>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AND HOLD ON TIGHT, AS WE SHRED SOME SPANISH ASPHALT IN THE LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR LP 750-4 SUPERVELOCE... PAT GOSS SHOWS US WHY QUICKER ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE WITH LAND ROVER IN ICELAND... AND WE'LL GET ANOTHER DOSE OF TRACK WORK IN THE FORD MUSTANG GT...
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.
IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.
BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.
KENNY'S THINKING, "OH MAN.
OH MAN.
OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN.
THIS IS AWESOME!"
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: THERE IS JUST SOMETHING MESMERIZING ABOUT ITALIAN EXOTICS.
ATTENTION AND THEY KEEP IT.
WELL, YOU KNOW LATELY, MUCH OF OUR ATTENTION HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON LAMBORGHINI'S NEW V10 HURACAN.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY NEW LAMBO IN PLAY, AS WE JUST GOT TO DRIVE WHAT THE BRAND BILLS AS THEIR FASTEST PRODUCTION CAR YET.
THE V12 AVENTADOR LP 750-4 SUPERVELOCE.
LOOKING FOR MORE SUPER VELOCITY IN YOUR SUPER CAR?
THEN THIS 2016 LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR LP 750-4 SUPERVELOCE PROVIDING YOU LIKE YOUR EXOTICS FULL OF ITALIAN FLAIR AND WITH THE GREAT OLD FASHION HIGH REVVING, DOZEN CYLINDER APPROACH; VERSES THE PLUG-IN HYBRID HYPER PERFORMERS WE'VE BEEN DRIVING LATELY.
THAT GLORIOUS NATURALLY ASPIRATED V12 NOW HARVESTS 740 HORSEPOWER AND PLANTS 509 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE TO THE PAVEMENT, THROUGH A 7-SPEED INDEPENDENT SHIFTING RODS TRANSMISSION AND HALDEX GEN-4 ALL WHEEL DRIVE.
COMES FROM THE 500 MORE REVS ALLOWED BY AN OPTIMIZED VALVE TRAIN.
YOU CAN HEAR THE RESULTS BETTER AS WELL, WITH A FREER FLOWING EXHAUST.
WITH THE ADDED POWER, WEIGHT HAS ALSO BEEN SUBTRACTED AS 110 POUNDS.
HAVE GONE MISSING, MOSTLY THROUGH THE USE OF ADDITIONAL CARBON FIBER, LIGHTER EXHAUST SYSTEM, LIGHTER SEATS, AND THE REMOVAL OF SOME SOUND DEADENING.
MAGNETO-RHEOLOGICAL DAMPERS ARE ADDED TO THE PUSH ROD STYLE SUSPENSION, AND THE DYNAMIC STEERING IS RETUNED.
WHEELS ARE UPGRADED TO MATTE BLACK 20'S IN FRONT, WRAPPED IN 255/35 PIRELLI TIRES, AND 21'S IN THE REAR SPORTING 355/25'S.
LURKING BEHIND, ARE BIG 15-INCH CARBON CERAMIC BRAKE ROTORS OF COURSE, WITH 6-PISTON CALIPERS IN FRONT, AND 4-CALILPER PISTONS AFT.
WELL, HAVING DISPENSED WITH THE TECH BRIEFING, TRACK TIME AT CIRCUIT DE CATALUNYA NEAR BARCELONA, SPAIN GAVE US SOMETHING MUCH MORE FUN TO TALK ABOUT.
UNLIKE THE HURACAN WITH ITS DOCILE NATURE, THIS BULL RIPS AND SNORTS ITS WAY AROUND A RACE TRACK LIKE ITS MAN PARTS ARE TRULY TIED UP IN KNOTS.
POWER DELIVERY IS CLOSER TO A BARELY CONTAINED EXPLOSION THAN IT IS TO AN ACTUAL MECHANICAL PROCESS, WITH 0-60'S RIPPED OFF IN 2.8 SECONDS.
