JUNE 2016
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JUNE 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
Spotlight on Business Magazine is giving away two 3 Day Passes to the Cavendish Beach Musical Festival! Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter to be entered in the draw! Draw is June 15th
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JUNE 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
spotlight on june
S ome people work at a career; they go to work, do their job and collect their pay cheque. Trust me there is nothing wrong with that. In fact it is what runs the North American and Australian marketplace and what drives the global economy. In June we spotlight entrepreneurs that took a passion outside of their 9 to 5 jobs and built a business and not just any business but one that is considered the best in the industry. As a team we always like to hear about and write stories of people who make the jump to being entrepreneurs and successful business leaders. It is these entrepreneurs and leaders that inspire
Editor Lee Atwater
International Operations Director Nick Gregg
Research Sarah Lajoie Ryan Jacobs Latasha Hetland Alia Morash
Production Manager Samantha Ford
Office Administrator Kyte Carter
us andour readers to think outside of the box and tobelieve in your dreams andpassions in life. Passion along with dedication, determination and good old hard work are the keys tomaking a dream happen.
Webmaster Aaron Allen
Sal Akbani, President and CEO of Gateway Classic Cars, took the jump with his passion for cars and trucks, as he started with more or less selling restorable vehicles and now 17 years later has become an industry leader, selling only the best quality classic, custom and unique cars and trucks in the World with showrooms all across the United States and a website that gets over 4 million views a month. Once you check out the site you will know why, as our team is personally responsible for about 100,000 views ourselves. Sal created a business out of a true love for automobiles and built a team of passionate gearheads like him that love what they do and are driven to be the best in business, no pun intended. When talking about Scott Harper, President of Side By Side Stuff, he definitely took the jump in more ways than one, realizing that many others shared his same passion for the off road. He started doing repairs and wanted to build his local side by side showroom and maybe add another. Then his passion for the side by side industry and the outdoors took over and he saw the opportunity to expand past the walls of his showroom and help people who shared his same passion for side by sides experience and created Side By Side Stuff to help them max out their rides and their off road experience, building one of the fastest growing websites for part and accessories for the industry. When thinking of Sal and Scott, a lot of things come to mind; they both have amazing products, they both have amazing people and they both want the customer to have the best experience possible, whether that is purchasing a product or using it. So whether you are buying or selling your classic 1969 Shelby Cobra or accessorizing your new Performance Wildcat the teams at Gateway Classic Cars and Side By Side Stuff treat you like family. I know to some that might sound a little funny for a business but it has been part of their business model from the beginning. I am sure that both Sal and Scott would agree, If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, just customize it to make it your own.
Creative / Graphic Design AIDACA Design Team
Contributing Writers Katie Davis David MacDonald Charlene Boyce Barry Cox Jamie Barrie
Advertising & Marketing Team Wayne Jacobs Nicole Rayner
Publisher AIDACA Media
As we get ready to move into Summer we wish you all they very best wherever your travels may take you on and off the road and wish you continued success both personally and professionally.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS • JUNE 2016
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BEYOND BIG DEALS ON FOUR WHEELS Gateway Classic Cars If you love classic and exotic cars, you are going to love Sal Akbani. If you love celebrities, you are
04 SPOTLIGHT ON JUNE 06 CURRENT INDUSTRY EVENTS 08 SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION 14 SPOTLIGHT ON INDUSTRY 26 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS 40 BEYOND BIG DEALS ON FOUR WHEELS Gateway Classic Cars 46 WHO KNEW THE OUTDOORS TYPE WERE SO GOOD AT THE ONLINE THING? SidebySideStuff.com 54 MAKING THE RIGHT KIND OF TRACKS RIGHT AT HOME Timberlea Tire 58 JUNKYARD TREASURE HUNTING IS A LOST ART
going to love Sal Akbani. If you love people who give back to their community, you are going to
love Sal Akbani. He is the President and CEO of Gateway Classic Cars...
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JUNE 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
AACA ANNUAL GRAND NATIONAL MEET PA College of Technology – Williamsport, PA, United States
MUDDIN’ FOR THE MILITARY Muddy Bottoms ATV and Recreation Park – Serepta, LA, United States Muddin’ For The Military is an event held each year at an ATV Park with a goal to raise money for Wounded Warriors. This year the event will be held at Muddy Bottoms ATV Park in Serepta LA. The weekend will be filled with Mud, Fun, Entertainment and one of the largest fireworks show you have ever seen. During the weekend, we will have event shirts, raffle tickets, slient auction and a live auction with 100% of the funds going to Wounded Warriors.
July 1st-4th 2016
June 3rd-4th 2016
The Susquehannock Region AACA and the Penn College Classic Cruisers are excited to be hosting this year’s Grand National in Williamsport on the Pennsylvania College of Technology campus.
