HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AND SEE IF JAGUAR'S RACE TRACK CONQUERING LEGACY CONTINUES WITH THE NEW F-TYPE.
THEN WE'LL STRAP IN AND TIGHTEN UP FOR A TRIP TO GOSS' GARAGE.
ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE WITH LEGENDARY DESIGNER CHIP FOOSE.
AND WE'LL REV UP OUR STREET CRED WITH THE EYE-CATCHING CHEVROLET SONIC RS.
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: THE JAGUAR F-TYPE WAS AN EASY WINNER AS MOTORWEEK'S DRIVERS' CHOICE FOR BEST CONVERTIBLE OF THE YEAR.
BUT BEYOND TOP DOWN LUXURY CRUISING, WE THINK THE F-TYPE IS THE REINCARNATION OF JAGUAR'S SPORTS CAR PAST WHEN C, D AND E-TYPES DOMINATED ROADS AND RACING CIRCUITS AROUND THE WORLD.
SO, WE BROUGHT THIS F-TYPE TO OUR FAVORITE CIRCUIT; SAVANNAH'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY, TO SEE JUST HOW DEEP, AND FAST, THOSE JAGUAR GENES RUN.
WHILE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MEANS TO DO A COMPLETE CSI-STYLE DNA WORKUP ON THE 2014 JAGUAR F-TYPE V8 S, WE DID PERFORM SOME FLYING FORENSICS AROUND ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY'S HIGH SPEED TURNS.
OUR FINDING, WHILE NOT TOTALLY UNEXPECTED, WERE STILL A LITTLE SURPRISING.
THE WORD ON THE STREET WAS THAT WHEN IT CAME TO TRACK WORK, THE SUPERCHARGED V6 WAS THE WAY TO GO.
TO THAT WE SAY, "HOGWASH!"
WE'LL TAKE THIS V8 AND ALL OF ITS POWER ANY DAY, AS THIS 'F,' FLAT OUT, GETS AROUND A RACE TRACK IN A HURRY, AND SOUNDS GREAT WHILE DOING IT.
INDEED, JAGUARS HAVE UPPED THEIR PERFORMANCE ANTE OF LATE, BUT THE F-TYPE TRULY GOES ALL IN.
IT FELT RIGHT AT HOME ON THIS HIGH SPEED TRACK, CAPABLE OF BOTH DIVING DEEP INTO CORNERS AND EXITING THEM QUICKLY.
AND EVEN WITH THE EXTRA WEIGHT OF THE V8, THE EXTRA POWER MORE THAN COMPENSATES.
THIS CHASSIS IS SO WELL BALANCED WE THINK IT COULD HANDLE EVEN MORE OF BOTH.
THERE'S NO MANUAL TRANSMISSION AVAILABLE, JUST AN 8-SPEED QUICKSHIFT AUTOMATIC.
WHILE CERTAINLY NOT AS TACTILE AS A TRUE SEQUENTIAL UNIT, SHIFTS ARE ALMOST INSTANTANEOUS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED TRIGGERS ARE PULLED.
IT ALSO DID A FAIRLY GOOD JOB OF SELECTING THE PROPER GEARING BY ITSELF WHEN LEFT IN SPORT MODE, THANKS TO CORNER RECOGNITION SOFTWARE.
STEERING IS NICE AND DIRECT, WITH SOLID FEEL, AND THE SUPER PERFORMANCE BRAKING SYSTEM STAYED ON POINT THROUGH 3-DAYS OF HARD ABUSE WITH NO LOSS OF CONFIDENCE ON THE DRIVER'S PART.
AND NOW BACK TO THE ENGINE THAT MAKES ALL OF THIS FUN POSSIBLE.
IT'S A 5.0L V8 WITH SUPERCHARGER THAT PLANTS 495-HORSEPOWER AND 460 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE ON THE PAVEMENT.
THAT'S ENOUGH JUICE TO GET THIS 3,700 POUND, REAR-DRIVE ROADSTER, TO 60 IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS.
