Ford pulls out of Canadian auto shows, Honda’s FCEV plans, and more | Daily News Byte

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Welcome to our compilation of the biggest Driving.ca stories from this past week. Get caught up and get ready to push through the weekend, because it’s hard to keep up with a digital traffic jam.

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Here’s what you missed while you were gone.

Ford is pulling out of Canadian auto shows for 2023, and Calgary is calling it quits

Ford has decided not to travel to any Canadian auto shows next yearwhich says it is looking for other (better) ways to get the attention of Canadian customers. Automotive News Canada received an email from the American maker saying it plans to “discontinue corporate support” at shows “for the Ford and Lincoln brands” in 2023 as it “learns how to connect with consumers in new ways.”

Independent dealers could technically buy floor space at the Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver shows and display their Ford goodies like they have at the smaller shows, but there’s no word on this yet. The recovery of the second largest US automaker is certainly a blow to the Canadian auto-show scene — Ford and Lincoln took up a lot of space at the last personal Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.

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Meanwhile, in Alberta, organizers of the Calgary International Auto and Truck Show have canceled the 2023 show entirelywhich is said to be very difficult for manufacturers, dealers and distributors to come by due to supply-chain issues.

“We have some manufacturers who are committed to attending and participating in the show but, frankly, they’re not enough to be fair to those who come, and to be fair to the patrons who want to attend the show,” said Jim Gillespie, executive manager of the Calgary Motor Dealers Association (CMDA). “This was not the show we wanted to produce. So, unfortunately, it was a tough decision but the association had no choice.

Honda will produce fuel-cell electric vehicles by 2024

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Starting next year, Honda will build fuel-cell electric vehicles at its Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio. This marks a step in the right direction for the brand, which has pledged that its lineup will be 100 percent BEV or fuel cell by 2040.

Honda teased a CR-V-based vehicle that marries battery-electric and fuel-cell technology for a next-gen “hybrid.” Heading into production in 2024, the car will address the issue of range anxiety without relying on gas power by using an onboard battery in the city and the fuel cell for extended trips. It will be the first North American road-certified vehicle to do so.

Owners name the five most reliable pickups for 2022

According to Consumer Reports’ latest owner survey, pickup trucks are less reliable than other vehicles and have been for a long time. That doesn’t mean people don’t drive ’em though… not by a long shot.

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The survey asks owners to rate 17 problem areas ranging from shaky brakes to damaged interior trim to transmission problems and more. This year, Toyota Tundra owners have a lot to say, as do owners of the Hyundai Santa Cruz, Jeep Gladiator, and full-sized trucks from Ford and GM — all of which are considered less on average reliability. The Toyota Tacoma, Ford Maverick, Ford Ranger, and Honda Ridgeline, on the other hand, were shown to have above-average reliability, with the Tacoma and Ranger earning just four out-of-five ratings in the segment. of a pickup truck. Our pickup truck expert Matthew Guy spoiling the results here.

Check out the Spanish-built, Mazda-based imitation of a classic British convertible

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Hurtan Automóviles is a car company based in Spain that started in the 1990s and focuses on “retro-styled” cars. Its latest is a droptop called Grand Albaycín built on a Mazda MX-5 roadster and meant to mimic a classic British roadster while celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary with updated colors and trim. So, how is it done?

Hurtan did a great job of reshaping the Mazda, adding flared wheel arches, twin round headlights, quad exhaust tips, and a dose of polished wood to the interior. It looks classy and British and ready for the road. And since it’s (probably) powered by Mazda’s proven 1.5L 132-hp engine or its 2.0L 184-hp engine, it’s probably more reliable than any actual old British roadster.

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Ford is recalling 634,000 SUVs due to fire hazards

Potentially cracked fuel injectors in the 2020-2023 model year Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs are worrying Ford decision makers. Worried enough recall over half a million vehicles worldwide.

The Blue Oval announced the recall of 634,000 vehicles worldwide on Thursday, citing possible broken fuel injectors in the Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs with three-cylinder 1.5-liter engines. If left unchecked, Ford says, fuel or fuel vapor can seep from injector cracks and pool near hot surfaces, potentially resulting in an under-hood fire.

Bad luck for Ford and for owners, especially those who had their Bronco or Escape recalled in April of this year for a potential issue with the oil separator housing that could lead to an engine fire — confirmed by US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that those vehicles need to be recalled a second time. Owners should watch for a message on the dashboard alerting them if their fuel injector is cracked.