2014 Acura MDX & 2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE

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

HOST: JOIN US AND SEE IF THE NEW ACURA MDX HAS FOUND THE RIGHT MIX OF SPORT UTE AND LUXURY... PAT GOSS ROLLS ON WITH HOW PROPER TIRE PRESSURE SAVES MORE THAN TREAD WEAR...

THE GUYS FROM RETROMOTO CHECK OUT A BLOCK PARTY LIKE NO OTHER... AND WE PARTY MOTORWEEK -STYLE WITH THE TRACK-HAPPY CHEVROLET CAMARO 1LE.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

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JOHN DAVIS: A PIONEER AMONG LUXURY CROSSOVERS, THE ACURA MDX HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A SUCCESS; AND AT TIMES HAS BEEN THE BRAND'S TOP SELLING MODEL.

SO ITS IMPORTANCE TO ACURA CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

WELL, NOW IT'S TIME FOR AN ALL-NEW THIRD GENERATION MDX, AND IT COULD GO ONE OF TWO WAYS.

WILL THE 2014 ACURA MDX BE MORE OF THE SAME, HOPING TO KEEP CURRENT CUSTOMERS HAPPY?

OR WILL ACURA MAKE DRASTIC CHANGES IN ORDER ATTRACT LOTS OF NEW ONES?

WELL, LET'S FIND OUT.

THE 2014 ACURA MDX MID-SIZE LUXURY CROSSOVER ARRIVES ON THE SCENE WITH A DIFFICULT MISSION; IMPROVE WHAT NEEDS IMPROVING WITHOUT CHANGING TOO MUCH.

AND, OH YEAH, GIVE BUYERS SOMETHING EXTRA THAT THEY WEREN'T EXPECTING AND THEN DON'T WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT.

WELL, HOPEFULLY MORE POWER WASN'T ON THE LIST OF BUYER WANTS, AS IT IS ACTUALLY DOWN FROM LAST YEAR TO 290-HORSEPOWER THANKS TO A SMALLER DIRECT INJECTION 3.5-LITER V6 ENGINE FROM ACURA'S FLAGSHIP RLX.

TORQUE OUTPUT IS ALSO DOWN SLIGHTLY TO 267 LB-FT.

BUT THE DEVIL IS IN THE TUNING DETAILS AS IT ACTUALLY FEELS MORE POWERFUL, AND ACURA CLAIMS THE 0-60 TIME IS HALF A SECOND QUICKER.

IN FACT, THE WHOLE MDX FEELS SPORTIER THAN BEFORE, WHICH IS SAYING SOMETHING AS IT WAS ALREADY AMONG THE BEST HANDLING CUVS.

ALTHOUGH AT TIMES IT DID FEEL LIKE THE SUV'D UP MINI-VAN THAT IT WAS.

NO MORE!

THE NEW MDX HAS A NEW PLATFORM NO LONGER BASED ON THE HONDA ODYSSEY.

WHEELBASE IS UP ALMOST THREE INCHES AND OVERALL LENGTH BY TWO.

BUT BOTH HEIGHT AND WIDTH ARE LESS.

DESPITE MORE LENGTH, WEIGHT IS ACTUALLY DOWN BY 275 POUNDS.

THAT AIDS HANDLING, AS DOES THE ALL-NEW FRONT STRUT SUSPENSION WITH TRIPLE-PATH MOUNTING, A MORE COMPACT MULTI-LINK IN THE REAR, ROLL CONTROL DAMPERS, AND THE RDX'S BRAKE AUGMENTED AGILE HANDLING ASSIST.

A NEW 3-MODE INTEGRATED DYNAMICS SYSTEM HELPS AS WELL.

SET THE SELECTOR TO SPORT AND YOU'LL GET MORE STEERING FEEDBACK, QUICKER DRIVE-LINE RESPONSE, AND EVEN SOME ADDITIONAL ENGINE NOISE IN THE CABIN.

A PADDLE SHIFT 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS THE ONLY TRANSMISSION AND TOWING CAPACITY REMAINS AT 5,000 POUNDS.

