HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AS WE TAKE ON SUBARU'S ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GAS-ELECTRIC, THE XV CROSSTREK HYBRID... PAT GOSS PUTS CLASSIC CARS IN THE SPOTLIGHT DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... AUTO WORLD REVEALS HOW TODAY'S BIGGEST FLEETS ARE CLEANING UP THEIR ACT... AND WE'LL TEST LAMBORGHINI'S LATEST AND GREATEST, THE AWESOME HURACAN.
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 ONLY BEEN ON THE MARKET FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT THE SUBARU XV CROSSTREK IS ALREADY ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SUBARUS.
AND NOW THERE'S A GAS-ELECTRIC HYBRID MODEL TO HELP SPREAD THE JOY EVEN FARTHER ON A TANK OF FUEL.
SO, JUST HOW MUCH MORE FUEL EFFICIENT IS SUBARU'S FIRST HYBRID ANYWAY?
AND DO WE LOVE THE XV MORE OR LESS FOR IT?
THE 2014 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK HYBRID IS THE BRAND'S FIRST HYBRID.
AND WE THINK THIS RUGGED LITTLE COMPACT CUV IS A GREAT CHOICE FOR ENTRY INTO THE GASOLINE/ELECTRIC MIX, AS A BIG PART OF THE APPEAL OF THE CROSSTREK IS ITS "JUST RIGHT" SIZE.
IF YOU DON'T CHOOSE THE HYBRID-ONLY PLASMA GREEN PEARL PAINT, DUE DILIGENCE IS REQUIRED TO SPOT THE EXTERIOR DIFFERENCES, WHICH ARE LIMITED TO JUST WHEELS, CHROME DOOR HANDLES, LED TAIL LIGHTS, GRILLE WITH ACTIVE SHUTTERS, AND, OF COURSE, HYBRID BADGING LIBERALLY APPLIED.
THANKS TO THE BATTERY'S LOCATION, THERE'S NO COMPROMISE ON INTERIOR PASSENGER AND CARGO SPACE.
BUT THERE IS NO SPARE TIRE.
SO, ROADSIDE LET DOWNS ARE RESOLVED WITH A FIX-A-FLAT KIT AND A PRAYER.
BUT THEN SPARE TIRES ARE ALMOST A THING OF THE PAST ANYWAY.
COMPLAINTS WE HAVE ABOUT THE STANDARD CROSSTREK CARRYOVER: WE HATE THE RADIO/NAV INTERFACE.
AND THE INTERIOR, WHILE IT DOES SEEM DURABLE, IS VERY PLAIN AND SPARTAN, GIVING THE XV AN ECONOMY CAR FEEL.
BUT WE DO LIKE THAT THE HYBRID POWER FLOW DISPLAY IS MOUNTED UP NICE AND HIGH ON THE TOP OF THE DASH INSTEAD OF IN THE NAV SCREEN.
THE GAUGES ALSO WORK WELL, PROVIDING A LOT OF INFORMATION IN A VERY CLEAR MANNER.
AS FOR THE INTERNAL COMBUSTING PART OF THE POWERTRAIN, IT'S THE SAME 2.0-LITER BOXER-4 YOU'LL FIND IN THE REGULAR CROSSTREK.
BUT COMBINED WITH THE ELECTRIC MOTOR, TOTAL HORSEPOWER AND TORQUE RISE MODESTLY TO 160 AND 163 RESPECTIVELY.
ADD IN THE TYPICAL STOP/START SYSTEM AND ALL OF THE HYBRID BASES ARE COVERED.
NOW, YOU MIG NOT THINK YOU WOULD REALLY NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN DAILY DRIVING, AS THE SLIGHT POWER GAINS HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN OFFSET BY THE ADDITIONAL 276-POUND WEIGHT GAIN, BUT THE HYBRID HAS A VERY DIFFERENT FEEL.
ESPECIALLY AROUND TOWN AT SLOWER SPEEDS, WHERE THE ENGINE SEEMS MUCH MORE RESPONSIVE.
OFF THE LINE, YOU FEEL LESS LAG AND SENSE A MORE IMMEDIATE UPTICK.
