>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AS WE SEE IF MORE DOORS OPENS UP MORE FUN IN THE MINI COOPER S HARDTOP 4 DOOR... PAT GOSS TAKES OUR SUSPENSION KNOW HOW TO NEW HEIGHTS... ZACH MASKELL CELEBRATES BY GOING OVER THE EDGE AT ONE OF OUR FAVORITE RACE TRACKS... THEN WE'LL PICKUP WHERE WE LEFT OFF WITH THE CHEVY COLORADO AND GMC CANYON!
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: THE ONLY SURE PREDICTION OF THE WEATHER IS THAT IT'S UNPREDICTABLE.
IN SIMILAR FASHION, JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE MINI LINE-UP FIGURED OUT, IN STORMS A NEW MODEL.
OFFICIALLY, THIS IS THE MINI COOPER HARDTOP 4 DOOR.
BUT, CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT, IT STILL LOOKS LIKE FUN TO US.
IF YOU'RE KEEPING UP, YOU'LL KNOW THAT THE "NEW" MINI COOPER IS WELL INTO ITS 3RD GENERATION.
IT KICKED OFF LAST YEAR WITH A REDESIGN OF THE QUINTESSENTIAL HARDTOP 2 DOOR.
SO, THIS YEAR THAT NEW PLATFORM WILL ENVELOP MORE MODELS, THE FIRST BEING A 2015 HARDTOP 4 DOOR.
THOUGH IT ADDS 2 DOORS, 3 INCHES OF WHEELBASE, AND 6 INCHES OF OVERALL LENGTH; THE SPIRIT, STYLE, AND ENJOYMENT FACTORS OF THE ICONIC COOPER HARDTOP REMAIN FULLY INTACT.
SO, THERE'S STILL THE FRIENDLY WIDE MOUTH FACE, LONG FLAT ROOF, AND SLANTED HATCHBACK WITH PROMINENT SPOILER UP TOP THAT WE'VE ALL COME TO LOVE.
TECHNICALLY A FIRST TIME MODEL, AS IT REPLACES THE QUIRKY 3 DOOR CLUBMAN, THE HARDTOP 4 DOOR FOLLOWS THE TRADITIONAL MINI FORMULA WITH BOTH REGULAR AND S MODELS.
S TRIM ADDS A HONEYCOMB GRILLE WITH BRAKE COOLING DUCTS JUST BELOW.
AT THE REAR, THERE'S A UNIQUE FASCIA WITH DUAL, CENTER MOUNTED EXHAUST TIPS, AND OF COURSE MULTIPLE TREATMENTS FOR THE ROOF AND HOOD STRIPES.
LED HEADLIGHTS ARE AN OPTION AND MUCH LIKE THE TAILLIGHTS, THEY APPEAR LARGER IN SIZE WITH EACH NEW GENERATION.
A SPORT PACKAGE UPGRADES THE STANDARD 16 INCH ALLOY WHEELS TO 17'S.
POWERTRAINS CARRY OVER FROM THE 2 DOOR, WHICH MEANS A 134 HORSEPOWER I3 TURBO IS STANDARD.
IT SOUNDS SOLID WITH MORE THAN ADEQUATE POWER FOR MOST OWNERS.
S MODELS GET THE 2.0 LITER TURBO-4, WITH 189 HORSEPOWER AND UP TO 221 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE WHEN OVERBOOST IS ENGAGED.
IT EASILY GOES BETTER, BUT GENERATES LESS SATISFYING SOUNDS THAN THE 3-CYLINDER.
A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS AVAILABLE, BUT WE GUARANTEE YOU'LL HAVE MUCH MORE FUN IF YOU STICK WITH THE STANDARD 6 SPEED MANUAL AND ITS IMPRESSIVE MECHANICAL FEEL.
OF COURSE, THE WHOLE REASONING FOR OFFERING THE 4 DOOR IS TO MAKE THE REAR SEATS MORE ACCOMMODATING.
