2015 North American International Auto Show (Part 1 and 2)

>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !

JOIN US FOR A LOOK AT ALL THAT'S NEW AT DETROIT'S 2015 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW... PAT GOSS LENDS SUPPORT FOR CHANGING STRUTS DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... AUTOWORLD SHOWS HOW LONG HAUL BIG RIGS GO GREEN... AND WE'LL SADDLE UP AND HIT THE ROAD IN THE NEW FORD MUSTANG...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

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."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS, OFFERING A VARIETY OF BRANDS, PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

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: WITH ALL THE PRE-SHOW COVERAGE ONLINE, YOU MAY THINK THE ART OF THE BIG DEAL AUTO SHOW REVEAL IS DYING OFF.

BUT FRESH FROM OUR VISIT TO MOTOR CITY, WE SAW PLENTY WE WEREN'T EXPECTING AT THE 2015 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

SO LET'S GET TO IT!

AFTER 5 STRAIGHT YEARS OF UP CAR SALES, THE MOOD INSIDE DETROIT'S COBO HALL WAS ALSO UPBEAT WITH ANTICIPATION OF BOTH ANOTHER GREAT YEAR AND AN EVEN BETTER AUTO SHOW.

AND CHEVROLET DIDN'T DISAPPOINT WITH 2 ELECTRIFYING HIGH NOTES.

FIRST, A MORE BOLDLY REDESIGNED VOLT PLUG-IN HYBRID.

WITH HIGHER CAPACITY BATTERIES AND MORE POWERFUL 1.5 LITER I4 GAS GENERATOR, VOLT'S ALL ELECTRIC RANGE GROWS TO 50 MILES, WITH A TOTAL RANGE OF OVER 400 MILES.

INTERIOR CONTROLS HAVE BEEN SIMPLIFIED AND THE BACK SEAT EXPANDED WITH 3 SEAT BELTS.

BUT IT WAS CHEVY'S SECOND ELECTRIC SURPRISE THAT REALLY GOT THIS PARTY CHARGED UP.

THE BOLT EV CONCEPT.

THIS 5-DOOR PROMISES FAMILY CAR ROOM, A 200 MILE RANGE, AND A PRICE AFTER TAX CREDITS OF $30,000.

PRODUCTION COULD BEGIN IN 2017.

WHILE CHEVY SEES A "GREEN" FUTURE, FORD SEES IT AS "RED HOT!"

THEY REVEALED A TRIO OF HIGH PERFORMANCE SHOWBOATS: AN ALUMINUM FORD F-150 RAPTOR WITH HIGH OUTPUT ECOBOOST V6 AND 10-SPEED TRANSMISSION.

THE NEAR TRACK READY FORD SHELBY GT350R MUSTANG WITH FLAT CRANK 5.2 LITER V8 AND CARBON FIBER WHEELS.

AND SAVING THE HOTTEST FOR LAST, AN ALL-NEW FORD GT SUPERCAR.

THE FORD GT IS ALSO HONED FOR RACING WITH A DOWN FORCE, CARBON FIBER RICH BODY, AND A 600+ HORSEPOWER TWIN-TURBO V6, CERAMIC BRAKES, DUAL-CLUTCH TRANNY, AND AN ATTITUDE THAT CLEARLY WAS BORN TO WIN.

INDEED THE GT ARRIVES NEXT YEAR TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BLUE OVALS FIRST VICTORY AT LEMANS.

FORD ALSO BOLSTERED ITS PREMIUM LINCOLN DIVISION WITH A NEW MKX MIDDLE-WEIGHT UTILITY.

STYLING IS MORE REFINED WITH LED HEADLIGHTS; THE LUXURY QUOTIENT IS ALSO HIGHER WITH AS MUCH TECHNOLOGY AS ANY RIVAL.

WITH BOTH A 3.7 LITER V6, AND 2.7 LITER ECOBOOST 6, MKX IS ANOTHER STEP IN LINCOLN'S PATH BACK TO RELEVANCE.

