>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US, AND SEE IF THE MCLAREN P1 CAN CHARGE TO THE FRONT OF TODAY'S SUPERCAR RANKS.
PAT GOSS SPARES US SOME TROUBLE DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.
FYI'S YOLANDA HAS A WHOLE NEW LOOKED AT THE NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM.
AND WE'LL GO TO WORK ON A REVIEW OF THE ALL-NEW, ALUMINUM-BODIED FORD F-150.
SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
>> ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY... >> KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS TIRES RIGHT NOW.
IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.
BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.
KENNY'S THINKING, "OH MAN.
OH MAN.
OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN.
THIS IS AWESOME!"
MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.
DIEHARD.
THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.
DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.
>> JOHN: THE BATTLE FOR SUPERCAR SUPREMACY SEES ITS EBBS AND FLOWS.
BUT NEVER HAS IT BEEN HOTTER THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW WITH THE PORSCHE 918 SPYDER AND LAFERRARI TAKING THINGS TO NEW LEVELS.
WELL, MCLAREN HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT IT AS WELL, AND IT HOPES TO KEEP THOSE BRANDS CHASING THE P1.
WHILE MCLAREN HAS PRODUCED RELATIVELY FEW STREET CARS OVER THE YEARS, THEIR LIMITED RUNS HAVE BECOME NOTHING SHORT OF LEGENDARY.
AND THE 2014 MCLAREN P1 WILL UNDOUBTEDLY JOIN THAT EXCEPTIONALLY EXOTIC GROUP.
PART BATMOBILE, PART ALIEN INVASION POD; THE P1 LOOKS LIKE NOTHING ELSE ON THE STREET.
AND IF YOU'VE GOT A CARBON-FIBER FETISH, THIS IS CERTAINLY YOUR CAR, WITH FAR MORE PARTS THAN NOT MADE OF THE STUFF.
THE MOST VISIBLE EXCEPTIONS ARE THE LARGE GLASS CANOPY BUBBLE, ALUMINUM 19 AND 20-INCH WHEELS, AND PIRELLI RUBBER.
IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY JUST ANOTHER SUPERCAR AS A TRUE GAME CHANGER, BUT THIS CAR CERTAINLY IS.
WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING POWERTRAIN, ACCELERATION, ELECTRONICS, OR SHEER AMOUNT OF DOWNFORCE CREATED.
IT'S A SUITABLE CONTINUATION OF MCLAREN'S F1 STORY.
BUT ALL SUPERCAR STORIES BEGIN WITH THE POWERTRAIN, AND RIGHT AWAY WE SEE AN INTERESTING PLOT TWIST.
THE 727-HORSEPOWER, MID-MOUNTED, 3.8-LITER TWIN-TURBO V8 DOESN'T DEVIATE MUCH FROM THE SCRIPT, BUT WHERE THE INTRIGUE ENTERS IS WITH AN INSTANT POWER ASSIST SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES A 176-HORSEPOWER ELECTRIC MOTOR OF MCLAREN'S OWN DESIGN, BRINGING TOTAL OUTPUT TO 903-HORSEPOWER.
THAT MUCH HORSEPOWER BEING DELIVERED ALL AT ONE TIME, IT'S ALMOST INSANE TO EVEN THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES.
BUT TRUST US; YOU'LL NEVER FORGET IT ONCE YOU'VE PUT THE PEDAL DOWN.
UNLIKE PREVIOUS MCLAREN EXOTICS, THE P1 IS A MODERN SUPERCAR IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORDS.
WHICH MEANS IT HANDLES DAILY DRIVING TASKS JUST AS CAPABLY AS IT HANDLES RACETRACKS.
EVEN OUTWARD VISIBILITY IS GOOD.
IT'S SO EASY TO DRIVE.
IT MAKES YOU THINK THAT DRIVING AN ALL-OUT RACE CAR MUST BE JUST AS EASY.
THERE'S A 7-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH GEARBOX AND IN FULL AUTO MODE IT'S SILKY SMOOTH.
HOWEVER, YOU DO NEED A 400-LEVEL COLLEGE COURSE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO OPERATE EVERYTHING, ESPECIALLY THE EV POWER WHICH CAN BE UNLEASHED ALL AT ONCE WITH A HIT OF THE STEERING WHEEL-MOUNTED IPAS BUTTON OR SPORADICALLY LIKE A TRADITIONAL HYBRID, HOWEVER YOU SEE FIT.
