HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS ISMOTORWEEK!
JOIN US AS WE CHECK OUT A NEW LUXURY COMPACT, THE ACURA ILX.
PAT GOSS HELPS KEEP OUR CARS IN THE PROPER ROTATION.
STEVEN CHUPNICK GOES OVER THE EDGE AND YET STAYS CONNECTED.
THEN WE GO ON TRACK WITH THE ALL NEW 7TH GENERATION PORSCHE 911.
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION Announcer: MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Man: AHH!
OHH.
AHH.
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John Davis: THE RECESSION AND RISING GAS PRICES HAS PROMPTED LUXURY CAR BUILDERS TO CONJURE UP NEW ENTRY-LEVEL MODELS THAT ARE EVEN MORE ENTRY-LEVEL THAN EVER -- BOTH FOR BOOMERS WITH DIMINISHING 401Ks AND FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO AREN'T MAKING AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY WOULD HAVE A FEW YEARS AGO.
THAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THE NEW ACURA ILX.
IT'S BASED ON THE EVER-POPULAR HONDA CIVIC.
BUT DOES THE ILX OFFER ENOUGH EXTRA TO MAKE BUYERS TAKE THAT LUXURY CAR LEAP?
THE 2013 ACURA ILX JOINS THE RECENTLY INTRODUCED BUICK VERANO IN MATCHING ENTRY LEVEL LUXURY SEDANS WITH TODAY'S FINANCIAL REALITIES, INCLUDING MORE REALISTIC PRICING, BUT MORE ON THAT LATER.
FOR NOW, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT THE ILX HAS TO OFFER THE NEAR PREMIUM LUXURY PRETENDER.
RATHER THAN JUST ONE CAR WITH THREE ENGINE CHOICES, THE ILX COMES IN THREE DISTINCT MODELS, EACH WITH ITS OWN POWERTRAIN.
THE ILX 2.0 FEATURES A 2.0-LITER I4 PAIRED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
THE ILX 2.4 UPGRADES TO HONDA'S LARGEST I4 MATED TO A 6-SPEED MANUAL.
AND FINALLY, THE ILX 1.5 HYBRID, COMPLETE WITH A CVT, AND THE FIRST HYBRID FOR THE ACURA BRAND.
THE 201-HORSEPOWER 2.4 HAS THE MOST CHARACTER, AND WILL OBVIOUSLY APPEAL MORE TO ENTHUSIASTS.
BUT IF YOU WANT THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE WITH NAVIGATION AND ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES, YOU HAVE TO SELECT EITHER THE 2.0 OR HYBRID.
THE 2-LITER IS ALL-NEW AND DEBUTS IN THE ILX.
OUTPUT IS 150-HORSEPOWER AND 140 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 24-CITY AND 35-HIGHWAY.
WE SAW 29.5 MILES-PER-GALLON ON PREMIUM GAS.
THE 1.5 HYBRID ACHIEVES 39-CITY AND 38-HIGHWAY.
THAT'S ABOUT 10% LESS THAN THE CIVIC HYBRID, BUT 10% MORE THAN THE OUTGOING LEXUS HS 250H HYBRID.
OUT ON THE ROAD, THE ILX 2.0 DEVELOPS ADEQUATE POWER, BUT NOT MUCH MORE.
THOUGH STEERING WHEEL PADDLE SHIFTERS ARE STANDARD AND CAN HELP RAISE THE FUN FACTOR A BIT.
HANDLING IS WELL SORTED OUT, WITH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT VIBE THAN CIVIC.
SUSPENSION IS FIRMER, AND RIDE MORE CONTROLLED.
STYLING IS ALSO A HUGE DEPARTURE FROM CIVIC.
WHILE NICE LOOKING, IT'S MUCH MORE ON THE CONSERVATIVE, CLASSY TRIP, LEAVING ONLY ACURA'S SHIELD GRILLE TO DENOTE ANY AGGRESSION.
THE FRONT END IS WIDER THAN CIVIC WHILE THE HOOD IS A GOOD DEAL LONGER.
