HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US FOR AN UP-CLOSE LOOK AT THE RAZOR-SHARP LEXUS NX CROSSOVER... WE HIT THE BOOKS AND THE STREETS FOR SAFER TEEN DRIVING... WE TAKE A SPIRITED JAUNT IN A MINI COOPER S 2-DOOR HARDTOP... AND FINALLY, A TRIBUTE TO MOTORWEEK LEGEND AND OUR LONGTIME FRIEND, PAT GOSS...
SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.
* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE 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 .
AND NOW, A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF TIRERACK.COM.
FIRST, THERE WAS THE WHEEL.
THEN, THE TIRE.
"WE'LL CALL IT TIRE RACK."
FORTY YEARS LATER, WE'RE NOT SLOWING DOWN.
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.
John: LIKE MOST LUXURY BRANDS THESE DAYS, LEXUS HAS A FULL LINEUP OF SUVs; BUT, UNLIKE MOST, IT WAS THEIR PARENT COMPANY TOYOTA THAT REALLY KICKED OFF THE CROSSOVER CRAZE HERE WITH THE 1995 RAV4.
YET, IT TOOK THEM UNTIL 2015 TO RELEASE A TRUE LEXUS VERSION OF THE RAV: THE NX, WHICH NOW BEGINS ITS 2ND GENERATION.
* JUST WHAT MAKES A LEXUS, ANYWAY?
WELL, ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS YOU NOTICE WHEN STEPPING UP FROM TOYOTA TO THEIR LEXUS LUXURY DIVISION IS THE CALMNESS AND SERENITY OF THE INTERIOR.
THAT'S SOMETHING THIS 2022 NX HAS IN SPADES.
IT MAKES EVEN SITTING IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC A MUCH MORE PLEASANT EXPERIENCE.
SITTING STILL IS ALSO A GREAT TIME TO GET TO KNOW THE POSHER INTERIOR.
THE NX'S NEW MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM FEATURE'S UP TO A 14 INCH SCREEN.
THE SCREEN IS NOT ONLY BIG, BUT VERY CLEAR, RESPONSIVE, AND EASY TO NAVIGATE, WHILE ALSO ELIMINATING OUR MEMORIES OF THE BRAND'S INDECISIVE TOUCHPAD.
A LEXUS DEFINER THAT WE CAN'T WAIT TO FORGET.
BIGGER NEWS FOR THE NX, AND FOR THE LEXUS BRAND IN GENERAL, IS THEIR FIRST PLUG-IN HYBRID.
THIS 450H+ COMBINES A NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 2.5 LITER I4 ENGINE WITH THREE ELECTRIC MOTORS, AND AN 18.1 KILOWATT HOUR BATTERY FOR A 302 HORSEPOWER TOTAL OUTPUT, AND UP TO A GREAT 37 MILES OF PURE EV DRIVING.
CHARGING TAKES ABOUT 4.5 HOURS, UNLESS YOU UPGRADE TO THE 6.6 KILOWATT ONBOARD CHARGER, WHICH SHAVES THAT DOWN TO 2.5 HOURS.
IF ALL OF THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE TOYOTA RAV4 PRIME.
THE PHEV MAY SIT AT THE TOP OF THE LINEUP, BUT THERE'S ALSO A 239 HORSEPOWER 350H TRADITIONAL HYBRID, AS WELL AS TWO NON-HYBRIDS.
A 275 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER TURBO-4 IN THE NX350, AND A NATURALLY-ASPIRATED VERSION OF THE HYBRID'S 2.5 LITER WITH 203 HORSEPOWER IN THE NX250.
WORKING WITH THE RAV4 PRIME POWERTRAIN, WE WERE PRIMED THE FOR QUARTER-MILE WITH THIS 450H+ AT OUR MASON DIXON DRAGWAY TEST TRACK.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT'S THE QUICKEST NX YET; SQUATTING DOWN AND POUNCING OFF THE LINE WITH AUTHORITY, THE ELECTRIC MOTORS DELIVERING THE ADDITIONAL TORQUE NEEDED TO GET TO 60 IN JUST 5.6 SECONDS.
