HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US FOR A RIDE-ALONG IN THE BIG, BOLD LEXUS LX 600... STEPHANIE HART UNCOVERS A HIDDEN CAR COLLECTION AT THE LURAY CAVERNS... WE'LL STRAP OURSELVES IN FOR MORE QUICKSPINS... THEN, WRAP UP WITH A SHOCKING GRIP ON VOLKSWAGEN'S ID.4 PRO AWD...
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.
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TIRERACK.COM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT  MOTORWEEK .
FIRST, THERE WAS THE WHEEL.
THEN, THE TIRE.
"WE'LL CALL IT TIRE RACK."
FORTY YEARS LATER, WE'RE NOT SLOWING DOWN.
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.
John: LEXUS BUYERS ARE CERTAINLY ACCUSTOMED TO THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE; AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE UTILITY VEHICLES IN THEIR LINEUP, IT DOESN'T GET ANY FINER THAN THE LX.
IT'S THE OVER-THE-TOP VERSION OF TOYOTA'S ICONIC LAND CRUISER, AN SUV WITH A GLOBAL REPUTATION FOR SERIOUS OFF-PAVEMENT CAPABILITIES.
SO, LET'S FIND OUT HOW THEY PACK ALL THAT AND MORE INTO THE NEW 4TH-GEN LX.
* REDUNDANCY IS SOMETIMES A GOOD THING, AND SOMETIMES NOT.
WHEN IT COMES TO LUXURY-MINDED OFF-ROADERS, TOYOTA HAS FOR YEARS OFFERED THE TRUCK-RUGGED LAND CRUISER ALONG WITH A LEXUS VERSION CALLED "THE LX."
BUT, AMERICANS HAVE NEVER EMBRACED THE LAND CRUISER AS MUCH AS THE REST OF THE WORLD, AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF SUVs TODAY ARE CAR-BASED.
SO, WITH BUDGETS EVER-SHRINKING, TOYOTA HAS DECIDED TO SUSPEND IMPORTING THE LAND CRUISER HERE, MAKING THIS 2022 LEXUS LX 600 THE FIRST WITHOUT A LAND CRUISER COUNTERPART.
AND WHILE, THE LX DOESN'T HAVE QUITE THE SAME GLOBAL REPUTATION TO FALL BACK ON, MOST U.S.
BUYERS IN THIS SEGMENT ARE PRIMARILY LOOKING TO BE PAMPERED AND MAY FLAUNT SOME GO-ANYWHERE CRED ALONG WITH IT.
HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE INTERIOR DEPENDS A LOT OF WHAT YOUR PRIOR EXPERIENCES ARE.
IF YOU'RE COMING FROM ANOTHER BRAND, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE BLOWN AWAY, BUT IF YOU'RE AN LS SEDAN OWNER LOOKING TO MAKE THE SUV SWITCH, YOU MAY BE A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED, AS IT DOESN'T HAVE QUITE THE SAME LEVEL OF POLISH.
BUT THERE IS A SWEET "COOL BOX" IN THE CENTER CONSOLE AND PLENTY OF PLACES TO PLUG THINGS IN, PLUS, LOTS OF STORAGE SPACE, DUAL-DISPLAY INFOTAINMENT WITH GOOD CONTROLS, AND AN ABUNDANCE OF REAL KNOBS AND BUTTONS, ALONG WITH A GREAT-LOOKING PAIR OF ENTERTAINMENT SCREENS FOR REAR SEAT PASSENGERS.
FRONT SEATS AREN'T OVERLY-PLUSH, BUT ARE VACATION COMFORTABLE; SAME FOR THE 2ND ROW, WITH PLENTY OF LEGROOM, TOO.
FOUR, FIVE, OR SEVEN PASSENGER VERSIONS ARE AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS PLENTY OF OPTIONS FOR TAKING THE INTERIOR INTO A SPORTIER OR MORE LUXURIOUS DIRECTION.
IF SO EQUIPPED, 3RD-ROW SEATS TUCK AWAY SMARTLY TO MAXIMIZE CARGO SPACE WHICH GOES FROM 11 TO 46 CUBIC-FEET WITH THEM STORED; AND ULTIMATELY A MAX OF 64 WITH 2ND-ROW FOLDED.
