Know the rules before driving and parking in Calgary

SPONSORED CONTENT Calgary attracts vistors from neighboring cities, other Canadiab provinces as well as the United States and other countries. It’s popular destination for tourists to sightsee and participate in the city’s diverse activities. But whether you visit to attend the Calgary Stampede, Opera in the Village or any of the many other food or cultural events the city hosts annually, studying common sense driving and parking regulation before you arrive is wise. Some of the most common parking infractions, according to the city’s website: • Remaining in a parking space after its metered time has elapsed • Not parking

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Love or hate ’em, here are 15 cars gone after 2017

One is 25 years old this year; others are still in their infancies. But for one reason or another, 15 cars including the iconic Dodge Viper, will cease production with their 2017 models. The powerhouse Viper, with is boisterous V-10, has always attracted muscle car aficionados. Other cars and their driver tend to get out of its way. The Viper was costly and it didn’t fare well with changes in its corporate ownership. But it did help Chrysler change its boxy, boring image and now it’s gone, a quarter-century old, the oldest vehicle on the soon-to-be deceased list. The Weekly

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Tupac Skakur’s tricked out Hummer for sale — again

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More than two decades after his murder in Las Vegas, the legend of Tupac Shakur remains in the spotlight. This time, a 1996 Hummer the rapper purchased less than a month before his death is up for auction beginning August 10. The fully loaded vehicle was customized by Shakur and is equipped with a 6.5 liter, turbo diesel V-8 engine with automatic transmission. The odometer reads 10,101 miles. The sale of the Hummer will be part of The Pop Culture auction from RR Auction in Boston that will continue through August 17. Tupac’s Hummer previously sold in May 2016 to

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More troubles for Elio Motors, company failure imminent?

It’s hard to keep it up with the setbacks of Elio Motors. Failure now seems imminent. The latest woes of the fledgling company include another production delay until at least 2019, a public offering with hopes of raising $100 million and an announcement of potential design defects in prototypes. Additionally, the company founded in 2009 by Paul Elio and his goal to offer a three-wheel vehicle with a top speed of 100 mph, a cost of $6,800 and an estimated 84 mph, doesn’t have operating revenue. It has dismissed much of its engineering, manufacturing, sales and marketing workplace. “The Elio

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2018 Genesis G80: second-year upscale sedan shines

Now in the second spinoff year from Hyundai as its own luxury brand, the Genesis has quickly built its reputation as a worthy challenger in the upscale market. Style, craftsmanship and image mean a lot in the high-end segment. Value isn’t often a priority. Welcome the Genesis. The G80 and flagship G90 are currently available only at Hyundai dealerships. But four other models and a dealership network are planned by 2021. The Southern Korean manufacturer isn’t giving away its vehicles, but value gets equal billing with other luxury car expectations. Updates for 2018 models further exemplify the brand’s new clout.

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2018 Acura TLX: Improved sedan still an underdog

The 2018 Acura TLX is the fifth year of the performance-oriented midsize luxury sedan. It’s matched against segment leaders from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz and it was upgraded this year to further find its way as the competition intensifies. Unveiled in April and available at dealers in the Bay Area three months ago, the TLX has restyled wheels and a revised grille, front fascia and fenders. Technology has also advanced with new infotainment features, including Android Auto and Apple Car Play. Acura, the upscale marque of Honda, has long used three-letter titles acronyms in its lineup. It’s uncertain if the

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Distracted driving can lead to death from behind the wheel

It’s likely you’ve seen or heard the disturbing commercials and public service announcements about the dangers of texting while driving. The messages are broadcast often on television, radio and the internet. But the marketing campaign hasn’t been effective. The Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC) marketed that British Columbia created a new awareness campaign specifically targeting young drivers. The reason? Texting is anticipated to become “the chief cause of death behind the wheel for teens.” Teenage drivers generally lack experience to handle tricky weather. They also may lack the defensive driving skills needed to avoid a crash, and they’re at an age

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Proper car maintenance can beat summer heat woes

Summer is ideal for a car road trip — exploring new parts of your community, family vacations, visiting relatives and sightseeing. But if you don’t take care of your car or aren’t aware of some of the extra issues you can encounter in summer you may be unable to take that spur-of-the-moment trip. Worse, you could be stuck somewhere needing a tow truck company’s service. Despite being a beast of a machine, designed to travel in all kinds of weather and to protect you from the elements, your car can be vulnerable to heat. Imagine yourself on an August summer

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Long Beach to ban oversized vehicles in residential areas?

