HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AND FIND OUT WHY THE LATEST HONDA ODYSSEY IS THE MUST HAVE OF MINIVANS... PAT GOSS ADDS COLOR TO OUR CLASSIC CADDY RESTORATION PROJECT... YOLANDA VAZQUEZ GOES UP CLOSE WITH HOW WE WATCH OUR FAVORITE SPORTS... AND WE'LL FIND OUT WHY THE CAYMAN S IS THE NEW QUINTESSENTIAL PORSCHE SPORTS CAR.
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION Announcer: MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
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MINIVANS.
THAT ONCE STAPLE OF THE AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD HAVE TAKEN A NOSE DIVE IN POPULARITY AS FAMILY BUYERS INCREASINGLY TURN TO CROSSOVER UTILITIES FOR THEIR ROUTINE CARTAGE NEEDS.
STILL, YOU DO STILL SEE PLENTY OF NEW MINIVANS AROUND, AND MANY OF THOSE ARE HONDA ODYSSEYS.
IT SEEMS THAT THE ODYSSEY HAS FORGED A BOND WITH FAMILIES THAT CROSSOVERS JUST CAN'T BREAK.
THE HONDA ODYSSEY HAS INDEED SUSTAINED ITS POPULARITY IN THIS NEW WORLD OF CROSSOVERS.
AND HONDA HOPES THE 2014 EDITION WILL ENSURE THAT REMAINS THE CASE.
IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT MINIVANS CLEARLY HAVE GOING FOR THEM OVER CROSSOVERS, IT'S ROOM, AND LOTS OF IT.
ALL SEATING POSITIONS IN THE ODYSSEY OFFER PLENTY OF IT, ALONG WITH GOOD COMFORT FOR BOTH YOUNG AND OLD, AND THERE'S ALSO 148.5 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE SHOULD YOU OPT TO HAUL LESS PRECIOUS CARGO.
AS BEFORE, 3RD ROW SEATS FOLD EASILY INTO THE FLOOR, BUT FOR MAXIMUM SPACE, THE HEAVY 2ND ROW SEATS MUST BE REMOVED... AND NOT SO EASILY.
HERE, CHRYSLER'S STOW-N-GO 2ND ROW HAS A BIG ADVANTAGE.
STILL, WE SPENT LOTS OF TIME AND MILES IN THE REFRESHED ODYSSEY AND THERE ARE SOME NOTABLE CHANGES.
FOR ONE THING, THE '14 IS QUIETER, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, ESPECIALLY ON LONG TRIPS.
BUT ONE NOT-SO-GOOD THING THAT WE NOTICED IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO DO A LOT MORE GEAR HUNTING THAN WE REMEMBER.
BUT WITH ALL OF THAT SEARCHING COMES BEST IN CLASS GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 19-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED.
AFTER A FEW LONG WEEKENDS OF FAMILY DUTIES, WE AVERAGED 23.8 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR.
THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE BEATS MOST CROSSOVERS WITH ANNUAL CO2 EMISSIONS OF 6.6-TONS WITH 15.0-BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE.
THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE A VEHICLE DESIGNED FOR MAXIMUM SPACE GREAT LOOKING, AND THE ODYSSEY SEEMS TO HAVE EMBRACED THAT FULLY BY LETTING ITS FLAG FLY WITH SOME AWKWARD LINES AND ODD PROPORTIONS.
IT'S TRULY FUNCTION OVER FORM.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ACCELERATION, THERE'S PLENTY OF FUNCTIONALITY BY WAY OF A REV HAPPY 3.5-LITER V6 WITH 248-HORSEPOWER AND 250 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
IT WILL GET TO SOCCER PRACTICE ON TIME AND MAKE HIGHWAY MERGING A BREEZE.
0 TO 60 SPRINTS OF 8.0-SECONDS, AND QUARTER MILE TIMES OF 16.3 AT 85 MILES-PER-HOUR, ARE IMPRESSIVE FOR ANY BIG FAMILY HAULER.
