HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK!
JOIN US AS VOLVO MAKES ALL-WHEEL DRIVE PROWESS
MORE ATTAINABLE WITH THEIR UPDATED S60 T5...
PAT GOSS POURS ON THE KNOWLEDGE DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE...
ROGER MECCA TAKES US ON A DRIVE THROUGH SPORTS CAR HISTORY...
AND WE'LL TRY OUR BEST
TO TAME THE FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500.
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.
Monk: YOU MAY ASK ONE QUESTION.
Man: [HEAVY SIGH]
WHICH TIRE CATEGORY SHOULD I CHOOSE
TO GET THE MOST COMFORTABLE RIDE?
Announcer: THERE'S A BETTER PLACE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TIRES.
TIRERACK.COM CAN HELP YOU GET THE ANSWERS YOU NEED,
AND HELP YOU FIND WHICH TIRES ARE BEST FOR YOU.
MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.
AND BY...
3M, MAKER OF INNOVATIVE AUTO CARE PRODUCTS.
AGED OR YELLOWED LENSES REDUCE BRIGHTNESS OF HEAD, TAIL
AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS.
THE 3M HEADLIGHT RESTORATION SYSTEM
HELPS RESTORE LENS CLARITY FOR SAFER DRIVING.
John: DESPITE A SPRINKLING OF PERFORMANCE HERE AND THERE,
VOLVO CARS ARE BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR ULTRA-SAFE REPUTATIONS.
AND MANY BUYERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE SNOW BELT,
FEEL THAT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS AN ESSENTIAL SAFETY FEATURE.
VOLVO HAS OFFERED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
ON THEIR LATEST S60 LUXURY SPORTS SEDAN,
BUT ONLY ON THE UP LEVEL T6.
WELL, THAT'S CHANGED,
AS VOLVO NOW OFFERS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ON THE BASE S60 T5.
SO LET'S SEE IF THE T5 PLUS AWD MAKES A SAFE BET.
THE LAST TIME WE SLID BEHIND THE WHEEL OF AN S60,
WE WERE SLINGING THE DECEPTIVELY FAST T6 R-DESIGN
AROUND THE CORNERS OF ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY.
WELL, THIS YEAR, ALL S60s GET UPDATES,
AND FOR THIS TEST WE'RE ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM
WITH THE STANDARD 2013 VOLVO S60 T5.
AND THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS THE ADDITION
OF A NEW HALDEX ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM AS A T5 OPTION.
THE INSTANT TRACTION AWD IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED
AND CAN SEND AS MUCH AS HALF OF THE AVAILABLE TORQUE
TO THE REAR WHEELS WHEN NEEDED,
YET OPERATES PRIMARILY AS A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE.
OTHER S60 CHANGES INCLUDE SOME TWEAKING
TO THE INLINE 5-CYLINDER DIRECT INJECTION TURBO MOTOR,
WHERE VOLVO BOOSTED COMPRESSION RATIO FROM 9.0:1 TO 9.5:1
AND REDUCED INTERNAL FRICTION.
OUTPUT STAYS THE SAME, HOWEVER,
AT 250-HORSEPOWER AND 266 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
COMBINED WITH SOME REVISED MAPPING
FOR THE 6-SPEED GEARTRONIC
MANUAL-MODE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION,
THE T5 IS A LITTLE QUICKER OFF THE LINE.
OUR T-5 HIT 60 IN A DECENT 6.4 SECONDS.
THERE'S A LITTLE HESITATION AT LAUNCH
AS YOU WAIT FOR POWER TO BUILD FULLY,
BUT AS YOU GET ROLLING,
IT STARTS LAYING IT DOWN VERY NICELY.
SHIFTS ARE SURPRISINGLY FIRM AND QUICK, WITH LITTLE POWER LOSS,
HELPING THE QUARTER MILE ECLIPSE IN 14.9-SECONDS
AT 94 MILES-PER-HOUR.
WITH THAT THROTTLE THAT'S A LITTLE SLOW TO RESPOND AT TIMES,
THE T5 FEELS MUCH MORE POWERFUL IN PASSING SITUATIONS
THAN OFF THE LINE.
DESPITE A FAIR AMOUNT OF ROLL AND WEIGHT TRANSFER,
AND WITHOUT THE T6'S 4C ACTIVE SUSPENSION,
THE T5 EQUATES ITSELF VERY WELL THROUGH THE SLALOM.
