HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AND SEE IF THE NEW HYUNDAI SANTA FE SHOULD BECOME A DESTINATION FOR FAMILY CROSSOVER BUYERS.
PAT GOSS HELPS US WITH THOSE EXPENSIVE AIR TOOLS.
STEVEN CHUPNICK GOES OVER THE EDGE AND BACK IN TIME.
AND WE'LL SEE IF THE CADILLAC ATS CAN DO BATTLE WITH SPORTS SEDAN BENCHMARKS.
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CAPTIONED 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: THROUGH TWO GENERATIONS, THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS SUCCEEDED BY GIVING BUYERS A LOT OF MID-SIZE CROSSOVER FOR A LITTLE MONEY, EVEN IF STYLING AND BUILD QUALITY WERE NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS MOST.
WELL, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN A HYUNDAI LATELY, YOU KNOW THAT QUALITY HAS GOTTEN AS GOOD AS ANY RIVAL, AND STYLING IS A DEFINITE PRIORITY AS WELL.
SO, NATURALLY, THE QUESTION IS, HOW WELL DOES THIS ALL-NEW THIRD GENERATION SANTA FE STACK UP AGAINST HYUNDAI'S NEW REPUTATION, AS WELL AS THE BEST OF A CLUTTERED MID-SIZE CROSSOVER SEGMENT.
THE MIDDLE-WEIGHT CROSSOVER SEGMENT IS INDEED A CROWDED RING, AND THE 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE BRINGS A NEW TWO-PRONGED PUNCH WITH IT THIS YEAR, AS IT SEEKS TO CONNECT FOR ADDITIONAL SALES.
AVAILABLE FIRST WILL BE THIS 5-PASSENGER SANTA FE SPORT, BUT EARLY NEXT YEAR, A LONGER WHEELBASE 7-PASSENGER SANTA FE WILL ARRIVE, REPLACING THE VERACRUZ IN THE HYUNDAI LINEUP.
THE NEW SANTA FE SPORT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LIGHTER THAN THE PREVIOUS MODEL, BUT BEHIND THE WHEEL IT BEHAVES HEAVIER, WITH A REASSURING HEFT THAT YOU LIKE TO FEEL IN A SOLID FAMILY TRUCKSTER.
AND WHILE IT'S STILL NOT AS SMOOTH AS SOME IN THE SEGMENT, IT IS QUIET.
AND FOR THE MOST PART, RIDE QUALITY IS GOOD.
IT'S ONLY OVER HARSH BUMPS AND EXPANSION JOINTS THAT YOU GET A FIRM JOLT FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION.
WHEELBASE FOR THE SPORT REMAINS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR AT 106.3-INCHES, THOUGH OVERALL LENGTH IS UP BY ALMOST HALF AN INCH TO 184.6.
HYUNDAI'S FLUIDIC SCULPTURE DESIGN LANGUAGE IS IN PLAY, BUT IN A MORE SUBDUED WAY THAN ON THE COMPACT TUCSON.
STILL, THERE ARE STEM-TO-STERN CHARACTER LINES, A RISING BELTLINE, AND WRAPAROUND TAIL LIGHTS.
A HUGE, HEXAGONAL GRILLE WITH CHROME TRIM ADDS REAL PRESENCE, WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS FEATURE LED ACCENTS.
EVEN THE STANDARD 17-INCH WHEELS LOOK GREAT.
IT'S A SIGN OF THE TIMES AS SPORT ENGINE CHOICES CONSIST OF TWO 4-CYLINDERS, A 264-HORSEPOWER, 2.0-LITER TURBO; AND OUR TEST CAR'S 2.4-LITER NORMALLY ASPIRATED DIRECT INJECTION I4.
DESPITE SMALLISH POWER NUMBERS OF 190-HORSEPOWER AND 181 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, WE WERE IMPRESSED WITH OFF THE LINE POWER, THOUGH IT WILL RUN OUT OF STEAM WELL BEFORE THE TOP END.
A 3.3-LITER V6 WILL POWER THE 7-PASSENGER SANTA FE.