BODY LINES FLOW UP AND OVER THE REAR WHEELS GIVING A HEFTY HAUNCH, WHILE THICK C-PILLARS GIVE A COUPE-LIKE TILT.
THE REAR ALSO PROUDLY SHOWS OFF THE ILX'S WIDER STANCE AND 16-INCH ALUMINUM WHEELS ARE STANDARD, WITH 17s OPTIONAL.
INSIDE, THE ENVIRONMENT FOLLOWS THE LARGER TL'S BLEND OF HIGH-TECH FEATURES WITH MODERN STYLE, ALL WRAPPED IN A SPACIOUS COCKPIT DESIGN.
GAUGES HAVE AN UPSCALE LOOK, AND THERE'S A SMALL INFO SCREEN IN THE CENTER.
FRONT SEATS ARE WIDE AND ADEQUATELY COMFORTABLE, AND MUCH LIKE THE CIVIC, VISIBILITY IS EXCELLENT.
BACK SEAT PASSENGERS COULD USE A LITTLE MORE LEGROOM, BUT SEAT COMFORT IS GOOD FOR A COMPACT.
THE BACK SEATS FOLD FLAT WITH A NICE, WIDE OPENING INTO THE TRUNK.
THE TRUNK AREA ITSELF IS WELL LAID OUT AND THERE'S ROOM FOR 12.4 CUBIC FEET OF CARGO.
THE STANDARD ILX COMES VERY WELL EQUIPPED WITH KEYLESS ENTRY, PUSH-BUTTON START, MOON ROOF, AND iPOD CONNECTIVITY.
THE AVAILABLE PREMIUM PACKAGE ADDS HEATED LEATHER SEATS AND BACK-UP CAMERA.
BESIDES NAVIGATION WITH ACURALINK TRAFFIC AND WEATHER, THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE UPGRADES THE SOUND SYSTEM TO 365-WATTS.
AT OUR TRACK, UNDER CLEAR SKIES, ON A PICTURE PERFECT DAY, WE NAVIGATED OUR ILX 2.0 TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 17.2 SECONDS, CRUISING ALONG AT 84 MILES PER HOUR.
WHILE THOSE NUMBERS WON'T IMPRESS MANY, A 0 TO 60 TIME OF 9.3-SECONDS IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO GET YOU UP TO SPEED ON YOUR DAILY COMMUTE.
BRINGING THE ILX TO A HALT FROM 60 TAKES A 132-FEET, HOWEVER.
NOT UNACCEPTABLE FOR A LUXURY CAR TIPPING THE SCALE AT JUST UNDER 3,000-POUNDS, BUT WE'D LIKE IT TO BE SHORTER.
PEDAL FEEL IS ALSO VAGUE AND TRAVEL LONG.
WHILE OUR 2-LITER ILX NEVER QUITE FEELS SPORTY THROUGH THE CONES, IT DOES FEEL VERY SOLID.
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IS QUICK AND SMOOTH, WHILE THE MACPHERSON STRUT FRONT AND MULTI-LINK REAR SUSPENSION ALONG WITH FRONT AND REAR STABILIZER BARS KEPT THINGS RELATIVELY FLAT.
YES, IT HANDLES LIKE WE WOULD EXPECT FROM ACURA.
THE CIVIC'S STEERING SYSTEM HAS BEEN REWORKED WITH A QUICKER RATIO FOR BETTER RESPONSE AND BEEFIER PARTS TO IMPROVE FEEL.
IT ALSO FEATURES MOTION ADAPTIVE EPS WHICH WORKS WITH THE VSA AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS TO APPLY ASSISTIVE FORCE WHEN CORRECTIONS ARE NEEDED.
BUT THE REAL STORY OF THE ILX IS PRICING.
THE ILX 2.0 BEGINS AT ONLY $26,795.
THAT'S FOUR GRAND MORE THAN A BUICK VERANO, BUT ALMOST $6,000 LESS THAN AN AUDI A4.
THE ILX 2.4 STARTS AT $30,095, WHILE THE 1.5 HYBRID WILL COST SLIGHTLY LESS AT $29,795.