The city of Long Beach, California, is moving forward with plans to ban long-term parking of oversized vehicles in residential neighborhoods. The Press-Telegram newspaper reports local Councilwoman Suzie Price saying the new law, if passed, would create consistency on the issue across the city. She noted that previous complaints and issues were handled individually. According to news reports, complaints raised about large vehicles parked in place for weeks or longer, include monopolizing parking, blocking views, causing congestion and creating a dangerous visibility issue for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. Large trucks parking on city streets can prove problematic. The new law

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2017 Nissan Rogue Hybrid: Nice try, can’t match SUV stars

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The Nissan Rogue is a decade old. It arrived in late 2007 as a 2008 model and joined the quickly expanding crossover SUV segment. It was oddly named because it didn’t offer much to differentiate itself from well-established competitors. The 2017 Rogue continues the improvement in recent years of the five or sevenn-passenger crossover. It has strong craftsmanship, ample interior space, lots of trim options and it’s fairly priced. But with the car-buying public further enamored with the versatility of SUVs and sales of many top brands improving, where does the Rogue fit in? Where is its market share versus

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Stephen Curry nets two NBA titles, $201 million, Infiniti gig

Stephen Curry has lead the Golden State Warriors to two NBA titles in the past three years. His achievements have resulted in the richest contract in the league’s history and new business relationships — like a global partnership with Infiniti. A few days before signing a five-year contract extension for $201 million, the star point guard for the Golden State Warriors agreed to the business relationship with the luxury automaker. According to Infiniti, Stephen Curry’s outstanding achievements and personal ambition to be at the top of his profession embody the spirit of Infiniti’s new brand positioning ‘Empower the Drive.’ ”

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Chevrolet Bolt set for early nationwide debut in August

The Chevrolet Bolt, the all-electric sedan with a 238-mile range that debuted in two states last December, will be available nationwide in August. General Motors‘ recent announcement means the sedan’s full unveiling will occur one month sooner than originally planned. Dealers across the country are now accepting orders. “We were waiting for the training to be done, we were waiting for the right tools to be in place,” Majoros said at a Chevrolet media event in Nashville, Tenn., adding all dealers wanting to sell the vehicle had to install DC fast-charging stations. “We are kind of ahead of schedule on

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: Many changes for 2018 Toyota Camry

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A higher sticker price and appreciably better gas mileage are among several big changes in store for the 2018 Toyota Camry. The top-selling sedan in the United States will make its nationwide debut later this summer. The eighth generation of the re-engineered Camry LE will be priced at $24,885, including shipping, about $900 more than the 2017 price. The L “value” version of the 2018 Camry, with smaller wheels and fewer convenience features, will be priced at $24,380. Fuel economy with the new four-cylinder engine is estimated by the EPA at 29 mpg in the city, 41 mpg on the

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Newcomer Genesis gets top J.D. Power quality honors

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Genesis, the first-year automaker formerly top-line model in the Hyundai lineup, earned the highest ranking among 13 premium brands in the just-announced J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Initial Quality Study. The 31st annual study serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership.   The 2017 study s based on responses from nearly 80,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2017 model-vehicles. The study uses a 233-question survey designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate the identification of problems and drive product improvement. “Receiving this award in our very first year in the U.S. market is

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Kia retains top perch in J.D. Power annual quality study

Kia, the unheralded South Korean manufacturer still often scoffed at by mainstream car buyers, has achieved the top spot in the just-released J.D. Power annual report card on vehicle quality for a second consecutive year. With 72 problems reported per 100 vehicles, Kia retained its No. 1 position despite a shake-up in the 2017 U.S. Initial Quality Study rankings that included significant shifts with the German and Japanese brands. Most notably, Toyota and Lexus fell behind many U.S. and Korean brands. “This is without question the best quality the world has ever seen,” Dave Sargent, vice president, global automotive at J.D.

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A few things to consider about insurance before towing

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Some friends recently had a discussion – more like a heated debate – about whether or not it was a good idea to purchase a roadside insurance assistance package before their upcoming road trip. Once bickering stopped, we determined one friend had an auto insurance policy that covered roadside assistance. The other friend had no idea if, or what, his policy covered. They agreed they need a few question answered to decide whose vehicle they were going to use. Did they have coverage for towing and labor as part of an insurance package? Some policies will cover the cost of

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