REGARDLESS OF WHICH FOUR YOU CHOOSE FOR THE SPORT, YOU'LL FIND A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH MANUAL SHIFT MODE; ON BOTH FRONT AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS.
THE FIRST THING WE NOTICED AT OUR TEST TRACK WITH OUR FRONT DRIVER WAS A VERY STIFF THROTTLE PEDAL.
STOMP IT TO THE FLOOR AND AFTER THAT INITIAL JOLT, THINGS SETTLE DOWN FOR A SOMEWHAT LAID BACK 0 TO 60 TIME OF 9.1-SECONDS.
AND IT TAKES 16.9 SECONDS TO REACH 82 MILES PER HOUR AT THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE.
HANDLING IS FULLY ON PAR WITH THE REST OF THE CLASS, VERY COMPETENT, BUT BY NO MEANS EXCEPTIONAL.
HARDWARE IS A FAMILIAR MACPHERSON STRUT FRONT AND MULTI-LINK REAR SUSPENSION SETUP.
STEERING HAS A NICE WEIGHT TO IT, AND WE LIKE THE MULTIPLE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE MADE RIGHT ON THE WHEEL, NO MENU SCREENS TO SEARCH THROUGH.
BRAKING IS ALSO IN STEP WITH OTHERS IN THE SEGMENT, AS STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGED A FINE 124-FEET.
OUR ONLY COMPLAINT IS THE "USUAL FOR HYUNDAI" VERY SOFT PEDAL.
LIKE ALL RECENT HYUNDAI'S, THE SANTA FE SPORT'S INTERIOR IS NICELY DONE AND ROOMIER THAN EXPECTED.
THE LAYOUT AND I.P.
ARE FAMILIAR, DRAWN FROM SONATA AND OTHERS, AND OUR ONLY COMPLAINT IS THAT IN DAYLIGHT THE COOLANT AND FUEL GAUGES BLEND IN A LITTLE TOO MUCH.
SEATS ARE COMFORTABLE, BUT ONLY ADEQUATELY SO.
A DRIVER'S SIDE KNEE AIRBAG IS STANDARD.
THERE IS LOTS OF STORAGE SPACE TO BE FOUND, INCLUDING A WIDE, OPEN CENTER CONSOLE.
ALL CONTROLS WORK WELL.
OPT FOR THE LEATHER AND PREMIUM EQUIPMENT PACKAGE AND YOU'LL GET PUSH BUTTON START, REARVIEW CAMERA, AND SLIDING AND RECLINING REAR SEATS.
THERE IS GOOD REAR SEAT ROOM AND THE SEAT BACKS FOLD ALMOST FLAT, BUT DO SO RATHER CLUMSILY.
THE OPTIONAL TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE ADDS 8-INCH TOUCHSCREEN NAVIGATION, DIMENSION PREMIUM AUDIO, HEATED STEERING WHEEL, REAR WINDOW SHADES, AND A PANORAMIC SUNROOF.
THE REAR HATCH IS LIGHTWEIGHT AND HIDES 35.4 CUBIC-FEET OF STORAGE SPACE, WHICH EXPANDS TO 71.5 CUBIC-FEET WHEN THE SPLIT REAR BENCH IS FOLDED.
BUT THE BEST NUMBERS ARE THE GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS THAT COME IN AT 21-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED WITH FRONT DRIVE.
WE AVERAGED A GREAT 27.5 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.
THAT MAKES FOR AN ENERGY IMPACT SCORE THAT'S JUST ABOVE AVERAGE AT 13.7 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION, WHILE EMITTING 6.2 TONS OF CO2 PER YEAR.
PRICING NUMBERS ARE ALSO GOOD, AT LEAST TO START, WITH THE BASE MODEL COMING IN AT $25,275; ALL-WHEEL DRIVE WILL COST YOU ANOTHER $1,750.
SO EXPECT A WELL OPTIONED SANTA FE TO PUSH $30 GRAND.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE HYUNDAI CAN KEEP UP SUCH AN IMPRESSIVE ROLL OF GREAT VEHICLES.
