Season 32 Episode 46 | 26m 49s | Video has closed captioning.
In this Episode we get amped up about Ford's new Fusion Energi, and spend some time with the Traverse, Enclave, Acadia trio. We'll check out a CNG powered limo, and Pat Goss gives us the 411 on tire rotation.
Aired: 07/18/13
Expired: 09/04/14
Support provided by:
HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AS WE CHARGE UP THE FORD FUSION ENERGI.
PAT GOSS SHOWS US THE HITS AND MISSES OF TIRE ROTATION.
AUTO WORLD CHAUFFEURS US AROUND LAS VEGAS IN ECO-CHIC STYLE.
AND WE'LL CHECK OUT A TRIO OF THE GENERAL'S LATEST FOR STYLISHLY HAULING BIG FAMILIES.
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY... GOODBYE, MY DEAREST.
WAIT!
YES?
WHEN I BUY NEW TIRES DO I NEED ALL-TERRAIN?
ISN'T THE ROAD PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY TERRAIN I'LL BE ON?
Announcer: THERE'S A BETTER PLACE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TIRES.
JUST BEEN GNAWING AT ME.
Announcer: 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... ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.
NO MATTER WHAT CUSTOMERS DRIVE, THEY CAN PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BRANDS, PRICES, AND SPECIFICATIONS.
ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.
AND BY 3M.
MAKER OF 3M PAINT DEFENDER SYSTEM.
HELPS PROTECT YOUR PAINT IN THREE STEPS.
DRYING TO A CLEAR, REMOVABLE FILM FOR PROTECTION.
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT 3MAUTO.COM.
THE SECOND GENERATION FORD FUSION MID-SIZE SEDAN, LAUNCHED FOR 2013, HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS FOR FORD.
WHILE ITS STYLE HAS WON IT MANY AWARDS, ITS SUBSTANCE HAS WON IT EVEN MORE BUYERS.
PLUS, THE FUSION HYBRID ALREADY OFFERS BEST IN CLASS FUEL ECONOMY.
BUT FORD IS OUT TO TAKE THE GASOLINE-ELECTRIC MANTRA AWAY FROM TOYOTA.
AND THEIR HOPE IS THAT ALL IT TAKES IS A LITTLE...ENERGI.
THE 2013 FORD FUSION HAS INDEED MADE HEADLINES FOR FORD, AND WHILE THEY HAVEN'T ALL BEEN POSITIVE, OUR OVERALL TAKE ON THE FUSION COULDN'T BE MORE OPTIMISTIC, AND THE FUSION ENERGI IS PART OF THE REASONING.
THAT POSITIVE ENERGY COMES FROM THE ENERGI ADDING A FUEL EFFICIENT PLUG-IN SYSTEM, SETTING IT ABOVE THE ALREADY BEST IN CLASS FUSION HYBRID.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE PLUG-IN HYBRID ENERGI OPERATES THE SAME AS THE STANDARD FUSION HYBRID, THE EXCEPTION BEING THAT WITH A LARGER 7.6-KWH BATTERY, THE ELECTRIC-ONLY DRIVING RANGE EXPANDS FROM ABOUT A MILE, TO 15 TO 20 MILES.
ONCE THE BATTERY IS SUITABLY DRAINED, YOU'LL SWITCH OVER TO NORMAL HYBRID GAS-ELECTRIC OPERATION.
AND UNLESS YOU'RE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH ROAD WITHOUT THE RADIO OR CLIMATE SYSTEM ON, YOU'LL HAVE A HARD TIME TELLING EXACTLY WHEN THE GAS ENGINE IS RUNNING AND WHEN IT'S NOT.
IT'S ALMOST TOTALLY TRANSPARENT, WHICH IS THE WAY WE LIKE OUR TECHNOLOGY HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
WHILE THE 2.0-LITER I4 BASED POWERTRAIN IS THE SAME AS THE HYBRID, OUTPUTTING 141-HORSEPOWER AND 129 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, HERE IT SEEMS QUIETER, AND OVERALL MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN OUR EARLIER TESTS, AND THE WHOLE DRIVING EXPERIENCE FEELS SUBSTANTIAL AND WELL DONE.