YOU CAN EVEN DRIVE IN FULL EV MODE IF YOU WANT, BUT ONLY FOR ABOUT 6 MILES.
THE SUSPENSION AND BRAKES ARE AS GREAT AS YOU'RE EXPECTING, BUT THE WOW FACTOR COMES FROM ALL OF THE ACTIVE AERO ELEMENTS VIRTUALLY GLUING YOU TO THE ROAD.
THE REAR WING IS IN ALMOST CONSTANT MOTION MANIPULATING AIR TO PROVIDE EITHER MAXIMUM DOWNFORCE, OR MINIMUM DRAG WHICHEVER FITS THE OCCASION.
THE P1 CREATES THE MOST DOWNFORCE OF ANY PRODUCTION STREET CAR YET.
UNFORTUNATELY OUR SHORT TIME WITH THE P1 DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY TRACK TIME, AND TO BE HONEST IT'S A TRUE TRAVESTY; BECAUSE AS GREAT AS THIS CAR IS ON THE STREET, YOU KNOW IT'S THAT MUCH BETTER ON A CLOSED COURSE.
IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET SOME TRACK TIME, MCLAREN MAKES IT EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR YOU.
JUST HIT RACE BUTTON AND THE CAR INSTANTLY TRANSFORMS ITSELF INTO AN F1 SPEC THRILL MACHINE.
WEIGHT COMES IN JUST OVER 3,300-POUNDS, AND MCLAREN KEPT THE P1 REAR-DRIVE ONLY, TO GIVE IT A MORE NEUTRAL FEEL.
OF COURSE NOTHING FEELS NEUTRAL ABOUT SUB-3 SECOND 0-60'S NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU EXPERIENCE THEM.
INSIDE, THINGS ARE SUITABLY SPARSE AND BUSINESS LIKE, WITH EXPOSED CARBON-FIBER EVERYWHERE.
THERE IS NO EXTRA SOUND DEADENING MATERIAL, AND SEAT PADDING IS KEPT TO A MINIMUM.
AMAZING FOR A SUPERCAR, THERE'S NO GAS GUZZLER TAX DUE TO THE EFFICIENCY OF THE HYBRID POWERTRAIN.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 18-COMBINED IN HYBRID MODE, 17-COMBINED IN STRICTLY GAS MODE.
WHICH MEANS THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS BARELY WORSE THAN AVERAGE AT 10.8-BARRELS OF OIL BURNED AND 7.7 TONS OF CO2 EXPELLED ANNUALLY.
SOME MAY THINK OF THIS ROAD TEST AS A 5-MINUTE MCLAREN COMMERCIAL, BUT HEY; ALL 375 P1'S TO BE BUILT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SPOKEN FOR, SO CHANCES ARE YOU CAN'T BUY ONE EVEN IF YOU HAD $1,150,000 JUST SITTING IN YOUR TRUST FUND.
THAT FAIRLY INSANE PRICE FITS WITH THIS CAR'S ROCKET SLED ACCELERATION, MONUMENTAL LEVELS OF DOWNFORCE, AND GROUND HUGGING HANDLING.
AND, IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER BEAUTIFULLY TO MAKE THE 2014 MCLAREN P1 ONE SUPERLATIVE SUPERCAR.
IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE THE OPENING OF THE NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM, THE HOLY LAND FOR AMERICA'S PREMIERE SPORTS CAR.
AND WHILE IT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS RECENTLY FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN ITS PRIZED COLLECTION, OUR FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS FOUND THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYONE IN BOWLING GREEN DOWN IN A HOLE.
>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: IT'S THE SINKHOLE SEEN AROUND THE WORLD AND ONE THAT MADE THE NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM AN INTERNET SENSATION.
>> WENDELL STRODE: IT WAS, UH, KIND OF A REAL INCIDENT FOR US.
IT SWALLOWED 8 CLASSIC CORVETTES.
>> YOLANDA: MORE THAN 9 MONTHS LATER THE 45-FOOT WIDE HOLE LOCATED IN THE MUSEUM'S SKYDOME IS STILL THERE ALONG WITH A HANDFUL OF MANGLED CARS.
