>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US FOR OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS; AS WE PICK THE BEST OF THE YEAR!
THEN IT'S PAT GOSS TO EASE THE TENSION DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.
FYI'S YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS HER EYES ON ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION.
AND WE'LL GRAB A QUICK SPIN IN THE UPDATED CHRYSLER 300.
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
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>> JOHN: DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS.
SURE, DRIVING BRAND NEW CARS AND TRUCKS EVERY DAY IS A GREAT WAY TO MAKE A LIVING.
BUT ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TASKS WE HAVE AT MOTORWEEK , IS TRYING TO NARROW DOWN WHICH NEW MODELS STAND OUT THE MOST, TO EARN OUR ANNUAL DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.
WELL, WE'VE DONE IT AGAIN, AND HERE ARE THE CARS THAT EARNED THE HONORS FOR 2015!
HERE AT MOTORWEEK , THE CARS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE STARS, AND THIS YEAR OUR BEST SMALL CAR AWARD GOES TO VOLKSWAGEN'S LATEST STARS, THE ENTIRE GOLF/GTI LINEUP.
WE CAN COME UP WITH MANY REASONS WHY, BUT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO THE WIDE VARIETY OF POWERTRAINS AVAILABLE AND THE RESPONSIVE HANDLING NO MATTER WHICH ONE YOU CHOOSE: TSI, TDI, GTI; OUR FAVORITE; AND EVEN THE ELECTRIC E-GOLF.
AND SPEAKING OF CHOICES, THERE ARE 2 AND 4 DOOR HATCHBACKS, AND EVEN A NEW SPORTWAGEN.
ALL DELIVERING A HUGE AMOUNT OF PRACTICALLY AND SPACE.
THEY'RE EVERYTHING A SMALL CAR SHOULD BE AND OUR "NO BRAINER" DECISION OF THE YEAR.
OUR BEST FAMILY SEDAN WINNER IS THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SUBARU LEGACY.
WE CHOSE LEGACY FOR ITS BIG STEP UP IN COMFORT AND RIDE AND HANDLING THAT, ALONG WITH STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, MAKE IT A SOLID CHALLENGER TO SEGMENT SALES LEADERS.
SUBARU CLEARLY STUDIED LEGACY RIVALS, MATCHING OR EXCEEDING WHAT THEY DO BEST, ALL WITHOUT ELIMINATING THINGS THAT MAKE SUBARU'S UNIQUE.
SUBARU ALSO LISTENED CLOSELY TO CUSTOMERS ADDRESSING ISSUES LIKE GAUGES, SWITCHGEAR, SEAT COMFORT, AND NAVIGATION.
TOPPING IT OFF, THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE FUEL ECONOMY NUMBERS COMPETITIVE EVEN WITH ALL-WHEEL TRACTION.
IT'S A GREAT EFFORT.
DON'T GET OUR STAFFERS STARTED ON BMW'S NEW NAMING STRATEGY, AS YOU'LL GET AN EARFUL.
BUT THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN IF YOU ASK THEM ABOUT THE 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE.
THEY'LL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT ITS FUN TO DRIVE NATURE THAT MAKES IT THE FINEST 4-SEATER CONVERTIBLE IN WHAT IS A SHRINKING SEGMENT.
BUT NOT ONLY IS IT AN ALL OUT HANDLING STAR, THE HARD TOP DESIGN HELPS IT RETAIN ALMOST ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF THE COUPE THAT IT'S BASED ON, INCLUDING THE SHARP LOOKING PROFILE.
YET IT FOLDS UP COMPACTLY ENOUGH TO LEAVE A DECENT AMOUNT OF TRUNK SPACE.
THERE WERE A LOT OF NEW CONTENDERS FOR OUR BEST LUXURY CAR PRIZE, BUT WHILE WE WERE ARGUING BETWEEN THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS AND THE HYUNDAI GENESIS, WE REALIZED THAT WE DIDN'T ENJOY EITHER OF THEM AS MUCH AS LAST YEAR'S WINNER THE CADILLAC CTS.
