HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AND SEE IF AN OLD-SCHOOL APPROACH MAKES THE NEW CHEVROLET SS CURRENT.
PAT GOSS GETS CHARGED UP DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.
ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE AT HOME, WORKING AT THE CAR WASH. AND WE'LL TOP OFF THE DIESEL TANK WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLK250 BLUETEC.
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: IT'S BEEN 18 YEARS SINCE CHEVROLET HAS OFFERED A REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE SPORTS SEDAN IN THEIR LINEUP.
BUT IT'S NOT LIKE GM WAS OUT OF THE GAME ENTIRELY, THEY JUST LEFT SUCH DRIVETRAINS TO CADILLAC AND PONTIAC, NOT TO MENTION THEIR AUSTRALIAN HOLDEN BRAND, WHICH IS WHERE THE 2014 CHEVROLET SS COMES FROM.
WELL, AFTER A BRIEF FACT FINDING MISSION, HERE'S OUR SCOOP ON THE GENERAL'S NEW "REAR" ADMIRAL.
YES, CHEVROLET IS BACK IN THE REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE PERFORMANCE SEDAN BUSINESS!
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A FAN OF NASCAR TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THAT, AS WITH THE 2014 SS, THE BOW TIE BRAND NOW HAS A FRESH AND COMPLETE SUITE OF HIGH-PRO OFFERINGS FROM THE ALL-NEW CORVETTE TO THE REFRESHED CAMARO, AND EVEN THE SMALL BUT POTENT SONIC RS.
THE SS JOINS THE CHRYSLER RWD DUO OF CHARGER AND 300, AND WHILE THAT IS A SMALL COMPETITIVE SET, WE THINK GM HAS THEIR SIGHTS ON LOFTIER COMPETITION LIKE EUROPEAN SPORTS SEDANS.
AS LIKE OTHER RECENT GM CARS, THE SS SPENT SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT TIME ON THE NURBURGRING.
AND IT DIDN'T TAKE US LONG WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE MANY SWEEPING CORNERS NEAR PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA TO FIND THE SS'S NEAR PERFECT BALANCE VERY REWARDING.
IT IS A BIG CAR, YET WEIGHS IN AT UNDER 4,000 POUNDS.
WE FOUND THE NOSE A TAD HEAVY; STILL IT FELT PRECISE, LIKE DRIVING A 4-DOOR CAMARO WITH BETTER FORWARD VISIBILITY.
AND THAT MAKES SENSE, SINCE BOTH SS AND CAMARO ARE BASED ON HOLDEN COMMODORE ARCHITECTURE FROM GM AUSTRALIA; AND SINCE AN SS WAS IN THE WORKS FROM THE BEGINNING, THERE'S BEEN NO AMERICANIZATION COMPROMISE.
MUCH LIKE THE CAMARO, REAR VISIBILITY IS NOT SO GREAT WITH A HUGE DECK LID SPOILER IN YOUR REAR VIEW MIRROR.
THIS CHASSIS WAS ALSO UNDER THE SHORT LIVED PONTIAC G8, BUT HAS BEEN UPDATED SINCE THEN; AND NOW HAS BELT-DRIVEN VARIABLE ASSIST ELECTRIC POWER STEERING.
WHILE THERE'S NOTHING HIGH-TECH ABOUT THAT, WE FOUND IT VERY DIALED IN WITH QUICK RESPONSE, THOUGH EVEN MORE FEEL WOULD BE NICE.
BUT WHILE THE SS'S FIRM SUSPENSION IS GREAT IN THE TWISTIES, IT GETS TIRESOME ON THE HIGHWAY.
BETTER SEATS WOULD HELP, AS WOULD GM'S MAGNETIC RIDE SUSPENSION WHICH IS NOT AVAILABLE.
ALL SS'S WEAR A LIMITED-SLIP REAR AND A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC THAT WE FOUND A LITTLE SLOW ON RESPONSE WHEN LEFT ALONE, UNLESS IN SPORT MODE.
BETTER TO USE THE STANDARD PADDLE SHIFTERS.