THE EXTERIOR OF THE NEW MDX MAY LOOK A LITTLE VANILLA, BUT WE THINK IT'S A REFRESHING CHANGE FROM SOME OF THE MORE "OUT THERE" ACURA'S OF LATE.

THE FRONT END IS SMOOTHER WITH THE RDX'S JEWEL-EYE, BUGGY LED LIGHTING, THOUGH THE SHIELD GRILLE REMAINS.

THE OVERALL SHAPE IS MORE AERODYNAMIC WITH A DOWNWARD SLOPING ROOF THAT LEADS TO A MORE SUBSTANTIAL LOOKING REAR.

WHEEL OPTIONS RANGE FROM STANDARD 18-INCH GRAY FINISH ALLOYS TO YOUR CHOICE OF 19'S.

A BIG CHANGE IS THAT FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE IS NOW STANDARD.

A BOW TO BUYERS IN WARMER CLIMATES WHO RESIST ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

FORTUNATELY, ACURA'S SUPER HANDLING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STILL OPTIONAL, AND WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE SINCE IT TOO AIDS THE MDX'S SPORTY PERFORMANCE.

INSIDE, YOU'LL FIND A LITTLE MORE LUXURY THAN BEFORE, AND THINGS HAVE GOTTEN A BIT QUIETER.

THERE CONTINUES TO BE NO SHORTAGE OF HIGH TECH, WITH ITEMS LIKE A NEW ON DEMAND MULTI-USE DISPLAY, WHICH FEATURES A TOUCH SCREEN WITH HAPTIC FEEDBACK, AND HELPS REDUCE THE BUTTON OVERLOAD OF THE PREVIOUS MDX; ONLY 9-BUTTONS REMAIN, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, NO KNOB FOR CHANGING STATIONS.

THERE'S ACURALINK WITH STANDARD BLUETOOTH AND TEXT MESSAGING, ALONG WITH AHA INTERNET RADIO, BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO STEP UP TO THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE TO GET NAVIGATION.

A MULTI-ANGLE REAR VIEW CAMERA, HOWEVER, IS STANDARD.

ALL MDX'S ARE 3-ROW, 7-PASSENGER WITH FRONT AND MIDDLE SEATING PLENTY COMFORTABLE FOR ADULT LONG HAULS.

ACCESS THROUGH THE REAR DOORS IS WIDER AND LOWER, AND THE NEW ONE-TOUCH SLIDE MECHANISM IS THE BEST ACCESS TO THE 3RD ROW WE'VE TRIED YET.

BUT IT'S STILL A "CHILD ONLY" ZONE BACK THERE.

EITHER OF TWO AVAILABLE REAR ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS CAN HELP PASS THE TIME, WHETHER YOU CHOOSE THE 9-INCH SCREEN OR THE 16-INCH WIDE SCREEN.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE WELL UP OVER LAST YEAR AT 18-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

FRONT-DRIVE AT 20-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED.

PREMIUM FUEL IS NOW RECOMMENDED INSTEAD OF REQUIRED.

WITH AWD, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS A GOOD 15.7-BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION; WITH YEARLY CO2 EMISSIONS OF 6.9-TONS.

PRICING FOR THE MDX HAS DROPPED SLIGHTLY; STARTING AT $43,185, BUT KEEP IN MIND, THAT'S FOR FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS START AT $45,185.

THE 2014 ACURA MDX IS A VERY COMPETENT MAKEOVER.

DESIGNERS MANAGED TO IMPROVE IT BY MAKING IT MORE CAPABLE, MORE FUEL EFFICIENT, AND MORE ACCESSIBLE, WITHOUT CHANGING IN WAYS THAT WOULD TURN OFF CURRENT OWNERS.

IT MAY NOT BE THE MOST EXCITING LUXURY CROSSOVER TO LOOK AT, BUT ITS APPEAL HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER.

MOST OF OUR REVIEWS HERE AT MOTORWEEK ARE OF THE FOUR-WHEELED VARIETY.

