>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS

AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !

JOIN US AND SEE IF THE JEEP

RENEGADE IS REALLY A SUBVERSIVE

SUB-COMPACT UTE...

PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE ON HOW TO

KEEP CAR CARE ORGANIZED...

WE'LL LOOK AT THE NEAR FUTURE

OF FILLING UP...

AND THEN PLUG INTO BMW'S FUTURE

WITH THE FUNKY AND FUN I3!

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY

MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK,

TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE

MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS BOB.

BOB'S NOT THINKING ABOUT WHERE

TO BUY HIS NEXT SET OF TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM

COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT

TIRES.

BUT BOB'S THINKING,

"SHOULD I TELL HER ABOUT THAT

THING IN HER TEETH?"

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: WHILE WE AS AUTOMOTIVE

ENTHUSIASTS TEND TO BE WARY OF

RARELY LIVE UP TO THE CARS THAT

ORIGINALLY USED THEM,

IT CAN BE DONE WITH SUCCESS,

AS JEEP IS PROVING WITH THE NEW

CHEROKEE.

WELL, WITH THAT SUCCESS IN HAND,

JEEP IS NOW FOCUSED ON

THE RAPIDLY GROWING SMALL

CROSSOVER SEGMENT,

AND HAS PLACED THE VENERABLE

RENEGADE NAME ON AN NEW MODEL,

WITH A NEW DNA.

RENEGADE IS DEFINED AS

"ONE WHO DESERTS OR BETRAYS

SO, IT'S A FITTING NAMEPLATE

FOR THE 2015 JEEP RENEGADE,

AS IT ENTERS INTO A NEW SEGMENT

FOR BRAND, AND IS CLEARLY UNLIKE

ANY OTHER JEEP IN THE STABLE...

...OR IS IT?

JEEP FANS KNOW THAT RENEGADE NOT

AS A MODEL NAME, BUT RATHER

A TRIM PACKAGE FOUND MOSTLY ON

CJ'S AND WRANGLERS.

WHILE EARLY PHOTOS,

WITH ITS BORDERLINE CARTOONISH

APPEARANCE,

MADE IT HARD TO TAKE SERIOUSLY,

IN PERSON,

THE SUBCOMPACT RENEGADE SPORTS

MUCH BETTER PROPORTIONS WHILE

STILL SAYING CLASSIC JEEP

UP FRONT.

BUT LESS SO IN THE REAR

3/4 VIEW WITH THE UPWARDLY

ARCHED QUARTER WINDOWS.

BUT THE X-MOTIF IN

THE TAILLIGHTS AND ELSEWHERE,

PLAYING OFF A WW II STYLE

FUEL CAN, IS PRETTY COOL.

AS FOR ITS NEW DNA, THE RENEGADE

IS ON FIAT'S SMALL-WIDE

4X4 PLATFORM THAT IT SHARES WITH

THE 500L AND UPCOMING 500X.

BUILT IN ITALY, FCA HOPES

RENEGADE WILL MAKE JEEP AS

POPULAR IN GLOBAL MARKETS AS IT

IS HERE.

ONE FEATURE WE HAVEN'T SEEN ON

OTHER NEW SMALLISH UTE'S IS

REMOVABLE ROOF PANELS.

RENEGADE'S BASIC MYSKY SYSTEM

HAS TWO SEPARATE PIECES THAT,

WHEN TAKEN OFF, DELIVER SOME OF

THAT OPEN AIR EXPERIENCE JEEPS

ARE KNOWN FOR.

MYSKY WITH A POWER SLIDING FRONT

PANEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

THERE'S NOT AN ABUNDANCE OF ROOM

IN THE COMFORTABLE FRONT SEATS,

BUT MORE THAN YOU'RE EXPECTING,

AND THAT JUST MEANS ALL OF

THE CONTROLS FALL CLOSE TO HAND.

SEAT CONTROLS WERE MANUAL IN OUR

LATITUDE TRIMMED TESTER,

BUT THEY'RE VERY BEEFY FELLING,

NOT COMPACT CAR FLIMSY.

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LOOKS NICE,

IF A BIT GIMMICKY.

THERE'S JEEP LOGOS AND "SINCE

1941" SCRIPT EVERYWHERE.

IT CAN GET A BIT CHEESY AND SOME

MATERIALS ARE MORE ECONOMY THAN

RUGGED.