NATCH, THERE'S GM SMALL-BLOCK POWER BURBLING UNDER THE HOOD.
AN LS3 6.2-LITER V8 WITH NICE LEVEL NUMBERS OF 415-HORSEPOWER AND 415 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
THE EXHAUST GIVES A NICE BARK, BUT INSIDE IT REMAINS QUIET, WHICH CAN BE GOOD OR BAD DEPENDING ON WHAT'S MUSIC TO YOUR EAR.
0 TO 60 TIME IS RIGHT AT 5.0 SECONDS.
INSIDE, THINGS ARE MORE SPORT THAN LUXURY; WITH PLENTY OF SS LOGOS, STITCHING, AND CHROME DASH TRIM.
GAUGES ARE EQUALLY SPORTY, FEATURING THE FAMILIAR GM DEEPLY HOODED TWIN DIAL SETUP WITH COLOR INFO SCREEN IN BETWEEN; ONLY HOODS ARE ROUND VERSUS THE CAMARO'S SQUARISH CORNERS.
A COLOR HEAD UP DISPLAY IS STANDARD.
BACK SEAT SPACE AND COMFORT ARE THE REAL STRONG POINTS HERE; AS SEATS ARE LARGE AND WELL PADDED, OFFERING GREAT COMFORT FOR 2 OR 3 IN A PINCH.
THERE'S ALSO GOOD CARGO SPACE IN THE TRUNK AT 16.4 CUBIC-FEET.
CHEVROLET'S MYLINK WITH 8-INCH TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY INCLUDES STANDARD NAVIGATION, AND THE SS IS THE FIRST CHEVROLET TO FEATURE AUTOMATIC PARKING ASSIST.
EXTERIOR DESIGN IS TESTOSTERONE FILLED WITH A MUSCULAR NOSE-DOWN STANCE, FLARED OUT FENDERS, AND STAGGERED 19-INCH WHEELS WITH 245/40 RUBBER UP FRONT, 275/35 IN THE REAR.
THOUGH THE FRIENDLY NEW CHEVROLET FACE KEEPS THIS SUPER SPORT FROM BEING TOO AGGRESSIVE.
HID HEADLIGHTS AND LED RUNNING LIGHTS ARE STANDARD.
FUEL ECONOMY IS MORE OLD SCHOOL MUSCLE CAR THAN MODERN SPORTS SEDAN WITH GOVERNMENT RATINGS OF 14-CITY, 21-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED.
THAT MEANS A GAS GUZZLER TAX AND A POOR ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 19.4-BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL USE AND 8.9 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.
THE SS IS TRULY AN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR, BEING BUILT IN AUSTRALIA, DEVELOPED IN GERMANY, WITH A BIG DETROIT DESIGNED POWER V8 THAT'S ACTUALLY ASSEMBLED IN MEXICO.
FORTUNATELY, PRICING IS SIMPLE, AS THERE ARE VERY FEW OPTIONS AND JUST ONE MODEL OF SS STARTING AT $45,770.
THAT'S VERY CLOSE TO AN SRT8 CHARGER SEDAN.
IT TRULY IS GREAT TO SEE CHEVROLET RETURN TO THE FULL-SIZE REAR DRIVE SEDAN RANKS.
AND WHILE THE SS IS FUN THAT WE ENJOYED MORE THAN WE THOUGHT WE WOULD, IT'S NOT AS REFINED AS THE CHARGER, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY STILL BE OUR HOT-ROD BIG FOUR-DOOR PICK.
ANOTHER WRINKLE IS THE UNKNOWN FUTURE OF THE SS.
GM SAYS IT WILL STOP BUILDING VEHICLES IN AUSTRALIA BY 2017.
LET'S HOPE THE CHEVROLET SS FINDS A NEW HOME IN OUR HOME BEFORE THEN; AND PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE REFINEMENT AS WELL, OR ELSE IT MAY QUICKLY DISAPPEAR LIKE THE G8.
AND THAT WOULD BE A REAL PITY!