HANDLING IS NORMALLY NOT A MINIVAN STRONG POINT, BUT HERE AS WELL, THE ODYSSEY DOES BETTER THAN THE REST IN THE SEGMENT.
INSIDE, THE LATEST ODYSSEY IS VERY FAMILIAR, WITH A FEW MORE STANDARD FEATURES ON BASE MODELS, AND A NICER LOOKING DASH.
IN WHICH YOU'LL FIND HONDA AND ACURA'S NOW UBIQUITOUS 2-SCREEN MOTIF.
OVERALL, THE SYSTEM SEEMS TO WORK BETTER THAN IN THE ACCORD, BUT WE MAY JUST BE GETTING USED TO IT.
BUT THE BIGGEST NEW "WOW FACTOR" IS AN ONBOARD VACUUM LOCATED IN THE REAR CARGO AREA.
IT'S A GREAT FEATURE IF YOU'RE A NEAT FREAK THAT CAN'T WAIT TO CLEAN UP MESSES.
ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT A WET-DRY UNIT, IT DOES A GREAT JOB.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT REQUIRES STEPPING UP TO TOURING ELITE LEVEL TRIM, WHICH IS A PRICEY $45,280.
YOU CAN BUY QUITE A FEW PORTABLE SHOP-VACS FOR THAT.
BASE MSRP, HOWEVER, IS A MUCH MORE REASONABLE $29,655.
IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY THE ODYSSEY HAS RETAINED ITS POPULARITY IN A WORLD GONE CROSSOVER MAD.
IT'S STILL ONE OF THE MOST PRACTICAL VEHICLES MONEY CAN BUY, WITH COMFORT, AND FEATURES, AND SPACE THAT NO CROSSOVER CAN MATCH.
ADD IN A GREAT TRACK RECORD FOR RELIABILITY AND THAT'S EVEN MORE REASON FOR CROSSOVER BUYERS TO CROSSOVER TO THE 2014 HONDA ODYSSEY.
OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO EAGAN, MINNESOTA, HOME TO THE LARGEST DEPOT FOR SCHWAN'S HOME SERVICE, A HOME DELIVERY SUBSIDIARY OF THE SCHWAN FOOD COMPANY.
THEY USE PROPANE-POWERED DELIVERY TRUCKS TO DISTRIBUTE OVER 350 PRODUCTS TO LOCAL RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
COMPANY FOUNDER, THE LATE MARVIN SCHWAN, BEGAN USING PROPANE IN THE 1970s DURING THE GASOLE MBARGO -- AND STAYED WITH IT.
BY USING THE CLEANER-BURNING FUEL IN MORE THAN 70% OF THEIR 4,500 DELIVERY TRUCK FLEET NATIONWIDE, SCHWAN'S HAS REDUCED GAS AND DIESEL CONSUMPTION BY SOME 18 MILLION GALLONS A YEAR.
Jeff Modica: IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A COMPANY THAT IS FOCUSED ON BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY.
IT'S GOOD FOR US FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT AS WELL.
AND IT'S JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
John: SCHWAN'S HOME SERVICE IS A MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S NATIONAL CLEAN FLEETS PARTNERSHIP, WHICH WORKS WITH COMPANIES THAT ARE ADOPTING AGGRESSIVE PETROLEUM REDUCTION PLANS.
A POINT ON WHICH THIS 62-YEAR-OLD MINNESOTA COMPANY CLEARLY "DELIVERS"!
THE PROCESS OF CREATING TELEVISION HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER 33 YEARS OF MOTORWEEK, AND WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR NEW WAYS TO MAKE OUR CAR REVIEWS AND FEATURES MORE VISUALLY EXCITING.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO MIXING EXCITING VIEWS AND CARS, YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS FOUND THE PIONEERS THAT PUT MILLIONS OF TV RACING FANS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT.
Yolanda: EVER WONDER HOW A COOL GYRO-CAM SHOT COMES TO LIFE?