>> JASON KIRSCH: I HAD HEARD ABOUT IT ON THE NEWS.
BUT JUST TO SEE IT, AND SEE EVERYTHING AROUND YOU, YOU KNOW, THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CARS, UNFORTUNATELY.
IT'S SAD.
AMAZING, BUT SAD.
>> CHAD PLATT: LAST TIME I REMEMBER THE CARS, OF COURSE THEY WERE ALL ON DISPLAY.
YOU COULD WALK AROUND AND SEE THEM.
OF COURSE, NOW THEY'RE ALL DESTROYED.
AND YEAH, IT'S KIND OF DISAPPOINTING.
>> YOLANDA: RETRIEVING THE VEHICLES WAS A PAINSTAKING PROCESS.
SOME LIKE THIS 2009 ZR1 PROTOTYPE KNOWN AS THE BLUE DEVIL STARTED RIGHT UP.
OTHERS SUFFERED A MORE DEVASTATING FATE.
THE MUSEUM, WITH HELP FROM GENERAL MOTORS, WILL RESTORE 3 OF THE 8 DAMAGED CARS AND FILL THE GAPING HOLE.
THE OTHERS WILL BE PART OF A PERMANENT EXHIBIT.
>> STRODE: WE HAVE FACED ADVERSITY BEFORE, AND WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME.
AND WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WAS GOING TO WORK OUT.
>> YOLANDA: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WENDELL STRODE SAYS THE SINKHOLE HAS BEEN A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.
THE MUSEUM HAS SEEN A 60 PERCENT INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE OVER LAST YEAR.
>> JEFF HILL: EVERYBODY'S HEARD ABOUT THE CORVETTE MUSEUM.
YEAH.
SO, IT WAS ON OUR BUCKET LIST.
THIS AND THE BOURBON TRAIL.
>> CONDA SLICK: I REALLY LOVE IT.
IT'S VERY INFORMATIVE MORE THAN OTHER MUSEUMS I'VE BEEN TO.
>> YOLANDA: AND THERE'S A LOT TO SEE AND DO FOR BOTH KIDS AND ADULTS.
THE MUSEUM, LOCATED NEAR THE CORVETTE ASSEMBLY PLANT, CAPTURES THE COMPLETE CULTURE OF AMERICA'S MOST BELOVED SPORTS CAR.
>> MANDY KIRSCH: I LEARNED A LOT JUDT FROM THE BUILD TO THE OWNERSHIP OF IT.
YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE THE CAR.
IT'S PRETTY COOL.
>> YOLANDA: THE CORVETTE DEBUTED IN 1953 AT THE NEW YORK MOTORAMA SHOW.
IT WAS NAMED AFTER A BRITISH NAVY CLASS OF FAST PURSUIT SHIPS.
VISITORS WILL ALSO LEARN ABOUT ZORA ARKUS-DUNTOV BETTER KNOWN AS THE GODFATHER OF CORVETTE.
HIS ASHES ARE ENTOMBED AT THE MUSEUM ALONG WITH HIS FULLY LOADED, 1974 CORVETTE STINGRAY.
>> STRODE: ZORA TOLD THEM, IF YOU WANT A SPORTS CAR, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME HORSEPOWER IN IT.
AND OF COURSE THEY HIRED HIM TO BE THE FIRST CORVETTE CHIEF ENGINEER.
>> YOLANDA: STRODE SAYS THE MUSEUM PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE VETTE'S 60 YEAR HISTORY FROM THE FIRST ONE BUILT IN 1953 TO THEIR CONTINUED SUCCESS IN AUTO RACING.
DID YOU KNOW THAT INSTEAD OF GOING TO A DEALERSHIP, YOU CAN PICK UP YOUR BRAND NEW CORVETTE AT THE MUSEUM?
FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEE, THEY'LL DO A PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION, DETAIL YOUR CAR.
AND THEN BRING IT OUT TO CORVETTE BLVD FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.
VERYL AND SUE CRUTCHER ARE THE NEW OWNERS OF A 2015 VELOCITY YELLOW CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE.
THEY DROVE FROM ILLINOIS TO PICK IT UP.