ACURA HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF GENETICALLY ALTERING THE HONDA CIVIC INTO THE HIGH VALUE ILX.
IT'S NOT A COMPLETE REINCARNATION OF THE FONDLY-REMEMBERED RSX HATCHBACK COUPE, BUT WITH ITS 2.4 MILL, THE ILX SEDAN IS SURPRISINGLY CLOSE.
MORE THAN A CIVIC WITH A NEW PERSONALITY, THE ILX IS ALSO A RETURN TO WHAT THE ACURA BRAND ORIGINALLY STOOD FOR, ATTAINABLE LUXURY, BUT NOW WITH MODERN FUEL ECONOMY, AND WE SEE THAT AS A RIGHT TURN FOR ACURA.
NOW A DAYS, IT SEEMS WE ALL NEED TO STAY CONSTANTLY CONNECTED, WHETHER IT'S WITH THE OFFICE OR WITH OUR FAMILIES.
UNFORTUNATELY, STAYING CONNECTED IN OUR CARS HAS MANY OF US SEEING RED.
NOW, LOTS OF US HAVE TRIED SOME FORM OF INFOTAINMENT COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, BUT THIS WEEK, OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY, STEVEN CHUPNICK, GIVES US AN INSIDE LOOK AT DESIGNING THE DEVICES THAT KEEP US CONNECTED.
Steven Chupnk:k: "THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT."
WE'VE BEEN HEARING THE PHRASE FOR YEARS NOW, BUT WITH STATES MANDATING THE USE OF HANDS-FREE DEVICES IN YOUR CAR, IT'S NEVER MEANT MORE.
SO DRIVERS ARE TURNING TO OTHER TOOLS TO HELP KEEP THEM LINKED TO THE WORLD WHILE MAINTAINING SAFETY ON THE ROAD.
MOST NEW CARS TODAY ARE AVAILABLE WITH AN INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM, INFORMATION SUCH AS WEATHER AND TRAFFIC UPDATES, AS WELL AS A PORTABLE MUSIC SOURCE.
BUT IF YOU HAVE AN OLDER CAR, OR YOU DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE OFTEN EXPENSIVE FACTORY OPTIONS, THERE ARE AFTERMARKET COMPANIES AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU GET CONNECTED TO THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY; AMONG UNITS FROM ALPINE, JVC, PIONEER, AND OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES.
A DIGITAL MEDIA RECEIVER THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE IS THE PARROT ASTEROID.
WE SPOKE TO THE PARROT COMPANY THROUGH ANOTHER EXPANDING TECHNOLOGY - SKYPE, FROM THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN PARIS, FRANCE.
Frederic Albinet: THE PURPOSE WAS TO BRING THE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY INTO THE VEHICLE.
THAT WAS KIND OF OUR REVOLUTION.
Steven: PARROT HAS BEEN A PIONEER IN BRINGING THE INTERNET INSIDE THE CAR, AND THEY'RE CONTINUING THAT LEGACY WITH THE ASTEROID RECEIVER, BASED ON THE ANDROID OPERATING SYSTEM.
Coleman Bennett: PARROT PUTS A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO THEIR SYSTEMS THAT THEY PUT OUT THERE.
THEY'VE BEEN INNOVATING IT FOR 15 YEARS NOW.
Steven: DESIGNING THE ASTEROID WAS A FOUR YEAR INTENSE PROCESS, IMPLEMENTING A FULL CAR RECEIVER WITH WEATHER, TRAFFIC AND MAP APPLICATIONS, AS WELL AS BLUETOOTH CAPABILITY, THE SAME AS IN YOUR iPHONE OR OTHER SMART PHONE.
[BEEP] GUNS AND ROSES.
Frederic Albinet: IT'S MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, VOICE ACTIVATION, NOISE CANCELLATION, MORE TOWARDS MUSIC, WEB APPLICATIONS, STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S KIND OF THAT TECHNOLOGY BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE, AND LET'S SAY, THE CORE BUSINESS OF PARROT, WHICH IS MOSTLY HANDS-FREE CONNECTIVITY AND ALL THE NEW KIND OF APPLICATIONS.