MOST OF US PROBABLY DON'T THINK TWICE ABOUT CLEVER CAMERA ANGLES WHEN WATCHING A CAR RACE.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES WORK THAT HAPPENS TO MAKE SURE EACH SHOT GOES OFF WITHOUT A HITCH.
Peter Larsson: ON A NORMAL TRACK, YOU CAN COME IN TWO OR THREE DAYS BEFOREHAND AND LAY ALL THE FIBER.
SO WE HAVE A BIG CREW THAT COME IN, THEY WORK VERY LATE THAT NIGHT.
Yolanda: PETER LARSSON KNOWS THE SETUP LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND.
AS GENERAL MANAGER OF BROADCAST SPORTS INC.
IN HANOVER, MARYLAND, HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH IN-CAR CAMERAS FOR AUTO RACING SINCE THE EARLY '80s.
Peter: BACK THEN, THE TECHNOLOGY HAD JUST GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE EQUIPMENT COULD FIT INTO A RACECAR.
Yolanda: NOW THE CAMERAS ARE MOUNTED INTO THE CARS THEMSELVES.
WE WERE ON-HAND AS THIS RACECAR WAS PREPPED FOR THE BALTIMORE GRAND PRIX.
IT HAD THREE BARELY DISCERNIBLE HD CAMERAS ONBOARD: A REMOTELY CONTROLLED 360 DEGREE CAMERA ON TOP, A SECOND ONE BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR, AND A THIRD KNOWN AS A REAR WING CAMERA.
AND YES, THEY'RE ALL DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THE RIGORS OF TRACK RACING.
Andy Uhling: IT'S A VERY TOUGH ENVIRONMENT THAT THE CAMERAS HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
Yolanda: ANDY UHLING IS THE ENGINEERING MANAGER AT BSI.
HE AND HIS STAFF DESIGN ALL OF THE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT, CAMERAS, AND PARTS NEEDED FOR A BIG RACE.
Andy: WE DO A VERY SPECIALIZED THING, SO YOU CAN'T BUY A LOT OF WHAT WE NEED OFF THE SHELF.
Yolanda: FOR EXAMPLE, THIS ALUMINUM TRANSMITTER RECEIVER THAT WAS DESIGNED IN-HOUSE, IS NOW GOING THROUGH AN AUTOMATED MILLING MACHINE AT BSI.
THEY'LL MASS PRODUCE THEM FOR THEIR CLIENTS.
Peter: WE'RE INVESTED IN C&C MILLS AND LATHES TO BUILD ALL OF THE MECHANICAL HARDWARE THAT WE NEED.
BACK IN THE OLD DAYS, OUR PRODUCTION RUNS USED TO BE THREE.
NOW WE DO 100 OF EACH PIECE.
Yolanda: AND THEIR CAMERA SHOP IS JUST AS BUSY WITH TECHNICIANS MAKING REPAIRS AND ASSESSING EACH CAMERA'S MOTOR FUNCTIONS AFTER A WEEKEND'S RACE.
Peter Larsson: THEY COME IN SUNDAY NIGHT, FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING, AND THE GUYS HERE STRIP THEM DOWN, CLEAN THEM UP, REPAIR ANY DAMAGE THAT'S DONE TO THEM, AND GET THEM READY TO GO OUT THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND.
Yolanda: MECHANICAL ENGINEER MIKE SARTIN, WHO WORKS ON THE NASCAR SERIES, SAYS CARS WITHOUT CAMERAS MUST CARRY A DUMMY WEIGHT; THIS HELPS LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.
HE THINKS THE FUTURE OF IN CAR CAMERA TECHNOLOGY IS WIDE OPEN.
Mike Sartin: AS OUR EQUIPMENT GETS SMALLER, AS IT GETS LIGHTER, AND WE CAN INTEGRATE IT INTO MORE PLACES SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET THOSE SHOTS THAT YOU WOULDN'T EVER THINK THAT YOU'D BE ABLE TO GET.
Yolanda: WITH A STAFF OF OVER 150 PEOPLE, AND A TRAVEL SCHEDULE THAT KEEPS THEM BUSY YEAR-ROUND, BSI'S 55,000 SQUARE-FOOT HEADQUARTERS IS LIKE A MINI COMMAND CENTER WITH 13 MOBILE UNITS.