>> SUE CRUTCHER: THIS IS THE FIRST CORVETTE WE'VE EVER OWNED.
SO, IT'S QUITE AN EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US.
>> YOLANDA: AND IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE OFF IN YOUR DREAM CAR, MAYBE YOU CAN ATTEND ONE OF THEIR HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVER'S TRAINING COURSES AT THE NEW NCM MOTORSPORTS PARK.
>> MITCH WRIGHT: WE'VE ALREADY PROVEN TO BE A REALLY NICE ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE AREA.
>> YOLANDA: GENERAL MANAGER MITCH WRIGHT SAYS THEY'VE HOSTED SEVERAL EVENTS SINCE THEIR OPENING LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
>> WRIGHT: WELL, IT'S NOT ONLY CORVETTE CLUBS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD BLUEGRASS BMW CLUB WAS OUR FIRST PAID CLIENT.
SO, IT'S NOT CORVETTE EXCLUSIVE BY ANY MEANS.
WE'RE OPEN TO ALL MAKES, MODELS, MARQUES, IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.
>> YOLANDA: SO, THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE IN BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY, MAKE A PIT STOP AT THE NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM.
YOU'LL LEARN A LOT; SEE HISTORY IN THE MAKING AND LEAVE, LIKE ME, RIDING IN STYLE!
>> JOHN: WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE ROAD, YOU ALWAYS NEED TO PREPARE FOR ANYTHING.
SO, LET'S SEE WHAT ADVICE PAT GOSS HAS FOR US THIS WEEK!
>> PAT GOSS: WHEN WE THINK ABOUT NEWER CARS, WE THINK ABOUT ALL THE TECHNOLOGY THAT GOES INTO THEM.
BUT WE RARELY THINK ABOUT THE BASIC THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED.
TAKE THE LOWLY SPARE TIRE FOR INSTANCE.
WHICH IN MANY CARS, DOESN'T EVEN EXIST ANYMORE.
WELL, TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS HERE, WE HAVE TOM TAYLOR, WHO IS AN ONLINE PARTS SUPPLIER.
TOM, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.
>> TOM TAYLOR: THANKS PAT.
>> PAT: ALRIGHT, SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TRENDS THAT YOU'RE SEEING THESE DAYS?
>> TOM: WELL, LIKE YOU SAID, SOME NEW CARS DON'T HAVE A SPARE TIRE AT ALL.
FOR EXAMPLE THIS FIAT HAS A SIMPLE AIR COMPRESSOR, AND A SEALANT SYSTEM THAT PUMPS SEALANT INTO THE FLAT TIRE, AND HOPEFULLY SEALS IT UP.
SIMILAR TO THE SEALANT YOU MIGHT FIND AT A RETAIL STORE.
>> PAT: OKAY NOW, THERE'S CERTAINLY A PLACE FOR THESE SEALANTS IN AN EMERGENCY.
BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CAN SAYS IT'S "SENSOR SAFE" BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO USE IT IN A LATE MODEL CAR.
IF IT DOESN'T SAY "SENSOR SAFE," DON'T USE IT.
>> TOM: RIGHT.
YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO DAMAGE A $50 SENSOR WITH THAT STUFF.
>> PAT: OKAY NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE A LOT IN THE REPAIR SHOP: SOMEBODY GOES OUT AND BUYS A USED CAR AND THEY DON'T CHECK WHAT'S IN THE TRUNK.
WE CHECK IT OUT FOR THEM AND THERE'S NO JACK, OR ANY OF THE TOOLS, OR ANYTHING.
WHAT CAN YOU HELP THEM WITH THERE?
>> TOM: WELL, IF YOU FIND A SITUATION LIKE THAT, OR YOUR CAR DOESN'T COME WITH A SPARE, YOU CAN BUILD YOUR OWN SYSTEM.
YOU CAN GET A JACK, A LUG WRENCH, MAYBE A STURDY PLATFORM TO SIT THE JACK ON, AND START YOUR SYSTEM.
AND THEN YOU CAN GET A WHEEL THAT'S THE SAME SIZE AS THE ORIGINAL WHEELS ON YOUR CAR; A SIMPLE STEEL WHEEL, OR A WHEEL THAT ACTUALLY MATCHES THE ALUMINUM OR FANCIER WHEELS OF YOUR CAR.
