With all the excitement and hoopla over the introduction of WordPress 3.0, I have to say that I’m somewhat underwhelmed. Sure, I’m only looking at user interface stuff right now, but many of the new features are not supported by Thesis.

I’m stoked to learn the MU capabilities though, as we have another site that needs to be launched and I’m hoping to get it up and running shortly.

Oh, one bright spot is that the actual upgrade is super fast.

Yes, it looks a bit messy here at the moment. I’ve been using BumpyStick to test out the Agentpress child theme for Genesis and my Thesis layout is a bit mixed up. Over the coming days I’ll fix things up a bit and write about my experiences with Genesis.

A little red track weapon

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Big bad green off road machine

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The folks at Volvo must get tired of the myriad of references comparing their modern, curvaceous styles to the boxes of old, but they just keep introducing these gorgeous shapes that visually defy their heritage. That is not to say that they don’t incorporate historic details into their designs, rather the overall shapes are far more curvy. The 2010 XC60 is a step away from the wagons Volvo is known for and firmly into the CUV foray. Perhaps the surprising thing is that the XC60 may be the most sensual looking CUV on the market!

The weather was horrible for most of our week with the XC60 and that meant that every time we tried to take photos it was either raining or snowing. Unfortunately, the white colour, complemented by a sheen of road grime just does not do justice to the Volvo’s curves. This is one beautiful machine. From the adaptive headlights all the way back to the exceptionally funky LED tail lights, there are subtle curves that look just right.

The style continues indoors, where the attention to detail is second to none. Any plastic surfaces are soft to the touch and have a very clean looking matte surface. The focus on the dash is the brushed metal center stack that is a similar waterfall design to that in the C30, with a handy little storage shelf in behind. Typical of Volvo, the seats are comfortable and supportive and clad in soft leather with 2 different textures. The leather trim is carried over onto the door trim panels, where a nicely textured insert is far more comforting than the plastic that many manufacturers use in this spot.

Practicality is a big deal here at Driven Wheels, as the Grant family has 3 active kids and a rather large pooch. First off, the back seat is large enough that we had all 3 kids back there comfortably and even stuffed in a pair of teenagers and the dog on one trip with no complaints. One of the Volvo folks mentioned that the cargo area folds perfectly flat, right up to the front seat backs, making it just right for transporting pets. This was before I mentioned that we have a dog, which tells me these folks understand their target market.

Perhaps the most criteria for a family when choosing a people hauler is the vehicle’s ability to move stuff in addition to people. To that end, I have “developed” the ultimate Canadian standard: the 3 Hockey Bag Test. In other words, can I take both of my boys to the rink along with all of our gear and still use all of the seating. The XC60 passes this test with flying colours, with the cargo area swallowing all 3 bags, water bottle carrier and trainers bag. Longer adult hockey sticks intrude on the rear seat somewhat but that is to be expected.

Our tester was a 3.2 AWD model that is powered by a 3.2 litre V6 that puts 235 horsepower & 236 lb-ft of torque through a 6 speed automatic transmission. This combination is smooth and quiet at pretty much any speed and the transmission software has been well tuned to ensure the transmission is always in the right gear. We were the last publication to review this particular vehicle, so snow tires had not been fitted which meant that when the first snow of the year arrived we actually had the opportunity to check out the AWD system. Usually press cars have snow boots, and they just bite like crazy to the AWD doesn’t ever really come into play. The XC60 handled 10 cm of snow on the road without a concern, with the combination of AWD and traction control making it sure footed on acceleration and cornering. Under braking, the all season tires showed their limitations and the anti lock brakes brought things to a controlled stop without any drama.

MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 28 /CNW/ – Each year, 3rd year business students at Wilfrid Laurier University participate in an Integrated Case Exercise referred to as “ICE Week”.

ICE Week requires students to break out into groups and conduct a comprehensive case study on a selected company with a specific challenge or opportunity. The students are required to fully research and analyze the company before making innovative practical recommendations to its senior management team who assess the feasibility of implementation.

The case is specifically designed to comprehensively review all aspects of a company’s business and to offer the students the opportunity to apply some of the academic theory they have studied.

“Kia Canada was excited to participate in this exercise with Wilfrid Laurier University because it provided an opportunity for students to learn more about both the automotive industry and Kia. Also in the spirit of continuous learning it challenged students to apply their knowledge and to come up with innovative and feasible operational recommendations for a real company” stated Maria Soklis VP & COO at Kia Canada.

Ron Craig, Professor of Business at WLU echoes Ms. Soklis’ remarks. “This was an all encompassing case that had all the elements of what the students were learning in their courses. In addition, students thoroughly enjoyed the case as it was an interesting yet challenging industry with a wealth of information at the students’ fingertips.”

As they prepare for the 2011 launch of the LEAF, all electric car, Nissan Canada has launched a web site to allow consumers to learn more about Nissan’s entry into the all electric scene.

“The launch of the consumer website is an exciting milestone as we get closer to bringing the Nissan LEAF to the Canadian market next year,” said Mark McDade, Director, Marketing with Nissan Canada. “There has been a lot of interest from Canadians to learn more about electric vehicles and what the ownership experience would be like. This website is a great place to learn more about all aspects of owning and driving the Nissan LEAF.”

The website will be followed up with a 60 second commercial which will air in Canadian movie theaters for the month of May.

You can learn more about the LEAF here.

I’ve been to more dealer openings than I can recall over the years, so when I received my invitation to the re-opening of Markham Infiniti’s new store, my first inclination was to stay home. Realizing it might be a good opportunity to meet up with some old friends from my days at Nissan, I decided a visit was in order. Not only was I right, but Infiniti had another surprise in store for me as well.