For more information visit http://www.aaca.org/images/ meet_brochures/2016_Grand_National_brochure.pdf
AULT PARK CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE Ault Park – Cincinnati, OH, United States
June 10th-12th 2016
Our Featured Marque for the 39th annual Ault Park Concours d’Elegance is “An Italian Icon – Ferrari” with special displays that will include 100 Years of BMW, The Cars of Donald Healey, All-American Workhorse – The Pickup Truck and 50th Anniversary of Ford GT40 1-2-3 Sweep of Le Mans.
For more information visit http://www.muddinforthemilitary.com
For more information visit http://www.ohioconcours.com
HIGH LIFTER QUADNA MUD NATIONALS Quadna Mountain Park - Hill City, MN, United States
DUNEFEST National Forest Dunes
June 10th-12th 2016
July 27th-31st 2016
- Winchester Bay, OR, United States Dunefest is the largest event held in Reedsport, OR. This event exploits the natural beauty of the Oregon Dunes in Winchester Bay and attracts Sand Buggies, All Terrain Vehicles, Motorcycles and Dirt Bikes to Reedsport and Winchester Bay. The event includes tons of contests in the dunes, events, music and a variety of vendors. At Dunefest, there is something for everyone! There are activities for all skill and age ranges and enough to keep a whole family busy with a jam- packed schedule!
High Lifter Products, based in Shreveport, Louisiana, created the ATV Mud Nationals to provide an event in which ATVs and UTVs could demonstrate their prowess over the 4x4’s competition. They have more than 100 vendors from the industry including OEMs will be present featuring the latest products and sharing valuable knowledge with the 14,000 strong customer base that takes over Mud Creek Offroad Park.
Riders come from all over the United States, Canada, and from other countries including Sweden and Japan!
For more information visit http://www.quadnamudnationals.com
KRUSIN KLASSICS FUN RUN 31 U.P. State Fairgrounds - Escanaba, MI, United States
June 3rd-4th 2016
For more information visit http://dunefest.com
Krusin Klassics is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 by a few automobile enthusiasts that now draws almost 700 automobiles to their annual Fun Run Parade and Car Show.
For more information visit http://krusinklassics.net/index.cfm
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS • JUNE 2016 6 Please contact info@spotlightonbusinessmagazine.com to get your event spotlighted in our upcoming issue.
CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE OF AMERICA The Inn at St. John’s – Plymouth, MI, United States
July 29th-31st 2016
In keeping with our tradition of showcasing classic, rare and magnificent automobiles, the car selection committee continues to invite a unique collection of vehicles to be displayed. What was once a one day show is now an esteemed lifestyle event with many activities throughout the weekend.
2016 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Los Angeles Convention Center - Los Angeles, CA, United States Join us for the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show. Open to the public November 18-26, 2016 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Test drive over 100 cars in DTLA, explore over 1,000 cars in the show’s four exhibit halls, check out the newest in customized, tuner and aftermarket cars and trucks in The Garage. New for 2016 – come see GO, a showcase of cutting-edge mobility tech: hoverboards, rocket skates, e-bikes, mobility apps, wearables and more.
November 18th-27th 2016
For more information visit http://www.concoursusa.org
UTV INVASION St. Anthony Sand Dunes, Idaho Dunes RV Park - St. Anthony, ID, United States
June 10th-12th 2016 September 1st-5th 2016
The Idaho Dunes UTV Invasion is South East Idaho’s premier UTV enthusiast event. With the St. Anthony Sand Dunes Recreation Area serving as the backdrop for this 4 day event, be sure you are ready for the ride of your life! Not only does the area offer one of the most spectacular sand duning experiences in the country, it also offers hundreds of miles of trail riding and extreme off road adventure for the whole family.
For more information visit http://laautoshow.com
Pack your bags and your sense of adventure this Labor Day holiday weekend and join hundreds of UTV enthusiasts from around the country.
For more information visit http://www.idahodunesrv.com/utvinvasion.php
2016 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Las Vegas Convention Center - Las Vegas, NV, United States
GIE+EXPO 2016 Kentucky Exposition Center - Louisville, KY, United States This event showcases products like exclusive trade event which is absolutely an exclusive eco friendly exposition of America. The Green Industry and Equipment Expo will be an elaborate event based on the executive green expansion of the region. This show will help business units reap the benefits of the green industry expansion and will help companies increase their market base etc. in the Industrial Products, Manufacturing, Fabrication, Repair & Maintenance industries.
November 1st-4th 2016
November 19th-27th 2016
The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. In addition, the SEMA Show provides attendees with educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events, networking opportunities and more.
For more information visit http://www.semashow.com
TARGA NEWFOUNDLAND – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DRIVE Newfoundland - St. John’s, NFLD, Canada
September 8th-17th 2016
Targa Newfoundland is the first and only event of its kind to be held in North America, with 2016 being our 15th anniversary, every aspect of our high end automotive adventure just keeps getting better! As motorsports enthusiasts, we know that limits were made to be pushed and cars were designed to be driven. It’s about the drive! We offer a 1,600 kilometre course with scenery & competition we know you won’t find anywhere else!
