>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AS WE NAVIGATE OUR WAY THROUGH SUBURBIA IN THE HONDA PILOT... PAT GOSS NEEDS US TO STOP, COLLABORATE, AND LISTEN... BRIAN ROBINSON GOES RETRO ON THE ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL GT... THEN, WE'LL HIT THE TRACK, AND LET THE DODGE CHARGER AND CHALLENGER HELLCATS REALLY STRUT THEIR STUFF...
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
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.
>> JOHN: IT'S PROBABLY SAFE TO SAY THAT THERE AREN'T TOO MANY WON'T FIND A HONDA PILOT SHUTTLING KIDS FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.
IN JUST TWO GENERATIONS THE PILOT HAS BECOME A BIG SELLER AMONG 3-ROW CROSSOVERS.
AND NOW, IT'S TIME FOR A NEW 3RD GENERATION PILOT WITH BOTH MORE STYLE, AND MORE SUBSTANCE, READY TO TAKE ON SUBURBIA.
THE ALL NEW, MID-SIZE, SEVEN OR EIGHT PASSENGER MOST AMBITIOUS CROSSOVER UTILITY TO DATE, READY TO TAKE ITS FAMILY MULTI TASKING TO NEW LEVELS.
WHEN THE OUTGOING PILOT ARRIVED FOR 2009, WE, AS DID MANY OTHERS, GAVE HONDA GRIEF OVER ITS OLD SCHOOL, BOXY SHAPE.
AND PERHAPS, LOOKING BACK, IT WAS A LITTLE UNFAIR... AS NOW, THAT THE PILOT HAS A MORE MODERN AND ROUNDED SHAPE, IT LOOKS LIKE EVERY OTHER CROSSOVER, LOSING MOST OF ITS DISTINCTIVENESS.
ALL THE NECESSARY ELEMENTS ARE HERE FOR A CONTEMPORARY DESIGN; 20-INCH WHEELS, A FIRST FOR HONDA, LED HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS, AND OF COURSE LED RUNNERS; THOUGH THEY MOSTLY BLEND IN AND DON'T STAND OUT LIKE MOST RIVALS.
WHEELBASE IS LONGER BY ALMOST AND VISIBILITY HAS BEEN IMPROVED ALL AROUND.
A GLASS PANORAMIC ROOF IS AVAILABLE, ANOTHER FIRST FOR THE BRAND, BUT INSTEAD OF A SINGLE PANEL LIKE MANY OTHERS, AND IT'S STILL TWO SEPARATE GLASS PANELS.
THIS DESIGN, HONDA SAYS, ALLOWS THE DVD SCREEN IN AN OPTIMAL CEILING MOUNT VIEWING POSITION, WHILE ALSO RETAINING ROOF CROSS BRACING FOR BETTER ROLLOVER PROTECTION.
AND BEING A FAMILY HAULER, ABOVE AVERAGE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IS A HUGE SELLING POINT, SO THERE'S AN ALL NEW CRASH STRUCTURE, ALONG WITH LANEWATCH CAMERA, AUTOMATIC BRAKING, AND LANE KEEP ASSIST.
ALL ARE AVAILABLE ON MID TRIM EX, THOUGH ODDLY, BLIND SPOT MONITORING, COUPLED WITH REAR CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT, COMES ONLY WITH NEW, TOP DRAWER ELITE.
THE NEW PILOT CRUISES DOWN THE ROAD VERY NICELY, WITH A SMOOTH AND CONTROLLED RIDE, DESPITE THE 20'S; THANKS TO A STIFFER CHASSIS THAT ENABLES A MUCH BETTER COMPROMISE BETWEEN RIDE COMFORT AND HANDLING.
STEERING IS VERY RESPONSIVE AND EVEN HAS A GOOD AMOUNT OF FEEL.
HANDLING IS NIMBLE AND ALMOST CR-V LIKE, AS YOU FIND YOURSELF CHARGING INTO CORNERS A LITTLE FASTER THAN YOU PROBABLY SHOULD.