THE RIDE IS INCREDIBLY SMOOTH FOR A BIG BODY-ON-FRAME UTILITY, AIDED BY A NEW PLATFORM LEXUS CLAIMS IS 20 PERCENT MORE RIGID THAN BEFORE, DESPITE THIS LX BEING MORE THAN 400 POUNDS LIGHTER.
AND WHILE THAT DIDN'T QUITE TRANSLATE TO A NIMBLE HANDLING COURSE EXPERIENCE, THE LX'S FRONT HIGH-MOUNTED DOUBLE-WISHBONE, AND REAR 4-LINK SUSPENSION, HAVE BEEN OVERHAULED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STABILITY AT SPEED.
THERE'S MORE TRAVEL TO THE SUSPENSION THAN BEFORE, TOO, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE COPIOUS BODY ROLL; BUT OF COURSE, THE MAJOR BENEFIT TO THAT IS BETTER OFF-ROAD PERFORMANCE, WHICH THE LX HAS INDEED IMPROVED UPON.
THERE'S UNDERBODY ARMOR FOR PROTECTION, AND MULTI-TERRAIN SELECT INTEGRATES CRAWL CONTROL WITH SETTINGS FOR DIRT, SAND, MUD, DEEP SNOW, AND ROCK.
IT'S BEEN UPGRADED TO WORK IN HIGH RANGE AND NOT JUST IN 4-LOW.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE GOODIES THAT WILL HELP YOU GET OUT OF MOST SITUATIONS YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF IN OFF PAVEMENT.
NO MORE V8 UNDER THE HOOD, BUT IT HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FANTASTIC TWIN-TURBO 3.5 LITER V6 THAT FEELS PLENTY POWERFUL; AND INDEED ITS 409 HORSEPOWER AND 479 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE ARE BOTH SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS 5.7 LITER 8-CYLINDER.
AT OUR MASON DIXON DRAGWAY TESTING GROUNDS, THAT EQUATED TO SPRINTS TO 60 OF JUST 6.2 SECONDS.
IT LAUNCHES WITH MUCH MORE GRUNT THAN YOUR TYPICAL LEATHER-CLAD LUXURY SUV, AND POWER REALLY POURS ON AS RPMS CLIMB.
SHIFTS FROM THE 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC ARE SO SMOOTH AND QUICK, YOU REALLY HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO EVEN FIGURE OUT WHEN THEY'RE HAPPENING.
IT ALL COMES TOGETHER FOR A 14.5 SECOND QUARTER-MILE AT 97 MILES PER HOUR.
IT WAS HARD TO IGNORE THE SHEER SIZE OF THIS BEAST IN OUR BRAKING TEST, AS IT FELT A BIT LIKE A BUCKING BRONCO AT TIMES, BUT THE ACTUAL BRAKES SEEMED UNFAZED BY IT ALL, BRINGING US TO CONSISTENT STOPS IN JUST 119 FEET.
NO MATTER WHETHER IT'S STREAKING DOWN THE TRACK, OR SITTING STILL, THE LX600 SURE LOOKS LIKE A BIG CHROME-CLAD BRUISER.
IT'S ALL GRILLE UP FRONT, WITH VERY TRUCK-LIKE PROPORTIONS AND ALUMINUM IS NOW USED FOR MANY BODY PANELS.
WHEELBASE REMAINS THE SAME AS IT HAS SINCE THE FIRST GENERATION, AT 112 INCHES.
WITH STANDARD 4-WHEEL-DRIVE, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 17-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED; WE AVERAGED A SPOT-ON 19.2 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.
THAT MAKES FOR A WORSE THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, USING 15.7 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, WITH 7.9 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.
PRICING STARTS AT A LOFTY $88,245 AND CLIMBS STEEPLY FROM THERE, TOPPING OUT AT ULTRA LUXURY TRIM FOR $127,345.
THE LEXUS LX HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ULTIMATE LAND CRUISER, AND NOW THE 2022 LX 600 IS THE ONLY ONE FOR US HERE IN THE STATES.
SO, IF YOU'VE GOT THE DOUGH, THAT ALONE MAKES IT ONE GRAND CRUISER TRULY WORTH CONSIDERING.
* THE SPECTACULAR LURAY CAVERNS IN VIRGINIA IS A NATIONAL LANDMARK.
PLUS, IT'S SURROUNDED BY TERRIFIC DRIVING ROADS, AND THAT'S REASON ENOUGH FOR US TO VISIT THE AREA.