THE UCONNECT SCREEN IS ON

THE SMALL SIDE, BUT IT GETS

THE JOB DONE,

AND THE OVERALL LOOK OF

THE INTERIOR WILL UNDOUBTEDLY

APPEAL TO THE YOUNGER SET.

REAR SEAT ROOM IS GOOD,

BUT THE SEATBACKS DON'T QUITE

FOLD FLAT FOR CARGO.

AND WHILE TOTAL CARGO SPACE IS

DECENT AT 50.8 CUBIC-FEET;

18.5 BEHIND THE REAR SEATS;

IT FALLS WELL SHORT OF

THE HONDA HR-V.

NOW, JEEP WANTED TO MAKE SURE

YOU CAN STILL DO JEEP TYPE

THINGS IN THE RENEGADE,

AND THE TRAILHAWK MODEL FEATURES

A STANDARD ACTIVE DRIVE LOW

4X4 SYSTEM WITH TERRAIN SELECT

MODES FOR SNOW, SAND, MUD,

AND ROCK.

IT'S CLEARLY THE ONLY SUBCOMPACT

UTE DESIGNED FOR TRUE OFF-ROAD

USE.

AND YOU CAN STILL GET JEEP'S

REGULAR STRENGTH ACTIVE DRIVE

FULL-TIME 4X4 SYSTEM IN ALL

OTHER TRIMS,

WHICH WORKED FINE FOR US.

ON ROAD, THE RENEGADE FEELS VERY

CAR-LIKE, WITH MINIMAL ROLL

IN CORNERS AND HEAVY STEERING.

IT'S A SOLID PACKAGE OVERALL,

WITH NO SQUEAKS OR RATTLES FROM

THE ROOF PANELS, THOUGH WIND

NOISE CAN WRING OUT AT SPEED.

AS FOR POWERTRAINS,

THERE ARE TWO.

THE LARGER, 2.4 LITER TIGERSHARK

I4 BOASTS 180 HORSEPOWER,

THOUGH A LITTLE ROUGH AT IDLE,

THERE'S AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF

POWER FOR A SEGMENT THAT MOSTLY

CONSISTS OF SUB 2.0 LITER

ENGINES.

AND OF COURSE THERE IS ONE OF

THOSE AVAILABLE HERE AS WELL,

FIAT'S 160 HORSEPOWER

1.4 LITER MULTIAIR TURBO-4 WHICH

THE 2.4 LITER GETS A 9-SPEED

AUTOMATIC WHICH WORKED OKAY.

THERE'S STILL SOME OCCASIONAL

STUMBLING, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY

AN IMPROVEMENT OVER EARLY

CHEROKEES.

AT OUR TEST TRACK,

THE 2.4 RENEGADE SNAPS OFF

THE LINE LIKE A SPRINTER,

BUT QUICKLY SETTLES DOWN INTO

A MARATHON PACE;

REACHING 60 IN 8.6 SECONDS.

LEISURELY SHIFTS COMPOUND

THE QUARTER MILE SITUATION,

WHICH TOOK 16.5 SECONDS

A RELAXED PACE WAS THE WAY TO GO

THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE TOO;

AS ANYTHING MORE,

TURNS MANAGEABLE UNDERSTEER INTO

FULL-ON PLOW.

AN AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE OF

120 FEET FROM 60 WAS NOT BAD,

BUT RANDOM LOCKING AND AN

UNSETTLED REAR NEEDS TO BE

IMPROVED UPON.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS

FOR A 2.4 4X4 ARE 21-CITY,

29-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE OF 25.4 OF REGULAR

IS CERTAINLY SUPERIOR TO AN OLD

XJ, BUT WE EXPECTED BETTER

FROM SUCH A SMALL FRY.

WE THINK JEEP'S FIRST ATTEMPT AT

A TRULY GLOBAL SMALL CROSSOVER

WILL REPRESENT THE BRAND WELL

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD,

AS IT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MORE

THAN 100 COUNTRIES.

PRICING HERE IN THE GOOD OLD

U.S. OF A.

STARTS AT $18,990 FOR A SPORT

AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE ADDS 2-GRAND

SO, WHILE ITS ORIGINS ARE

OFF-SHORE, THE 2015 RENEGADE

STILL EMBODIES MUCH OF WHAT HAS

MADE THE JEEP BRAND AN AMERICAN

ICON.