AND WHILE ACCESS IS CERTAINLY IMPROVED, WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT YOUNG TEENAGER SIZE SPACE, THOUGH AN ADDED CENTER SEATBELT MEANS YOU CAN NOW CRAM ONE MORE BACK THERE IN A PINCH.
THE TRADITIONAL REAR DOORS ALSO MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR TOSSING IN A BAG, OR REACHING CARGO WITH THE REAR SEATS FOLDED.
MAXIMUM CARGO SPACE CLIMBS TO 40.7 CUBIC-FEET, ALTHOUGH THAT'S STILL LESS THAN IN THE EQUALLY ENTERTAINING VOLKSWAGEN GTI.
AS FOR THE LIVING SPACE UP FRONT, IT'S REMAINS A TRULY UNIQUE PLACE TO TAKE IN SOME SCENERY; EVEN THOUGH THE LARGE, ACTIVE LED RINGED CENTRAL POD NOW SERVES AS A MORE TRADITIONAL INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY, INCLUDING OPTIONAL NAVIGATION.
ALL OF THE TRADITIONAL GAUGES HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THE STEERING COLUMN.
WHILE WE MISS THE CENTRAL SPEEDO, THIS SETUP IS WORLDS BETTER.
THANKFULLY, ALL OF THE PLAYFUL TOGGLE STYLE CONTROLS REMAIN, AS IT'S REFRESHING TO NOT HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING THROUGH A TOUCHSCREEN FOR A CHANGE.
WHEN ZIPPING AROUND WITH THOSE ADDITIONAL FRIENDS ON BOARD, THE RIDE OF THE 4 DOOR COOPER S IS STILL STIFFER THAN MOST WOULD LIKE, YET ANOTHER REASON TO STICK WITH THE BASE COOPER.
BUT THE ADDITIONAL WHEELBASE MAKES IT SEEM A LITTLE SMOOTHER THAN THE 2 DOOR.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR A 4 DOOR COOPER S MANUAL ARE 24-CITY, 34-HIGHWAY, AND 27-COMBINED.
WE AVERAGED AN ACCEPTABLE 26.1 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM.
SO, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS A GOOD ONE, WITH 12.2 BARRELS OF OIL BURNED AND 5.4 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED ANNUALLY.
PRICES START VERY REASONABLY AT JUST $1,000 OVER THE 2 DOOR PRICES, PUTTING A BASE COOPER 4 DOOR AT $22,550.
THE S STARTS $25,950.
BUT IT WON'T TAKE YOU LONG TO GET WELL OVER $30,000 SHOULD YOU CHECK MORE THAN A FEW BOXES ON THE ORDER SHEET.
SO, IT'S YET ANOTHER UNIQUE OFFERING FROM MINI, AS THEY SEEM TO BE DOING AS GOOD A JOB AS EVER OF MAKING THE NEW EVEN MORE CHARMINGLY FAMILIAR.
AND WHILE THE 2015 MINI COOPER HARDTOP 4 DOOR IS NOT QUITE AS ROOMY AS THE BORDERLINE CROSSOVER COUNTRYMAN, IT'S MUCH MORE USEFUL THAN THE 2 DOOR, AND A LOT MORE SENSIBLE THAN THE ODD BALL CLUBMAN.
BUT YOU DON'T BUY ANY MINI FOR ITS SENSIBLENESS.
YOU BUY IT, FOR THE FUN OF IT!
OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO TUCSON, ARIZONA, WHERE GOLDEN EAGLE DISTRIBUTORS CONTINUES TO INCREASE ITS USE OF COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS DELIVERY TRUCKS.
GOLDEN EAGLE NOW OPERATES 32 CNG TRUCKS IN TUCSON AND CASA GRANDE WITH MORE ON THE WAY.
THEY WORK WITH RYDER SYSTEMS, A CHARTER PARTNER IN THE DOE'S NATIONAL CLEAN FLEETS PROGRAM.
IN 2012 BEVERAGE WORLD MAGAZINE NAMED GOLDEN EAGLE NATIONAL FLEET OF THE YEAR, AND THEY'RE PROUD OF THEIR RECORD OF LOWERING COSTS AND GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS.
