2024 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 & 2024 Subaru Outback

Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

We kick off our annual winter testing session in the incredible Chevrolet Corvette Z06... Then, head to a local community college to see how future auto techs go higher ed... We'll escape to LA for a star-studded car collection... And bring it back home in the adventurous Subaru Outback...

So, come drive with us, next!

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JOHN: What happens when you let enthusiasts and engineers worry less about tradition and allow them to do what they do best?

Well, you get cars like this Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

And what happens when GM lets us borrow one for a few days?

Well, that's what we're about to find out!

♪ ♪ (engine revs) While, the Z06 package first became an option for the Chevrolet Corvette back in 1963, it wasn't until the C5 that it described the ultimate track-focused 'Vette.

And while, since then every Z06 has gotten more extreme, if we were plotting things out on a graph, this is where the line of performance progression goes from a steady incline to almost vertical.

Yes, the latest C8 Z06 is all that.

(engine starts up) It starts with a brand new LT6 5.5 liter Double Over Head Cam V8 that outputs 670 horsepower and delivers 460 pound-feet of torque.

It sounds great too.

The very aggressive nature of its flat-plane crank design has it sounding, and feeling, like it's trying to shake its way out of the engine bay unless you unleash some of its furry.

This dual-cammer featured a dry-sump design from the get-go and is more racing engine than souped-up small block, being developed originally for the C8.R race car.

It made short work of Roebling Road Raceway's long front straight, able to reach 160 by the end of it.

With Hellcats no longer rolling off the assembly line, this is easily our new favorite V8.

But, as you can imagine, Chevy has done much more than just plop a bigger motor into its rear-midship engine bay, which was easier to do since they didn't have to worry about anyone seeing over it.

They've addressed just about every part of the car to ensure it puts that power to best use for coming out of corners like few other cars on the street.

That includes upgrades for the short/long arm double wishbone suspension setup that can be further enhanced with an available Z07 Performance Package that adds more aggressive tuning for Magnetic Ride Control; and Michelin Sport Cup 2R tires, which can be mounted on 20 and 21 inch carbon fiber wheels with carbon ceramic brakes nestled behind.

It all translated into more grip than a semi's worth of industrial strength Velcro through Roebling's nine turns.

Like, most Corvettes, the Z06 can be as wild or mild of an experience as you care to make it, but will most likely be the fastest car to show up at most track days.

Yet, the same magnetic dampers that void all body roll on the track, provide an almost plush ride quality for the drive home, though not quite as plush as the standard Corvette.

We're struggling to find something non-fanboy to say; sure the 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox doesn't deliver shifts with the brutality of some exotics, but really, they're just as fast, and the shifts are much smoother.

Believe it or not, almost all the body is unique.

So, rather than just tacking on some fender flares, Chevy made the entire car wider to cover the 345 rear tires, yet, keep the same uniform look in place.

The optional Carbon Fiber Aero Package adds a front splitter, rocker extensions, front dive planes, and a huge rear wing.

We're not sure if the multi-level nature of that rear wing was done for functional or aesthetic reasons, but it doesn't block your rearview, and that is much appreciated.

We always talk about torque being more important than horsepower when it comes to acceleration, and the Z06 works with almost 200 fewer pound-feet of torque than horsepower, but you sure wouldn't know it when you mash the throttle.

Easy to use programmable launch control allows you to dial in your preferred rpm for launching; we found 4,500 was just about perfect for Roebling's front straight, allowing for just a tiny bit of slip before rocketing us to 60 on a 40 degree day in just 2.6 seconds.

Power continues to poor on hard as the engine quickly hits its 8,600 RPM redline, and gear changes happen often.

The sound inside the cabin is intense, and when the quarter-mile came to an end in 10.7 seconds at 130 miles per hour, it felt like it was just getting started.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are a low 12-City, 19-Highway, and 14-Combined.

For the Z06, there are three LZ pricing points to land on, starting at $114,395; but you can go with the top-of-the-line Z06, add 50-grand worth of options, and still come out half the price of anything you can compare it to.

Call us home teamers all you want, but America's only exotic does it yet again.

Not only is it the best Corvette ever, but it is also easily one of the greatest American cars of all time, arriving at a particularly poignant time culturally as we mourn the potential loss of internal combustion engines altogether.

So, come for the spectacular engine and stay for the complete performance package, and experience, that is the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

♪ ♪ Some of Hollywood's most memorable on-screen, on-the-go co-stars are stealing the spotlight at the world-renowned Petersen Automotive Museum.

Iconic modified vehicles from blockbuster movies like "Cobra," "Back to the Future" and "Die Another Day" take you for a trip down memory lane.

And like our Stephanie Hart, seeing them, you just can't help but smile.

