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ITS HERE. SHOULDNT YOU BE? The totally redesigned 2009 TL. Take a test drive at your Acura retailer now. SH-AWD model shown. STARTING FROM MSRP*$39,990 LEASE APR UP TO 36 MONTHS 5.9%/MONTH $3,100 DOWN PAYMENT $548MONTHLY LEASE PAYMENT 36 MONTHS: *MSRP is $39,990 for a new 2009 Acura TL (Model UA8629J). Limited time lease offer on a new 2009 Acura TL (Model UA8629J) available through Honda Financial Services Inc. on approved credit. Representative lease example: 2009 Acura TL (Model UA8629J) at 5.9% lease rate for 36 months. Monthly payment is $548 with $3,100 down payment, $1825 freight and PDI, fi rst monthly payment, $0 security deposit, and $75 gas conservation tax due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $24,728. 72,000-kilometre allowance; charge of $0.15/km for excess kilometres. Taxes, license, insurance, registration, and applicable fees are extra. Retailer may sell/lease for less. Retailer order/trade may be necessary. Information is believed to be accurate at the time of printing. Honda Canada Inc. reserves the right to make changes at any time. See your Acura retailer for full details. ERIN MILLS ACURA 3025 Woodchester Dr., Mississauga ON 905-828-5800 1-877-241-6827 The totally redesigned 2009 TL. Take a test drive at Erin Mills Acura now. 2WHEELS October 24 2008 One of the biggest automotive stories, literally, in Canada is currently unfolding in Woodstock, Ont. Thats the site of the gigantic, new Toyota assembly plant that is now starting to roll out its first product, the 2009 RAV4 compact SUV. The current generation RAV4 and the Woodstock plant site were both launched in 2006. In fact, the Canadian debut of the RAV4 took place where the facility now stands. With RAV4 North American produc- tion shifting to Ontario, a few changes have been made in what amounts to a mid-life refreshing that results in two engine/transmission and three trim level (Base, Sport, Limited) choices for six basic combinations. If you add in optional packages, there are 14 ways to order a RAV4 from Woodstock. The biggest change is an all-new 2.5- litre inline four-cylinder engine that pro- duces 179 hp (up 13 hp) and 172 lb/ft (up 7 lb/ft) of torque over the 2.4-litre engine in the 2008 RAV4. And better, the new engine is almost five per cent more fuel efficient at 9.7/7.2/8.6L/100 km city/high- way/combined compared to 10.1/7.7/9.0L/100 km for the 2.4-litre. Standard transmission is an electronic four-speed automatic. The other engine is a 3.5-litre, DOHC V6 with 269 hp and 246 lb/ft of torque delivering 11.1/7.7/9.6L/100 km city/high- way/combined. The transmission here is an electronic five-speed automatic. All RAV4s come with what Toyota calls its Active Torque Control four-wheel-drive that is actually more of a slip and grip all-wheel-drive system that has a coupling placed just in front of the rear differential. Based on where the sensors find traction is the best, the coupling is electromagneti- cally activated if torque to the rear as is needed. In most cases, the RAV4 will be running in a front-drive mode and that, in turn, helps conserve fuel consumption. The four-cylinder can tow up to 1,500 lb and the V6, 3,500 lb. The 2009 RAV4 was launched in Windermere in the heart of Muskoka in what should have been a glorious fall set- ting if it hadnt been for a day of grey skies and intermittent rain, heavy at times. One of the exercises to show off how much more virile the new 2.5-litre is, involved a closed stretch of road with a 2.5-litre in front of a 2.4-litre. The object was for both drivers to hit the gas pedal at the same time to see how much better the newer engine performed. Well it wasnt dramatic, but the 2.5-litre did have the legs on the 2.4-litre. Roads in this part of the world are heavily crowned so all the water from snow and rain can wash off swiftly. But this also means you cant lose concentra- tion because frost heaves and rashes of cold patching can yank the steering out of your control. Luckily, all 2009 RAV4s are equipped with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) incorporating traction control. This is integrated with electric power steering for surprising precise steering. With all sys- tems working, there was no sense of get- ting out of shape. In adverse conditions like heavy snow or ice, a switch can turn off the VSC. Braking is by four discs with ABS, elec- tronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. On the wet Muskoka roads, that RAV4 stopped and cornered as you expect but with the short wheelbase and the relative- ly high seating position, taking hard cor- ners at anything about the speed limit would have foolhardy. There was slight body lean but nothing untoward, such is the sophistication of todays road holding technologies. Now on sale across Canada, the base 2.5-litre RAV4 carries a starting price of $26,500 with the Sport starting at $30,165 and Limited at $31,635. Suggested start- ing prices for V6-equipped models are the Base at $29,100, Sport at $31,920 and Limited at $33,890. Toyotas 2009 RAV4 SUV has a very big Canadian connection The 2009 Toyota RAV4 features a number of mid-cycle changes and is now being produced at Toyotas huge new assembly facility in Woodstock, Ont. Photo by Jim Robinson JIM ROBINSON Metroland Media Group www.yourautos.ca See TOYOTAS, pg. 4