>> BILL OSTEEN: WHEN WE EXPLAINED THE COST BENEFITS...
THE TRUCKS COST MORE BUT THE FUEL'S A LOT LESS SO IN THE TRADE OFF... WE WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO SAVE MONEY FROM DAY ONE.
>> JOHN: WORKING WITH TUCSON CLEAN CITIES COALITION AND CNG PARTNER TRILLIUM, GOLDEN EAGLE HAS BUILT TWO PUBLIC ACCESS CNG FUELING STATIONS WITH A THIRD PLANNED.
SO CHEERS, TO TRULY GREEN BEER.
THE COMPUTER FLOPPY DISK WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1970.
THE SAME YEAR, MOTORWEEK'S HOME ROAD COURSE WAVED THE GREEN FLAG FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
NOW, THE WAY WE STORE DATA IS STILL SHRINKING.
WHILE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE VENUES KEEPS GROWING.
SO, BUCKLE UP AS ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE FOR A 45TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT SUMMIT POINT!
>> ZACH MASKELL: TAKE ME HOME... COUNTRY ROADS... TO A PLACE CALLED SUMMIT POINT MOTORSPORTS PARK.
NESTLED IN THE HILLS OF WEST VIRGINIA, THIS IS MY KIND OF THEME PARK.
GET READY FOR AN OVERLOAD OF FUN.
AS WE DO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I COULD'VE ASKED FOR IN ONE DAY.
>> MARTY KOOSE: YOU KNOW THE VARIETY ADDS TO THEIR LEARNING, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
>> ZACH: WE COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMPLEX, THAN TO CHECK OUT THE THREE SEPARATE ROAD COURSES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THEY'VE GOT ON TAP.
OUR FIRST STOP, LAPS AROUND SUMMIT POINT MAIN WITH CHRIS WHITE.
>> CHRIS WHITE: IT STARTED OUT AS JUST A SMALL LITTLE RACETRACK, DESIGNED FOR EUROPEAN STYLE ROAD RACING.
>> ZACH: ONE DECADE LATER, AN SCCA CLUB RACER AND 1970 FORMULA V WORLD CHAMPION BOUGHT THE COMPLEX.
BILL SCOTT LEFT YALE WITH A PHD.
BUT DECIDED TO RACE CARS, INSTEAD OF MESSING AROUND WITH GEO-PHYSICS.
>> BARBARA SCOTT: HE DID HAVE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT THE NURBURGRING.
BUT HE STILL WANTED TO STAY IN RACING SO HE BOUGHT SUMMIT POINT RACEWAY AND CONTINUED TO DEVELOP IT UNTIL THE VERY DAY.
>> ZACH: A RACER'S CAREER IS SHORT LIVED.
BUT BILL SCOTT COULDN'T JUST THROW IN THE TOWEL; HE FOCUSED ON TRAINING THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
SUMMIT'S FOOTPRINT WENT FROM 360 ACRES, TO A MASSIVE 800.
THE MOTORWEEK CREW HAS BEEN TESTING HERE SINCE THE '80s, AND WE'RE NOTHING BUT THRILLED.
OPERATING WITHIN THE COMPLEX IS BSR INC.
THEY TRAIN PRIVATE SECURITY AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
THE CIA AND U.S AIR FORCE ARE AMONG THE LONG LIST TO USE THE TRACKS IN ADDITION TO THE BOMB AND SEVEN GUN RANGES.
>> LARRY CONNOLLY: WE DO COMBINE VEHICLE WORK WITH SHOOTING HERE ON THE RANGE.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE'LL PUT THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE MAYBE THEY WERE IN AN ATTACK, THEIR VEHICLE GOES DOWN AND NOW THEY HAVE TO BAIL OUT OF THE VEHICLE.
>> ZACH: SINCE I OFTEN FIND MYSELF IN THOSE SITUATIONS, THE GUYS GAVE ME SOME TIPS.
THEN I MOVED ON TO A LESS STRESSFUL, BUT SERIOUS TRAINING.