For more information visit http://www.gie-expo.com
For more information visit http://targanfld.com
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JUNE 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
By Katie Davis F acebook and Microsoft are teaming up to and heading into the deep blue sea, well actually it is the Atlantic Ocean as they immerse them- selves into an ambitious project to lay a high-capacity internet cable across the Atlantic to Europe. In the plan announced by the partnering pair that they are taking on this, “MAREA”, cabling project to help meet growing customer demand for high speed, reliable connections for their plethora of cloud and online services. Microsoft and Facebook says this is “the highest-capacity subsea cable to ever cross the Atlantic” and will run 3,750 miles (6,030 km) between Virginia Beach, Virginia, in the United States to Bilbao, Spain, and then beyond to network hubs in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and is slated to begin in August with completion expected in October, 2017.
Did we mention that is was fast, its estimated design capacity is a staggering 160 terabits per second and will be operated and managed by Tele- fonica’s Telexius.
The “MAREA” project will be the first subsea cable system to connect the United States to southern Europe, but it isn’t the first time a tech company has invested in subsea cable systems. Google announced back in 2014, that it have partnered with a group of Asia-based telecom com- panies to build a subsea cable connecting the U.S. with Japan.
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By Barry Cox M arketers tend to use a push or pull strategy when offering products to consumers and right now one of the biggest push attempts in history is being design and everyone is in the game. Automobile manufac- turers, Hi-Tech companies and others all believe self-driving cars are where it’s at, unfortunately for them; drivers don’t appear to be the slightest bit interested in them. A new study out of the University of Michigan backs up the theory that most motorists were clearly not ready to give up the steering wheel. Just under 50% of the motorists in the study said they want nothing to do with self-driving cars given what they understand the concept and technology today. Over a third of respondents are open to partial control being given to a computer, while only 15% of the motorists were willing to give total control over to a self-driving computerized car. The largest point of contention is the elimination of the steering wheel and pedals in an assisted ride machine. Again the majority of respondents have no desire to lose those two key features which ironically is exactly what many of the high-tech firms want to do, this shows that the industry is disconnected from the consumer and potential demand for a self-driving car. The research team at the University of Michigan has been repeating the study since 2014. They report that the results have been extremely consis- tent despite efforts by many firms to market the benefits of self driven cars. While many would see this as a negative, researchers say it’s a building block in that it shows potential manufacturers where drivers have concerns. Today the position is clear, people still want control of their cars and they are afraid to trust technology as their driver. Canadians are having a hard time seeing the appeal of self-driven autos, as a recent study by GFK research suggests only a quarter of Canucks have any interest in self-driving cars. As with the internet, cell phones and shopping online familiarity makes a differ- ence and with time drivers will be more willing to give up the wheel or at least set the stand or comfort level they are willing to accept for a self-driving car, but I think this is going to be a tough campaign to win over the majority of motor- ists and you can all but forget cracking the marketing with driving enthusiasts.
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JUNE 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
By Barry Cox D o regular drivers need performance tires on their cars? Well the answer is no, but at some time or another every driver becomes a professional race car driver or what some call an accidental performance driver. It might happen on the open road on your Sunday drive on going on vacation when you are thinking about the power pass to get by a line of traffic on your way to the cottage.
Electrical Millwrighting Ironworking Piping Fabrication Sheet Metal
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS • JUNE 2016
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Think about the forces generated when you make a sudden swerve, under braking, to avoid the person who just pulled out in front of you. Or the stress that builds up steadily but quickly when you hit that highway off-ramp just a little fast. You might not be a professional racer, but you still might sometimes demand racing-like performance from your tire. To be clear, we are talking about mainstream tires, the sort you find on any Accord, Camry or Ford for that matter. Tires today are aimed at drivers, who want to drive more spiritedly than most, but not wanting to go all the way to a performance tire. They want a regular tire built with performance top of mind and yes grip does matters. The most significant pieces of technology in the tires today is three- dimensional siping. A tire sipe is a relatively simple way to increase tire traction by adding narrow grooves, or small slits, into the existing tread lugs, these tire sipes or tiny grooves in a tire tread block are what bite onto the road, especially when conditions are wet or icy. Three-dimensional sipes are a step above the regular siping you’ll find on most tires. By cutting a curved line down through the tread block the sipe can be deeper, thus present throughout the tire’s entire usable life and not just when the tires are new. Tire manufacturers will often focus on different aspects of the tire’s performance so you have to think about that when buying a tire. Those factors include things like dry grip, wet grip, fuel economy, tread life, tire noise, and ride comfort. In the meantime, when that truck pulls out in front of you on a country road, what is it you’ll be looking for from your tire? I bet it’s not tread life, fuel economy or even road noise. It’s grip.