IT'S JUST THE WAY WE LIKE TO PARTY AROUND HERE.

BUT OUR FRIENDS AT RETROMOTO HAVE FOUND A GROUP OF GEARHEADS IN BROOKLYN THAT LIKE TO CELEBRATE A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY... MATT SMITH: WE'RE IN NEW YORK CITY TODAY TO CHECK OUT A CLASSIC BIKE BLOCK PARTY IN GREENPOINT, BROOKLYN.

I GOTTA TELL YA, I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS ONE.

IT BRINGS OUT SUCH AN ARRAY OF PEOPLE, BIKES, TRICKED OUT BOBBERS.

YOU NAME IT, IT'S HERE.

SO COME ON, FOLLOW ME, WE'RE GONNA GO GET RIGHT IN THE MIX OF THINGS.

SO I'M SITTING HERE WITH ERIK GREEN WHO'S ONE OF THE COORDINATORS FOR THE EVENT.

HOW'D THIS WHOLE THING COME ABOUT?

ERIK GREEN: MY FRIEND, TAKA, FROM PEAK-POINT CYCLES IN QUEENS, NEW YORK, HE HAD THIS IDEA TO DO A LITTLE BACKYARD MOTORCYCLE SHOW.

MATT: OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT IN THE BACKYARD ANYMORE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE TURNING OUT.

ERIK: RIGHT.

MATT: THIS IS A BIG DEAL NOW.

ERIK: THIS IS PROBABLY OUR BEST EVENT.

MATT: I LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY FOR A WHILE AND I HAD NOWHERE TO KEEP A BIKE.

I MEAN...[ LAUGHS ] ERIK: THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS THERE'S BEEN AN EXPLOSION OF, LIKE, LITTLE SHOPS THAT OPENED UP, AND STORAGE FACILITIES, SO THAT IT'S A LOT MORE MOTORCYCLE FRIENDLY.

MATT: WELL, YOU CAN'T EXACTLY PARK THIS ON THE STREET.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KEEP IT IN YOUR SHOP, BUT... ERIK: RIGHT.

MATT: TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SITTING ON.

THIS IS A SIDECAR RACING MOTORCYCLE.

ERIK: 1971 BMW BASED MOTORCYCLE SIDECAR RACER.

MATT: DO YOU GO ALL OVER THE COUNTRY?

DO YOU JUST GET IT OUT WHEN YOU CAN?

ERIK: WE'VE DONE ABOUT FIVE RACES THIS YEAR ALREADY.

WE WENT UP TO CANADA LAST WEEK.

WE WENT TO MID-OHIO A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

MATT: HOW'D YOU DO?

ERIK: WE'RE SECOND BEHIND DOUG, WHO'S ACTUALLY AT THE EVENT HERE.

MATT: OKAY.

ERIK: HE'S ULTRA FAST.

MATT: [ LAUGHS ] ERIK: AND, UMM, SO WE GOT SECOND, HE GOT FIRST, BUT WE GOT THE LAP RECORD.

MATT: THAT'S AWESOME.

HEY LISTEN, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING SOME TIME OUT... ERIK: SURE.

MATT: ...TO TALK TO US TODAY.

HAD A GREAT TIME.

ERIK: ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, MATT.

MATT: GOOD LUCK WITH IT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR.

WE'RE GONNA GO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME MORE BIKES.

ERIK: OKAY.

GREAT.

MATT: SO, I'LL SEE YOU AROUND.

ERIK: OKAY.

SEE YOU, MATT.

MATT: THANK YOU.

NOW IN ITS 10 YEAR, THE GREENPOINT BLOCK PARTY HAS REALLY COME INTO ITS OWN WITH CHARACTERS FROM ALL OVER, AND ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

YOU'LL FIND PLENTY OF INSPIRATION HERE.

I JUST RAN INTO LEON, FROM CYCLE ICONS, AND HIS ROYAL ENFIELD BADGER.

SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THIS ON THE INTERNET.

IT'S BEEN GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF BUZZ.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THIS?

LEON STANLEY: I'VE ALWAYS KINDA DESCRIBED THIS AS, NOT JUST A STREET BIKE, BUT WE RIDE IT TO THE RACES.

WE RACE IT.

SO IT'S GOT A LOT OF DIMENSIONS TO IT.

MATT: JUST LIKE THEY DID IN THE OLD DAYS, THAT'S VERY COOL.

HOW MANY RACES HAVE YOU HAD THIS THING ON?

LEON: ONE.

MATT: ONE?

LEON: AH, WE... MATT: HOW'D YOU DO?

LEON: WE FINISHED.

MATT: YOU FINISHED.

[LAUGHS] LEON: WE FINISHED.

WHICH NOT TO DAMN WITH FAINT PRAISE; THE BIKE GOT FINISHED ON A THURSDAY, WE RODE IT TO OHIO ON A FRIDAY, GOT THERE SATURDAY, RACED SUNDAY.

WE HAD ZERO DEVELOPMENT ON THE BIKE.

NOT THE PERFECT WAY TO DO IT, BUT THE FACT THAT WE DID IT, FINISHED BOTH OUR RACES, I WAS VERY PROUD.

SO I'LL COUNT THAT AS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.

MATT: YEAH.

WELL, I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH THIS BIKE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR TALKING TO US TODAY.

LEON: MY PLEASURE.

MATT: PLEASURE.

LEON: ABSOLUTELY.

MATT: TAKE CARE.

LEON: THANKS SO MUCH.

MATT: OFFICIALLY CALLED THE NEW YORK VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE SHOW, IT'S A GREAT DAY OF CAMARADERIE FOR PEOPLE WITH AT LEAST ONE THING IN COMMON...CLASSIC BIKES.

CHECK IT OUT IF YOU GET A CHANCE.

THIS AUGUST, SUNDAY THE 25TH, IN GREENPOINT, BROOKLYN.

CAN I?

AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

JOHN: PAT GOSS IS ALL PUMPED WITH A FEW TIRE CARE TIPS, SO LET'S ROLL ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE.

PAT GOSS: TIRES AREN'T ALWAYS BLACK AND ROUND.

THIS ONE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION, OR SHIMMY, OR SHAKE.

DIFFERENT PEOPLE DESCRIBE THESE SENSATIONS DIFFERENTLY.

BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS THAT THE TIRE, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WAS ALMOST HOPPING UP AND DOWN OFF THE GROUND.

WELL, COME TO FIND OUT, IT WAS NOT A BAD SHOCK ABSORBER, IT WAS NOT AN OUT OF BALANCE TIRE, IT WAS A TIRE WITH A SLIPPED OR BROKEN BELT, AS WE CAN SEE BY THIS GREAT BIG BULGE.

NOW, THE LESSON HERE IS, IF ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GET A SHAKE OR A VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN THE VEHICLE, OR AT LOW SPEEDS, THE CAR TENDS TO KIND OF ROCK BACK AND FORTH, ALWAYS CHECK THE TIRES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ROUND.

THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON.

ALL RIGHT, ANOTHER THING, YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE, YOU FIND THAT SOMETHING HAS PUNCTURED THE TIRE, THE AIR HAS LEAKED OUT.

DON'T DO WHAT SO MANY PEOPLE DO: THEY TAKE A PLUG, THEY SHOVE IT THROUGH TIRE, THEY PUT AIR IN IT AND GO MERRILY ALONG THEIR WAY.

THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

NOW, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?

WELL, IF YOU JUST PUT A PLUG THROUGH IT, IT SEALS THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE, ONE OR THE OTHER, BUT IT DOESN'T SEAL BOTH, AND YOU HAVE TO SEAL BOTH.

YOU SEE, THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST KEEPING THE AIR IN THE TIRE.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP WATER FROM ENTERING THE TREAD AROUND THE HOLE BECAUSE IT'LL GET IT AROUND THE STEEL BELTS AND RUST THE BELTS.

