My apologies to Bliss Acoustics for not posting this earlier. I typically have my reviews up within 24 hours, not 3+ months lol. In fairness, I did have a photo album up immediately lol.
As I posted in my Toronto Audiofest 2023 review, the Bliss Acoustics room was the best show experience. Great group of people.
The stars aligned and I was scheduled to be in Montreal for Christmas and heard that Bliss received their Nagra 70th Anniversary Reference Turntable so a visit was a nobrainer.
Alright, let’s get to it. The main listening room
Nagra goodness
My beloved turntable! IMHO one of the nicest pieces of audio hardware out there
the suspension system is incredible. You can literally press down on the platter while a record is playing and it doesn’t skip a beat
the electronics
crazy remote
I also auditioned the KHARMA Elegance dB7 loudspeakers with the Gryphon CD player. The bass was so good that I thought there was a subwoofer in the room!
that is one serious amp!
Yes, it is a real Herman Miller Eames chair!
Moving on to the other listening rooms, we passed by these Vivid bookshelf speakers. I would love to hear those.
Magico speakers! With Pillum electronics
Nice carbon fiber finish
Beautiful J. Sikora turntable
Nice paintings
On to the last listening room with Gryphon speakers
In summary, the space is beautiful! It was custom built with accoustics in mind so audtions wont disturb the neigbours lol Thanks so much to Dragan for the hospitality!
My visit inspired me to get appropriate clothing for my visit to Bliss Acoustics room at Montreal Audiofest 2024 lol. Check out my show reviews for more coverage of Bliss.
Big Buck Day and Gunshow 2024 is a multi-faceted event where you can get your trophy scored by official measurers, see/buy from outdoor exhibitors/vendors, and peruse a proper gun show!
The event is held at a really cool venue, specifically the hockey rink at Seaforth Community Centre.
Racks waiting to be scored
And the experts measuring them up
In keeping with the wildlife/game theme, some beautiful taxidermy from Bluewater
And beautiful fur pelts from Huron-Perth Trappers Association
I was excited to hear that some custom knifemakers I had met at the Great Lakes Custom knife show would be at Big Buck Day. Matethi Custom Knives featuring Justin Dale, a co-resident of Ontario and Oaklahoma.
Nice colours on these
I liked the one in Lager G10 (it developed more of a green hue in the process)
Justin with one of the two in brilliant red
This one in Tiffany blue was also a nice package with its accompanying sheath
Great to run into world-famous art knife maker Wolfgang Loerchner at Justin’s table as well!
Another GLCKS alumni, The Fire Pit Forge
My favourite was definitely his interpretation of a Kukri (with Lignum Vitae scales)
I also met custom bow-maker Max Turczyn of Saratoga Bows at GLCKS and was happy to see his stunning bows again.
To help call in your game, Rustic Calls
And some decoys
Amazing leatherwork from Yogis Leathershop
I especially liked the leather can holster
And can confirm it will hold a 591 ml Yeti Tumbler
McGrath Custom wood working
Ok on to the gun show, which was held in a side room. Again, due to privacy, I won’t be sharing pics of the guns for sale. I will share my favourite display, Freedoms Firearms Canada! This is more my speed anyway!
Rossi Riot shotgun pistol!
Zastava M84 Scorpion…love shooting these
Another one I love to shoot, the Glock 26
Some Famae, both mini
And full size lol
BRS-99…I shot one of these courtesy of Tactical Imports, I think at GAT Show. Love it!
Nice to see my Hungarian roots represented in the FEG (I held one of these at Select Shootings old store…so heavy!)
They had a food truck
Though I opted for wings at Morty’s pub
I also stopped off at Shooter’s Choice on the way home. You can’t miss this one-off shotgun!
The Bow Shop upstairs has a staggering array of bows and crossbows. I liked the Excalibur Mag Air
So all in all a great day! Fantastic job by Mouse in organizing Big Buck Day. I love the venue and there was lots of great stuff to see. Definitely worth the 2+ hour drive.
I just attended my third motorcycle and tenth trade show THIS YEAR! Lol I am a machine!
I haven’t attended the Spring Toronto Motorcycle Supershow for a few years so thought it was time for a return and I am glad that I did! It is the smallest of the three annual shows but there is still plenty to see.
Let’s start with Harley, courtesy of local dealer, Mississauga Harley Davidson.
No Fat Boys this time but some real stunners like this Hydra Glide Revival. I LOVE the half red windshield! The whole package was stunning.
I do tend to gravitate toward the CVOs, such as this Street Glide
Or the Pan America
Very interesting air filter on this one
Ok on to Ducati and this SPECTACULAR 899 Panigale
Panigale V4
DesertX
Diavale V4
Monster
Hypermotard 950 SP
Multistrada
Streetfighter V4
It is incredible how Ducati’s lineup has expanded over the years. They also had Scramblers although I didn’t take pics of them. I did get their swag table though
In keeping with my recent obssession for high end audio, it was nice to see Rockford Fosgate again courtesy of Altered Sound
Clean side-saddles…
reveal speakers and removable subwoofers
Thanks for demo-ing with Lil Wayne A Milli, my reference track for audio lol. This really shows why Rockford Fosgate used to say “if your mirrors aint shaken, you got taken”
On to customs…I believe there is a $50,000 prize for best in show. This one gets my vote
Of course, not all customs were cruisers or touring bikes. We will come back to those but first some awesome custom sportbikes.