AT WHICH TIME YOU FEEL A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF ITS 2-TONS BEGIN TRANSFERRING AND YOU BACK OFF A LITTLE.
JUST ABOUT EVERY MODERN ACCOUTREMENT YOU EXPECT CAN BE FOUND IN THE NEW INTERIOR, THOUGH IT'S ALSO THE SOURCE OF OUR BIGGEST COMPLAINT.
AND THAT IS THE LACK OF A TRADITIONAL SPEEDOMETER, AS THERE'S ONLY A DIGITAL READOUT FOR SPEED KEEPING.
A MULTI VIEW BACK UP CAMERA IS STANDARD, HEATED AND VENTILATED FRONT SEATS ARE AVAILABLE, AS ARE HEATED REARS; AND THE NEW GARMIN BASED NAVIGATION IS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT.
THE NEW CLIMATE PANEL WORKS WELL, BUT MOST CONTROLS FOR EVERYTHING ELSE FLOWS THROUGH THE TOUCHSCREEN.
ACCESS TO THE 3RD ROW IS ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT, WITH ONE TOUCH 2ND ROW SLIDING AND A WIDER OPENING, AND MOST TRIMS HAVE FIVE USB PORTS.
EVEN BASE PILOTS ARE 8-PASSENGER WITH A 2ND ROW BENCH SEAT.
BUT MOST SIGNIFICANT IS THE 7-PASSENGER WALK THROUGH VERSION WITH 2ND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS FOR THE FIRST TIME, AGAIN WITH TOP LEVEL ELITE TRIM.
DESPITE BEING LARGER OVERALL, CARGO ROOM IS ABOUT THE SAME DUE TO THE SLOPING ROOF, BUT THERE'S A NICE REVERSIBLE CARGO FLOOR TO TAKE ABUSE.
THE SAME VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT 3.5 LITER V6 PROVIDES POWER; THOUGH LIKE HONDA'S 4-CYLINDERS, IT'S NOW DIRECT INJECTED AND THEREFORE GETS AN EARTH DREAMS LOGO AS WELL AS A SLIGHT BOOST IN MUSCLE.
TOTALS ARE NOW 280 HORSEPOWER A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS STANDARD, BUT TOURING AND ELITE TRIMS ADD A NEW 9-SPEED TRANSMISSION.
IT IS THE SMOOTHEST 9-SPEED WE'VE TRIED YET.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT COMES WITH THE SAME NON-INTUITIVE PUSH BUTTON SHIFTER THAT WE DISLIKE SO MUCH IN RECENT ACURA'S.
AUTO STOP/START COMES WITH THE 9-SPEED, BUT CAN BE EASILY SWITCHED OFF.
TRADITIONALLY VERY CAPABLE OFF ROAD, THE PILOT GETS A NEW ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, AND WHILE YOU CAN NO LONGER MANUALLY LOCK ANYTHING, ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED FOR YOU.
IT WORKED WELL IN SIMULATED MUD AND BAD WEATHER DEMONSTRATIONS, AS WELL AS PROVIDED IMPROVED HANDLING ON DRY PAVEMENT WITH ACURA'S TORQUE VECTORING APPROACH, USING CLUTCH PACKS TO DIVERT POWER, RATHER THAN POWER ROBBING SELECTIVE BRAKING.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE NOT FINALIZED, BUT HONDA CLAIMS WITH THE 9-SPEED THEY'RE BEST IN CLASS AT 20-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED; 6-SPEED NUMBERS ARE 19-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED.
WITH BASE PRICING OF $30,875 AND ELITE TRIM COMING IN AT $47,300, THERE ARE CERTAINLY BETTER BARGAINS IN THE SEGMENT, BUT THOSE PRICES AREN'T HIGH ENOUGH TO KEEP THE NEW PILOT AS REGARDLESS OF THE PRICE, OR THE ODDLY STRUCTURED SAFETY OPTIONS, OR THE LESS DISTINCTIVE LOOKS, THE MUCH IMPROVED 2016 HONDA PILOT WILL SURELY BE ONE OF THE TOP SELLING 3-ROW CROSSOVERS IN NO TIME AT ALL.