YOU HAVE TO SEAL THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE SO THAT AIR DOESN'T MIGRATE IN BETWEEN THE PLIES OF RUBBER AND FABRIC IN THE TIRE.

SO THAT MEANS A PLAIN OLD PLUG?

NO.

A PLAIN PATCH INSIDE?

NO.

A PATCH/PLUG, WHICH GOES FROM THE INSIDE AND HAS A PLUG ATTACHED TO IT, THAT'S FINE.

OR A PLUG COMBINED WITH AN INTERNAL SEALANT DOES A GOOD JOB.

THE BIG THING IS, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEAL THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, EVERY TIME YOU DO ONE OF THOSE PROPER REPAIRS, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE TIRE OFF OF THE WHEEL.

AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART.

YOU SHOULD NEVER, EVER DRIVE ON A TIRE THAT HAS BEEN RUN, EVEN A VERY SHORT DISTANCE, UNDER INFLATED, WITHOUT REMOVING IT AND INSPECTING THE INSIDE OF IT.

NOW, THIS TIRE DOWN HERE, WE CAN SEE THAT IT LOOKS PRETTY WRINKLY AND SO ON, BUT ON A WHEEL, WITH AIR IN IT, IT WOULD LOOK NORMAL.

YET IF WE HADN'T TAKEN THAT TIRE OFF OF THE WHEEL, IF WE HAD JUST PLUGGED IT AND PUT AIR IN IT, WELL, WE WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN THIS.

THIS IS RUBBER, THIS WHOLE JAR FULL OF GROUND UP RUBBER FROM THE INSIDE OF THAT TIRE.

HAD WE JUST DONE THE OLD PLUG ROUTINE, WELL, PROBABLY OUT ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD HAVE COME APART AND WOUND UP LOOKING LIKE THIS TIRE.

VERY DANGEROUS.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

TIME NOW TO GRAB SOME CAR KEYS.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE THINK OF THE AUTO WORLD'S LATEST.

LOOKING TO INJECT NEW LIFE INTO THEIR AILING LINCOLN MOTOR COMPANY DIVISION, FORD HAS TAKEN THE WILDLY SUCCESSFUL FUSION MID-SIZE FOUR-DOOR TO THE NEXT LEVEL TO CREATE THE 2013 LINCOLN MKZ LUXURY SEDAN.

FEATURING A PROMINENT, AND NOW ALMOST HANDSOME SPLIT WING GRILLE, THE MKZ HAS SERIOUS ROAD PRESENCE.

OVERALL BODY SHAPE AND STYLING BORROW MUCH OF WHAT WORKS ON THE FUSION, BUT IT STILL MANAGES TO CREATE A LOOK UNIQUE TO LINCOLN.

PREMIUM UPGRADES INCLUDE LED LIGHTING, BOTH HEAD AND TAIL, AS WELL AS BIG, 19-INCH ALLOY WHEELS.

STRETCHED OVERALL LENGTH AND WIDTH GIVE THE MKZ A MUCH BEEFIER STANCE THAN FUSION, THOUGH ITS SWOOPY DESIGN IS SURE TO DRAW JUST AS MANY LOOKS.

THE INTERIOR IS LIKEWISE MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN COPIED, USING DIGITAL INFO SCREENS, ELECTRONIC SHIFTER BUTTONS, AND THE LATEST VERSION OF MYLINCOLN TOUCH.

REDUNDANT TOUCH-BAR AUDIO AND HVAC CONTROLS SIT BELOW, AND ARE SOMEWHAT EASIER TO USE THAN BEFORE.

COMFORT IS TOP PRIORITY FOR THE BRAND, AND THE MKZ SUCCEEDS WITH WELL BOLSTERED SEATS, AND A CLEAN DESIGN THAT MAXIMIZES FRONT CABIN SPACE.

REAR SEAT LEGROOM IS CERTAINLY ADEQUATE, BUT LESS THAN THE RIVAL LEXUS ES.

