Auto Show 2018: Toyota Design

Montreal International Auto Show 2018 / Toyota Concept Car
January 19 - 28, 2018

Each year, visitors see many superbly designed cars at the Montreal International Car Shaw. All car makers boost the latests car models, but before each model is actually produced, a lot of work and design skills are needed to bring it to life. Toyota comes with the most intriguing new designs. You can see, for instance, their last year's (2017) stunning concept car here. This year's prototype-concept car is also a marvel. It has a stern metallic finish that projects a a dignified and solid image. It also looks sportier than the last year's prototype.

The car features many interesting design elements, and you might find yourself circling around it several times to catch all or many of them, as one attention shifts from the most prominent features to the other less flashy details that are also of great significance to the overall design of this concept car.

The number of cars presented at the Shaw and their variety is so vast that one can easily miss some gems. But this Toyota prototype design is definitely not to be missed. Look for it at the Toyota exhibition section on Level 2, the last huge exhibition Hall of your Auto Show visit. 

Click on images to enlarge them.

Location of the Montreal International Auto Show:

Palais des congrès de Montréal

For more information, visit the Montreal International Auto Show website.

Auto Show 2018: Performance Zone

Montreal International Auto Show 2018 / Vintage Cars
January 19 - 28, 2018

The Montreal's annual Auto Show, that draws great crowds year after year, brightening for them the January's cold winter, has once again opened its doors to the visitors at its usual location at the at Palais des congrès. On Friday morning, the first day of the exhibition, the Shaw has welcomed an impressive crowd of people, that once again testified to the great popularity of this show.

Although the latest car models at the Show merit the visitors' utmost attention, this year's Performance Zone had once again proven to be very much appreciated, giving the car lovers the possibility to remember, or for the younger generation to discover, how cars used to look like once upon the time. Several of these old car models are arrange in a situational installation-like setting, with many vintage props completing the effect of seeing how it used to be as when some of the visitors were still young.

I saw one young woman when entering the first Performance Zone room suddenly jumping up with joy and with a loud shout, "WOW!". Her friends laughed and told her their was still more to see...

Definitely plan to spent time to look at the vantage cars on display, as even some small details might amaze you.

You can also purchase toy vintage car models at the Auto Shaw, as in the photo below.

Click on images to enlarge them.

Location of the Montreal International Auto Show:

Palais des congrès de Montréal

For more information, visit the Montreal International Auto Show website.

Port of Montreal 2018: First Ship Award

179th Gold-Headed Cane Ceremony

January 3, 2018

Montreal Port Authority (MPA) President and CEO Sylvie Vachon was pleased to award the famous Gold-Headed Cane to Captain Rakesh Kumar, an Indian national, Master of the Ottawa Express, the first ocean-going vessel to reach the Port of Montreal without a stopover in 2018. The Ottawa Express left the Port of Liverpool, England, on December 21, 2017. It crossed the Port of Montreal‘s limits on January 1, 2018 at 11:55.  The Gold-Headed Cane was awarded by Sylvie Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Port Authority.

This event also let the MPA recognize the work of the Corporation of Mid St. Lawrence Pilots, Messrs. Alain Aubé and Gabriel Ross, who steered the ship safely to port. Every year, the Port of Montreal also likes to recognize the work of one of the artisans of the Gold-Headed Cane. This year, Ms. Vachon congratulated Urgence Marine Inc. for its contribution to the smooth functioning of port operations.

This great annual marine tradition brings together numerous representatives of the shipping industry and the Montreal business community along with key figures from the political and cultural sectors. This year, the Montreal Port Authority was honoured to have among its guests Ms. Alexandra Mendes, Member of Parliament for Brossard-Saint-Lambert, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport of Canada, Mr. Jean D’Amour, Quebec Minister of Maritime Affairs and Ms. Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal.

Flying the flag of Bermuda, the Ottawa Express is 245 metres long. Chartered by Hapag-Lloyd shipping company, this container ship was commissioned in 1998. The Ottawa Express docked at Berth 77 at the Cast terminal operated by Montreal Gateway Terminals Partnership. It will be reloaded for its departure on January 5.

2017 - Another Record Year at the Port of Montreal

As part of this ceremony, the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) reported another record year with close to 38 million tonnes of cargo handled in 2017, according to unaudited preliminary statistics.

According to preliminary statistics, the Port of Montreal handled close to 38 million tonnes of freight in 2017. This unaudited figure represents an increase of almost 7% in cargo traffic. It is also a historic record for the Port of Montreal.

The results are also excellent in the cruise sector. The Port of Montreal again shattered a cruise traffic record. In 2017, Montreal welcomed more than 114,517 cruise passengers and crew members, a 33% leap over the previous year.