>> PAT: OKAY NOW, EITHER WAY YOU GO ABOUT THIS, IF YOU JUST NEED THE JACK AND LUG WRENCH AND SO ON, THAT'S REALLY INEXPENSIVE, ISN'T IT?
>> TOM: YEAH THAT'S $30, $50.
TO BUILD A WHOLE SPARE TIRE SYSTEM CAN BE $100-$500, DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF TIRE YOU HAVE AND WHAT KIND OF...
IF YOU'RE USING A STEEL WHEEL OR A WHEEL THAT MATCHES YOUR OTHERS.
>> PAT: OKAY, WELL MOST CARS THESE DAYS HAVE THIS ARRANGEMENT RIGHT HERE: THIS IS A TEMPORARY SPARE.
ANY TIPS?
>> TOM: WELL, THEY DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.
JUST BE SURE TO READ THOSE WARNING LABELS.
>> PAT: OKAY, WELL THE WARNING LABELS TALK ABOUT SPEED AND DISTANCE AND MOST PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THAT, THAT ONLY APPLIES TO THE RUBBER TIRE, BUT IN REALITY THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT CAN HAPPEN TO THE MECHANICAL PARTS OF THE CAR, IF YOU EXCEED THOSE LIMITS.
>> TOM: RIGHT, THE SPARE MAY BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DIAMETER THAN THE OTHER WHEELS, SO IF YOU HAVE TO GO TOO FAST OR TOO LONG, YOU CAN DAMAGE THE AXLE OR THE TRANSMISSION; COULD BE VERY COSTLY.
>> PAT: NOT A SMART MOVE.
TOM, THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
>> JOHN: WE'VE BEEN OUT ON A FEW QUICK SPINS.
SO, LET'S SEE HOW THEY WENT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF LUXURY CARS OUT THERE.
BUT, NONE ARE QUITE ON THE LEVEL OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS.
NOW, INJECT A SERIOUS DOSE OF PERFORMANCE AND STYLE, AND YOU HAVE THE 2015 S-CLASS COUPE.
STARTING WITH THE S550 4MATIC, YOU HAVE A 4.7 LITER TWIN TURBO V8 AND 449 HORSEPOWER.
FOLLOWED BY A HEALTHY BUMP IN POWER FOR 2 AMG MODELS.
THE S63 AMG 4MATIC COUPE, WITH A HAND BUILT 5.5 LITER TWIN TURBO V8, 577 HORSEPOWER, AND A SUB 4 SECOND 0-60 TIME IT'S THE QUICKEST OF THE COUPES EVEN WITH STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.
AND, NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED, THE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE ONLY S65 AMG COUPE, PACKING A 621 HORSEPOWER 6.0 LITER TWIN TURBO V12.
ALL SPORT A 7 SPEED TRANSMISSION, THOUGH THE AMG'S GET SPECIAL ATTENTION TO HANDLE THE MUCH HIGHER LOADS.
BEING THE S-CLASS, THE FULL SUITE OF SAFETY AND AUTONOMOUS DRIVING AIDS ARE AVAILABLE.
OUR DRIVE TIME CAME IN RHODE ISLAND IN THE S550 AND S63 AMG, WHERE WE FOUND 2 VASTLY DIFFERENT DRIVING EXPERIENCES, THOUGH NEITHER DISAPPOINTED.
THE S550 IS, OBVIOUSLY, THE MORE SUBDUED, BOTH IN LOOKS AND BEHAVIOR.
AROUND TOWN, THERE'S STILL CRAZY POWER, BUT COMFORT CAN BE DIALED UP TO SIMILAR LEVELS OF ITS SEDAN COUNTERPART.
4MATIC ALLOWS IT TO BE A PERFECT ALL-SEASON CRUISER.
CONTROLLED INSANITY IS AN AMG SPECIALTY, AND THE S63 IS THE PINNACLE OF THAT: A CAR THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO THE STRIP, LAY DOWN A 3.9 SECOND 0-60 TIME, AND GET A HOT STONE SEAT MASSAGE WHILE DOING SO.
EXCESSIVE?
YES, BUT ONLY IF YOU'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE.