WHILE GRIP THROUGH CORNERS IS GRIP ON OUR NATION, WHICH IS TO SAY UNEXPLAINABLE AND BORDERLINE SCARY.
AND FINALLY, BRAKING INTO CORNERS IS DONE WITH THE NO NONSENSE EFFICIENCY AND DIRECTNESS USUALLY RESERVED PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.
DRIVING DYNAMICS CAN BE ADJUSTED WITH THE DRIVE SELECT SYSTEM, FOR STRADA, SPORT, OR CORSA WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS TURNS STEERING AND THROTTLE RESPONSE FROM QUICK TO IMMEDIATE.
BRUTALITY AT ITS FINEST.
LAMBORGHINI CLAIMS IT'S NOT ONLY THEIR FASTEST PRODUCTION CAR, BUT IT'S ALSO THE MOST EMOTIONAL ONE.
WE'RE NOT SURE WHICH SPECIFIC EMOTION THEY ARE REFERRING TO, BUT FEAR, LONGING, INTIMIDATION, AND DELIGHT ARE A FEW THAT COME TO MIND.
WHEN NOT DEVOURING STRIPS OF PAVEMENT IN ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET FASHION, THE SUPERVELOCE EATS UP PLENTY OF ATTENTION THANKS TO ITS AMAZINGLY RACY ITALIAN BODY.
THE CURVES ARE IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES AND THE LINES POINT TO THE GOOD TIMES THAT SURELY AWAIT YOU WHEN YOU SLIDE BEHIND ITS COMPACT SUEDED STEERING WHEEL.
NEW TO THIS PICTURE ARE A PROMINENT ADJUSTABLE REAR WING, A REDESIGNED FRONT FASCIA FOR ADDED DOWNFORCE, MORE CARBON FIBER FOR BETTER AESTHETICS AS WELL AS WEIGHT LOSS, AND LARGER OPENINGS LOCATED THROUGHOUT FOR EITHER CHANNELING AIR IN OR EXPELLING HEAT OUT.
INSIDE, BOTH THE LAYOUT AND MATERIALS ARE BUILT FOR BUSINESS, BUT THERE'S ALSO SURPRISING LEVELS OF REFINEMENT AND COMFORT.
THERE'S MORE EXPOSED CARBON FIBER HERE TOO, INCLUDING A NEW WOVEN CARBON SKIN MATERIAL FOUND ON THE HEADLINER.
THE SUPERVELOCE JOINS THE ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE CROWD, BY GOING ALL TFT FOR THE GAUGE PANEL.
THE YELLOW RACE STYLE DISPLAY IS SURE TO UP THE WOW FACTOR FOR ANYONE YOU ALLOW TO SIT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT.
OF COURSE DESPITE ALL OF THIS CAR'S PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL, UNFORTUNATELY MOST COLLECTIVE SUPERVELOCE MILES WILL BE RACKED UP ON THE CLOGGED STREETS OF MIAMI AND LOS ANGELES.
BUT IF YOU DO HAPPEN TO FIND SOME OPEN ROAD, THIS LAMBO DOES JUST FINE GETTING FROM POINT A TO B IN A REAL HURRY WITH AN ACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF COMFORT, THOUGH CLEARLY WELL SHORT OF THE HURACAN IN THIS REGARD.
PRICING WILL CERTAINLY ROB YOUR KIDS' INHERITANCE, STARTING AT $493,095.
BUT YOU DESERVE A REWARD FOR HAVING 18-PLUS YEARS OF TOLERANCE.
STILL, PRODUCTION IS LIMITED TO 600 UNITS SO YOU'D BETTER WHETHER YOU LOOK AT THE 2016 LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR LP 750-4 SUPERVELOCE AS AN EXAMPLE OF ITALIAN PERFORMANCE ART AT ITS FINEST, OR JUST ANOTHER ITALIAN EXOTIC CLAMORING FOR YOUR ATTENTION, ONE THING'S FOR CERTAIN, YOU WILL UNDOUBTEDLY LOOK AT IT IF YOU EVER GET THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND CHANCES ARE ALSO GOOD YOU'LL LUST AFTER IT, AS WE DID, WHEN THAT TIME IS UP.
OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO THE HISTORIC IN BRETTON WOODS, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
BUILT IN 1869, THE "OLD PEPPERSASS" RIDE TAKES ONLY ABOUT AN HOUR TO REACH THE 6,288 FOOT PEAK.
ORIGINALLY WOOD FIRED, BY 1910 COAL WAS THE FUEL OF CHOICE.
TODAY, OVER A HUNDRED YEARS LATER, THE COG RAILWAY USES CLEANER, CHEAPER BIODIESEL TO POWER FIVE LOCOMOTIVES.
PROCESSED FROM LOCAL RESTAURANT WASTE GREASE, THE B20 FUEL IS SUPPLIED BY WHITE MOUNTAIN BIODIESEL, A GRANITE STATE CLEAN CITIES COALITION STAKEHOLDER.
THE CHANGE IS A HIT WITH TOURISTS.
>> WAYNE PRESBY: WE HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS SWITCHED OVER.
I MEAN, OUR RIDERSHIP HAS SURGED SINCE WE PUT DIESELS ONLINE.
JUST SURGED... >> JOHN: SOME 90,000 PEOPLE RIDE THE RAILWAY EACH YEAR.
AND, WHILE NOSTALGIA BUFFS WILL FIND ONE COAL FIRED STEAM LOCOMOTIVE STILL BEING USED, IT'S BIODIESEL THAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS UNFORGETTABLE "ALT-FUEL" ADVENTURE.
FOR MORE ROAD TESTS, AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
ICELAND HAS SOME OF THE MOST BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPES ON EARTH.
BUT THAT TERRAIN, NOT TO MENTION THE WEATHER, IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
THAT'S WHY IT'S AN IDEAL SPOT FOR AUTOMAKERS TO BENCHMARK THEIR OFF-ROAD PROWESS.
AUTOMAKERS LIKE, SAY, LAND ROVER... WELL, YOU CAN PROBABLY SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING... THAT'S WHY WE WHEN WE GOT THE INVITE, IT WENT STRAIGHT TO OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY, ZACH MASKELL.
>> ZACH MASKELL: THIS MAY BE THE CLOSEST I'LL EVER COME TO WALKING ON ANOTHER PLANET.
JAGGED FEATURES, UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER AND THE EVER PRESENT MAGMA JUST BELOW YOUR FEET.
A VOLCANO HAS BEEN ERUPTING HERE FOR FIVE MONTHS NOW.
THIS IS A PLACE FILLED WITH AND ONE OF THE PLACES THAT YOU GET TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS.
WE'RE OUT HERE WITH LAND ROVER'S DISCOVERY SPORT AND IT'S TIME TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF DISCOVERING OF OUR OWN.
FIRE, ICE, MAJESTIC CLIFFS, AND WATERFALLS, IT'S NO WONDER THIS HAS BEEN A TOP PICK FOR SCI-FI MOVIE DIRECTORS.
EVEN ASTRONAUTS TRAINED HERE FOR THEIR LUNAR LANDINGS.
SO, A PERFECT SETTING FOR THE DISCOVERY SPORT TO SHOW WHAT IT'S MADE OF.
DON'T LET WHAT PEOPLE TELL YOU FOOL YOU... GREENLAND IS ICE AND ICELAND IS GREEN.
THERE IS STILL ICE AND PLENTY OF SNOW HERE.
FOR THOSE AFTER LUXURY, AND THE ABILITY TO GO ANYWHERE LAND ROVER IS USUALLY A TOP CHOICE.
SINCE 1948, ROVERS HAVE BEEN THE FAVORITE FOR MILITARY FORCES AND ADVENTURERS JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE.