THE ECVT TRANSMISSION IS ALSO THE SAME AS THE RAV4 PRIME, AND LIKEWISE ONE ELECTRIC MOTOR IS INTEGRATED INTO THE REAR AXLE PROVIDING STANDARD ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.
SMOOTH, STEADY, AND VERY QUIET THROUGHOUT THE 14.2 SECOND QUARTER-MILE AT 98 MILES PER HOUR.
LIKE, MOST LEXUS', IT WAS CLEAR IN OUR HANDLING COURSE THAT COMFORT AND SAFETY ARE THE PRIORITIES.
BUT THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SETUP IS THERE TO ASSIST WITH HANDLING JUST AS MUCH AS PROVIDE ALL-WEATHER GRIP.
LEXUS ALSO MADE A POINT OF LOWERING THE NX'S CENTER OF GRAVITY, AND THE 450H+'S BATTERY WEIGHT CERTAINLY HELPS.
AN AVAILABLE F SPORT HANDLING PACKAGE WILL HELP EVEN MORE, ADDING ACTIVE VARIABLE SUSPENSION AND UPGRADED PERFORMANCE DAMPERS; THOUGH MOST LEXUS BUYERS WILL PROBABLY NOT BE ON BOARD WITH THE FIRMER RIDE THAT IT BRINGS.
STEERING IS VERY RESPONSIVE AND SEEMS TO HIT THAT "JUST RIGHT" MIDDLE GROUND OF BEING NOT TOO LIGHT OR TOO HEAVY.
BRAKES ARE A LITTLE TOUCHY IN EVERYDAY TRAFFIC, AND THE ABS PULSING BRINGS A LOT OF NOISE WITH IT; BUT THEY PERFORMED GREAT HERE AT THE TRACK, STOPPING US FROM 60 IN 112 FEET.
LEXUS IS ALSO KNOWN FOR ITS EXPRESSIVE YET ELEGANT STYLING.
THE LOOK OF THE NEW NX DOESN'T CHANGE DRASTICALLY, YET THE REVISED SPINDLE GRILLE IS IN YOUR FACE MORE THAN EVER.
THE 2022 NX IS BOTH LONGER AND WIDER, BUT NOT LOWER, AS IT'S ACTUALLY AN INCH TALLER; THAT MEANS A LITTLE MORE ROOM INSIDE, WHICH SEEMS TO GO TO STORAGE SPACE RATHER THAN PEOPLE SPACE.
THE HATCH COVERING THAT CARGO SPACE NOW SPORTS BIG LEXUS LETTERING AS WELL AS NEW FULL-WIDTH TAIL LAMPS.
BEHIND IT, CAPACITY IS UP A GREAT 5 CUBIC-FEET TO 22.7; A TAD LESS THAN BEFORE WITH SEATS FOLDED AT 46.9 CUBIC-FEET.
BOTH SAME AS ALL OTHER NX'S, AS LEXUS WAS ABLE TO PACKAGE THE LARGER PHEV BATTERY BENEATH THE FLOOR WITHOUT ROBBING STORAGE SPACE.
PHEV GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 36-COMBINED WITH THE GAS ENGINE ALONE, AND 84-COMBINED MPGE USING ELECTRIC ALONE.
OUR MILEAGE LOOP, WITH A MINIMUM OF PLUG-IN TIME, WAS 36.1 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM.
BUT, THE PHEV DOES EARN A WELL BELOW AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; CONSUMING JUST 3.0 BARRELS OF OIL ANNUALLY, WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 1.4 TONS.
ULTRA-EFFICIENCY DOESN'T COME CHEAP THOUGH, AS THE 450H+ STARTS AT A LOFTY $56,725; WHILE A BASE FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE NX250 STARTS AT $39,025.
