Not really a surprise, but when Calgary was looking for new LRV's to add capacity for future extensions, they chose Siemens. The SD-160 is a variation of the SD-100. The SD-160 has doors for high loading platforms, whereas the SD-100 is configured for street level loading. The cars were built by Siemens Transportation Systems (STS), and are powered by AC traction motors like U2 AC cars #2101-2102. The SD-160 was supposed to be able to run with the original U2 cars, but it took a lot of work to get that to happen. The SD-160's currently run with other SD-160's, and as far as I know an SD-160 and U2 have never been run together in regular service. 2201-2020-2202 were run as a train during the inaugural run on the SD-160 on July 3, 2001. In the summer of 2002, sightings of the U2 AC powered cars running as slave cars between 2 SD160's were quite common. The reverse, an SD-160 running as a slave between the 2 U2 AC's, happened just as often. Starting in 2009, the cars were refurbished into the red livery. They also attained A/C, frameless windows, low profile resistor boxes (replacing the original, large white variety), and roof skirting similar to the 2010+ restlyed SD-160's.