COMBINED WITH A LOW PRICE,

IT'S THE PERFECT JEEP FOR PEOPLE

WHO THINK THEY WANT A JEEP,

BUT REALLY WANT A RUGGED LOOKING

SMALL CROSSOVER WITH ALL OF

THE MODERN COMFORTS THEY'VE

BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO.

SO, RENEGADE IS ONE TRAITOR WITH

A GOOD CAUSE.

WHEN IT COMES TIME TO FILL 'ER

UP, THE DAYS OF SIMPLY CHOOSING

BETWEEN REGULAR OR HIGH TEST

ARE LONG GONE.

TODAY'S FAMILY CARS ARE MORE

AND MORE LIKELY TO RUN,

NOT JUST ON GASOLINE OR DIESEL,

BUT ALSO ON NON-PETROLEUM BASED

FUELS LIKE ETHANOL, BIODIESEL,

PROPANE, NATURAL GAS,

OR PURE ELECTRIC POWER.

THESE OFTEN CALLED

"ALTERNATIVE FUELS"

ARE RAPIDLY GAINING GROUND

WITH MAINSTREAM BUYERS.

SO, THIS WIDER ARRAY OF FUEL

CHOICES IS NATURALLY CHANGING

THE WAY WE LOOK AT

THE TRADITIONAL FILLING STATION.

AS WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE.

THE FAMILIAR ROADSIDE FUEL

ISLAND HAS NOT GONE THE WAY OF

THE DINOSAURS YET BUT TODAY'S

MEGAPLEX GAS STATIONS WITH ROW

UPON ROW OF GLEAMING PUMPS ARE

NOW OFFERING MORE FUEL CHOICES

THAN EVER BEFORE AND FACING

COMPETITION FROM NON-TRADITIONAL

FUELING OUTLETS AS WELL.

>> REUBEN SARKAR: WHETHER IT'S

FILLING UP YOUR CAR WITH

ELECTRICITY, BIOFUELS,

OR OTHER FUTURE FUELS,

HAVING MORE AVAILABLE HELPS

INCREASE OUR ENERGY SECURITY

AND IMPROVES OUR ENVIRONMENTAL

SUSTAINABILITY AS WELL AS

OFFERS MORE CONSUMERS,

CHOICE AT THE PUMP.

WE ARE ALSO DEVELOPING NEW

TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE HELPING

BRING TECHNOLOGIES FROM

THE LABORATORY TO THE STREETS,

BRINGING YOU BETTER CARS

AND BETTER FUELS, SOONER.

>> JOHN: NATIONWIDE THE GROWTH

AND FLEET USE OF NATURAL GAS

HAS SPURRED DEVELOPMENT OF

A WHOLE NEW NETWORK OF PUBLIC

AND PRIVATE NATURAL GAS

STATIONS.

AT&T FOR INSTANCE, NOW OPERATES

MORE THAN 8,000 CNG VEHICLES

AND HAS COMMITTED TO HAVING

15,000 ALT. FUEL VEHICLES

IN ITS FLEET BY 2018.

RYDER TRUCKS HAS SURPASSED

30 MILLION MILES OF CNG USAGE

IN THEIR MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY

TRUCKS.

AND NATURAL GAS FUELS

ONE IN FIVE TRANSIT BUSSES

IN OUR MAJOR CITIES.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR

DELIVERING NATURAL GAS TO

INDIVIDUAL LOCATIONS IS ARGUABLY

BETTER DEVELOPED AND MORE

EFFICIENT THAN FOR TRADITION GAS

STATIONS, WHERE FUEL SUPPLIES

ARE STILL DELIVERED BY TRUCK.

IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY GAS

PIPELINES ALREADY RUN TO

MILLIONS OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES

TO PROVIDE HEATING FUEL.

SO, TAPPING INTO THAT SUPPLY IS

A RELATIVELY SIMPLE MATTER OF

ADDING COMPRESSOR EQUIPMENT AND

DISPENSERS AT THE POINT OF SALE.

CLEAN ENERGY CORPORATION HAS

MADE A BIG SPLASH IN NATURAL GAS

IN RECENT YEARS, FOCUSING ON

FLEETS, AND LONG HAUL TRUCKING.