THE ENERGI ESSENTIALS COME FROM THE C-MAX ENERGI, AND MUCH LIKE THE C-MAX, IT'S EASY TO GET USED TO DRIVING ON EV POWER ALONE, AND IT QUICKLY BECOMES A GAME TO SEE HOW MANY EV MILES YOU CAN MANAGE BEFORE THE FOUR-CYLINDER KICKS IN.
IT'S A GAME WHERE EVERYONE IS A WINNER, EXCEPT MAYBE THE LOCAL GAS STATION.
THE FUSION ENERGI'S BIGGEST COMPETITOR IS NATURALLY THE TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID, AND IT BEATS IT IN JUST ABOUT EVERY CATEGORY, WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING EV RANGE, OVERALL RANGE, AND MPGE RATING.
THE PRIUS STILL HOLDS THE EDGE WHEN IT COMES TO OVERALL MPG RATING, BUT THE FUSION'S GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 44-CITY, 41-HIGHWAY, AND 43-COMBINED ARE STILL EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN ITS SIZE.
WE AVERAGED 46.4 MILES PER GALLON, AND AS WITH ALL PLUG-INS, THE MORE EV TIME, THE BETTER YOUR RESULTS.
THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORES ARE ALSO EXCELLENT; YEARLY OIL CONSUMPTION OF JUST 4.2 BARRELS AND CO2 EMISSIONS OF 1.8 TONS.
THE OVERALL QUALITY AND FIT-AND-FINISH OF THE INTERIOR CONTINUES TO GET HIGH MARKS FROM OUR TESTERS, BUT MOST STILL FIND IT HARD TO GET COMFORTABLE IN THE FUSION DRIVER'S SEAT.
WE'RE STILL NOT ENAMORED WITH MYFORDTOUCH EITHER.
THERE'S LITTLE TACTILE FEEL, SO YOU NEED YOUR EYES TO SEE THE COMMAND SCREEN WHICH CAN BE MORE DISTRACTING THAN USEFUL.
HOPEFULLY, FORD'S PLAN TO BRING BACK REAL KNOBS AND BUTTONS WILL HELP FUTURE VERSIONS.
THE ONLY REAL COMPROMISE FOR THE PLUG-IN ENERGI IS IN TRUNK SPACE.
THE LARGER BATTERIES TAKE UP MORE ROOM, DROPPING CARGO CAPACITY TO JUST 8.2 CUBIC-FT. THAT MAKES THE ENERGI MORE OF A COMMUTER CAR THAN A FAMILY ROAD TRIPPER.
WE'VE ALWAYS HAD HIGH PRAISE FOR THE FUSION'S EXTERIOR DESIGN, AND IT DEFINITELY CONTINUES TO LOOK UPSCALE.
TO US, IT'S STILL THE BEST LOOKING FAMILY SEDAN CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET.
BEHIND THE WHEEL, IT ALSO FEELS LIKE MORE OF A LUXURY SEDAN THAN EVEN THE LARGER TAURUS.
BUT IT CAN'T RUN WITH THE BULL DOWN OUR TEST TRACK WITH A MEDIOCRE 0 TO 60 OF 8.5 SECONDS.
HANDLING IS TYPICALLY FUSION, WHICH MEANS IT'S A STEP ABOVE THE AVERAGE FAMILY SEDAN, BUT NOT QUITE IN SPORT SEDAN TERRITORY.
FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF PLUGGING IN YOUR FUSION ENERGI, YOU WILL PAY A PREMIUM OF ABOUT $8,000, WITH SE TRIM STARTING AT $39,495, AND TITANIUM TRIM COMING IN AT $40,895.
THAT IS STEEP, BUT YOU DO GET A LOT FOR THE MONEY AS THE FUSION ENERGI IS ONE WELL WORKING HIGH-TECH AUTOMOBILE.
WE LOVE WHAT FORD HAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE 2013 FUSION ENERGI.