Ben Davis: THE COOLEST THING ABOUT IT IS YOU CAN STREAM BLUETOOTH AUDIO.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO TAKE, FOR INSTANCE, MY iPHONE OUT OF MY POCKET.
Steven: THE ASTEROID, WITH ITS TFT VIDEO DISPLAY, FITS RIGHT IN YOUR DASH; IT IS DESIGNED TO REPLACE A TYPICAL FACTORY STEREO IN OLDER CARS.
Ben: LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT I WAS ROCKIN' ON...
THIS CIRCA '94 CHRYSLER BAD BOY, RIGHT HERE.
IT JUST DOESN'T KICK OUT THE JAMS LIKE THIS PARROT UNIT DOES.
Steven: ANOTHER AVENUE IS TO ADD INFOTAINMENT CAPABILITIES TO YOUR EXISTING STEREO SYSTEM.
THAT'S WHAT PARROT'S MK-I UNIT CAN DO.
AGAIN, THE DISPLAY AND VOICE ACTIVATED CONTROLS ALLOW THE DRIVER TO NEVER TAKE THEIR EYES AND HANDS OFF THE ROAD.
Michelle Robinson: FOR ME, THE BEST FEATURE IS THE VOICE COMMAND, SO I CAN CALL MY HUSBAND OR CALL WORK WITHOUT HAVING TO PICK UP MY PHONE AND TRY TO FIND THE NUMBER.
Coleman Bennett: 15 YEARS AGO, I'D NEVER THOUGHT THAT MY PHONE WOULD BE TALKING TO MY CAR.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN YOU DO.
Steven: SO WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE CONNECTED CAR?
Ben: IDEALLY, I WOULD LIKE IT TO PULL UP A STARBUCKS APP AND ORDER ME A STARBUCKS SO THAT I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO - I CAN JUST ROLL IN AND GRAB A STARBUCKS EVERY MORNING AT A SPECIFIC TIME, I'D JUST PROGRAM THAT IN.
Steven: OK, SO MAYBE WE CAN'T HAVE IT BEN'S WAY.
IT'D BE NICE, BUT THAT'S STILL DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT THE WAY IN-CAR CONNECTIVITY IS GOING, IT COULD HAPPEN, AND SOON!
John: EVERYONE KNOWS TO KEEP THEIR TIRES ROTATED, BUT LIKE MOST THINGS, THERE'S A RIGHT WAY AND A WRONG WAY.
PAT GOSS NEVER STEERS US WRONG.
SO LET'S HEAD DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE FOR HIS ADVICE.
Pat Goss: HAVE YOU CHECKED THE PRICE OF TIRES LATELY?
THEY ARE EXPENSIVE!
SO, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET TWICE AS MUCH WEAR OUT OF THE TIRES?
WELL, IN MOST CASES, YOU CAN.
THAT'S BY PROPERLY ROTATING THE TIRES ON YOUR CAR.
NOW, CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU MIGHT HEAR, PROPER ROTATION MEANS THAT AT LEAST TWO OF THE TIRES ON YOUR CAR HAVE TO TURN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE TO GET ON TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR.
BUT BEFORE WE GO IN TO HOW YOU DO THAT, WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT?
WELL, IF WE LOOK AT THIS TIRE, WE CAN SEE THESE BLOCKS OF RUBBER.
NOW, AS THIS TIRE ROTATES DOWN THE ROAD, THIS EDGE OF THIS BLOCK OF RUBBER HITS THE ROAD FIRST AND IT PUSHES THE RUBBER DOWN AND THE BACK EDGE OF IT OUT.
WELL, THAT MEANS THAT THE BACK EDGE OF THAT BLOCK OF RUBBER GETS MORE WEAR THAN THE FRONT EDGE.
WELL, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE TIRE IS GOING TO GET NOISY AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN UNEVEN WEAR PATTERN ALONG THE EDGE OF THE TIRE.