UNHAPPILY FOR US, A VERY COLD TRACK LEAD TO A SERIOUS LACK OF GRIP AND KEPT OUR TIMES IN THE LOW 4s.
STILL, PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
AS WAS THE 116 MILES-PER-HOUR, 12.7-SECOND QUARTER MILE.
AN ELECTRONIC ACTIVE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MANAGES POWER DISTRIBUTION, AND CAN GO FULL LOCK ALMOST INSTANTLY.
THE HIGHER THE SPEEDS, THE MORE OUR CAR FELT SECURE.
WHEN IT COMES TO STYLE, THE F-TYPE IS CERTAINLY ALL JAGUAR; BUT COMPARED TO MANY RECENT RIDES FROM THE BRAND, IT'S ACTUALLY LESS SEXY AND MORE SERIOUS.
LARGE INTAKES UP FRONT SIGNAL THE NEED TO INHALE PLENTY OF O2 TO KEEP THE BIG MOTOR HAPPY.
WHILE SMALL BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS SIT BEHIND SLENDER, VERTICAL CLEAR LENSES WITH J-BLADE LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ADDING A TOUCH OF MENACE.
20-INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD ON THE V8 S, WHICH ALSO ADDS SILL EXTENSIONS.
RED BRAKE CALIPERS COME WITH THE OPTIONAL PERFORMANCE PACK.
AND WE STILL TEND TO GET MESMERIZED BY THE SLICK POP OUT DOOR HANDLES.
BEING A PROPER SPORTING ROADSTER, THERE'S JUST TWO SEATS; AND WHEN NESTLED IN THE LEFT PERCH, IT'S EASY TO TELL THIS CAR WAS DESIGNED WITH DRIVERS IN MIND.
EVERYTHING IS WITHIN EASY REACH, AND ALL CONTROLS ARE A SNAP TO COMPREHEND AT A GLANCE.
IT IS INTIMATE, HOWEVER, AS LARGER DRIVERS YEARNED FOR A LITTLE MORE HIP AND KNEEROOM.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FELL RIGHT ABOUT WHERE YOU'D EXPECT A 500-HORSEPOWER SPORTS CAR TO BE: AT 16-CITY, 23-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.
THOUGH SOMEHOW WE MANAGED A VERY GOOD 24.1 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM.
THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE COMES IN AT 18.3-BARRELS OF OIL BURNED ANNUALLY WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 8.1-TONS.
PRICING FOR OUR TRACK READY V8 S STARTS AT $92,895, BUT YOU CAN GET INTO A BASE F-TYPE WITH SUPERCHARGED V6 FOR AS LITTLE AS $69,895.
OUR CONCLUSION?
WELL, FOR ALL-OUT TRACK WORK, THERE ARE A FEW CARS FOR THE DOLLAR THAT DO IT BETTER.
BUT FOR STRADDLING THAT DELICATE BALANCE OF LUXURY AND PERFORMANCE; NO CAR HAS MORE PROWESS FOR THE POUND THAN THE 2014 JAGUAR F-TYPE.
CLEARLY, OUR "CAUSE OF DELIGHT" IS THAT CLASSIC JAGUAR GENES DO INDEED RUN DEEP.
OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO FORT COLLINS, COLORADO -- A CITY LEADING THE WAY IN ALTERNATIVE FUEL USE AND PUBLIC TRANSIT EFFICIENCY.
OVER ONE-THIRD OF THE CITY'S NEARLY 2,000 VEHICLES ARE POWERED BY ALTERNATIVE FUELS, INCLUDING COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS, PROPANE, B-20, E-85, ALONG WITH HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
THIRTY PUBLIC TRANSIT BUSES ALREADY RUN ON COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS, WITH AN ALL-CNG BUS FLEET EXPECTED BY YEAR END.
PLUS, THE CITY NOW HAS TWO CNG SNOWPLOWS.
