HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AS WE DROP THE TOP, AND THE PEDAL, OF THE BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT SPEED CONVERTIBLE... PAT GOSS SHOWS US HOW TO BOOST OUTPUT DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS THE LOWDOWN ON HOW TO SAVE ON CAR INSURANCE... AND WE'LL SEE IF A REDESIGN PUTS THE LEXUS IS BACK ON COURSE.
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.
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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.
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THE LATEST BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT SPEED CERTAINLY LIVES UP TO ITS NAME AS IT IS THE FASTEST BENTLEY YET, WITH A TOP SPEED OF 205 MILES-PER-HOUR.
WELL, HOW CAN BENTLEY TOP THAT?
WELL, HOW ABOUT BY REMOVING THE TOP WITHOUT REMOVING ANY PERFORMANCE?
SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!
WELL, LET'S FIND OUT IF IT IS.
WHILE IT'S TRUE THAT THE "FLYING B" HAS NEVER FLOWN THIS FAST BEFORE, NOT QUITE ALL OF THE COUPE'S PERFORMANCE HAS TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE 2014 BENTLEY GT SPEED CONVERTIBLE, AS THE TOP SPEED IS "ONLY" 202 MILES-PER-HOUR.
FOR SOME, THAT MIGHT BE ENOUGH TO BE A DEAL BREAKER, BUT WE SAY WE'LL GLADLY SACRIFICE A THREE MILES-PER-HOUR DEFICIT FOR DREAMY TOP DOWN LUXURY TOURING AT ITS BEST, ANY DAY.
THE GT SPEED CONVERTIBLE IS THE KIND OF RIDE THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO DRIVE AND DRIVE WITH NO PARTICULAR DESTINATION IN MIND, ONLY STOPPING FOR FUEL AND NECESSITIES; KEEPING THE TOP DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND THANKS TO A VERY WELL INSULATED TOP, NECK WARMER, AND STANDARD ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, WHEN THE WINTER COMES, JUST PACK YOUR SNOW SKINS AND KEEP ON CRUISIN'.
THE GT SPEED CONVERTIBLE IS, OF COURSE, BASED ON THE GT SPEED COUPE, WITH THE SAME RECENT EXTERIOR MAKEOVER, WHICH INCLUDES 21-INCH ALLOY WHEELS, DARK-TINTED MESH GRILLE, AND RIFLED EXHAUST TIPS.
THIS FOUR-SEAT CONVERTIBLE ALSO HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE UPDATES AS WELL, SUCH AS UPGRADED ANTI-ROLL BARS, STIFFER SUSPENSION BUSHINGS, AND, OF COURSE, THE FOUR-LAYER FULLY AUTOMATIC CLOTH TOP.
WHILE WE PREFER THE LOOK WITH TOP DOWN, AS THE CONTINENTAL'S SEXY HIPS ARE FURTHER ACCENTUATED, THE TOP ITSELF BLENDS IN BETTER THAN MOST.
AND MUCH LIKE THE COUPE, THE WHOLE CAR JUST EXUDES AGGRESSIVE ELEGANCE.
THANKFULLY, THE ENGINE IS EXACTLY THE SAME, AS THE 616-HORSEPOWER W12 FROM THE COUPE IS ONE OF THE SMOOTHEST MONSTER MOTORS WE'VE EVER DRIVEN, WITH SEAMLESS DELIVERY OF 590 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE FROM ITS 6.0-LITERS OF DISPLACEMENT.
AFTER SPENDING A FEW HOURS BEHIND THE WHEEL, IT HAD US WISHING WE COULD SHOEHORN THIS ENGINE INTO EVERY CAR WE DRIVE.
AND IT'S NOT ENTIRELY IRRESPONSIBLE EITHER, THANKS TO THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AS GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 12-CITY, 20-HIGHWAY, AND 15-COMBINED.
STILL, OUR 13.9 MPG LOOP ON PREMIUM MEANS THIS ISN'T A CAR FOR PENNY PINCHERS.
BUT AT THE TRACK, THE NUMBERS ARE PURE GOLD.
4.2 SECONDS FROM 0 TO 60, AND 12.4-SECONDS AT 119 MILES-PER-HOUR FOR THE QUARTER MILE.
BOTH NUMBERS JUST A FEW TICKS SLOWER THAN OUR TEST OF THE GT SPEED COUPE.