TO PREVENT THAT, YOU SIMPLY TURN IT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
OK, SO, WHAT IS THE PROPER TIRE ROTATION?
WELL, WE'RE DEALING WITH A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE CAR, SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE RIGHT FRONT AND GO STRAIGHT BACK TO THE RIGHT REAR.
THE LEFT FRONT IS GOING TO GO TO THE LEFT REAR; THEN THE RIGHT REAR IS GOING TO THE LEFT FRONT AND THE LEFT REAR IS GOING TO THE RIGHT FRONT.
WE'RE X-ING THE TIRES THAT ARE GOING ONTO THE DRIVE WHEELS.
NOW, IF YOU HAVE A REAR-WHEEL DRIVE CAR, YOU WOULD REVERSE THAT PROCEDURE.
BY GETTING THESE TIRES TO ROTATE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO EVEN OUT THE TIRE WEAR AND GET LONGER TIRE LIFE.
NOW, A COUPLE THINGS YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS YOURSELF, WELL, GET YOURSELF A TIRE CRAYON AND MARK THE POSITION OF THE TIRES ON THE INSIDE AND WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THEM BEFORE YOU TAKE THEM OFF SO YOU DON'T GET 'EM MIXED UP THAT'S WHAT WE DO IN THE REPAIR SHOP.
AND THE SECOND THING IS, AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IF YOU TAKE YOUR CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED, ALWAYS USE A TORQUE WRENCH TO REINSTALL THE WHEELS.
YOU SEE, TORQUE WRENCHES WILL PREVENT WARPED BRAKE ROTORS.
AIR IMPACT WRENCHES ALMOST GUARANTEE WARPED BRAKE ROTORS.
SO THIS CAN SAVE YOU A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF MONEY, AND A LOT OF AGGRAVATION, JUST LIKE THE TIRE ROTATION CAN GIVE YOU A LOT LONGER TIRE LIFE.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE ATMOTORWEEK.
John: TIME NOW FOR A QUICK UPDATE ON THE LATEST IN OUR MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM TEST FLEET STARTING WITH THE NISSAN LEAF EV.
AFTER TWO MONTHS AND WITH 1,300 COMMUTER MILES ON THE DIGITAL ODOMETER, OUR STAFF IS VERY PLEASED WITH THE PRACTICALITY OF THIS PIONEERING EV.
THE LEAF IS COMFORTABLE, ABLE TO HAUL PLENTY OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS, WHILE STILL BORDERING ON FUN-TO-DRIVE.
THE RANGE INDICATOR ALWAYS DROPS FASTER THAN EXPECTED WHEN YOU'RE FIRST STARTING OUT, AND SO FAR WE'VE USED HEAT AND A/C SPARINGLY TO EXTEND RANGE.
BUT WE'VE NEVER COME CLOSE TO RUNNING OUT OF POWER.
WITH THE HOTTEST MONTHS OF SUMMER AHEAD, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN KEEP OUR COOL IN THE NISSAN LEAF.
THE RUSH IS ON TO MARKET NEW SMALL CROSSOVER UTILITIES, AND RIVALS HAVE PEGGED THE HONDA CR-V AS THE ONE TO BEAT.
NO WONDER, OUR LONG-TERM CR-V IS STYLISH, ULTRA-PRACTICAL, AND VERY FUEL EFFICIENT FOR ITS CLASS.
WITH 6,700 MILES ON ITS 185-HORSEPOWER 2.4-LITER ENGINE, WE'RE RETURNING 28.9 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.
ALSO, WHILE THE CR-V IS OFFICIALLY A COMPACT, WE FIND THAT MISLEADING SINCE IT HAS MORE SEAT-DOWN CARGO SPACE THAN OUR MID-SIZE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE.
WE ALSO HAVE NO WANTS YET FOR THE CR-V, BUT WE'LL KEEP LOOKING.
ONE COMPACT UTE THAT HAS TARGETED THE CR-V IS THIS MAZDA CX-5.