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JUNE 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS Follow us on:
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Source: Ford F ord has unveiled a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel called the EcoBlue, which will be the first of a new range of clean-sheet oil- burners. The EcoBlue 2.0-liter will be the first Ford engine to use modular camshafts, which increase fuel economy by 13 percent. Expect the EcoBlue diesel to power future Ford passenger and commercial vehicles with an output ranging from 98 to 237 HP. Improvements include 20 percent more torque at 1,250 rpm compared to the 2.2 liter design it will replace. The engine will be less noisy thanks to a reduction of 4 decibels in radiated noise at idle. In addition, the new engine architecture in the EcoBlue also has reduced friction and has a clean-burning combustion system. A new after-treatment for exhaust gasses allows the EcoBlue engine to comply with Euro Stage VI standards that will be introduced in Sep- tember 2016. That standard requires a 55-percent reduction in NOx emissions versus Stage V standards. “Ford’s EcoBoost created a new standard for petrol engines smaller, more efficient with surprising performance. That same obsession to innovate for the customer is behind our new Ford EcoBlue diesel engine range,” said Jim Farley, chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe. “This new engine lifts fuel efficiency and reduces CO2 by over 10 %.”
Key design changes in the EcoBlue engine include a 10-mm offset crank design to minimize piston load and reduce rubbing against the
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS • JUNE 2016
cylinder walls of the engine block. Ford is also using a mirror-image porting design for the integrated inlet manifold for the first time to pre- cisely control air flow into the cylinders clockwise for cylinders one and two, counter-clockwise for three and four to ensure uniform fuel and air mixing in the combustion chamber. A new compact turbocharger has also been designed to deliver more air at lower rpms compared to the 2.2-liter unit it replaces, and can produce up to 250 lb-ft of torque at 1,250 rpm. Ford touts that its new EcoBlue 2.0-liter will be the first diesel com- mercial vehicle engine from its lineup to achieve passenger car levels of NVH. “The basic structure of an engine can act as a soundboard for the movements happening inside it, just like a bell. So we try to develop a bell that does not ring very well,” said Dominic Evans, NVH specialist at Ford Europe, in a release. “We’ve engineered every significant noise-influencing component of this engine to be quieter and smoother operating resulting in the most refined diesel commercial vehicles Ford has ever built.” Additionally, a molded acoustic cover and sound-deadened steel keeps engine noise from being transmitted into the cabin. The automaker says the new 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel engine will meet global durability standards for all markets including Europe, China, and the U.S., and has put the engine through the equivalent of 3.4 million miles of durability testing.
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JUNE 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
begin production in 2018, will be flexible enough to produce parts for different cus- tomers.
Cosworth said it may expand the plant or open an additional manufacturing site in the future.
“It’s part of our plan, expanding our foot- print,” Reisiger said.
By Jamie Barrie W ell there were a lot of rumors around Detroit that Cosworth, an English supplier of electronics and powertrain products for high-performance vehicles would open a $30 million plant in suburban Detroit. Well those rumors were true, now the only mystery is who they will be building for.
The MEDC granted Cosworth a $2.1 million loan, saying it can be converted into a grant if it meets certain requirements related to job creation. The MEDC said the plant will create at least 50 jobs, while Cosworth said in a state- ment that it would generate up to 110 jobs. Cosworth picked the Michigan location over a site in Indiana, according to the MEDC memo. Cosworth’s U.S. business is based in Indianapolis. Reisiger said the Michigan location was chosen in large part to its “proximity to the customer base.”
Cosworth CEO Hal Reisiger declined to identify the manufacturer in a recent interview, though he said the company produces “high-performance road cars.”
The supplier will produce V-8 cylinder heads at the factory in Shelby Township, Mich., according to a Michigan Economic Development Corp. memo.
Reisiger said Cosworth plans to eventually produce parts for other high-performance engines beyond V-8s and hopes to add other customers. Reisiger said the plant, which will
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By Katie Davis W ell the French may not be banning classic cars from their roads in Paris but they are going to limit the access of cars registered prior to 1997. In doing so cars registered prior to 1997 will no longer have driving access to the streets of Paris on weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm starting July 1st, 2016, according to L’Automobile magazine. The vehicles that will be subject to the limit or ban are gasoline and diesel powered cars and light-duty trucks (under 3.5 tons), as well as 2-wheelers registered prior to June 1st, 2000. The bill imposes several bans for various classes of vehicles, including cars, trucks, busses and even motorcycles. This follows the ban that was put on buses and heavy trucks manufac- tured before October 2001, which are unable to drive across the French capital since last September.
As a classic car lover and owner of a 1985 Mustang Cobra, I ask myself why such drastic measures?
The idea is to improve air quality in Paris and experts are saying by 2020, all vehicles registered prior to 2011 may also be banned from Paris.
So the future doesn’t look very optimistic for those that have taken care of their cars or motorbikes for that matter or have a passion for older cars and classics to drive the streets of Paris.
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JUNE 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
By Katie Davis I n some provinces motor vehicle laws make winter tires mandatory, while safety and tire experts across Canada and the US recommend the use of winter tires. So did you ever think of the effect that using your Winter tires might have on your Summer tires. Well unless your summer tires are new, they have most likely spent from late October until April stored in your garage or basement, where they may have deteriorated. Some electrical parts produce ozone which damages rubber, while warm spaces (like furnace rooms) can also affect tire traction and the rubber compound itself, then you have to think about other factors that can effect tires such as grease, humidity and various chemical products. When you have your Summer tires installed, it is not just as simple as having your tires installed regarding if they are on their own rims or not. Make sure that you ask your mechanic to do a detailed inspection to see if there are any dry patches or cracks.