BUT AS SWIFT AS THE 0 TO 60 IS, PUNCHING IT WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY CRUISING AT 60 IS EVEN MORE EYE OPENING.
IT THROWS YOU BACK IN YOUR SEAT AND FEEDS POWER LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW.
AND WHENEVER YOU HAVE TO LIFT OFF THE THROTTLE, THERE'S A SLIGHT DELAY BEFORE THE POWER STOPS POURING ON AS THE GT SPEED CONVERTIBLE SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE BEGGING YOU FOR MORE.
TOP SPEED RUNS CAN BE MADE TOP DOWN WITH NO ADVERSE EFFECTS, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE MOST BUYERS WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THE STABILITY AND SERENE NATURE THAT ARE PRESENT IN THIS CAR AT CLOSE TO 200 MILES-PER-HOUR.
YOU'LL FIND THE EXPECTED SUITE OF DRIVING MODES, WITH ALL SYSTEMS RESPONDING ACCORDING TO WHICHEVER MODE YOU'VE DIALED IN.
IN DYNAMIC MODE, HANDLING IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT YOU EXPECT IN A 5,550-POUND CAR.
BRAKING IS EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE, WITH CARBON CERAMIC DISCS HAULING THIS HEAVY LUXO-BEAST TO A HALT IN A TIDY 117-FEET FROM 60.
HIGH PERFORMANCE HIJINKS ARE ONE THING, BUT THE LEVEL OF LUXURY AND REFINEMENT IN THE GT SPEED CONVERTIBLE'S CABIN ARE WHERE THIS CAR REALLY SETS ITSELF APART.
EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH REVEALS A QUALITY FEEL AND SUBSTANCE THAT MOST OTHER CAR MAKERS CAN ONLY DREAM ABOUT.
THE REAR SEATS LOOK SEXY AND COMFORTABLE FOR TWO, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, LEGROOM IS NOT A STRONG SUIT.
ALTHOUGH THE ALSO EXQUISITELY FINISHED TRUNK DID PROVIDE MORE SPACE, JUST OVER NINE CUBIC FEET, THAN EXPECTED.
OF COURSE SUCH EXOTIC OFFERINGS DON'T COME CHEAP, BUT ANYONE INTERESTED IN A BENTLEY IS GENERALLY NOT LOOKING FOR A BARGAIN.
IT'S A GOOD THING, AS THIS CAR IS REALLY IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN AND PRICED ACCORDINGLY, STARTING AT $244,425.
THE MAJORITY OF BUYERS WILL WANT A FEW CUSTOM OPTIONS ON TOP OF THAT, SO MOST WILL LEAVE THE SHOWROOM AT CLOSER TO $300 GRAND.
SO IF YOU'VE GOT THE BUCKS AND NEED ONE CAR THAT CAN DO IT ALL, WHETHER IT'S TURNING THE SPEEDO TO 200 OR JUST TURNING HEADS, ALL WHILE TOP DOWN DRIVING, THE 2014 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT SPEED CONVERTIBLE, THE FASTEST FOUR-SEATER DROP TOP AVAILABLE, IS WHERE IT'S AT.
OH YES, AND THERE IS STILL TRUTH IN ADVERTISING, AS SPEED IS WHAT THE GT SPEED CONVERTIBLE IS ALL ABOUT!
WITH GAS PRICES ON THE RISE, NOT TO MENTION REGISTRATION FEES, AND THE PRICE OF VEHICLES THEMSELVES, VIRTUALLY EVERYONE IS TRYING TO CONTAIN THE COST OF DRIVING.
AND OUR FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ IS CERTAINLY NO DIFFERENT.
SO SHE DID A LITTLE RESEARCH INTO ANOTHER KEY OPERATING COST, INSURANCE.
AND WHAT SHE FOUND COULD HELP KEEP THOSE PREMIUMS FROM BREAKING YOUR BANK.
* LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR STATE FARM IS THERE * Yolanda: WE'VE ALL SEEN THE COMMERCIALS ABOUT WAYS TO LOWER YOUR CAR INSURANCE PREMIUMS.
YOU'RE GOOD.
Yolanda: MOST ARE PRETTY CLEVER AND WORTHY OF A FEW CHUCKLES.
BUT THEY DO POSE A VALID QUESTION: ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR CAR INSURANCE?
Renita Prevot: IN THIS DAY AND AGE, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO SAVE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN ON CAR INSURANCE, AND OUR GOAL IS TO HELP THEM WITH THAT.