♪ ♪ STEPHANIE HART: LA's Wilshire Boulevard is the appropriate address for the Petersen Museum and its latest movie car showcase: "Modified for the Movies!"

This is the most popular car in the exhibit.

This 1981 DeLorean was driven in all of the "Back to the Future" movies.

Its gull-wing doors look kinda alien-like and that's why it was cast as the time machine.

The time machine is one of a dozen vehicles that are staring at the Petersen.

All of the vehicles here were customized to make them more compelling on the big screen.

Of course, everyone, including me, is mesmerized by the famous flux capacitor that allows the DeLorean to travel through time.

AUTUMN NYIRI: Since, the advent of the motion picture, vehicles have been featured prominently on-screen, not just to transport the actors from place to place, but also to serve as important plot devices or set the scene of the story where the action takes place.

STEPHANIE: You also have a 1976 Ford Gran Turino here that was driven in Starsky and Hutch.

AUTUMN: Yes, we do.

So, when they started they wanted a car that would be distinctive and new, and stand out, so they selected the 1976 Ford Gran Turino from Ford Motor Company's TV and Studio Car Loan program.

They gave it its distinctive red paint color and the white stripe that everyone knows so well.

Additionally, modifications were, uh, performed to help with stunts.

The car ended up being probably as much or more popular than the two title characters, and so people really remember that vehicle from their childhood.

STEPHANIE: And this one caught my eye, it's from the 2005 movie, "Herbie Fully Loaded."

The lovable 1966 Volkswagen Beetle that debuted in the 1968 movie "The Love Bug" returns, this time transformed into a NASCAR contender.

Thirty different vehicles were used in production with different looks to suit the scene.

I'm behind the wheel of the 2002 Jaguar XKR that was driven by the villains in "Die Another Day."

This vehicle may appear stock, but it's actually heavily modified.

And one of the coolest modifications is this massive gun mounted behind the driver's seat.

And that's not all.

Check out its front grill.

Missiles fire out of here, and there are rocket launchers on the door.

However, the biggest modification to this Jaguar XKR is concealed.

It was actually rebuilt on a shortened Ford Explorer 4-wheel drive chassis, so that it could handle better on the ice during this action-packed car chase scene.

This 1950 Mercury Monterey was also able to perform better in its movie role, thanks to customizations.

This luxury car starred alongside Sylvester Stallone in the 1986 movie "Cobra."

AUTUMN: The roofline has been lowered and it has a double hood scoop to give it a tougher and more rugged look.

It performs really fantastic stunts in the film.

It does 180 degree turns.

It drives backwards.

It leaps off the second story of a parking garage.

So, it really plays a pivotal role in the film.

STEPHANIE: Really exciting.

AUTUMN: It's very exciting.

STEPHANIE: This exhibition proves the cars are the stars by helping people understand how customizing a car impacts a movie's plot, ultimately making it more enjoyable to watch.

Clearly, modified movie cars won't be upstaged by the actors anytime soon.

"Hollywood Customs: Modified for the Movies" exhibit is on display at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, California, until January 2025.

JOHN: You may have heard that America is facing a serious shortage of trained auto techs.

Fixing that starts with proper schooling, including vocational programs found at local community colleges.

So, we sent Dan Maffett to check out the coursework on MotorWeek's "Your Drive!"

♪ ♪ DAN MAFFETT: With the amount of cars on the road today, technicians are in demand as ever; and with the advancement of automotive technology, trained techs are as important as ever.

We're here at the Community College of Baltimore County with Harold.

Thanks for having us.

Tell us a little bit about what you do here.

HAROLD BABB: Thanks for coming in, we're great to have you here.

Um, we have one of the largest automotive training programs, um, certainly in Maryland.

We actually run four separate programs: We have a General Motors ASEP program, a Ford, ah...ASSET program and a Nissan NTTA program, and we also have a Global program that has some ties with Stellantis and, and Dodge, and Jeep.

DAN: That's great.

You just cover the whole market of that program.

HAROLD: Cover everything we can.

Um, we have two different programs to run through.

One is the degree-seeking program, where they graduate with all the training, plus, ah, an AAS degree; and then we have a certificate program for the students that are, you know, not worried about the academics and just going right after the automotive programs.

DAN: Oh, that's great.

So, you can give them career pathways no matter which way they want to go.

HAROLD: Exactly.

DAN: And what kind of tools do you use here as teaching elements?

I see you have this platform here in front of us that looks like a brake setup.

HAROLD: Yeah, we're very fortunate.

Um, the college supports really us with a lot of funding, and then we get a lot of support from our manufacturers as well.

Um, this is actually made by Consulab.

Um, we purchased it with Perkins funding, and this is an abs trainer; and it's basically a full anti-lock brake system from a Cobalt.