MOTIVATING OUR TEST ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MKZ IS FORD'S 2.0 LITER ECOBOOST TURBO FOUR RATED AT 240 HORSEPOWER.

WHILE THERE IS NO V6 LIKE RIVALS, THE BOOSTED FOUR STILL FELT GREAT THROUGH THE SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC WITH AN EAGER RESPONSE EVEN AT CRUISING SPEEDS.

HANDLING BELIES THE CAR'S SWOLLEN PROPORTIONS, MAKING OUR ROAD WORK SURPRISINGLY FUN.

BEN DAVIS: VERY IMPRESSIVE TRACK PERFORMANCE FOR A LINCOLN.

THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE LAYS DOWN ENOUGH GRIP THAT YOU CAN PUT IN SOME EXTREME INPUTS AT SOME PRETTY IMPRESSIVE SPEEDS.

AND WHEN YOU GET REALLY AGGRESSIVE, THERE'S LITTLE BIT OF OVERSTEER THAT KICKS IN, TOO.

I MEAN, I WASN'T PREPARED TO HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR THIS MUCH FUN IN A LINCOLN.

JOHN: LUXURY ORIENTED FEATURES INCLUDE ADAPTIVE SUSPENSION, ACTIVE NOISE CONTROL, AND ACTIVE PARK ASSIST, AS WELL AS 10-WAY POWER DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS.

WITH FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE PRICES STARTING AT $36,000, THE MKZ SERVES UP PREMIUM COMFORT AND STYLING THAT SHOULD GIVE LINCOLN THE BOOST IT NEEDS.

NOTHING ABOUT A BIG HAULING CARGO VAN SCREAMS "SEXY", BUT IF ANYONE COULD ADD A LITTLE SPICE WHERE NONE EXISTED BEFORE, IT WOULD BE MERCEDES-BENZ.

AND THEIR 2014 SPRINTER LINE HAS TIP-TOED IN THAT DIRECTION.

NO DOUBT THIS ONE IS SIMILAR TO ONES YOU'VE SEEN ON THE ROAD BEFORE, BUT FOR THE NEW MODEL YEAR, THE SPRINTER GETS GUSSIED UP WITH LED DAYTIME RUNNERS, AND NEW FRONT FASCIA, AND A BIG THREE POINT MERCEDES STAR SET IN NEW GRILLE WORK.

FROM THERE BACK, THE SPRINTER LINEUP DIVERSIFIES QUITE A BIT: TWO WHEELBASE OPTIONS, THREE BODY LENGTHS, A HIGH ROOF OPTION, VARIOUS CURB WEIGHTS, AND OF COURSE, MULTIPLE BODY CONFIGURATIONS OFFER COMBINATIONS FIT FOR ANY JOB.

POWERTRAIN OPTIONS ARE LESS COMPLICATED, LUCKILY, A CARRYOVER 3.0 LITER V6 TURBODIESEL PUTTING OUT 188 HORSEPOWER, OR A NEW 2.1 LITER FOUR CYLINDER TURBODIESEL RATED AT 161 HORSEPOWER.

V6s GET A SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC, WHILE THE NEW FOUR CYLINDER GETS AN ALSO NEW SEVEN SPEED AUTO; AND BOTH FEATURE BENZ' BLUETEC CLEAN DIESEL TECHNOLOGY WITH ADBLUE UREA.

OUR TIME IN THE SPRINTER CAME IN GERMANY WHERE WE TESTED QUITE A FEW VARIATIONS.

POWER FELT GREAT FOR BOTH ENGINES, SO WE SAY TAKE THE NEW FOUR CYLINDER AND POCKET THE MONEY YOU SAVE ON FUEL.

WHILE IT'S CERTAINLY NO S-CLASS INSIDE, THE NEW SPRINTER DOES SEE SOME PREMIUM UPGRADES, INCLUDING STANDARD INFOTAINMENT WITH BLUETOOTH, NEW SEATS, AND NEW STEERING WHEEL AND SHIFTER CONFIGURATIONS.

