2018 Toronto Auto Show Photodump

"chaozbandit" (chaozbandit)
02/23/2018 at 22:00 • Filed to: canadian international auto show, toronto

Somehow the human body always manages to catch an illness at the most opportune of times, hence the delay in posting this. But no matter, here’s what you would have missed from CIAS if you still haven’t attended (fret not for this is the final weekend and you still have time).

Naturally the entire album is available on Flickr already:

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Day 1

The man himself in all of his Swedish aura - this year’s kickoff involved a short interview on stage followed by a nice burbly alarm clock. Nothing like the very strong smell of combustables to get your morning started. Y’all have probably heard an Agera a million times by now but how often can you say it performed on stage in an orchestral theatre for you?

The first manufacturer floor was your usual assortment: fun, value-oriented vehicles mixing it up with the usual domestic marques. Obviously I made a bee-line for the Type RA before it was barricaded off, much like the BR-Z tS minutes before.

The Ascent, which we now know starts at $35,995 CAD and tops out at $49,995 CAD, looks like it’s coming out swinging when it hits the market later in the year. I adore everything about it and kudos to them for realizing their “full-size” dream, although competition will be stiff at just below the 50 mark.

Almost guaranteed to hold the starts of the show year-on-year, Auto Exotica was again headlined by Pfaff, GTA and Autostradaforum (congratulations Lucas on another fantastic year of published content). It seems odd to say but next to the Agera, this specific Chiron barely made a splash and it seemed the Urus would be a bigger hit. Tonybet’s Martini GT fared slightly better but the lighting didn’t suit it well.

Among the highly anticipated morning reveals that I was looking forward to was the Veloster N. As presented in both FM7 and by thestraightpipes, this pre-production sample is gunning right for the Type-R and it’s won me over. The plethora of mechanical updates and updated styling over the outgoing Velosters brings plenty to the table, and as Jakub can attest - it’s a hoot to hoon.

Callaway was an unexpected surprise although it goes without saying (personally) as neat as the Aerowagon is, I would much rather see the Z06.R GT3 on the floor.

Equally surprising was the fact that a Model 3 exists north of the border, but at this point I’m convinced the majority of these cars are in multi-coat red. It’s a nice car in and out once you spend some time with it. A few floors away was a “generously donated” Model X P90D, which the OPP have kept mostly stock apart from light bars.

Legendary Motor Cars and Ford GT40s go as well together as PB&J. Known for their immaculate restorations, this battle-proven Mk II oozed a certain coolness that comes only from historic racecars. While not shown in its period livery, it’s nice seeing a LMC GT40 especially after missing their completely restored road-going GT40 that was auctioned off two years ago.

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When I read F1, I wasn’t expecting the F1. Raikkonen’s MP4-19B was a stark contrast to the current crop of hybrid monsters. Even still, the V10 cars achieve a natural aggression that even the current wide cars struggle with.

And then the real star of the show rolled in. The actual world-record setting car from the US, signature and all. It was the most nerve-wracking few minutes watching it slowly inch up onto the platform, but every whoosh of the turbo was as enjoyable as the last. Like the Huayra BC, a mixed clear and painted carbon body is hard to appreciate without proper lighting but who even knows when one of the two Canadian Agera RSs will show up.

Speaking of Huayras, the Roadster also made its official Canadian debut. Although the car was seen in Toronto as early as the fall last year, it hasn’t been seen really since then. Taking the spot of last years Tempesta coupe (Ella), the Italian definitely met the hype. A masterpiece of carbon fibre.

Continuing the Geneva theme were two very high profile items: the Project One and the GT2RS. The former needs no real introduction; the first of the Formula 1 hybrid hypercars with the championship proven EQ+ powertrain from the F1 W05 which dominated that first season. The GT2RS was neat not so much because of the widowmaker history, but because this is Porsches proper foray into carbon bodywork (as seen in the exclusive series turbo next to it).

A familiar crop of Subarus rounded out the day and I’m excited to hit the ground running for shooting this season. Boake’s Black Storm, a PPIHC and time-attack monster in general alongside Gray’s blue STI are the epitome of Canadian unlimited AWD time attack. The madmen behind these creations, Can Jam Motorsports, also had on display Crazy Leo’s production class STI which wore slightly more battle damage than when I last saw it at Rally of the Tall Pines.

