>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS
AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AS WE SEE IF MORE
DOORS OPENS UP MORE FUN
IN THE MINI COOPER S HARDTOP
4 DOOR...
PAT GOSS TAKES OUR SUSPENSION
KNOW HOW TO NEW HEIGHTS...
ZACH MASKELL CELEBRATES BY GOING
OVER THE EDGE AT ONE OF OUR
FAVORITE RACE TRACKS...
THEN WE'LL PICKUP WHERE WE LEFT
OFF WITH THE CHEVY COLORADO
AND GMC CANYON!
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION
>> ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK ,
TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE
MAGAZINE.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY...
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>> JOHN: THE ONLY SURE
PREDICTION OF THE WEATHER IS
THAT IT'S UNPREDICTABLE.
IN SIMILAR FASHION, JUST WHEN
YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE MINI
LINE-UP FIGURED OUT,
IN STORMS A NEW MODEL.
OFFICIALLY, THIS IS
THE MINI COOPER HARDTOP 4 DOOR.
BUT, CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT,
IT STILL LOOKS LIKE FUN TO US.
IF YOU'RE KEEPING UP,
YOU'LL KNOW THAT THE "NEW"
MINI COOPER IS WELL INTO ITS
3RD GENERATION.
IT KICKED OFF LAST YEAR WITH
A REDESIGN OF THE QUINTESSENTIAL
HARDTOP 2 DOOR.
SO, THIS YEAR THAT NEW PLATFORM
WILL ENVELOP MORE MODELS,
THE FIRST BEING A 2015 HARDTOP
4 DOOR.
THOUGH IT ADDS 2 DOORS,
3 INCHES OF WHEELBASE,
AND 6 INCHES OF OVERALL LENGTH;
THE SPIRIT, STYLE,
AND ENJOYMENT FACTORS OF
THE ICONIC COOPER HARDTOP REMAIN
FULLY INTACT.
SO, THERE'S STILL THE FRIENDLY
WIDE MOUTH FACE, LONG FLAT ROOF,
AND SLANTED HATCHBACK WITH
PROMINENT SPOILER UP TOP THAT
WE'VE ALL COME TO LOVE.
TECHNICALLY A FIRST TIME MODEL,
AS IT REPLACES THE QUIRKY
3 DOOR CLUBMAN,
THE HARDTOP 4 DOOR FOLLOWS
THE TRADITIONAL MINI FORMULA
WITH BOTH REGULAR AND S MODELS.
S TRIM ADDS A HONEYCOMB GRILLE
WITH BRAKE COOLING DUCTS JUST
BELOW.
AT THE REAR, THERE'S A UNIQUE
FASCIA WITH DUAL,
CENTER MOUNTED EXHAUST TIPS,
AND OF COURSE MULTIPLE
TREATMENTS FOR THE ROOF
AND HOOD STRIPES.
LED HEADLIGHTS ARE AN OPTION
AND MUCH LIKE THE TAILLIGHTS,
THEY APPEAR LARGER IN SIZE WITH
EACH NEW GENERATION.
A SPORT PACKAGE UPGRADES
THE STANDARD 16 INCH ALLOY
WHEELS TO 17'S.
POWERTRAINS CARRY OVER FROM
THE 2 DOOR, WHICH MEANS
A 134 HORSEPOWER I3 TURBO
IS STANDARD.
IT SOUNDS SOLID WITH MORE THAN
ADEQUATE POWER FOR MOST OWNERS.
S MODELS GET THE 2.0 LITER
TURBO-4, WITH 189 HORSEPOWER
AND UP TO 221 POUND-FEET
OF TORQUE WHEN OVERBOOST IS
ENGAGED.
IT EASILY GOES BETTER,
BUT GENERATES LESS SATISFYING
SOUNDS THAN THE 3-CYLINDER.
A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS
AVAILABLE, BUT WE GUARANTEE
YOU'LL HAVE MUCH MORE FUN IF YOU
STICK WITH THE STANDARD 6 SPEED
MANUAL AND ITS IMPRESSIVE
MECHANICAL FEEL.
OF COURSE, THE WHOLE REASONING
FOR OFFERING THE 4 DOOR IS TO
MAKE THE REAR SEATS MORE
ACCOMMODATING.
