>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AND SEE IF THE NEW AUDI A3 CAN BOOST THE AMERICAN DESIRE FOR SMALL PREMIUM GERMAN CARS... PAT GOSS HAS A FLOOD OF NEED TO KNOW DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... WE'LL DRIVE MORE AND SAVE MORE WITH THE LATEST FUEL SAVING HIGH-TECH... THEN WE'RE OFF AND RACETRACK RUNNING IN THE PORSCHE 911 TURBO S!
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION >> Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY...
THIS IS BOB.
BOB'S NOT THINKING ABOUT WHERE TO BUY HIS NEXT SET OF TIRES.
IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.
BUT BOB'S THINKING, "SHOULD I TELL HER ABOUT THAT THING IN HER TEETH?"
MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.
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.
DIEHARD.
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.
>> John: ENTRY-LEVEL GERMAN SPORTS LUXURY CARS ARE A TRICKY PROPOSITION HERE.
MOST AMERICANS STILL TEND TO LOOK AT THE BIG-3 GERMAN CARS AS PREMIUM ITEMS, AND THEN THEY'RE DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY SAMPLE THE MORE MEAT AND POTATOES COMPACTS AND SUBCOMPACTS FROM THE BRAND.
WELL THAT COULD BE WHY THE AUDI A3 HAS NEVER BEEN A HUGE SELLER HERE.
OR IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT UP TO THIS POINT, THE A3 HAS ONLY BEEN AVAILABLE AS A 5-DOOR HATCHBACK.
EITHER WAY, THERE'S AN ALL-NEW A3 SEDAN IN TOWN, AND IT ARRIVES WITH THE U.S.A. AS ITS BULL'S-EYE.
THE 2015 AUDI A3 MARKS AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR AUDI.
PROOF THAT THEY ARE NOW TAKING THE AMERICAN AND, PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE WORLD'S UPSCALE SMALL CAR MARKET MORE SERIOUSLY, SPURRED ALONG BY THE RECENT SUCCESS OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250.
AFTER ALL, NOTHING SAYS CONVENTIONAL LIKE A SUBCOMPACT SEDAN, BUT THE A3 4-DOOR IS FAR FROM MAINSTREAM.
AND WHILE MAKING PREMIUM ATTAINABLE IS NOT A SIMPLE UNDERTAKING, IT'S ONE THAT MUST BE COMPLETED EFFECTIVELY IN ORDER FOR THE A3 TO BE A SUCCESS HERE.
AND IT SHOULD BE DOABLE, AS AMERICANS HAVE LONG EMBRACED THE A4 SEDAN.
LET'S GET THINGS STARTED IN THE POWERTRAIN DEPARTMENT, WITH A CHOICE OF TWO CORPORATE TURBO I4s.
A 1.8-LITER WITH 170-HORSEPOWER AND 200 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE IS FOUND IN FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE MODELSAND A 2.0-LITER WITH 220-HORSEPOWER AND 258 POUND-FEET PROVIDES MOTIVATION TO ALL FOUR WHEELS IN QUATTRO MODELS.
BOTH COME WITH A 6-SPEED S TRONIC DUAL-CLUTCH AUTOMATIC; NO MANUAL IS AVAILABLE.
OUR SAMPLE SPORTS THE 2.0, WHICH PERFORMED ADMIRABLY AT OUR TEST TRACK.
QUATTRO MAKES FOR A GRIPPY, IF A LITTLE SLUGGISH, LAUNCH OFF THE LINE; BUT ADEQUATELY QUICK, AS WE HIT 60 IN 6.0-SECONDS FLAT.
WE VERY MUCH WELCOMED THE TRUE DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION OVER A CVT; STILL, SHIFTS WEREN'T AS QUICK AS EXPECTED, HELPING US COMPLETE THE QUARTER MILE IN 14.6-SECONDS AT 96 MILES-PER-HOUR.
WHILE AUDI'S SPORTY DNA SHINES THROUGH, THIS IS CLEARLY NOT AN S MODEL, AS STEERING IS STONE DEAD.
