Honda, McLaren And The FIA Formula One (F1) World Championship

You may have heard already, but Honda is partnering once again with The McLaren Group to participate in the FIA Formula One (F1) World Championship for the 2015 season.  On the McLaren website, they announced their delight about the “new multi-year Formula 1 technology partnership with Honda, which is reuniting an association that became one of the most successful and powerful in Formula 1 history during the 1980’s and 90’s.”Formula One Announcement 002

With shared responsibilities, Honda will be responsible for the development, manufacture and supply of the power unit, including the engine.  McLaren will be responsible for the development and manufacture of the chassis as well as the management of the new team – McLaren Honda.

New F1 regulations have only furthered Honda’s excitement since it will inspire improvements to both the efficiency of a combustion engine and energy management technologies such as hybrid systems, something that Honda helped pioneer years ago. Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co Ltd., had the following to say: “Ever since its establishment, Honda has been a company which grows by taking on challenges in racing.  Honda has a long history of advancing out technologies and nurturing our people by participating in the world’s most prestigious automobile racing series.”  There is sure to be more exciting news in the upcoming months from this restored racing partnership.  For the latest updates, continue to follow us at Hamilton Auto Blog.com or visit us at www.imagehonda.com

By: Amy Cochren

Credit: Honda News http://hondanews.ca/en/news/release/Honda-to-Participate-in-the-FIA-Formula-One-World-Championship Canada

McLaren http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/inside-the-mtc/mclaren-honda-reuniting-one-greatest-partnerships-formula-1-history/

2014 Chevrolet Silverado Introduces New Luxury Model

For 2014, The Chevrolet Silverado lineup will feature a new addition – The 2014 Silverado High Country. The new crew cab model will compete in the premium pickup segment. The luxury model features a unique chrome grille with horizontal chrome bars, halogen projector headlamps, unique 20-inch chrome wheels and much more. The all-new 2014 Silverado High Country will join the Chevrolet lineup this fall.Silveado High Country

Inside the High Country is an exclusive saddle brown interior with authentic materials, as well as heated and cooled leather seats with high country logos on the headrests. The truck also features MyLink connectivity with 8 inch touch screen, Bose premium audio, front and rear park assist and more.

“High Country will be the top model in the Silverado lineup, with a higher level of premium features and materials with a rich, Western themed appearance,” said Maria Rohrer, Silverado marketing director. “But at the same time, High Country is a 100-percent Chevy truck, with the capability and dependability customers have relied on for more than 95years.”

Silverado High Country Decal

The High Country Silverado’s standard engine is a 5.3L EcoTec V-8 with 355 horsepower and up to 23 mpg on highway. The all-new 6.2L EcoTec3 V-8 will also be available. Both engines feature direct fuel injection, active fuel management and continuously variable valve timing and both engines switch to 4 cylinder mode to save fuel during light load driving.

This new addition to the Chevrolet family will definitely be one to look out for – especially for the many truck enthusiasts here in Ontario. Stay connected to AutoHwy.com  and Hamilton Auto Blog for further updates and visit us at www.queenstonchev.com for the upcoming arrival date.

By Nerissa Mohamed

Source: GM Canada

A Car That Runs On…Social Media?

We have innovation at its finest in Kansas City, Missouri where a group of high school students have built an electric car that runs on….social media?  Yes, you heard it right!  It runs on what the students have coined “social fuel”!  What was once a 1967 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is now an electrified car that has been altered to run on posts, mentions and likes on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Minddrive, a non-profit group whose aim was to inspire and create a doorway for kids who may have no previous automotive experience, worked with this group of at-risk high school students as mentors to create this one of a kind car.

What is even more inspiring is that this week, the team will be driving the Karmann Ghia from Kansas City to Washington D.C. where they will be meeting with elected officials to promote education and funding for programs like Minddrive.  Along the way, they will be stopping at schools in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania to give presentations.

It will take a total of 71,040 watts to reach D.C.  You can help this ingenious car and its creators reach the American capital! Share this blog on Twitter by using the #MINDDRIVE or mention @mindriveorg.  You can also use Facebook “Likes and Shares”, Instagram follows and shares, as well as YouTube video plays, follows and shares.

By: Amy Cochren

Credit: Minddrive.org

OnStar Family Link Service

Have you every worried about a loved one who is making a long trip or driving in poor weather conditions? Maybe you have a new driver in the family and want to ensure their safety.  Now you can have peace of mind with OnStar Family Link.  This service is an opt-in extension to your monthly OnStar subscription and is made available to you for a nominal fee.  With no limit to the number of vehicles you can add, you will always be able to track your vehicle on the road without bothering the driver.