IF THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS OUTSTANDING FUEL ECONOMY FOR A TRUE FIVE PASSENGER, MID-TO-LARGE SEDAN, WITH NO COMPROMISES, FORD IS VERY CLOSE.
BUT HAVING TO STUFF SO MUCH EXTRA HARDWARE INTO AN EXISTING CHASSIS DOES HAVE ITS PRICE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WITH FORD PUTTING THIS MUCH "ENERGY" INTO THEIR MAINSTREAM FAMILY SEDAN, WE ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT SOON THEY WILL GO ALL THE WAY.
OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO CALDWELL, IDAHO, WHERE A SMALL COUNTY VEHICLE FLEET HAS MADE A BIG COMMITMENT TO RUNNING CLEAN AND GREEN.
BOASTING THE ONLY ETHANOL GASOLINE-BLENDING PUMP IN THE STATE, THE CANYON COUNTY FLEET OF FORD FUSIONS AND CROWN VICTORIA POLICE CRUISERS FUEL UP ON DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED ETHANOL.
ANTI-IDLING TECHNOLOGY REDUCES FUEL CONSUMPTION EVEN MORE, AS LIGHTS, RADIOS, AND CRITICAL POLICE EQUIPMENT ARE RUN BY A TRUNK MOUNTED BATTERY WHEN ON THE SCENE AT EMERGENCIES.
THE ENGINE ONLY HAS TO RUN FOR SHORT PERIODS TO RECHARGE THE SYSTEM.
CANYON COUNTY'S FUEL SAVING EFFORTS ALSO ELIMINATE SOME 1.4 MILLION POUNDS OF HARMFUL CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS ANNUALLY.
Mark Tolman: BETWEEN THE E-85 AND THE IDLE REDUCTION PROGRAM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SAVE OVER $105,000 IN FUEL THIS YEAR.
John: AS BUDGETS GET TIGHTER, CANYON COUNTY HAS FOUND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT PROVE PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT WHILE ALSO SAVING THE BOTTOM LINE CAN STILL GO HAND IN HAND.
John: WHEN PLANNING OUR RECENT MOTORWEEK ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCE IN LAS VEGAS, WE CAME ACROSS AN INTERESTING ENVIRONMENTAL STORY PLAYING OUT BEHIND THE SCENES.
ALMOST LOST IN THE SHUFFLE OF ALL THE VIP PERKS AND CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION IS ONE COMPANY'S BID TO WIN RESPECT BY BETTING ON GREEN.
WE WERE THRILLED TO HOST MOTORWEEK VIEWERS MIKE AND TAMMY BINDER FOR A FEW DAYS OF AUTOMOTIVE OVERLOAD BACK IN DECEMBER.
WE KICKED OFF THEIR TRIP OF COURSE WITH A VIP GREETING AT MCCARRAN AIRPORT, BUT NOT OF THE USUAL VARIETY.
WE WHISKED THEM AWAY IN GREEN LUXURY -- A FIRST OF ITS KIND CNG-POWERED LIMOUSINE FROM THE CLEAN FLEET OF MGM RESORTS CITY CENTER.
MGM RESORTS SHARES OUR BELIEF THAT AMERICA'S ENERGY RESOURCES NEED NOT BE COMPROMISED IN THE NAME OF LUXURY.
Cindy Ortega: WELL, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE AT MGM RESORTS, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IS THAT THE CUSTOMER'S OVERALL EXPERIENCE HAS A BACKDROP OF SUSTAINABILITY.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WEAR ON OUR SLEEVE AND PUT OUT FOR EVERYONE TO READ AND SAY, "OH GEE, AREN'T WE ENVIRONMENTALLY GREAT."
BUT WHAT WE DO IS WE TRY TO SHOW SUBTLE AREAS THAT SHOW WHAT OUR COMMITMENT IS TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
OUR MOST IMPORTANT CUSTOMERS ARE GENERALLY PICKED UP IN A LIMOUSINE AT THE AIRPORT, AND WE THINK THAT IS A GOOD FIRST REPRESENTATION OF THE COMPANY AND ITS COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
John: BUT YOU CAN'T JUST STOP BY THE LOCAL LINCOLN DEALER AND PICK UP A STRETCHED TOWN CAR.