STILL, THERE'S A SOLID AND STABLE FEEL WITH JUST ENOUGH OF AN ENJOYABLE, LIGHTWEIGHT PRESENCE THAT ENCOURAGES PUSHING HARD; AND THE A3 BEHAVES ITSELF WELL.
AN ALL-ALUMINUM SUB-FRAME WITH MACPHERSON STRUTS HANDLES SUSPENSION DUTIES UP FRONT, WITH A 4-LINK SETUP IN THE REAR WITH A STEEL CROSS MEMBER.
BRAKES ARE THE SAME FOR EITHER FRONT OR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE A3, WITH OUR QUATTRO STOPPING IN A GOOD 124-FEET FROM 60.
THIS ALL-NEW SEDAN BODY IS BUILT ON VOLKSWAGEN'S FLEDGLING MQB ARCHITECTURE.
JUST ABOUT EVERY EXTERIOR DIMENSION IS INCREASED OVER THE PREVIOUS HATCHBACK.
WHEELBASE IS UP MORE THAN TWO INCHES TO 103.8.
LENGTH AND WIDTH ALSO SEE MEANINGFUL GAINS.
THERE'S NOTHING GROUND BREAKING WITH EXTERIOR DESIGN ELEMENTS, HOWEVER, AS ALL RECENT AUDI TRADEMARKS ARE IN PLACE, INCLUDING THE LARGE SINGLEFRAME GRILLE AND LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS.
BOTH A3s RIDE ON NICE LOOKING 17-INCH 5-SPOKE ALLOY WHEELS.
INSIDE IS A WHOLE NEW LOOK FOR THE BRAND.
THERE'S STILL A PREMIUM FEEL WITH LEATHER SEATING AND PANORAMIC SUNROOF STANDARD, BUT IT'S A CLEAR STEP DOWN FROM THE LAVISH LANDSCAPES OF A6 AND A8.
THE WIDE AND FLAT, SIMPLISTIC DASH DESIGN FEATURES LARGE CIRCULAR AIR VENTS, GIVING IT A SPORTING, IF RETRO, FEEL... UNTIL YOU SEE THE VERY THIN NAVIGATION SCREEN RISE OUT OF THE DASH.
IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER IS A 3-SPOKE STEERING WHEEL, AND PLENTY OF INFO ON THE GAUGE SCREENS.
ALL CONTROLS ARE DRIVER ORIENTED, AND THERE'S AN UPDATED VERSION OF AUDI'S MMI CENTRAL CONTROL, WHICH WE LIKE EVEN MORE THANKS TO THE NEW TOGGLE SWITCHES AND WRITE ON FEATURE.
FRONT SEATS ARE ROOMY AND COMFORTABLE, AND WHILE THE STRETCH IN WHEELBASE DOES ALLOW FOR MORE REAR SEAT ROOM, IT'S STILL BARELY ADEQUATE.
TRUNK SPACE ISORE THAN ADEQUATE, HOWEVER, AT 10.0 CUBIC-FEET.
CONVENIENCE FEATURES INCLUDE AVAILABLE AUDI CONNECT WITH 4G LTE CONNECTIVITY AND NAVIGATION.
BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO ADD THE $1,400 DRIVER ASSIST PACKAGE IF YOU WANT A BACK-UP CAMERA.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR OUR QUATTRO TESTER ARE 23-CITY, 33-HIGHWAY, AND 27-COMBINED, AND OUR AVERAGE OF 29.2 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM, WITH 5.4-TONS OF CO2 EMITTED.
BASE PRICING AT $30,795 FOR THE 1.8, AND $33,795 FOR THE 2.0 QUATTRO SEEMS RIGHT ON THE MONEY.
THOUGH TROWING IN A BACK-UP CAMERA FOR THAT PRICE WOULD REALLY MAKE US HAPPY.
THE MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250 HAS PROVEN THAT AN ENTRY-LEVEL GERMAN SPORTS LUXURY SEDAN CAN INDEED HAVE BIG SUCCESS IN THE U.S.