THEY'VE COVERED EVERY MAJOR SPORTING EVENT OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS USING THE LATEST IN CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY.
WHEN THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO TAKE THEIR MOBILE UNITS OUT ON THE ROAD, THEY HAVE SOMETHING CALLED "BSI IN A BOX."
THAT'S WHERE THEY TAKE ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT FROM THE MOBILE UNIT AND PLACE IT IN BOXES, SEVERAL OF THEM, PACK IT UP, SHIP IT OUT, AND IT'S SHOCK MOUNTED SO THAT NOTHING GETS DESTROYED.
AND IF YOU TAKE A LOOK OVER HERE, YOU'LL SEE A SLEW OF EQUIPMENT.
THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING READY FOR A BIG EVENT.
Peter: WE'RE VERY LUCKY THAT WE PICKED UP A CONTRACT WITH THE WINTER OLYMPICS IN SOCHI.
BECAUSE IT'S IN RUSSIA, ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT HAS TO BE SHIPPED MONTHS BEFORE THE ACTUAL EVENT.
Yolanda: LARSSON BELIEVES THE SKY'S THE LIMIT WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUTURE OF ONBOARD CAMERA TECHNOLOGY.
BSI HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS INNOVATIVE INDUSTRY, AND WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE VIEWERS THEIR BEST SHOT FROM ANY AND EVERY ANGLE IMAGINABLE.
John: RESTORING AN OLD CAR IS OFTEN MORE WORK THAN YOU BARGAIN FOR.
SO HERE'S OUR PAT GOSS WITH SOME COLORFUL TIPS.
Pat: WHEN WE LAST SAW OUR CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE, IT WAS IN PRIMER AND LOOKING LIKE IT WAS READY FOR PAINT.
BUT THAT ISN'T ENTIRELY THE CASE.
AND WITH US AGAIN IS PETE FROM CLASSIC CAR SHOP.
PETE, WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE SINCE WE LAST SAW THE CAR?
Pete: WELL, THE LAST TIME IT WAS IN, IT WAS IN THE FIRST COAT OF PRIMER.
BASICALLY, FROM THAT STAGE, THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE PREPARATION THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO COMPLETE THE CAR.
AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE CAR OWNERS, THEY SHORTCHANGE WHEN THEY'RE DOING THE JOB, ON THE SIDE, IN THEIR HOUSE, AS OPPOSED TO TAKING IT TO A PROFESSIONAL.
THE CAR THEN NEEDS TO BE SANDED BY HAND WITH A BLOCK.
BLOCKS ARE LIKE THIS.
THEY COME IN VARIABLE LENGTHS AND SIZES AND SHAPES DEPENDING ON THE CONTOURS OF THE BODY OF THE CAR.
WE THEN, AFTER WE SAND THE ENTIRE CAR, WE PRIME THE CAR AGAIN WITH A FILLER-PRIMER.
Pat: ALRIGHT.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS, LIKE LITTLE POCKMARKS AND SO ON, DO-IT-YOURSELFERS USUALLY SHORTCHANGE THEMSELVES.
HOW DOES THAT WORK?
Pete: WELL, A LOT OF TIMES WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY'LL JUST TAKE A LITTLE SANDER AND THEY'LL SAND A LITTLE BULLS EYE OUT AND THEY THINK IT LOOKS REAL SMOOTH, AND THEY SPRAY A LITTLE PRIMER ON IT, AND THEN, WHEN THE CAR GETS PAINTED, THAT IMPERFECTION IS STILL STANDING OUT THERE LOOKING AT THEM.
Pat: IT LOOKS LIKE A BULLS EYE THEN.
NOW, AT THAT POINT, IT'S READY FOR PAINT, WHAT HAPPENS?
Pete: BASICALLY, THEN THE CAR GETS SANDED AGAIN, BY HAND OR BY MACHINE, AND THEN THE CAR GOES INTO THE SPRAY BOOTH AND GETS SPRAYED.