WE PICKED IT AS OUR TOP SMALL UTILITY OF THE YEAR BASED ON STYLE, DRIVABILITY, AND ITS NEW FUEL EFFICIENT SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY.
NOW WE'LL LIVE WITH THIS CX-5 FOR A YEAR TO SEE IF OUR FAITH WAS WELL PLACED.
WE'RE ALSO WELCOMING THE NEW SUBARU IMPREZA TO OUR LOT.
WINNER OF OUR BEST COMPACT CAR DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD, THIS 2.0I SPORT HATCHBACK IS AN ABLE ALTERNATIVE TO A SMALL UTE WHILE RATCHETING UP THE FUN FACTOR.
NOW IT'S TIME TO SEE IF OUR INITIAL RAVES LAST THROUGH ALL FOUR SEASONS.
WE'LL ENTERTAIN OUR STAFF'S THOUGHTS ON THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI AND OUR HYUNDAI ACCENT, ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.
NOW LET'S HEAD INSIDE TO OUR STUDIO WHERE YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS THE LATEST MOTORNEWS.
Yolanda: IS A DRIVERLESS FUTURE NEARER THAN WE THINK?
SWEDISH AUTOMAKER VOLVO IS TESTING OUT NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT JUST MIGHT MAKE IT SO.
SINCE THE 1950s, AUTOMAKERS, UNIVERSITIES AND HIGH-TECH COMPANIES HAVE BEEN INTRIGUED BY THE IDEA OF CARS THAT DRIVE THEMSELVES.
NOW VOLVO TRUCKS IS WORKING ON A PROJECT THROUGH A EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM THAT COMBINES A DRIVER'S KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WITH AN AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM.
SARTRE - WHICH STANDS FOR SAFE ROAD TRAINS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - USES A CONVOY SYSTEM IN WHICH THE LEAD DRIVER DOES ALL THE DRIVING FOR THE VEHICLES FOLLOWING BEHIND.
VEHICLE PLATOONING AS IT'S CALLED, MEASURES THE DISTANCE, SPEED AND DIRECTION OF THE CAR IN FRONT AND ADJUSTS THE OTHER CARS ACCORDINGLY.
VOLVO CITES A NUMBER OF BENEFITS FROM REDUCED FUEL CONSUMPTION TO LESS ROAD CONGESTION.
THE TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN TESTED SUCCESSFULLY WITH ONE CAR FOLLOWING THE LEAD VEHICLE, BUT PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE AND LEGISLATIVE OBSTACLES REMAIN.
NOT TO BE OUTDONE, GOOGLE GETS A LEG UP ON THE COMPETITION BY PASSING A MAJOR DRIVERLESS HURDLE.
THE COMPANY JUST MADE HISTORY BY RECEIVING THE FIRST LICENSE EVER FOR A SELF-DRIVING CAR SYSTEM.
GOOGLE'S MODIFIED TOYOTA PRIUS WAS GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT AFTER IT PASSED SEVERAL DRIVING TESTS IN NEVADA.
IN ORDER TO BE APPROVED FOR ROAD TRAVEL, AN AUTONOMOUS CAR MUST LOG A MINIMUM OF 10,000 MILES AND OPERATORS MUST PRESENT A DETAILED SAFETY PLAN ALONG WITH A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THEIR SELF-DRIVING TECHNOLOGY.
HOWEVER, NOT EVERYONE IS CELEBRATING GOOGLE'S EFFORTS.
PRIVACY GROUPS ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE SELF-DRIVING CARS OFF THE ROAD; THEY CLAIM GOOGLE IS COLLECTING PERSONAL DATA, SUCH AS THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AND ITS LOCATION, INFORMATION GOOGLE SAYS IS NECESSARY DURING THE TESTING PHASE.
GOOGLE IS LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH AN AUTOMAKER TO BRING THEIR PROJECT TO FRUITION.
THEY SAY THE SELF-DRIVING CAR COULD BE ON THE ROAD WITHIN A DECADE.
THAT'S THE LATEST UPDATE FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
John: AN ALL NEW PORSCHE 911 IS TRULY A RARE THING, AS THERE HAVE BEEN JUST SIX GENERATIONS OF THE ICONIC SPORTS CAR IN ITS 48 YEARS OF PRODUCTION.