AND WHILE ACCESS IS CERTAINLY
IMPROVED, WE'RE STILL TALKING
ABOUT YOUNG TEENAGER SIZE SPACE,
THOUGH AN ADDED CENTER SEATBELT
MEANS YOU CAN NOW CRAM ONE MORE
BACK THERE IN A PINCH.
THE TRADITIONAL REAR DOORS ALSO
MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR TOSSING
IN A BAG, OR REACHING CARGO WITH
THE REAR SEATS FOLDED.
MAXIMUM CARGO SPACE CLIMBS TO
40.7 CUBIC-FEET, ALTHOUGH THAT'S
STILL LESS THAN IN THE EQUALLY
ENTERTAINING VOLKSWAGEN GTI.
AS FOR THE LIVING SPACE UP
FRONT, IT'S REMAINS A TRULY
UNIQUE PLACE TO TAKE IN SOME
SCENERY; EVEN THOUGH THE LARGE,
ACTIVE LED RINGED CENTRAL POD
NOW SERVES AS A MORE TRADITIONAL
INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY,
INCLUDING OPTIONAL NAVIGATION.
ALL OF THE TRADITIONAL GAUGES
HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THE STEERING
COLUMN.
WHILE WE MISS THE CENTRAL
SPEEDO,
THIS SETUP IS WORLDS BETTER.
THANKFULLY, ALL OF THE PLAYFUL
TOGGLE STYLE CONTROLS REMAIN,
AS IT'S REFRESHING TO NOT HAVE
TO DO EVERYTHING THROUGH
A TOUCHSCREEN FOR A CHANGE.
WHEN ZIPPING AROUND WITH THOSE
ADDITIONAL FRIENDS ON BOARD,
THE RIDE OF THE 4 DOOR COOPER S
IS STILL STIFFER THAN MOST WOULD
LIKE, YET ANOTHER REASON TO
STICK WITH THE BASE COOPER.
BUT THE ADDITIONAL WHEELBASE
MAKES IT SEEM A LITTLE SMOOTHER
THAN THE 2 DOOR.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS
FOR A 4 DOOR COOPER S MANUAL ARE
24-CITY, 34-HIGHWAY,
AND 27-COMBINED.
WE AVERAGED AN ACCEPTABLE
26.1 MILES-PER-GALLON OF
PREMIUM.
SO, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS
A GOOD ONE,
WITH 12.2 BARRELS OF OIL BURNED
AND 5.4 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED
ANNUALLY.
PRICES START VERY REASONABLY AT
JUST $1,000 OVER THE 2 DOOR
PRICES, PUTTING A BASE
COOPER 4 DOOR AT $22,550.
THE S STARTS $25,950.
BUT IT WON'T TAKE YOU LONG TO
GET WELL OVER $30,000 SHOULD YOU
CHECK MORE THAN A FEW BOXES ON
THE ORDER SHEET.
SO, IT'S YET ANOTHER UNIQUE
OFFERING FROM MINI, AS THEY SEEM
TO BE DOING AS GOOD A JOB AS
EVER OF MAKING THE NEW EVEN MORE
CHARMINGLY FAMILIAR.
AND WHILE THE 2015 MINI COOPER
HARDTOP 4 DOOR IS NOT QUITE AS
ROOMY AS THE BORDERLINE
CROSSOVER COUNTRYMAN,
IT'S MUCH MORE USEFUL THAN
THE 2 DOOR,
AND A LOT MORE SENSIBLE
THAN THE ODD BALL CLUBMAN.
BUT YOU DON'T BUY ANY MINI FOR
ITS SENSIBLENESS.
YOU BUY IT, FOR THE FUN OF IT!
OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK
TAKES US TO TUCSON, ARIZONA,
WHERE GOLDEN EAGLE DISTRIBUTORS
CONTINUES TO INCREASE ITS USE OF
COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS DELIVERY
TRUCKS.
GOLDEN EAGLE NOW OPERATES 32 CNG
TRUCKS IN TUCSON AND CASA GRANDE
WITH MORE ON THE WAY.
THEY WORK WITH RYDER SYSTEMS,
A CHARTER PARTNER IN THE DOE'S
NATIONAL CLEAN FLEETS PROGRAM.
IN 2012 BEVERAGE WORLD MAGAZINE
NAMED GOLDEN EAGLE NATIONAL
FLEET OF THE YEAR, AND THEY'RE
PROUD OF THEIR RECORD OF
LOWERING COSTS AND GREENHOUSE
EMISSIONS.