70% OF THE CITY'S FUEL USE DOESN'T COME FROM PETROLEUM, LEADING TO AN 800 TON REDUCTION IN CO2 EMISSIONS.
THE CITY'S AMBITIOUS MASON CORRIDOR REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT IS BEING BUILT AROUND MAX, A BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM WHERE 60 FOOT CNG ARTICULATED BUSES TRAVEL DEDICATED PATHWAYS WITH INTERSECTION PRIORITY.
COMING SOON, MAX WILL GREATLY REDUCE DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
Darin Atteberry: WE BELIEVE THAT THE STUFF THAT HAPPENS HERE CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I THINK IT'S EXACTLY WHAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS OF ITS LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
John: A MEMBER OF NORTHERN COLORADO CLEAN CITIES SINCE 1996, FORT COLLINS SETS A CLEANER EXAMPLE FOR CITIES EVERYWHERE.
YOU KNOW, NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT THEY ACTUALLY PAINTED A CAR BEFORE THEIR 13TH BIRTHDAY.
BUT A MAN WHO NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION DID JUST THAT.
WORKING WITH HIS FATHER AT AN EARLY AGE, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT DESIGNER/FABRICATOR CHIP FOOSE HAD A GIFT.
HAILED AS A HOT ROD GOD, HIS WORK IS FEATURED IN MANY POPULAR FILMS, AND HE'S EVEN HELPED DESIGN A CASINO.
WELL, OUR OVER THE EDGE REPORTER ZACH MASKELL HUNG OUT AT FOOSE'S SHOP AND CHECKED OUT THE SET OF HIS HIT TV SHOW.
Zach: SCATTERED TOOLS... FRESHLY SANDED DUST IN THE AIR...
THE BUZZ OF A WELDER...
THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS STAGGERING.
LONG DAYS TURN INTO A LONG NIGHT.
IT'S HERE WHERE MASTERPIECES SEEN WORLDWIDE ARE CREATED.
I AM IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MAN .
HE IS A LIVING LEGEND.
YOU PROBABLY KNOW HIM, MR. CHIP FOOSE.
Chip: WELCOME, ZACH.
WELCOME TO FOOSE DESIGNS.
Zach: THANKS FOR HAVING US.
Chip: IT'S OUR PLEASURE.
Zach: CAN WE CHECK THE SHOP OUT?
Chip: YOU SURE CAN.
COME ON IN.
Zach: CHIP'S SHOP ISN'T FAR FROM THE SAND IN HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA.
GROWING UP IN SANTA BARBARA, WHEN MOST OF HIS FRIENDS WERE SURFING, CHIP WAS AT HIS FATHER'S SHOP.
BY AGE 7, HE'D SPEND MOST OF HIS TIME THERE LEARNING THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE.
A TWO-WHEELED OBSESSION ALSO STARTED... AT ONE POINT HE HAD 40 BIKES ON THE SIDE OF HIS HOUSE.
BUT ONCE HE TURNED 16, IT WAS ALL CARS.
Chip: THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST CAR I EVER OWNED.
MY FATHER BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN 1968, AND I BOUGHT IT FROM HIM IN 1978.
Zach: THAT SAME TRUCK WAS USED TO REBUILD THEIR HOUSE.
EVER SINCE HIS FATHER OWNED IT, IT'S BEEN VERY WELL-KNOWN.
AND SOON AFTER, HE MET HIS WIFE, LYNNE.
Chip: I NEED HER EXPERTISE, AND HOPEFULLY SHE NEEDS MINE.
Zach: IN 1998, CHIP AND LYNNE STARTED FOOSE DESIGNS.
FROM THERE, IT NEVER STOPPED GROWING.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT A FOOSE CAR, THE IMPRESSION IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THEM.
AND THIS THING JUST LOOKS WAY BETTER IN PERSON THAN I'VE EVER SEEN IN PICTURES.
Chip: WELL, THANK YOU.
THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY BUILT FROM SCRATCH.
WE DID NOT START WITH AN EXISTING CAR.
I ACTUALLY DID SKETCHES ON PAPER FIRST, THEN WE BUILT A SCALE MODEL.
WE SECTIONED THAT MODEL, BUILT A FULL-SIZE WOODEN BUCK, AND WE HAND-SHAPED THE ENTIRE BODY AND EVERY SINGLE PIECE THAT'S ON THIS CAR.
Zach: AND HERE WE HAVE WHAT YOU SAID YOU'RE GOING TO CALL THE IMPOSTOR.
Chip: YES.
Zach: A 2008 CORVETTE IN IMPALA CLOTHING.
Chip: WELL, WE ACTUALLY -- IN 2009, WE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CORVETTE FROM THE LOT TWO BLOCKS AWAY, DROVE IT IN HERE, PEELED THE BODY OFF.
WE ARE KEEPING EVERYTHING FROM THAT CORVETTE ON THE CHASSIS; THE ELECTRONICS, EVERY SINGLE ELECTRIC MOTOR, EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THE CORVETTE WILL BE RUN IN THE IMPALA.
WE'VE SHORTENED IT 14 INCHES.
WE STRETCHED THE CHASSIS ALMOST EIGHT INCHES, AND THEN WE ALSO PULLED THE TOP FORWARD SEVEN INCHES, LAID THE WINDSHIELD BACK ANOTHER INCH, BROUGHT IT DOWN AN INCH-AND-A-QUARTER.
Zach: WHETHER THEY'RE TV STARS OR JUST REGULAR JOE'S, IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, CHIP WILL DO IT.
HE ALSO STAYS BUSY WITH HIS HIT TV SHOW, OVERHAULIN' .
WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN ON THE PLAN, A DESERVING PERSON'S OLD AND BEAT UP CAR IS STOLEN BY THE OVERHAULIN' TEAM.
CHIP DRAWS UP HOW IT'LL LOOK AND DREAMS ARE MADE INTO REALITY WHEN THE COMPLETED PROJECT LOOKS BETTER THAN THE CAR DID BRAND NEW.
Car Owner: WOW!
IT'S BEAUTIFUL!
Zach: YOU MAY KNOW OUR MOTORWEEK CADILLAC DEVILLE WE'VE RESTORED, BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO SEE IT FOOSE-ISIZED.
Chip: RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO A SKETCH AND HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT.
Zach: WHEN CHIP WAS GROWING UP, HE'D SIT NEXT TO HIS DAD AND COPY HIS DRAWINGS.
Chip: I'M NOT INTERESTED IN DRAWING SOMETHING THAT EXISTS, I WANT TO CREATE SOMETHING TO GIVE PEOPLE ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE; ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT SOMETHING.
Zach: CHIP'S DRAWINGS CAN TAKE HIM BETWEEN 45 MINUTES TO 10 HOURS, WITH NO BREAKS.
Chip: ESPECIALLY WHEN I FIRST WENT TO ART CENTER, I ALWAYS HAD THE RADIO AND THE TV ON.
I DIDN'T LIKE IT REAL QUIET, I COULDN'T CONCENTRATE.
Zach: SO YOU CONCENTRATE BETTER WITH NOISE?
Chip: WITH NOISE.
I LIKE CHAOS.
Zach: CHIP LOOKS AT NEW AND OLD CARS FOR INSPIRATION.
PRODUCTS IN A DEPARTMENT STORE...
EVEN THE LAYOUT OF AN AIRPLANE GIVE HIM IDEAS.
AND HE STILL LOVES DOING IT.
THAT'S WHY HE'S EARNED A SPOT IN THE HOT ROD HALL OF FAME, AMONG DOZENS OF OTHER AWARDS.
THERE SHE IS.
MOTORWEEK'S CADILLAC DEVILLE, CHIP FOOSE STYLE.
John: TIME NOW TO BUCKLE UP.