ON THIS CAR WE USED A WATERBORNE BASE COAT CLEAR COAT SYSTEM.
Pat: ALRIGHT.
NOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR, WATERBORNE IS SIMPLY THAT THE PAINT IS WATER-BASED.
Pete: CORRECT.
Pat: YEAH.
OK. NOW, YOU CHANGED COLOR.
Pete: YES, WE DID A COMPLETE COLOR CHANGE ON THIS CAR, BUT WE DID WHAT WE CALL THE "USED CAR SPECIAL," BECAUSE THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON A BUDGET, WE DID A REAL NICE EXTERIOR FINISH ON IT, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO REMOVE ALL OF THE PANELS ON THE CAR, ALL OF THE UPHOLSTERY, THE DASHBOARD, TO SAND AND PREP THE ENTIRE CAR IN THE DOOR JAMS.
Pat: SO, A TRUE COLOR CHANGE IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
Pete: IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.
IT'S BECAUSE IT'S SO COSTLY, TIME CONSUMING JOB.
SO WE JUST BASICALLY SCUFFED AND SHOT THE ENTIRE JAMS AND PAINTED THE CAR WITH THE CAR IN A COMPLETE FASHION.
Pat: AND UNLESS YOU'RE DOING A SHOW CAR, THAT'S PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE.
Pete: YES, ESPECIALLY ON THIS VEHICLE.
THE CAR IS A DRIVER AND THE GUY'S NOT GOING TO SHOW IT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
Pat: OK. PETE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED AS WE PROGRESS WITH OUR CADILLAC RESTORATION.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK.
John: IT'S TIME NOW FOR A QUICK SPIN AND MORE FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS!
A LONGTIME SUBARU MAINSTAY, THE WRX HAS BEEN, AND STILL REMAINS, THE BRAND'S PERFORMANCE CENTER.
SO IT'S ONLY FITTING THAT WITH AN ALL-NEW GENERATION, THE 2015 WRX UPS THE ANTE WHEN IT COMES TO ATTITUDE AND AGGRESSION ON A BUDGET.
WHILE STILL BASED ON THE IMPREZA SEDAN, THE NEW GENERATION DROPS THE IMPREZA NAME ALTOGETHER; MAKING THE WRX NOW A STAND-ALONE MODEL.
POWER COMES FROM A 2.0 LITER TURBO FLAT-4 ENGINE, THE SAME ONE FEATURED IN THE FORESTER XT.
ITS 268 HORSEPOWER IS UP SLIGHTLY OVER THE OUTGOING IMPREZA WRX, BUT NOW BETTER MANAGED THANKS TO ACTIVE TORQUE VECTORING ON THE FRONT AXLE.
BOTH AXLES BENEFIT FROM ENHANCED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEMS WITH A NOMINAL TORQUE SPLIT OF 45 FRONT, 55 REAR.
WE SAW PLENTY OF GRIP AND STABILITY THROUGH THE WINDING ROADS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA'S REDWOOD FORESTS, WHERE THE FUN FACTOR WAS HIGHEST WITH THE STANDARD, QUICK-SHIFTING SIX-SPEED MANUAL.
ALSO AVAILABLE, A SPORT-TUNED VERSION OF SUBARU'S LINEARTRONIC CVT.
DESIGNED WITH EFFICIENCY IN MIND, SELECTABLE DRIVE MODES OFFER 6 OR 8 SPEED SIMULATED GEAR RATIOS.
PADDLE SHIFTERS DO ALLOW FOR SOME ROOM TO PLAY, SO IT DOESN'T TOTALLY KILL THE ENJOYMENT FACTOR AS SOME MIGHT THINK.
STYLING REMAINS UNDERSTATED, THOUGH THE ICONIC WRX HOOD SCOOP IS AN EYE CATCHER.
THE MEAN LOOKING QUAD EXHAUST SETUP OUT BACK ALSO LOOKS GREAT, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T BARK QUITE AS LOUD AS THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE CAN BITE.
