New Wheels at the 2016 Montreal Auto Show
One can’t understate the importance of a good vehicle in Eeyou Istchee. People spend a lot of time in their trucks and SUVs. So having a good one is a worthwhile luxury for many – heaven knows public transport is lacking!
Along with close to 200,000 other visitors, the Nation recently attended Montreal’s annual auto show at the Palais des congrès. The cars were beautifully displayed on two levels, in enormous rooms with 50-foot ceilings. All of the major dealers were there – from high-end sports car manufacturers, like Lamborghini and McLaren F1, to Ford and GMC.
Here are a few models that caught The Nation’s eye.
Toyota Tundra TRD Pro – This truck boasts a double cab and seats five quite comfortably. A representative highlighted the extra storage space the vehicle offers – like folding up the back seats for added room. The TRD Pro has a 6.5-foot cab and rear-view camera to help with parking. It also features metal door locks for the tailgate, which are much more durable than the plastic ones that seem to be standard issue on most trucks (and can crack in the cold). This vehicle draws on Toyota’s experience building off-road racing trucks, incorporating high-end shocks and beefy wheels. Car and Driver goes so far as to call it a “formidable 4×4 package” – making it a good option if you spend a lot of time on sketchy back-roads with large potholes. Unfortunately, the truck does not come with heated seats. The TRD Pro comes standard with a 310-hp engine and starts at $42,000. You can mount a snowplough on this vehicle. Its cool, boxy look sets it apart from other trucks, making it definitely a stylish option.
Nisan Titan XD – This truck has plenty of space and four large, full-sized doors. It has two hitches in the front and one in the back and has a 310-hp Cummins Turbo Diesel V-8 engine. Nissan claims that its payload capacity is more than 2000 pounds. It has a plush, comfortable interior with big, comfy heated seats and a bunch of interesting features, like a push-button start and a large LCD touch screen display to operate apps and view a 360º camera. If you are someone who hauls a lot of stuff around, the Titan XD may be worth checking out. It features beefy aluminium-alloy cleats that slide along the floor, allowing you to tie awkward things in quite easily and securely. Do you need to haul around an unwieldy table saw or snowmobile? The Titan XD has you covered. The box also features a 120-V outlet.
Ford F150 Platinum – Ford, of course, remains one of Eeyou Istchee’s favourite and most popular models. Many people may have remarked that the F-series trucks received a total overhaul last year, which has generally been well received. The representative noted the F150 is completely made out of aluminum, adding the new body shaved off around 700 lbs in weight. The lighter weight translates into improved towing capacity and fuel efficiency. The F150 also comes optional with a sensor and computer system that can be used to automatically back the truck up and attach a trailer. The F150 has a step that pops out of the tailgate, making it easier to get into the box. It has a V6 3.5 L engine and starts at $62,299. Some gripe about the engine, saying it lacks power and sounds like it should be in a car. Those people are better to go for a Chevy or Ram, which offer V-8s at the same price point.
GMC Sierra – This truck again has four large doors and plenty of legroom in the back. It’s got a 5.3 L V8, which toggles between using four and eight cylinders, depending on how much power is needed. It pulls around 9,000 pounds, and the dealer I spoke to said it works great in the cold. He has a number of clients from Air Inuit. And he says it withstands that environment handily. The interior is fairly basic and it does not offer seat warmers. It does, however, come optional with the newest edition of OnStar, which makes your vehicle a Wi-Fi hot spot. The frame is rigidly constructed, and the truck delivers a smooth and confident ride, according to the dealer.
Mitsubishi Outlander – Not everyone wants a truck, and the Outlander is a sleek, stylish alternative. The front of the vehicle is quite drastically shaped. It literally looks like a bow, raked back. The base engine is a four-cylinder 166-hp and 2.4-litre. (The GT offers a 224-hp 3.0-litre V-6.) The vehicle’s strength lies in its handling. But some say it lacks in power. If you’re looking for something fast on the highway, with quick acceleration, you would be better served elsewhere. The model, though, is improving. In the past, the Outlander has been considered loud and generally an unpleasant drive. This year’s model beefed up its frame and this has translated into a better, smoother ride. One cool feature is the ability to switch between automatic and manual mode. When in manual mode, shift gears with paddles on the steering wheel – like in a video game!
Honda Pilot – The Pilot, the representative tells me, is not a minivan. But it sure looks like one, with a long extended cab and seating for seven. The vehicle has a V6 3.5 L engine and features 280-hp and four-wheel drive. It also offers a torque vectoring system, which helps it navigate snow, sand and mud. Some of the higher-end options feature cameras, allowing the driver to have a 360º view of their surroundings. This vehicle would, however, need to be purchased in conjunction with a block heater, according to the rep. He said like a lot of fuel-injected vehicles, it is not built for the cold. It offers a hook on the front and a place to install a trailer on the back. The vehicle has received very positive reviews from critics, garnering a five star rating from Car and Driver magazine.
McLaren 650S Coupe – Finally, sometimes one needs to privilege fun, flash and speed over functionality. So I had to check out the McLaren 650S Coupe. The vehicle boasts a 3.8L aluminium V8 engine and seven speed transmission. It goes 0-100 km/h in a mere three seconds. That’s fast. It draws on Formula 1 technology according to its makers offers a “driving experience like no other.” The model I saw came in black, with beautiful, luxurious leather interior. It also featured doors that fold up, Back-to-the-Future style. A fine option indeed – if you have $287,000 to spare on a flashy car!