AS USUAL, HONDA KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THEIR CUSTOMERS WANT, AND FINDS A WAY TO DELIVER IT TO THEM, TIME, AND TIME AGAIN.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK TOO HARD IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD TO FIND RETRO STYLING, WITH MANY BRANDS LOOKING TO THE PAST FOR CURRENT INSPIRATION.
WELL, THERE'S ONE COMPANY THAT DOES MORE THAN JUST LOOK TO THE PAST, THEY'RE FULLY LIVING IT.
AND PROUDLY DOING SO!
* >> BRIAN ROBINSON: UP UNTIL NOW, ROYAL ENFIELD HAS INDEED BEEN THE SAME BASIC MOTORCYCLE FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS WITH ONLY MINOR UPDATES ALONG THE WAY.
THAT ALL CHANGES NOW, WITH A NEW CONTINENTAL GT.
THIS 2014 ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL GT IS NOT EXACTLY BUT IT'S NOT EXACTLY A PIECE OF VINTAGE IRON EITHER.
WHILE SOME PIECES CARRY OVER FROM THE BULLET THEY'VE BEEN PEDDLING SINCE THE BRAND RETURNED TO THE STATES IN THE MID '90s, THIS CONTINENTAL GT IS AS CLOSE AS THE BRAND HAS COME TO AN ALL NEW BIKE IN DECADES, AND FEATURES "RIGHT BIKE AT THE RIGHT TIME" STYLING THAT SHOULD DO WONDERS FOR BOTH THE BRANDS IMAGE AND THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
AND WITHOUT A DOUBT, THEY'VE NAILED THE CAFÉ RACER LOOK PERFECTLY.
FROM THE LOW CLIP ON'S WITH BAR END MIRRORS, TO THE SCALLOPED METAL TANK, AND REAR HUMP VINTAGE RACING STYLE SEAT.
HOPPING ON BOARD, THERE IS A REACH TO THOSE CLIP ON'S, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS YOU THINK, SO THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE WRISTS.
THE SEAT ALSO HAS MORE COMFORT THAN EXPECTED, AND THE OVERALL RIDING POSITION IS ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD.
GAUGES ARE FAIRLY SIMPLISTIC, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT.
THOUGH SURPRISINGLY, THERE IS A DIGITAL FUEL GAUGE.
THUMB THE STARTER, AND 535CC'S OF SINGLE ROARS TO LIFE.
IT'S A REWORKED AND ENLARGED; FUEL INJECTED VERSION OF THE BULLET'S 500CC ENGINE AND IT SOUNDS GREAT, WITH A NICE LITTLE BURBLE TO IT THAT BRINGS NORTON'S AND BSA'S TO MIND.
ROYAL ENFIELD'S CLAIMED OUTPUT IS 29 HORSEPOWER.
AND OF COURSE THERE'S STILL A KICK STARTER, AS WELL; SHOULD YOU HAVE THE DESIRE FOR MORE PHYSICAL INTERACTION.
THE TRANSMISSION IS A 5-SPEED, AND THERE IS SOME SLOP TO THE LEFT SIDE MOUNTED SHIFTER THAT YOU WOULDN'T FIND ON A TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE.
BUT IT WORKED FLAWLESSLY THROUGHOUT ITS STAY.
MAKING IT A TRULY INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR, THE ITALIANS CHIME IN WITH REAR SHOCKS BY PAIOLI AND BRAKES BY BREMBO.
BOTH CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTINENTAL GT'S VERY SPORTING NATURE, AS OTHER THAN AN OCCASIONAL STUMBLE OFF IDLE, THE RIDING EXPERIENCE IS SEAMLESS AND PURE JOY.