TURN-INS ARE QUICK,
AND WITH DSTC STABILITY AND TRACTION SYSTEM
IN SPORT MODE,
YOU CAN GET PRETTY AGGRESSIVE BEFORE IT KICKS IN.
WHEN YOU DO TRIGGER IT, HOWEVER,
IT IS VERY FORCEFUL IN SHUTTING YOU DOWN,
OR "KEEPING YOU SAFE" IN VOLVO-SPEAK.
WE WERE, HOWEVER, DISAPPOINTED WITH BRAKING PERFORMANCE.
IT'S NOT THAT STOPS FROM 60 IN 131 FEET ARE THAT BAD,
BUT THERE'S AN OVERALL SOFT AND ALMOST LACKADAISICAL FEEL
THAT'S OUT OF CHARACTER.
THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE TAUT,
UNDERSTATED STYLING OF THE S60.
THERE'S ENOUGH OF A SPORTY FLAIR TO GET YOU INTRIGUED,
THANKS TO STANDARD 17-INCH ALLOY WHEELS,
DUAL POLISHED EXHAUST TIPS, AND OPTIONAL DECK-LID SPOILER;
BUT NOT ENOUGH TO ATTRACT ANY UNDUE ATTENTION.
WHILE FAR FROM THE BIGGEST IN ITS CLASS,
THERE IS A DECENT AMOUNT OF SPACE INSIDE.
ALL SEATS ARE VERY COMFORTABLE,
AS WE'VE COME TO EXPECT FROM VOLVO,
AND THE TWO TONE THEME LOOKS GREAT.
CONTROLS ARE SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL
IF YOU'RE NOT AMONG THE VOLVO FAITHFUL,
BUT ARE EASY TO MASTER WITH A LITTLE BIT OF TIME,
AND VOLVO'S SENSUS SYSTEM HAS BEEN IMPROVED
ALLOWING MORE FUNCTIONS TO BE CARRIED OUT
ON THE STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED SCROLL KNOB.
DESPITE THE ADDED WEIGHT OF THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM,
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS
CHANGE LITTLE OVER LAST YEAR'S FRONT-DRIVER.
CITY AND COMBINED RATINGS REMAIN THE SAME AT 20 AND 23,
WHILE THE HIGHWAY NUMBER DIPS 1, TO 29.
WE AVERAGED A FINE 25 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR
EVEN WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OF STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC.
MAKING THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE BETTER THAN AVERAGE
AT 14.3 BARRELS OF OIL USED PER YEAR
WITH ANNUAL CO2 EMISSIONS OF 6.2 TONS.
FOR THIS YEAR, VOLVO HAS ALSO RECONFIGURED THE S60 LINE-UP,
ADDING MORE STANDARD FEATURES
AND DIVIDING BOTH T5 AND T6 MODELS INTO PACKAGE LEVELS,
OF WHICH THERE IS NOW A CONFUSING TOTAL OF NINE.
A BASE T5 WILL GO FOR $32,645,
WITH A T5 PLATINUM COMING IN AT $38,695,
OR JUST BELOW WHERE THE 6-CYLINDER T6 MODELS START.
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD ON T6, A $2,000 OPTION ON T5s.
THE 2013 VOLVO S60 T5 WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
MAY NOT BE OUR FIRST CHOICE FOR A WEEKEND GETAWAY CAR,
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO EVERYDAY COMMUTING OR LONG HIGHWAY TRIPS,
IT IS BOTH A SAFE AND SMART BET,
THANKS TO ITS GREAT COMFORT AND REFINED DRIVETRAIN.
AND NOW WITH THE ADDITION OF ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
TO THE BASE MODEL,
EVEN THE 99%-ERS CAN "OCCUPY MAIN STREET"
WITH ALL OF THE OUTSTANDING SAFETY
AND ALL-WEATHER CAPABILITIES THAT SIGNIFY TODAY'S VOLVO.
OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK
TAKES US TO PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,
WHERE A FAMILY-OWNED AND OPERATED LIVERY COMPANY
IS MAKING A NAME FOR ITSELF IN THE ALT-FUEL WORLD.
