2012 Acura RDX & 2013 Ram 1500

HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK!

JOIN US AND SEE IF ACURA HAS UPPED THEIR GAME

WITH A NEW UPSCALE RDX CROSSOVER.

PAT GOSS HAS SOME NEW ADVICE FOR THOSE OF US WITH OLDER TIRES.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ FINDS A SMART WAY TO MAKE FEEDING THE METER

A THING OF THE PAST.

AND WE'LL BREAK FROM THE HERD

IN THE NEW V6 8-SPEED RAM 1500 PICKUP.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

JESSICA, I HAVE SOMETHING I WANT TO ASK YOU...

YES?

WHEN I'M SWITCHING TO WINTER TIRES DO I HAVE TO CHANGE ALL FOUR OR CAN I JUST PUT TWO ON THE FRONT AXLE?

I DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S A BETTER PLACE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TIRES.

GET SOME WINGS?

TIRE RACK.COM CAN HELP YOU GET THE ANSWERS YOU NEED

AND HELP YOU FIND WHICH TIRES ARE BEST FOR YOU.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRE RACK.COM.

AND BY...

3M...MAKER OF 3M'S

COMPLETE COLOR-CODED PAINT RESTORATION SYSTEM.

HELPS RESTORE YOUR CAR'S AUTO FINISH REMOVING OXIDATION,

SWIRL MARKS, AND LIGHT SCRATCHES.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT 3MAUTO.COM.

John: THE 2007 ACURA RDX WAS HAILED AS THE "URBAN RUNNING" BACK

OF COMPACT CROSSOVERS.

WITH TURBO-4 POWER AND SUPER-HANDLING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE,

IT LOOKED PRIMED TO BLAST THROUGH THE COMPETITION.

BUT AS IT TURNED OUT,

MOST COMPACT LUXURY CROSSOVER PRETENDERS

AREN'T LOOKING FOR OVERBOARD PERFORMANCE;

THEY JUST WANT ROOM FOR THEIR STUFF,

A FEW HIGH-END FEATURES TO BRAG ABOUT,

AND ENOUGH TRACTION FOR THE OCCASIONAL SNOW DAY.

SO LET'S SEE IF THE RE-PURPOSED ACURA RDX

DOES ANY BETTER WITH THIS NEW MISSION.

ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED FOR YOUNG, HOT-SHOT COUPLES

WHO WERE LOOKING FOR A JAZZY LUXURY CROSSOVER

TO MAKE QUICK GETAWAYS OUT OF THE CITY,

THE 2013 ACURA RDX HAS BEEN REDESIGNED

MORE FOR THE "BEEN-THERE DONE-THAT" CROWD,

WHO WANT REFINEMENT AND ALL-WEATHER SECURITY

IN A COMPACT BUT VERSATILE PACKAGE.

AND WE CAN CERTAINLY FEEL THAT THE NEW RDX IS MORE REFINED.

THE MACPHERSON STRUT FRONT SUSPENSION

AND TRAILING ARM MULTI-LINK REAR HAVE BEEN RE-ENGINEERED,

NOW WITH AN EMPHASIS MORE ON RIDE COMFORT

RATHER THAN HANDLING PERFORMANCE.

STILL, NEW AMPLITUDE REACTIVE DAMPERS

FEATURE AN INTEGRATED REBOUND SPRING THAT HELPS MAINTAIN

MOST OF THE PREVIOUS MODELS CORNERING CAPABILITIES.

POWER TOO TAKES A STEP UPSCALE

BY SUBSTITUTING A CORPORATE SINGLE-CAM 3.5-LITER V6.

HORSEPOWER IS UP 33 OVER THE PREVIOUS TURBO-4 TO 273,

AND TORQUE RATES 251 POUND-FEET.

THE FAMILIAR SIX INCLUDES VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT,

WHILE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GAINS A SIXTH GEAR.

BOTH GELLING TO MAKE GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS

ACTUALLY BETTER THAN THE 4-CYLINDER

AT 19-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY,

AND 22-COMBINED FOR OUR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MODEL.

WE AVERAGED AN IMPRESSIVE 26.1 MILES-PER-GALLON

OF PREMIUM FUEL IN MIXED DRIVING.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS ALSO MUCH IMPROVED

BURNING THROUGH 15 BARRELS OF OIL PER YEAR

WHILE EMITTING 6.7 TONS OF CO2.

THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM ITSELF IS LESS REFINED HOWEVER.