Looking more like a boutique hotel lobby than a car dealership, Markham Infiniti’s new store is nothing short of breathtaking. With floating glass walls and surfaces clad in wood and leather, the space feels modern yet inviting. Sitting in the center of the room, between cool metallic mesh curtain walls was a pre production version of the 2011 Infiniti QX56! We’ll have more on that in a future post.

More than just a stunning facility, Markham Infiniti is truly a family operated dealership. Bob Stephen has been selling Infiniti cars and trucks for 19 years and son Bill is the General Manager of the new location. At the opening, Bob’s grandchildren were part of the festivities as customers chatted with journalists and Infiniti brass, just showing how important relationships are to the Stephen family. The warmth of wood and leather is a natural extension of the personalities in the organization.

A few weeks ago I was reviewing the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon for our brother publication and the suggestion was made that wagons were a niche market that nobody cared about and didn’t make much sense. While I disagree with that sentiment, I had long wondered how Europeans managed to cart around the kids and all of their junk, without resorting to SUV’s like we have here in North America. The answer is the Euro style wagon. Compact enough for narrow European streets yet roomy enough for a family.

Enter the 2010 VW Golf Wagon.

Originally appearing in North American as the 2009 Jetta Wagon, the sleek looking wagon has been rebadged and massaged in Canada as a Golf as part of a brand consolidation effort. Regardless of any confusion this may cause the casual observer, the Golf Wagon is a perfect example of how a shipping container worth of space can be fit into a compact package.

Our test unit, a white 2.5l model spent the full Christmas holidays with our family and proved beyond a doubt that a small wagon can keep a family of 5 moving during the busiest time of the year. Our signature test of a vehicle’s practicality is the 3 hockey bag test. Even though the cargo area appears substantial, we were suprised that it swallowed our full complement of hockey gear for 3 while still keeping all 5 seats open for the trip to the rink. Fold the seats down and things get really interesting. The Golf went to work for us carrying a large Ikea TV stand and even the 40? LCD TV that now stands upon it.

More than just a cargo hauler, a wagon has to be a comfortable people place. At the Golf Family launch earlier this past Fall, I felt the wagon had above average fit and finish that felt like it belonged at a higher price point. Having spent more time with it now, I’m impressed at just how comfortable the interior is. The last few weeks here have been really cold and the 3 stage headed seats were a blessing for the early morning hockey practices.

Our tester was a Comfortline model with optional Multimedia Package and absolutely massive Panoramic Power Sunroof. Sadly it was far too cold to enjoy the open roof, but the Multimedia Package is a must have. The premium radio has a touch screen, 6 disc cd changer and a media device interface that works with regular mp3 players and connects to iPods. Your favourite sounds come through 10 premium speakers. Typical of VW, this isn’t a bling system, rather it provides great quality sound and flexibility.

Powered by a 2.5l 5 cylinder, this wagon put the power to the front wheels through a 6 speed automatic with Tiptronic and sport mode. I’m not a big fan of manual shift setups while driving on the street, but the Tiptronic system works nicely. On windy roads when a more spirited approach is needed, the sport mode allows the engine to rev right up to the redline and shifts are made far more crisply than in Drive. Sport mode is fun if for no other reason than to listen to the 5 cylinder exhaust bark, taking one back to the days of the original Uber Quattro. With 170 horsepower, the Golf may not seem like a powerhouse, but with 177 lb/ft of torque backing that up, the wagon is quick enough to make it fun. In fact, the front wheels break loose fairly easily off the line, bringing the traction control into play.

I have a friend who often will ask specifics regarding the technical features of a tester vehicle. When I don’t know the answer, he just shakes his head in dismay. It is part of my road test routine. I try not to read other reviews or any press literature before I drive a vehicle, I would rather let the vehicle make it’s own first impression on me. Sometimes, this strategy backfires on me like it did this week with the Lincoln MKT.

One evening that I drove the Lincoln, one of the boys saw an ad for the MKT on TV and called me into the room. “They say it has a twin turbo V6? he says. I looked a bit sideways but didn’t think too much of it. I had been driving it like a CUV, nice and gentle. Like an old man. The next time I drove it, I put the hammer down and was blindsided like the last person voted out of Survivor. This thing is surprisingly fast! Who woulda thought? Out came the press kit and sure enough, our tester was indeed motivated by a twin turbo 6 putting out a whopping 355 horsepower!

I suppose I could be forgiven as I thought the MKT was essentially a reskinned, rebadged Ford Flex. I suspect some consumers might think the same thing. While they do share the same platform and there are some layout similarities, the MKT and Flex are really very different vehicles. The most obvious difference is the body, as there isn’t a flat panel anywhere on the Lincoln. Personally, the exterior shape looks great to me, but I did hear a few onlookers who thought the rear end did not do the front end justice. Just the right amount of chrome accents give an feeling of elegance and the swooping rear tail lamp fixture adds a historic element to the modern look.

Our tester was a 6 passenger model that comes with a center console that flows from the center stack of the dash, right back to the end of the middle row of seats. It is packed with all sorts of goodies from front to back. Storage cubbies that make sense, armrests, cupholders, rear seat heaters, coolers and hvac controls all make life on the road more enjoyable. The big surprise for the kids was hiding under the rear armrest: a mini fridge! On a road trip, this little haven would provide nice cold drinks on demand. A very nice touch.

The deep well storage area means that travel with a full load of passengers means a lot of stuff is stacked vertically behind the 3rd row seat. Depending on the size of the bags, our signature 3 Hockey Bag Test could be a bit of a challenge with all the seats in the upright position. For our family though, we folded 1 3rd row seat and carried 5 of us and hockey gear for 3 with ease. To imagine this in another scenario, a cottage weekend for 5 and a big dog would be a breeze.