Tread wear should also be checked. When tires are stored for so long, it’s easy to forget that the tread is too worn to make it through another season. If you have worn tires installed on your car, you may soon have to make a trip back to the mechanics to have them replaced if you are lucky to make it that far. Leaving warn tires on your car can result in poor traction on corners or wet surfaces and longer braking distances. In addition to verifying the tire’s casing and tread, it’s also important to make sure your tire pressure is right. Remember the harder you push your performance tires and the more often you load down your vehicle for travel, the more often you need to check and add air to the tires. Always stay within manufacturer’s recommendations and this is very important to your car and tire performance especially important if you plan on covering long distances at high speeds. A poorly inflated tire can overheat and burst.
Never forget that your tires are your only point of contact with the road and a very important part of keeping you on it.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS • JUNE 2016
By Barry Cox A n old family friend once told me that once told me that horse- power is how fast you hit the wall and torque was how far you could pull it, to be honest I never did really understand what he meant, but it did seem like cool expression at the time. Torque or Horsepower has always been a topic of debate, but do you really know what the difference between the two is, and is one actually better or more important than the other.
Horsepower is the rating that describes how powerful an engine is.
Torque can be described as how flexible or how much force can be expressed in a given gear.
Torque is a rotational force. Related to an engine, it’s produced by the rotating crankshaft. In North America torque is measured in pounds- feet or lb-ft. Torque is the result of a force acting over a distance and is measured in foot-pounds. Horsepower, on the other hand is defined as work done over time. The exact definition of one horsepower is 33,000 lb.ft./minute. Put another way, if you were to lift 33,000 pounds one foot over a period of one minute, you would have been working at the rate of one horsepower. In this case, you’d have expended one horsepower-minute of energy. Now, to relate torque to horsepower, the math shows that horsepow- er and torque are equal to one another at 5,252 rpm. Above that, horsepower is greater than torque. A truckwith lots of torque canpull aheavy loadbut post a slow0 to60mph time however a muscle car with lots of horsepower sports can run though a 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds, but it you addweight will struggle to get off the line. Some say that torque is what gets you moving and horsepower is what keeps you moving those in the race industry will tell you that horse- power is the key to winning races. But generally, the higher the HP, the more powerful the car is: more power typically = faster overall acceleration, higher maximum speeds, higher weight limits/towing capacities, etc. Higher torque numbers result in: better in-gear acceleration (useful for passing or getting the car under way), lower engine speed at a given load (towing a trailer up-hill in an Accord and a F-150 may be possible for both, but the gearing and torque of the Accord will make it sound like the engine a sewing machine all the way to the top). I should mention that one of the downsides of high torque is when there is limited traction. In snow, gravel, or wet pavements, high torque can make it easier to spin out. This could impact your ability to get moving from a stop, to making the vehicle more prone to losing control when in motion. Which is more important to you should depend on your needs.
So I guess it just comes down to your needs in a vehicle, and what your demands will be for the vehicle.
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JUNE 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
By Jamie Barrie W hen I was a kid, and that was a few years ago, my father always told me to never buy a car in its production year. He would say all the time, ``Let them work the kinks out, not you``. Well I thought that over time and increased technology that those words didn’t have as strong a meaning anymore, even though for the record I have never brought a car in its first year of production for the model. Today it seems like every time you turn on the news or read an automo- tive article that there has been another recall by a manufacture from everyone from Toyota to Tesla. With the auto market as hot as it is right now, maybe it is time to put for focus keeping the cars on the road rather than getting them there. In the first quarter of 2016 alone over 6.5 million automobiles have been recalled from sub-compacts to off road kings like the Jeep Wrangler and even brands like Telsa have been affected. Recently Fiat Chrysler Automobiles recalled 506,420 of its popular Jeep Wrangler SUVs, which is marketed as a rugged off-road vehicle, because off-road driving may cause the driver-side air bag not to open in a crash. A clockspring located in the steering wheel that forms part of the circuit that helps control air bag function can, if driven off-road
extensively or with the Wrangler’s top or doors removed, keep the driv- er-side air bag from deploying in a crash.
Globally, 498,985 Wrangler SUVs from 2007 to 2010 model years are affected by the recall, including 392,464 in the United States; 35,412 in Canada; 8,529 in Mexico; and 62,580 outside North America. Another 7,435 from 2011 to 2016 model years equipped with right-hand drive for special duty in the United States. Separately, Fiat Chrysler said it would recall 80,474 Fiat 500 subcom- pact cars from the model years 2012 to 2016 because of potentially defective clutch operation in manual shift cars. Of the cars recalled, 39,217 are in the United States; 7,834 in Canada; 7,155 in Mexico; and 26,268 outside North America. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles says it is voluntarily recalling 187,436 of the 2009-2016 Dodge Journey in sold in Canada as well as almost 11,000 U.S. market vehicles equipped with optional block heaters, to fix a problem involving a possible leak of power-steering fluid in extreme cold-weather conditions.