>> BILL OSTEEN: WHEN WE
EXPLAINED THE COST BENEFITS...
THE TRUCKS COST MORE
BUT THE FUEL'S A LOT LESS
SO IN THE TRADE OFF...
WE WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO SAVE
MONEY FROM DAY ONE.
>> JOHN: WORKING WITH
TUCSON CLEAN CITIES COALITION
AND CNG PARTNER TRILLIUM,
GOLDEN EAGLE HAS BUILT TWO
PUBLIC ACCESS CNG FUELING
STATIONS WITH A THIRD PLANNED.
SO CHEERS, TO TRULY GREEN BEER.
THE COMPUTER FLOPPY DISK WAS
FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1970.
THE SAME YEAR, MOTORWEEK'S HOME
ROAD COURSE WAVED THE GREEN FLAG
FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
NOW, THE WAY WE STORE DATA IS
STILL SHRINKING.
WHILE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE VENUES
KEEPS GROWING.
SO, BUCKLE UP AS ZACH MASKELL
GOES OVER THE EDGE FOR A 45TH
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT
SUMMIT POINT!
>> ZACH MASKELL: TAKE ME HOME...
COUNTRY ROADS...
TO A PLACE CALLED SUMMIT POINT
MOTORSPORTS PARK.
NESTLED IN THE HILLS OF
WEST VIRGINIA,
THIS IS MY KIND OF THEME PARK.
GET READY FOR AN OVERLOAD OF
FUN.
AS WE DO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING
I COULD'VE ASKED FOR IN ONE DAY.
>> MARTY KOOSE: YOU KNOW THE
VARIETY ADDS TO THEIR LEARNING,
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
>> ZACH: WE COULDN'T THINK OF
A BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE
THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE COMPLEX, THAN TO CHECK OUT
THE THREE SEPARATE ROAD COURSES
AND EVERYTHING ELSE THEY'VE GOT
ON TAP.
OUR FIRST STOP,
LAPS AROUND SUMMIT POINT MAIN
WITH CHRIS WHITE.
>> CHRIS WHITE: IT STARTED OUT
AS JUST A SMALL LITTLE
RACETRACK, DESIGNED FOR
EUROPEAN STYLE ROAD RACING.
>> ZACH: ONE DECADE LATER,
AN SCCA CLUB RACER AND 1970
FORMULA V WORLD CHAMPION BOUGHT
THE COMPLEX.
BILL SCOTT LEFT YALE WITH A PHD.
BUT DECIDED TO RACE CARS,
INSTEAD OF MESSING AROUND WITH
GEO-PHYSICS.
>> BARBARA SCOTT: HE DID HAVE
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT
THE NURBURGRING.
BUT HE STILL WANTED TO STAY IN
RACING SO HE BOUGHT SUMMIT POINT
RACEWAY AND CONTINUED TO DEVELOP
IT UNTIL THE VERY DAY.
>> ZACH: A RACER'S CAREER IS
SHORT LIVED.
BUT BILL SCOTT COULDN'T JUST
THROW IN THE TOWEL; HE FOCUSED
ON TRAINING THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
SUMMIT'S FOOTPRINT WENT FROM
360 ACRES, TO A MASSIVE 800.
THE MOTORWEEK CREW HAS BEEN
TESTING HERE SINCE THE '80s,
AND WE'RE NOTHING BUT THRILLED.
OPERATING WITHIN THE COMPLEX
IS BSR INC.
THEY TRAIN PRIVATE SECURITY
AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
THE CIA AND U.S AIR FORCE ARE
AMONG THE LONG LIST TO USE
THE TRACKS IN ADDITION TO
THE BOMB AND SEVEN GUN RANGES.
>> LARRY CONNOLLY: WE DO COMBINE
VEHICLE WORK WITH SHOOTING HERE
ON THE RANGE.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE'LL PUT
THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE MAYBE
THEY WERE IN AN ATTACK,
THEIR VEHICLE GOES DOWN AND NOW
THEY HAVE TO BAIL OUT OF
THE VEHICLE.
>> ZACH: SINCE I OFTEN FIND
MYSELF IN THOSE SITUATIONS,
THE GUYS GAVE ME SOME TIPS.
THEN I MOVED ON TO A LESS
STRESSFUL, BUT SERIOUS TRAINING.
>> JENS SCOTT: THIS ISN'T SCALED
UP AMUSEMENT PARK GO-KARTS.