LET'S CRUISE ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE.
Pat Goss: IN MY REPAIR SHOP, I SEE SOME REALLY DUMB MISTAKES THAT -- WELL, THEY'RE PRETTY COMMON.
FIRST, WE HAVE CARTRIDGE TYPE OIL FILTERS THESE DAYS, AND ON MOST CARS THAT USE THEM, THEY HAVE A PLASTIC HOUSING THAT SCREWS INTO THE ENGINE.
WELL, THERE'S A SPECIAL TOOL THAT HAS TO GRAB THESE FINGERS ON THE OUTSIDE.
YOU TRY TO DO IT ANY OTHER WAY, LIKE THIS GUY DID WITH A GREAT BIG PAIR OF CHANNEL LOCK PLIERS, YOU BREAK THE PLASTIC AND YOU HAVE TO BUY A NEW ONE.
THIS LEAKED WHEN THE ENGINE GOT HOT.
$65 DOWN THE DRAIN.
ALRIGHT, REGULAR DRAIN PLUGS.
IF TIGHT IS GOOD, THEN A WHOLE LOT TIGHTER IS BETTER?
WRONG.
IT IS NOT.
FIRST, YOU MAY STRIP THE THREADS IN THE OIL PAN, VERY COMMON.
OR YOU MAY STRIP THE THREADS OFF OF THE PLUG ITSELF, ALSO VERY COMMON.
AND ALMOST ALWAYS YOU'LL DESTROY THE SEAL THAT IS PART OF MANY OF THESE MODERN DRAIN PLUGS.
DON'T TIGHTEN IT TOO TIGHT.
IT HAS TO BE THE PROPER AMOUNT OF TIGHT.
LUG NUTS.
WHAT COULD THERE POSSIBLY BE WITH LUG NUTS?
WELL, HERE WE HAVE A TWO-PIECE LUG NUT THAT HAS THIS CHROME PLATED COVER ON IT TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD.
BUT WHAT THAT DOES IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, WHAT'LL HAPPEN IS THAT MOISTURE WILL GET UP INSIDE IT AND IT WILL FREEZE.
AND WHEN IT DOES, IT CAUSES THAT CAP TO EXPAND.
BUT IN EVERY PART OF THE COUNTRY YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A TECHNICIAN THAT'S GOING TO USE ONE OF THESE MISERABLE AIR IMPACT GUNS ON THEM, AND THAT DISTORTS THEM.
SO WHAT DO YOU WIND UP WITH?
YOU WIND UP WITH A LUG NUT THAT HAS EXPANDED TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CANNOT GET ANY WRENCH OVER THE NUT.
SO YOU'RE OUT BESIDE THE ROAD, YOUR LUG WRENCH IN THE CAR WON'T FIT.
YOU HAVE TO BE TOWED, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE LUG NUTS CHISELED OFF.
HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN MANY CASES.
HOW DO YOU PREVENT IT?
WELL, ONE WAY IS TO REPLACE THE LUG NUTS BEFORE THEY SWELL UP LIKE THAT WITH ONE PIECE NUTS.
SOUNDS EXTREME, BUT IT'S A LOT CHEAPER THAN TOWING AND CHISELING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
ALRIGHT, HERE WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED OR CHEATED ON.
THIS IS A SEATBELT PRE-TENSIONER.
THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY, THIS THING HAS A CHARGE IN IT THAT EXPANDS AND IT PULLS THIS CABLE TIGHT.
THAT CABLE THEN PULLS DOWN ON THE SEATBELT BUCKLE, THE SEATBELT HOLDS YOU IN THE PROPER POSITION SO THE AIRBAG PROTECTS YOU INSTEAD OF HURTING YOU.
SO THESE HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY TIME THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN DEPLOYED.
MAKE SURE THAT IT HAPPENS.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE OLD ONE IN RETURN.