There was a similar issue with another 108,000 vehicles, the 2011-
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after dealers found the Japanese automaker originally had installed the wrong inflators in some cars. Since 2008, Honda has recalled more than 8 million vehicles in the United States with defective Takata inflators. Accords from model years 2004 and 2005 have been recalled four other times by Honda, beginning in June 2014, to replace defective Takata inflators. Honda has recalled the 2006-2007 Accords twice in 2015. Honda is also recalling about 45,000 newly redesigned Civic compact cars in the Canada and the United States because the engines can fail and stall while being driven. The recall affects 2016 Civics equipped with two-litre four-cylinder engines because a circular clip around the pistons may be missing or was improperly installed at the factory. That can cause a pin on the piston to rub against the engine block and possibly cause engine failure or a fire. The recall covers about 34,000 Civics in the U.S. and almost 10,700 in Canada. A number of models are affected including the Maxima, Altima, LEAF, Sentra, Pathfinder and some Infiniti models. Even Tesla is getting into the recall action with 2,700 Model X SUVs after the auto maker’s own tests showed the third-row seats made by Futuris Group could snap forward in a crash. The recall involves SUVs made before March 26 and sold in the U.S. Nissan might be the fastest growing automaker but they are also the recall leader, as they are recalling close to 4 million cars due to major safety problems where passenger air bags or seat belts could fail in a crash. Nissan North America, Inc. says the first problem is with a sensor that detects if the front passenger seat is occupied. The issue, with 3.2 million cars, can have the computer incorrectly think that an adult is a child or classify the seat as empty, turning off the air bag.
2013 Chrysler 200, the 2007-2010 Chrysler Sebring and the 2007-2013 Dodge Avenger.
Then the recall bug hit Fiat Chrysler again as they recalled more than 1.1 million (811,586 vehicles in the U.S. and an estimated 52,144 vehicles in Canada) cars and midsize SUVs worldwide because their gear shifters may confuse drivers and allow them to exit their vehicles without placing them in “park.”
These recalls were for the 2012-2014 Dodge Chargers, 2012-2014 Chrysler 300 sedans, and 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs.
Ford is recalling nearly 202,000 pickup trucks, SUVs and cars in North America because the automatic transmissions can suddenly downshift to first gear. The transmission recall covers the 2011 and 2012 F-150 and the 2012 Expedition, Mustang and Lincoln Navigator. Ford says a software problem in a speed sensor can force the vehicles into a downshift. Ford has also announced that it’s recalling more than 81,000 Explorer SUVs to fix a rear suspension problem. The Explorer recall covers SUVs and Police Interceptor models in the U.S., Canada and Mexico from 2014 and 2015. This is not a just a problem for US automakers as Subaru told its owners of some newer Legacy and Outback vehicles not to drive them because the steering can fail. The company recalled about 52,000 of the cars and SUVs from the 2016 and 2017 model years. It also told dealers to stop selling them until they were repaired. About 22,000 of the cars have been sold in the U.S. and another 3,500 in Canada, with the remainder still on dealer lots awaiting new owner. The company did step up to offer loaner cars until parts were avail- able, Subaru of America spokesman Mike McHale said, “We have the details of the owners and are contacting them directly.” Subaru does not know exactly how many cars will have the problem, but it affects cars sold worldwide. The recall covers 2016 Legacys and Outbacks made from February 29, 2016 to May 6, 2016. Also covered are 2017 Legacys and Outabacks made from April 18, 2016 to April 29, 2016. This recalls are not just specific to newer models as Toyota is recalling about 320,000 trucks and SUVs because the roof-mounted air bags can inflate without a crash. The recall covers the 2005 and 2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, the 2003 through 2006 Land Cruiser, and the 2004 through 2006 4-Runner. The Lexus brand is also included in the recall with the 2003 through 2006 Lexus LX 470 and the 2004 through 2006 GX 470 also affected. The company says improper programming in the air bag control computer caused the problem, which could increase the risk of driver and passenger injuries. With some recalls it just seems like they are never going to get it right as seen with the Honda Motor Co as it is recalling more than 11,000 decade-old Accord sedans, some of them for the fifth time since 2014,
A number of models are affected including the Maxima, Altima, LEAF, Sentra, Pathfinder and some Infiniti models.
A second problem affects 620,000 Sentras and their front seat child restraint system, which might cause air bags to inflate when they shouldn’t.
Today’s automobiles are complicated machines with thousands of parts, and we must remember that the brand we drive is made up of thousands of difference brand parts. It must also be said that thanks to transporta- tion and safety organization globally and the auto industry’s own testing and watch dogs that many of these recalls are found before they cause serious harm to the driver, passengers, other motorist or bystanders. We also recommend that you regularly check with your service depart- ment for any possible recalls and please do not ignore any recall because your car is working fine, you do not want to find out you were wrong.
