OpenRoad Audi - OpenRoad Driver

In this issue Features6 Where the Road Takes YouNorthbound to Penang28 OpenRoad AudiOpenRoad Proudly Announces theLatest Family Member47 Richmond Auto BodyThe Story Continues54 Food FeatureHidden Asian Culinary Gems6.................................................................................................................................................................................... Profiles12 Lexus LS 46014 Toyota Camry Hybrid17 Hyundai Entourage18 Hyundai Accent Hatchback20 Hyundai Elantra22 Honda Element SC25 Acura MDX27 Honda Civic Si Sedan31 Audi Q733 Audi RS435 Audi S436 Audi S6.................................................................................................................................................................................... Regulars2 Publisher’s Note3 The Customers Always Write4 Coming SoonToyota Tundra38 Customer ProfileMeet Sherman Tai42 The OpenRoad ExperienceDealership News51 Ask The ExpertsService & Technical Tips61 RacingAudi Makes History at Le Mans64 Parting ShotThe Road Well Travelled336154OpenRoad driver |

Publisher’s NoteWelcome to the third edition of OpenRoad Driver. In this issue weexplore two exciting new arrivals to the Group, Richmond AutoBody and OpenRoad Audi. We are eager to bring our customersmore options by expanding the OpenRoad family to include theseestablishments. We also cover an amazing array of new modelsstarting with our cover vehicle, the 420-hp Audi RS4. Take a look at Lexus’amazing shiatsu-massage ottoman seats, Audi’s blind spot Side Assist systemand Toyota’s frugal Camry Hybrid. In Quebec I recently had the opportunityto take Acura’s all-new 300-hp MDX to the streets and it is sure to excite owners.You will also learn a thing or two from my good friend, Sherman Tai, whotakes you through the misconceptions of Feng Shui. Travel and food round outthe issue as John Lee takes us on a road trip through Malaysia in Northbound toPenang (page 6). Nathan Fong shares some of our best kept food secrets in HiddenAsian Culinary Gems (page54). I hope you enjoy this issue.Please send your comments, photographs or suggestions to:drivers@openroadcanada.comChristian ChiaPresident, OpenRoad Auto GroupFall/Winter 2006Publisher: Christian ChiaEditor: Debbie SkodaArt Direction, Design: AtmosphereCover photo: Robert Earnest &The Orange AppleContributors: Jason Brauer, GregDowswell, Quinn Field-Dyte, GerryFrechette, Ben Hudson, JonathanJaehrlich, Eve Lazarus, John Lee,Bob Lukman, Cameron Ma, DeanSanderson, Dominic SchaeferThe publisher accepts no responsibilityfor advertisers’ claims.No part of this magazine may bereproduced without written permissionfrom the publisher.OpenRoad Driver is published twotimes per year by OpenRoad AutoGroup 13251 Smallwood PlaceRichmond, BC Canada V6V 1W8Contact:For advertising enquiries pleasecontact Will Fong at:wfong@openroadcanada.comComments and questions:drivers@openroadcanada.com........................................................................................................................The OpenRoad Auto Group Family:Middlegate Honda | Burnaby6984 Kingsway, Burnaby, BCT: 604.525.4667North Shore Acura | North Shore Auto Mall828 Automall Drive, North Vancouver, BCT: 604.929.6736OpenRoad Toyota | Port Moody3166 St. Johns Street, Port Moody, BCT: 604.461.3656OpenRoad Toyota | Richmond Auto Mall13251 Smallwood Place, Richmond, BCT: 604.273.3766OpenRoad Audi2395 Boundary Road, Vancouver, BCT: 604.293.AUDI (2834)Richmond Lexus | Richmond Auto Mall5631 Parkwood Way, Richmond, BCT: 604.273.5533OpenRoad Lexus | Port Moody3150 St. Johns Street, Port Moody, BCT: 604.461.7623OpenRoad Hyundai | Richmond5571 Parkwood Way, Richmond, BCT: 604.606.9033........................................................................................................................Publications mail agreement no. 40599157Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:OpenRoad Auto Group 13251 Smallwood PlaceRichmond, BC V6V 1W8OpenRoad driver |

www.soundplus.caE L I T EWE HAVE PUSHED THE BOUNDARIES OF HD AND TESTED THE LIMITS OF REALITY.For those who want the purest HD experience imaginable, introducing the new Pioneer Elite plasma display.Innovative technology enhanced colour and crisp image reproduction - even with fast-moving scenes - creating themost stunning 3D-like picture to come our of our engineering labs. It’s time to see High Definition in a whole new way.Sound Plus has delivered quality high end audio and home entertainment products to the Vancouver market for over 25years. Be it multi-room sound systems or the installation of high definition flat screen TV, our trained and dedicated staffare there to help. Experience a Pioneer Elite Plasma at Sound Plus.Simulated screen.©2006 Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.http://www.pioneerelectronics.cawww.winapioneerplasma.casound plus604.873.4571600 West Broadway, VancouverARCAM • BDI • BOSE •BOSTON ACOUSTICS • CRESTRON •ELAN • ESCIENT • GRADO • KALEIDESCAPE •KEF • KRELLLINN • MCINTOSH • MAGNEPLANAR • MARANTZ • NEXUS • OMNIMOUNT • PIONEER ELITE • REGA • RTI • SAMSUNGSHARP AQUOS• SIM2 • SONANCE • STEWART FILMSCREEN • TRANSPARENT • TRIAD • VELODYNE • WILSON AUDIOOpenRoad driver |

Travelby John LeeRich history and traditions, a clamorousshopping-friendly capital, steamy palmforestedcountryside, and the kind ofvibrant nighttime street markets that mostNorth Americans can only dream of.Photo: Pang Chee SengOpenRoad driver |

Inset photos: Dominic SchaeferWhile Malaysiacompetes for visitorswith neighbouring countrieswho sell themselveson their party beaches or ultra-moderncities, this welcoming, under-the-radarnation of 23 million turns out to havejust as many attractions. And withEnglish widely spoken and a network ofexcellent highways, it’s ideal for a colourfuldriving adventure.Deciding on a leisurely three-nighttrek that would encapsulate as muchdiversity as possible, my driving buddyand I plotted a route from the capital,Kuala Lumpur, up the western coast tothe island of Penang, a comfortable 400kilometres apart.First stop: the capital. KL, as the localscall it, is stuffed with malls hawkingeverything from thumb-sized cellphonesto familiar fashions sold far cheaperthan we can buy them here. Adidas runnersand Nike shirts are often half-price—although larger sizes are hard to find—while fake Louis Vuitton and Hugo Bossaccessories are a steal at the markets thatburble around the city.While a monorail links KL’s mainattractions, we spent our time duckingdown back alleys lined with chattyoutdoor cafés serving vadai (Indiansavoury doughnuts) and chee chong fun(Chinese rolled rice noodles). We alsodiscovered a kaleidoscope of religioussites: graceful Muslim mosques, brightHindu shrines and intricate Buddhisttemples, often sitting side-by-side.After an evening of drinking inthe city’s bar-packed Golden Trianglearea, we set off late the next day.Remembering that Malaysians driveon the left, we were soon slipping pastold British colonial buildings and theshimmering glass spikes of the PetronasTowers, the world’s tallest building.Taking highway Route 2, we headed west.Our first stop was less than an houraway in Shah Alam, but it was alreadythe end of the afternoon when wearrived. The capital of Selangor state, thecity was once a rustic rubber tree plantationuntil rapid rebuilding created a hubof business headquarters and apartmentcomplexes. OpenRoad driver |

MalaysiaNorthbound toPENANGWhile the city isn’t a tourist hotspot,its highlight is the awesome BlueMosque, the biggest in the country andthe fourth largest in Asia. Checking intoa hotel across the street called the GrandBlue Wave—like a mid-range Canadianbusiness hotel, its rooms are bland butcomfortable—we asked the conciergeabout visiting.Discovering that the 7 p.m. call-toprayerwould prohibit our entry, wejogged over towards the giant white marblestructure with its massive blue-tileddome and four towering minarets. Thesun was setting across a nearby lake as wearrived at a white lattice archway, followedthe signs to remove our shoes and paddedaround looking for a reception desk.The shy young locals we foundinformed us that the mosque was closedto visitors. But registering our disappointment,one of them offered to takeus for a quick tour. Passing throughpolished marble hallways and open-aircourtyards, we peered into the darkenedprayer hall under the dome. Designedfor 10,000 worshippers, it had dozens ofstained-glass windows, a forest of whirlingfans to cool the faithful and eightbroad pillars supporting its 90-metrehighgolden ceiling.Strolling back through the landscapedparkland, the sonorous chant of thecall-to-prayer wafted through the air.Floodlights were already transformingthe mosque into a stunning twilightvista as we passed between the coconuttrees and headed back to the hotel.Meeting early for breakfast next morning,we were soon back on Route 2, nowlined with dense groves of sun-warmedpalm trees. We passed dozens of onestoreywooden homes topped with corrugatedroofs. Many had dusty gardenswith wandering chickens and some hadsmiling grandmothers standing at theirgates, wearing bright sarongs and clutchingthe babies of their own children.Soon, roadside stalls offering chilledgreen coconuts ready for drinkingbegan to appear. We drove throughseveral villages with metal-shutteredshops and small mosques with theirown mini-domes and stunted minarets.OpenRoad driver |