>> JENS SCOTT: THIS ISN'T SCALED UP AMUSEMENT PARK GO-KARTS.
THIS IS SCALED DOWN FORMULA 1 CARS.
>> ZACH: BILL'S SON, JENS, STARTED SUMMIT POINT KART IN 2009.
HE NOW HELPS 20,000 PEOPLE A YEAR DEVELOP THEIR TRACK SKILLS.
THIS IS THE REAL DEAL... AS EVIDENT BY THEIR 24 HOUR ENDURANCE RACES... WITH TEAMS COMING FROM ALL OVER THE U.S. >> JENS: IF YOU BEAT SOMEBODY OUT HERE, THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE A BETTER DRIVER.
>> ZACH: 13 HORSEPOWER KARTS... 20 TURNS... AND 1300 TOTAL FEET OF TRACK... WILL HAVE YOU GRINNING BIGGER THAN THE GRINCH.
I WAS TRYING TO GET THE TAIL END TO KICK OUT...
BUT INSTEAD HEADED TO JEFFERSON FOR SOME REAL SIDEWAYS ACTION.
HOME OF "DRIFT NIRVANA," SUMMIT HAS WELCOMED THE DRIFTERS OF THE EAST COAST.
2014'S FORMULA DRIFT PRO 2 CHAMP DAN "RAPPER" SAVAGE IS ALWAYS GRABBING SOME SEAT TIME.
>> DAN "RAPPER" SAVAGE: "DRIFT NIRVANA" EVENTS PULL PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER.
SO, WE'VE HAD SOUTH CAROLINA, FROM RHODE ISLAND, WE'VE GOT A PERSON FROM PHILLY HERE TODAY.
SO, I MEAN FROM 40 MILES TO DOWN THE STREET, TO 1,000 MILES AWAY.
IT'S PRETTY COOL WHAT KIND OF CROWD WE BRING.
>> ZACH: RAPPER'S SUPERCHARGED V8 SWAPPED RX8 WAS STILL EN ROUTE FROM CALIFORNIA, BUT WE STILL HAD A BLAST IN HIS PRACTICE CAR THAT HAS AN 8TH OF THE HORSEPOWER.
JUST PAST THE TREE LINES...
THE RALLY AND OFF-ROADING GUYS WERE SLINGING SOME DIRT AROUND.
THIS IS A PLACE WHERE TOM CRUISE AND PAUL NEWMAN PRACTICED FOR "DAYS OF THUNDER."
A PLACE THAT HAS A REPLICA OF THE NURBURGRING'S FAMOUS CAROUSEL TURN.
EVEN THOUGH HE'S PASSED AWAY... ONE RACER'S DREAM CONTINUES TO LIVE ON.
>> ROGER LYLE: THE MAN WAS A GREAT GENTLEMEN AND A GREAT RACER AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR BILL SCOTT.
>> ZACH: HERE'S TO THE MAN WHO MADE IT ALL HAPPEN, AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON HIS LEGACY.
>> JOHN: PAT GOSS IS READY TO TAKE OUR CAR CARE KNOW HOW TO NEW HEIGHTS.
SO, LET'S GRAB IT AND GO!
>> PAT GOSS: AIR SUSPENSION REALLY ISN'T ALL THAT NEW.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, BACK IN 1957, THIS CADILLAC EL DORADO HAD IT.
AND IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PRODUCTION CARS TO HAVE IT.
AFTER THAT, IT WENT AWAY, CAME BACK IN THE '80s, WAS REAL POPULAR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND THEN KIND OF DROPPED OFF AGAIN.
NOW, WE'RE SEEING A RESURGENCE OF IT, SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE ON THIS RAM PICKUP.
NOW, AIR SUSPENSION IS REALLY NICE, UNTIL YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
AND IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, YOU MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO LOCATE A SHOP OR A TECHNICIAN THAT REALLY KNOWS HOW TO REPAIR THE SYSTEM INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE SYSTEM, WHICH IS OUTLANDISHLY EXPENSIVE.
ALRIGHT, HERE'S HOW THIS SYSTEM WORKS: THIS IS A STRUT.