WHEN THE LEXUS NX FINALLY ARRIVED, THERE WAS LITTLE DOUBT IT WOULD BE A ROARING SUCCESS.
IT WAS A NO BRAINER MOVE UP FOR TOYOTA FAITHFUL.
THE ONLY QUESTION WAS "WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG, LEXUS?"
WELL, THE ALL-NEW 2022 LEXUS NX, WITH ITS FORWARD-LOOKING POWERTRAINS, AND CALM YET, EVEN MORE CAPABLE DRIVING EXPERIENCE, WILL ONLY ADD TO THAT SUCCESS.
* John: A FIVE TIME CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING PRO RACER AND CORVETTE HALL OF FAMER IS BEHIND A GIVE BACK PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PUT THE BRAKES ON DANGEROUS DRIVING HABITS, AND HE CERTAINTY HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM.
ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA, DISTRACTED DRIVING ALONE CLAIMED MORE THAN 3100 LIVES IN 2019.
AS STEPHANIE HART SHOWS US, LEARNING HOW TO BE A SAFE DRIVER STARTS EARLY AND IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR.
* Stephanie Hart: I'M HERE AT THE NCM MOTORSPORTS PARK IN BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY, WHERE RACE CAR DRIVER ANDY PILGRIM IS TEACHING TEENS AND THEIR PARENTS THE MENTAL AND DECISION-BASED SIDE OF DRIVING, PULLING FROM HIS 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ON THE TRACK.
TEENAGER FRANCEE TABOR AND HER FATHER GRADY TABOR ARE PERFECTING THEIR DRIVING SKILLS TODAY.
Andy Pilgrim: THE BASIC STUFF JUST TO GET THEM COMFORTABLE AND THE PARENT COMFORTABLE.
PARENTS ARE MORE NERVOUS THAN THE KIDS, TRUST ME.
Stephanie: I BET.
Andy: YEAH.
Stephanie: I BET... ANDY PILGRIM AND RACETRACK WORKERS USE RADIOS TO GIVE TEENS LIKE FRANCEE REAL TIME FEEDBACK WHILE NAVIGATING THIS COURSE.
Andy: AND IF THEY DON'T SEE TURN SIGNALS BEING USED, IF THEY SEE THEY'RE NOT STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN, IF THEY NEED HELP TO STAY IN THEIR LANE, IF THEY'RE NOT GETTING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL QUICKLY ENOUGH WHEN THEY GET INTO THE EMERGENCY BRAKING AREA-- THESE THINGS WE CAN HELP THEM WITH.
WE WANT THEM TO FEEL ABS BEFORE THEY LEAVE HERE AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT ONCE THEY FEEL THAT PULSING UNDER, SOMETIMES LET OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE.
Stephanie: INSTRUCTION LIKE THIS, IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE.
TODAY, DRIVING COLLISIONS AND CRASHES ARE THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF TEENAGERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
Francee Tabor: ANDY'S PROGRAM HELPED ME IN WAYS, DRIVERS ED COULD NOT AND I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST POINTS THAT HE MADE THAT HELPED ME IS KEEPING YOUR EYES UP ALL THE TIME AND LOOKING OUT FOR HAZARDS THAT COULD BE ON THE ROAD.
Stephanie: IMPORTANT LESSONS FOR ALL TEEN DRIVERS AND GREAT REMINDERS FOR SEASONED DRIVERS TOO.
Grady Tabor: SOME OF THE PROGRAMS ANDY HAS THAT I'VE GONE THROUGH AS A PARENT TRYING TO YOU KNOW, TEACH HER HOW TO DRIVE HAS ACTUALLY MADE ME A BETTER DRIVER, SO IT'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE.
Stephanie: UNFORTUNATELY, STATISTICS SHOW MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF NEW DRIVERS IN THE U.S. WON'T RECEIVE ANY STRUCTURED DRIVING EDUCATION TRAINING.