EACH ONE IS HAND-CRAFTED, AND CONVERTING TO CNG ADDS ABOUT 30% TO THE COST.
MGM RESORTS INITIAL ORDER WAS FOR 26 CNG LIMOS, AND THEY HAVE SINCE ADDED 16 MORE AT OTHER LAS VEGAS PROPERTIES.
Ortega: IF YOU LOOK AT A LIMOUSINE THE WAY IT IS BUILT, WE BUY A LINCOLN TOWN CAR OR THAT TYPE OF A CAR AND THEN WE DO A PROCESS WITH WHAT'S CALLED A FABRICATOR, OR A FITTER, AND WHAT THAT PERSON DOES, OR WHAT THAT COMPANY DOES, IS THEY CUT THE CAR IN HALF, STRETCH IT WAY OUT, AND THEY BUILD THE INTERIOR AND MAKE A CAR.
AND SO WHAT WE HAD TO DO FOR THE CNG LIMOUSINES IS WE HAD TO BRING IN ANOTHER COMPANY THAT WAS ABLE TO FIT IT WITH COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FIXTURES.
John: FUELING UP ON CNG TAKES NO LONGER THAN A CONVENTIONAL GASOLINE STOP, AND THERE IS A PUBLIC-ACCESS CLEAN ENERGY CNG STATION LOCATED JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE HOTEL, SO CONVENIENCE IS NOT COMPROMISED.
ARIA RESORT GUESTS CAN ALSO RECHARGE THEIR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - AND GET A PRIMO PARKING SPOT- AT THIS ON-SITE CHARGING STATION IN THE HOTEL GARAGE.
WE APPLAUD MGM RESORTS' DECISION TO MAKE SMART ENERGY CHOICES, AND WE BET OTHER COMPANIES WILL SOON FOLLOW IN THEIR WINNING WAYS.
John: TIME NOW TO CHECK THE WEAR ON THOSE TIRES AS WE ROLL ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE.
Pat Goss: RECENTLY I DID A SEGMENT ON TIRE ROTATION, AND I GOT A LOT OF COMMENTS ON IT.
WE WERE DEALING WITH CONVENTIONAL TIRES, AND A LOT OF YOU SAID THAT MY METHOD OF ROTATING THE TIRES THAT GO ON TO THE DRIVE WHEELS FROM ONE SIDE OF THE CAR TO THE OTHER, THAT THAT WAS COMPLETELY WRONG.
WELL, I STAND BY THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT MY IDEA, THAT COMES FROM INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY VARIOUS TIRE MANUFACTURERS.
HERE'S THE DIAGRAM IN THIS BOOK FROM FIRESTONE.
SO, THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS.
BUT WHAT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IN THAT SEGMENT WAS TIRES THAT ARE DESIGNED LIKE THIS ONE.
THIS IS A DIRECTIONAL TIRE.
WE CAN SEE THE TREAD WORKS IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY.
IT ACTUALLY HAS AN ARROW ON THE SIDEWALL THAT TELLS YOU THE DIRECTION THAT TIRE HAS TO TURN IN.
WELL, THAT MEANS THAT IF WE MOUNT THIS TIRE SO THAT IT GOES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR, IT MUST ALWAYS STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR.
AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU CAN'T DO A PROPER TIRE ROTATION.
NOW, TO TAKE THAT FURTHER, IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE DIFFERENT SIZE TIRES ON THE FRONT AND THE REAR, YOU CAN'T EVEN SWAP THEM FROM FRONT TO REAR.
AND THAT ULTIMATELY MEANS THAT YOU MAY WIND UP WITH TIRES THAT ARE VERY, VERY NOISY LONG BEFORE THEY'RE WORN OUT.
NOW, WE'RE SEEING A GRADUAL MOVE AWAY FROM DIRECTIONAL TIRES.
THIS BMW HAS A NEW STYLE OF TIRE ON IT THAT WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF.
THIS IS ASYMMETRICAL, NON-DIRECTIONAL.