Oooo more Ducati
And more Suzuki
Yamaha
Custom electric bike
Back to cruisers
Interesting headlights on this one
And this one (albeit with the white and yellow reversed)
I always manage to find something “tactical”
Ride for Sickkids Hospital
Speed Trix Customs
The venerable V-Max
Love the lights
Mini bikes
A whole booth full of 0 $%&@s
Guns and knives (oops blurry pic)
food for the day, pistachio nougate
and can’t go the International Centre without stopping at Zet’s
So once again, super happy that I decided to go to the show. I must confess that I perceived the past ones as a bit more of a flea market feel but this one didn’t come across that way at all. Usually the customs are in a separate hall but I like the way they were interspersed with the other bikes. Guess I will be back next year.
In case you missed my coverage of Safe and Sound Hearing Solutions custom earpro at the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show 2024, I am re-posting here along with some updates!
Ok I am a bit obsessed with eyes and ears. I have “customizable” plugs from Decibullz but that is not the same as a good pair of custom earpro like the mil-spec kind Safe and Sound Hearing Solutions offers.
Tons of colours available
Their two-way radio model comes with a plug for your other ear so that you can use a PTT while retaining 28-30 NRR!
Didn’t take much arm twisting for me to get fitted for a set…in black of course!
Fitting the coil
Of course this was just the fitting, there are several steps involved for the finished product.
Update: got my Safe and Sound earpro today…they are awesome!
as soon as I get my radio, this will be my first comm
Can’t wait to try them at the range also. Great job Safe and Sound!
A bit of background before getting to my Montreal Audiofest 2024 review….
Attending my first audio show, Toronto Audiofest 2023, reminded me how much of an emotional experience high-end audio can be. Sure, top-shelf speakers can do a phenomenal job of replicating highs, mediums, and lows exactly as they were intended to be played with no distortion, effectively delivering a “live” concert experience. But ultimately, if the system does not “resonate at your frequency” it won’t stir your emotions.
Once a system does have your number, it can be intoxicating! Indeed, I found myself going back to my favourite rooms multiple (at least 4-5) times at Toronto Audiofest. I attend about 20 trade shows per year (car, motorcycle, boat, gun, custom knives, etc) and no other show has ever made me go back to the same exhibits so many times! No wonder audiophiles are willing to pay such astronomical prices!
With that in mind, I am shifting my focus for Montreal Audiofest 2024. Specifically, I am no longer just looking for the speakers with the best BASS, rather the system and components that create the most emotional experience for me. Of course, audio equipment doesn’t just rely on sound, they can be visually stunning and marvels of engineering. Can anything at Montreal match the Acora VRC or Monitor Audio Hyphn from the Toronto show? We shall see (errr hear…errr feel).
After a brief ribbon cutting ceremony …
It’s show time!
BTW, it was super cool to meet Audiophile Junkie at the ribbon cutting. I love that his videos feature rap/hiphop/dance music and we are definitely of the same mind that high-end audio should be accessible to/enjoyed by everyone.
As I wrote in my review, Bliss Acoustics was the best “Toronto Audiofest experience.” Since that time, I have had the pleasure of visiting their store in Ottawa and seeing one of the most beautiful pieces of audio equipment ever, the Nagra Reference 70 Year Anniversary Turntable. I was happy to hear it would be at Montreal. As such, I made Bliss my first stop.
The suspension system is so cool! You can literally press down on the chassis while a record is playing and it doesn’t skip a beat
And I just happened to have an appropriate shirt and hat for the occasion lol. I think Rene liked my modulometer hat 😊
In addition to the turntable, Nagra brought this awesome IV-S reel-to-reel player
The sources were paired with Audio-Nec Evo 3 speakers. Look at the height of that 12” top woofer!
All of this was powered by a Gryphon amp
Next, a check in with Monitor to see one of my favourite speakers, the Hyphn. Someone mentioned that it looks like a “clothespin” and that can’t be unseen. However, the astonishing BASS of its force-cancelling isobaric design can’t be unheard! Even though the playlist was less focused on BASS and more geared to showcasing the full range of dynamics of this speaker, I know the secrets it holds lol. The matte black finish was stunning too.
The original show setting
Thanks for dialing up the lights for some pics
I was super excited to hear Magico for the first time. The ability of the S3 to project sound is astonishing! It was suggested that I close my eyes during the listening session and wow what an experience. I literally turned around and asked the people behind me if they were singing along, which drew some laughs although I was being totally serious! It really sounded like the people behind me were singing!