THE 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT IS A VERY GOOD DESIGN, AND DESPITE THE RECENT CONTROVERSY OVER THE BRAND'S FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS, VERY EFFICIENT FOR ITS CLASS.
ALL IN ALL, IT'S A SOLID ADDITION TO THE MID-SIZE CROSSOVER FIELD, AND LIKELY ANOTHER WIN FOR HYUNDAI.
JUST IMAGINE IF MARTY MCFLY HAD NOT ENDED UP IN HILL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, BUT SAY, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA!
WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE OUR STEVEN CHUPNICK ENDED UP ON HIS LATEST ADVENTURE AS HE WENT OVER THE EDGE AND "BACK TO THE '50s."
Steven: WELCOME TO A GATHERING OF CLASSIC IRON AND THE 39TH ANNUAL "BACK TO THE '50s" WEEKEND.
WELL, IT'S BECOME A LITTLE MORE THAN A GATHERING - NEARLY 12,000 CARS AND TRUCKS FILLED THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIRGROUNDS, AND ALL THESE CARS FROM THE '50s AND '60s - IT MAKES ME WANT TO GET DOWN FOR A BOOGIE WOOGIE DADDY-O.
LIKE MANY OF THE GREAT CAR CLUBS, THE MINNESOTA STREET ROD ASSOCIATION, OR MSRA, BEGAN IN THE LATE 1960s AS A BUNCH OF GUYS GETTING TOGETHER AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT ELSE...THEIR CARS.
NO ONE THOUGHT IT WOULD EVER BE THIS BIG... Gene Sonnem: IT JUST KIND OF FED ON ITSELF.
A CHANCE TO SEE A LOT MORE DIFFERENT CARS THAN WE'D EVER SEEN BEFORE, AND MEET OTHER GUYS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE TWIN CITIES, THE WHOLE METRO AREA.
WELL, THAT HAPPENED, THEN OUT OF STATE GUYS STARTED SHOWING UP.
Steven: WHAT STARTED OUT AS 12 GUYS, THE MSRA HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 13,000 MEMBERS WORLD WIDE.
AND AS FOR THE "BACK TO THE '50s"... OVER 125,000 SPECTATORS AND 11,800 CARS.
EASILY THE LARGEST THREE-DAY CAR SHOW OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD.
AND IT IS JUST THAT - A SHOW - NO COMPETITION, JUST THE LOVE OF WHEELS, FINS, AND PEOPLE.
Tom Vollbrecht, Sr.: WE ALL ENJOY OUR CARS.
WE'RE NUTS, I GUESS.
PEOPLE SAY, 'WHAT, ARE YOU CRAZY?'
WE ARE, WE'RE CAR CRAZY.
I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT, BUT WE ARE.
Steven: SO WHAT KIND OF RIDES ARE HERE?
EVERYTHING.
AND I MEAN EVERYTHING.
THE ONLY RULE: THE AUTOS MUST HAVE BEEN BUILT BY 1964.
AND SORRY, NO MUSTANGS ALLOWED.
OTHER THAN THAT, ANYTHING GOES!
HOW COOL TO SEE SO MANY WONDERFULLY MAINTAINED MODERN CLASSICS.
CARS YOU RARELY SEE ON THE STREET ANYMORE, LIKE THESE FORD GALAXIES OR MAYBE ITS CARS THAT NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN BEFORE.
Larry Schoonover: WE WOULDN'T MISS IT.
IT'S JUST IN YOUR BLOOD.
IF IT ISN'T THE CAR, IT'S THE PEOPLE, IT'S THE PARK, IT'S THE FOOD.
IT'S JUST SO MUCH FUN.
YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.
Steven: CONNIE MURPHY DROVE HER 1956 CHEVY NOMAD ALL THE WAY FROM CALIFORNIA, FOR THE FIFTH YEAR IN A ROW.
FOR HER, JUST GETTING TO MINNESOTA IS AN EXPERIENCE.
Connie Murphy: OH, WONDERFUL.
YOU GET ON THE ROAD AND IT'S SO MUCH FUN.