Andy: THAT'S ABOUT 1.7 MILLION STUDENTS A YEAR-- NO STRUCTURED DRIVER ED... WHO ARE THEY GONNA DRIVE LIKE?
THEIR PARENTS.
ONE OF THE FUNNIEST THINGS THAT I HEAR FROM DRIVER ED TEACHERS IS GIVE ME FIVE MINUTES WITH THE KID AND I'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW THE PARENTS DROVE.
Stephanie: PILGRIM STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT ALL TEEN DRIVERS START TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE FROM THEIR PARENTS WHEN THEY'RE JUST A TODDLER RIDING IN A CAR SEAT.
Andy: IT'S A SITUATION YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.
IT'S NOT GOING CHANGE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
THE PARENTS JUST NEED TO KNOW EARLY ENOUGH THAT "HEY, I'M THE DRIVER EDUCATION TEACHER AND I CAN DO...
I CAN DO A BETTER JOB.
I'M GOING TO LEAVE THE PHONE ALONE.
I'M NOT GOING TO ROLL THROUGH STOP SIGNS.
I'M NOT GOING TO SPEED UP AT YELLOW LIGHTS.
I'M NOT GOING TO YELL AT OTHER TRAFFIC."
WHEN THE KIDS ARE IN THE CAR PLEASE DON'T DO IT.
Stephanie: IN REALITY, ANY NON-DRIVING ACTIVITY YOU DO IS A POTENTIAL DISTRACTION AND INCREASES YOUR RISK OF CRASHING.
TEXTING WHILE DRIVING IS THE MOST ALARMING DISTRACTION.
SENDING OR READING A TEXT TAKES YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR FIVE SECONDS.
AT 55 MILES PER HOUR THAT'S LIKE DRIVING THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF A FOOTBALL FIELD WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED.
Francee: I THINK SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS PUTTING YOUR PHONE ON "DO NOT DISTURB" WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING, SO THAT EVEN IF YOU GET A NOTIFICATION THAT YOU DON'T FEEL OBLIGATED TO CHECK IT 'CAUSE YOU WON'T SEE IT.
Stephanie: HOW DID A WINNING RACE CAR DRIVER BECOME A TRAFFIC SAFETY EXPERT?
Andy: I LIVE A CONFLICTED LIFE, WHAT CAN I TELL YA?
MY MOTHER ALWAYS SAID, "NEVER BE SO BUSY THAT YOU CAN'T LEND AN EAR OR A HAND TO SOMEBODY THAT MIGHT NEED IT" AND I GUESS THAT STUCK.
Stephanie: TODAY, PILGRIM IS FULFILLING HIS SAFER DRIVER PASSION THROUGH HIS TRAFFIC SAFETY EDUCATION FOUNDATION, WHEN HE'S NOT WINNING RACES.
HE HAS PRODUCED HOURS OF FREE DRIVER EDUCATION VIDEOS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO WATCH ON THE TSEF WEBSITE.
IT'S A TERRIFIC RESOURCE FOR ANYONE, OF ANY AGE, WHO WANTS TO IMPROVE THEIR DRIVING SKILLS.
* Jessica Ray: DID YOU KNOW, THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ARE ACTUALLY MORE EFFICIENT THAN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.
TRADITIONALLY, MOST PEOPLE BOUGHT A STICK SHIFT BECAUSE IT WAS BOTH CHEAPER AND BETTER ON GAS.
BUT THE INTRODUCTION OF MODERN TRANSMISSION DESIGNS, LIKE THE GEARLESS CVT AND DUAL-CLUTCH UNITS, OR ADDING MORE GEARS FOR A 9 OR 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC, ALLOWS ENGINEERS TO IMPROVE FUEL ECONOMY BEYOND WHEN YOU SHIFT FOR YOURSELF.
BUT DON'T WORRY, WE'RE STILL VERY TEAM "SAVE THE MANUALS."