ONE OF THE WORST KEPT SECRETS WAS THE DETROIT UNVEILING OF THE LONG AWAITED CADILLAC CTS-V. WITH A 640 HORSEPOWER SUPERCHARGED V8 FROM THE CORVETTE Z06, THE CTS-V LOOKS FIT TO TAKE ON THE WORLD'S BEST SUPER TUNED 4-DOORS.

GM'S PREMIUM DIVISION, BUICK, LET ITS HAIR, OR SHOULD WE SAY TOP DOWN WITH THE NEW CASCADA CONVERTIBLE.

THIS OPEL IMPORT IS BUICK'S FIRST DROP TOP IN 25 YEARS POWERED BY A 200 HORSE TURBOCHARGED 4.

BUT BUICK'S REAL SURPRISE WAS THE AVENIR CONCEPT.

A LARGE, LONG, LOW AND LUSCIOUS 4-DOOR THAT COULD FORETELL THE BRAND'S NEW GLOBAL FLAGSHIP.

OVER AT CHRYSLER, OR AS IT IS NOW KNOWN, FCA US, IT WAS RAM WHO STIRRED UP THE MOST ATTENTION WITH THE REBEL!

MORE OF A LIGHT DUTY OFF-ROAD PACKAGE THAN A TRUE RIVAL TO FORD'S RAPTOR, THE REBEL'S BLACKED OUT, RAISED STATURE IS HIGHLIGHTED BY A DECIDEDLY UN-RAM GRILLE, WITH EITHER V6 OR HEMI V8 POWER BEHIND.

WHILE THIS IS DETROIT'S BIG SHOW, THE 2015 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW MADE PLENTY OF GLOBAL CAR NEWS AS WELL.

AND WE'LL HAVE THAT LATER IN THIS EDITION OF MOTORWEEK .

HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS: THEY'RE THE BACKBONE OF OUR NATION'S COMMERCE SYSTEM.

BIG RIGS TRANSPORT ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF THE GOODS AND MATERIALS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

NOW THE BAD NEWS IS, THEY CONSUME ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF OUR TRANSPORTATION FUEL EVEN THOUGH THEY MAKE UP LESS THAN 5 PERCENT OF THE TRAFFIC ON U.S.

HIGHWAYS.

SO, THE NEED TO IMPROVE TRUCK EFFICIENCY IS CRUCIAL, AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HAS COME UP WITH A SUPER ANSWER!

IT'S KNOWN AS THE SUPERTRUCK PROGRAM, AND ITS GOAL IS FOR TRUCK MAKERS TO SHOW A 50 PERCENT IMPROVEMENT IN FREIGHT EFFICIENCY, OR TON-MILES PER GALLON, FOR A CLASS 8 TRACTOR TRAILER, AND ALSO TO ACHIEVE 50 PERCENT THERMAL EFFICIENCY IN THE ENGINE.

BASICALLY, TO HAUL MORE STUFF WITH LESS FUEL BY THE YEAR 2015.

THE PROGRAM STARTED IN 2010 WITH 4 DOE GRANTS, TOTALING $138 MILLION, TO DAIMLER, VOLVO, NAVISTAR, ENGINE MAKER CUMMINS, AND THEIR PARTNER PETERBILT.

EACH SUPERTRUCK "TEAM" HAS MATCHED THESE FUNDS WITH AN EQUAL INVESTMENT OF THEIR OWN AND THE RESULT HAS BEEN A SUPER-CHARGED R&D EFFORT THAT IS ALREADY PAYING DIVIDENDS.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, ALL OF THE MANUFACTURERS ARE TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH, SEEKING INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS IN MANY AREAS, RATHER THAN TRYING TO FIND ONE "MAGIC BULLET."

>> PASCAL AMAR: WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXPLORE MORE AREAS THAN WE WOULD TYPICALLY.

IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO DO MORE TESTING, MORE ANALYSIS, AND MORE CALCULATIONS.

I THINK THE KEY WITH THIS PROGRAM IS, IT FORCES US TO LOOK AT THE COMPLETE PICTURE, THE COMPLETE VEHICLE.

NOT JUST THE POWERTRAIN AND NOT JUST THEAB EXTERIOR.