STAR TRANSPORTATION GROUP'S FIVE BRANDS
USE A DIVERSE ARRAY OF VEHICLES;
FROM FORD FUSION HYBRIDS TO PROPANE-POWERED TAXICAB SEDANS,
TO THESE AIRSTAR ACCESS PARATRANSIT VANS.
IN 2010, THEIR VETERAN'S TAXI FLEET
ADDED SIX FORD TRANSIT CONNECT NATURAL GAS VANS.
BUT THEIR MOST-TALKED ABOUT CAR SERVICE
USES COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS MV1 VANS.
EACH OF VETERAN'S 11 MV1s CAN TRANSPORT TWO WHEELCHAIRS.
Derik Delucia: I JUST THINK BEING HERE IN PITTSBURGH,
IN THE MARCELLUS SHALE REGION, IT'S PRODUCED RIGHT HERE,
IT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE FOR US TO GO THAT ROUTE.
John: STAR TRANSPORTATION ALSO HAS A CHEVROLET VOLT
AND LEXUS HYBRID AS PART OF THEIR LIMOUSINE SERVICE.
THE PITTSBURGH REGION CLEAN CITIES
IDENTIFIED NEARLY $300,000 IN STATE FUNDING
TO HELP WITH PROPANE AND CNG CONVERSION COSTS.
THE 30-YEAR-OLD COMPANY'S "STAR" IS LEADING THE WAY
WITH A "GO-GREEN" ALTERNATIVE IN THE CITY OF BRIDGES.
John: IN MANY WAYS, CAR MUSEUMS ARE A CONTRADICTION.
AFTER ALL, DISPLAYING GREAT CARS
IN A PERPETUAL FREEZE FRAME SEEMS UNNATURAL,
AND SOME MIGHT EVEN SAY A TRAGEDY.
BUT WHILE MOST MUSEUMS ADOPT THE "LOOK BUT DON'T DRIVE" POLICY,
OUR OWN ROGER MECCA FOUND A UNIQUE
SPORTS CAR COLLECTION IN PENNSYLVANIA
THAT ALLOWS ADMIRERS TO SEE SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING AUTOMOBILES
OF THE LAST CENTURY MOVE THE WAY THEY WERE MEANT TO.
Roger: FOR AUTO FANS,
BEING SURROUNDED BY RACE CARS LIKE THIS
IS ABOUT AS GOOD AS IT GETS.
AND JUST ENVISIONING WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE
TO ACTUALLY SEE THESE CARS IN MOTION
BRINGS A SMILE TO YOUR FACE.
BUT HERE AT THE SIMEONE AUTO MUSEUM OUTSIDE OF PHILADELPHIA,
YOU DON'T NEED TO USE YOUR IMAGINATION.
Fred Simeone: THESE ARE DYNAMIC THINGS
AND PART OF THE STORY IS HOW THEY RUN, HOW THEY SOUND,
AND WITHOUT BEING FACETIOUS, EVEN HOW THEY SMELL.
AND YOU CAN ONLY GET THAT IF YOU RUN THEM.
Roger: YES, IT'S TRUE!
THERE IS ACTUALLY AN AUTO MUSEUM
THAT NOT ONLY DARES TO TAKE THEIR ARTIFACTS OUTSIDE,
BUT STARTS THEM UP...
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
...HITS THE GAS AND ROARS THE ENGINES!
AND THE EXPERIENCE IS A FEAST FOR THE SENSES.
Harry Hurst: YOU GET TO HEAR THESE ENGINES THAT YOU'VE ONLY READ ABOUT;
THE FERRARI V12, OR THE ASTON MARTIN, OR THE PORSCHE 917.
YOU'VE ONLY HEARD ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE SOUNDED LIKE,
NOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY HEAR THEM.
Roger: THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS,
DOCTOR SIMEONE DOESN'T JUST DRIVE ONE OR TWO,
BUT NEARLY ALL OF THE 65 RACE &SPORTS CARS IN HIS COLLECTION.
JUST SO THE PUBLIC CAN APPRECIATE THEM IN A WAY
THAT OTHER MUSEUMS CAN'T DUPLICATE.
AND SINCE THEY ALL SHARE A COMMON HERITAGE,
MANY OF THE VEHICLES ALSO HAVE A HISTORY THAT INTERSECTS
AT SOME POINT IN THEIR GLAMOROUS PAST.