THIS IS SCALED DOWN FORMULA 1
CARS.
>> ZACH: BILL'S SON, JENS,
STARTED SUMMIT POINT KART
IN 2009.
HE NOW HELPS 20,000 PEOPLE
A YEAR DEVELOP THEIR TRACK
SKILLS.
THIS IS THE REAL DEAL...
AS EVIDENT BY THEIR 24 HOUR
ENDURANCE RACES...
WITH TEAMS COMING FROM ALL OVER
THE U.S.
>> JENS: IF YOU BEAT SOMEBODY
OUT HERE, THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE
A BETTER DRIVER.
>> ZACH: 13 HORSEPOWER KARTS...
20 TURNS...
AND 1300 TOTAL FEET OF TRACK...
WILL HAVE YOU GRINNING BIGGER
THAN THE GRINCH.
I WAS TRYING TO GET THE TAIL END
TO KICK OUT...
BUT INSTEAD HEADED TO JEFFERSON
FOR SOME REAL SIDEWAYS ACTION.
HOME OF "DRIFT NIRVANA,"
SUMMIT HAS WELCOMED THE DRIFTERS
OF THE EAST COAST.
2014'S FORMULA DRIFT PRO 2 CHAMP
DAN "RAPPER" SAVAGE IS ALWAYS
GRABBING SOME SEAT TIME.
>> DAN "RAPPER" SAVAGE: "DRIFT
NIRVANA" EVENTS PULL PEOPLE FROM
ALL OVER.
SO, WE'VE HAD SOUTH CAROLINA,
FROM RHODE ISLAND, WE'VE GOT
A PERSON FROM PHILLY HERE TODAY.
SO, I MEAN FROM 40 MILES TO DOWN
THE STREET, TO 1,000 MILES AWAY.
IT'S PRETTY COOL WHAT KIND OF
CROWD WE BRING.
>> ZACH: RAPPER'S SUPERCHARGED
V8 SWAPPED RX8 WAS STILL
EN ROUTE FROM CALIFORNIA,
BUT WE STILL HAD A BLAST IN
HIS PRACTICE CAR THAT HAS AN
8TH OF THE HORSEPOWER.
JUST PAST THE TREE LINES...
THE RALLY AND OFF-ROADING GUYS
WERE SLINGING SOME DIRT AROUND.
THIS IS A PLACE WHERE TOM CRUISE
AND PAUL NEWMAN PRACTICED FOR
"DAYS OF THUNDER."
A PLACE THAT HAS A REPLICA OF
THE NURBURGRING'S FAMOUS
CAROUSEL TURN.
EVEN THOUGH HE'S PASSED AWAY...
ONE RACER'S DREAM CONTINUES
TO LIVE ON.
>> ROGER LYLE: THE MAN WAS
A GREAT GENTLEMEN AND A GREAT
RACER AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR
BILL SCOTT.
>> ZACH: HERE'S TO THE MAN WHO
MADE IT ALL HAPPEN,
AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO BUILD
ON HIS LEGACY.
>> JOHN: PAT GOSS IS READY
TO TAKE OUR CAR CARE KNOW HOW
TO NEW HEIGHTS.
SO, LET'S GRAB IT AND GO!
>> PAT GOSS: AIR SUSPENSION
REALLY ISN'T ALL THAT NEW.
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
BACK IN 1957,
THIS CADILLAC EL DORADO HAD IT.
AND IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
PRODUCTION CARS TO HAVE IT.
AFTER THAT, IT WENT AWAY,
CAME BACK IN THE '80s,
WAS REAL POPULAR FOR A NUMBER
OF YEARS, AND THEN KIND OF
DROPPED OFF AGAIN.
NOW, WE'RE SEEING A RESURGENCE
OF IT, SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE
ON THIS RAM PICKUP.
NOW, AIR SUSPENSION IS REALLY
NICE, UNTIL YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
AND IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM,
YOU MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO
LOCATE A SHOP OR A TECHNICIAN
THAT REALLY KNOWS HOW TO REPAIR
THE SYSTEM INSTEAD OF REPLACING
THE SYSTEM,
WHICH IS OUTLANDISHLY EXPENSIVE.
ALRIGHT, HERE'S HOW THIS SYSTEM
WORKS: THIS IS A STRUT.
IT IS AN AIR STRUT...
THIS IS THE AIR SPRING RIGHT
HERE.
IT HAS A CONTROL VALVE THAT'S
MOUNTED TO THE SIDE OF IT.
