A biweekly roundup of automotive news, good, bad and just plain weird:
Nissan's Micra race car
I love you Nissan. No, not because of the GT-R. Not because of the 370Z, or the Juke R, or even because of the wacky Pike Factory cars like the Figaro (although those are pretty good). I love you because you decided to turn the cheapest car in Canada into a race car.
Meet the Micra racer, a Nismo-tuned pocket rocket with exactly no more horsepower than the standard street car, but a beefed-up suspension and tons of attitude. It's got a roll cage. It's got a five-point racing harness. It's a fullfledged racing machine for about the same price as a Sentra with air conditioning.
Now, some of you may be saying, "No more power? Doesn't that thing have like 109 h.p.?" Well yes, it's no ballistic missile.
However, just imagine 25 of these things entering a corner at full speed, banging wheels and trading paint, and struggling for position like an explosion at the Ikea ball pit. It'd be the most fun ever.
The inaugural Micra Cup kicks off in Quebec in May of next year. Where's my old French high school textbook? Je vais courses!
An end to the naturally aspirated 911?
With more and more pressure coming to bear on European automakers to meet emission standards, the turbocharger is going through a second renaissance. There's no better way to make good power, yet still have low greenhouse gas production, than with a smalldisplacement engine fitted with forced induction.
Porsche has been all about turbo technology for decades, from the completely insane RSR LeMans racers to the ultracapable 959. Now, there are rumours that turbocharging is going to spread across the 911 range in an effort to combine power with the demand for greater efficiency.
So what might that look like? Well, if you scan both the Panamera and Macan lineups, you'll find turbochargers at nearly every level. The Panamera GTS still gets a thundering V-8, but the standard S gets a twin-turbo six with much better economy, and very responsive torque. All Macans are turbocharged (leading to some confusion about why there's only one Macan Turbo, but I digress), just with varying power levels.
The current rumour is that the base 911 would see a bump in power to accompany a downsized displacement, to quell any complaints about reduced performance. With a midcycle refresh coming soon, might we soon see an end to the naturally aspirated cars? The enthusiasts might miss them, but remember, this is the same Porsche that eliminated the stick-shift from the GT3.
The year of total recall
If you follow automotive news regularly, you might well be suffering from recall fatigue. It seems like every fifth story this year has been some variation on yet another manufacturer recall, some minor, some major, some terrifying (GM's ignition woes), some slightly hilarious (Suzuki's spider woes). Well, I suppose the spider one is hilarious and terrifying, all at once.
Apparently, the numbers are something like one in five cars have been recalled this year. Even Ford's new Mustang, which is only just barely available, has already had a limited recall.
As a result, consumers may be overloaded with information and simply not bother to check in on the status of their car. More worrisome is that manufacturers really have no way of contacting those who have picked up their car on the used market, particularly in private sales.
Especially with more serious recalls like the Takata airbag problem affecting some Hondas and Toyotas, it's vital to check to make sure your car is up-todate. Simply asking your dealership service advisor to run the VIN at your next oil change is worth it.
Giant naked breasts cause 500+ accidents in Moscow
Heavens, that recall stuff was all very serious. I wonder what's going on in Russia this week? Ah, there we go - much more entertaining.
Huge billboards displaying a set of barely covered breasts were responsible for 517 accidents in the capital city of Moscow this week. Now there's a sentence you'd like to trot out in front of Lenin's ghost.
The mobile billboards were meant to advertise an advertising company called AdvTruck which - oh, you can figure out what they do. The text on the strategically positioned bar read (in Russian, of course), "They attract."
Apparently "they" attracted all sorts of attention, turning downtown Moscow into a session of bumpercars. AdvTruck says they will cover all costs for accidents they caused, beyond what's already covered by insurance.
Ford readying SEMA entrants
The Specialty Equipment Marketing Association show is always a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand we have some wild and woolly fabrications that can delve deeply into the realm of silliness. On the other hand, sometimes the manufacturers fall a bit short, choosing to simply slap on a set of bit wheels and call it a day.
Ford, however, has been on something of a roll at SEMA of late, with four straight years of taking the Hottest Truck award for having the best hatchback. No, just kidding - for having the best truck.
This year's entry, based on the all-new F150, looks really interesting. Fitted with an air-lift suspension and other goodies, it's set up to be a dedicated drifter, as well as an off-road racer. It's also a crew cab, so there's Recaro seating for five.
Neat stuff, and the idea of doing more than just jacking a full-size pickup into the air is a fresh take on the segment. With the F150 still the best-selling truck in Canada and the United States, it'll be interesting to see whether the aftermarket embraces the idea.
Watch this space for all the week's best and worst of automotive news, or submit your own auto oddities to [email protected].