SO, IT'S A WELL DESERVED REPEAT WIN FOR CADDY'S MID-SIZER.
FULL OF LUXURY, FULL OF HIGH TECH, AND EVEN FULL OF AGILITY THANKS TO THE NIMBLE ATS CHASSIS THAT IT'S BASED ON.
AND WHEN GM FINALLY GETS AROUND TO DELIVERING THE NEW CTS-V, WE'LL BE EVEN MORE ECSTATIC.
PROCLAIMING THE DODGE CHARGER OUR BEST SPORT SEDAN MAY NOT SEEM LIKE THE OBVIOUS CHOICE, BUT IF YOU GET ANYWHERE NEAR A CHARGER HELLCAT, YOU'LL AGREE WITH US THAT IT WAS THE ONLY CHOICE.
707 HORSEPOWER IS TRULY MIND BOGGLING FOR ANY CAR, BUT PUT THAT ENGINE IN A SUPER COMFORTABLE DAILY DRIVER THAT CAN HAUL 5 PEOPLE IN NEAR LUXURY COMFORT ALONG WITH A WEEK'S WORTH OF LUGGAGE, AND YOU'VE REALLY GOT SOMETHING.
AND DESPITE ITS MUSCULAR APPEARANCE, DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT THIS IS SOME NOSTALGIC THROWBACK.
IT'S A TRULY MODERN SEDAN WITH A STANDARD 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC AND AVAILABLE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.
WE'LL CONTINUE OUR BIG TIME AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR THEME WITH OUR NEXT AWARD, BEST SPORT COUPE, WHICH GOES TO THE ALL-NEW FORD MUSTANG.
BIG CHANGES ARE AHOOF FOR '15, SUSPENSION THAT SERIOUSLYAR UPPED THE HANDLING PERFORMANCE, THE RETURN OF TURBO 4 POWER THAT BOOSTED FUEL ECONOMY WITHOUT LOSING ANY FUN FACTOR.
PLUS, A EURO-SPEC LEVEL OF REFINEMENT TO THE INTERIOR THAT HAS RAISED THE BAR FOR THE SEGMENT.
IT FULLY LIVES UP TO FORD'S CLAIM OF BEING A WORLD CLASS SPORTS CAR, AND IT'S A GAME CHANGER FOR SURE.
WE'LL HEAD IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DIRECTION FOR OUR BEST PERFORMANCE CAR, THE ALFA ROMEO 4C.
WE HAD HIGH HOPES FOR ALFA'S RETURN TO THE STATES, AND THE 4C DIDN'T DISAPPOINT.
THIS PINT SIZE POWERHOUSE PACKS SUPERCAR LEVELS OF FUN AND FRIVOLITY INTO A GORGEOUSLY EXECUTED, TIDY ITALIAN PACKAGE.
NO FRILLS, INCLUDING NO POWER STEERING, MAKES IT AN ALL BUSINESS AFFAIR THAT REMINDS US OF THE DAYS WHEN YOU WERE MAKING A COMPROMISING DECISION IN BUYING A SPORTS CAR.
THE HIGH OUTPUT TURBO ENGINE SOUNDS GLORIOUS, AND THE WAY THE ROAD RUSHES AT YOU, HAD US FEELING LIKE WE WERE FLYING DOWN THE OPEN ROAD IN A GO-CART.
FOR OUR BEST ECO FRIENDLY CHOICE, WE'RE DELIGHTED TO AWARD IT TO AN ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE KIA SOUL EV.
IT'S THE FIRST MAINSTREAM EV THAT WE WANT TO LIVE WITH, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AS A FAMILY VEHICLE.
THE SOUL'S SMALL CROSSOVER SIZE, WITH PLENTY OF SPACE FOR BOTH PASSENGERS AND CARGO, AND ITS UNIQUE FEATURES, ALL COME WRAPPED IN THE COOLEST EXTERIOR OF ANY EV ON THE ROAD.
THE LATEST SOUL'S MATURE MAKEOVER MAKES FOR A MUCH MORE PLEASANT INTERIOR EXPERIENCE TOO, WITHOUT LOSING ANY OF THE YOUTHFUL FLARE OF THE ORIGINAL.