THIS IS WHAT ALLOWS AIR IN,
TO PUMP IT UP,
AND ALLOWS AIR TO GO OUT
TO RAISE OR LOWER THE CAR.
THESE SOMETIMES LEAK SO THEY
HAVE TO BE CHECKED.
NOW OVER HERE,
WE HAVE A COMPRESSOR FOR ONE OF
THESE SYSTEMS.
NOW, IT'S AN ELECTRIC MOTOR.
IT HAS A DRYER ON IT
AND IT HAS THESE PORTS,
WHERE PLASTIC LINES CONNECT,
AND THEY GO OUT TO EACH ONE OF
THE AIR SPRINGS ON THE VEHICLE.
NOW OVER TIME,
WHERE THESE PLASTIC LINES GO
INTO THIS DRYER,
THEY WEAR AND THEY LEAK.
WELL, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU
NEED A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IF YOU LOCATE IT THERE,
THERE ARE KITS MADE TO REPAIR
THOSE LEAKS.
USUALLY UNDER $100.
NOW, THE WAY YOU LOCATE LEAKS ON
THESE SYSTEMS IS JUST LIKE YOU
WOULD LOCATE A LEAK ON A TIRE,
EXCEPT YOU USE A SOAP AND WATER
SOLUTION INSTEAD OF JUST PLAIN
WATER.
THE SOAP AND WATER SOLUTION
IS PUT ON EACH ONE OF
THE CONNECTIONS,
AND WHERE IT BUBBLES,
THAT'S WHERE YOUR LEAK IS.
FIX THE LEAK,
AND USUALLY AFTER THAT,
WHEN YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING,
THE CAR WILL BE SITTING LEVEL
INSTEAD OF ON THE GROUND.
OKAY, BUT SUPPOSE YOU HAVE ONE
OF THESE SYSTEMS, AND IT REALLY
DOES HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS.
WELL, HERE'S A SOLUTION.
THIS IS A CONVERSION KIT THAT
CONVERTS FROM AIR SPRINGS TO
STEEL SPRINGS.
COMES WITH ALL OF THE NECESSARY
HARDWARE, AND THINGS TO COVERT
THE COMPUTER SO YOU DON'T HAVE
A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, THAT IS A GOOD ALTERNATIVE
AND IT CAN SAVE A TON OF MONEY.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION
OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE,
RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
>> JOHN: OUR MAZDA CX-9
MAY NOT HAVE THE PANACHE OF
A NISSAN PATHFINDER,
BUT WE'VE PUT OVER 7500 MILES ON
IT IN JUST ITS FIRST 3 MONTHS.
SO, IT MUST BE DOING SOMETHING
RIGHT!
THE HEARTY V6,
CHURNING ITS 273 HORSEPOWER
THROUGH A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC
TO ALL FOUR WHEELS,
HAS BEEN CRUCIAL DURING OUR LATE
WINTER SNOWSTORMS HERE IN
THE MID-ATLANTIC.
BAD WEATHER AND ALL, THOUGH,
AND WE'RE STILL AVERAGING
18.2 COMBINED MILES PER GALLON;
BEATING THE OFFICIAL RATING
OF 18.
ANY GRIPES WITH STYLING THAT OUR
STAFFERS HAVE ARE JUST CHATTER,
AS WE KNOW FOR SURE IT'S APPEAL
IS A TRUE FAMILY VEHICLE.
AMPLE 2ND AND 3RD ROW SEATING
ROOM, LOTS OF USEABLE STORAGE,
ALONG WITH DECENT FUEL ECONOMY
ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS WE'VE NOTICED
ALREADY.
WITH OUR TIME IN THE CX-9
NOWHERE NEAR OVER,
WE'RE FEELING VERY OPTIMISTIC
ABOUT THE JOURNEY AHEAD.
WE'RE JUST STILL IN BREAK-IN
MODE WITH OUR ACURA TLX.
BUT THINGS GOT OFF TO AN UNUSUAL
FOR A HONDA PRODUCT START,
AS WE EXPERIENCED SOME LOOSE
SOUNDING, LEFT SIDE, FRONT END
NOISE OVER ROUGHER PAVEMENT.
A QUICK TRIP TO THE DEALER
TO HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN
PERFORMED; THE RE-TORQUEING OF
THE FRONT STRUT BOLTS; AND IT'S
BEEN QUIET SAILING EVER SINCE.