BUT WITH SO MANY NEW CREATURE COMFORTS, HAVE THEY STILL GOT WHAT IT TAKES?
JOURNALISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WERE INVITED HERE TO CHALLENGE THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE LAND ROVER FAMILY.
WHETHER IT'S TARMAC, GRAVEL, SAND, OR SNOW...
THE DISCOVERY SPORT'S IMPROVED TERRAIN RESPONSE CONTROL ENSURES THE DRIVE IS STEADY AND SAFE.
THIS WAS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AS WE MADE OUR WAY FURTHER FROM THE CAPITAL CITY OF REYKJAVIK.
NOW, AS WE DRIVE AROUND THE COUNTRYSIDE, HUMAN INTERACTION DROPS, JUST AS WELL AS THE SUN.
IN THE WINTER TIME THEY ONLY GET 4 HOURS OF LIGHT HERE.
CONVERSELY IN THE SUMMER TIME THERE'S ABOUT 20 HOURS OF LIGHT.
DAY OR NIGHT, THE DISCOVERY SPORT'S STIFF CHASSIS WAS NEVER SHAKEN BY DEEPLY RUTTED OUT TRAILS, AND WE CERTAINLY TRIED.
PURE, CLEAR MELTING GLACIERS ALLOW FOR MASSIVE HYDRO OPERATIONS THAT CREATE ICELAND'S ELECTRICITY.
THIS ALSO MEANS MORE CHALLENGES FOR US, AS WE MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THE WET OBSTACLES THE ISLAND NATION HAS TO OFFER.
I DON'T CARE WHAT KIND OF VEHICLE YOU'RE IN, A STREAM CROSSING WITH A FAIRLY QUICK CURRENT IS ALWAYS SOMETHING A LITTLE INTIMIDATING TO LOOK AT BUT LUCKILY FOR US, WE ARE IN THE FULLY CAPABLE DISCOVERY SPORT AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT OVER HERE NO PROBLEM.
THE LAND ROVER TEAM REMINDED US THAT THE DISCOVERY SPORT HAS A WADING DEPTH OF ABOUT 2 FEET.
AND IT WILL GO DEEPER, BUT WE RESISTED THE TEMPTATION TO FIND OUT FOR OURSELVES.
WE STARTED OFF IN THE CITY, AND NOW WE ARE BACK HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS, DRIVING THROUGH STREAMS.
WE'RE ON ICE, LUCKILY FOR US WE HAVE STUDDED TIRES AND WE HAVE NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO GETTING STUCK YET.
SEEING AS THE LAND ROVER TEAM ROUTINELY OFF-ROADS IN THE MOST REMOTE LOCATIONS IN THE WORLD, ANY PIECE OF ADVICE IS WELCOME.
>> DAVID SNEATH: SOME OF THE PLACES THAT WE'VE OPERATED IN OTHER THAN ICELAND... YOU NAME IT, WE'VE PROBABLY BEEN THERE.
IT'S A LAND ROVER AFTER ALL.
>> ZACH: IF YOU DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION, YOU'D HAVE NO IDEA WE WERE FOLLOWING ROADS THROUGHOUT OUR JOURNEY.
LET'S CALL THEM WHAT THEY ARE, TRAILS!
ACTUALLY WITH ICELAND'S HOSTILE CLIMATE, DRIVING OFF THE TRAIL IS ILLEGAL.
TIRE MARKS CAN LAST FOR DECADES.
STAYING ON PATH, WE CRUISE OUT OF A SPOT MARKED UNPASSABLE.
WE WENT DROVE THROUGH THICK FALLING SNOW, WHILE BATTLING FOG.
BUT WE AND THE DISCOVERY SPORT MADE IT OUT UNSCATHED.
SO, THAT'S WHAT I CALL A SUCCESS.
I MANAGED TO NOT WRECK ANY OF LAND ROVERS DISCOVERIES, MADE SOME NEW FRIENDS, SAW SOME BEAUTIFUL SCENERIES.