IF TAILORED PROPERLY.
THE 2015 AUDI A3, WITH ITS PREMIUM BUT ATTAINABLE FEEL, CLEARLY DELIVERS JUST AS WELL.
SO, IF YOU LIKE YOUR STEAK WELL-DONE, BUT NOT OVERDONE, ORDER UP!
FOR YEARS, GAS POWERED GOLF CARTS HAVE USED START/STOP SYSTEMS TO AVOID IDLING.
NOW THIS, AND A HOST OF OTHER FUEL-SAVING TECHNOLOGIES, ARE BEING USED TO GIVE GAS CAR ENGINES A CHANCE TO KEEP PACE WITH FUEL-STINGY HYBRIDS AND CLEAN DIESELS.
NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE WHAT THE CAR OF THE DISTANT FUTURE WILL LOOK LIKE, OR WHAT WILL BE ITS DOMINANT FUEL OR TYPE OF POWER, BUT CLEARLY, PLUG-IN ELECTRIC-DRIVE IS THE CURRENT KING OF CLEAN MOTORING.
AS BATTERY TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES, MORE AND MORE CARMAKERS ARE LIKELY TO MAKE THE JUMP TO ADVANCED HYBRIDS AND PURE EVs.
BUT, AS FOR TODAY, CHOICES AMONG PLUG-IN MODELS REMAINS LIMITED WITH HIGH PURCHASE PRICE BEING AN OBSTACLE TO WIDER ACCEPTANCE.
FEWER STILL ARE CARS AND TRUCKS OFFERING CLEAN DIESEL POWER, ALTHOUGH THAT NUMBER IS GROWING.
FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF VEHICLES WILL STILL BE POWERED BY GASOLINE ENGINES, INCLUDING TRADITIONAL HYBRIDS.
SO, THE PRESSURE TO DELIVER MORE FUEL EFFICIENCY WITHOUT COMPROMISING PERFORMANCE OR CONVENIENCE HAS LED CARMAKERS TO DEVELOP SOME AMAZING GAS-ENGINE BASED TECHNOLOGIES IN RECENT YEARS.
TERMS LIKE MAZDA SKYACTIV AND HONDA EARTH DREAMS MAY SOUND LIKE MARKETING SLOGANS, BUT THEY REPRESENT A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MAXIMIZING MPG THAT MAY INCLUDE TURBOCHARGING AND ENGINE DOWNSIZING, DIRECT GAS INJECTION, VARIABLE VALVE TIMING, REDUCING INTERNAL FRICTION, ADVANCED TRANSMISSIONS, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND HVAC SYSTEMS, REDUCING WEIGHT, AND UNDERCAR AERODYNAMICS.
EACH BIT OF TECHNOLOGY MAY RETURN ONLY A FEW TENTHS OF A MILE PER GALLON IMPROVEMENT, BUT WHEN USED TOGETHER, THEY CAN DELIVER IMPRESSIVE GAINS.
THE 2010 MAZDA3 2.5, FOR INSTANCE, CARRIED FUEL ECONOMY ESTIMATES OF 22 CITY AND 29 HIGHWAY.
NOT BAD.
BUT THE 2014 SKYACTIV VERSION UPS THAT TO 28 AND 38, WHILE ALSO PACKING 17 MORE HORSEPOWER AND A ONE SECOND QUICKER ZERO TO 60 TIME.
ZOOM-ZOOM, INDEED!
EVERY ENGINE HAS A "SWEET SPOT", OR AN RPM RANGE THAT ALLOWS IT TO OPERATE AT PEAK EFFICIENCY.
THAT'S WHERE THE TRANSMISSION COMES IN TO PLAY.
BELT-DRIVE CVT, OR CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSIONS, MATCH THE EXACT GEAR RATIO NEEDED FOR ANY SITUATION, DELIVERING A SUPER SMOOTH, IF SOMEWHAT UNFAMILIAR DRIVING EXPERIENCE WITH IMPRESSIVE FUEL ECONOMY.
TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE OPTIONS, DESIGNERS OF TRADITIONAL TRANNIES ARE FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF TRUCKERS GROWING GEARS FROM 4, 5, AND 6, TO AN UNPRECEDENTED 8, 9, AND 10 FORWARD RATIOS.
OFTEN WITH TWO OVERDRIVE RATIOS, THESE NEW AUTOMATICS ALLOW AN ENGINE TO CRUISE ALONG WITH LOW EFFORT, THUS AGAIN BOOSTING FUEL ECONOMY.
THE NEW JEEP CHEROKEE WITH ITS 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC RATES 22 MILES PER GALLON CITY, AND 31 ON THE HIGHWAY, A NICE JUMP OVER THE 21/28 RATING OF THE SMALLER JEEP COMPASS WITH ITS 6-SPEED.
AERODYNAMICS HAVE LONG PLAYED A ROLE IN VEHICLE EFFICIENCY.
BUT WHILE MOST ATTENTION IN THE PAST WAS ON THE BODY, MORE AND MORE VEHICLES ARE NOW ADDING FULL UNDERBODY TRAYS.
THAT, PLUS EVEN MORE WIND SCULPTING BODYWORK, AND THE LATEST TRICK -- ACTIVE FRONT GRILL SHUTTERS THAT SHUT OFF EXCESS DRAG-INDUCING AIRFLOW THROUGH THE RADIATOR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALL ARE BOOSTING FUEL ECONOMY.
AND FINALLY, IT SEEMS THOSE GOLF CARTS HAD IT RIGHT ALL ALONG.
MAKE NOTE OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOUR CAR SPENDS IDLING IN A GIVEN DAY, AND HOW MUCH FUEL IS WASTED JUST SITTING STILL.
MORE AND MORE CARMAKERS ARE ADDING AUTOMATIC STOP/START TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE UNNECESSARY IDLING AND SAVE GAS.
WHEN THE CAR REACHES A COMPLETE STOP, EVEN MOMENTARILY, THE ENGINE COMPUTER CUTS SPARK AND FUEL.
ONCE THE DRIVER LIFTS OFF THE BRAKE OR ENGAGES THE CLUTCH, THE ENGINE FIRES UP INSTANTLY AND OFF YOU GO.
THE GASOLINE ENGINE MAY ONE DAY BE REPLACED BY SOME YET-TO-BE-DISCOVERED CLEAN, RENEWABLE FUEL, BUT THANKS TO INNOVATIVE USES OF BOTH NEW AND OLD TECHNOLOGIES, IT'S CLEANING UP ITS ACT IN THE MEANTIME.
LET'S HEAD OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE, WHERE PAT HAS A FLOOD OF ADVICE ABOUT CARS THAT COULD LEAVE YOU ALL WET.
>> Pat: WITH ALL THIS CRAZY WEATHER WE'VE BEEN HAVING, THERE ARE TONS OF FLOOD DAMAGED CARS ON THE MARKET.
AND TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, WE HAVE CHRIS BASSO FROM CARFAX.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW, CHRIS.
>> Chris: THANKS, PAT.
>> Pat: ALRIGHT.
HOW MANY FLOOD DAMAGED CARS DO YOU KNOW OF AT THIS POINT?
>> Chris: THERE'S OVER 200,000 FLOOD CARS THAT ARE ON THE ROAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO WIND UP WITH ONE OF THESE CARS IN YOUR DRIVEWAY WITHOUT YOU KNOWING.
YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE THESE FLOOD CARS, LITERALLY ROT FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
>> Pat: YEAH, BUT YOU SAY NOT KNOWING.
MOST EVERYBODY THAT GOES OUT AND LOOKS AT A CAR SAYS, "OH, I COULD TELL IF IT'S BEEN IN A FLOOD," AND THAT'S NOT REALLY TRUE.
>> Chris: IT'S NOT, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH FLOOD CARS.
THEY SHOW LITTLE SIGNS OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE, WHICH MAKES IT EASY FOR CONMEN TO CLEAN THEM UP, MOVE AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND RESELL THEM.