NOW, IT'S TIME FOR THE IMPRACTICAL, THIS YEAR'S BEST DREAM MACHINES.
THE RIDES WE'D BUY TO FILL OUR DREAM GARAGE.
FOR THE EVERYDAY, WE'LL TAKE THE HIGH PERFORMANCE AUDI RS7; HUGE PERFORMANCE, EXQUISITE LUXURY, AND AN OVERALL FEELING OF YOU'VE ARRIVED.
AS FOR LOOKING FORWARD, WE'D PICK THE BMW I8.
THIS FUTURISTIC PIECE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE ART HAD US, AND CROWDS, GATHERING EVERY TIME THE DOORS WERE SWUNG UP AND OPEN.
AND FOR THE ULTIMATE IN TRACK DAY FUN WE'D GO WITH LAFERRARI.
WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO DRIVE WHAT IS VIRTUALLY A ROAD GOING F1 CAR EVERY DAY?
OKAY, WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T EITHER, BUT WE'D SURE LIKE TO DRIVE IT WHEN WE WANT, AND JUST SIT AROUND STARING AT IT THE REST OF THE TIME.
AND THAT'S THE CARS THAT HAVE A STARRING ROLE IN THIS YEAR'S MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.
BUT STAY TUNED: TRUCKS, UTILITIES, AND OUR BEST OF THE YEAR, ARE STILL TO COME.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU DRIVE, AUTO ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN.
BUT FIGURING OUT WHY, AND HOW, THEY HAPPEN, AND HOW TO KEEP THEM FROM HAPPENING AGAIN HAS NEVER BEEN AN EXACT SCIENCE.
BUT AS OUR FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS FOUND OUT, WE'RE GETTING CLOSER.
>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: WHETHER IT'S A FENDER BENDER OR A MAJOR ACCIDENT, FIGURING OUT WHO'S AT FAULT OR WHO'S BEING TRUTHFUL, IS OFTEN TRICKY.
THAT'S WHEN ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONIST GREG SULLENBERGER AND TRACIE ECKSTEIN COMES ON THE SCENE.
>> GREG SULLENBERGER: I GENERALLY AM CALLED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES, OR LAW FIRMS, OR PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN A CRASH, OR WHO ARE LITIGATING A CRASH.
>> YOLANDA: TO GIVE US A BETTER IDEA OF HOW IT ALL WORKS, THEY SET UP A MOCK ACCIDENT IN WHICH THEY SIMULATE A 90-DEGREE COLLISION OF 2 CARS AT AN INTERSECTION.
SULLENBERGER GETS OUT HIS GEAR IT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM A LEVELING ROD TO A PRISM POLE SURVEYING EQUIPMENT THAT'S A MUST FOR ANY PROFESSIONAL ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR.
>> SULLENBERGER: IT'S ALL VERY BASIC.
IT'S 8TH GRADE NEWTON'S LAWS OF MOTIONS AND HIGH SCHOOL MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS, BUT THEN THERE'S A LOT OF COLLISION SPECIFIC TRAINING THAT GOES INTO FULLY UNDERSTANDING EVERYTHING.
>> YOLANDA: WITH THE SURVEYING TOOLS, THEY'RE ABLE TO DOCUMENT ALL THE EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE.
THAT INCLUDES THE BRAKING MARKS ON THE ROADWAY, THE POSITION OF REST OF BOTH VEHICLES, AND A BRAKING TEST USING AN ACCELEROMETER.
>> SULLENBERGER: THAT TELLS ME FRICTION BETWEEN TIRES AND ROADWAY SURFACE SO I CAN THEN USE THAT TO APPLY TO A FORMULA.
>> YOLANDA: NEXT, THEY TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES CHECKING EACH TIRE TREAD WEAR AND TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS.
A REVIEW OF THE SEATBELTS LETS THEM KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY STRETCHING OR DEFORMITIES PRESENT, BUT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION USUALLY COMES FROM THE CAR ITSELF.
SULLENBERGER PLUGS INTO THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE, AND ITS EVENT DATA RECORDER.
