HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AND SEE IF OUR PATIENCE PAYS OFF, WAITING FOR THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06.
PAT GOSS SHOWS US HOW TIRES COME TOGETHER, FROM THE GROUND UP.
ZACH MASKELL HITS HIGH SPEEDS AND BEYOND, GOING OVER THE EDGE.
AND WE'LL SEE IF NISSAN'S HIGH STYLED MURANO CROSSOVER HAS HONED A NEW EDGE!
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY... >> KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS TIRES RIGHT NOW.
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BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.
KENNY'S THINKING, "OH MAN.
OH MAN.
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MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.
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DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR AND POWER THE EQUIPMENT IN IT.
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.
>> JOHN: THE ALL-NEW 7TH GENERATION CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY IS A TERRIFIC SPORTS CAR.
BUT IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING TO THE LATEST CORVETTE CHAPTER.
NO SOONER DID WE DRIVE THE STINGRAY THEN CHEVY STARTED TEASING US WITH THEIR NEXT INSTALLMENT, THE Z06!
IT'S BEEN A YEAR OF WAITING.
BUT NOW, THE WAIT IS OVER.
TRUTH BE TOLD, WE WOULD HAVE DONE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO GET SOME TRACK TIME IN THE 2015 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06.
TURNS OUT ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS SAY YES TO CHEVROLET'S INVITATION AND HOP ON A PLANE TO SPRING MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS RANCH NEAR LAS VEGAS, NEVADA.
WHAT AWAITED US THERE WAS 650 HORSEPOWER WORTH OF TORQUED UP CORVETTE READY TO ROMP AND ROLL.
EASING UP TO SPEED ON THE TRACK, THIS Z06 HAS A FAMILIAR FEEL THAT ANY CORVETTE OWNER WOULD QUICKLY RECOGNIZE.
AS WE BECAME MORE ATTUNED WITH THE TRACK AND THE CAR, LAP TIMES STARTED FALLING, TIRES STARTED PROTESTING, AND SMILES BECAME PERMA BLASTED ON OUR FACES.
THERE'S CERTAINLY A NASTY STREAK WITHIN THIS HEAVILY TWEAKED STINGRAY THAT'S MORE THAN WILLING TO BE UNLEASHED.
THE Z06'S ALUMINUM CHASSIS IS, FOR THE FIRST TIME, PRODUCED IN HOUSE AT BOWLING GREEN CORVETTE CENTRAL.
AND DUE TO ITS EXTREMELY STIFF NATURE, NO FURTHER UPDATES ARE NEEDED FOR THE C7R RACE CAR.
THE SHORT/LONG ARM, DOUBLE WISHBONE, TRANSVERSE COMPOSITE SPRING SUSPENSION DESIGN CARRIES OVER FROM THE STINGRAY, BUT GETS RECALIBRATED; AND STANDARD MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL TAKES CARE OF THE REST.
FOR THOSE MORE INTERESTED IN TRACK TIME THAN CRUISE TIME, A Z07 PERFORMANCE PACKAGE ELEVATES THINGS TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
IT INCLUDES ADDITIONAL AND ADJUSTABLE AERO-ELEMENTS FOR GREATER DOWNFORCE, CARBON-CERAMIC BRAKE ROTORS, AND MICHELIN PILOT SPORT CUP 2 TIRES.
HELPING MAINTAIN THAT UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF GRIP IS PERFORMANCE TRACK MANAGEMENT AND A MULTI-MODE ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL.
GIVING POWER TO THESE RANDOM ACTS OF PERFORMANCE IS A 6.2 LITER LT4 V8 WITH PLENTY OF EXTRA MASSAGING DONE BY THE POWERTRAIN PROFESSIONALS AT GM'S TONAWANDA ENGINE SHOP.
AND THANKS TO A FIRST EVER IN A Z06 SUPERCHARGER, OUTPUT IS 650 HORSEPOWER AND 650 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
EXPECT 0-60 TIMES TO BE UNDER 3 SECONDS, OF COURSE.
YOU CAN STICK WITH THE STANDARD REV MATCHING 7-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, OR OPT FOR A PADDLE SHIFTED 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.