THIS CAR, WE RESCUED FROM NEW YORK IN HURRICANE SANDY, AND IN LESS THAN HALF A DAY, WE MADE THIS WATERLOGGED WRECK LOOK LIKE ANY OTHER USED CAR ON THE ROAD.
>> Pat: YEAH, IF YOU LOOK UNDER THE HOOD, NORMAL PLACES THAT PEOPLE LOOK, AND THEN LOOK UNDER THE HOOD OF MINE, YOU COULDN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
>> Chris: NO, YOU CAN'T, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO START WITH A CARFAX REPORT AND LOOK FOR REPORTED FLOOD DAMAGE IN THE REPORT.
BUT YOU SHOULD ALSO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP AND GET IT INSPECTED BY A QUALIFIED, TRUSTED MECHANIC.
>> Pat: OKAY.
TECHNICIAN'S GOING TO RAISE IT UP IN THE AIR BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE CRITICAL PARTS.
SO, LET'S RAISE YOUR CAR UP IN THE AIR AND TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT IT.
>> Chris: SOUNDS GREAT.
>> Pat: CHRIS, NOW THAT WE HAVE THE CAR UP IN THE AIR, IT'S TIME TO START LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT MIGHT INDICATE FLOOD DAMAGE.
IN MY SHOP, WHEN WE'RE CHECKING A CAR LIKE THIS, WE START LOOKING UP ABOVE THINGS, AND IN BETWEEN PIECES OF METAL WHERE THERE ARE CRACKS AND SO ON THAT DEBRIS CAN COLLECT IN, AND THAT GIVES YOU A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.
>> Chris: YEAH, THESE CARS LOOK GREAT ON THE SURFACE, BUT IT'S NOT UNTIL YOU GET UP INSIDE AND REALLY CHECK FOR SIGNS OF FLOOD DAMAGE CAN YOU TELL THAT THE CAR WAS ONCE UNDER WATER.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO CONSULT THE EXPERTS, LIKE CARFAX, AND YOUR MECHANIC, TO SPOT THE SIGNS OF FLOOD DAMAGE THAT MAY NOT BE AS OBVIOUS TO THE UNTRAINED EYE.
>> Pat: GOTCHA.
THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
>> John: TIME NOW TO GO ON MORE QUICK SPINS AND DELIVER OUR FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS!
DO WE REALLY NEED TO INTRODUCE THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF?
NOW 40 YEARS AND SEVEN GENERATIONS ON, THE LATEST GOLF IS ALL-NEW AND FINALLY HERE.
AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO GET ACQUAINTED THAN WITH THE "ORIGINAL HOT HATCHBACK" GTI!
THE LOOK IS ALL EVOLUTIONARY AND MORE MAINSTREAM THAN THE LAST GTI.
IN BOTH TWO AND FOUR DOOR, LENGTH AND WIDTH BUMP UP, WITH THE FRONT WHEELS PUSHED ALMOST TWO INCHES FORWARD BY VW'S NEW MQB MODULAR CHASSIS, THAT'S ALSO USED BY THE AUDI A3.
THE GROWTH OUTSIDE LEADS TO MORE ROOM INSIDE, WHERE BACKSEAT SPACE REMAINS VERY AMPLE, AND CARGO CAPACITY NOW RIVALS A MID-SIZE CAR.
THE GTI ALSO SEES GAINS IN HORSEPOWER, NOW 210 FROM ITS 2.0 LITER TURBO I4.
A PERFORMANCE PACKAGE ADDS-ON TEN MORE, AND INCLUDES AN ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL; A FIRST FOR A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE CAR.
TO DRIVE, THE GTI FEELS STIFFER; AGILE WITH JUST A TOUCH OF HEFT.
AND THE EXTRA POWER BUMPS ENJOYMENT UP, AS WELL.
STEERING IS ON THE NUMB SIDE, BUT BETTER THAN THE A3.
