To the Toronto Autoshow on Tuesday to check out the car scene. The new Toyota Echo hatchback was on display along with a couple of tricked-up "import" not-for-sale type versions. This is a worthy entrant in the economy car market available in two and four door variants. A fully loaded version should be available for under $20,000 CDN including tax. There will be no diesel version in Canada but a spokesman confessed he had had many requests for such a car.
Next to Mercedes Benz to ask about progress on importing the Smart car - an optimistic spokesman said the testing process was going well and he hoped that the diesel version would be on the market by late 2003. This cheering news was soon punctured by a spokesman for Transport Canada who said that the car was unlikely to be on the market until late 2004 or early 2005. The usual government penchant for secrecy was in evidence but under questioning I discovered that the testing process was 70% complete and that the rear crash protection was under scrutiny.
As last year Transport Canada had a Smart car on display and were dispensing a brochure giving a fuel consumption for the diesel version of 86.1 mpg for city driving and 101.6 on the highway. It makes the US manufacturers protestations that they cannot improve fuel consumption by 1.5 mpg look ridiculous.
Mind you there were plenty of land yachts in evidence with the humongous Ford F-350 Tonka Concept truck dominating the entrance to one hall.
Thursday, February 20, 2003
Sunday, February 16, 2003
Runaway
Friday night to the Linden Restaurant on the Queensway for a Valentine's night dinner/dance. We're nearly done with dinner when some guys in cowboy hats burst in and announce the arrival of Willie Nelson - suddenly "Willie" is here posing for photos and shaking hands.
A little checking on the web when we get home and "Willie" turns out to be E.J. Cooper from Oshawa, a tribute act. Reminds me of the "The Runaway" on the railway station back home in Lewes, East Sussex. Vic, the owner, insists that Willie Nelson was in the café one day but we have never got to the bottom of it and I don't suppose we ever will.
A little checking on the web when we get home and "Willie" turns out to be E.J. Cooper from Oshawa, a tribute act. Reminds me of the "The Runaway" on the railway station back home in Lewes, East Sussex. Vic, the owner, insists that Willie Nelson was in the café one day but we have never got to the bottom of it and I don't suppose we ever will.
Saturday, February 15, 2003
At last Smart due in North America
Mercedes-Benz are trailing the arrival of the Smart brand in North America at the end of 2004. The first Smart this side of the pond looks set to be the “Forfour” - a four-door, four-seat hatchback with all-wheel drive. The new Mitsubishi Colt will share major components. Mercedes are also contemplating selling the Smart two-seat coupe and roadster.
The question remains will the original Smart city-car make it across the Atlantic - will the modifications required to meet North American standards justify the cost and will consumers take to the Smart in sufficient numbers?
The question remains will the original Smart city-car make it across the Atlantic - will the modifications required to meet North American standards justify the cost and will consumers take to the Smart in sufficient numbers?
Friday, February 14, 2003
Peugeot-Citroen to launch hybrid models in 2004
Peugeot will be launching "hybrid" cars which use a battery to improve the efficiency of traditional petrol or diesel engines.
Both Peugeot and Citroen-branded hybrid models are expected next year. evWorld reports.
Both Peugeot and Citroen-branded hybrid models are expected next year. evWorld reports.
Thursday, February 13, 2003
Toyota launches Echo hatchback in Canada
Announced today at the Canadian International Autoshow in Toronto the new for 2004 Echo hatchback will go on sale this summer. Based on the Yaris on sale in Europe this will provide Toyota with a stronger entry-level offering compared to the Echo sedan which has not become a favourite with the Canadian public. No word on a diesel-engined version.
Tuesday, February 11, 2003
Sussex trugs ups stakes
Another story from Sussex - I must be feeling homesick - the Sussex trug company is on the move - read all about it.
After 174 years producing traditional Sussex trugs in the village of Herstmonceux, the legendary Thomas Smith's Trug Shop moved to Chiddingly this week. The new address is Pekes Farm, Nash Street, Chiddingly. Tel: 01825 872822
A trug is a useful basket for gardeners.
After 174 years producing traditional Sussex trugs in the village of Herstmonceux, the legendary Thomas Smith's Trug Shop moved to Chiddingly this week. The new address is Pekes Farm, Nash Street, Chiddingly. Tel: 01825 872822
A trug is a useful basket for gardeners.
New rolling stock in sidings
The average age of rolling stock on the south-central railway in England is 29 years meanwhile new carriages are sitting around awaiting an electricity upgrade. More here.
Monday, February 10, 2003
Smart 2003: Too Smart for North America
The second generation Smart models Coupé and Cabrio, recently announced, have new safety systems and more powerful engines. These economical town cars made in France by DaimlerChrysler are not available in North America.
Both models now have the electronic stability program ESP which integrates an anti-skid system (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution. They have a more comfortable ride compared to their predecessors.
The capacity of the three-cylinder turbo engine has been increased from 599 to 698 cubic centimeters and offered in two versions - 50 HP and 61 HP. There is also 41 HP diesel version. The Smart transmission now incorporates a kick-down function.
The top speed is still governed to 135 kmh with the special-order Brabus version (75 HP) able to achieve 150 kmh.
