VW's Canadian and U.S. dealers will be wagonless for the first time since 1965 when output of the Golf SportWagen and Golf Alltrack wagons is discontinued at the end of the year. But, VW Canada has a plan to build up significant volume of the cars in order to offer them for sale through the end of 2020.

This is the third time Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. has received a J.D. Power platinum plant award. The automaker's Cambridge South Plant was awarded bronze for building the Lexus RX.

The midcycle makeover for the Japanese brand's most rugged three-row SUV seeks to add to its appearance as well as its safety features for both on- and off-road driving. But, Canadian vehicles won't have all the same trim packages as those in United States.

The enhancements to the RX and RXL infotainment systems are likely to migrate to other vehicles in the brand's lineup, said Lisa Materazzo, vice president of Lexus marketing.

The base Golf is the top-selling car for Volkswagen in Canada. If VW Canada is able to make a successful business case for the Golf, it would continue to be offered in the U.S. as well, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

The Highlander, the second-best-selling large crossover in Canada, is gaining new interior refinements, more standard safety gear and a better ride as part of a major 2020 redesign.

The latest freshening of the third-generation Toyota Tacoma will give the nation's top-selling midsize pickup a slightly altered look and model-dependent improved infotainment systems with special off-road goodies, while keeping the same powertrain choices.

Lexus will show a Flare Yellow LC 500 at next week's Chicago Auto Show, and will offer 100 of the lemon-coloured coupes for sale through its dealerships this year. A Lexus Canada spokesman said more details will be available in March.

GM should offer to sell the Oshawa plant for $1 — Canadian — to any automaker that wants it. But it should be sold with a caveat.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Mike Manley clearly learned many lessons from his predecessor — and even some the late Sergio Marchionne never intended to teach. 

After nearly a decade of developing and renewing its leadership team internally, Fiat Chrysler has hired a pair of outsiders — including a high-ranking Amazon executive — for leading roles in its most profitable region. 

Fiat Chrysler's Jeep, after a nearly 14-year tease of just-over-the-horizon promises and someday-soon product plans, showed the first production pickup to carry the brand's name in a generation: the 2020 Gladiator.