TRANSMISSIONS INCLUDE A SMOOTH SHIFTING SIX SPEED MANUAL, OR A QUICK SHIFTING SIX SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH AUTOMATIC.
A NEW STANDARD TOUCHSCREEN INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM IMPROVES LIVABILITY, AND STANDS AS THE CENTERPIECE TO A HIGHER QUALITY INTERIOR.
WITH A 1.8-LITER GOLF TSI AND DIESEL TDI TO FOLLOW, THE 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI IS NOW ON SALE AT ABOUT $25,000 FOR A TWO DOOR IN NEW BASE "S" TRIM.
WHILE WE TEND TO JUMP INTO, RATHER THAN PLUG INTO, A MERCEDES-BENZ PRODUCT THESE DAYS, OUR LATEST QUICK SPIN IN THE 2014 B-CLASS ELECTRIC DRIVE HAS US DOING THE LATTER.
WORKING WITH TESLA MOTORS - YES THAT TESLA - HAS TRANSFORMED A CONVENTIONAL BENZ B-CLASS SMALL CUV INTO A PURELY ELECTRIC ONE.
NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE B-CLASS?
WELL, IT'S LONG BEEN A STAPLE IN EUROPE.
NOW THE GOOD OLE U.S.A. GETS THIS EV MODEL WITH A TESLA BUILT 177-HORSEPOWER, 28 KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY POWERTRAIN.
APPROPRIATELY, OUR FIRST OUTING WAS THROUGH CALIFORNIA'S SILICON VALLEY, WERE WE FOUND A DRIVING EXPERIENCE NOT UNLIKE OTHER EVs: SMOOTH, INSTANT POWER, AND A GENERAL SENSE THAT ELECTRICS MAY HAVE FINALLY WORKED OUT MOST OF THE KINKS, EXCEPT RANGE -- WHICH IS ABOUT 85 MILES.
>> Ben Davis: IT'S REALLY A LOT OF DRIVER INTERACTION AND INVOLVEMENT WITH THE WAY THAT THE VEHICLE DELIVERS POWER.
I'M IN THE SPORT MODE RIGHT NOW, AND IT REALLY GIVES YOU ALL THE JUICE AT ONCE, AND IT MOVES IT QUITE BRISKLY, ACTUALLY.
YOU CAN KEEP IT IN A STANDARD DRIVE AUTO MODE, WHERE IT WILL REGEN ITSELF AT A NORMAL FEEL TO THE DRIVER.
OR YOU CAN HIT MINUS, IT GOES DOWN TO A D MINUS, WHICH IS A MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE REGENERATIVE HABIT.
AND IT'S PRETTY HEAVY.
AND MY FAVORITE, THE PLUS PADDLE WILL PRETTY MUCH SHUT OFF ALL REGENERATIVE CAPABILITY ENTIRELY.
SO IF YOU DON'T NEED THAT EXTRA RANGE FOR YOUR COMMUTE, YOU CAN DRIVE AND IT VIRTUALLY FEELS LIKE A CONVENTIONAL GASOLINE POWERED CAR.
>> John: ON SALE IN SELECT U.S. MARKETS SOON, THE 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS ELECTRIC DRIVE STARTS AROUND $42,000.
WE HAD SO MUCH FUN DURING OUR FIRST DRIVE OF THE 2014 FORD FIESTA ST THAT WE AWARDED IT OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SUBCOMPACT OF THE YEAR.
NOW THAT WE'VE HAD MORE TIME IN THE ST AROUND OUR HOME SURROUNDS, WE WONDERED IF OUR FEELINGS WOULD CHANGE.
WELL, THEY DID, BUT ONLY FOR THE BETTER.
THE FIESTA ST SEES FORD'S INCREDIBLY MILD-MANNERED FIESTA HATCHBACK THOROUGHLY DRESSED UP, TUNED-UP, AND RILED-UP INTO THE IDEAL TINY SPEEDSTER.
IT MAY LOOK A LITTLE FUNKY, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE: IT'S GOT ALL THE RIGHT MOVES FOR PURE DRIVING PLEASURE.
