HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS
AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US FOR A NEW GENERATION OF
THE ICONIC SPORT SEDAN,
THE BMW 3 SERIES...
PAT GOSS LOOKS AT BETTER OPTIONS
THAN BLURRY BLADES...
WE'LL TAKE THE LONG VIEW OF
THE COST OF KEEPING
AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE ON
THE ROAD...
AND SUV STYLE WITH
SUPERCAR PERFORMANCE,
THE LAMBORGHINI URUS...
SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.
*
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MOTORWEEK .
John: WELL, YOU GOT TO GIVE IT
TO BMW ENGINEERS,
STAYING ON TOP WITH THE 3-SERIES
HAS NOT BEEN EASY.
ON ONE HAND, LUXURY MINDED
BUYERS DEMAND A SOFTER,
MORE HI-TECH CAR.
WHILE, ON THE OTHER HAND,
RIVALS CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE
ITS LEGENDARY SPORT SEDAN
CREDENTIALS.
SO, COULD THE NEW "3" BE
THE ONE THAT SORTS IT ALL OUT?
WELL, LET'S SEE!
*
FOR MANY YEARS,
THE BMW 3-SERIES WENT MOSTLY
UNCHALLENGED AS THE PREEMINENT
EUROPEAN SPORT SEDAN.
BUT, AS WE ALL KNOW,
THINGS ARE MUCH DIFFERENT NOW.
BRANDS FROM ALL OVER THE MAP
HAVE TAKEN BMW'S FORMULA,
REFINED IT, AND ARE DELIVERING
SOME INCREDIBLY DYNAMIC
AND CAPABLE LUXURY-ORIENTED
SPORT SEDANS.
AND THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENT,
INTO WHICH AN ALL-NEW
7TH GENERATION 3-SERIES ARRIVES.
IT'S HARD TO THINK OF A CAR THAT
HAS MEANT MORE TO US
HERE AT MOTORWEEK OVER OUR
38 YEARS THAN THE 3-SERIES.
IT'S UP THERE WITH
THE PORSCHE 911
AND THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE,
AS CARS THAT SET THE STANDARD
OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CATEGORIES.
BUT, THIS IS THE START OF WHAT
WILL FOREVER BE KNOWN
AMONG BIMMERPHILES AS
THE G20 GENERATION.
AND TO MANY,
BMW IS NOT GETTING OFF
TO A GOOD START BY NOT EVEN
OFFERING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
BUT, GIVE THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC
A CHANCE, IT'S PRETTY FANTASTIC.
FOLLOWING THE REVISED
NAMING STRATEGY ELSEWHERE
IN THE BMW LINEUP.
THIS BASE 330I GETS
A 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO
WITH 255 HORSEPOWER
AND A MORE THAN HEALTHY
295 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
THE M340I IS THE ONE WITH THE
INLINE-6, WHICH IS ALSO A TURBO;
NOW DELIVERING 382 HORSEPOWER
AND 369 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
XDRIVE IS AVAILABLE WITH BOTH,
AND IT HAS BEEN REVISED TO BE
MORE EFFICIENT, AS WELL AS
INCREASE ITS SPORTY REAR BIAS.
IT CAN EVEN SEND ALL POWER
REARWARD WHEN IT DEEMS
CONDITIONS ARE GOOD FOR DOING
JUST THAT.
IT'S STILL VERY SOPHISTICATED
THOUGH.
NUMEROUS ADVANCED SAFETY,
DRIVING,
AND CONVENIENCE FEATURES,
YOU MAY OR MAY NOT WANT,
ARE AVAILABLE,
INCLUDING SELF-PARKING
AND GESTURE CONTROL.
AND SINCE, THIS IS BASICALLY
A TECH DEVICE YOU DRIVE,
AND EVERYONE LOVES TALKING
TO THEIR DEVISES THESE DAYS,
BMW RATCHETS UP THE TECHNOLOGY
HERE WITH AN INTELLIGENT
PERSONAL ASSISTANT,
READY AT YOUR BECK AND CALL.
HEY BMW...
WE'VE COME TO EXPECT EACH NEW
GENERATION 3-SERIES
TO GROW BIGGER,
BUT PERHAPS NOT AS MUCH
AS THIS CAR'S ADDITIONAL
3.0 INCHES OF LENGTH,
WITH AN INCH AND A HALF OF
WHEELBASE STRETCH
TO MAINTAIN THAT 50/50
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION.
