Welcome to our round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam.
Here’s what you missed while you were away.
Volkswagen debuts the electric ID. Buzz
VW ID.Buzz Photo by Volkswagen
The Microbus is back in the form of the all-electric ID. Buzz. Following years of teasing, Volkswagen revealed the European production version with a 82-kWh battery tied to a 201-horsepower engine riding on the MEB EV platform. But the engine specs take a backseat to exterior styling, which, when you’re dealing with an icon like the buses of the ’60s and ’70s, can be enough to move markets. The Eurobus looks the part with a number of dual-tone paint options and will seat five beneath its 76.3-inch roof height (six inches taller than the Toyota Sienna). Check out the full First Look for more images and details on the model bound for Canada in 2024.
Gas prices hit historic high across Canada this week
The Shell gas station at Oak St. and King Edward in Vancouver was selling gas for $2.09/litre on Sunday. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG
Political unrest in Europe is causing a restriction on global supply chains that is ultimately hitting Canadians in their wallets. At least, those of us who drive gas-powered vehicles. The price of fuel is hitting historic highs across the country, nearing the $2 mark in parts of Ontario and outright clearing it in parts of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. Short of buying an EV, there are only really a few effective short-term tips for saving on fuel, and Lorraine Explains what those tricks are and how to make them work for you in these expensive times.
Mazda CX-60 is a clear play for the premium segment
The 2022 Mazda CX-60 for Europe Photo by Mazda
The Mazda CX-60 plug-in hybrid SUV, bound for Europe, debuted this week and marked the brand’s first foray into a more premium segment. (Keep a close eye on your lunch, Lexus, because it looks like Mazda is hungry.) The SUV gives Canadian shoppers a glimpse at a platform that will also host the forthcoming CX-70, and an indication of what power could be like if it’s fitted with the same 323-horsepower 2.5L engine as the CX-60. Premium segments demand premium interiors, however, and so it does appear as though Mazda has put more effort (and wood and woven textiles) into that front, as well.
A First Look at the 2023 Acura Integra
Acura Integra 2023 Photo by Acura
It was a big week for Acura as the brand welcomed back one of its most notable vehicles, the Integra. The newest iteration of the front-wheel-drive four-door is powered by a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder making 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. That can be manipulated by hand with a manual transmission, but only as an option in the upper-trim A-Spec models as the standard is a CVT transmission. Expect the 2023 Acura Integra to be priced in the mid-$30,000s when it goes on sale in Canada this spring.
These 10 vehicles seem to draw the most drunk drivers
The 2021 Subaru WRX STI Photo by Derek McNaughton
An American insurance company has created a top-ten list that no self-respecting driver or automaker would ever want to be a part of, but is still super interesting to see. Using car insurance applications, Insurify charted the “percentage of car owners driving each model with a prior DUI incident” to determine which vehicles are most commonly driven by drunk drivers. The Subaru WRX, Ford Contour, Chevrolet Silverado, and Audi A4 all made the list, but neither of those took the #1 spot. Click here to discover the ultimate vehicle of choice for America’s inebriated drivers.
Keyword: News Roundup: Debut of the VW ID.Buzz, Acura’s new Integra, and more