Beautiful Nordost wiring
Another ultra high-end speaker I was looking forward to seeing, the Borressen X6, the flagship of their more “affordable” (well for a Borrenssen that is lol) line that draws on the same technologies as their M, O, and Z-series
Carbon fiber drivers
Rear-facing porting. Note the different sizes of the tuned ports
All powered by Aavik electronics
A short demo of the sound
Proving that high-end audio doesn’t have to cost a fortune, I previously awarded Emotiva’s T2 “best BASS bang for the buck” and they easily reclaimed that title with their T3. While at $1,999 it is double the T2’s price, it is still totally reasonable considering the performance. I dare say it easily surpasses speakers costing several times more.
I also love Emotiva’s attitude…we auditioned the speaker with the “original” version of Lil Wayne’s A Milli causing all of us in the audience to laugh (in a good way, of course!) at the ridiculousness of the BASS! Now that is an experience that stirs emotions!
Lil Wayne elicited the same reaction at JBL lol. Before I get to that, a quick background, I missed the JBL powered bookshelf speakers at Toronto Audiofest but after watching some YouTube review vids I was incredibly impressed so they were on my priority list to check out.
The L100s were playing when I arrived at the booth. Typical amazing JBL sound (I have vintage JBL 4412s)
The series of powered speakers were on display
I was most interested in the 4329P and fortunately it was hooked up
The rep was kind enough to indulge my Lil Wayne request
I know that powered booshelf speakers aren’t for everyone but I don’t care what anyone says, we were all grinning ear to ear. In fact, these were my favourite speakers of the show! THIS is the emotional experience I am talking about!
As I mentioned in my review of Technics Day at Bay Bloor Radio 2023, I have a long connection to this brand and their iconic SL1200 turntable really brings back a lot of memories. I was happy to see their Reference line again and I think it was a great pairing with the Triangle speakers. One of my favourite rooms of the show.
Compared to the Toronto show, there were a lot more subwoofers at Montreal Audiofest. First up, SVS, who were also showcasing their new tower (Ultra Evolution, I believe)
The front
and rear view of the same speaker
static display of their subs
Ok you know I will love this room
Complete SVS home theatre system
Check out the extension on that sub!
Meanwhile, REL was paired with B&W
More B&W on display
No Nautilus this year but they made up for it
Coming back to subs, YouTube reviewers often contrast “SVS” style subs that are very authoritative and pronounced vs “REL” style subs that blend into the system. After listening to the two side by side, I can see that. Oh, and as you may have guessed, I am Team SVS lol.
NAD also had a very interesting subwoofer setup on display. They used their Masters M66 BluOS Streaming DAC-Preamplifier to connect 4 subs on the same line to effectively act as one giant sub.
As I mentioned in my preamble, high end audio can stir emotions without making a sound. A perfect example of this was the Audiophile Experts room. While I didn’t get a chance to hear the DALI Epikore 11 speakers they had on display, I was quite smitten by the beautiful Accuphase electronics and Esoteric turntable.
Look at that, I managed to find a gun at the show lol…well, an anti-static gun at least
Continuing on this theme of visual appeal, I was really surprised by Artist Cloner. I missed them at the Toronto show but read a lot of great things about them afterwards so I made it a point to visit. I was not expecting this.
that’s right, Steampunk speakers!
Matching your hat to you audio equipment…hmmm, where have I seen that before?
Audio Technica ATH-AWKG headphones in KUROGAKI wood from their NARUKAMI series. They make no bones about wanting to stimulate your senses, as the website says the line is “designed to ignite elemental passions.”
Normally I am not a huge fan of wood cabinets like this but I have to say these walnut veneer KEF R7 and R3 Meta speakers were some of the most beautiful at the show. I actually had to do a double or even triple take of “are those KEF speakers?” And this coming from someone who owns KEF speakers lol.
I guess this is what I am more used to seeing from KEF
Shown with Stable 33.33 turntable and Accuphase
If you are wondering why I haven’t covered Focal yet, it is because of crowds. Focal had one of the largest and most heavily trafficked rooms of the show. It was nice to see the Grand Utopia and Naim Statement again (though I missed the sound demos put on every hour).
headphone bar
in-wall speakers
pro line
home theatre
The unmistakable blue glow of McIntosh
I got my first taste of “thin” speakers at Toronto Audiofest with the Magnepans. We had a couple more options here including Martin Logan who were showcasing their Expression ESL13A Hybrid Electrostatic Loudspeakers. This speaker features a dual 10-inch woofer system, ML’s signature 13-inch wide XStat CLS Transducer, and a powerful dual amplifier section. In keeping with my theme, their website says it “reveals the pure emotional impact of your audio.” Thank you to the rep for the detailed explanation of ML’s thin-film speaker technology.
Diptyque isodynamic or “Magnetostatic” loudspeakers. I would say that compared to the Magnepan and Martin Logan the Diptyque was “softer” sounding.
More unique speakers…from Wolf von Langa in whose opinion “the measure of all things is solely the emotionality of the reproduction.” The speaker mates a 10.5” cone driver with a passive radiator and a ribbon tweeter that sits inside of a magnetically attached acrylic panel, which can be moved to finely adjust the treble.