Yolanda: STATE FARM AGENT RENITA PREVOT SAYS BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO COMPARISON SHOP, YOU SHOULD FIRST REVIEW YOUR POLICY WITH YOUR CURRENT INSURER.
ONCE YOU DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF COVERAGE YOU NEED, ASK ABOUT A HIGHER DEDUCTIBLE.
Renita: I TELL YOU, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT DEDUCTIBLES, IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE; WHAT ARE YOU COMFORTABLE TAKING OUT OF YOUR POCKET SHOULD YOU HAVE A CLAIM?
Yolanda: THIS FIRST COST-SAVING TIP IS LIKELY TO LOWER YOUR RATE.
IN FACT, THE INSURANCE INFORMATION INSTITUTE SAYS INCREASING YOUR DEDUCTIBLE FROM $250 TO $500 COULD REDUCE YOUR PREMIUM BY 15% TO 30%.
AND UPPING IT TO $1,000 COULD SAVE YOU 40% OR MORE.
THE SECOND COST-SAVING TIP IS TO GET RID OF ANY UNNECESSARY COVERAGE.
IF YOU HAVE AN AGING VEHICLE WITH NO LIENHOLDER, PREVOT SAYS YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER TAKING COMPREHENSIVE AND/OR COLLISION COVERAGE OFF YOUR CAR.
Renita: WHAT I TELL PEOPLE IS TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT IS THE VALUE, OR WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR CAR IS WORTH.
Yolanda: AS A GENERAL RULE, IT'S NOT COST EFFECTIVE TO KEEP COMP AND COLLISION IF YOUR CAR IS WORTH LESS THAN A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS.
YOU CAN CHECK WITH NADA GUIDES OR KELLEY BLUE BOOK TO DETERMINE YOUR CAR'S CURRENT VALUE.
THE THIRD COST SAVING TIP IS TO DO A DISCOUNT DOUBLE-CHECK.
SOME CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES, LIKE STATE FARM, OFFER DISCOUNTS TO DRIVERS WHO PUT FEWER THAN A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF MILES ON THEIR VEHICLE EACH YEAR.
SO ASK ABOUT A LOW MILEAGE DISCOUNT.
AND THEN THERE'S MULTI-LINE DISCOUNTS -- IF YOU HAVE OTHER TYPES OF INSURANCE WITH YOUR COMPANY.
AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT GOOD STUDENT AND GOOD DRIVER DISCOUNTS.
BEING ACCIDENT FREE LIKE ME COULD SAVE YOU MONEY.
WHILE A GOOD DRIVING RECORD IS IMPORTANT, SO IS BEING SAFE ON THE ROADS.
Kent Krabbe: OBEY THE LAWS, DRIVE SAFELY, DON'T BE AGGRESSIVE, DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE OBVIOUSLY.
Yolanda: KENT KRABBE, EXEC.
DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE FUND, SAYS ACCIDENTS ARE THE BIGGEST SINGLE CONTRIBUTOR TO HIGH INSURANCE PREMIUMS.
Kent: SO BE SAFE ON THE ROADWAYS.
Yolanda: HE ALSO RECOMMENDS RESEARCHING AUTO RATES ON A PARTICULAR CAR BEFORE YOU BUY AND CHECK TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY DISCOUNTS FOR CERTAIN SAFETY FEATURES OR ANTI-THEFT DEVICES LIKE CAR ALARMS OR ELECTRONIC TRACKING SYSTEMS.
Kent: MANY INSURERS GIVE DISCOUNTS FOR HIGHLY RATED, SAFE VEHICLES, AND ALSO SOMETIMES MORE COSTLY TO INSURE VEHICLES MORE PRONE TO THEFT.
Yolanda: AND IF YOU STILL FEEL LIKE SHOPPING AROUND, HERE'S TIP NUMBER FOUR: GET AT LEAST THREE QUOTES, BUT DON'T SHOP ON PRICE ALONE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE COMPANY'S REPUTATION, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RELIABILITY.
Renita: IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT BEING CHEAPER AND LOWER, IT'S ABOUT HAVE YOU GOT THE RIGHT COVERAGE -- ARE THEY GOING TO BE AROUND WHEN YOU MAKE THE CLAIM?
BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT YOU ARE PURCHASING WHEN YOU'RE BUYING AUTO INSURANCE.
WHOOPSIES.