VERY MUCH A THINKING MAN'S SPORT
SEDAN, MEANS THE FUN COMES FROM
ELEMENTS LIKE PRECISION
ALL WHEEL STEER AND AN 8 SPEED
DCT ATTACHED TO OUR CAR'S
206 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER I4,
WHICH ACTUALLY HAS A TORQUE
CONVERTER THAT PROVIDES
A SMOOTHER FEEL AND NO JARRING
SHIFTS.
ONLY 1,000 MILES IN,
AND OUR FUEL ECONOMY AVERAGE
IS OFF TO A GREAT START
AT 30.8 MILES-PER-GALLON.
SO, A LITTLE TORQUEING ASIDE,
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
A DELIGHTFUL SPRING AND SUMMER
OF BACK ROAD DRIVING FUN IN
THE ACURA TLX.
WE'LL TURN OUR ATTENTION TO OUR
CHRYSLER 200 AND THIS MITSUBISHI
OUTLANDER SPORT ON THE NEXT
MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST
UPDATE.
>> JOHN: LET'S HEAD INSIDE,
WHERE YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS ALL
THE LATEST MOTORNEWS.
>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: ALWAYS
FLASHY AND FUNKY,
THE GENEVA MOTOR SHOW IS AN
ANNUAL LOOK AT HOW THE CAR WORLD
THINKS WHEN THE AMERICAN MARKET
IS OF MINOR CONCERN.
BUT THIS YEAR WE SAW PLENTY THAT
SHOULD MAKE IT HERE TO
THE STATES.
THE HOT HATCH SEGMENT GETS
HOTTER WITH A NEW FORD FOCUS RS.
OUTPUT NOTCHES UP WELL OVER 300
HORSEPOWER WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
INCLUDED.
LONG WISHED FOR BY
U.S. ENTHUSIASTS,
THE FOCUS RS SHOULD ARRIVE HERE
NEXT YEAR.
THE HONDA CIVIC TYPE R RIPPED
ONTO THE SCENE,
BOASTING 300 PLUS HORSEPOWER
FROM ITS EDGY,
FRONT DRIVE PLATFORM.
NO WORD WHEN, OR IF, IT WILL
BRING ITS ACT TO AMERICA.
ON ITS WAY TO US IS A REWORKED
HYUNDAI TUCSON, MORE READY THAN
EVER TO TACKLE THE GROWING
COMPACT CROSSOVER MARKET.
VOLKSWAGEN SHOWED THIS SPORT
COUPE CONCEPT GTE, PROMISING
ELEMENTS FROM THIS 4 DOOR
PLUG-IN HYBRID COUPE WILL SEE
PRODUCTION SOON.
AUDI FINALLY GAVE US A NEW R8
SUPERCAR, WITH MORE POWER,
AND LESS WEIGHT...
AND AN ALL ELECTRIC E-TRON
VERSION.
ACT TWO FOR AUDI'S PROLOGUE
CONCEPT FROM LA, IS THIS AVANT
WAGON CONCEPT FOR GENEVA.
BESIDES MORE ROOM OUT BACK,
IT SPORTS A PLUG-IN HYBRID
POWERTRAIN.
KIA WENT WAGON WILD WITH THIS
SPORTSPACE CONCEPT.
WE HOPE THEY'LL USE A FEW FRONT
END CUES FOR THE NEXT OPTIMA
SEDAN.
BENTLEY CHOSE TO SPEED THINGS
ALONG WITH THE EXP 10 SPEED 6
CONCEPT.
SMALLER THAN ANYTHING THEY NOW
OFFER, IT COULD SIGNAL A NEW
BREED OF MORE MODERN BENTLEYS.
WE ALSO EYED SOME SERIOUS SPEED
FROM ASTON MARTIN,
WITH THIS ALL-ELECTRIC,
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE DBX CONCEPT.
PORSCHE MASSAGED SOME FAVORITES,
SHOWING OFF THIS 911 GT3 RS...
AND THE CAYMAN GT4.
INFINITI UNVEILED A MORE DEFINED
VERSION OF THE QX30 CONCEPT,
SHARING ITS PLATFORM WITH
THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLA.
WE ALSO SAW A SUCCESSOR
TO THE FERRARI 458,
THE FERRARI 488 GTB
THIS TIME WITH TURBO V8 POWER.