FAIRLY STICKY 18-INCH PIRELLI SPORT DEMON TIRES MAKE DIVING INTO CORNERS PLENTY SETTLING, AND THE SUSPENSION SEEMS VERY WELL DIALED IN, EVEN WITH A HEAVYWEIGHT LIKE ME ONBOARD.
A RELAXED PACE IS NOT A NECESSITY, BUT YOU'LL FIND IT MUCH MORE REWARDING.
THE ENGINE FEELS WILLING, BUT THERE'S SOME SERIOUS VIBRATIONS HAPPENING AS YOU APPROACH 70 MILES AN HOUR THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO BACK IT DOWN.
THE BIKE ITSELF HOWEVER, FEELS PLENTY STABLE AT THOSE SPEEDS.
ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND, THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE VIBRATIONS: LIKE A TRUE VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE, YOU'LL NEED TO EITHER GET FRIENDLY WITH LOCTITE OR GET USED TO TIGHTENING AN OCCASIONAL BOLT OR TWO.
WEIGHT COMES IN JUST OVER 400 POUNDS, AND THE BIKE FEELS VERY SMALL.
PRICING IS ALSO SMALL, AT JUST $5,999.
TRULY UNIQUE, AND RIDING A BRAND NEW, VINTAGE BRITISH MOTORBIKE THAT'S BUILT IN INDIA CERTAINLY QUALIFIES.
BUT SETTING ALL OF THAT ASIDE, THE 2014 ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL GT IS JUST A FUN, BACK TO BASICS MOTORCYCLE, THAT IS EVERY BIT AS ENJOYABLE TO RIDE AS IT IS TO LOOK AT.
>> JOHN: WHILE ITS RUN OF PRODUCTION WAS A SHORT ONE, CORD AUTOMOBILES HAVE ALWAYS STRUCK A CHORD WITH COLLECTORS AND DESIGNERS ALIKE.
THE 1930s WERE AN EXCITING TIME IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, WITH AMERICAN CAR MAKERS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE LAND.
LIKE, IN INDIANA, WHERE THE CORD CORPORATION WAS PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE V8 POWERED MODEL 810.
YOU CAN READ ALL ABOUT ITS DEVELOPMENT AND ENTIRE LIFE SPAN IN CORD COMPLETE BY JOSH B. MALKS.
OF ALL THINGS CORD IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
A MUST READ, WHETHER YOU'RE A FAN OF CORD AUTOMOBILES OR JUST WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT TIME IN AMERICA'S MOTORING HISTORY.
"CHECK YOURSELF, BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF" ISN'T EXACTLY REFERRING TO THE BRAKES ON YOUR CAR.
BUT OUR PAT GOSS THINKS OTHERWISE.
SO, LET'S HEAD ON OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE!
* >> PAT GOSS: NO MATTER HOW FAST BE ABLE TO STOP IT.
AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD BRAKE FLUID IN THAT CAR.
NOW, IF WE LOOK AT THESE JARS OF BRAKE FLUID, WHICH WE'LL START RIGHT HERE: THIS IS NEW BRAKE FLUID.
NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
BUT BRAKE FLUID HAS A VERY NASTY CHARACTERISTIC, AND THAT IS THAT IT ATTRACTS, AND ABSORBS WATER.
SO, HERE WE HAVE A JAR THAT IS HALF WATER; 50 PERCENT WATER.
YET YOU LOOK AT IT, AND IT REALLY DOESN'T LOOK THAT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE BRAND NEW FLUID.
SO, YOU CAN'T JUST LOOK AT IT AND SAY, "HEY IT'S GOOD."
CERTAINLY, IF YOU LOOK AT IT AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS ONE OVER HERE, ITS DARK COLORED AND SO ON; IT NEEDS TO GET OUT OF THE CAR RIGHT AWAY.
THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE SYSTEM FLUSHED.