BELIEVE ME, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE DISHONEST AND THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE THIS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
John: THERE'S LOTS NEW ON OUR LOT, SO LET'S GRAB SOME SEAT TIME AND SEE WHAT WE THINK.
"EXTRA HEAVY DUTY" IS A GOOD WAY TO DESCRIBE GM'S NEW LINE OF THREE-QUARTER AND ONE TON PLUS HAULERS; MORE THAN READY FOR TODAY'S WORK HARD, PLAY HARDER MINDSET.
FOLLOWING THE LIGHT DUTY CHEVY SILVERADO AND GMC SIERRA 1500 REDESIGNS, THESE 2500 AND 3500 HEAVY DUTY PICKUPS HAVE ALL NEW BODYWORK.
BUT THESE LANE-SPANNING BEHEMOTHS AREN'T JUST FOR SHOW.
CAPABILITIES JUMP FOR A MAX PAYLOAD OF 7,374 POUNDS, AND 23,200 POUND TRAILER TOW LIMIT.
BOTH BEST IN CLASS.
HEAVIEST LOADS DEMAND THE CARRYOVER 6.6 LITER DURAMAX TURBO-DIESEL V8 WITH 397 HORSEPOWER AND 765 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
A NEW BIFUEL OPTION COMES TO THE SMALLER 6.0 LITER V8, ALLOWING FOR A SWITCH BETWEEN GASOLINE AND COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS.
THE FLEXFUEL V8 CARRIES OVER, AS WELL.
BIG CHANGES COME TO INTERIOR AND RIDE QUALITY FOR BOTH CHEVY AND GMC.
WITH STORAGE ALREADY PLENTIFUL, COMFORT TAKES PRIORITY THIS GO-AROUND.
ROAD HARSHNESS IS KEPT TO A MINIMUM, AND THE REVISED CABIN TREATMENT REDUCES OUTSIDE NOISE.
GM'S CURRENT-GEN INFOTAINMENT FINDS ITS WAY IN, MYLINK FOR THE SILVERADO AND INTELLILINK FOR SIERRA; BOTH WELCOMED ADDITIONS.
Zach Maskell: IF I EVER NEEDED A HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK, THIS WOULD DEFINITELY BE SOMETHING I'D LOOKED INTO.
IT'S GOT SUPER COMFORTABLE SEATS, A VERY QUIET CABIN, EXHAUST BRAKE OPTION...
IT'S GOT THE REAR TRAILER SWAY CONTROL.
I MEAN, THIS IS JUST SOMETHING YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO IF THIS SUITES YOUR NEEDS.
John: AVAILABLE IN A WIDE VARIETY OF POWERTRAIN, CAB, AND BED COMBOS, THE 2015 SILVERADO HD AND SIERRA HD LINEUPS START AROUND $31,000.
BUT FROM THERE, THE SKY IS ALMOST THE LIMIT.
BENTLEY'S CONTINENTAL COUPE IS KNOWN FOR DELIVERING POWER AND LUXURY FEW OTHER CARS CAN MATCH.
SO WHILE THE TWIN TURBO V8 IS ITS LEAST POWERFUL VARIANT, THERE'S AN ALL-NEW "S" MODEL WITH WAY MORE GET-UP AND GO THAN MOST OWNERS WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH.
BUT IT DIDN'T STOP US FROM TAKING A VERY QUICK SPIN.
THE CONTINENTAL'S REPUTATION AS A LAND YACHT IS NOT UNFOUNDED: AT OVER 5,000 POUNDS, IT IS A LOT OF CAR.
FORTUNATELY, ADD-ONS TO THE NEW S MODEL KEEP BOTH THE COUPE AND CONVERTIBLE SAILING AROUND CORNERS SMOOTHLY.
THE CHASSIS HAS BEEN LOWERED, THE SUSPENSION STIFFENED FOR AN AGGRESSIVE RIDE, AND LIKEWISE, THE STEERING REVISED FOR MORE PRECISION.