AND OVER 500 OF THEIR FAMILIAR

LIME GREEN STATION CANOPIES

HAVE CROPPED UP AT AIRPORTS

AND INDUSTRIAL CENTERS

NATIONWIDE.

MIDWEST REGIONAL CONVENIENCE

STORE CHAIN, KWIK TRIP,

OFFERS NATURAL GAS IN MORE THAN

30 OF ITS STORES IN WISCONSIN,

IOWA, AND MINNESOTA.

AND AT THEIR HOME LOCATION

IN LACROSSE, WISCONSIN,

THEY OFFER CNG, LNG,

AND PROPANE FUEL IN ADDITION

TO A FULL SLATE OF BIODIESEL

BLENDS AND TRADITIONAL PETROLEUM

FUELS.

TALK ABOUT ONE STOP SHOPPING.

>> JOEL HIRSCHBOECK: NATURAL

GAS IS PROBABLY OUR PREMIER

ALTERNATIVE FUEL THAT WE'RE

BUT WE WANTED TO BE RELEVANT

IN ALL OF THE FUELS THAT WERE

AVAILABLE TODAY.

SO, THAT WE HAD A GOOD

UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THOSE FUELS

MAY OR MAY NOT FIT INTO

THE DIFFERENT MARKETPLACE.

SO, THAT WE WERE READY TO REACT

IF NEED BE, GIVEN A CHANGE

IN CUSTOMER DEMAND.

>> JOHN: MIRRORING THE RAPID

GROWTH OF NATURAL GAS OUTLETS

IS AMERICA'S ELECTRIC VEHICLE

CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE,

BUT IN THIS CASE, THE FUEL

COMES TO WHERE THE CARS ARE:

WITH EV'S,

DRIVERS ARE JUST AS LIKELY TO

CHARGE AT HOME AS AT WORK,

OR EVEN THE GROCERY STORE,

OR AIRPORT PARKING GARAGE.

ESSENTIALLY, ANY POWER OUTLET IS

A POTENTIAL PLACE TO CHARGE

AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

BUT UNLIKE TRADITIONAL GAS

STATIONS,

PROFIT IS NOT THE PRIME FOCUS.

WHILE THERE ARE FEE BASED

CHARGING NETWORKS,

MANY LOCATIONS STILL OFFER FREE

CHARGING AS PERKS TO ENTICE

CUSTOMERS OR SIMPLY ENGENDER

GOODWILL.

EV MAKER TESLA HAS SPENT

MILLIONS SETTING UP A NETWORK OF

FREE "SUPERCHARGERS" WITH

LOCATIONS FROM COAST TO COAST,

THAT ALLOWS ITS CUSTOMERS TO

GAIN UP TO 175 MILES OF

DRIVING RANGE IN AS LITTLE AS

30 MINUTES.

THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT

THE FUELING STATION OF

THE FUTURE WILL FINALLY LOOK

LIKE.

BUT AS AMERICA'S PUSH FOR CLEAN

DRIVING SOLUTIONS CONTINUES TO

ADVANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW

FUELS AND POWER TECHNOLOGIES,

THE ACT OF REFUELING,

AND WHERE WE DO IT,

WILL SURELY EVOLVE AS WELL.

LET'S CHECK IN NOW WITH PAT GOSS

WHO HAS A FEW TIPS FOR KEEPING

YOUR NEXT CAR CARE PROJECT

ORGANIZED.

>> PAT GOSS: NO MATTER HOW

COMPLICATED A CAR MIGHT BE,

PRETTY EASY.

BUT GETTING IT BACK TOGETHER

SO THAT IT WORKS RIGHT?

WELL, THAT CAN BE A WHOLE

DIFFERENT STORY.

AND I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF TIPS AS

HOW WE DO IT IN THE REPAIR SHOP.

SEE, ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE

TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IS

RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS A PAINT PEN.

WE BUY THEM IN LITTLE PACKAGES

LIKE THIS, AND WE USE THEM

ALL DAY LONG, EVERYDAY.

NOW, WE USE THEM FOR THINGS LIKE

THE MARKS THAT WE'VE PUT HERE

ON THE SPROCKETS AND THE TIMING

BELT SO THAT WE KNOW WHERE THEY

ALIGN.

