rlauferblog

Huge thanks to Mercedes Benz Canada, the MBCA Toronto Section and Timz for organizing the 2014 Spring TechSession!

I arrived early enough to get good parking

Hmmm lots of cones, what to do, what to do?

Aha! I am developing quite the reputation for using parking cones lol.

Soon some fellow forumites arrived

Now on to the session room

Filled up pretty quickly

The theme of the day was Technical Highlights with a focus on the new CLA and S-Class

The presentation started with a video of a 4matic equipped C-class racing a snowmobile

Some nice drift action

Hard to top that, but a history of AMG will do it

A shot of the Red Pig (coincidentally i had one on the back of my sweatshirt)

Next we learned about the CLA and some of its new technologies. The topic turned to fuel economy and those of us sitting at the AMG table were like “we dont give a shit about fuel economy” lol…indeed, i get 18l/100km or 13 mpg with 94 octane fuel and the consensus at the table was if you doing better, you are not driving properly lol.

Next we looked at the new S-Class..the Canadian version has 70 control modules while the European model has 90!

These modules control things like night vision, blind spot assist, lane keeping assist, distronic plus adaptive cruise control, pre-safe brake and BAS plus, scent diffusion (choice of three scents), and hot stone massage (btw, i checked with the Tech guy after the session, the hot stone massage does NOT offer a happy ending).

To help power these modules, the S-class has a lithium ion battery…that costs $2,800!!! The battery on the hybrid version is $14,000!

We also saw a couple of videos on the new F1 cars and had some draws for prizes

the S-class model went to our table!

Now it was time for some hands-on experiences, courtesy of a stripped-down training S-class.

We all gathered around to get a closer look

And even stopped for a group pic

A shot of the Red Pig on my sweatshirt

I think Timz likes the new S-class

Alright on to the car itself…5.5 litre twin-turbo

Interior with “ribbon lighting” available in 7 colours

The 7 speed transmission…Mercedes will be releasing a NINE SPEED soon!

The larger of the two turbos

and the smaller one

A simulator to let you try the electronic features

A shot of the $2,800 battery

After the session i followed Simon part way home..your spoiler looks awesome bro!

Then i stopped off for gas where i ran into another AMG..oh the irony! lol. Also a limited edition, specifically a 45 year anniversary, one of 45 made SL65..also in matte paint!

Roof up

and down

Quick vid of the roof in action

All in all a great day..thanks again!

RL

At last year’s Megaspeed show i had one of my most memorable car-related experiences by getting to see Ken Block’s car in person. No such luck this year. In fact, i found this year’s show to be smaller and not quite as good as last year’s show. I am sad to say this is true for most trade shows that i attend…they all seem to be shrinking in size and quality and i say this based on attending about 15-20 shows per year.

My highlight this year was at the Rockford Fosgate booth. I am a huge fan of their products and had a great system years ago, back in the “if your mirrors aint shakin, you got taken” era lol. Anyway, i tried their “pressure chamber” display…basically they give you hearing protection, shut the door and then blast you with 10,000 watts of low frequency bass! there is a “panic button” in case..i could se why as i felt a bit nauseous lol…i asked repeatedly if i will still be able to have kids before going in (they said yes) but i did not film it as they warned of possible affects to my camera.

More from RF.

there were lots of sound systems around as well

here is one in action..nice touch on the Princess floormats

Next, i liked Millionaire Racing…especially the C63, 911 Turbo, Bentley…and the girls 🙂

One of my favourite cars of all time, Acura Integra Type R

This M3 is quite well known among local circles..i believe it has around 650HP

A little more subtle…and badass

Again, subtle

Classy wood clad engine in this Jag

This lamborghini was also at last year’s show…except then it was painted as a police car!!

vs. last year

Nowhere near as many GTRs as last year

But plenty for Corvette and Mustang fans

including another old school favourite of mine..notch back

Speaking of old school, a friend of mine had one of these (and its predecessor too)

more tuner cars..note the exhaust, Beast Mode sticker, and vanity plate on the first one

lol this looks familiar..if you saw my bicycle show review a few weeks ago

a few celebrities on site for pics / autographs

accessories for sale

and last but not least, more show ladies! I did not stay for the Megaspeed swimsuit competition (as i did last year) but did have a preview.

RL

As I said in my review of last year’s event, there is no better way to see the Toronto Autoshow than the party they call VIP Night! While this year’s show was not quite as big as last year’s, there were still plenty of cool cars to see and the party was just as alive with free food and drinks and on-site concerts by Sloan and Serena Ryder among others!

Once again, I was the first in line for the exotics display with dress code in full effect.

I planned to go straight for the McLaren P1 but I got “distracted” by a few other things, such as this Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo, which was my favourite car of the show!

Actually track-specific cars are my favourites anyway so here are a few more. The stunning new 911 GT3 CUP

McLaren MP4-12C GT Sprint

A couple from Ferrari

While not a true track car, this LEXUS ” DeviantArt” IS 350 had the DTM look that I absolutely love, helping it win the Design award at SEMA

Aside from track cars, AMG is my favourite make. Here is the last incarnation of my beloved C63, the 507. I am sooooooooooooo disappointed that AMG is discontinuing the 6.2L V8 in favour of a smaller 4.4L turbocharged unit. Did I mention that I am disappointed?

Bigger brothers E63

And CLS63

This G63 was modified to over 650HP!

Another modified one by Pfaff, an SLS with Renntech/Akrapovic exhaust

The new “entry level” AMG, the CLA45

Continuing in my personal order of preference, the 911 Turbo S…this was my favourite out of four cars that I drove at Exotics Racing in Vegas.

The GT-R was another one that I tested in Vegas. I found it a bit boring at the time but I would certainly like to give it another chance.

Ok finally we get to the new, $1.2 million McLaren P1

And its more conservative brother, the MP4-12, drop-top version

Ferrari FF, more appropriate for our winter

458 Speciale

Bentley Continental GT and Flying Spur

The gorgeous new Rolls Royce Wraith

Jaguar XKR-S GT, one of only 6 in the country

And the new F-type coupe R…this one is definitely growing on me…I will have to take it out for a test spin this summer.

Lotus Evoras, yet again the sales rep wasn’t there so I couldn’t try one on for size.

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Gallardo

Blue seemed to be the “in” colour and this had to be my favourite, BMW M3

Followed by the Jaguar XFR-S…although I was seriously considering one of these, all reviews I have seen online say it is too quiet…hmm that’s a problem.

Jaguar XJR-S

I bet this R8 has a more appropriate sound

If not, then this one DEFINITELY does!

I bet this BMW M6 uses the same “fake” sound as the M5..per NetCarShow “the aural profile of the engine can also be tweaked at the touch of a button. In parallel with the exhaust flap control, a sound module is used to enhance the engine’s natural acoustic components and this soundtrack is then conveyed into the interior”

Speaking of which, so sad that what used to be one of my favourite cars of all time has been tarnished (in my eyes) by that “fake” sound thing.

Formerly M3 coupe now rebadged to the M4

CTS-V coupe

CTS-V wagon

Subaru Impreza WRX Sti old and new

Viper

Stingray

Maserati Ghibli

Maserati Quattroporte

Free food and drinks everywhere

Huge crowds

Free concerts

And supercars…what is there not to like?

See you next year!

RL

I have seen car shows at mansions online and have always wanted to attend one so when a friend posted about Paletta i literally hopped in my car and made the 45 min drive over.

The mansion

wouldnt it be nice to have this in your backyard?

One of my favourites of the show..Ferrari 599XX

More Ferraris

On to Lamborghinis including a Countach! i had a poster of a white one on my wall as a kid…funny that my current ride is faster

Here’s something you don’t see everyday..a Saleen S7!

Porsche

And now my favourite of the show, this badass G63!

and other AMGs

and even a Maybach

Pfaff Tuner had a nice setup of McLaren, Bentley etc.

it was cool how different parts of the gardens were used to display the cars

Ford GTs

A gallery of pics by automotive photographer Lucas Scarfone

Gucci!

Some cars parked nearby

Some other houses in the neighbourhood

Another one off the bucket list..

RL

Wow what a great event! Congrats and big thanks to Tim and our hosts, NV Euro Motor Works!

I was the first to arrive…

So I took the opportunity to take a shop tour. It is clear that NV Euro is very MB friendly!

Lots of Land Rovers too

Nice Corvette ZR1 in the showroom

Smart Car dwarfs the mini lol

By this time, some fellow C63s started to arrive

As did the models

And this nice ML63!

Soon there were over 25 of us!

Setting up for the group photo

Voila!

And a badass rev video if you want to hear what about 10,000HP sounds like

Some individual car pics…Edition 1

More C63s of every colour

CLS63

CLK55

And other classics

Engine bay from the 190E 2.3-16 that I sponsored at the Yorkville car show (good to see this beauty again!)

Also a HUGE thanks to Eurocharged for their BBQ special…got lots of great info from Barry…Mike working on my tune 

And handing me back my key when it was done

I also got the handheld

You always see cool gear at such events..such as Barry’s new helmet

Ok back to cars…Roswell’s badass rear wing! I love it

Or if you prefer more solid carbon fibre

As at the last one, lots of wheel options..including HRE

Volk Racing

Forgiatto..now THAT’S deep!

Another variant of the old-school Aeros

And more

Once again, it wasn’t all AMGs and we had some visitors..including S2000s and a GTR

Gonna be hard to top that one folks..

RL

Great job by Intek motors and the organizers for putting on such a fantastic event! This was my first MB World BBQ and i will be sure to attend future ones.

Turn-out was great…there were at least 20 C63s including two Black Series and some modified beasts! C63s in every colour

Not one, but TWO Black Series

They sounded incredible

One of my favourites of the day, visiting from the US, a Renntech modified C63 with Akrapovic exhaust

Sounded so mean!

Fung63’s beauty with Vorsteiner carbon diffuser and hood..looks great!

My Affalterbach edition…just when i thought it couldn’t get any nicer lol

An alternative to the Designo Magno Allanite Grey on my car is to get a matte wrap

black coupe arriving

and parked

white coupe

more sedans

Two old school AMG C43s arriving…

with its Eisenmann exhaust, this one still sounds better than 99.999% of cars on the road today

although this Gallardo with Tubi exhaust could be in that .0001%

Great wheel options…i still love the AMG Aeros

Vossen

And some others

Some fun licence plates

Now that’s dedication!

Plenty of reason to celebrate such a great event! See you at the next one…

RL