GONE IS ACURA'S TORQUE SHIFTING SUPER-HANDLING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE

WHERE UP TO 70% OF THE POWER COULD SWITCH TO THE REAR WHEELS.

THE NEW RDX USES THE HONDA CR-V'S

INTELLIGENT CONTROL ON-DEMAND SYSTEM.

SO, WHILE YOU WON'T GET MUCH HELP IN SWITCHBACKS,

UP TO HALF THE POWER CAN FIND ITS WAY TO THE BACK

FOR ABLE TRACTION IN SLUSH AND SNOW.

REFINEMENT CONTINUES INSIDE

AS THE NEW COCKPIT HAS A GENUINE PREMIUM FEEL,

TRADING A SPORTY EDGE FOR THE MORE TYPICAL BLEND

OF ACURA HIGH-TECH MODERN LUXURY.

THE LEATHER UPHOLSTERY LOOKS BOTH INVITING AND DURABLE.

BUT JUST WHEN YOU START APPRECIATING NEW FEATURES

LIKE STANDARD 10-WAY POWER DRIVER'S SEAT WITH HEAT,

AND PUSH-BUTTON START,

YOU ALSO BEGIN NOTICING COST CUTTING MEASURES

LIKE ONLY 4-WAY POWER FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER

AND GETTING A BACK-UP CAMERA,

LET ALONE NAVIGATION,

REQUIRES ADDING A TECH.

PACKAGE.

THE NAV SYSTEM IS THE TYPICAL ACURA SETUP,

AND WHILE WE LIKE THE POSITION OF THE CENTRAL CONTROLLER,

WE FIND THAT MANY TIMES IT JUST TAKES TOO MANY CLICK-THROUGHS

TO GET TO WHAT YOU WANT.

WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE GOING TOUCHSCREEN,

WHY CAN'T ACURA?

STILL, IT'S HARD TO CONSIDER THE RDX AN ENTRY-LEVEL MODEL,

AS IT IS CLEARLY A BIG STEP UP

OVER ACURA'S OTHER ENTRY-LEVEL OFFERING, THE ILX SEDAN.

IT'S ALSO HARD TO PIGEONHOLE THE RDX

AS A COMPACT CROSSOVER EITHER,

AS IT OFFERS INTERIOR ROOM AND AN OVERALL FEEL

THAT'S MORE MID-SIZE.

THAT'S DESPITE A SMALL TOWING CAPACITY OF JUST 1,500 POUNDS.

THE REAR SEAT IS ROOMY FOR ITS SIZE, HOWEVER,

AND SEAT BACKS FOLD EASILY WITH THE PULL OF A LEVER,

THOUGH NOT COMPLETELY FLAT.

STILL, SEAT UP CARGO ROOM IS ALMOST BEST IN CLASS

AT 26.1 CUBIC-FEET, AND 61.3 WITH THEM FOLDED.

IF WE HAVE ONE COMPLAINT, IT'S THAT THE NEW RDX

DOESN'T REALLY SEEM TO HAVE A SPARKLING PERSONALITY.

IT LOOKS VERY NICE, INSIDE AND OUT,

ESPECIALLY WITH ITS MORE SUBDUED SHIELD GRILLE,

BUT A BIT STERILE OVERALL,

AND PERHAPS NOW TOO SIMILAR TO A LOT OF OTHER COMPACT CROSSOVERS,

INCLUDING HONDA'S OWN CR-V.

AT OUR TEST TRACK,

THE RDX'S ELECTRIC-ASSIST POWER STEERING FELT GREAT,

AND DIVING THROUGH THE CONES WAS EASIER THAN WE WERE EXPECTING

GIVEN THE ABSENCE OF SUPER-HANDLING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

FRONT END REACTION IS DIRECT AND TURN-INS SHARP,

WHILE BODY ROLL IS MODERATE.

STREAKING DOWN THE QUARTER-MILE,

THE RDX IS SMOOTH AND QUIET AS IT HITS 95-MILES PER HOUR

IN 15.4-SECONDS.

SPRINTS TO 60 TAKE JUST 7.0-SECONDS,

THANKS TO A NICE, FIRM LAUNCH AND QUICK-BUILDING POWER.

PANIC STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGED JUST 126-FEET,

WITH GOOD PEDAL FEEL

AND CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT OUR TESTS.

SO, MAYBE THE RDX HASN'T LOST

ALL OF ITS ATHLETIC PRETENSE AFTER ALL.