IT IS AN AIR STRUT...
THIS IS THE AIR SPRING RIGHT HERE.
IT HAS A CONTROL VALVE THAT'S MOUNTED TO THE SIDE OF IT.
THIS IS WHAT ALLOWS AIR IN, TO PUMP IT UP, AND ALLOWS AIR TO GO OUT TO RAISE OR LOWER THE CAR.
THESE SOMETIMES LEAK SO THEY HAVE TO BE CHECKED.
NOW OVER HERE, WE HAVE A COMPRESSOR FOR ONE OF THESE SYSTEMS.
NOW, IT'S AN ELECTRIC MOTOR.
IT HAS A DRYER ON IT AND IT HAS THESE PORTS, WHERE PLASTIC LINES CONNECT, AND THEY GO OUT TO EACH ONE OF THE AIR SPRINGS ON THE VEHICLE.
NOW OVER TIME, WHERE THESE PLASTIC LINES GO INTO THIS DRYER, THEY WEAR AND THEY LEAK.
WELL, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU NEED A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IF YOU LOCATE IT THERE, THERE ARE KITS MADE TO REPAIR THOSE LEAKS.
USUALLY UNDER $100.
NOW, THE WAY YOU LOCATE LEAKS ON THESE SYSTEMS IS JUST LIKE YOU WOULD LOCATE A LEAK ON A TIRE, EXCEPT YOU USE A SOAP AND WATER SOLUTION INSTEAD OF JUST PLAIN WATER.
THE SOAP AND WATER SOLUTION IS PUT ON EACH ONE OF THE CONNECTIONS, AND WHERE IT BUBBLES, THAT'S WHERE YOUR LEAK IS.
FIX THE LEAK, AND USUALLY AFTER THAT, WHEN YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING, THE CAR WILL BE SITTING LEVEL INSTEAD OF ON THE GROUND.
OKAY, BUT SUPPOSE YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE SYSTEMS, AND IT REALLY DOES HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS.
WELL, HERE'S A SOLUTION.
THIS IS A CONVERSION KIT THAT CONVERTS FROM AIR SPRINGS TO STEEL SPRINGS.
COMES WITH ALL OF THE NECESSARY HARDWARE, AND THINGS TO COVERT THE COMPUTER SO YOU DON'T HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, THAT IS A GOOD ALTERNATIVE AND IT CAN SAVE A TON OF MONEY.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
>> JOHN: OUR MAZDA CX-9 MAY NOT HAVE THE PANACHE OF A NISSAN PATHFINDER, BUT WE'VE PUT OVER 7500 MILES ON IT IN JUST ITS FIRST 3 MONTHS.
SO, IT MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT!
THE HEARTY V6, CHURNING ITS 273 HORSEPOWER THROUGH A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TO ALL FOUR WHEELS, HAS BEEN CRUCIAL DURING OUR LATE WINTER SNOWSTORMS HERE IN THE MID-ATLANTIC.
BAD WEATHER AND ALL, THOUGH, AND WE'RE STILL AVERAGING 18.2 COMBINED MILES PER GALLON; BEATING THE OFFICIAL RATING OF 18.
ANY GRIPES WITH STYLING THAT OUR STAFFERS HAVE ARE JUST CHATTER, AS WE KNOW FOR SURE IT'S APPEAL IS A TRUE FAMILY VEHICLE.
AMPLE 2ND AND 3RD ROW SEATING ROOM, LOTS OF USEABLE STORAGE, ALONG WITH DECENT FUEL ECONOMY ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS WE'VE NOTICED ALREADY.
WITH OUR TIME IN THE CX-9 NOWHERE NEAR OVER, WE'RE FEELING VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE JOURNEY AHEAD.
WE'RE JUST STILL IN BREAK-IN MODE WITH OUR ACURA TLX.
BUT THINGS GOT OFF TO AN UNUSUAL FOR A HONDA PRODUCT START, AS WE EXPERIENCED SOME LOOSE SOUNDING, LEFT SIDE, FRONT END NOISE OVER ROUGHER PAVEMENT.