Both models now have the electronic stability program ESP which integrates an anti-skid system (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution. They have a more comfortable ride compared to their predecessors.
The capacity of the three-cylinder turbo engine has been increased from 599 to 698 cubic centimeters and offered in two versions - 50 HP and 61 HP. There is also 41 HP diesel version. The Smart transmission now incorporates a kick-down function.
The top speed is still governed to 135 kmh with the special-order Brabus version (75 HP) able to achieve 150 kmh.
Sunday, February 9, 2003
Roaming around in Toronto
Thursday night to York Memorial Collegiate Institute by bus to see Mark Cullen, gardening pundit on TV and radio. What a pleasure - an old fashioned school built in the thirties with an auditorium that would seat 650 - only nine provincial shields above the stage - must have predated Newfoundland joining the Confederation.
The school reminded me of when I was a kid but on a grander scale - the war memorials and the sports trophy cabinets were there - and the present generation of pupils had laid on a fundraiser for their York Memorial Courtyard Rejuvenation Project. The bakesale was well received - coffee and cookies before going into the hall.
Cullen is an accomplished public speaker good at projecting gardening for the layman - inspiring for beginners like us. "Never design a garden that is too big for your wife to maintain."
On Friday we took the subway downtown to St Lawrence Market - a quick trip to the market gallery above the market which stages school visits on the history of Toronto. The current exhibition featured poster art from the Canadian National Exhibition of the fifties and sixties - interesting to see the old acts that appeared there, including Bob Hope, and many other "internationally famous" acts that I'd never heard of. Returned on the King Street street car changing at Roncesvalles - passed by the new wind turbine at the CNE, which was turning merrily, generating clean electricity.
Yesterday to Weall and Cullen on Dundas Street West - home of the gardening advisor - and booked an appointment for a landscaper to look over our rather tired garden. Roll on spring.
The school reminded me of when I was a kid but on a grander scale - the war memorials and the sports trophy cabinets were there - and the present generation of pupils had laid on a fundraiser for their York Memorial Courtyard Rejuvenation Project. The bakesale was well received - coffee and cookies before going into the hall.
Cullen is an accomplished public speaker good at projecting gardening for the layman - inspiring for beginners like us. "Never design a garden that is too big for your wife to maintain."
On Friday we took the subway downtown to St Lawrence Market - a quick trip to the market gallery above the market which stages school visits on the history of Toronto. The current exhibition featured poster art from the Canadian National Exhibition of the fifties and sixties - interesting to see the old acts that appeared there, including Bob Hope, and many other "internationally famous" acts that I'd never heard of. Returned on the King Street street car changing at Roncesvalles - passed by the new wind turbine at the CNE, which was turning merrily, generating clean electricity.
Yesterday to Weall and Cullen on Dundas Street West - home of the gardening advisor - and booked an appointment for a landscaper to look over our rather tired garden. Roll on spring.
Saturday, February 8, 2003
Manfred Von Brauchitsch
An obituary from the Daily Telegraph - a racing driver who drove for the "silver arrows" in the thirties and later defected to East Germany.
Tuesday, February 4, 2003
UK commissions 1000th wind turbine
The UK has commissioned its landmark 1000th wind turbine. However, it still lags behind Denmark, with its 6,500 turbines and Germany’s 14,000 turbines. More here.
Sunday, February 2, 2003
Wiarton Willie Begs to Differ
According to Canada's leading weather prognosticator, the albino groundhog Wiarton Willie, spring will come early this year north of the border. Willie, a resident of Wiarton, Ontario at the base of the Bruce Peninsula on Georgian Bay, did not see his shadow on Groundhog Day. Meanwhile, Punxsutawney Phil from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania predicted another six weeks of winter in the USA.
Groundhog Day
Well the Chinese New Year kicked off yesterday and today Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, came out and saw his shadow so we're in for another six weeks of winter. Not difficult to believe here in Toronto although yesterday we had a pleasant trip round the bookstores downtown after the three week freeze-up.
The weekend Globe and Mail tells us there are now more mobile phones in the world than landlines, 1.5 billion mobiles against 1.3 billion landlines. All this in the space of thirty years since the first cellphone. The 'mobile' has gone from a must-have accessory for celebrities and businessmen to a naff, rather intrusive item for everybody in that time.
The National Post Review section has an interesting piece on cities turning into tourist destinations by Witold Rybcynski, Meyersohn Professor of Urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania. He says "Probably the only concerns that tourists share with the locals are a demand for good policing, and clean streets." Surely the two things that are increasingly hard to find.
The weekend Globe and Mail tells us there are now more mobile phones in the world than landlines, 1.5 billion mobiles against 1.3 billion landlines. All this in the space of thirty years since the first cellphone. The 'mobile' has gone from a must-have accessory for celebrities and businessmen to a naff, rather intrusive item for everybody in that time.
The National Post Review section has an interesting piece on cities turning into tourist destinations by Witold Rybcynski, Meyersohn Professor of Urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania. He says "Probably the only concerns that tourists share with the locals are a demand for good policing, and clean streets." Surely the two things that are increasingly hard to find.
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