BUT AS IT IS MORE REFINED AND BETTER EQUIPPED,

ITS PRICE HAS ALSO MOVED A BIT UPSCALE.

BASE STICKER JUMPS ABOUT 4% TO $35,215.

ADDING ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS ANOTHER $1,400,

AND GOING ALL IN WITH THE TECH PACKAGE

WILL TAKE YOU TO $40,315.

THE 2013 ACURA RDX SUCCEEDS IN ITS NEW MISSION

OF PROVIDING HIGH TECH LUXURY AND FOUR-SEASON TRACTION

IN A SMALLER BUT STILL AMPLE SIZED PACKAGE.

AND IT IS TRULY A NICE VEHICLE,

IT'S JUST NO LONGER A STANDOUT.

THE FIRST RDX TOOK A PRETTY UNIQUE APPROACH.

THE NEW RDX IS MORE OF A CONSENSUS RESPONSE.

STILL, THAT'S WHAT SMALL LUXURY CROSSOVER BUYERS SEEM TO WANT,

AND THE NEW RDX IS A FINE ANSWER FOR THEIR CRAVINGS.

FROM BACK UP CAMERAS, TO SELF-PARKING CARS,

TODAY'S WORLD IS ALL ABOUT CONVENIENCE.

YET HUNTING FOR CHANGE FOR A PARKING METER IS ANYTHING BUT.

LUCKILY, YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS FOUND A MUCH SMARTER WAY

IN THIS WEEK'S FYI.

Yolanda: NO MORE FUMBLING AROUND FOR CHANGE,

OR FEEDING METERS WITH COINS.

SMART PHONES ARE ABOUT TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE WAY WE PARK.

Announcer: WELCOME TO PARKMOBILE.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS...

Yolanda: COMPANIES LIKE ATLANTA-BASED PARKMOBILE,

WHICH HAS A STRONG PRESENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

AND ALONG THE EAST COAST,

ARE LOOKING TO TAKE THE HEADACHE AND HASSLE OUT OF PARKING,

WITH THEIR EASY TO USE, PAY BY PHONE PARKING SYSTEM.

BUT THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES IN THE GAME.

Announcer: THIS TIME WHEN JANE FINDS PARKING,

SHE SIMPLY USES HER PANGO MOBILE APPLICATION

TO PAY AS SHE WALKS AWAY.

Yolanda: MARYLAND BASED PANGO MOBILE PARKING

DRAWS UPON THEIR MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

SERVICING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS IN EUROPE

BY BRINGING THEIR SMART PARKING SERVICE TO THE STATES.

Dani Shavit: WE'RE PROVIDING A CONVENIENT,

AND A VERY EASY, SMART SOLUTION FOR PAYMENT FOR PARKING.

Yolanda: CEO AND FOUNDER DANI SHAVIT EXPLAINS HOW IT WORKS.

USERS MUST FIRST SIGN UP ONLINE REGISTERING THEIR VEHICLE,

LICENSE PLATE NUMBER AND CREDIT CARD INFORMATION.

THEY THEN DOWNLOAD PANGO'S FREE APP ON THEIR PHONE.

WHEN THEY'RE READY TO PARK,

THEY TYPE IN THEIR ZONE NUMBER DISPLAYED ON THE METER

AND HIT THE START BUTTON.

Dani: AT THAT SAME MOMENT,

YOU WILL GET A VIRTUAL METER ON THE SCREEN

THAT SHOWS YOU THAT YOU'RE PARKED IN LATROBE,

IN ZONE 70101.

Yolanda: A TEXT MESSAGE ALSO APPEARS

CONFIRMING THE ACTIVATION OF YOUR PARKING SESSION.

IT'S TICKING, IT'S GOING, AND YOU'RE GOOD?

Dani: NOW YOU MAY CLOSE THE APPLICATION

AND GO TO YOUR ERRANDS.

Yolanda: WHEN YOU'RE DONE, SIMPLY HIT THE STOP BUTTON.

YOU'LL GET A RECAP OF YOUR PARKING ACTIVITY,

ALONG WITH THE CHARGES.

AND IF BY CHANCE YOU DON'T HAVE A SMART PHONE,

NO WORRIES...

Phone: WELCOME TO PANGO PARKING SYSTEMS.

ENTER A PARKING ZONE FOLLOWED BY THE POUND KEY.

Yolanda: THERE'S A TOLL-FREE NUMBER TO CALL.