NOW, ASYMMETRICAL BECAUSE THE TREAD ON THE INSIDE IS DIFFERENT THAN THE TREAD ON THE OUTSIDE.
AND IT IS NON-DIRECTIONAL BECAUSE IT CAN GO ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CAR; IT CAN TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION.
NOW, THE WAY YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE: YOU HAVE THE DIRECTIONAL ARROW ON THE TIRE THAT ALWAYS HAS TO TURN IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY.
HERE WE HAVE "OUTSIDE" STAMPED INTO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE, AND "INSIDE" ON THE OTHER.
NOW, ON THESE TIRES, YOU CAN SWAP THEM FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER; IF ALL FOUR TIRES ARE THE SAME, YOU CAN DO THE MODIFIED "X", WHERE YOU CROSS THE TWO TIRES THAT GO ONTO THE DRIVE WHEELS.
BUT IF THEY'RE DIFFERENT SIZE FRONT TO REAR, YOU SIMPLY GO RIGHT TO LEFT, LEFT TO RIGHT, ON THE FRONT AND THEN ON THE REAR.
IT MEANS THAT THESE TIRES CAN GET A LOT MORE MILES OUT OF THEM, AND THEY CAN STAY QUIET FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
John: YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS A MOTORNEWS UPDATE, SO LET'S HEAD INSIDE FOR THE LATEST.
Yolanda Vazquez: WE MENTIONED IT EARLIER IN THE SHOW AND NOW IT APPEARS CLOSER TO FRUITION.
FORD WILL SOON OFFER TRADITIONAL KNOBS AND BUTTONS AS A COMPANION TO THEIR MYFORD TOUCH INFOTAINMENT SYSTEMS ON FUTURE VEHICLES.
YOU'VE HEARD THE COMPLAINTS FROM US HERE AT MOTORWEEK - ALONG WITH JOURNALISTS AND OWNERS EVERYWHERE - ABOUT THE MYFORD TOUCH INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.
CUSTOMERS HAVE COMMENTED - FOR AT LEAST THE PAST TWO YEARS - THAT IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING AND DIFFICULT TO USE WHILE DRIVING.
COMBINED WITH ITS SYNC OPERATING SYSTEM, MYFORD TOUCH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A "DISTRACTION-FREE" APPROACH THAT'S ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY.
BUT WHEN IN USE, ITS COMPLEX AND CLUTTERED TOUCH SCREEN SEEMS TO HINDER MORE THAN HELP DRIVERS.
BUT ON THE 2013 F-150, FORD OFFERS A LARIAT TRIM LEVEL WITH A REVAMPED CENTER STACK THAT INCLUDES SYNC AND MYFORD TOUCH, BUT ALSO ADDS TRADITIONAL VOLUME AND CLIMATE CONTROLS BELOW.
IT'S A CONFIGURATION THAT FORD PLANS TO ADD TO MOST MODELS MOVING FORWARD.
WITH A DECLINE IN QUALITY RATINGS DUE TO A CONVOLUTED "TOUCH SCREEN" INTERFACE, THIS LONG-AWAITED RETURN TO MORE TRADITIONAL BUTTONS AND KNOBS SHOULD PUSH THE "BLUE OVAL" BACK TOWARDS THE TOP.
AND THAT'S ALL WE'LL TOUCH ON FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
Ben Davis: HAVE YOU THOUGHT YOU DON'T KNOW JACK?
WELL, FOR OVER 100 YEARS, HI-LIFT JACK HAS BEEN OUT THERE, ALL OVER THE WORLD, WORKING OVERTIME IN SOME OF THE HARSHEST CONDITIONS IMAGINABLE.
BUT THIS IS TODAY'S HI-LIFT, THE X-TREME MODEL.
SIMILAR DESIGN, BUT BUILT TOUGHER AND MORE VERSATILE.
WITH ZINC-GOLD COATED HARDWARE, CHARCOAL METALLIC POWDER COATING, AND AN ALL-CAST CONSTRUCTION, IT'S MORE THAN READY FOR ANY SITUATION.