BUT ALSO, JUST BEYOND THE CAVES IS A LARGE COLLECTION OF VINTAGE VEHICLES THAT INCLUDES THE OLDEST CAR IN OPERATING CONDITION ON DISPLAY IN AMERICA.
SO, LET'S FOLLOW STEPHANIE HART INTO THE CAVES AND CHECK IT ALL OUT.
* Stephanie Hart: AS YOU CAN SEE THE LURAY CAVERNS ARE OTHER-WORLDLY.
IT'S EXTREMELY PEACEFUL DOWN HERE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND IT'S 54 DEGREES WITH 87 PERCENT HUMIDITY-- AND THERE'S A UNIQUE CAVE SMELL HERE...WHICH ADDS TO ITS CHARM.
Bill Huffman: LURAY CAVERNS IS THE LARGEST CAVE SYSTEM ON THE EAST COAST AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY RANKED 12TH IN THE WORLD.
Stephanie: EXPLAIN HOW THE CAVERNS HAVE EVOLVED OVER TIME.
Bill: THE CAVERNS IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING, BUT IT DOES GROW SLOWLY.
SO ABOUT EVERY 120 YEARS A CUBIC INCH WILL GROW OF ROCK, SO IT TAKES A LONG TIME.
Stephanie: THESE DAYS, LURAY CAVERNS COVERS 64 ACRES.
THE PATHWAY THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH THE CAVERNS IS ABOUT A MILE AND A QUARTER.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO BELIEVE WE'RE JUST 90 MILES FROM WASHINGTON, DC.
Bill: STALACTITES HANGS FROM THE CEILING DOWN.
IT HANGS TIGHT TO THE CEILING-- THAT'S HOW I REMEMBER IT-- AND A STALAGMITES GROWS FROM THE BOTTOM UP AND IT MIGHT REACH THE CEILING.
Stephanie: ONCE, THEY MEET THEY FORM A COLUMN OR PILLAR LIKE THIS.
THIS DOUBLE COLUMN IS THE LARGEST FORMATION IN THE CAVERNS AT 47 FEET HIGH.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL!
AND THE CAVE FORMATIONS DON'T JUST LOOK PRETTY, THEY MAKE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC TOO.
THANKS TO HELP FROM THIS ORGAN.
DREAM LAKE IS A BIG HIGHLIGHT HERE... Bill: SURE, ONE OF OUR MAIN FEATURES IS DREAM LAKE WHICH IS A LARGE BODY OF WATER IN THE CAVERNS WHICH CREATES A PERFECT REFLECTION OF THE CEILING.
SO, THERE ARE NO STALAGMITES ON THE BOTTOM-- WHAT YOU SEE IS AN ILLUSION, JUST THE TOP, AND IT LOOKS VERY, VERY DEEP BUT AT ITS DEEPEST POINT, IT'S ONLY 18 OR 20 INCHES.
Stephanie: A DREAM COME TRUE FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF LURAY CAVERNS CORPORATION, H.T.N.
GRAVES.
AS A RESULT, HE COMBINED HIS LOVE FOR THE CAVERNS WITH ANOTHER LOVE...HIS CARS-- CREATING THE CAR AND CARRIAGE CARAVAN MUSEUM NEXT DOOR IN 1957.
THE CENTERPIECE OF THE COLLECTION IS THIS 1898 BENZ VIS-�-VIS.
IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST AUTOMOBILES ON DISPLAY IN THE COUNTRY.
AS I LEARNED, IT HAS ITS ORIGINAL ENGINE.
ROD GRAVES: THIS IS ONE GIANT PISTON RIGHT HERE AND AS YOU CAN SEE THE COMPRESSION IS REALLY GOOD IN HERE.
THIS PISTON WAS A ONE PISTON DRIVE WHEREAS TODAY WE HAVE UP TO EIGHT.
PRETTY AMAZING START OUT OF A BASICALLY FARM ENGINE APPLIED TO WHEELS.
Stephanie: A CENTURY AGO, SOME PEOPLE DROVE THIS ROLLS ROYCE SHOOTING BRAKE TO GO HUNTING.
THIS IS THE ONLY SHOOTING BRAKE PRODUCED THAT YEAR.
VERY FEW SURVIVE TODAY.
THIS 1912 METZ IS KNOWN BEST FOR ITS FRICTION TYPE DRIVE... THAT WORKS LIKE A CLOCK MECHANISM.