THE 1.6 LITER ECOBOOST TURBO 4 IS RATCHETED UP TO 197 HORSEPOWER AND 202 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, ALL PUMPED THROUGH A SMOOTH AND COMMUNICATIVE SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
STEERING AND SUSPENSION ARE TIGHT AND HARSH, RESPECTIVELY, BUT TRUST US, IT'S JUST THE WAY YOU WANT A HOT HATCH TO BE.
INSIDE, RECARO SEATS PROVIDE GREAT SUPPORT AND ERGONOMICS, THOUGH EXTENDED CRUISING CAN GET A TAD UNCOMFORTABLE.
THERE'S A NICELY DESIGNED STEERING WHEEL, AND EVEN COLOR AMBIENT LIGHTING.
THIS CAR DOES JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING RIGHT, EVEN FUEL ECONOMY.
WE WERE RIGHT ON WITH THE ESTIMATED 29 COMBINED MPG.
THE ONLY HESITATION COMES FROM OUR STAFFERS WITH FAMILIES; THERE IS A LACK OF SPACE, AND INDEED THINGS CAN GET CRAMPED INSIDE.
OH WELL, THERE'S ALWAYS THE FOCUS ST!
ON SALE NOW, THE 2014 FORD FIESTA ST STARTS AROUND $22,000.
AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICK SPINS, SOON!
2014 MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PORSCHE 911.
AND DESPITE BEING A PENTAGENARIAN, THE 911 SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN.
IN FACT, NOW THAT A NEW TURBO 991 HAS ARRIVED, IT'S MOVING ALONG QUICKER THAN EVER.
SO COME ALONG AS WE HIT OUR FAVORITE ROAD COURSE, SAVANNAH'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY, TO FIND OUT JUST HOW MUCH QUICKER AND BETTER THE NEW 911 TURBO REALLY IS!
WHILE WE ARE ALWAYS PUMPED TO DRIVE A NEW PORSCHE, JUST AS A RACE TEAMS BEGIN THINKING ABOUT THEIR NEXT RACE AS SOON AS THE CHECKERED FLAG DROPS, WE BEGIN DREAMING ABOUT THE NEXT PORSCHE WE GET TO DRIVE AS SOON AS WE HOP OUT OF ONE.
SO NO SOONER DID WE PULL OUR 911 C4S INTO PIT LANE AT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY LAST YEAR, WE BEGAN THINKING ABOUT THIS CAR, THE 2014 PORSCHE 911 TURBO S. TURBO NUMBERS ARE 520-HORSEPOWER AND 487 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
THE TURBO S HIKES THOSE TO 560 AND 516, WITH UP TO 553 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AVAILABLE AT FULL THROTTLE, WITH OVERBOOST AS PART OF THE SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE.
IF THERE'S ONE CONSTANT IN OUR SOCIETY, IT'S NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU GIVE, PEOPLE ALWAYS SEEM TO WANT MORE, AND THE NEW TURBO DELIVERS.
HOW MUCH MORE?
WELL, THE TURBO S IS THE QUICKEST ROAD-GOING PRODUCTION PORSCHE EVER.
ON ROEBLING'S FRONT STRAIGHT, WE MANAGED TO HIT 60 IN 2.9 SECONDS, WITH THE QUARTER MILE PASS TAKING 10.8 AT 129 MILES-PER-HOUR.
AND AS GREAT AS THAT IS, THE REAL REASON YOU SHOULD WANT A TURBO IS FOR THE HANDLING.
IT'S ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE OF COURSE, AND THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS AN EVOLUTION OF THE TORQUE VECTORING SETUP WITH AN ADDED ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR THE MULTI-PLATE COUPLING THAT ENABLES MORE POWER TO BE DELIVERED TO THE FRONT AXLE FASTER.
IN ADDITION, THE TURBO GAINS REAR WHEEL STEER.
WITH AN ELECTROMECHANICAL ACTUATOR FOR EACH BACK WHEEL, THE SYSTEM PROVIDES VARYING DEGREES OF STEERING TO BOTH TIGHTEN TURNS AND INCREASE HIGH SPEED STABILITY.