Yolanda: SO WHILE THESE CATCHY COMMERCIALS MAY LURE YOU IN, DO YOUR HOMEWORK TO MAKE SURE SAVING A FEW BUCKS WON'T COST YOU IN THE END.
John: PERFORMANCE UPGRADES CAN BE TEMPTING.
AFTER ALL, WHO DOESN'T WANT MORE POWER?
SO LET'S CHECK IN WITH PAT GOSS TO SEE IF IT'S THE RIGHT MOVE FOR YOU.
Pat Goss: IT SEEMS THAT EVERYBODY WANTS A COMBINATION OF BETTER PERFORMANCE AND MORE MILES PER GALLON.
WELL, MANUFACTURERS CAN DO THIS BY REDESIGNING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE.
BUT CAN YOU DO IT AS AN ADD-ON?
WELL, YES AND NO.
YOU SEE, FIRST WE'VE STARTED WITH THIS TOYOTA FJ CRUISER, AND WE WANTED TO DO TWO OF THE MOST COMMON MODIFICATIONS THAT PEOPLE DO.
WE PUT A COLD AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM ON IT AND A CAT-BACK EXHAUST SYSTEM.
NOW, DO THEY IMPROVE FUEL ECONOMY?
WELL, YEA, BUT THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST THAT.
FIRST, WHAT ABOUT THE MODIFICATIONS THEMSELVES?
WELL, WE CHOSE TOYOTA -- AND ALL MANUFACTURERS HAVE A LINE LIKE THIS -- BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I DIDN'T GO AFOUL OF EMISSIONS LAWS, WE WANTED THINGS TO FIT, AND DIDN'T WANT TO DAMAGE ANYTHING ON THE VEHICLE.
ALRIGHT, SO, WE HAVE HIGH QUALITY STUFF.
WE SPENT ROUGHLY $1,500 -- IF YOU INCLUDE THE NORMAL LABOR TO INSTALL THE PARTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND BEFORE WE DID THIS, WE DROVE IT FOR 5,000 MILES TO ESTABLISH A BASELINE MILES PER GALLON.
IT WAS 20.7 MILES PER GALLON.
AFTER IT, ANOTHER 5,000 MILES UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES AND WE GOT 21.1 MILES PER GALLON.
FOUR TENTHS OF ONE MILE PER GALLON INCREASE.
NOW, YOU WOULD SAY, "WELL, I'M GOING TO BE SAVING MONEY."
WELL, NO, YOU'RE NOT.
FIRST, WE HAVE TO PAY BACK ALL OF THE MONEY THAT WE PUT INTO THE MODIFICATIONS.
THAT'S GOING TO TAKE 46K, 47,000 MILES BEFORE WE EVER SAVE THE FIRST PENNY.
SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT PART OF IT.
THE SECOND THING IS, DID IT IMPROVE PERFORMANCE?
WELL, YEA, BUT WE COULDN'T MEASURE IT ON A STOP WATCH.
BUT IT DOES FEEL MORE RESPONSIVE.
BUT HERE'S THE RUB ON THAT: YOU CANNOT PRODUCE MORE HORSEPOWER AND USE THAT HORSEPOWER WITHOUT BURNING MORE FUEL.
SO, YOU CAN DRIVE IT NORMALLY, YOU'LL GET A LITTLE BIT BETTER MILES PER GALLON.
USE THE EXTRA POWER AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET LESS MILES PER GALLON.
THERE'S NO WAY TO PRODUCE POWER WITHOUT BURNING FUEL.
SO YOU HAVE TO FACTOR THESE THINGS IN.
IS IT A FEEL-GOOD CONVERSION?
YEA, IT IS.
THAT MUCH I CAN TELL YOU.
BUT DO THE MATH BEFORE YOU SPEND THE MONEY.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
John: IT'S ONE THING TO GIVE A NEW DESIGN AN AWARD, LIKE WE DID THE ALL-NEW TOYOTA RAV4, OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST SMALL UTILITY OF THE YEAR, AND IT'S SOMETHING ELSE TO LIVE WITH IT DAY-IN AND DAY-OUT JUST LIKE REAL OWNERS.
WELL, SO FAR, DAY-IN AND DAY-OUT, OUR LONG-TERM RAV4 IS LIVING UP TO OUR HYPE.
AFTER ABOUT SIX WEEKS WITH US, THE ODOMETER IS NEARING 6,000 MILES, AND AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY IS AN OUTSTANDING 29.2 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.