I MEAN THAT'S WHAT IT'S LIKE, OFF-ROADING IN ICELAND.
>> JOHN: PAT GOSS KNOWS THAT TIME IS MONEY.
BUT QUICKER ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER.
GOSS' GARAGE IS OUR NEXT STOP, TO FIND OUT WHY!
>> PAT GOSS: EVERY VEHICLE EVER MAINTENANCE.
NOW, THE MOST BASIC OF THAT MAINTENANCE IS CHANGING THE OIL, AND THE OIL FILTER, AND CHECKING THE VARIOUS FLUID LEVELS UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT YOU GET IN QUICK SERVICE.
BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO A CAR THAN FLUIDS AND LUBRICANTS.
YOU SEE, THERE'RE WEAR PARTS UNDERNEATH THE CAR.
THINGS LIKE BRAKES FOR INSTANCE.
THE BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT.
THE ROTORS WEAR, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY NEED TO BE CHECKED.
BALL JOINTS: THEY SUPPORT THE VEHICLE, THEY ALLOW THE WHEELS TO BE STEERED AND SO ON.
THEY'RE A WEAR ITEM AND THEY NEED TO BE CHECKED ROUTINELY.
TIE-ROD ENDS, STEERING RACKS, ALL OF THINGS ARE PARTS THAT WEAR OUT.
THEY'RE ALL RELATIVE TO SAFETY AS WELL.
SEE IF YOU DON'T KEEP UP WITH THESE THINGS, AND ONE OF THEM FAILS?
THE WHEEL COULD COME OFF, THE BRAKES COULD FAIL, YOU COULD LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR.
SO, THAT MEANS THAT PERIODICALLY, PREFERABLY EVERY OTHER SERVICE, YOU SHOULD GO TO A FULL SERVICE SHOP THAT OFFERS THIS AS PART OF THEIR OIL CHANGE.
NOW, THAT MEANS THAT YOU WON'T BE IN AND OUT QUITE AS QUICK, BECAUSE THESE CHECKS TAKE SOME TIME, BUT OFTEN IT WON'T COST ANY MORE MONEY.
AND YOU'LL HAVE A KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IS WORN, WHAT IS WEARING AND WILL SOON BE WORN OUT, SO THAT YOU CAN PLAN THE REPAIRS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CAR SAFE.
OTHER THINGS THAT WILL BE DIFFERENT; THINGS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION FOR INSTANCE.
TODAY'S TRANSMISSIONS DON'T HAVE DIP STICKS, SO YOU CAN'T CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL OR ANYTHING BY PULLING THE DIP STICK OUT.
YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY CONNECT A COMPUTER SCANNER TO THE COMPUTER INTERFACE INSIDE THE CAR, AND YOU WARM THE CAR UP TO A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE, AND THEN YOU TAKE A READING ON THE SCANNER, AND THERE'S A PLUG THAT YOU REMOVE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED.
BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT PERIODICALLY SHOULD BE DONE.
NOW, I'M NOT BY ANY MEANS SAYING THAT YOU SHOULDN'T GO TO A QUICK-LUBE, BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT EVERY OTHER VISIT YOU SHOULD BE GOING TO A FULL SERVICE SHOP, SO THAT YOU MAINTAIN A SAFE CAR.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTOEEK .
>> JOHN: THREE MONTHS IN, AND OUR ACURA TLX LONG-TERMER DOESN'T SIT STILL VERY LONG, APPROACHING 11,000 MILES.
MOST OF THOSE MILES HAVE BEEN RACKED UP WITH THE TLX'S INTEGRATED DYNAMIC SYSTEM IN SPORT MODE, WHICH ENHANCES THROTTLE, POWER STEERING, AND P-AWS ALL WHEEL STEERING RESPONSES.
IT MAKES THIS CAR TRULY FEEL LIKE THE SPORT SEDAN IT CLAIMS TO BE.