The Stein Bobby M combines a horn speaker with bass drivers. This is more my speed.
Speaking of horn speakers, the Acapella Audio Arts 780 Hyperspherical Horn Atlas on static display. This was my third favourite speaker at Toronto Audiofest.
From the same dealer, Audio Vector
A few more static displays to close out my review…PSB
Yamaha
Bryston
Mission
PMC
Corby’s Audio
Hegel
That covers my experience. It is a big show with 70+ rooms and 300 brands so really it would take more than a one-day visit to cover it all.
To recap the things that did the best job of stirring my emotions:
As mentioned in the closing comments of my review of last year’s Toronto Sportsmen’s Show (TSS), I liked the direction the new management was heading, specifically by being more welcoming to firearms and tactical gear. I am happy to report the trend continues!
Typically I cover all things firearms related followed by knives and gear but this year I will flip the script and do it in reverse order while splitting gear into “tactical” and “hunting/traditional.”
Tactical Gear
Hudson Tactical Supplies had pretty much my favourite booth of the show. They were showcasing some of the MANY brands they carry, such as Tasmanian Tiger, Nanuk, Flashbang Magazine etc.
There were lots of interesting TT backpacks on display such as the Tac Modular Pack 30 Vent
With its “open-book” design and super thick grab handle, you can open it completely in a flash
I really liked the MOLLE Velcro as well (cool concept!)
Another super cool one, the Modular Gunners Pack.
The upper front pocket of the backpack flips up so you can attach a magazine holder (three AR15 mags or 4 pistol mags).
Both middle front pockets are removable and behind each is the same MOLLE Velcro shown in the previous pack. The backpack has a MOLLE reverse system on the back so you can integrate it into a plate carrier.
More great packs from TT
This one from the Tatonka line is a duffle bag, backpack, and dry bag all in one…and it’s huge!
The TT Secret Cummerbund has elastic side pockets for pistol magazines or radio devices and you can add attachments using the MOLLE hook and loop panels.
The TT Modular Front Seat Panel (from their TacVec line) is pretty legendary. Great way to mount gear in your car and the panel can be removed quickly from the vehicle with all attachments. They also make a similar panel for your sun visor.
Nice helmet on display
Some TT patches
Carcajou is a Canadian manufacturer of high-end gear like plate carriers and attachments.
I liked their Thermocell pouch. You can see their famous Boonie hats in the background…they even have one that allows you to attach NVG!
Ok I am a bit obsessed with eyes and ears. I have “customizable” plugs from Decibullz but that is not the same as a good pair of custom earpro like the mil-spec kind Safe and Sound Hearing offers.
Tons of colours available
Their two-way radio model comes with a plug for your other ear so that you can use a PTT while retaining 28-30 NRR!
Didn’t take much arm twisting for me to get fitted for a set…in black of course!
Fitting the coil
Of course this was just the fitting, there are several steps involved for the finished product.
In terms of eyes, this Pit Viper vending machine at the TeamLtd booth caught my attention! I have a pair (with matching holster in the same pattern lol). Don’t be fooled by their wild styling, Pit Vipers are legit safety glasses and some models have a formal ANSI rating.
Hmmm, purple or black?
For darker environments, Fenix is a great option! So glad to see them back at TSS.
The HT30R white laser flashlight has an insane 1,500M throw! Yes, 1.5KM!
Or if you prefer a more traditional source of light, the Firestarter Guy will have something for you lol
Or if you need to see longer distances, Vortex has a solution for you.
I specifically wanted to check out the new Impact 4000 Ballistic Rail-Mounted Laser Rangefinder. This technology marvel, according to Vortex, is “an all-in-one range and ballistic problem solver that delivers point-and-shoot solutions without coming off the gun. The rail-mounted laser rangefinder provides range, ballistic, and weather data via the integrated GeoBallistics® solver, on-board Environmental Sensors, and Vortex’s patented Wind Bearing Capture Mode.” Thanks to the rep for the long discussion of pros and cons of the design.
Well it is pretty hard to get more tactical than the actual military lol. The Forces display was awesome!
What’s better than a G-wagen? How about a G-Wagen with a turret!
Their “mine clearing” demo was very popular with show-goers
I liked the breaching equipment too
The O.P.P. also had a display of their various vehicles (including a commemorative boat)
And for your milsurp needs, Army Issue Surplus
Lol I always take pics of their gas masks whenever I see AIS at a tradeshow
Hunting/Traditional Gear
One of my favourite parts of last year’s show was all the fur goods on display so I was quite eager to see this year’s offerings. Indeed, Silver Cedar Studio ended up being another show favourite.
Yes, their infamous skunk mitts were really nice
While their mountain man hats were spectacular! I especially liked the wolf
Lynx
Raccoon
Beautiful pelts at Ontario Fur Managers Federation
I would say the taxidermy pics in last year’s review got the most online buzz. There wasn’t quite as much at this year’s show though.
Not quite taxidermy but still quite realistic chainsaw art by Against the Grain
I almost thought they would come to life with all the calling going on lol. Last year I bought a couple from Conception CP, including one that I gifted to someone who has used it to successful call tons of coyotes.
Once again Claude was sharing his booth with carver Samuel Côté
I just saw Knotty Beaver at the Milton Gun Show a few days ago. Nice to see their beautiful acrylic, wood, and hybrid calls back at TSS
Recall Designs custom calls
Victory Ridge, a great store out of Barrie, is an authorized dealer for Sitka. I don’t hunt but if I did, I would buy Sitka. Their approach of optimizing camo to match the vision of the game is really cool.
I wanted to check out their Caller Glove but lo and behold I arrived just as someone else was buying the last one in XL. At least he was gracious enough to let me try it on! I love the concept of the single glove on your weak hand with built in hand-warmer for the dominant hand.
I don’t know much about Kuiu other than they have a great reputation
Skre
Or if you prefer hi-viz over camo, Traktiq
Firearms
I was pleased that Kodiak Defence brought their K9 9mm PCC (Glock mag compatible) along with the WK180C of course. And no, no K98 (before you ask)
O’Dell Engineering brought their vast lineup of Canuck, Bergara, and Derya.
I was looking forward to checking out the Derya mag-fed lever action .22 and was not disappointed.
Other show specialties, the OG, a limited run of 50 just for this show
Pioneer semi
I covered Williams Arms grand re-opening a few months ago. So pleasantly surprised to see them at TSS! Williams was showcasing Rossi lever actions in 30-30. I am seeing more and more lever action options to close Marlin’s production gaps.
Hunt Group with a massive selection of shotguns in every configuration
Wing’s Live Bait and Tackle
Shooter’s Choice with a wide array of firearms and archery equipment
Speaking of which, I shot Excalibur’s wild Twin-Strike over-under crossbow at Shooter’s Choice Customer Appreciation Day and wanted to have another look at it.
The rep also introduced me to the RevX, a fast (400FPS) crossbow with built in crank
(his hand is blurry because he is spinning the crank fast lol)
Like all Excalibur, the RevX is a recurve…no compound bows from the brand
Bowtech does offer compound bows, like the new CoreX
Knives
Puma Canada brought a huge selection of knives representing Puma, Svord, Otter, and Hubertus
I saw on social media that Puma was bringing several rare pieces that I wanted to check out, such as the extension knives from Puma and Hubertus
What a difference in feel between the retracted and extended positions
I have been lusting after an Automesser for a long time. It was just as great in the steel as I thought it would be
My two favourite folders from the Puma lineup, the General and Hunter III
The Otter Mercator Black Cat K55K has a very colourful history. I wont get into it here so I urge you to watch some Youtube vids talking about it.
Rotwild
Blades4You
MAB Impex
Ash Gears
Closing thoughts
You can definitely feel that the show keeps growing under the new management. There were 350 exhibitors, including many newcomers to TSS, spread out across the massive space. I also found it to be more experiential, for example getting fitted for custom earpro, the Canadian Armed Forces exhibit, the calling competitions, and I think there were even driving/riding opportunities? In any case, it is nice to see something beyond the fishing pond.
So to management I say, keep doing what you are doing, it is working.
Finally a local gun show where I can take pics! And a good thing too as the venue of an old barn is one of the nicest I have seen for a gun show.
View from the upper level
And from the lower level
Cool lights
I heard Buffalo Bones would be at the show and that was one of the main draws for me (along with custom knifemaker Todd Bolce) and look at who the first person was that I ran into!
Seamus doing a little fur shopping.
He showed me the challenge coin that Todd made for him, complete with Leprechaun heads and Buffalo tails!
We walked over to his Buffalo Bones table where Seamus showed me some more unique pieces such as this fur lined pocket knife holster
Pocket wallet with Griffin Co. Scout Medic knife
And prototype case for your glasses/shades
That I just had to have
Though my absolute favourite piece was the ring lizard leather covered Pelican case!!
More great pieces on his table
look at that stingray
Seamus and his lovely family
I also ran into Sam the Cannon Man at his table!
Next I headed straight for Todd Bolce’s table
This little fixed blade was my favourite and it reminded me of a Fred Perrin Street Bowie
Amazing handle material on the next two. First, Ultrex Sure Touch, a new patent-pending process that combines the toughness and durability of G-10 with the grip and anti-slip properties of rubber
Next, ancient bog oak from Ukraine, about 5400 years old!
Mated to a blade in W2 steel with Hamon
Todd and I holding my two favourites
Todd doing some sharpening
Thanks again for the 1 $%^& coin, I could sure use some
More great custom knives from Sharp Sticks, most featuring 440C steel.