ASIDE FROM ITS INHERENT JACKING ABILITIES, IT'S ALSO CAPABLE OF WINCHING DISTRESSED VEHICLES, IT CAN CLAMP MOST ANYTHING YOU CAN THROW IT AROUND, AND IT'S EVEN USED AS A BACKUP FOR THE JAWS OF LIFE, EASILY SPREADING UP TO 5,000 POUNDS.
SO FOR AROUND ONE HUNDRED BUCKS, IN THIS CASE IT PAYS TO KNOW JACK.
John: LET'S GRAB SOME CAR KEY'S FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS AND SEE WHAT IMPRESSES US.
THIS WEEK WE'RE OFF TO GERMANY FOR A DRIVE IN THE 2014 PORSCHE PANAMERA S E-HYBRID.
WHAT IS IT?
WELL, BUILDING ON THE CURRENT HYBRID'S SUPERCHARGED 3.0-LITER V6 BASED POWERTRAIN, THE E-HYBRID ADDS A LARGER 70KW ELECTRIC MOTOR AND A MUCH LARGER 9.4KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY WITH PLUG-IN RECHARGING.
TOTAL OUTPUT IS 416-HORSEPOWER THROUGH AN 8-SPEED TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
SO, HOW IS IT?
WELL, JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE PORSCHE DOES, IT'S TRULY SPECTACULAR.
O TO 60 IN JUST OVER FIVE SECONDS.
OPERATION IS SMOOTH AND SEAMLESS, AND IT HANDLES AS GREAT AS YOU WOULD EXPECT.
Brian Robinson: YOU KNOW IT'S A PLUG-IN HYBRID GOING IN, BUT AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, YOU TOTALLY FORGET ABOUT IT AND JUST START ENJOYING THE DRIVE.
PRETTY AMAZING!
John: ALL PANAMERAS ARE UPDATED FOR 2014, AS PORSCHE CONSIDERS THIS THE SECOND GENERATION OF THEIR LUXURY SPORT SEDAN.
THERE'S A SHARPENED FRONT END FEATURING LARGER AIR INTAKES, SMOOTHED OUT PROFILE WITH LONGER REAR DOORS, AND A WIDER REAR; ALL GIVING THE PANAMERA A LOWER AND LEANER LOOK.
OTHER NEW VARIATIONS INCLUDE; EXTENDED WHEELBASE EXECUTIVE MODELS, AND S AND 4S MODELS WILL GET A NEW TWIN-TURBO V6 ENGINE TO REPLACE THE CURRENT 4.8-LITER V8.
BUT THE E-HYBRID LOOKS TO MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT IN THE TRENDIEST COMMUNITIES HERE.
IF YOU CAN BUILD OR AFFORD A PANAMERA, WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT FUEL ECONOMY?
WELL, WITH RISING GOVERNMENT STANDARDS, PORSCHE CARES ABOUT IT A LOT.
PLUS, GETTING OVER 50 MILES-PER-GALLON IN A CAR WITH THIS MUCH HIGH PERFORMANCE AND POSH IS A PRETTY AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT.
CHARGE TIME VARIES FROM 2.5 TO 4 HOURS DEPENDING ON VOLTAGE.
THE INTERIOR IS THE SAME BASIC THEME AS BEFORE WITH UPDATED MATERIALS AND NEW COLOR SCHEMES.
WE STILL LOVE THE CENTRAL RISING CONTROL PANEL LAYOUT, AND E-HYBRID MODELS WILL GET A FEW UNIQUE TOUCHES.
SO, IF YOU'VE BEEN WISHING YOU OWNED A 911, BUT NEED TO HAUL MORE PEOPLE, AND WOULD LIKE OUTSTANDING FUEL ECONOMY TO GO ALONG WITH IT, HEAD TO YOUR PORSCHE DEALER FOR A PANAMERA S E-HYBRID.
OH, AND BRING ABOUT $99,000 ALONG WITH YOU.
AND WE'LL BRING YOU MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS SOON.
VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE MANAGED TO SUCCESSFULLY MERGE HOLLYWOOD AND MOTORSPORTS LIKE STEVE MCQUEEN.