STILL, OUR MILEAGE UPS AND DOWNS ARE BACK ON THE UPSWING, AS OUR AVERAGE NOW STANDS AT 29.2 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM; AND 8-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC COMBO.
THINGS INSIDE ARE WELL APPOINTED, AS THEY SAY, AND AS THE MILES CLIMB, THE TLX CONTINUES TO PROVIDE EQUAL AMOUNTS OF COMFORT AND LUXURY.
NO PROBLEMS TO REPORT THIS GO AROUND, AND VERY FEW PICKY COMMENTS FROM OUR DRIVERS, WHICH IS USUALLY A GOOD THING AS THAT MEANS THERE'S NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IN OUR TLX.
WE'LL SEE HOW LONG THAT CONTINUES.
WE'RE OFF TO A QUICK START WITH THIS 2015 NISSAN MURANO, BEST SMALL UTILITY OF THE YEAR, RACKING UP OVER 3,000 MILES IN JUST 4 WEEKS.
WHAT WE FIND HERE ARE COMFORTABLE SEATS THAT EASILY GO THE DISTANCE, A GREAT NAV.
SYSTEM, FINE HANDLING, AND A HELPFUL FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM.
IN SHORT WE LOVE THE MURANO.
THE SLICK STYLING ALSO ATTRACTS PLENTY OF ATTENTION, AS THE MURANO DOES A GREAT JOB OF LOOKING VERY DIFFERENT, DESPITE AN OVERALL SHAPE AND PROPORTIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO EVERY OTHER MID-SIZE CROSSOVER PATROLLING SUBURBIA.
AS FOR POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS THE RADAR CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT THE BEST WE'VE EXPERIENCED, AND WE COULD USE MORE PLACES UP FRONT TO STASH ALL OF OUR SMALL ITEMS.
SURPRISINGLY, EVEN WITH ALL OF THOSE HIGHWAY MILES, OUR FUEL ECONOMY AVERAGE OF 23.1 IS STILL SHORT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COMBINED BUT THE 3.5 LITER V6 DOES PROVIDE GREAT POWER, AND SO FAR NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT ITS CVT TRANSMISSION.
STILL, WE'LL RESERVE FINAL JUDGEMENT UNTIL MORE MONTHS ROLL BY.
WE'LL SEE HOW THE MONTHS ARE TREATING OUR MAZDA CX-9 AND VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD REST UPDATE!
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW COMING DOWN THE PIKE, SO LET'S GO FOR A QUICK SPIN, AND SEE HOW WE LIKE IT.
WE ALL KNOW THE LEGACY OF THE FORD EXPLORER, AND THE SWITCH FROM REAR TO FRONT DRIVE ARCHITECTURE FOR ITS DRAMATIC 2011 OVERHAUL.
WELL, FIVE MODEL YEARS ON FROM THAT PLACES US IN A REVAMPED 2016 EXPLORER, FOR A QUICK SPIN TO SEE WHAT'S NEW, AGAIN.
SINCE THIS IS NOT A TOTAL REDESIGN, STYLING ISN'T RADICALLY DIFFERENT.
THERE ARE NEW LIGHTING ELEMENTS, A NEW GRILLE AND AERO TREATMENTS.
BUT, FOR THE MOST PART EXPLORER STICKS WITH ITS STILL CONTEMPORARY LOOK.
INTERIOR, LIKEWISE, IS NOT DRAMATICALLY CHANGED, THOUGH FORD'S SYNC3 SYSTEM WILL BECOME AVAILABLE IN LATER MONTHS.
POWERTRAINS ARE THE REAL IMPROVEMENT.
4-CYLINDER POWER SEES INCREASED DISPLACEMENT, FROM 2.0 LITERS TO THE NEW 2.3, AND HORSEPOWER UPS TO 280.
THE MOST WELCOME IMPROVEMENT, THOUGH, IS THAT BOTH 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND TOWING CAPABILITY ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON THE 4-CYLINDER, WHERE THEY PREVIOUSLY WEREN'T.
