Automotive News Canada - January 2021 - 23

FINAL ASSEMBLY

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* J A N U A R Y 2 021

01.21

LETTING LOOSE A BIT ON THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF AUTOMOTIVE

Lego and Jeep team up for a new model
The iconic off-road
brand enters toy land

THE NEWEST JEEP WRANGLER
Rubicon has a button-operated steering
system and a powerful axle-articulation
suspension. It also might hurt if you
step on it.
The first-ever Jeep model from
Lego - consisting of 665 pieces - was
designed in partnership with Fiat
Chrysler Automobiles to replicate

The first-ever Jeep model from Lego,
made of 665 pieces. P H O T O : F C A

some features as closely as possible.
The kit is available starting in January

with a retail price of about $70, plus
tax, from stores such as Walmart and
Toys R Us.
" The Jeep Wrangler is an icon in the
off-road world, " Lego Technic designer
Lars Thygesen said in a statement from
FCA. " The Rubicon has a lot of the iconic details loved by 4x4 fans the world
over, so it was important to me to pack
as many of the authentic, powerful features of the real vehicle into the Lego
Technic replica. "
Features include " the suspension,
winch and open-air design that we

No stickers
and less red
tape for plates
Dealer association
'expects limited
impact' on retail
operations

ALBERTANS WILL NOTICE A
small change for 2021. Or maybe
they won't.
" By moving to reflective licence
plates, expiry stickers become
redundant and outdated, " Service
Alberta Minister Nate Glubish said
in a statement. " This commonsense
change cuts red tape, aligns Alberta
with other Canadian provinces and
saves taxpayers' money. "
Saskatchewan, Manitoba and
Quebec no longer use stickers.
The reflective plates are more
easily scanned by automated
licence-plate readers, which will
assist law enforcement agencies in
validating registration roadside,
according to the province.
" An advantage ... is increased
security features and visibility for
law enforcement, " Glubish said.
Gerald Wood, the head of the
Alberta Motor Dealers Association,
said the changes don't affect the
buying process.
" The Alberta government's
decision is a result of their 'Red
Tape Reduction' initiative. The
Motor Dealers' Association was not
involved in this decision, " Wood
said in an email to Automotive News
Canada.
" We do applaud any action by the
government that reduces waste so
long as there isn't a negative impact
on our customers or dealers. We
expect limited impact on our dealership operations. " - ANC

After a collision, which was not
reported, the driver of this Jeep
elected a makeshift repair.
PHOTO: RCMP

The highest bid for the seventh-generation Corvette raked in $187,500
for charity while the eighth-generation midengine Corvette Stingray
hammered for $181,000. P H O T O : G M C A N A D A

Fundraiser showcases
sale of rare Corvettes
The donation was made
in honour of Sharon Clark
and Sharon's Kids, which
aids vulnerable children
GENERAL MOTORS CANADA
auctioned two sports cars for
$368,500 before the holidays with
the proceeds going to Durham
Children's Aid Foundation.
The automaker put up the last
seventh-generation Corvette built
for the Canadian market as well as
the first eighth-generation mid-engine Corvette in honour of Sharon
Clark and Sharon's Kids.
Clark, a former GM employee,
started Sharon's Kids 51 years ago
at GM's Oshawa Assembly. She
encouraged her co-workers to
skip the office gift exchange and
instead adopt a family in need.
Clark died of cancer in April 2020.
Sharon's Kids works with Durham
Children's Aid Foundation.
According to the Oshawa
Express newspaper, both vehicles

SAY WHAT?

'

developed alongside the ... Jeep design
team. " It also has fold-down rear seats,
a spare tire and doors and a hood that
open. The model has Jeep's seven-slot
grille - in sticker form, at least - and
comes only in yellow.
" Ask any Jeep Wrangler owner and
they'll tell you that their vehicle is just
a bigger version of this new Lego set, "
said Jeep design chief Mark Allen. " The
design of the Jeep Wrangler allows them
to take it apart, top off, doors off, reconfigure it, add new pieces ... and then put
it back together. " - ANC

Our philosophy is we like to buy stores
that are bent not broken, so we can go in
and make some fundamental change.
Kevin Kutschinski, CEO, Foundation Automotive, on the
Calgary-based company's approach to buying dealerships.

'

went to one bidder in a live auction hosted by Manheim Canada,
which also donated its services.
The highest bid for the seventh-generation Corvette was
$187,500 while the eighth-generation Corvette Stingray sold for
$181,000.
The winning bidder - who
wasn't named - will also receive
a day on the racetrack with
Canadian driving legend Ron
Fellows.
Durham Children's Aid
Foundation also received $35,000 in
online donations from Unifor, GM
Canada, its employees and retirees, and the community.
" These funds will go directly into critical programming
the foundation provides for children and youth in need, " Leslie
McLean, manager of signature programs for Durham Children's Aid
Foundation, told the newspaper.
" This is such a wonderful tribute to such an inspiring person
and Sharon would be elated knowing GM Canada is continuing her
spirit of giving. " - ANC

Lots of tape and
a cargo strap,
but no licence

Police immediately tow
vehicle to get it and the
driver off the road
AFTER A CRASH, A B.C.
woman gave her 2010 Jeep Grand
Cherokee's roof rack a new assignment.
West Shore RCMP on Vancouver
Island pulled over the Jeep Nov. 23
after they noticed its rear passenger side door was held shut with
straps and tape running from the
roof rack to the undercarriage.
According to the Victoria TimesColonist newspaper, the woman
told police the vehicle had been
T-boned a few days earlier, but she
had not reported the incident to
police.
The woman was issued a ticket for not having a licence, and an
inspection of the Jeep was ordered.
Police had it towed because of
safety concerns.
" If you see an unsafe vehicle on
the roadway, report it right away, "
Const. Nancy Saggar told the
Times-Colonist.
" This vehicle posed a risk for
not only the passengers in it but
also to other motorists on the
road. " - ANC

THIS NUMBER

1.55 MILLION

The number of new vehicles sold in Canada in 2020, down from 1.92 million in 2019.
Automotive News Canada - January 2021

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