A QUICK TRIP TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN PERFORMED; THE RE-TORQUEING OF THE FRONT STRUT BOLTS; AND IT'S BEEN QUIET SAILING EVER SINCE.
VERY MUCH A THINKING MAN'S SPORT SEDAN, MEANS THE FUN COMES FROM ELEMENTS LIKE PRECISION ALL WHEEL STEER AND AN 8 SPEED DCT ATTACHED TO OUR CAR'S 206 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER I4, WHICH ACTUALLY HAS A TORQUE CONVERTER THAT PROVIDES A SMOOTHER FEEL AND NO JARRING SHIFTS.
ONLY 1,000 MILES IN, AND OUR FUEL ECONOMY AVERAGE IS OFF TO A GREAT START AT 30.8 MILES-PER-GALLON.
SO, A LITTLE TORQUEING ASIDE, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A DELIGHTFUL SPRING AND SUMMER OF BACK ROAD DRIVING FUN IN THE ACURA TLX.
WE'LL TURN OUR ATTENTION TO OUR CHRYSLER 200 AND THIS MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.
>> JOHN: LET'S HEAD INSIDE, WHERE YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS.
>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: ALWAYS FLASHY AND FUNKY, THE GENEVA MOTOR SHOW IS AN ANNUAL LOOK AT HOW THE CAR WORLD THINKS WHEN THE AMERICAN MARKET IS OF MINOR CONCERN.
BUT THIS YEAR WE SAW PLENTY THAT SHOULD MAKE IT HERE TO THE STATES.
THE HOT HATCH SEGMENT GETS HOTTER WITH A NEW FORD FOCUS RS.
OUTPUT NOTCHES UP WELL OVER 300 HORSEPOWER WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE INCLUDED.
LONG WISHED FOR BY U.S. ENTHUSIASTS, THE FOCUS RS SHOULD ARRIVE HERE NEXT YEAR.
THE HONDA CIVIC TYPE R RIPPED ONTO THE SCENE, BOASTING 300 PLUS HORSEPOWER FROM ITS EDGY, FRONT DRIVE PLATFORM.
NO WORD WHEN, OR IF, IT WILL BRING ITS ACT TO AMERICA.
ON ITS WAY TO US IS A REWORKED HYUNDAI TUCSON, MORE READY THAN EVER TO TACKLE THE GROWING COMPACT CROSSOVER MARKET.
VOLKSWAGEN SHOWED THIS SPORT COUPE CONCEPT GTE, PROMISING ELEMENTS FROM THIS 4 DOOR PLUG-IN HYBRID COUPE WILL SEE PRODUCTION SOON.
AUDI FINALLY GAVE US A NEW R8 SUPERCAR, WITH MORE POWER, AND LESS WEIGHT... AND AN ALL ELECTRIC E-TRON VERSION.
ACT TWO FOR AUDI'S PROLOGUE CONCEPT FROM LA, IS THIS AVANT WAGON CONCEPT FOR GENEVA.
BESIDES MORE ROOM OUT BACK, IT SPORTS A PLUG-IN HYBRID POWERTRAIN.
KIA WENT WAGON WILD WITH THIS SPORTSPACE CONCEPT.
WE HOPE THEY'LL USE A FEW FRONT END CUES FOR THE NEXT OPTIMA SEDAN.
BENTLEY CHOSE TO SPEED THINGS ALONG WITH THE EXP 10 SPEED 6 CONCEPT.
SMALLER THAN ANYTHING THEY NOW OFFER, IT COULD SIGNAL A NEW BREED OF MORE MODERN BENTLEYS.
WE ALSO EYED SOME SERIOUS SPEED FROM ASTON MARTIN, WITH THIS ALL-ELECTRIC, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE DBX CONCEPT.
PORSCHE MASSAGED SOME FAVORITES, SHOWING OFF THIS 911 GT3 RS... AND THE CAYMAN GT4.
INFINITI UNVEILED A MORE DEFINED VERSION OF THE QX30 CONCEPT, SHARING ITS PLATFORM WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLA.