HOWEVER, THE NUMBERS DIDN'T BEAR OUT OUR FEELINGS AS A 0 TO 60 TIME OF 10.4 SECONDS IS ABOUT A HALF SECOND OFF WHAT WE GOT IN THE STANDARD XV.
THE QUARTER MILE SPEED WAS ACTUALLY SLIGHTLY FASTER, 80 IN 17.9 SECONDS.
WE FOUND THE ELECTRIC BOOST QUITE NOTICEABLE GOING FROM LIGHT TO HEAVY THROTTLE, WHERE YOU GET AN ALMOST TURBO-LIKE QUICK KICK.
THE HYBRID'S SPORTIER FEEL IS ALSO NOTICEABLE THROUGH THE SLALOM, AS THE SUSPENSION HAS BEEN RETUNED AND STEERING RATIO QUICKENED.
ON ROAD, THE CROSSTREK HYBRID IS A SOLID CITIZEN, WITH A RIDE THAT'S STIFFER THAN THE TYPICAL SUBARU FAMILY TRUCKSTER, BUT THAT PLAYS TO THE RUGGED IMAGE.
GROUND CLEARANCE REMAINS THE SAME GREAT 8.7-INCHES.
SO, COMBINED WITH THE "BUSINESS AS USUAL" STANDARD ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM, AND THERE'S NO QUESTIONING THE ALL-WEATHER PROWESS OF THE CROSSTREK HYBRID.
WHICH WE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND DURING SOME EARLY DRIVE TIME IN ICELAND.
AS FOR THE FUEL EFFICIENCY, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE UP TO 29-CITY, 33-HIGHWAY, AND 31-COMBINED...
OVERALL, A 3 MPG JUMP OVER THE REGULAR XV.
BUT, UNLIKE MOST HYBRIDS, WE WERE EASILY ABLE TO BEAT THE RATINGS WITHOUT EVEN TRYING, AVERAGING 35.0 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR.
THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE HAS ALSO IMPROVED.
NOW BURNING JUST 10.6-BARRELS AND EMITTING 4.8-TONS OF CO2 ANNUALLY.
THOSE GAINS MIGHT NOT BE HUGE, BUT EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.
AND WHEN YOU CAN DO IT IN A VEHICLE THAT FEELS PEPPIER THAN THE ORIGINAL, IT'S A WIN-WIN.
SO WHILE IT STILL MIGHT BE A TOUGH SELL TO SOMEONE LOOKING FOR PRIUS STYLE MPGs; IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SMALL ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE WAGON THAT DELIVERS WAY MORE THAN CLASS TYPICAL FUEL ECONOMY AND RESPONSE, YOU WON'T MIND PAYING $26,810 FOR THE HYBRID.
THAT'S A MODEST $3,000 ADDITION OVER THE MORE SPARSELY EQUIPPED 2.0I XV CROSSTREK PREMIUM.
SO, HAS OUR ADORATION OF THE SUBARU XV CROSSTREK GROWN OR NOT?
WELL, THAT'S HARD TO SAY.
BUT IT CERTAINLY HASN'T WANED.
IT'S NOT A GROUND BREAKING HYBRID, AND IT DOESN'T CLAIM TO BE.
WE MUCH PREFER THE UNDER-PROMISE AND OVER-DELIVER APPROACH AS NOT ONLY HAS IT GOTTEN MORE FUEL EFFICIENT, BUT IT'S GOTTEN LIVELIER.
AND THERE'S ALWAYS A MARKET FOR A PRODUCT THAT'S BOTH GREENER AND GREATER!
MORE AMERICANS THAN EVER ARE DRIVING HYBRID, ELECTRIC, AND ALTERNATIVE-FUEL VEHICLES, AND IT'S REDUCING OUR USE OF IMPORTED PETROLEUM.
BUT NOW A NUMBER OF BIG COMMERCIAL FLEETS ARE ALSO GETTING INTO THE ACT; QUIETLY LEADING THE DRIVE FOR GREEN ON A GRAND SCALE.