THE COMPANY RECENTLY SIGNED A CONTRACT

WITH THE CITY OF LATROBE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PANGO STICKERS WHERE PLACED ON THE EXISTING COIN METERS

AS AN ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OPTION.

Alex Graziani: AS A SMART PHONE USER,

WE WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A WAY WE COULD DO BETTER,

AND PROVIDE ANOTHER CHOICE FOR PARKING IN TOWN.

Yolanda: CITY MANAGER ALEX GRAZIANI SAYS THE HIGH TECH TOOL

TAKES A LITTLE GETTING USED TO.

BUT HE'S SEEN AN UPTICK IN THE NUMBER OF USERS

AND HOPES OTHER CITIES WILL FOLLOW LATROBE'S LEAD.

Graziani: PART OF THIS IS TRYING TO PUT THIS COMMUNITY ON THE MAP,

AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE WILLING TO BEHAVE,

IF YOU WILL, LIKE A BUSINESS, AND BE ENTREPRENEURIAL.

AND TRY TO EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY IN A SMART WAY,

THAT AGAIN LIMITS OUR INVESTMENTS IN IT,

BUT MAXIMIZES CONVENIENCE FOR THE USERS.

Yolanda: PERPETUAL PARKER NANCY KUKOVICH

EXPLAINS WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE PRIOR TO PANGO.

Nancy Kukovick: IT WAS NOT GOOD.

Yolanda: THE LATROBE RESIDENT RECEIVED HER FAIR SHARE

OF PARKING TICKETS.

NOW SHE PARKS, PAYS ONLY FOR THE TIME SHE NEEDS,

AND DOESN'T WORRY ABOUT VISITS

FROM PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

Kukovick: IT'S JUST BEEN FANTASTIC.

I'VE HAD ONE TICKET SINCE THEN BECAUSE I FORGOT TO TURN IT ON.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I'M TICKET-FREE FOR 2 OR 3 MONTHS.

Yolanda: WHILE PAY BY PHONE PARKING APPS

ARE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS,

GRAZIANI SAYS PARKING SOLUTIONS MAY BECOME SO ADVANCED

THAT THESE METERS COULD BECOME OBSOLETE.

Graziani: WITH SMART PHONES AND SMART CARS,

TECHNOLOGY WILL MOVE TO CAR BASED PAY SYSTEMS

AND THE METERS WILL GO AWAY.

Yolanda: SHAVIT DOESN'T THINK IT WILL COME TO THAT,

BUT HE DOES SEE MORE MUNICIPALITIES

AND PARKING SYSTEMS, LIKE THIS GARAGE IN NEW YORK CITY,

ADDING ON THEIR SERVICES.

Dani: I BELIEVE THAT DURING THE NEXT TWO YEARS,

MOST CITIES IN U.S. WILL ADOPT PAY BY PHONE.

Yolanda: AS THE DEMAND FOR CASHLESS PAYMENT INCREASES,

IT'S CLEAR THINGS ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE

IN THE ONCE COIN-DRIVEN METERED PARKING WORLD.

PAT GOSS NEVER TIRES OF GIVING US SOUND ADVICE.

SO LET'S ROLL DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE

FOR A QUICK TREAD CHECKUP.

PAT GOSS: A QUARTER ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE.

A QUARTER IS NOW A PENNY.

WELL, AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO MEASURING TREAD DEPTH ON TIRES.

SEE, FOR MANY YEARS WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO TAKE A PENNY

AND WE PLACE LINCOLN'S HEAD DOWN IN THE GROOVE OF THE TIRE.

AND IF WE CAN SEE THE TOP OF THE HEAD,

THE TIRE IS TOO WORN TO USE.

BUT THEY'VE FOUND THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED MORE TREAD

ON A TIRE TO BE COMPLETELY SAFE.

SO, THE NEW MEASUREMENT IS USING A QUARTER.

WE PUT WASHINGTON'S HEAD DOWN IN THE GROOVE,

AND IF WE CAN SEE THE TOP OF HIS HEAD,

THE TIRE IS TOO WORN TO USE.

NOW, THE REASON FOR THIS IS, AS TIRES WEAR DOWN,

THEY LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO DISPERSE WATER.

AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE A LOSS OF TRACTION ON RAINY DAYS.

SO THAT LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TREAD DEPTH

MEANS A GREATER MARGIN OF SAFETY.

IT HELPS PREVENT THE HYDROPLANING THAT IS SO COMMON.