WELL, THE REAL THING THAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING IS FLUSHING THE BRAKE SYSTEM EVERY TWO YEARS.
DON'T GO BEYOND TWO YEARS.
YOU SEE, IF YOU FLUSH THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THE FLUID WILL BE KEPT CLEAN AND DRY, AND THAT MEANS YOU'LL HAVE A SAFER BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE HYDRAULIC PARTS IN THAT BRAKE SYSTEM WILL LAST A LOT LONGER.
BUT WHEN YOU TAKE THE CAR TO THE SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKES FLUSHED, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BRAKE FLUID.
THERE'S DOT3, THERE'S DOT4, THERE'S DOT5.
NOW, DOT3 AND DOT4, YOU COULD REPLACE DOT3 WITH 4 IN SOME CASES, BUT YOU COULD NEVER REPLACE 4 WITH 3.
SO, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CAP ON THE MASTER CYLINDER, TO SEE WHAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR CAR.
AND MAKE SURE THAT THE TECHNICIAN USES THE PROPER FLUID.
BUT DOT5... NOW, DOT5 IS SILICONE SYNTHETIC FLUID.
AND IT'S TYPICALLY NOT USED IN MODERN AUTOMOBILES.
NOW, IT'S DYED THIS PURPLE COLOR SO THAT YOU CAN READILY IDENTIFY IT, SO IT DOESN'T GET MIXED UP WITH CONVENTIONAL FLUID.
BUT THE REALITY OF THIS STUFF IS, IT DOESN'T ABSORB MOISTURE, BUT IN A MODERN CAR, IT DOESN'T WORK WELL WITH ABS BRAKE SYSTEMS.
THE PUMPING ACTION CAN CAUSE IT TO FOAM IN SOME CASES.
SO FOR OLDER, COLLECTIBLE CARS, WHERE YOU WANT TO KEEP MOISTURE OUT OF THE SYSTEMS, AND YOU DON'T HAVE ABS, DOT5 MIGHT BE THE ANSWER.
BIG THING: FLUSH YOUR BRAKES EVERY TWO YEARS.
AND YOU'LL HAVE SAFER BRAKES; YOU'LL HAVE BRAKE PARTS THAT LAST A LOT LONGER.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
>> JOHN: WE'RE ALWAYS UP FOR A QUICK SPIN.
HERE'S WHAT WE THINK OF THE LATEST!
TO SAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN A HORDE OF PEOPLE EAGERLY AWAITING THIS WEEK'S QUICK SPIN, THE 4TH GENERATION OF THE MIATA SPORTS CAR, WOULD NOT BE AN EXAGGERATION.
AND YOU CAN COUNT US AMONG THEM.
THE 2016 MAZDA MX-5 IS CERTAINLY AND WHILE WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THE CLASSIC 2-SEAT, FRONT ENGINE, REAR DRIVE FORMULA DIDN'T NEED RETHINKING, UP TO DATE ELEMENTS ARE CALLED FOR WITH A NEW DESIGN.
AS IRONICALLY ENOUGH, PEOPLE ARE NOW REQUIRING LOTS OF CONVENIENCE FEATURES IN THEIR "BACK TO BASICS" RIDES.
OF COURSE THERE'S MORE ALUMINUM, INCLUDING BODY PANELS AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, WHICH HELPS SHAVE WEIGHT FROM THE PREVIOUS GEN BY 150 POUNDS.
BUT AT 2,332 POUNDS, IT'S STILL 250 HEAVIER THAN THE ORIGINAL.
IT SITS LOWER, BUT TAKES UP A BIT MORE OF THE LANE WITH HALF AN INCH MORE WIDTH.
AS ALWAYS, THERE'S NOT AN OVERABUNDANCE OF POWER UNDER THE HOOD, JUST ENOUGH, AT 155 HORSEPOWER AND 148 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE FROM A 2.0 LITER SKYACTIV-G I4.
