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Road Testing Cars in Canada

12/17/2012 by Jason Oliver Nixon

This past week I was invited to road test the latest and greatest models from Land Rover and Jaguar in Canada, and the trip was an absolute blast. I flew into Montreal on Saturday and spent the day wandering around this marvelous city. Highlights of my Montreal perambulations included a spirited lunch at Maison Boulud, NYC-based superstar chef Daniel Boulud’s north-of-the-border outpost; shopping at La Baie and Holt Renfrew department stores; and an amazing dinner at L’Orignal in the city’s Old Port.

Next morning, it was time to jump in a Land Rover and hit the road for some on-road and off-road driving en route to the charming resort town of Mont-Tremblant.

Here are some images from this wonderful two-day journey through the snowy climes of Quebec that allowed me to put the LR2 and Jaguar XJ and XF models with Instinctive All-Wheel Drive through their paces.

The sparkling fleet of Land Rovers is parked outside Le Place d’Armes Hotel & Suites in Montreal’s Old Port. I was so impressed with the 2013 Land Rover LR2’s abilities and handling. Amazing pickup, and the LR2 really hugs the road. Plus, it just looks so darn chic. Car junkies will appreciate that the 2013 Land Rover LR2 is updated with a new 240-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that replaces the previous 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine.
Driving past Montreal’s gorgeous, neo-Gothic Basilica of Notre-Dame de Montreal, situated in the historical center of the city.
After driving out of Montreal, the fleet of LR2s stopped for a late-morning break of pancakes and coffee at the charming Sucrerie de la Montagne maple sugar shack. Talk about atmospheric and truly Quebecois in flavor!
The maple sugar-laden pancakes fortified us for some off-roading through the gorgeous, snow-covered Quebecois forests. Here, a vertiginous drop that the LR2 handled with aplomb. What fun!
Into the woods with the terrific Land Rover. We half expected to see reindeer scampering about as we drove through the lush pine forests.
The cerulean waters of the swimming pool at the Hotel Quintessence in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec’s premiere ski resort. The Hotel Quintessence was gorgeous. Sadly, this was the hotel where actor Natasha Richardson was staying when she suffered her fatal ski accident a few years back.
After a luxurious night at the Hotel Quintessence, we were up bright and early the next morning to experience the capabilities of the Jaguar XJ and XF models with their Instinctive All-Wheel Drive technology. This feature employs an active power transfer control technology that enhances traction while retaining the sporty agility and steering feel well known in Jaguar vehicles. The Quebec roads were super snowy and slushy, but the Jaguar had no trouble tackling these treacherous conditions. I was really impressed.


 

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About Jason Oliver Nixon

Global Lifestyle Editor Jason Oliver Nixon is always on the prowl for the latest and greatest finds, whether it’s ferreting out the grooviest new restaurant in Paris or unearthing a home design store in Dubai. "I am attracted by color and energy, passion and verve," says Nixon. "Who wants to be beige and boring?" The former Editor in Chief of Gotham, Hamptons, and Los Angeles Confidential magazines, Nixon makes frequent appearances on television as a style authority. A resident of Brooklyn, New York, Nixon escapes to London whenever possible, where he can be found happily ensconced at Fortnum & Mason perusing new-fangled jams.

To contact Jason Oliver Nixon with your comments, questions and blog suggestions, email him at jasnixon@gmail.com. Or, post your comment on his blog!

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