TRULY AN ICON IN BOTH FIELDS, MCQUEEN ALWAYS FELT MORE AT HOME AROUND FAST MACHINES AT THE TRACK, OR IN THE DESERT ON A MOTORCYCLE, THAN HE EVER DID AROUND CLUTTERED MOVIE SETS.
BUT IN HIS BOOK "STEVE MCQUEEN, A PASSION FOR SPEED," FRENCH AUTHOR FREDERIC BRUN USES TONS OF REVEALING PHOTOGRAPHS AND A FEW STORIES TO SHOW US THAT HE TOOK BOTH PASSIONS EQUALLY SERIOUSLY.
SO WHETHER YOU'RE A FAN OF HIS ACTING TALENTS, OR HIS RACING PROWESS, "STEVE MCQUEEN, A PASSION FOR SPEED" IS A TRUE MUST-READ.
GENERAL MOTORS PRETTY MUCH INVENTED THE LARGE 3-ROW CROSSOVER WITH THE 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK.
THAT LAMBDA PLATFORM QUICKLY SPREAD TO GMC, BUICK, AND CHEVROLET, AND THE GENERAL SOON HAD QUITE A HIT ON THEIR HANDS.
NOT SURPRISINGLY, A LOT OF NON-GM BRANDS ARE TRYING TO MIMIC THAT SUCCESS.
SO, FOR 2013, WHILE THE OUTLOOK IS HISTORY, THE REMAINING GM TRIO GETS SOME MUCH NEEDED UPDATES.
SO LET'S SEE WHAT THE "OUTLOOK" IS FOR THIS "BIG 3".
THE 2013 BUCK ENCLAVE, GMC ACADIA, AND CHEVROLET TRAVERSE MAY NOT BE THE ONLY FULL-SIZE, SEVEN AND EIGHT PASSENGER CROSSOVERS AROUND ANYMORE, BUT THEIR POPULARITY REMAINS.
WE'LL START OUR TOUR THROUGH THE UPDATED TRIO WITH THE LUXURIOUS BUICK ENCLAVE.
AMONG THIS GROUP, THE ENCLAVE BOASTS THE MOST FEATURES, AND LOOKS THE CLASSIEST.
UPDATES INCLUDE A NEW INSTRUMENT PANEL, STANDARD INTELLILINK VOICE PROMPT AND TOUCH SCREEN RADIO WITH MUSIC APPS, AMBIENT LIGHTING, AND RICHER MATERIALS THROUGHOUT.
HIGH-TECH SAFETY ADDITIONS INCLUDE: AN INDUSTRY-FIRST FRONT CENTER AIRBAG, STANDARD BACKUP CAMERA, AND AVAILABLE BLIND ZONE AND CROSS TRAFFIC ALERTS.
EXTERIOR ENHANCEMENTS ARE FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE FOR A MID-CYCLE REFRESH.
MORE THAN JUST THE USUAL UPDATED FASCIAS, THE ENCLAVE GETS RESHAPED FENDERS, A NEW HOOD, AND CHROME SIDE MOLDINGS.
THE CABIN IS VERY COMFORTABLE, AND THE WOODEN STEERING WHEEL LOOKS AND FEELS GREAT, BUT GAUGES AND CONTROLS STILL SEEM A GENERATION BEHIND, AND WHILE THE AMBIENT LIGHTING IS WELCOMED, THE AQUA GREEN COLOR DIVIDED US.
OUR ENCLAVE'S SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS WERE VERY COMFORTABLE, BUT THE SMARTSLIDE FEATURE WASN'T AS SMART OR AS EASY TO OPERATE AS SOME NEW RIVALS.
MAXIMUM CARGO ROOM REMAINS AT THE TOP OF ITS CLASS THOUGH, AT A HUGE 115.2 CUBIC FEET.
ON THE ROAD, THE ENCLAVE IS ULTRA-SMOOTH WITH BUICK'S "QUIET TUNING" TUNING OUT ALL BUT A LITTLE ENGINE NOISE.
MOVING ON TO THE CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, YOU MIGHT THINK IT WOULD BE A HUGE STEP DOWN FROM THE ENCLAVE.