SO, IT REALLY ALLOWS US TO IDENTIFY SYNERGIES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE MISSED OTHERWISE.

>> JOHN: THE MOST OBVIOUS IMPROVEMENTS ON EACH TRUCK ARE THE AERODYNAMIC AIDS.

EXTENSIVE WIND TUNNEL TESTING HAS FOUND WAYS TO MAKE THE BIG BOX LESS BOXY, MINIMIZE BODY GAPS, AND IMPROVE AIRFLOW AROUND THE RIG.

ALL FOUR GROUPS HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS.

SOME HAVE MET OR EXCEEDED THE PROJECT GOALS ALREADY AND SOME OF THE GREEN TECH DEVELOPED IN THE SUPERTRUCK PROGRAM IS ALREADY MAKING ITS WAY INTO PRODUCTION TRUCKS.

SOME OF THE DESIGN SKETCHES LOOK DOWNRIGHT SCI-FI, BUT MAY BECOME REALITY SOONER THAN YOU THINK!

>> AMAR: ONE OF THE FIRST TANGIBLE DELIVERIES OF THE PROGRAM IS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO LEVERAGE SOME KNOWLEDGE WE GAINED FROM EARLY AERODYNAMIC TESTING OF THE SUPERTRUCK TEST MULE WE USED.

WE'RE APPLYING SOME OF THE FINDINGS TO CHASSIS FAIRINGS, FRONT BUMPER, AND ROOF DEFLECTOR.

THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE ON OUR MODEL YEAR 2016 VN HIGHWAY TRUCKS.

>> JOHN: DRIVETRAIN SOLUTIONS BEING TESTED INCLUDE HYBRID ELECTRIC DRIVE, WASTE HEAT RECOVERY, ENGINE DOWNSIZING, AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND IMPROVED DIESEL AFTER-TREATMENT, TO NAME JUST A FEW.

TO DATE, ONLY THE PETERBILT/CUMMINS TEAM HAS A FULLY FUNCTIONING SUPERTRUCK DEMONSTRATION VEHICLE, WHICH HAS ACHIEVED 10.7 MILES PER GALLON, OR ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT THE AVERAGE RIG GETS TODAY.

SUPERTRUCK TECHNOLOGIES CAN SAVE NEARLY 6 BILLION BARRELS OF OIL BY 2050.

TO THE AVERAGE TRUCK OWNER, THAT COULD ADD UP TO $35,000 A YEAR IN FUEL SAVINGS!

AND AS WITH ANY NEW TECHNOLOGY, COST TO THE END USER IS AN ISSUE, AND NO GROUP OF VEHICLE OWNERS IS MORE AWARE OF THE BOTTOM LINE THAN THE THOUSANDS OF BIG RIG OWNER OPERATORS WHO CALL OUR HIGHWAYS HOME.

>> WAYNE ECKERLE: WELL, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS, WE HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE TECHNOLOGY, AND DELIVER TECHNOLOGY THAT HITS OUR CUSTOMERS PAYBACK PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS.

SO, WE LOOK AT THE DRIVE CYCLE, HOW MUCH FUEL THEY BURN.

SO, AS WE PUT ON TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE FUEL CONSUMPTION, IT HAS TO REDUCE FUEL ENOUGH SO THAT YOU CAN PAY OFF THE TECHNOLOGY IN 18 MONTHS, AND FOR THE REST OF THE TIME THAT THEY HAVE THE TRUCK THEY'RE ACTUALLY SAVING MONEY.

THE BEST SOLUTIONS FOR OUR ENERGY PROBLEMS WILL TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH LIKE THAT OF THE SUPERTRUCK PROGRAM.

LOOKING TO IMPROVE EVERY PART OF THE VEHICLE RATHER THAN RELYING ON A SINGLE CLEAN FUEL OR ENGINE TECHNOLOGY.

THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF THESE FORWARD THINKING INDUSTRY PARTNERS, OUR BIG RIGS OF THE FUTURE SHOULD BE SUPER INDEED.

