When buying a car in Canada, you have to expect you’ll be driving it in bad weather for the majority of the year, so you’d be remiss not to pay attention to how much traction is offered in the models you’re considering. Traction is critical because it determines how well your tires grip the road. When all 4 tires spin normally while you're driving, your car moves the way it should without any surprises. Good traction comes in handy during inclement weather, less-than-ideal road conditions, and when your car travels on dirt or gravel roads. Vehicles come in various configurations … [Read more...]
Jeremy Clarkson: A Maker or Breaker in the Automotive World
If you follow the car news - even if you don’t - you can’t have ever missed the name the world’s most famous car show presenter, Jeremy Clarkson. His influence measures in the millions of cars sold just because he deemed them beautiful, or unsold since he said they looked like a frog. (Sorry, Ford Ka.) Let’s see who the man is and what makes him so important. Jeremy Clarkson was born on April 11th, 1960 to entrepreneur parents. To raise money to pay for their children’s education, his parents made 2 Paddington Bear toys (one for each child) and sold it through their business. Mr. … [Read more...]
10 Most Cost-Effective Hybrid Cars
With the Carbon tax now in full effect throughout Canada, people are looking for new ways to minimize their carbon emissions - which was the Government’s intent in the first place. Among other things, this also means that they are changing their requirements and desires when buying cars. Criteria like car dependability and lifespan still play a big role in choosing the vehicle, but overall, we can see a big shift towards electric and hybrid vehicles being purchased more often. If you are looking to buy a car, and your main criterium is how dependable it is, the latest J.D. Power … [Read more...]
How to Adjust Car Mirrors (Infographic)
If you are driving a fairly new car model, you must have blind-spot detection - one that employs cameras and/or radar to scan behind the vehicle while backing up and the adjacent lanes while driving to improve safety. However, these expensive features are not available in a bit older car models, and even if they were, that doesn't mean you should rely only on them for driving safely. In that case, the good old rear and side view mirrors are the only options. Here is how to adjust them appropriately, so that you have a good view of your surroundings at all times. Come to CRS Automotive … [Read more...]
10 Automotive Manufacturing Milestones (Infographic)
Since the late 19th century, and the first appearance of her majesty the automobile, our lives have never been the same. It’s become an irreplaceable part of our existence - and of many of us, the one thing they cannot go without. That’s why it’s only natural that it hasn’t stopped evolving - from appearance to speed and advanced capabilities, the vehicles of today are smart and more energy efficient. These changes resulted in some of the biggest automotive manufacturing milestones over the years, so take a look at the infographic to see what they are. CRS Automotive is in Hamilton and … [Read more...]
How Will Police Stop Self-Driving Cars?
As you know if you are a car buff, the automotive technology is constantly developing - and the car is evolving - bringing us significantly further from when it first appeared more than 100 years ago. Now we have not only cars running on electricity, but also smart ones - those that keep us connected with other people and in the know about the driving conditions in real time. And soon enough, people might not even be driving cars - with autonomous cars being developed by Tesla, Mercedes, Lexus, BMW and even Google as you read this. It’s an exciting time we live in, for sure, but it also raises … [Read more...]
10 Reasons to Admire Canadian Auto Production (Infographic)
Before the signing of the 1965 Auto Pact by Canada and the US, American car companies were forced to produce Canadian-specific models in branch plants located largely in Ontario. But with America exporting most of the required components, Canada racked up big trade deficits due to the value of parts crossing the border. The Auto Pact abolished automobile-related tariffs between the 2 countries and, in exchange, the Big 3 automakers pledged that Canadian auto production would not fall below 1964 levels. Canada would produce a smaller variety of vehicles, but in greater numbers – many of which … [Read more...]
5 Biggest Automakers’ Plans with EVs
The rise in sales when it comes to electric vehicles is more than noticeable, but it seems that we are able to say that mostly because of Tesla Inc.’s coming out into the mainstream electric vehicle market. They are also responsible for the end-of-year surge which lead to the year 2018 closing with 2 million sales. The estimated result stands at 2,018,247, which is 72% more than a year ago at an average market share of 2.1%. Moreover, all-electric cars took 69% of sales, while PHEV 31%. Such a high advantage for BEVs has not been seen since 2011. Next year result is expected at 3-3.5 million … [Read more...]
Why Aren’t We All Driving Electric Cars by Now?
Driving electric vehicles has its benefits - no doubt - if you disregard the high initial price of the vehicles themselves. Electric cars preserve the environment and help us breath clean(er) air. Moreover, electric cars are cheaper to own than fossil-fuel ones, not just in terms of “fuel” costs - charging costs for an EV are about 20-50% of gassing up a tank in a fossil-fuel car, but also in terms of maintenance. Finally, electric cars are easy to maintain and cheaper if you bear in mind that their systems are simpler than in fossil-fuel cars, thus making them easier to take care of. So why … [Read more...]
A Short History of Cars (Infographic)
The car is a relatively new invention for the human race, but once conceived, it has developed pretty quickly and continues to evolve as the time goes on. By the same token, the automotive industry itself has had major milestones - all worth mentioning and being aware of - from those in the manufacturing process, through the points of impact on the society to the individuals who influenced the industry. Stick with us to see a short history of cars! CRS Automotive is here through it all for you and your car. Come to our repair shops in Hamilton … [Read more...]