The trees were teeming with small macaquemonkeys. Resembling grey, furry fruit growingfrom the branches, some carried tiny red-hairedbabies on their fronts like reverse backpacks.When we reached Klang, a port townwith an industrial feel and a name tomatch, we turned north onto Route 5.After two hours of air-conditioneddriving, exiting the car in the humidityof Bukit Malawati was a shock to the system.The site of several historic battles,the once-fortified hilltop enjoys jawdroppingpanoramic views over the surroundingforests. The sea also sparklesthrough the misty horizon here, makingit easy to spot approaching ships.We spent a few minutes here wanderingthe crenulated stone walls, toppedwith 18th-century Dutch cannons,before realizing that the trees wereteeming with small macaque monkeys.Resembling grey, furry fruit growingfrom the branches, some carried tinyred-haired babies on their fronts likereverse backpacks.With the monkeys watching closelyfor signs of food, several visitors hadalready surrendered their snacks, leadingthe scavengers to follow them around andpoke them for more. Avoiding a simianmugging, we retreated to the car beforecontinuing on Route 5 towards Lumut.This was our longest drive, so wemade use of the roadside facilities.Malaysia’s main highways have goodrest stops, some with huge open-air foodcourts combining finger-licking regionaldelicacies with familiar favourites likeDunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins.While traditional washrooms —includingthe dreaded squat toilets—are common,many also have western-style conveniences.As the light began to fade, and wepassed a man selling live crabs displayedfrom a tree like twitching Christmas treeornaments, the landscape became moremountainous. The palms were nowinterspersed with mangrove swamps,their bushes lifted in the air by elaborateroot systems that filter water abovethe ground.Although it’s a region of snakes andwild boar, the only wildlife we spottedwere the tiny gekkos scampering aroundin our resort hotel that night. An enclaveof comfort in a wide bay surroundedby verdant jungle, Lumut’s tranquilSwiss-Garden has a spa and golf course.Its main attraction to us was its relaxingal fresco bar overlooking the star-litseafront.With the beach seeming like a goodidea, we were up early the next day forour final leg to the island of Penang.Hooking-up with Route 1 and continuingnorth towards the Butterworth ferry terminal,we drove straight onto the boat forthe 15-minute traversal of this busy Photos: Dominic SchaeferOpenRoad driver |

all paths lead homefind your way at www.adera.comor 604.221.8878Come home to Pathways. Groundbreaking new condominiumsnestled next to Pacific Spirit Park and part of Wesbrook Place,UBC’s newest neighbourhood.COMING SOON1 + den, 2 and 3 bedroomsfrom the mid $ 300’s.Pathways Adera Projects Ltd. 2200 - 1055 Dunsmuir, Vancouver, BC 604-684-8277. Sales by disclosure statement. Adera Realty Corp.OpenRoad driver |11

New CarPROFILELexusLS 460Car Profiles by Gerry FrechetteReach for the Stars… in Quiet LuxuryIn its first three generations,the Lexus LS series of prestigeluxury sedans established itselfas one of the best cars in the world,on a level with the most highlypraised brands from Europe.With the introductionof the new LS 460 this year, itmight just vault above them.The level of comfort, convenience andsafety technology built-in to the LS 460is nothing less than astonishing, certainlybacking up Lexus’ claim of seeking tobuild the perfect car.In the hectic world of city traffic, asense of calm quiet is highly valued in aluxury car, and the Lexus engineers havegone to extraordinary lengths to ensurethat all sounds made by the LS460, fromdoors closing to the various electricmotors, are either silent or sound pleasingand substantial.The available navigation system willinclude real-time traffic reporting whichwill display up-to-the-minute traffic informationincluding traffic speed, accidentsand construction areas. It will be operableby voice command, and all informationwill be stored on an on-board 30 GB harddisc instead of DVD. The hard drive willalso have room for the storage of thousandsof your favourite songs.All those songs can be played on anavailable Mark Levinson audio systemwith more electronic wizardry than wecan describe here, and no fewer than 19speakers!The interior climate control system isalso upgraded, as it monitors not onlythe cabin temperature, but that of itsoccupants, and compensates the airoutput accordingly. No word yet on howOpenRoad driver |12

the system will actually measure yourbody temperature. If that seems almostfar-fetched, you haven’t seen anythingyet. How about a system that actuallyparallel-parks the car for you? Just activateIntelligent Park Assist, keep your footlightly on the brake pedal, and voila, aperfect parking job each time.Also available will be the long-wheelbaseLS 460L, and this will be nothingless than a limousine, with a recliningottoman seat, electric doors, DVD system,and cooler.Both models have larger, more powerful,and more economical V8 engines, drivingthrough the industry’s first 8-speed automatictransmission. As if that isn’t enough,next spring will see the introduction of theLS 600h hybrid, with even more powerand fuel economy.We could go on about the LS 460, butsuffice to say that Lexus has outdone itselfthis time. Those seeking the world’s ultimateluxury sedan may have found it here.OpenRoad driver |13

New CarPROFILEToyota CamryHybridHybrid Technology Addedto a Customer FavouriteOpenRoad driver |14

It was only a matter of time, one hasto think. Toyota just had to marry itstrend-setting Hybrid Synergy Drivetechnology with the top selling car inNorth America, the Camry sedan.This year it has finally happened, andthe result has all the makings of a successful,long-lasting relationship.The 2007 Camry is all new, the latestgeneration of a decades-long successstory, and designed from the outset to beequipped with the Hybrid drivetrain. It isessentially the same system as found inthe smaller Prius, a “full hybrid” capableof operating solely on the electric motor,yielding excellent fuel economy (5.7L /100 km, city or highway) and very lowexhaust emissions.Under the Camry Hybrid’s skin is a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine plus the hybridsystem, driving the front wheels througha continuously variable transmissionthat does not have fixed gear ratios, butinstead provides infinitely variable ratios inresponse to driving conditions.A regenerative braking system furtherboosts system efficiency. When the CamryHybrid is coasting or the brakes areapplied, the electric motor functions as agenerator, capturing kinetic energy thatwould normally be lost as heat throughthe brakes, transforming it into useableelectricity to recharge the batteries. It’sall-new technology for Camry, but thedriving experience is just as smooth andeasy as before.It may be an economy car in its performance,but there is no scrimping onconvenience or safety. Included as standardequipment are AM/FM/CD soundsystem with in-dash 6-Disc CD Changer,MP3/WMA player, Bluetooth capability,audio auxiliary input jack, eight speakersand steering wheel controls, along withpower windows, driver’s seat and mirrors,air conditioning and keyless entry.If it is safety you look for, the CamryHybrid has it all. The Camry Hybrid isequipped with a sophisticated VehicleDynamics Integrated Management system.VDIM is an advanced stability system thatcontinuously analyzes driver input (steering,braking, acceleration/deceleration) andcompares it to the desired, stable operation.When the computer detects anydifference between the two, it instantlycalculates what action will correct thedeviation and appropriately enhancesbraking, engine output and steering tomaintain stable operation.Seven airbags, including side curtains,are standard as well as anti-lock brakes withelectronic brake force distribution.The best news is that all this cuttingedge technology, value and safety is availablestarting at just $31,900.Specs CAMRY HyBRID...............................................................• Base Price: $31,900• Body Type: 4-door sedan• Layout: front-engine, FWD• Engine: 2.4L, 16-valve, DOHC I-4,105-kw electric motor• Horsepower: 187 @ 6,000 rpm• Transmission: CVT automatic• Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS, EBD• Length: 4,805 mm (189.2 in)• Width: 1,820 mm (71.7 in)• Height: 1,460 mm (57.5 in)• Wheelbase: 2,775 mm (109.3 in)• Weight: 1,669 kg (3,680 lb)• Fuel Economy (city/hwy):5.7 / 5.7 L/100 km• Warranty: 6 mo. / 60,000 km overall,60 mo. / 100,000 km powertrain,96 mo. / 160,000 km hybrid componentsOpenRoad driver |15

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New CarPROFILEHyundaiEntourageA Minivan ThatCatches Up in a HurryHyundai was a little later than it mayhave wanted to be getting intothe minivan game. With the newEntourage, it aims to make up for lost time.Like all minivans introduced in the lastcouple of years, it has the features customerswant. A big V6 driving the front wheels.Seven seats, the rear-most row of whichdrops down into the floor. Lots of roomand versatility.The Entourage, however, applies theHyundai formula of high value for themoney, and offers a lot of equipment andutility for the price.To start with, it is one of the largestminivans on the market, bigger inside thanthe current top-selling brands.The base GL model has a level of comfortand convenience that might be justright for many, especially at its $29,995starting price. Included are air conditioning,CD audio, cruise control, keyless entry,power windows and mirrors, and tilt steering.From there, think of a feature you wouldlike to have, and there is an Entourage onwhich it is available. DVD entertainment?Electronic Stability Control? Power slidingside doors? Leather interior? All areavailable on the upscale models, the mostexpensive of which, the GLS with Leatherpackage, will set you back $37,195.And that is a good deal for a fullyequippedminivan.Specs Entourage...............................................................• Base Price (GL): $29,995• Body Type: 4-door sedan,7-passenger minivan• Layout: front-engine, FWD• Engine: 3.8L DOHC 24-valve V6• Horsepower: 242 @ 6,000 rpm• Transmission: 5-spd auto• Brakes: 4-wheel disc, ABS, EBD• Length: 5,130 mm (201.9 in)• Width: 1,990 mm (78.3 in)• Height: 1,760 mm (69.2 in)• Wheelbase: 3,020 mm (118.8 in)• Weight: 1,996 kg (4,400 lb)• Fuel Economy (city/hwy):13.2 / 8.8 L/100 km• Cargo capacity (third row up/folded):912L / 2,268L• Warranty: 60 mo. / 100,000 kmbumper-to-bumperOpenRoad driver |17

New CarPROFILEHyundai AccentHatchbackCovering theSpectrumfrom Functionalto SportyThe formula for building smalleconomy cars is pretty much a given,at least in terms of the basic architectureand engineering. It is in such areasas equipment for the dollar and refinementthat a little car stands out from the rest. TheHyundai Accent Hatchback is certainly builtand equipped to make a good impression.The hatchback body style, first seen overthree decades ago, is making a welcomecomeback. It makes sense for those whoseldom carry passengers bigger thanchildren or dogs in the back seat, but coulduse more cargo room and versatility. TheAccent is plenty roomy, more of a compactcar than the sub-compact its exterior sizewould suggest. The front seats, on allmodels starting with the base GS, haveeight-way manual adjustment, with bottomcushion independently adjustable underboth buttocks and thighs, making for alot of comfort and support, especially fortaller drivers. Additionally, its rear seatsfold down in 60/40 fashion, and there isan MP3/CD player and power steering too,all for just $13,495.From there, the Accent Hatchback canbe equipped to just about any taste, withthe GS Comfort being the next level upOpenRoad driver |18

at $15,195, and adding air conditioning,power windows, locks and mirrors, andalarm.The $16,195 GS Sport is next, and itactually has some sporting credentialswith larger 205/45-16 tires on alloywheels, and a sport-tuned suspensionwith stiffer spring rates front and rear,and a larger stabilizer bar.Those looking for luxury and high-endsafety features have the GS Premium, whichcomes with four-wheel disc brakes withABS, six air bags including side curtains, sixspeakeraudio, heated seats and more, allfor $16,695.Hyundai is definitely courting the youthmarket, as the Hatchback can be equippedwith a full range of dealer-installed gofasterand look-cooler accessories. Not onlythat, but an only-in-Canada SR model iscoming this fall, and it will add four-wheeldisc brakes with ABS, plus the six air bags,to the Sport package.So, the Accent Hatchback can really betailored to just about any taste in equipment,and Hyundai is certainly catering toa wide range of customers, from utilitarianthrough sporty and luxury. All, mind you, atprices that just about anyone can afford.Specs Accent Hatch...............................................................• Base Price (GL): $13,495• Body Type: 2-door hatchback coupe• Layout: front-engine, FWD• Engine: 1.6L, 16-valve, DOHC I-4• Horsepower: 110 @ 6,000 rpm• Torque: 106 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm• Transmission: 5-spd manual• Brakes (front/rear): disc/drum• Length: 4,045 mm (159.2 in)• Width: 1,695 mm (66.7 in)• Height: 1,470 mm (57.8 in)• Wheelbase: 2,500 mm (98.4 in)• Weight: 1,058 kg (2,332 lb)• Fuel Economy (city/hwy, manual) :7.4 / 6.3 L/100 km• Warranty: 60 mo. / 100,000 kmbumper-to-bumperOpenRoad driver |19