Upon sign up, you will be given direct access to the location of your vehicle by viewing a map, as well as the ability to schedule email or text message notifications with Family Link’s unique “Vehicle Location Alert”.  You can even personalize the system by setting the day, time and frequency of your alerts.

This year in the United States, OnStar was awarded a 2013 Silver Edison Award for the Family Link service.  Jon Lauckner, GM’s chief technology officer and vice-president of Global Research & Development was quoted as saying “These awards reaffirm our ability to lead in the transformation of the automotive industry with a commitment to innovation that benefits our customers around the globe”.

If you are interested in subscribing to this feature, please sign up at www.onstar.com/familylink and make sure to visit our award winning vehicles equipped with OnStar at www.queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

GM Canada

Canadianautodealer.ca

2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel UPDATE

The wait will soon be over – the new 2014 Chevrolet Cruze 2.0TD (Diesel) is said to be in Canadian Dealerships by as early as this summer. This new Cruze has an estimated range of 700 highway miles on one tank of diesel fuel, which is roughly equivalent to 10 hours of highway driving.

Chevrolet logocruze TD

With a starting price of $26,495 including freight, this new Cruze has a better value ($510 lower) than its competitor – the comparably equipped 2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI automatic.

Offered in one trim level, the Cruze 2TD offers some excellent standard features.

Interior product highlights include:

Heated leather seats with 6 way power driver seat
Leather wrapped steering wheel
Cruise control
USB port & Bluetooth for phone
Remote start, MyLink & rear view camera

Exterior product highlights include:

Unique 17-inch alloy wheels
Standard rear spoiler
Diesel badging

Mechanical Product highlights include:

2.0L Turbo Diesel – engine built in Europe
148 hp and 25lb-ft. torque
Z-link rear suspension from the RS
4-wheel disc brakes
DEF system

Surpassing its competitors, the Cruze Diesel has an estimated 148 horsepower and can go 0-60mph in 8.6 seconds, which is better than the Volkswagen TDI automatic.   Powered by the cleanest diesel passenger engine GM has ever produced, this car generates 90 percent less Nitrogen Oxide and particulate emissions then past generations.

For more news and updates on the Cruze 2TD and other General Motors vehicles, please visit Hamilton Auto Blog and queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

Credit: Chevrolet Canada, GM Canada

Get Behind The Wheel And Donate to The Walk to Fight Arthritis

Queenston Chevrolet Buick GMC will be holding our “Drive for a Cause” event on May 10th and 11th, 2013 at our Queenston on the Mountain dealership.  This event will provide individuals the opportunity to support a great cause and test drive one of our exciting 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet, Buick or GMC vehicles.  These vehicles include: the re-designed Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Malibu, Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia, as well as, the new Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore.

For each test drive taken during the two day event, Queenston Chevrolet Buick GMC will donate $25 to The Arthritis Society on behalf of that individual. The dealership’s goal for this event is to donate $4,500.Small Logo

Here are some facts regarding Arthritis in Canada:

4.6 Million Canadians Have Arthritis

·         4.6 million, or one in six, Canadians aged 15 years and older report having arthritis. By 2031, approximately seven million Canadians (one in five) are expected to have arthritis.

·         Arthritis can strike anyone at any time, regardless of age, physical condition or ethnic background.

·         Two-thirds of those affected with arthritis are women.

·         Among all causes of disability in Canada, arthritis ranks first among women and second among men.

 Arthritis Society

For more facts and figures click here or visit The Arthritis Society at http://www.arthritis.ca

The event runs Friday, May 10th from 9am-8pm and Saturday May 11th from 9am-5pm.  For more information, please contact Queenston on the Mountain: 2260 Rymal Road East, Hamilton, ON 905-528-7001 or visit us at www.queenstonchev.com

On Sunday June 9th, 2013 Queenston Chevrolet Buick GMC and Image Honda will be participating in the annual Walk to Fight Arthritis at the Royal Botanical Gardens.  If you are interested in participating in the walk or making a donation please visit our team pages and register.

