This week, Kia prices the EV6, Toyota prices the Tundra Hybrid, and the Chevrolet Spark is going away. Plus Ottawa gives delivery robots the boot and Calgary lets its kids name the city’s snowplows.
Another one bites the dust
The most affordable new car in Canada is going away. The Chevrolet Spark, which for years had started with a four-figure price tag, is being extinguished. GM Canada has said that the model will be produced until the end of this model year, then will be phased out of the Chevrolet lineup, leaving only crossovers. The subcompact market was once a sales force in Canada, but Spark is just the latest in a list that includes the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, and Hyundai Accent to disappear in the last few model years. That will leave the $22,098 Chevrolet Trax as the brand’s entry point. Buyers looking for the lowest-priced new vehicle will then need to look to the Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Versa, and Kia Rio.
Tundra Hybrid priced
Toyota has announced pricing for the hybrid version of its 2022 Tundra pickup. The hybrid truck, dubbed i-Force Max, will arrive at dealers this spring, with pricing starting from $66,390 before destination. The powertrain offers 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque, and towing of up to 11,170 lbs or a payload of 1,654 lbs. The trucks will be offered only as crew cabs, though long and short beds will be offered. Tundra Hybrid will be offered in Limited, TRD Off Road, TRD Pro, Platinum, 1794 Edition, and flagship Capstone. Fuel economy figures haven’t been released yet.
Kia EV6 priced
Kia’s EV6, the brand’s first dedicated EV, will arrive at Canadian dealers this month. The price, unsurprisingly, will start from $44,995, letting it slide in under the federal EV rebate cap. That entry EV6 will offer an estimated 373 km range and rear-wheel drive. A long range 77.4 kWh pack will also be offered, with more motor power and a 499 km range, from $52,995. AWD models use the Long Range pack and offer 441 km of range, from $54,995. The EV6 will offer up to 800V DC fast charging, allowing 100 km range in as under five minutes, Kia says. A heat pump will be optional, along with vehicle to load tech that will let the car run home appliances or even charge another EV.
Delivery bots get chopped
Ottawa is giving the boot to delivery robots. The tiny robotic vehicles have been showing up in cities across the U.S., as well as Toronto, and now they’ve arrived in Ottawa. City council was told in a meeting last week that the robot operators had not asked for permission and that they were not permitted to be used on roads, sidewalks, bike paths, and other transport networks. City traffic manager Phil Landry said that before the delivery robots could be allowed, the Highway Traffic Act would need to be changed by the province. Only then would the city study be allowing them.
Plowy McPlowface or Brinestone Plowboy?
The City of Calgary has announced new names for its snowplows, making it the first city in Canada to name the plows. Students from Calgary’s two school districts and private schools participated in the naming, with almost 1,700 submissions. 78 names were picked, and they’ll be applied to the plows using decals and they will be visible on the City’s live snowplow map. Some of our favourites include Brinsetone Plowboy, Fast & Flurrious, Gritty Gritty, Bang Bang, Sweet Child o’ Brine, and Plowy McPlowface. The full list is on the City’s website.
Keyword: News Roundup: Plowy McPlowface, EV6 pricing, Tundra Hybrid, More