NOW, SOMETHING ELSE THE S-CLASS DOES QUICKLY, IS EMPTY YOUR WALLET.
BOTH AVAILABLE NOW, THE S550 4MATIC COUPE STARTS AROUND $121,000 AND THE S63 AMG COUPE AT $162,000.
THE S65 AMG COUPE IS ON SALE THE WINTER OF 2015, AND IT JUMPS TO $232,000.
THE DODGE CHARGER SEDAN IS A VEHICLE OF MANY FACES: IT CAN SERVE YOUR FAMILY HAULING DUTIES, FEED YOUR GLUTTONOUS APPETITE FOR POWER, OR ROAM THE CITY STREETS DOLING OUT JUSTICE.
AND, FOR 2015, THE CHARGER GETS A SERIOUS OVERHAUL.
THE ICONIC PROFILE IS STILL THERE, BUT THE FRONT SHOWS THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS ALMOST A DECADE.
IT TRADES TRUCK-LIKE AGGRESSION FOR THE MODERN STYLE OF THE DART.
LED LIGHTING AND 4 GRILL DESIGNS ADD MORE CONTEMPORARY FLAIR.
INTERIORS ADD TRIM OPTIONS AND A DIGITAL GAUGE CLUSTER.
ENGINES RUN A LIST; A 292 OR 300 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER V6.
A 370 HORSEPOWER 5.7 LITER HEMI V8.
A 485 HORSEPOWER 6.4 LITER HEMI V8.
AND, LAST BUT MOST, THE 707 HORSEPOWER 6.2 LITER SUPERCHARGED HELLCAT HEMI V8.
OUR DRIVE TIME WAS EXTENSIVE, SAMPLING NEARLY ALL VARIATIONS.
BUT AS WE FOUND WITH THE ALSO RECENTLY NEW DODGE CHALLENGER, THE SRT 392 SEEMS TO HIT THE SWEET SPOT OF BOTH SPEED AND SENSIBILITY.
THE 6.4 HEMI SOUNDS GREAT AND RESPONDS WELL, WITHOUT BEING TOO OVERBEARING.
>> BEN DAVIS: THE CHARGER FEELS GREAT ON THE TRACK, BUT IT'S NOT ONE OF THOSE KINDS OF CARS THAT'S GOING TO MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE A SUPERHERO ONCE YOU DRIVE BEHIND THE WHEEL.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SKILL TO MAKE THIS CAR PERFORM AS IT SHOULD.
I'VE GOT NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
IT'S A TRUE DRIVER'S CAR.
>> JOHN: IT WASN'T ALL BUSINESS THOUGH, AS WE GOT TO SAMPLE THE LATEST CHARGER PURSUIT POLICE VEHICLE TOO.
SOMETHING YOU NEVER WANT TO SEE IN YOUR REARVIEW, BUT QUITE A TRIP BEHIND THE WHEEL.
>> BEN: "OFFICER DAVIS HERE, WITH THE MOTORWEEK POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M ABOUT TO APPREHEND THIS CORNER UP HERE.
HE'S A QUICK ONE.
HE'S A QUICK ONE.
FREEZE APEX!
FREEZE!
DON'T DO IT!
I GOTCHA!
OFFICER DAVIS HERE AGAIN.
AWESOMENESS IN CUSTODY.
RETURNING TO BASE."
>> JOHN: PRICING FOR THE 2015 DODGE CHARGER STARTS UNDER $30,000.
AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE QUICK SPINS, SOON!
WHILE VERY FEW OF US EVER GET TO ACTUALLY OWN A SUPERCAR, JUST ABOUT EVERYONE CAN APPRECIATE THE OFTEN STRIKING BEAUTY OF THEIR DESIGN.
STUART CODLING CERTAINLY DOES, AND WITH THE HELP OF SOME EXQUISITE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES MANN, HE BRINGS US THE 20 SUPERCARS THAT HE THINKS ARE THE FINEST EVER, IN HIS BOOK FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION: THE ART OF THE SUPERCAR.
FROM CLASSICS TO MODERN, THESE CARS ARE WITHOUT A DOUBT SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AUTOMOTIVE MACHINERY TO EVER HIT THE ROAD.