THAT'S MOSTLY HIGHWAY WORK, BUT EVEN AROUND TOWN IT'S SOLIDLY IN THE MID-20s.
OUR FIVE-PASSENGER LIMITED IS NICELY DECKED OUT, INCLUDING SEAT MEMORY AND NAVIGATION, ALTHOUGH THE TOUCH SCREEN IS A BIT SMALL.
WE LIKE THAT THE START BUTTON IS NOT HIDDEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL.
IN SPORT MODE, THE RAV4'S 176-HORSEPOWER 2.5-LITER I4 ENGINE WITH 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC DELIVERS SURPRISINGLY BIG POWER FOR PASSING.
BUT SWITCH TO ECO MODE AND THE SKINNY PEDAL ON THE RIGHT ALMOST GOES NUMB.
THE LATEST RAV4 IS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT AND WE'RE ENJOYING EVERY MILE WE LOG IN IT.
WE'LL UPDATE THE LOG BOOKS OF OUR HONDA ACCORD, AND THE NISSAN PATHFINDER CROSSOVER, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE KEY.
SO LET'S GRAB SOME KEYS AND SEE WHAT WE THINK.
A LOT HAS BEEN DONE THESE DAYS TO MAKE SMALL SEDANS AND HATCHBACKS STYLISH, USEFUL, AND AFFORDABLE.
AND NISSAN, BEING NO STRANGER TO THIS GAME, HAS ANOTHER ENTRY FOR BUYER CONSIDERATION: THE 2014 NISSAN VERSA NOTE.
REPLACING THE PREVIOUS VERSA HATCHBACK, THE VERSA NOTE IS... WELL, STILL A 5-DOOR HATCHBACK, BUT NOW BASED ON NISSAN'S GLOBAL "V" PLATFORM SHARED ALSO BY THE NEWEST VERSA SEDAN.
THAT BRINGS WITH IT A NEW FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE ARCHITECTURE AND 1.6 LITER INLINE-4 RATED AT 109 HORSES.
POWER FELT SOMEWHAT SLUGGISH, BUT THEN AGAIN, WE WEREN'T EXPECTING TO BE BLOWN AWAY; IT'S ENOUGH FOR OUR DAILY DUTIES.
AND WE'LL GLADLY TAKE THE 35 COMBINED MPG RATING, AND THE MUCH IMPROVED XTRONIC CVT'S PERFORMANCE.
OVERALL, THE NOTE DRIVES VERY SOLID FOR ITS SIZE, AND ROAD AND SUSPENSION NOISE DAMPING IS FAR BETTER THAN ITS PREDECESSOR.
STYLING IS ALSO NOTHING MIND-BLOWING, BUT THE VERSA NOTE DOES ITS BEST TO STAND OUT.
THE WRAP-AROUND HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS, SHORT OVERHANGS, AND STEEPLY RAKED WINDSHIELD DO ADD SOME POP.
BUT INSIDE IS WHERE DRIVERS WILL BE MOST REWARDED, AS THERE'S PLENTY OF SPACE, FUNCTIONALITY, AND CREATURE COMFORTS THAT ARE WORTHY OF NOTING.
INCLUDING AVAILABLE HEATED SEATS.
CARGO ROOM IS LISTED AS BEST IN CLASS AT 21.4 CUBIC FEET, AND WE FOUND BOTH FRONT AND REAR SEAT PASSENGER ROOM SURPRISINGLY SPACIOUS.
THE OPTIONAL NAV SCREEN AND REARVIEW MONITOR NOW USE NISSAN'S AROUND VIEW TECHNOLOGY WE LIKED SO MUCH ON OUR LONG-TERM PATHFINDER.
STARTING AROUND A VERY BUDGET FRIENDLY $14,000, THE SUBCOMPACT 2014 NISSAN VERSA NOTE IS AVAILABLE NOW.
AND WE'LL HAVE MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS SOON.
THERE'S AUDIO BOOKS, AND THEN THERE'S PORSCHE SOUNDS EAR BOOKS.
DETER LANDENBURGER OF THE PORSCHE MUSEUM HAS CREATED AN AMAZING PORSCHE BOOK CAPTURING THE SOUNDS OF THE MOST FAMOUS PORSCHE SPORTS CARS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
FROM THE NUMBER ONE ROADSTER, TO THE NEW PANAMERA TURBO, THIS BOOK HAS IT ALL.