>> JOHN: NOW, LET'S HEAD DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE AND GO UNDER THE SKIN FOR PAT'S LATEST TIPS.

>> PAT GOSS: GAS CHARGED STRUTS: THEY'RE IN A LOT OF PLACES ON TODAY'S CARS.

THEY MAY HOLD UP THE TRUNK OR THE HATCH OR THE HOOD; MAYBE EVEN OTHER THINGS ON TRUCKS AND SO ON.

BUT THE BIG THING IS THAT THESE DO NOT LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR IN MOST CASES.

THEY'RE GAS CHARGED AND OVER TIME THE GAS LEAKS OUT OF THEM.

THAT'S OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS.

BUT THAT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.

BECAUSE FOR MOST CARS, YOU CAN GO DOWN TO THE LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE, AND BY USING THE MEASUREMENT FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER, AND THE TYPE OF FASTENER, WELL YOU CAN BUY A REPLACEMENT SET.

AND THEY'RE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE.

NOW, THIS APPLIES TO MOST CARS.

AND WHAT YOU WIND UP WITH, IS IN A MATTER OF MINUTES AND A FEW BUCKS, YOU'VE REPAIRED THE STRUTS ON YOUR CAR.

NOW, SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE IF YOU WORK UNDER THE HOOD ON A CAR THAT USES A STRUT TO SUPPORT IT: AND THAT IS THIS LITTLE CLAMP THAT WE GET FROM SNAP-ON TOOLS.

CLAMPS AROUND THE SHAFT OF THE STRUT, KEEPS IT FROM COMING DOWN, AND CLUNKING YOU IN THE HEAD.

ALRIGHT.

CLOSING A HOOD, MOST PEOPLE DO IT WRONG.

SEEMS LIKE THEY WANT TO GET UP HERE, AND GET A HAND ON EITHER SIDE OF IT, AND JUST PUSH MIGHTILY ON IT.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GETS DOWN CLOSE TO BEING CLOSED.

THAT'S A WRONG WAY TO DO IT.

WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IS, GET IT DOWN ABOUT THIS HEIGHT, THEN RIGHT IN THE CENTER, WITH A COUPLE OF FINGERS, SLAM IT.

YOU SEE, THIS SOUNDS AGGRESSIVE, BUT ACTUALLY IT'S A LOT BETTER FOR THE HOOD AND FOR THE CAR ITSELF.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET ON IT AND LEAN ON IT, YOU'LL DENT THE HOOD RIGHT HERE WHERE YOUR HANDS ARE ON IT.

ESPECIALLY IF THE CAR HAS ALUMINUM OR HIGH STRENGTH STEEL IN THE HOOD.

ANOTHER THING THAT'S CHANGING ON CARS: RIGHT HERE, WIPER BLADES.

FOREVER, THEY'VE BEEN DESIGNED LIKE THIS.

NOW THE PRESSURE IS APPLIED HERE BY THE ARM.

THAT PRESSURE IS TRANSMITTED TO THE BLADE AT EACH ONE OF THESE JUNCTURES.

THOSE ARE PRESSURE POINTS.

AND THAT MEANS THEY DON'T CLEAN EVENLY.

SO, THE NEW DESIGN IS RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS A BEAM TYPE BLADE.

THE SPRING IS INSIDE THE RUBBER.

SO, IT GIVES EVEN FORCE ALL THE WAY ACSS THE BLADE.

ALSO IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE'S SNOW AND ICE, WELL THIS DOESN'T GET CLOGGED UP WITH ICE AND SNOW BUILT UP BETWEEN THE PIECES OF IT.

SO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY WINTER WIPER BLADES.

SO OVERALL, THIS COSTS A BIT MORE MONEY, BUT IT IS A SAFETY DEVICE.

AND ISN'T IT WORTH A LITTLE MORE MONEY TO HAVE A SAFER CAR?

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

>> JOHN: THERE'S PLENTY LEFT TO COVER FROM DETROIT.

SO, LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE IS NEW AT THE 2015 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW!