HE USES SOFTWARE TO ANALYZE THE DATA FROM THE EDR WHICH CAN SAVE UP TO 5-SECONDS OR MORE OF PRE-CRASH DATA.
>> SULLENBERGER: GIVES ME THE SPEED, ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION, BRAKE PEDAL POSITION, SEAT BELT POSITION POSSIBLY SEVERAL OTHER PARAMETERS.
>> YOLANDA: AND OTHER VEHICLE SPECIFICS LIKE THE DELTA V WHICH IS THE CHANGE IN VELOCITY IN A CRASH.
>> TRACIE ECKSTEIN: SO, IF YOU HAVE A DELTA V OF 30 MPH, THAT'S QUITE SEVERE.
IF YOU HAVE A DELTA V OF 5 MPH, YOU MAY HAVE SOME NECK PAIN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S A FAIRLY MINOR CRASH.
>>YOLANDA: THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY ISSUED A REGULATION TO STANDARDIZE ALL THE DATA RECORDED BY AN EDR.
THIS LIST SHOWS WHAT THAT INCLUDES.
AND IF NEED BE, SULLENBERGER WILL PUT TOGETHER A 3-D ANIMATION TO SHOW HOW THE CRASH OCCURRED.
"ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION IS ALSO USEFUL IN DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAKING HIGHWAYS AND ROADS SAFER.
NOT TO MENTION IMPROVING THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF FUTURE VEHICLE DESIGNS."
SULLENBERGER AND ECKSTEIN BOTH HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUNDS WITH NEARLY 30 YEARS OF COMBINED ACCIDENT RECON EXPERIENCE.
BUT THEY ALSO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING.
THIS VIDEO IS FROM A HIGH-SPEED CRASH TESTING SEMINAR HELD IN PENNSYLVANIA LAST YEAR.
MORE THAN 300 POLICE OFFICERS FROM 20 STATES ATTENDED, PUTTING THEIR RECONSTRUCTION SKILLS TO THE TEST.
>> SULLENBERGER: THEN WE APPLY ALL THE TECHNIQUES, AND FORMULAS, AND METHODOLOGIES TO CONFIRM THAT WHAT WE LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM IS TRUE, BECAUSE WE DO IT IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AND PROVE TO OURSELVES THAT WE'RE DOING IS CORRECT AND ACCURATE.
>>YOLANDA: WITH CARS BECOMING MORE AND MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY SOPHISTICATED, WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE OF ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION HOLDS.
BUT ONE THING'S FOR SURE THIS CRITICAL DATA IS BEING USED TO MAKE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR BOTH MOTORISTS AND THEIR VEHICLES.
>> JOHN: EVERYONE KNOWS THAT CALIFORNIA IS CAR HEAVEN.
AND IF YOU'VE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT HEADING TO THE GOLDEN COAST FOR A VACATION ON WHEELS PICK UP A COPY OF "VIA CORSA CAR LOVER'S GUIDE TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA."
FROM AUTHOR RON ADAMS, YOU'LL GET ROUTE TIPS; A RUNDOWN OF CAR MUSEUMS, WINERIES OF COURSE, POPULAR HOT ROD SHOPS, AND RACE TRACKS.
AS WELL AS STRATEGIES TO NAVIGATE THE BIG NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CAR EVENTS LIKE THE MONTEREY HISTORICS, GOOD GUYS HOT ROD WEEK, AND THE PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE.
THERE'S EVEN A SECTION ON MOVIE LOCATIONS FROM WELL LOVED CAR FLICKS.
ALL ACCOMPANIED BY SOME UNIQUE PHOTOS, PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS, AND EVEN SOME INTERVIEWS WITH HEAVYWEIGHTS IN THE LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE SCENE.
IF HITTING THE ROAD IN CALIFORNIA IS A MUST FOR YOU, THEN THIS BOOK IS MUST READ.
TENSION IS A KILLER, EVEN FOR YOUR CAR.
SO, LET'S SEE IF PAT CAN EASE OUR PAIN DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.