THE MOST RECENT 997 DEBUTED IN 2005 WITH NOT ONLY INCREASED PERFORMANCE, BUT MORE TECHNOLOGY AND LUXURY AS WELL.
NOW THIS 7TH GENERATION 911 LOOKS TO BRING EVEN MORE OF THE CUTTING EDGE TO THIS FABLED LABEL.
BUT IS THIS A CAR TOO FAR?
AT FIRST GLANCE, IT DOESN'T APPEAR LIKE ANYTHING EXTREME, BUT THE 2012 PORSCHE 911, DUBBED THE 991, IS INDEED ALL-NEW, AS 90% OF ITS PARTS ARE FRESH.
IN SILHOUETTE, THE ICONIC SHAPE AND SLOPING ROOFLINE ARE ALL THERE, BUT WHEELBASE HAS GROWN BY 4-INCHES TO 96.5, WHILE OVERALL LENGTH IS UP JUST ONE INCH TO 176.8.
ROOF HEIGHT IS DOWN HALF AN INCH, FRONT TRACK IS WIDER, LARGER AIR INTAKES DOMINATE THE FRONT END, AND BIGGER 20-INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD ON THE CARRERA S. BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS ARE ALSO STANDARD, WHILE CORNER LIGHTING FROM THE DYNAMIC LIGHT SYSTEM IS OPTIONAL.
THE NEW SUNROOF IS A WIN-WIN.
IT SLIDES OVER THE TOP OF THE ROOF AND NOT INSIDE IT AS BEFORE, ALLOWING FOR BOTH THE LOWER OVERALL HEIGHT AND ADDITIONAL HEADROOM.
WIDE HIPS STILL DOMINATE THE REAR VIEW AND NEW LED TAILLIGHTS FLASH UNDER HARD BRAKING TO WARN THOSE FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY.
AN ACTIVE REAR SPOILER DEPLOYS AUTOMATICALLY AT 75 MPH.
WHILE THE BODY IS LARGER, IT'S LIGHTER THAN BEFORE, HELPING THE 991, IN CARRERA S PDK TRIM, WEIGH IN A TAD LESS AT 3,120 POUNDS.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO TINKER WITH AN ICON, MAKING IT LOOK FAMILIAR, YET FRESH.
WE FEEL PORSCHE HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB WITH THE NEW 911.
A HEAVILY REVISED 3.8-LITER FLAT-6 ENGINE POWERS THE CARRERA S. HORSEPOWER IS UP 15 TO 400, WHILE TORQUE CLIMBS 15 TO 325 POUND FEET; THE BASE CARRERA GETS A NEW, SMALLER 3.4-LITER.
FUEL ECONOMY IS UP IN BOTH ENGINES BY ABOUT 15%.
ACTUAL GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR OUR PDK-EQUIPPED CARRERA S ARE 20-CITY AND 27-HIGHWAY ON PREMIUM GRADE GAS.
HELPING TO ACHIEVE THOSE NUMBERS, IS AN ALL-NEW, INDUSTRY FIRST 7-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION; BUT MOST BUYERS WILL OPT FOR OUR CAR'S 7-SPEED PDK AUTOMATIC.
ACCELERATION IS AS SPIRITED AS YOU'D EXPECT, WITH THE PDK IN LAUNCH MODE, YOU CAN DISPATCH 60 IN JUST 3.9-SECONDS; THE QUARTER MILE FLIES BY IN 12.1-SECONDS WITH A TRAP SPEED OF 114 MILES-PER-HOUR.
THE 991 IS CERTAINLY ONE HIGH TECH PIECE OF MACHINERY; THERE'S A LOT OF ELECTRONIC ASSIST, FROM TORQUE-VECTORING, ELECTRO-MECHANICAL STEERING, DYNAMIC CHASSIS CONTROL, AND A DOWNHILL ENGINE COASTING FUNCTION THAT DISENGAGES THE PDK TRANSMISSION.