Overall the motorsports displays were a bit lacking, but I guess that comes naturally when you have two LMP1-H displays the previous year. Still neat to see a DPI-V.R, even if it is just WTR’s demo car, although I prefer to shoot it at Mosport when that rolls around. Likewise it’s neat seeing the first generation Formula E chassis but it feels slightly jaded knowing the incoming chassis is so radically different.

Of a similar note, Honda didn’t even bother bringing the static DW12 this year but I suppose the lack of spare universal kits is the culprit here.

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Day 2

The second day was entirely about pick-up shots and covering anything I may have missed, of which I felt wasn’t that much.

The 70 Years of Porsche exhibit was neat albeit short lived. Although purely coincidental, it was great seeing a Gulf P1 close enough to a Gulf 918 Weissach. The Mission-E and Carrera GT, as immaculate as it was, were neat but didn’t make up for the lack of a 991.2 GT3 on the main floors.

To this day I can still count the total number of 599s I’ve shot with two hands, let alone GTOs of which this is the first. Such a timeless design that makes you really reflect on how far Ferrari have come with the 812SF, ignoring all the hoops that come with the Ferrari ownership experience.

Carbon galore! Pagani carbon-work is some of the best out there but the Agera isn’t half bad either.

Hot Wheels 50th anniversary being the title event, I would have expected no less than a few 1:1 displays straight from California. There wasn’t much in the way for the LALDers on this side of the border (just the normal mainline stuff) but it was fun playing FH3 in the downtime.

Elsewhere on the main floors a few odd-balls stuck out. The new Kona which seemingly came out of nowhere, and the new Mitsubishi Aztec - I mean Eclipse Cross.

While we don’t have a full Heritage Collection available to us from any of the big marques, Mazda Canada seemingly always has something special hidden away somewhere. I fear for the thoughts that ran through spectators as they gazed at the completely stock FD3S and NA Miata on the stage. The Japanese seem to have a thing for keeping these time capsule around, as the OG Cosmo was a nice compliment to the Subaru 360 and first generation Civic elsewhere on the floor.

Compared to when the ZR-1 first debuted in Dubai, I can say now that my thoughts on the aero have changed. The wing is much less awkward than I thought initially - it overhangs the bumper quite a bit but its not otherwise awkwardly curved. The rear bumper has little definition nor diffuser to compliment it sadly, and the front air dams still don’t suit the C7 too well. If the overall car was slightly widened then maybe but to me it still seems like an imitation GT R.

No shortage of Multimatic love here! Give them as much flak as you want for not delivering GTs at a suitable rate but at least they’re much better off than Bombardier on this front. Also it’s great to see DSSV being adopted even if so far it’s just in the Camaro ZL1 and Colorado ZR2.

Similarly it’s great that VAG have fully embraced giving customers the option for fun, bright colours. The world needs more oranges, purples and greens although at the rate we see VWs and Audis in the standard monochrome palette, it is still likely the effort will be in vain.

OLED ftw!

At some point the franken-f1 just doesn’t hold your attention anymore, especially with the current regulations. Thankfully Infiniti Canada realized this and showed off the Prototype 9 and Q60 Black S. You couldn’t have paired to concepts that were further apart on the spectrum of vehicle design. Personally I love the look of the old single seater racers even if it turns out to be a pure EV.

A quick goodbye to Jefe and Sasha’s Tesla swapped Evora to close off day 2.

DISCUSSION (4)

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > chaozbandit
02/23/2018 at 22:25

What the heck is a Subaru Ascent? Is that the new Tribeca? Or more accurately new 6 passenger SUV.

CB > chaozbandit
02/23/2018 at 22:38

Damn, I really wish I could have made it. Maybe next year I’ll hit a big autoshow in a nearby province.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
02/24/2018 at 01:07

The Ascent is Subaru’s answer to the Explorer and its ilk. A near-minivan-replacement crossover/SUV to appease the American market’s unending lust for everything crossover and SUV.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > winterlegacy, here 'till the end
02/24/2018 at 02:01

It’s a Highlander with a Outback grille.

Also hot damn that Purple Golf R is amazing. Maybe 2019 will be the year Purple comes back to the market.