New CarPROFILEHyundaiElantraA Promising RedesignThe new Hyundai Elantra, is the seventh all-new Hyundaito be introduced within the last two years. The AccentHatchback already introduced gave clues as to Hyundai’splan of attack with the Elantra. The strategy appears to be tooffer a car priced like a compact sedan, but with the spaceand equipment of a mid-size car. That should again be a toughproposition to pass up.These days, a new car has to be nothing less than improvedin every way, and the Elantra is aiming to be just that. Design issubjective, of course, but most would agree that the new look issmooth and contemporary.Objectively, the new Elantra’s engine remains a 2.0-litre,with more refinement and better fuel economy than before.Although final specs and model breakdown had yet to beannounced at this writing, it is safe to say that all popular convenienceand safety equipment will be available, including a fullcomplement of airbags, anti-lock brakes, leather trim, air conditioningand high-end audio. Not so long ago, the main optionon a compact sedan was automatic transmission; nowadays,people want all the bells and whistles, and the Elantra will deliver.Priced from $15,595OpenRoad driver |20

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New CarPROFILEHondaElement SCMany ChangesBut Still UniqueThe SC sits about three incheslower than other Elements, andit will ride on sport suspensionand 18-inch performance tireson alloy wheels, through whichthe copper-hued brake caliperscan be viewed. Hmmm, this isalready sounding serious…OpenRoad driver |22

With the popular Element acouple of years into its life cycle,it was time for Honda to injectsome new excitement into its unique littlecar. But what could Honda do, to completelychange its successful image as avehicle for outdoor recreational activities?Honda decided the Element wouldmake a cool and sophisticated urbanvehicle, and the SC was born. SC is saidto stand for “Street Custom,” and theapproach is certainly a departure fromthe Element we have come to know, butconsistent with the approach taken onHonda’s other performance cars.To start with, the SC sits about threeinches lower than other Elements, andit will ride on sport suspension and 18-inch performance tires on alloy wheels,through which the copper-hued brakecalipers can be viewed. Hmmm, this isalready sounding serious…The Element’s body is similarly beefedup,with various aerodynamic trim piecesincluding unique grille and front bumper,making the boxy little car look even lowerand sleeker. The roof panel has beenslightly lowered. All the body panels arepainted in regular shiny paint, unlike thegrey plastic of the original Element models.Inside, the SC gets unique trim to setit apart from ordinary Elements. Thereis a big centre console for storage ofelectronic gear, and full carpeting underthe feet of all passengers for the first time.Seat fabrics are unique, and the instrumentpanel has copper-coloured lightingand black trim.Honda is taking this chance to introducea few upgraded features on allElements. Passengers will find it mucheasier to get into or out of the rear seat,now that the front seat shoulder belts aremounted directly to the seats and don’thang down from the roof.The 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine hasenhanced intake and exhaust systems,giving it 166 horsepower, 10 more thanbefore. Throttle control is now electronic,and the optional automatic transmissionhas five forward gears versus the previousfour. On the safety front, side curtainairbags and Vehicle Stability Assist systemwill be standard.Sounds like a pretty neat way to takethe Element in a totally different direction,broadening its appeal. Canadian pricinghasn’t been confirmed, but we expect tosee the Element SC in autumn.OpenRoad driver |23

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New CarPROFILEAcuraMDXPerformance& Technologyin One PackageIt is a big year for Acura SUVs, what with the recent introductionof the new RDX, and the launch of the second-generation MDX.Acura is definitely looking to put the emphasis on “high-techsport” with its new flagship SUV.The high-tech side is amply taken care of with such features aspremium surround sound system with XM satellite radio, a navigationsystem with real-time traffic reporting, a HandsFreeLinkwireless communications system that works with Bluetoothenabledcell phones, and a collision mitigation braking systemthat can detect an impending accident and take action to reducespeed and prepare the safety systems before impact.On the performance side, the MDX is aimed towards onpavementusage primarily, with power and handling the mainconcerns. MDX’s Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive system automaticallytransfers power front-to-rear and also from side-to-sideon an individual axle for maximum traction. With its suspensionhaving been tuned on the famous Nurburgring track, the MDXshould be a handler extraordinaire................................................................Specs MDX• Base Price (GL): $52,300• Body Type: 4-door SUV• Layout: Front-engine, SH AWD• Engine: 3.7litre, 24 valve, SOHC VTEC V6• Horsepower: 300hp @ 6000rpm• Transmission: 5 speed auto withIntelligent shift control• Brakes: disc, 4 wheel ABS withelectronic brake distribution• Length: 4844 mm• Width (incl. mirrors): 2238 mm• Height: 1733 mm• Wheelbase: 2750 mm• Weight: 2064 Kg• Fuel Economy (city/hwy):13.8/ 10.0 L/Km• Warranty: 5 yr/100,000-km majorcomponent warranty, 4yr/80,000-Kmdistributors limited warrantyOpenRoad driver |25

Experience the Global Dining Lounge...Best New Restaurant – 1st PlaceOkanagan Life MagazineBest Casual Restaurant – GoldWhere MagazineBest Casual Restaurant Chain – SilverVancouver MagazineBest Companies to Work for in BC - #18BCBusiness MagazineBest Hangout, Best People-Watching, Best Washroom – 1st PlaceGeorgia Straight Peoples’ Choice AwardsBest Overall Restaurant, Best Service, Friendliest Service – 1st PlaceFast Forward MagazineBest Bathroom in Calgary – 1st and 2nd PlaceCIPHEX WestProvincial Restauranteur of the Year, Casual Dining – 1st PlaceBC Restaurant and Food AssociationBROADWAY & ASH575 W Broadway, Vancouver604.714.6000YALETOWN357 Davie Street, Vancouver604.685.8070BROADWAY & GRANVILLE1530 W Broadway, Vancouver604.733.0434ROBSON1136 Robson St, Vancouver604.687.3278NORTH VANCOUVER1598 Pemberton, N Vancouver604.986.5776KINGSWAY4653 Kingsway, Burnaby604.431.8448RICHMOND5500 No. 3 Road, Richmond604.244.9969DELTA7907-120th Street, Delta604.591.1707PARK ROYAL VILLAGE855 Main St, W Vancouver604.922.1707COQUITLAM110-101 Schoolhouse, Coquitlam604.777.0440NORTH BURNABY4219b Lougheed, Burnaby604.291.6606VICTORIA1125 Douglas Street, Victoria250.361.3233NANAIMO801 5800 Turner Rd, Nanaimo250.729.0011KELOWNA200 1575 Banks Rd, Kelowna250.763.6752BARLOW TRAIL2612 39th Ave NE, Calgary403.250.1120MACLEOD TRAIL7010 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary403.255.1088OpenRoad driver |26w w w . c a c t u s c l u b c a f e . c o m

New CarPROFILEHondaCivic Si SedanAdding Even Moreto the MixThe Honda Civic Si Coupe debuted last year to ravereviews. As the latest in a long line of sporty Civics it iscapable of feats of performance one might not expect ina small front wheel-drive, four cylinder-powered coupe.But of course, being a two-door coupe, its target customeris somewhat limited to very young (or youthful) folkswithout any children or other family to be concerned aboutaccommodating.It was really a no-brainer for Honda to take all the Si Coupe’sperformance goodies and toss them into the new Civic sedan,thereby opening up the Si experience to an older and morefamily-oriented audience who want their sport compact funalong with four-doors and rear-seat room.At the Chicago Auto Show in the spring Honda showed theSi Sedan, officially in concept form but certainly very close towhat we will see in showrooms this fall. That means it’ll havethe same 197-horsepower engine driving through a six-speedmanual transmission and limited-slip differential, plus alloywheels, performance tires and four-wheel disc brakes.Most conjecture has the cross-drilled brake rotors and fourpistonBrembo calipers shown in the photos not making it tothe production version, but that would be a small price to payfor the “enthusiast with commitments” to whom such a car isjust the ticket. We’ll find out equipment and pricing this fall.OpenRoad driver |27

FeatureOpenRoadAudiOpens inVancouverOpenRoad proudly announces the latestaddition to their family of 7 dealershipsName: OpenRoad AudiArrived: September 15, 2006Born at: 2395 Boundary Road, VancouverWeight: Tons of inventoryby Gerry FrechetteOpenRoad driver |28

Building newautomotive retail outlets issomething OpenRoad AutoGroup has become very good at.After all, Christian Chia and his managementteam have had lots of practice atcreating new facilities from the groundup, or renovating existing facilities, toprovide the kind of car shopping experiencethat is second to none.OpenRoad’s latest endeavour is a newand different challenge. Not only does itsignify the branching out into a brandthat is new to the Group, but the facilitythat will eventually be a retail showplacestarted its life as a place to sell and servicemotorcycles, and needs extensiverefurbishing.By now, you have probably realizedthat the new brand in question is Audi,which will be the first non-Asian brandthat OpenRoad will sell. As PresidentChristian Chia puts it, the “planets werewell-aligned and it was perfect timing”for this to all come about as it has.Mr. Chia is quick to dispel the notionthat OpenRoad should have been consideredas primarily a purveyor of brandsfrom Japan and South Korea. “I don’t seeourselves exclusively as an Asian-branddealer, but more as a customer-focused,high-quality auto group with a portfolioof desirable brands, Asian or otherwise.”“The other thing that we felt withAudi,” he continues, “is that the luxurysegment in Canada continues to grow.We see a lot of growth in luxury cars.The Baby Boomers who buy them maybe looking to downsize, but when itcomes to comfort, amenities and luxury,they want it all.”When the Audi franchise for Vancouverbecame available, OpenRoad was quickto acquire it. With the partnership ofOpenRoad and Audi cemented, the nextchallenge was to find a facility and locationfrom which to sell and service thesepremium automobiles, and which wouldallow both OpenRoad and Audi to maintaintheir high standards of both customerservice and presentation of the vehicles.Obviously a location near to the storesof competitive brands would be ideal, andjust such a location became available onBoundary Road at the eastern edge ofthe City of Vancouver. Christian Chiaelaborates. “We wanted to be in Vancouverproper; that was very important. At thesame time, we wanted to represent Audiin Burnaby and Coquitlam and communitiesfurther east. So we sought a centrallocation and felt Boundary Road would beideal. On top of that, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have very good representation inthat area, so we thought that having themwithin a few blocks of us would be a verystrong opportunity. So that has workedout well.”The location may be excellent, but thething is, the buildings on it have neverhoused an automotive dealership, andwould not be suitable for selling carswithout extensive modifications andremodelling. The OpenRoad Audi TeamOpenRoad driver |29