WITH MILLIONS OF VEHICLES HITTING THE STREETS EVERYDAY - MAKING ROUTINE DELIVERIES, SERVICE CALLS, AND BUSINESS TRIPS -- AMERICA'S LARGE FLEET OPERATORS ARE IN A PRIME POSITION TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND EFFECT A CLEAN CHANGE IN OUR ENERGY CHOICES.
AND MANY ARE DOING JUST THAT, BY JOINING FORCES THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S NATIONAL CLEAN FLEETS PARTNERSHIP.
LEVERAGING THE RESOURCES OF CLEAN CITIES COALITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THIS PROGRAM ENCOURAGES PRIVATE FLEETS TO CUT THEIR PETROLEUM USE BY ADOPTING ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND FUEL-SAVING MEASURES, SHARES BEST PRACTICES AND OPERATING TIPS AMONG FLEET MANAGERS, AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PUBLIC RECOGNITION FOR THEIR EFFORTS.
WELL-KNOWN NATIONAL OPERATORS LIKE UPS, COCA-COLA, AND WASTE MANAGEMENT HAVE LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR CLEAN FLEET PRACTICES.
SINCE 2007, COCA-COLA HAS BUILT THE LARGEST HEAVY-DUTY, DIESEL-ELECTRIC HYBRID FLEET IN NORTH AMERICA.
ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES MAKE UP NEARLY 10% OF THEIR HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK FLEET, AND THEY PLAN ON DOUBLING THAT NUMBER OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
BUT SMALLER FLEETS CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT, TOO.
SCHWAN'S 4,500 HOME-DELIVERY TRUCKS ARE A FAMILIAR SIGHT IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
THEY ARE AS WELL-KNOWN FOR THEIR ICE CREAM AS FOR THEIR USE OF PROPANE FUEL, A PRACTICE THEY BEGAN IN THE 1970s.
THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR HAS CUT THE PETROLEUM USE IN ITS 3,200 VEHICLE FLEET BY MORE THAN 20% SINCE 2009.
THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED THIS BY USING MORE EFFICIENT ROUTE PLANNING, DOWN-SIZING TO SMALLER, MORE EFFICIENT VEHICLES WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AND BY EXPANDING THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS TO POWER ITS SERVICE VANS, PICKUPS AND SHOP VEHICLES.
Tom Armstrong: IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO ANALYZE ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL AND ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES OUT THERE.
THEREFORE WE CREATED WHAT WE CALL THE "FIVE C'S" OF ANALYZING ALTERNATIVE FUELS: IS IT CLEAN?
DOES IT CONSERVE?
IS IT COST-EFFECTIVE?
DOES IT MAKE COMMON SENSE?
AND CAN YOU ACTUALLY COMMIT?
John: THYSSENKRUPP'S ANALYSIS LED THEM TO CHOOSE PROPANE.
IN ADDITION TO A MUCH LOWER FUEL COST THAN GASOLINE OR DIESEL, THE AVAILABILITY OF LOCAL PROPANE FUELING STATIONS IN CITIES WHERE THEY OPERATE WAS CRITICAL, AS MOST OF THEIR SERVICE TECHNICIANS DRIVE THE VANS HOME AT NIGHT AND CAN'T ALWAYS RELY ON A CENTRAL COMPANY-OWNED FUEL POINT.
RYDER HAS ADDED A VARIETY OF NATURAL GAS VEHICLES TO ITS FLEET IN SEVERAL KEY CITIES, SO COMMERCIAL LEASE AND RENTAL CUSTOMERS CAN REAP THE BENEFITS OF CLEAN ALTERNATIVE FUELS, AND IN EFFECT TEST DRIVE THEM UNDER ACTUAL WORK CONDITIONS.
IN ADDITION TO INSTALLING ITS OWN NATURAL GAS REFUELING EQUIPMENT, RYDER IS INVESTING IN THE CLEAN FUTURE OF ITS OPERATING COMMUNITIES BY ADDING PUBLIC-ACCESS FUEL PUMPS AT ALL OF ITS CNG-EQUIPPED FACILITIES.