Rod Graves: YOU WOULD GET THE AUTOMOBILE RUNNING ENOUGH TO TURN THE DISCS.
AND SO, THERE'S VERY LITTLE FUEL INVOLVED HERE AND SOMETHING THAT COULD BE APPLIED TODAY.
Stephanie: THIS 1928 MERCEDES-BENZ MODEL S WAS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL AND HEAVIEST CARS OF ITS TIME.
FAST AND EFFICIENT, THIS HORSE DRAWN FIRE STEAM ENGINE PUT OUT FIRES IN THE EARLY 1900s.
FIREFIGHTERS BUILT UP STEAM IN THE BOILER, THEN THE STEAM MECHANISM WOULD PUMP WATER FROM A NEARBY WATER SOURCE, LIKE A RIVER, AND EXTINGUISH FIRES.
Rod: IT WAS ACTUALLY DOCUMENTED THAT IT PUT OUT A VERY TREMENDOUS FIRE WHERE MANY LIVES WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST SO LOOKING AT THAT IS HUMBLING IN ITSELF.
Stephanie: CHECKING OUT THE CARS AND CAVERNS AT LURAY GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE PAST, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MAKING TONS OF MODERN MEMORIES.
RESULTING IN AN OUT OF THIS WORLD EXPERIENCE!
John: NOW, WE LOVE A GOOD THOROUGH TEST SESSION, BUT WE ALSO NEVER PASS UP A CHANCE FOR A QUICKSPIN!
* THE LONG-AWAITED RETURN OF THE ACURA INTEGRA IS FINALLY REALITY.
NOW, TO THE DISMAY OF SOME, IT'S PACKAGED ONLY AS A 4-DOOR LIFTBACK, BUT TO US IT STILL PULLS OFF A TERRIFIC SPORT-PRACTICAL VIBE.
AND WHILE ITS UNDERLYING HONDA CIVIC DNA IS THERE, THE INTEGRA'S EXTERIOR WRAPPINGS ARE ENTIRELY ITS OWN AS NOT A SINGLE BODY PANEL IS SHARED.
IT'S A FAMILIAR, YET, UPSCALE STORY INSIDE.
THE BASE INTEGRA IS OUTFITTED WITH A 10.2 INCH INSTRUMENT PANEL, A 7.0 INCH INFOTAINMENT SCREEN, WIRED SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION, AND HEATED SYNTHETIC LEATHER SEATS.
STEPPING UP TO THE A-SPEC TRIM WITH THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE ADDS WIRELESS SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION, MICROSUEDE SEAT INSERTS, A HEAD-UP DISPLAY, AND A 9.0 INCH TOUCHSCREEN.
A-SPEC IS ALSO THE ONLY TRIM OFFERING A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION AS A "NO COST" OPTION, ALONG WITH A LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL.
STANDARD ON THE INTEGRA IS A CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
IN EITHER CASE, THE FRONT-WHEELS ARE DRIVEN BY A TURBOCHARGED 1.5 LITER INLINE-4, PUTTING OUT 200 HORSEPOWER AND 192 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
Alexander Kellum: ACURA SAYS, THE INITIAL RESPONSE OR THE RESERVATIONS FOR THE NEW INTEGRA HAS "EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS."
WHICH IS GOOD NEWS, BUT SOME REALLY COOL NEWS IS THAT APPARENTLY 65 PERCENT OF THOSE ARE FOR THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
AND I HAVE TO SAY FOR THE 65 PERCENT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING THE MANUAL, I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO LIKE WHAT YOU GET.
THE CLUTCH IS SMOOTH, IT'S LIGHTWEIGHT, AND THE PICK-UP POINT IS...ON POINT.
THE SHIFTER ITSELF IS NOTCHY, THE THROWS ARE RELATIVELY SHORT FOR A STOCK CAR.
John: A TANTALIZING PACKAGE FOR MANY, AND WITH CIVIC ROOTS COMES CIVIL PRICING-WITH DESTINATION, IT STARTS JUST UNDER $32,000 AND MAXES OUT UNDER $37,000.
THAT KEEPS THE NEW INTEGRA IN LINE WITH THE ORIGINAL'S MISSION: FUN, SPORTY, PRACTICAL, AND ATTAINABLE.