OpenRoadAUDI“Our goal for OpenRoad Audi is tobe the model dealership for Audiin Canada. We are going to dowhatever it takes to achieve that.”Having said that, OpenRoad wantedto begin to sell and service Audis as soonas possible at that location. The solutionthey have arrived at is to develop theproperty in steps, starting with a unique“boutique” showroom and service receptionfacility.“We are going to have a multi-phaseapproach to the location,” says Mr. Chia.“The existing site is comprised of threebuildings, and the first building thatwe occupied in September consists of asmall boutique showroom with a servicereception area and valet service. The secondphase will be another small buildingon the site which will provide additionalon-site service capability when it openson December 1. The third phase of theproject will be the fully completed facilitywhich will open next summer.”“This project began with the opportunityto acquire the Audi franchise, andcontinued with the great location wesecured,” says Mr. Chia. “But the keyaspect is the Audi brand itself, and themajor product onslaught they are in themiddle of, especially with the Q7 andupcoming Q5 SUVs.“Our goal for OpenRoad Audi is to bethe model dealership for Audi in Canada.We are going to do whatever it takes toachieve that.”Diego Ramos, President of AudiCanada, confirmed his company’s delightin its partnership with OpenRoad. “Wesaw that OpenRoad Auto Group had longexperience in dealing with premiumvehicles. We are absolutely convinced thatthey have the willingness and the capacityto have one of the best Audi facilities inCanada, and that Christian Chia and histeam are very competent and looking toexcel in the sale of Audi in Vancouver.They are excited to work with us and soconfident in the future of the brand thatthey are making a big investment, andthis is confirmation to us that we havethe right partner in Vancouver.”So, the wheels have been set inmotion for OpenRoad Audi on BoundaryRoad in Vancouver. The new boutiqueshowroom is open for business with theamenities one expects, including valetservice, and there is a full service facilitywith factory-trained technicians whospecialize in Audi.By next summer, you will see a stateof-the-artAudi sales and service facilitythere, as yet another chapter in theOpenRoad Auto Group is written.OpenRoad driver |30

OpenRoad AudiPROFILEAudi Q7A First for AudiAudi took its time before introducingits first SUV, the Q7, but it hasbeen worth the wait. The goalfrom the beginning of the project was tobuild a full-size premium vehicle with allthe refinement and technology expectedof an Audi. At that, it has succeeded.The new Q7 is the largest SUV on themarket with contemporary unibody engineering,big enough to accommodate thethird-row seating that many buyers want.Indeed, its interior volume is comparableto the biggest minivans, making it aversatile people, or cargo, hauler. Thesecond and third row seats fold flat, andeven with the third seat deployed, thereis room behind it for cargo.At the same time, the Q7 has all theperformance and comfort of the A6sedan. The first Q7 to hit the market wasthe 4.2L V8 version. Despite its imposingsize it performs like a luxury car, thanks tothe engine’s race-proven FSI direct injectiontechnology. Its output is 350 horsepowerand 325 lb-ft of torque, allowing atowing capacity of up to 3,000 kg. Poweris routed through a six-speed Tiptronicautomatic to, naturally, all four wheels viaAudi’s famous quattro system.All Q7 4.2s come with a long list ofcomfort and safety technology, includingbi-xenon headlights, power tailgate, OpenRoad driver |31

heated seats and steering wheel, Bose 14-speaker Surround Sound system, and theexpected power “everything” in the interior.The Q7 4.2 Premium adds Panoramasunroof, heated rear seats, premiumleather, four-zone climate control, 19-inchwheels, and DVD navigation system withvoice recognition. Some of these featuresare available on the base 4.2 as standaloneoptions, so that the Q7 can bepersonalized.So, comfort and convenience are a given,all in a very car-like interior environment.Like in the A6, the Q7 driver is coddled inan environment of fine leather, wood andaluminum trim, and thick carpeting.As one would expect, the Q7’s occupantsare also well taken care of on thesafety side, with six airbags including sidecurtains, Electronic Stabilization Programand anti-lock brakes. Two interestingoptions are Side Assist, which detectsvehicles in your blind spot and alerts youif you are planning a lane change, andAdaptive Cruise Control that keeps a safedistance between your Q7 and the vehiclein front.In other words, the Q7 is the last wordin technology, comfort and style in a largeSUV.Specs Q7...............................................................• Price (4.2): $68,900• Body Type: 4-Door, 7-passenger SUV• Layout: Front-engine, all-wheel drive• Engine: 4.2L DOHC 32-valve FSI V8• Horsepower: 350 @ 6,800 rpm• Torque: 325 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm• Transmission: 6-spd auto• Brakes: 4-wheel disc, ABS, EBD• Length: 5,086 mm (200.2 in)• Width: 1,983 mm (78.1 in.)• Height: 1,737 mm (68.4 in.)• Wheelbase: 3,002 mm (118.2in)• Weight: 2,390 kg (5,269 lb)• Fuel Economy (city/hwy):17.0 / 11.3 L/100 km• Cargo capacity (third row up): 305L• Warranty: 48 mo. / 80,000 kmOpenRoad driver |32

OpenRoad AudiPROFILEAudi RS4Our Cover ModelThere is a contingent of auto enthusiaststo whom low-key outwardappearance, sedan versatility andall-weather capabilities are as importantas scintillating performance and exclusivity.For them, there is the Audi RS4.The recipe is simple. Take the regularA4 sport sedan, add the biggest V8 inthe Audi arsenal plus all the high-performancerunning gear to complement it,and you have one of the world’s premierperformance sedans.The V8 in the RS4 is the new 4.2-litreFSI Direct Injection unit, and it pumps out420 horsepower with an incredibly loftyrpm redline of 8,250. As importantly, the317 lb-ft of torque is available between2,250 and 7,600 rpm, making for a seam-less rush of power that sees 100 km/hattained in but 4.8 seconds.All that power flows out through a slickshifting6-speed manual box (only) to thequattro all-wheel drive system, suitablyenhanced with Electronic StabilizationProgram and locking centre differentialthat apportions torque 60 percent tothe rear and 40 to the front in normalsituations, but will, of course, send morepower to any wheel in a loss of traction.It may be the most sophisticated performancedrivetrain anywhere.Keeping everything under control atthe four corners is multi-link suspensioncrafted largely out of aluminum, andDynamic Ride Control that regulates thebody’s motions as the Q7 is braked or OpenRoad driver |33

OpenRoad AudiPROFILEAudi S4Spoiled for ChoiceThe new-for-2006 Audi S4 can be said to be the most variedline-up of mid-size sport-performance cars in the business.After all, when you can choose from among a four-doorsedan, an Avant wagon and a cabriolet, the decision of which oneto pick can be difficult, indeed.What they all have in common will certainly make the drivingenthusiast take notice, no matter which body style is the finalchoice. Under the hood is a 4.2-litre V8 putting out a smooth 340horsepower through your choice of either a six-speed manual orsix-speed Tiptronic automatic, both to all four wheels, all the time,via Audi’s renowned quattro all-wheel drive system.Of course, comfort is taken care of with the 12-way adjustableRecaro heated leather sport seats. Dual-zone climate control keepsthings cool. The Symphony 10-speaker-with-subwoofer audio system,with 6-CD changer, cassette deck and satellite radio capability,makes sure the tunes roll on no matter which medium you choose.So, with performance and comfort taken care of, the decisioncomes down to the traditional style of the sedan, the added utilityof the Avant, or the open-air sportiness of the Cabriolet. A difficultchoice, to be sure.Specs S4...............................................................• Price(sedan): $70,390• Body Type: 4-Door, 5-passenger sedan• Layout: Front-engine, all-wheel drive• Engine: 4.2L DOHC 32-valve FSI V8• Horsepower: 340 @ 7,000 rpm• Torque: 302 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm• Transmission: 6-spd manual(6-spd Tiptronic opt)• Brakes: 4-wheel disc, ABS, EBD• Length: 4,586 mm (180.6 in)• Width: 1,781 mm (70.1 in.)• Height: 1,415 mm (55.7 in.)• Wheelbase: 2,648 mm (104.3 in)• Weight: 1,755 kg (3,869 lb)• Acceleration: 0-100 km/h: 5.3 sec.OpenRoad driver |35

OpenRoad AudiPROFILEAudi S6Stepping It UpIn this, the year of the introduction ofnew performance-oriented Audis, theluxury A6 line hasn’t been neglected.Joining the ranks of the vaunted S-Line isthe new S6, and it is something special,indeed.Audi describes the S6 in terms of arefined flow of power in conjunction withsuperlative comfort and an elegantlyunderstated appearance.The power part of that equation isamply taken care of with an all-new 5.2-litre V10 engine, a velvet hammer thatpunches out 435 hp with total smoothrefinement. Race-proven FSI gasolinedirect injection plays a big part in this, aswell as in the S6’s ability to jump from 0to 100 km/h in only 5.1 seconds.The S6’s look is understated elegance,inside and out. It is athletic without beingaggressive. Discreet exterior badgingconfirms that this beautiful car does,indeed, possess a V10, the wheel archesare slightly flared, and there is a smallrear spoiler.The approach inside is one of classyupgrades to the basic A6, with materialslike birch wood or carbon-fibre trim, SilkNappa leather upholstery, and brushedaluminum highlights. The resultingappearance is one of dynamism and highquality, with a sporty undercurrent….The S6 is expected to be available inearly fall 2006.OpenRoad driver |36