THE RECORDINGS ARE SO FINE THAT YOU CAN ALMOST FEEL THESE GREAT CARS AS THEY ROAR PAST YOU.
AND ONCE YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH LISTENING AND WANT TO START DOING, DETER HAS ALSO INCLUDED TWO OTHER CDs, A COLLECTION OF GREAT PERFORMANCE DRIVING MUSIC, AND AN ELEGANT CD THAT WALTZES YOU DOWN THE ROAD.
BESIDES THESE GREAT RECORDINGS, THIS COLLECTOR QUALITY, HARDCOVER, EAR-BOOK IS A STAGGERING COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE PORSCHE MUSEUM ARCHIVES, COVERING ALMOST ALL OF THE PORSCHE CARS EVER MADE.
WRITTEN IN BOTH GERMAN AND ENGLISH, THIS BOOK IS A MUST-READ FOR ANY PORSCHE-PHILE.
AFTER ALL, THERE REALLY IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE SOUND OF A PORSCHE!
IN THE WORLD OF SPORT SEDANS, THE LEXUS IS TENDS TO GET OVERLOOKED.
AND IT'S NOT LIKE IT HASN'T TRIED, WITH THE TOP IS-F MODEL GETTING NEAR UNIVERSAL PRAISE.
IT SEEMS TO BE MORE OF A BRAND THING; UPSCALE BUYERS SEE LEXUS AS FAR MORE COMFORT THAN CORNERING.
BUT WITH DYNAMIC NEW ENTRIES LIKE THE CADILLAC ATS GETTING GOOD NOTICES, LEXUS HAD TO DO SOMETHING.
SO THE 3RD GENERATION IS HAD BETTER BE SOMETHING SPECIAL.
THE 2014 LEXUS IS IS EASILY RECOGNIZED AS A NEW-GEN LEXUS, FULLY TAKING ON THE BIG MOUTH, WIDE STANCE, AND DYNAMIC HIGH-SHOULDERED LOOK OF ITS LARGER GS AND LS KIN.
THE NEW IS COMES IN BOTH 250 AND 350 MODELS, WITH BOTH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AND F-SPORT VERSIONS OF BOTH OBTAINABLE.
WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME IN A 250 AWD.
THE 250 NOMENCLATURE IS INDICATIVE OF THE 2.5-LITER ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH IS THE SMALLER OF THE TWO V6s AVAILABLE.
IT CARRIES OVER UNCHANGED FROM LAST YEAR OUTPUTTING THE SAME 204-HP AND 185 LB-FT. OF TORQUE AND SENDING POWER THROUGH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH MANUAL SHIFTING AND A REV-MATCHING SPORT MODE.
THE 350'S 3.5-LITER V6 IS ALSO CARRYOVER, DELIVERING 306-HORSEPOWER AND 277 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, ONLY NOW IT ATTACHES TO A NEW 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.
SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW?
WELL, THE IS HAS CLEARLY GOTTEN BIGGER.
WHEELBASE IS UP ALMOST THREE INCHES, WHILE OVERALL LENGTH GROWS MORE THAN THREE.
IT'S ALSO WIDER, A BIT TALLER, AND IT'S WRAPPED IN SOME GREAT LOOKING NEW SHEET METAL.
SHOCK-AND-AWE SEEMS THE THEME, AS THE NEW IS TAKES AN EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE TURN, SPORTING ITS OWN UNIQUE TAKE ON THE NOW FAMILIAR LEXUS SPINDLE GRILLE.
FOG LAMPS ARE STANDARD ON ALL BUT F-SPORT MODELS, WHICH DROP THEM IN FAVOR OF AIR INTAKES FOR BRAKE COOLING DUCTS.
FROM THERE, SHARP BODYLINES HIGHLIGHT THE WHEEL ARCHES AND RISE TO REAFFIRM THE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE PROPORTIONS.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF AERO TREATMENTS THROUGHOUT, HELPING THE IS CUT THROUGH THE AIR BETTER THAN LEXUS LFA SUPERCAR.
THE CABIN IS SET BACK, FURTHER ACCENTUATING THE LONG HOOD.
17-INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD, WITH THREE TAKES ON 18s AVAILABLE.
F-SPORT MODELS DON AN EVEN MORE HOSTILE MAKEOVER WITH AN EXTRA AGGRESSIVE CHAIN-MAIL GRILLE INSERT, AND OF COURSE BADGING TO SET THEM APART.