>> PAT: NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF VEHICLE, THE KEY TO A LONG LIFE IS GOOD PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE.
AND FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE THIS HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE THAT HAS 113,000 MILES ON IT, AND STILL RUNS ALMOST LIKE NEW.
WELL, IT TOOK THIS AMOUNT OF PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND TO GIVE US SOME TIPS ABOUT MOTORCYCLES IN GENERAL, WE HAVE LYNDON ABEL FROM PATRIOT HARLEY-DAVIDSON IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA.
LYNDON, WELCOME TO MOTORWEEK .
>> LYNDON ABEL: THANKS PAT.
>> PAT: ALRIGHT, NOW ON HARLEY'S, YOU HAVE A... CHAIN TENSIONER?
>> LYNDON: YEAH, SO LIKE MOST VEHICLES, THIS HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS A CAM SUPPORT PLATE, AND THESE 2 CAMS ARE DRIVEN BY A CHAIN.
AND LIKE I SAID, MOST VEHICLES HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR.
AND THEY NEED TENSION PROVIDED ON THIS CHAIN.
IN THIS CASE IT'S SPRING LOADED.
BUT INSTEAD OF THE TENSIONER LOOKING ABOUT LIKE THIS, WHERE THIS METAL CHAIN IS RUNNING AGAINST THIS PLASTIC TENSIONER, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE TENSIONER IS WORN COMPLETELY THROUGH.
AND NOW, THIS CHAIN IS RUNNING AGAINST THE SPRING ITSELF.
AND IT'S PULLING SHRAPNEL OFF OF THAT SPRING, AND SENDING IT THROUGH THE MOTOR.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S ALREADY STARTED TO DESTROY THE CAMS, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE OIL PUMP LOOKS SIMILARLY POOR.
THIS IS A VERY BAD THING.
>> PAT: OKAY.
NOW, KEEP IN MIND THAT VIRTUALLY ALL ENGINES THESE DAYS HAVE SOME TYPE OF CHAIN TENSIONER LIKE THIS, AND THEY ALL WEAR; THEY'RE LIKE BRAKE SHOES OR TIRES.
SO, YOU NEED TO CHECK THEM.
ALRIGHT.
UPGRADE?
>> LYNDON: SO, THIS IS AN UPGRADE.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SWITCHED TO A HYDRAULIC TENSIONER, AND THIS IS A BETTER WAY TO GO BECAUSE AT LOWER RPMS, YOU NEED LESS PRESSURE ON THAT CHAIN, AND AT HIGHER RPMS, YOU NEED MORE PRESSURE.
WELL, THE OIL PUMP DELIVERS GREATER PRESSURE AT HIGHER RPMS; WHERE YOU NEED IT MOST.
BUT AT LOWER RPMS, YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH PRESSURE ON THE CHAIN, WHICH MEANS YOU GET A LONGER LIFE OUT OF THIS CAM CHAIN TENSIONER.
>> PAT: DOUBLE, MAYBE?
>> LYNDON: AT LEAST DOUBLE IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
>> PAT: OKAY, AND TO GO ALONG WITH THIS I'M ASSUMING IT HAS A MATCHING OIL PUMP?
>> LYNDON: IT DOES.
THIS OIL PUMP PROVIDES NOT ONLY THE INCREASED OIL PRESSURE THAT YOU NEED TO HANDLE THOSE HYDRAULIC TENSIONERS, BUT ALSO ANY INCREASE BEYOND THAT.
SO YOUR... YOU'LL GET BETTER FLOW, BETTER PRESSURE THROUGHOUT SCAVENGING OUT OF THE CASE, WHICH IS INCREASE PERFORMANCE, AND DECREASE POTENTIAL OIL CARRYOVER.
>> PAT: OKAY.
LYNDON, THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
>> JOHN: TIME NOW TO GET BACK TO THE WINNERS OF OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.
OUR SPOTLIGHT TURNS TO TRUCKS AND UTILITIES, SO LET'S SEE WHICH ONES HAVE EARNED THE BRAGGING RIGHTS!