SO, WHETHER IT'S THE FORM OR THE FUNCTION YOU'RE INTO, YOU'LL FIND PLENTY TO LIKE IN THIS MUST READ.
WITH ALL OF THE HOOPLA MADE ABOUT THE ALL-NEW 2015 FORD MUSTANG, YOU MIGHT THINK IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT LAUNCH OF THE YEAR FOR FORD, AND YOU'D BE WRONG.
THE BRAND SELLS MORE F-150'S IN 2 MONTHS THAN IT DOES MUSTANGS IN A YEAR!
NOT TO MENTION THE NEW F-150 IS BREAKING SOME SERIOUS GROUND FOR PICKUP TRUCKS.
SO, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE REVOLUTIONARY 2015 FORD F-150.
BY NOW YOU'VE HEARD THAT THE 2015 FORD F-150 IS NOT JUST ALL-NEW IN DESIGN, BUT ALL NEW IN HOW IT'S MADE, AS THE FIRST PICKUP TRUCK WITH AN ALL-ALUMINUM BODY.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, BESIDES THE FACT THAT MAGNETIC SIGNS WON'T STICK TO IT?
WELL, IT IS A HUGE GAMBLE FOR THE BLUE OVAL.
BUT THE ALLOY BODY HELPS SHAVE AS MUCH AS 700-POUNDS OFF OF THIS TRUCK'S WEIGHT.
ALSO, FORD IS NO STRANGER IN GAMBLING WITH THEIR TOP SELLER.
JUST A FEW YEARS AGO THEY PLACED A BIG BET THAT AMERICAN TRUCK BUYERS WOULD EMBRACE A TWIN-TURBO V6 IN A FULL-SIZE PICKUP.
THEY WON BIG ON THAT ONE, AND ARE NOW DOUBLING DOWN WITH AN EVEN SMALLER TWIN-TURBO-6, A 2.7-LITER, WITH 325 HORSEPOWER AND 375 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
THAT ORIGINAL 365 HORSEPOWER ECOBOOST 3.5-LITER IS STILL HERE; AS ARE THE NORMALLY ASPIRATED 385 HORSEPOWER 5.0-LITER V8 AND A 283 HORSEPOWER 3.5-LITER V6.
THE NEW BOOSTED 2.7 FEELS SOLID, WITH NO NOTICEABLY TURBO LAG; AND WORKS WELL WITH THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
THE PAIR SEEMS TO DELIVER POWER IN A BRAINIAC FASHION MORE SO THAN WITH MACHO BRUTALITY, EVEN WHEN THE STANDARD AUTO STOP/START KICKS IN.
ANY RUTHLESSNESS IS RESERVED FOR THE BOLDER EXTERIOR DESIGN, WHICH DOESN'T RADIATE QUITE AS MUCH SPACE-AGE MASCULINITY AS THE ATLAS CONCEPT, BUT IT'S PRETTY DARN CLOSE.
THE GRILLE IS LARGER, NATURALLY.
HI-TECH, CRYSTAL CLEAR LED HEADLIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE, YET THE OUTER LENSES HAVE A SOMEWHAT HAZY APPEARANCE.
ON PROFILE THE SIGNATURE DROP NOTCHED FRONT WINDOW CARRIES ON ABOVE FAIRLY TRADITIONAL SHEET METAL.
STILL, THINGS LOOK CLEANEST FROM THE REAR.
AS EXPECTED OPTIONS ABOUND.
WHILE SOME NEW ONES ARE MORE FOR IMPRESSING THE NEIGHBORS, MANY OFFER REAL-WORLD USEFULNESS.
LIKE THE 360-DEGREE VIEW CAMERA WITH TRAILER HITCH POINTER, SEAMLESS SLIDING REAR WINDOW, SIDE KICK STEPS, BOX LINK CARGO MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, REMOTE TAILGATE OPENER, EASIER TO USE TAILGATE STEP, INTEGRATED LOADING RAMPS, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, AND EVEN ACTIVE PARK ASSIST.
AND AS FOR MORE IMPORTANT PICKUP TRUCK PRACTICALITY, WEIGHING LESS ACTUALLY MEANS HAULING MORE, AS THE NEW F-150 NOW TOWS UP TO 12,200 POUNDS, OR CARRIES UP TO 3,300 POUNDS OF CARGO.