NOW, THE REALITY OF THIS IS,

WE TAKE SOMETHING APART,

AND SAY, WELL, "WE'RE NOT GOING

TO DISTURB THE TIMING BELT."

WELL, WE'RE WORKING AROUND

THE TIMING BELT.

AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU,

STUFF HAPPENS.

STUFF THAT YOU WOULDN'T IMAGINE

HAPPENS.

AND THAT MEANS YOU MIGHT WIND UP

WITH A TIMING BELT THAT HAS

SLIPPED AND UNLESS YOU HAVE

MARKS, YOU'VE GOT A REAL TOUGH

JOB GETTING IN ALIGNED AGAIN.

ONCE IT'S BEEN MARKED LIKE THIS,

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS REALIGN

THE MARKS.

NOW, IN SOME CASES BOLTS WILL BE

SPECIFIC TO A CERTAIN POSITION.

SO, WE MAKE LITTLE DEIGNS ON

THE BOLTS AND MATCHING DESIGNS

ON THE SPROCKETS OR PART THAT

THE BOLT HOLDS IN PLACE.

SO, THAT SAVES A LOT OF TIME.

THE OTHER THING IS WHEN WE'RE

TAKING WIRING APART,

ON NEWER CARS,

THERE MAY BE 100 WIRE CONNECTORS

UNDER THE HOOD.

AND MANY OF THOSE WIRE

CONNECTORS MAY BE

INTERCHANGEABLE AS FAR AS THEIR

POSITION IS CONCERNED.

SO HERE AGAIN, WE PUT A NUMBER

ON BOTH HALVES OF THE CONNECTOR

SO WE KNOW WHICH CONNECTOR GOES

IN WHAT POSITON.

AND WE DO THAT TO THINGS

UNDERNEATH THE CAR LIKE THIS

AXEL WE MARKED IT AS

"RIGHT FRONT."

MAYBE WE HAVE AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE

VEHICLE, AND WE GOT ALL FOUR

AXEL'S OUT OF IT, AND THEY ALL

LOOK VERY SIMILAR BUT THEY

ACTUALLY ARE NOT.

SAVE A LOT OF TIME BY MARKING

THEM AS TO THEIR POSITION

SO THAT WE CAN PUT THEM BACK

IN PROPERLY.

WELL, THE OTHER THING IS THAT

BRAKES AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS

LIKE THIS WORK WELL AS FAR AS

MARKING THEM WITH THESE

PAINT PENS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING

FOR THE OVERALL LAYOUT OF

THE PARTICULAR SYSTEM THAT WE'RE

WORKING ON.

SO, THAT'S WHERE OUR CAMERA

COMES INTO PLAY.

SEE, WE TAKE A PICTURE OF

THE GENERAL LAYOUT OF WHAT WE'RE

WORKING WITH.

AND MAYBE ON BREAKS WE TAKE

A CLOSE UP SO WE KNOW WHERE ALL

THE LITTLE SPRINGS AND CLIPS

AND EVERYTHING GO.

THAT WAY WE HAVE A DIAGRAM

TO WORK FROM WHEN WE PUT IT BACK

TOGETHER.

THAT WAY WE GET IT BACK TOGETHER

AND IT WORKS RIGHT THE FIRST

TIME.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION

OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE

RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

>> JOHN: TIME NOW TO HEAD OUT

FOR A FEW QUICKSPINS,

AND GET SOME FEEDBACK.

AS LINCOLN REINVENTS ITSELF,

THE BRAND IS TRYING TO SELL

THE IDEA THAT OWNING ONE OF

THEIR VEHICLES IS AN EXPERIENCE

UNTO ITSELF.

SO, WE GRABBED QUICKSPINS

IN NOT ONE, BUT TWO OF

THE MKC AND MKZ BLACK LABEL,

TO FIND OUT FOR OURSELVES.

TOUTED AS THE BEST LINCOLN HAS

TO OFFER, THE BLACK LABEL SERIES

FOCUSES HEAVILY ON PASSENGER

COMFORT AND INTERIOR

APPOINTMENTS.

FROM THE OUTSIDE, THOUGH,

THERE'S ONLY A FEW HINTS OF THAT

HIGH STATUS:

UNIQUE DARK ACCENTED WHEELS,

AND A CHOICE OF EXCLUSIVE PAINT

COLORS.