EVEN THE AVERAGE HOME TODAY CAN BE EQUIPPED WITH CUSTOM FEATURES THAT WERE ONCE AFFORDABLE ONLY BY THE WEALTHY.
WINE CELLAR STYLE COOLERS, GOURMET KITCHEN APPLIANCES, AUTOMATED LIGHTING.
IT REALLY IS A CASE OF TRICKLE-DOWN LUXURY.
BUT WHAT ABOUT UP GRADING THE GARAGE?
WELL, YOU COULD ADD AN ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC CAR LIFT?
OR MAYBE A PRO-STYLE AIR COMPRESSOR.
BUT OUR ZACH MASKELL HAS FOUND ONE NEW GARAGE IMPROVEMENT THAT REALLY CLEANS UP.
Zach Maskell: FOR SOME OF US, WASHING OUR VEHICLE IS A TIME OF ZEN.
FOR OTHERS, IT'S A DREADED, BACK-BREAKING TASK.
FOR THIS ARIZONA MAN, BETWEEN HIS KIDS AND COMMITMENTS, THERE SIMPLY WASN'T ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE JOB RIGHT.
INSTEAD, DALE RETTER LET THE RAIN RINSE OFF HIS CAR.
THEN THE PROVERBIAL LIGHT BULB WENT OFF.
FOR NOW, THIS IS A LUXURY ONLY FEW WILL HAVE.
BUT YEARS FROM NOW, RETTER HOPES FOR THIS TO BE A HOUSEHOLD NORM.
OH YES!
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'VE WANTED -- WELL, FOR SOME OF US ANYWAY -- A TOUCHLESS IN-HOME CAR WASH THAT WON'T HURT OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS.
HERE'S A FUN FACT...
THE SECOND MOST CAUSE OF SURFACE WATER POLLUTION IN THE U.S. IS BECAUSE OF DRIVEWAY RUNOFF FROM PEOPLE WASHING THEIR CARS.
Dale Retter: IT'S SO BAD THAT IN A LOT OF AREAS WITH HIGH RESIDENTIAL CONCENTRATIONS THEY'LL GET THE GREATEST PROBLEM OF EUTROPHICATION; THE LAKES AND STREAMS, PONDS TURNING GREEN.
Zach: ALL THE WATER IS CAPTURED AND PUMPED OUT TO SAFELY BE USED AS IRRIGATION.
DALE, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE STANDING INSIDE THE SHOWROOM FLOOR OF A SUPERCAR DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER, HERE WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF NOZZLES.
EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THIS THING WORKS?
DALE: WELL, THERE ARE ACTUALLY 48 NOZZLES.
THERE ARE EIGHT ON THE CEILING AREA, THERE ARE 20 IN THE MID-ZONE, THAT WHEN THIS LOWERS WILL BE AT THE MID-ZONE, AND 20 MORE THAT LOWER DOWN TO THE FLOOR ZONE AND AIM UP AT THE CAR GETTING THE WHEELS AND UNDERCARRIAGE.
Zach: IT REALLY DOES ADD A SOPHISTICATED LOOK TO YOUR STABLE.
WHEN INSTALLED IN YOUR HOME THERE WILL BE NO POLES, SO THE FLOATING DESIGN TAKES UP LITTLE ROOM.
AN IN-HOME CAR WASH LIKE THIS TYPICALLY TAKES UP WAY MORE SPACE, COSTS OVER $100,000, AND CAN BE DAMAGING TO YOUR VEHICLE.
THE AUTO GREEN WASH, HOWEVER, IS NOT ONLY CONVENIENT BUT IT TREATS YOUR CAR LIKE A BABY.
ONLY FIVE SPRAYERS ACTIVATE AT ONCE.
SMALL JETS SPIT WARM, DE-MINERALIZED WATER MIXED WITH BIODEGRADABLE SOAP.
THE WASH USES 10 DIFFERENT ZONES TO SLOWLY BREAK AWAY GRIME.
REMEMBER, THE IDEA HERE IS CONSISTENCY, NOT POWER.