IN THE EVER EXPLODING AND FRACTURING CROSSOVER UTILITY MARKET, IT'S GETTING HARDER THAN EVER TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD.
BUT THIS DYNAMIC PIECE OF ROLLING SCULPTURE, THE ALL-NEW NISSAN MURANO, EASILY SETS ITSELF APART, AND EARNS OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SMALL UTILITY WHILE DOING SO.
THE 5-SEAT MURANO IS HIGHLY STYLED, YET FUNCTIONAL AND PRACTICAL; WITH AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF INTERIOR SPACE.
YET, IT'S ALSO AS FOCUSED ON LUXURY CUES AS A MAINSTREAM VEHICLE CAN BE.
THE EXTERIOR'S INFLATED LINES AND FLOATING ROOF DESIGN CONTINUE MURANO'S EXTRAVAGANT WAYS OF LOOKING NOTHING LIKE A TYPICAL CROSSOVER.
WHILE THE INTERIOR'S FIRST-CLASS, LOUNGE LIKE ATMOSPHERE HAD US WRAPPED IN PRETTY POSH COMFORT.
PLUS, MURANO DRIVING DYNAMICS HAVE US ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHERE CROSSOVERS, OR AT LEAST THOSE FROM NISSAN, ARE HEADING.
AND PERHAPS THE BIGGEST FEAT OF ALL, NISSAN INCREASED FUEL ECONOMY OVER LAST GENERATION BY 20 PERCENT.
WHILE CROSSOVERS CONTINUE TO RISE, CHOICES AMONG FULL-SIZE, TRUCK BASED SUV'S ARE DWINDLING.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, IF YOU NEED ONE, YOU NEED ONE!
AND THE NEWEST, MOST CONTEMPORARY DESIGN ON THE BLOCK, THE CHEVROLET TAHOE, AND ITS STRETCHED STABLEMATE THE SUBURBAN, ALONG WITH CORPORATE COUSINS GMC YUKON AND YUKON XL, EASILY TAKE OUR AWARD FOR BEST LARGE UTILITY OF THE YEAR.
WITH A FULL FRAME AND REAR OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE, THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR HEAVY CHORES, WHETHER IT'S TOWING UP TO 8,300 POUNDS OR HAULING A BROOD OF 9.
MUCH MORE THAN JUST BIG RIDES ON COP SHOWS.
TRIM CAN BORDER ON PURE LUXURY WITH THE LATEST IN TECHNOLOGY INCLUDING 4G LTE WI-FI.
QUIETER, MORE USER FRIENDLY, AND ENJOYABLE TO DRIVE THAN EVER, THE TAHOE/BURB/YUKON ALSO BOAST FUEL ECONOMY THAT'S PRETTY DARN CLOSE TO CROSSOVERS.
WHILE NOT CHEAP RIDES, THEY WITHOUT A DOUBT DELIVER LOTS OF VEHICLE FOR THE MONEY.
THERE WAS MORE PICKUP TRUCK NEWS THIS GO AROUND THAN ANY YEAR IN RECENT MEMORY.
BUT HOW COULD WE NOT GIVE OUR BEST PICKUP TRUCK AWARD TO THE ONE ALL NEW DESIGN THAT IS A TRUE GAME CHANGER, THE FORD F-150.
WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ITS ALUMINUM BODY, 700 POUND WEIGHT SAVING, OR IT'S AVAILABILITY OF NOT 1, BUT 2 TURBOCHARGED V6'S; WITH A RESULTING BIG JUMP IN FUEL ECONOMY, IT'S A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS.
ONE THAT, 50 YEARS FROM NOW, WILL HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING BACK AND SAYING THIS IS WHEN THE AMERICAN FAMILY FAVORITE CHANGED FOREVER.
BUT BESIDES THE LOWER WEIGHT AND HIGHER TECH, IT'S STILL A TRUCK, BUILT FOR TRUCK TYPE THINGS LIKE TOWING OVER 12,000 POUNDS, HITTING THE TRAIL, AND GETTING WORK DONE.
AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF USEFUL FEATURES AVAILABLE TO HELP MAKE THAT WORK FEEL A LOT LESS LIKE ACTUAL WORK.