ONCE A MONTH, DOCTOR SIMEONE AND HIS TEAM
SELECT A FEW OF THE CARS FROM THE COLLECTION
WITH A COMMON RACING BACKGROUND.
AND ON THIS WEEKEND, IT'S THE FERRARI BEATERS.
CARS LIKE THIS, THE 1967 FORD MARK 4,
ONE OF THE AUTOMOBILES THAT DETHRONED FERRARI
AS THE KING OF LE MANS IN THE '50s, '60s AND '70s.
AND FOR THE SPECTATORS ON HAND,
IT'S A THRILL THEY'LL REMEMBER FOREVER.
Robert Perez: IT'S AMAZING THAT SOMEBODY TAKES CARE OF THE VEHICLES LIKE THIS.
IT GIVES THE PUBLIC A CHANCE TO COME OUT HERE AND WITNESS THIS.
YOU JUST DON'T SEE THIS ANYWHERE ELSE.
Colin Watson: WOO, TO SEE THEM RUNNING IS A DREAM COME TRUE.
YOU CAN HEAR THE HISTORY DRIVING AROUND THIS TRACK.
I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT OPENING UP 100%,
BUT JUST TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM RUNNING AROUND.
AND IT'S - YOU CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN IT, IT'S AMAZING.
YOU HAVE TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF.
Kristina Cavallaro: IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE.
I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING I FEEL LIKE
ANYONE WHO'S REMOTELY INTERESTED IN CARS
WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO COME SEE.
Roger: IT'S CLEAR THE TRADITION OF TAKING THESE CARS OUTSIDE
FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY IS APPRECIATED.
BUT NOT JUST BY MUSEUM GUESTS,
BUT ALSO BY THOSE WHO SEE THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Harry: SITTING STATIC, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE CARS ARE ASLEEP
AND YOU TAKE THEM OUT AND RUN THEM
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THEIR WHOLE PERSONALITY CHANGES.
Roger: THE PHILOSOPHY HERE AT THE MUSEUM ISN'T TO RACE THESE CARS
BUT TO DRIVE THEM RESPONSIBLY,
NEVER TAKING THEM ABOVE 30 OR 35 MILES AN HOUR.
BUT TRUST ME, WHEN YOU'RE A PASSENGER
IN THIS ASTON MARTIN DBR1 GOING 30 MILES AN HOUR,
IT STILL FEELS SPECTACULAR.
Fred: USE THEM.
EVERY CAR HERE IS MADE TO RUN.
USE IT.
USE IT RESPONSIBLY, DON'T BREAK IT
MAKE SURE IT HAS THE SAME STUFF IT LEFT THE FACTORY WITH.
WE DON'T TRY TO RACE OR BEAT THEM UP
BECAUSE I HOPE THEY'RE HERE NOT JUST FOR DECADES BUT CENTURIES.
BUT WE RUN THEM SO EVERYONE CAN SEE THEM,
AND THAT'S TURNED OUT TO BE VERY POPULAR.
Roger: ANY CAR FANATIC CAN APPRECIATE THESE AMAZING MACHINES
WHILE THEY SIMPLY SIT STILL UNDER DIMMED LIGHTING.
BUT TO FULLY EXPERIENCE THE THRILL
THEY'RE CAPABLE OF DELIVERING,
THE ONLY OPTION IS TO OPEN THE TAPS
AND LET THOSE HORSES RUN FREE.
BUT BE WARNED, ONCE YOU SEE THEM MOVE,
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THEM ANY OTHER WAY.
John: NOW LET'S HEAD DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE
WHERE PAT WANTS TO FUNNEL OUR ATTENTION
TO THE EVER CHANGING WORLD OF CAR CARE.
Pat Goss: BACK IN THE DAY, CHANGING OIL IN A CAR
WAS A PRETTY SIMPLE OPERATION THAT ANYBODY COULD DO.
BUT TODAY, THAT IS ALL CHANGING.
YOU SEE, ON A CAR TODAY,
YOU USUALLY HAVE AN AIR DAM UNDERNEATH THE CAR
THAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED,
LOTS OF SCREWS OR CLIPS, AND SO ON.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, ONCE YOU GET THE OIL DRAINED
AND PUT EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER UNDERNEATH THE CAR,
YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET OIL BACK IN THE ENGINE.