YOU'LL HAVE NO PROBLEM PICKING THIS SMOOTH CRIMINAL OUT OF A LINE-UP, AS CHEVROLET HAS TACKED ON A WEALTH OF ADD-ONS IN THE NAME OF ULTIMATE DOWN FORCE CREATION.
IF YOU LIKE YOUR PERFORMANCE CARS TO BE A LITTLE SUBTLE, LOOK ELSEWHERE.
MEANWHILE WE'LL BE TAKING A 2ND AND 3RD LOOK AT THIS 'VETTE'S WHACKED OUT LINES AND PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTS.
THERE ARE NEW FASCIAS FRONT AND REAR, A FRONT SPLITTER, UNIQUE HOOD, AND REAR SPOILER.
AND OF COURSE ALL OF THOSE AERO ELEMENTS; SOME STANDARD, SOME PART OF THE CARBON FIBER AERO PACKAGE, AND SOME PART OF THE Z07 PACKAGE.
THE FENDERS ARE EXTENDED 2-INCHES IN FRONT, 3-INCHES IN THE REAR; TO COVER THE WHEELS WEARING 285/30/19 RUBBER IN THE FORE, AND 335/25/20 AFT.
IF YOU DON'T OPT FOR THE Z07 PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, YOU'LL STILL BE HAPPY WITH THE STANDARD 14-INCH STEEL BREMBOS.
UNLIKE BEFORE, THE BODY IS NOT HARDTOP ONLY, RATHER THE CUSTOMARY REMOVABLE ROOF PANEL ARRANGEMENT OF THE STANDARD STINGRAY, AND EVEN A CONVERTIBLE IS AVAILABLE THIS TIME AROUND.
INSIDE, THERE ARE THE UNIQUE COLORS, CARBON FIBER TREATMENT, AND THE FLAT-BOTTOMED STEERING WHEEL EMBELLISHMENTS THAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT; BUT WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT BE PREPARED FOR IS THE AVAILABLE LUXURY TYPE AMENITIES LIKE HIGH-END LEATHER, 8-INCH MYLINK WITH NAVIGATION, AND BOSE AUDIO.
AND BY NOW YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD OF THE AVAILABLE ONBOARD PERFORMANCE DATA RECORDER DEVELOPED BY COSWORTH.
WHICH CONSISTS OF A HIGH-DEF.
CAMERA IN THE WINDSHIELD HEADER, A TELEMETRY RECORDER WITH GPS, AND AN SD RECORDER.
ESSENTIALLY, IT PRIDES YOU WITH MOTORSPORTS LEVEL TELEMETRY AND ALLOWS YOU TO RECORD YOUR EXPLOITS FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS, OR PERHAPS FOR EVIDENCE.
BUT EVEN WITH ALL OF THE Z06'S CAPABILITIES AND TRACK-READY TECH, STREET TIME IS ALMOST EQUALLY AS REWARDING AS TRACK TIME.
RIDE QUALITY CAN BE SMOOTHED OUT WITH A TURN OF THE DIAL, AND SEATS OFFER ENOUGH COMFORT TO SEEK OUT CAR SHOWS AT DISTANT LOCALS.
THE 7-SPEED MANUAL'S GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 15-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED WILL ALLOW YOU TO EAT UP PLENTY OF MILES OR LAPS BEFORE PIT STOPS ARE NECESSARY.
THE 8-SPEED AUTO HOWEVER, AT 13-CITY, 21-HIGHWAY, AND 16-COMBINED WILL GET YOU A GAS GUZZLER TAX.
STILL, BASE PRICING OF $78,995 CLEARLY PUTS THE Z06 IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN, WELL BELOW ITS PURELY EXOTIC RIVALS.
CONVERTIBLES STICKER FOR 5-GRAND MORE.
NO OTHER CAR ON THE ROAD CAN EVEN COME CLOSE TO MATCHING THIS CAR'S LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE FOR THE PRICE.
SO, WHILE THE 2015 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 MAY HAVE BEEN THE RIDE WE WERE EAGERLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST, AND CHEVROLET WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO OBLIGE.