IT'S A BOLD STEP FOR FORD THAT SHOULD KEEP THE F-150 THE NUMBER ONE SELLING VEHICLE IN AMERICA FOR AS FAR DOWN THE ROAD AS WE CAN SEE.
AND WHILE WE CAN SEE THE END OF OUR AWARD'S ROAD, WE STILL HAVE OUR BEST OF THE YEAR TO REVEAL, AND IT'S COMING UP SOON.
WE'RE ALWAYS UP FOR A QUICK SPIN!
HERE'S WHAT WE THINK OF THE LATEST!
FOR THE LAST DECADE, THE CHRYSLER 300 HAS BEEN AT THE HELM AS THE BRAND'S FLAGSHIP SEDAN, AND SHOWING BUYERS WHAT A FULL-SIZE FAMILY 4 DOOR SHOULD BE.
WITH BOTH DOMESTIC AND IMPORT RIVALS CATCHING UP QUICKLY, HOWEVER, WE FELT A QUICK REFRESHER SPIN IN THE 2015 300 WAS IN ORDER.
FANS OF ITS CURRENT STYLING WILL FIND ONLY MORE TO LOVE.
THE FRONT END HAS BEEN REWORKED, SUBTRACTING SOME BRIGHT WORK IN PLACE OF MORE SUBTLE MATERIALS.
TAILLIGHTS ARE FULL LED'S, AND TAILPIPES HAVE BEEN FLATTENED, TO INTEGRATE MORE WITH THE REAR.
LINES ACROSS THE PROFILE APPEAR A TAD MORE GRACEFUL, AND COMPLIMENT SOME NEW WHEEL CHOICES.
BUT INSIDE IS WHERE MOST OF THE REWORK WENT WHERE IT REALLY UPS THE WOW FACTOR.
LEATHER SEATING IS STANDARD.
BUT BIG SPENDERS WILL WANT THIS DIAMOND STITCHED TREATMENT WHERE LEATHER SURROUNDS THE CONSOLE AND IP.
AS PART OF THE NEW PLATINUM TRIM LEVEL, IT IS ONE OF SEVERAL NEW "THEMED" DESIGNS.
A 7 INCH INFO DISPLAY HIGHLIGHTS A NEW GAUGE CLUSTER, SET BEHIND AN ALSO NEW 3 SPOKE STEERING WHEEL.
PART OF THE REFRESHED LAYOUT, IT ALL KEEPS THE INTERIOR MODERN AND UP TO DATE, WITHOUT IT BEING TOO STUFFY.
>> PATRICK LUCAS: THE FRONT SEAT OF THIS 300 IS JUST INSANELY COMFORTABLE.
YOU COULD FALL ASLEEP IN THIS THING.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS: IT'S A BIG, COMFORTABLE, AMERICAN SEDAN.
IT'S GOT ROOM FOR YOUR WHOLE FAMILY.
IT'S GOT A BIG TRUNK.
THIS YEAR, THEY'VE REFRESHED THE LOOK.
THEY'VE SWITCHED TO THE NEW ELECTRONIC ROTARY SHIFTER WHICH IS, A LOVE IT OR HATE IT KIND OF THING.
IT DEFINITELY CLEANS UP THE INTERIOR LOOK.
AND ADDS TO THE OVERALL MORE PREMIUM NATURE OF THE 300 THAT I THINK CHRYSLER IS GOING FOR.
>> JOHN: FIRST SEEN ON THE RAM 1500 AND CHRYSLER 200, A ROTARY SHIFTER IS PAIRED TO A STANDARD 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ON BOTH AVAILABLE ENGINES.
ALL WHEEL IS AVAILABLE ON THE 292 HORSEPOWER V6, THOUGH NOT ON THE 363 HORSEPOWER V8.
AND LIKE BEFORE, THE 300'S MODEL BUMPS V6 POWER UP TO AN EVEN 300.
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FINDS ITS WAY IN FOR 2015, WITH SELECTABLE LEVELS OF ASSIST TO DIAL OUT SOME OF THE NUMBNESS.