BUT, THERE'S ABOUT 100 POUNDS
LESS THAN BEFORE TO DISTRIBUTE.
OF COURSE,
DRIVING IS WHAT MATTERS AT BMW.
AND HERE,
THE SUSPENSION IS WELL-SORTED,
BUT AS WITH MOST THESE DAYS,
THERE ARE A LOT
OF ACTIVE ELEMENTS AS WELL,
NOT JUST A PISTON
GOING UP AND DOWN IN SOME FLUID.
AND MUCH LIKE YOU SEE A BUMP
COMING IN THE ROAD
AND BRACE FOR IT,
THE CAR SEEMS TO DO THE SAME,
ABSORBING IMPACTS
AND IMPERFECTIONS
WITHOUT BATTING AN EYE.
STEERING FEEL HAS RETURNED,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
ESPECIALLY IN SPORT MODE,
THOUGH WE STILL WANT MORE.
BUT THIS REAR-DRIVE 330
FELT QUITE PLAYFUL
THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE,
BEHAVING MUCH SMALLER
THAN IT IS; ATHLETIC...YET
STILL SUBSTANTIAL.
[TIRES SCREECHING]
LAUNCHING IS AN EASY AFFAIR;
GOOD GRIP,
AND A QUICK SPRINT TO 60
IN 5.6 SECONDS,
A FEW CLICKS FASTER THAN
THE PREVIOUS 328I.
ACTIVE SOUND DESIGN INSURES
ITS MUSIC TO YOUR EARS TOO.
THE 8-SPEED AUTO QUICKLY BANGS
THROUGH GEARS WITHOUT DISRUPTING
THE PROCEEDINGS IN ANY WAY.
OUR BEST QUARTER MILE TIME
WAS 14.2 SECONDS
AT 99 MILES PER HOUR.
THE INTERIOR HAS RECEIVED
QUITE A MAKEOVER,
AND WE'RE ONBOARD WITH JUST
ABOUT EVERYTHING;
INCLUDING SOME OF
THE BEST SEAT COMFORT
WE'VE SEEN FROM BMW IN YEARS.
MUCH MORE CONTROVERSIAL,
IS THE ABSCONDING
OF REAL GAUGES FOR A VIRTUAL
PANEL.
PURISTS WON'T BE FANS,
BUT IT IS CLEAR AND WORKS WELL.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS
ARE 26-CITY, 36-HIGHWAY,
AND 30-COMBINED
FOR TWO-WHEEL DRIVE.
OUR AVERAGE, A FINE 33.1 MILES
PER GALLON ON PREMIUM.
THAT RATES A BETTER THAN AVERAGE
ENERGY IMPACT SCORE
OF 11.0 BARRELS OF YEARLY
OIL CONSUMPTION,
WITH 4.9 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED.
IF YOU ENJOY ENTRY-LEVEL THINGS,
YOU CAN GET IN A BASE 330I
FOR A QUITE REASONABLE $41,245.
OUR HEAVILY OPTIONED TEST CAR
WAS OVER 60-GRAND
WITHOUT XDRIVE,
WHICH ADDS TWO-GRAND MORE.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF CARS AROUND
THESE DAYS THAT YOU CAN TALK AT.
BUT, IT'S THE TWO-WAY
COMMUNICATIVE JOY OF DRIVING
THAT IS STILL MORE IMPORTANT
TO US.
THE 2019 BMW 330I DOES INDEED
BRING MORE THAN A LITTLE
OF THAT DRIVING JOY BACK,
WHILE STILL BEING
WHAT BMW IS ALL ABOUT,
MOVING FORWARD.
SO, WHAT IF IT'S NO LONGER
HEAD-AND-SHOULDERS ABOVE
THE REST.
IT A TOTAL PACKAGE THAT STILL
DELIVERS WHAT FANS
OF THE ROUNDEL DESIRE,
INCLUDING US,
BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
*
SHOPPING FOR A NEW VEHICLE
IS OFTEN GUIDED BY
THE BOTTOM LINE PURCHASE PRICE,
BUT MAINTENANCE
AND OPERATING COSTS OVER
THE LIFE OF YOUR NEW CAR, SUV,
OR TRUCK CAN VARY WIDELY
AND HAVE A HUGE IMPACT
ON THE TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP.