BUT EVEN WITH ELECTRONICS MANAGING JUST ABOUT EVERY ASPECT OF THE CHASSIS, THE DRIVE EXPERIENCE IS ABOUT AS INTUITIVE AND EASY AS IT CAN BE.
AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, PORSCHE HAS SUCCEEDED IN NOT ENTIRELY DIALING OUT ALL OF THE DRIVING ENJOYMENT.
BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HAIRBALLED, REAR END OUT KICKS, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MORE MONTHS FOR THE GT3.
THIS CAR HAS PHENOMENAL GRIP.
THE HARDER YOU PUSH IT THROUGH CORNERS, THE MORE IT EGGS YOU ON.
ACTIVE ROLL COMPENSATION KEEPS THINGS FLAT NO MATTER THE SPEED, AND THE STABILITY AND OVERALL MANNER THROUGH HIGH SPEED SWEEPERS IS INCREDIBLE.
ROEBLING ALSO HAS A FEW TIGHT CORNERS, AND WHEN COMING OFF OF THEM, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH THROTTLE YOU WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE SOME TURBO LAG GOING FULL OFF TO FULL ON.
WE LIKE BIG BRAKES, AND WE CANNOT LIE, THE TURBO'S STANDARD CERAMIC BRAKES ARE EYE-POPPING EFFECTIVE.
AS FOR TRANSMISSION, THE TURBO PDK ONLY, AND WHILE PURISTS WILL SURELY CRY FOR A MANUAL, WE'RE BEYOND THAT.
THE PDK'S SHIFTS ARE INCREDIBLY QUICK, AND IT MAKES STREET DRIVING IN EVERY DAY TRAFFIC THAT MUCH MORE LIVABLE.
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU'D NEED TO ARTIFICIALLY PUMP EXHAUST SOUND INTO THE 911 TO GET THE FULL EXPERIENCE.
MORE SO, WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WE'D ENJOY IT SO MUCH!
VISUALLY, ALL THE USUAL TURBO CUES ARE HERE; WIDER HIPS, ENLARGED AIR INTAKES, AND SERIOUS 20-INCH WHEELS.
WHILE NEW ACTIVE AIR ELEMENTS LIKE AN EXTENDING FRONT SPOILER AND A SLOTTED REAR WING TAKE DOWNFORCE TO NEW LEVELS.
FULL LED HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE BRIGHT-AS-DAY NIGHTTIME ILLUMINATION ON THE TURBO S. THERE'S PLENTY FOR THE TACTILE SENSES TO ENJOY INSIDE AS WELL; FROM THE TWO-TONE LEATHER TREATMENT THROUGHOUT, TO THE TURBO SPECIFIC GAUGE PACKAGE.
AS FOR PRICING, DOES IT REALLY MATTER?
WHILE EVERY RED-BLOODED DRIVER SHOULD WANT A TURBO, YOU EITHER CAN AFFORD ONE OR YOU CAN'T.
STICKER SHOCK STARTS AT $149,250.
TURBO S AT $181,950.
IT IS TRULY INSANE THAT PORSCHE HAS TAKEN THE REAR ENGINE PLATFORM TO THIS LEVEL.
THE 2014 PORSCHE 911 TURBO SIMPLY EXCEEDS ALL RATIONAL EXPECTATIONS.
CAN YOU HAVE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?
AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED, NEVER.
AND YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT PORSCHE ENGINEERS ARE ALREADY WORKING ON DELIVERING EVEN MORE FOR THE NEXT ONE.
AND YES, WE ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT DRIVING IT!
WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW.
AND FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST AND COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND JOIN US NEXT TIME AND SEE IF A NEW TOYOTA 4-RUNNER CAN REVIVE A DYING BREED?
AND IF TIME FLIES IN THE SRT VIPER TIME ATTACK?
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.
MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY...
THIS IS PETE.
PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.
IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.
BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."
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