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JUNE 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
By Jamie Barrie T he sport-utility vehicle is the new standard for the automobile industry from auto makers, accessories providers to parts and repair. North Americans are buying more SUVs than they did sedans in 2015 and that trend is continuing. In North America the Compact SUVs represent the largest vehicle segment with respect to sales. This is not limited to the Compact SUV as Luxury SUVs are now outselling luxury passenger cars. These trends are expected to continue however, this trend sets us on head on collision course with the need to curb climate change by drastically reducing consumption of fossil fuels. Auto makers have introduced many innovations in technologies to achieve greater fuel- economy goals with all vehicles however; SUVs can’t help be less fuel efficient conventional cars of comparable size. Taller bodies increase air resistance and sturdier construction adds weight, while AWD systems further add weight and friction all causing for higher fuel consumption. How to reconcile this apparent standoff between consumer wants and societal needs? One part of the answer comes frommarket-intelligence company LMC Automotive. Speaking at 2015 TalkAUTO Canada, LMC’s Jeff Shuster predicted that most of the SUV growth between 2014 and 2020 will be in small and compact SUVs especially premium ones. Shuster also forecasts 70 new or redesigned SUVs coming to market between 2017 and 2020. Already this year, we’ve seen first-time SUV entries from Jaguar, Bentley andMaserati. Meanwhile, Porsche Canada CEO, Alex- ander Pollich told the Globe Auto Summit in February that SUVs account for 68 per cent of Porsche sales worldwide, and 70 per cent in Canada.
Is Jaguar concerned the F-Pace might cannibalize sales from sister brand Land Rover? “The Jaguar F-Pace is designed for a totally dif- ferent customer than Land Rover,” says Sam Pirillo, sales director at JLR Canada. “It is trying to go after the performance aspect and the driving dynamics. Land Rover is traditionally known for off-road and versatility, so we think there is room for both.” Also speaking at the Globe Auto Summit, Toyota Canada CEO Larry Hutchinson echoed most other execs in the room when he said, “The consumer creates demand in the market. They’re going to make a decision based on their wants, demands and budget... And they have spoken very clearly that they are moving toward SUVs.” Most consumers didn’t know they wanted an SUV until Ford created one, when the first Explorer hit the market for auto buyers in the early 1990s. SUVs where marketed as the cool minivan starting as shift from the dominance of the minivan and wagon segment had on the auto industry and we have not looked back and why would we. SUVs are profitable for auto makers and most share much of their architecture with passenger cars. Either way, any extra cost of building an SUV is less than the price premium it can command; that’s especially true in the growing premium SUV segment. Industry trends are showing that going smaller with SUVs is where we will see growth in this segment and the reduced size and increased inno- vation will help auto makers set targets for fuel efficiency in their SUV offerings, but it does not seem like that is a concern for buyers right now as it seems drivers are more concerned with increased functionality than fuel economy especially with fuel prices at their current levels.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS • JUNE 2016
By Jamie Barrie T here is nothing worse than racing and not being connected to your team, whether you are in distress or just need an update from your spotter. Rugged Radios is a leader in race communi- cation offering a wide range of communica- tion options for drivers, crew, track officials, and even race fans. So whether you race IMSA, NASCAR, USAC, Trophy Kart, offroad short course, or any circle/oval track, Rugged Radios offers 2-way radios, crew kits, headsets, helmet kits, ear buds, short and long track kits. Rugged Radios just released it new purpose- built Rugged Relay Vehicle. This vehicle is designed to provide the best race commu- nication relay services to teams and drivers competing in the “Best in the Desert” off road racing series. The Rugged Relay is a state-of-the-art communication vehicle built to travel to remote locations and provide critical race team support.
Ford F150 4-Wheel Drive Extra Cab and outfitted with a custom built pop-up camper this is the ultimate platform for traveling to remote locations and providing comfort while on the mountain top. To increase the off road performance Camburg Engineering outfitted the Rugged Relay Vehicle with an innovative Uniball A-Arm system. Not only does the Camburg system increase travel it eliminates the weak point in the suspension. Balance it out with Fox Bypass shocks and we have the ultimate in off road control. Additionally, General Tire and KMC wheels sent the latest in on road and off road performance wheels and tires. KMC Machete wheels give a wider track for more stability and the General All Terrain tires provide great off road traction and quiet street performance. Manned by a two person team, the Rugged Relay Vehicle has everything from high powered Vertex VX6000 radios, satellite internet service, cell phone amplifier, and other critical communi- cation equipment allowing the best race team to driver support. Simply switch to the Rugged Relay channel and let the team jump into action. Whether you need to reach your driver or find their location the Rugged Relay is there to provide the best possible race support.
The purpose built Rugged Relay Vehicle is always on the ready to support the off road race community.
Debuting at the infamous Mint 400 with rave reviews, the Rugged Team is focused on expanding their capabilities in this fast paced industry.