AND IT WAS EVERYTHING WE HOPED IT WOULD BE; IT DID GET US THINKING A BIT, HOW AWESOME WOULD A NEW ZR1 BE?
OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO NORTH AURORA, ILLINOIS FOR A STOP AT ALPHA BAKING COMPANY, PARENT OF S. ROSEN'S AND OTHER POPULAR BAKED GOODS BRANDS.
AFTER YEARS OF LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL TO FIT THEIR DAILY DELIVERY NEEDS, ALPHA RECENTLY PURCHASED 22 PROPANE-POWERED BREAD TRUCKS FOR THEIR CHICAGOLAND DELIVERIES.
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SOUTH SHORE AND CHICAGO AREA CLEAN CITIES, ALPHA WORKED WITH ROUSH CLEANTECH TO DEVELOP THE FIRST PROPANE FORD E-450 STEPVAN.
>> BOB MCGUIRE: I APPLAUD ALPHA BAKING AND THE OWNERSHIP FOR REALLY HAVING THE VISION AND COMMITMENT TO DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN IT COMES TO POWERING OUR VEHICLES.
>> JOHN: ALPHA'S PROPANE STEPVAN'S WILL EMIT 2 MILLION FEWER POUNDS OF CARBON DIOXIDE OVER THEIR LIFETIME.
ALPHA IS EXPANDING THEIR FLEET TO INCLUDE PROPANE AND CNG VEHICLES IN WISCONSIN AND INDIANA AS WELL.
IT'S A WELL EXECUTED ALT-FUEL PLAN THAT SHOWS THIS MIDWEST ICON CLEARLY "RISES" TO THE OCCASION.
IF YOU'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO OWN AN EXOTIC CAR, A REAL DREAM MACHINE, THEN YOU GET A BIG CONGRATS FROM US.
BUT NOW WHAT?
STREET DRIVING A MEGA-BUCK-MOBILE CAN GET BORING FAST.
WOULDN'T YOU LOVE TO HAVE AN EASY, SAFE WAY TO LET IT ALL HANG OUT?
AND LET YOUR BUDDIES WATCH YOU DO IT?
WELL, PREPARE FOR TAKE-OFF AS OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY, ZACH MASKELL, RACES TOWARDS THE HORIZON.
>> ZACH MASKELL: THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ACCELERATION OF THE W16, QUAD TURBO BUGATTI VEYRON WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK AT LIFE.
IT'S NOT THE LOUDEST, OR EVEN THE FASTEST CAR HERE.
BUT THIS WAS A PERFECT START TO AN UNORDINARY DAY.
NO FLY ZONE IS ONE EVENT PUT ON BY OMEGA MOTORSPORT.
HALF MILE ROLL RACES, HAPPENING ABOUT EVERY 30 SECONDS, FOR THE ENTIRE DAY.
OVER 100 CARS, PAIRING THEMSELVES UP WITH WHOEVER WILL RACE.
THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR LOCAL TRACK ON A FRIDAY NIGHT.
WE'RE IN ONE THAT HAS 1200 HORSEPOWER AND WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE HOW FAST WE CAN GO IN HALF A MILE, JUST OUTSIDE BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA.
HIGH DOLLAR, HIGH HORSEPOWER CARS, RACING FOR FUN ON A CLOSED RUNWAY.
IT'S A NO PRESSURE ATMOSPHERE, AND ANYONE IS WELCOME.
EVEN HEAVY HITTERS LIKE THE VEYRON COME JUST TO PLAY.
SO, THE GPS SAYS WE JUST HIT 181 MILES AN HOUR AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT IT FELT NOTHING LIKE THAT.
IT FELT LIKE MAYBE 100.
THIS THING IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
THE OWNER OF THE BUGATTI ALSO BROUGHT OUT HIS PORSCHE CARRERA GT.
I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT NEITHER CAR WAS SIMPLY THERE FOR SHOW.
>> TRAVIS ELLIS: THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WHEN I STARTED GETTING INTO CARS A WHILE BACK THAT I SAID I'D NEVER DO.