WELL, BACK IN THE DAY, ALL THAT REQUIRED WAS A BASIC FUNNEL.
BUT ON MODERN CARS, THAT REALLY DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.
YOU SEE, TODAY, MOST OIL FILLER CAPS HAVE THREADS ON THEM
AND THEY THREAD INTO THE VALVE COVER.
NOW, IN ORDER TO GET OIL BACK IN
WITHOUT SPILLING IT ALL OVER THE ENGINE
AND MAKING A GIANT MESS,
MANUFACTURERS ARE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU USE FUNNELS
LIKE WE HAVE HERE.
NOW, THESE COME IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SIZES AND SHAPES
FOR VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS OF CARS,
BUT WHAT MAKES THEM PARTICULAR IS RIGHT HERE.
THIS PORTION OF IT IS THREADED
TO MATCH THE THREADS IN THE VALVE COVER
OF A PARTICULAR AUTOMOBILE.
IT HAS AN 'O' RING,
OR IN THE CASE OF THE RED ONE, IT HAS A GASKET,
SO THAT WHEN YOU TIGHTEN IT DOWN INTO THE VALVE COVER,
IT DOES NOT LEAK.
NOW, THAT MEANS YOU CAN POUR THE OIL IN,
THE FUNNEL IS NOT GOING TO FALL OUT,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY SPILLED OIL - NO ISSUES AT ALL.
I RECOMMEND IF YOU HAVE A LATE MODEL CAR
SEE IF YOU CAN FIND ONE OF THESE THAT FITS YOUR CAR.
BUT HERE'S SOMETHING.
NOW THIS COULD SAVE YOU SOME MONEY ON A LOT OF CARS -
JUST A SIMPLE PAPER FUNNEL.
NOW, WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT HERE?
WELL, INSIDE MANY VALVE COVERS,
IF WE TRY TO USE ANY KIND OF A CONVENTIONAL FUNNEL -
PUT IT IN, IT DOESN'T GO ANY PLACE.
THERE IS ACTUALLY, IN THIS VALVE COVER,
A PIECE OF TIN DOWN THERE.
NOW, THAT TIN IS A BAFFLE,
AND IF WE LOOK AT THE BACK SIDE OF IT,
WE SEE THAT IT COVERS THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE VALVE COVER.
AND WHAT IT DOES, IS IT PREVENTS THE CRANK CASE BREATHER SYSTEM -
YOU CALL IT A PCV,
IT PREVENTS THAT FROM SUCKING OIL OUT OF THE ENGINE
AND BURNING IT.
WELL, IF YOU DAMAGE THAT,
YOU'LL WIND UP WITH A CAR THAT BURNS OIL.
SO, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE VERY, VERY CAREFUL
NEVER TO DAMAGE THE BAFFLE IF YOUR CAR HAS IT.
SO, THE PROPER FUNNEL MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT,
DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK.
John: LET'S GRAB A COUPLE OF NEW SETS OF CAR KEYS
AND SEE WHAT GRABS OUR ATTENTION.
MOST CERTAINLY A SIGN OF THE TIMES,
THE SUBCOMPACT 2013 BMW X1 SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE
ROLLED ONTO OUR LOT WITH MIXED EXPECTATIONS.
AFTER ALL, COMPARED TO THE POPULAR X3,
THIS CROSSOVER IS 6.5 INCHES SHORTER
WHICH DECREASES BOTH VERSATILITY AND SPACE.
BUT AS IT RIDES ON THE ARCHITECTURE
OF THE 1 SERIES COUPE,
AFTER ONLY A FEW MILES, WE STILL FOUND PLENTY TO PRAISE.
FIRST IS X1 POWER.
BOTH ARE FROM THE X3.
BUT THE X1 IS 500 POUNDS LIGHTER.
A 2.0 LITER TURBO-4 CRANKS THE X1 REAR-DRIVE SDRIVE
AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE XDRIVE28I MODELS.
WITH 240 HORSES, IT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR MOST DUTIES.
STEP UP TO THE X1 XDRIVE35I AND BMW STEPS UP THE HORSEPOWER
TO 300 WITH THE FAMILIAR 3.0 LITER TURBO I-6.
IT IS A REAL BLAST TO DRIVE.