AND THAT'S ONE MORE REASON
WHY ELECTRIC CARS MAKE,
SO MUCH SENSE THESE DAYS,
COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL GAS
OR DIESEL POWERED VEHICLES
THE LOWER COST TO FIX
OR FUEL A BATTERY ELECTRIC
VEHICLE COULD CHARGE UP
BIG SAVINGS OVER THE LONG HAUL.
*
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF
PARTS THAT MAKE UP
AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION
ENGINE DRIVETRAIN
THAT ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNERS
WILL NEVER NEED
TO WORRY ABOUT BREAKING,
LEAKING OR WEARING OUT.
THINGS LIKE THE TIMING BELT,
EXHAUST SYSTEM, SPARK PLUGS,
FUEL INJECTORS
OR EVEN TRANSMISSION FLUID.
COMPARING THE RECOMMENDED
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES
AND DEALER SERVICE QUOTES
FOR SIX POPULAR EVs,
VERSUS SIX SIMILAR GASOLINE
VEHICLES,
REVEALS THAT EVs COULD SAVE
AN AVERAGE OF $263 PER YEAR
BASED ON AVOIDED MAINTENANCE
COSTS.
THAT ADDS UP TO MORE THAN $3000
OVER A 12-YEAR,
150,000 MILE OWNERSHIP PERIOD.
NOT TO MENTION THE ADDED VALUE
AND CONVENIENCE OF HAVING
FEWER SERVICE APPOINTMENTS
AND LESS VEHICLE DOWNTIME.
Mike Schildt: THE MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULE ON EVs ARE A LOT EASIER
THAN YOUR TYPICAL GAS VEHICLE.
THERE'S A LOT LESS TO DO,
TYPICALLY TIRE ROTATIONS,
CHECK AND TOP OFF ANY FLUIDS
THAT ARE STILL WITH THE EV CARS,
BUT OTHER THAN THAT FOR
THE FIRST 5,6 YEARS
IT'S ROTATIONS AND MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING IS SOUND.
John: MOST ELECTRIC VEHICLES
WILL REQUIRE A FLUSH
AND CHANGE OF THE BATTERY
PACK'S LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM
AFTER 100,000 MILES,
AT A COST OF AROUND $200.
COMPARE THAT TO OVER A DOZEN
ENGINE OIL & FILTER CHANGES,
RADIATOR FLUSHES, AND OTHER
AVOIDED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED FOR A CAR WITH
A GASOLINE ENGINE.
ONE POTENTIALLY COSTLY REPAIR
ITEM THAT EV CRITICS POINT TO
IS THE BATTERY PACK,
ESPECIALLY IF IT DEVELOPS
A PROBLEM OUT OF WARRANTY...
OVER TIME, ELECTRIC VEHICLE
BATTERY PACK CAPACITY CAN FADE,
RESULTING IN FEWER MILES PER
CHARGE FOR THE EV OWNER.
TO ADDRESS THAT CONCERN, MOST
EVs COME WITH AT LEAST 8-YEAR,
100,000 MILE BATTERY WARRANTIES,
WHILE CALIFORNIA
AND SOME OTHER STATES REQUIRE
10 YEARS OF BATTERY COVERAGE.
NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLE
BATTERY PACKS CAN RANGE
FROM $5000 TO OVER $15,000
WHEN IT COMES TIME
FOR REPLACEMENT,
BUT SOME MANUFACTURERS
ARE ROLLING OUT DISCOUNT
PROGRAMS USING RECONDITIONED
BATTERY PACKS THAT ARE MUCH
MORE AFFORDABLE.
AND AS BATTERY AND RECYCLING
TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES TO EVOLVE,
BATTERY COSTS SHOULD CONTINUE
TO DROP.
ANOTHER FACTOR WORKING IN FAVOR
OF EVs IS THE CONVENIENCE
AND VALUE OF CHARGING UP AT HOME
INSTEAD OF HAVING TO MAKE
REGULAR TRIPS TO THE FILLING
STATION FOR GASOLINE OR DIESEL.