DALE: TO USE THE SYSTEM, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PARK YOUR CAR THE WAY IT'S SHOWN, PRESS THE START BUTTON, MAKE SURE ALL THE DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE CLOSED, PRESS OK. EVERYTHING ELSE HAPPENS TOTALLY AUTOMATICALLY.
Zach: VOILÀ.
DALE: YOU'RE DONE.
Zach: FORGOT YOUR CELL PHONE?
NO PROBLEM.
JUST PAUSE THE WASH AND GRAB IT.
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR A FULL WASH?
RETTER'S GOT YOU COVERED.
DALE: YOU CAN CHANGE THE WASH DURATION ON DEFAULT FROM SHORT, MEDIUM OR LONG, OR YOU CAN ADJUST THE DELAY TIME 2, 4 OR 8 HOURS.
Zach: THE AUTO GREEN WASH USES LESS THAN A THIRD OF THE AMOUNT OF WATER A TYPICAL DRIVEWAY SESSION WOULD.
FOR THE NEXT STEP, ENOUGH HOT AIR IS BLOWN INTO THIS TINY LITTLE AREA TO HEAT AN ENTIRE HOUSE.
BACK IN THE DAY, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SAID THE DISHWASHER WAS A BAD INVESTMENT.
RETTER SAYS THAT GOES TO SHOW THIS $29,000 RIG WITH ALL OFFERED GOODIES, WITH A $3K TO $4,000 INSTALLATION COST, CAN ONE DAY BE EASILY AFFORDABLE.
THE WASH WORKS WELL, BUT STILL REQUIRES A BIT OF ELBOW GREASE FOR TOUGH SPOTS.
SO, WHEN DO YOU WANT YOURS DELIVERED?
JOHN: PAT GOSS HAS MORE NEED-TO-KNOW INFO, SO LET'S ROLL ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE.
Pat: OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND IS HOW MOST PEOPLE LOOK AT THEIR BATTERIES.
WELL, ACTUALLY, THEY DON'T LOOK AT THEM AT ALL.
AND THAT'S A BAD THING BECAUSE THE BATTERY IS ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF EVERY CAR ON THE ROAD.
IF YOU TAKE THE BATTERY OUT OF THE CAR, YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T DRIVE IT; YOU CAN'T EVEN SIT IN IT AND LISTEN TO THE SOUND SYSTEM.
WELL, TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS ABOUT NEW BATTERY TECHNOLOGY, WE HAVE GEORGE KRAKOWSKI, OUR BATTERY EXPERT.
GEORGE, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.
George: GREAT TO BE HERE, PAT.
THANK YOU.
Pat: ALRIGHT, TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON WITH BATTERIES THESE DAYS.
George: WELL, WHAT IS IN FRONT OF ME IS A TRADITIONAL LEAD-FLOOD ACID BATTERY.
AND IF YOU OPEN IT UP, WHICH WE SUGGEST YOU DO NOT, WHAT YOU'LL SEE MISSING IS THE ELECTROLYTE.
EACH OF THE CELLS COMPOSED OF THE 12-VOLTS THAT IS NECESSARY TO USE IN YOUR SYSTEM.
WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, PAT, IS THE NEW ABSORB GLASS MAT TECHNOLOGY, AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT INSTEAD OF THE ELECTROLYTE, OR THAT ACID-FREE FLOWING SOLUTION, IT IS BEING ABSORBED INSIDE THESE PLATES; BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE PLATES, WITH A CERTAIN RETAINER.
IT'LL HOLD EACH OF THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE PLATES TOGETHER AND REPLACES THAT ELECTROLYTE OR THAT ACID SOLUTION.
Pat: OK. NOW, THERE ARE ADVANTAGES TO THIS... WHAT, LONGER LIFE?
George: TERRIFIC.
LONGER LIFE, EACH OF THESE BATTERIES, THE ABSORB GLASS MAT, HAS THE ABILITY, BECAUSE OF THAT LESS ACID, AND THE CONDENSING OF THE PLATES, TO HAVE THICKER PLATES, MORE ROBUST PLATES, AND MORE LIFE AND MORE POWER.