NOW, HERE WE HAVE A BRAND NEW TIRE,

AND WE ALSO HAVE A BETTER WAY TO MEASURE TREAD DEPTH.

INSTEAD OF USING COINS, THIS IS A TREAD DEPTH GAUGE.

IT'S ABOUT TWO BUCKS AT THE AUTO PARTS STORE.

YOU SIMPLY PUT THAT DOWN INTO THE TREAD,

AND YOU PUSH IT DOWN UNTIL IT BOTTOMS OUT,

AND THEN YOU CAN READ THE DEPTH OF THE TREAD

WITHIN 1/32 OF AN INCH.

REPLACE A TIRE AT 4/32 OF AN INCH,

INSTEAD OF THE OLD 2/32 OF AN INCH,

IF YOU WANT REALLY GOOD WET TRACTION

THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE TIRE.

NOW ANOTHER BIG CONTROVERSY:

HOW OLD CAN A TIRE BE AND STILL BE SAFE?

SOME PEOPLE SAY FIVE YEARS, OTHERS SAY SIX YEARS.

PERSONALLY, I LOOK TOWARD FIVE YEARS.

NOW, LIKE THIS BRAND NEW TIRE THAT WE HAVE HERE,

IT'S NEVER BEEN SOLD,

BUT IT'S ALREADY EIGHT MONTHS OLD.

NOW, HOW DO YOU TELL THE AGE OF TIRES ON YOUR VEHICLE?

WELL, ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE, STAMPED INTO THE RUBBER,

IS A D.O.P LABEL, AND IT IS FOUR NUMBERS LONG.

IT TELLS YOU THE WEEK AND THE YEAR YOUR TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED.

YOU DON'T WANT TO GO BEYOND FIVE OR SIX YEARS.

NOW CERTAINLY, IF YOU'RE ONLY DRIVING THE CAR

A COUPLE OF MILES, OR AT VERY LOW SPEEDS

BACK AND FORTH TO THE STORE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,

IT ISN'T NEARLY AS CRITICAL

AS IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET OUT ON THE ROAD

AND TRAVEL AT HIGH SPEEDS OR LONG DISTANCES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN TO BE SORRY FOR SURE.

SO, FOLLOW THE RULES AND YOU'LL HAVE A MUCH SAFER RIDE.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT,

DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK.

John: TIME NOW TO UNLOCK THE DOORS

AND PUSH THE STARTER ON A COUPLE OF NEW RIDES.

SO LET'S SEE IF THEY PUSH OUR BUTTONS AS WELL.

PERHAPS NO SINGLE MODEL IS AS IMPORTANT

TO THE FUTURE OF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY

AS THE ALL-NEW 2013 FORD FUSION.

THE FUSION MUST DO BATTLE WITH STALWARTS CAMRY AND ACCORD,

FLASHY SONATA AND OPTIMA,

AND IMPRESSIVE REDESIGNS LIKE ALTIMA AND MALIBU.

TO MAKE HEADWAY IN AMERICA'S MOST COMPETITIVE CAR SEGMENT,

THE FUSION COMES READY WITH ADVANCED POWERTRAINS

HOUSED IN A VERY DRAMATIC EXTERIOR.

FROM THE BOLD HOOD LINES AND WIDE FLAT ASTON-MARTIN GRILLE,

TO ITS SCULPTED PROFILE AND SHORT FLOWING REAR DECK,

THE NEW FUSION DEFINITELY GRABS YOUR ATTENTION.

IT'S A VERY GOOD LOOKING CAR.

THE INTERIOR IS ALSO VERY PROGRESSIVE, IF A LITTLE BLAND.

BUT WITH IN-YOUR-FACE SWITCHGEAR AND ELECTRONICS

THERE IS A SENSE OF UPSCALE SOPHISTICATION

WE FIRST SAW IN THE LATEST FOCUS.

THE LOVE-IT-OR-HATE-IT MYFORD TOUCH SYSTEM IS BACK,

THOUGH TWEAKED TO BE A LITTLE MORE USER FRIENDLY.

FUSION HAS A STUNNING ARRAY OF ADVANCED POWERTRAINS.

LIKE SONATA AND MALIBU, THEY'RE ALL FOUR CYLINDERS.

BUT THAT'S NO DRAWBACK.

A CARRYOVER 175 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER SITS AT THE BASE.