OUR MKZ, IN "CHROMA COUTURE,"

AND MKC, IN "NOTORIOUS,"

ARE TWO OF SIX CHOICES.

SINK INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT,

THOUGH, AND YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY

WHAT THE BLACK LABEL IS REALLY

ALL ABOUT:

SUPER SOFT TOUCH MATERIALS,

LEATHER WRAPPED EVERYTHING,

WITH EXOTIC WOODS,

AND CHROME ACCENTS,

FOR A LEVEL OF CRAFTSMANSHIP

BEFITTING A CAR TWICE ITS PRICE.

THERE ARE FOUR AVAILABLE THEMES,

EACH WITH A UNIQUE INTERIOR

COLOR PALETTE AND DESIGNED FEEL.

THE "INDULGENCE" PACKAGE ON OUR

MKZ RELIES HEAVILY ON BLACKS,

DARK BROWNS, AND DEEP WOOD

COLORS FOR AN ALL BUSINESS FEEL.

OUR MKC IN "MODERN HERITAGE" IS

TUNED TO A MORE OPEN AIR AURA,

USING WHITES, LIGHT GRAYS,

AND RED STITCHING THROUGHOUT.

NO MATTER THE THEME,

COMFORT IS TOP NOTCH,

AND THAT LUXURY CAR IMAGE THAT

LINCOLN HAS BEEN TRYING TO SELL,

FINALLY FEELS REAL.

MECHANICALLY, THOUGHT,

THE BLACK LABEL IS LITTLE

DIFFERENT FROM OTHER LINCOLN'S.

ENGINE OPTIONS ARE THE SAME,

AS IS SUSPENSION.

IT'S BASICALLY AN ULTRA HIGH

TRIM PACKAGE WITH ADDED BENEFITS

LIKE A PERSONAL BLACK LABEL

LIAISON ON DEMAND,

AND COMPLIMENTARY CARWASHES

AND DETAILING.

WE CALL THAT INTERN WORK AROUND

HERE.

JOINING THE BLACK LABEL CLUB

ADDS ABOUT 6-GRAND TO AN MKC

OR MKZ, AND IT WILL EXPAND TO

OTHER LINCOLN VEHICLES IN TIME.

BY THIS TIME WE'VE ALL ADJUSTED

TO THE NEW NAMING SYSTEM AT

INFINITI, RIGHT?

WELL, JUST AS A REFRESHER,

IS NOW THE QX70.

THE LOOK HAS CHANGED LITTLE,

BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY NEED TO.

IT'S A GREAT COMBO OF BOLD,

FAST, AND SLEEK THAT STILL HAS

A GREAT PRESENCE ON THE ROAD.

THESE OPTIONAL BLACK WHEELS,

THOUGH, ARE A LITTLE MUCH.

THE BIG NEWS FOR THE QX70 THIS

YEAR IS, THE LOSS OF AN ENGINE.

NO MORE V8 OPTION MEANS THAT

THE 3.7 LITER V6 IS THE SOLE

MEANS OF POWER.

STILL, THE SIGNATURE INFINITI

EXHAUST NOTE REMAINS.

AND YOU'LL GET NO COMPLAINTS

FROM US, AS THE V6'S

325 HORSEPOWER FEELS MORE THAN

ADEQUATE.

TRANSFERRED THROUGH A 7-SPEED

AUTOMATIC,

POWER GOES TO THE REAR AXLES,

OR OPTION UP TO ALL WHEEL DRIVE.

PLANT YOURSELF BEHIND THE WHEEL,

AND THE QX70 OFFERS A FAIRLY

HIGH SEATING POSITION TO PEER

OUT OVER THE BULGING HOOD

AND FENDERS.

IT ALL FEELS VERY SPORTY;

EVEN MORE SO WHEN YOU'RE MOVING.

THE RIDE IS STIFF, AND DESPITE

LOTS OF LEATHER AND SOFT TOUCH

MATERIALS, LUXURY ISN'T

THE FIRST THING CALLED TO MIND.

IT'S MORE PREMIUM SPORT.

THAT'S EVEN MORE ENHANCED BY

THE OPTIONAL SPORT PACKAGE,

WHICH ADDS BIG,

SOLID FEELING PADDLE SHIFTERS,

MORE AGGRESSIVELY BOLSTERED

FRONT SEATS, AND DARK TRIM

ACCENTS, INSIDE, AND OUT.