Pat: ALRIGHT.
AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT AFFECT THE LIFE OF THE BATTERY THAT WE DIDN'T USE TO HAVE IN CARS.
PARASITIC DRAW FROM THE KEEP ALIVE MEMORY OF ALL THE COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS BUILT INTO THE CAR.
AND THEN OTHER THINGS... George: EXACTLY.
EVERYONE HAS A LITTLE TYKE PLAYING A GAME BACK THERE; YOU'RE CHARGING YOUR CELLPHONE; YOU'RE CHARGING YOUR LAPTOP; NUMEROUS DEVICES THAT DIDN'T EXIST 10, 15 YEARS AGO, TODAY ARE BEING POWERED BY THAT BATTERY.
Pat: AND THE TECHNOLOGY IN THE AUTOMOBILES THEMSELVES IS CHANGING, LIKE STOP/START TECHNOLOGY.
George: EXACTLY.
ONE OF THE REASONS THE MANUFACTURERS ARE MOVING TO THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY, THEY'RE TRYING TO USE COMMON PARTS THAT ARE USED IN EUROPE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN START/STOP TECHNOLOGY; YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THESE BATTERY SIZES COMING ON THE MARKET THESE DAYS, AND THAT IS BASICALLY THE ABSORB GLASS MAT TECHNOLOGY FOR THOSE DEVICES, FOR THOSE CARS.
Pat: SO, WITH A START/STOP CAR, IT SHUTS OFF EVERY TIME YOU COME TO A STOP.
THAT MEANS ON YOUR TRIP TO WORK, YOU MIGHT START IT AND STOP IT 100 TIMES, AS OPPOSED TO ONE IN THE PAST.
George: ANOTHER FACTOR THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT HERE IS HEAT.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT HEAT KILLS THE BATTERY.
AND THERE'S AN OLD EXPRESSION IN THE BATTERY BUSINESS, THAT THE BATTERY DIES IN JULY, DOESN'T FALL OVER UNTIL DECEMBER.
SO HEAT IS A TREMENDOUS STRESS FACTOR ON THE BATTERY.
Pat: AH, OK.
SO THE ABSORBED GLASS MAT BATTERY FIGHTS ALL OF THESE THINGS.
George: EXACTLY.
THE ROBUST PLATES, BETTER CONSTRUCTION, THE FACT THAT IT'S AN ABSORBED TECHNOLOGY GIVES IT THE ABILITY TO, AGAIN, COMPRESS THOSE PLATES AND GIVE IT MORE POWER.
Pat: AND SOMETHING TO LOOK FOR FOR YOUR CAR.
George: EXACTLY.
Pat: GEORGE, THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
John: THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK THAT WOMEN IN AUTO RACING BEGINS AND ENDS WITH DANICA PATRICK NEED TO GET AN EDUCATION.
AND A GOOD PLACE TO START WOULD BE BY TURNING THE PAGES OF "DRIVEN BY DESIRE: THE DESIRE WILSON STORY."
WRITTEN BY HER HUSBAND, RACE TRACK DEVELOPER ALAN WILSON, IT CHRONICLES THIS SOUTH AFRICAN WOMAN'S RISE FROM BEATING THE BOYS AT THE GO-KART TRACK AT AGE 5, THROUGH THE RANKS OF EUROPEAN SPORTS CAR RACING, AND BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING OF FORMULA ONE.
IT'S A GENUINE UNDERDOG STORY AND A MUST-READ FOR TRUE FANS OF AUTO RACING HISTORY.
John: DESPITE THE NEED TO DOWNSIZE OUR USE OF FUEL, THERE IS SOMETHING COMFORTING ABOUT A LARGER UTILITY LIKE OUR 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER, ESPECIALLY ON LONG TRIPS WITH THE FAMILY.
OUR CURRENT CHOICE AMONG THREE-ROW CROSSOVERS, THE PATHFINDER SEATS SEVEN IN EXCELLENT COMFORT AND CAN STILL CARRY QUITE A BIT OF LUGGAGE.