MID AND TOP LEVEL MODELS

GET A BOOST FROM TWO FORD ECOBOOST TURBO I-4s.

1.6 LITERS GETS YOU 178 HORSEPOWER,

WHILE THE 2.0 LITER ROCKETS UP TO 240

AND IS AVAILABLE WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

FUSION HYBRID GRABS POWER FROM A 2.0 LITER MATED TO A CVT,

TOTAL SYSTEM OUTPUT IS 188 HORSEPOWER,

AND GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 47 MILES PER GALLON

ACROSS THE BOARD.

THAT'S VERY CLOSE TO THE MUCH SMALLER PRIUS.

IF YOU WANT TO GO EVEN GREENER,

FORD HAS ANNOUNCED A FUSION ENERGI PLUG-IN HYBRID

FOR EARLY 2013 WITH AN EV-ONLY RANGE OF ABOUT 20 MILES.

OUR OUTINGS IN BOTH THE 1.6 LITER ECOBOOST AND HYBRID

DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

WITH ITS UNEXPECTED 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION,

THE TINY 1.6 TURBO DELIVERED SURPRISING ACCELERATION,

A TAUT BUT COMFORTABLE RIDE, AND GREAT BRAKES.

A SPORTIER SHOWING THAN WE EVER REMEMBER

FROM A FORD MIDSIZE SEDAN.

OUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE THAT THE 2013 FORD FUSION

DOES INDEED SEEM TO BE A FUSION OF STYLE, POWER, AND EFFICIENCY,

AND COULD JUST WELL BE A HOME RUN FOR FORD.

FUSION SALES START THIS FALL BEGINNING AT $22,000,

THE 1.6 TURBO IS AT $25,000 AND THE HYBRID AT $28,000.

THE FUSION ENERGI FOLLOWS IN SPRING

WITH OUR BEST GUESS ON PRICE OF $35,000.

FUSION'S CROSSTOWN RIVAL, THE ALSO NEW 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU,

BEGAN ITS LIFE WITH A LIGHT HYBRID ECO MODEL.

NOW MAILBU IS FILLING OUT ITS STYLISH LINEUP

AT BOTH THE BOTTOM AND TOP ENDS.

BASE MALIBU'S ROLL OUT THE DOOR WITH A 2.5 LITER INLINE 4,

CRANKING OUT 197 HORSEPOWER.

THOSE WITH A HEAVIER FOOT WILL LOVE GM'S 2.0 LITER TURBO I-4,

ALSO STARRING IN THE CADILLAC ATS SPORT SEDAN.

FINDING ITS WAY INTO THE MALIBU,

THE MILL PUTS OUT 259 HORSEPOWER.

THAT'S MORE THAN LAST YEAR'S V6.

OUR TIME WITH THE MALIBU TURBO WAS INDEED TIME WELL SPENT.

WE FOUND SOLID POWER, WITH THE TURBO OFFERING

A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF HIGH END BOOST.

AND THOUGH WE WEREN'T ABLE TO TRACK IT,

A FACTORY ESTIMATED 0 TO 60 TIME OF 6.3 SECONDS

SOUNDS GREAT TO US.

BUT WITH A FOCUS TOWARDS COMFORT,

THE MALIBU TURBO HAS A SUSPENSION TUNING

MORE FOR VERY QUIET DRIVES ON LONG VACATIONS

THAN SHORT SWITCHBACKS.

Ben Davis: THERE'S ENOUGH POWER IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR

FOR MOST ANYONE'S INNER-TEENAGER TO FIND A LOT OF TROUBLE.

AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THAT KIND OF POWER

BACK BEHIND THE MALIBU NAMEPLATE.

BUT THE REAL EVERYDAY ADVANTAGES OF THE TURBO

ARE GOING TO BE EFFORTLESS HIGHWAY CRUISING,

WITH PLENTY OF PASSING POWER UNDER THE HOOD.

John: THE BASE AND TURBO MALIBUS JOIN THE ECO THIS FALL,

STARTING AT AROUND $23,000, WITH THE TURBO NEAR $28,000.

EITHER WAY, THE NEW MALIBU LOOKS TO REDEFINE THE PHRASE

"FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY."

AND WE'LL BE BACK SOON WITH MORE FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS

FASTER THAN YOU CAN SAY "PUSH TO START".

FORD STOOD THE PICKUP TRUCK WORLD ON ITS EAR

WHEN THEY ADDED THE ECOBOOST V6 TO THEIR BEST SELLING F-150.