CARGO ROOM,

STILL A BIG SELLING POINT,

IS DECENT AT 62 CUBIC FEET.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2015 INFINITI

QX70 STARTS AROUND $46,000.

ALL WHEEL DRIVE ADDS $1,500

MORE.

AND WE'LL HIT THE ROAD SOON,

FOR MORE QUICKSPINS!

THE LETTER "M" MAY MEAN MORE

TO MOST BMW BUYERS,

AND CERTAINLY TO US ENTHUSIASTS,

BUT IT'S A NEW LETTER THAT

MAY HAVE MORE SIGNIFICANCE

FOR THE BRAND GOING FORWARD,

AND THAT'S THE LETTER "I."

AND WHILE THE I8 GOT THE NEW

BRAND WITHIN A BRAND OFF TO HIGH

PERFORMANCE START,

IT'S THE MAINSTREAM I3 THAT

WILL TAKE BMW AND PERHAPS EV'S

TO NEW HEIGHTS.

THE FACT THAT BMW IS MAKING

A CAR MORE DEIGNED FOR COMMUTER

QUITE A DEPARTURE;

MAKING THE 2015 I3 SOMETHING

TRULY UNIQUE.

AND SINCE IT'S NOT BASED ON ANY

OTHER BMW, AND AIMED AT

A WHOLE NEW GROUP OF BUYERS,

ENGINEERS COULD TAKE A FEW MORE

CHANCES IN THE DESIGN.

THE MODULAR CHASSIS HAS TWO MAIN

ASSEMBLIES: AN ALL ALUMINUM

POWERTRAIN HOUSING DRIVE MODULE,

AND THE CARBON FIBER

PASSENGER ENCOMPASSING

"LIFE MODULE."

TOGETHER THEY DELIVER 3 SERIES

SPACE, IN A 1 SERIES FOOTPRINT,

AT ONLY 2,860 POUNDS.

BMW'S KIDNEY SHAPED GRILLE

IS ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT'S

FAMILIAR OUTSIDE.

BUT TO OUR DELIGHT,

WHILE THE DRIVING ASPECT IS NOT

AS SPORTY AS TRADITIONAL BMW,

IT'S STILL QUITE ENTERTAINING,

AND EASILY BEATS THE BEST

AMONG MAINSTREAM EV'S.

THE SUSPENSION IS FIRM THROUGH

CORNERS, KEEPING BODY ROLL

IN CHECK; YET THERE IS STILL

DECENT RIDE QUALITY FOR ROUGH

CITY STREETS.

THERE'S ALSO PLENTY OF

THE EXPECTED EV-POWER RIGHT

FROM THE GET GO.

BUT THE I3 STILL FEELS

EXCEEDINGLY CAPABLE AT MUCH

HIGHER SPEEDS.

VERY AGGRESSIVE REGEN BRAKING

MEANS ACTUAL USE OF THE BRAKE

PEDAL IS MINIMAL.

IT'S A TRUE "COAST DOWN" CAR.

LOCATED IN THE DRIVE MODULE

IS A 22-KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY

PACK THAT PROVIDES ENERGY

TO THE ELECTRIC MOTOR RATED AT

170 HORSEPOWER

AND 184 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

RANGE; OUR OBSERVATIONS WERE IN

THE LOW END OF THAT SPECTRUM,

YET "MILES REMAINING" DROPPED

SLOWER THAN MOST EV'S.

BUT SINCE "RANGE ANXIETY" COULD

SINCE BE A DEAL BREAKER,

THIS EV HAS AN ACE IN THE HOLE;

AN OPTIONAL 650CC 2-CYLINDER

GAS ENGINE THAT KICKS IN

TO CHARGE THE BATTERY

AND POTENTIALLY DOUBLE

THE RANGE.

IT'S ONLY HAS A 2.5 GALLON FUEL

TANK THOUGH, SO DON'T THINK OF

IT AS EXTENDED RANGE PLUG-IN

HYBRID LIKE VOLT,

BUT AS A PURE EV WITH

A GASOLINE SAFETY NET.