Interesting handle material on these
especially the pine cone
I really liked this one as well
no shortage of blades at the show including saws
and axes
I thought the billhook was a good match to my Dixxon Freddy Krueger shirt
Still more knives
Of course, this being a gun show, I am sure you want to see some guns! Believe me, there were plenty of them but out of respect, I didn’t take pics of all of them. Keep in mind that most exhibitors are private individuals selling their personal guns as opposed to the dealers and manufacturers you might see at a show like TACCOM. This is mainly why gun shows have traditionally been camera shy.
beautiful 10 gauge
CCFR on site educating consumers about what the government have in their sights next
There was also lots of gear at the show, both new and old
As well as a couple of vendors selling fur
I saw Knotty Beaver Calls at the 2023 Toronto Sportsmen’s Show and was happy to see their selection of calls here as well. And yes, they will be at 2024 TSS next week!
I am not sure how long the Milton show has been around but I can say that it was a good one! The venue is awesome and it was PACKED with people (to the point I could hardly move). Clearly they did a good job promoting the show. I think it helped to have some big names (at least in the knife/EDC communities) like Todd Bolce and Buffalo Bones. Those guys also did a great job promoting the event on social media (indeed, I wasn’t planning to attend till I saw their posts). Also, thanks again for allowing pics!
For my apres show meal, I was planning to go to Lancaster Smokehouse but in the end I wasn’t hungry enough and I was more in a burger mood. After some quick research I landed at Kevin’s Hamburger House, which turned out to be a fast food kiosk located in a mall. Also, the Kevin Special was gigantic and I was hardly able to finish it.
I didn’t spend a lot of time at this year’s show so I only have about 50 pics to share. Still, there were some awesome bikes to see.
I’ll start with the nicest of the show, these two from MV Agusta (they also had two other bikes that I didn’t photograph). I don’t know if my camera does them justice but I can say they were absolutely stunning in person.
The Supervoloce…a great match to the Paganis I saw at the autoshow yesterday.
The Tourismo Veloce RC SCS…or “racy tourer”
Continuing in my order of preference
Harley Fat Boy
Harley CVO Pan America
Honda Africa Twin
Honda competition bike
You know I wont do a bike show review without taking a pic of the Hayabusa
Last year I found a Honda mini-bike. This year, KTM
Lots of great variations of the Duke
Triumph Daytona
Triumph Tiger
Check out the aero on this Aprilia…craziness!
Aprilia Tuareg
Yamaha R1M…mmmm look at all that carbon fiber!
Royal Enfield was quite prominent at this show. They did A LOT of social media promotion and brought in a speaker to talk about the history of their swinging arm suspension.
This Classic 350 was a little Fat Boy-esque
Suzuki gixxer 8R
Honda Transalp
Honda NX500
Kove 450, now available in Canada
That covers it for this year. Hopefully I will be able to spend more time at the show next year.
I was among the first group of people to put a $150 deposit on the Cybertruck so I was pretty excited to see it at the show.
My first reaction is that it is pretty cool and certainly not like anything else on the road today. In fact, the closest thing I can think of is the M577 Armored Personnel Carrier from Aliens 3 (which is actually based off an air towing tractor!)
In any case, here it is!
Can you see me in one?
This was a “Foundation” edition with 3 motors
Love the “not for sale” licence plate lol
Ok on to Auto Exotica. I heard there was a 1929 Bentley Blower at the Cobble Beach Classics Tribute to Performance exhibit and that’s what I was most anticipating to see. I believe one of these hit US$29 million on auction!
More great classics from Cobble Beach
Including this Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Sports Roadster
And my second most anticipated car from the Cobble Beach exhibit, a 1980 Lamborghini Countach LP400S Lowbody
I was also looking forward to the Ferrari of Ontario Classiche Certification Program display, especially the 288 GTO and F40
With an Enzo too!
Nice display of a Ferrari chassis
1971 365/4 GTB Daytona
1988 328 GTS
2024 296 Challenge
The holy trinity at Autostrada, LaFerrari, P1, and 918
Porsche Carrera GT and Diesel 108K Tractor and Batman Tumbler
The Tumbler was a lot smaller than I was expecting
Said in Kanye West, O-o-o-o-o-okay, Lamborghini Mercy…and a Versace edition even
Shown with the original Lambo, a 1964 Lamborghini 2R Tractor
The rest of Autostrada’s display included a Dodge Viper GTS, Shelby Series 1, and Weismann GT MF4
Also in the Auto Exotica section, Lotus, featuring the Eletre with 905 horsepower, a top speed of 260km/h, and a range pushing 600km
Maserati with the new Grecale
Alfa Romeo
BMW XM in a menacing flat black
As much as I love the look of exotics, I am a big fan of the “wolf in sheep’s clothing” concept (hence my love for AMG)
A great example of this is my favourite Toyota, the GR Corolla with 300HP and a 0-60 of 4.9 seconds
It was also great to catch up with Stephen. Congrats again on your two COTY awards!
If you are looking for something more overtly sporty, the GR Supra is a great option
Or for more luxury, Lexus
Another one on my “list,” the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Notwithstanding the CT5-V performance advantage, I have to give the styling nod to the CT4-V Blackwing, which was stunning! Actually, I think it was one of the nicest cars of the show, perhaps because it reminds me of my beloved C63.
