caldwell puts it, "the brand (image) has to catch up with the product."
The fun-to-drive is accomplished largely by a double-pivot MacStrut front and five-link independent rear
suspension systems.
An even better "performance" suspension is available on rear-drive ATS, featuring GM-pioneered Magnetic
Ride Control (if it's good enough for Ferrari, it's good enough for your Cadillac).
This package includes "performance algorithm shifting" in the auto-box, which can drop three or even four
ratios with a single stomp on the loud pedal, a limited-slip differential, and 16-inch summer performance tires.
All ATS models get fixed front brake calipers from Italian race-brake maker Brembo, again a world-class
supplier. The rotors are treated with a GM Canada-invented ferretic-nitric-carburizing coating to reduce disc
corrosion and extend brake life.
Some upgrades to the interior as well, all of which pertain to both coupe and sedan. Keyless passive entry is
now standard across the board. Up-level semi-aniline and suede interior accents and power tilt-and-telescope
steering wheel are available on some trim levels.
Like virtually all new GM models, ATS has a standard 4G LTE wireless connectivity to turn your car into a
mobile Wi-Fi hot spot.
CUE is the dreaded Cadillac User Experience, which claims now to offer "Siri Eyes Free" voice pass-through
for those unfortunate enough to be saddled with Apple iPhones.
However, as with all touch-screen-based control systems, there is still no way to operate this thing without
taking your attention off the driving task.
A pox on all their houses. Am I the only one who sees that this particular emperor has no clothes?
No wait - maybe that's what this "Siri Eyes Free" thing is all about - you'd have to be blind not to notice that it
simply does not and cannot ever work.
What's most important about the ATS is the stuff that hasn't changed. It is indeed a fun-to-drive car.
You can feel the lack of weight in how the car responds to the helm. It devours twisty back roads, yet delivers a
smooth compliant ride.
The four-cylinder engine is pleasantly free of the droning that often accompanies four-bangers.
In instrumented acceleration testing it is a tick slower than the V6, with 0-96 km/h (60 mph; these numbers
come from the States) taking 5.6 seconds, versus 5.5 for the V6.
But in day-to-day driving the mid-range torque makes the turbo four an excellent motivator.
And provided you don't keep your right foot buried in the carpet and overwork that turbo, you should get decent
fuel economy, too.
That said, the V6 is quieter and more refined, and runs fine on regular unleaded.
Premium is recommended for the turbo, although you can run it on regular at the expense of a few ponies.
GM Canada figures the bulk of ATS sales will remain four cylinder. But because a coupe almost by definition is
a more "expressive" car, deliberately chosen by people who want to spoil themselves a little because it is less
practical than the sedan, the expectation is that V6 share will be higher in the two-door than in the four-door.
Did you ever think there'd come a time when I could suggest to a BMW prospect that they really should
consider the Cadillac alternative?
That time is now.
Travel and other expenses for freelance writer Jim Kenzie were courtesy of the manufacturer. Email:
[email protected]
© 2014 Torstar Corporation
Edition: ONT
Length: 1050 words
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Yukon vs. Yukon: driving the Klondike highway - Canadian
Geographic
canadiangeographic.ca
Fri Oct 24 2014
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