ENTERPRISE, THE WORLD'S LARGEST CAR RENTAL COMPANY, USES ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT ITS SHUTTLE BUS FLEET AND NOW OFFERS ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR RENT IN NINE MAJOR METRO AREAS ACROSS THE U.S.
THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION FOR BRINGING ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLES INTO THE MAINSTREAM.
EACH OF THESE COMPANIES CHOSE THE CLEAN FUEL THAT BEST FITS THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS.
BUT BY CHOOSING TO MAKE A CLEAN FUEL COMMITMENT FOR THEMSELVES, THESE GREEN FLEETS ARE SERVING AS A PACE-SETTER FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW, AND ARE PROVIDING LONG-TERM TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HELP US ALL BREATHE A LITTLE EASIER.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A CLASSIC CAR, YOU MAY HAVE A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT WHAT IT'S WORTH.
WELL, LEAVE IT TO OUR PAT GOSS TO COME TO THE RESCUE WITH ADVICE FROM A PRO.
Pat: WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLECTIBLE AND CUSTOM CARS AND THE LIKE.
AND ONE OF THE MORE COMMON QUESTIONS WE GET IS "HOW DO I GO ABOUT PRICING IT EITHER TO BUY IT OR TO SELL IT?"
SO, TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, WE'VE COME HERE TO ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND TO FLEMING'S ULTIMATE GARAGE, TO TALK TO TONY FLEMING.
Tony: HOW ARE YOU DOING, PAT?
Pat: TONY, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT PRICING THESE CARS?
Tony: YOU KNOW, THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING THING.
IT'S REALLY THE DISPARITY THAT DETERMINES WHAT SOMEBODY CAN BUY AND WHAT THEY CAN'T BUY.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE YOU COULD USE THE NADA BOOK.
THE NADA BOOK IS THE YELLOW BOOK THAT YOU'D SEE AT THE BANK.
THEY HAVE A CLASSIC CAR SECTION AND AN EXOTIC CAR SECTION THAT COULD HELP YOU DETERMINE SOME THINGS.
BUT REALLY WHAT COUNTS INTO IT IS PRODUCTION FIGURES, AND COLOR, AND LEVEL OF RESTORATION.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, WE'VE ENDED UP HERE AT THIS IMPALA.
THIS IS AN IMPALA SS 409 WITH THE DUAL QUAD 4 BARRELS, A 4 SPEED, A CONVERTIBLE TOP.
SO LET'S SAY THEY BUILT 250,000 REGULAR IMPALAS THAT YEAR; OF THIS RIGHT HERE, THERE MIGHT HAVE ONLY BEEN BUILT MAYBE A HALF OF A PERCENT BECAUSE THIS WAS PROBABLY -- BY THE TIME YOU'RE DONE ADDING ALL OF THESE FEATURES TO, SAY, A FOUR DOOR IMPALA, IT WAS PROBABLY TWICE THE PRICE.
Pat: RIGHT.
Tony: RIGHT?
SO THERE'S VERY FEW OF THESE LEFT.
SO THESE ARE THE MORE DESIRABLE CARS, AND A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE FACTORS THERE.
Pat: SO RARITY IS ONE OF BIG THINGS.
Tony: FOR SURE.
Pat: BUT THE AVERAGE PERSON ISN'T GOING TO KNOW ALL OF THIS STUFF.
SO WHAT ABOUT CALLING IN AN EXPERT AND HAVING THE CAR APPRAISED?
Tony: YOU KNOW, THAT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD IDEA.
SO, IN OUR CASE HERE, WE OFFER THINGS LIKE -- WHEN YOU COME IN, OR ONLINE, WE OFFER THE MARKET VALUE OF EVERY SINGLE CAR THAT'S HERE.
WE ALSO MAKE THEM KIND OF TURNKEY.
THEY'RE READY TO GO TODAY.
WE OFFER FREE ENCLOSED SHIPPING SO THAT SOMEBODY FAR AWAY FROM HERE CAN GET THE CAR BACK, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WHO BUY ONE OF THESE LONG DISTANCE HAVE NO IDEA OF HOW TO GET IT BACK HOME.