NO ONE PREDICTED THAT IT WOULD DO THAT WELL,

LET ALONE QUICKLY OUTSELL THE F-150 V8.

IT SEEMS THAT TRUCK BUYERS WANT BETTER FUEL ECONOMY TOO.

CAUGHT OFF GUARD,

OTHER BIG PICKUP MAKERS HAVE BEEN SLOW TO RESPOND.

BUT FINALLY CHRYSLER FIRES BACK WITH ITS RAM 1500

PACKING PENTASTAR V6 POWER.

LET'S SEE IF ITS GOT THE SMARTS TO GO UP AGAINST ECOBOOST.

YES, WE KNOW THAT A V6 WAS ALREADY AVAILABLE IN THE RAM,

BUT IT WAS A PRETTY WEAK ONE,

AND ONLY AVAILABLE IN 2-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS.

THE 2013 RAM 1500 IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT ANIMAL,

WITH ITS PENTASTAR V6 PACKING V8-LIKE PERFORMANCE

IN A MORE FUEL EFFICIENT PACKAGE.

THE SAME DRAW USED SUCCESSFULLY BY FORD WITH ITS ECOBOOST.

AND SPEAKING OF PACKAGING,

THE NEW RAM'S RUGGED EXTERIOR WRAPPINGS

HAVE ALSO GOTTEN SOME UPDATING.

NOTHING DRASTIC,

BUT A NEW FRONT FASCIA WITH AN EVEN MORE IMPOSING GRILLE,

UPDATED QUAD HEADLIGHTS,

AND AVAILABLE LED TURN SIGNALS

ALL WORK TO BRING THIS BEAST UP TO DATE.

ACTIVE GRILLE SHUTTERS HELP MAKE AERODYNAMICS

BEST IN THE FULL-SIZE TRUCK RANKS,

WHILE AN ALUMINUM HOOD AND SUSPENSION PIECES

HELP REDUCE WEIGHT.

CREW CAB MODELS ARE NOW AVAILABLE WITH A 6'4" BED,

SO YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PEOPLE OR CARGO ROOM.

RAM 1500 LETTERING ON THE DOORS IS NOW STACKED

TO MAKE ADDITIONAL ROOM FOR BUSINESS SIGNAGE,

RESOLVING A COMMON COMPLAINT OF CURRENT RAM OWNERS.

THINGS CONTINUE MOSTLY THE SAME IN BACK,

SAVE FOR SOME NEW LED TAIL LIGHTS

SET BETWEEN A SUBSTANTIAL TAILGATE.

17-INCH STEEL WHEELS ARE STANDARD,

WHILE SLT'S COME WITH 17-INCH ALUMINUM HOOPS;

20'S AND EVEN 22'S ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

BUT THIS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT THE DRIVETRAIN,

AND HERE IN THE NEW RAM 1500,

THE PENTASTAR 3.6-LITER FLEXFUEL V6

CRANKS OUT 305-HORSEPOWER AND 269 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

COMBINED WITH A NEW STANDARD "TORQUEFLITE"

8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

YOU CAN TOW UP TO 6,500 POUNDS.

WAY LESS THAN ECOBOOST,

BUT STILL CLASS BEST FOR A NORMALLY ASPIRATED V6.

THE OPTIONAL HEMI V8 TOWS OVER 9,000 POUNDS.

TRANNY GEAR SELECTION IS BY A RATHER UNMANLY-LIKE

ELECTRONIC ROTARY SHIFTER.

BUT IT DOES FREE UP CONSOLE SPACE,

AND WORKS SO WELL IT'S HARD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.

THE 4X4 TRANSFER CASE IS ALSO ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED

WITH BUTTONS LOCATED JUST UNDER THE SHIFTER.

BOTH PART-TIME AND ON-DEMAND SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE.

AN INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER IS ALSO OFFERED.

OTHER MUCH APPRECIATED UPDATES INSIDE THE CABIN

INCLUDE PREMIUM MATERIALS THROUGHOUT

AND A NEW TFT MULTI-VIEW CONFIGURABLE GAUGE DISPLAY.

FIT-AND-FINISH HAVE BEEN IMPROVED

AND MOST CONTROLS ARE EASIER TO OPERATE.

CHRYSLER'S NEXT GENERATION UCONNECT ACCESS

MAKES ITS DEBUT IN THE RAM 1500

WITH AN 8.4-INCH TOUCHSCREEN AND WI-FI HOT SPOT.