DESPITE ITS DIMINUTIVE STATURE AND LOW, SLEEK PROFILE,
FRONT CABIN ROOM FEELS ALMOST AS SPACIOUS AS THE X3.
IN TYPICAL BMW FASHION,
MATERIALS HAVE A PREMIUM LOOK AND FEEL.
BUT REAR SEAT ROOM IS DOWNRIGHT TIGHT,
AND CARGO ROOM DROPS ABOUT 10%.
BUT SMALLER SIZE USUALLY MEANS NIMBLE,
AND COMBINED WITH QUICK POWER,
THE X1 IS BOTH SUBSTANTIAL AND ENTERTAINING ON THE ROAD.
RAISED HIP POINTS LEND A NATURAL CROSSOVER FEEL,
AS DO ITS 7.6 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE.
THE COMBINED GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATING
FOR OUR TEST XDRIVE28I IS 26 MILES PER GALLON...
AIDED BY AN AUTO STOP/START SYSTEM
AND 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
PRICING FOR THE 2013 BMW X1 XDRIVE28I
BEGINS AT JUST OVER $33,000,
ABOUT 6 GRAND LESS THAN THE X3, AND ITS AVAILABLE NOW.
THE MASS-MARKET CHEVROLET TRAVERSE
AND PREMIUM BUICK ENCLAVE HAVE GROWN UP TOGETHER.
AND 2013 BRINGS SOME MATURITY TO THESE NEAR FULL-SIZE,
7 AND 8-PASSENGER, FRONT AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CROSSOVERS.
WHILE THE NUMEROUS MID-CYCLE IMPROVEMENTS
ARE MOSTLY COSMETIC,
THEY DO BREATHE SOME LIFE INTO AN OTHERWISE STALE SEGMENT.
A NEW, FRONT FASCIA AND REAR LIFTGATE
REFINE THE TRAVERSE'S IMAGE,
WHILE THE ENCLAVE'S EVER BOLDER GRILLE
STEPS IT UP FURTHER WITH LED HEADLAMP ACCENTS
AND DAYTIME RUNNERS.
INTERIORS FOR BOTH MARCH UPSCALE TOO, WITH PREMIUM MATERIALS,
REDESIGNED INSTRUMENT PANELS,
AND SMARTPHONE-BASED INFOTAINMENT SYSTEMS.
STANDARD IS GM'S NEW CENTER FRONT AIRBAG SYSTEM.
BOTH CARRYOVER THE GENERAL'S SMOOTH 3.6 LITER V6
WITH 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC;
WITH THE SAME 281 OR 288 HORSEPOWER
DEPENDING ON SINGLE OR DUAL EXHAUST.
Greg Carloss: THE ENCLAVE AND TRAVERSE
SHOULD CONTINUE TO SELL WELL.
I MEAN, THEY'RE BOTH SMOOTH FAMILY HAULERS,
WITH TONS OF SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY.
AND WHILE THE TRAVERSE OFFERS AFFORDABILITY,
THE ENCLAVE COMES THROUGH WITH LUXURY,
AND BOTH ON A SINGLE PLATFORM THAT'S SOLID AND DEPENDABLE.
John: THE 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE STARTS AT ABOUT $31,000,
WHILE THE BUICK ENCLAVE BEGINS AT $39,000.
AND BOTH ARE ON SALE NOW.
SOME PEOPLE ARE NEVER SATISFIED.
GIVE THEM 567-HORSEPOWER
WRAPPED IN THE SEXIEST SHEET-METAL ON THE STREET
AND THEY'LL WANT MORE.
WELL, FOR THOSE NE'ER SATISFIEDS
BENTLEY HAS JUST ADDED 49-HORSEPOWER
AND 74 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE
TO THE 2ND GENERATION CONTINENTAL GT
AND CALLED IT THE 2013 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT SPEED.
YES, THE GT SPEED RETURNS WITH THE TURBOS IN ITS W12
CRANKED UP TO 28 PSI.
AND THAT MAKES IT THE FASTEST BENTLEY EVER,
AS IT CAN MANAGE 205 MILES-PER-HOUR.
OUR FIRST DRIVE OPPORTUNITY CAME IN GERMANY,
WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO FIND SOME STRETCHES OF AUTOBAHN
TO UNLEASH THE W12 IN ITS IDEAL ENVIRONMENT,
FINDING A CAR THAT FEELS SMOOTH AND MOSTLY STABLE
AT EXTREMELY HIGH SPEEDS.