WHEN I BOUGHT SOMETHING I WAS GOING TO DRIVE IT LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DRIVEN AND THAT'S THE SAME ATTITUDE OF EVERYBODY ELSE OUT HERE.
>> TONY LOPEZ: I LOVE THE ATMOSPHERE.
WE SURROUND OURSELVES WITH A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE.
EVERYBODY'S ALWAYS APPRECIATIVE THAT THE EVENT IS SO LOW KEY.
IT'S NOT A LOT OF EGOS AND PEOPLE TRYING TO BASH EACH OTHER LEFT AND RIGHT.
>> ZACH: SOME ARE OUT TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN TIME, SOME OUT TO BEAT OTHERS AND FOR THE REST, IT'S SIMPLY FOR THE GOOD VIBES.
>> LYNN BROWN: THE SOUND OF ALL THE ENGINES AND JUST THE FLAT OUT BEING ABLE TO GET IN THE CAR, DRIVE FAST IS INCREDIBLE.
>> ZACH: OH AND THE MATCH UPS WERE GOOD.
LAMBORGHINI'S NEWEST CREATION, THE HURACAN, JUST GOT FINISHED BEING BROKEN IN TODAY, WAS BOUGHT ONE WEEK AGO.
NOW, WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT SHE'S GOT.
THE STOCK LAMBO BEAT A MODDED CORVETTE ZR1.
IT WAS A NICE WIN TO BE A PART OF.
>> DRIVER: ROSS, I GOT HIM!
I GOT HIM!
(LAUGHS) ZR1, I GOT HIM!
(LAUGHS) >> ZACH: THE DRIVER WASN'T EVEN THE OWNER OF THIS CAR.
>> RICHARD FOWLER: THE HURACAN, YOU KNOW I'M LETTING MY FRIENDS DRIVE IT, BROTHERS DRIVE IT, FAMILY DRIVE IT.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE COMMUNITY CAR TODAY.
EVERYONE'S HAVING A GOOD TIME WITH IT.
OBVIOUSLY THE ORANGE ONE ONLY I DRIVE.
>> ZACH: AND THAT'S BECAUSE THIS STAGE 3, TWIN TURBO, UNDERGROUND GALLARDO HAS 1250 WHEEL HORSEPOWER.
HIS TOP SPEED FOR THE DAY, 197 MPH.
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, HERE HE IS WALKING THE HURACAN.
HE WASN'T THE ONLY ONE TURNING THE BOOST UP.
ALRIGHT TIME FOR A LITTLE JAPANESE LOVE.
800 WHEEL HORSEPOWER TOYOTA SUPRA, RUNNING AGAINST A MCLAREN 12C.
AND WE ARE PULLING HIM IN 3RD GEAR LIKE CRAZY.
THE FEELING OF A HUGE TURBO WILL NEVER LOSE ITS FLAVOR.
PILOTING A 12C OF HIS OWN IS A MAN WHO'S BEEN RACING 52 YEARS.
HE ONCE HAD THE FASTEST ZL1 CORVETTE IN THE WORLD.
HE ENJOYS DRIVING HIS LAMBORGHINI, BUT THE LOOKS HE GETS FROM THE MCLAREN ARE DIFFERENT.
>> LANE GOLDSTEIN: WITH THIS CAR, PEOPLE COME OVER, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.
AND YOU TELL THEM IT'S A MCLAREN.
AND THEY GO, WHO MAKES IT?
AND AFTER YOU TELL THEM MCLAREN MAKES IT, THEY GO WELL WHAT KIND OF MOTOR IS IN IT?
IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE THAT MCLAREN IS THEIR OWN COMPANY, THEY MAKE THEIR OWN CAR.
>> ZACH: WELL, HERE'S A COUPLE THAT YOU DO KNOW.
SOMEHOW WE CONVINCED THEM TO RUN FROM A DIG.
PLEASE, DON'T EVER WAKE ME UP.
BUGATTI VEYRON... LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR...
HERE WE GO!!!
>> JOHN: PAT GOSS WANTS TO BUILD UP YOUR TIRE KNOW HOW, SO LET'S HEAD ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE.