SO, AS OUR PLATINUM PATHFINDER ENDS ITS STAY WITH US, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND OUR RELUCTANCE TO LET IT GO.
FUEL ECONOMY DOES SUFFER WITH SIZE, HOWEVER.
STILL, WE WERE GENERALLY PLEASED WITH OUR V6 PATHFINDER'S AVERAGE OF 22.8 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.
IF YOU WANT TO DO BETTER, TRY THE NEW PATHFINDER HYBRID.
AT TEST'S END, WITH 24,500 MILES ON THE CLOCK, WE HAD NO MECHANICAL ISSUES.
INTERIOR WEAR WAS MINIMUM, DESPITE FAIRLY SEVERE USE.
NO, OUR PATHFINDER LIVED UP TO OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE SELECTION, AND WE THINK IT'S A SMART CHOICE FOR BIG FAMILY DRIVING NEEDS.
SPEAKING OF ROOMY, WE HAVE NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR OUR 2014 MAZDA6 FAMILY SEDAN, WHICH HAS ALSO ENDED A VERY SUCCESSFUL VISIT WITH US.
WE CAN ALSO ADD STYLISH TO OUR PRAISE, AS THE "6'S" STRIKING GOOD LOOKS ARE TO US BEST IN CLASS.
THEN THERE IS THE ENJOYABLE DRIVE OF THE MAZDA6, NOT SOMETHING NORMALLY SAID ABOUT A MID-SIZE, MASS MARKET FOUR DOOR.
INDEED OUR BASE "SPORT" MODEL LIVED UP TO ITS NAME, AND THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS A WELCOMED CHANGE FROM THE TYPICAL AUTOMATIC.
THE 2.5-LITER SKYACTIV ENGINE PROVIDED MORE THAN AMPLE POWER, AND THAT'S WITH A HYBRID-LIKE 35.5 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR FUEL ECONOMY AFTER 7 MONTHS AND 11,500 MILES.
BUT LET'S GET BACK TO ROOMY.
THE LATEST MAZDA6 GIVES UP NOTHING TO RIVALS IN SPACE AND COMFORT.
PLUS, THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES.
THE MAZDA6 IS THE ONE ALTERNATIVE TO CAMRY AND ACCORD THAT ANYONE WHO ENJOYS DRIVING WILL INSTANTLY LOVE.
SPEAKING OF SPACE AND COMFORT, NOT TO MENTION LUXURY, THIS HANDSOME ACURA RLX SEDAN HAS JUST JOINED OUR LONG-TERM FLEET.
WE'LL SEE IF THE PROWESS OF ACURA'S NEW FLAGSHIP MATCHES IT'S ELEGANCE OVER THE COMING MONTHS.
BUT BEFORE THAT, IT'S THE HONDA ACCORD, AND NISSAN VERSA NOTE, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.
NOW LET'S HEAD INSIDE TO YOLANDA VAZQUEZ AND ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS.
Yolanda: JAPAN'S OLDEST CARMAKER, NISSAN, HAS JUST CELEBRATED ITS 80TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A PAIR OF VERY SPECIAL EVENTS.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TOKYO MOTOR SHOW, OUR CREW WAS ON HAND AT COMPANY HEADQUARTERS IN YOKOHAMA AS NISSAN CHAIRMAN CARLOS GHOSN UNVEILED THE COMPANY'S LATEST INNOVATION: A RADICAL, ELECTRIC 3-SEATER CONCEPT CALLED THE BLADEGLIDER.
GHOSN THEN INVITED GUESTS TO VIEW A SPECIAL DISPLAY OF CURRENT AND HISTORIC MODELS.
WELL-LOVED NAMEPLATES SUCH AS SUNNY, FAIRLADY, AND PATROL HELPED NISSAN BUILD AN ENTHUSIASTIC FOLLOWING OVER THE YEARS.