A 290 HORSEPOWER 3.5 LITER V6, AND A 365 HORSEPOWER 3.5 LITER TWIN TURBO V6, BOOKEND YOUR ENGINE CHOICES.
>> GREG CARLOSS: THE RIDE QUALITY IN THE 2016 WHERE IT REALLY SEES A LOT OF GAIN IS THE NOISE CANCELLATION.
FORD DID A LOT OF WORK, TAKING OUT ROAD NOISE, AND WIND NOISE.
AND IT SHOWS.
IT'S COMFORTABLE.
IT'S VERY QUIET INSIDE.
AND IT MAKES FOR A NICE, SERENE, LUXURY TYPE CABIN.
>> JOHN: PLATINUM TRIM ALSO DEBUTS, BRINGING UNIQUE LEATHER UPHOLSTERY AND BRUSHED ALUMINUM ACCENTS; EXPLORER'S BEST RANGE ROVER IMPRESSION YET.
STARTING AROUND $32,000, THE 2016 FORD EXPLORER IS ON SALE NOW.
AND WE'LL BE BACK AT IT, WITH MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!
THE 2015 MODEL YEAR IS A BIG ONE FOR THE FORD MUSTANG.
NOT ONLY IS IT ALL NEW, BUT AMERICA'S ORIGINAL PONY CAR IS NOW 50 YEARS YOUNG.
AND WE CAME AWAY FROM OUR ROAD TEST VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE BLUE OVAL'S NEW STEED.
STILL, THAT MOSTLY STREET SEAT TIME DIDN'T ALLOW US TO FULLY EXPLORE THIS THOROUGHBRED'S POTENTIAL.
WHAT WE NEEDED WAS A PLACE TO REALLY LET THE NEW MUSTANG RUN WILD.
* (TIRES SCREECHING) >> JOHN: THE FORD MUSTANG HAS BEEN IN PRODUCTION FOR JUST OVER HALF A CENTURY NOW, PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MUSTANG II, CHANGES HAVE BEEN EVOLUTIONS MORE THAN REVOLUTIONS.
WELL FOR 2015, FORD DECLARED THAT THE ALL NEW MUSTANG WOULD SHAKE THINGS UP A BIT, AND TAKE ON THE WORLD, WITH EUROPEAN SPORT COUPES IN ITS SIGHTS MORE SO THAN TRADITIONAL MUSCLE MINDED DOMESTIC RIVALS.
THE EURO MISSION REQUIRES EURO-SPECS, SO AN INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION, AND EVEN TURBO-4 POWER, BECOME A BIGGER PART OF THE BIG PICTURE.
ALL THIS HAS BROUGHT US TO ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY OUTSIDE SAVANNAH.
IT'S TIME TO DO SOME SERIOUS FLOGGING OF THIS V8 GT AND SEE HOW THE NEW "STANG" STACKS UP TO PAST MUSTANGS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TO THE CURRENT EUROPEAN COMPETITION.
THAT V8 IS A 5.0 LITER OF COURSE, BUT WITH SOME MASSAGING FOR '15, IT NOW DELIVERS 435 HORSEPOWER AND 400 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
BUT MORE TORQUE COMPARED TO THE LAST BOSS 302.
DON'T WANT A HEAVY V8, WELL BOTH THE STANDARD 3.7 LITER V6, AND THAT 2.3 LITER TURBO 4 STILL TOP THE 300 HORSE MARK.
BUT WE WANTED A V8 FOR OUR TRACK WORK, AND A 6-SPEED MANUAL WITH IT, EVEN THOUGH MOST BUYERS WILL GO 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.
FORD AGREED AND WE'RE GLAD THEY DID BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST SHIFTER OF ANY STOCK GT WE'VE DRIVEN; VERY SMOOTH, WITH NICE SHORT THROWS.