>> PAT GOSS: WE USUALLY DON'T THINK ABOUT IT, BUT SOME OF THE MOST HIGHLY ENGINEERED PARTS OF A MODERN CAR ARE ITS TIRES.
AND HERE TO EXPLAIN THAT, IS MATT EDMONDS, A TIRE EXPERT.
MATT, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.
>> MATT: THANKS FOR HAVING ME, PAT.
>> PAT: OKAY, TELL US WHAT WE'RE ABOUT HERE, WITH THIS CUTAWAY.
>> MATT: WELL, YOU KNOW A TIRE ON THEIR SIDE, LOOKS ROUND AND BLACK AND THEY ALL LOOK PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.
BUT REALLY, WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT A TIRE, EVEN A CUTAWAY, IT JUST LOOKS LIKE BLACK RUBBER THAT'S BEEN POURED INTO A MOLD.
ONCE WE GO TO THIS VIEW, WHICH REALLY IS CALLED A "PEEL BACK," WE PEEL LAYERS BACK LIKE AN ONION; WE REALLY SEE THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT.
>> PAT: YEAH, THIS IS PRETTY COMPLICATED.
STARTING HERE WE HAVE... >> MATT: YOU'VE GOT BELTS THAT GET LAID DOWN INITIALLY, THE CARCASS AND REALLY FORM AND CREATE THE FOUNDATION THAT THE TIRE IS BUILT ON.
THEN STEEL BELTS THAT GO ON TOP OF THAT.
AGAIN, ADDING MORE RIGIDITY.
THESE GET NYLON WRAPS ON THEM.
THEY USE WEDGES IN THE SHOULDERS AND SIDEWALLS, ALREADY WITH THE STEEL CABLE THAT BECOMES THE BEAD OF THE TIRE.
ALL OF THIS IS REALLY CURED TOGETHER WITH THE RUBBER TO CREATE A COMPOSITE STRUCTURE.
>> PAT: NOW, DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS USE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MATERIALS IN HERE, DON'T THEY?
>> MATT: OH, ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, THE STEEL BELTS; SOME USE KEVLAR FOR THE BELTING.
REALLY TRYING TO CREATE A STRUCTURE THAT'S EXTREMELY STRONG, KEEP IT AS LIGHT AS POSSIBLE AND IT'S VERY, VERY COMPLICATED.
>> PAT: ALRIGHT, AND SPEAKING OF COMPLICATED: JUST MINUTE CHANGES IN THE ANGLES OF VARIOUS COMPONENTS IN HERE CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN HOW THE TIRE PERFORMS.
>> MATT: OH YES, I MEAN, A HALF DEGREE IN BELT ANGLE WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THIS TIRE REALLY WORKS AS A STRUCTURE.
>> PAT: WELL, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THIS, YOU THINK ABOUT THE PUNISHMENT THAT IT TAKES.
GOING DOWN THE ROAD, YOU HIT A POTHOLE AT 60 OR 70 MILES AN HOUR; THE FORCES ON THESE TIRES IS ENORMOUS.
>> MATT: IT IS.
IT IS.
THE TIRE REALLY IS A STRUCTURE THAT TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ABUSE.
I MEAN, WE THINK THAT WE'RE HARD ON OUR CARS?
WHEN WE HIT POTHOLES, WHEN WE HIT DEBRIS IN THE ROAD, I MEAN THAT REALLY IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ABUSE AT SPEED.
>> PAT: WELL, I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE A MUCH GREATER APPRECIATION FOR OUR TIRES.
>> MATT: WELL, WE REALLY SHOULD.
I MEAN, THEY'RE A VERY VITAL, IMPORTANT PART OF THE CAR.
AND AN ENGINEERED STRUCTURE TO GO ALONG WITH IT.
>> PAT: MATT, THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
>> JOHN: WELL, THAT WAS FAST.
AFTER A SHORT 3 MONTHS, AND ENJOYABLE 6082 MILES, OUR VOLKSWAGEN GTI IS ROLLING OFF THE MOTORWEEK LOT.
