Ford will launch an all-electric version of its compact Focus hatchback by the end of 2011 in the U.S., and in Canada in 2012, Ford of Canada confirmed this week.

Though Nissan's Leaf, which is scheduled to arrive this fall, will be the first battery electric vehicle available in Canada, the Focus BEV offers a strong Canadian connection, with the entire electric powertrain developed by Aurora, Ont.-based auto parts giant Magna International.

The Focus Electric, as it is officially called, will be recharged through a port on the driver's side fender that has a high-tech illuminated ring that flashes in quadrants as the battery is "filling up" - a solid ring means a fully charged battery. Ford says a full charge will take about half the time of the Nissan Leaf's, at three to four hours, using a 240-volt home charging station.

This charge time suggests that it has a smaller battery than the Leaf, which would also mean less range. Ford didn't release how far the Focus Electric can travel on a full charge at its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week, but Ford said this week it will match the Leaf's stated 100-mile (160-km) maximum range.

Those Leaf figures are derived from the less stringent (and therefore less accurate) LA4 two-phase test cycle. According to new five-phase methods of evaluating mileage used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for BEVs, the Leaf's real-world range is closer to 73 miles (117 km). No word yet on such American EPA figures for the Focus Electric.

So as it now appears, the electric Mitsubishi iCar BEV mini-hatch, the Leaf, the Ford Transit Connect work truck and the six-figure Tesla Roadster two-seater will likely make up the only fully electric highway capable cars available in Canada in 2011.

Ford's five-door Focus BEV seats five, just like the regular Focus and one more than its Volt notchback rival, but sports a unique front-end design that could have come straight off an Aston Martin - the exotic British sports car maker that's not a poor inspiration choice at all. Combine the Bond-mobile-like wide-mouth grille and circular charge port with the Focus Electric's unique 17-inch wheels, and it should look notably different from the gasoline Focus models that seem likely to populate Canadian roads soon after its launch in the next month or two.

The Canadian arms of both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have both started offering new winter driving schools for 2011, with the first Mercedes full-day course starting in Toronto on Jan. 14; the third and last one in the area runs on Jan.16.

A maximum of 12 people will drive a similar assortment of the 12 Benz models offered in its Driving Academy programs - from B-Class hatchbacks on up to six-figure CLS 63 AMG models, with the new addition of Smart ForTwo models for the snowy exercises.

The exercises include the learning (or polishing) of skills such as skid control, high-speed lane change techniques on low-friction surfaces, and emergency brake and avoidance exercises.

After Toronto, Benz's winter school will land in Halifax, St. John, and Montreal by the end of the month, before stops in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.

Cost of the Benz school is $795, which includes continental breakfast and lunch - you don't have to own a Mercedes-Benz to attend, and there's no hard sales pitch involved in either school.

Porsche is taking a much more extensive - and much pricier - route for its Camp4 Canada Winter Driving Experience, a three-day cold-weather driving course and getaway near the Mont-Tremblant ski resort. There are two full days of driving on specifically prepared ice roads, in a fleet of Cayman and 911 sports cars designed to emphasize the year-round capability of even these low-riding sports cars, with the right tires and driving techniques.

Transportation to Mont-Tremblant isn't included in the $4,995 cost, plus $250 if you'd like to bring a guest, though the guest won't be part of the driving exercises or attend the second dinner. The first of four Camp4 Canada experiences start Feb. 20, with the last one finishing on March 5.

The four waves of the Porsche school include two full days of driving on dedicated snow road courses and a giant frozen skid pad, plus elaborate shuttles, meals and luxury lodging at the Fairmont Tremblant, at the foot of the mountain and in the heart of the bustling cable-car equipped ski village. You'll split seat time with another participant over the weekend, however, as it's planned to run with two drivers per car.

Both programs feature experienced driving instructors, many of them current or former Canadian and international racers with extensive teaching experience.

There's a spirit-lifting magic to driving a convertible with the top down on a sunny day, but extended high-speed al fresco highway drives can lead to noise-induced hearing loss, one study finds.

According to the findings published in the Journal of Laryngology & Otology, the magic speed was 55 mph (88 km/h) at which point the noise produced with the top down by most of the cars tested consistently exceeded 85 decibels, the level deemed unsafe by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This was especially true on highways at 120 km/h speeds, the constant high noise levels compounded by severe noise spikes near transport trucks and motorcycles.

The study recommends drivers put the top up when embarking on long highway drives, or on any trip that features long periods of driving at faster than 89 km/h.

None of the tested vehicles displayed excessive noise levels when tested with the decibel meter with the top in place. But the vehicles were also tested in a "best-case scenario" when it came to noise, with the radio turned off, no climate controls used, no conversations in the car, and no car horn use.

And the paper's authors suggested that just using the stereo normally at highway speeds would add to the danger of potential hearing loss.

Canada's new No. 2 auto maker and the long-time market leader won't change its game plan for profitable growth, said GM Canada president Kevin Williams this week.

"We're going to stick to the game plan," he said repeatedly at a media dinner during the media days at the Detroit auto show. "That doesn't mean we're not going to compete hard, but we're not going to buy market share just to say we're No. 1."

Of course, in 2010, competing hard meant record truck incentives for GM and all the full-size pickup players especially. Williams acknowledged that incentives will always be part of the auto sales game, but emphasized that the company is cutting back on fleet sales, and realizes the detrimental effect incentives have on resale values and brand perception.

From the fastest sports cars to the quietest electric vehicles, there's lots to see at the auto show in Motor City