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ShermanTaiForget whatyou knowaboutfeng shuiWrapped in mystery andmisconception, the practiceof feng shui is one of theoldest and perhaps bestknown secrets of the ancientOrient. It might also be one ofthe most misunderstood.Interview by Ben HudsonPhotos by Dean SandersonOpenRoad driver |38

The world, it seems,is a brutal and unjust place.How is it that one mancan drown in money whileanother can die of thirst? As humanswe are constantly questioning ourselves,the meaning of life and our destiny.And, for centuries, we’ve been hard atwork scripting answers in the form ofreligion, philosophy, war and politics.The Chinese have been equallydiligent in their search for answers.According to ancient Chinese philosophy,one’s life is affected by the date andtime of their birth and the nature of theenvironment in which they live. In otherwords, the feng shui of their home.Destiny and luck also play a major roleas do philanthropy, and education.Unravelling a person’s fortune requiresan in depth study of these elements, theirastrological sign, geographical location,and the presence or absence of the lifeenergy elements of “qi” (metal, wood,water, fire, and earth). When all thesefactors are taken into consideration withtheir relationship to feng shui a highlytrained fortune teller or feng shui master,like Richmond’s Sherman Tai, can accuratelypredict a person’s fate. And whenwe say accurately we mean accurately. Mr.Tai claims to be more than 90% accuratein his predictions.Obviously an article of this size cannotpossibly decode the mystery of fengshui. Needless to say, many people deeplybelieve that feng shui can have a profoundaffect on their destiny. Having saidthat, it is also important to rememberthat good feng shui is always relative tothe individual in question. So, a buildingcannot simply be created to have goodfeng shui for everybody, all the time. Justas people who share birthdates and neighbourhoodsdo not share the same destiny,the feng shui of a building will affect differentpeople in different ways.The best home is created with fengshui complementing the occupants.Arguably a home with good feng shui canbring the occupants wealth, prosperity,and health. However, it is here that theline between feng shui and superstitiondraw dangerously near. Feng shui is notsuperstition, or an aesthetic, nor is it adesign discipline. It is a philosophy ofharmony between the natural world andthe individual. A relationship that can havea direct and, according to Sherman Tai,measurable affect on a person’s destiny.But this is not as straight forward aswe had hoped. So, in order to help usgain a better understanding about thereal meaning of feng shui, we caughtup with Sherman Tai. Sherman is possiblyone of the most famous Feng ShuiMasters in the world and certainly themost famous in British Columbia. A feng shui masterlike Richmond’sSherman Tai canaccurately predicta person’s fate.And when we sayaccurately we meanaccurately. Mr. Taiclaims to be morethan 90% accurate inhis predictions.OpenRoad driver |39

Sherman TaiSherman, thank you so much for takingthe time to meet with me. I feel veryprivileged to be sitting here and speakingwith you today.What does it mean to be a Feng ShuiMaster?I prefer not to call myself a master.“Master” is really a Chinese term ofrespect taken from ancient times. Peoplethink of a Master as a monk or a wise oldman living in the mountains with sometype of special powers. I prefer to seemyself as a coach, like a football coach. Ican provide guidance and advice. I canhelp you see the relationship betweendifferent elements in your life but it is upto the individual to take action.When you were 6 years old your familychose to send you to live with a monk,a man who then became your master,to me this sounds like destiny.Yes, it is karma.So did you embrace this path fromchildhood?No, I was very rebellious as a youngman. I tried to convince myself thatthis was all just superstition. I resistedfor years. I went away to university andbecame a Mechanical Engineer.Was becoming a mechanical engineerpart of your resistance?It is possible. But you must rememberthat being a mechnical engineer inHong Kong is a very good occupation. Iknew that as an engineer I would be ina stable professional job with good pay.If I could do this, I felt it would not benecessary for me to accept my destinyas a feng shui master. But I found thatfeng shui and Mechanical Engineeringare not so different. They both operateunder a set of unique principles thatcan only be put into practice when allthe external elements and relationshipsare accounted for and understood. Andjust as luck has no role in engineering,superstition is not part of feng shui.The interplay of the supernatural andsuperstition must be one of the most commonmisconceptions about feng shui.Yes, I think many people allow elementsI prefer not to callmyself a master.“Master” is reallya Chinese term ofrespect taken fromancient times. Peoplethink of a Master asa monk or a wiseold man living in themountains with sometype of special powers.I prefer to see myselfas a coach, like afootball coach.OpenRoad driver |40

of religion, superstition, and the supernaturalto interfere with a true understandingof feng shui. I can think of so manythings… for example hanging mirrors toreflect bad energy, or placing a statue ofa lion in front of your house, this is notfeng shui, this is superstition.You have a very impressive client listand you’ve consulted on some very bigprojects. What project are you mostproud of?Undoubtedly the new Olympic Oval.(Pulls documents out of his desk andshows me his name, on the official list ofconsultants.) See, here it says “FortuneTeller & Associates” and Sherman Tai,feng shui. As far as I know, this is thefirst time that this type of work has beenofficially applied to and recognized by awestern organization like the Olympics.The first time.When you are approached by a client,big or small, how do you explain whatyou can do for them?Nearly all my clients come to me throughreferral so they already understand whatI do. I always explain that feng shui andfortune telling is not magic and it is not100% accurate. Although, I must admitI am very accurate. But, as I said before,I am a coach, not a magician. I can giveclear direction and guidance. I can helpyou achieve more out of life. Much morethan if you act alone.So how do you tell somebody that theyare not going to be successful?This has only happened once, a very longtime ago. I believe there is always opportunityfor success. The potential for everyindividual to get the most out of lifealways exists.Helping people get the most out of life,is that the most satisfying thing aboutyour job?Yes, I truly really enjoy helping peopleachieve more in their lives and helpingthem to improve. People trust me togive them good advice, to improve theirthinking, and their actions. I see this asmy mission.And how many other Feng Shui Mastersare there in the world that share yourskill set?Not many. Yes, there are many peoplewho are highly educated, extremely wellAs far as I know, this isthe first time that thistype of work has beenofficially applied to andrecognized by a westernorganization like theOlympics.trained, but don’t forget I have beenlearning this since I was 7 years old. Ihave had people offer me $1 million toteach them what I know. But I cannot.There is no book. The knowledge I possesshas taken me decades to acquire andunderstand. Very few share my experiences,my background.Okay this is a car magazine so I haveto ask you … what kind of car do youdrive? And did feng shui play a role inyour selection?I drive a Lexus, RX 330. (Laughing) Ofcourse. There are several reasons I chosethe Lexus. It is four wheel drive and thereis plenty of room for my German Shepards.And, of course, the colour I chose and thename Lexus matches me personally.Not to mention, that four GermanShepards don’t fit well in a Ferrari…No, not so well.Years ago, in an interview you said formany people surprises bring happiness,but that you have no surprises in yourlife. Do you still believe that there areno surprises in your life?Yes of course. But this does not meanthere is no happiness in my life. For me,my philosophy teaches me that there isno certainty in life…So in turn, there are no surprises.Exactly.Advertise in the next issue of...Contact Will Fong at:T: 604.232.5347wfong@openroadcanada.comOpenRoad driver |41

News from our Dealerships...OpenRoadExperienceA New Face forOpenRoad Hyundai by Gerry FrechetteThere is no doubt that Hyundai is an auto manufacturer on the move, asthe South Korean company has grown in North America from humblebeginnings in the early 1980s to be one of the powerhouses in the industry.OpenRoad driver |42

In the past couple of years, Hyundai’smodel range has been revampedfrom top to bottom, and it is now fullof desirable vehicles with the latesttechnology.This, of course, did not escape theattention of OpenRoad Auto Group. Whena Hyundai franchise became available twoyears ago, along with a sales-and-servicefacility on No. 3 Road in Richmond, it wasquickly acquired.The dealership had been located onthat street for some time, but the placeto be for auto dealers in Richmond is theRichmond Auto Mall. An existing buildingbecame available there earlier this year.Again, OpenRoad moved quickly and theresult is the recent opening of OpenRoadHyundai. This much larger and moremodern facility provides customers withthe latest in amenities. “We were doingokay in that original facility, but as soonas we moved to the Auto Mall, our salesvolume doubled,” says Rob Steele, GroupVice President for OpenRoad. “In August,we were the Number One volume dealershipin British Columbia. We have broughtthe quality experience up to OpenRoadstandards in this new facility, and it shows.”Steele took us on a tour of the newHyundai store, and he was excited aboutits potential. “We see Hyundai as afranchise of the future, with the growthpotential here being very dramatic over thenext few years. We researched the Hyundaiorganization, and believe that their quality,their pricing and the way they stand behindtheir products are very good. We thinkthere is a wonderful future for Hyundai.”Prior to acquiring the franchise,OpenRoad did its research and comparedwhat they found with the knowledgegleaned from selling the other topbrands in its portfolio. “We have beento Hyundai’s manufacturing plant inMontgomery, Alabama,” Steele continues,“and as an indication of its quality standards,we were just amazed by the levelof robotics used to make vehicles there.That plant makes 300,000 vehicles a yearwith half as many employees as anotherlarge auto plant nearby which makesthe same number. That speaks to thetechnology and precision used in buildingthese vehicles, which allows Hyundai tooffer warranties longer than most othercompanies.”In our tour of the Hyundai facility, wehad the chance to chat with severalemployees, and Lei White, Service Advisor,puts the success of the new store in context.“A lot of people in Richmond didn’tknow about Hyundai until we moved intothe Auto Mall, so it’s been great. Manypeople check out the other dealers in themall, and then come and buy a car here.”The last word goes to Rob Steele. “Sonow we have a new, state-of-the-artHyundai dealership, with lots of capacityin the eight-bay service department, a fullparts department, and all the amenitiesthat customers have come to expect inan OpenRoad dealership. We have veryhigh standards in those respects, and thisHyundai store meets or exceeds them all.”So, if you are shopping for a new vehicle,Hyundai should be on your list, andOpenRoad Hyundai at 5571 ParkwoodWay, at the northern end of the RichmondAuto Mall, is open and ready to show youthe full range of award-winning Hyundaiproducts.OpenRoad driver |43

