>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS
AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US FOR OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK
DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS,
AS WE PICK THE BEST OF THE YEAR!
PAT GOSS STOPS BY TO EASE OUR
TENSION DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE...
WE CHECK OUT THE LATEST ADVANCES
FOR A CLEAN FLEET...
AND WE'LL GRAB A QUICK SPIN
FOR OUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF
FIAT'S FIRST ALL WHEEL DRIVER,
THE 500X...
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK,
TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE
MAGAZINE.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY...
PHYLLIS IS HEADING TO
A SCIENCE CONFERENCE.
SO, SHE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT
TIRES RIGHT NOW.
IF SHE WERE, ALL SHE'D NEED
TO KNOW IS TIRERACK.COM.
BUT PHYLLIS IS THINKING...
UH, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.
BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT.
MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT
TIRERACK.COM.
ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS
FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS,
OFFERING A VARIETY OF BRANDS,
PRICES, AND SPECIFICATIONS.
ROCKAUTO.COM,
ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL
EVER NEED.
DIEHARD.
THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD
BATTERY.
DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR,
AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE
AT DIEHARD.COM.
>> JOHN: DECISIONS, DECISIONS,
DECISIONS.
SURE, DRIVING BRAND NEW CARS
WAY TO MAKE A LIVING.
BUT ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT
TASKS WE HAVE AT MOTORWEEK ,
IS TRYING TO NARROW DOWN WHICH
NEW MODELS STAND OUT THE MOST,
TO EARN OUR ANNUAL DRIVERS'
CHOICE AWARDS.
WELL, WE'VE DONE IT AGAIN,
AND HERE ARE THE CARS THAT
EARNED THE HONORS FOR 2015!
HERE AT MOTORWEEK , THE CARS
HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN THE STARS,
AND THIS YEAR OUR BEST SMALL CAR
AWARGOES TO VOLKSWAGEN'S
LATEST STARS,
WE CAN COME UP WITH MANY REASONS
WHY, BUT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO
THE WIDE VARIETY OF POWERTRAINS
AVAILABLE AND THE RESPONSIVE
HANDLING NO MATTER WHICH ONE
YOU CHOOSE: TSI, TDI, GTI;
OUR FAVORITE,
AND EVEN THE ELECTRIC E-GOLF.
AND SPEAKING OF CHOICES,
THERE ARE TWO AND 4-DOOR
HATCHBACKS,
AND EVEN A NEW SPORTWAGEN.
ALL DELIVERING A HUGE AMOUNT OF
PRACTICALLY AND SPACE.
THEY'RE EVERYTHING A SMALL CAR
SHOULD BE AND OUR "NO BRAINER"
DECISION OF THE YEAR.
OUR BEST FAMILY SEDAN WINNER IS
THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE
SUBARU LEGACY.
WE CHOSE LEGACY FOR ITS BIG
AND HANDLING THAT, ALONG WITH
STANDARD ALL WHEEL DRIVE,
MAKE IT A SOLID CHALLENGER
TO SEGMENT SALES LEADERS.
SUBARU CLEARLY STUDIED LEGACY
RIVALS, MATCHING OR EXCEEDING
WHAT THEY DO BEST, ALL WITHOUT
ELIMINATING THINGS THAT MAKE
SUBARU'S UNIQUE.
SUBARU ALSO LISTENED CLOSELY TO
CUSTOMERS, ADDRESSING ISSUES
LIKE GAUGES, SWITCHGEAR,
SEAT COMFORT, AND NAVIGATION.
TOPPING IT OFF, THEY WERE ABLE
TO MAKE FUEL ECONOMY NUMBERS
COMPETITIVE EVEN WITH ALL WHEEL
TRACTION.
IT'S A GREAT EFFORT.
DON'T GET OUR STAFFERS STARTED
ON BMW'S NEW NAMING STRATEGY,
AS YOU'LL GET AN EARFUL.
BUT THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN
IF YOU ASK THEM ABOUT
THE 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE.
FUN TO DRIVE NATURE THAT MAKES
IT THE FINEST 4-SEATER
CONVERTIBLE IN WHAT IS
A SHRINKING SEGMENT.
BUT, NOT ONLY IS IT AN ALL OUT
HANDLING STAR, THE HARD TOP
DESIGN HELPS IT RETAIN ALMOST
ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF THE COUPE
THAT IT'S BASED ON, INCLUDING
THE SHARP LOOKING PROFILE.
YET IT FOLDS UP COMPACTLY ENOUGH
TO LEAVE A DECENT AMOUNT OF
TRUNK SPACE.
THERE WERE A LOT OF NEW
CONTENDERS FOR OUR BEST LUXURY
CAR PRIZE, BUT WHILE WE WERE
ARGUING BETWEEN THE NEW
MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS
AND THE HYUNDAI GENESIS,
WE REALIZED THAT WE DIDN'T ENJOY
EITHER OF THEM AS MUCH AS LAST
YEAR'S WINNER THE CADILLAC CTS.
SO, IT'S A WELL DESERVED REPEAT
FULL OF LUXURY,
FULL OF HIGH TECH,
AND EVEN FULL OF AGILITY
THANKS TO THE NIMBLE ATS CHASSIS
THAT IT'S BASED ON.
AND WHEN GM FINALLY GETS AROUND
TO DELIVERING THE NEW CTS-V,
WE'LL BE EVEN MORE ECSTATIC.
PROCLAIMING THE DODGE CHARGER
OUR BEST SPORT SEDAN MAY NOT
SEEM LIKE THE OBVIOUS CHOICE,
A CHARGER HELLCAT, YOU'LL AGREE
WITH US THAT IT WAS THE ONLY
CHOICE.
707 HORSEPOWER IS TRULY
MIND BOGGLING FOR ANY CAR,
BUT PUT THAT ENGINE IN A SUPER
COMFORTABLE DAILY DRIVER THAT
CAN HAUL FIVE PEOPLE IN
NEAR LUXURY COMFORT ALONG WITH
A WEEK'S WORTH OF LUGGAGE,
AND YOU'VE REALLY GOT SOMETHING.
AND DESPITE ITS MUSCULAR
APPEARANCE, DON'T THINK
FOR A MINUTE THAT THIS IS SOME
NOSTALGIC THROWBACK.
IT'S A TRULY MODERN SEDAN WITH
A STANDARD 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC
AND AVAILABLE ALL WHEEL DRIVE.
WE'LL CONTINUE OUR BIG TIME
AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR THEME WITH
OUR NEXT AWARD,
BEST SPORT COUPE,
WHICH GOES TO THE ALL NEW
BIG CHANGES ARE AHOOF FOR '15,
WITH A NEW INDEPENDENT REAR
SUSPENSION THAT SERIOUSLY UPPED
THE HANDLING PERFORMANCE,
THE RETURN OF TURBO-4 POWER THAT
BOOSTED FUEL ECONOMY WITHOUT
LOSING ANY FUN FACTOR.
PLUS, A EURO-SPEC LEVEL
OF REFINEMENT TO THE INTERIOR
THAT HAS RAISED THE BAR FOR
THE SEGMENT.
IT FULLY LIVES UP TO FORD'S
CLAIM OF BEING A WORLD CLASS
SPORTS CAR, AND IT'S
A GAME CHANGER FOR SURE.
WE'LL HEAD IN A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT DIRECTION FOR OUR BEST
PERFORMANCE CAR,
WE HAD HIGH HOPES FOR ALFA'S
RETURN TO THE STATES,
AND THE 4C DIDN'T DISAPPOINT.
THIS PINT SIZE POWERHOUSE PACKS
SUPERCAR LEVELS OF FUN
AND FRIVOLITY INTO A GORGEOUSLY
EXECUTED, TIDY ITALIAN PACKAGE.
NO FRILLS,
INCLUDING NO POWER STEERING,
MAKES IT AN ALL BUSINESS AFFAIR
THAT REMINDS US OF THE DAYS
WHEN YOU WERE MAKING
A COMPROMISING DECISION
IN BUYING A SPORTS CAR.
THE HIGH OUTPUT TURBO ENGINE
SOUNDS GLORIOUS,
AND THE WAY THE ROAD RUSHES AT
YOU, HAD US FEELING LIKE WE WERE
FLYING DOWN THE OPEN ROAD
IN A GO-CART.
FOR OUR BEST ECO FRIENDLY
CHOICE, WE'RE DELIGHTED TO AWARD
IT TO AN ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLE
FOR THE FIRST TIME,
THE KIA SOUL EV.
THAT WE WANT TO LIVE WITH,
DAY IN AND DAY OUT,
AS A FAMILY VEHICLE.
THE SOUL'S SMALL CROSSOVER SIZE,
WITH PLENTY OF SPACE FOR BOTH
PASSENGERS AND CARGO,
AND ITS UNIQUE FEATURES,
ALL COME WRAPPED IN THE COOLEST
EXTERIOR OF ANY EV ON THE ROAD.
THE LATEST SOUL'S MATURE
MAKEOVER MAKES FOR A MUCH MORE
PLEASANT INTERIOR EXPERIENCE
TOO, WITHOUT LOSING ANY OF
THE YOUTHFUL FLARE OF
THE ORIGINAL.
NOW, IT'S TIME FOR
THE IMPRACTICAL,
THIS YEAR'S BEST DREAM MACHINES.
THE RIDES WE'D BUY TO FILL OUR
DREAM GARAGE.
FOR THE EVERYDAY,
WE'LL TAKE THE HIGH PERFORMANCE
AUDI RS7; HUGE PERFORMANCE,
EXQUISITE LUXURY,
AND AN OVERALL FEELING OF YOU'VE
ARRIVED.
AS FOR LOOKING FORWARD,
WE'D PICK THE BMW I8.
PERFORMANCE ART HAD US,
AND CROWDS,
GATHERING EVERY TIME THE DOORS
WERE SWUNG UP AND OPEN.
AND FOR THE ULTIMATE IN TRACK
DAY FUN WE'D GO WITH LAFERRARI.
WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO DRIVE WHAT
EVERY DAY?
OKAY, WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T
EITHER, BUT WE'D SURE LIKE TO
DRIVE IT WHEN WE WANT,
AND JUST SIT AROUND STARING
AT IT THE REST OF THE TIME.
AND THAT'S THE CARS THAT HAVE
A STARRING ROLE IN THIS YEAR'S
MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE
AWARDS.
BUT STAY TUNED: TRUCKS,
UTILITIES, AND OUR BEST OF
THE YEAR, ARE STILL TO COME.
BY NOW, WE'RE ALL USED TO SEEING
MASS MARKET HYBRID, ELECTRIC,
AND ALTERNATIVE FUELED
PASSENGER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.
BUT THERE'S STILL TREMENDOUS
GROWTH AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES
BEING DEVELOPED THESE DAYS IN
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES,
AND OUR MOST RECENT STOP AT
THE ACT EXPO IN DALLAS, TEXAS
SHOWCASED THE LATEST AND MOST
PROMISING.
THE ALTERNATIVE CLEAN
TRANSPORTATION, OR ACT EXPO IS
NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST CLEAN
FLEET SHOW.
HERE, MANUFACTURERS,
FLEET BUYERS,
VEHICLE UP FITTERS,
AND FUEL SUPPLIERS GATHER TO
LEARN ABOUT THE LATEST IN GREEN
TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY AND TO
TRY IT OUT FOR THEMSELVES.
REPLACING DIESEL FUEL IN
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES IS
A CRITICAL STEP IN REDUCING OUR
COMMERCIAL CARBON FOOTPRINT,
AND ONE PROMISING SOLUTION
BY ALLIANCE AUTOGAS IS A SYSTEM
THAT PIGGYBACKS A SECOND
INJECTION SYSTEM ONTO A DIESEL
ENGINE AND REPLACES PART OF
THE VEHICLE'S DIESEL FUEL LOAD
WITH CLEANER BURNING AND LESS
COSTLY PROPANE.
>> ED HOFFMAN: THE GREAT PART
ABOUT THIS SYSTEM IS THAT IT'S
CLASSIFIED BY THE EPA AS
A MIXED-FUEL SYSTEM.
COMPONENTS REMAIN IN PLACE AND
CAN STILL OPERATE ON ITS OWN.
THE PROPANE ACTUALLY IS INJECTED
AND IS USED TO OFFSET DIESEL
AT NEARLY A 1 TO 1 RATIO.
>> JOHN: THAT ADDS UP TO ABOUT
7 CENTS PER MILE IN FUEL SAVINGS
FOR THE CUSTOMER.
BUT PROPANE FUELING STATIONS
THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE COMMERCIAL
BIG RIGS OUT ON THE ROAD ARE
SCARCE, SO THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM
WORKS BEST FOR REGIONAL
OR HUB BASED FLEETS.
FOR TRUCKS THAT OPERATE IN URBAN
AREAS WITH LOTS OF STOP AND GO
TRAFFIC, AN ELECTRIC POWER BOOST
MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
XL HYBRIDS MAKES A SURPRISINGLY
SIMPLE AND AFFORDABLE ADD-ON
HYBRID SYSTEM FOR GM
AND FORD VAN CHASSIS,
INCLUDING THE NEW FORD TRANSIT.
A SHORTENED DRIVESHAFT WITH
AN INLINE ELECTRIC MOTOR MODULE
IS INSTALLED, ALONG WITH
A RECHARGEABLE BATTERY PACK
AND CONTROL MODULES.
THE INCREASED TORQUE,
ALWAYS WELCOMED IN A WORK TRUCK,
COMES WITH A CLAIMED 25 PERCENT
INCREASE IN MPG EFFICIENCY
AND NO IMPACT ON CARGO CAPACITY.
>> DAVID BREAULT: A LOT OF
SERVICE VEHICLES,
FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY
SEEMS TO BE A GOOD FIT FOR OUR
OUR VANS LIKE MIXED USE
CITY/URBAN USE.
YOU KNOW, THE MORE TIMES
THE VEHICLE STARTS AND STOPS
THROUGHOUT THE DAY,
THE BETTER THE RETURN IS.
>> JOHN: TAKING TRUCK
ELECTRIFICATION TO THE EXTREME
IS THE BUSINESS PLAN FOR
WRIGHTSPEED, THE BRAINCHILD OF
TESLA CO-FOUNDER IAN WRIGHT.
THEIR FULL PLUG-IN SYSTEM ADDS
AN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND GEARBOX AT
EACH DRIVE WHEEL AND REPLACES
THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL ENGINE
WITH AN 80KW GAS TURBINE
GENERATOR TO ACT AS A RANGE
EXTENDER.
>> IAN WRIGHT: SO, THE WHEELS
ARE ONLY DRIVEN BY ELECTRIC
MOTORS.
IN OUR CASE THEY ARE HIGH SPEED
DOWN WITH A 2-SPEED GEARBOX IN
THE MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS
AND A 4-SPEED GEARBOX IN
THE CLASS 8 TRUCKS...
>> JOHN: AND THE WRIGHTSPEED
SYSTEM IS ROBUST ENOUGH TO
HANDLE THE TORTUOUS DEMANDS
OF DUMP TRUCKS AND REFUSE
HAULERS!
>> IAN WRIGHT: IT SAVES A LOT
MORE FUEL IN A HARD STOP/GO
DRIVE CYCLE, AND GARBAGE TRUCKS
HAVE THE HARDEST STOP/GO CYCLE
THAT THERE IS...
YEAH, THEY GO FULL THROTTLE
FOR 100 YARDS AND THEN
FULL BRAKES, AND THEY HAVE
IT PERFECTLY CALIBRATED HOW LONG
THEY CAN LEAVE IT ON FULL
THROTTLE BEFORE THEY GET ON TO
FULL BRAKES.
>> JOHN: ALL OF THESE
TECHNOLOGIES SEEM PERFECTLY
SUITED TO STEMMING OUR
THIRSTIEST FUEL APPETITES,
AND SHOW THE PROMISE THAT
ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND CLEAN
POWER TECHNOLOGY HAVE FOR
GREENING UP AMERICA'S HEAVY
HAULERS.
>> JOHN: TENSION IS A KILLER,
EVEN FOR YOUR CAR.
SO, LET'S SEE IF PAT CAN EASE
OUR PAIN DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.
>> PAT: NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF
VEHICLE, THE KEY TO A LONG LIFE
AND FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE THIS
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE THAT
HAS 113,000 MILES ON IT,
AND STILL RUNS ALMOST LIKE NEW.
WELL, IT TOOK THIS AMOUNT OF
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN.
AND TO GIVE US SOME TIPS ABOUT
MOTORCYCLES IN GENERAL,
WE HAVE LYNDON ABEL FROM PATRIOT
HARLEY-DAVIDSON IN FAIRFAX,
VIRGINIA.
LYNDON, WELCOME TO MOTORWEEK .
>> LYNDON ABEL: THANKS PAT.
>> PAT: ALRIGHT.
NOW, ON HARLEY'S,
AH, YOU HAVE A...
CHAIN TENSIONER?
>> LYNDON: YEAH!
SO, LIKE MOST VEHICLES,
THIS HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS A CAM
SUPPORT PLATE, AND THESE TWO
CAMS ARE DRIVEN BY A CHAIN.
AND AS I SAID, MOST VEHICLES
HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR, RIGHT?
AND THEY NEED TENSION PROVIDED
ON THIS CHAIN.
IN THIS CASE IT'S SPRING LOADED,
BUT INSTEAD OF THE TENSIONER
LOOKING ABOUT LIKE THIS,
WHERE THIS METAL CHAIN IS
RUNNING AGAINST THIS PLASTIC
TENSIONER, YOU CAN SEE THAT
THE TENSIONER IS WORN COMPLETELY
THROUGH.
AND NOW, THIS CHAIN IS RUNNING
AGAINST THIS SPRING ITSELF.
AND IT'S PULLING SHRAPNEL OFF
THAT SPRING, AND SENDING IT
THROUGH THE MOTOR.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S ALREADY
STARTED TO DESTROY THE CAMS,
AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE OIL PUMP
LOOKS SIMILARLY POOR.
THIS IS A VERY BAD THING.
>> PAT: OKAY. NOW, KEEP IN MIND
THAT VIRTUALLY ALL ENGINES THESE
DAYS HAVE SOME TYPE OF CHAIN
TENSIONER LIKE THIS,
AND THEY ALL WEAR; THEY'RE LIKE
BRAKE SHOES OR TIRES.
SO, YOU NEED TO CHECK THEM.
ALRIGHT.
UPGRADE?
>> LYNDON: SO, THIS IS AN
UPGRADE.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SWITCHED TO
A HYDRAULIC TENSIONER,
AND THIS IS A BETTER WAY TO GO
BECAUSE AT LOWER RPM'S,
YOU NEED LESS PRESSURE ON THAT
CHAIN, AND AT HIGHER RPM'S,
YOU NEED MORE PRESSURE.
WELL, THE OIL PUMP DELIVERS
GREATER PRESSURE AT HIGHER
RPM'S; WHERE YOU NEED IT MOST.
BUT AT LOWER RPM'S, YOU DON'T
HAVE AS MUCH PRESSURE ON
THE CHAIN, WHICH MEANS YOU GET
A LONGER LIFE OUT OF THIS CAM
CHAIN TENSIONER.
>> PAT: DOUBLE, MAYBE?
>> LYNDON: AT LEAST DOUBLE IS
WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
>> PAT: OKAY, AND TO GO ALONG
WITH THIS I'M ASSUMING IT HAS
A MATCHING OIL PUMP?
>> LYNDON: IT DOES.
THIS OIL PUMP PROVIDES NOT ONLY
THE INCREASED OIL PRESSURE THAT
YOU NEED TO HANDLE THOSE
HYDRAULIC TENSIONER'S, BUT ALSO
ANY INCREASE BEYOND THAT.
SO YOUR...
YOU'LL GET BETTER FLOW,
BETTER PRESSURE THROUGHOUT
THE MOTOR, AS WELL AS BETTER
SCAVENGING OUT OF THE CASE,
WHICH IS INCREASE PERFORMANCE,
AND DECREASE POTENTIAL OIL
CARRYOVER.
>> PAT: OKAY.
LYNDON, THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION
OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE,
RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
>> JOHN: TIME NOW TO GET BACK TO
THE WINNERS OF OUR 2015
MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE
AWARDS.
OUR SPOTLIGHT TURNS TO TRUCKS
AND UTILITIES, SO LET'S SEE
WHICH ONES HAVE EARNED
THE BRAGGING RIGHTS!
*
IN THE EVER EXPLODING
AND FRACTURING CROSSOVER
UTILITY MARKET,
IT'S GETTING HARDER THAN EVER
TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD.
BUT THIS DYNAMIC PIECE OF
ROLLING SCULPTURE,
THE ALL NEW NISSAN MURANO,
EASILY SETS ITSELF APART,
AWARD FOR BEST SMALL UTILITY
WHILE DOING SO.
THE 5-SEAT MURANO IS HIGHLY
STYLED,
YET FUNCTIONAL AND PRACTICAL,
WITH AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF
INTERIOR SPACE.
YET, IT'S ALSO AS FOCUSED ON
LUXURY CUES AS A MAINSTREAM
VEHICLE CAN BE.
THE EXTERIOR'S INFLATED LINES
AND FLOATING ROOF DESIGN
CONTINUE MURANO'S EXTRAVAGANT
WAYS OF LOOKING NOTHING LIKE
A TYPICAL CROSSOVER.
WHILE THE INTERIOR'S
FIRST CLASS, LOUNGE LIKE
ATMOSPHERE HAD US WRAPPED IN
PRETTY POSH COMFORT.
PLUS, MURANO DRIVING DYNAMICS
HAVE US ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO WHERE CROSSOVERS,
OR AT LEAST THOSE FROM NISSAN,
ARE HEADING.
AND PERHAPS THE BIGGEST FEAT
OF ALL, NISSAN INCREASED
FUEL ECONOMY OVER LAST
GENERATION BY 20 PERCENT.
WHILE CROSSOVERS CONTINUE TO
RISE, CHOICES AMONG FULL SIZE,
TRUCK BASED SUV'S ARE DWINDLING.
BUT THE TRUTH IS,
IF YOU NEED ONE, YOU NEED ONE!
AND THE NEWEST,
MOST CONTEMPORARY DESIGN ON
THE BLOCK, THE CHEVROLET TAHOE,
AND ITS STRETCHED STABLEMATE
THE SUBURBAN,
ALONG WITH CORPORATE COUSINS
GMC YUKON, AND YUKON XL,
EASILY TAKE OUR AWARD FOR BEST
LARGE UTILITY OF THE YEAR.
WITH A FULL FRAME AND REAR
OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE,
THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR HEAVY
CHORES, WHETHER IT'S TOWING UP
TO 8,300 POUNDS OR HAULING
A BROOD OF NINE.
MUCH MORE THAN JUST BIG RIDES
ON COP SHOWS.
TRIM CAN BORDER ON PURE LUXURY
WITH THE LATEST IN TECHNOLOGY
INCLUDING 4G LTE WI-FI.
QUIETER, MORE USER FRIENDLY,
AND ENJOYABLE TO DRIVE THAN EVER
BEFORE, THE TAHOE/BURB/YUKON
ALSO BOAST FUEL ECONOMY THAT'S
PRETTY DARN CLOSE TO CROSSOVERS.
WHILE NOT CHEAP RIDES,
THEY WITHOUT A DOUBT DELIVER
LOTS OF VEHICLE FOR THE MONEY.
THERE WAS MORE PICKUP TRUCK NEWS
THIS GO AROUND THAN ANY YEAR
IN RECENT MEMORY.
BUT HOW, COULD WE NOT GIVE OUR
BEST PICKUP TRUCK AWARD TO
THE ONE ALL NEW DESIGN THAT IS
A TRUE GAME CHANGER,
THE FORD F-150.
WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ITS
ALUMINUM BODY,
OR IT'S AVAILABILITY OF NOT ONE,
BUT TWO TURBO CHARGED V6'S,
WITH A RESULTING BIG JUMP
IN FUEL ECONOMY,
IT'S A WATERSHED MOMENT
FOR FULL SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS.
ONE THAT, 50 YEARS FROM NOW,
WILL HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING BACK
AND SAYING THIS IS WHEN
THE AMERICAN FAMILY FAVORITE
CHANGED FOREVER.
BUT BESIDES THE LOWER WEIGHT
AND HIGHER TECH,
IT'S STILL A TRUCK,
BUILT FOR TRUCK TYPE THINGS LIKE
TOWING OVER 12,000 POUNDS,
HITTING THE TRAIL,
AND GETTING WORK DONE.
AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF USEFUL
FEATURES AVAILABLE TO HELP MAKE
THAT WORK FEEL A LOT LESS LIKE
ACTUAL WORK.
IT'S A BOLD STEP FOR FORD THAT
SHOULD KEEP THE F-150 THE NUMBER
ONE SELLING VEHICLE IN AMERICA
FOR AS FAR DOWN THE ROAD
AS WE CAN SEE.
AND WHILE WE CAN SEE THE END OF
OUR AWARD'S ROAD, WE STILL HAVE
OUR BEST OF THE YEAR TO REVEAL,
AND IT'S COMING UP SOON.
>> BEN DAVIS: WITH THE AMAZING
ADVANCEMENTS IN BATTERY
TECHNOLOGY, THE AUTOMOTIVE
INDUSTRY ISN'T THE ONLY ONE
THE WORLD OF REMOTE CONTROLLED
VEHICLES HAS BECOME JUST AS FAST
PACED AND POSSIBLY MORE
COMPETITIVE.
AND THIS 1/10TH SCALE DUO FROM
LOSI ARE TWO OF THE MOST
HIGH FLYING AND FUN SHORT COURSE
RC'S AVAILABLE.
ARMED WITH A SEVEN CELL NICKEL
METAL HYDRIDE BATTERY PACK,
THESE REAR WHEEL DRIVE BRUTES
ARE CAPABLE OF SPEEDS UP TO
35 MILES PER HOUR WITH A RUN
TIME OF CLOSE TO 40 MINUTES.