John: EVER SINCE BMW RELAUNCHED THE MINI BRAND FOR 2002, THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT MAKING CONSTANT UPDATES WITHOUT STRAYING TOO FAR FROM THE CUTE LOOKS AND GO-KART PERSONALITY THAT ATTRACTS SO MANY FANS.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES WITH THIS 2022 MINI COOPER S 2-DOOR HARDTOP.
NEW STYLE, NEW TECH, AND LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE IT HAS IN STORE.
* THIS 3RD GENERATION MINI COOPER HARDTOP HAS BEEN KICKING AROUND SINCE 2014; SO, WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE "MAKING SUBTLE CHANGES TO KEEP IT INTERESTING ENOUGH TO BUYERS UNTIL THE NEXT GEN COMES OUT" PHASE OF ITS LIFECYCLE.
LAST YEAR WAS ALL ABOUT PERFORMANCE WITH THE RETURN OF A MANUAL TRANSMISSION OPTION AND THE MOST POWERFUL MINI EVER, THE JOHN COOPER WORKS GP.
THIS YEAR, THERE'S UPDATED STYLING, AS SEEN HERE ON THIS 2022 MINI COOPER S HARDTOP 2-DOOR.
EMPLOYING A BOOKEND APPROACH; BOTH FRONT AND REAR FASCIAS ARE NEW.
UP FRONT A LARGER SINGLE HEXAGONAL GRILLE REPLACES THE PREVIOUS 2-PIECE SPLIT GRILLE MOTIF; AND REMOVAL OF THE FOG LIGHTS ALLOWS FOR NEW VERTICAL AIR INTAKES ON EACH SIDE.
IN BACK, THE HEXAGONAL THEME IS ECHOED IN THE REAR BUMPER WHICH HAS BEEN WIDENED, AND MORE SMOOTHLY INTEGRATES THE CENTRAL TWIN-PIPE EXHAUST OUTLET.
THE ABILITY TO HIGHLY PERSONALIZE HAS BEEN ALWAYS BEEN A MINI STAPLE, AND THAT GETS MAGNIFIED WITH NEW ROOF COLOR OPTIONS.
OUR TESTER'S SILVER ROOF CAME WITH MATCHING MIRROR CAPS, FITTING THE METALLIC BRITISH RACING GREEN AND SILVER BONNET STRIPES PERFECTLY.
INSIDE, THERE'S A NEW STEERING WHEEL WITH UPDATED CONTROLS, AND A GREAT LOOKING DIGITAL INSTRUMENT PANEL JUST BEHIND.
THE LARGE 8.8 INCH CENTRAL TOUCHSCREEN CONTROL CENTER, WHICH USED TO BE OPTIONAL, NOT ONLY LOOKS COOL AND WORKS VERY WELL, IS NOW STANDARD.
STILL, PLENTY ROOMY UP FRONT, AND ADULTS CAN EVEN RIDE IN THE BACK, BUT ONLY IF THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS SACRIFICE SOME OF THEIR GENEROUS LEGROOM.
CARGO CAPACITY STILL A LITTLE ON THE SMALL SIDE; JUST 8.7 CUBIC-FEET; BUT 34.0 WITH THE REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED.
NOTHING NEW FOR THE POWERTRAIN, A 134 HORSEPOWER 1.5 LITER 3-CYLINDER TURBO IS STANDARD.
THIS COOPER S SPORTS A 189 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO WITH 206 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
BOTH WITH YOUR CHOICE OF 7-SPEED DCT OR OUR CAR'S 6-SPEED MANUAL.
THE COOPER S ALSO COMES WITH A MUCH STIFFER SUSPENSION.
WE'VE ALWAYS FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE; BUT PASSENGERS THAT AREN'T IN ON THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE WILL MAKE COMMENTS LIKE, "WOW YOU REALLY FEEL EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD, DON'T YOU?"