OUR SE 4-DOOR HATCH WAS WELL EQUIPPED, WITH BACK UP CAMERA, LEATHER SEATS, AND A QUICK REVVING 210 HORSE 2.0 LITER WITH SLICK SHIFTING 6 SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION.
FINAL FUEL ECONOMY WAS 28.7 MILES PER GALLON.
THAT BEATS THE GOV'S COMBINED RATING OF 28, BUT KEEP IN MIND IT DOES REQUIRE PREMIUM.
A SMALL PRICE TO PAY, THOUGH, FOR THE SHEER FUN THAT THE GTI BROUGHT TO EVERYONE ON THE STAFF.
PLUS WITH GENEROUS CARGO SPACE, IT'S JUST A GREAT ALL AROUND CAR.
NOW, IF WE DON'T SOUND TOO TORN UP OVER LOSING THE GTI SO QUICKLY, IT'S BECAUSE ANOTHER ONE IS TAKING ITS PLACE!
THIS 4-DOOR, BASE GTI DROPS THE BACKUP CAM AND LEATHER SEATS, BUT GAINS A 3RD PETAL.
THAT'S RIGHT, A PROPER 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANS IS HOW WE ROLL NOW.
FUEL ECONOMY JUMPS ONE, BUT WE THINK THE FUN FACTOR WILL GO UP MUCH MORE OVER THE NEXT 90 DAYS.
THE MAZDA CX-9 IS ANOTHER GREAT RECENT ADDITION TO OUR FLEET, WITH AMPLE ROOM TO HAUL BOTH A FAMILY AND ALL THEIR STUFF!
FIRST INTRODUCED FOR 2007, MAZDA'S CONTINUOUS UPDATES HAVE KEPT THE CX-9 PRETTY CURRENT COMPARED TO NEWER 3-ROW RIVALS LIKE OUR LONG TERM NISSAN PATHFINDER.
ALSO ON THE PLUS SIDE, THE CX-9 HAS A REAL, GEARED 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC WITH ITS 3.7 LITER V6 POWER; NO CVT HERE!
FUEL ECONOMY AFTER 2046 MOSTLY AROUND TOWN MILES IS 17.1 MPG ON REGULAR GRADE, JUST SHY OF ITS COMBINED RATING OF 18.
THE CX-9 STILL HOLDS ITS OWN IN THE LOOKS DEPARTMENT; MORE SPORTY THAN MOST RIVAL 3-ROW CUV'S.
AND WITH BLUETOOTH, BACKUP CAM, AND HEATED SEATS, IT HAS MOST OF THE EXPECTED BELLS AND WHISTLES.
PLUS IT DRIVE'S LIKE A MAZDA, WHICH IS TO SAY, ALWAYS ENJOYABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING ROUND THE BENDS.
FINE HANDLING IS A TRAIT WE LOVE IN THE ACURA RLX.
THAT PLUS MORE ON THIS NISSAN PATHFINDER, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.
>> JOHN: YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS A MOTORNEWS UPDATE.
LET'S SEE WHAT SHE HAS FOR US.
>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: AT MOTORWEEK , WE REVIEW THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES OF WELL OVER A HUNDRED NEW CARS AND TRUCKS A YEAR.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO A THOROUGH SAFETY REVIEW, WE TURN TO THE FOLKS AT THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY, AND THEIR EXPERTISE OF THE SAFEST VEHICLES ON THE ROAD TODAY.
AND THE BEST NEWS ABOUT THE INSTITUTE'S 2015 TOP SAFETY PICKS LIST IS THAT THE NUMBER OF WINNERS HAS NEARLY DOUBLED TO OVER 70 COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
A WINNER EARNS EITHER A "TOP SAFETY PICK" OR "TOP SAFETY PICK +" RATING FROM THE IIHS.
TOP WINNERS MUST EARN AN ACCEPTABLE OR GOOD RATING IN THE CHALLENGING, SMALL, OVERLAP FRONT CRASH TEST, AND "GOOD" RATINGS IN ALL OTHER CATEGORIES.
A NEW QUALIFICATION FOR THE TOP SAFETY PICK + RATING REQUIRES VEHICLES TO HAVE FRONT CRASH PREVENTION SYSTEMS THAT AUTOMATICALLY SLOW OR COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE.