AND WHILE THE GT V8 IS HEAVIER THAN A 4-BANGER ECOBOOST MUSTANG, AT 3,700 POUNDS, IT'S STILL ABOUT 200 POUNDS LESS THAN A COMPARABLE CAMARO, IF ALSO HEAVIER THAN A 4-SERIES BMW.
BUT WITH MUCH IMPROVED CHASSIS BALANCE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME TO FISTICUFFS WITH THE V8 MUSTANG TO GET IT THROUGH A CORNER POLITELY.
IT WANTS TO DO IT NOW.
THE STIFFER CHASSIS AND INDEPENDENT REAR ALSO HELP TO GRIP THE PAVEMENT MORE THAN JUST HOP ALONG IT, THOUGH OVERSTEER IS STILL EASY TO FIND.
VERY NIMBLE AND FORTHCOMING STEERING FEEL HELPS YOU STAY ON TOP OF THAT.
OFF THE TRACK AND ON THE STREET, THE NEW MUSTANG FEELS EVEN BETTER.
IT'S FAR MORE COMFORTABLE, QUIETER, AND THE CLUTCH IS MUCH EASIER ON THE LEG.
BUT LEST INTERNET HATERS GET TOO RILED UP ABOUT THE MUSTANG NOW BEING TOO REFINED, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF MAGIC WHEN YOU STEP ON THE THROTTLE.
AND SOME REAR END CLUNKYNESS REMINDS YOU IT'S NOT QUITE UP TO WINE AND CHEESE CROWD STANDARDS JUST YET.
STRAIGHT LINE PROWESS THANKFULLY DOESN'T CHANGE MUCH.
POWER COMES ON QUICKLY AND A NICE MEATY HIT OF TORQUE GREETS YOU APPROACHING 4,000 RPM.
AT ROEBLING WE HIT 60 IN 4.5 SECONDS, AND CLEARED THE QUARTER IN 12.9 AT 112 MILES PER HOUR.
THERE'S NO HUGE DEPARTURE TO THE NEW MUSTANG'S EXTERIOR EITHER.
WE'RE GLAD THE FASTBACK IS BACK.
DEBATE CONTINUES ABOUT THE FRONT END, BUT IT IS VERY AGGRESSIVE.
OVERALL, STYLING IS MORE MODERN, IF STILL UNMISTAKABLY MUSTANG.
AND OF COURSE THINGS ARE VERY MODERN FEELING INSIDE, EVEN WITH A TRADITIONAL TWIN COCKPIT LAYOUT.
THERE IS A LITTLE MORE CLUTTER TO SOME OF THE SWITCHGEAR, AND WHILE ALL LOVED THE NICE ROW OF TOGGLES, THEY COULD BE PLACED HIGHER FOR EASIER USE.
GAUGES ARE ALSO CLASSICALLY STYLED, BUT WITH PLENTY OF DATA; INCLUDING TRACK APP'S WITH EASY ACCESS TO THE GT'S STANDARD LINE LOCK.
A MUSTANG GT WILL COST YOU $32,925.
STEPPING UP TO PREMIUM TRIM AND ADDING A FEW GOODIES FOR TRACK TIME FUN WILL PUSH YOU OVER $45,000.
BUT, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF FUN TO BE HAD IN A BASE V6 MUSTANG AT $24,425.
SO, WHILE THERE IS A REASON THAT BETTER PERFORMING MUSTANGS LIKE THE SHELBY GT350 ARE ON THE WAY, WE FEEL THE 2015 FORD MUSTANG GT DOES JUST FINE, CERTAINLY BETTER THAN ANY OTHER GT TO THIS POINT.
ALL HELPING THE MUSTANG FULLY LIVE UP TO ITS WORLD CLASS SPORTS CAR PROMISE.
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 UP THE PERFORMANCE IN THE PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 4 GTS.
THEN STAY ON THE LINE WITH THE LEXUS RC F. 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... KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS TIRES RIGHT NOW.
IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.
BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.
KENNY'S THINKING, OH MAN.
OH MAN.
OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN.
THIS IS AWESOME!
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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