OF COURSE, THE REWARD FOR PUTTING UP WITH FEELING THE NAP OF THE ROAD IS EXCEPTIONAL HANDLING.
EVEN ON A VERY COLD AND WINDY TRACK DAY, THERE WAS COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF GRIP THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE.
THERE WAS ALSO, A LITTLE MORE ROLL THAN ANTICIPATED WITH SUCH A FIRM SUSPENSION, BUT WE COULD REALLY CARRY SOME SERIOUS SPEED THROUGH HERE, AND IT ONLY ADDS TO THE ALREADY HIGH FUN FACTOR.
STEERING IS BOTH ACCURATE AND QUICK WITHOUT FEELING HYPER, AND THERE'S JUST INCREDIBLE OVERALL BALANCE TO THE CAR.
FOR ACCELERATION RUNS, THE CLUTCH IS SOFT, WHICH MAKES LAUNCHING EITHER EASY OR HARD DEPENDING ON HOW YOUR TECHNIQUE.
THE ENGINE MAKES GOOD POWER RIGHT FROM THE GET GO, BUT YOU ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THERE'S A HARDER LAUNCH TO BE HAD.
STILL, THE 6.3 SECOND RUN TO 60 IS PLENTY QUICK.
POWER TAPERS OFF A BIT BEFORE REDLINE, SO SHORT SHIFTING A LITTLE ACTUALLY HELPS, AND THERE'S ENOUGH TORQUE TO CHIRP THE TIRES ALL THE WAY THROUGH 3RD GEAR.
THE SHIFTER ITSELF IS A TAD RUBBERY IN FEEL, HAS AN ODDLY-SHAPED KNOB THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY FEEL GREAT IN YOUR HAND, AND THE THROWS ARE A BIT LONG.
BUT, HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, IN OPERATION IT WAS VERY PRECISE, AND A JOY TO WORK THROUGHOUT THE 14.9 SECOND QUARTER-MILE, COMPLETED AT 95 MILES PER HOUR.
BRAKES BITE DOWN HARD INITIALLY, BUT THEN INTENSE ABS PULSING KICKS IN AND SEEMS TO DRAG THE STOPS OUT LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD BE; WE AVERAGED AN OKAY 120 FEET FROM 60.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE COOPER S MANUAL ARE 23-CITY, 33-HIGHWAY, AND 27-COMBINED.
WE AVERAGED A FINE 28.6 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.
THAT MAKES FOR A SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 11.0 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL USE, WITH 5.5 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.
MINI COOPER HARDTOP 2-DOOR PRICING BEGINS AT $23,750; WITH THE MORE POWERFUL S STARTING AT $27,750.
AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED, MINI DIDN'T REALLY NEED TO MAKE ANY UPDATES TO THE 2022 COOPER S HARDTOP 2-DOOR TO MAKE IT A HIGHLY DESIRABLE RIDE.
IT'S STILL FUN, STILL COOL LOOKING, STILL A HOOT TO DRIVE; IN OTHER WORDS, STILL EVERYTHING WE'VE COME TO LOVE ABOUT THE NEW MINI, AND MORE.
WITH THE UNEXPECTED PASSING OF PAT GOSS RECENTLY, MOTORWEEK LOST MUCH MORE THAN A WEEKLY CONTRIBUTOR.
OVER 41 YEARS AND MORE THAN 2000 EPISODES, PAT BECAME AN ICON.
HE WAS KNOWN AS MUCH FOR HIS NO-NONSENSE MAINTENANCE ADVICE AS FOR THE UNMISTAKABLE RESONANCE OF HIS VOICE.
PAT LOVED SHARING WHAT HE KNEW, LOVED HELPING PEOPLE SOLVE THEIR CAR-CARE PROBLEMS FOR THEMSELVES, AND ENABLING THEM TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS WHEN SEEKING A REPAIR PROFESSIONAL.