IT STILLS FEELS VERY MUCH LIKE YOU'RE DRIVING A LARGE CARGO OR PASSENGER VAN, BUT AT LEAST NOW YOU MIND LESS.

SAFETY IS STILL NUMBER ONE, HOWEVER, AND FOR 2014, THE SPRINTER GETS A HOST OF NEW SYSTEMS INCLUDING BLIND SPOT ASSIST, LANE KEEPING ASSIST, AND COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST.

CROSSWIND ASSIST, WHICH IMPRESSED US, WON'T BE AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. UNTIL LATER.

ARRIVING THIS FALL, THE 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER STARTS AROUND $35,000.

AND WE'LL HAUL UP MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS SOON.

THERE'S NO DENYING THAT THE CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 WAS A HUGE LEAP IN PERFORMANCE OVER THE CAMARO SS.

SO BIG IN FACT THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM IN BETWEEN FOR A CAR THAT PICKS UP A LOT OF THE ZL1'S PERFORMANCE, BUT FOR A PRICE THAT'S CLOSER TO A STREET SMART SS.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS CAMARO SS 1LE IS ALL ABOUT.

SO LET'S HIT SOME HIGH SPEED TURNS AND SEE IF THIS "TWEENER" IS READY TO BE THE "BOSS".

THE BEST THING ABOUT THE CAMARO'S RETURN HAS BEEN WATCHING GM GO TOE TO TOE WITH THE FORD MUSTANG ONCE AGAIN, AND THIS 2013 CHEVROLET CAMARO 1LE IS AIMED SQUARELY AT THE BLUE OVAL'S MUSTANG BOSS 302.

TECHNICALLY, THE 1LE IS NOT A NEW CAMARO MODEL, BUT IS A PERFORMANCE PACKAGE THAT CAN BE ADDED TO ANY CAMARO COUPE, AS LONG AS IT'S AN SS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

MOST UPDATES ARE STRICTLY AIMED AT IMPROVING ON TRACK PERFORMANCE, MANY OF THEM STRAIGHT FROM THE ULTIMATE CAMARO, THE ZL1.

IT'S PRIMARILY A HANDLING PACKAGE, AS HORSEPOWER FROM THE SS' 6.2-LITER LS3 V8 REMAINS THE SAME AT 426, AND TORQUE OUTPUT STAYS AT 420 POUND-FEET.

WHAT DOES CHANGE IS A 3.91 REAR END GEARING, CLOSER RATIOS FOR THE TR6060 6-SPEED TRANS, MONOTUBE REAR DAMPERS, LARGER FRONT STABILIZER BAR, A STRUT TOWER BRACE, AND THE ZL1'S 20-INCH WHEELS WEARING GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 SUPERCAR G'S.

THE END RESULT IS SIGNIFICANTLY FLATTER HANDLING, AND ALL OF THAT ADDITIONAL CORNERING GRIP REQUIRED BEEFING UP MOST OF THE OTHER REAR END SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND UPDATING THE FUEL TANK WITH ADDITIONAL PICKUPS, ALL STRAIGHT FROM THE ZL1.

LEST IT GET CONFUSED WITH MORE PEDESTRIAN SS FARE, THE 1LE PACKAGE ALSO COMES WITH SOME EXTERIOR ENHANCEMENTS TO SET IT APART, SORT OF TAKING THE BOSS MUSTANG'S FLAT BLACK APPROACH, WITH THE DARKNESS APPLIED TO THE HOOD, FRONT SPLITTER, AND REAR DECK-LID SPOILER.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S ONLY BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE THE CAMARO ARRIVED BACK ON THE SCENE AS THE RETRO-MEETS-MODERN DESIGN HAS HELD UP VERY WELL TO OUR EYES.

AND AS BEFORE, THE HERITAGE THEME CONTINUES INSIDE, AS DO, UNFORTUNATELY, THE LESS THAN STELLAR MATERIALS.