THE COST TO DRIVE 100
EMISSION-FREE MILES
ON ELECTRICITY CAN BE AS MUCH AS
70% CHEAPER THAN BURNING
FOSSIL FUELS OVER THE SAME
DISTANCE,
AND BY PLUGGING IN AT HOME
YOU CAN START OFF WITH
A FULL CHARGE EVERY DAY.
Jonathan Slade:
I LOVE THE ELECTRIC CAR.
I LOVE IT.
I DRIVE IT EVERY DAY, IT ONLY
COSTS ABOUT 58 BUCKS A MONTH,
IN ELECTRICITY,
FOR ME TO DRIVE THE CAR,
IT'S ABOUT A THIRD OF WHAT I WAS
PUTTING IN MY CAR FOR GASOLINE.
John: SERVICING ELECTRIC
VEHICLES IS STILL
A NEW PROCEDURE FOR MANY
DEALERSHIPS THOUGH,
SO EV DRIVERS SHOULD SHOP AROUND
TO MINIMIZE ANY GROWING PAINS
IN THAT AREA.
MAKE SURE THAT THE DEALER
YOU PLAN TO USE IS CERTIFIED
AND TRAINED TO SERVICE EVs.
NOT ALL SHOPS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT
AND TOOLS NECESSARY
TO WORK ON EVs YET.
SOME DEALERS HAVE TAKEN
THE LEAD HERE AND ARE ACTUALLY
SPECIALIZING IN EVs,
WHILE SMALLER VOLUME STORES
MAY HAVE JUST ONE EV-CERTIFIED
TECH OR A LIMITED NUMBER
OF EV CHARGING STATIONS.
SO, CONSIDER THE ENTIRE
OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE
WHEN SHOPPING FOR YOUR
NEXT RIDE.
IF AN EV FITS YOUR LIFESTYLE,
YOU'LL PROBABLY FIND IT FITS
YOUR WALLET WELL TOO!
John: WHEN IT COMES TO ROUTINE
MAINTENANCE,
THERE ARE PLENTY OF CAR PARTS
TO KEEP TRACK OF.
BUT THIS WEEK,
PAT GOSS HAS HIS FOCUS ON ONE
WHERE YOU'LL QUICKLY
SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
Pat Goss:
NO MATTER WHAT CAR YOU DRIVE,
SOME OF THE MOST BASIC ITEMS
CAN HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT
ON YOUR DRIVING SAFETY,
LIKE YOUR WIPER BLADES
FOR INSTANCE.
IF YOU CAN'T SEE WELL, THEN YOU
CERTAINLY CAN'T DRIVE SAFELY.
NOW FIRST, KEEP THE BASE OF
THE WINDSHIELD...
WELL, FREE FROM LEAVES AND DIRT.
SEE, EVEN A SMALL LEAF CAUGHT
UNDER THE EDGE OF YOUR WIPERS,
WELL...THAT COULD PREVENT THE
BLADE FROM MAKING GOOD CONTACT
WITH THE WINDSHIELD,
AND LEAVE BLURRY STREAKS
AS THE WIPER PASSES ACROSS
THE GLASS.
EXPOSURE TO RAIN, SNOW, UV RAYS,
AND OZONE CAN CAUSE DAMAGE
TO THE RUBBER SQUEEGEES ON YOUR
WIPER BLADE, SO PERIODICALLY,
YOU WANT TO CHECK THEM FOR
CRACKS OR DRIED OUT RUBBER.
IN EXTREME CASES LIKE THIS,
WELL...THE WIPING EDGE
CAN PEEL AWAY AND YOU'RE LEFT
WITH A BLACK SPAGHETTI NOODLE
FLOPPING ACROSS YOUR WINDSHIELD,
AND THAT WON'T DO YOU ANY GOOD
AT ALL.
NOW, IF YOUR WIPER BLADES APPEAR
TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION,
YOU SHOULD STILL CLEAN THEM WITH
A SOAPY SPONGE OR A RAG
EVERY TIME YOU WASH YOUR CAR.
WE HAVE AN ASSORTMENT OF
WIPER BLADES HERE FROM RAIN-X.
THERE ARE THREE BASIC TYPES.
FIRST,
THE CONVENTIONAL WIPER BLADES,
WE ALL KNOW THAT HAVE
AN OPEN SKELETON AND FRAME,
AND MULTIPLE ATTACHMENT POINTS
WHICH HOLD THE SQUEEGEE
TO THE GLASS.