SO, LOTS OF EYE CANDY WITH MORE
THAN A LITTLE SUBSTANCE,
THAT'S IT FOR GENEVA 2015
AND THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
>> JOHN: JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT
MID-SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS WERE
ALMOST DEAD AND GONE,
GM PULLS TWO RABBITS OUT OF
THE HAT BY REINTRODUCING
THE CHEVROLET COLORADO
AND GMC CANYON.
AND WHILE THE CHALLENGE OF
PACKAGING AS MUCH BIG TRUCK
CAPABILITY AS POSSIBLE INTO
A SMALLER, MORE AFFORDABLE,
AND MORE FUEL EFFICIENT PACKAGE
HASN'T GOTTEN ANY EASIER,
WE'RE GLAD TSEE THAT GM
IS STILL IN THE GAME!
* (TIRES SCREECHING)
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE
BEEN DIFFICULT ONES IF YOU'RE
IN THE MARKET FOR A BRAND NEW,
AMERICAN BUILT, COMPACT TO
MID SIZE PICKUP TRUCK,
AS FORD, GM, AND CHRYSLER
HAD ALL ABANDONED THE SEGMENT.
WELL, 2015 SEES A RETURN BY ONE
OF THE BIG THREE WITH
AN ALL NEW CHEVROLET COLORADO
AND GMC CANYON.
NOW CLEARLY A MIDDLEWEIGHT,
THE NEW COLORADO GETS A FAIRLY
SPORTY YET STILL RUGGED LOOK
WITH LITTLE TO NO RESEMBLANCE
TO THE FULL SIZE SILVERADO.
GM PUT A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON
AERODYNAMICS,
ADDING ACTIVE GRILLE SHUTTERS,
A TAILGATE SPOILER,
AND A LOW HANGING FRONT AIR DAM
WHICH IS REMOVABLE IF YOU
ACTUALLY USE YOUR TRUCK FOR
THE SERIOUS STUFF.
THE CANYON LOOKS A BIT DIFFERENT
AND MORE UPSCALE THAN COLORADO,
WITH THE BIGGER AND BOLDER GMC
GRILLE,
EXCLUSIVE HEADLIGHTS WITH LED'S,
AND MORE SQUARED OFF FENDERS.
BOTH ARE EXTENDED OR CREW CABS
ONLY, WITH BED LENGTHS OF
5 FEET, 2 INCHES
AND 6 FEET, 2 INCHES WITH
ABOUT 44 INCHES BETWEEN
THE WHEEL WELLS.
CONVENIENCE FEATURES BORROWED
FROM THE FULL SIZERS INCLUDE
A USEFUL CORNERSTEP REAR BUMPER,
EZ LIFT AND LOWER TAILGATE,
AND 2 TIER BED WITH 4 PERMANENT
AND 13 MOVABLE TIE DOWN
POSITIONS.
INTERIOR MATERIALS ARE MUCH
NICER THAN RIVALS.
THE DASH IS A GOOD CROSS BETWEEN
CAR STYLE, AND TRUCK USEFULNESS
WITH DEEPLY HOODED GAUGES,
AND BIG KNOBS, AND SWITCHES.
MOST TRIMS INCLUDE AN 8 INCH
TOUCH SCREEN AND ALL HAVE
A STANDARD BACKUP CAMERA.
WHILE THERE'S NO CD PLAYER THERE
ARE MULTIPLE USB PORTS
AND 4G LTE WI-FI.
NAVI AND ADVANCED SAFETY
FEATURES ARE AVAILABLE.
STANDARD POWER IS A 2.5 LITER I4
WITH 200 HORSEPOWER
AND 191 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
A 3.6 LITER V6 IS OPTIONAL,
BOASTING 305 HORSEPOWER
AND 269 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT
YEAR FOR A 2.8 LITER DURAMAX
DIESEL.
BOTH 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC
AND 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS
ARE AVAILABLE.
OBVIOUSLY YOU'LL WANT THAT V6
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE MOST
BIG TRUCK CAPABILITY,
AS IT WILL TOW UP TO
7,000 POUNDS.
BOTH ENGINES HAVE ADEQUATE POWER
FOR LIGHT DUTY AND RECREATIONAL
WORK, THOUGH,
WE FOUND THE 6 SPEED AUTO
A BIT OF A GEAR HUNTER,
ESPECIALLY IN HILLY TERRAIN.