News from our Dealerships...OpenRoadExperienceè“Grinding” for CharityOn June 11, 2006 an enthusiasticteam of 12 participated in theOpenRoad Auto Group GrouseGrind Challenge. The teammembers came from variousdepartments in the Group. A totalof $500 in pledges was raisedwhich was matched by OpenRoadfor a total of $1000 for theCanadian Diabetics Association.èService Award for AcuraNorth Shore Acura received the Service Guild award,Acura Canada’s award for the highest standard ofcustomer service. This award represents thedealership’s commitment to exceeding customerexpectation levels by continuously improving theSales and Service Experience.èOpenRoad Lexus’ veryown Cameron Ma winsthe Toyota/LexusNational Skills ContestCameron Ma will representOpenRoad next year at Toyota headoffice in Japan. Other finalists fromOpenRoad include Toyota ServiceAdvisors Brian Voth (Richmond) andDean Maclean (Port Moody) andLexus Technicians Bruce MacFarlane(Port Moody) and Greg Dowswell(Richmond).breaking recordsMiddlegate Honda hit an all time record in Augustwith sales of 114 new units in one month. Previousrecord was 113 back in 2002. Since moving to theirnew location in June OpenRoad Hyundai has beenleading the province in Hyundai sales. RichmondLexus achieved an all time monthly record in Julyby delivering 78 vehicles.OpenRoad’s Circleof HonourEvery year all OpenRoad SalesAssociates compete for the Circle ofHonour. Product knowledge andpresentation skills are tested andthree finalists put their best forwardin the hopes of achieving the title“2006 Circle of Honour Champion”.With the vast knowledge and skillsof OpenRoad Associates,competition is fierce. From the fieldof outstanding competitors the2006 champion is Cathy Gilmour ofOpenRoad Toyota Richmond.OpenRoad driver |44

Locations...Middlegate Honda6984 Kingsway Burnaby604.525.4667MiddlegateHonda.comGeneral Manager: Ian QuinnService Manager: Brian CalburyParts Manager: Tom BerryNorth Shore Acura828 Automall Drive604.929.6736NorthShoreAcura.comGeneral Manager: Ian QuinnService Manger: Brian CalburyParts Manager: Steve PaxonVisit Middlegate Honda in their brand newfacility. In addition to all the latestconveniences you have come to expect fromOpenRoad, we have just started our newExpress Service. Come when you like, noappointment necessary!Services 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9The Lower Mainland’s most sophisticated andmodern Acura retailer, North Shore Acura isconveniently located in the North Shore AutoMall. Come see the new CSX or visit ourextensive inventory of pre-owned vehicles online.Services 1 3 4 6 8 9OpenRoad Audi2395 Boundary Road Vancouver604.293.AUDI (2834)OpenRoadAudi.comGeneral Manager: Vincent LauService Manager: Mark ChambersParts Manager: Chris EdwardsOpenRoad Audi is the latest addition to theOpenRoad family. While the new location isrenovated a boutique dealership will serve allyour needs. See the stunning new designsthat make Audi the style and engineeringbenchmark for the industry.Services 3 6 8 9OpenRoad Hyundai - RiCHMOND5571 Parkwood Way Richmond604.606.9033OpenRoadHyundai.comGeneral Sales Manager: Joe KwokService manager: Greg DowswellOpenRoad Lexus – Port Moody3150 St. Johns Street604.461.7623OpenRoadLexus.caGeneral Sales Manager: David LamService Manager: Cameron MaParts Manager: Sherry BaziukOpenRoad Hyundai is now conveniently locatedin the Richmond Auto Mall, right next toRichmond Lexus. This new dealership offers awide open showroom and a comfortablecustomer lounge. Visit us and see the fabulousnew additions to the Hyundai line up.Services 2 3 6 7 8 9OpenRoad Lexus is the region’s newest Lexusaddition. Visit us to found out why we’ve beencalled the “The Lexus of Showrooms”.Services 1 2 3 4 6 8 9OpenRoad Toyota – Port Moody3166 St. Johns Street604.461.3656OpenRoadToyota.caGeneral Manager: Rob SteeleService Manager: David PearceParts Manager: Sherry BaziukOpenRoad Toyota in Port Moody is the fastestgrowing Toyota dealer in the Lower Mainland.Visit us and see our amazing four story car tower.Services 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9OpenRoad Toyota – Richmond13251 Smallwood Place604.273.3766OpenRoadToyota.comGeneral Manager: Rob SteeleService Manager: Al RensenParts Manager: Dave HortonRichmond Lexus5631 Parkwood Way604.273.5533RichmondLexus.comGeneral Sales Manager: Mark WorbeckService Manager: Anke MintyParts Manager: Dave HortonWestern Canada’s largest volume retailer is theflagship for Toyota Canada. Our expansiveshowroom and friendly team members will helpyou understand why, once again, OpenRoadToyota was awarded the coveted President’saward in 2005.Services 1 3 6 7 8 9Richmond Lexus has been Western Canada’slargest volume Lexus retailer for ten yearsrunning. Exceeding expectations is what setsus apart.Services 3 6 8 9Services Legend1. Playstation2. Complimentary wireless access3. Complimentary coffee & tea4. Indoor service reception5. Express service6. Valet or Shuttle service7. Your car is ready system8. Television9. Complimentary newspapersOpenRoad driver |45

“We are proud to be a part of anorganization that values its employees”.We are proud of the unique workplace environment we have created at OpenRoad and promote an employee oriented philosophy.Our organization is committed to doing the best for our employees so that they may do their best for our customers.Join our team today and advance your career in a work environment with an energy and feel that is refreshingly unique in our industry.OpenRoad driver |46Test drive a career with us today atwww.openroadautogroup.com/careers

FeatureRichmondAuto BodyA NewEra BeginsBy Eve LazarusWhen Randy Lowe was a littlekid he vividly remembersgoing to work with his Dad atthe family’s auto body shop.In those days it was a tiny littleoperation at the corner ofNo. 3 Road and WestminsterHighway. OpenRoad driver |47

RichmondAUTO BODYRandy’s Dad, BobLowe, started the business in1960. He was the “body man”and his mother Joan helpedout. “I can remember coming down hereto the old shop and Mom would be inthere sanding cars and doing whateverit took,” says Randy. “It was a real dump.There was a single light bulb hangingthere and it was dark and dingy anddusty—a typical body shop.”Unfortunately for Bob Lowe, the locationwas smack in the path of plans forthe new Richmond Centre Mall. In 1965he and Joan packed up the business andmoved to 2811 No. 3 Road. In the mid-1970’s the Lowes bought the propertynext door, adding a separate paint shop.Gradually they expanded and eventuallyhad five different buildings thatincluded two body shops, a detail areaand an office.Bob Lowe retired in 1991 and Randytook over Richmond Auto Body at age32. No stranger to the business, Randyhad worked there since high schoolfirst cleaning up the cars after school,to the office “parts guy” and eventuallygeneral manager. “I don’t think I hadthe natural abilities to be a technician,but it really fascinated me watching therepairs and watching what they couldaccomplish,” he says.Last spring the Lowe family watchedthe buildings they’d owned for 30 yearsbulldozed to make way for the RAV Linethat will eventually wind its way fromdowntown Vancouver to Richmond.It was no small challenge to find aspace large enough and properly zonedto accommodate at minimum a 20,000square foot body shop and at least an acreof land for parking and storing cars. “Wedidn’t complete our negotiations withRAV until December 2005 and at thatpoint we didn’t know if we were closingdown or what we were going to do becausewe had nowhere to go,” says Randy.While Randy was searching for anappropriate building, Christian Chiaat the OpenRoad Group was looking toget back into the body shop business.His company had owned a body shopin Winnipeg in the 1980s and mid-90’swhen the company owned WoodhavenOpenRoad driver |48

“You come into our officeand it doesn’t look like abody shop,” says Randy.“The image has changedand so has the way weall do business. It’s a lotmore professional thanit used to be.”Lexus Toyota. And, in fact, Chia had thebody shop’s retired Winnipeg manageralready actively looking for an opportunity.OpenRoad and Richmond AutoBody had a 25 year business relationship,and as Randy says, always enjoyed a greatinformal working relationship. OpenRoadalso owned a warehouse and three acresof land on No. 5 Road near Bridgeportwhich they used for new car storage.Joining another family owned businesswas a nice fit for Randy, and moreimportantly, his customers and 27 staff.For Christian it means that he canassure his customers get the best possiblecustomer service and their carsreceive the highest standards and thebest quality parts.“We are committed to building thecompany into a comprehensive automotiveservice provider and for us thatmeans a wide selection of new andpre-owned vehicles, financial services,auto parts, vehicle maintenance and, ofcourse, repair including collision repair,”says Christian. “We know that our owners,whether they are Lexus, Toyota orHyundai owners are passionate aboutkeeping their vehicles in the best possiblecondition. Being in the body shopbusiness allows us to do that for ourcustomers.”There is no longer any sign of theformer Mom and Pop operation at thenew Richmond Auto Body shop. Oncethe home of Trev Deeley Motorcycles,the former warehouse has a brightly litreception area with comfortable furniture,newspapers and coffee for the customers.“You come into our office and itdoesn’t look like a body shop,” says Randy.“The image has changed and so has theway we all do business. It’s a lot moreprofessional than it used to be.”A tour of the facilities shows anequally brightly lit working space. OpenRoad driver |49

RichmondAUTO BODYThe worst thing they’vefixed is a Lexus with$60,000 worth of damage.“There’s not very much wecan’t fix.”We walk past six body stalls—thereare 20 in total—and five prep stationsto reach the detailing area. In anothersection a Camry sits in one of two new“smart booths.” In the old shop it took 45minutes to “bake” a car. New technologyhas reduced that to 15 minutes. Randysays there are usually between 75 to80 cars in various stages of repair onthe lot at any one time and they writeon average 350 work orders a month.Customer satisfaction is huge and Randypoints out the polishing area is an extrabenefit and there is no charge for customers.Outside, we walk past a brand newLexus ES350 waiting to go into the shop.It was rear ended at four days old andhas $28,000 of damage.Randy says the worst thing they’vefixed is a Lexus with $60,000 worthof damage. “There’s not very much wecan’t fix,” he says.The new location also offers some stability.“We’ve got state of the art equipment,we’ve got technology we didn’thave in the old shop,” he says. “In thelast three years we were in the old locationwe didn’t put any money back intothe business because I didn’t know whatwas happening.”The collision industry is changing ata phenomenal pace along with changesin technology such as electronic steering,airbag systems, in-car computers and newtypes of metals and paints that requirelarge investments in equipment as well astraining and certification for staff.Still, Randy will tell you that the biggestchange in the industry over the lastfew decades is in customer service. “Backin the old days I can remember whensomeone would bring a car into the shopand it would sit there for a month beforewe moved it, we really never thoughtabout customer service,” he says. “I lookback at what we used to do in those daysand I shudder. It’s amazing we still hadcustomers.”OpenRoad driver |50