THE SLEEK 240Z AND ITS DESCENDANTS BECAME WORLDWIDE CLASSICS ON PAR WITH THE BEST SPORTS CARS IN THE WORLD, WHILE THE ICONIC SKYLINE GT-R BADGE DEFINED PERFORMANCE FOR GENERATIONS OF DATSUN AND NISSAN FANS.
IN DECEMBER, THE CELEBRATION WAS CAPPED OFF -- NOT WITH CAKE AND CANDLES -- BUT WITH A HERITAGE CAR PARADE OF OVER 100 DATSUN AND NISSAN MODELS FROM DIFFERENT ERAS, INCLUDING THIS 1935 MODEL 14 PHAETON.
THE HISTORIC CAR TRAVELED NEARLY 400 MILES TO YOKOHAMA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT.
Yolanda: OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO NISSAN FOR 80 YEARS OF MOVING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.
TO SEE MORE OF THEIR RETROSPECTIVE VIDEOS, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND THAT'LL DO IT FOR THIS EDITION OF MOTORNEWS!
John: THE REDESIGNED MERCEDES-BENZ GLK SEEMED TO HIT ALL THE RIGHT BUTTONS AS SALES OF THIS SMALL LUXURY CROSSOVER ARE WAY UP.
IT APPEARS THAT A LOT OF WELL-HEELED FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR CROSSOVERS WITH RUGGED LOOKS WITHOUT HAVING TO COMPROMISE ON CREATURE COMFORTS.
RUGGED OUTSIDE, SENSITIVE INSIDE; SOUNDS LIKE THE IDEAL TRAVELING PARTNER.
AND NOW WE CAN ADD A TURBO DIESEL ENGINE TO THAT WINNING TICKET.
IN OUR MOST RECENT TEST OF THE 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK, WE FOUND ITS TRIFECTA OF MORE FEATURES, MORE POWER, AND BETTER FUEL ECONOMY TO BE A WINNING TICKET.
BUT THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND WE HOPED TO FIND JUST THAT IN THE BLUETEC VERSION OF BENZ' SMALLEST UTE.
THOUGH IT WON'T BE THE SMALLEST FOR LONG AS MERCEDES HAS ANNOUNCED AN EVEN SMALLER GLA WILL BE ON THE WAY NEXT YEAR.
BUT WE DIGRESS.
FITTING A DIESEL TO A UTILITY IS NOTHING NEW FOR MERCEDES, BUT UP UNTIL THIS POINT, HERE IN THE U.S., THEY'VE BEEN FOUND IN THEIR BIGGER BUCK UTES.
SO IT'S NICE TO SEE THE TRICKLEDOWN THEORY WORK IN OUR FAVOR FOR A CHANGE.
THE DIESEL THAT POWERS THE GLK IS NOT THE 3.0-LITER V6 THAT POWERS THE GL AND M-CLASS.
RATHER, IT'S A NEW 2.1-LITER TURBOCHARGED I4 DIESEL, COMPLETE WITH DUAL OVERHEAD CAMS, VARIABLE VALVE TIMING, AND TWO BALANCE SHAFTS TO QUELL VIBRATION.
IT DELIVERS 200-HORSEPOWER AND 369 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE IN AN EXTREMELY REFINED MANNER.
INSIDE, YOU'LL FIND THE SAME MIX OF MODERN FEATURES WITH RETRO STYLE THAT WE FOUND VERY APPEALING IN THE '13 GLK.
THE COMAND CENTRAL CONTROLLER ACTIVATES FUNCTIONS ON THE CENTER STACK'S DEEPLY-HOODED 7-INCH NAVIGATION SCREEN, WHICH INCLUDES AN AVAILABLE WEB BROWSER AND DETAILED WEATHER INFORMATION.
LEATHER SEATING IS OPTIONAL, BUT WE FOUND THE STANDARD MB-TEX MATERIAL QUITE SUITABLE.
CUSHIONS ARE FIRM, MORE IN THE ALL-DAY COMFORTABLE VEIN RATHER THAN JUST PILLOWY SOFT.
BACK SEATS ARE ALSO QUITE COMFORTABLE, BUT EVEN WITH RELIEFS CUT IN THE FRONT SEATBACKS, LEGROOM IS TIGHT FOR ADULTS.