IT'S LIKE A CAR SHOW FROM THERE TO HERE.
EVERY YEAR THE CAR GETS OLDER, MORE PEOPLE WAVE, AND IT'S LIKE A LITTLE CAR SHOW AT EVERY GAS STOP.
Steven: WE HAPPENED TO STUMBLE ON ONE OF THE FEW EUROPEANS PRESENT, JOHN MYERS' 1961 TRIUMPH TR4... John Myers: IT KIND OF GIVES PEOPLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO LOOK AT.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE REMEMBER THIS CAR FROM BACK IN THE '60s AND '70s AND YOU DON'T REALLY SEE THEM THAT MUCH ANYMORE.
Steven: OH, AND THAT LOVE I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE...
IT GOES WAY BEYOND JUST SHOWING OFF YOUR CAR.
AND THE NEWLYWEDS DRIVE AWAY RIDE?
WHAT ELSE, A STREET ROD!
THE GROOM'S OWN 1926 FORD SEDAN.
THANKS TO BRENT ALPERT AND THE "IGNITORS" YOUTH RODDERS, EVEN THE PINT-SIZED FANS GET PUMPED UP ABOUT THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN CARS... Brent Alpert: MY BIG THING IS I'VE BEEN TRYING TO ADVOCATE TO GET THE YOUTH IN THIS HOBBY AND KEEP THE HOBBY GOING.
Steven: BUT IT'S STILL THE SEASONED VETS WHO BRENT AND THE YOUNGER MEMBERS LOOK UP TO... Brent: MEETING THESE OLDER MEMBERS HAS BEEN JUST GREAT.
HEARING THE OLD STORIES OF THE PAST THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO LIVE HAVE BEEN GREAT.
Jerry Johnson: OH, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
EVERY YEAR IT'S A MOMENTUM THING; PEOPLE TELL THEIR FRIENDS, YOU GOTTA GO BACK TO THE '50s.
Steven: THE "BACK TO THE '50s" SHOW HAS IT ALL, BESIDES THE CARS OF COURSE, FROM OLDER FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO NEW FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
BUT IT'S ABOUT THE FUN ALL WEEKEND LONG THAT HAS THESE PEOPLE COMING BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AND BEFORE WE LEFT, I DECIDED TO LEAVE THE BACK TO THE '50s CREW WITH A BIT OF MOTORWEEK'S LEGACY.
THERE'S NO WAY TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF EVERY CAR AT THE SHOW.
BUT THAT'S ALL THE MORE REASON TO RETURN TO ST. PAUL AND DRIVE BACK IN TIME NEXT YEAR!
John: THIS WEEK OUR TOP TECH PAT GOSS STOPS BY WITH TIPS ON HOW TO MAINTAIN THOSE EXPENSIVE AIR TOOLS IN YOUR OWN GARAGE.
Pat Goss: WHETHER IT'S IN A PROFESSIONAL SHOP OR IN YOUR HOME GARAGE, AIR TOOLS SAVE A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF LABOR.
BUT, AIR TOOLS REQUIRE MAINTENANCE, AND THAT MAINTENANCE STARTS RIGHT BACK HERE AT YOUR AIR COMPRESSOR.
SEE, AIR COMPRESSORS, WHEN THEY RUN, THEY CONDENSE MOISTURE OUT OF THE AIR.
THAT COLLECTS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK.
ACTUALLY, THIS IS WHAT WE GOT OUT OF THIS ONE JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO.
AND IF THIS STUFF DOESN'T GET DRAINED OUT OF THE COMPRESSOR, IT'S GOING TO GET INTO YOUR AIR TOOLS AND IT'S GOING TO DO DAMAGE OR IT'S GOING TO KILL THE TOOL THAT IT GETS INTO.
ANOTHER THING THAT IS MAINTENANCE RELATED HERE ON THE COMPRESSOR IS THE OIL LEVEL.
IT MAY HAVE A SIGHT GLASS OR YOU MAY HAVE A DIPSTICK.
READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL, IT'LL TELL YOU HOW TO CHECK THE OIL; MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT FULL OF OIL BECAUSE IT WON'T LIVE IF YOU DON'T.
ALSO, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, LOOK TO SEE HOW FREQUENTLY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO CHANGE THE OIL AND WHAT TYPE OF OIL YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO USE.
AGAIN, IF YOU DON'T DO IT, IT WON'T LIVE.
NOW, ANOTHER THING, WHENEVER YOU'RE USING AN AIR TOOL, WELL, YOU WANT TO WEAR EYE PROTECTION BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, EVEN THE BASIC SOCKET, LIKE ON THIS AIR IMPACT WRENCH, THE LITTLE SHARDS OF STEEL CAN BREAK OFF FROM THE SOCKET OR FROM THE NUT THAT'S BEING TIGHTENED OR LOOSENED AND THAT CAN HIT YOU IN THE EYE.
ALRIGHT, SO EYE PROTECTION.
NUMBER TWO IS EAR PROTECTION.
EAR PROTECTION BECAUSE AIR TOOLS MAKE NOISE, AND THE NOISE IS SUCH THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY DAMAGE YOUR EARS.
SO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.
ALSO, THE ONE THING THAT NOBODY EVER SEEMS TO DO, AND IT'S REALLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO, AND THAT IS TO ADD OIL INTO THE TOOL.
THESE THINGS HAVE METAL MOVING PARTS INSIDE 'EM, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A CRANK CASE LIKE AN ENGINE OR EVEN LIKE THE COMPRESSOR BACK THERE.
SO YOU HAVE TO PUT OIL IN THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
WELL, IT WAS ALWAYS A MESSY JOB, BUT NOW THIS AIR TOOL OILER FROM STECK, WHICH MOUNTS ON YOUR TOOL BOX OR ON THE WALL, YOU FILL IT WITH THE PROPER AIR TOOL OIL, THEN YOU TAKE THE TOOL AND YOU PUT IT UP INTO HERE.
THERE'S A LITTLE NIPPLE UP IN THERE THAT ALIGNS THE END OF THE TOOL PROPERLY, PUSH UP ON IT.
AND AS YOU PUSH UP ON IT, IT INJECTS OIL INTO THE TOOL.
IT CAN DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF YOUR AIR TOOLS.
AND IT'S INEXPENSIVE.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
John: LET'S FACE IT, FIRST IMPRESSIONS DO COUNT A LOT.
SO LET'S TURN OVER NEW SETS OF CAR KEYS FOR SOME OF OURS.
A FEW WEEKS AGO WE TESTED FORD'S NEW C-MAX HYBRID.
THIS 5-SEAT MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLE IMPRESSED US WITH ITS HIGH MILEAGE, 47 MPGACROSS THE BOARD, AND EVERYDAY PRACTICALITY WITH ITS PRIUS BEATING PASSENGER AND CARGO ROOM.
NOW WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEND SOME TIME IN THE SECOND C-MAX INSTALLMENT, THE PLUG-IN C-MAX ENERGI.
AND, ONCE AGAIN, FORD HAS AIMED IT AT PRIUS, BUT SPECIFICALLY THE PRIUS PLUG-IN.
C-MAX ENERGI OUTPUT, 188-HORSEPOWER, IS THE SAME AS THE HYBRID, AS IS THE 2.0 LITER I4 ENGINE AND ELECTRIC MOTOR COMBO.
UNIQUE TO ENERGI, HOWEVER, IS THE LARGER 7.6 KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PACK.
AT 240 VOLTS, A RECHARGE TAKES TWO AND A HALF HOURS, PROVIDING UP TO 21 MILES OF EV ONLY RANGE.
OUR FIRST ALL-EV DRIVE IN AND AROUND SAN FRANCISCO YIELDED IN THE TEENS, BUT STILL MORE THAN WE EVER MANAGED IN A PRIUS PLUG-IN.
THE ENERGI HAS A GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 100 MPGE COMBINED.
COMPARED TO 95 MPGE FOR THE PRIUS PLUG-IN.