Another surprise stunner, the Corvette E-ray
vs. the Stingray Convertible
For ultimate performance, the Z06
More American muscle, the new Mustang
If you prefer electric, the Mach-e Rally edition
Another electric off-road option, the Hummer
and Rivian
But as I mentioned, I love fast sedans so my rally choice would be the WRX RS
For street, I wonder if I could daily this Elantra lol
or this Nissan
Interesting concept from Nissan
So many iconic names are going electric, such as the Charger
and Hornet
How about some Lego to put a smile on your face (just don’t step on them!)
And with that I will close Part 2.
So what did I like the best? Wow, so hard to choose. It would also be a bit unfair to compare hypercars/exotics with “regular” cars so I guess I will have to do multiple lists. How about a $500,000 cutoff? lol
$500,000+
Pagani Zonda R
Rimac Nevera
Bugatti Chiron
McLaren P1
Pagani Huayra Roadster
Below $500,000
Tesla Cybertruck
Techart Taycan
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Bentley Continental GT Convertible “The Canadian Collection” edition
Porsche 911 Dakar
Classics
Bentley Blower
Ferrari 288 GTO
Ferrari F40
Lamborghini Murcielago
Lamborghini Countach
Thank you once again to the Canadian International AutoShow for the media pass and the opportunity to see all these great cars and to meet Richard Hammond! It is great to see that you nearly doubled in size since last year, and here’s to hoping the trend continues.
I have been attending the Canadian International AutoShow for decades including several VIP nights. This year was my first time attending Media Preview Day and it was quite the experience.
I must admit that going in I just assumed we would roam around the show just taking pics in the absence of crowds but that was only a small portion of the day. Instead, we had a jam packed schedule (starting with breakfast at 7AM!) full of Canadian, North American, and even Global debuts!
As such, I will divide this review into two parts: 1) coverage per the Media Preview Day schedule 2) my “free” time roaming the show. BTW, don’t think that all the good stuff is in part 1, I assure you, there are quite a lot of exotics in part 2!
I was one of the first ones down to the lower level and on my way to the seating, I saw some commotion. Naturally I had to investigate and what did I find, this beauty!
Hmmm who is that gentleman in the beige jacket?
Risers set up
And the show is off with opening remarks from Black Book
Followed by words from the show organizer
Who then invited to the stage Mate Rimac, CEO of Rimac, and the President of Grand Touring Automobiles, celebrating its 50th year as a premier retailer of luxury automobiles
It was very interesting to hear about Mate’s history of how he went from living in a country with a poor background in cars to starting Rimac and buying Bugatti. Let me emphasize, he didn’t buy A Bugatti car, he bought the company! Rimac now has 2,500 employees and provides EV technology to key players.
Of course we were all eager to see the Rimac Nevera and here it is!
Who could the driver be?
None other than Richard Hammond!
Someone take this man’s key!
Richard joined the panel and the discussion turned to the astonishing performance of the Rimac and how it changes or warps your perception of how a car should perform. Indeed, with 4 electric motors, 1900+ HP, 0 to 100 km/h in 1.81 seconds and a top speed of 451 km/h it is quite unlike anything else.
Sadly the Rimac had to go
But I got to meet Richard! Thanks so much for stopping to take a pic with me. Too bad I didn’t get to tell you how I bought my C63 thanks to Top Gear’s review of it vs. the M3 and RS4. When Clarkson said “it is an axe murderer trying to kill you” I knew it was the right car for me lol.
Thanks also to this kind gentleman for taking the pic. Only fair that I reciprocate with a pic of you with Mate lol
Next, the Canadian Car of the Year Awards in four categories and presented in English and French
And the winner for 2024 Canadian Car of the Year, the Toyota Prius!
Accepting the award, Stephen Beatty, Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Toyota Canada Inc. I have worked with Stephen in the past and it was great to see his personal gratitude for this achievement of the Prius in his heartfelt acceptance speech. Congrats Stephen!
He didn’t have to sit down for long as Toyota also won 2024 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year with the Grand Highlander!
Meanwhile, 2024 Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year went to the Genesis Electrified GV70
With the head of Genesis Canada accepting the reward
As he did for 2024 Canadian Electric Car of the Year for the Genesis Electrified G80! So 2-2 Toyota-Genesis!
Alright on to Porsche! We were greeted by the Vision GT, a wild concept literally designed for a video game! Gran Turismo 7 for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 to be precise.
My favourite Porsche of the day though was the world record setting 911 Carrera 4S that drove to the summit at 6,734 meters (22,093 feet) of a volcano while running on eFuel made from water and carbon dioxide using renewable energy.
Porsche had several more unveilings for us. Pretty big wing on this one
Always exciting to watch the wrap come off
A unique 911 GT3 RS to commemorate the opening of the 10th Porsche Experience Centre (PEC) right here in Toronto! Visitors to PEC Toronto will be able to experience vehicle dynamics, technology and emotion first-hand with expert guidance from Porsche instructors through various driving modules all year long. The PEC will feature a 2km track, vehicle exhibits, a Porsche shop, café etc. I cant wait to visit!