AND 75% OF EVERYBODY WHO GETS SOMETHING FROM US HERE, THEY NEVER COME HERE.
SO IT'S KIND OF COOL.
BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE REALLY JUST ENTHUSIASTS, WE HAPPEN TO ENJOY THESE CARS.
WE ACTUALLY BUY THEM JUST TO DRIVE THEM.
PEOPLE GET IN THE WAY SOMETIMES AND BUY THEM FROM US AND TAKE THEM AWAY.
BUT THAT'S OKAY, WE DON'T MIND.
IT'S A GREAT OFFICE VIEW.
Pat: TONY, THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
WE'RE FRESH OFF MORE QUICK SPINS OF TODAY'S LATEST AND GREATEST.
SO LET'S SEE HOW THEY WENT.
A NEAR-INSTANT SALES SUCCESS AND OUR PICK AS MOTORWEEK 'S BEST OF THE YEAR FOR 2013, THE CADILLAC ATS EARNED OUR PRAISE FOR ITS EXACTING BALANCE OF STYLE, LUXURY, AND PERFORMANCE.
SO, WITH TWO LESS DOORS, DOES THIS 2015 ATS COUPE STRIKE US THE SAME?
A QUICK SPIN OVER THE WINDING ROADS OF EASTERN CONNECTICUT LED US TO A QUICK ANSWER: YES, IT DOES!
THE ATS COUPE RETAINS ALL THAT WORKED SO WELL BEFORE, WITH ADDED ENHANCEMENTS THROUGHOUT.
WITH ONLY THE HOOD SHARED WITH THE SEDAN, THE COUPE'S STYLING IS SLEEK AND REFINED, HIGHLIGHTED BY A NEW, MORE IN YOUR FACE CADILLAC BADGE.
MOST DIMENSIONS ARE ABOUT THE SAME, BUT BOTH FRONT AND REAR TRACK ARE UP FOR A MORE MUSCULAR STANCE.
ENGINE CHOICES ARE SIMPLIFIED AS THE ATS COUPE MOVES BY EITHER THE 272-HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO I4, OR THE 321 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER V6.
BUT A BOOST IN TORQUE IN THE 2.0 TURBO TO 295 PUTS IT AHEAD IN PULLING POWER.
THE ATS SEDAN WAS OUR MOTORWEEK BEST OF THE YEAR IN 2013, SO I CERTAINLY DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE DISAPPOINTED BY THE 2015 ATS COUPE.
AND I'M NOT.
THE CAR DELIVERS THE SAME KIND OF COMPLIANT, EURO-SPEC RIDE, WELL BALANCED HANDLING, AND EXCELLENT BRAKING THAT WE FIRST FOUND IN THE SEDAN, ONLY NOW IN A SLICKER, TWO DOOR PACKAGE.
IT'S A LITTLE CONSERVATIVE FOR MY TASTE, BUT ALL-IN-ALL, IT'S A VERY GOOD SECOND ACT FOR ATS.
ON SALE NOW, THE 2015 CADILLAC ATS COUPE STARTS AROUND $39,000.
THE CHRYSLER 300 IS PROOF THAT THE FULL-SIZE FAMILY SEDAN STILL HAS ITS FOLLOWING IN AMERICA.
AND TO REMIND OURSELVES WHY, WE GRABBED A QUICK SPIN IN THE 2014 300S.
OUR MIDLEVEL 300S INCLUDED A STANDARD 3.6 LITER PENTASTAR V6.
A SPECIAL COLD AIR INDUCTION AND SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM BUMPS HORSEPOWER TO 300.
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAME AS AN OPTION, THOUGH THE 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC PADDLE SHIFTERS AND SPORT MODE ARE "S" STANDARD FARE.
BLACK ACCENTS THROUGHOUT THE BODYWORK SHUN THE CHROME MOTIF OF OTHER 300 TRIM LEVELS, HINTING AT ITS MORE MENACING NATURE.