WE ALSO SAW A SUCCESSOR TO THE FERRARI 458, THE FERRARI 488 GTB THIS TIME WITH TURBO V8 POWER.
SO, LOTS OF EYE CANDY WITH MORE THAN A LITTLE SUBSTANCE, THAT'S IT FOR GENEVA 2015 AND THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
>> JOHN: JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT MID-SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS WERE ALMOST DEAD AND GONE, GM PULLS TWO RABBITS OUT OF THE HAT BY REINTRODUCING THE CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON.
AND WHILE THE CHALLENGE OF PACKAGING AS MUCH BIG TRUCK CAPABILITY AS POSSIBLE INTO A SMALLER, MORE AFFORDABLE, AND MORE FUEL EFFICIENT PACKAGE HASN'T GOTTEN ANY EASIER, WE'RE GLAD TSEE THAT GM IS STILL IN THE GAME!
* (TIRES SCREECHING) THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT ONES IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR A BRAND NEW, AMERICAN BUILT, COMPACT TO MID SIZE PICKUP TRUCK, AS FORD, GM, AND CHRYSLER HAD ALL ABANDONED THE SEGMENT.
WELL, 2015 SEES A RETURN BY ONE OF THE BIG THREE WITH AN ALL NEW CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON.
NOW CLEARLY A MIDDLEWEIGHT, THE NEW COLORADO GETS A FAIRLY SPORTY YET STILL RUGGED LOOK WITH LITTLE TO NO RESEMBLANCE TO THE FULL SIZE SILVERADO.
GM PUT A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON AERODYNAMICS, ADDING ACTIVE GRILLE SHUTTERS, A TAILGATE SPOILER, AND A LOW HANGING FRONT AIR DAM WHICH IS REMOVABLE IF YOU ACTUALLY USE YOUR TRUCK FOR THE SERIOUS STUFF.
THE CANYON LOOKS A BIT DIFFERENT AND MORE UPSCALE THAN COLORADO, WITH THE BIGGER AND BOLDER GMC GRILLE, EXCLUSIVE HEADLIGHTS WITH LED'S, AND MORE SQUARED OFF FENDERS.
BOTH ARE EXTENDED OR CREW CABS ONLY, WITH BED LENGTHS OF 5 FEET, 2 INCHES AND 6 FEET, 2 INCHES WITH ABOUT 44 INCHES BETWEEN THE WHEEL WELLS.
CONVENIENCE FEATURES BORROWED FROM THE FULL SIZERS INCLUDE A USEFUL CORNERSTEP REAR BUMPER, EZ LIFT AND LOWER TAILGATE, AND 2 TIER BED WITH 4 PERMANENT AND 13 MOVABLE TIE DOWN POSITIONS.
INTERIOR MATERIALS ARE MUCH NICER THAN RIVALS.
THE DASH IS A GOOD CROSS BETWEEN CAR STYLE, AND TRUCK USEFULNESS WITH DEEPLY HOODED GAUGES, AND BIG KNOBS, AND SWITCHES.
MOST TRIMS INCLUDE AN 8 INCH TOUCH SCREEN AND ALL HAVE A STANDARD BACKUP CAMERA.
WHILE THERE'S NO CD PLAYER THERE ARE MULTIPLE USB PORTS AND 4G LTE WI-FI.
NAVI AND ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES ARE AVAILABLE.
STANDARD POWER IS A 2.5 LITER I4 WITH 200 HORSEPOWER AND 191 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
A 3.6 LITER V6 IS OPTIONAL, BOASTING 305 HORSEPOWER AND 269 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR FOR A 2.8 LITER DURAMAX DIESEL.
BOTH 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC AND 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS ARE AVAILABLE.
OBVIOUSLY YOU'LL WANT THAT V6 IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE MOST BIG TRUCK CAPABILITY, AS IT WILL TOW UP TO 7,000 POUNDS.
BOTH ENGINES HAVE ADEQUATE POWER FOR LIGHT DUTY AND RECREATIONAL WORK, THOUGH, WE FOUND THE 6 SPEED AUTO A BIT OF A GEAR HUNTER, ESPECIALLY IN HILLY TERRAIN.