THERE'S A STIFFER STRUCTURE LYING UNDERNEATH ALL ISs, WITH ADDITIONAL BRACING AND REVISED PLATFORMS FOR MOUNTING THE ALL INDEPENDENT FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSIONS.
THE REAR GOT EXTRA ATTENTION WITH A NEW MULTI-LINK DESIGN THAT BOTH IMPROVES PACKAGING FOR MORE TRUNK SPACE AND INCREASES CORNERING GRIP...
...WHICH SHOULD TRANSLATE INTO A MORE REWARDING EXPERIENCE WHERE IT MATTERS MOST, ON THE TRACK.
AND WE GOT A CHANCE TO SAMPLE THE FULL LINE-UP OF ISs AT DRIVEWAY AUSTIN IN TEXAS.
WEIGHT IS STILL UP THERE, AROUND 4,700 POUNDS DEPENDING ON MODEL, AND A GOOD PORTION OF THAT STILL SEEMS TO REST OVER THE FRONT WHEELS, BUT OVERALL, DYNAMICS HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED.
Ben Davis: ALL THE WORK THEY'VE DONE TO ADD RIGIDITY TO THE BODY REALLY PAY OFF ON THE TRACK.
TURN-INS ARE LIGHTNING CRISP, EXCELLENT FEEL THROUGH THE WHEEL, JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF FLEX, BACK-END FOLLOWS THROUGH BEAUTIFULLY.
THIS CAR IS SUCH A BLAST TO DRIVE ON THE TRACK.
AND THE FASTER YOU GO, THE BETTER IT GETS.
John: AND OF COURSE INTERIORS DON'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN LEXUS EITHER, THOUGH THE IS BRINGS A MORE COCKPIT APPROACH TO THE LINE-UP WITH THE CENTER CONSOLE RISING HIGH TO MEET THE VERY HORIZONTAL DASH.
MATERIALS ARE ALL FIRST-RATE OF COURSE; THERE ARE SELECTABLE DRIVING MODES, LANE DEPARTURE WARNINGS, AND TRAFFIC AND WEATHER INFORMATION THAT ARE SUBSCRIPTION FREE.
LEXUS'S REMOTE TOUCH CONTROLLER IS AVAILABLE FOR MANAGING THE STANDARD DASH-TOP 7-INCH DISPLAY, AND THERE'S ALSO A 4.2-INCH TFT SCREEN IN THE I.P.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
F-SPORT MODELS ADD THEIR OWN UNIQUE GAUGE PACKAGE INSPIRED BY THE LFA.
FRONT SEATS FEATURE PERFORATED LEATHER AND GOOD SUPPORT, WHILE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS BENEFIT MOST FROM THE ADDITIONAL WHEELBASE AS LEG ROOM IS UP BY OVER AN INCH-AND-A-HALF.
TRUNK SPACE IS UP AS WELL, WITH ROOM FOR 13.8 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS HAVEN'T BEEN FINALIZED, BUT EXPECT THEM TO RANGE FROM 21-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED FOR THE 250, TO 19-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, 22-COMBINED FOR THE 350.
PRICING FOR THE NEW IS HAS BEEN SET, AND THERE ISN'T MUCH OF A CHANGE.
THE 2014 LEXUS IS 250 STARTS AT $36,845 AND THE IS 350 AT $40,360.
THE BATTLE IN THE COMPACT SPORT SEDAN ARENA HAS HEATED UP RECENTLY AS NEW ENTRIES ARE REALLY TAKING AIM AT TRADITIONAL CLASS STANDOUTS LIKE THE BMW 3-SERIES.
SO, HOW DOES THE 2014 LEXUS IS FIT IN?
AND IS IT INDEED SPECIAL?
WELL, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE TRACK WEAPON, QUIET SIMPLY, THE IS FALLS SHORT; THOUGH IT HAS BEEN GREATLY IMPROVED IN THIS AREA.
IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A HIGHLY CAPABLE HAULER THAT WILL ALSO CODDLE YOU IN LEXUS LUXURY AND TECHNOLOGY, THEN YOU'LL FIND THE NEW IS TO BE VERY SPECIAL INDEED.
WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN SOON FOR MORE MOTORWEEK, WHEN WE'LL SEE IF THE NEXT GEN MKZ CAN ECO-BOOST SALES FOR LINCOLN.
AND IF THE NEW MAZDA6 IS READY TO LEAD THE FAMILY SEDAN PACK.
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.
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.
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.