AND IF THAT MAYHEM EVER STARTS
TO FEEL TAME, AN OPTIONAL
LITHIUM POLYMER BATTERY
INCREASES BOTH NUMBERS
TREMENDOUSLY.
MUCH LIKE THEIR FULL SIZE
INSPIRATION, THEY'RE BUILT WITH
EXTREME DURABILITY AND INTENSE
COMPETITION IN MIND.
EVERYTHING FROM AN ELECTRIC
COOLING FAN FOR THE MOTOR,
OIL FILLED ALUMINUM COIL OVERS,
AND AGGRESSIVE TIRES MOUNTED
ON REAL CHROME WHEELS.
THE JOB OF HARNESSING ALL THIS
AWESOME IS MADE EASY BY A BEEFY
2.4 GIGAHERTZ CONTROLLER WITH
THE CAPABILITY OF ADAPTING TO
OTHER RC'S IN YOUR FLEET.
UH, OOH HOO...
THAT WAS CRAZY!
FOR SOME FAST FUN,
CHECK OUT LOSI.
>> JOHN: WE'RE ALWAYS UP FOR
A QUICK SPIN!
HERE'S WHAT WE THINK OF
THE LATEST!
DON'T TELL DON DRAPER,
BUT ADVERTISING CAN ONLY GET YOU
SO FAR.
AND SO, TO TAKE THEIR BRAND
AND SALES TO NEW LEVELS,
FIAT HAS LAUNCHED THE 500X,
CROSSOVER MARKET WITH A PRODUCT
CAPABLE OF BIG TIME SUCCESS.
EVEN WITH LOTS OF PLAYERS,
INCLUDING THE CHASSIS SHARING
JEEP RENEGADE,
THE 500X HAS JUST ENOUGH OF
THAT "OUT THERE" STYLING TO SEE
IT AS SPECIAL.
EXAGGERATED LIGHTING,
SIGNATURE BADGING,
AND THE FLAIR OF ITS ITALIAN
ORIGINS EASILY SET IT APART.
INSIDE, BODY COLOR ACCENTS
AND UNIQUE COLOR SCHEMES LEND
TO A PLEASANT SPACE THAT IS ALSO
SURPRISINGLY COMFORTABLE.
UCONNECT EASILY HANDLES
INFOTAINMENT,
AND CONTROLS ARE BASIC.
GAUGES, DASH LAYOUT, AND DETAILS
LIKE THE DOOR HANDLES ADD
THE "POP" FIAT IS KNOWN FOR.
FOR MASS APPEAL, THOUGH,
THE 500X IS THE BRAND'S FIRST
ALL WHEEL DRIVE EFFORT,
ALSO SHARING SOME OF THOSE
MECHANICALS THE RENEGADE.
HERE, THE REAR AXLE REMAINS
COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED UNTIL
SLIPPING OCCURS,
AND POWER IS SENT BACK.
IT'S AVAILABLE WITH
THE 180 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER
INLINE 4 ONLY.
POWER FELT APLENTY HERE,
AND THE 9-SPEED AUTO CONTINUES
TO WORK OUT THE KINKS.
BASE ENGINE IS A 160 HORSEPOWER
1.4 LITER TURBO 4 WITH A 6-SPEED
MANUAL.
>> PATRICK LUCAS: THE 500X TO ME
SEEMS LIKE FIAT'S MOST
CONSERVATIVE OFFERING.
IT'S GOT THE FUNKY STYLING OF
PROPORTIONS THE 500L...
THIS 500X IS A LITTLE BIT
SMALLER, BUT THERE'S STILL
PLENTY OF CARGO ROOM OUT BACK.
THE LOOK IS QUIRKY ENOUGH,
JUST A LITTLE MORE PRACTICAL.
>> JOHN: ON SALE NOW,
THE 2016 FIAT 500X STARTS AT
ABOUT $21,000.
AND WE'LL HTI THE ROAD FOR MORE
QUICK SPINS SOON!
YOU'VE SEEN OUR PICKS FOR BEST
CARS, TRUCKS, AND UTILITIES.
NOW, IT'S TIME FOR THE BIG ONE,
AS WE SELECT THE ONE AUTOMOTIVE
STAR THAT SHINES BRIGHTER THAN
ALL THE OTHERS.
OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS'
CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR!
THE FORD MUSTANG IS OUR 2015
MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD
REASONS.