But wait there’s more! Two more in fact.
First…
The new Taycan! Apart from a new front- and rear-end styling with new headlights and taillights, the new Taycan Turbo S is the most powerful and quickest Porsche ever, with 938 hp and a 0 to 100 km/h of 2.4 seconds! It also recharges faster than previous generations even though it has a larger battery capacity.
Next up…the 2024 Panamera! It offers a crazy active suspension that leans like a motorcycle towards the inside of the bend and reduces the lateral forces for the occupants. It also raises or lowers the vehicle on the front and rear axles during acceleration and braking.
In addition to all the new releases, I was also happy to see the 911 Dakar
Check out those fender flares
Even bigger ones here though lol
Love the bag made from seat material
Porsche Design watch
Next on the agenda, VinFast
First
The VF3 electric city car
Next
The VF Wild, an electric pickup truck concept
On to Volvo
For the unveiling of their new …
EX90 7 passenger SUV. Believe it or not, the standard safety features on the EX90 are higher than any Volvo car before it. Apparently it gets “smarter and safer over time” as it learns from new data and receives updates.
In addition to the EX90, Volvo was showcasing several of its Recharge models as the brand makes moves to reach its goal to have its entire vehicle roster fully electric by 2030.
One would think that bringing Rimac and Richard Hammond to the show would be enough of an accomplishment for Grand Touring but no. They wanted to celebrate 50 years by bringing FIRE to the event with three cars and four brands that have never been seen at a Canadian auto show!
First up, The Little Car Company, a UK based manufacturer of scale versions of iconic cars
My favourite was the Bentley Blower Jnr. Astonishingly, there is a full-size Bentley Blower at the show for comparison purposes (as you will see in Part 2 of my review)
Ferrari TestaRossa J
Bugatti Baby II, a 75% scale, fully electric reincarnation of the iconic Bugatti Type 35, developed using a full 3D scan of an original 1924 French Grand Prix car! How cool is that!
Now three brands we have never seen here before
The Zagato…
Porsche 356 Coupe, inspired by lost drawings of an elegant coupe based on the 356 Carrera. Only nine of these vehicles were produced.
The Pininfarina …
Battista, an electric Italian hypercar with a top speed over 350 km/h and 0-100kph in 1.86 seconds
The two side by side
Finally, the Himalaya…
Mariner, a modern-era Land Rover Defender
In addition to these introductions, Grand Touring also brought several cars from their lineup. Another look at the Rimac
The last Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport ever made (It is marked as such inside the doorsill)
Lamborghini Revuelto, which pairs a 6.5L naturally aspirated V12 with a power-boosting electric motor to produce 1,001 horsepower.
The new Countach!
Stunning Bentley Continental GT Convertible “The Canadian Collection” edition, designed by Bentley’s Mulliner department exclusive to the Canadian market
Rolls Royce Spectre the brand’s first fully electric model. Funny, I was wearing my James Bond Danner Spectre boots, perhaps a sign?
Aston Martin DB12 Volante
Next, we visit INFINITI for two unveilings
My sister’s first car was a G20 back in the day and the brand has evolved quite a lot since then. It was interesting to hear the perspective of Alfonso Albaisa, Senior Vice President of Global Design for Nissan Motor Ltd., on how INIFINITI differentiates through design elements. He went through the intricate design details on the two show cars…things you might not even notice but impressive when you discover them.
Vision concept Vision Qe, a preview of INFINITI’s direction for its first all-electric model. A neat feature is the “full-width digital piano key” lighting.
The QX Monograph concept truck
At this point I needed a bit of a break so I didn’t attend the Genesis, Kia, and Mattel/Hot Wheels unveilings. I did snap a pic of the Barbie car though lol.
Last but most certainly not least of the scheduled events, Richard Hammond in Conversation at Pfaff! Check out Pfaff’s incredible lineup
Richard shares his thoughts on Pagani, starting with the Huayra Roadster
You will see why in a moment he is looking so closely at the interior
Next the Zonda R
Before moving to the other side
And being joined by Pfafff Motorsports driver James Hinchcliffe, Pfafff Motorsports GM Steve Bortolotti and Pfaff CEO Chris Pfaf for a discussion on motorsports and the auto industry
After the discussion I had a chance to take a closer look at Pfaff’s amazing lineup, starting with the Zonda R
Huayra Roadster in a fantastic purple carbon fiber
I have to admit I haven’t always been a fan of Pagani interiors but this black and gold spec is one of the nicest interiors I have ever seen. Just stunning!
Or if you prefer something “more subtle” how about a black carbon fiber Huayra Coupe
McLaren-Mercedes SLR HDK — one of only 12 in the world
Pfaff McLaren 720S GT3 EVO
I am a huge fan of tuner cars and in the world of Porsche, Techart is legendary. Typically they are associated with 911s though so it was quite special to see a Techart Taycan
That covers the scheduled media events. It was certainly a great way to experience the Autoshow. I will add some closing thoughts and a recap of highlights in Part 2. Stay tuned.
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