TORONTO — The Canadian International AutoShow (CAIS) has a history of giving dealers, executives and enthusiasts from around the country a chance to get a feel for the vehicles they’ll soon see on the road.
This year’s show — Feb. 16-25 — is no different, with numerous vehicles making their Canadian debuts.
CHEVROLET SILVERADO
The pickup wars have evolved into a battle to see who can haul more with a lighter truck. Taking aim at the aluminum-bodied Ford F series, the Silverado, pictured above, aims to do just that, weighing 205 kilograms less than its predecessor. Chevy uses a mix of materials for the new Silverado, including lighter high-strength steel in the frame and aluminum doors and hood. The truck bed remains steel, though, so expect Chevrolet to keep trumpeting that fact relative to the F-150’s aluminum bed. The Silverado was Canada’s fourth-highest selling truck in 2017, behind the F-150, Ram pickup and the Chevy’s sibling GMC Sierra.
MERCEDES-BENZ G CLASS
The iconic G class off-roader, pictured in the gallery above, has received its first major overhaul in its 39-year history. Mercedes-Benz is banking on that fact to boost North American sales in a hot utility market. The base G550 model at CIAS comes with a turbocharged 4.0-litre V-8. While virtually every component in the vehicle is brand new, the signature boxy look remains intact.
FORD EDGE ST