THE PORSCHE 911 IS A NAME ENGRAVED IN AUTOMOTIVE LEGEND, AND WE RECENTLY HIT THE TRACK IN THIS 2022 TURBO S-- OUTFITTED WITH THE LIGHTWEIGHT PACKAGE.
TO TACKLE THAT LAST BIT FIRST, THE LIGHTWEIGHT PACKAGE SHAVES OFF ABOUT 60 POUNDS BY DELETING THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN, HEATED FRONT SEATS, AND THE REAR SEATS ENTIRELY; BUT IT ISN'T STRIPPED BARE.
INCLUDED IS A SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM AND PORSCHE ACTIVE SUSPENSION MANAGEMENT, LOWERED BY 10MM.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, THIS IS VERY MUCH A TURBO S; AT ITS HEART IS A REAR-MOUNTED 3.7 LITER BOXER-6 ENGINE, TWIN-TURBOCHARGED TO PRODUCE 640 HORSEPOWER AND 590 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
ALL OF IT IS CHANNELED TO THE ACTIVE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM THROUGH AN 8-SPEED PDK TRANSMISSION.
IT WAS AT SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK IN WEST VIRGINIA WHERE ALL THOSE NUMBERS TRULY ADDED UP.
THE TURBO S IS AN ABSOLUTELY LETHAL TRACK WEAPON WITH ENOUGH POWER TO MAKE AN ADRENALINE RUSH BORDERLINE UNSETTLING.
WHEN EXITING A CORNER, THE TURBO S SQUATS DOWN AND LAUNCHES TO THE NEXT BRAKING ZONE.
ONCE THERE, IT SLOWS FROM HIGH SPEEDS IN A TOTALLY CONTROLLED MANNER.
WE DID EXPERIENCE SOME MID-CORNER UP-SHIFTING BY THE PDK THAT DISRUPTED POWER, BUT GEAR CHANGES WERE LIGHTNING FAST AND OVERALL TRULY COMPETENT.
BUT TO BE FAIR, THE 911 TURBO S WITH THE LIGHTWEIGHT PACKAGE IS NOT THE MOST IDEAL DAILY DRIVER PORSCHE.
IT'S LOW HANGING, A CHORE TO CLIMB OUT OF AND MISSING SOME LUXURY AMENITIES.
HOWEVER, THOSE ARE SACRIFICES WE EXPECT IN THE PURSUIT OF THE ULTIMATE HIGH-PERFORMANCE PORSCHE STREETCAR, WHICH THIS 911 TURBO S MAY VERY WELL BE.
AND AT AN AS-TESTED MSRP OF AROUND $225,000, IT SHOULD BE.
AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH PLENTY MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!
* Stephanie Hart: VOLKSWAGEN'S FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC SEDAN IS QUICKLY GOING FROM CONCEPT TO PRODUCTION.
THE VW ID.
AERO CONCEPT CAR HAS MADE ITS OFFICIAL DEBUT.
THIS IS THE BRAND'S FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC SEDAN.
IT WILL BE BUILT ON THEIR MODULAR ELECTRIC DRIVE MATRIX AND SHARES SOME DESIGN LANGUAGE WITH OTHER VOLKSWAGEN ELECTRICS-- LIKE THE ID.4 AND ID.
BUZZ.
RANGE ESTIMATES PUT IT AROUND 385 MILES.
THE ID.
AERO'S PRODUCTION MODEL WILL GO ON SALE IN THE CHINESE MARKET IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2023, WITH EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN PRODUCTION SOON TO FOLLOW.
NOW, YOU CAN USE YOUR VOICE TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK.
CONNECTED VEHICLE SERVICES PROVIDER PARKOPEDIA HAS LAUNCHED A NEW VOICE-ENABLED PARKING ASSIST THROUGH AMAZON ALEXA.
THIS SERVICE ALLOWS USERS TO FIND, RESERVE AND PAY FOR PARKING WITH THEIR ALEXA-ENABLED VEHICLES OR DEVICES.
JUST ASK FOR THE NEAREST SPOTS OR SOMEWHERE TO PARK AT YOUR DESTINATION, AND ALEXA WILL REFERENCE NEARLY 75,000 OFF-STREET PARKING LOCATIONS.
IF A LOCATION HAS MULTIPLE SPOTS AVAILABLE, DRIVERS CAN ASK ALEXA TO SKIP SUGGESTIONS UNTIL THEY FIND THE PERFECT SPOT.