CARGO SPACE IS ADEQUATE, BUT TRAILS MOST IN THE SEGMENT, WITH THE REAR CARGO AREA HOLDING JUST 23.3 CUBIC-FEET OF GOODS, EXPANDING TO 54.7 WHEN THE SEATBACKS ARE FOLDED.
THOSE SEAT BACKS ARE ALSO HEAVY, BUT THEY FOLD EASILY AND COMPLETELY FLAT.
A REAR POWER LIFTGATE COMES WITH THE PREMIUM PACKAGE, WHICH ALSO ADDS A PANORAMA SUNROOF, AND MORE.
AS FOR THE RUGGED EXTERIOR LOOK OF THE GLK, ITS SQUARED-OFF ENDS AND TIGHT LINES ARE CERTAINLY RETRO G-WAGON INSPIRED, BUT A STEEPLY RAKED WINDSHIELD AND THE ANGULAR NOSE ARE FULLY IN THE MODERN WORLD.
WHEELBASE IS 108.5-INCHES, AND OVERALL LENGTH COMES IN ABOUT 11-INCHES SHORTER THAN THE M-CLASS.
BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL, THE GLK FEELS VERY SOLID AND EASY TO DRIVE.
THE SMALL SIZE MAKES IT A BREEZE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH TRAFFIC, AND THE ADDITION OF THE DIESEL ENGINE MAKES HIGHWAY MERGING AND OVERTAKING ABOUT AS SIMPLE AS IT GETS.
BUT IMPROVED GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE THE TRUE MEASURE OF A DIESEL, AND THIS BLUETEC DOES NOT DISAPPOINT, AVERAGING 24-CITY, 33-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED.
WE HAD NO PROBLEM AVERAGING CLOSE TO THE HIGHWAY NUMBER AT 32.9 IN MIXED DRIVING.
THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE COMES IN AT 13.6-BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL USE WITH CO2 EMISSIONS COMING IN AT 6.1-TONS.
WE FOUND THE GLK TO BE A TON OF FUN AT OUR TEST TRACK AS WELL.
OFF THE LINE, IT WASTED LITTLE TIME IN PUTTING DOWN THE POWER AND TOOK US TO 60 IN 7.4-SECONDS.
SHIFTS COME EARLY AND OFTEN FROM THE STANDARD 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC, AS THE GLK SMOOTHLY SHIFTS ITS WAY TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 15.7-SECONDS AT 86 MILES-PER-HOUR.
ATTACKING OUR CONE COURSE WITH EQUAL URGENCY, THE GLK PROVED TO BE CAPABLE ENOUGH, BUT SMOOTHNESS IS REQUIRED AS ANY HARSH INPUTS ON THE WHEEL WILL RESULT IN STABILITY CONTROL KICKING IN FAIRLY AGGRESSIVELY.
4MATIC PERMANENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HAS A SLIGHT REAR BIAS AND COMES STANDARD ON ALL BLUETECS.
USUALLY WHEN YOU TALK DIESELS, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT PRICE PREMIUM TO BE DISCUSSED, WELL, NOT SO IN THIS CASE, AS THE BLUETEC COMES IN $500 CHEAPER THAN A GLK350 4MATIC V6, STARTING AT JUST $39,495.
BARGAIN HUNTERS CAN GET A BASE TWO-WHEEL DRIVE GLK350 FOR $37,995.
THE 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK IS INDEED ON A ROLL, AND WITH THE ADDITION OF THE BLUETEC DIESEL ENGINE, CLEARLY, THAT WINNING STREAK WILL CONTINUE.
RUGGED STYLE, PREMIUM INTERIOR, AND NOW EVEN BETTER FUEL ECONOMY.
IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WINNING TICKET JUST CAME WITH A BONUS JACKPOT.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW.
AND FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST, AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AS WE'LL HAVE ALL THAT'S SHINY AND NEW FROM THE 2014 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.
THEN TAKE OFF IN THE BENTLEY FLYING SPUR.
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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