BUT UNLIKE MOST RIVALS, EVERYTHING HAPPENS SO SEAMLESSLY YOU'RE RARELY AWARE OF ANY INTERVENTION.
ONE THING WE DID NOTICE IS THE NEW AUTO START/STOP FUNCTION.
IT WORKS VERY WELL, AND IS ALSO EASILY DISABLED, AND IT WILL TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY WHEN YOU ENGAGE SPORT MODE.
SPORT MODE ALSO RATCHETS UP ENGINE RESPONSE, INCREASES STABILITY CONTROL THRESHOLD, GIVES THE PDK MORE AGGRESSIVE SHIFTS, AND STIFFENS UP NEW DYNAMIC ENGINE MOUNTS, WHICH WE FOUND OUT AT THE HIGH SPEED CORNERS OF SAVANNAH'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY.
BOTH FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSIONS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED AND CONSIST MOSTLY OF ALUMINUM.
BRAKES ARE BOTH BIGGER AND LIGHTER, AND CERAMIC DISCS CONTINUE TO BE AN OPTION.
OUR CAR DIDN'T HAVE THEM, BUT EVEN AFTER TWO DAYS AT THE TRACK, 100 FOOT SUPER SHORT STOPS FROM 60 WERE THE NORM.
DESPITE ITS FAMOUS REAR MOUNTED ENGINE, THE NEW 911 IS ONE OF THE MOST COMFORTABLE AND FORGIVING SPORTS CARS EVER.
THE INTERIOR HAS TAKEN A BIT OF A SPORTIER TURN COMPARED TO THE GT-CAR-LIKE 997.
MOST CONTROLS LIE IN THE "PANAMERA-INSPIRED" CENTER CONSOLE THAT RISES UP TO MEET THE DASH, PUTTING THE SHIFTER, JUST INCHES FROM THE WHEEL.
BUT IT'S NOT SPARSE.
JUST ABOUT EVERY SURFACE IS COVERED IN HIGH QUALITY LEATHER, AND PLENTY OF LUXURY AMENITIES ARE PRESENT.
7-INCH TOUCH SCREEN NAVIGATION IS STANDARD, AS ARE POWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS.
REAR SEATS ARE STILL MORE USEFUL FOR LUGGAGE THAN PEOPLE, AND CARGO CAPACITY UP FRONT STAYS THE SAME AT 4.8 CUBIC FEET.
GAUGES REMAIN THE CLASSIC 5-DIAL SETUP, WITH A LARGE TACH RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE AND A DASH MOUNTED TIMER INDICATES YOU'VE OPTED FOR THE SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE.
A NEW SOUND SYMPOSER OPTION LETS YOU PIPE ADDITIONAL AMBIANCE INTO THE CABIN IF YOU WANT TO HEAR, AS WELL AS FEEL, THE ENGINES FULL WRATH.
THE 2012 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA S IS ON SALE NOW, WITH A PRICE THAT IS UP SLIGHTLY OVER LAST YEAR TO $97,350.
THE BASE CARRERA RINGS IN AT $83,050.
PURISTS HAVE GIVEN PORSCHE GRIEF OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS FOR DIVERSIFYING THEIR LINE-UP, BUT SELLING ALL OF THOSE BIG SEDANS AND SUVS HAS JUST ENABLED THEM TO MAKE A MUCH BETTER 911.
SURE, MORE AND MORE ELECTRONICS HAVE CREEPED INTO THE DRIVING EQUATION.
BUT WHEN THEY WORK THIS WELL, IT'S HARD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM.
SO, IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE, GRAB THE WHEEL OF A NEW 911, FIND SOME TWISTIES, AND ENJOY THE RIDE.
WE SURE DID!
WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MOREMOTORWEEK.
WHEN WE'LL TEST TWO HOT RODS WITH DIFFERENT MISSIONS FROM SLP.
THEN WE'LL TURN THE WHEELS OF THE NEW C-CLASS COUPE FROM MERCEDES-BENZ.
TILL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS.
WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ONMOTORWEEK.
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