DESPITE A 7-INCH DASHBOARD MOUNTED TOUCHSCREEN FOR NAVIGATION AND A MULTI-FUNCTION COMMANDER CONTROL, THERE'S STILL A SIMPLISTIC PLEASANTNESS TO THE INTERIOR THAT MAKES US SMILE.
THE SEATS GAIN SOME COMFORT AND ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS AS WELL.
OF COURSE THE SMILES REALLY COME WHEN YOU SLIDE IT INTO GEAR AND HIT THE ROAD.
THANKFULLY WE CAN SAFELY SAY THAT DRIVING ASPECTS HAVEN'T CHANGED THAT MUCH AT ALL.
THERE'S STILL A VERY PREDICTABLE NATURE THAT HAS YOU SCOOTING AROUND WITH CONFIDENCE IN NO TIME.
IT'S NOTICEABLY MORE SOLID, BUT WITH SOME DIFFERENT STEERING FEEL.
PURISTS MAY GROAN THAT ELECTRIC STEERING HAS ARRIVED AS PART OF THE WEIGHT SAVING MODERNITY, BUT THE STEERING IS STILL QUICK, JUST VERY LIGHT.
>> PATRICK LUCAS: NA, NB, NC.
THOSE MIATA'S WERE ROUGH, THOSE WERE KIND OF CRUDE.
BUT THEY WERE AWESOME.
SO, IS ND ANY DIFFERENT?
WELL, IT'S STILL PRETTY ROUGH, AS YOU CAN TELL THE CAMERA IS KIND OF SHAKING.
IT'S STILL GOT THAT INSTANT, TOTAL FEEL OF THE ROAD THAT YOU LOVE FROM A MIATA.
THE STEERING IS A BIT DIFFERENT.
IT'S A LITTLE MORE NUMB.
THEY SWITCHED TO A NEW ELECTRIC SYSTEM, BUT IT STILL PROVIDES GREAT FEEDBACK.
>> JOHN: JUST ENOUGH OF WHAT YOU NEED, NOTHING YOU DON'T AND STARTING AT JUST OVER $25,000, THE MAZDA MX-5 IS STILL THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WAY TO GET YOUR REAL ROADSTER KICKS.
AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICK SPINS SOON.
NOW, LET'S TURN THINGS OVER TO YOLANDA VAZQUEZ FOR A MOTORNEWS UPDATE.
>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: THE FORD MUSTANG REACHED THE HALF CENTURY MARK WELL AHEAD OF ITS LONG TIME RIVAL, THE CHEVROLET CAMARO.
BUT CAMARO'S OWN 48 YEAR HISTORY HAS GENERATED AN EQUALLY AVID CULT FOLLOWING.
BELLE ISLE FOR THE REVEAL OF AN ALL NEW 6TH GENERATION.
THE 2016 CAMARO, AS YOU COULD PROBABLY GUESS, IS THE MOST ADVANCED CAMARO YET.
TRICK FEATURES LIKE CONFIGURABLE INTERIOR LIGHTING, AND REWORKED HVAC CONTROLS ACCOMPANY REAL ENGINEERING IMPROVEMENTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A 200 POUND WEIGHT REDUCTION, AND A NEW DRIVE MODE SELECTOR.
THREE ENGINE CHOICES WILL BE AVAILABLE, INCLUDING, FOR THE FIRST TIME, A 2 LITER 4-CYLINDER TURBO.
THAT BASE ENGINE GENERATES 275 HORSEPOWER, AND IS FOLLOWED UP BY A NEW 335 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER V6, AND A 455 HORSEPOWER 6.2 LITER V8.
STYLING, TOO, HAS ADVANCED, AS THIS LATEST CAMARO CONTINUES TO EVOLVE ITS CLASSIC EXTERIOR.
BUT INSIDE, THINGS GET A SERIOUS UPDATE, BRINGING INTERIOR QUALITY TO THE FOREFRONT.