NOW, THESE WORK FINE BUT THEY
EXERT PRESSURE UNEVENLY,
AND CAN LET SNOW, AND ICE,
AND OTHER DEBRIS BUILD UP
IN THE FRAME.
A STEP UP FROM THAT
IS THE HYBRID BLADE
THAT HAS A PLASTIC COVER OVER
THE FRAME FOR PROTECTION
AND A MORE MODERN LOOK.
NOW, THE BEST TYPE THESE DAYS
ARE THE BEAM-TYPE BLADES.
THEIR FLEXIBLE DESIGN ALLOWS
THEM TO CONTOUR TO THE CURVE
OF YOUR WINDSHIELD.
THE ENTIRE BLADE HAS AN EMBEDDED
SPRING TO GIVE EVEN PRESSURE
ACROSS THE ENTIRE LENGTH
FOR UNIFORM CONTACT
AND MORE CONSISTENT WIPING.
THE SPOILER HELPS MAINTAIN GOOD
PERFORMANCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS
AND PROTECT IT FROM BUILDUP
OF SNOW, ICE, AND DEBRIS.
NOW...BEYOND THAT,
YOU ALSO HAVE CHOICES
IN THE TYPE OF MATERIAL
THE WIPER BLADE IS MADE OF.
YOU HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES
OF RUBBER:
NATURAL, SYNTHETIC,
AND SILICONE.
OF THE THREE,
SILICON STANDS UP TO
THE HARSHEST WEATHER CONDITIONS,
AND TEMPERATURE RANGES,
AND CAN LAST TWICE AS LONG AS
NATURAL RUBBER.
IN ADDITION, WE'RE NOW
SEEING WIPERS THAT FEATURE
GRAPHITE COATING TO HELP REDUCE
FRICTION AND WIPERS THAT APPLY
A WATER REPELLANT COATING
TO YOUR WINDSHIELD.
FINALLY, BUY THE RIGHT SIZED
BLADES FOR YOUR VEHICLE.
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR
WIPER BLADES NOW,
SO YOU CAN SAFELY PAY ATTENTION
TO THE ROAD LATER.
AND, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION
OR COMMENT, DROP US A LINE,
RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
Stephanie Hart: A LEGENDARY NAME
AND ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED
VEHICLES IS CLOSER TO
HITTING THE ROAD...
AND WE HAVE THE VIDEO.
OUR SPY VIDEOGRAPHERS
SPOTTED THIS CAMOUFLAGED
TWO-DOOR 2020 FORD BRONCO
IN MICHIGAN.
WITH HIGH GROUND CLEARANCE
AND ALL-TERRAIN TIRES,
FORD IS APPARENTLY FOLLOWING
THROUGH WITH THEIR PROMISE
TO MAKE THE NEW BRONCO
A RUGGED MIDSIZE UTILITY
TARGETING THE JEEP WRANGLER.
THE BRONCO WILL BE BUILT
ALONGSIDE THE NEW RANGER,
USING MUCH SAME BODY-ON-FRAME
CHASSIS AND MECHANICALS,
INCLUDING A BASE 2.3 LITER TURBO
4-CYLINDER ENGINE.
THE BRONCO MAY TURN OUT TO BE
A SUB-BRAND WITH
AN ESCAPE-DERIVED MINI-BRONCO
TO FOLLOW.
FORD BUILT BRONCOS FOR 30 YEARS
ENDING IN 1996.
EXPECT SALES TO START IN 2020.
John: YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO GET
CAUGHT UP IN THE CHATTER...
BUT WE WANT THE FACTS.
SO, LET'S SEE WHAT
LAUREN MORRISON FINDS
IN THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
Lauren Morrison: WHILE,
A LOT OF ATTENTION
IS FOCUSED ON PROTECTING
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS
IN THE FRONT SEATS OF NEW CARS,
THERE'S NOW RISING CONCERN
ABOUT HOW THOSE IN THE BACK
FARE IN A CRASH.
THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE
FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY
LOOKED AT 117 FRONTAL CRASHES
WHERE THOSE IN REAR-SEATS
WERE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY
INJURED.
THE MOST COMMON INJURY WAS TO
THE CHEST FROM THE FORCE
OF THE SHOULDER BELT.