THOUGH THE MANY MINOR IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT PROVE TO BE QUITE MAJOR, CHRYSLER HAS DECIDED NOT TO MESS TOO MUCH WITH THE GOOD THING THEY'VE GOT GOING; OPTING INSTEAD TO FINE TUNE THE 300, WHICH IS JUST FINE BY US!
AND WE'LL GET BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL FOR MORE QUICK SPINS, SOON!
YOU'VE SEEN OUR PICKS FOR BEST CARS, TRUCKS, AND UTILITIES.
NOW, IT'S TIME FOR THE BIG ONE, AS WE SELECT THE ONE AUTOMOTIVE STAR THAT SHINES BRIGHTER THAN ALL THE OTHERS.
OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR!
THE FORD MUSTANG IS OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD BEST OF THE YEAR AND FOR MANY REASONS.
THERE'S THE TOTAL CHASSIS REBOOT WITH STANDARD INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION THAT HELPS THE MUSTANG CLING TO THE ROAD LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
THERE'S THE NEW ECOBOOST TURBO I4 POWER TO NOT ONLY BOOST FUEL ECONOMY HERE, BUT TO GIVE THE NEW MUSTANG REAL GLOBAL APPEAL.
AND DON'T FORGET THE VASTLY AND SMARTLY UPGRADED INTERIOR.
THEY ALL PLAY A PART, YES.
BUT THE BIGGEST REASON FOR OUR ACCOLADE, FORD HAS MATURED THE MUSTANG FROM A PIECE OF WELL LOVED AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR INTO A WORLD-CLASS SPORTS CAR LOOKING TO COMPETE WITH THE LIKES OF CORVETTE MORE SO THAN TRADITIONAL RIVALS LIKE CAMARO AND CHALLENGER.
OKAY, IT'S NOT QUITE THERE YET, BUT FORD HAS ESSENTIALLY TAKEN WHAT WAS ALREADY OUR FAVORITE PONY CAR AND MADE IT WORLDS BETTER.
USUALLY WHEN A CAR GETS AS MUCH HYPE AS THIS 6TH GEN MUSTANG, IT RARELY LIVES UP TO IT.
NOT THE CASE HERE, AS EVERY VERSION WE'VE DRIVEN, WE'VE FOUND BETTER THAN ADVERTISED.
SURE, THE INCREDIBLE STABLE NEW CHASSIS HELPS IT HANDLE BETTER, AND THE 2.3 LITER TURBO 4 IS COOL.
BUT IT'S JUST ONE OF 3 ENGINE CHOICES THAT GET OVER 300 HORSEPOWER.
THE STANDARD 3.7 LITER V6 CARRIES OVER, AND THE 5.0 LITER V8 GETS EVEN MORE POWER, NOW AT 435.
AS FOR THAT INTERIOR, WHILE THE CLASSIC LAYOUT STAYS FAMILIAR; THE SWITCHGEAR, SEATS, AND MOST MATERIALS ARE BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE CURRENT FORD BRAND LINEUP, AND BLOWS EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS SEGMENT AWAY.
THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR THE EXTERIOR.
YOU INSTANTLY KNOW ITS PURE MUSTANG, YET IT'S MODERNLY DIFFERENT.
THE 2015 FORD MUSTANG IS NOT JUST A REDESIGN, BUT A RESTART FOR THE ICON.
IT SHOWS THAT WHILE FORD HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HISTORY AND ADMIRATION FOR WHAT THE MUSTANG HAS DONE FOR THE BRAND, THEY ARE NOT STANDING STILL; RATHER LOOKING FORWARD.
WE KNOW THERE'S A NEW CAMARO JUST AROUND THE CORNER, BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE PRETTY SPECIAL IF IT WANTS TO STOP FORD'S NEW 'STANG.
OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD BEST OF THE YEAR!
WELL, THAT'S OUR 2015 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!
NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST AND COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE LET A PAIR OF DODGE HELLCATS REALLY STRETCH THEIR LEGS.
THEN GET JUICED UP FOR THE VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF.
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.
MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY...
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