THERE'S THE TOTAL CHASSIS REBOOT
WITH STANDARD INDEPENDENT
REAR SUSPENSION THAT HELPS
THE MUSTANG CLING TO THE ROAD
LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
THERE'S THE NEW ECOBOOST
TURBO I4 POWER TO NOT ONLY BOOST
FUEL ECONOMY HERE,
BUT TO GIVE THE NEW MUSTANG
REAL GLOBAL APPEAL.
AND DON'T FORGET THE VASTLY
AND SMARTLY UPGRADED INTERIOR.
THEY ALL PLAY A PART, YES.
BUT THE BIGGEST REASON FOR OUR
ACCOLADE, FORD HAS MATURED
THE MUSTANG FROM A PIECE OF
WELL LOVED AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR
INTO A WORLD CLASS SPORTS CAR
LOOKING TO COMPETE WITH
THE LIKES OF CORVETTE MORE SO
THAN TRADITIONAL RIVALS LIKE
CAMARO AND CHALLENGER.
OKAY, IT'S NOT QUITE THERE YET,
BUT FORD HAS ESSENTIALLY TAKEN
WHAT WAS ALREADY OUR FAVORITE
PONY CAR AND MADE IT WORLDS
BETTER.
USUALLY WHEN A CAR GETS AS MUCH
HYPE AS THIS 6TH GEN MUSTANG,
IT RARELY LIVES UP TO IT.
NOT THE CASE HERE,
AS EVERY VERSION WE'VE DRIVEN,
WE'VE FOUND BETTER THAN
ADVERTISED.
SURE, THE INCREDIBLE STABLE NEW
CHASSIS HELPS IT HANDLE BETTER,
AND THE 2.3 LITER TURBO 4
IS COOL.
BUT IT'S JUST ONE OF THREE
ENGINE CHOICES THAT GET OVER
300 HORSEPOWER.
THE STANDARD 3.7 LITER V6
CARRIES OVER,
AND THE 5.0 LITER V8 GETS EVEN
MORE POWER, NOW AT 435.
AS FOR THAT INTERIOR,
WHILE THE CLASSIC LAYOUT STAYS
FAMILIAR; THE SWITCHGEAR, SEATS,
AND MOST MATERIALS ARE BETTER
THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN
THE CURRENT FORD BRAND LINEUP,
AND BLOWS EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS
SEGMENT AWAY.
THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR
THE EXTERIOR.
YOU INSTANTLY KNOW ITS PURE
MUSTANG,
YET IT'S MODERNLY DIFFERENT.
THE 2015 FORD MUSTANG IS NOT
JUST A REDESIGN,
BUT A RESTART FOR THE ICON.
IT SHOWS THAT WHILE FORD HAS
A GREAT SENSE OF HISTORY
AND ADMIRATION FOR WHAT
THE MUSTANG HAS DONE FOR
THE BRAND,
THEY ARE NOT STANDING STILL;
RATHER LOOKING FORWARD.
WE KNOW THERE'S A NEW CAMARO
JUST AROUND THE CORNER,
BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE
PRETTY SPECIAL IF IT WANTS
TO STOP FORD'S NEW 'STANG.
OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK
DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD
BEST OF THE YEAR!
WELL, THAT'S OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK
DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS,
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!
NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK
WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST
AND COMPLETE EPISODES AT
PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US
NEXT TIME,
AS WE LIFT OFF IN THE 3RD GEN
HONDA PILOT.
THEN LET A PAIR OF DODGE
HELLCATS REALLY SHOW THEIR
MIGHT.
PAT GOSS BRINGS THINGS TO
A HALT,
AND BRIAN ROBINSON GOES RETRO
TWO WHEELIN'.
PLUS MOTORNEWS, AND A QUICK SPIN
IN THE LONG AWAITED MAZDA MX-5.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS;
WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE
ON MOTORWEEK .
>> ANNOUNCER: TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S
ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE,
VISIT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
MOTORWEEK
HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY...
PHYLLIS IS HEADING TO
A SCIENCE CONFERENCE.
SO, SHE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT
TIRES RIGHT NOW.
IF SHE WERE, ALL SHE'D NEED
TO KNOW IS TIRERACK.COM.
BUT PHYLLIS IS THINKING...
UH, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.
BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT.
MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT
TIRERACK.COM.
ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM
HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS,
OFFERING A VARIETY OF BRANDS,
PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.
ROCKAUTO.COM,
ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL
EVER NEED.
DIEHARD.
THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD
BATTERY.
DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR,
AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT
DIEHARD.COM.
>> ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM WAS
PRODUCED BY
MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION,
WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE
FOR ITS CONTENT.
*