THE SECOND MOST COMMON INJURY
CAME FROM REAR SEAT PASSENGERS
HITTING THEIR HEADS AGAINST
THE INTERIOR.
WHILE, THE IIHS ISN'T
RECOMMENDING A SPECIFIC SOLUTION
FOR THE BACK SEAT YET,
THEY POINT OUT REAR SEATS
WITH FRONTAL IMPACT AIRBAGS,
SEAT BELTS WITH TENSIONERS
AND FORCE LIMITERS,
AND INFLATABLE SEAT BELTS MIGHT,
IN COMBINATION, BETTER PROTECT
PEOPLE IN THE SECOND ROW.
IIHS IS USING ITS DATA TO
DEVELOP A NEW FRONT CRASH TEST,
THAT WILL EVALUATE PROTECTED
IN THE FRONT AND BACK SEATS.
WHAT WE'RE DRIVING IS RAPIDLY
BECOMING MORE SOPHISTICATED,
AND THERE'S A GREATER NEED FOR
POWER BEHIND THE TECHNOLOGY.
GENERAL MOTORS HAS
ANNOUNCED THEIR NEW
DIGITAL VEHICLE PLATFORM.
THEY POINT OUT WITH VEHICLES
BECOMING "SMARTER,"
THEY NEED MORE ELECTRICAL
BANDWIDTH AND CONNECTIVITY,
SO ALL THE TECHNOLOGY CAN RUN AT
THE SAME TIME AND WORK TOGETHER.
THEY SAY, THEIR NEW
ELECTRONIC PLATFORM
WILL BE ABLE TO PROCESS UP TO
4.5 TERABYTES OF DATA PER HOUR.
THAT'S FIVE TIMES WHAT GM'S
CURRENT ELECTRICAL ARCHITECTURE
CAN DO.
LIKE YOUR SMARTPHONE, THEIR
SYSTEM WILL HAVE OVER-THE-AIR
SOFTWARE UPDATES THROUGHOUT
THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
THIS TECHNOLOGY ISN'T
THAT FAR INTO THE FUTURE.
THE NEW ELECTRONIC PLATFORM
WILL GO INTO PRODUCTION
LATER THIS YEAR,
AND DEBUT ON THE NEW
2020 CADILLAC CT5 SEDAN.
FROM THERE,
THE COMPANY PLANS TO ROLL OUT
THE DIGITAL VEHICLE PLATFORM
ON MOST VEHICLES WITHIN GM'S
GLOBAL LINEUP BY 2023.
SO FOR NOW, THAT DOES IT
FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
Greg Carloss: WE'RE BACK FROM
ANOTHER LONG ROAD TRIP
IN OUR 2019 HONDA INSIGHT
AND ARE RECORDING JUST OVER
12,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.
THE TWO-MOTOR HYBRID SYSTEM
WITH 1.5 LITER I4
GENERATES A MODEST
151 HORSEPOWER.
AND, WITH A CVT IT CAN
GET NOISY.
BUT THE POWERTRAIN HAS
IMPRESSIVE GUTS,
EASILY PULLING AWAY FROM
INTERSTATE LOLLYGAGGERS.
THIS CONTINUES TO BE
A COMFORTABLE CRUISER
AND VERY AGILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
THE BACK SEAT IS A GOOD PLACE
TO SPEND TIME,
BUT PASSENGERS IN OUR TOURING
TRIM WISH IT HAD MORE REAR VENTS
AND USB PORTS.
THE INSIGHT IS NOT REALLY
SUPPOSED TO BE
A PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED HYBRID,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN HONDA
COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT
RIDE AND HANDLING.
I MEAN, IT SHARES A PLATFORM
WITH THE SPORTY CIVIC,
BUT IT JUST FEELS MORE REFINED.
MATURE AND ENTERTAINING ARE
THE TWO WORD THAT COMES TO MIND.
THE GAS TANK ONLY HOLDS
10.6 GALLONS,
SO FILL UPS ARE ALWAYS
LESS EXPENSIVE THAN EXPECTED.
AND, OUR OVERALL FUEL ECONOMY
IS NOW 46.8 MILES PER GALLON,
WITH SUMMER DRIVING SEASON
JUST BEGINNING.
THE KIA NIRO PHEV
IS COMING UP ON OUR NEXT
MOTORWEEK
LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!