BOTH CLASS BEST.
BUT PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, NO MATTER WHICH ENGINE IS UNDER THE HOOD; FROM BEHIND THE WHEEL, THE TRUCK ITSELF STILL FEELS SUPER RUGGED AS THE FRAME REMAINS ALL-STEEL.
YET THIS SOLID TRUCK IS NOW MUCH FRIENDLIER TO DRIVE.
IT'S ALSO ROOMIER WITH 2-INCHES OF ADDED CAB WIDTH, AND THE A-PILLAR IS MUCH LESS INTRUSIVE THAN BEFORE, IMPROVING VISIBILITY.
STEERING IS NICE, TIGHT, AND RESPONSIVE WITH GOOD ON-CENTER FEEL.
BRAKES ALSO HAVE A CAR-LIKE, SMOOTH TOUCH TO THEM.
ALL OF WHICH SHOULD MAKE YOU LESS NERVOUS WHEN YOUR CAMRY-DRIVING NEIGHBOR BORROWS YOUR TRUCK FOR A HOME DEPOT RUN.
SUSPENSION, BOTH THE FRONT DOUBLE-WISHBONE COIL-ON-SHOCKS AND REAR LIVE AXLE LEAF SPRINGS, ARE THE SAME BASIC DESIGN AS BEFORE; BUT HAVE SOME ALUMINUM ADDED INTO THE MIX AS WELL.
AS BEFORE, THE FX4 OFF ROAD PACKAGE ADDS CAPABILITY TO 4-WHEEL-DRIVE MODELS WITH AN ELECTRONIC LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL, UPGRADED SHOCKS, AND ADDITIONAL SKID PLATES.
WHILE THE INTERIOR DESIGN IS VERY EVOLUTIONARY, MATERIALS HAVE CERTAINLY TAKEN A TURN FOR THE BETTER, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF BIG KNOBS AND BUTTONS.
AN AVAILABLE 8-INCH PRODUCTIVITY SCREEN IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TAKES INFO TO A NEW LEVEL, INCLUDING DETAILED TOWING AND OFF ROAD STATUS.
SEAT COMFORT IS GOOD UP FRONT, AND THERE IS MORE OF BOTH LEG AND HIP ROOM IN THE REAR.
WHILE THE NEW 2.7-LITER TURBO V6 WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE THE MOST FUEL EFFICIENT F-150 EVER, PERHAPS BY UP TO 20%, WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR GOVERNMENT RATINGS TO BE FINALIZED.
AS WITH ALL PICKUP TRUCKS, THE NUMBER OF TRIM LEVEL, WHEELBASE, CAB, AND BED CONFIGURATIONS IS NEARLY ENDLESS, AND BASE PRICES ARE UP ACROSS THE BOARD.
STARTING AT $26,615 FOR A REGULAR CAB XL, AND CLIMBING THROUGH XLT, LARIAT, AND KING RANCH SUPERCABS, UNTIL YOU REACH THE PLATINUM LEVEL SUPERCREW, AT A LOFTY $52,155.
WHILE CHEVROLET, AND INCREASINGLY RAM, HAVE BEEN CHIPPING AWAY AT F-150 DIEHARDS IN RECENT YEARS, FORD DIDN'T BECOME THE UNDISPUTED KING OF PICKUP TRUCKS BY PLAYING IT SAFE.
WITH THE LAUNCH OF THIS ALL-NEW, ALUMINUM-BODIED, 2015 F-150; FORD HAS BROUGHT ABOUT A HOST OF CHANGES TO THE SEGMENT.
BUT WE CERTAINLY DON'T SEE ANY CHANGE WHEN IT COMES TO PICKUP TRUCK HIERARCHY, AS A NEW STANDARD HAS BEEN ACHIEVED.
WELL, THAT'S OUR 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... AS WE SIZE-UP TODAY'S TOP MID-SIZE FAMILY SEDANS, AND PICK A WINNER.
THEN DO THE ELECTRIC BOOGALOO IN THE KIA SOUL EV.
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... KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS TIRES RIGHT NOW.
IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.
BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.
KENNY'S THINKING, OH MAN.
OH MAN.
OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN.
THIS IS AWESOME!
MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.
DIEHARD.
THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.
DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.
>> ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.