It's got everything from the anti-lock brake module, EBCM computers; right down to-- they even installed pressure gauges so we can explain how things work with the...with the students so they understand the concepts.

DAN: So, they can diag this, and once they learn this they can diag the same system on a different car... HAROLD: Exactly... DAN: ...in the real world.

HAROLD: Exactly.

You know, we have like the, the lighting board to your right, um, and that goes through-- it's a body control module lighting board, so it's just like what we have with all the modern cars.

Um... on my left we have the, uh, Multiplex training board, um, goes through communications and even air conditioning systems, where we have the full air conditioning-- the evaporator, condenser-- right out of the car, so they can see it and understand the concepts.

DAN: That's a great teaching tool: To have a whole complete system, all laid out, really easy to read and diag.

HAROLD: Makes it easy because when you have a lot of what's outside the car and inside the car, so it's got it all on one board.

And then ultimately, they end up on the cars anyway though.

DAN: That's great.

So, you get a lot of vehicles shipped in that are new for them to have hands-on training on as well.

HAROLD: Yeah, I'd say from all the manufacturers.

They support us with vehicles coming in, they donate to the program, so our students work on it.

Um, some of the programs, like GM, they want us working on cars that are within five model years old because when they leave here, they're going, sometimes, right to the dealership where they're bringing in brand new vehicles...2023s.

DAN: So, that keeps them to the most up-to-date training possible.

HAROLD: Exactly.

And when we're done, we get to donate it down to the high schools to keep the recruits coming in because, as you said, we need more technicians.

DAN: Yeah, there's no lack of need of technicians, that's for sure.

HAROLD: Yeah.

Like I said, we have- we have good problems, we just don't have enough technicians to send to our dealers.

DAN: Yeah.

Well, thank you for having us, we appreciate you; and as always if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, hit us up right here, at MotorWeek .

JOHN: Now, let's head inside to the studio and back to Stephanie Hart for the deep dish on the 2024 Chicago Auto Show.

♪ ♪ STEPHANIE: We're back from the Windy City with a number of new product reveals and public debuts.

Our first news comes from Kia... A refreshed Carnival MPV and K5 sedan.

The Carnival update includes an optional hybrid powertrain: A 1.6 liter turbo paired with a 54 kilowatt electric motor.

An SUV-like minivan design outside and more tech inside is found on both hybrid and non-hybrid models.

The K5 also sees a powertrain update.

A naturally-aspirated, 191 horsepower, 2.5 liter engine is now standard in most trims, giving an 11 horsepower increase.

The K5 also boasts a refreshed design and more standard tech, like enhanced driver assistance features.

Nissan hit the show floor with two adventurous vehicles.

First, the Nissan Frontier Forsberg Edition.

This limited-edition package includes 17 inch beadlock wheels, Yokohama all-terrain tires, NISMO off-road suspension and exhaust, and plenty more.

Priced at almost $10,000, the package can be installed on any Frontier model year 2022 and up.

The brand also highlighted this specially modified Nissan Ariya EV, which traveled from the North Pole to the South Pole over a 10-month journey.

No changes made to the battery or powertrain, just larger all-terrain tires and wider fenders.

Chicago also marked the first public debut of a few products from American automakers... Like, the refreshed Ford Explorer.

No changes to the powertrain, but this midsize utility does receive a streamlined trim lineup.

Changes to the interior and exterior design aren't drastic, but welcomed and attractive.

Expect new and larger screens for digital instrumentation and infotainment, and Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving suite is available on select trims.

Chevrolet publicly debuted the 4th generation Equinox.

You guessed it: bigger screens inside, both instrument and infotainment panels measure about 11 inches each.

All-wheel-drive powertrains utilize an 8-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel units using a CVT.

And that's it for this week's MotorNews.

♪ ♪ GREG CARLOSS: Our 2023 Kia EV6 GT has been on the move a lot recently, as we've just passed the 5,000 mile mark in only 4-months.

Winter hasn't impeded things at all, just requiring us to take a little extra caution with the GT's performance tires.

Everything else remains solid as the EV6 GT truly is a joy to drive.

The cabin is lovely too, and the dash setup has it appearing more traditional than many EVs; though, the GT's splashes of additional color and accent lighting go a long way in making it special, as do the aggressively bolstered sport seats, and the unique themes that appear when changing drive modes, which we occasionally do accidentally by grazing the large steering wheel buttons.

Recently, every time I've hopped in for a cruise with this EV6 GT, the drive mode has been set to ECO, which is a bit unusual for us.

But I think it's because we're all realizing that it's been helpful in two ways this winter.

One, it takes some of the responsiveness out of the accelerator, decreasing the likelihood of unwanted wheel spin; and two, we're extending our range.