THE PROGRESS, AND EVOLUTION OF THE POPULAR PONY RIDE WAS MADE EVEN MORE APPARENT AT THE REVEAL THANKS TO THE LONGTIME CAMARO OWNERS WHO BROUGHT WITH THEM EXAMPLES FROM EVERY CAMARO GENERATION, FROM 1967 TO THE PRESENT.
WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE ON THE 2016 CHEVROLET CAMARO BEFORE ITS ARRIVAL IN LATE FALL.
BUT FOR NOW, THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
>> JOHN: WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS, OR ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFETS; RESTRAINT IS NEVER EASY.
AND YOU'LL NEED TO EXERCISE A LOT OF IT IF YOU OWN ONE THESE 707 HORSEPOWER DODGE HELLCATS, AND WANT TO HANG ONTO YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE COME TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN UNLEASH ALL OF THE EVIL THAT THESE HELLIONS CAN DELIVER!
* (TIRES SCREECHING) THIS PAIR OF SRT HELLCATS, A 2015 DODGE CHALLENGER, AND 2015 DODGE CHARGER, BUT REALLY, IT'S WHAT'S COMMON UNDER THEIR HOODS THAT IS OUR INTEREST HERE.
FORGET ABOUT MUSTANG AND CAMARO, THESE BEASTS HAVE MORE POWER THAN A Z06, AND EVEN FCA US'S, OR FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES AS THE CHRYSLER GROUP IS NOW KNOWN, OWN DODGE VIPER.
IT'S A HEMI OF COURSE, AND WHILE ITS 6.2 LITERS OF DISPLACEMENT IS NOT THE BIGGEST HEMI IN THE STABLE, FOR THE FIRST TIME THERE'S A 2.4 LITER SUPERCHARGER ON TOP OF THIS ORANGE PANTED IRON BLOCK, THAT MORE THAN MAKES UP FOR ANY LACK OF DISPLACEMENT TO THE TUNE OF 707 HORSEPOWER AND 650 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
CRAMMING THIS MUCH OOMPH INTO A DAILY DRIVER WOULD DESTROY THE DAILY DRIVER PART, BUT THERE'S LITTLE INDICATION OF ITS FULL INSANITY WHEN YOU FIRST FIRE IT UP.
NO MATTER WHICH DRIVE MODE YOU'VE DIALED IN, THERE'S A SOFT PERSONALITY TO THESE CARS, A "SMOOTH AS GRANDMA'S CADDY" 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND TWO KEYS TO CHOOSE FROM.
PICK THE BLACK ONE AND YOU'LL ONLY GET ABOUT 500 HP'S OF HELLCAT WRATH.
USE THE BIG BOY RED KEY, AND YOU'LL HAVE FULL ACCESS.
AND OF COURSE THAT MEANS NO MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE CHARGING SOLO OR CHALLENGING A FRIEND, EXERCISING SOME OF THAT RESTRAINT WILL BE NECESSARY IF YOU PLAN ON GETTING OFF THE LINE WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN SMOKE AND MELTED RUBBER.
ONCE YOU'RE ROLLING, THE POWER IS DELIVERED LESS ABRUPTLY, BUT NO LESS FORCEFULLY.
AND WE HIT 60 MILES PER HOUR IN JUST 3.8 SECONDS IN THE CHALLENGER AND 4.0 SECONDS FLAT IN THE CHARGER.
THAT ULTRA SMOOTH 8HP90 WITH ITS BEEFED UP INTERNALS, CAN ALSO DELIVER SHIFTS AS QUICKLY AS 160 MILLISECONDS, TAKING YOU TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN AS LITTLE AS 12.1 SECONDS AT 124 MILES PER HOUR.
MANUAL IS AVAILABLE IN THE CHALLENGER ONLY.
THAT MAKES THE CHARGER HELLCAT THE MOST POWERFUL SEDAN IN THE WORLD.