BUT AT ITS CORE, THE 300 IS STILL THE BIG, COMFY CRUISER YOU EXPECT IT TO BE.
IF YOU REALLY PUT IN THE EFFORT TO DRIVE IT HARD, IT WILL COMPLY -- BUT NOT WITHOUT SOME DOING.
YOU'LL NEED THE 300 SRT FOR TRUE HIGH PERFORMANCE.
BUT IN OUR 300S, EVERYDAY LIVABILITY IS ITS STRONG SUIT.
LONG HAUL COMFORT AND THE EASE OF USE THAT UCONNECT BRINGS MAKES DAILY DRIVING NEARLY BEARABLE.
THE OPTIONAL HEATED AND COOLED CUP HOLDERS ARE EXCESSIVE, BUT WE GET THE IDEA: THIS CAR MAKES A STATEMENT.
AVAILABLE SAFETY FEATURES RUN THE GAMUT FROM BLIND SPOT MONITORING, TO FORWARD COLLISION WARNING, TO ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL.
ON SALE NOW, THE 2014 CHRYSLER 300S STARTS AROUND $37,000.
WITH THE CLA NOW ANCHORING THE SMALL-CAR END FOR MERCEDES-BENZ, IT SHOULD AFFORD THE LARGER C-CLASS THE LUXURY OF... WELL, BEING MORE LUXURIOUS.
SO WE HEADED OUT FOR A QUICK SPIN IN THE 2015 C-CLASS TO FIND OUT.
KEEPING THINGS SIMPLE FOR A CHANGE, THE C-CLASS LAUNCHES WITH JUST TWO MODELS: THE C300, NOW WITH A 2.0 LITER TURBO I4 AND 241 HORSEPOWER, AND THE C400 WITH A 3.0 LITER TWIN TURBO V6 AND 329 HORSEPOWER.
BOTH MODELS INCLUDE A 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC AND, SURPRISINGLY, 4MATIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.
A NEW 4-LINK, STEEL SPRING SUSPENSION IS STANDARD, THOUGH YOU CAN ADD SPORT OR LUXURY TUNE PACKAGES, OR EVEN AN ALL AIR SUSPENSION SETUP.
WE CAME AWAY WITH A "LESS IS MORE" IMPRESSION, FEELING THAT THE C300 BY FAR OFFERED THE MORE ENGAGING EXPERIENCE ON-ROAD.
NEITHER MODEL SLOUCHES ON UPSCALE FEATURES, HOWEVER.
GREAT LOOKING AND FEELING INTERIOR PACKAGES ARE HIGHLIGHTED BY A NEW GESTURE CONTROLLED CENTRAL CONTROLLER, WHICH WORKED FAIRLY WELL AT FIRST TRY.
EVEN BENZ' LOW SPEED AUTONOMOUS DRIVING AND AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE NEW C-CLASS; FANCY FEATURES FOR THE ONCE ENTRY LEVEL VEHICLE.
Greg Carloss: ONE THING I'VE NOTICED IN THE C-CLASS IS IT'S REALLY QUIET.
SO, REALLY NOT A LOT OF WIND NOISE COMING THROUGH, NOT A LOT OF ROAD NOISE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE ENGINE NOISE DOESN'T COME THROUGH.
I REALLY LIKED THE SOUND OF THE V6 TWIN TURBO WHEN I DROVE IT A YEAR AGO IN THE E-CLASS IN GERMANY, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ALL THAT SOUND COMES THROUGH IN THE C-CLASS.
BUT MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY WON'T CARE AND THEY'LL ENJOY HOW QUIET IT IS IN HERE.
John: BUT UPGRADES DON'T COME FREE, AND THE 2015 C-CLASS IS UP IN PRICE, STARTING AROUND $41,000.
A REAR WHEEL DRIVE C300 WILL BE AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR, STARTING AROUND $39,000.
AND WE'LL HEAD OUT ON MORE QUICK SPINS SOON!
John: EVEN BY LAMBORGHINI STANDARDS, THE GALLARDO SUPERCAR WAS A GROUND BREAKING EFFORT.