MAXIMUM GAS-ELECTRIC RANGE FOR THE C-MAX ENERGI IS A BLADDER BURSTING 620 MILES.
ENERGI CARGO ROOM IS DOWN FROM THE C-MAX HYBRID, HOWEVER, WITH ALMOST 10 CUBIC FEET SACRIFICED FOR THE TALLER BATTERY PACK.
WITH ALL SEATS IN USE, THAT PUTS IT SLIGHTLY BEHIND THE PLUG-IN PRIUS.
AN EXCLUSIVE EV+ MODE LEARNS A DRIVER'S MOST VISITED DESTINATIONS THROUGH GPS, AND REMAPS THE HYBRID SYSTEM FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY WHILE EN ROUTE.
THE 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI IS AVAILABLE NOW, STARTING AROUND $34,000.
AND WE'LL PLUG IN TO MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS SOON!
John: TIME NOW TO CHECK IN WITH YOLANDA VAZQUEZ WHO'S UP TO DATE ON ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS.
Yolanda: THE WEATHER MAY BE GETTING COOLER, BUT HYUNDAI IS CERTAINLY FEELING THE HEAT AFTER REVEALING THAT FUEL ECONOMY ESTIMATES ON A NUMBER OF ITS TOP SELLERS MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE TOO LOFTY.
THE NEWS, WHICH AFFECTS ALMOST ONE MILLION VEHICLES OF HYUNDAI AND SISTER DIVISION KIA, FOR MODEL YEARS 2011 TO 2013, CAME AFTER THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WAS NOT ABLE TO VALIDATE THE COMPANY'S FUEL ECONOMY DATA.
HYUNDAI SAYS THE "MISTAKES" OCCURRED DURING WHAT IS CALLED THE "COASTDOWN" PHASE OF EMISSION AND FUEL ECONOMY TESTING, IN WHICH AERODYNAMICS, TIRE RESISTANCE, AND INTERNAL POWER LOSSES DUE TO FRICTION ARE MEASURED THROUGH A DYNAMOMETER.
THESE FIGURES HEAVILY INFLUENCE FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS, SO ACCURACY IS A TOP PRIORITY.
AFFECTED VEHICLES INCLUDE THE MAJORITY OF 2012 AND 2013 MODELS; EVERYTHING FROM THE ACCENT AND AZERA, TO THE SANTA FE AND VELOSTER.
KIA MODELS INCLUDE SOUL, SORENTO, AND SPORTAGE.
MOST WILL SEE A ONE TO TWO MPG DROP, IN BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY NUMBERS, AFTER THE ADJUSTMENT.
HYUNDAI HAS APOLOGIZED AND ALREADY RE-LABELED CARS AT DEALERS WITH THE REVISED RATINGS.
A REIMBURSEMENT PLAN FOR AFFECTED OWNERS IS ALSO UNDERWAY THAT COULD COST THE COMPANY OVER $100 MILLION, ALONG WITH THEIR REPUTATION.
FROM ISSUES AT THE PUMP, TO FOREGOING GASOLINE COMPLETELY, WE TURN TO BMW'S I ELECTRIC FLEET, WHERE MOTORWEEK WAS GIVEN A SNEAK PEEK RECENTLY IN NEW YORK CITY.
BMW'S I8, THE SVELTE PLUG-IN HYBRID SPORT COUPE TEASED AT AUTO SHOWS IN 2009, HAS GAINED AN EQUALLY STYLISH COMPANION IN 2012, THE I3 SPORTS SEDAN.
THIS COMPACT BOASTS BMW'S FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN, WITH A FACTORY ESTIMATED RANGE OF 80-100 MILES AND 170 HP.
A HIGH STRENGTH CARBON FIBER PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINUM DRIVE MODULE BRINGS THE I3 IN AT JUST UNDER 2,800 POUNDS, ALLOWING FOR BOTH MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY AND BMW STYLE PERFORMANCE.
WHILE DETAILS ARE STILL PENDING, IT LOOKS LIKE BMW'S NEW "I" BRAND IS CHARGING UP THE "ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINES" OF THE FUTURE.