* (TIRES SCREECHING) ON THE FLAT TERRAIN OF OUR TEST TRACK, WE WERE ABLE TO GET A GMC CANYON CREW CAB SLT V6 4X4 TO 60 IN 8.0 SECONDS, AND TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 16.2 SECONDS AT 85 MILES-PER-HOUR.
THINGS FEEL A LITTLE MORE WORKMAN LIKE HERE.
THERE'S GOOD LOW END TORQUE AND STRONG PULLING POWER.
SUPER SMOOTH SHIFTS WERE AN UNEXPECTED BONUS.
COLORADO/CANYON SUSPENSION CONSISTS OF TRADITIONAL COIL ON SHOCK INDEPENDENT UP FRONT, AND LEAF SPRING LIVE AXLE IN BACK.
THE FRAME IS FULLY BOXED, WITH A DESIGN VERY SIMILAR TO BIG BROTHER SILVERADO/SIERRA.
TURNING RADIUS IS SURPRISINGLY TIGHT, AND THE SLOW ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAS A VERY NEUTRAL FEEL TO IT.
THE LONGER LASTING DURALIFE ROTORS ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AS IT TOOK OUR GMC CANYON ONLY A SHORT 111-FEET TO STOP FROM 60.
NOW, GM KNOWS THE CANYON AND COLORADO WILL APPEAL MORE TO THE PERSONAL USE CROWD THAN WORKAHOLICS, SO THEY MADE THEM EXTRA QUIET.
RIDE QUALITY, HOWEVER, IS STILL FIRM ENOUGH TO LET YOU KNOW THEY'RE CAPABLE TRUCKS.
STILL, ON BOTH COUNTS, THEY'RE MILES AHEAD OF THE TOYOTA TACOMA AND NISSAN FRONTIER.
NOTHING TOO EXOTIC ABOUT THE 4-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM.
HIGH AND LOW RANGES, ELECTRONIC TRANSFER CASE WITH AN OPTIONAL AUTOMATIC LOCKING REAR DIFF.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS RANGE FROM 20-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED FOR AN I4 2 WHEEL DRIVE, TO 17-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED FOR 4 WHEEL DRIVE V6'S.
WITH REGULAR GRADE GAS, OUR V6 4X4 MANAGED A GOOD 21.5 IN MIXED DRIVING.
STILL, AT BEST, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS AVERAGE AT 15.0 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH 6.5 TONS OF CO2 RELEASED.
PRICES FOR THE CHEVY COLORADO START AT $20,995 FOR AN EXTENDED CAB 4X2; SLIGHTLY BETTER EQUIPPED GMC CANYONS, WILL START A BIT HIGHER.
TOP OF THE LINE COLORADO LTZ'S BEGIN AT $28,505.
LIKE MOST GOOD IDEAS, A SMALLER, MORE FUEL EFFICIENT, EASIER TO PARK PICKUP TRUCK SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLE ONE.
BUT GM IS THE ONLY DOMESTIC BUILDER THAT SEES A BUSINESS CASE FOR DOING IT.
WE SAY, IT'S ABOUT TIME!
THE 2015 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON HAVE REVIVED A SEGMENT THAT WAS IN DESPERATE NEED OF NEW BLOOD.
EVEN THOUGH A NEW TACOMA AND FRONTIER ARE RUMORED, WE STILL WONDER HOW LONG FORD AND CHRYSLER WILL CONTINUE TO SIT THIS ONE OUT.
WE SHALL SEE... WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!
AND 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 HIT THE TRACK, AND BLOW AWAY OUR CARES IN THE LAMBORGHINI HURACAN.
THEN SEE IF THINGS ARE GOOD TO GO IN THE KIA SORENTO.
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... JESSICA'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.
IF SHE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HER FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.
BUT JESSICA'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.
SHE'S THINKING, "IF COLT DOESN'T ASK ME TO THE PROM, MY LIFE IS TOTALLY OVER."
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.
>> ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.
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