PLUS, THE CHARGER ALSO CHEATS THE WIND A LITTLE MORE THAN THE CHALLENGER, SO CAN ACHIEVE A HIGHER TOP SPEED OF 204 MILES PER HOUR.
BUT, WHILE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO STRAIGHT LINE HEROICS, UNLEASHING THESE TWO BEASTS ON ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY'S 2-MILES OF ROAD COURSE, SHOWED THAT WHILE NOT QUITE FULL ANALOG IN A DIGITAL WORLD, THEY ARE MUCH MORE ADEPT AT DESTROYING BLACKTOP THAN CLINGING TO IT.
AND WHILE FULL TRACK MODE AND BILSTEIN ADS DAMPERS HELP WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING THINGS FLAT THROUGH CORNERS AND MORE CAPABLE THAN MOST BUYERS NEED; IT NEVER FEELS TRULY AT HOME ON A ROAD COURSE.
FACTOR IN THE 4,500 POUNDS OF WEIGHT THESE BRUTES ARE SADDLED WITH THOUGH, AND THEY FEEL MORE RESPONSIVE THAN THEY PROBABLY SHOULD.
AND THANKS TO THE LARGEST STEEL BRAKES ON ANY PRODUCTION CAR, BRAKING HELD UP TO THE TRACK TASK BETTER THAN EXPECTED.
OUTSIDE OF TRACK WORK, AND INSIDE, THESE CARS REMAIN THE ROOMIEST AND MOST COMFORTABLE OF THE MUSCLE CAR BREED.
WITH FULL SIZE CAR SPACE TO SPREAD OUT AND EVEN PLENTY OF ROOM FOR BRINGING LOADS OF STUFF WITH YOU.
THE CENTER STACK IS SLIGHTLY DRIVER ORIENTED, WITH THE 8.4 INCH UCONNECT SCREEN ALONG WITH SRT PERFORMANCE PAGES THE OBVIOUS HIGHLIGHT.
THE EXTERIORS GETS DEMONIZED WITH UNIQUE, NON-CROSS HAIRED FRONT ENDS THAT ARE FUNCTIONAL FOR BOTH ALLOWING MORE AIR IN TO COOL THINGS DOWN AND FOR MAKING BOTH CARS LOOK HELLA BAD.
AN EXCLUSIVE HOOD WITH SCOOPS AND VENTS WAS ALSO DESIGNED FOR AIRFLOW MANAGEMENT.
20-INCH WHEELS WEAR 245 RUBBER BOTH UP FRONT AND IN THE REAR; BOTH CARS SIT ABOUT HALF AN INCH LOWER.
AND OF COURSE THERE ARE MORE PROMINENT REAR SPOILERS.
FURTHER TOUCHES FROM THERE ARE SURPRISINGLY SUBTLE, WITH THE CHALLENGER BOASTING THE MORE NOSTALGIC LOOK OF THE TWO.
THE CHALLENGER SRT HELLCAT STARTS AT $61,090; 4-DOORS A LITTLE MORE AT $65,290.
THESE CARS AREN'T FOR EVERYONE, IMPRESS ANYBODY WHO GETS NEAR ONE.
NOW, WE'RE NOT SURE IF THERE ARE ACTUALLY CATS IN HELL, AND WHY EXACTLY THEY WOULD COME TO EARTH BRINGING US 1400 HORSEPOWER'S WORTH OF UNGODLY, ROAD GOING EVIL.
BUT WE SAY "HERE KITTY-KITTY; BRING IT ON"!
THE 2015 DODGE CHALLENGER AND CHARGER SRT HELLCATS ARE INDEED DEMONIC DUSTERS THAT WILL BE MAKING LIFE FOR THE COMPETITION A LIVING HELL FOR YEARS TO COME.
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, AS WE HIT SUPER SPEEDS IN THE LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR SUPERVELOCE.
THEN STAY ON THE THROTTLE IN THE FORD MUSTANG GT.
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... 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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