AND THAT AGGRESSION IS EXTERNALIZED THROUGH THE FRONT GRILLE AND SPLITTER, "V8 S" BADGING, AND UNIQUE WHEELS AND BRAKE CALIPERS.
UNDER HOOD, THE 4.0 LITER TWIN TURBO V8 HAS BEEN RATCHETED UP TO 521 HORSEPOWER, AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY A CRISP EXHAUST NOTE.
0 TO 60 TAKES 4.3 SECONDS FOR THE COUPE, WITH THE HEAVIER CONVERTIBLE CLOSE BEHIND.
CYLINDER DEACTIVATION CARRIES OVER FROM THE BASE V8, ADDING A BIT TO FUEL ECONOMY.
Zach: THE CONTINENTALS ARE A VERY ENJOYABLE DRIVE, BUT PERSONALLY, I NEED SOMETHING WITH MORE AGILITY.
THE PREVIOUS GT WAS VERY SLOPPY AT TRANSFERRING WEIGHT... YOU REALLY FELT THE 5,000 POUNDS.
THIS S HAS REWORKED SUSPENSION, IT'S STIFFER.
IT'S JUST SO MUCH MORE FUN.
John: BE READY TO EMPTY YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS, AS THE 2014 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT V8 S BEGINS AROUND $200,000 FOR THE COUPE.
SUBARU'S WRX IS ALL NEW FOR 2015, AND WHILE ITS CONSERVATIVE STYLING MAY DISAPPOINT SOME, IT STILL EARNED OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE AS ONE GREAT DRIVING CAR FOR THE MONEY.
NOW SUBARU CRANKS UP THE WOW FACTOR EVEN FURTHER WITH THE WRX STI.
POWER IS FAMILIAR, A 2.5 LITER TURBO FLAT-OUT 4 RATED AT THE SAME 305 HORSEPOWER.
BUT SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES TO SUSPENSION, AND THE ADDITION OF ACTIVE TORQUE VECTORING MAKE IT SO MUCH MORE CAPABLE.
LIKE THE STANDARD WRX, THE UPDATED SYMMETRICAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM LAYS DOWN PLENTY OF GRIP THROUGH THE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
STI SPECIFIC UPGRADES ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE SHEET METAL; ALMOST ALL PERFORMANCE ORIENTED, FROM THE REPOSITIONED FRONT HOOD SCOOP ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE REAR WING.
WHERE THE WRX EXCELS IN TIGHT SWITCHBACKS, THE STI FLAT OUT MASTERS THEM.
THE SUSPENSION IS TIGHTER, AND OVERALL HANDLING IS MORE RESPONSIVE.
AVAILABLE THIS SPRING, THE 2015 SUBARU WRX STI STARTS AROUND $35,000.
AND WE'LL GO ON A FEW MORE QUICK SPINS AND DELIVER OUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS, SOON!
IT'S BEEN GREAT TO SEE THE CHEVROLET SONIC DOING WELL, PROVING THAT AN AMERICAN BRAND CAN INDEED BUILD A SMALL 5-DOOR HATCHBACK HERE IN THE U.S.
MOREOVER, ONE THAT STANDS UP TO THE BEST THAT ASIA AND EUROPE HAVE TO OFFER.
AND TO KEEP THE GOOD VIBES FLOWING, THERE'S A NEW SONIC RS THAT LOOKS TO REV UP THAT EXCITEMENT METER EVEN HIGHER.
THE 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC RS LOOKS TO ADD A DASH OF SPICE TO WHAT WAS ALREADY THE MOST FLAVORFUL AND MOST YOUTHFUL CHEVROLET SUBCOMPACT EVER.
SO, WHAT GOES INTO MAKING A SONIC AN RS?
WELL, ACTUALLY, THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL POWER, BUT THERE IS TIGHTER GEARING FOR THE STANDARD MANUAL TRANSMISSION, A LOWER FINAL DRIVE RATIO IF YOU ORDER THE AUTOMATIC, AND A LOWER AND STIFFER SUSPENSION.