PAT WILL LONG BE REMEMBERED, AND CANNOT BE REPLACED, SO THIS WILL BE THE FINAL NEWLY PRODUCED GOSS' GARAGE SEGMENT YOU'LL SEE ON MOTORWEEK , AND FITTINGLY, IT'S A TRIBUTE AND LOOK BACK TO THE INCOMPARABLE CAREER OF OUR FRIEND AND MENTOR, PAT GOSS.
Pat Goss: NOW, YOU NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR BATTERY LOOKING LIKE THIS.
IF IT DOES, YOU WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
YESTERDAY WOULD BE PREFERABLE.
John: THE STERN TIMBRE OF HIS VOICE WAS UNMISTAKABLE, AND HIS FAVORITE WORDS OF CAUTION... Pat: WELL, DON'T DO IT...
OLD-FASHIONED BOOSTER CABLES-- THROW THEM AWAY...
THICKER IS NOT BETTER... LOOK AT THE OWNER'S MANUAL... John: WELL, THEY BECAME CATCHPHRASES FOR MILLIONS OF  MOTORWEEK VIEWERS.
AND THE OUTPOURING OF COMMENTS WE RECEIVED AFTER PAT'S PASSING ONLY REINFORCED THE REACH AND IMPACT THAT GOSS' GARAGE HAS HAD ON GENERATIONS OF CAR OWNERS.
PAT WAS ESSENTIALLY SELF-TAUGHT WHEN IT CAME TO CAR REPAIRS, AND BY THE TIME HE FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL, HE ALREADY HAD AN 11,000 SQUARE FOOT BODY SHOP OF HIS OWN, AND EMPLOYED MORE THAN 20 PEOPLE!
HE MOVED FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK TO MARYLAND IN 1966 AND OPENED PAT'S GULF AND DIAGNOSTICS IN THE EARLY 1970s.
PAT WAS AN EARLY APOSTLE OF ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC MACHINES, EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY TO TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF CAR REPAIRS.
DURING THAT TIME, PAT ALSO SERVED AS AN EXPERT COURTROOM WITNESS SPECIALIZING IN ODOMETER ROLLBACK FRAUD, AND SHADY REPAIR SHOP PRACTICES.
THIS LED TO APPEARANCES ON NEWS SHOWS, 60 MINUTES AND OUR OWN LOCAL SERIES: CONSUMER SURVIVAL KIT.
THIS IN TURN, EARNED PAT A BIT OF FAME, ALONG WITH A REPUTATION FOR UNWAVERING HONESTY.
AND THAT MADE HIM A NATURAL FIT FOR OUR FLEDGLING TV SERIES WHEN I KNOCKED ON HIS DOOR IN 1981.
Pat: BUT REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF CROOKS OUT THERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO TAKE YOUR MONEY, AND SELL YOU SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS WONDERFUL, BUT IN REALITY, DOESN'T WORK.
BUT LOOK OUT FOR THE SHOP THAT TRIES TO SELL YOU 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENT RIGHT UP FRONT.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT THEY KNOW THAT YOU NEED IT UNTIL IT HAS BEEN PUT ON THE ALIGNMENT MACHINE.
John: PAT TRULY BELIEVED THAT AN EDUCATED CONSUMER WAS THE BEST CUSTOMER HIS REPAIR SHOPS COULD HAVE, AND HE ROUTINELY READ THROUGH MOUNTAINS OF TRADE JOURNALS AND OEM SERVICE BULLETINS TO KEEP HIMSELF ON TOP OF THE LATEST AUTO REPAIR ISSUES AND EQUIPMENT.
Craig Singhaus I APPEARED IN THE PILOT EPISODE, IRONICALLY, WEARING THIS OLD LAB COAT, IN A SEGMENT CALLED MOTOR SHOP, BUT I WAS JUST A SHADE-TREE MECHANIC.
NOW, PAT GOSS-- HE WAS THE REAL DEAL.