AND THAT'LL DO IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
John: CADILLAC HAS ALREADY PROVEN THAT IT CAN BUILD A TOP NOTCH SPORTS SEDAN AND COUPE WITH THE CTS.
BUT BEING ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BMW 5-SERIES, THE CTS IS STILL TOO LARGE AND HEAVY FOR CORE SPORTS SEDAN ENTHUSIASTS WHO PREFER RIDES LIKE THE BMW 3-SERIES, AUDI A4, AND INFINITI G. WELL, IT TOOK A WHILE, BUT THE ALL-NEW CADILLAC ATS HAS THOSE RIVALS SQUARELY IN ITS SIGHTS.
SO LET'S SEE JUST HOW TRUE CADILLAC'S AIM REALLY IS.
WE'LL JUST PRETEND THAT THE CIMARRON NEVER HAPPENED, AND CALL THE 2013 ATS CADILLAC'S FIRST COMPACT SEDAN.
IT CERTAINLY IS THEIR FIRST COMPACT LUXURY SPORTS SEDAN.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A PRESTIGE BRAND CAN SURVIVE AS LONG AS CADILLAC HAS WITHOUT A WORTHY ENTRY-LEVEL MODEL.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, THE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE ATS LOOKS TO HAVE THE GOODS TO GO TOE-TO-TOE WITH THE MOST HALLOWED OF ALL SPORTS SEDAN BENCHMARKS, THE BMW 3-SERIES.
WE SURE HAD A BLAST SLIDING THIS LIGHTWEIGHT, EXPERTLY BALANCED CADDY AROUND ATLANTA MOTORSPORTS PARK.
THE ATS MAKES YOU BELIEVE YOU'RE IN TOTAL CONTROL, ALTHOUGH YOU KNOW IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND, THERE'S A LOT OF ONES AND ZEROS HELPING YOU GO FAST.
IT'S DEFINITELY A DRIVER'S CAR.
THE AVAILABLE LIMITED-SLIP REAR REALLY HELPS GET THE POWER DOWN WHETHER AROUND CURVES OR IN A STRAIGHT LINE.
ON THAT, THE ATS IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL WHEN IT COMES TO POWER.
THERE ARE THREE CHOICES, ONE MORE THAN MOST RIVALS.
FROM THE 2.5-LITER I4 IN THE BASE AND LUXURY MODELS, TO THE BRUT IN THE LINEUP, THE CTS'S 3.6-LITER V6 FOUND IN THE PREMIUM MODEL.
BUT OUR FAVORITE, AND LIKELY THE BUYER'S TOO, IS THE PERFORMANCE MODEL'S ALL-ALUMINUM, DIRECT INJECTION 2-LITER TURBO, WITH ITS 272-HORSEPOWER, 30 MORE THAN THE 328I, AND 260 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
GOOD FOR A 0 TO 60 RUN OF A RESPECTABLE 5.7 SECONDS.
THAT GREAT POWER IS THEN PERFECTLY BALANCED WITH GOOD FUEL ECONOMY AT 22 CITY, 32 HIGHWAY, AND 26 COMBINED.
ALL ENGINES DON 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WITH MANUAL SHIFT, WHILE THE 2-LITER TURBO OFFERS A SPORTS SEDAN PRE-REQUISITE 6-SPEED MANUAL.
WHILE "PURISTS" WILL INSIST ON THE MANUAL, THE AUTO IS PLENTY RESPONSIVE AND SUITED US JUST FINE.
LENGTH AND WHEELBASE PUT IT RIGHT AMONGST THE COMPETITION, BUT AT 3,400 POUNDS, IT'S LIGHTER THAN MOST OF THEM, THANKS TO EXTENSIVE USE OF ALUMINUM AND EVEN MAGNESIUM.
FRONT SUSPENSION STARTS AS TYPICAL MACPHERSON STRUT, BUT REPLACES THE USUAL WISHBONE WITH TWIN BALL JOINTS AND LOWER CONTROL LINKS.