WE DIDN'T HIT 205, BUT WE CAME PRETTY CLOSE.
HEADING INTO THE ALPS,
THE WEIGHT THAT HELPED THE CONTINENTAL
FEEL SO SOLID ON THE HIGHWAY
BECAME A BIT OF A HINDRANCE ON THE TWISTYS,
THOUGH A NEW SPORT MODE HELPS AS IT SHARPENS THE THROTTLE,
QUICKENS SHIFTS,
AND GIVES YOU A THROATIER EXHAUST NOTE.
STILL, NO MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU'RE TRAVELLING,
IT'S HARD NOT TO APPRECIATE THE SUPERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIP
AND LUXURY OF THE INTERIOR.
EXTERIOR DIFFERENCES ARE SUBTLE...
A DIFFERENT FINISH TO THE GRILLE, NEW W12 FENDER BADGES,
CHROME TRIM RINGS AROUND THE TAIL LIGHTS,
AND "RIFLED" EXHAUST TIPS.
THE 2013 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT SPEED ARRIVES BEFORE YEAR END,
GOING FOR $215,000.
SO, JOIN US AGAIN SOON
FOR MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.
John Davis: WHILE CARROLL SHELBY IS NO LONGER WITH US,
THE CARS THAT BARE HIS NAME
WILL FOREVER BE HIGH POINTS OF THE CAR CULTURE.
WE'VE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED EVERY SHELBY WE'VE GOTTEN OUR HANDS ON
OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES,
AND BY NOW I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD OF THE LATEST ONE...
THE 662-HORSEPOWER SHELBY GT500 MUSTANG.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, IT'S TIME TO LET IT LOOSE!
IT'S CLEAR TO US THAT THE 2013 FORD SHELBY GT500,
AND ITS 662-HORSEPOWER,
IS A RAPID RESPONSE TO THE RECENTLY LAUNCHED
580-HORSEPOWER CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1.
TAKE THAT, BOW TIE BOYS!
AND WHILE THEY ARE HARD AT WORK
SEARCHING FOR SOME MORE HORSEPOWER,
WE'LL TAKE THIS BLUE OVAL SHELBY MUSTANG TO THE TRACK
TO SEE WHAT IT'LL DO!
BURNOUTS ARE FUN, BUT THEY DON'T HELP LOWER 1/4 MILE TIMES.
FORTUNATELY, THE GT500 COMES WITH LAUNCH CONTROL TO HELP,
AND IT'S EVEN PROGRAMMABLE,
SO YOU CAN DIAL IN THE PERFECT SETTING
DEPENDING ON TRACK CONDITIONS,
OR WHETHER YOU'VE GOT SLICKS OR STREETS IN THE REAR.
WITH THE STOCK TIRES IN PLACE,
AND A LAUNCH RPM OF 2,500 DIALED IN,
WE STILL STRUGGLED TO GET TRACTION OFF THE LINE.
BUT GET EVERYTHING RIGHT
AND YOU'LL SEE 0 TO 60 ROCKET PAST IN 3.5 SECONDS,
AND THE 1/4 MILE VANISHED IN 11.7 SECONDS
AT 126 MILES PER HOUR.
BOTH TIMES ABOUT A HALF SECOND FASTER THAN THE ZL1.
THROUGH 2ND GEAR AND INTO 3RD, THE ENGINE PULLS STRONG,
AND THE SHIFTER HAS A SUPER-MECHANICAL FEEL
WITH NICE, SHORT THROWS.
BUT YOU CAN CALL US CRAZY,
WE STILL PREFER THE BOSS 302'S SHIFTER.
NO AUTOMATIC IS AVAILABLE.
THIS IS THE FIRST MUSTANG
WITH A CLAIMED TOP SPEED OF OVER 200 MILES PER HOUR,
AND ITS ONE INSANE THRILL RIDE!
BUT ON THE STREET,
THE SHELBY CAN BE A LITTLE TOO MUCH OF A THRILL RIDE,
WITH SO MUCH HORSEPOWER ON TAP,
ACCOMPANIED BY A STIFF SUSPENSION
AND SUPER GRIPPY TIRES,
YOU'D BETTER BE ON YOUR GAME.