For Queenston Chevrolet, click here
For Image Honda, click here

By: Amy Cochren

Honda Named Most Trust Brand, Best Value Brand and Best Overall Brand

There is once again exciting news for Honda! New-car buyers have spoken in our favour and recognized the Honda Brand as the “Most Trusted Brand” for the second consecutive year and as the “Best Value Brand” for the third year in a row in Kelley Blue Book’s 2013 Brand Image Award study. Additionally, Honda received the top award this year for “Best Overall Non-Luxury Brand” giving us more awards than any other car brand.KBB

These awards are based on consumer automotive perception data from Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence’s Brand Watch study, which surveys more than 12,000 new-vehicle shoppers each year on Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com.  Honda received top honors by capturing the highest average score from the combined ratings of all non-luxury models.  Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst, Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com was quoted as saying “Honda was named Best Overall Brand by non-luxury shoppers, which speaks to Honda’s stellar reputation and brand leadership in the minds of consumers.”

We encourage you to visit Image Honda and view our award winning line-up of vehicles.  With incentives and bi-weekly leasing for as little as $77 you won’t be able to turn down a test drive!

Contact us today at 1-888-375-5914 today or visit our virtual showroom at www.imagehonda.com

By Amy Cochren

Credit: Honda Canada

Chevrolet unveils the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible

When the 2014 Corvette Stingray was unveiled earlier this year at the Detroit Auto show, we were all left wondering – What about the convertible Stingray? When will it make its’ debut?

Our minds were put to rest today as the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible was unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show.Stingray Convertible 1

The convertible Corvette Stingray comes with almost everything you would find on the coupe version. The only notable changes are limited to accommodating the folding fabric top and repositioned seatbelts. Unlike other convertibles, the top can be dropped at speeds of up to 50km/hour. The key fob can also be used to raise or lower the top remotely.Stingray Convertible 2

“The convertible has been a part of the heart and soul of Corvette since the very beginning in 1953,” said Ed Welburn, General Motors  Vice President of global design. “With the all-new Corvette Stingray, we designed and developed the coupe and convertible simultaneously. As a result, the Corvette Stingray offers an open-top driving experience with no compromise in performance, technology or design.”Stingray Convertible 3

If the Stingray Corvette wasn’t enough already, the convertible takes it another step higher.  We can’t wait to see it out on the open road.

 

Source: GM

2013 Canadian International Auto Show

This year’s Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto brought with it huge crowds, gorgeous vehicles and exciting exhibits from the manufacturers.  Here at AutoHwy, we aren’t afraid to admit that this year brought some thrilling models.

Among some of this year’s most exciting were the concept vehicles.  Stealing everyone’s attention was the Honda Urban Small SUV concept.  Striking in its appearance, it glistened under the lights on display and stopped everyone in its tracks. This “concept” is soon to become a reality since it is set to be released in the United States later next year.563447_10101024808083761_243069825_n

Another popular favourite was the Chevrolet concept cars – Tru 140 S and Code 130R .  At their exhibit, Chevrolet actually engaged visitors by creating a voting booth of sorts, allowing individuals to vote on which concept car they would like to see become a reality!602242_10101024806536861_379935614_n

Perhaps one of the most exciting models at the show was the Canadian debut of the 2014 Chevrolet Stingray Corvette. This 450 horsepower vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/hr in less than 4 seconds!  Now for the good and the bad…it can be yours for approximately $115,000.

If you didn’t have an opportunity to make it to the show this year, feel free to browse our Facebook album and see what General Motors and Honda had to offer!48122_10101024806706521_489055165_n

If you are interested in purchasing a vehicle in one of our award winning line-ups, please visit us today at www.imagehonda.com or www.queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

The 2013 Honda Accord named Canadian Car of the Year

Earlier this morning at the opening of the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, the winner of the Canadian Car of the Year was awarded by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). The top honour went to none other than the 2013 Honda Accord sedan, and deservedly so. The Honda Accord beat out the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT and the 2013 Porsche Boxster.7964949

AJAC’s annual test in October had about 80 leading auto journalists from across Canada gathered to test drive and evaluate over one hundred 2013 vehicles.

“We are extremely proud to see the Accord recognized by so many of Canada’s top journalists as Canadian Car of the Year and we thank AJAC for this great honour,” said Takashi Sekiguchi, President and CEO, Honda Canada who was there to accept the award. “The Accord is one of our most important vehicles, so we’re thrilled to receive the great feedback that we’re continuing to raise the bar in the family car category.”image

Congratulations to Honda Canada and Honda worldwide for this great achievement. For anyone who hasn’t had a chance to take a 2013 Honda Accord out on the road, it is definitely one to put on your list.

For more information on booking a test drive, any additional information and videos on the 2013 Honda Accord be sure to visit our Image Honda YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/imagehonda and our main page at http://www.imagehonda.com

By Nerissa Mohamed

Source: Canada Newswire