FORD'S ALL-ELECTRIC MUSTANG MACH-E IS FACING A RECALL.
FORD IS RECALLING NEARLY 50,000 OF THE PLUG-IN CROSSOVER.
ACCORDING TO A DEALERSHIP MEMO, THE RECALL PERTAINS TO THE VEHICLE'S HIGH-VOLTAGE BATTERY CONTACTORS, WHICH HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO OVERHEAT.
IF SO, THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE PROPULSION OR NOT START AT ALL.
FORTUNATELY, THERE HAVE BEEN NO FIRE-RELATED CONCERNS OVER THE ISSUE, AND THE FIX WILL BE DONE IN A SOFTWARE UPDATE.
AFFECTED OWNERS CAN HEAD TO THEIR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR THE FIX.
SPEAKING OF FORD, THEIR VIRTUAL MUSEUM IS NOW OPEN.
THE FORD HERITAGE VAULT IS A WEBSITE FILLED WITH DIGITIZED PIECES OF BLUE OVAL HISTORY.
EXHIBITS INCLUDE VINTAGE BROCHURES, PICTURES, AND IMPORTANT MILESTONE MOMENTS IN THE AUTOMAKER'S 119 YEAR HISTORY.
JUST HEAD TO FORD HERITAGE VAULT.COM AND CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF.
AND THAT WILL DO IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS!
John: AFTER DABBLING WITH BATTERY ELECTRIC CONCEPTS FOR YEARS, VOLKSWAGEN WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST BRANDS TO MAKE A PRODUCTION COMMITMENT TO GO FULL EV.
AND THE ID.4 WAS THE FIRST ALL-NEW DESIGN TO EMBODY THAT PHILOSOPHY; OFFERING ROOMY SUV PRACTICALITY AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE.
BUT ONE THING WAS MISSING: ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.
WELL, NOW IT'S HERE; SO WITH ALL-WHEEL-TRACTION NOW THE MAIN ATTRACTION, LET'S GET A GRIP!
* THIS VOLKSWAGEN ID.4 AWD PRO S IS LARGELY THE SAME COMPACT SUV, WE TESTED LAST YEAR, BUT WITH ONE IMPORTANT AND MOST ESSENTIAL ADDITION: ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.
IT COMES COURTESY OF AN ADDITIONAL 80 KILOWATT MOTOR ON THE FRONT AXLE, JOINING THE 150 KILOWATT REAR UNIT.
THE AWD CONFIGURATION USES THE SAME 82 KILOWATT HOUR BATTERY, SO RANGE DECREASES FROM A MAX OF 260 TO 240 MILES, BUT TOTAL POWER OUTPUT INCREASES FROM 201 TO 295 HORSEPOWER WITH 339 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL OF THE NUMBERS, AFTER DRIVING AROUND FOR A FEW DAYS IN REAL WORLD CONDITIONS, WE FOUND WE COULD EASILY TRAVEL MORE MILES THAN INITIAL INDICATIONS; LESSENING THE RANGE ANXIETY THE MORE WE DROVE.
AND WE ALSO HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH RANGE TO GET TO OUR MASON DIXON DRAGWAY TEST TRACK FOR COMPLETE TESTING.
IT DOESN'T EXPLODE OFF THE LINE WITH THE GUT-PUNCHING LAUNCH OF MANY EVs, BUT IT DOES HAVE DECENT POWER, HITTING 60 IN 5.5 SECONDS.
WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO TRACK TEST THE REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE VERSION, BUT THIS ONE FEELS CONSIDERABLY FASTER.
POWER STAYS FULL AND UNIFORM ALL THE WAY DOWN THE TRACK, WITH NO GEAR CHANGES TO INTERRUPT THE PROCESS.
SMOOTH AND STEADY, FOR A 14.3 SECOND QUARTER-MILE AT 97 MILES PER HOUR.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES GENERALLY BENEFIT GREATLY FROM A LOWER CENTER OF GRAVITY, AND THE ID.4 EXPLOITS THAT TO THE FULL.
COMBINE THAT WITH THE ADDITIONAL AWD-GRIP, AND IT REALLY DID FEEL GLUED TO THE GROUND THROUGH OUR SLALOM COURSE.
STEERING WAS VERY RESPONSIVE-- ALMOST INTUITIVE, AS IT SEEMED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD IN MIND AS SOON AS WE STARTED TO TURN THE WHEEL.