John: AND THE REST, AS THEY SAY, IS HISTORY.
PAT APPEARED IN OUR VERY FIRST BROADCAST WITH A PRIMER ON OIL CHANGES, AND ANCHORED THE MAINTENANCE SEGMENT OF MOTORWEEK FOR THE NEXT 41 YEARS.
PAT GOSS DID FOR CAR CARE WHAT BOB VILA DID FOR HOME RESTORATION; WITH HIS TRUSTY WELDING ROD POINTER IN HAND, HE DEMYSTIFIED THE INNER WORKINGS OF CARS, EMPOWERED DO-IT-YOURSELFERS, AND TAUGHT US ALL HOW TO MAXIMIZE OUR MILES PER DOLLAR.
IN FACT, THAT IDEA OF KNOW-IT-YOURSELF, IF YOU COULDN'T DO-IT-YOURSELF WAS A COMMON THREAD IN ALL OF HIS MOTORWEEK SEGMENTS.
Pat: CHECKING THEM IS VERY EASY, YOU CAN EVEN DO IT YOURSELF WITH A FEW SIMPLE TOOLS AND SO ON.
BUT BEFORE YOU CAN DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN IDEA AS TO WHAT THE PARTS OF THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM ARE, AND HOW THEY WORK.
John: WITH A FLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC AND AN EYE FOR THE UNCONVENTIONAL, PAT ALWAYS CAME UP WITH NEW AND INTERESTING WAYS TO MAKE A POINT.
HE UNDERSTOOD THE TV MEDIUM, THE NEED FOR GOOD VISUALS AND SOLID INFORMATION.
AND THAT'S WHAT MADE HIS SEGMENTS SO MEMORABLE.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH PAT OVER THE PAST FOUR DECADES, A DAY IN THE STUDIO WAS NEVER BORING.
Pat: TO THE BACK OF THE VAN, TO THE BACK OF THE VAN, THE BACK OF THE VAN, THIS IS THE BACK OF THE VAN, I'M AT THE BACK OF THE VAN.
John: BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY IT ALWAYS WENT AS PLANNED!
Pat: GIVES BETTER FUEL ECONOMY, BETTER PERFORMANCE, AND.... SOMETHING...
ANYWAY, YES, THEY ARE...
HERE'S SOMETHING-- THE E-Z OIL CHANGER.
INTERESTING PIECE OF EQUIPMENT... John: THAT WAS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN PAT AND OUR CREW BUILT THE MAXTON ROLLER SKATE COMPONENT CAR IN 1991 AND ACCIDENTALLY GOT LIGHT-HEADED FROM THE GLUE FUMES OR WHEN PAT TOOK THE MAXTON PROTOTYPE FOR A SPIN-- QUITE LITERALLY!
Pat: AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, PLEEEAASE WRITE TO ME.
John: PAT HAD CAMERA PRESENCE, PERFECT TIMING, A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR, AND A PASSION FOR EDUCATION.
HE ALWAYS WANTED TO LEAVE HIS AUDIENCE WITH ONE OR TWO "A-HA'S" OR "I DIDN'T KNOW THAT'S" AFTER EVERY SEGMENT.
PAT GOSS CERTAINLY ACCOMPLISHED THAT, A THOUSAND TIMES OVER.
AND DESPITE THE TREMENDOUS CHANGES IN CARS OVER THE PAST 41 YEARS, FROM THE FIRST SEGMENT TO THE LAST, PAT'S DOCTRINE OF BASIC ROUTINE MAINTENANCE STILL RINGS TRUE.
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, PAT...YOU WILL BE MISSED, BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN.
GODSPEED!
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 .
AND NOW, A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF TIRERACK.COM.
FIRST, THERE WAS THE WHEEL.
THEN, THE TIRE.
"WE'LL CALL IT TIRE RACK."
FORTY YEARS LATER, WE'RE NOT SLOWING DOWN.
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.
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