John: YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF
COPO CAMAROS;
AND MAYBE EVEN KNOW THAT COPO
STANDS FOR
CENTRAL OFFICE PRODUCTION ORDER,
AND THAT IT WAS THE BACKDOOR WAY
FOR THOSE "IN THE KNOW" TO GET
THE ULTIMATE MUSCLE CARS
FROM CHEVROLET.
BUT YOU PROBABLY WON'T KNOW
THE FULL STORY UNTIL YOU READ
MATT AVERY'S
"COPO CAMARO, CHEVELLE & NOVA:
CHEVROLET'S ULTIMATE MUSCLE
CARS."
IT'S A TREASURE CHEST OF
INFORMATION ON YENKOs,
427s, GIBBs, ZL1s, STINGERs,
AND DEUCEs.
ACCOMPANIED BY SOME HIGH QUALITY
PHOTOGRAPHY OF COURSE.
IT'S ONE HIGH PERFORMANCE MUST
READ FOR ANY BOW TIE MUSCLE FAN.
THE DAYS OF BEMOANING THE FACT
THAT SPORTY CAR BUILDERS
NOW SELL MORE SUVs
THAN CARS ARE COMING TO AN END.
IT'S TIME TO FACE THE REALITY
OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
SUVS ARE WIN-WINS.
PEOPLE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THEM,
AND THEY ARE HIGHLY PROFITABLE
TO BUILD.
SO, IT'S NO SHOCKER THAT EVEN
LAMBORGHINI NOW HAS AN SUV,
THE URUS.
*
STUDIOUS VIEWERS WILL OF COURSE
POINT OUT THAT THIS
2019 LAMBORGHINI URUS IS NOT
THE FIRST UTILITY VEHICLE
FROM THE BRAND,
THAT WOULD BE THE LM002,
WHICH WE TESTED WAY BACK IN
1988.
WELL, THAT RUGGED,
MILITARY-SPEC 4X4
WAS NOTHING AT ALL
LIKE THE URUS,
HAVING MORE IN COMMON
WITH A TRACTOR
THAN A HIGH PERFORMANCE MACHINE.
THE URUS ON THE OTHER HAND,
MANAGES TO LOOK, FEEL,
AND YES, DRIVE MUCH LIKE
WHAT ONE EXPECTS FROM
A MODERN LAMBORGHINI SUPERCAR.
LAMBORGHINI WAS
KIND ENOUGH TO DROP OFF
A BLINDINGLY YELLOW URUS TEST
VEHICLE WHILE WE WERE AT OUR
WINTER PROVING GROUNDS OF
ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY
NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.
AND WHILE, THERE IS A CLEAR
PRIORITY ON HIGH-PERFORMANCE,
THE INTERIOR SPACE IS VERY
LIVABLE AS WELL,
WITH GREAT COMFORT,
AND LEGIT ROOM FOR FOUR ADULTS.
AND NOW, HERE'S THE PART
WHERE WE TELL YOU,
THAT BEING PART OF
THE VOLKSWAGEN GROUP,
THE URUS IS BASED ON
THE AUDI Q7.
TECHNICALLY, THAT IS CORRECT,
BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY,
YOU WON'T BE DOING A LOT OF
PARTS SWAPPING BETWEEN THE TWO;
AS LAMBO STARTED WITH JUST
THE BASIC ARCHITECTURE,
AND BOLTED THEIR OWN STUFF
ONTO IT...INCLUDING STYLING
THAT IS FAR FASTER THAN OTHER
SUV IN THE VW CORPORATE STABLE.
[ENGINE STARTS UP]
LIKEWISE,
THEY TOOK JUST THE 4.0 LITER V8
TWIN-TURBO ENGINE'S BLOCK,
AND BUILT THEIR OWN VERSION
THAT WHIPS UP 641 HORSEPOWER
AND 627 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
THEN OF COURSE,
LAMBORGHINI ENGINEERS
HAD THEIR WAY WITH THE ZF
8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM,
WHICH INCLUDES TORQUE VECTORING,
AS WELL AS 4-WHEEL STEERING.