THE REAR IS AN ALL-NEW 5-LINK DESIGN.
OUR RIDE'S FE3 PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION ADDS THE LIMITED SLIP REAR AND DRIVER ADJUSTABLE GEN 3 MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL THAT REALLY PULLS IT ALL TOGETHER.
THERE IS ALSO ELECTRIC VARIABLE STEERING ASSIST, AND WE HAVE NO COMPLAINTS AS THERE'S A SWEET AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK THROUGH THE WHEEL.
THE FRONT END IS SMOOTH.
NARROW, VERTICAL HEADLIGHTS WITH AVAILABLE LED ACCENTS, FLANK A BROAD GRILLE WITH ACTIVE SHUTTERS, ACCENTUATING WIDTH.
THE REAR PROUDLY FEATURES CADILLAC HALLMARKS SUCH AS VERTICAL LED TAILLIGHTS AND LARGE WREATH AND CREST, WHILE NICELY INTEGRATED EXHAUST TIPS ADD A TOUCH OF MODERN.
INSIDE, THERE IS AN ULTRA-MODERN YET FAMILIAR CADILLAC LOOK.
OUR PERFORMANCE MODEL FEATURES SPORTY ALUMINUM TRIM, THOUGH WOOD IS AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE IN THE LINEUP.
AND CADILLAC'S NEW CUE PROXIMITY TOUCH INTERFACE IS ALSO STANDARD IN ALL BUT THE BASE CAR.
WE LOVE THE LOOK AND FEEL OF CUE WHEN SITTING STILL, BUT MOVING, LIKE ALL SUCH SYSTEMS, YOU NEED TO USE THE BEST-YET VOICE ACTIVATION TO AVOID TOO MUCH DISTRACTION.
MUCH LIKE THE LARGER XTS, GAUGES ARE A HIGH-TECH DISPLAY, WITH A MULTITUDE OF CONFIGURATIONS.
OVERALL INTERIOR DIMENSIONS ARE SIMILAR TO THE 3-SERIES.
THAT MEANS A FAIRLY INTIMATE FRONT CABIN BUT WITH PLENTY OF LEGROOM.
THE REAR SEAT IN THE ATS, HOWEVER, IS A LITTLE TIGHT EVEN FOR A SPORTS SEDAN.
AND THE TRUNK IS DOWNRIGHT SMALL AT 10.2 CUBIC-FEET.
ON THE STREET, THE ATS IS VERY COMPOSED AND SUPER STABLE.
MORE THAN ONE OF OUR STAFFERS FELT THE NEED TO CONSTANTLY REMIND THEMSELVES THAT THEY WERE DRIVING AN AMERICAN MADE SPORTS SEDAN.
THE 2-LITER TURBO HAS PLENTY OF GUTS, LITTLE TURBO LAG, AND LIKES TO BE REVVED.
YET IT REMAINS QUIET AND SMOOTH AS YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM A LUXURY ORIENTED BRAND.
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS AVAILABLE ON ALL BUT BASE AND LUXURY MODELS.
ATS PRICING BEGINS AT A VERY REASONABLE $33,990, BUT WE EXPECT MOST WILL GO OUT OF THE DOOR CLOSER TO $40 GRAND.
CADILLAC HAS HIT THE COMPACT SPORTY FOUR-DOOR BULLSEYE WITH THE 2013 ATS.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN HORDES OF 3-SERIES FANS ARE GOING TO TRADE-IN THEIR TWIN-KIDNEYS FOR A WREATH AND CREST.
BUT IT DOES MEAN CADILLAC IS NOW A MEMBER OF A VERY EXCLUSIVE CLUB.
AND WITH A V-SERIES, AND MAYBE EVEN A COUPE TO FOLLOW, THE ATS LOOKS LIKE A LOT MORE THAN JUST A SPLASH IN THE PAN.
John: WELL I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , AS WE TRY OUT TURBO 4 POWER IN THE MILD-MANNERED CHEVY MALIBU.
THEN WE'LL UPGRADE TO TWIN-TURBO V8 POWER IN THE BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT.
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.