THERE IS SOME BODY ROLL AND STABILITY CONTROL WILL INTERVENE IF YOU TURN IN TOO AGGRESSIVELY; BUT, THE EXPERIENCE WAS ALMOST "PORSCHE-LIKE" ACCORDING TO ONE OF OUR TEST DRIVERS.
SOME OF OUR FAVORITE ASPECTS OF THE ID.4, AND THE BIG REASONING BEHIND IT EARNING OUR 2022 DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST EV, ARE THAT IT DRIVES JUST LIKE THE SUV YOU'RE USED TO, AND IT'S JUST AS PRACTICAL TOO.
NOT ONLY IS THERE DECENT CARGO SPACE IN BACK FOR A WIDE RANGE OF FAMILY ADVENTURES, BUT THERE'S PLENTY UP FRONT FOR ALL OF THOSE SMALL ITEMS WE SEEM TO BRING WITH US, AS WELL AS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR EVERYONE TO GET COMFORTABLE.
LIKE MOST EVs, SOME CONTROLS ARE A LITTLE QUIRKY COMPARED TO WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE USED TO.
PRIMARILY THE SHIFTER, WHICH IS MOUNTED ON A BRACKET COMING OFF OF THE GAUGE PANEL, AND IS NOT CLEAR AT FIRST EXACTLY HOW TO OPERATE IT.
MATERIALS?
A MIXED BAG.
THERE ARE SOME HARD PLASTICS BUT MOST ARE QUITE NICE.
THE S IN PRO S STANDS FOR "STATEMENT," AND HELPING YOU DECLARE YOUR UPGRADED CREDENTIALS ARE LEATHERETTE-COVERED SEATS, 30 COLOR MOOD LIGHTING, AND A LARGER 12 INCH DISCOVER PRO MAX INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY MPGE RATINGS ARE 98-CITY, 88-HIGHWAY, AND 93-COMBINED; WITH AN EFFICIENCY RATING OF 36 KILOWATT HOURS PER 100 MILES.
ADDING ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS JUST THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THIS ONGOING ID.4 STORY WHICH LOOKS LIKE TO BE A REAL PAGE-TURNER; AS '22 MODELS WILL GET INCREASED RANGE AS WELL AS A MORE POWERFUL ONBOARD CHARGER.
AND COMING FOR '23 WILL BE AN ENTRY-LEVEL MODEL WITH CONSIDERABLY LOWER PRICING.
FOR NOW, AWD PRICING STARTS AT $44,870 FOR THE PRO BEFORE ANY AVAILABLE TAX CREDITS; $49,370 FOR THIS PRO S. THAT MAKES THE VOLKSWAGEN ID.4 AWD PRO THE LEAST EXPENSIVE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE BATTERY ELECTRIC YOU CAN GET.
IT PROBABLY WON'T STAY THAT WAY FOR LONG, BUT TAKEN AS A WHOLE, THE ID.4 SETS A NEW STANDARD FOR FULL ON ELECTRIC SUVs.
John: WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.
NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES, PODCASTS, AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES, CRUISE ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE SEE JUST HOW ADVENTURE-READY HONDA'S PASSPORT TRAILSPORT REALLY IS, THEN TACKLE THE RUTS IN FORD'S OUTRAGEOUS F-150 RAPTOR.
WE'LL SEE HOW THE YELLOW SCHOOL BUS IS CHARGING UP FOR THE FUTURE, THEN TOP IS OFF WITH MORE QUICKSPINS!
UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS.
WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK !
Announcer: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT  MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE, VISIT... MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS HAS HELPED PEOPLE TACKLE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE, MARINE, AND INDUSTRIAL FIELDS.
FROM OUR ORIGINAL FOUR CORE PRODUCTS... LUCAS OIL HAS DEVELOPED OVER 400 CUSTOM PRODUCTS TO HELP BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND DO IT YOURSELFERS.
TO LEARN MORE VISIT LUCASOIL.COM.
LUCAS OIL, KEEP THAT ENGINE ALIVE.
TIRERACK.COM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT  MOTORWEEK .
FIRST, THERE WAS THE WHEEL.
THEN, THE TIRE.
"WE'LL CALL IT TIRE RACK."
FORTY YEARS LATER, WE'RE NOT SLOWING DOWN.
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.
* Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.
[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] * YOUR WATCHING PBS.