ON SALE THIS SPRING, THE 2015 SUBARU WRX STARTS AROUND $27,000.
BMW'S ELECTRIFIED "I" BRAND IS NOW VERY MUCH A REALITY, AND FRESH OFF OF OUR QUICK SPIN IN THE 2014 I3, WE CAN SAY THAT IT IS IMPRESSIVE DESPITE ITS ODD STYLING.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT STILL DRIVES LIKE A BMW.
TWO MODULES JOIN TOGETHER TO MAKE THE CAR: A PASSENGER CABIN MADE OF CARBON FIBER REINFORCED PLASTIC, AND AN ALL-ALUMINUM DRIVE MODULE THAT HOUSES THE BATTERY, MOTOR, SUSPENSION, AND STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS.
ALL TOLD, THE I3 REGISTERS A CURB WEIGHT OF JUST UNDER 2,700 POUNDS.
A 22KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PROVIDES POWER FOR AN ELECTRIC MOTOR CAPABLE OF 170 HORSEPOWER AND 184 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
RANGE IS ESTIMATED BETWEEN 80 AND 100 MILES THROUGH THREE DRIVE MODES.
Greg Carloss: ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS THE FACT THAT I STILL FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING A BMW, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT.
THERE'S THAT BMW QUALITY THAT YOU'VE COME TO EXPECT.
AS FAR AS DRIVING IT, LIKE EVERY OTHER ELECTRIC VEHICLE, THERE'S TONS OF TORQUE RIGHT OFF THE LINE, IT'S AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY.
THE THING THAT TAKES SOME GETTING USED TO, THOUGH, IS THAT WHEN YOU LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR, AS ITS FEEDING ENERGY BACK TO THE BATTERY, YOU START BRAKING.
AND IT'S A LITTLE WEIRD AT FIRST, BUT ONCE YOU GET USED TO IT, YOU REALIZE IT'S EXTREMELY USEFUL WHEN YOU CAN COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND NOT EVEN TOUCH YOUR BRAKE PEDAL.
John: ON SALE IN THE SECOND QUARTER, THE 2014 BMW I3 WILL START AROUND $42,000.
A SMALL-GASOLINE GENERATOR IS AVAILABLE FOR 4 GRAND MORE THAT NEARLY DOUBLES THE RANGE.
AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICK SPIN IMPRESSIONS SOON!
NOW LET'S CHECK IN WITH YOLANDA VAZQUEZ, FOR A QUICK MOTORNEWS UPDATE!
Yolanda: OUR MOTORWEEK CREW IS BUSY PUTTING TOGETHER NEXT WEEK'S REPORT ON THE 2014 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T GIVE YOU A SNEAK PEEK AT SOME OF THE MOTOR CITY'S HEADLINERS.
THE REBADGED CHRYSLER 200, FEATURED IN THE 2011 SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL, SIGNALED A REBIRTH FOR THE DETROIT AUTOMAKER.
NOW, FOR 2015, THERE'S A REDESIGNED 200 SEDAN THAT RENEWS THE PRODUCT ITSELF.
USING AN ALFA ROMEO CHASSIS, THE MID-SIZED EXTERIOR IS EASY ON THE EYES, WHILE THE INTERIOR IS ROOMY AND LUXURIOUS.
POWERTRAINS INCLUDE I4 AND V6, WITH A 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC AND 35 MPG FUEL ECONOMY.
GENERAL MOTORS IS MAKING LOTS OF NEWS AT DETROIT, FROM THE CORVETTE ZO6 TO NEW MID-SIZED PICKUP TRUCKS.
THE CHEVROLET COLORADO LOOKS SPORTY, WHILE THE MECHANICALLY-SIMILAR GMC CANYON IS MORE FORMAL.
BOTH OFFER 4 OR 6-CYLINDER POWER, WITH A DIESEL DUE FOR 2016.
FOLLOWING ON THE SUCCESS OF THE CADILLAC ATS SEDAN COMES THIS 2015 ATS COUPE.