NOT ONLY WAS IT THE FIRST TIRE UP COLLABORATION WITH THEN NEW CORPORATE PARTNER AUDI; BUT IT WENT ON TO BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL LAMBO OF ALL TIME, WITH OVER 14,000 SOLD.
BUT LAMBORGHINI HAS ITS SIGHTS SET ON EVEN BIGGER THINGS WITH ITS REPLACEMENT, AND WE BET IT TOO IS NO "STILL WIND."
THERE'S NO MISTAKING THE 2015 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN LP 610-4 FOR ANYTHING BUT A LAMBORGHINI.
IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHICH ANGLE YOU VIEW THIS ROLLING PIECE OF ITALIAN SCULPTURE FROM; IT'S CLEAR THAT IT WAS FORMED IN SANT'AGATA BOLOGNESE.
BUT LIKE ANY PIECE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE ITALIAN MACHINERY, THE BEST VIEWING ANGLE OF ALL IS FROM BEHIND THE WHEEL.
AND WE FOUND OURSELVES IN SOUTHERN SPAIN, WHERE THE MOUNTAIN ROADS ARE CURVY AND THE TRAFFIC LIGHT.
HERE WE DISCOVERED THAT THE HURACAN PICKS UP WHERE THE GALLARDO LEFT OFF BY TAKING LAMBORGHINI TO NEW LEVELS OF ON-ROAD FRIENDLINESS.
YEP, YOU HEARD US RIGHT!
AND WHILE A "KINDER" LAMBO MIGHT MAKE IT MORE APPEALING TO MORE PEOPLE, UNLESS IT ALSO UPS THE ANTE ON PERFORMANCE, IT COULD DISAPPOINT MANY MORE.
BUT IT WON'T.
OUR DRIVE IN SPAIN INCLUDED TRACK TIME AT CIRCUIT ASCARI, WHERE IT TOOK US A FEW LAPS TO FULLY COME TO GRIPS WITH THE ENTIRETY OF THE GRIP THIS CAR PROVIDES.
WHILE THE GALLARDO WAS AN AUDI-BASED SPACE FRAME CHASSIS COMPRISED OF ALUMINUM, THE HURACAN TAKES IT UP A NOTCH BY ADDING A HEFTY -- OR LIGHT -- AS THE CASE MAY BE, DOSE OF CARBON FIBER INTO THE MIX; HELPING SHED 50-POUNDS OF WEIGHT.
THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM BASELINES WITH A 30-FRONT/ 70-REAR TORQUE SPLIT, BUT THROUGH ITS ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC MULTI-PLATE CLUTCH, IT CAN SEND THE FULL TORQUE LOAD REARWARD.
AN ALL-ALUMINUM DOUBLE-WISHBONE SUSPENSION AND AVAILABLE MAGNERIDE ELECTROMECHANICAL DAMPER CONTROL WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE AN INCREDIBLE ITALIAN BLEND OF TENACIOUS TURN-INS, FANTASTICAL FEEDBACK, AND MARVELOUSLY FLAT CORNERING.
THE "SOUL" OF THIS HIGH-TECH CHASSIS IS ANIMA, ADAPTIVE NETWORK INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT THAT ADJUSTS JUST ABOUT EVERY INDIVIDUAL CAR SYSTEM DEPENDING ON STRADA, SPORT, OR CORSA SETTINGS.
OR THE QUICK WAY TO INSTANTLY TRANSFORM THE HURACAN FROM CUTE, MILD-MANNERED CALF TO FULL-ON, TORQUED-UP CHARGING BULL.
UNDER THE REAR HATCH, THERE IS A 610-HORSEPOWER PRODUCING CHUNK OF ROTATING ALUMINUM PARTS CHURNING OUT 413 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE FROM 5.2-LITERS OF V10 DISPLACEMENT.
IT MAKES ALL OF THE PULSATING SOUNDS YOU EXPECT AS YOU REV YOUR WAY INTO A LAMBORGHINI CLAIMED 0-60 TIME OF JUST 3.2-SECONDS, THOUGH IT FEELS EVEN QUICKER THAN THAT.