Ask the ExpertsQ I visited my dealership formy vehicle’s regular maintenanceservice. I was surprised tofind out that my brake fluid wasdue for change. I thought brakefluid did not require a change, isthis so?A Brake fluid, not unlike any fluid inyour vehicle, has a specific job, and assuch each fluid has unique properties.Brake fluid essentially transmits poweror pressure from your demand to brakeall the way through the ABS system,pipes and hoses until finally reachingthe brake cylinders or calipers. One ofthe most interesting properties of brakefluid is its ability to absorb moisture, alsoknown as being Hydroscopic. Over timebrake fluid can absorb enough moistureto change the corrosive properties of thefluid, and also lower the boiling pointdue to water having a lower boiling pointthan the components that make up brakefluid. Both of these conditions have negativeeffects on the overall brake system.Let’s take a moment to look at eachone in turn. Because the are a number ofdifferent materials involved in the brakesystem, including metal, the fluid must bemoisture free to ensure that corrosion doesnot take place and cause a sealing surfaceto become pitted or damaged, which inturn can cause brake system leak.All brake fluid has a DOT rating. Inour case we will concern ourselves withDOT 3. DOT 3 has a boiling point of401°F. The fluid will exhibit a reducedboiling point as water content increases.If a big globule found its way into a caliper,the water would start to boil at 212°Fcausing a vapour lock condition. DOT 3brake fluid with 3% water content wouldstill exhibit a boiling point of 300°F.This would lead to a “spongy pedal” andreduced braking at high altitudes. So,in short, it is a good idea to completelychange the brake fluid in your car,depending on the year and model asoften as every 24 months.Hanging Air Fresheners:Bad News for Paint or PlasticSeems everywhere you look these daysyou see those cardboard air fresheners hanging fromrearview mirrors or dashboards. Sure, they make yourcar’s interior smell showroom fresh or like a mountainmeadow after a spring rain, but they’ve got their darkside too. The chemicals used just love to eat into anypaint or plastic they come in contact with. Most airfreshener brands actually state right on their packagesto avoid contact with any surface.QUIZ OUR PANEL...direct your questions to drivers@openroadcanda.cominclude “Ask the Experts” in the subject line.OpenRoad driver |52

Q A friend of mine told me thatif I was to call him on my cellphone, hold my wireless remoteup to my cell phone while he washolding his cell phone near myvehicle, that the vehicle wouldreceive the “Unlock” signalthrough cell phone and unlockthe doors.A The chances of this happening arewell... none. It is physically and electronicallyimpossible for a cell phone totransmit an “Unlock” or “Lock” signalfrom a remote key or key fob to anothercell phone. Although it is true that cellphones can be used for data transmission,it is not possible to have a cellphone repeat a signal for use with a wirelesssystem such as the remote door lockor luggage compartment unlock system.Expert TipRegular maintenance will save time & money later...You may have heard it said,“if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That is thebeginning of many automotive problemsbecause a proactive approachcan take the headache out of maintainingyour vehicle.There are three phases to vehiclemaintenance. The most obvious oneis the repair phase. Simply stated,this means, “if it breaks, fix it.” Thisis actually the third phase and meansexactly what it says. It is a last resortand should arise only at infrequentintervals.Phase one is normal daily maintenance.The main driver of the vehicleis usually responsible for this part.They drive the car, observing anythingout of the ordinary and reporting itwhen coming in for a maintenanceservice. Between services, keep a logor diary of certain problems that mayarise including time of day, temperatureand road conditions. This allowsthe technician servicing the car moreinformation on what problem you arehaving, and can get right to the point,instead of looking for things thataren’t there.Phase two is the regularly scheduledmaintenance to include changingof fluids, thorough inspection of partsnot normally seen by the driver anda more detailed inspection of areasthat may need attention. These areaswould include parts that are bentor broken, to include any possiblecracked belts, obvious tire wear andsigns of lack of lubrication.By taking care of phases one andtwo regularly you can minimize thechances of phase three repairs.OpenRoad driver |53

DiningHidden AsianCulinary GemsGrowing up in the Lower Mainland, one hasseen such a vast change in our culinary sceneparticularly with the diversity and growth ofthe city’s ethnic Asian cuisines.by Nathan Fong photos by Dean SandersonOpenRoad driver |54

Years ago, having Chinese food meant going downto the neon lit streets of Chinatown where one could have been offereda plate of fluorescent red sweet and sour that rivalled the techicolouredlights outside. Japanese cuisine was something “Pan-Asian” cooked on ateppan grill with a show of flying knives as entertainment. Drinks cameadorned in a Buddha shaped glass served to you by an ill-fitted kimono clad waitress.Indulging in raw fish on small morsels of seasoned rice was unheard of. The closestone came to dim sum were the dumplings found in badly made wonton soup. Todaynot only do we have great variety of Asian restaurants but a wide variety of eateriesserving regional specialties. Here are a few of my special hidden favourites.Congee Noodle HouseCongee Noodle HouseKintaro Noodle houseCongee Noodle House(Chinese)Congee: A gruel of boiled rice and water,which serves as a background for a hostof other foods including fish, shrimp,chicken, peanuts, sesame seeds and eggs.In China, where it’s known as jook, congeeis particularly popular for breakfast.As the restaurant name implies, that’swhat this place does best! Situated ablock west of Main Street, this nondescriptrestaurant is like many of thecountless similar operations throughoutthe lower mainland serving Chinese barbecuedmeats, noodles and dishes. Butafter eating at so many good places, theCongee Noodle House certainly standsout among its peers. What I go for hereare their congee and noodles!Congee is certainly one of my favouritecomfort foods to have when I’m underthe weather but perhaps it brings backfond memories of what I grew up withwhen my grandmother served it forbreakfast. At this House, they prepareit like my grandmother’s—slow cookeduntil the rice is broken down and the textureis rich and silky smooth. There aresome 20 different congees on the menufrom a simple yet full flavoured chickencongee to a wonderful House SpecialSeafood congee to a more elaborate varietywith sliced ostrich meat. For the trulyadventurous, there are lots of offal tochoose from such as blanched pork kidneyor stomach to pork liver congees. I’ll stickto the more modest varieties thank you!They come piping hot, beautifullyadorned with shards of slivered greenonions and a scattering of freshly friedpeanuts. Almost artful and Zen-like inappearance but rich in flavour.Besides the congee, their noodlesand wonton dumplings are outstanding.Plump wontons come chock fullof minced prawns, bulging in theirtranslucent wrappers. Or perhaps theirsoup dumplings, slightly larger and ovalshaped, stuffed with shrimp and mixedmushrooms. Like the congees, there arenumerous variations, but I prefer thecombination of wontons and dumplingswith fine noodles. They are perfectlycooked still al dente with a slight biteand immersed in the kitchen’s wonderfullysublime and intense broth.Forget about sharing, especiallywith the noodles! Unlike spaghetti, it’shard to split those infinite lengths andremember, slurping is permitted! OpenRoad driver |55

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Hidden AsianCulinary GemsGyoza King (Japanese)Situated down from the up-market fashionand lifestyle emporiums on RobsonStreet, this small bustling restaurant hasbeen a popular fixture, especially withAsian students and a late night havenwith some of the city’s top chefs. Takea step into the ever-crowded eatery andone is immediately transferred into oneof the thousands of similar “izakayas”that are concentrated throughout theAkasaka area of Tokyo. The only exceptionis that one can read the menus inVancouver without the clouds of billowingcigarette smoke.Artful styled calligraphy posters arestrewn over the restaurant’s walls displayingmenu items and daily specials.Canned music is a mixture of kitschyWestern and Japanese pop. The waitressesare young, trendy and helpfuldespite their erratic English.The food comes out of the kitchenwith efficiency, and is presented on traditionalstoneware. Gyozas are particularlygood, plump and full of flavour with avariety of offerings including prawn andvegetable and minced pork with chives.Two of my favourite dishes are thechicken karaage (morsels of succulentboneless chicken deep-fried in a crispflavourful batter, served with a dollop ofsweet Japanese mayonnaise), and probablythe city’s best Agedashi Tofu (lightlybattered silky cubes of fresh soft tofu,garnished with aromatic gingered dashi,bonito shavings and green onions).One of my favourite haunts in Vancouver’sbusy West End for great Japanese casualcooking and for great value. Arrive earlyto avoid a wait in line, and better still,they stay open until 2:00am which isgreat for after theatre or club cravings!Gyoza KingKintaro Noodle HouseKintaro Noodle HouseKintaro RamenNoodle House (Japanese)In this vast metropolis of Asian eateries,there are an infinite number of Chinesenoodle houses, mostly good and someindescribable, but very few good authenticJapanese Noodle shops. Havingwatched Juzo Itami’s fascinating andseminal film “Tampopo” many yearsago I have became an ardent fan of theflick. This wasn’t because of the varioussensual food-filled shots but because ofthe main character’s endeavour to havethe best Ramen noodle house in thearea. Her tenacity of finding secrets forthe most flavourful and aromatic stock,the best flour and water to incorporate thetexture of the noodles and to even challengeher memory by remembering hercustomer’s individual and personal noodleorders (without the help of ginko biloba!)have made me a serious ramen worshipper.After several apparitions at a nondescriptlocation on a block inundatedwith Japanese restaurants, Kintaroopened some four years ago and hasgained a strong reputation for servingexcellent home made tonkotsu (porkbased broth) ramen noodles. The small20-something noodle bar is sparse OpenRoad driver |57