BOTTOM LINE,
IT'S A 4,800 POUND SPORT UTILITY
THAT CAN STREAK TO 60
IN 3.6 SECONDS,
WITH A FACTORY CLAIMED,
WORLD'S BEST 190 MILE PER HOUR
TOP END, AND OUT-HANDLE,
AND OUT-BRAKE
NUMEROUS EXOTIC SPORTS CARS,
AND EVEN GET YOU THROUGH
SOME LIGHT OFF-ROADING
SITUATIONS AS WELL;
THANKS TO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
TRACTION AND DRIVE MODES
THAT CAN PUMP UP THE RIDE HEIGHT
AS FAR AS 9.8 INCHES.
BUT NOTHING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE
MAKES YOU WANT TO DIRECT
THE URUS TO THE RUBICON; RATHER,
WE TOOK ITS TALENTS
TO ROEBLING'S NINE HIGH SPEED
TURNS.
IT FEELS TIGHT AND FAST,
NO MATTER HOW YOU'RE DRIVING IT
OR WHERE YOU'RE DRIVING IT TO.
AND ALL OF THAT'S WITHOUT EVEN
CLICKING OVER TO CORSA MODE,
WHERE THINGS GET POSITIVELY
INTENSE.
URUS GETS DECEPTIVELY FAST
VERY QUICKLY;
ALMOST MAKING YOU FORGET
YOU'RE IN AN SUV.
BUT, IT CAN'T QUITE OVERCOME
THE FACT THAT YOUR POSTERIOR
IS QUITE AWAYS OFF
OF THE PAVEMENT.
BRAKING IS BY WAY OF
10-PISTON CALIPERS,
CLAMPING DOWN ON STANDARD
CERAMIC DISCS;
PERFORMANCE WAS BORDERLINE EPIC.
IT CERTAINLY, DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
THAT ORIGINAL RAMBO LAMBO,
NOR DOES IT REALLY EVEN LOOK
LIKE AN SUV IN THE TRUE SENSE.
MORE OF A SLEEK HATCHBACK
THAT SITS WAY OFF THE GROUND,
HAS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE,
AND RIDES ON 21-INCH WHEELS;
OR THESE MATTE FINISH 22s
IF YOU PREFER.
THINGS INSIDE
ARE ALL LAMBORGHINI,
WITH NO TRACE OF AUDI ANYTHING.
YOU'LL FIND PLENTY OF
THE TRADITIONAL HEXAGON
AND Y-SHAPES, AS WELL AS
THE SAME TFT GAUGE PANEL
USED IN THE HURACAN.
THE CENTER CONSOLE FEATURES
AN IDENTICAL START BUTTON
WITH FLIP UP COVER, AS WELL,
BUT THE DRIVE MODE
AND CHASSIS SELECTORS THAT
BOOKEND IT, ARE MORE EXTENSIVE.
ABOVE, ARE TWO TOUCH SCREENS;
ONE FOR INFOTAINMENT,
AND ONE FOR CABIN COMFORT.
NOW, FOR THE REALITY CHECK.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS
ARE 12-CITY, 17-HIGHWAY,
AND 14-COMBINED.
AND PRICING STARTS AT $203,995.
IF YA GOT IT,
WHY NOT FLAUNT IT IN A URUS.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THERE ARE
LOTS OF LAMBORGHINI FANS
THAT LOATH THE IDEA OF THIS
2019 URUS.
BUT...TRUST US,
ONCE YOU DRIVE IT,
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO
HATE ABOUT IT.
IT'S A FANTASTIC,
MODERN PERFORMANCE CAR
IN AN SUVISH BODY.
AND HERE'S WHERE WE'D LOVE TO
END THIS TEST WITH A BAD PUN
ABOUT LAMBORGHINI FOLLOWING
THE SUV HERD WITH THE URUS;
BUT ACTUALLY,
THEY'RE NOW IN THE LEAD.
WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW,
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.
NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ;
INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES,
AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES,
CRUISE ON OVER TO
PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US
NEXT TIME...
WHEN VOLKSWAGEN MAKES THE
COMMUTE MUCH MORE ENTERTAINING
WITH THE JETTA GLI.
AND A LITTLE LEXUS THAT'S
BIG ON STYLE, THE UX.
PAT GOSS WITH ADVICE TO KEEP YOU
OUT OF TROUBLE.
PLUS, WE'LL HAVE A BRAND NEW
QUICKSPIN.
UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS,
WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON
MOTORWEEK .
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[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING]
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