Indeed, recent news headlines have pointed out that cold weather does have an impact on EVs, particularly when it comes to batteries, charging, and range.

But it's certainly not a deal-breaker as very cold weather impacts everything else too.

EVs just require a little bit of thinking ahead, like making sure the battery and interior are warmed before unplugging to minimize range loss.

Much like remote starting has done for internal combustion cars for years.

We'll see how winter weather is treating our Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV on the next MotorWeek Long-Term Road Test Update!

JOHN: In a world that's SUV crazy, it's easy to forget that the lifted wagon-like Subaru Outback has been delivering capable and comfortable all-weather and all-road security to adventure-loving Americans for almost 30 years.

In fact, it's now well into its 6th generation.

So, it's time for us to check in with the latest Outback and find out what's new.

♪ ♪ Almost 50 years ago, long before all-wheel-drive became an option for just about every car on the road, Subaru released the first 4-wheel-drive passenger car in the US.

Immediately, they knew they had a good thing going with that wagon, but it wasn't until the 1990s that the marketing folks got on board and helped launch the Subaru Outback Sport Utility Wagon.

While, the 2024 Outback is approaching the end of its 6th generation, it's not slowing down when it comes to delivering tons of value to adventure-minded families.

The Outback is the sole remaining wagon available here in the U.S. from a mainstream brand, though even Subaru doesn't use the "W" word anymore.

Now, strictly referred to as a midsize SUV, when it comes to selling any vehicle, attractiveness is always a bonus, and the Outback's unique blend of rugged and refined has set the tone for many followers over the years.

The exterior was recently updated, and while it looks big and more like a true SUV than ever, it's only about 5.0 inches longer than the 1990s original.

Some trims do get additional standard content for '24, but our top Touring XT showcases everything Subaru has to offer, with an 11.6 inch Starlink infotainment screen that controls more features than ever, includes navigation, and pumps tunes out with Harmon Kardon sound.

Cargo capacity is a great 32.6 cubic-feet, 75.6 with rear seatbacks folded; and despite the high ground clearance, the floor is lower than SUV typical, which makes for easier loading.

Outback seat comfort has improved greatly over the years, and despite the increased reliance on the touchscreen, everything about the cabin is simple to operate and logically placed.

The XT part of our Touring XT means there's extra power under the hood with a 2.4 liter flat-4 turbo engine which rates 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque.

It's a big upgrade over the standard 182 horsepower, naturally-aspirated 2.5 liter.

Both engines are unchanged and work with Subaru's Lineartronic CVT; all-wheel-drive is, of course, another Outback standard.

At Mason-Dixon Dragway, our XT had plenty of grip off the line, hitting 60 in 6.0 seconds flat.

That's a couple of tenths quicker than our last time out with this turbo-4.

We'll chalk that up to better weather this time around.

Like, many Subaru's, it doesn't feel overly fast, but it's snappy off the line and perfectly adequate from there.

Power delivery stayed very consistent down the track; the CVT definitely keeps engine revs maxed out the whole time, but noise is far from annoying.

Our best quarter-mile time was 14.6 seconds at 97 miles per hour.

The Outback boasts 8.7 inches of ground clearance, which is more than many midsize SUVs; and while it felt plenty competent through our slalom course, there was noticeable body roll and understeer to deal with.

Yet, steering was light and predictable, plus, Active Torque Vectoring and Vehicle Dynamics Control are hard at work to keep you stable and safe no matter what.

In panic braking, there were only moderate amounts of nosedive and mild ABS pulsing.

Stops averaged a fine 115 feet from 60 miles per hour.

Base Outback's have plenty of standard content, and remain a real bargain, starting at just $30,240.

Top trims, including Wilderness, take you into the low 40s.

Decades of loyal Outback owners have helped Subaru grow the 2024 Subaru Outback into what it is today: A highly capable and comfortable, thoughtfully designed, adventure-ready family truckster that's as adept at backwoods exploring as it is soldiering through the daily grind.

Your family activities may not take you far off the beaten path, but life itself is an adventure, and the Subaru Outback is outfitted for your adventure better than ever.

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... As we track test a sport utility hero, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT.

Then, we'll soar down the highway in the updated Lincoln Corsair.

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... To order a DVD of this program... MotorWeek is proudly sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper, a nationwide network of stores and shops providing major brand auto and truck parts, and service from coast to coast, and in your local community.

Learn more at AutoValue.Com and BumperToBumper.Com.

TireRack.Com is proud to support MotorWeek !

First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it TireRack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

♪ ♪ This program was produced by Maryland Public Television, which is solely responsible for its content.

(engine revving) ♪ ♪ You're watching PBS.