2015 Volkswagen Golf R SportWagen (290 horsepower)

This is not your typical VW station wagon, it’s a Volkswagen Golf R SportWagen circling the Nürburgring track. (Euro-market model shown)
Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder producing 290 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque (EA888 engine), it can be paired up with either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Power is distributed to all four wheels via Volkswagen’s Haldex based 4MOTION four-wheel-drive system.

We most likely will not see the SportWagon here in North America so we will have to settle for the Golf R in 3 and 5 doors.
Full article and further pictures can be found on Car and Driver website by following this link: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2015-volkswagen-golf-r-sportwagen-spy-photos-news

2016 Honda HR-V engine and transmissions revealed

It's official in most countries the 2016 HR-V will be using the Civic 1.8L engine as my previous blogs assumption. Unfortunately only some countries will get the 6 speed manual, all others will be stuck with the CVT. As well looks like propulsion of the HR-V at least in the early years of production will be solely to the front wheels and not AWD.

Here as some links to engine and transmission choices based on specific Counties.

AUSTALIA (drive.com.au)
http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/honda-hrv-details-revealed-20141103-11fzc4.html
(theland.com.au)
http://www.theland.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/new-honda-hrv-arrival-early-next-year/2717253.aspx

THAILAND (bangkokpost.com)
http://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/news/443821/new-honda-hr-v-launched

BRAZIL (indianautoblog.com)
http://indianautosblog.com/2014/10/honda-hr-v-2014-sao-paulo-motor-show-154630

Will keep you all up to date on what the North American version of the HR-V will be fitted with after the LA auto show on the 19th of November.

UPDATE:
NORTH AMERICA: (news10.com)
As expected another disappointment, manual transmission available only on base FWD HR-V model.

"Power comes from a highly refined and responsive 1.8-liter SOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with i-VTEC valvetrain producing a peak 138 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 127 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm (both SAE net). The engine is mated to a sporty and fuel-efficient continuously variable transmission (CVT) with Honda "G-design" shift logic, or a slick-shifting 6-speed manual transmission (2WD models only)"
Link: http://www.news10.com/story/27430485/all-new-2016-honda-hr-v-crossover-makes-north-american-debut-at-2014-los-angeles-auto-show

All I can say is that Honda better price the HR-V base model under $20,000 Canadian. For $25,995 Canadian you can get a much larger 6 speed manual Subaru Forester with AWD and 2.5L boxer engine standard. Plus the vastly superior Subaru AWD system over the Honda Real-Time AWD system.
Don't mean to alienate those who prefer the automatic transmission to the manual. It's just getting very annoying that AWD is never available to drivers who prefer to drive the stick shift over the automatic. (Jeep and Subaru still make standard AWD vehicles). Besides what is an SUV without AWD, just a jacked up station wagon.

PHOTOS on autoblog.com
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/11/19/2016-honda-hrv-la-2014/
Honda.com
http://automobiles.honda.com/hr-v/#intro

2016 Honda HR-V (Compact SUV) Official Shape for NA

The North American version of the all-new Honda HR-V to be built in Celaya, Mexico and will have a final look as above. I kinda like the smooth bubble like look of the front, I believe the new HR-V shape will neither excite or disappoint buyers.
Originally the HR-V was supposed to get the same 1.5L four cylinder engine (130 hp) that powers the new Honda Fit, mated to a CVT automatic transmission. A recent article on Car&Driver throws some doubt into that report. Based on the extra body weight it would make sense for Honda to throw into the HR-V the North American Civic engine instead.
http://blog.caranddriver.com/all-new-honda-hr-v-crossover-makes-its-north-american-photo-debut/ 
The 1.8L four cylinder plant that produces 143 hp would be an ideal fit (no pun intended) for the HR-V. Please, please Honda make a 6 speed manual and AWD standard on the HR-V. It's so annoying that the only AWD SUVs produced in manual today are produced solely by Jeep and Subaru.
Inside the HR-V will have the same Honda Fit "magic seat" witch increases the interior cargo volume by moving the gas tank to the middle of the vehicle. This in turn allows the back seats to fold completely flat into the floor.
"Further details about the Honda HR-V will be revealed on Nov. 19 at 12:35 p.m. PST at the Los Angeles Auto Show" According to hondanews.ca
http://www.hondanews.ca/en/news/release/Honda-HRV-Crossover-to-Make-North-American-Debut-at-2014-Los-Angeles-Auto-Show