BUT SAVE FOR THE ENCLAVE'S STEERING WHEEL AND TRIM, THEY ACTUALLY SHARE A LOT; FROM SIDE BODY PANELS TO HILL START ASSIST BRAKES.
CHEVROLET'S MYLINK APPS RADIO WORKS VERY WELL, INCLUDING ITS MANY VOICE ACTIVATED FEATURES.
THE ONLY UP-TO-DATE ITEM THE TRAVERSE LACKS IS PUSH BUTTON START.
TRAVERSE ALSO GETS AN EXTERIOR MAKEOVER, BUT ONE THAT PRETENDS MORE OF A SPORTY THEME THAN ENCLAVE'S LUXURY ESSENCE.
THIS FULL-BODIED THREESOME ALL SHARE THE SAME POWERTRAIN, A 3.6-LITER DIRECT-INJECTION V6 WITH OUTPUT BASED ON SINGLE OR DUAL EXHAUSTS, BUT MAXING OUT AT 288 HORSEPOWER AND 270 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
THAT'S ENOUGH TO TOW 5,200 POUNDS.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE FINAL MEMBER OF OUR TRIO, THE GMC ACADIA, WHICH WE CHOOSE FOR TRACK WORK.
WITH A SLOW BUT STEADY FEEL, WE THINK THAT 8.0 SECONDS TO 60, AND 16.4 FOR THE QUARTER MILE AT 84 MILES-PER-HOUR, IS PRETTY GOOD FOR SUCH A BIG VEHICLE.
AND IF YOU HAVE TO NAVIGATE SOME CURVES ON THE WAY, THE ALL-INDEPENDENTLY SPRUNG ACADIA PROVED MORE THAN CAPABLE HERE AS WELL; ATTACKING OUR CONE COURSE WITH CONFIDENCE, GOOD GRIP, AND FEELING MUCH SMALLER THAN IT IS.
ACADIA ALSO GETS A FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE TO THE INTERIOR, AS WELL AS THE EXTERIOR.
THE ACADIA IS BY FAR THE MOST RUGGED LOOKING OF THE THREE.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR A BIG FAMILY HAULER, WITH OUR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ACADIA RATING 16-CITY, 23-HIGHWAY AND 18-COMBINED.
WE MANAGED 21.0 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR.
MAKING THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE A BIT WORSE THAN AVERAGE AT 18.3 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL USE WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 8.1 TONS.
WITH SUCH EXTENSIVE UPDATES YOU EXPECT A JUMP IN PRICE, AND INDEED, PRICES HAVE CLIMBED A BIT, RANGING FROM $31,370 FOR A BASE TRAVERSE TO $48,840 FOR A TOP OF THE LINE GMC ACADIA DENALI.
WE SURE DO LOVE THESE BIG CROSSOVERS, BOTH FOR THEIR ROOM AND FOR THEIR EASY TO MANEUVER NATURE THAT BELIES THEIR SIZE.
BUT WE DON'T THINK THEY'VE CHANGED ENOUGH TO LEAPFROG NEWCOMERS LIKE THE INFINITI JX AND NISSAN PATHFINDER.
STILL, THE ENCLAVE, TRAVERSE, AND ACADIA PROVIDE A WIDE CHOICE OF BIG FAMILY PEOPLE MOVERS WITH AN "OUTLOOK" THAT REMAINS GOOD.
WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN SOON FOR MORE MOTORWEEK AND SEE IF A NEW GENERATION HELPS THE KIA SORENTO CROSSOVER STAY AHEAD OF THE FRAY.
THEN CHECK OUT BMW'S MONSTER COUPE, THE M6.
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... ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.
NO MATTER WHAT CUSTOMERS DRIVE, THEY CAN PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BRANDS, PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.
ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.
AND BY... 3M.
MAKER OF 3M PAINT DEFENDER SYSTEM.
HELPS PROTECT YOUR PAINT IN THREE STEPS.
DRYING TO A CLEAR, REMOVABLE FILM FOR PROTECTION.
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT 3MAUTO.COM.
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION
