Sedan Ramblings - Reviews, comparisons and all things sedans

2003 Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto

by Traian Popescu

Fr about 120 more photos from the show, including those of our team, check out the Photo Gallery!

The Canadian International Autoshow. Sounds impressive, doesn't it? All those shiny new snowmobiles and AWD snowshoes almost make the winter blues melt away. It's so cold, in fact, that most Canadians have never actually seen their own belly button! And then there's the snow. Us Canadians, strong, humble, broad-chested lumberjacks that we are, enjoy our tracked, amphibious, tundra-crossing snow vehicles like nothing else. Just imagine the Fantasycars.com team's surprise, then, upon arriving at the entrance of the main display floor on opening day, amidst a sea of RWD BMWs, many of them topless.

Ah, yes, BMW! Is there anything more enjoyable than sitting in the cockpit of a drop-top Z4 blasting down an imaginary mountain pass, working the pedals, rowing the gears with the slick-shifting stick while making engine noises. Perhaps if the BMW executives would stop looking on in disgust:

- "Sir, we are about to begin the unveiling, would you please care to step out of the car?"
- "Vrrrrroooooooooommmmmmmmmm….."
- "Sir, I really must insist. We are running behind schedule as it is."
- "Vroooommm, screeeeeeeeeech, vvvvvrrrrrrrrrroooo….Hey, what's the big idea? Let go of me!!!"

Ah, the memories…The Z4 is indeed quite a handsome car in the flesh, particularly in traditionally dull colours such as silver. Pictures do it little justice: it is low, lean and well sculpted. Somewhat less can be said of the 760iL, which has a little trouble disguising its bloated awkwardness from the outside, though it does look stunning indoors. Its 430hp V12, displacing 6 liters, will take the big-7 from a standstill to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds, faster by almost a half-second than the Z4 3.0.

Next up were Mitsubishi, which unveiled the Endeavor (an SUV-like SUV) and a new, prettier Lancer. The Mitsu stand was, however, quite Evo-less, which left us most hapless. Subaru didn't shy away from presenting the Impreza WRX STi, which will probably cream the Evolution in North America anyway, what with it's almost 30 horsepower advantage and all. The more down to earth Imprezas, as well as the Outback and Forester, all get an STi-ed front end treatment.

Mercedes had the SL55 AMG, tucked neatly away in a dark corner, impossibly beautiful even among the rest of the Stuttgart lineup, which are hardly a bad looking bunch. Inside, all the buttons, controls and knobs operate with the utmost precision and satisfying feedback. The retractable hardtop was malfunctioning, but one can't dwell on details.

Moving on the Cayenne, arguably the most pleasant surprise at the show: it's pretty! Not so much the Turbo, which looks like it inhaled an elephant, but the S, with it's smaller intakes, is quite the looker. They both go well too, which is nice, what with them being Porsches and all. Nevertheless, in the author's opinion, unless you plan to go offroading (in which case a Porsche is probably not the best place to start looking), stick with the X5.

Acura's TSX also impressed with its rakishly handsome (but hopelessly forgettable) styling, 200-horsepower 2.4L i-VTEC engine, 6-speed manual transmission and sport-tuned chassis and suspension. It makes both the RSX and Honda Accord seem kind of pointless.

Over at Land Rover, we were wined and dined by Solihull's gracious staff, who provided every imaginable delicacy. You can imagine the Fantasycars.com team's delight:

- "Quick, the Land Rover guy isn't looking, stuff some of that in your pocket...No, not, the pork; the shrimp, they're more expensive!"

To return the favour, I must admit the Discovery is my most favourite sport-utility vehicle.

As far as unveilings go, Mazda's RX-8 was probably the worst kept secret at the show. It's a stunner though: sleek, pretty, spacious and all circly inside. The car it succeeded, the RX-Evolv, was parked right beside, whose racier interior and more audacious exterior made not a few of us wish it was the one going on sale:

- "Excuse me, kind sir, how soon will I be able to procure this particular and most exquisite automobile?"
- "I'm sorry, sir. The RX-Evolv is not for sale."
- "I see, I see…and what will be its retail price?
- "No, sir, I'm afraid you don't understand. The RX-Evolv is only a concept: it is the precursor to the RX-8, which will go for…"
- "Ok, I'll take it!!!"
- "Sir, please, you must understand, you will never be able to buy this car."
- "Oh, ok, I see…I'll take two! Hey, what's the big idea? Let go of me!!!…"

Good times, good times… Also in the neighbourhood was the MX Sport Runabout, a square-ishly attractive and roomy 5-door hatch, proof that big style can come in a small box; the Secret Hideout; the RX-01; the RX-8 X-Men and the Washu, which features drive by wire, and a spartan but elegant interior.

The next big-league hitter was GM, which managed to perform an unheard of feat by unveiling 11 new cars (4 of them world premiers) which all looked pretty much the same. Well, perhaps that's a little harsh. Cadillac's 315-hp 4.6L V8-engined RWD XLR is quite stylish and the 105-hp 1.6L 4-pot Aveo sedan/hatch duo has quite a bit of European small car chic about it. But that's about it. The Buick Rainier, Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Silverado are all just rebadged version of the standard GM SUV and pickup truck. Sure, some are built on different platforms and GM does build good trucks, but mixing and matching parts out of the same common bin among countless companies does get a little tiring. The 2004 Chevrolet Malibu and Epica were also unveiled.

Ford was also kind enough to provide a sports car worth drooling over with the gorgeous 2004 Mustang. Both V6 and V8 powered 'Stangs will be offered (the latter featuring slightly less than the concept's 400 horses), with the SVT model receiving an independent rear suspension. Look for it in April 2004. There is a rebadged Windstar called the Freestar, supposedly an all-new minivan to be built here in Ontario, and a new F-150 also coming to Ford dealers near you.

Toyota had a new minivan of its own with the Sienna, whose front end mimics the new Peugeot 807, as well as the FXS sports car, recycled from the 2001 Tokyo Motorshow. Most important was the new Echo hatchback, identical to the Euro version Yaris, and all the better (and prettier) for it.

The cutest car at the show was undoubtedly VW's new Beetle Cabrio, probably a case of too little too late in the battle to stop plunging Beetle sales, but a cute car all the same. So cute, in fact, that the Fantasycars.com team couldn't resist goofing off in it for a photo op.

Finally we arrived at Ferrari, ready for some quality time with the Enzo. The time had come. What can you say about the Enzo? It's fast, stunning and outrageous - probably the biggest understatements in motorcar history. It is also ugly. Unlike the Z4 and Cayenne, the Enzo is about as homely and awkward in real life as it is in pictures. It does, however, have 12 cylinders, 660 horsepower and it goes 218 mph, which should more than make up for it. If not, there's always the bus. I hope you had fun and I'll see you at the show next year!

Author's note: not all the things listed in this article are entirely historically accurate.

Fr about 120 more photos from the show, including those of our team, check out the Photo Gallery!

© Traian Popescu , World's Fastest Sedans (http://www.fantasycars.com/sedans/), 2003.

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