No matter how long the race or how bad the conditions the Rugged Relay is ready to take Off-Road race communications to the next level.
Starting off with an all new aluminum body
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JUNE 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
By Barry Cox B efore you report an off highway vehicle driving on public roads, check your legislation. It may have changed. Governments across North America are relaxing rules and permitting various types of access to public roads for off highway vehicles. These machines are called ATVs (all-terrain vehicle) and UTVs (utility-terrain vehicle) for the most part. ATVs resemble a motor- cycle riding style with the exception of having four wheels versus two. UTVs, also called side by sides, offer car like seating inside a roll cage. Out go the handle bars and in comes a steering wheel, brake and gas pedals and even fill size windshields. UTVs are also offered in four and six seat versions. For as long as these machines have been sold, there have been riders that completely ignore the laws related to driving on public roads. It has proven to be a difficult law to enforce and governments started looking for ways to change it. They were compelled to face the reality that ATVs on public roads has proven to be a deadly combination. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) produced a com- prehensive study a few years ago that was shocking. The study was focused on US data from 2007 to 2011 because it was the most com- prehensive available. During that time over 1700 people were killed with over 65% of the accidents happening on public or private roads. The fatalities were predominantly the driver. The cause was almost always related to the design of these machines being unsuitable for high speeds on paved roads. Through consultation with organized off highway vehicle associa- tions and industry manufacturers governments have learned that a restricted but sanctioned use of public roadways is a better approach than an outright ban. In the US there are now 33 states that allow some sort of authorized public roadway use for ATVs and UTVs. In Canada, Ontario has implemented new rules granting more use of public roads for riders.
Washington State has been interesting to watch as they roll out their strategy. The state established the framework for licensing, manda- tory equipment and which machines are eligible. Their website is very informative:http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/watv.html. They left the implementation of the new legislation up to the discretion of the municipal units. This offers each community a way to find the right balance. In Colorado, the state government openly exclaimed this is a revenue opportunity for the state ranging from licensing fee to tourism poten- tial. They pointed out this type of regulation will promote guided tours and recreational use because riders no longer have to trailer their machines between sections of trail which are not connected. The trend is already impacting manufacturers. Existing and new entries to the market are now installing equipment like signal lights, side mirrors and horns as basic items. In addition, established outdoor brands previously not associated with UTVs are developing a product line because they see a brighter future for sales. One example is Cub Cadet who traditionally focused on lawn mowers in the US, Australia and Canada. They entered the UTV market with a workhorse model a few years ago. Now they are launching a new line of UTV’s that are targeted at recreational riders and come equipped with everything needed to meet the new standards. See it at www.cubcadet.com. While the sport will always be plagued by renegade riders, their numbers will hopefully dwindle as the demographics and riding styles of organized users on the trails grow.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS • JUNE 2016
By Jamie Barrie A uto makers believe a surge in ownership is coming from the younger demographic groups. While millennial urbanites and members of the Gen-Y group have been reluctant to dive into the market, several motives will drive demand such as the need to stay connected professionally and socially, a desire to align their personal brands with their ride and the simple obligation to haul kids to soccer practice. At this point of new-car manufacturing, connectivity is assumed. Younger buyers would no more purchase a car lacking Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, then hit a pub without craft beer on the menu. A year ago Apple CarPlay wasn’t in many cars and if you do not offer it now you are forgotten as a player in the industry. Millennials look got the opportunity to match their personal brand with the auto maker’s image. Industry experts see the trend where people want to own something, they want to call it their own personal brand, especially with the premium brands. Millennials want the aspiration of people, they want to show that they have achieved a level of success. This is why Premium auto makers have introduced entry-level vehicles in the mid-$30,000 price range and most auto makers will certify previously owned cars at attractive mileage levels to induce first-time buyers. “On the Land Rover side, the demographics of the consumer is the youngest in the luxury segment; not a lot of people know that,” Sam Pirillo, Jaguar Land Rover sales director for Canada said. “With the Jaguar product that is coming into the marketplace, we expect the same sort of shift, to a younger demographic. We’ve seen it already in the initial studies.” In efforts to lure younger buyers into the market, auto makers like Honda and Scion introduced Element and xB models, but those trends where quickly discarded and never were a big hit with their target market. Industry results so that Millennials and Gen-Ys are more inter- ested in crossovers and SUVs. Most Premium Auto makers are looking to capitalize on this and are planning to introduce a fleet of new or remodelled versions of utility vehicles presently on the market. One of the models would be the new Jaguar F-Pace, which start at $49,900. J.D. Power recently released a report on the buying behaviours of mil- lennials, people born between 1982 and 1994, which was based on 600,000 survey responses. The report concluded that millennials are generally more satisfied con- sumers than baby boomers, but have a low tolerance for product delays and recalls. It also shows that millennials demand exceptional customer service, and seek strong value for their money, which is another reason that you are seeing the industry shifting to lower priced vehicle with amazing offering of accessories to get these young drivers behind the wheel.
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JUNE 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
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