BUT EVEN AS THE CRITERION GETS HARDER, IT SEEMS AUTOMAKERS ARE WILLING TO ADJUST.
THE 33 VEHICLES EARNING "+" RATINGS THIS YEAR SHOWS THAT AUTONOMOUS BRAKING SYSTEMS ARE GAINING TRACTION.
A FULL LIST OF THE TOP SAFETY PICKS CAN BE FOUND ON THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE'S WEBSITE.
NOW, KEEP IN MIND MOST MANUFACTURERS USE THESE RATINGS AS A MAJOR SELLING POINT.
SO, IT WON'T BE HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES HAVE EARNED THE INSTITUTE'S TOP HONORS.
AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
>> JOHN: THE NISSAN MURANO MADE QUITE A SPLASH WHEN IT ARRIVED FOR 2003, EASILY BEING THE MOST STYLISH CROSSOVER UTILITY AROUND.
THAT IS UNTIL IT WAS REDESIGNED IN 2009 AS AN EVEN MORE STYLISH AND LUXURIOUS SHOWROOM ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL NISSAN UTE'S.
WELL, FOR 2015 NISSAN IS TRIPLING DOWN WITH AN EVER BOLDER 3RD GENERATION MURANO.
ONE WE THINK BUYERS WILL FIND IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE.
THERE IS CERTAINLY NO SHORTAGE OF MID-SIZE, 5-PASSENGER CROSSOVER UTILITIES TO CHOOSE FROM.
BUT WITH THE 2015 MURANO, NISSAN IS HOPING A LOT MORE PEOPLE WILL BE CHOOSING THIS UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF NEAR LUXURY TRANSPORT FOR THEIR NEXT RIDE.
FOR ITS 3RD GENERATION, THE FIRST ASSEMBLED HERE IN THE U.S., SOMEHOW NISSAN MANAGED TO MAKE THE NEW MURANO LOOK EVEN MORE DRAMATIC THAN BEFORE.
THE LINES HAVE GOTTEN BOTH MORE FLOWING AND A TAD MORE RUGGED; WITH ITS V-MOTION FRONT END SETTING THE TONE.
FROM THERE, PROTRUDING ROCKERS, HIGHLY ARCHED BODY LINES, AND SLOPING TOP PANEL LEAD TO BLACKED OUT D-PILLARS THAT GIVE A "FLOATING ROOF" APPEARANCE.
NOT A UNIQUE TACTIC, BUT IT'S STILL DISTINCTIVE AND ONE WE THINK LOOKS GREAT.
WHEELBASE AT 111.2 INCHES IS THE SAME AS BEFORE, BUT OVERALL SIZE IS MARGINALLY LONGER AND WIDER.
WEIGHT COMES IN AROUND 4,000-POUNDS DEPENDING ON TRIM.
FULL LED HEADLIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE; AND NISSAN'S SIGNATURE LED BOOMERANG LIGHTS ARE FURTHER REFINED, NOW THINNER AND PUSHED OUT TOWARDS THE CORNERS.
MORE EFFICIENCY IS A MUST THESE DAYS, AND THANKS TO SHEDDING POUNDS WHILE STILL GROWING LARGER, A FEAT FEW OF US HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, FUEL ECONOMY IS UP BY AS MUCH AS 20 PERCENT.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS, WHETHER YOU CHOOSE FRONT OR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE NOW COME IN AT 21-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED.
AERO ENHANCEMENTS ARE ALSO A BIG PART OF THE FUEL ECONOMY PICTURE, INCLUDING ACTIVE GRILLE SHUTTERS, FENDER LIP MOLDINGS, REAR SPOILER, AND AN AIR CHEATING REAR BUMPER SURFACE.
AS ARE HARDER TIRES ON THE 20-INCH WHEELS SEEN HERE ON THIS PLATINUM MODEL.
18-INCH ALLOYS ARE STANDARD ON ALL OTHER TRIMS.