SMOOTH AND PURPOSEFUL, IT RETAINS ALL THE HANDLING PROWESS OF THE FOUR-DOOR.
ON THE GLOBAL SCENE, MERCEDES-BENZ BROUGHT THEIR NEW C-CLASS TO THE SHOW, WITH ITS PROGRESSIVE LOOK, "S-CLASS LEVEL SAFETY" AND ELECTRONIC AIDS.
AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE... FROM FORD'S NEW MUSTANG AND F150, TO A SHOW STOPPING LEXUS.
WE'LL HAVE IT ALL FOR YOU SOON, BUT THAT'LL DO IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
John: IT WAS HARD NOT TO BE IMPRESSED WITH THE THIRD GENERATION PORSCHE BOXSTER ROADSTER WHEN WE FIRST GOT OUR HANDS ON IT LAST YEAR.
BUT WHAT EXCITED US ABOUT IT MOST WAS THAT WE KNEW A HARDTOP VARIANT WOULD NOT BE FAR BEHIND.
WELL, IT'S HERE, AN ALL NEW PORSCHE CAYMAN.
EVER SINCE THE FIRST CAYMAN BOWED FOR 2006, IT'S BEEN ON A MISSION TO REPLACE THE 911 AS THE QUINTESSENTIAL, FUN TO DRIVE PORSCHE HARDTOP.
HAS THAT MISSION FINALLY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED?
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE 2014 PORSCHE CAYMAN IS THE 3RD ITERATION OF PORSCHE'S SMALLEST SPORTS COUPE.
WE'RE NOT SURE WHERE THE YEARS HAVE GONE, BUT THEY'VE SURE BEEN KIND TO THE CAYMAN.
WITH AGE, IT'S LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKE THE 911, AND BENEFITS GREATLY FROM ALL THE RECENT UPGRADES THE 911 HAS RECEIVED, INCLUDING ELECTRO-MECHANICAL POWER STEERING.
PORSCHE ENGINEERS MANAGED TO MAKE THE NEW CAYMAN BOTH BIGGER AND LIGHTER AT THE SAME TIME; AND NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT'S ONE GREAT LOOKING CAR.
THE UPGRADED CAYMAN S IMPROVES ON THAT WITH BIGGER 19 OR 20-INCH WHEELS, AND SOME GREAT SOUND COMING FROM THE CENTER-MOUNTED DUAL EXHAUST.
ALL OF THAT NOISE COMES FROM THE BOXSTER S's 3.4-LITER FLAT-6 MOUNTED MID-SHIP, JUST AS BEFORE.
HORSEPOWER IS UP OVER THE LAST CAYMAN S BY 5 TO 325.
BASE CAYMAN MODELS SHARE THE BASE BOXSTER'S 2.7-LITER THAT GETS A BIGGER INCREASE OVER LAST GEN TO 275-HORSEPOWER.
FOR MANAGING THAT POWER AS IT HEADS TO THE REAR WHEELS, PORSCHE'S PDK IS WHAT MOST FOLKS WILL OPT FOR, AND IT WORKS SO WELL THAT IT'S HARD TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR THE 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION; THOUGH WE ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH, AND IT'S NICE TO FEEL IN CONTROL OF SOMETHING THESE DAYS.
THE CAYMAN, MUCH LIKE THE LATEST BOXSTER, IS ONE CAR THAT HASN'T DIALED OUT ALL OF THE DRIVER INVOLVEMENT IN THE NAME OF PROGRESS.
IT FEELS MORE LIKE A TRADITIONAL 911 THAN THE NEW 911, AND CAN EVEN GET A LITTLE TAIL HAPPY, ALLOWING YOU TO STEER IT WITH YOUR RIGHT FOOT.
BUT IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A LIGHTWEIGHT; RATHER LIKE IT CAN HANDLE WHATEVER YOU THROW AT IT AND MORE.