PRESS DAYS KICKED OFF WITH THE 22ND ANNUAL NORTH AMERICAN CAR AND TRUCK/UTILITY OF THE YEAR AWARDS.

WITH SECRET BALLOTS FROM 57 JOURNALISTS, THE ALUMINUM BODIED FORD F-150 WAS NAMED THE 2015 NORTH AMERICAN TRUCK/UTILITY OF THE YEAR.

ON THE CAR SIDE, THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF, AND ITS MANY VARIANTS, WAS SELECTED FOR THE 2015 NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEAR HONOR.

IMPORT BRANDS MADE LOTS OF MOTOWN NEWS THIS YEAR, AND MUCH OF IT ABOUT TRUCKS!

TOYOTA, LONG THE LEADER IN SMALL PICKUPS, REINFORCED THAT STATUS WITH A NEW-GENERATION TACOMA.

STILL MADE IN THE U.S.A., THE TACOMA DONS A MORE SPORTING LOOK AND NEW FEATURES LIKE AN EASY LOWER TAILGATE AND BLIND SPOT MONITORING.

WITH A CARRYOVER 4, AND NEW PORT/DIRECT INJECTED V6 ENGINE, IT SHOULD EASILY KEEP TACOMA KING OF ITS JUNGLE.

NISSAN, ON THE OTHER HAND, TOOK THE FULL-SIZE PICKUP ROUTE WITH AN ALL-NEW TITAN.

THE TITAN XD MODEL JOINS RAM IN OFFERING A LIGHT DUTY DIESEL OPTION.

IN TITAN, A NEW CUMMINS 5.0 LITER TURBO V8.

HYUNDAI SURPRISED BOTH TRUCK AND CAR FANS WITH ITS DIESEL POWERED SANTA CRUZ CROSSOVER TRUCK CONCEPT.

THIS UNIBODY HAULER HAS 4 DOORS FOR EASY ACCESS TO THE REAR SEAT, AND A NOVEL EXTENDABLE TAILGATE FOR LONG LOADS.

HYUNDAI ALSO SHOWED 2 NEW SONATA HYBRIDS.

BOTH USE A SMALLER GAS ENGINE WITH A MORE POWERFUL ELECTRIC DRIVE.

THE PLUG-IN, HYUNDAI'S FIRST, HAS AN EV RANGE OF 22 MILES.

HONDA'S FCV CONCEPT SHOWS JUST HOW DRAMATIC A HYDROGEN FUEL-CELL CAR CAN BE.

WHILE, A GASOLINE/ELECTRIC HYBRID OF A VERY DIFFERENT SORT IS ACURA'S ALL-NEW NSX SPORTS CAR THAT WILL FINALLY GO ON SALE HERE THIS YEAR.

THIS MID-ENGINE, TWIN-TURBO V6 EXOTIC WILL USE FRONT AND REAR BATTERY POWER FOR AN EV ONLY "QUIET" MODE.

BUT WITH ITS ALUMINUM AND CARBON FIBER DESIGN, WE THINK THE NSX WILL MOSTLY BE SCREAMING OFF SHOWROOM FLOORS.

ANOTHER MID-ENGINE SPORTS CAR THAT MADE NEWS IN DETROIT WAS THE ALFA ROMEO 4C SPIDER.

WITH BOTH CARBON FIBER AND CLOTH ROOF PANELS, THIS TARGA 4C IS READY TO LET FUN IN THE SUN BEGIN.

TOYOTA'S LUXURY BRAND LEXUS CONTINUES TO ADD HIGH PERFORMANCE TO ITS POSH IMAGE WITH THE NEW GS F SPORT SEDAN.

LIKE THE RC F COUPE, IT GRABS A 5.0 LITER 467 HORSEPOWER V8 AND AN 8-SPEED REAR DRIVE TRANSMISSION.

NISSAN'S INFINITI BRAND ARRIVED WITH A PERFORMANCE STORY TOO, WITH THE Q60 CONCEPT COUPE.

IT WILL USE A MODIFIED Q50 SEDAN CHASSIS WITH BOTH REAR AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE WHEN IT ARRIVES FOR REAL THIS SUMMER.

AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CROSSOVER IS IN JAGUAR'S FUTURE, AS THEY ANNOUNCED THAT LAST YEAR'S C-X17 CONCEPT WILL BE NEXT YEAR'S F-PACE, THE BRAND'S FIRST UTILITY.

POWER CHOICES MAY INCLUDE A DIESEL.

THIS "FAMILY SPORTS CAR" WILL SHARE ITS CHASSIS WITH THE NEW XE COMPACT SPORT SEDAN.

LAND ROVER IS TAKING THE COMPRESSION IGNITION PLUNGE HERE WITH THE RANGE ROVER AND RANGE ROVER SPORT HSE TD6.

THE 3.0 LITER V6 TURBO-DIESEL WILL RATE 254 HORSEPOWER BUT 440 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AND DELIVER 25 MPG HIGHWAY FUEL ECONOMY, A 32 PERCENT GAIN.

MERCEDES ARRIVED WITH A NEW SWOOPED ROOF CROSSOVER UTILITY, THE GLE COUPE.

WHAT ONCE WOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF A NEW M-CLASS FAMILY, THE ALABAMA MADE 5-DOOR WILL INITIALLY COME IN 450 AMG, AND ALL OUT GLE63 S TRIM.

DETROIT GOT ITS FIRST LOOK AT THE SUCCESSOR TO THE AMG SLS SPORTS CAR; THE NEW NON-GULL WING MERCEDES-AMG GT S. THIS MERCEDES-BENZ C450 AMG 4MATIC BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN A REGULAR "C" AND A FULL TILT AMG VERSION.

WHILE, ANOTHER NEW "C" OF NOTE IS THIS C350 PLUG-IN HYBRID.

MERCEDES SAYS IT WILL HAVE AN EV ONLY RANGE OF ABOUT 20 MILES.

AND MERCEDES ALSO BROUGHT THEIR SELF-DRIVING CONCEPT TO DETROIT, COMPLETE WITH ITS LOUNGE STYLE SEATING.

BMW HAS TINKERED WITH ITS HIGH DOLLAR 6-SERIES AND THE RESULTING CARS ARE MORE APPEALING THAN EVER.

WITH TRADITIONAL 2-DOOR, CONVERTIBLE, AND 4-DOOR GRAN COUPE THEY ALL LOOK DESIRABLE, ESPECIALLY IN M6 TRIM.

BMW'S MINI CAME TO TOWN WITH THIS JOHN COOPER WORKS HARDTOP.

A 2.0 LITER 4 CYLINDER TURBO SPITS OUT 228 HORSEPOWER, 20 PERCENT MORE THAN IN "S" TRIM.

THIS ROBUST LOOKING CROSS COUPE GTE PLUG-IN HYBRID CONCEPT MAY SIGNAL THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS FINALLY READY TO BUILD A PASSAT-SIZE FAMILY CROSSOVER IN AMERICA.

WHILE NO THIRD ROW SEAT WAS EVIDENT HERE, REMEMBER THIS IS STILL A CONCEPT.

AUDI USED DETROIT TO SHOWCASE ITS NEW SUV'S.

WITH AN ALL-NEW CHASSIS AND BODY THE 7-SEAT Q7 SHEDS OVER 700 POUNDS BUT ADDS A MORE STATION WAGON LIKE APPEARANCE.

AUDI'S Q3 GREETED US WITH A FACELIFT, 10 MORE HORSEPOWER, AND A HOST OF OTHER CHANGES.

PORSCHE SHOWED 2 NEW VARIANTS: THE 911 TARGA 4 GTS, A 430 HORSEPOWER EDITION OF THEIR LATEST ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TARGA.

AND THIS PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO S, THEIR NEW "TOP DOG" IN PERFORMANCE SUVS WITH A REWORKED 4.8 LITER, 570 HORSEPOWER TWIN-TURBO V8.

VOLVO IS TWEAKING THEIR S60 4-DOOR 2 WAYS.

THIS S60 CROSS COUNTRY BRINGS THEIR RAISED, ALL-ROAD WAGON LOOK TO A SEDAN.