REAR SEAT ROOM IN OUR CREW CAB SLT WAS MORE THAN PLENTIFUL,

AND SOFTER MATERIALS ON THE DOORS MAKE FOR

A MORE PLEASANT EXPERIENCE.

SEAT BOTTOMS FOLD UP FOR ADDITIONAL STORAGE SPACE.

WHILE THE RAM WAS ALREADY

ONE OF THE SMOOTHEST RIDING PICK-UPS ON THE MARKET,

A LIGHTER BUT STIFFER FRAME AND NEW AVAILABLE AIR SUSPENSION

SMOOTH THINGS EVEN FURTHER.

OFFERING UP TO 4-INCHES OF ADJUSTABILITY

FROM A LOW "PARK AND LOAD" MODE,

TO A PAIR OF OFF-ROAD MODES THAT INCREASE GROUND CLEARANCE

A FULL 2-INCHES OVER NORMAL RIDE HEIGHT.

IN ADDITION, AUTOMATIC LOAD-LEVELING WILL ENSURE

A LEVEL STANCE WHEN FULLY LOADED WITH CARGO OR TOWING A TRAILER.

WE LEFT THE CARGO BEHIND

AND HAULED OUR WAY TO 60 IN 8.5-SECONDS.

ABOUT TWO SECONDS SLOWER THAN AN ECOBOOST,

BUT NOT BAD FOR A BIG PICKUP.

OFF THE LINE GRUNT IS CLOSE TO A V8,

AND POWER COMES ON FAIRLY STRONG DOWN THE QUARTER MILE

WHERE WE HIT 84 MILES-PER-HOUR IN 16.7-SECONDS.

BRAKING FROM 60 WAS GREAT FOR A FULL-SIZE TRUCK

AS WE AVERAGED STOPS OF JUST 131-FEET

FROM THE STANDARD 4-WHEEL DISC WITH ABS.

THE RAM PLOWED ITS WAY THROUGH THE CONES HOWEVER,

WITH PREDICTABLE UNDERSTEER AND BODY ROLL

THAT REMINDS YOU OF ITS FULL-SIZE STATURE.

BUT NEW ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MAINTAINS A CONSISTENT FEEL

WHILE REDUCING WEIGHT,

AND FURTHER IMPROVING FUEL ECONOMY.

EVEN WITHOUT THE AVAILABLE AUTOMATIC STOP/START SYSTEM,

THE RAM 1500 PENTASTAR BOASTS BEST IN CLASS

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS.

OUR 4X4 RATES 16-CITY, 23-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

OVERALL, THAT'S 2 MPG BETTER THAN A COMPARABLE F150 ECOBOOST,

AND THAT'S WITHOUT THE COMPLEXITY OF A TURBO.

STILL, THIS IS A FULL-SIZE TRUCK

AND ENERGY IMPACT SCORES ARE BELOW AVERAGE

AT 17.3-BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION,

WITH YEARLY CO2 EMISSIONS OF 7.7 TONS.

FULL PRICING WAS NOT ANNOUNCED AT THIS WRITING,

BUT THE 1500 REGULAR CAB 4X2 BEGINS AT $23,585.

THAT'S UP OVER LAST YEAR, BUT JUST BARELY.

AND THAT WOULD PUT OUR CREW CAB SLT 4X4

AROUND $35,000 TO START.

THE PENTASTAR-PACKING 2013 RAM 1500 TRULY HAS THE GUTS

TO DELIVER REAL WORLD TRUCK USEFULNESS

ALL WHILE GETTING CLASS BEST FUEL ECONOMY

AND DELIVERING A KILLER RIDE.

IT MAY NOT HAVE THE EXTRA BOOST OF ITS BLUE OVAL RIVAL,

BUT IT HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO CHARGE THROUGH

THE FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK RANKS AT RAMMING SPEED.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK,

WHEN WE'LL BE SEEING DOUBLE

WITH THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA COUPE AND GT.

THEN THROTTLE UP A NEW MOTIVATOR FOR THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLK.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, 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 TIRE RACK.

AND BY...

3M, MAKER OF INNOVATIVE AUTO CARE PRODUCTS.

3M'S FUEL SYSTEM TUNE-UP KIT HELPS PROLONG ENGINE LIFE

BY REMOVING CARBON, GUMS, AND RESINS,

AND CLEANING FUEL INJECTORS AND VALVES.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT 3MAUTO.COM.