IT ALL WORKS OUT TO GOVERNMENT

FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF

117-COMBINED MPGE WHEN RELYING

STRICTLY ON THE BATTERY,

AND 39-COMBINED MPG WITH

THE GAS ENGINE ALSO DOESN'T WAIT

FOR YOU TO COMPLETELY DRAIN

THE BATTERY.

IT KICKS ON AS SOON AS THE RANGE

DROPS TO SINGLE DIGITS.

AND WHEN IT CRANKS UP YOU KNOW

IT.

BUT RATHER THAN TRADITIONAL

ENGINE SOUNDS, IT'S A CONSTANT

GENERATOR LIKE, HIGH PITCHED HUM

THAT REMINDS US OF A CVT NEAR

THE REV LIMITER.

BUT THANKS TO THAT RANGE

EXTENDER, WE WERE ABLE TO GET

THE I3 OUT TO OUR TEST TRACK,

SOMETHING THAT WE NORMALLY

CAN'T DO WITH EV'S.

STRAIGHT LINING,

THERE'S A BRISK TUG OFF

THE LINE AND A RELATIVELY QUICK

SPRINT TO 60 IN 7.9 SECONDS,

THOUGH IT FEELS MUCH QUICKER

DUE TO THE SILENT WHOOSH OF

INSTANTANEOUS EV POWER.

THE QUARTER MILE SLIPS BY

IN 16.3 SECONDS AT

THROUGH THE CONES,

THE REAR DRIVE I3'S CHASSIS

IS WILLING,

BUT THE GRIP ON THESE SKINNY

155/70/19s IS WEAK.

STILL, TURNS IN ARE CONFIDENT.

FOR SUCH A LIGHTWEIGHT,

PANIC BRAKING SEEMED A LITTLE

LONG AT 127-FEET FROM 60.

SYSTEM ACTUALLY TRIGGERED OUR

TEST EQUIPMENT BEFORE WE STEPPED

ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.

THE INTERIOR OF THE I3 IS ALSO

A DEPARTURE FROM THE BMW NORM,

WHERE THE LOOK AND FEEL IS

RIGHTLY FUTURISTIC, LIKE THE I8.

DUE TO PACKAGING,

THERE'S A SPACIOUS FEEL AND LOTS

OF OPEN FRONT FLOOR SPACE

TO STRETCH OUT.

WHILE A 2+2,

WITH LIMITED REAR SEAT LEGROOM,

ALL SEAT CUSHIONS ARE VERY

COMFORTABLE, AND VISIBILITY

IS GREAT ALL AROUND.

MATERIALS, AND SWITCHGEAR FEEL

SOLID, AND EXPENSIVE,

LIKE A BIMMER SHOULD.

WE WERE NOT SURPRISED AT

THE WEIGHT SAVING MANUAL SEAT

ADJUSTMENTS.

BUT NOT HAVING EITHER AM

OR STANDARD SATELLITE RADIO,

AND NO BACKUP CAMERA,

WERE REAL DOWNERS.

BECAUSE, WE KNOW THE I3 IS

PRICED LIKE AN EV,

AND FOR THAT MATTER A BMW EV,

AND NOT JUST A PREMIUM COMMUTER

CAR.

STILL AT $47,200 BEFORE TAX

INCENTIVES, WE DON'T THINK IT'S

TOTALLY OUT OF LINE.

DROP THE RANGE EXTENDER AND YOU

WE UNDERSTAND THAT DESPITE ALL

THE TECHNOLOGY,

GREAT BUILD QUALITY,

AND FUN NATURE OF THE BMW I3,

IT WILL STILL HAVE LIMITED

APPEAL, MOSTLY TO WELL-OFF

CITY DWELLERS.

BUT WITH ITS "IPHONE ON WHEELS"

CACHE, THAT BMW LOGO,

PLUS A RANGE EXTENDING GAS

ENGINE OPTION, THE I3 IS MORE

DESIRABLE THAN ANY OTHER SMALL

EV.

WELL, THAT'S OUT SHOW,

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ,

WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST

AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT

PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US

NEXT TIME, AS WE TEST THE PEAK

OF PORSCHE PERFORMANCE WITH

THE 918 SPYDER.

THEN IT'S A REFRESHER COURSE

ON THE ACURA ILX.

UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS;

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON

MOTORWEEK .

>> ANNOUNCER: TO LEARN MORE

ABT MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S

ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE,

VISIT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

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