0 TO 60 SPRINTS TAKE JUST 4.7-SECONDS FOR THE MANUAL, ABOUT A HALF SECOND BEHIND THE PDK, WITH FULL QUARTER-MILE BLASTS IN AS LITTLE AS 12.9-SECONDS AT 106 MILES-PER-HOUR.
THE MANUAL SHIFTER IS QUICK, BUT MAKE SURE YOU GET THE CLUTCH PUSHED IN ALL THE WAY, AS IT DOESN'T LIKE TO BE HURRIED, AND OVERALL OPERATION ISN'T AS SMOOTH AS PORSCHE GEARBOXES OF OLD.
BRAKES ARE FULLY PORSCHE SPEC, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE ALL BUSINESS, TAKING A SCANT 106-FEET TO STOP FROM 60.
THE CAYMAN FEELS JUST AS AT HOME ON A STREET AS ON THE TRACK.
AROUND EVERY DAY BENDS, OWNERS WILL BE REWARDED WITH A LIGHT ON ITS FEET DRIVING EXPERIENCE.
EVERYTHING'S GREAT!
THE WHEEL FALLS RIGHT TO HAND, THE CAR IS NICE AND DOCILE, YET AGILE TO THE EXTREME, AND IT EVEN SOUNDS FABULOUS.
BEST OF ALL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE FLOGGING IT AROUND AT JAIL TIME SPEEDS TO HAVE A BLAST BEHIND THE WHEEL.
TAKE NOTE, THE RIDE IS ON THE FIRM SIDE, BUT STILL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH.
THE SPORT CHRONO PACK'S SPORT PLUS MODE CHANGES THROTTLE MAPPING AND STIFFENS SHOCK DAMPING TO THE EXTENT THAT ITS BEST LEFT FOR TRACK WORK.
OUR CAR'S ADAPTIVE SPORT SEATS PLUS WERE SPORTS CAR PERFECT, WITH GOOD COMFORT AND GRAB YOU JUST RIGHT WHEN YOU START DRIVING HARD.
AND WE DO LOVE THE CONTROL HEAVY PANAMERA-INSPIRED LAYOUT OF THE INTERIOR MORE AND MORE WITH EVERY NEW PORSCHE MODEL.
NO CUMBERSOME CENTRAL CONTROLLER, JUST A LOGICAL ARRAY OF BUTTONS THAT DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
WE FIND IT ODD THAT PORSCHE HASN'T GONE KEYLESS WITH THE CAYMAN, EVEN MORE CURIOUS SINCE THEY DID DO AWAY WITH THE HAND BRAKE.
THE PUSH-PULL ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE IS INFURIATING AND IT MAKES US FEEL LIKE WE'RE DRIVING A SUBARU.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE COMMENDABLE FOR SUCH A HIGH PERFORMING CAR; 20-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED IN THE MANUAL CAYMAN S. WHILE NOT THE BIGGEST PERFORMANCE BARGAIN ON THE MARKET, THE FACT THAT YOU CAN GET THIS MUCH PORSCHE SPORTS CAR FOR $53,550 IS STILL PRETTY AMAZING.
THE S A BIT LESS SO, STARTING AT $64,750.
REGARDLESS, CHOOSE WISELY WITH OPTIONS, AS YOU CAN GET INTO 911 TERRITORY VERY QUICKLY.
THE 2014 PORSCHE CAYMAN DEFINITELY DELIVERS MORE... MORE POWER, MORE ROOM, IMPROVED HANDLING, AND EVEN MORE COMFORT.
BUT SOMEHOW WITH ALL OF THAT, IT MANAGES TO STAY MOST TRUE TO THE PORSCHE ETHOS OF PERFORMANCE FIRST.
IN FACT, WE THINK IT HAS FINALLY SUPPLANTED THE 911 AS THE QUINTESSENTIAL PORSCHE, AND WE WOULD DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO OWN ONE.
WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW.
FOR MORE MOTORWEEK, WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE STRAP IN AND BLAST OFF IN THE HOT ROD CHEVROLET SS.
AND THEN DELVE INTO THE TURBO-DIESEL WORLD WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZES GLK250 BLUETEC.
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.
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