Hidden AsianCulinary Gemswith its somewhat Zen-hip décor. Walkthrough the draped doorway, pass thesteaming cauldron of rich stock, overflowingwith meaty pork bones, and sitat the counter bar and watch the ramenmasters. The noodles come with a choiceof broths, from shoyu (soy based), misoto shio (light pork base) and can be madeto-orderdepending how rich you wantyour flavour to be (from rich, mediumto light). The noodles come adornedwith various authentic garnishes, fromnori seaweed to pickled daikon radishand even side orders of Japanese stylebarbequed pork will be cut to your preference—what’swrong with a bit of fattypork every now and then? One of theirspecialties, binta ramen comes with adish of melting, slow cooked pork cheeks—a favourite of many since it’s usuallyout when I’ve asked for it.They specialize in ramen and that’sabout all they make as well as excellentgyoza. A simple menu, but probably thebest authentic ramen in the city.Kim Saigon Sandwich BarJang Mo Jib (Korean)Korean cuisine has always been intriguingto me. Over the years the country hasadopted cooking techniques and ingredientsfrom neighbouring China andJapan, thus creating their own uniquestyle of food. With its interesting flavours,Korean food features an abundanceof various leafy greens, seafood and meatsall generously spiced with tongue-tinglinghot chili, garlic and onions.Korea is an eating society. City streetsare lined with one eating house afteranother, each serving its regional specialties.Order a main dish and you will beserved the inevitable kimchi, the fiery redchili and garlic-licked preserved vegetablestaple, and four or five side dishes ofassorted vegetables or fish condiments.Jang Mo Jib, which has two locations,is one of the more popular Koreanrestaurants in the Lower Mainland thatcaters to the many Korean students aswell as the ever growing local community.The restaurants are not glamorous…youare here for the food! Be prepared to sittightly in a noisy, florescent-lit room witharborite clad tables with heady aromas ofheat and spice. You can order the famousKorean barbecue bulgogi, but that can behad anywhere. Go for the Hae Mool PahJun, the classic Korean seafood pizza-likepancake that comes served in a cast ironserving pan. Smothered with seafood,green onions and noodles, this grilled“cake” is served with a spicy dippingsauce. Any of the Mahn Doo dumplingsare wonderful, whether fried, steamed orboiled. Probably the most popular dishordered, as seen throughout the diningroom, are their hotpots. Cast iron cook-ing pots come steaming hot and cook atyour table under portable butane burners.Most order the Gam Ja Tahng, which isthe traditional spicy hot pot made withmeaty pork backs and necks loaded withonions, potatoes and marinated vegetables.Perfect for the blustery Korean winternights, this dish is a favourite even in thedead heat of summer. You’ll be sweatingeither from both the chili and mustardseed infused broth or the sheer temperatureof the dish! Koreans love to dine outlate as the restaurant opens till 5am on theweekends at the Robson Street location!OpenRoad driver |58

Kim Saigon Sandwich Bar(Vietnamese)During the famed Indochine periodVietnam adopted some of France’smost important influences, one beingtheir daily staple the beloved baguette.Vietnamese cuisine, with their passion ofusing aromatic herbs and ingredients intheir cooking took this plain bread andcreated Banh Mi, or the Vietnamese Sub.You’ll be hard pressed to find a lunchoption with a higher satisfaction-to-priceratio than this simple sandwich. Goodones are tasty, filling and typically inthe incredibly affordable $2 to $3 range.Though more and more Vietnamese subplaces seem to pop up over the LowerMainland, many in Vietnamese PhoNoodle shops, none are better than atKim’s Saigon Sandwich Bar, located inthe back of the Asia Market. For some16 years this hidden lunch counter hasbeen making one item…good, basicVietnamese subs.The subs are made on fresh minibaguettes(perfectly crisp on the outsidewith a moist tender interior) and forthe most part are filled with a choice ofVietnamese hams and pâté (more crossculturalinfluences), roasted chicken, orpork as well as house-marinated daikonradishes carrot pickles, onions, cilantroand spicy chilies. While I don’t usuallyplace cilantro, carrots or daikon radisheswhere to Go......................................................................• Congee Noodle House (Chinese)141 East Broadway, Vancouver604.879.8221• Gyoza King (Japanese)1508 Robson Street, Vancouver604.669.8278• Kintaro Ramen Noodle House(Japanese)788 Denman Street, Vancouver604.682.7568• Jang Mo Jib (Korean)8320 Alexandra Street, Richmond604.233.07121715 Robson Street, Vancouver604.688.0712• Kim Saigon Sandwich Bar(Vietnamese)265 E Hastings Street, Vancouver604.688.6824at the top of my list of sandwich ingredients,they really work beautifully herewith the taste and texture combinationwith the baguette. There’s some sort ofmagical alchemy that goes on that makesthem absolutely indispensable. The combinationof these simple vegetables givesall of the sandwiches a sort of shared“base flavour” that the various meat toppingsmodulate and refine.The meatball sub is made with softVietnamese pork meatballs (similar tothe Chinese dim sum sui mai) and it’scompletely addictive, dripping juicesand all! The ham sub is made withVietnamese ham and steamed pork pâtéas well as the usual fixings. The chickensub is made with home roasted chickenand is hand shredded and mixed with amarinade that gives it a delicate appeal.For the more adventurous, try the porkskin or the bacon. Whatever you choose,$2.50 is what you’re charged…get 2 for$5 and you’ll be satisfied for the day,dreaming of sipping café au lait on theverandah of the colonial Metropole Hotelin Hanoi.Kim Saigon Sandwich BarJang Mo JibJang Mo Jib Nathan Fong has been an awardwinningfood stylist for print and filmadvertising for the past 18 years and isan internationally published food andtravel journalist. He currently is celebratinghis 14th year on the Canadiannational television network Global BCTVNews, and is a regular contributor toCanada’s public radio network, CBCRadio One. In 2002 he was selectedas one of the “Top 10 Food Trend-settersof the Future in Canada” by theCanadian national newspaper, TheGlobe and Mail Newspaper and was therecipient of the inaugural IACP Award ofExcellence for food styling in 1998.OpenRoad driver |59

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The Racing pagesmakinghistoryatle mans...................................................................Quinn Field-DyteAt the storied race in France the AudiRacing Team Surprised the Field.First, a bit of background on the Le Mans raceitself. The roughly 13.6 km (8.5 mile) circuit is semi-permanent withthe exception of the grandstand and pits section and has been runon the surrounding public roads since 1923. Up until 1990, speedson the backstretch reached up to 400 km/h. To the older gentry,the track conjures up images of the gilded age of racing andrepresents the crown jewel of sports car racing. Larger-than-lifefigures such as Sir Tim Birkin, Stirling Moss, and Jacky Ickx haveraced and won at La Sarthe. Former winner Rob Walker, heir to theJohnny Walker fortune, raced in a Savile Row pinstripe suit, andchanged into evening shoes when racing at night. Gadabout racer“Drunken” Duncan Hamilton and gadabout war hero Tony Rolt wonin 1953 despite being hungover from the night before when theymistakenly thought their car was disqualified. But the race has alsoserved as a valuable test bed, a sort of Vorsrung durch Technick(German for “Progress through technology”) for manufacturersintroducing innovations such as disc brakes and constant-velocitytransmissions. And performance diesel. OpenRoad driver |61

The Racing pages“You can tell me,I won’t tellanybody. This isnot a diesel, isit?”......a fan asked Audi driver Emanuele Pirro.“He thought we were just kidding.”In fact Audi was quite serious. Exploitinga crack in the rules, to a degree, the LeMans governing body spotted their newcharge a significant displacement andboost advantage. While some may cry foul,regulatory interpretations are nothing new.Enzo Ferrari made it a black art back in thesixties by claiming to have homologated(built for the street to justify the racing)far more cars for racing in a series than heactually built. In 1994 both Porsche andMercedes found loopholes enabling themto win Le Mans and Indy, respectively.Along with competing against others,Audi has had to address the perceptionof what actually constitutes a race car;that being the generalization that dieselsand motorsport are mutually exclusive. Itmay come as a surprise that Audi’s newestentry is not the first diesel to contestLe Mans. That honour belongs to theDellettrez brothers, who entered a dieselcar of their own design for three years,starting in 1949. Whereas this attempt wasa shade-tree effort – legend has it thatthe siblings didn’t even secure enoughfuel to finish the race even if the car wasstill around at the end. The Audi R10 isfor all intents and purposes a clean slate.Though its appearance may say AudiR8, everything else is quite different.Where the latter had a traditional chassiswith separate bodywork, the R10 has aFormula 1-like integration of the carbonfiber monocoque with the body, eliminatingthe need for separate skin to smooththe aerodynamics of the car. The resultis a significant weight reduction, whichpartly offsets the hefty 5.5-liter V12 dieselcompared to the 3.8-liter V8 it replaces.This increased engine weight is hardlysurprising given the additional ancillarycomponents and the robustness neededto contain the high compression ratiosand percussive detonations inherent withdiesel combustion. It’s also worth notingthat the R10 drivers have remarked theycan’t hear the engine from the cockpitabove wind noise at speed as its redlineis set at just over 5000rpms, or aboutthe same as the taxicab that brought youhome after a night of ales. In keepingwith the race theme, though, its peakrevs are a little less than half that of anF1- derived Judd engine.As far as looks go, the car itself, muchlike its predecessor, will not be adorning asmany schoolboy’s walls that the Le ManswinningPorsches and Ferraris of yore do.More’s the pity, in a way; for the Audi R10represents such a technical step forwardthat it does deserve wider acclaim thanthe mere suggestion of its looks. The neartotaldominance of nearly every disciplineit has entered (to date it remains unbeaten)has made it one of the most successfulracecars ever produced and should belongin the pantheon of other watershed LeMans racers such as the Porsche 917 and956, Ford GT40, and the Ferrari GTO.Rarified company, indeed. In front of arecord crowd of 235,000 spectators onJune 18, 2006 the new Audi R10 TDIdriven by Frank Biela (Germany), EmanuelePirro (Italy) and Marco Werner (Germany)clinched the sixth and most important LeMans win for Audi so far in arguably one ofthe toughest races in the world.OpenRoad driver |62

Making History at Le MansIn front of a record crowd of 235,000spectators on June 18, 2006 the newAudi R10 TDI clinched the sixth and mostimportant Le Mans win for Audi so far.Fast Facts• Audi and variants thereof havewon Le Mans for seven straightyears. The Bentley Speed 8 wasdeveloped and powered by Audi;essentially making it, aside from afew details, a re-skinned Audi R8.• It was later disclosed that thecar used 41 litres/100km. That is6.3 l /100km/100hv. This meansthe car used a bit over 2100 litresof diesel fuel in the race - some600-900 litres less than a 5-literF1-derived Judd engine in thePescarolo.• Including qualifying, warm-upand the information laps beforethe race the TDI engine in thewinning car reeled off 469 lapsin total (6,402 kilometres) duringthe Le Mans week, and completed380 laps in the 24 hours– one lap more than the previousrecord set in 2004 around thecurrent circuit layout. To put itin perspective, 380 laps is theequivalent of 5,187 kilometres,or almost the entire distance ofevery Formula 1 race in a season.OpenRoad driver |63

ThePartingShotThe road well travelled.OpenRoad driver |64

Take them for a test drive. Or as we like to call it, a victory lap.2006 Azera • Best New Family Car Over $35K 2006 Sonata • Best New Family Car Under $35KRecently, Hyundai won not one, but two coveted AJAC Awards for the2006 Sonata and Azera. Further proof that Hyundai continues to buildwhat just may be some of the -finest cars you’ll ever drive.hyundaicanada.com