BUT THE 1LE PACKAGE WILL GET YOU THE ZL1'S FLAT-BOTTOM STEERING WHEEL AND SHORT THROW SHIFTER, BOTH COVERED IN SUEDED-MICROFIBER MATERIAL.

SHIFTER FEEL IS MUCH IMPROVED, AND WE REALLY ENJOYED ROWING THROUGH THE GEARS WHETHER BETWEEN CORNERS ON THE TRACK OR DOWN THE STRAIGHT, A QUARTER MILE AT THE TIME.

IT'S A BIT QUICKER OFF THE LINE THAN THE STANDARD SS, THANKS TO THE LOWERED GEAR REAR, AND CAN HIT 60 IN 4.5-SECONDS, AND RUN THE QUARTER IN 12.9-SECONDS AT 110 MPH.

ON THE REST OF ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY'S HIGH-SPEED ASPHALT, THE 1LE FELT MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE ON TURN-IN, PROVIDING AN ALMOST IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO ANY STEERING INPUT.

THERE IS STILL SOME ROLL, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO UPSET CHASSIS BALANCE, AND THERE'S SERIOUS POWER FOR COMING OFF CORNERS WITH AWE-INSPIRING SOUND TO ACCOMPANY IT.

STANDARD SS BRAKES ARE BREMBOS, AND THEY CONTINUE TO IMPRESS, THOUGH WE DID EXPERIENCE SOME FADE AFTER THREE LONG DAYS OF ABUSE.

OVERALL, THE 1LE PACKAGE IS NOT A DRAMATIC CHANGE FOR THE CAMARO, BUT A VERY NICE TIGHTENING.

IT STILL DOESN'T HAVE THE LIGHT AND NIMBLE FEEL OF THE BOSS, BUT THE SET-UP IS SPOT ON AND THIS CAMARO JUST HAMMERS ITS WAY THROUGH CORNERS WITHOUT A HINT OF LOSING COMPOSURE.

AND THE AVAILABLE HEAD-UP DISPLAY ALLOWS YOU TO MONITOR YOUR VITALS WITHOUT TAKING YOUR EYES OFF THE TRACK OR THE ROAD.

IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SYSTEM-WIDE CAMARO UPDATES FOR 2013, BUT THEY ARE RELATIVELY MINOR.

THE SS GETS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND AN AVAILABLE DUAL-MODE EXHAUST SYSTEM; HILL START ASSIST IS NOW STANDARD ON ALL MANUAL EQUIPPED CARS.

AND THERE'S ALSO SOME MINOR INTERIOR TRIM CHANGES, AND CHEVROLET'S MYLINK TOUCH SCREEN NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS NOW AVAILABLE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR A MANUAL EQUIPPED SS CAMARO ARE 16-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

WHICH MAKES THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE FITTINGLY FOR A MUSCLE CAR LOW, BURNING UP 17.3-BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY WHILE SPITTING 7.9 TONS OF CO2 INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

ADDING THE 1LE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE TACKS JUST $3,500 ONTO THE CAMARO SS' BASE PRICE OF $33,535 FOR A TOTAL OF $37,035, WHICH JUST HAPPENS TO UNDERCUT THE BOSS 302 BY ALMOST SIX GRAND!

BUT THE 1LE DOESN'T GO QUITE AS FAR IN TRANSFORMING THE 2013 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS AS THE BOSS DOES TO THE FORD MUSTANG GT.

IN FACT, IT HASN'T CHANGED ITS PERSONALITY AT ALL, IT STILL FEELS LIKE A CAMARO, JUST A MUCH IMPROVED ONE.

ONE THAT FEELS AND PERFORMS EVEN BETTER ON THE ONE PLACE THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT IN THE PONY CAR WARS, THE TRACK.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , AS WE COMPARE TODAY'S TOP MID-SIZED UTILITIES AND SEE WHICH ONES RISE TO THE CHALLENGE.

AND THEN WE'LL CHALLENGE OUR FAVORITE TRACK IN THE A-W-D PORSCHE 911.

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.

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