WHILE THIS STRETCHED, VOLVO S60 INSCRIPTION ADDS NEARLY 3.5 INCHES OF REAR LEGROOM FOR NEAR LIMO LIKE APPEAL.

IT WILL ALSO BE THE FIRST CHINESE MADE CAR SOLD IN AMERICA.

SO, IT WAS A FULL THROTTLE TIME ENJOYED BY ALL AT THE 2015 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

50 YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE FORD MUSTANG ENTERED THE CORRAL, CREATING THE ICONIC PONY CAR SEGMENT.

WHILE A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN, THE MUSTANG REALLY HASN'T CHANGED THAT MUCH AT ALL.

BUT AS FORD LAUNCHES THE ALL-NEW, 2015, 6TH GENERATION MUSTANG, IT DOES SO WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES EVER.

SO, SADDLE UP AS THE LEGEND OF MUSTANG CONTINUES ANEW.

THE 2015 FORD MUSTANG IS ARRIVING AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME.

CAR SALES ARE BACK UP TO PRE-RECESSION LEVELS, AND THE ORIGINAL PONY CAR HAS BEEN FACING SOME THE TOUGHEST COMPETITION EVER FROM THE RE-LAUNCHED CHEVROLET CAMARO AND DODGE CHALLENGER POWERING THIS MISSION ARE 3 ENGINES, EACH WITH MORE THAN 300 HORSEPOWER.

THE 5.0 LITER V8 IS BACK OF COURSE, NOW WITH MORE MUSCL 435 HORSEPOWER, THANKS TO TWEAKED CYLINDER HEADS AND INTAKE.

THE 3.7 LITER V6 ALSO RETURNS; WITH ITS INTAKE REDESIGNED, DUE TO A LOWER HOOD.

RESULTING IN A LOSS OF HORSEPOWER, NOW AT 300 EVEN.

BETWEEN THE 2, AT 310 HORSEPOWER, IS A NEW 2.3 LITER ECOBOOST TURBO I4 WITH 320 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT'S NOT THE FIRST TURBO 4 UNDER A MUSTANG HOOD, THAT WOULD BE THE SVO OF '84 TO '86, BUT IT IS THE FIRST FORD TO USE A TWIN SCROLL UNIT.

TRANSMISSIONS HANG WITH TRADITION, A 6-SPEED MANUAL OR 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC FOR ALL ENGINES.

STYLING, ALWAYS A MUSTANG FAN HOT BUTTON, IS LESS ALTERED THAN ORIGINALLY FEARED.

RETRO-REINVENTED, THE MUSTANG 6.0 IS LOWER, WIDER, AND EVEN WITH A FAMILIAR LONG HOOD PROFILE, FAR MORE AGGRESSIVE.

WHEELBASE STAYS AT 107.1 INCHES AND OVERALL LENGTH IS SHORTENED BY 2 TENTHS OF AN INCH.

THE BLUNT NOSE AND HALLMARK GRILLE OPENING ARE TWEAKED TO FIT THE REST OF THE FORD BRAND.

THERE'S NEW HID HEADLIGHTS, AND A FRESH TAKE ON LED SIGNATURE LIGHTING.

THERE'S CLEARLY MORE OF A FASTBACK SHAPE TOWARDS THE BACKEND, AND THE NEW REAR FASCIA IS "EURO DIFFUSER" IN DESIGN.

THE GLOSSY TAIL LIGHT PANEL FEATURES UPDATED HORSES FOR 4 AND 6 CYLINDERS, AND A GT BADGE FOR V8'S.

THE 3 BAR TAIL LIGHTS RETURN, BUT LOOK MORE 3-DIMENSIONAL.

TURN SIGNALS ARE STILL SEQUENTIAL.

17 INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD, GTS GET 18'S; 19'S ARE OPTIONAL ON ANY.

BREMBO BRAKES COME WITH GT OR ECOBOOST PERFORMANCE PACKAGES.

A CLASSIC APPEARANCE CONTINUES INSIDE TOO, WITH THE DUAL HUMP DASH.