THE FRONT SUSPENSION COMBINES MACPHERSON STRUTS
WITH "REVERSE-L" LOWER CONTROL ARMS,
AND IN BACK YOU'LL FIND A 3-LINK SOLID AXLE WITH COIL SPRINGS.
OPT FOR THE SVT PERFORMANCE PACKAGE AND THE SUSPENSION GETS
NEW BILSTEIN ELECTRONICALLY SELECTABLE DAMPERS.
BRAKING ALSO GETS UPDATED WITH BREMBO 15-INCH ROTORS
AND 6-PISTON CALIPERS UP FRONT.
IT TOOK ONLY 110 FEET TO WHOA THIS OVERGROWN PONY TO A HALT.
EVEN PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW MUSTANGS
CAN SENSE THAT THIS CAR IS TRULY SOMETHING SPECIAL.
WITH THE "PIECE DE RESISTANCE" UNDER THE HOOD.
A 5.8-LITER SUPERCHARGED CHUNK OF RECIPROCATING ALUMINUM
THAT PUMPS OUT 631 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE
TO GO ALONG WITH THE 662-HORSEPOWER.
YOU'LL RUN OUT OF ADJECTIVES
LONG BEFORE THIS ENGINE RUNS OUT OF STEAM.
ROOM IS TIGHT, SO EXPECT A FEW SCRAPED KNUCKLES
IF YOU PLAN ON DOING ANYTHING IN HERE,
AND THE SOUND IS SIMPLY INCREDIBLE.
THE INSIDE OF THE SHELBY IS PRETTY TIGHT TOO,
WHERE THE MUSTANG'S COUPE
COMFY INTERIOR REMAINS MOSTLY UNCHANGED --
SAVE FOR SOME AWESOME LEATHER RECARO'S WITH WHITE STRIPES,
A COOL CUE BALL SHIFTER,
AND SPECIAL SVT 20TH ANNIVERSARY LIGHTED DOOR SILLS.
REAR SEAT TIME IS BEST KEPT TO A MINIMUM.
THE EXTERIOR MODS ARE MUCH MORE EXTENSIVE,
AND THIS BEAST CERTAINLY LOOKS TOUGH AS NAILS.
THE FRONT END IS WIDE OPEN
AND READY TO SUCK IN AS MUCH AIR AS IT CAN,
TO FEED THE MONSTER BLOCK UNDER THE HEAVILY DOMED HOOD.
WHEELS ARE FORGED 19s IN FRONT AND 20s IN THE REAR,
WRAPPED IN GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 SUPERCAR Gs, AND BETWEEN THEM,
SHELBY GT500 ROCKER STRIPES ARE PROUDLY DISPLAYED.
IN BACK, THERE'S A LARGE SPOILER,
AND OF COURSE SEQUENTIAL LED TAILLIGHTS UP TOP,
WHILE DOWN BELOW LIES BIG, QUAD STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST TIPS.
NOW, ALL OF THIS PERFORMANCE FOR A PRICE OF JUST $54,995
SEEMS A LITTLE UNBELIEVABLE, BUT WE'RE NOT COMPLAINING.
AND EVEN IF YOU ADD ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL GOODIES
YOU WON'T BE MUCH OVER $60-GRAND.
THE COOL PART ABOUT OUR JOBS
IS THAT WE GET TO DRIVE CARS LIKE THE GT500;
THE NOT-SO-COOL PART
IS THAT WE EVENTUALLY HAVE TO GIVE THEM BACK.
THE 2013 FORD SHELBY GT500
IS CLEARLY ONE VERY SPECIAL MUSTANG
THAT EVERY MEMBER OF OUR STAFF WOULD LOVE TO OWN.
IT'S A HEART THROBBING TRIBUTE TO ONE AMAZING CAR GUY.
WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK,
WHEN WE'LL SEE IF A LITTLE BOOST
PUTS A NEW SPIN ON THE HATCHBACK HYUNDAI VELOSTER.
THEN WE'LL CHECK OUT THE ALL-NEW TOYOTA AVALON FULL-SIZE SEDAN.
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.
AGED OR YELLOWED LENSES REDUCE BRIGHTNESS OF HEAD, TAIL
AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS.
THE 3M HEADLIGHT RESTORATION SYSTEM
HELPS RESTORE LENS CLARITY FOR SAFER DRIVING.