AS FOR THE UNDER HOOD PART OF THIS PRETTY PICTURE, IT'S A FAMILIAR ONE; THE VQ35 3.5 LITER V6 THAT'S AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE NISSAN LINEUP, INCLUDING IN THE PREVIOUS MURANO.
HERE, PUTTING OUT 260 HORSEPOWER AND 240 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
THAT ALSO MEANS YOU'LL GET THE SAME XTRONIC CVT TRANSMISSION, FOR BETTER OR WORSE.
AND EVEN WITH THE SAME POWERTRAIN THAT'S IN THE LARGER PATHFINDER, THE MURANO IS ONLY RATED TO TOW 1,500 POUNDS, COMPARED TO THE PATHFINDER'S 5,000.
AND WHILE THOUGH THE SMALLER ROGUE HAS A 3RD ROW OPTION, THERE'S JUST 2 ROWS OF SEATING HERE, AS NISSAN SEES THE MURANO AS LESS FOR A FAMILY AND MORE OF A LUXURY MINDED EMPTY NESTER RIDE.
WITHOUT A DOUBT, INTERIOR MATERIALS ARE A STEP ABOVE OTHER NISSAN CUV'S.
THE THEME IS SPORTY, WITH UNIQUE TEXTURES AND TRIM WORK THAT, AGAIN, STANDS APART FROM THE TYPICAL HIGH LACQUERED WOOD LUXURY LOOK.
CENTER STACK CONTROLS ARE LOGICAL, EASY TO REACH, SO VERY FUNCTIONAL.
YET, THE OVERALL INTERIOR FEEL IS RELAXED, ALMOST LOUNGE LIKE AND VERY AIRY, AIDED BY THE AVAILABLE, NEARLY FULL-LENGTH PANORAMIC MOON ROOF.
AS FOR THE SEATS THEMSELVES THEY ARE ROOMY AND COMFORTABLE, FRONT AND REAR.
NISSANCONNECT WITH NAVIGATION AND MOBILE APPS IS AVAILABLE, ALL FEATURED ON AN 8-INCH DISPLAY WITH A MULTI-TOUCH CONTROLLER.
NISSAN'S GREAT AROUND VIEW MONITOR IS OFFERED, BUT A BASIC BACK-UP CAMERA COMES STANDARD.
CARGO CAPACITY IS QUITE GOOD WITH 39.6 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE BEHIND THE 2ND ROW AND 69.9 CUBIC-FEET WITH THE 2ND ROW SEATBACKS FOLDED.
NOT QUITE AS SERENE AS THE INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT WAS THE RIDE QUALITY, WHICH WE FOUND SPORTY AND FIRM.
BUT MUCH OF THAT MIGHT BE DUE TO THE 20-INCH WHEELS ON THE PLATINUM MODEL.
AND YOU DO P MORE FOR A MURANO.
PRICES START AT $30,445 FOR A BASE S MODEL; THAT'S ACTUALLY MORE THAN A LARGER PATHFINDER; AND ESCALATE UNTIL YOU ARRIVE AT PLATINUM STATUS FOR $39,885.
ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE ADDS $1,600 TO ALL TRIMS.
SO, THE QUESTION FOR CONSUMERS COMES DOWN TO THIS; IS THE NISSAN MURANO'S WELL-APPOINTED STYLE, BACKED BY SOLID MIDSIZE CROSSOVER ATTRIBUTES, WORTH ITS PREMIUM PRICE?
IF ONE IS LOOKING FOR MORE OF A PRACTICAL FLAGSHIP THAN A TYPICAL SUBURBAN HAULER, THE ANSWER WILL LIKELY BE YES.
THE FACT MURANO SELLS IN MODEST NUMBERS IS A FURTHER BOOST TO ITS STATUS.
NISSAN IS TO BE CONGRATULATED FOR MAKING SPACE IN ITS CROSSOVER LINEUP FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WITHOUT EXPECTING 6 FIGURE SALES.
FOR THE 2015 NISSAN MURANO IS REALLY ALL ABOUT STYLE.
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, WHEN WE RUN THROUGH OUR PICKS FOR THE BEST CARS, TRUCKS, AND UTILITIES OF THE YEAR: THE 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS!
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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