* (TIRES SCREECHING)
ON THE FLAT TERRAIN OF OUR
TEST TRACK, WE WERE ABLE TO GET
A GMC CANYON CREW CAB SLT V6 4X4
TO 60 IN 8.0 SECONDS,
AND TO THE END OF
THE QUARTER MILE IN 16.2 SECONDS
AT 85 MILES-PER-HOUR.
THINGS FEEL A LITTLE MORE
WORKMAN LIKE HERE.
THERE'S GOOD LOW END TORQUE
AND STRONG PULLING POWER.
SUPER SMOOTH SHIFTS WERE AN
UNEXPECTED BONUS.
COLORADO/CANYON SUSPENSION
CONSISTS OF TRADITIONAL COIL ON
SHOCK INDEPENDENT UP FRONT,
AND LEAF SPRING LIVE AXLE
IN BACK.
THE FRAME IS FULLY BOXED,
WITH A DESIGN VERY SIMILAR TO
BIG BROTHER SILVERADO/SIERRA.
TURNING RADIUS IS SURPRISINGLY
TIGHT, AND THE SLOW ELECTRIC
POWER STEERING HAS A VERY
NEUTRAL FEEL TO IT.
THE LONGER LASTING DURALIFE
ROTORS ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AS
IT TOOK OUR GMC CANYON ONLY
A SHORT 111-FEET TO STOP
FROM 60.
NOW, GM KNOWS THE CANYON
AND COLORADO WILL APPEAL MORE
TO THE PERSONAL USE CROWD
THAN WORKAHOLICS,
SO THEY MADE THEM EXTRA QUIET.
RIDE QUALITY, HOWEVER, IS STILL
FIRM ENOUGH TO LET YOU KNOW
THEY'RE CAPABLE TRUCKS.
STILL, ON BOTH COUNTS, THEY'RE
MILES AHEAD OF THE TOYOTA TACOMA
AND NISSAN FRONTIER.
NOTHING TOO EXOTIC ABOUT
THE 4-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM.
HIGH AND LOW RANGES,
ELECTRONIC TRANSFER CASE
WITH AN OPTIONAL AUTOMATIC
LOCKING REAR DIFF.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS
RANGE FROM 20-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY,
AND 22-COMBINED FOR AN I4
2 WHEEL DRIVE, TO 17-CITY,
24-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED
FOR 4 WHEEL DRIVE V6'S.
WITH REGULAR GRADE GAS,
OUR V6 4X4 MANAGED A GOOD 21.5
IN MIXED DRIVING.
STILL, AT BEST,
THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS
AVERAGE AT 15.0 BARRELS OF
ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH
6.5 TONS OF CO2 RELEASED.
PRICES FOR THE CHEVY COLORADO
START AT $20,995
FOR AN EXTENDED CAB 4X2;
SLIGHTLY BETTER EQUIPPED
GMC CANYONS,
WILL START A BIT HIGHER.
TOP OF THE LINE COLORADO LTZ'S
BEGIN AT $28,505.
LIKE MOST GOOD IDEAS, A SMALLER,
MORE FUEL EFFICIENT,
EASIER TO PARK PICKUP TRUCK
SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLE ONE.
BUT GM IS THE ONLY DOMESTIC
BUILDER THAT SEES A BUSINESS
CASE FOR DOING IT.
WE SAY, IT'S ABOUT TIME!
THE 2015 CHEVROLET COLORADO
AND GMC CANYON HAVE REVIVED
A SEGMENT THAT WAS IN DESPERATE
NEED OF NEW BLOOD.
EVEN THOUGH A NEW TACOMA
AND FRONTIER ARE RUMORED,
WE STILL WONDER HOW LONG FORD
AND CHRYSLER WILL CONTINUE
TO SIT THIS ONE OUT.
WE SHALL SEE...
WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED
THE SHOW!
AND 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,
WHEN WE HIT THE TRACK,
AND BLOW AWAY OUR CARES
IN THE LAMBORGHINI HURACAN.
THEN SEE IF THINGS ARE
GOOD TO GO IN THE KIA SORENTO.
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 PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT
TO YOU BY...
JESSICA'S NOT THINKING ABOUT
TIRES RIGHT NOW.
IF SHE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD
HELP HER FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.
BUT JESSICA'S NOT THINKING
ABOUT TIRES.
SHE'S THINKING,
"IF COLT DOESN'T ASK ME
TO THE PROM,
MY LIFE IS TOTALLY OVER."
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.
*