TRANSMISSION IS EXCLUSIVELY A NEW 7-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH UNIT WITH BIG STEERING COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFTERS AND A SMOOTH WORKING AUTO MODE.
WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS IS THE MOST MODERNITY WE'VE SEEN TO DATE IN A LAMBORGHINI INTERIOR.
VIRTUALLY ALL CONTROLS ARE MOUNTED ON THE FLAT BOTTOM STEERING WHEEL, INCLUDING TURN SIGNALS AND DRIVE MODE SELECTOR FOR THE ANIMA.
THE CENTER STACK IS A RISING CONTROL PANEL WITH A ROW OF TOGGLES UP TOP AND STORAGE BELOW.
THERE'S NO BIG NAV SCREEN IN THE STACK OR ON TOP OF THE DASH, BUT RATHER NAVIGATION AND OTHER INFO IS FOUND RIGHT IN THE 12-INCH TFT GAUGE PANEL BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL.
INPUTS ARE MADE EITHER ON THE WHEEL OR WITH AN MMI CONTROLLER ON THE CONSOLE.
BLACK SUEDED LEATHER WITH EXPOSED STITCHING CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT, AS WELL AS A REPEATING HEXAGONAL THEME.
VISIBILITY, WHILE NOT QUITE AT SUBARU FORESTER LEVELS, IS BEST OF ANY LAMBORGHINI IN RECENT MEMORY.
NOW ABOUT THE EXTERIOR DESIGN...
IT'S CLEARLY MORE EVOLUTIONARY THAN GROUNDBREAKING.
STILL, THE FLOWING ARC LINE FROM FRONT TO BACK SETS A FRESHENED TONE, WITH SHARP ANGLES AND AIR INTAKES HERE AND THERE ADDING BOTH TENSION AND RELEASE.
EXTREME RAKE TO THE WINDSHIELD GIVES THE WHOLE CAR A FLATTER APPEARANCE THAN THE GALLARDO.
BODY PANELS ARE ALSO A COMBINATION OF ALUMINUM AND COMPOSITES; AND THE SHAPE CREATES ENOUGH DOWN-FORCE ON ITS OWN THAT NO SPOILER OR DEPLOYABLE REAR WING WAS DEEMED NECESSARY.
HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE LED AND FEATURE A Y-SHAPE THEME.
WHEELS ARE 20-INCH ALLOYS WITH 245/30 CUSTOM PIRELLI P ZEROS UP FRONT; BRAWNY 305/30s IN THE REAR; AND BRAKES ARE CARBON-CERAMIC.
WHILE OFFICIAL NUMBERS ARE NOT OUT YET, LAMBORGHINI ALSO CLAIMS AN 11% IMPROVEMENT IN FUEL ECONOMY OVER THE GALLARDO THANKS MOSTLY TO THE NEW TRANSMISSION WITH AUTOMATIC STOP/START.
PRICING?
IT STARTS AT $237,250.
THAT'S A HEALTHY STEP UP OVER THE GALLARDO.
BUT THE 2015 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN LP 610-4 IS INDEED ANOTHER BIG LEAP FOR THE BRAND IN THEIR DRIVE TO BECOME A TRUE, TOTALLY MODERN, SUPER SPORTS CAR PROVIDER.
A LITTLE MORE PERFORMANCE DELIVERED WITH A LOT MORE FRIENDLINESS.
THAT SHOULD LEAD TO BROADER APPEAL AND A NEW LEVEL OF SUCCESS FOR THE "BRAND OF THE BULL."
WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!
NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST, AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME TO SEE IF INFINITI'S QX60 HYBRID CAN DELIVER ON PROMISES OF LUXURY AND EFFICIENCY.
THEN WE'LL TAKE THE HIGH ROAD IN THE CHEVROLET SILVERADO HIGH COUNTRY.
PAT GOSS HELPS US SEE A LITTLE MORE CLEARLY, WHILE FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS A SCALED DOWN REPORT FROM THE ROAD.
THEN WE'LL HAVE MOTORNEWS, AND A LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.
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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