SO IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A TAD QUICKER OFF THE LINE AND MORE NIMBLE IN THE CURVES.
EXTERIOR TWEAKS, INCLUDING AN RS-SPECIFIC GRILLE, NEW FRONT AND REAR FASCIAS, AND 17-INCH ALLOY WHEELS COMPLEMENT THE ALREADY VERY RACY DESIGN.
AND THE INTERIOR LOOKS EVEN SPORTIER; THANKS TO A WHOLE NEW THEME THAT INCLUDES LOTS OF BLACK LEATHER WITH RED STITCHING, ALUMINUM SPORT PEDALS, AND A NEW FLAT BOTTOM STEERING WHEEL.
WHILE THERE IS A NOTICEABLY FIRMER RIDE IN THE RS, WE DIDN'T FIND IT A WHOLE LOT MORE SPORTIER TO DRIVE, WHICH IS NOT A KNOCK, BUT RATHER A COMPLEMENT TO THE ENJOYABLE NATURE OF THE STANDARD SONIC.
BUT THE RS CERTAINLY LOOKS COOLER, AND YOU DO GET REAR DISC BRAKES, WHICH ARE NOT EVEN AVAILABLE ON REGULAR SONICS.
IT'S VERY ENTERTAINING, AS YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE REALLY HAMMERING THE THING AROUND EVEN IF YOUR SPEEDS STILL STAY CLOSE TO THOSE POSTED.
IN SUM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE GOING FAST TO REALLY ENJOY THE RS.
INDEED, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR BLISTERING STRAIGHT LINE PERFORMANCE, IT'S NOT HERE.
DESPITE THE TIGHTER RATIOS, WE WERE UNABLE TO BEAT THE 8.1-SECONDS TO 60 TIME OF THE LTZ SONIC WE TESTED A WHILE BACK.
NOR THE QUARTER MILE OF 16.4 SECONDS AT 89 MILES-PER-HOUR.
ADMITTEDLY, OUR TRACK WAS COLD AND SLIPPERY.
STILL, EACH RUN DID MAKE US SMILE.
DESPITE OUR CAR'S 6-SPEED MANUAL'S LONGISH THROWS, WE FOUND IT DID A GREAT JOB MANAGING THE POWER THAT COMES FROM THE 1.4-LITER TURBO I4 ENGINE, WITH ALL OF ITS 138-HORSEPOWER AND 148 LB-FT OF TORQUE.
IF YOU MUST, A 6-SPEED AUTO IS AVAILABLE.
AS EXPECTED, THE SONIC FELT GREAT THROUGH OUR SLALOM COURSE, WITH A VERY PREDICTABLE NATURE THAT ALLOWED YOU TO FIND BOTH UNDER AND OVERSTEER IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED.
IT SHOWS JUST HOW MUCH FUN A DECENT LITTLE CAR CAN BE EVERY DAY.
PRICING FOR THE HATCHBACK-ONLY RS STARTS AT $20,995.
NOW THAT'S ABOUT $1,600 BUCKS OVER AN LTZ WITH THE TURBO ENGINE.
THE 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC RS IS SPORTY LOOKING INSIDE AND OUT, GETS ACCEPTABLE FUEL ECONOMY, AND IS OH SO MUCH FUN TO DRIVE.
AND IT FEELS EVEN MORE SO.
ALL THAT AND A PRICE THAT EVEN MOST MILLENNIALS CAN AFFORD.
WHAT MORE CAN YOU WANT FOR YOUR DAILY COMMUTE?
WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW.
FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST, AS WELL AS OUR LATEST EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND BE SURE TO JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN WE'LL SEE IF THE LEXUS IS 350 F SPORT LIVES UP TO ITS BILLING UNDER PRESSURE.
AND IF THE TDI TREATMENT WORKS FOR THE CLASSY AUDI Q5.
UNTIL THEN, 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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