2015 Subaru Forester

With winter around the corner I'm dreading another year of massive snowstorms. Here in Canada we are known for our 40 plus centimeter snowstorm daily dumps at least 5 to 10 times per winter. As much as I love my little sub-compact for it's great gas mileage even my studded winter tires can't help sometimes.
My research for the ultimate SUV has brought me to the 2015 Subaru Forester. It was completely redesigned in 2014, as most of you well know, never purchase a vehicle in it's first year of production. Usually most manufacturers are still getting some of the kinks out of the armor. A good example is was the new Ford Escape, eight recalls and counting (see my previous Escape recall blog)

Now to the 2015 Forester (not including XT). Power comes from a 2.5L (4 cyl.) Dual Overhead Cam, 16-valve, horizontally opposed, 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER engine with Electronic Throttle Control and Active Valve Control System. Power output is 170 hp @ 5800 rpm and 174 lb-ft torque @ 4100 rpm. Acceleration from 0-98 km/h (60 mph) is 9.3 seconds which is average for this segment.
There are two transmission choices available a 6 speed manual and a CVT automatic. AWD (all-wheel drive) is standard across all 2015 Forester models. With the manual transmission you get the Subaru symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive system: Viscous-coupling limited-slip center differential (power distribution is 50/50 front/back wheels). The CVT gets the Subaru symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive system: Electronically controlled multi-plate transfer clutch (60/40 front/back under normal conditions).
Hill Descent Control is standard on all CVT models only as well as four wheel disc brakes with ABS and EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution)
Front and rear stabilizer bars, MacPherson strut with lower L-arm suspension in the front and double-wishbone suspension in the back are standard across the lineup.
In the latest Consumer Reports automotive magazine it was rated as the most efficient small SUV on the market. It is also the IIHS top safety pick in it's category of small SUV.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2014/04/top-picks-2014/index.htm
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings

Consumption for the 6 speed manual is 10.6/8.4 (City/Hwy) (L/100km) (27/34 mpg) and 9.6/7.5 (City/Hwy) (L/100km) (29/38 mpg) for the CVT auto. For those outside of North America these numbers are for regular grade gasoline of only 87 octane.
Cargo volume is 974 Liters (34.4 cubic feet) with seats up and a whopping 2115 (74.7 cubic feet) with the rear seats folded and passenger volume comes in at 3067 Liters (108.3 cubic feet)


As for the price, starts at $25,995 Canadian for the base model and ends up at $35,695 for the Limited with technology package. PDI and freight is $1650 then you have to add the dreaded taxes which will bring you to almost $32,000 for the base model.
Although base model comes well equipped with A/C, cruise control, review camera, heated front seats, and bluetooth connectivity.

2015 Subaru Forester review at TheCarConnection.com (8.4/10): http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/subaru_forester_2015

Autotrader.com review: http://www.autotrader.com/research/article/car-reviews/222370/2015-subaru-forester-new-car-review.jsp

KellyBlueBook review (8/10): http://www.kbb.com/subaru/forester/2015-subaru-forester/?r=427533221041997950

Motortrend.com review (4/5): http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2015/subaru/forester/

Subaru Canada: http://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?WebSiteID=282&WebPageID=19198&Range=Forester&ModelYear=2015
Subaru USA: http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/forester/index.html

All photos from TheCarConnection.com to view more:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/photos/subaru_forester_2015

Subaru AWD system explained on allwheeldriven: http://www.awdwiki.com/en/subaru/

Apart from the so-so looks this SUV looks like a winner, especially for those of us who still prefer the manual gearbox over the auto. (Just wished it had the styling of the 2015 Lexus NX)