BUT GAUGES THE CENTER STACK, AND ELECTRONIC AIDS ARE MUCH MORE IN THE NOW.

YOU'LL ALSO FIND BETTER MATERIALS, MORE KNEE SPACE THANKS TO A SLIMMER LOWER DASH, A PASSENGER'S SIDE KNEE AIRBAG, AND THERE'S EVEN MORE ROOM IN THE GLOVE BOX.

TOGGLE SWITCHES AND A SMART BUTTON ARE BROUGHT INTO THE MIX, AND CUP HOLDERS HAVE BEEN SHIFTED OVER PROVIDING FREER ACCESS TO THE SHIFTER.

EVEN BASE MODELS GET KEYLESS ENTRY AND A BACK-UP CAMERA.

SELECTABLE DRIVE MODES ARE NEW, ADJUSTING STEERING EFFORT, ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION RESPONSE, AS WELL AS STABILITY CONTROL INTERVENTION FOR NORMAL, SNOW/WET, SPORT, AND TRACK CONDITIONS.

AND OF COURSE THERE ARE TRACK APP'S, ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE GAUGE PANEL INFORMATION SCREEN, AS IS LAUNCH CONTROL.

THE STEERING WHEEL IS SMALLER IN DIAMETER, BUT GETS LOTS OF NEW SWITCHGEAR ADDED TO IT.

THE TRUNK OPENING IS LARGER, AND THE AMOUNT OF SPACE BEHIND IT HAS GROWN A TINY BIT, NOW AT 13.5 CUBIC-FEET.

NOSTALGIA ASIDE, WE FOUND THE NEW-GEN 'STANG IS NOW MUCH MORE ABOUT DRIVING WITH THE MUCH ANTICIPATED INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION NOW STANDARD ON ALL MODELS.

YOU DON'T REALLY NOTICE IT IN SEDATE DAILY DRIVING, HOWEVER.

BUT DIVE DEEP INTO A CORNER, START FEEDING IN SOME POWER, AND THE CAR HUNKERS DOWN, PROPELLING YOU OUT LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

SUCH A BIG CHANGE OUT BACK FORCED FORD TO EXTENSIVELY REWORK THE FRONT SUSPENSION AS WELL.

THAT'S A WIN-WIN TOO.

AS FOR HOW THE MUSTANG FEELS WITH 4 CYLINDER POWER: IT FEELS JUST FINE.

THERE'S GOOD RESPONSE, GREAT MID-RANGE TORQUE, AND EVEN SOME RESPECTABLE SOUND, THOUGH NOT AT FULL SONG.

NOTHING SOUNDS LIKE A V8 OF COURSE AND THE GT IS STILL WHERE IT'S AT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MUSTANG BRAGGING RIGHTS.

MANUAL 0 TO 60 NUDGES 4.5 SECONDS.

DRAG RACERS, OR THE BURNOUT CHALLENGED, WILL ALSO BE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT ALL GT'S COME STANDARD WITH A LINE LOCK.

MUSTANG BASE PRICES ARE UP SLIGHTLY; $24,425 FOR THE V6.

AND THAT'S STILL LESS THAN A BASE CAMARO OR CHALLENGER.

THE ECOBOOST I4 IS JUST ABOVE THAT AT $25,995, WHILE V8 GTS START AT $32,925.

WE THINK THE 2015 FORD MUSTANG, WHILE A LITTLE LESS NOSTALGIC, IS MUCH FARTHER REACHING, EVEN WITHOUT ITS INTERNATIONAL SALES INTENTIONS.

IT IS CLEARLY A MUCH BETTER SPORTY COUPE THAN EVER BEFORE, AND NOT JUST IN THE MARGINS.

AND THAT PROGRESSION WILL ENSURE THAT THE MUSTANG LEGEND WILL NOT ONLY LIVE ON, BUT CONTINUE TO LEAD.

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT!

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, FOR A REAL TREAT WITH THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06.

THEN SEE IF GOOD LOOKS MEAN GOOD THINGS FOR THE NISSAN MURANO.

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.

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DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

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